Board of Directors

Dr. Craig R. Barrett was born in San Francisco, California and received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science from Stanford University, serving on the faculty of Stanford after graduation. Dr. Barrett was a Fulbright Fellow at Danish Technical University in Denmark and a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Physical Laboratory in England. In 1974 Dr. Barrett joined Intel Corporation. He was elected to Intel Corporation’s Board of Directors in 1992, became Intel’s fourth president in 1997, chief executive officer in 1998, and chairman of the board in 2005, a post held until he retired in May 2009.

Dr. Barrett is a leading advocate for improving education in the U.S. and the world, and is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards globally. He chairs BASIS Charter Schools, Inc., Change The Equation, STAND for Children Arizona, Dossia, Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collectors and the National Forest Foundation; co-chairs the Skolkovo Foundation Council and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Advisory Board; vice chairs Science Foundation Arizona; serves on the Boards of Achieve, K12, Society for Science and the Public, Carnegie Institution for Science, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Tallwave, Impele and Geothermic Solution. Dr. Barrett served as Chairman of the National Academy of Engineering and the United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development. He co-chaired the Business Coalition for Student Achievement and the National Innovation Initiative Leadership Council, and served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Council for International Business and the Clinton Global Initiative Education Advisory Board. Dr. Barrett serves on numerous other boards, policy and government panels and committees.

Don Budinger is one of the founders and the former President of Rodel, Inc. — a garage start up that grew to become the world’s largest manufacturer of the surface finishing chemicals used to make computer chips, rigid memory disks and specialty optics.

When Rodel was sold in 1999, a significant portion of the proceeds was contributed to create The Rodel Foundations. The purpose of the Rodel Foundations is to improve the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public education systems in Delaware and Arizona so that they will be widely recognized as two of the best in the nation.

Currently, Mr. Budinger is Chairman and Founding Director of the Rodel Foundations, Chairman and Founding Director of Science Foundation Arizona, Board Member and Founding Chairman of the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, Board Member of Tucson Values Teachers, The Morrison Institute, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Greater Phoenix Leadership. In addition, Don serves on the Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the O’Connor House Advisory Group.

Shelly M. Esque retired from Intel Corporation in January 2016 as vice president of Legal and Corporate Affairs, global director of the Corporate Affairs Group, and Chairman of the Board of the Intel Foundation. With oversight of teams in more than 35 countries, she worked to enhance Intel’s reputation as the world’s leading technology brand and corporate citizen.

Esque has a passion for coaching and mentoring women, attributing her success to guidance from women as she traversed her path from farm girl, to Arizona State University college student, to young professional, and beyond.

Esque has participated as a speaker at world events, including the World Economic Forum, World Bank and UNESCO education forums, the Clinton Global Initiative, as well as international Corporate Responsibility conferences. She regularly interviews with media and meets with key government leaders around the world.

Recipient of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce 2011 ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year Award, Shelly was honored for her excellence in business and leadership, exemplary community service and support and mentorship of other women. She was also recognized by AZ Business Magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Arizona. In June 2018 Shelly was elected to the Board of Directors of California Water Services Group the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States.

Although her Intel career took Esque around the globe, she has deep roots in Arizona, supporting numerous local community and educational organizations, including service on the boards or advisory councils of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Expect More Arizona, BASIS Charter Schools, Inc., the Arizona Business and Education Coalition, Valley of the Sun United Way, KAET Channel 8, and many more.

Dr. Raksanaves graduated 1st in her dental school class of 93 students from the highest ranking Dental school in Thailand. She holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree with Highest Honors, a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics and Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. After graduation she was on Faculty at University of Louisville and was in charge of the Undergraduate Orthodontic Program. She moved to Arizona to join her husband practice and has been practicing in Tucson for 20 years. She is a Full Member of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Raksanaves is passionate about improving the quality of the secondary educational system in the United States.

Terry Sarvas graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a BS in accounting. He has been providing services in corporate compliance, taxation, accounting, financial consulting and litigation support since 1980. Prior to founding Sarvas King & Coleman, P.C., Mr. Sarvas spent six years with the office of the Arizona Attorney General. He has extensive experience with closely-held businesses, public companies, corporate compliance and ethics programs, attorney trust funds, bankruptcy/receivership, commercial litigation, including litigation in health care, insurance loss, and RICO, environmental litigation, forensic accounting, fraud audits, governmental accounting and budgeting, and school finance.

As an active participant in the business community, Mr. Sarvas is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American College of Forensic Examiners, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Mr. Sarvas is also a diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Accounting.

Victoria Rico is a native of San Antonio and the current Chairwoman and Trustee of the George W. Brackenridge Foundation. In 2009, she became a trustee for the Foundation and has been heavily involved in San Antonio’s education quality ever since. In 2011, she published A Proposed Strategy for San Antonio: High-Quality Charter Replication which was the foundation for Choose to Succeed and its efforts – which she founded and serves as a member of its board. In addition to her work with the Brackenridge Foundation, Victoria has served on several charter school governing boards, including BASIS Texas Charter Schools, Inc. She holds a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.