Staff
Full Time
EJ
Hughes
Branch Director
EJ has eleven years experience in Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale with the Rose Lane and Piper Branches. EJ oversees the facility, full-time staff, vans, resources and overall operations of the Piper Branch. EJ is a familiar face as he returns to the Piper Branch, where he served four years as the Youth Development Supervisor, from the Rose Lane where he served as the Branch Director for the past two years. EJ is a graduate of
Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Public Administration. EJ is a
member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Academy at the Distinguished Level for Youth Development.
Youth Development Supervisor
Cassie grew up in Fountain Hills, AZ. She joined our organization as a Junior Staff member, working at the McKee Branch. At McKee she quickly moved up the ranks. In 2000, while pursuing her secondary education degree at ASU, she became the Before School Supervisor. From there she became the full-time Branch Administrative Assistant and then the Education Coordinator. In 2006 she became the YDS at McKee and has been
expanding her B&GC knowledge ever since. Cassie has achieved her Youth Development and Management Professional Boys & Girls Club
Academy Awards.
Athletic Director
Jeff has over 30 years staff experience with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale having started as a junior staff member in the 1960s. He has two decades of experience as an athletic director and was also a branch manager for five years in the 1980s. Jeff runs the universally recognized premier youth basketball program in the state. In addition to overseeing the youth basketball program, Jeff provides a diverse fitness and recreation
program including low-organized games, fitness challenges, lifetime sports opportunities, and the RBI baseball program. Jeff is a native of Illinois and
has attained the Youth Development Professional level in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Academy
Education Coordinator
Cat has been with the Piper Branch for five years and was promoted to full-time education coordinator in January 06. She coordinates the education core area which is designed to enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology. Cat was a 12-year member at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix and Youth of the Year in 1998. Cat is a recreation major at ASU and is a native of Phoenix. She has attained the Youth Development and Management
Professional levels in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Academy.
Art Coordinator
She has worked three summers at the Piper Branch (this past summer as Group A leader), worked last year at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson where she was Fine Arts Coordinator, and also interned at two art museums in Tucson where she created and implemented educational art programs for youth. This school year Heather will be coordinating a variety of new and ongoing arts programs. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the
University of Arizona as an art history major with a Spanish minor. Heather is a native of New Hampshire.
Branch Administrative Assistant
We are pleased to have Vicki back at the Piper Branch. She has been with the Club since October 2003 when she started as membership aide at Piper then went to Rose Lane as the full-time administrative assistant in spring 2005 before returning to us. She is responsible for providing information about the Clubs programs, giving tours of the Club, tracking membership, and tracking member accounts. Vicki is a member of Boys &
Girls Clubs of America Academy. She is a native of Oakland, California.
Sr. Staff
Greg
Aborn
Field Coordinator
Greg traveled here from Massachusetts this past year. He attended the Wentworth Institute of Technology. He began his work here at Piper back in September. His love of fitness and sports has been a wonderful addition to our program. Along with his accent he brought his fanaticism of the Sox.
Elyssa
Bustamante
PLAY Zone Coordinator
Elyssa has joined us from Arizona State University. In the past she has volunteered at a Boys & Girls Club in the East Valley; so she knows all the in's and out's of a branch. Elyssa will be heading up our PLAY Zone where members will be participating in the SMART Moves curricula and Immersion activities. Elyssa is a native Arizonian; hailing from Mammoth, Arizona. She enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, and softball.
Colleen
Carey
Games Room Coordinator
Colleen joined us this past summer as a group leader for Cabin A. On days she's not here, she's at ASU working on her master's in Secondary Education in the area of Art. In the past she's worked in Montana at a summer lodge and performed in a country western cabaret six nights a week. Next time you see her ask her to show you the picture of her in her HeeHaw outfit!
Maria
Castillero
Teen Coordinator
Maria is one of the newest faces here at Piper. She is currently attending ASU with plans of graduating with a degree in Child Psychology. One of Maria's passions is running. She goes for 3 mile runs everyday. She also enjoys snowboarding, shopping, wakeboarding and traveling the world.
Breckin Harris
Learning Center Coordinator
Breckin came to us last spring. Very quickly she has changed the Education Department around- setting high standards for our members and our staff. Breckin is in charge of LIFE Camp, Academic Aid, and Power Hour. "I enjoy working at the Boys & Girls Club - it's taught me more than any amount of school at ASU." Currently, Breckin is attending ASU seeking her MS in Kinesiology. She has been applying to medical schools around
the country.
