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Sarah Kearney leads Blue Zones Project Scottsdale as the Executive Director. Her leadership experience is diverse and rooted in community well-being, service, and forward-thinking optimism. She most recently worked for Experience Scottsdale, whose mission is to enhance the Scottsdale community through tourism. In Sarah’s 16+ year tenure at the organization, she held several leadership roles and specialized in worldwide leisure sales, partner development strategy, membership and community engagement, program development, and more.

Driven by her passion for the Scottsdale community, Sarah has served, led, and guided several local organizations, leaving a cross-sector imprint. She has served as the Board President for Scottsdale Leadership, the Board President for Community Celebrating Diversity, a Board Member for Scottsdale Sister Cities, the Officer of Membership for Millennials in Travel, and the Vice President of Community Outreach at GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix/Scottsdale.

Sarah holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Communication from Arizona State University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, sports and spending time in the Scottsdale sunshine. She is a proud wife and hockey, dance, and dog mom to her two children and golden retriever.

Lisa is the Public Policy Lead for Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, working with community partners and local government to provide creative approaches to adapt policies and practices in the built environment, food, tobacco and alcohol arenas to meet the community’s goals for well-being.

She has nearly 30 years of experience in municipal government. After moving to Arizona from Ohio in 1979, she attended Arizona State University where she graduated with an bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture and a master’s degree in Public Administration. Lisa spent the next 20 years working for the City of Scottsdale in a variety of roles in long range and current planning, neighborhood resources and in the mayor’s office. In 2005, Lisa began working for the City of Tempe as the Deputy Director for Development Services, focusing on planning and development.

Lisa transitioned into real estate and consulting where she developed processes and procedures in multiple development venues. After several years in the private sector, Lisa returned to municipal government serving as the Planning Administrator and Interim Development Services Director for the City of Glendale, and most recently as the Community Development Director for the Town of Paradise Valley, before beginning her new career at Blue Zones Project Scottsdale.

Danielle joins the Blue Zones Scottsdale Project as their Organization & Well-Being Lead. Prior to Blue Zones, Danielle was a member of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health’s Food Systems team. Her work centered on increasing the availability of healthy foods for targeted populations. Danielle partnered with community groups, school districts, non-profit organizations, universities, and small retail to improve the policies, systems, and environment impacting local programming needs. She also served on the Arizona Farm to School Network Steering Committee as their Engagement Chair.

An ardent supporter of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model for integrating health and well-being into an academic setting, Danielle has supported wellness in schools and districts throughout Maricopa County as a Wellness Coordinator, SNAP-Ed Agent working with Local Wellness Policy Committees, Nutrition Educator, and School Garden Sustainability Specialist. Additionally, she has worked alongside child nutrition programs to incorporate behavioral economic approaches into their meal programs (food preparation, food consumption, and food promotion) to help improve the food environment and help students eat better.

Before becoming a dietitian, Danielle was a high school English teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s in English Education and a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Assessment, in addition to her degree in Dietetics.

Danielle loves reading and spending time outdoors. Hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, and walking with her pups and husband are among her favorite things to do. She maintains an indoor tower garden that grows a surprisingly impressive amount of veggies.

Maureen is a dedicated relationship builder and marketing strategist who excels at elevating brand visibility. Her recent experience in the tourism division of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community showcased her talent for executing strategic sales and marketing campaigns. Through her efforts, she successfully drove awareness and promoted visitation to the community and its partners, making a significant contribution to the long-term sustainability of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community through tourism while respecting the history and heritage of the community and land. With a diverse background in marketing across public and private sectors, Maureen brings a well-rounded perspective to her work. She also co-owned a children’s store in Scottsdale, further enriching her experience.

Two of Maureen’s passion projects included co-creating the Sustainable Kids Series, a platform offering free expert advice on raising children in a healthy way benefiting the Scottsdale community. Additionally, she developed educational and docent programs for the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River, uncovering inspiring stories that still shine brightly of true heroes and their families.

Maureen is a Scottsdale Leadership alum of Class 35, and has recently focused on making ongoing contributions through community service, embracing the belief that “something amazing is about to happen.” She is excited to work with Blue Zones and share the importance of dedicated involvement in impactful initiatives.

Maureen’s interests in personal growth and wellness align perfectly with Blue Zones’ values. She is committed to preserving the well-being and dignity of seniors, recognizing their vital role in the community. When not working, she enjoys beach time and making memories with her husband, Don, their children: Maya and Alek, and their mini-Golden Doodle, Frosty. When not at home, you’ll find Maureen and Don on the pickleball courts, as they are completely addicted to the game and meeting new people. Maureen is excited to connect and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations.

Krista Schwartz serves as the Project Manager for Blue Zones Project Scottsdale. Prior to joining Blue Zones, she spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector where she wrote grants, managed real estate development projects, and implemented homeownership programs for low to moderate-income homebuyers. She is a registered architect, licensed real estate broker, and former general contractor. Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector, she designed, built, and sold homes as a self-employed homebuilder. Krista’s passion for sharing information and resources with others led her to serve on the boards of the Autism Community in Action (TACA), the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), and Notre Dame Preparatory High School.

Combining her gifts of organization and resourcefulness, her passion for health and well-being, and her values of community and collaboration, Krista is thrilled to find her calling with Blue Zones Project Scottsdale. She looks forward to empowering residents to live better, longer in the community where she grew up and raised her family.

Krista originally hails from Minnesota, but has lived in Arizona since 1973. She attended Arizona State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Design and a Master of Architecture with an emphasis in Urban Planning. When she’s not working, she enjoys reading, traveling, snow skiing, and spending time with family. She is happily married to Steve and is the proud mother of Steven and Jacob.

Ann serves as the Events Specialist for Blue Zones Project Scottsdale and comes from the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, where she was the Program and Events Director. There, she developed, managed and executed hundreds of events in addition to leading and growing Scottsdale Rising Young Professionals through targeted programing and engagement.

Previous employment includes the City of Scottsdale, where Ann gained knowledge about Scottsdale’s Senior Services by managing distribution of food programs and meals to seniors and disabled adults at the Via Linda Senior Center. Her diverse background encompasses work with Fortune 100 companies and non-profit organizations, offering a unique perspective and ability to create connections through events and programming – ultimately fostering a strong, respected, and bonded community.

A Chicagoland native, Ann earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Aurora University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and had the privilege of being the commencement speaker. Her personal health and wellness lifestyle has been in alignment with Blue Zones since purchasing the original National Geographic special edition when it first hit newsstands. Ann is thrilled to be working with the local Scottsdale team to help empower the community she has come to know as home.

Kayaking, roller skating, hiking, concerts and movies are just a few interests that keep Ann’s calendar full. She is always up for new experiences and road trips with her husband, Pat, and dog, Casey.