Kelsey Lamphier serves as the Director of the Surprise Public Library System, a newly established city department, where she has expanded access to lifelong learning, strengthened civic engagement, and transformed a bold vision into meaningful community impact.
With more than a decade of experience in local government across multiple cities, departments and functional areas, Kelsey brings a collaborative leadership style and a deep commitment to building stronger, more connected communities. Her work is grounded in the belief that public institutions play a vital role in creating opportunities, enhancing quality of life, and bringing people together.
Kelsey holds a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Government and Public Policy from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University. She is also an ASU Certified Public Manager and a graduate of the ICMA High-Performance Leadership Academy. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate in Psychology with an emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Grand Canyon University, further strengthening her ability to lead organizations, develop people, and drive meaningful, sustainable change.
Throughout her career, Kelsey has remained dedicated to cultivating inclusive, responsive, and forward-thinking public services. Her leadership reflects a passion for community building, and she continues to champion initiatives that empower residents, support innovation, and create lasting impact for the Surprise community.
Ana Urquijo is a seasoned public manager with nearly 38 years of public sector experience in state, county, and local government. A Douglas native and third-generation community member, she served the City of Douglas for 24 years before retiring in 2016. She then spent five years with the City of Tucson in executive leadership roles before returning to Douglas as City Manager.
Since late 2021, Ana has worked with the Mayor and Council to advance Vision 2032, which focuses on infrastructure, economic development, annexation, community amenities/tourism/special events, streets and roads, and downtown revitalization. She also leads efforts to improve organizational efficiency, strengthen service delivery, implement technology, track metrics, and promote practical “getting to yes” solutions.
A major focus of her leadership is the Two Port Solution, which includes the construction of a new commercial land port of entry 4.5 miles west of Douglas and the expansion of the existing port. Ana leads the management and coordination of multimillion-dollar grants and supports nearly $700 million in port-related investment, working with regional and international partners, contractors, public agencies, utility companies, and technical teams to position Douglas for new opportunities in the international trade corridor.
Ana holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. She is an ICMA Credentialed Manager, Certified Public Manager, and a member of the Arizona City/County Management Association.
She and her husband, Jose, have four children and nine grandchildren.
Billy Kovacs is the Director of Federal Affairs for Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, where he serves as the Governor’s lead liaison to the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. His work focuses on making sure Arizona’s priorities are understood in Washington and that federal policy produces real results for communities across the state.
Billy’s path into public service has been deeply rooted in Arizona. In 2018, he ran for Congress in southern Arizona. After the election, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, who won the seat, asked him to join her team as Outreach Director. He later became her District Director and Policy Advisor, working closely with communities across southern and rural Arizona, advancing priorities in defense and agriculture, and helping secure federal support for infrastructure and economic development projects. Governor Hobbs later appointed Billy to serve as Arizona’s Title 42 Coordinator during a critical period at the border. In that role, he brought together local, Tribal, state, and federal partners to prepare for the policy’s expiration and coordinate Arizona’s migration and humanitarian response. He also helped establish the Arizona Border Coordination Office.
Today, Billy leads the Governor’s federal engagement across a wide range of issues affecting Arizona, including infrastructure, border and immigration policy, disaster response, public health, water, housing, economic development, agriculture, defense, energy, and international affairs. He works closely with federal officials, Arizona’s congressional delegation, state agencies, Tribal and local governments, and business and community leaders to advance the Governor’s priorities, secure federal resources, respond to emerging challenges, and ensure Arizona has a strong voice in national policy decisions.
Billy is a graduate of the University of Arizona and a Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Fellow. Outside of government, he previously co-founded Tucson’s Prep & Pastry and helped revitalize his family’s vineyard, Sandor Vineyards.
Chris Avery has represented the City of Tucson on water resources and environmental issues since 1998, as the City transitioned from a groundwater-based supply to Colorado River supplies and through recent supply issues on the River. He also represents the City on environmental issues, including Superfund litigation and recent tort cases involving firefighting foam.
After growing up in Flagstaff, Chris graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1991. He has worked to place the City of Tucson at the center of multiple interconnected relationships with the United States, Indian tribes, the State of Arizona, and its political subdivisions — the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Pima County, and a number of cities and towns, and private water companies to obtain and deliver millions of acre-feet of water supplies and to spend the billions of dollars necessary to construct pipelines, treatment plants, and recharge facilities.
He also represents the City on constitutional litigation, annexation and economic development, and homelessness outreach issues.
His wife, Nancy Avery, is a retired captain with the Tucson Fire Department.