Our Team

The empowering voices behind Maricopa County’s Voices for CASA Children

Board of Directors

Victoria Strayer – President, Chair of Governance and Executive
Victoria Strayer is Board President and a founding member of Voices for CASA Children. As a CASA volunteer, she has advocated for four children and been a Peer Coordinator in the CASA of Maricopa County program. Victoria believes that every individual is empowered and accountable to enrich the lives of others and is committed to bringing the positive impact of a CASA volunteer to more children in Arizona.

Victoria serves with VOICES as a volunteer. In her corporate role, she is SVP of Risk and Compliance at Global Payments, a leading world-wide payments technology company. Victoria has two daughters, four grandchildren and is an Arizona native.

Kirsten Wright – Vice President
Kirsten joined the Board at Voices for CASA Children in 2020, and serves as the 2021 Board Vice President. She brings with her a depth of understanding of child welfare advocacy, both professionally and from involvement in the nonprofit sector. Kirsten began her legal career working for a small firm representing parents and children in dependency and severance actions. In 2011, she joined the Office of the Arizona Attorney General, Protective Services Section, representing the Department of Child Safety in dependency. 

Today, Kirsten maintains a law practice of her own representing children and parents involved in dependency and severance cases and continues to advocate for Arizona families.  In addition to being a champion in the field of child welfare, she is an Arizona native and a die-hard Wildcats fan!

Trista Guzman – Secretary
Trista Guzman joined the Board of Directors at Voices for CASA Children in 2020. She is a proud ASU Double Devil, having earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Master of Public Administration. Trista has served the State of Arizona for 10 years under two gubernatorial administrations. Her passions include health and human services policy, particularly child welfare. Trista lives in Mesa with her husband, two dogs (Kennedy and Teddy), and a baby boy on the way.

Ted Zagrzebski – Treasurer, Chair of Finance
Ted Zagrzebski is Treasurer for Voices for CASA Children. Ed was a Board member for a number of years beginning in 2013. After a brief hiatus, Ted rejoined the Board in 2020. Prior to moving to Arizona, Ted served on the Board for CASA of Northeast Tennessee for four years. He is personally driven to give children a voice in the court system to ensure that their best interests are taken into consideration during trying times for their families. Retired for 35 years, Ted worked in the corporate environment, most recently as corporate controller of Highway Technologies, which was part of United Rentals. Prior to his corporate career, Ted served in the U.S. Navy for six years. Ted enjoyes golfing, in addition to creating wood carvings of animals and caricatures.

George Turner – Board Member
George Turner joined the VOICES Board in 2018 after learning about the organization and meeting Board members at Statewide CASA Support Council meetings. He currently also serves as Governing Board President for Navajo County Friends of CASA and divides his time between his Pinetop and Scottsdale homes. George and his family retired to the Pinetop area after a 33-year career with Motorola Inc., which included assignments in the Phoenix area, Chicago, and Seoul, South Korea. He has always been interested in the education and welfare of children, and served on the Board for Blue Ridge Unified School District for ten years, including seven years as its President. George and his wife, Liz, have two grown daughters both living and working in the Phoenix area. George enjoys most sports, is a semi-serious golfer, an avid reader, loves cars and motorcycles, and enjoys traveling.

Kristine Reich – Board Member
Kristine Reich has served on the VOICES Board of Directors since June 2017. Her passion to participate in the child welfare system in Arizona spans many years working as a social worker, mediator, and law professional. In previous years, Kristine developed the fundraising dance-a-thon, Boogie in Blue, to benefit Prevent Child Abuse Arizona and Voices for CASA Children, and to celebrate the National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Kristine is formerly the statewide Director of Training for what is now the Child Welfare Training Institute at the Arizona Department of Child Safety and the Director of Adoptions for Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK). She currently practices law and is the principal at Restorative Law & Mediation PLLC, specializing in mediation, collaborative divorce, and family and juvenile law matters. Beyond practicing law and serving on the Board, Kristine owns and operates Eutopia Fitness and Dance LLC, a fitness-inspired dance studio in North Scottsdale.

Natalya Ter-Grigoryan – Board Member
Natalya joined the VOICES Board in January 2020. Years earlier, Natalya was fortunate enough to clerk in the Arizona Court of Appeals with the Honorable Mo Portley (ret.), who was and remains a selfless advocate for causes affecting the children in our community. Inspired by Judge Portley’s example, Natalya sought out opportunities that would allow her to be involved with organizations that invest in the future adults of our society. 

