Staff

Jaye O’Donnell is the City of Mesa Economic Development Director. She leads a team of 17 professionals focused on business attraction, retention and expansion; small business and entrepreneurship; redevelopment and revitalization; and workforce development in Mesa, Arizona, the 37th largest city in the country. O’Donnell’s mission is to grow the local economy, primarily through the expansion of Mesa’s industries of opportunity – Healthcare, Education, Aerospace, Tourism and Technology (HEAT).

In her previous role as Assistant Economic Development Director, Jaye led Mesa CARES Small Business Reemergence Program, Mesa’s higher education recruitment initiative, and the strategic planning process for Office of Economic Development – four plans over 13 years. She also coordinated the branding process and launches of both the Falcon District and the Asian District, Mesa, AZ, efforts to elevate the employment districts and bolster business and commercial development. She is an active member of the Arizona Association of Economic Development Board of Directors.

Prior to coming to Mesa, Jaye was the Senior Director of Marketing and Business Attraction at the Arizona Department of Commerce for five years. She also served the state as the Director of Advertising, Media Relations, and Fulfillment for the Arizona Office of Tourism. Jaye began her career in the public sector at the City of Glendale as the Tourism Manager more than 25 years ago.

She holds a B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University and a certificate in Global Leadership from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Amanda Elliott serves as Deputy Director of Small Business Services and Administration for the City of Mesa’s Office of Economic Development, Amanda oversees specialty spaces, small business and entrepreneurship programs, redevelopment, and cross-departmental collaborations. She manages a team focused on business assistance to foster economic growth.

Previously, Amanda spent more than a decade with the Town of Gilbert’s Office of Economic Development, where she led major redevelopment projects, including those in the downtown Heritage District and Northwest Gilbert. Her earlier career includes roles with national and international construction and development firms.

Amanda Elliott is an accomplished municipal leader with more than 24 years of combined public and private sector experience in economic development, community revitalization, and marketing. She is known for her ability to bring together diverse stakeholders—ranging from city leaders to community members—to address complex challenges and drive strategic initiatives.

Amanda holds a Master of Public Administration with a public policy emphasis from Park University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a Certificate in International Business from Arizona State University. She is also a certified Leader in Place Management through the International Downtown Association (IDA).

Amanda is a member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), a founding member of AZDowntowns, and an IDA Emerging Leaders Fellow. Her leadership roles include chairing IDA’s Top Issues Council for Municipal Partnerships and contributing to councils focused on economic development. Amanda also serves on the Urban Land Institute’s Adaptive Reuse, Infill, and Revitalization Council.

Her contributions have earned her multiple honors, including the AAED Distinguished by Excellence and Presidential Awards, Phoenix Business Journal’s "40 Under 40," and recognition by AZ Big Media as a "People to Know in Economic Development."

Benjamin Snow serves as Deputy Director of Business Development for the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development where he actively works to drive economic development and prosperity for Mesa residents.

Most recently, Ben has served as Director of Economic Health and Housing for the City of Greeley, Colorado. Prior to Greeley, he served as the President of the Rapid City, South Dakota Economic Development Partnership. Additionally, he has served as Executive Director for the Parker Economic Development Council, President and CEO of the Parker Chamber of Commerce, Business Development Manager for the Denver South Economic Development Partnership, and in various facets of commercial real estate development.

Ben brings more than 29 years of experience working with leaders in both the public and private sectors, serving in various capacities of commercial real estate acquisitions, development, investment analysis, project management, urban renewal, housing, market research, and economic development.

During his career, he has had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States and interface with multiple communities, both large and small, while completing many successful real estate and community development projects.

Ben is an energetic and driven executive with a passion for connecting people, building networks and gaining new knowledge and insights into how people think, how economies behave, and the role each person and organization has in growing the economy and making a positive difference in the community.

He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (Real Estate Emphasis) from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council.

Chris Molnar is the Economic Development Administrator. She brings more than 20 years of City experience in a variety of challenging departmental support and operations management roles. Chris began her professional career in the tech industry as a Business Development and Software Licensing Representative in her home state of Nebraska after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Organizational Behavior.

