Foundation

While Sophie has lived across the U.S. and abroad, Arizona holds a special place in her heart, as she spent part of her childhood in Tucson, lived in Phoenix, and is now a proud resident of Florence. She holds a Masters of Global Management in Global Affairs and Global Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.

In 2022, Sophie joined the Florence Copper team as Manager of Communications and Public Affairs. In her role, Sophie leads Florence Copper’s community/media relations, charitable initiatives, and communications strategy.

Sophie is passionate about giving back to her local community and serves on the Board of Directors of different regional organizations, including Central Arizona College, the Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth, the United Way of Pinal County, the Pinal County Historical Society, and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. During her free time, Sophie enjoys volunteering with different local clubs, reading, and cooking.

Lorri Rodriguez, a native Arizonan, was born in Florence and grew up in Eastern Pinal County. She has a B.A. in Business from Northern Arizona University.

Lorri has over 20 years' experience in a variety of fields, with over 15 specifically in office administration. She joined Florence Copper in 2011 and now is the project's Coordinator of Human Resources and Accounting. Her responsibilities include managing the daily functions of the site office; providing guidance and support for management and staff; and coordinating all Human Resources, Finance, Accounts Payable, and IT needs.

In her free time, she can be found reading, cooking, and spending time with her family.

After graduating from Miami University of Ohio with a B.A. in Anthropology, Mikel Smothermon moved to Florence in 2007. In 2012, Mikel joined the Florence Copper team working as a contractor and transitioned to a full-time role with the environmental department in 2018.

In 2023, Mikel graduated with a Master of Science in Environmental and Resources Management from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Mikel now serves as Senior Environmental Coordinator at Florence Copper and coordinates the project’s regulatory compliance and natural resource management.

In his spare time, Mikel raised his three children with wife Beckie and leads an active social group of tabletop and board game enthusiasts.

Dolores "Dodi" Freeman is a longstanding and respected member of the Florence community and a 5th generation native of Florence area. Originally a member of the Florence Copper community affairs team as the project's Senior Community Affairs Advisor, Dodi retired in 2015 to enjoy time with her husband and grandchildren. Prior to her time at Florence Copper, Dodi had a 35-year banking career that spanned 28 years with the Pinal County Federal Credit Union.

Dodi has held numerous seats on varying local boards, including the Florence Greater Chamber of Commerce, the Florence Rotary Club, the Town of Florence Library Board, the Pinal County IDA Board, the Pinal County Health Department Board, Florence Unified School Board, and Pinal County Federal Credit Union Board. Her vast knowledge of Florence and its history makes her a valuable addition to the Florence Copper Community Foundation.

In her spare time, you can find Dodi volunteering for many ministries at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church along with the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. She also enjoys cooking and spending quality time with her grandchildren.

Brandon C. Gaylord is a dedicated public administration leader with over six years of experience in municipal governance, budget optimization, and community engagement. Currently serving as District Administrator for Pinal County Supervisor Steve Miller, he advises on policy, drives cross-departmental coordination, and manages constituent services. Brandon holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. As Founder & CEO of StandUp Leadership, he delivered leadership training to 400+ underserved youth, managing a $50K budget. A board member of United Way of Pinal County and steering committee member for the Salvation Army of Casa Grande, Brandon is committed to equity and community development. His skills in strategic leadership, financial management, and coalition-building, along with recognitions like the 40 Under Forty Award (2023), make him a valuable asset to any board.

While Jessye Gentry grew up in Southern California, Arizona has always felt like a second home, thanks to frequent visits to Lake Havasu City over the years. Today, she’s proud to call Florence home.

Jessye holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a minor in Communication Studies. In May 2024, Jessye joined the Florence Copper team as Senior Administrative Assistant. In her role, she provides vital support across the organization, helping to ensure smooth operations and contributing to the company’s overall success.

Jessye is passionate about animals and giving back. In the past, she has volunteered at PetSmart adoption days and supported animal shelters in California. In her free time, she enjoys spending as much time as possible with her dogs.

With nearly two decades as a resident of the Anthem at Merrill Ranch neighborhood in Florence, Susan Kerestes brings a rich tapestry of professional and personal experiences to the Florence Copper Community Foundation Board of Directors.

Her career journey began as an airline flight attendant before transitioning into entrepreneurship in California, where she owned and operated a Chem-Dry carpet cleaning franchise for 10 years. After relocating to Florence, Susan partnered with her daughter to run Bella Casa Staging and Design, an interior design and home staging business. Her passion for fostering local economic growth led her to serve as the Executive Director of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she worked tirelessly to support struggling businesses, guide new ventures, and collaborate with the Town of Florence to strengthen the community’s economic foundation.

An avid volunteer, Susan is deeply committed to supporting local animal shelters and giving back to her community. Outside of her professional and philanthropic endeavors, she enjoys spending time with her six grandchildren, attending movies and plays, and connecting with her neighbors.