Meet Committee

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The mission of the South West Arizona Town Hall is to actively involve key public and private sector representatives in thorough discussions about significant regional issues, and to develop meaningful recommendations that can be used by public and private entities in effective, coordinated planning and implementation actions.

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Shelley Mellon

Upon graduating, from the University of Arizona with a degree in Business Administration, Shelley became the 4th generation to follow in her family’s business, R.L. Jones Group.  In that same year she married Colin Mellon, a 3rd generation Yuma produce farmer. Currently they own their own farm and are active in the management and operations of Mellon Farms, Inc., and a ground application company. Shelley owns and operates the three locations of RL Jones Insurance & MVD Services.  Shelley serves as Chair of the Southwest Arizona Futures Forum, Board of Trustees for the Yuma Regional Medical Center Foundation, Chair of the Yuma Education Advocacy Council, a member of the Yuma Youth Leadership Council, Board Member of Expect More Arizona, volunteer with Healing Journey, Board Member Music Director of Journey Church, Chair of the Yuma Union High School District Bond Campaign, and Board Member of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corporation, Board Member of the Benesche Collection (YRMC Art Heals), past Board Member Yuma County Chamber of Commerce. Colin and Shelley have three children: Tanner attending Purdue University, Mckenna - Arizona FFA State President - attending Cornell University, and Walker attending Gila Ridge High School.  

Machele Headington

Machele Headington serves Yuma Regional Medical Center as its Vice President for Marketing Strategy / Support Services. Ms. Headington began her long and rewarding service with YRMC in 1991. As a native of the Yuma community, Ms. Headington knows her hometown well, an investment and personal connection that has truly inspired her service back to the community through her work. She is dedicated to her community actively participating in several community organizations including: Past President of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, Yuma Community Marketing Group, AWC Foundation board, Safe Kids Coalition, Yuma Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Alliance for Healthy Communities. She is currently serving as vice-chair of the South West Arizona Town Hall. Before stepping into her current role, she previously served YRMC as the Director of Community Relations. She brings to YRMC a gift for clear and engaging professional communication, the ability to best share YRMC’s positive and inspiring achievements with both its employees and the public that YRMC strives every day to serve. Prior to joining the Yuma Regional Medical Center team, Ms. Headington enjoyed a rich career in the media that honed her ability to best manage corporate relationships with television and radio stations, as well as newspapers and magazines. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from NYIT University, New York. 

Wayne Benesch

President of Byrne, Benesch & Rice, P.C Wayne C. Benesch is the Managing Partner and President of Byrne, Benesch & Rice, P.C. He has more than 40 years experience and enjoys an exemplary reputation for his integrity and professionalism throughout the State of Arizona. Mr. Benesch is a third generation Arizonan who graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1964 and a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1967. Following a four year term as a Judge Advocate with the United States Air Force, Mr. Benesch settled in Yuma in 1971 where he worked as Chief Deputy for the Yuma County Attorney. In 1973, he entered private practice, and in 1976, co-founded Byrne, Bradshaw, Ellsworth, Benesch & Thode, the predecessor of the present firm. In 2000, he was named the Yuma County Small Businessman of the year. Mr. Benesch is a co-founder of Yuma Leadership, Yuma County Town Hall and the Southwest Arizona Futures Forum. 

Tom Tyree has served in public education for 47 years. In August of 2003 Tyree was appointed Yuma County Superintendent of Schools and was elected to the position in 2004, 2008, 2012 and again in 2016. Prior to assuming his elected position as County Superintendent, Tyree served as a teacher, head basketball coach, building and central office administrator in school districts in Yuma and Mesa, Arizona. Tyree was appointed to the Arizona State Board of Education by Governor Jan Brewer in April of 2010 and served five years on the Board, two as President. Tom has served as the President of the state’s County School Superintendent’s Association having been elected to two terms. He also served as a trustee of Yuma Regional Medical Center serving as Vice – Chair of the Board, Chair of the Western Arizona Council of Governments, Board member and Executive Officer of the Arizona Risk Retention Trust Board and a Board Member of the Arizona Business Education Coalition. In addition, he was President of the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association and served on the National Alumni Board for the University of Arizona and the Arizona Western College Foundation Board. He is a native of Arizona having received under graduate and graduate degrees from the University of Arizona. Tyree was presented with the Public Service Award in 2011 by the University of Arizona Alumni Association for having demonstrated outstanding dedication to the public. Tyree was also inducted into the Yuma High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Tyree is married to Mara Vitolins Tyree (former Miss Yuma County) and has two children, Tiffany and Ryan both educators. 

 

Ian McGaughey

Ian McGaughey was named Deputy Administrator for Yuma County in June 2020. He has more than 15 years of local government experience, including serving as City Manager for Somerton, Arizona, Town Manager for Clifton, Arizona, a director in Tribal government, and as an elected Council member for a city in New York. He has broad experience in the private sector, including small-business ownership, professional communications and public relations responsibilities. Ian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from American University in Washington, DC, and a Master of Public Administration from Arkansas State University. He has been an ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2020.

