The ALL Family
Board Members
At Autism Life and Living, we wouldn’t be who we are today without the incredible support of our board of directors. This fantastic group of people comes from a variety of backgrounds. Some are parents, some have personal experience with autism and I/DD, and others bring valuable professional skills. But what unites them all is a deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of autistic and I/DD individuals and their families.
These dedicated volunteers play a vital role in our success. They act as our guiding force, ensuring we stay true to our mission and operate with the highest ethical and legal standards. They also work hand-in-hand with our staff to chart our long-term course, setting ambitious goals and developing strategic plans to achieve them. Furthermore, board members leverage their networks and connections to raise crucial funds, allowing us to continue providing vital services and programs. Finally, they offer invaluable mentorship and support to our leadership team, sharing their wisdom and guidance to help us navigate challenges and reach new heights. In essence, our board of directors is a cornerstone of Autism Life and Living, and we’re incredibly grateful for their unwavering dedication.
Lisa Masters
ALL is the brainchild of Lisa Masters. Lisa is a published author and a single mom of 2 boys, both of whom are on the autism spectrum. She has over 21 years of extensive, hands-on experience navigating agencies and support services that serve those with autism. Lisa has also spearheaded fundraising campaigns that benefited autism organizations and she has also served on the Board of Directors for Arizona’s largest early childhood development non-profit, Southwest Human Development. She is on the task force for Benevilla’s Helping Partners Program, a program that serves adults with autism and she is a member of The Giving Group Arizona, a nonprofit that awards a substantial donation to four nonprofits every year. Lisa is driven to ensure that the most vulnerable of our society are given the opportunity to live an independent and fulfilling life filled with dignity and purpose.
Lena Gardea
Lena is a Wealth Advisor, Assistant Vice President for Bankers Trust Company. Her area of focus consists of trust, estates and investment management. Additionally, she has her article 9 license as a respite habilitation provider in the state of Arizona. She has over 16 years’ experience in the special need’s realm. She continues to dedicate herself to the special needs community as a professional, fiduciary, volunteer and her most important role, mom. She has two boys, with the oldest being on the spectrum. Lena brings an abundance of background and knowledge that will support furthering the vision of ALL.
Muriel Neddermeyer
Muriel is a senior marketing professional with experience in various industries including B2B/B2C education, electronics, and banking. She is ALL’s in house expert on strategic marketing and planning. Muriel will help ALL achieve our goal of reaching as many people as possible to spread our mission and gain the necessary support to reach our funding goals. She also has an adult nephew with autism thus adding to her passion for having ALL succeed.
Dr. John Czaplewski
John is a psychologist based in Arizona. He has specialized experience in psychological testing and evaluating a patient’s personal characteristics, such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning. John also diagnoses and treats mental and emotional disorders or disabilities. He will provide ALL a comprehensive perspective as to the unique needs and best support services for those on the autism spectrum.
Bill Dutcher
Bill has been a professional performing guitarist and independent recording artist for over 35 years. Bill is from Dublin, Ohio and has a B.A. in Telecommunications from Ohio University. He and his wife, Paige, have called Arizona home for the past 17 years. They have two boys, Austin and Dawson. Their youngest son, Dawson, is on the spectrum and at 22 years old, has started his own ceramics business, Dawson’s Designs. Bill was actively involved with Dawson’s former high-school, Gateway Academy, in helping with social events and school activities. Bill enjoys both music performance and instruction and is an advocate for using music as a tool in bringing together social interaction with young adults on the spectrum.
Phil Tibi
Phil is a Real Estate Broker with over 15 years in the luxury real estate market. He is dedicated and committed to the highest level of customer service while networking with valuable resources for the benefit of his portfolio of clients. His high level professional marketing skills and passion for working on effective solutions along with his desire to serve ALL’s mission, will prove to be a valuable resource to ALL’s capacity to serve.
NEVER BELIEVE THAT A FEW CARING PEOPLE CAN'T CHANGE THE WORLD. FOR, INDEED, THAT'S ALL WHO EVER HAVE. ~Margaret Mead
The ALL Family
Executive Leadership
ALL's Executive Leadership Team is small but mighty. With strategic focus, and a collective approach, they are intentional and effective in their actions. Their roles go beyond functional and they passionately lead with courage in their convictions.
CEO
Lisa Masters
As the founder of ALL, Lisa has a vested interest in ensuring the optimal success of Autism Life and Living. She leads the development of ALL’s long- and short-term strategies, oversees company operations, and establishes cohesive relationships with leaders in the community. Lisa manages ALL’s resources to ensure maximum financial health and long term sustainability of the organization that is so near and dear to her heart.