After moving to Arizona in 2000 and working for a real estate company providing administrative, computer, and marketing support, Chris was hired by the City of Mesa in the Human Resources Department in 2003. Her career with the City has provided many beneficial opportunities to learn from her team members in a variety of departments and has proven to be invaluable to Mesa’s economic development team. Chris takes her contribution to the City very seriously, whatever it may be on any given day, is always learning and finding ways to improve operations, and supports her team and other City staff in maintaining its high-performance reputation.

When she’s not working hard for the City of Mesa, Chris is on the lookout for new and unique dining and social options in the area for her and her husband to try, engrossed in a great book, or spending quality time with her son when he takes a break from college life. Every day is a chance to learn something new!

Maribeth Smith joined the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development in 2018 as the Administrative Assistant III to the Director. In this role, Maribeth provides administrative support by assisting the Director in accomplishing performance goals and executing key priorities.

In her previous roles, Maribeth worked for financial and education organizations and was responsible for compliance oversight, budgeting, purchasing, and administrative functions while managing millions in federal grant dollars.

Working for the City of Mesa, Maribeth engages with business leaders through the Economic Development Advisory Board, supporting a diverse array of municipal initiatives.

While Maribeth is an Arizona native, she has also lived in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. In her free time, she enjoys trying local restaurants, reading, and spending time with family, which includes her Boston Terriers.

Sky Stone joined the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development in June 2024 as a Program Assistant. Having a BS in Digital Audiences from ASU and an AAS in Film Production from Scottsdale Community College, Sky combines her knowledge and background in this role operating Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios.

Sky brings several years of experience working for the city to this position. In 2021, she joined the Community Service's Department as a Team Lead of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, distributing $50 million of rent and utility aid and serving 7,500 households during the COVID pandemic. After returning to school for her bachelor's degree in 2022, Sky moved to the Mesa Arts Center as a House Manager.

Prior to working with the City of Mesa, Sky interned with the Scottsdale Civic Center in the Digital Media Lab, helping local entrepreneurs create promotional videos, teaching residents how to use computer programs, and assisting in presentations on how to grow business online.

In her time off, Sky enjoys reading, going to concerts, and spending time with her loved ones, especially her dog Poppy.

Jessica Dinka joins the City of Mesa’s Office of Economic Development as an Administrative Support Assistant II, bringing with her more than 20 years of administrative experience in both public and private sectors. She is excited to contribute her expertise and passion for community service in support of Mesa’s continued growth and economic vitality.

Originally from Wisconsin, Jessica relocated to Arizona in 2024. Prior to her move, she spent the last decade supporting the Public Safety Division at a local technical college and proudly serving her community as an on-call firefighter and emergency medical responder. Her professional background reflects a strong commitment to teamwork, public service, and operational excellence.

Jessica is energized by opportunities to support mission-driven work and is proud to be part of a team focused on meaningful community impact. She brings a career grounded in integrity, service, and a deep appreciation for building strong, resilient communities.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time exploring the National Parks with her husband and daughters, discovering local coffee and ice cream shops, watching football, and going for runs.

Kim Lofgreen joined the City of Mesa Economic Development team in April 2013 as the Marketing and Business Development Manager. In this position, Kim is responsible for developing and implementing a broad base of marketing and business development strategy to recruit business and drive the expansion of Mesa’s key industries including Healthcare and Healthcare Services, Medical Devices, Aerospace and Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Technology, and Advanced Business and Financial Services.

Previously, Kim served as the Senior Advisor to the World Trade Center Utah on marketing strategy and China related topics and events. He also served as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. Kim has also held marketing management positions within the semiconductor and graphic design industries.

Kim earned both an MBA and a BS in Marketing with an emphasis in international business and Asian studies from Arizona State University.

Kelley Keffer is a Project Manager for the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development (OED). She joined the team in December 2012. Kelley is responsible for leading the department’s award-winning small business and entrepreneurship initiative – Mesa Business Builder and the Mesa HUUB digital platform for small businesses. She also represents the OED as a liaison with education partners, and manages a variety of attraction, retention, and expansion projects. Kelley works with hundreds of small businesses each year, providing support, resources, and training on a wide range of topics. Her success managing LaunchPoint the City’s business incubator resulted in more than 70 participating companies in a wide range of technology, medical devices, bioscience, and advanced materials companies that have created more than 350 jobs and raised more than $300M in capital, enhancing the local economy and the region.