Jenny Torres serves as the Community Development Director for the City of San Luis. For the past eighteen years, she has worked for nonprofit organizations, government entities and for profit companies in both Arizona and California. Mrs. Torres holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and a Master degree in Public Management from Northern Arizona University. Jenny’s work emphasizes on establishing and coordinating economic and community development projects. Her vocational experience and career emphasis attest to her expertise in areas such as financing, development, construction and management of affordable housing, public projects and business development. In an effort to support community and economic development, Jenny’s work focuses on infrastructure development in order to recruit new businesses to the area. She constantly seeks opportunities to establish and maintain liaison relationships while representing the community at local, state, federal and international levels. Jenny’s education and vocational experience make her an invaluable asset to Yuma County and its surrounding vicinities.

 

Linda Elliott-Nelson, Ph.D. 

Dr. Linda Elliott-Nelson is the Vice President for Learning Services at Arizona Western College. She previously served as the Dean of Instruction, Division Chair of Modern Languages and Professor of Spanish at the same institution and continues to teach. Her prior work experience involved several years in the international business sector. Dr. Elliott-Nelson received a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University, an M.B.A. and an M.A. in Spanish from Arizona State University, and a B.A. degree from Northern Arizona University. Her activities have included coordinating the Gifted Summer Academy for 4th – 8th graders; managing the AWC Language Institute; co-coordinating the Binational Conference on Education with Baja California, Mexico; serving on the Modern Language Association Committee on 2-year Colleges; and volunteering with the City of Yuma on evaluating employee Spanish language proficiency. She received the Outstanding University/College Educator Award from the Arizona Language Association in 2000 and the Teacher of the Year from Arizona Western College in 1999. Elliott-Nelson has presented nationally on community outreach, accelerative learning techniques, and community college projects. She is the Chairman of the Board of Arizona Town Hall and serves on the boards of United Way of Yuma and Arizona Women in Higher Education.

 

Daniel Ortega

Danny is an Arizona native born and raised in Douglas Az. Danny grew up in a family retail business that was established in 1923 by his grandfather. Danny graduated from Douglas High School and Cochise College. After college Danny worked for IBM as a storage technician in Tucson before being promoted to a systems engineer position in Louisville Ky. He worked for IBM for 8 years before returning home to help manage the family business. Danny became involved in the community, he served on the Douglas Unified School District governing board for 12 years, 8 of those years as the school board president. He was the Mayor of Douglas 2012 – 2016. He also served on the Cochise College governing board. He has been with APS since 2016 and is currently the southwest division manager which encompasses Yuma and La Paz Counties. Danny currently is the Secretary/Treasurer of GYEDC,  chairman of the Industry Council of Elevate Southwest,  a member of the Southwest Arizona Town Hall, Arizona Western Foundation Board, San Luis Rotary Club, Yuma Community Food Bank, Visionary Group of San Luis, and a volunteer of CASA of Arizona. Danny’s wife is Anne they have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Mark Schauer

Mark Schauer is the Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, where he has worked since 2008. He is an avid writer and photographer who has had numerous articles and photographs published both nationally and internationally. 

He holds a Master's Degree in English from Northern Arizona University and graduate certificates in Public Relations from Rutgers University and Strategic Communications Planning from the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.

In addition to working at the proving ground, he has been an Associate Professor of English at Arizona Western College since 2012. He is currently the Vice President of the Yuma County Library District Board of Trustees, which he has served on since 2018. Other memberships include the Army Aviation Association of America and the Sons of the American Legion.

Mark has been married to Chandelle since 2007 and lives with daughter Danaca and son Timothy.

 

Jim Larson

Jim Larson currently serves as the Director of Manufacturing at Arizona Western College. In his role there, he collaborates with experts of all kinds to facilitate growth and opportunity for students and manufacturers in the region. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University, and a broad technical background in advanced design for manufacturability, HVAC design, aerospace manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, military testing, and utility design, Jim has the knowledge, experience, and skillset to quickly produce educational programs that provide mutual benefit to all involved. Jim also serves as the Vice-President for the Children’s Museum of Yuma County and is excited to say that the permanent museum is finally open after years of tireless work by many!

 On a personal level, Jim is a proud husband to a leader in the marketing industry as well as the master juggler of the family schedule. Jim is a passionate Uber driver and cook to the best 16-year-old A-student, 4H/FFA juggernaut, and ballerina; 12-year-old biblical scholar, social butterfly, and lover of all people and things; and a 9-year-old mullet owning future multiple sport hall of famer that’s a natural leader on the field. In his spare time, Jim is usually drawing out a DIY project too long because he’s spending most of his time making sure kids are positioned where they need to be and making dinner.