Board of Directors

Founder and President

Deborah J. Graham, PhD

Dr. Deborah Graham brings a combination of organizational leadership, business management, board service, and direct experience within the disability community to her role as Founder and Board President. She established True Genius Education in 2003 as a private tutoring company, where she worked directly with students in reading and mathematics, including specialized reading intervention as a dyslexia reading specialist. This work gave her firsthand experience addressing individual learning needs while simultaneously managing and developing an education-based business, which she has overseen for more than two decades.

Before entering education, Dr. Graham earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations and held Series 6 and Series 63 securities registrations, providing early professional experience with financial services, employment practices, organizational operations, and workforce systems. Her M.Ed. in Cross-Categorical Special Education included a secondary focus in special education law, adding formal study of the legal and regulatory framework governing services for students with disabilities. These areas of expertise have remained particularly relevant as True Genius has expanded its staff, programs, community partnerships, and employment-focused services.

Dr. Graham’s community involvement includes previous volunteer service with the Special Olympics, multiple community projects across AZ, and service as a board member and chair of the student chapter of the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children. Combined with her professional background, these experiences bring a well-rounded perspective to her role as Board President, grounded in direct student service, special education, organizational management, employment systems, and governance. This breadth of experience supports the Board’s responsibility for organizational accountability, strategic oversight, and long-term direction.

Secretary

Marisol Santillan

Marisol Santillan is a strategic procurement and supply chain leader at Arizona Public Service Company, where she has served for 15 years across roles in strategic sourcing, contract development and management, relationship management, and complex negotiations. Her experience spans high-impact enterprise procurement, supplier strategy, and operational leadership within one of Arizona’s largest employers. Marisol has also served as Leader of Customer Technology Programs – Asset Management at APS, demonstrating her capacity to drive cross-functional initiatives and operational improvements.

In 2013, she was recognized as one of the “40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40” by Valle del Sol’s Hispanic Leadership Institute, honoring her professional excellence and community leadership. Marisol holds a Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management with a certificate in International Business.

Vice President

Kerri A. Carnes

Kerri Carnes has served Arizona Public Service Company since 2003, holding progressive leadership roles across distribution, nuclear, regulatory, operations, transmission, and supply chain. She currently serves as Director of Customer-to-Grid Solutions, where she leads large-scale customer energy and grid modernization initiatives, including the APS Cool Rewards® thermostat program and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs that integrate smart technologies to support system reliability.

Under her leadership, her team received a Power Player Award from the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) recognizing national leadership in virtual power plant deployment and program innovation. Kerri brings to TGES extensive experience in strategic planning, regulatory oversight, cross-functional team leadership, and complex program execution — strengthening the organization’s governance, operational discipline, and long-term growth strategy.

Treasurer

William L. Graham Jr. MBA, MSA

William is an experienced project management professional with a background in operations and systems management within complex manufacturing environments. His career includes work with major corporations such as Dow Corning, Dow Chemical Company, Cooper Standard Automotive, and Faurecia Automotive, where he developed expertise in financial oversight, budgeting, resource allocation, and large-scale systems implementation. Complementing his corporate tenure, his background as a business owner underscores his capability in risk management, capital allocation, and operational scale. He brings a structured, analytical approach to financial management and supports effective fiscal stewardship in his role as Treasurer.

Trish Alley, PhD

Dr. Trish Alley brings more than two decades of executive leadership in special education to the TGES Board of Directors. As Director of Student Support Services for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District, her work encompasses state and federal special education requirements, behavioral programming, educator training, and the development of services for students with disabilities.

Her leadership record includes founding Verde Tech High School, establishing the Mariposa Developmental Preschool, and receiving the Arizona Outstanding Leadership Award from the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children. She has also served as President-Elect of the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children.

Dr. Alley has been instrumental in developing inclusive opportunities, including helping establish Special Olympics Unified Sports programming in northern Arizona and expanding participation for students with disabilities in school and community settings. She brings to TGES demonstrated experience building programs, leading educational teams, strengthening services, and creating meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities.