About Us
Our History
The first formation meetings were held in the summer of 2015. The legal name of the organization is Verde Valley Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which was incorporated on October 18, 2016. In June of 2017 we decided to expand our mission and change our name to Coalition Against Human Trafficking - Northern Arizona. Our 501(c)(3) exempt status was approved on March 31, 2017.
President
Dr. Carol. L. Gandolfo
Dr. Carol L. Gandolfo is a Psychologist and Marriage Family Therapist licensed in both California and Arizona. She has over twenty years’ experience working with developmental disabilities, major mental illnesses, domestic violence victims, family therapy, etc.
She is the current owner of CLG Behavior Consultants, LLC. She has forensic experience in the areas of assessment, competency training and expert witness for individuals with developmental disabilities and attendee at the Academy Group Violent Criminal Behavior and Criminal Profiling. She is a Board Certified Founding Fellow of the College of Advanced Prescribing Psychologist, certified in mediation training with the Arizona Attorney General, Certified Trauma Therapist.
She is the Co-creator of the Sex Trafficking and Interdiction for the Protection of Children Manual currently being distributed throughout Arizona for use by law enforcement personnel. She is a member of the Critical Incident Team for the Sedona Fire Department and volunteer with the Sedona Police Department. She has been a member of the Coalition Against Human Trafficking – Northern Arizona for almost five years.
Vice-President
Sharleen Henderson
Sharleen Henderson was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She went to school at the University of the Fraser Valley.
Sharleen is passionate about crime prevention and road safety and subsequently worked in a number of related fields. Sharleen held positions and contracts with agencies such as: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, and the Abbotsford City Police Department.
Sharleen enjoyed writing legislative proposals and lobbying for their enactment. She even spoke before a standing committee in the Canadian House of Commons.
In 2003 Sharleen moved to Tucson and shortly thereafter moved to Washington, DC. In 2011, Sharleen became a U.S. citizen. Currently, Sharleen volunteers in a number of capacities for the Sedona City Police Department. She has been involved with Coalition Against Human Trafficking - Northern AZ since 2017 and serves as Vice President and Chair of our Presentation Team.
Secretary
Sybil Malinowski Melody
Sybil Malinowski Melody retired in 2015 after 38 years as a financial services attorney, the last 17 years as lead attorney for and then consultant to the Mortgage Partnership Finance® Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
Since retiring Sybil got involved in combating human trafficking, becoming an Ambassador of Hope with Shared International Hope International in 2015 and helping incorporate the Coalition Against Human Trafficking-Northern Arizona (CAHT-NAZ) in 2016.
In 2017 Sybil helped form the Friends of Clark Memorial Library and is Secretary of that organization as well. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community of Sedona & the Verde Valley. She serves as the Secretary of CAHT-NAZ.
Treasurer
John Martinez
John Martinez has over 50 years of direct and indirect accounting involvement. He gained his experience with major companies such as Mattel Toys, Emhart Industries, Boeing Aerospace Company and ConAgra Foods.
Beginning as a material handler, he worked his way up to Director of Manufacturing Accounting for seventeen manufacturing locations throughout the United States. John also served as Vice Chair of the Budget Oversight Commission and most recently as Vice-Mayor for the City of Sedona.
Most recent work history is Vice-Mayor for the City of Sedona. John has been volunteering for Coalition Against Human Trafficking - Northern AZ since August of 2015.
Recording Secretary
Judy Neiman
Judy Neiman graduated with a BA in Business and Creative Writing. She then worked in Heavy Industry Companies, including Hazardous Waste Containment, as a CEO for 30 years with as many as 250 employees.
She has been a writer all her life, publishing her first magazine article at 16. Her latest published book is “Stop! Sex Trafficking in America.” In the past, she served as President of Soroptimist International in CA and was a Director for the La Jolla Stage Company for 20 years.
Now, she serves as a Recording Secretary and Board Member for the Coalition Against Human Trafficking-NAZ. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Sedona International Film Festival and is active in Sedona Women and SedonaKind.
Board Member
Melanie Attwater-Young
Melanie Attwater-Young spent 22 years working for state government in commodity inspection, regulation enforcement, program and website development and as an executive branch agency Legislative Liaison to the CT General Assembly.
Since retiring, Melanie has volunteered for William W. Backus Hospital, the former Women's Center of SE CT (now Safe Futures - a center for domestic violence and sexual assault victims), and High Hope Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, CT (organization devoted to improving the lives of people with various physical and mental disabilities).
She also does volunteer legislative work for two other non-profit organizations. She joined Coalition Against Human Trafficking - Northern AZ in 2019 and currently serves on the Board.
Board Member
Rick Gandolfo
Upon moving to Sedona in 2006, Rick Gandolfo looked forward to days of relaxation and art. He retired after a lifetime in the Aerospace Industry. However, life often throws you unexpected events. He started volunteering at the Sedona Arts Center and later joined the Board of Directors.
In 2009, he bought the house next door. After much thought, they decided it would be a great place to open a studio and give back to the arts. Gandolfo’s Art Studio was started and has been welcoming artists to use their studio and teach other artists. He has become a die hard plein air painter and can often be found on a trailhead with his easel and paints.
Now with more and more artists coming to Sedona to teach at Gandolfo’s Art Studio, Rick finds himself even more involved with the community. He has stepped back from volunteering to focus on his painting, but still finds time to support his local charities.
He joined the Coalition Against Human Trafficking – Northern Arizona in 2020 after becoming involved in JustMenAZ, an organization dedicated to educating buyers on the victims they are about to purchase.
