LEADERSHIP TEAM

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Joseph has a distinguished and extensive background in education, training, professional service, and leadership spanning more than 30 years. He was born and raised in Summit, New Jersey, and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New Jersey. Joseph later graduated magna cum laude from Monmouth University, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice, with a focus on leadership, management, and advanced statistics. During high school and throughout college, he worked as a line cook at several well-known New Jersey restaurants and advanced to the role of Sous Chef by the time he completed graduate school.

Following graduate school, Joseph joined the Lakewood NJ Police Department as a Crime Analyst.  In this role, he conducted crime data analysis and GIS-based mapping to identify trends, support strategic policing initiatives, and inform decision-making. He developed data-driven crime prevention strategies, secured funding through successful grant writing, and trained officers on crime analysis tools and techniques. His work strengthened intelligence-led policing, improved resource allocation, and contributed to measurable crime reduction efforts.

Joseph was subsequently hired as a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and graduated from the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was initially assigned to the Newark, New Jersey Field Division in a street task force group before transferring to the Miami, Florida Field Division. There, he served in a Title III wiretap group, the Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS), and Operation BAT in Georgetown and Andros Island, Bahamas. In 2012, Joseph was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent (GS-1811-14) and transferred to the Phoenix Field Division in Arizona, where he served until his retirement in 2018. Throughout his DEA career, he received numerous awards from the agency, local governments, and private organizations in recognition of his service and leadership.

After retiring from the DEA, Joseph worked as an Operations Manager for TJX Companies in Tucson, Arizona. During this period, he earned his Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification, along with professional certifications in Project Management, Agile, and Scrum Master methodologies. He also began volunteering as a crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line, where he has supported hundreds of individuals through crisis situations since 2018.

In 2020, Joseph was hired by Amistades, a small, family-run Hispanic-serving organization based in Tucson, as its Director. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all programs and managing staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers, while leading the day-to-day operations of the organization. He directed grant prospecting, writing, and management efforts, ultimately increasing the agency’s operational budget by more than 300 percent during his tenure. Joseph also provided high-level strategic, financial, operational, technical, cultural, legal, and managerial guidance to the executive team and Board of Directors. He resigned on July 4, 2024, to officially launch the Arizona Border Alliance.

As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the Arizona Border Alliance, Joseph leads the organization with a bold strategic vision, driving innovation, growth, and measurable impact across Southern Arizona. He oversees the development and execution of long-term initiatives, cultivates high-level partnerships, and ensures the organization remains a trusted force in addressing critical regional challenges through practical, community-driven solutions.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Alexandra is a bilingual and bicultural Latina from the border communities of Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. She earned an associate degree in computer applications from Cochise College and completed coursework toward a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Arizona. Deeply rooted in the border region, Alex has been actively involved in community service throughout her life, consistently volunteering her time and skills to support causes aligned with her values and the needs of her community.

Alex brings more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and is widely recognized across Southern Arizona and northern Mexico for her leadership and contributions to border communities. She has presented at numerous regional, national, and binational conferences on topics including U.S.–Mexico relations, trauma-informed care, border community dynamics, substance abuse prevention, and public health. Notably, she has presented at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Conference and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Conference.

Throughout her career, Alex has collaborated with a wide range of agencies, coalitions, and community leaders, including the City of Douglas, Frontera de Cristo, Budget and Finance Council, the Binational Health Council (COBINA), St. Vincent de Paul, Leaders Across Borders, Douglas Area Food Bank, Douglas for Stronger Families Council, Douglas Turning Point, and many others. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Legacy Foundation and has represented southeastern Cochise County since 2021, working to advance population health and community wellness across southeast Arizona.

In addition to her community leadership, Alex is deeply passionate about food as a tool for health, culture, and connection. In 2017, she founded the Blueberry Café in downtown Douglas, a community-centered café that serves healthy, creative food and coffee sourced from Chiapas, Mexico. The café has received multiple community recognitions, including Best of Douglas, and has become a trusted, welcoming space where residents gather, share information, and access community resources while building connection through food.

Alex’s professional experience includes more than two decades of work at Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services (SEABHS), where she served as a Prevention Specialist and developed, translated, and implemented culturally appropriate programs, curricula, and educational resources. She also worked with the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she strengthened her outreach, public speaking, and advocacy skills, and with a local nonprofit organization where she managed the Douglas office, ensured program compliance and reporting, and supervised staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Currently, as Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of the Arizona Border Alliance, Alex oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization, ensuring efficient and effective program implementation. She also leads high-level coordination and collaboration with partner agencies, coalitions, and institutions on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border, helping advance community-driven solutions that improve health, opportunity, and well-being across Southern Arizona.

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Elsa  is deeply committed to the interconnected communities of Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. She believes these border towns share a collective future and works actively to support the well-being, education, and long-term success of their residents. Through her work with the Arizona Border Alliance, Elsa focuses on increasing awareness, access to information, and educational opportunities that strengthen the communities served by the organization.

With more than seven years of experience in prevention programming and nonprofit initiatives, Elsa has played a key role in advancing community wellness and youth engagement. She has helped establish community-based wellness groups and created supportive networks for parents and caregivers that emphasize education, resource sharing, and informed decision-making. Elsa also coordinates the Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) Club, where she facilitates ongoing meetings and leads major youth-focused initiatives, including the Annual Youth Conference and Teen Nights.

Elsa’s passion for working with youth began in her role as an instructional aide at Raul H. Castro Learning Center–PPEP Tec High School. In this setting, she developed a strong commitment to helping students reach their academic and personal goals while encouraging healthy choices and positive life paths. She credits the mentorship and example of dedicated educators, including Norma Loreto, for inspiring her continued work with youth and reinforcing her sense of responsibility to help create healthier environments for the next generation of teens.

A proud Latina raised in Douglas and Agua Prieta, Elsa is deeply connected to her cultural heritage and is committed to passing along cultural values and traditions to her three children. She is the first member of her family to attend a university and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public health at Grand Canyon University, further strengthening her ability to serve her community through education and prevention-focused work.