AFPC Leadership Council

Melissa Luxton, MSN, RN
Chairperson
Trauma Outreach/Injury Prevention Coordinator, Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix
Ms. Melissa Luxton manages ten injury prevention programs which provide education to community members ranging from elementary aged children to older adults. Her background includes over thirteen years of emergency and trauma nursing, along with nearly six years of nursing leadership experience and five years of public health education and outreach.

Dr. Jonathan Lee-Confer, Ph.D.
Secretary General, Education Committee Co-Chairperson
Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
Principal and Director of Biomechanics, Verum Biomechanics (https://verumbiomech.com)
Dr. Jonathan Lee-Confer holds a PhD in Biokinesiology (emphasis in Biomechanics) from the University of Southern California (https://sites.usc.edu/mbrl/). Dr. Lee-Confer specializes in how the body moves and responds to a slip incident as well as tribometry, or the measurement of friction of a floor and how it relates to the likelihood of someone experiencing a slip.

Matthew Karger, EMT-P
Treasurer
Trauma Injury Prevention & Outreach/Performance Improvement Coordinator, Dignity Health, Chandler Regional Medical Center
Mr. Matthew Karger is the Trauma Injury Prevention & Outreach/Performance Improvement Coordinator at Dignity Health, Chandler Regional Medical Center. His background includes over eight years of Emergency Medicine and EMS.

Dr. Babak Michael Nayeri
Chair Emeritus, Immediate Past Chaiperson
Director, Arizona Healthy Aging (A-HA), Arizona Department of Health Services
Dr. Babak M. Nayeri has dedicated his professional career to population health and health systems improvement, public health, and teaching the future workforce. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Geriatrics, General Internal & Palliative Medicine, with a joint appointment at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Lee Itule-Klasen
Southern Regional Chapter Chairperson
Pima County Health Department, Program Coordinator
Ms. Lee Itule-Klasen serves as a Program Coordinator for the Pima County Health Department. Over the past nine years, her work through both the Pima and Cochise County Tobacco and Chronic Disease Prevention Program has involved employee wellness, chronic disease and tobacco prevention programs, health policy initiatives, strategic planning and establishment of healthy community collaboration.

Carol Brown
Western Regional Chapter Chairperson, Policy and Advocacy Committee Co-Chairperson
Western Arizona Council of Governments - Area Agency on Aging, Region IV
Program Development Manager
As the Program Development Manager for Western Arizona Council of Governments – Area Agency on Aging for region IV, serving Yuma, La Paz, and Mohave Counties, Ms. Carol Brown’s main focus is to promote Awareness, Education, Advocacy and Prevention in areas determined to most profoundly affect our Older Arizonans.

Steve Wagner
Policy and Advocacy Committee Co-Chairperson
President and Founder of The RightCare Foundation, Inc.
Steve is the president and founder of The RightCare Foundation, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) Public Charity, founded in 2010. RightCare exists to advocate for and promote best practice care in local communities.

Laura Vineyard
Education Committee Co-Chairperson
Lara Vineyard journeyed to Arizona to pursue a degree from ASU over 25 years ago and lingered to raise her two children with her husband Scott. She has run a digital marketing company here for the past two decades and helped multiple nonprofits and companies grow and establish their brand.

Jeff Case
Strategic Communications Committee, Co-Chairperson
Chief (Ret.), Phoenix Fire Department
Jeff recently retired from the Fire Service after serving as the Fire Chief in Avondale, Arizona and after 33 years with the Phoenix Fire Department. Jeff retired as a Deputy Chief with Phoenix Fire and managed the Emergency Medical Services, Training, Dispatch/Deployment, Support Services, Technical Services and Operations Divisions.

Kelvin Bartee
Strategic Communications Committee, Co-Chairperson
Chief (Ret.), Phoenix Fire Department
Kelvin is a retired Assistant Fire Chief from the City of Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix Arizona. Currently, he provides professional services directed at enhancing the well-being and quality of life for executives, their staff and their customers.

Dr. Devon Turnbull
Website Committee Co-Chairperson
Owner of Elevate PT & Wellness
Dr. Turnbull has created online resources for women with osteoporosis, is the author of The Age Healthy Roadmap and owner of Elevate PT & Wellness. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, and with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. She practiced for several years in outpatient orthopedics, treating a majority of aging adults with musculoskeletal injuries, post-operative conditions and balance/gait limitations.

Irene Stillwell
Awards Committee Chairperson
Executive Director, Arizona Lifelong Fitness Foundation
Ms. Irene Stillwell was born in Los Angeles, California. She studied at Azusa Pacific University, the University of Utah, the Salvation Army School for Officer’s Training (ordained minister and officer), and earned a Bachelor of Music from Arizona State University.

Roxanne Thomas
American Indian Partnership Alliance Committee Chairperson
Area Agency on Aging, Region 8, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
Ms. Roxanne Thomas (Dine’/Navajo & Numu/Paiute) is a Program Specialist with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. – Area Agency on Aging, Region 8 (ITCA-AAA). Ms. Thomas is A Matter of Balance Master Trainer, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Instructor and EnhanceFitness Leader.

Elton Bordenave
Founding Member
Director, A.T. Still University Aging Studies Project
Associate Professor, A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences
Dr. Elton Bordenave is the Director of the A.T. Still University Aging Studies Project and is an associate professor at A.T. Still’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS). He received his B.B.A. (Bachelor in Business Administration) from Baylor University his M.Ed. from Grand Canyon University, and his Ph.D. in healthcare administration.