Crisi Clark was born and raised in a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Before moving to Arizona, she worked in a manufacturing facility focusing on quality control and lean manufacturing. In 2005, she relocated to the Verde Valley, where she raised her three children while building a career in sales, consulting, marketing, and customer retention. With over 15 years of experience in customer relations, she held key roles such as Customer Experience Specialist and Assistant Director of Sales at Mold In Graphics Systems.
Drawn by the history, beauty, and strong sense of community, Crisi made Camp Verde her permanent home in 2019. In 2021, she transitioned into a new career as an Economic Development Specialist for the Town of Camp Verde. In this role, she manages the Visitor’s Center and works to establish responsible tourism, leveraging her knowledge, creativity, and relationship-building skills to support local businesses through retention and expansion initiatives. Her commitment to excellence is underscored by her AAED Pro certification from the Arizona Association of Economic Development in 2022.
Crisi is deeply passionate about outdoor recreation and community engagement. She serves as the President of the Verde Valley Trail Fund, an organization dedicated to securing grants and donations to build and maintain trails in the Verde Valley. Additionally, she plays an active role in the Verde Front, where she facilitates a trails subgroup, co-chairs the Outdoor Economic Working Group, and participates in the Watchable Wildlife and Trails Working Group. She is also a member of the NACOG Tourism Committee and a board member of Verde Valley Leadership.
Believing in the strong connection between leadership development and economic growth, Crisi is committed to fostering initiatives that empower individuals and businesses in her community.
Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Crisi enjoys exploring the trails of the Verde Valley with her two dogs, Quincy and Ryder. She cherishes time spent with her three adult children and two grandchildren, continuing to embrace the outdoor lifestyle that has become a central part of her life.
Kellie is a Customer Project Representative for Arizona Public Service and takes great pride in providing positive customer experiences for the Verde Valley community. Prior to joining team APS, Kellie worked as the Assistant Director of the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning in which she led programming for over 3,000 students each year. Kellie and her family moved to Clarkdale in 2020 and have enjoyed getting involved in Verde Valley Little League, starting Zona Guides – an Arizona based hunting guide business, and volunteering throughout the community. Kellie’s family enjoys hunting, fishing, archery, kayaking, and gardening – anything to get her adventurous kids in the great outdoors. As a graduate of class XVI, Kellie continued with the program as a board member and is currently serving as the Vice President and Graduation Chair.
Patricia Greer has been with APS since 1990, performing many different positions in her 31-year career. Patty was originally trained as a Social Worker at a local community college in California. She worked for the County of San Bernadino in Adult Protection Services until she moved to Arizona in 1988.
Her passion for the Seniors in her community has been exhibited by the many different board and volunteer positions she has held over the years in the Verde Valley. She has volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, Homeless Coalition, Boys and Girls Club, and local food banks. She loves to volunteer at the Verde Valley Senior Center.
Patty has a passion for our youth. She is a registered Volunteer Girl Scout and is leading her 3rd generation of Future Girl Leaders. She is a registered first aider with Red Cross.
She is a huge nature enthusiast and loves to be outdoors. She enjoys kayaking the Verde River from her backyard. Patty loves her Yorkie Chihuahua mix named Pixie, and her Pitbull Max.
Christian Oliva del Rio, a transplant from California, has resided in the Verde Valley area for 30 years. During that time, he owned a small internet business and worked as an adjunct instructor and computer tutor at Yavapai College. He is thankful for his current role with the Greater Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce. Now in his 17th year with the chamber, Christian started as the office manager and is now serving as President/CEO. The Chamber has allowed him to serve the community he loves and to grow professionally. He is a graduate of Verde Valley Leadership-Class II, Western Association of Chamber Executives-Academy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce-Institute of Nonprofit Organization Management, and currently serves as VVL Treasurer.
Chell Smart is the Assistant Manager of Parks and Communications for the Town of Clarkdale. Chell also takes pride in fostering improved communication and leadership across the region.
In her free time, Chell enjoys the challenge of keeping up with her two teenagers and volunteering at local community events. She has a passion for hiking and traveling, whether exploring nearby or distant destinations. Chell is a proud graduate of Verde Valley Leadership Class XV and currently serves as its President.
Brandon Echols is a Service Planning Supervisor working for Arizona Public Service here in the Verde Valley. Before being promoted to Supervisor in 2018, he earned his Associates degree through Yavapai College and worked at four different electric utilities located in Arizona, Texas, and Oregon. Brandon prides himself on hard work, efficiency, and building relationships. His professional career has mostly been in the electric utility industry in various roles such as meter reader, lineman apprentice, designer, and project manager.
Brandon currently resides in Clarkdale, AZ with his wife, Brittany, and their two sons Brock and Brentley. When not at work he enjoys spending time with his family, outdoor activities, and remodeling homes. Brandon is a graduate of Verde Valley Leadership Class XIV.
Andrea is a third-generation Verde Valley resident and a member of the Cocopah Indian Tribe of Arizona. She started working at the Greater Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce as an office assistant in 2015 through a NACOG work/study program. Although she tried a few industries after the program ended, she ultimately decided that Chamber work was her calling. In 2020, she returned to the Chamber and became the Visitor Center Manager, playing a key role in the opening of the Old Town Visitor Center, a secondary location for the Chamber.
As the Director of Operations, she now oversees both Visitor Centers as well as the new Cottonwood Business Resource Center. Andrea was also instrumental in founding the Greater Cottonwood Chamber Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit branch of the Chamber. She collaborates with local community leaders to promote the Verde Valley and enhance the business community. Andrea is a proud VVL Class XVII Graduate and now serves on the Board of Directors.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her partner and their Dutch Shepherd.
Kevin Murie was raised in Cottonwood, AZ and is has been in law enforcement for nearly two decades, presently occupying the position of Commander at the Cottonwood Police Department in Arizona. Kevin has demonstrated unwavering dedication to ongoing professional growth and scholarly advancement. Kevin has held a range of professional positions, including Team Commander with Verde Valley Regional SWAT and Task Force Officer with Homeland Security Investigations. His notable attributes consist of effective communication skills, responsible leadership, and streamlined operational planning. Notable among his qualities are his social intellect, dependability, regard for others, and strong sense of citizenship. Kevin obtained his bachelors degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. Kevin graduated from the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in June 2023. Coaching youth athletics, participating in charitable events, and volunteering for local community programs are all aspects of his community involvement. Kevin and Michelle, his spouse, have volunteered as foster parents for the past six years, providing children throughout Arizona with a secure and nurturing environment. Kevin, an athletic by nature, derives enjoyment from participating in a variety of sports, including the growing sport of pickleball.