Natalya is proud to be part of VOICES because the tangible and quantifiable benefits offered through this non-profit are designed to ensure that each child has a safe, loving, and permanent home. VOICES is also committed to implementing programs and services that improve a child’s experience in the foster care system, so that these children have the support they need to thrive during and after their placement. 

Natalya is a partner at the full-service law firm of Jaburg Wilk, PC, where she practices family law. She used to have hobbies, but for the past year has been equally content spending time with her delightful family. 

Carolina Grimaldo – Board Member
Carolina Grimaldo joined the Board at Voices for CASA Children in January 2020. A graduate of Arizona State University with a Masters in Social Work, she is also a 2010 Alumnus from the Hispanic Leadership Institute. While pursuing her education at ASU, Carolina coordinated the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program with the Arizona Girl Scouts Pine Cactus Council for nearly a decade, which served girls whose mothers were incarcerated. This provided an opportunity for mothers and daughters to continue to strengthen their relationships.  Following her academic pursuits, Carolina has worked in multiple child advocacy roles, witnessing firsthand the trauma and barriers children face when they are removed from their homes.  Carolina’s goal is to ensure children are safely reunited with their families or  placed in a loving home. She is currently a School Social Worker for Edison Elementary in the Phoenix Elementary School District #1. 

Mary Ramirez – Board Member
Mary Ramirez joined the Voices for CASA Children Board of Directors in 2014. She has always had a passion for helping the most vulnerable, and the mission of Voices for CASA Children piqued her interest because of its existence to assist children who come from unstable home environments. A native Arizonan who didn’t have much growing up compared to others, Mary says that despite circumstances she always had a safe and loving home. Now as an adult, she enjoys giving back and increasing awareness of the positive, life-changing impact a CASA volunteer can make in the life of a foster child. Mary’s passion for the community and coming to the aid of others has been an integral part of her life. Mary obtained a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from ASU and was involved in various organizations focused upon community service during her college years. Mary’s professional history centers in the nonprofit world, and currently she holds a career with the City of Phoenix working on homelessness issues. Mary shares, “I have been blessed to see the growth of Voices for CASA Children, from the time I began volunteering many years ago, to today. I hope to see VOICES continue to grow even further to witness reaching its goal of ensuring every child in foster care as a CASA volunteer by their side.”

Voices for CASA Children Staff

Robin Pearson – Executive Director
Robin Pearson is the Executive Director, a founding member and the prior Board Vice President of Voices for CASA Children. She began as a volunteer child advocate in 2010 for the CASA of Maricopa County program and believes every child deserves a chance to thrive. Robin’s background as a corporate executive for EDS and America West Airlines prepared her to bring the business and collaboration skills needed to grow the community of support for children in foster care. Robin grew up in Scottsdale and has three grandchildren.

Austin Truitt – Development Coordinator
Austin is the Development Specialist at Voices for CASA Children. He was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, before coming to Arizona to attend Arizona State University. Austin graduated from ASU in 2018 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a certificate in Marketing and Sales Essentials. During his junior and senior years, he was the Development Chair for Camp Kesem at ASU, a non-profit organization that supports children who have had a parent with cancer. To gain experience in a different field, in the summer of 2018, Austin performed marketing work for C-IN, a congress planning agency located in Prague, Czech Republic. In his free time, Austin likes to attend concerts and music festivals with his friends and family. His favorite quote is “A few people of integrity can go a long way.”

Brenda Leon – Volunteer Coordinator
Brenda joined the Voices for CASA Children Team in June 2018 as the Outreach Support Specialist. An Arizona native, Brenda has a background in Psychology from Arizona State University and brings eight years of experience working with adolescent girls at Florence Crittendon in the heart of Phoenix. At Voices for CASA Children, she is passionate to serve Arizona’s youth by way of helping community members apply to become Court Appointed Special Advocates. Brenda additionally plays a critical role coordinating the VOICES Volunteer Program. Outside of the office, Brenda spends her time with her husband and four children.

Curt Beames – Accounting Specialist
Curt joined the VOICES team in August of 2021 as the Accounting Specialist. An Arizona native, Curt spent 10 years in Information Technology prior to focusing on his career in accounting where he’s now worked for 12 years. In his spare time, Curt enjoys being with friends and family and checking out local music shows or trying new restaurants. He also loves cooking at home and trying new culinary techniques. Curt has a passion for hiking and is proud to share that he accomplished making it to the Everest Base Camp Hike.

