Who We Are
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona is a social benefit organization dedicated to creating a better future through brain injury prevention, advocacy and education. We support, connect, and empower survivors and caregivers on their journeys to recovery.
Thirty-five years ago, the Brain Injury Alliance was founded in Tucson by a group of parents who joined forces to network and assist their pediatric and adult children who survived brain injury. They were particularly interested in identifying and working with professionals who truly understood the complex journey that life-after-brain-injury entails.
Today, the Brain Injury Alliance is a statewide organization that supports individuals with brain injuries and the professionals that serve them, through prevention, education and awareness.
our staff
Carrie Collins-Fadell, MPA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Carrie brings her passion for well-run nonprofits to the Alliance. She has an extensive background in nonprofit management, government, and public policy, joining the Alliance in 2015 after a long career with United Way and the Alzheimer’s Association. Carrie enjoys the challenges that come with being at the helm of the only organization in Arizona providing lifelong support, resources, and empowerment activities for survivors of brain injury. Born in Michigan, when not planning the annual conference or Camp Can Do, the Arizona transplant can be found honing her desert green thumb or spending time with her three rescue Chihuahuas.
Britanny Sweeny-Lawson
BILINGUAL RESOURCE FACILITATION MANAGER
Brittany is responsible for vetting and researching brain injury resources and information so those who need them most—survivors of brain injury, their families, and the professionals who serve them— have reliable access to them through the BIAAZ website database. As the bilingual resource facilitation manger, she strives to offer the highest-quality resources in English and Spanish, and is continuously in the process of translating BIAAZ materials into Spanish. She is proud to be on the BIAAZ team, providing education and raising awareness for the invisible injury of brain injury. In her spare time, Brittany loves attending and acting in theater productions, baking, reading, karaoke, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and their cat, dog, and hedgehog.
Laura Johnson
PEER OUTREACH
With a background that includes a Business Administration degree and minor in art history from Northeastern University in Boston, and a Bachelor of Fine Art’s in Interior Design and Architecture from The Art Institute of Phoenix, Laura deeply appreciates the power of visual creativity and interpretation, and has a keen grasp of entrepreneurial organization and project management.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor herself, Laura has embraced her journey to help tell the stories of others. She has worked in the non-profit sector for the past 7 years in Phoenix as a health navigator, assisting individuals and their families within the disability community, connecting them to resources, organizations, and most importantly for survivors, new friendships. Laura enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her dog Sophie, as well as seeing bands, anything art and design related, sailing, hiking, and traveling.
our board
executive committee
Julie Rake,
MSPAS-PAC
President
Arizona Integrative Medicine & Spa
Kay Wing, PhD
Past President
President & Founder
SWAN
Neuro-Rehabilitation
Sabrina Taylor
Vice President
Detective
Phoenix Police Department
Beka Francis,
JD, MBA
Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer
Aurora Behavioral Health
members at-large
Sean Badding
Owner
Everlasting Services
Jessica Brown, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Language & Hearing Sciences
University of Arizona
Tom Collins,
CPCU, AU, AU-M, CRM, CIC
Senior Vice President,
Chief Underwriting Officer
CopperPoint Insurance Company
Ian Crain, MD
Director
Brain Injury Center at Banner
University Medical Center Phoenix
Chester Hayes III, MS, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Valley Surgical Clinics
Scott Palumbo, JD
Partner
Palumbo Wolfe & Palumbo
Katie Pierce, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
CoreBalance Therapy, LLC
Ileana Ratiu, PhD, CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor
Assistant Program Director
Midwestern University
advisory council
Scott Palumbo, JD
Chairman
Partner
Palumbo Wolfe & Palumbo
Dena M. Baldwin, EMSL
Facilitator
Owner
Go Big!
David Adelson, MD
Director
Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Clint Borman, PhD
Partner & Director of Physical Therapy
Foothills Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Paul Dabrowski, MD
Trauma Program Medical Director
Banner University Medical Center—Phoenix
John Heick
Associate Professor
Northern Arizona State University
Rob Hunter
On-Air Host | Assistant Program Director
550 KFYI and iHeartMedia
Jennifer Jermaine
State Representative
Erica Krobot
Senior Director Claims Council
Banner Health
Christina Kwasnica, MD
Medical Director Neurorehabilitation
Barrow Neurological Institute
Dignity Health | St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center
Brandon Moon
Quality Director
McCarthy Building Companies
Natasha Moyes
Networking Specialist | PR
Fancy Life Pro
Michael Murphy
Entrepreneur, Author, & Lawyer
Patricio Reyes, MD
Chief of Neurology | TBI | Alzheimer’s Disease | Cognitive Disorders
VA Medical Center
Mike & Marianna Robertson
Finance Director, American Express (Mike)
Kelly Sample
Owner
Cucina Tagliani Restaurants
Ken Smith
Area Manager
Intel
Scot Taggart
Field Sales Manager
SIMS Business Systems
Steven Threet
Former Arizona State University Quarterback
COMMITTEES
Brain Health Gala Silent Auction Committee
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CLICK HERE to volunteer
Email: info@biaaz.org
Butters Fund Committee
Allison Marshall, Chair
Camp Can Do Committee
—
Education Committee
Katie Pierce, PhD, Co-Chair
CoreBalance
Sean Badding, Co-Chair
Everlasting Services
Run, Walk, & Roll Committee
Jim Ledgewood, Co-Chair
Swaback & Associates
Angela Womack, Co-Chair
Calienta Construction
Public Policy Committee
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CLICK HERE to volunteer
Email: info@biaaz.org
Dream It Forward
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CLICK HERE to volunteer
Email: info@biaaz.org
Services for Vulnerable Populations Committee
Jay Mankey, Co-Chair
Childers & Coventry
Shanna Mays, Co-Chair
Arizona Complete Health
Strategic Planning Committee
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CLICK HERE to volunteer
Email: info@biaaz.org
Tucson Concussion Run
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CLICK HERE to volunteer
Email: info@biaaz.org
Utility Assistance Fund
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CLICK HERE to volunteer
Email: info@biaaz.org
COMING SOON
ANNUAL REPORT
990
BIAAZ is a chartered affiliate of the
United States Brain Injury Alliance.
FOLLOW US
BUTTERS FUND
Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
5025 E. Washington St, Ste 108
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
CALL
(602) 508-8024
Statewide Info-line
1 (888) 500-9165
Fax (602) 508-8285
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