Bio
As a 5th generation Arizona AND Gila County native, Sammi Jenkins knows what issues are important to rural Arizona! Growing up on her family’s ranch outside of Payson, Sammi internalized the key principles of not only herdsmanship for their livestock, but also in stewardship of the land and resources. Sammi’s was heavily influenced by the youth leadership organizations 4-H and FFA, through membership and participation. As a result of the skills and abilities she mastered; she served in multiple leadership roles on the local and regional level, was the Arizona State FFA Secretary, was able to secure a scholarship for collegiate livestock judging, and has shown cattle at every major livestock show in the US. As an adult Sammi continues to support these associations, serving as a leader, mentor and coach for local clubs and teams. Sammi’s older daughters have also “completed” their years as 4-H and FFA members, and the youngest two are currently in their 1st year of 4-H membership, looking forward to many more! Sammi obtained a degree in Nursing from Eastern Arizona College and has been a Registered Nurse in Arizona for the past 2 decades; working in Surgical Services, Emergency Services, and dialysis, predominantly in the rural setting. For the last 7 years, Sammi was employed by United Health Care/Optum as a Senior Analyst on their national Quality and Performance Improvement team that audits the companies telephonic Case and Disease Management product. As a career-long advocate for quality and compassionate care, Sammi has been a change agent in multiple healthcare settings, to drive these issues forward and impact real, positive change in the healthcare setting. Recently Sammi decided to refocus her efforts on the home front when she took a pause from nursing to help her husband Ty operate his family ranch in the Roosevelt Lake area, finish raising the last 2 of their 5 girls, and to start her own enterprise as a Micro Green Grocer. She looks forward to the boundless opportunities and experience that will be provided to her as a member of Project CNTRL-Class 27, and is eager to help put that experience to work for rural Arizona. From a young age Mrs. Jenkins learned not only how to work HARD, but also how to work SMART-often times in unpleasant conditions and with sub-optimal resources. She comes from a family legacy that is steeped in fortitude, and resplendent with grit, but nicely glazed with grace.