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Flinn-Brown Fellows, former Flinn Foundation staff appointed by governor to high-ranking state positions

January 10, 2020

By Matt Ellsworth

Daniel Ruiz, who recently served as Gov. Doug Ducey’s senior advisor, has been appointed as the state of Arizona’s chief operating officer.

Two Flinn-Brown Fellows and the former senior program manager of the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation were recently appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to new high-level state positions.

Ducey appointed Flinn-Brown Fellow Daniel Ruiz as the state’s chief operating officer and Fellow Trista Guzman-Glover as the director of boards and commissions. Ruiz, who joined the Governor’s office in 2015, was previously Ducey’s senior advisor while Guzman-Glover, who has served in various roles over the past five years, was most recently the director of constituent services.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving in Gov. Ducey’s administration as director of boards and commissions and look forward to expanding efforts to connect with Arizonans statewide, foster civic engagement, and shape a brighter future for our state,” Guzman-Glover said.

Emily Rajakovich is the new human resources director at the Arizona Department of Administration.

Emily Rajakovich, who had served as director of boards and commissions since 2017, is the new state human resources director at the Arizona Department of Administration. Rajakovich previously served as senior program manager for the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership and its flagship program, the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy, which were established in 2011 to increase the number of Arizonans dedicated to civic life and provide the knowledge and skills to address the state’s long-term challenges.

Trista Guzman-Glover will replace Emily Rajakovich as the director of boards and commissions.

Ruiz and Guzman-Glover, as Flinn-Brown Fellows, are part of the Flinn-Brown Network with more than 350 members from both urban and rural Arizona with wide-ranging expertise, experience, and viewpoints. Ruiz, who will oversee all state agency operations and manage the governor’s cabinet, is the 2018 recipient of the Jack B. Jewett Public Service Award from the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, named for the Flinn Foundation’s retired president and CEO.

“I am grateful for the dedicated, hardworking team we have in the governor’s office and throughout state government,” Gov. Ducey said in a statement. “Their talent and drive are directly reflected in the significant results we have achieved over the last five years to move our state forward and expand opportunity for all. I look forward to working together to get more positive results for Arizonans in the years ahead.”

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