Board of Directors
Cindy Mechtel
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President
Cindy Mechtel is from Alaska and moved to Tucson, Arizona at age 14, where she attended high school at Canyon Del Oro High School. She has an AAS in Law Enforcement and a BS in Justice Studies. Cindy has a passion for serving others and has been involved in volunteer work for decades. She has served on various boards to include the Erik Hite Foundation, Southern Arizona Women of Law Enforcement and Hearts of Gold. She is currently the Tucson Police Department Liaison for Hearts of Gold. Cindy is employed by the Tucson Police Department, where she has worked since being hired as a Crime Scene Specialist in 2000. In 2004, Cindy became a commissioned police officer and went on to promote to Detective, Sergeant, and to her current rank of Lieutenant. She spent 5 years working in child crimes and found that work to be the most impactful and meaningful to her. During that time, she served as a volunteer for the Special Victims Investigators of Tucson, raising funds to support the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southern Arizona in Tucson. Cindy is married with a son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a Standard Poodle. She is dedicated to serving the Tucson community and has a heart for helping children and victims of sexual trauma. She is always looking for new ways to be of service and is excited to further the mission of Beauty From Ashes Ranch. |
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Sarah BuchananFounder and Vice-President
Sarah Haught is the founder of Beauty From Ashes Ranch. Sarah is responsible for the vision, strategy, and facilitation of the team behind Beauty From Ashes Ranch. Isaiah 61:3 ends with, “The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Sarah’s desire to help the community led her to a career in law enforcement for the past 15 years. She is a member of the Southern Arizona Anti-Trafficking Unified Response Network (SAATURN). During her time working in the sex trafficking unit, Sarah saw a need for a long-term holistic care facility in order for survivors to escape and heal from their traumatic past. Sarah was always taught by her parents while growing up, “See a need and fill it.” “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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John GeorgeExecutive Director
John has over 25 years' experience in leading complex organizations. He has advanced degrees in Business Management/Administration. John is well-versed in all aspects of business acumen, from supply chain/operations, quality management, program management, financial management (including profit and loss requirements) to executive leadership. John is also a proud veteran having served in the US Army as an Airborne Infantryman and Military Intelligence. John also served on the board of directors for a nonprofit organization that supported wounded warriors as well as Gold Star Families and Children. John was ready to leave behind the corporate world and use his extensive experience to join Beauty From Ashes Ranch. He is eager to use his knowledge for a worthy cause, stating, “I wanted my next role to not just make a paycheck, but a difference.” John was raised in the White Mountains in Pinetop, Arizona and currently resides on a small family ranch in Southern, Arizona with his wife and son. John has 2 older children who reside in Phoenix, Arizona. In his free time John enjoys being outdoors and doing activities such as hunting, fishing, and hiking. |
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Kyle GlennBoard Member
Kyle Glenn has served as a pastor in a number of roles over the course of 23 years and is currently the lead pastor for Boulder Mountain Community Church in Mesa, Arizona. Kyle graduated in Pastoral Studies from Moody Bible Institute in 1997 and has a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Kyle has been married to Crystal for 24 years and has three daughters. He believes every person is made in the image of God and therefore, has infinite value, worth, and dignity. He believes every girl and woman being trafficked is loved by an almighty God with unconditional love. Every person caught in this modern-day evil is worth fighting for and deserves an opportunity to find hope, healing, and ultimately, recovery. |
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Jyllene MillerBoard Member
Jyllene joins us with 25+ years of experience growing small start-up businesses and global multinational firms from less than $1M to more than $6B in revenue. Her expertise as a C-Suite leader in sales, marketing, communications, employee engagement, and corporate culture has already begun to help us crystalize strategic objectives and put action plans in place in the areas of growth and execution. Jyllene earned a BA in Liberal Arts (with Distinction) at Connecticut College, where she double-majored in Psychology and Child Development and minored in Sociology. Workplace culture and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) champion, she enjoys developing corporate executives. She plays an important role in acting as a lifelong mentor to aspiring business leaders in the teams she oversees, as well as young women in the early stage of their careers. |
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Mike WrightSecretary
