Our Advisory Board

Carrie Biggs Schnepf is an Arizona native and a well-known personality in the Valley of the Sun. She is known for the famous Schnepf Farms, for her work as an Anchor/Reporter at KPHO TV5, and for her passion and involvement in various charitable causes, including: Chairwoman special event Arizona Special Olympics, Phoenix, since 1991; Member of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, Phoenix, since 1993 and Chairwoman special event, since 1993; Member fundraising committee PreHab of Arizona, Mesa, since 1991; Founding Member and Chairwoman Project B.E.S.T., Queen Creek, Member Desert Club and its publicity committee since 1992. Carrie is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Chairman's Award of the Arizona Special Olympics, 1993 and many others. Carrie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at Brigham Young University, 1985. She is the co-owner and operator of Creekside Entertainment, DBA Schnepf Farms, Arizona State's largest agri-tourist farm and peach grower.

Mary Murphy is a ballroom dance champion, accredited dance judge, and a judge and choreographer on the Fox dance competition-reality show So You Think You Can Dance. Mary has a college degree in physical education and a minor in modern dance from Ohio University. Mary is a 1990 and 1991 Austrian National Champion. In 1996 she won the U.S. Open American Nine Dance. She appeared in the 2010 movie Degrassi Takes Manhattan. Mary participated as a choreographer and judge in the world acclaimed show So You Think You Can Dance, where she quickly became a favorite to the audience. She owns a dance studio and organizes a Los Angeles dance competition, the Hollywood Dancesport Championships. In 2006 Mary partnered with a San Diego-area school district to offer dancing as a regular part of their curriculum.

Iskra Balchev (Velinova)is a Bulgarian world-class, Olympic athlete in Rowing- 4 Olympic Games (silver medalist in Moscow 1980, silver in 1984 (alternative games in Moscow), 4th in Montreal 1976 and Seoul 1988. Seven World Championships - 1975 Nottingham, England and 1977 Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 2nd places; 1981 in Munich, Germany – 3rd. 

Wesley Leasy is a former NFL player, who played for the Arizona Cardinals. Now his mission in life is to inspire and motivate young people with making optimal choices in their life and excelling in their choices. He has spoken at American Airlines on the Power of Leadership and the Importance of Diversity. Mr. Leasy also speaks to university students inspiring them to achieve their goals. He also discusses how to overcome obstacles in a speech titled “My Hands Broken, But not My Spirit.” His mission is to motivate young individuals to achieve their dreams, by providing them with tools via the seminars and recommended readings. When not involved with speaking engagements, Mr. Leasy is active in various charities, and programs and organizations that involve human development, diversity, education and financial growth. Physical Fitness was and remains a cornerstone in Wesley's success - he helps others have a better quality of life, through physical activity and diet education. He is a fitness professional who helps his clients fight obesity through active lifestyle. He works closely with a number of doctors and non-profit organizations to help bring attention to their causes.

Karina Smirnoff is a dancer, activist, animal rights activist and television personality. Originally from Ukraine, she was 14 years of age when her family relocated to the United States. At age 9 her parents signed her up for ballroom dance classes. Karina quickly discovered her passion and talent for ballroom dance and dropped her other activities to concentrate exclusively on dancing. In New York, she attended Christopher Columbus High School and the Bronx High School of Science. After graduating from high school, Karina enrolled at Fordham University where she double-majored in economics and information systems programming. She was also looking at law school. 

Katya Borisova is Vice President, Business Development at Comerg LLC. Katya has an MBA Degree from Santa Clara University in the field of Marketing Management and International Business. Leveraging an extensive history in strategic planning, team leadership, and business transformation, she helps companies achieve their full potential by developing strategies, implementing platforms and creating solutions that allow them to scale. As a driving force behind helping companies strengthen their vision, eliminate unnecessary costs, and improve the bottom line, she identifies strategic opportunities, develops a solid business case, and lead them to successful execution. At the core of her work, she sets up goals to discover, shape, and execute ideas and solutions that transform businesses and organizations.

Dr. Eric P. Thor is a Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. He is a six-time presidential appointee and presidential advisor: advisory services on FSIS (U.S. Food Inspection Service) and a Member of the Emerging Market Advisory Board to Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama. Currently he is State Director of Arizona Ag Institute and Visiting Professor at the Royal Agricultural University, U.K., where Queen Elisabeth II chartered him in 1998. He has authored a number of books including “Attacking Global Barriers”, and co-authored “Anatomy of American Agricultural Credit Crisis”. He has held senior positions at USDA and also served as President and CEO of the Farm Credit Assistance Board. He has received Award of Superior Service by both USDA and U.S. Treasury. He currently works on projects on four continents and has done new market development in over 60 emerging markets.Gaetano Frankel: Bio Coming soon

Anna Shahbazyan is originally from Armenia. She started Ballroom dancing at the age of 14. She moved to the US in 2000 where she pursued her career as a professional dancer while continuing her education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) majoring in Psychology and later earning her Masters Degree.

(Bio coming soon)