Kevin Youngblood is the CEO of A for Arizona and President of sister organization Great Leaders Strong Schools.

Youngblood is a driver of new school innovation, recently leading development within the Arizona microschool movement and founding Calvary Christian School in Carl, Georgia in the 1980s before education options were widespread. He co-launched the Grand Canyon University Canyon Ventures Program, which assists start-up founders from ideation stage to one million in revenue in the shortest period possible and led as the Entrepreneur in Residence from 2019 – 2022.

Youngblood also has an extensive executive and innovator background as founder of Odysseyware, Inc., educational software which was created to diagnose and prescribe learning challenges for at-risk youth in public district and charter schools.

Youngblood’s community engagement includes serving most recently as Chairman of the Local First Arizona Foundation and as a governing board member for ASU Center for Entrepreneurship and Chairman of Pinnacle Forum – Arizona Chapter. Earlier, he served in United States Marine Corps Reserves in Operation Desert Storm earning 8 medals and commendations. Youngblood was also a city councilman and mayor of Carl, Georgia. He and his wife of 37 years live in Ahwatukee. They have three adult children and one grandchild.

Katie Dauphinais serves as the Executive Vice President for A for Arizona and sister organization Great Leaders Strong Schools.

Katie has over a decade of experience in public policy, advocacy, and political operations. Prior to joining the team, Katie served as the Western Regional Legislative Director for ExcelinEd, where she led advocacy efforts on behalf of the organization in eight states in the Mountain West and served as a key partner to A for Arizona. During her tenure, she passed over two dozen bills that resulted in new options and millions of dollars serving over 1.2 million students across the region.

Her professional experience includes senior staff roles on campaigns such as John McCain’s re-election in 2016, federal constituent work for Senator Kyl and Senator Flake, government affairs roles at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and University of Arizona where she worked on issues such as higher education, immigration, transportation and infrastructure, trade, science and space technology. Additionally, as Federal Affairs Director for the Arizona Chamber, she acted as a liaison for the White House on behalf of the Chamber in a successful coalition effort to pass the United States, Canada and Mexico Agreement (USMCA) and Drought Contingency Plan in 2020.

Katie graduated from Arizona State University and is a member of the Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service organization, AEI’s Millennial Cohort as well as a graduate of the Oklahoma Leadership Exchange Academy. She is a member of the current Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network’s Leadership Institute cohort.

Tuesday is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at A for Arizona. Bringing unique expertise in state and local government and multi-organizational project management, she embodies an enthusiastic and results-oriented mindset.

Prior to joining A for Arizona, Tuesday spent three years in the Office of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. She began her profession on the Governor’s Legislative team, quickly moving to the Policy team and capping her tenure off on the Operations team. Tuesday quickly learned Arizona’s legislative landscape and what it takes to move landmark policy from start to finish. She led or assisted with multi-agency and Executive initiatives, including annual Strategic Planning and Budgeting, Arizona Capitol Copper Dome Restoration Project, AZHiresVets!, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, State of Arizona Leaders Connect Program, and the 2023 Gubernatorial Transition Process.

Most notably, Tuesday managed and led Governor Ducey’s AZ OnTrack Summer Camp, chaired by Lisa Graham Keegan. As a direct result of statewide collaboration and first-in-the-nation approaches, thousands of Arizona students and families in all 15 counties received an academic and adventurous summer camp experience at no cost.

As a fourth-generation Arizonan, Lumberjack alumna, and former student who benefited from the state’s robust school choice options, Tuesday remains devoted to continuing the Arizona tradition of leading the nation on school choice and bringing high-quality educational freedom to students in the State of Arizona and across the country.

Carmen Hulett is the Communications Manager for A for Arizona.

Prior to working for A for Arizona, Carmen developed management experience working in the golf industry where she assisted in executing golf tournaments for fundraising and corporate outings. She also worked with Arizona local brands in coordinating and producing social media content. Carmen is dedicated to creating an online presence for A for Arizona that will allow the stories of dozens of students and school leaders to be heard.

Carmen is originally from Illinois but made the move to the southwest to attend Arizona State University to study Psychology and Criminal Justice. Through her studies, Carmen developed an interest in child development and helping less fortunate children succeed. She graduated from Arizona State University in December of 2020. She currently lives in Peoria with her two young children.