Phoenix (STN) – If momentum has a home, it may be the STN studios at the corner of Madison and 10th Street in downtown Phoenix. After a two-month holiday hiatus, the Valley’s one-of-a-kind media experience returned in February with a high-impact live show focused on transformational partnerships, the future of the workforce, and a new collaborative effort to address homelessness.
Once again, the show carried a clear, overarching message. Change happens when community leaders show up with purpose, build partnerships, and are committed to doing the work together.
During ‘Leading in the Moment‘, UMOM CEO Monique Lopez and Circle K Director of HR Karla Ramirez-Garsha unpacked what made a corporate partnership truly transformational. Their conversation highlighted deeper engagement, shared goals, and workforce development strategies that benefited both employers and the community.
WATCH: ‘It Happens at STN’ Episode 6, Season 4
Following a look at the leadership journey of Arizona Financial Credit Union Executive Vice President and Chief People and Culture Officer Juan Ruiz, the conversation shifted to the impact of artificial intelligence on education and work. From University of Phoenix, Nathan Jones, VP, Product Management, Workforce Solutions and Alison Lands, Vice President, Employer Mobilization from Jobs for the Future explored how AI was reshaping the workplace, while underscoring why ethics and human-centered skills remained essential.
As has been the case throughout Season 4 of ‘It Happens at STN‘, ‘The Wellness Collective‘ focused on food insecurity and the growing strain it placed on Arizona families and systems. United Food Bank Director of Agency Network Chris Bodnar joined leaders from Mercy Care to discuss root causes, supply chain realities, and potential solutions. One of the evening’s most powerful moments came when Mercy Care announced a $250,000 investment that will support United Food Bank’s mobile pantry work in Globe and Payson.
Make-A-Wish Arizona CEO Fran Mallace also stopped by to share insights on leadership, mentorship, and the importance of building workplace cultures grounded in people and purpose.
The evening concluded with a forward-looking conversation on homelessness, as Keys to Change CEO Amy Schwabenlender, Director of Strategic Impact Richard Crews, and A New Leaf Chief Program Officer Kathy DiNolfi detailed the launch of the Arizona Shelter Network. The new collaboration among service providers aimed to accelerate progress in addressing homelessness across Phoenix.
During the February episode, STN Founder and CEO Eric Sperling also announced a major step forward for STN+, outlining plans to evolve the platform into a social enterprise designed to help nonprofits generate unrestricted, recurring revenue. The new model is expected to launch in Season 5.
‘It Happens at STN’ returns the first week of March. Tickets for that show and the remainder of Season 4 are available online.