Originally from the metropolitan Detroit area, prior to joining the City of Mesa, Kelley served for more than six years as the Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mohave Community College, and as an Associate Faculty member teaching Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration – Management from Walsh College. Additionally, she was co-owner of a successful residential and commercial contracting company for more than 20 years.

Kelley proudly works to improve the city she lives in for the citizens of Mesa. To her, the most fulfilling aspect of working in economic development is working with businesses and entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and find solutions to keep them growing to enhance the diverse economic base in Mesa.

Nick Juszczak joined the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development in January 2021 and currently serves as Project Manager. Nick is responsible for management and site oversight at the City of Mesa’s AZLabs facility, including business attraction, expansion, and lease negotiations. He also assists new companies looking to locate in Mesa by providing site selection assistance. While specializing in data centers, he assists companies large and small who are looking to expand into Mesa. In addition, he works with developers to bring new product to the market and helps move them through the entitlement process.

Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Nick worked with CBRE Labor Analytics as a Site Selection Consultant. He specialized in labor market analysis, including workforce longevity, scalability, and development strategies for corporations. Former clients include Alorica, Bank of America, Charter/Spectrum, General Motors, Hyatt, Kohls, MetLife, and Royal Bank of Canada.

Working in downtown Mesa allows Nick access to some small business restaurants in the area. He often has lunch downtown. Hope’s Frybread, Mango’s, and Blue Adobe are some of his favorites.

Nick is a native of Arizona and graduated from University of Arizona in Tucson with a B.S. in Business Management. He also played golf collegiately and pursued his dream of playing professionally after graduation. Today, he continues playing golf competitively at an amateur level and can often be found competing in Arizona Golf Association events around the State.

Frank Adams joined the City of Mesa in 2023 and is a Project Manager. This position allows Frank to leverage his skills in a way that serves the community by support, information, and tools and assisting businesses looking to locate to Mesa, or existing Mesa businesses looking to expand. He provides support, research and tools.

Franks specializes in Advanced Air Mobility, Climate Technology, and Autonomous and Electric Vehicles and Energy/Battery. He loves the idea of Mesa being a part of ushering in the future. He looks forward to bringing exciting companies to Mesa to provide quality jobs to its citizens.

Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Frank worked in commercial lending, providing support to clients both internally and externally to build up a diverse portfolio of strong clients and commercial loans. He has also spent time reviewing client financials and underwriting commercial loans and businesses. This has provided Frank with a well-rounded view of finance, economic development, and customer service.

Frank graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Economics and from Florida State University with an MBA.Frank has lived in Mesa for more than 20 years and loves the growing diversity of Mesa. With his family, he loves exploring the downtown area of Mesa, as well as the amazing public pools during the Arizona summer.

Yvette Armendariz joined the City of Mesa Economic Development team in September 2021. She currently serves as a Project Manager overseeing business retention and expansion efforts. Yvette initially joined as a Marketing/Communications Specialist II to create awareness of resources available to small business owners via Mesa Business Builder. She has supported social media messaging, earned media efforts, small business programs, and branding projects including Mesa’s Asian District murals project.

Yvette has a long history as an award-winning business journalist with Gannett, working for both The Arizona Republic and the El Paso Times. During her newspaper tenure, she won several awards for being a small business advocate (highlighting trends and issues facing small, diverse companies) from the U.S. Small Business Administration and various chambers and business advocacy groups. She led multiple enterprise reporting projects as a journalist, and managed business development/public relations projects as a consultant. Her understanding of small business needs and challenges is integral to her role in economic development, where she’s also working toward becoming a certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional.

Yvette earned a BA in journalism, with a minor in economics, from New Mexico State University. Working for the City of Mesa has been rewarding for Yvette because she connects business owners to the people and resources needed for success. During her down time, she enjoys checking out art exhibitions at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum or attending concerts at Mesa Arts Center.

Levi Leyba joined the City of Mesa’s Office of Economic Development in 2025 and serves as a Project Manager focused on supporting Mesa’s small business community. In this role, Levi helps connect entrepreneurs and local businesses with the resources, training, and programs offered through initiatives such as Mesa Business Builder @ the Studios and LaunchPoint. He works closely with community partners, nonprofits, and city departments to develop and promote opportunities that strengthen Mesa’s business ecosystem.

