Armando A. Contreras is the President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. His professional career includes serving as the CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona, the President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) and the Director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and the Executive Director of the Governor’s Council on Small Business under former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. Armando earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Theology from the University of San Francisco. He also attended the Indiana University School of Philanthropy. Armando serves on the Board of Directors for SourceAmerica. With three grown children, Armando and his wife, Norma, reside in Phoenix, Arizona where they are active in the community, contributing their time and talents to faith based social justice issues.
Carrie Cantrell is the Director of Affiliate Relations & Programs at United Cerebral Palsy. She has been working with UCP since 2020 as a consultant prior to joining the team in September 2024. Carrie earned a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health from University of Michigan in 2011, and has since worked various community settings including hospitals, community-based nonprofits, and government entities with a focus on program development and implementation. She continues to serve as adjunct faculty and an internship mentor for social work and sociology students at Grand Canyon University. Carrie’s lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two pups.
Michael Ludgardo is the Manager of Development for United Cerebral Palsy, and has supported the development department in various roles during his 10-year tenure. Michael earned a Master’s of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from George Mason University in May 2023. Based in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, Michael volunteers at two local nonprofit organizations in his spare time: New Futures and the Latin American Youth Center.
Alexis Sanchez is the Business Operations Administrator for United Cerebral Palsy. Alexis assists in the development department and manages UCP's social media platforms. Graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in history, Alexis has worked at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and interned at their Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.
Gerald Ong is the Executive Assistant to Armando Contreras, UCP President & CEO. With nine years of experience as an administrative professional in the dynamic tech start-up sector of San Francisco, Gerald has honed his skills in managing complex schedules and supporting executive leadership. He graduated with honors from San Francisco State University, earning a B.A. in Communication Studies. Outside of work, Gerald is a devoted fan of Taylor Swift and enjoys spending time with his two dogs, Bruno and Ariana, named after a couple of his favorite musicians Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande.