I am a follower of Jesus Christ who is blessed to be a husband, father, pastor and risk manager! I began my insurance career in 1982 in Bisbee, AZ. I immediately enjoyed learning about insurance coverages and explaining them to my clients. I quickly progressed from processing policies to managing the agency and ownership by 1996. I was blessed to see exponential growth but in 1999, I decided to focus my efforts in serving the church. I sold the agency to become a ministry protection specialist. This means that I go beyond insurance to protection services. Through the years, I have obtained several certificates that help me better fulfill my role as a risk manager. I obtained the rigorous CIC and CISR designations and I am proud to have I obtained a certification from Cambridge University in risk management of churches and schools. In 2001 I acquired landmark insurance. Landmark began as a typical insurance agency, providing quality insurance coverage to its clients. It was started by a veteran in the insurance business, Chuck Yoder. He began his career in 1966. He formed landmark in 1986 when he realized that he needed to expand his insurance offerings to his clients. Landmark continued to expand its services to churches by offering training seminars. I have conducted hundreds of training seminars over the past 20 years. Most of those have been for youth workers, however, over the past few years many have been in helping to deal with the threats of violence and disruption. I have even had the honor of being televised on Arizona public media through a program called Arizona 360. They help to spread the news about how churches can better protect themselves from an active shooter. In 2020 I merged with American Church Group of Arizona. I did this because, I could further my focus on offering risk management. ACG and Brotherhood Mutual have proven to be the industry leader in protecting ministries. I also pastor the flock at Sonoita Bible Church. I was entrusted with this privilege in 2012. I find it interesting how the principles of risk management apply to my role as a pastor and how pastoring helps me be a better risk manager! I am a citizen of God’s kingdom! The greatest thing that describes me is a follower of Jesus Christ. I met him in 1978 at while in college and he has proven to be a wonderful Lord, Savior, and Friend! |
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Nick DugasBoard Member
Nicholas “Nick” Dugas is from Oregon and moved to Phoenix / Tucson in 2014. Nick attended Western Oregon University where he studied Criminal Psychology and Spanish. Nick has always had a passion for helping others and being a vessel for God's light during dark times. Nick has served as a mentor and spokesperson on boards such as the American Heart Association’s - “Defibrillators in Public Schools”, where he led initiatives involving the United States public school system, passing nationwide laws in all public schools to require guaranteed access to life saving medical equipment. Nick has also been blessed to volunteer with organizations that serve children in need, where he’s helped with fundraising events, policy development, public speaking, and breaking down barriers. Nick most recently became experienced in the ADCS field where he was blessed with the ability to save a child’s life through adoption. Through this, Nick has gained many friends and connections along the way, including service based organizations across Arizona. Nick has spent the last 22 years of his career in retail where he’s overseen global safety and security programs. There, Nick has led complex safety and security strategies, companywide new program implementation, and developed a passion for teaching others. Nick and his boys have a Rottweiler/Doberman named Koda. They enjoy the outdoors, farm life, taking trips in the motorhome, floating the Salt River, and enjoying all of Gods creations. Nick also has hobbies which include landscaping design, furniture restoration, and fishing. Nick is excited and humbled to be given this opportunity to serve Christ by shining His light and has full Faith that Beauty From Ashes Ranch is where he is needed the most. |
Retired Founding Board Members
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Please join me in thanking founding board members Carrel and Lauri Haught for their faithful five years of service with Beauty from Ashes Ranch. They have retired from the board but are looking forward to serving in other areas to bring Beauty from Ashes to life. We are grateful for their efforts and dedication to our cause.
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Lauri HaughtTreasurer
Lauri Haught was born and raised in Arizona, graduated from Central High School in Phoenix, and attended college on a scholarship. Lauri excelled in track and field in high school and college. Lauri has been married for 36 years to Carrel Haught, and is the mother of four incredible girls, Sarah, Melissa, Jessica & Shauna. The exceptional qualities and faith in the Lord that make Lauri a leader drove her to maintain a successful career as an entrepreneur with Tupperware, Avon, and as a tax return preparer. She held several management positions in customer service and is currently working in a role that encompasses all facets of accounting. Lauri consistently steps up and takes the lead in whatever she does, showing her daughters and other women that they, too can be leaders, raise a family and maintain a career. Lauri is proof that all things are possible with Christ. |
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Carrel HaughtBoard Member
Carrel Haught has been a leader in facilities management in the special event industry for more than 15 years. Carrel doesn’t brag about accomplishments; he is the type of man who builds teams, solves problems, and gets things done. Whether on a construction site, ranch, or concert with thousands attending, Carrel is the man who makes things work. He is a true Arizona cowboy who has successfully managed organizations for over 30 years. Carrel has been married for 36 years and raised strong powerful daughters who are leaders themselves. Carrel has led his family to follow Christ’s example to see a need and fill it. Carrel is a man who can accomplish anything and fears nothing because he knows Jesus. Beauty from Ashes Ranch is ultimately a result of the faith and love he and his wife provided for their daughters. Carrel does not need titles and praise, as being a part of the ranch is proof his service to God will continue for another generation through his daughters. The greatest title he holds is, “humble servant of the Lord.” |