Meet Our Governing Board

Elected by the public on an at-large basis every two years, each SFD Governing Board member serves on staggered 4-year terms, with responsibility to approve the annual budget and exercise supervision of the Fire Chief who manages the District.

Helen McNeal

Helen Briggs McNeal

Chairperson

About Helen

Helen McNeal is a Principal of McNeal Rector Consulting and from 2012 to 2017 was the Founding Executive Director of the California State University’s Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care. Prior to joining the Institute, she was Vice President of San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. From 1998 to 2000, Helen was the National Director of Training & Development for the American Diabetes Association, and prior to that time was President, Managing Partner and co-founder of Bridgepoint: The Centre for Human Resource Development in Toronto, Canada. Helen has also been instrumental, both in the United States and Canada in helping to advance the field of palliative and end of life care, consulting with both U.S. and Canadian government agencies on palliative and end of life care, consulting with both U.S. and Canadian government agencies on palliative care strategies. She is also the co-author of Module IV: Palliative Care of A Comprehensive Guide to the Care of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS and co-author of several articles on palliative care. Helen is also a glass artist and lives with her husband, Allen Rector, in Sedona, Arizona.

Corrie Cooperman

Clerk

About Corrie

Corrie has lived in Sedona 15 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from San Francisco State University and has had a lifetime career in the health services as an RN, mainly in the fields of outpatient physical rehabilitation and psychiatric nursing. Currently she collaborates with her psychiatrist husband, Oliver, in treating young adults who struggle with anxiety and depression.

Because of her desire to contribute to the welfare of people in the community, Corrie formally served on the Sedona Fire District Governing Board as Clerk from 2012 to 2020. She is proud of participating as a Board member during that time in the authorization and building of Station 6 in the Chapel Area of Sedona. She and her husband live in the Kachina area of Sedona along with their 3 dogs.

David Soto

Member

About David

Dave Soto is a retired Fire Captain from the Los Angeles City Fire Department. His career spans 35 years from firefighting through management. Dave is the past president of the Broken Arrow Civic Improvement Association serving three consecutive terms, a current member of the YCSO Verde Valley Search and Rescue Posse, a committee member of the SFD 9/11 Memorial Plaza building project, and a member of the Greater Verde Valley Emergency Services – Shared Services Committee. He is also an avid artist currently showing his work in a local gallery. Dave lives in the Broken Arrow area with his wife Virginia and their two dogs. 

Janet Jablow

Member

About Janet

Janet Jablow has been a resident of Sedona for close to 15 years. Since arriving, she has volunteered for organizations such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children) and continues to volunteer for Verde Valley Caregivers. Janet was a stay-at-home mom with her two sons Kyle and Zachary. While her children were in school, she was very active in the PTA and other volunteer positions. When she worked outside the home, it was in the commercial banking industry and bookkeeping for an east coast chain.  Janet and her husband, Scott, live in the Chapel area.

Scott Springett

Member

About Scott

Scott Springett moved to Sedona in 2010 from southern California where he spent 34 years in the fire service.  A retired Fire Captain, Mr. Springett served as a Rescue Technician/EMT on the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team and was deployed to the World Trade Center after 9/11.  With a degree in Fire Science and having studied Emergency Services Management, Mr. Springett joined the Fire Board to stay connected with the fire service and assist the Board in maintaining the District as a strong asset to the community.  Active in the community, Mr. Springett volunteers and serves on several Boards, including Red Rock State Park, Yavapai Food Council, Sedona Community Center Meals on Wheels, Verde Valley Neighborhood Food Project, and the Sedona Area Homeless Alliance.  He enjoys traveling and spends his free time restoring, repairing, and repurposing items made of various types of wood.