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Board of Directors

J. Ed Lynn, Chairman - bio
Managing Director of Lynn Investments

Chad E. Cline, Secretary - bio
CPA and Director of Financial Reporting for JDA Software

James R. Ameduri - bio
Managing Partner, Cypress Capital Partners

Donald E. Cline - bio
President of DEC Enterprises

Bette F. DeGraw, Ph.D. - bio
President of Bette DeGraw Ph.D, Dean Emerita of the College of Extended Education at Arizona State University

Jim D. Donley - bio
Chairman of the Board of Donley Service Center, Inc.

Regina L. R. Edwards, Ph.D. - bio
Vice President of Education International Institute of the Americas

Luther W. Goehring, LFACHE - bio
President of HealthNetwork of the Southwest

John T. Katsenes - bio
President of Katsenes Insurance Services, Inc.

Thomas L. Van Overbeke - bio
President & CEO RepublicBankAz

 

J. Ed Lynn, Chairman

J. Ed LynEd Lynn retired from the meat industry after an impressive career spanning four decades. Beginning with Armour and Company, Ed was involved in every facet of the business. He continued his career with Cudahy Foods training management and sales staff, eventually moving to Phoenix where he founded American Pantry. Ed developed a line of private label products that sold to some of the largest grocery suppliers in the country. American Pantry averaged annual sales of $20 million. American Pantry also supplied 11 private brands to Sysco, the largest foods supplier in the world. He sold his firm in 1999.

Ed attended Rockhurst College and the University of Missouri. He is an investor and partner in several commercial and residential real estate developments in Arizona, and has been a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1970. A supporter of the Arizona Humane Society, Ed and his wife Judy currently reside in Scottsdale and have three children and six grandchildren. A budding pianist, Ed enjoys hiking and golf.


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Chad E. Cline, Secretary

Chad E. ClineChad Cline, CPA, is a graduate of the University of Arizona, earning his degrees in Accounting. After serving Ernst and Young as an auditor for many years, he joined JDA Software in Scottsdale as an accounting manager. Chad's auditing experience centered on the high technology, retail and manufacturing sectors, working with all types of clients from start-ups and emerging businesses to large, publicly-traded companies.

Chad is fortunate to be able to spend time with his family, having several generations here in Arizona. He enjoys playing golf with his father and grandfather, as well as anything to do with water sports. Chad is also a new father, and takes pleasure in watching his son experience many of life's "firsts."


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James R. Ameduri

James R. AmeduriJim Ameduri is a businessman who has spent the last 20 years in Phoenix investing in and financing a variety of companies, real estate and notes.

Mr. Ameduri received his bachelors degree from Youngstown State University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to establishing his own firm in the early 90's, he had worked in banking, the capital markets and advertising.

Jim and his wife live in Scottsdale with their three young children, where he spends time volunteering at their school.


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Donald E. Cline

Donald E. ClineDonald E. Cline, former Vice President and Chief Executive Officer in Arizona for US West, is a native of Oklahoma. He joined Mountain Bell in Colorado in 1950 and held management positions in sales, public relations, advertising, and operations. Don came to Arizona in 1973 as Assistant Vice President for External Affairs and served in that position until 1982 when he was named Arizona Vice President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in June 1987. For two years Don served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of First National Utilities Inc., a water utility holding company. In February 1990, Mr. Cline accepted a gubernatorial appointment as Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. In April 1991, he left government service to return to the utility company he helped build. Currently he is semi-retired and is President of DEC Enterprises, a private consulting firm.

Mr. Cline currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Banner Health Foundation and is former Chairman of the Board of the Board of Governors of the Standard Register/PING LPGA tournament. Don served on the Governor's Commission on Reform of the Welfare System in Arizona and was a member of the Commission on Cost Efficiency in State Government (Mini-Grace). He is past chairman of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, the Governor's Task Force on Urban Air Quality, Surface Transportation Advisory Committee of Phoenix and the Arizona Board of Advisors for Mountain Bell. Don was president of the Boys Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and served as general chairman of the very successful1988 Citizens Bond Committee. He was a member of the citizens group, which won the designation of "All American City" for Phoenix.

Active in many civic and business affiliations, Don is chairman of the Dean's Council of ASU's College of Extended Education and co-founder of Data Network for Human Services, Inc. He belongs to All Saints Lutheran Church, and was a member of United for Arizona, ASU Council of 100, Phoenix 40, and is a life member of the Fiesta Bowl Committee. He belongs to the Prescott Country Club, and is past President of the Board of Governors of Moon Valley Country Club.

Don has been honored with the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith's Torch of Liberty Award, the Arizona Newspaper Association's Billy Goat Award, and the Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America's PHOENIX Award. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Phoenix Board of Realtors for unselfish contributions to the betterment of Phoenix, and designated Man of the Year by the Phoenix Advertising Club for outstanding service and inspiration to the life of the community. The University of Arizona honored Don with their Distinguished Citizen's Award of 1986 for his professional achievements and community contributions. The Phoenix chapter of Executive Women International honored him with their first Executive of the Year Award in 1987. In 1996 Arizona State University College of Extended Education awarded Mr. Cline the ASU Distinguished Achievement Award and he was named Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year by the ASFRE, American Society of Fundraising Executives.

