Our Team

 Rachel Hixon is a Licensed Associate Counselor who believes healthy relationships are the foundation of strong families and thriving communities. Through years of community leadership, she has worked to connect nonprofits, faith organizations, schools, businesses, and civic leaders to address community needs and create meaningful impact. 

Steve Hewitt has been working with non-profits and supporting communities for over 28 years. .  He has served on several boards over the past 20 years, including AZCEND, ICAN, Rotary, Kiwanis, For Our Town and AZCEA.    After spending the last 4 as the Operations Director for AZCEND, he has been named the Chief of Staff & Strategic Partnerships. 

 Valerie Shaffer serves as the Mayor’s Assistant and Mayor's Aide for the Town of Gilbert, Arizona. In this key municipal staff role, she manages administrative operations, public outreach, and youth programs for the office of the Mayor and Town Council.   Prior to her work directly with the Mayor's office, she contributed to Gilbert's community-driven initiatives.

Merilee Baptiste is the Executive Director of Midwest Food Bank – Arizona Division, a faith-based non-profit located in Gilbert.  Prior to joining Midwest Food Bank, Merilee worked at Vanguard for 22 years across many divisions, such as: Global Fund Accounting, Enterprise Risk Management, Retail Resource Planning, and Institutional Project Management.

 Aimee Keller feels blessed by the opportunity to work as the Communication Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gilbert, Arizona. Aimee tries to find ways to build connection, increase understanding and awareness, and minister to the needs in the community.

Kristy Belley is the Publisher and Co-Owner of Gilbert City Lifestyle.  Guided by her faith and a belief that genuine connections matter most, Kristy serves on the board of For Our Town Gilbert and stays actively involved with area nonprofits, faith communities, and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. 

Amanda Nosbisch is a passionate nonprofit leader dedicated to bringing people together to meet the needs of the community with compassion and purpose. As Executive Director of One Small Step, she has expanded access to clothing and essential resources while fostering a culture of dignity, hope, kindness, and service.

Antonio's work focuses on prevention, accountability, and behavior change. He brings direct, applied experience in youth development, justice systems, and program design. He is an author of multiple books and workbooks used for youth education, accountability, and personal development.
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 Craig B. Feinberg, MBA is the Business Development Manager for Academy Bank in Gilbert, Arizona. In this role, he focuses on community banking, building long-term professional relationships, and providing customized banking solutions to help local companies achieve their business and cash growth goals.

Over the years, we have impacted the lives of thousands of children through our various programs. We have seen children who were once malnourished and sick, now healthy and thriving in school. We are proud of the positive impact we have made in their lives.

Melissa Garland serves as the Assistant Director of Program Compliance for the Higley Unified School District in Gilbert, Arizona. 

During my journey, I have learned a great deal. Each experience along the way has played an important role in who I am as a leader today. I strongly believe that every person in an organization is critical to its overall success.  

 Beth Haas is the Community and Partnerships Liaison for the T. Denny Sanford Harmony Institute at Arizona State University. Based in Gilbert, Arizona, she serves as a key representative for ASU, working to improve the lives of children by fostering collaborative community relationships. 

 Mandy Hodges is the Director of Community Engagement at United Food Bank in Mesa, Arizona. Armed with a Master's degree in Social Justice & Human Rights from Arizona State University she has dedicated her career to compassion-based leadership, community service, and youth engagement 

Aimee Keller feels blessed by the opportunity to work as the Communication Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gilbert, Arizona. I try to find ways to build connection, increase understanding and awareness, and minister to the needs in our community.

Jon McHatton is the President of Care Inc and the foundation of the For Our Cities project.  His mission is to empower cities to do more projects focused on serving others by fostering collaboration among diverse community leaders.  He served as the Chaplain of the Arizona Legislature in 2005 and played a significant role in the For Our Town Gilbert inception and development.

 Linda Ayres is the Community Resources Program Supervisor for the Town of Gilbert specializing in community development, human services, and public outreach. She is a dedicated advocate for vulnerable populations, actively directing local initiatives and volunteer-driven programs to enhance the quality of life for residents 

 Brandon is first and foremost a follower of Jesus, husband to Amelia, and father of three amazing girls! He is pastor Desert Church, which is a new church near downtown Gilbert. He is passionate about bringing people together to build community, so being a part of FOT Gilbert was a natural fit. He also loves, coffee, cooking, theology, and playing music!  

 Fran Lowder is a prominent civic organizer, non-profit leader, and humanitarian based in Gilbert, Arizona. She is widely recognized across the Phoenix East Valley for her extensive leadership in community service, local volunteer mobilization, and charitable initiatives. 

Susan Cadena, MSW, is the K12 Prevention Coordinator for Gilbert Public Schools, providing leadership and oversight for district-wide prevention initiatives, school social workers, mental health counselors, and crisis response services.
With more than 30 years of experience in education, healthcare, community agencies, child welfare, law enforcement, and military family services,