Our Team

Trusted Professionals, Strong Relationships, Better Outcomes…

Molera Alvarez Partners

Our Founders

Jaime A. Molera and Ruben E. Alvarez each bring a wealth of experience to our team and the firm they co-founded. Both have spent years serving in government. Their past accomplishments give the firm unique insight into education, business, non-profits, and government entities. Jaime A. Molera was named “One of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Arizona” by the Phoenix Business Journal. Ruben E. Alvarez served past Arizona Governors in positions including Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Policy Advisor for Mexico and Hispanic Outreach.

Ruben E. Alvarez, Managing Partner

Ruben E. Alvarez, Managing Partner

Ruben Alvarez applies his extensive political experience and strategic business expertise to lead a wide range of Fortune 500 companies, non-profit groups and governmental entities in pursuit of their business development and legislative goals.

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Professional Affiliations
  • National Assembly of State Arts Agencies – National Board Member
  • Phoenix Community Alliance – Executive Committee Board Member and Chair of the Public Affairs Committee
  • Treasurer and Board Member: Latino Leaders Network, Washington DC
  • Board Chair: CALA Alliance
  • Valley of the Sun United Way – Board Member and Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force
  • Board Member: Arizona Commission on the Arts
  • Phoenix Art Museum – Board Trustee
  • Former Member of the National Board of Representatives: Desert Mountain’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
  • Presidential Appointee to the White House Conference on Aging
  • Herberger Theatre, Past Board Member
  • City of Phoenix Golf Advisory Committee, Past Board Member
  • Better Business Bureau, Inc., Past Board Member
  • City of Phoenix Human Relations Commission, Past Commissioner
  • Phoenix Convention and Visitors’ Bureau Multi-Cultural Advisory Board, Past Board Member
  • City of Phoenix 2000 Citizens’ Bond Committee, Past Committee Member
  • City of Phoenix Census 2000 Campaign, Past Hispanic Advisory Committee Member
  • Voto Latino (founded/chaired by Rosario Dawson), Past Board Member
  • the American Lung Association of Arizona, Past Chair
  • Maricopa County’s Integrated Health Service’s Diversity Council, Past Board Chair
  • Phoenix Civil Service Board, Past Vice Chair
Career Highlights
  • Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Molera Alvarez
  • 12 years’ service, State of Arizona’s Executive Branch
  • Policy Advisor for Mexico and Hispanic Affairs to Governor Jane Dee Hull
  • Governor’s Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity
Education
  • BA in Political Science, Arizona State University
  • ASU Hispanic Undergraduate of the Year
  • ASU College of Liberal Arts, Outstanding Junior Award
  • Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society
  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
  • Border Academy graduate – Intensive interdisciplinary summer graduate study program
  • Arizona Leadership Academy – Completed State of Arizona’s Leadership Skills Training Program

Jaime A. Molera, Partner

Jaime Molera brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments to bear as he protects and advances the interests of his clients. His achievements in government affairs, business, and education helped him earn a national reputation as a trusted, results-oriented leader, and a major force for civic and social progress. Jaime Molera serves as an adviser/confidant for scores of political leaders, business entities, and community organizations.

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Career Highlights
  • Co-Founder, Partner, Molera Alvarez
  • Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Arizona State Board of Education President (two-terms)
  • Leading Advisor on Policy and Legislative Affairs to Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull
  • Senior Consultant and Spokesperson for U.S. Senator Jon Kyl
  • Political commentator for KPHO-CBS 5
  • Chairman – Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee
  • Board of Directors – Arizona Chamber of Commerce
Professional Accolades
  • Named “One of the 50 most influential leaders in Arizona,” Arizona Business Journal
  • Recognized as “One of the top 100 Hispanic leaders in the United States,” Hispanic Business Magazine
  • Contributor: The Lehrer NewsHour, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio
Jaime A. Molera, Partner
Claude Mattox, Vice President of Government & Community Relations

Claude Mattox, Vice President of Government & Community Relations

Claude Mattox has been a member of the Molera Alvarez team since 2012 after a successful twelve years of service on the Phoenix City Council. Claude brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team with thirty years of community and political involvement in Phoenix, the state of Arizona, and at the national level.

He is especially proud of his involvement in many major accomplishments during his City Council tenure, and he continues to serve the community to improve the quality of life in the Valley and the State of Arizona. Claude’s experience has helped him develop skills that directly benefit our clients, including, strong budgeting knowledge and the ability to work with diverse business, civic, and community groups for a positive impact.

