District 3 Executive Team
Club Growth Director
Ashley Coleman Abbate
Assistant Chair: Shelley Gabriel, DTM
CGD@d3toastmasters.org
DEC/DC Reports
Manager positions
Commonly Asked Questions
Start by connecting with your Area or Division Director to express your interest. District volunteer opportunities include serving as a contest judge, helping at conferences and events, joining committees (education, marketing, finance), or taking on appointed roles like speechcraft coordinator or mentor. You can also run for elected positions like Area Director when nominations open. The best way to get started is to attend district events, network with current leaders, and let people know you’re interested in serving.
Serving at the district level accelerates your leadership development beyond what’s possible in a single club. You’ll gain experience managing larger teams, organizing events, strategic planning, and working across diverse groups. District service also expands your network across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, connecting you with hundreds of Toastmasters and creating mentorship opportunities. Many members find that district leadership experience directly translates to career advancement—the skills you develop are the same ones employers value. Plus, you’ll have a greater impact by helping multiple clubs succeed and supporting more members on their journey.
District 3 is the largest unit, covering all Toastmasters clubs across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The district is divided into Divisions (typically 4-6 geographic regions), each led by a Division Director. Each Division is further divided into Areas (usually 4-6 clubs grouped together), led by an Area Director. So the hierarchy is: District → Division → Area → Club. Area Directors support 4-6 clubs directly, Division Directors oversee multiple Areas, and the District leadership team (the Trio and Top 7) guides the entire district toward its goals.
For club-related issues, start by contacting your Area Director, who directly supports your club. If the issue isn’t resolved or involves area-level concerns, reach out to your Division Director. For district-wide matters, you can contact the appropriate member of the Top 7 based on the issue: the Program Quality Director for educational program concerns, the Club Growth Director for membership or club building matters, the Administration Manager for operational questions, or the Public Relations Manager for communications issues. You can also email the District Director directly at dd@aztoastmasters.orgAll district leaders are here to support your success, and we encourage open communication to address concerns promptly.
District Administrative Committees
Program Quality Committees
Chair: Julie Miller, DTM
Admin Manager:
Chief Judge: Peter Salazar, DTM
Chair: Randy Casarez, DTM
Programming: Dominique Kroeger
On Demand Credit: Chad Reid
Club Growth Committees
Outreach
Chair: Nancy Duckett, DTM
Liaisons:
Phoenix: Ramana Suggula
Sara Cowan, DTM
Mathilde Fievez
Tucson: David Martin
Yuma:
New Mexico: Ralph Wallace, DTM, PID
El Paso:
Public Relations Team
Podcast
Chair: Rupesh Prabhoo
Team Members:
Edna Saucke
Vincent Feutrier
Marie Feutrier
Matthew Malan
Kat Leslie