Diversity Champions
Diversity Champions are individuals who exemplify the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and who have enriched the community by empowering others. Individuals are nominated by others in the community and selected Diversity Champions are honored each year at the MLK Jr. Community Celebration. Eligible nominees must work, live or volunteer in Scottsdale.
2022 Diversity Champions
Forty-two Diversity Champions have been honored since the program’s 2001 inception.

Chris Haines
With 38 years in higher education, Chris Haines has led educational initiatives designed to support marginalized and at-risk populations to reduce barriers to access, such as the Hannelly Center One Stop Enrollment Center at Phoenix College and launching scholarships for DACA/Dreamer students. While coaching women’s sports at South Mountain Community College, she realized many of the players required flexible schedules to participate and she adjusted practice times to accommodate everybody. During the summer of 2020, the campus community was hurting from the tragic death of George Floyd. She held multiple town halls, and encouraged everyone to share their experiences. She quickly launched an extensive diversity, equity and inclusion committee to engage and support the campus community.
She serves on the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, Community Celebrating Diversity, East Valley Think Tank, City of Scottsdale Education Committee, Scottsdale Coalition of Today and Tomorrow (SCOTT) and Arizona Happy Tails Dog Rescue.
ANGELA HUGHEY
Angela Hughey exemplifies leadership through her work within the LGBTQ+ community and the broader business and political communities in Arizona. She co-founded ONE Community in 2008 with the goal of engaging socially responsible businesses, organizations and individuals who support and promote diversity, inclusion, equity and equality for all Arizonans.
In 2013, Angela and the ONE Community team launched the UNITY Pledge to advance workplace equality and equal treatment in housing and public accommodations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) individuals and their allies. More than 3,300 businesses and 20,000 Arizonans have taken the UNITY Pledge, the largest equality pledge in the nation.
Angela has won multiple awards for her work on inclusion and awareness including the Human Rights Campaign Individual Equality Award, Echo Magazine’s Woman of the Year and the Anti-Defamation League’s Al Brooks Community Leadership Award. Angela is a 2021 Phoenix Business Journal, Most Admired Leader.


ALAN "AP" POWELL
Alan “AP” Powell is a serial entrepreneur, Gulf War Veteran, philanthropist and a renowned strategic consultant developing relationships for Fortune 500 companies. Powell is also the founder of the non-profit HeroZona Foundation which serves students and veterans by giving them access to educational opportunities to ensure they get to cross the “finish line.” The Foundation’s programs include HeroZona National Veteran Summit, Veterans Reach to Teach, Phoenix Tools 4 Schools, the Bridge Forum, Play It Forward, among many others.
In addition, his foundation is working on a series of Bridge Forums in an effort to understand different perspectives, attitudes and beliefs about community policing. Previous topics discussed ways to better support veterans with recruitment, hiring, opportunities in service, veterans in crisis and support systems. Another one of his more recent projects includes the Play It Forward program, which exposes students to the arts at an early age with opportunities to learn, create and grow.
Past Diversity Champions
2022
Chris Haines
Angela Hughey
Alan "AP" Powell
2021
Dr. Jan Gehler
Chief Alan Rodbell
2020
Rosa Casas
Shannon Paloma
Peter Rusin
2019
Sharon Cini
Gary Griggs
2018
Marybell Ramirez-Deeds
André Watkins
2017
Gina Griffiths
Linda Walton
2016
Keiko Conn
Stanna-Michelle Slater
2015
Frances Ann Burruel
Lee and Ray Silverman
2014
Michele Halyard
Tom Henny
Jim and Cindy Hill
2013
Darrell Copp
Christine French
Mary Manross
2012
Wendy Lyons
Carolyn Repp
2011
Helen Gandara
Mary King
2010
Don Logan
Joe Baca
2009
Tina Brown
Lin Ling Lee
2008
Marion Kelly
Graciela Candia
2007
Mark Rothman
2006
Doreen Reinke
Clif McKenzie
2005
James Yiannias
Jamie Leibovitz
2004
Ruben Camacho
Meghan & Manali Ghave
2003
Paul Eppinger
Kathy Hotchner
2002
Art DeCabooter
Norma Saldana
2001
Dick Bowers
John Calvin