Seated (left to right): Director of Community Outreach Peggy McGee; President Sharon Pulcinella; President-elect Debi Gutknecht; standing (left to right): Treasurer Cathy Ollman; Director of Membership Janet Shropshire; Director of Scholarships Deb Melton; Director of Publicity Inna Shames; Secretary Joan Brown; Director of Programs Dee Colicchia (photo by Lois Haglund)
Inna Shames
It’s a new year, and The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) has a new board! Some of these women may be your friends and your neighbors, but you might still learn a thing or two about them, so here they are:
Sharon Pulcinella, president, moved here with her husband from Pennsylvania in 2019. Their passion for birdwatching had brought them to Green Valley on vacations, so it was the logical place to retire. A former Spanish and English as a second language teacher, Sharon previously served as TWOQC director of programs, then president-elect. She is passionate about the mission of TWOQC and about promoting endeavors that keep members connected to the community.
Debi Gutknecht, president-elect, moved to Quail Creek in 2022 and joined TWOQC shortly thereafter. She was secretary in 2023 and has led several member programs, including Zentangle classes and a workshop on building resiliency during stress.
Joan Brown, secretary, was secretary for a variety of nonprofit organizations. A speaker and published author in magazines, newspapers, and one book, Joan joined TWOQC several years ago because she was impressed with the scope and reach of the organization.
Cathy Ollman, treasurer, moved here from the Seattle area in 2020. She joined TWOQC after first having learned about the Scholarship Committee. Cathy worked for PACCAR for more than 20 years, both in accounting and as an IT business analyst.
Peggy McGee, director of community outreach, joined TWOQC in 2006 and was secretary for two years. In 2007 she formed and chaired the first Programs Committee. President for six and a half years, Peggy developed many activities to support local groups, including Genesis House. Peggy has been director of community outreach since 2022, guiding book drives, teacher showers, and the Salvation Army holiday giving tree.
Deb Melton, director of scholarships, moved here from Colorado in 2018. A former teacher, Deb became president of Phoenix NOW, chaired the Education Task Force, and was a Title IX consultant to the Arizona Department of Education. She joined TWOQC and the Scholarship Committee because of her lifelong passion for women’s advancement.
Dee Colicchia, director of programs, spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay area. A former manager at State Farm Insurance, she and her husband visited Quail Creek last year and decided to retire here. Dee joined TWOQC immediately after attending an Open House.
Janet Shropshire, director of membership, and her husband fell in love with Quail Creek while visiting from Texas and moved here a year later. Janet taught high school math and computer science for 37 years. Membership director is her first leadership role in TWOQC.
Inna Shames, director of publicity, moved to Quail Creek in 2019. Her background is in sales and marketing in several industries. She joined TWOQC two years ago because she believes strongly in the causes the organization supports, particularly scholarships.
TWOQC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization involved in activities that benefit the local community, so if you are interested in joining, go to www.womenqc.com and click on “Join.”