Executive Leadership & Board of Directors
Chief Officers
Beth Moneck
Chief Executive Officer
Beth came to Beads of Courage, Inc. after working nine years as a Certified Child Life Specialist I and II, and Interim Manager of Child Life, Volunteer Services, and Family Resource Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Beth served as a Beads of Courage Ambassador for those coping with cardiac conditions for six years. Beth is a Certified Child Life Specialist and holds a master’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. Beth has worked for Beads of Courage since 2015. Beth says the favorite part of her job is supporting our BOC team, collaborative partners, donors, and interdisciplinary staff all over the world to support kids and families coping with serious medical experiences. In her free time, Beth enjoys time with her family and friends, enjoying music, fishing, gardening, and being outdoors.
Jean Gribbon
Chief Mission Officer
Jean is a former pediatric oncology nurse and has served the mission of Beads of Courage, Inc. since she founded the non-profit corporation in March of 2005. Jean developed the Beads of Courage Program while working on her dissertation at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. The first Beads of Courage Program was piloted at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in February of 2003. She holds two degrees from the University of Arizona College of Nursing including a Bachelors in the Science of Nursing and a PhD in Nursing. She is passionate about advancing the science of caring for children coping with serious illness through evidence-based interventions. In her spare time, Jean is learning to play the banjo, and enjoys the occasional long bike ride. She lives in Tucson with her three children Luke, Aiden and Brooke Ellen. Jean is also President of Center for Arts in Nursing.
DIRECTORS
Deb Gaustad
Secretary
Deb has recently retired from over 35 years in the mortgage industry. Prior services for non-profits include: Rotary Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Women’s Council of Realtors. Deb lives in Lakeside, Arizona with her husband.
Aaron Leal
Aaron Leal is a loan officer and has originated residential and commercial loans since 2004. He is from Tucson and a graduate of the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona earning a Finance degree. He has been serving Beads of Courage as a board member since 2014. Aaron enjoys a healthy active lifestyle spending a lot of time outside enjoying the Arizona weather with his wife, 3 kids, family and friends.
Cindie Luria-Wolfe
I have been a local Real Estate agent for 20 Years. Coming off a 6 year term on the board of Ben’s Bells I am absolutely so excited to be a part of the Beads of Courage Board. My niece Kelsey Luria was a bead recipient. The Queen Bee Bead was created for her. I have lived in a Tucson for 30 years and I am a graduate of University of Maryland Baltimore County. I have 3 adult married girls that live in Massachusetts, Chicago & Florida. I am the ridiculous proud Grandmother of a baby boy & baby girl.
Sam Azares
I am a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer at VIP Mortgage, with 25 years of experience in helping clients achieve the dream of homeownership. I truly love what I do, as guiding people through the loan process and making homeownership a reality is incredibly rewarding. Beyond my career in lending, I also run Southern Arizona Homes and Life TV, where I create engaging social media videos to promote local businesses and real estate professionals. My passion for supporting the community inspired me to launch this platform to showcase the best of Southern Arizona. I graduated from the University of Phoenix, and outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family—my amazing wife, our three boys, and five dogs. In my free time, I love RVing and going to the lake, embracing the beauty of the outdoors whenever possible.
Tracy Johnson
Tracy Johnson brings over 20 years of expertise in logistics and supply chain management, specializing in fuel distribution, transportation, and risk mitigation. As the founder and CEO of Midnight Sun Logistics and Rhodes Energy Services, she has successfully led complex operations, built strategic industry partnerships, and implemented best-in-class safety and compliance programs. Tracy holds a business degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in organizational leadership and industrial psychology from Gonzaga University. Her dedication to operational excellence and community service aligns with the mission of Beads of Courage, where she is committed to supporting children and families through resilience-building programs.