Board Chair
George is more than 60 years old but not retired. He has been an elementary school teacher, an EMT, an electronics technician, and a Community College Dean. George currently teaches college classes in research methods and various computer skills. Two Cocker Spaniels own George and his wife, and on weekends he leads historic trolley tours and evening ghost tours in nearby Tombstone, Arizona. The photo is George as "Parson George," the best Ghost Host in Tombstone. He volunteered to serve on the CCRC board because he wants to help returning citizens be successful.
Board Member
Vera Gates-Williams lives in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where she dedicates much of her time to non-profit organizations. A native of Houston, Texas, Vera has extensive experience in business specializing in the entertainment industry. Ms. Gates-Williams has mentored over 70 women-owned businesses in Cochise County. Mrs. Williams joined the Board of CCRC because she believes every person deserves a second chance.
Board Member
Jordan's bio will be published here soon.
Board Member
Sandy Russell is a lawyer with over twenty years of experience practicing law. Sandy lives in Sierra Vista with her husband Chris Russell, a practicing attorney, her daughter Valyn and their Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Ranger. Sandy has represented many returning citizens over the years and has seen firsthand the struggles they face in re-entering society. Sandy is dedicated to helping Cochise County Reentry Coalition develop name recognition in the community. She also wants to secure reliable financial support to ensure its longevity and continued support for returning citizens. Sandy led the CCRC in a rebranding campaign to harness social media's power, increase public awareness of CCRC, and launch fundraising efforts more efficiently.
Board Member
Anette was born and raised in Astoria, New York, in a traditional Croatian family. She developed an interest in film and television and moved to Los Angeles, where she became an editor and technical/post-production supervisor at several major studios. She later returned to New York to care for her ailing father, where she supervised the remastering of Turner Classic Movies archives. After her father's death, Anette moved to Sierra Vista to be near her sister, where she made some regrettable decisions and was convicted of a drug-related felony. She was sentenced to four years in the state prison and, while incarcerated, helped plan and execute the first-ever TEDx event to take place in a women's prison. She volunteered to work in the prison library and rose to the position of senior librarian. She was released 14 months early and returned to Sierra Vista, where her passion for helping returning citizens led her to volunteer as a member of the CCRC Board.