Yana is a senior at Arizona State University, pursuing concurrent degrees in Political Science and Psychology. Yana is passionate about public service, civic engagement, and international relations. She has previously interned with the U.S. Congress, the International Rescue Committee, a wealth management firm, and government affairs firms. In her role with the International Rescue Committee, Yana developed and oversaw a youth coalition group in which she worked with youth from all parts of the world and focused on successfully connecting and building communities. Through her work with the International Rescue Committee, she gained experience in organizing local relief efforts for international conflicts and disasters, humanitarian work, and in writing grant proposals. On campus, Yana has worked as a student-athlete tutor, working directly with student-athletes for over two years and providing tutoring for Economics, Computer Science, Psychology, and English courses. In her free time, Yana enjoys volunteering at non-profits and is passionate about preserving our national parks.
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Amilyn Pierce
Amilyn Pierce is the D-backs’ Vice President, Government Affairs. She joined the organization in October 2018 following nearly 20 years of experience in legislative affairs, policy making, political strategy and campaign management.
Prior to joining the D-backs, Pierce served as Senior Political Director for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry following a two-year stint as Deputy Chief of Staff for Speaker J.D. Mesnard at the Arizona House of Representatives. In the Arizona Legislature, Pierce managed the operations of the House, advised the Speaker on policy matters, and played an integral role in advancing the caucus agenda. Her experience spans three states and started in Oregon, where she served as a Legislative Assistant and rose to the Assistant Legislative Director for House Speaker Karen Minnis. She continued her legislative experience in Washington State where she was a member of the Government Affairs team at the Washington Restaurant Association, one of Washington’s largest business organizations.
Pierce returned to Arizona in 2007, where she held positions at the executive level in the Brewer Administration as the Governor’s External Affairs Coordinator and for Attorney General Mark Brnovich as the Director of Community Outreach. She has worked on statewide campaigns in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, managing a U.S. Senate race, targeted Congressional races, an initiative campaign, and numerous legislative races.
She currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Arizona Cactus League, Board of Directors of Arizona Sports Tourism Authority, the Valley FCA, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, Phoenix Community Alliance, Phoenix Sister Cities Commission, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Arizona Chapter, and on the Advisory Board for WISE Arizona. She also serves on the Public Affairs Committee for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Pierce was recently named on of Arizona’s Most Influential Women of 2023 in AZ Business Magazine.
A lifelong Arizonan, Pierce resides in Peoria with her son, Stevie.
Adam Hawkins
Christopher Curtin
Genevieve Burns
Genevieve Burns graduated from San Jose State University with a Master’s in Library and Information Science and from Northern Arizona University with Bachelor’s degrees in International Affairs, emphasis on Asian Studies, and Communications Studies. She has worked in public libraries and youth-oriented nonprofits and programs for the last decade. A librarian and lifelong martial artist, she enjoys travel and has lived in two of our sister cities countries. She is married to a Soto Zen priest and is raising two dogs.
Irena Juras
Oscar De las salas
A native of Barranquilla, Colombia, Oscar De las salas is an award-winning international architectural designer with more than two decades of experience with municipal and community development projects. Since 2017, he has served as Design Manager, Business Development lead and is currently a Client Relationships Manger in the Gensler Phoenix office, reporting to the Southwest Region.
Oscar completed his Master’s in Architecture and Interior Architecture by the University of Salamanca in 1998 and moved directly to Arizona to study the works of Frank Lloyd Wright to write his thesis project about “American Modernism through the eye of Frank Lloyd Wright”. His European tenure allowed him to pursue internships an Interior Architect and work in the EU within several European countries, He became the Visual Design Manager at-large for the prestigious Italian interior design firm: Cassina.
Oscar’s early career led him to serve as Project Architect, and as the Interior Finishes specification lead and field coordination superintendent for four U.S. Embassies around the world: Bolivia, Colombia, Singapore, and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. As a curious note, Oscar held US Government Clearance Type 3 (Top Secret) while working side by side with the Federal Building Office team in Washington D.C., all via Facsimile and during the early days of email correspondence. Ask him about the protocol to send secured architectural details of the ambassador’s office or the U.S. Marine’s headquarters information back then.
Oscar’s work with the community in Arizona has developed into a variety of volunteering efforts with local charities, He was recognized for his contribution to the community by the Arizona House of Representatives and in 2019, and June 29, his birthday, was declared “Oscar Day” by City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and last month of August 2022, a recognition by the Arizona State Legislature during the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations for his contributions to the state of Arizona.
Oscar has served for 14 years as a member of the board of Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), he is a board member with Phoenix Art Museum, Friends of Phoenix Public Art, ArtLink, Southwest Shakespeare, Vice-Chair of the Urban Land Institute Arizona Chapter, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, committee, and global ambassador for PROCOLOMBIA, a government agency of the Executive Branch of the Government of Colombia in charge of promoting Colombian non-traditional exports, international tourism and foreign investment. Oscar is currently a Commissioner for the Phoenix Sisters Cities and chair of the Colombia commission in search of a sisterhood with a city in his native Colombia
Oscar’s community and media involvement locally, making him a familiar face when it comes to the world of design and style.
Sara Benvidi
Sara is a senior at Arizona State University majoring in Global Management with a certificate in Sales and Marketing. She came to Arizona from Toronto, Canada in order to explore the world of business from a new perspective. After graduation, Sara plans on working for a creative company as a marketing manager.
During her free time, Sara enjoys travelling, baking, and spending time with friends. She has a passion for creativity and people and hopes her work will have an impact in the future. Sara is excited to take on this role at Phoenix Sister Cities, where she can gain hands-on experience and learn more about the intricacies of marketing.
Hyunsook “Jeanne” Sours
Jeanne is currently serving on the Phoenix Sister Cities Suwon Committee as Chair. Jeanne served on the committee as Vice Chair for two years.
Jeanne was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She worked in the radio media as a talk show host and producer with the International Division of The Korean Broadcasting System in Seoul.
After her move to Arizona Jeanne earned her master’s degree in English from Arizona State University and taught English as a Second Language at ASU and Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management. With the advent of the Internet in the ‘80s Jeanne developed a new career in Interactive Technologies. She had a long career in the Technologies Division of American Express Company as a Sr. Programmer Analyst and a Lead Project Manager.
After her long corporate career Jeanne joined Phoenix Art Museum, graduating from the Museum’s Docent Class of 2013. Since then, she’s been enjoying leading tours in the galleries, giving art talks in the communities, and leading Docent Training programs as a Master Docent. Jeanne currently serves on the Museum’s Docent Board.