ABEC Staff

Susan Carlson
Executive Director
(602) 261-6700
susan@azbec.org

Susan Carlson, executive director of the Arizona Business & Education Coalition, has experienced education from the positions of active parent, teacher, school board member, community relations specialist and lobbyist. She has worked in the private sector, in real estate sales and in public relations, crisis communications and educational issues. Fluent in Spanish, she consults with educators and business leaders wanting to learn more about the language and culture of Mexico and its people.

A native Arizonan, she attended Phoenix Central High School and received her BA degree in elementary education and Spanish at Arizona State University.

• As a teacher, she worked in the Phoenix Elementary, Tempe Elementary and Kyrene School Districts.
• As a school board member, she served six years on the governing board of the Tempe Union High School District, two years as board president.
• As a specialist in community relations, she worked for Mesa Public Schools, facilitating the development of school-based School Improvement Teams and conflict resolution with parents on behalf of the superintendency.

In Colorado, she was director of public affairs for the Adams Twelve School District in Northglenn, Colorado. She served as chairman of the regional council for the Denver area School-to-Work grant. She also worked for the Colorado Association of School Boards in conference planning, board development, strategic planning and superintendent search. She became executive director of ABEC in October, 2002.

Patrick Contrades
Deputy Director
(602) 261-6701
patrick@azbec.org

Patrick joined ABEC in May 2007. Along with his strong passion for education, he brings to ABEC a wealth of experience and expertise in college admissions, financial aid and student loan programs. His strong project management skills, research capabilities, and technological expertise are also a welcome addition to ABEC.

Before joining ABEC, Patrick served as the senior manager of product management and outreach initiatives for Southwest Student Services Corporation, a subsidiary of Sallie Mae. While there, he built a reputation among the high school counseling community as being a key resource for financial aid information and has presented at numerous financial programs throughout Arizona.

Patrick also brings to ABEC more than 15 years of experience as a higher education administrator in California. He was the director of enrollment services at Woodbury University for six years and has served in enrollment management positions at Whittier College and Loyola Marymount University. He is a member of numerous professional education associations and has volunteered to serve in various leadership capacities, which includes the inaugural chair for the Greater Phoenix National College Fair and former co-chair of the University of Arizona President's Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee. Patrick also was appointed to a four-year term to serve on the Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council for Arizona's First Things First Initiative.

Patrick and his family moved to Arizona in 1972. He is a graduate of Brophy College Preparatory and received his B.B.A. degree with an emphasis in marketing and management from Loyola Marymount University (CA).

Karen Kehlenbach
Operations Manager
(602) 261-6702
karen@azbec.org

Karen joined ABEC in March 2007. She brings to ABEC extensive experience in the information technology and customer service industries.

Karen's professional expertise focused on project development and management of business applications for large corporations including Federal Express, Schering-Plough, American Express, and Motorola. She has received numerous awards from her employers for bringing outstanding integrity, dedication, and excellence to her work in both project management and customer service.

Along with her valued knowledge of the business sector, Karen brings much professionalism to her position with her excellent organizational and event coordination skills, impeccable attention to detail, clarity in direction, and great customer service.