Executive Director, NAU Center for International Education

City Council Member, City of Flagstaff, Arizona - Councilmember Salas is a mother, a businesswoman and an immigrant living and thriving in Flagstaff for over 12 years. She owns a local small business ConnectEdge, a local consulting company helping small business and local nonprofits with business development, revenue development, capacity building and development, and online reputation management. Born and raised in the Philippines, she brings diverse perspectives and wide worldview to the City leadership. Her extensive background and experience in government (Philippine Congress, City of San Fernando and Coconino County), business sector, academe, and nonprofits are uniquely valuable capabilities: community and economic development, policy research and analysis, legislative development, budgeting, fiscal management, resource mobilization, labor dispute mediation, fundraising and friend-raising.

As the Discover Flagstaff Director, Trace Ward brings nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality/destination  marketing and management arena. His career includes senior-level sales and marketing positions with iconic brands such as Starwood, Hilton and Marriott. In his previous position he led the team as the Executive Director for Experience Kissimmee, the convention and visitors bureau for Osceola County, FL. Ward enjoys working with industry partners and the community in which he serves to bring about positive results and change. A native of Omaha, NE, Ward received a degree in business management from Bellevue University, as well as, has earned multiple certifications from Starwood, Marriott, Hilton and Destinations International. Additionally, Ward is an adjunct professor at NAU’s College of Business and has earned his Master’s degree in Leadership from this same university.

Sheila Anders is the Director of Administrative Services for the NAU Center for International Education. She is Chair of the CIE Sustainability Committee, voting board member on the NAU Green Fund, Vice President emerita of the Sustainable Economic Development Initiative of Northern Arizona, and Advisory Council Member of the NARBHA Institute. She has presented on structurally incorporating sustainability into international education, sustainability assessment, and greening government practices, co-chairing the NAU Greening Government Conference in 2008. She consults regionally on change and financial management, and strategic planning in the public agency.

Lisa moved from Oregon to Arizona to pursue her BA in Education and Psychology from ASU. She received her MAE in Counseling from NAU and has been a Flagstaff resident since 1996, part-time.  She retired after 30 years of teaching from Scottsdale Schools and then five at Paradise Valley Community College, during which time she wrote curriculum for Scottsdale Schools and University of Phoenix. Lisa taught in Interlaken, Switzerland for nine months on a Fulbright Teacher Exchange and continues to coordinate biannual student exchanges to Interlaken. She is President-elect of the Docents at Phoenix Art Museum. She also volunteers in schools with at-risk students with Gabriel’s Angels with her dog, The Dude.

Gail Jackson is the Interim CEO/President of Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona and leads the region’s economic development efforts. Prior to joining ECoNA, Gail was the Business Attraction Manager and Meetings Manager with the city of Flagstaff. She has spent many years in resort sales and marketing where she held various management positions with Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ and Pebble Beach Resorts in Pebble Beach, CA. Gail has served on the board of many professional and service-oriented nonprofits, such as Theatrikos Theatre Company, Flagstaff Women’s Leadership Network, Flagstaff Shelter Services Fundraising, Flagstaff Auto Mall Development and Flagstaff Leadership Program.

Senior Sales Manager at Little America.
Ryan first came to Flagstaff in 2004 in pursuit of higher education at Northern Arizona University. At that point he began working at Flagstaff’s luxury hotel, the Little America in various operational rolls. This experience led him towards a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Four years later he received his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and took six months off to travel the world. During these travels Ryan realized his love for Flagstaff so he returned to begin his career. Little America brought him back as their Sales Manager where he would be responsible for bringing business to the hotel and community from all over the globe. Today Ryan represents 15 years of experience at the Little America, has a beautiful wife and two young children, and lives a great life in the mountains.

International Travel Trade Sales Manager, Discover Flagstaff
Cherri joined Discover Flagstaff in January 2018, and brings her years of travel industry experience.  She started her resort career in Orlando, Florida at Vistana Resort, then accepted a promotion as Director of Travel Industry Sales with Marquis Hotels & Resorts in Ft. Myers.  However, Arizona came calling, and she moved to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area working in the hotel industry for the next couple of decades, opening The Phoenician in 1988, and directing leisure sales and marketing efforts for the Pointe South Mountain Resort, Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Arizona Biltmore, and then remotely for The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.   After ten years with Marriott International, on-property and in regional sales, Cherri moved to the Tourism Bureau side with Visit Mesa.  When not traveling, she spends time in the outdoors with her husband, Jim and Golden Retriever, Mickey.

Josh came to Flagstaff in January of 2020 to serve as the Associate Vice President for Community Relations for Northern Arizona University. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from California Baptist University and has over 15 years of experience in building relationships between higher education institutions, government and the community. He previously worked in the mayor’s office for the city of Riverside, California where he regularly interfaced with their active and robust Sister Cities program.