Meet Our Team
The passionate individuals driving economic opportunity for all Arizonans. Get to know the people behind Pipeline Connects.
What was your first job?
Babysat for years, but my first W-2 job was delivering Chinese food.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A prosecuting attorney.
What is the best career advice you have received?
Don’t be offended by someone you wouldn’t take advice from.
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
I would love to help people declutter and organize their homes and closets.
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Gardening, reading, and traveling. I don’t sit still for long.
What is something on your bucket list?
Lottery winner so I can see all of the incredible places and eat all of the amazing food around the world.
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
My in-laws have a cabin in the White Mountains, and it’s one of our happy places.
Katherine Adams
Executive Vice President
Babysitting was my first job. My first W-2 role was working as a lifeguard, swim, and tennis instructor.
What do you find most gratifying about your work?
Supporting organizations, stakeholders, and individuals as they navigate Arizona’s education-to-workforce pipeline—from exploration to choosing meaningful career paths, that is the “what.” What makes it meaningful is the “why.” When pathways are clear and attainable, people make better decisions—creating lasting impact for individuals and our communities.
What was your first job?
Babysitting was my first job. My first W-2 role was working as a lifeguard, swim, and tennis instructor.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
MacGyver—followed closely by design—was an early career aspiration. While it wasn’t exactly a defined pathway, the creativity stuck.
“MacGyver” has come to represent how we approach this work—improvising with limited resources, connecting what’s available, and staying resourceful and determined.
What is the best career advice you have received?
Stay close to purpose. Knowing who benefits from your work helps to stay focused through challenges.
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
A personal experience curator designing meaningful travel and life experiences.
What is one skill from a past job that still helps you today?
Building coalitions and aligning relationships across diverse stakeholders toward shared outcomes and sustained partnerships.
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Traveling, exploring design and creative work, staying active, and spending time outdoors.
What is something on your bucket list?
Live in another country and set up some kind of business there that is creative or experiential in nature.
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Our favorite place to enjoy the outdoors in Arizona is anywhere in the northern part of the state, so beautiful and diverse.
Amber Folkman
Senior Director of Education Implementation
Babysitting. My first formal job was salad prep at Mary’s Pizza Shack.
What do you find most gratifying about your work?
Solving problems and continuing to learn.
What was your first job?
Babysitting. My first formal job was salad prep at Mary’s Pizza Shack.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A special education teacher.
What is the best career advice you have received?
“Work will always be work. Some people work doing what they love. Other people work so that they can do what they love when they’re not working. Neither is more noble.” – Simone Stolzoff, The Good Enough Job
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
A Florist.
What is one skill from a past job that still helps you today?
Data Collection
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Spending time with family, being in nature, and collecting stickers.
What is something on your bucket list?
Visit Banff National Park in Canada
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Clear Creek in Winslow, Arizona
What do you find most gratifying about your work?
I love helping students across Arizona have those “aha” moments and begin to connect who they are today to where they want to go next all while helping teachers in the amazing and important work they do every day.
What was your first job?
Car-hop at Sonic Drive-In, skates included.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An Epidemiologist.
What is the best career advice you have received?
What does success look and feel like to YOU? Be sure to keep that as your northstar.
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
An Astrobotanist.
What is one skill from a past job that still helps you today?
Breaking down complex ideas into clear, approachable steps.
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
I love being anywhere outdoors and feeling in awe of our world and stars beyond.
What is something on your bucket list?
I want to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc.
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ
What do you find most gratifying about your work?
I love getting teachers excited to use the tool, but what really is the most gratifying to me is when I see the spark of hope within students. Being part of that shift, even in a small way, means everything to me.
What was your first job?
Cashier at McDonald’s.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I dreamed of being a news anchor, traveling the world and telling important stories but I was just as drawn to becoming a CIA or FBI agent. I’ve always been curious, driven, and wanting to make an impact in a bigger way.
What is the best career advice you have received?
Passion and doing work that fulfills you is important, but so is financial stability it’s what gives you choices.
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
A luxury buyer for a premium designer store.
What is one skill from a past job that still helps you today?
Reading people and adapting quickly to solve problems.
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Spending time with family and friends, traveling, and watching my kids play sports.
What is something on your bucket list?
Travel to Croatia and learn how to play the guitar.
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Sedona! There’s just something magoical there.
What do you find most gratifying about your work?
Helping Arizonans access the information they need to make informed career and education decisions.
What was your first job?
Cashier and Sales Associate at Hobby Lobby.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A News Anchor, Journalist, or Meteorologist.
What is the best career advice you have received?
Never stop learning, be a team player, and amplify your strengths.
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
Librarian!
What is one skill from a past job that still helps you today?
Customer Service.
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Reading, playing board games, exercising, and spending time with loved ones.
What is something on your bucket list?
Visit Australia!
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Lost Dutchman State Park. I love the scenery and hiking trails.
What do you find most gratifying about your work?
I really enjoy colaborating with my team and supporting them on a mission to benefit such a broader audience. I felt very lost as a young adult and it feels really great to be working for a company that can help ease some of that anxiety for others and help point them in the right direction.
What was your first job?
Glazier Assistant
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A veterinarian.
What is the best career advice you have received?
Be adabtable, willing to learn, and accountable and you will find success.
What is one career you would try for a day just for fun?
Something interesting like a Zoologist or I would love to work at a national park for a day.
What is one skill from a past job that still helps you today?
Customer service and client relations.
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Movies, video games, skateboarding, and traveling.
What is something on your bucket list?
Snowboard in Japan.
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Flagstaff or Nothern Arizona, especially for snowboarding. I enjoy the weather and time out there with friends.
Amber Smith
CEO
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Let’s build the future together.
Sponsorship is one of the most direct ways to elevate career awareness, strengthen talent pipelines, and support Arizona’s statewide workforce ecosystem.