Levi began his career in public service as a Police Officer, later serving as a Public Information Officer with the Town of Gilbert Police Department. There, he led community engagement efforts, developed outreach programs, and managed branding projects that built trust between law enforcement and the community. He also brings more than two decades of experience in marketing, digital communications, and visual design, which he leverages to help Mesa businesses connect with audiences and grow their presence. In addition to his work in public service and creative industries, Levi has taught business courses as an Adjunct Professor with Maricopa Community Colleges, helping students develop the knowledge and skills to launch and grow their own ventures.

Beyond his role in economic development, Levi is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. His books have been distributed to Title I schools helping to close literacy gaps for underserved students. His passion for community, communication, and creative problem-solving continues to guide his work supporting Mesa’s diverse business landscape.

Levi holds an MBA from Wilkes University, a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications and an Associate Degree in Graphic Design & Multimedia from Westwood College. In his free time, he enjoys exploring Arizona’s trails, illustrating new stories, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Brian Adkins joined the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development August 2024 as an Economic Development Specialist. In this position, Brian provides support, information, and tools for businesses looking into locating and expanding in Mesa.

Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Brian worked in commercial real estate with NAI Premier, completing land development, industrial, office, and retail projects for local to national credit clients throughout the Greater Salt Lake City region. Prior to his work at NAI, Brian spent more than five years in Arizona working for Intel Corporation at Fab 32, specializing in process engineering, quality control, maintenance, troubleshooting, and operations.

He earned his Master of Arts in Political Psychology from Arizona State University’s School of Politics and Global Studies in December 2022, after earning concurrent Bachelors of Arts in History and Religious Studies at Arizona State in December 2020 with the G.I. Bill. Growing up in rural Tennessee, Brian raised beef cattle and grew both burley and dark-fired tobacco with his sister, parents, and grandparents on their multigenerational family farm on Yellow Creek. After graduating high school, he served for seven years in the United States Navy, deploying in service of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom in 2007 and 2008.

Brian loves to explore Arizona with his wife and daughter. Whether navigating the twisting trails of the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch or meeting with near-mythical histories at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the Adkins family is often courting adventure.

Hayley Freestone is an Economic Development Specialist in the City of Mesa’s Office of Economic Development. She brings a unique blend of private sector experience and community engagement to the team, with a strong background in business development and strategic relationship building across a variety of industries.

Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Hayley attended William Penn University in Iowa on a softball scholarship and earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Her career began with an internship at Carollo Engineers, where she gained valuable experience in administration, marketing, and human resources. That experience led to her first role in the construction industry, where she helped a California-based general contractor expand into the Arizona market. From there, she joined A.R. Mays Construction, focusing on business development efforts across diverse markets including retail, commercial, and tribal communities.

Hayley is passionate about community involvement and currently serves as President of the Young Professionals Board for Treasure House, a nonprofit that provides supportive living for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this role, she leads advocacy, fundraising, and volunteer initiatives in support of the organization’s mission.

Hayley can often be found playing in a recreational softball league, golfing, traveling with friends and family, or relaxing with a good book. She is excited to bring her energy, experience, and collaborative mindset to the City of Mesa and is always looking for new opportunities to learn and grow.

Angie Herrera joined the City of Mesa Economic Development team as Marketing/Communications Specialist II in March 2024. Angie, a Northern Nevada native, ventured to Arizona with excitement to immerse herself in the vibrant community of Mesa. With a solid foundation in marketing, she has demonstrated her expertise across diverse industries, ranging from healthcare to sports. She holds a B.S. degree in Marketing from the University of Nevada, Reno, and an MBA from Western Governors University.

Throughout her career, Angie has played a pivotal role in managing all facets of marketing campaigns, showcasing her strategic skills and creative flair. Angie has fostered positive change, raised awareness, and empowered individuals to engage in meaningful activities that address local needs and enhance the community through her previous marketing and volunteer work.

Now, as she embarks on a new chapter, Angie is eager to bring her talents and passions to the city of Mesa to continue her journey.