The Advisory Board
The Final Mile Project Advisory Board members freely dedicate their time and energy to serving our community. Arizona students will always come first, and we make every decision with their best interests in mind.
Meet the Advisory Board

Wes Brownfield
Arizona Rural Schools Association
Biography
About Wes Brownfield

Tim Carter
Yavapai County School Superintendent
Biography
About Tim Carter
Tim Carter grew up in southern Arizona. He graduated from Tombstone High School, and he attended Glendale Community College prior to receiving a bachelor of science degree from Grand Canyon College and a master of arts in secondary educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. Tim completed the requirement for an Arizona Superintendent Certificate at the University of Phoenix.
Tim started teaching and coaching in 1973 at Alchesay High School in the White Mountains. In 1977, he and his wife Linda moved to southwestern Arizona where he taught and coached at Antelope High School. The Carters moved to Prescott in 1979, where Tim taught American government and introduction to law at Prescott High School while coaching track, cross country, and the mock trial team. Tim went on to become the principal at Prescott High School.
The board of supervisors unanimously appointed Tim as the Yavapai County School superintendent, effective July 1, 2005. He ran successfully for the position in 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2016. He is currently a candidate for re-election in 2020.
In 2020, the Arizona Rural Schools Association inducted Tim into the hall of fame.

Dick Foreman
ABEC Executive Director
Biography
About Dick Foreman
Dick Foreman brings to ABEC unprecedented knowledge, expertise, and credibility that he has built during his much-accomplished, 37-year career in public affairs and in developing public policy. He also brings a wide array of experiences, having served on business, education, and community governing and advisory boards throughout his career. His passion, however, is and always has been public education.
After 27 years, Dick left a very successful career with Southwest Gas Corporation where he was the director of corporate public affairs—his “dream job”—to lead ABEC. At Southwest Gas, he was responsible for state and federal legislative affairs, special corporate and regulatory initiatives, franchise negotiations, state and municipal relations, and consumer and community affairs. Prior to Southwest Gas, he led the state legislative affairs for Salt River Project and also served as a research analyst for the Arizona House of Representatives, where he began his career in public policy. Throughout his distinguished career, Dick has created professional relationships with countless elected officials, as well as business and civic leaders at the local, state, and national levels.
No stranger to education, Dick served ten years as a governing board member for the Tempe Union High School District, and he also served on the school boards of two charter schools—Tempe Preparatory Academy and Great Hearts Academies. He understands that Arizona public schools need resources, and as such, has chaired/co-chaired 11 public school finance campaign initiatives (i.e. school bonds, M&O overrides) over the span of 25 years.
He is also an active leader in the business community, having served on the boards of the Arizona Tax Research Association and its foundation, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its foundation, and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. He is a proven leader, respected by the business and education communities alike.
Dick graduated twice magna cum laude from Arizona State University with a bachelor of arts degree in history and a master of public administration degree. In his spare time, he is a community and contributing columnist for several local newspapers and has even authored and published a contemporary western novel, A Distant Fire. He enjoys basketball, writing children's short stories, hiking the White Mountains of Greer, Arizona, and exploring the coastline of Oregon with his wife Kate, three children, and four grandchildren.

Sean Rickert
Pima Unified School Superintendent
Biography
About Sean Rickert

Melissa Sadorf
Stanfield Elementary School District Superintendent
Biography
About Melissa Sadorf

Kristin Turner
Paloma Elementary School District Superintendent
Biography