Diane Gardner – Child Enrichment Manager
Diane Gardner joins the Voices for CASA Children team with great enthusiasm, filling the role of Child Enrichment Specialist. Diane retired from a 34-year career in technology, most recently serving as the Chief Information (Technology) Officer for the City of Mesa. Having volunteered for a variety of non-profit organizations during her career, she is delighted to be able to focus her time on VOICES’ critical mission in support of Arizona’s children. Her family holds a healthy non-profit track record and sense of altruism as well: Diane’s husband of more than 35 years and her oldest daughter each serve in non-profit organizations, and her youngest daughter currently practices veterinary medicine in the Valley. Diane loves planning traveling adventures for the family and holds the title of Chief Party Planner (CPP)! Outside of coordinating Child Enrichment opportunities, Diane spends time with her granddaughters and creatively “attempts” in all things crafting. Originally raised in Wyoming, Diane and her family happily call Arizona home.

Kate Campbell – Education Manager

Kate Campbell is the Education Manager at Voices for CASA Children, bringing with her substantial knowledge and experience from a variety of backgrounds all related to child welfare and trauma-informed care. Formerly as a case manager assisting foster youth who had experienced trauma, Kate pursued studies at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she obtained her Master of Arts in Psychology followed by certification as a Clinical Trauma Professional through The International Association of Trauma Professionals. In her role at Voices for CASA Children, Kate also brings her experience as an education specialist and behavioral specialist to expertly coordinate learning opportunities that support Court Appointed Special Advocates in their mission. Complimenting her position, Kate is also an adjunct faculty member specializing in both trauma and resilience in educational settings as well as psychology. 

Lawrence Falvey – Program Manager
Lawrence Falvey first began volunteering for Voices for CASA Children as early as 2015. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer of Maricopa for several years, Lawrence brings with him a wealth of knowledge and insight as an advocate and community member. 

Tiffany Hunter – Child Enrichment Specialist
Tiffany Hunter joins the Voices for CASA Children team as a Child Enrichment Specialist. Tiffany is a native to Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University, Sum Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Social Work. Tiffany has been a CASA for six years. For the past 20 years, Tiffany has been hosting  and producing a local television program, The Home Hunter, on ABC-15 with her mother. Tiffany has been volunteering at her two sons’ schools throughout the years as well as other nonprofits around the Valley. Tiffany is excited to be a part of the VOICES team to help with Child Enrichment! Outside of VOICES, Tiffany enjoys traveling, playing volleyball with her husband and spending time with her family.

Contributing Members

Advisory Council 

  • Christine Arians, Arians Family Foundation
  • Dave Brown, Supporter
  • Renee Espinoza, Supporter
  • Todd Francis, CFO – Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix
  • Walter Menges (1940-2017), CASA
  • Kappa Alpha Theta, Arizona State University
Founding Committee 

  • Victoria Strayer
  • Robin Pearson
  • Fran Bardino
  • Walter Menges (1940-2017)
  • Ian McLeod
  • Lila Semrau
  • Sarah Turner
  • Jeannie Metzler
  • Melissa Smallwood
  • Mara Zemical

Thank you for your interest in becoming a CASA.

After completing this form you will be directed to the CASA volunteer application which is located on the CASA of Maricopa County website. If you have any questions please contact us at info@voicesforcasachildren.org.

Thank you! You will now be directed to the CASA application. Feel free to call us during business hours - (480) 685-4888.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a CASA.

After completing this form you will be directed to the CASA volunteer application which is located on the CASA of Maricopa County website. If you have any questions please contact us at info@voicesforcasachildren.org.

Thank you! You will now be directed to the CASA application. Feel free to call us during business hours - (480) 685-4888.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a CASA.

After completing this form you will be directed to the CASA volunteer application which is located on the CASA of Maricopa County website. If you have any questions please contact us at info@voicesforcasachildren.org.

Thank you! You will now be directed to the CASA application. Feel free to call us during business hours - (480) 685-4888.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a CASA.

Complete this form to be notified of future Information Sessions, which describe the process of becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Thank you! We'll let you know when the next events are coming up. Feel free to call us during business hours - (480) 685-4888.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a CASA.

Complete this form to stay in touch with us. Become a CASA sometime in the future to help youth in foster care.

Thank you! We will be in touch. If circumstances change at any time let us know and we'll be here to assist you in becoming a CASA. Feel free to call us during business hours - (480) 685-4888.

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