West Valley Impact Collective (Surprise)

Featured Speakers

Department of Economic Security Presentation

Senator Leah Landrum Taylor 
 Assistant Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security

Senator Leah Landrum Taylor serves as Assistant Director at the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), where she oversees the Office of Community Engagement. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions at both DES and the Arizona Department of Education, helping strengthen community partnerships and public service initiatives across Arizona.

Senator Landrum Taylor represented Arizona's District 27 in the State House and Senate for 16 years, including service as Senate Minority Leader. During her legislative career, she was a champion for education, foster care, adoption, kinship care, economic development, and human services, serving on numerous committees and statewide task forces.

A respected public servant and community leader, Senator Landrum Taylor has received numerous honors for her leadership and commitment to Arizona's future. She serves on several nonprofit and community boards and remains deeply engaged in advancing opportunities for Arizona families and communities. A third-generation Phoenician, she holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in Political Science from Arizona State University.

The Arizona Center for Economic Progress Presentation

Geraldine Miranda 
 Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy, Arizona Center for Economic Progress

Geraldine advances the Arizona Center for Economic Progress’ work by advocating for a sound fiscal policy through budget and tax-related projects. She joins the AZCenter after serving as a Senior Paralegal for Community Legal Services where she provided legal assistance and administrative hearing representation to Arizonans facing adverse Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and Social Security disability benefit eligibility and overpayment determinations. Geraldine holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree in International Politics with a certification in Asian Studies from Georgetown University.

Grantmakers Panel

Adam Falk 
 Senior Community Impact Officer, Arizona Community Foundation

Adam Falk is a fifth-generation Arizonan and serves as Senior Community Impact Officer at the Arizona Community Foundation, where he oversees grantmaking and community investments focused on arts and culture, healthcare, Latino communities, and the Arizona-Sonora borderlands. In this role, he works to strengthen communities through strategic philanthropy and partnerships across Arizona. 

Prior to joining ACF, Adam served as Director of Leadership and New Donor Acquisition at Valle del Sol, where he oversaw America's largest Latino-focused leadership development program, the Hispanic Leadership Institute. He also served three terms as an elected member of the Alhambra Elementary School District Governing Board, earning recognition for his work advancing education equity and community development.

A respected civic and nonprofit leader, Adam serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership and leads Arizonenses: Stories of Arizona's Latino History, a project dedicated to highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of Latinos to Arizona's history. His leadership and community impact have been recognized by organizations including the City of Phoenix, Univision, the Phoenix Business Journal, and the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Cheryl Ruggiero 
 Director of Charitable Giving, The Thunderbirds

Cheryl Ruggiero serves as Director of Charitable Giving for The Thunderbirds, where she leads the organization's philanthropic efforts and oversees charitable initiatives including Thunderbirds Charities, Birdies for Charity, WM Phoenix Open donations, and a wide range of community impact projects throughout Arizona. She also plays a key role in tournament operations, helping manage signature events and community engagement activities connected to the WM Phoenix Open.

With nearly three decades of experience with The Thunderbirds, Cheryl has helped strengthen partnerships between nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and corporate supporters across the Valley. Prior to joining The Thunderbirds, she built her career in operations and administration with Price Club and Costco. 

Cheryl is deeply involved in Arizona's nonprofit and philanthropic community, serving on the Board of Directors for St. Mary's Food Bank and contributing to several leadership and grantmaking organizations. She is widely recognized for her ability to connect people, resources, and opportunities to create meaningful and lasting community impact.

David Martinez III 
 CEO, AZ Impact for Good

David brings a broad perspective to AZ Impact for Good, having served as a nonprofit leader, advocate, grantmaker, educator, and coalition builder throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Director of Strategic Community Partnerships at Vitalyst Health Foundation, where he led capacity-building, grantmaking, and civic health initiatives while working closely with AZ Impact for Good and nonprofit organizations across Arizona to advance the state's nonprofit ecosystem. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for bringing together nonprofits, philanthropy, community leaders, and partners to create lasting impact across Arizona.  

An Arizona native, David has dedicated his career to advancing the organizations and partnerships that improve lives across the state. His leadership experience includes roles with Vitalyst, the Center for the Future of Arizona, St. Mary's Food Bank, and the Arizona Students' Association. His work has fostered statewide partnerships, advanced public policy, increased nonprofit capacity, and championed community engagement. 

Throughout his time at Vitalyst, he has maintained a close relationship with AZ Impact for Good, supporting advocacy efforts, partnering on statewide initiatives, and helping advance the organization's historic merger that united Arizona's nonprofit and philanthropic communities. Having worked for nonprofit organizations and guided philanthropic investments, David understands both the nonprofit and grantmaker perspectives and the importance of bringing those voices together.