Courtney
Lesiak
Field Coordinator
Courtney comes to us from ASU where she is planning on receiving a BA in Communications with a minor in Recreation Management. She has played soccer for 13 years. She loves working out, dogs, and scrapbooking. Courtney has lived in five different states and has studied abroad in Australia and New Zealand. Courtney was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joe
Perrone
Front Desk Supervisor
Joe has been with the Piper staff for two years. He is the Plant Manager at Laguna Elementary School. He has worked in a variety of program areas here at the Club: the field, the gym, the PLAY Zone, and the games room. Joe enjoys working with youth. Joe is a native of the Bronx, New York and a huge Yankee's fan.
Sue Marsh
Membership Aide
Sue started at the Piper Branch in March. She assists Vicki with providing information about the Clubs programs, giving tours of the Club, tracking membership, and tracking member accounts. Sue is a native of New Jersey.
Sara
Thomas
Teen Coordinator
This staff member can put her toes in her ears at any given moment - all you have to do is ask! She's been attending the Piper Branch since she was 6 years old (it's not polite to ask her how many years). Sara attended UofA for a few years, realized her mistake, and came back up to Scottsdale. This Classy Lady's goal in life is to be S-U-P-E-R.
Jr. Staff
Chase
Barrett
Front Desk
Chase has been a long time member of the Piper Branch. He first began his career with us at a volunteer in the Leader-in-Training program. Quickly he worked up the ladder by becoming our summer, daytime, janitor. Chase is a sophomore at Desert Mountain High School. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut.
Kristen
Barrett
Front Desk
Kristen became a Piper Branch member in 3rd grade, volunteered in the Leader-in-Training Program for a couple of summers, and became a staff member over a year ago. She was a Group C leader this past summer and has worked in many areas of the Club. Kristen is a senior at Desert Mountain High School. Kristen is a native of Connecticut.
Jordan
Fox
Games Room Assistant
Jordan's the newest addition to our Junior Staff team. He is a junior at Desert Mountain High School. Jordan plays football and loves a challenge. Jordan is a native of Seattle, Washington.
Mikala
Hammitt
Floater
This is Mikala's first year as a Jr. Staff. She is a sophomore at Desert Mountain High School. Mikala enjoys playing guitar. She is an active member of Keystone.
Alexa
Harrison
Learning Center Assistant
Alexa is a junior at Desert Mountain High School, where she is on the Pom Squad. Alexa has been working with us for the past two years, but was a long time Club member. Alexa was a finalist for Piper Youth of the Year this year and was named the Most Valuable Youth in that process. She was born here in the Valley.
Katie Loker
Art Room Assistant
Katie has been a long-time member at the Piper Branch and this completed her third summer as a staff member. She has worked in a number of different areas and programs of the Club including LIFE Camp, Keystone (President), and Drama Club. In March, Katie earned Piper Branch Youth of the Year. Katie is a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Desert Mountain HS. She aspires to be a lawyer. She is a native of
Wisconsin.
Andrew
Pickering
Tech Center Coordinator
Andrew is a senior at Desert Mountain High School. He has been with the Boys & Girls Clubs for 10 years. This year he is part of our Youth of the Year program, along with being the founder of the Pokemon Club. Andrew plays in a band called “The Walks" (CDs now available). Andrew's goal is to become a doctor and would like to go to Washington State. He was born in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Michael Tuchband
Tech Center Coordinator
Michael is a senior at Desert Mountain High School. He is spending his 11th year with the movement in the Tech Center. Michael is the facilitator of Tech Heads, Movie Makers, and Digi Kids. Michael is also an active member of Keystone. Michael plays guitar in a band called “The Walks.” He is a California native. In the future Michael wants to be a scientist of physics and chemistry, a "Rocket Explosion Death Machinologist(sp)" to be exact.
Angela
Vaught
Learning Center Assistant
Angela has been a staff member at the Club for over a year now. She became a Piper Branch member in 4th grade, became a Leader-in-Training (LIT), and was hired as a staff before last summer. Angela is a senior at Desert Mountain High School. After graduating she plans on seeking a career in the environmental sciences. Her favorite things are to dance and being around her friends. She is an active member of Keystone, holding
the office of Treasurer. Angela will be joining a group of Club teens this summer on a tour of Europe. She loves ice cream and going to the movies.
She was born and raised in Scottsdale.
Rio
Zirker
Health & Life Skills Assistant
This Desert Mountain High School junior was named after a Chee"RIO"s box. Rio has been with the Boys & Girls Club movement for 11 years, first starting in Boys & Girls Clubs of Apache Junction. Her involvement in the organization has taken her to the Techathalon, Key Stone Conferences, and Youth of the Year nomination. Rio's love for basketball shows every Suns season and this year she made the Junior Varsity Girls Basketball
team at her school. After graduation she wants to pursue a career as a criminal lawyer.
Jeff
Berman
Cathleen Cole
