Board and Executive Staff

about the council board

The Anthem master planned community is directed by a seven-member Anthem Community Council (ACC) Board, made up of volunteer homeowners from each HOA. The Board oversees the Executive Director, who is responsible for managing the ACC and with his or her staff, carrying out the policies and directives set by the Board. 

ACC Board members serve the entire Anthem community. Each April, the Board selects a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer from its members. The Chair is the presiding officer at all meetings of the Board. Each year, an election is held for open Board seats. Individuals are elected to serve three-year terms beginning and ending in April.

Contact ACC Board Chair Carolynn Hiron: chair@anthemcouncil.com
Contact the Homeowners' Associations: Country Club, Parkside or Village


ACC board of directors


2022_ACC_Board_CarolynnCarolynn Hiron, Chair | Country Club Representative
Current term: April 2022–2025

Retired CEO; Realtor
Bachelor of Commerce and Laws Degrees, University of Alberta

Before joining the Anthem Community Council Board, Carolynn served Anthem as chair of the Fiscal and Resource Management Committee (FaRM) and is currently Chair of the Member Advisory Board of Anthem Country Club. She continues to use her professional skills, experience, and her strong desire to give back to the community she loves so much. Carolynn and her husband, Henry, have been Anthem residents for nearly fifteen years. They have a daughter, Lindsay and son-in-law, Ryan. When she’s not busy at work or in her volunteer roles, Carolynn enjoys hiking and golfing with her family and friends.


2022_ACC_Board_Darrin

Darrin Francom, Vice-Chair | Parkside Representative
Current term: April 2022–2025

Assistant General Manager, Operations, Power Programs, Engineering and Maintenance for Central Arizona Project
B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Arizona

Darrin and his family have resided in Anthem for nearly 20 years. He is a registered Professional Civil Engineer and U.S. Navy veteran, having graduated from Officer Candidate School and Civil Engineer Corps Officer School in 1996. He has served in various engineering and management positions with the Central Arizona Project since 2001. Darrin’s desire as a Board Director is to address the new challenges and opportunities facing Anthem, including ongoing maintenance of aging infrastructure assets, future development, and utilities.


2022_ACC_Board_BarbBarb Patterson, Secretary | Country Club Representative
Current term: April 2023-2026

Financial and software consultant
B.S. in Education, Iowa State University

Barb Patterson, an Anthem resident since 2013, was an instrumental voice on the pickleball courts and dog park as part of Anthem’s Facilities Master Plan process. She is the current president of Anthem AZ Pickleball Club, serves on the LEC committee for the ACCCA and the PAC Committee for ClubCorp, is a member of The Wednesday Club, and has been involved in various charitable organizations. She is married to Craig; they have three children and two grandchildren who live in Australia. Barb strives to continue open communication with residents in Anthem, increase resident involvement, and maintain fiscal responsibility.


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Bob McKenzie, Treasurer | Country Club Representative
Current term: April 2021–2024

Retired, CPA and Government Affairs/Political Consultant
B.A. in Political Science; graduate work in economics and national security

Bob McKenzie first moved to Anthem in 2002, and nine years later, he and his wife, Sheryl, made the community their full-time home. Locally, Bob serves or has served as a Board representative on a number of ACC committees, including Community Planning and Development, Fiscal and Resource Management and the Utilities Panel. He is also a member of various Chambers of Commerce, charities and government committees/commissions in the Phoenix Valley and elsewhere. Bob and Sheryl have three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. As a Board member, he wants to continue advocating for transparency, fiscal responsibility and a commitment to providing recreational activity for all ages.


2022_ACC_Board_Headshots_Gina2023Gina Richard, Director | Village Representative
Current term: April 2021-2024

Administrative Operations Coordinator for DC Ranch Community Council
B.S. in Business Administration - finance and marketing, Gonzaga University

A 17-year resident of Anthem, Gina previously served the community on the Village at Anthem Condominium Council of Co-owners Board, as both secretary and president. As a long-time resident, her desire to serve on the ACC Board is to give back to the community that has given her so much and to represent the entirety of Anthem in addition to her HOA. Gina loves the hometown feeling of Anthem, with lots of other fun options not far away. She enjoys pickleball, traveling, reading, and home improvement projects with her husband and three teenage children.


DinoCottonDino Cotton, Director | Parkside Representative
Current term: April 2023-2026

Entrepreneur, Business Owner
B.A. in Communications, Arizona State University

Dino has been a proud Anthem resident since 2013 and is currently serving his second term as Anthem Community Council Director. With a strong commitment to his community, Dino, along with his wife and four children, actively participate in various local activities. He has owned and operated a technical consulting and recruiting firm for over 11 years, with the mission of connecting talented individuals with empowering career opportunities. Dino places great importance on transparency, honesty, and critical thinking in his decision-making process, both professionally and as a community leader. His passion is evident in his dedication to volunteering his time, as well as working collaboratively with fellow board members and municipal contacts. Dino's goal is to continually improve and refine Anthem as a thriving community while making strategic decisions that will shape its future.


CoryCurlCody Curl, Director | Parkside Representative
Current term: June 2023-April 2024

Emergency Management Specialist
Master of Public Administration (MPA), Arizona State University

Cody and her husband became Anthem residents in 2021 and quickly fell in love with the community. This, and a vacant seat, prompted her to get involved by serving on the ACC. Cody is an Arizona native and received her BA in Justice Studies and Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University (go Devils!) Before joining the ACC, she worked for both state government and healthcare in emergency preparedness roles. In this new role as a Board Director, she is eager to serve the community in which she lives and loves and ensure Anthem continues to thrive and prosper in the coming years.


executive staff

View the staff directory & contact list

Aaron Baker, Executive Director
Rob Samuelsen, Interim Director of Finance
Scott Newell, Director of Programs & Aquatics
Mike Krask, Director of Parks & Facilities 
Steven Dinkoski, Director of Communications
Tanya Dahl, Human Resources Director