Program Development
Alison Pattison
Alison Pattison, Ed.D., is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arizona Provider Training (APT). APT is the largest training organization in Arizona- providing first-class education and training to caregivers who serve the I/DD community. Alison has focused her passion for teaching and learning for over 26 years to author and develop over 200 online and in-person courses that maximize adult learning. Her background includes fifteen years of teaching and counseling at the elementary and high school levels in both Arizona and Louisiana. Since 2003, Alison has served as a faculty member at various universities including Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Louisiana State University, and Grand Canyon University. Alison currently serves as doctoral faculty at GCU and is a Senior Doctoral Dissertation Chair. She also teaches graduate classes in the College of Education at GCU. Alison serves as Co-Chair of the DCW Alliance Executive Committee and Chair of the DCW Curriculum Committee. Her educational background includes a Doctorate in Education: Organizational Leadership, a Master’s degree in Education: School Counseling, and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
Program Development
David Spierer
David is originally from New York and moved to Arizona 8 years ago with his family. His professional career spans over 20 years as a professor of clinical and exercise physiology. During that time David worked with 100’s of individuals with disabilities developing and implementing programming around physical fitness, including the New York City Marathon. He has taught and currently teaches courses in fitness evaluation, exercise physiology, chronic disease, clinical exercise physiology, and research methods. David was the board president of KEEN Phoenix, a non-profit providing activity for children with disabilities and he continues to serve on the national board of that organization. ALL is excited to have David develop and implement the health and wellness portion of our Independence Program.
The ALL Family
Advisory Committee Members
The Advisory Committee is made up of a remarkable team of professionals who use their expertise to support the work of ALL by providing mission-based leadership, offering professional advice, and making strategic recommendations to better serve ALL’s mission.
Program Support
Janessa Harrell
Janessa is a licensed occupational therapist in the state of Arizona. Her experience serving individuals with special needs began in her adolescent years volunteering at a summer camp and progressed into becoming an occupational therapist. She has many years of event planning experience including Teen Club, a social club enabling community independence, and Impossible Dreams, a competition aiming to empower teens with special needs to explore their interests and support the development of work skills. She has a passion for helping others and believes everyone should be able to live a meaningful life as independently as possible.
Business Advisor
Joanne Thomson
Joanne Thomson, President and CEO of Benevilla, developed a deep commitment and passion for charitable work in the nonprofit field early in her career and grew committed to helping people who have: intellectual and cognitive disabilities, dementia, survived a stroke, mental illness, and Parkinson’s Disease. Thoughtful in her leadership style, she strives to enrich the lives of community members and makes positive changes in how we care for our loved ones. Through her guidance Benevilla’s programs and services have thrived. The number of persons served throughout the years has been on the rise. She is an Aging Services CARF Surveyor and travels around the U.S.A. and Canada to assess other aging service providers’ best practices. She is on the Board of Directors for Northwest Valley Connect, Co-Chair of the Dementia Caregiver Alliance, Dementia Friends Champion, alumni of Leadership West class XXVI, and past Honorary Commander for Luke Airforce Base.
Social Circle Lifestyle Coach
Paige Dutcher
Paige is a Real Estate Consultant and has over 25 years experience in the industry. Her extensive transactional and negotiating skills will ensure ALL is maximizing resource development to its full potential in the most effective and efficient way.
Real Life Advisor
Jay Naddeo
Jay is a beautiful bright young man who is on the Autism Spectrum. He is aware of his diagnosis and has worked hard to overcome many obstacles in his life. His resume is quite impressive: He has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, currently works as an unarmed security guard for two companies, and acts as an advocate for people on the autism spectrum through speaking engagements in person, and on the radio. Jay attributes his success to all the support he has received from his family and community throughout his life. He is excited and eager to offer his input as to the unique needs and wishes of adults with autism.
Legal Advisor
Marilee Clarke
Marilee is experienced in a wide variety of legal areas. She has been an attorney for more than 40 years. She presently focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and probate, domestic relations, and business law and litigation. Marilee will ensure ALL is in compliance with federal, state, and local statutes.
The ALL Family
Development Committee Members
The Development Committee is comprised of professionals who have a desire to serve ALL's capacity building efforts. They are responsible for program development, resource development and shaping ALL's fundraising strategies and plans.
Program Development
Joani Bianca
Joani is Vice President of International Training and Operations at Kahala Brands. She comes with over 16 years experience with Kahala Brands and over 25 years of restaurant management experience and training. One of Joani’s responsibilities include supporting franchisees and working with them to achieve their operating goals, uphold brand standards and work to help make them profitable and sustainable. Her understanding of business support and contacts will be an asset to ALL’s resource fund development and sustainability.
Web Development
Tyler Klepfish
Tyler Klepfish is the owner of Winfish Creative Designs, a small boutique web & graphic design agency with a passion for creating pristine work for her Client’s that sets them apart from their competition, and drives results. Founded back in 2009, Tyler’s 12 years of experience have led her to work with individuals and organizations all over the globe from large enterprise level companies, to small businesses, in just about every industry from A – Z. From full branding packages, marketing collateral of all sizes, to custom full-fledged corporate websites and app development, Tyler uses her empathy and talent to help make her Client’s designs come to life. Tyler’s young son Calvin, is also on the autism spectrum – which provides her with an insider understanding and passion for the Phoenix autism community and all that it encompasses.
Real Life Resource
Madeline Beaver
Maddie is a proud Autistic woman who is a musical theater major at AMDA, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, in New York. She recognizes people on the autism spectrum have different struggles and support needs, but understands their struggles can be managed with acceptance, accommodations, and accessibility. Maddie is a champion for neurodiversity and is grateful to be joining the Advisory committee. She truly believes ALL will be a place that supports neurodiversity and supports neurodivergent traits and culture while still helping people with any difficulties they may face. Maddie feels that her lived experiences can help shape decisions to truly make ALL a great place to be.