Connecting Teens to Young Leaders

 Ezequias Fuentes graduated from Camelback High School in 2019 and recently  accomplished the remarkable feat of obtaining his Bachelor of Arts  degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Arizona State University in  2023. His studies were focused on Marketing & Sales as well as  Digital Audiences, and he also earned a certificate in Cross-Sector  Leadership. Presently, he holds the esteemed position of Director of  Programs at Hustle PHX, a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated  to equipping individuals with intellectual, social, and financial  resources, enabling them to initiate and expand their businesses.
Ezequias'  journey in the realm of business and entrepreneurship began during his  high school years when he actively participated in marketing courses,  DECA, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, and even served as a Camp  Counselor for Aspiring Youth Academy. This early engagement laid the  foundation for his passion in the field.

Remarkably, Ezequias is one of ten siblings, originating from a close-knit and sizable  family. This familial background serves as a constant source of  motivation and inspiration for him. Every achievement he attains carries  an added significance, as he recognizes that his successes reverberate  through his family and community. With a strong educational  background, an impressive array of experiences, and an unyielding  dedication to empowering others through entrepreneurship, Ezequias Fuentes stands as a true example of resilience, leadership, and community impact.

 My name is Christina Lambatsos and I am looking forward to connecting  with you! I moved to Phoenix AZ with my family when I was 10 years old,  and I have been here ever since. I graduated from Desert Mountain high  school in 2016. In high school I found the love for business and  entrepreneurship through after school programs and a summer camp. After  high school I attended Scottsdale Community College and short after I  graduated from ASU and received my bachelor’s degree in marketing with  an emphasis in digital communications. I worked for Frito Lay right  after college as a Sales Manager, and now I currently work as a  pharmaceutical sales Representative. In my free time I love to bake,  box, and travel. I also enjoy shopping and swimming with my friends!  Can’t wait to meet you!  

Hi! My name is Matt Sostrom. I love being outdoors, photography, and camping. I recently

graduated from GCU with a degree in marketing and advertising, and before that, I was a

student of Mr. Nilsson’s at Desert Mountain HS. I love entrepreneurship! I have started 2

successful small businesses and I’ve won some awards through DECA, a competitive business

club, for explaining my plans to grow them. I started Kahau Kones when I was 16, and I sold

shaved ice at almost every elementary school in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley districts.

Not being able to offer shaved ice anymore because school events were cancelled during the

covid pandemic, I started Aloha Arizona Photography. This business offers real estate

photography, drone mapping, and virtual tour imaging to a wide variety of professionals. Now,

post college, I am still working on Aloha Arizona Photography while working towards my dream

of being an air ambulance helicopter pilot. I am beginning flight school very soon and I am

excited that entrepreneurship and so many inspirational people like Mr. Nilsson have helped

pave a way for me to achieve my dreams.

 Hi, my name is Taylor Paielli. I was  born and raised in the beautiful  state of Arizona. I began my academic journey at Arizona State  University and recently graduated in Spring of 2023 with two degrees in  Computer Information Systems and Marketing. Throughout college, I was  involved in several campus organizations focused on career development  as well held 4 internships while attending school. After graduation, I  recently started a new role as a ServiceNow Application Admin at Early  Warning Services, the company behind Zelle payments. Essentially, I help  develop and manage a system that enables business processes to be more  efficient. My passion lies at the intersection of business and  technology, and I have hands-on experience programming applications in  React Native and Python, with a solid grasp of HTML, CSS, JavaScript,  and SQL. Outside of my tech world, I love cooking up new dishes,  traveling, watching movies, and journaling. 

Nadxelly Andrew was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business in Arizona State University with a degree in Digital Marketing.

During her time in college, she spent four years working in client-facing roles as an account manager and strategist. She led multiple teams and worked with renowned clients like Circle K, PF Changs, Markitors, and The Phoenix Zoo. Through out her experiences, she discovered that her true strengths were in building relationships.

She actively pursued opportunities to develop her relationship-building skills. She served as a Residential Assistant for over 100 first-year business students. 

Additionally, She worked as a social media coordinator for two years at a risk-management technology company. This professional experience allowed her to partake in domestic and international tradeshow events and honed her ability to form relationships with prospective clients.

 My  name is Brianna Atwood and I currently am a Human Resources manager with  Target. In 2020, received my Associate’s in Business from Scottsdale  Community College, and continued my education at ASU graduating with a  Bachelor’s in Management in 2022. I started working when I was 16 and  knew I had a love for teaching people but I wasn’t sure how to pursue  that or make it into my career. I took a marketing class with Eric  Nilsson who gave great guidance and helped me navigate extracurriculars  like DECA. From then on, I knew that management was the route I wanted  to take for a career path. I became a retail manager at the age of 18  and have been a leader of people for almost 6 years. My favorite part of  my job is seeing the growth and success of my team each day. I am  currently pursuing a certificate in Human Resources Management to  further my knowledge within my current role. In my free time, I love  spending time with my family! I am currently learning Spanish and have  recently taken up an interest in volunteering