Don is an avid golfer and takes pleasure in spending time with family: three children, eight grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.


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Bette F. DeGraw, Ph.D.

Bette DeGrawBette DeGraw has spent more than 35 years in public service. She is currently president of a small consulting firm Dean Emerita of the College of Extended Education at Arizona State University and teaches for the School of Public Affairs at ASU. Dr. DeGraw joined the university in 1986 to lead the development of ASU's Downtown Center. She served on loan from ASU as Executive Assistant to the Governor in 1988, then returned to become Dean in 1991 of ASU's College of Extended Education which she helped create to extend the University's presence in the community and provide opportunities for adult students to pursue their educational and career goals.

Bette received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Rutgers and her PhD from Arizona State University. She also attended programs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and Graduate School of Education. Early in her career, she worked with the Arizona Legislature for two Senate Majority Leaders--Sandra Day O'Connor and Alfredo Gutierrez--on a wide range of health, welfare, employment and education issues. Bette joined the Department of Economic Security in 1978 as Assistant Director and soon became Deputy Director. She served as chief operating officer for this billion-dollar agency, until she became the driving force for ASU's presence in downtown Phoenix.

Bette has been a member of more than 30 local, state and national boards and councils, serving in various leadership roles regionally and nationally, and has been recognized for her commitment to her community and her profession. She is a recipient of the prestigious Phoenix Community Alliance Starr Award and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership DREAMR Award. She has also been recognized regionally and nationally by the University Continuing Education Association for her contributions to the field of community development.

Examples of board service include the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Phoenix Community Alliance, Phoenix Civic Plaza, Valley of the Sun United Way, Phoenix Memorial Hospital, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and The College Board. Bette is an active member of the University Continuing Education Association, and is a frequent presenter on extended education strategies. From 1999-2002 she provided leadership to the national Council on Extension, Continuing Education and Public Service, comprised of university administrators whose interest and responsibility is to make the resources of universities available to the community.

A native of Philadelphia, Bette has lived in Arizona since 1972. She enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening and spending time with her family and her cat, Sassy.


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Jim D. Donley

Jim D. DonleyJim is President and Chairman of Donley Service Center Inc., a family owned business he founded in 1976. The company offers air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and construction services, and specializes in repair service, the replacement of existing air conditioning systems in homes and targeted commercial buildings, and in residential remodeling and custom home construction. Donley Service Center is currently managed by his three sons and their business partner, Brent Garrett.

Jim is active in many professional and educational organizations. He is currently on the boards of directors for the Better Business Bureau and the Gateway Community College HVAC Advisory Council; and is a partner and advisor of the Center for the Advancement of Small Business & Family Business Forum of the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

He has served as President of the Preferred Contractor Network, Chairman of the Arizona Heat Pump Council, President of the Blue Energy Institute, and was a member of the State Executive Committee for the Electric League of Arizona.

Jim received his degree from Duke University, and currently serves as the chairman of the Phoenix branch of Alumni Admissions. He is also a member of the board of directors of Wildlife for Tomorrow. Jim performed his military service with the US Army White House Signal Agency.

A resident of Arizona for 42 years, Jim and his wife, Elizabeth, currently live in central Phoenix. A close-knit family, the Donleys enjoy fishing, boating and travel with their three sons and seven grandchildren.


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Regina L. R. Edwards, Ph.D.

Regina EdwardsRegina Edwards is Vice President of Education at the International Institute of the Americas in Phoenix, Arizona. Regina has spent many years in higher education, including service at Arizona State University's College of Extended Education, Paradise Valley Community College, and Kapiolani Community College, as well as the University of Hawaii. Her experience includes developing academic, professional and community programs, staffing, organizational structure, budgeting and program implementation. Her past experience includes work in the areas of institutional advancement, communications and grant writing.

Regina earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and her Doctorate from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She spent several years working on the University's Lincoln campus and in the NU system office focusing on outreach, external relations and strategic planning. Following a stint with the Nebraska Governor's office evaluating legislation affecting higher education, revenue and gaming; Regina moved to the University of Hawaii to work in University Relations and pursue her doctorate. She is a member of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and the University Continuing Education Association, where she also served a term as Secretary of Region VI. Regina is also past president of the Women in Communications, Inc. Chapters of Phoenix and Honolulu.

Currently, Regina is the Secretary for the Maricopa County YWCA, Chair of the Curriculum Committee for the Hispanic Leadership Institute, and a volunteer at her children's school, Mercury Mine Elementary. She serves on the board of the Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank and is a Troop Leader for the Girl Scouts. Regina is very interested in politics, and is especially drawn to efforts benefiting youth, families, and the prevention of domestic violence.

She and her husband Patrick have two children. Regina enjoys hiking, reading and traveling, especially to Kauai.