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Phoenix City Council Experience
  • Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee (Chairman)
  • Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability Subcommittee (Past Chairman)
  • Finance, Efficiency and Innovation Subcommittee (Member)
  • Phoenix Audit Committee (Member)
  • Housing and Neighborhoods Subcommittee (Member)
  • Parks, Open Space and Environment Subcommittee (Member)
  • Arizona Municipal Water Users Association Board of Directors (President)
  • Arizona Cities and Towns’ Executive Committee (Member)
  • National League of Cities Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources (EENR) Steering and Policy Committee (Chairman)
  • Vice Mayor of Phoenix City Council (2002)
Current Community Involvement
  • Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Member: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Water and Natural Resources Committee, Environment Committee, Real Estate & Community Committee)
  • Arizona Town Hall Board of Directors (Member)
  • Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (Member: Public Affairs Committee, Transportation Committee, Agriculture, Environment & Water Committee, Economic Development Committee)
  • Maryvale Revitalization Board of Directors (Immediate Past Chairman)
  • Phoenix Police Reserve Foundation Board of Directors (Member)
  • Phoenix Water/Waste Water Rate Advisory Committee (Chairman)
  • Yarnell (AZ) Water Improvement Association Board of Directors (President)
Professional History
  • Anasazi Book Store (Co-owner with Wife Sherri)
  • Mark Melton and Associates, Inc., Real Estate Sales and Investments (Vice President and Treasurer)
  • National Western Vistas Real Estate (Designated Broker)
  • Desert Sun Enterprises Community Relations (Principal)
Education
  • Florida State University, Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Business Management) 1976
  • Harvard University, Kennedy School Senior Executive in State and Local Government Program, 2001

Elizabeth Hatch, Director Of Legislative Affairs

Elizabeth Hatch adds years of experience as a legal analyst to our team. She has worked tirelessly to pass legislation. During her nine-year tenure at the Arizona House of Representatives, Elizabeth worked in various positions on a wide variety of issues. As a former House Director of Operations, Elizabeth brings an insider’s expertise of the legislative process.

Career Highlights
  • Assistant Analyst and Analyst for the Government Reform and Federal Mandates and States’ Rights Committees, Arizona House of Representatives
  • Policy Advisor to the Majority, Arizona House of Representatives
  • Advised five former Arizona Speakers of the House, Arizona House of Representatives
  • Director of Operations, Arizona House of Representatives
Education
  • B.A. in English, Arizona State University
Elizabeth Hatch, Director Of Legislative Affairs
Deanna Jonovich

Deanna Jonovich, Senior Executive Project Manager

Deanna Jonovich brings knowledge, understanding, experience, and relationships developed over a 30-year public service career to the Molera Alvarez team. Deanna has worked on collaborations across multiple sectors to solve complex issues facing government and local communities. Her career has helped her gain significant expertise in numerous areas, which is key for the variety of industries Molera Alvarez clients represent.

Career Highlights
  • Assistant City Manager, City of Phoenix
  • Oversaw multiple city departments including: Airport, Community and Economic Development, Human Services, Government Relations, Education, Parks and Recreation, Library, Neighborhood Services and Housing
  • Guided a two-year long process in the development of a Comprehensive Airport Master Plan for Sky Harbor Airport
  • Led an interdepartmental team in managing an extensive educational campaign resulting in the redevelopment of a city-owned and NBA operated arena
  • Assisted in the negotiations to transfer ownership, operations, and redevelopment of a recreation facility to an MLB organization
  • Successfully led multiple citywide created taskforces that involved diverse policy challenges, such as Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, Homelessness, Accountability and Transparency, Fast Track Cities
  • One of two Executives selected to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative
Community Engagement
  • Member, Arizona City/County Management Association
  • Member, City of Phoenix 2023 General Obligations Bond Committee
Education
  • Masters in Leadership, Northern Arizona University
  • B.A. in Business Administration, Northern Arizona University

Estrella Mendoza, Vice President of Operations

Estrella Mendoza has been with our team since early 2010 and currently serves as Vice President of Operations for the firm. Her primary responsibilities include managing the daily operations of the firm, including accounting, human resources, network management, website management, and maintaining visibility for the firm through social media. She also produces various special events held by the firm and clients.

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Career Highlights
  • Earned Arizona Property and Casualty Insurance License during five year tenure at Country Financial
  • Community Affairs Department, Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball & Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation
Education
  • BS in Marketing from W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University
  • Tuition scholarship recipient, Hispanic Women’s Corporation
  • Member, Sports Business Association, ASU
Estrella Mendoza, Manager Of Business Operations
Rex Bartlett

Rex Bartlett, Senior Associate, Policy & Government Affairs

Rex Bartlett is an essential member of our legislative team whose duties include monitoring and tracking important legislation pertaining to our wide array of clients, research and analysis of legislation and supporting client accounts. A southern Arizona native, Rex brings a passion for bettering our State and developing opportunities within it. As a recent graduate of Boise State University, Rex works with ambition and determination for new opportunities to support our Policy and Government efforts.

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Career Highlights
  • Account Executive, Campaigns and Public Affairs, HighGround Public Affairs
  • Prelitigation Paralegal, Personal Injury and Civil Tort, Brown, Engstrand, and Shely LLC
Education
  • B.S. Political Science, International Relations and Comparative Politics, Boise State University
  • B.A. Communications, Boise State University

Shirley Springer, Project Coordinator

Shirley Springer serves as Project Coordinator for the firm, performing several administrative and clerical functions that assist with day-to-day office operations. Her duties include screening calls and visitors, maintaining office equipment and supplies, data entry, among others. Shirley also works closely with our team to provide support with various tasks, including scheduling and Spanish translation.

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Career Highlights
  • Research Intern, Arizona House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Water and Lands
  • Research Intern, Arizona House of Representatives, Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
  • Student Technician, Information Technology Services, Northern Arizona University
Education
  • BA in International Affairs, Cum Laude, Northern Arizona University
  • BA in Spanish, Cum Laude, Northern Arizona University
Shirley Springer

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