ASU Alumni Association announces Board of Directors, National Alumni Council

The Arizona State University Alumni Association recently announced its 2019–2020 Board of Directors and National Alumni Council. Terms for all members of both entities began July 1.

“These outstanding business and community leaders from a diverse number of industries and professions join an already accomplished group of Sun Devils who provide guidance and serve as ambassadors for the ASU Alumni Association and the university,” said Christine K. Wilkinson, president and CEO of the organization. “Their professional expertise and passion will have a strong impact on the ASU Alumni Association and the members we serve.”

Board/Council Officers

The following persons were named to serve as officers of the Board of Directors and the National Alumni Council.

Chair: Rick Dircks ’82 BS

Dircks is the executive vice president of Dircks Moving & Logistics, Arizona’s largest and most diversified moving company and the fourth largest agent in the U.S. for Mayflower Van Lines. Dircks is very involved in the community and, in addition to sitting on numerous boards, was named the Small Business Person of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and is a recipient of ASU’s Arizona Business Leadership Award. As a passionate Sun Devil, Dircks has been a longtime member of the ASU President’s Club and sponsor of Sun Devil Athletics.

“My goal is to let Sun Devils know about ASU’s success in rankings of excellence and the accomplishments of its students who continue to earn prestigious national and international scholarships,” Dircks said. “With this talented group of leaders, we’ll also work to enhance the engagement and service of board and council members in providing alumni programming and services to advance the university.”

Chair-Elect: Chris Hill ’86 BS

Hill has served in numerous roles since joining the board in 2015 including the selection of scholarship award recipients and with the ASU Alumni Veterans Chapter. He is a distinguished military graduate from ASU’s nationally ranked ROTC program and served in the Army as a Medical Service Corps officer for 20 years. Hill is the senior managing director of Treadstone Management.

Treasurer: Darren Skarecky ’94 BS

Skarecky is the owner and CEO of Grace Records in Gilbert and CEO of GO Car Wash, a multiregional car wash company. Skarecky’s executive career includes more than 20 years of experience in growth management, and mergers and acquisitions in blue-chip, private-equity and public Fortune 500 companies.

Past-Chair: Trish Gulbranson ’88 BS

Trish Gulbranson currently serves as founder and CEO of Derma Health. During her time on the board, she served as chair of the Sun Devil 100 Committee for two years and will continue in that role for the 2019–2020 year.

ASU Alumni Association Board of Directors

The following persons were elected to their first three-year term on the association’s Board of Directors, effective July 1.

Ray Artigue ’76 BA

Artigue, who joined the National Alumni Council last year, brings a wealth of expertise in strategic marketing and communications to the organization. He is founder and principal of Artigue Advisors and has held executive positions with the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks. Artigue is active on the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication endowment board, a longtime member of the Sun Devil Club and a former professor of practice in the W. P. Carey School of Business. He has been inducted in ASU’s College of Public Programs and the Cronkite School halls of fame.

Tim Gertz ’01 BS, ’02 MAIS

Gertz is a certified public accountant and partner of ProVision, a firm specializing in the development of wealth and tax strategies for entrepreneurs, professionals and investors. He has worked for various firms including Gaintner Bandler Reed & Peters PLC and Williford High & Co. He first joined the National Alumni Council in 2016 and is an avid Sun Devil fan.

Jim Lodge ’87 MBA

Lodge, who is vice president of strategy and business development at Clearway Energy Inc., has worked in the energy industry for more than 20 years for various organizations including NRG Energy, Venture Management Company, APS Energy Services and Northwind Phoenix. In addition to his work with the ASU Alumni Association, Lodge is a member of the ASU President’s Club and the Sun Devil Club.

The two new board members join Gregg Brewster ’83 BA; Teresa Clement ’02 BSE, ’07 PhD; Glenn Crawford ’78 BS; Lisa Fernandez ’09 BS; Bret Giles ’87 BS; Luis Heredia ’98 BS; Kristine Kassel ’91 BS; Tim Kelly ’98 BS, ’01 MS; Mark Kerrigan ’74 BS; Joya Kizer Clarke ’04 BS; Mike McGuirk 82 BS; Fred Reish ’67 BS; and Mike Tully ’87 BS.

ASUAA National Alumni Council

Six ASU alumni were named to their first three-year terms on the Alumni Association’s National Alumni Council:

• Michal Angulo ’06 BS, regional warehouse manager, Salt River Project.

• Andi Fourlis ’92 BAE, ’11 EdD, deputy superintendent, Mesa Public Schools.

• Samantha Hagan ’93 BS, partner/founder, Christophel & Hagan.

• Kirk McClure ’01 BSD, ’10 MBA, director, Higher Education Lead, Kitchell.

• Stephanie Mitrovic´ ’09 MArch, science and technology studio leader at SmithGroup.

• Jennifer Mammano Ward ’03 BS, ’03 BS, Arizona president, Employers Council.

These new members join the following on the National Alumni Council: Eddie DeVall ’93 BS; Suzanne Durkin-Bighorn ’04 BS, ’18 MNLM; John Gibson ’05 BS, ’10 MBA; Kara Goldin ’89 BA; Tere Goitia LeBarron ’82 BA, ’92 MHSA; Jeff Mirasola ’90 BS; Alberto Pino ’06 BA, ’06 BS; Graham Rossini ’02 BS, ’11 MBA; Shaney Salomon ’14 BIS; and Ty Triplett ’76 BS.