2023 Guest Speakers

Martin Harvier

President, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC)

Martin was inaugurated President of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Communityon December 15, 2018; on December 16, 2022 he was sworn in for a second term. Prior to his Presidency, he served three terms, from 2006-2018, as Vice President. He is proactive in the community’s economic development and is currently the Chair for the Talking Stick Golf Enterprise and on the Board of Directors for the Salt River Materials Group and Salt River Landfill. Martin is also a member of the SRPMIC’s Investment Committee, Tribal Emergency Response Commission and the Gaming Grant Committee. He is also on the Tribal Health Steering Committee for the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and represents SRPMIC on the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council, TGen Board of Directors, and the Tribal Advisory Committee.

Abbi Taylor

Student, Mesa Community College

Abbi Traylor is a 21-year-old student at Mesa Community College who has survived more than four dozen suicide attempts. She seeks to spread awareness about mental health, and be a children’s minister in the future. She is the President of Christians United for Israel at MCC and loves to play Minecraft and collect American Girl dolls.

Chris Rothert

Area Director, Chandler YoungLife

Chris Rothert joined YoungLife as the Area Director in Chandler, Arizona in June 2020. He is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and is passionate about the mission of Young Life. Chris is committed to transforming today's youth and families in the Chandler area. His primary focus is to build positive, productive relationships with all schools located in the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) and with community members and business leaders in Chandler proper.

Through his faith-first approach, Chris helps remove obstacles from young people’s lives to make YoungLife events and camps available to all middle school, and high school students. His goal is to raise up leaders of the next generation through mentorship, camp experiences, and weekly/monthly events so that they can learn and know about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Prior to joining YoungLife, Chris worked as a business professional at Insight Enterprises for 10 years. He has extensive experience working with youth and college students for over 20 years volunteering and on staff in both Young Life and multiple churches.

From its founding, STARS (Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services) has understood that when individuals with cognitive and developmental challenges are participatory members of the community, they develop a sense of belonging and attain critical life skills, social skills, and functional skills training. Whether in a group setting or individually employed, the positive outcomes are manifold: the achievement of independence, the ability to experience dignity and satisfaction, especially that afforded by a compensated position, and the positive contributions to the Arizona economy these individuals make as both consumers and taxpayers. STARS helps to drive economic efficiency and overall economic growth by developing and maintaining a reliable workforce of individuals prepared to undertake vital tasks required for the smooth functioning of Arizona businesses. Our various programs provide an abundance of opportunity for our participants and include day training for adults, community work, competitive integrated employment and independent employment support.

Learn more about STARS below.

Since 1968, Civitan Foundation, Inc. has focused on enriching the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities through innovative and person-centered learning experiences that promote self-esteem, self-expression, community integration and independence. 

We provide high quality programs for our members, fostering access to quality care, developing life and job skills, participating in creative outlets, and enjoying regular recreation with peers. Contributions to Civitan invest in our dynamic programs, from our inclusive, year-round Camp Civitan to our adult life training, from home and community-based services plus respite, to employment initiatives with gainful job placement, serving over 750 families yearly in our disability community. 

Learn more about Civitan Foundation below.