Consultants

Brenda Terris, Community Relations Manager

Brenda Terris is a Marketer, Writer, Arts Administrator and Fundraiser specializing in nonprofit services. Her career includes Senior Marketing positions with BellSouth, The Wall Street Journal Europe in Brussels, Belgium and the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. She has been Executive Director of three nonprofits and Development Director of The Sarasota Ballet. Terris has raised many millions of dollars writing proposals and grants. Terris’ Super Power is as a Project Manager. She loves living in Prescott and is a recent graduate of The Citizens Academy taught by The City of Prescott. Terris attended Georgia State University.

Denise Resnik, First Place Founder, President/CEO & Board Member; SARRC Co-Founder & Emeritus Board Member; DRA Collective Founder & CEO and Matt’s Mom

Denise is the founder and president/CEO of First Place AZ (established in 2012), co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC, established in 1997), and founder and CEO of DRA Collective, a marketing/communications firm (established in 1986) that serves clients in a variety of fields, including real estate, economic development, healthcare, education and hospitality.

Denise serves as a member of Arizona State University’s Watts College Dean’s Council, the Creighton University Presidential Health Sciences Phoenix Advisory Board, The Precisionists, Inc. Advisory Board and the Autism Society Marketing Task Force. Former leadership positions include the Autism Speaks Housing Committee, Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism Leadership Council, National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism and the National Autism Transition Research Network Advisory Panel. She has also served as a federally appointed member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the National Institutes of Health.

Denise has received numerous local and national honors for her civic contributions and business accomplishments. She graduated cum laude from ASU, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Her adult son Matt, who has autism, and others with different abilities inspire her work.

Desiree Kameka, Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions, LLC

Started by Desiree Kameka Galloway, a recognized disability housing expert, Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions, LLC seeks to advance neuro-inclusive community development by providing subject matter expertise to industry professionals. As the Director of the Autism Housing Network for the Madison House Autism Foundation, she spent over a decade researching the barriers and identifying unique opportunities to increase residential options for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, has led national advocacy efforts on issues of autism in adulthood and has positively influenced policy development at national and state levels. Having visited over 120 residential opportunities and social enterprises across the USA, and led a network of over 250 organizations, Desiree uses this experience and network to help individuals and local leaders understand supportive housing options, service delivery models and strategies for neuro-inclusive community development.

Desiree is also the proud co-author and co-editor of the groundbreaking report, A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities. Her work in housing is included among international academics and professionals. She has been invited to speak on panels at the World Human Rights Cities Forum by UN-Habitat, the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day, Great Minds Coming Together on Autism International Conference, and at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) on Autism After 21 and was an invited member of the IACC Housing Taskforce. She is also a certified cohousing consultant and a Cohousing Solutions 500 Communities Affiliate.

Desiree’s vision is that every person with intellectual/developmental disability, autism or other neurodiversity can access a home in their community that actively fosters relationships and meaningful inclusion. This vision drives Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions, LLC to conduct local market analysis, support advocacy efforts and coalition building, connect professionals and provide consulting services to housing developers for data-driven housing solutions across the country.

Michael Taylor, Michael Taylor Architects, Inc.

Michael’s entire career has been in Prescott, Arizona providing architectural services to clients throughout central and Northwestern Arizona for 37 years. Michael started Michael Taylor Architects, Inc. in November of 1996 and is celebrating 25 years in business this year. He has built a reputation of excellent design, client-centered processes and an ability to work with clients of a wide variety. He and his wife Jennifer have five children and 13 grandchildren, all of whom have left Prescott but most of whom are still in Arizona.