Staff

Cynthia Zwick – Executive Director
Cynthia has served as Executive Director for the past six years, working with community partners throughout the State to: educate the community about issues related to poverty; improve public policy; and ensure low-income families have access to the tools needed to become and sustain self-sufficiency. Prior to joining ACAA, Ms. Zwick served as Executive Director of the State Bar of Arizona and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education.

 

Monique Barrios- Administrative Assistant

Monique Barrios joined ACAA in December 2009 to provide administrative support to the Executive Director, Board, committees and staff.  Monique graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Communication and is interested in returning to ASU to get her Master’s in Social Work.  She looks forward to working with the professional staff at ACAA and helping them make a difference in our community.

 

Norma Gallegos – Program Manager, Energy Assistance
Norma Gallegos obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University in Tucson. She was employed with Pima County for twenty three years. Twenty one of these years were with the Pima County Community Action Agency working with various social service programs and partnering with many community-based organizations serving the low-income community in Tucson. She decided to embark on a new journey and recently joined the Arizona Community Action Association as the Program Manager for the Energy Assistance Programs.
 
Cathy Guerriero – Business Manager
Cathy Guerriero is a freelance CPA who joined ACAA as a part-time business manager in August 2009. Her varied CFO/Controller experience in the private and non-profit community enables us to concentrate on serving our communities. Prior to joining ACAA Cathy was Division Director and Sr. Recruiter for Robert Half Management Resources in Phoenix. Cathy left the staffing industry to return to independent consulting. Today she serves the non-profit community as part-time/interim controller and on special projects: audit readiness, grant compliance and budget prep. Cathy serves on the boards of the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), ASWA (Association of Women Accountants). She is an active ASCPA blogger and member of both the ‘CPA’s in Industry’ and ‘Non-profit’ Committees.

 

Katie Kahle – Program Manager, Nutrition Programs
Katie Kahle graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and a minor in Justice Studies. She also completed her Master’s in Social Work at ASU, with an emphasis on Planning, Administration and Community Organizing. Her professional and volunteer experience includes community organizing, advocacy, fund-raising and public education through non-profit and volunteer organizations. As Program Manager, Katie’s responsibilities include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamp Program) Outreach and the Arizona Self Help website.

 

Kelly McGowan – Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Kelly McGowan graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a Bachelor’s in English Literature. She also completed her Master’s in Social Work at ASU, with an emphasis on Planning, Administration, and Community Organizing. Prior to joining ACAA, Kelly worked for the Arizona Department of Economic Security as a Special Projects Coordinator; focusing on strategies to increase economic self-sufficiency.

 

Miquelle Scheier – Program Manager, Weatherization Outreach
Miquelle Scheier recently retired from Coconino County Community Services where she directed the operations of the Community Resource Division which included Emergency Services, Community Outreach and Youth Development. For the last 10 years she has also managed the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC), modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps, and recently CREC established, through stimulus funding, an Energy Conservation Corps to create an apprenticeship-style training and on-the-job skill development in retrofit services to underemployed and dislocated workers throughout the City of flagstaff and Coconino County. Miquelle has spent the last 25 years of her career working with low-income individuals and families, the homeless and vulnerable populations. It was with great enthusiasm that she accepted the position of Weatherization Outreach Program Manager. Miquelle looks forward to continuing to serve Arizona families in a meaningful way.