Council Team

Candy Espino, MBA
President & CEO

Candy Espino has been the President and CEO of the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers since September of 2019. Candy has spent the past 18 years in the health and human service sector, with 11 years of experience at an executive level, 6 of which have been as a CEO. Prior to the AZ Council, Candy was the CEO for a non-profit child welfare and behavioral health organization in the Bay area, as well as previously being a Chief Operating Officer for a statewide child welfare and behavioral health organization in Arizona. Candy earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from California State University, East Bay. 

Candy’s experience in behavioral health and child welfare has allowed her to grow her skills in strategic partnerships, public policy, and non-profit business management, as well as understand the societal impact when systems work well together, as well as when they do not. Candy is focused on advancing equity, innovation, and access to necessary resources and care for children, youth, families, and adults at both state and national levels. Candy’s desire to be a true partner, along with her excitement towards achieving meaningful change, is what motivates her to be a lifelong learner and advocate in the fields of child welfare and behavioral health.  

Candy loves spending time with family, friends, and her pets. She finds great joy in going to sporting and music events with her husband and traveling to new places whenever possible. 

Amy Meyertholen, MSW
Director of Strategic Initiatives

Amy Meyertholen is the Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers.  After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Arizona, Amy went on to earn her Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State University.  With over 15 years as a Social Worker, Amy’s experience includes direct practice with children and families, program development, and project management.  When away from work, Amy enjoys hiking, quiet spaces, and spending time with her favorite people and pets.

Michelle Coldwell, MSW
Director of Public Policy

Michelle Coldwell has been the Director of Public Policy at the Council since April of 2022. She has her Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from Arizona State University and her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California with an emphasis on Social Change and Innovation.

Before coming to the Council, Michelle worked for Senator Kyrsten Sinema for 7 years in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. As a Constituent Services and Community Liaison, Michelle was focused primarily on healthcare and aging issues. In this role, she was responsible for hosting a wide range of events from opioid roundtables to senior identity theft workshops with community partners and government agencies. In addition to her work in events and outreach, Michelle helped Arizonans one-on-one with navigating complex government agencies and programs.

Shannon Higgins
Administrative Assistant & Member Support

Shannon Higgins joined the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers team in October 2019, as the Administrative Assistant, where her background and experience has been vital in daily operations of both the Council and Foundation. Shannon has spent the last 17 years in administrative support and case management positions where she has developed a passion for helping others. 

Through Shannon’s positive and friendly approach, she provides administrative, clerical, and technical support for a variety of projects for the Arizona Council and Foundation, as well as manages bookkeeping functions for both programs.  Shannon is also the Council’s go-to resource for membership information and events. 

During her free time, Shannon loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time camping, hiking, and golfing.

Richard Elkin, MS
Special Projects Coordinator

Originally from rural North Dakota, Mr. Elkin joins the team after several years of diverse experience in education and mental health. He has held positions working in ABA therapy programs, assisted in psychological assessments, and conducted various research endeavors. Richard holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. In the future, Richard looks forward to supporting the council and its members.