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Luther W. Goehring, LFACHE

Luther W. GoehringMr.Goehring founded HealthNetwork of the SouthWest, a management consulting firm, providing consultative services to the healthcare industry, software developers and other corporations. Prior to establishing this effort he was a senior-level healthcare professional with over 35 years of integrated system management experience. He served as the Group Vice President for Samaritan Health System (now Banner Health Corporation) of Phoenix, Arizona for fifteen years. Luther was also the Regional Vice President for the Lutheran Hospitals and Homes Society in Fargo, North Dakota; the Director of Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio; and President/Chief Executive Officer of the Lutheran Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Goehring graduated from St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas with an Associate Arts in Accounting and Business Administration. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Economics from Fort Hays (Kansas) State University and a Masters in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota. Luther served a well-decorated four years active duty in the U.S. Navy and received a Presidential Unit Citation for service during combat while serving in Korea. He has received numerous awards for his professional and civic achievements, several honorary awards, including being granted a Honorary Doctor of Letters LLD degree from one of his alma maters, and has published articles in various professional journals. Earlier in his career he was selected as the Outstanding Young Man of the Year in Cleveland, Ohio by the Chamber of Commerce. He is a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (LFACHE), having been awarded Life Membership recognizing his years of active participation and achievement as Regent of the State of Ohio and as Regent of the State of Arizona.

Luther is a member of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the American Hospital Association and a member of several professional societies. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Vox2Data, Inc. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Samaritan Federal Credit Union for four years. An active volunteer with Second Harvest and the LPGA, he also keeps busy with various church activities, particularly at his home church – St. Mark Lutheran Church. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pacific-Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Mo.Synod, a member of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, St. Louis, Missouri and was recently appointed by the Lutheran Church-Mo. Synod Board of Directors as a Member at Large to the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

Luther has been a resident of Arizona for 29 years and with his wife, Judy, enjoys spending time with their grandchildren and great grandchildren, volunteering and working with stained glass.


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John T. Katsenes

John T. KatsenesMr. Katsenes was one of the founding Directors of three independent banks in the Valley, Western Security Bank (1983), Sunstate Bancshares (1983) and Republic National Bank of Arizona (1984). Mr. Katsenes is the General Partner in Katsenes Enterprises Ltd., a leading real estate company in Arizona specializing in real estate acquisition, development and management of mini-shopping centers. Mr. Katsenes is also a retired Director for Capstone Financial Services, Inc. in Houston. Capstone manages $2 billion in assets. Since 1951, Mr. Katsenes served as the President of Katsenes Insurance Services, Inc. In the early 1980’s Mr. Katsenes became involved in community banking. After working in the start up of two independent banks, he became a founding Director and Chairman of the Board of Republic National Bancorp the holding company of Republic Bank of Arizona. In his role as Chairman the holding company he led this organization in developing one of the most successful and well respected independent banks in all of Arizona. When this company sold in 1997 it established a new standard in the state for pricing for a banking acquisition. Mr. Katsenes has maintained a strong commitment to the community throughout his career. During his tenure at the Katsenes Insurance Agency, he served as a Councilman for the City of Phoenix (1970-1973) and Supervisor of Maricopa County (1994). He also served as the Director for the Arizona Hospital Association (1983-1985); Director of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (1978-1983); Director of Doctors Hospital (1980-1982); Director of the Phoenix Civic Improvement Corp. (1975-1982) and Director of Valley Forward (1978-1982). Mr. Katsenes has also served an advisory role on a number of professional civic boards, including, the State of Arizona Insurance Committee (1966-1974), Insurance Committee for the City of Phoenix (1967) and President of the Phoenix Association of Independent Insurance Agents (1968). Mr. Katsenes has been honored several times for his service and dedication to the Phoenix community. He has been recognized for his contributions to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce with an Outstanding Service Award in 1975, the Special Award in 1982 and in 1967, he earned the “Very Outstanding Phoenician Award” for his work as the founding President of Valley Big Brothers. Mr. Katsenes was born in Bisbee, Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University in 1951 with a degree in accounting. A loyal Sun Devil, Mr. Katsenes also served as the Vice President of the ASU Alumni Association (1972); Dean’s Council for the William P. Carey School of Business; and is currently a member of the President’s Club for ASU.


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Thomas L. Van Overbeke, President & CEO

Thomas L. Van OverbekeMr. Van Overbeke is a Director and the President and CEO of RepublicBankAz,. Mr. Van Overbeke has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to accepting this opportunity Mr. Van Overbeke has been President and CEO of three successful community banks. The most recent of which was a de Novo banking organization in Las Vegas, Nevada. Under his leadership, each of these organizations increased significantly in total assets, profitability, and asset quality. Tom has served as Director for the Iowa Bankers Association, The Webster City, Iowa, Chamber of Commerce and the Webster City Economic Development Commission. Tom has served as a Trustee for community hospitals in Webster City and Pocahontas, Iowa. He was a member of the UNLV Foundation, as well as many other local charitable organizations. Tom has been an active participant in both industry and community activities. Tom is a graduate of Buena Vista University as well as a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Boulder, Colorado. Tom’s wife, Kim is a nurse and they are the parents of two children. Their Daughter Tasha is married and resides in Chandler, Arizona. They have one son, Tanner, who is still at home.
 


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