USFS Tonto
Representatives to be determined.
Carolina Jordão
Carol is an Integrated Conservation and Development researcher and facilitator from Brazil. She has been working with environmental governance, rural development, and leadership building for the past 13 years, especially in the Amazon Rainforest. She uses qualitative research methods, environmental education and communication tools, and facilitation skills in collaborative efforts to engage stakeholders and build local capacity to deal with complex socio-ecological problems.
Harry Cooper
Harry is the Director of Water Conservation Innovation for the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII), working to foster science-based, innovative conservation and efficiency approaches in both supply and demand sides of water management, across multiple water sectors, scales, and disciplines to address complex water-related challenges in Arizona.
Harry has more than 20 years of practical, professional experience in landscape architecture, water conservation, and natural resources management. He is a registered landscape architect in Arizona and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Renewable Natural Resources Management. Harry brings a holistic approach to sustainability and resiliency, recognizing that water, land use, and climate are inextricably linked.
In prior public sector work with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC), Harry focused on promoting integrated land and water resources management strategies into the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of flood and stormwater management projects. In his most recent previous role with the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA), Harry worked with local municipalities and regional entities to coordinate conservation initiatives and encourage implementation of new strategies, programs, and policies.
Harry was a core member in the development of the Greater Phoenix Metro Green Infrastructure Handbook in collaboration with ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network (SCN). He was a key team member and stakeholder agency representative in the EPA/FEMA sponsored technical assistance workshop and final report, Integrating Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development Tools into Hazard Mitigation Plans, 2019. Harry facilitated the Landscape Technical Advisory Committee for the 2025 update of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) Low-Water, Drought-Tolerant Plant List. He serves as an External Advisory Committee member for the Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project (ATUR) and as a Steering Committee member for the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA).
Education
MLA, Landscape Architecture, University of Arizona
BS, Renewable Natural Resources Management, University of Arizona
Alexa Holzinger
My name is Alexa and I am an intern at Desert Botanical Garden, as well as a keyholder at Starbucks. I have a bachelor’s in Conservation Biology at Arizona State University and continue to participate in alumni activities. In my free time, I volunteer at Mom’s Pantry Food Bank and work on art projects!
Mary Chisholm
I serve as the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) Engagement Coordinator, and in that role, I engage with partners, organize outreach events and community science projects, facilitate meetings, and support initiatives that advance CAZCA’s mission and support the Regional Open Space Strategy (ROSS). I obtained my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After graduating, I moved to Arizona to pursue my M.S. in Plant Biology and developed a passion for conserving the Sonoran Desert. I am also passionate about native plants, environmental advocacy, and collaborative conservation work.
Education
M.S., Plant Biology and Conservation, Arizona State University
B.S., Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Ariana Ewell
Ariana Ewell is in her senior year of her undergraduate honors education at Arizona State University. She is pursuing a career in environmental research by majoring in Biological Science with a concentration in Conservation Biology and Ecology, a certificate in Geographic Information Systems, and an accelerated master’s program with a thesis on pollutants and coral reefs. With a variety of experience in public relations, media production, research practices, and STEM education, Ariana desires to make a difference in the science community. Ariana hopes to continue to contribute to local conservation efforts and advocate for communities impacted by climate change.
Sebastian Almaraz
Sebastian Almaraz is an ASU graduate with a bachelor’s of science in Conservation Biology and Ecology and two minors in Sustainability and Transborder Chicano/Latino Studies and pursued skills in geographic information science. Growing up in an underserved community in Arizona, Sebastian saw the need for stronger and more coordinated efforts to preserve our natural and cultural resources, especially through community outreach and engagement. His awareness grew into a passion for environmental preservation, specifically in wildlife and water conservation and sustainable development. He currently works as a collaborative conservation intern with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance through the Desert Botanical Garden.
Neil Large
Neil Large is the Program Administrator for Arizona’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, a division of Arizona State Parks and Trails. Since 2017, he has served as the Digital Marketing Coordinator at State Parks, where he honed his expertise in high-level marketing—skills he now applies to his leadership role in the Office of Outdoor Recreation and to this committee.
A proud graduate of ASU’s renowned Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Neil began his career at Facebook, training advertisers to succeed in digital marketing. Before joining State Parks, he was the Chief Editor of a Western outdoor magazine, further deepening his knowledge of the industry. His extensive background in marketing, media, and Arizona’s outdoor recreation landscape uniquely positions him to guide the future of outdoor recreation in the state.
An Arizona native, Neil has explored nearly every corner of the state, immersing himself in its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and vast outdoor recreation opportunities. He and his wife are raising their four daughters with a deep love for the outdoors, frequently hiking, camping, birding, fishing, and hunting. His passion for Arizona’s natural beauty has made him a dedicated advocate for sustainability, conservation, and the recruitment and growth of the next generation of outdoor stewards.
Emma Lohman
Emma Lohman is a Collaborative Conservation Intern for the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance. She provides support to different partners in the CAZCA network and other organizations, helping with projects that include fieldwork, data collection, outreach, and education. Emma recently graduated from Northern Arizona University with her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and an emphasis in Biology. Her education and research background focused on sustainable solutions to waste at NAU sporting events and Emory oak acorn patterns of seed dispersal and predation. As an Arizona native, Emma enjoys spending time outdoors while hiking and playing tennis/pickleball, as well as pursuing her love of photography.
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