Executive Team
Bill Westcott
Bill Westcott
Executive Director
In 1981, Bill Westcott founded Bill Westcott Incorporated, a financial services company focused on investment and retirement planning. Bill’s legacy in financial services dates back to 1921 when his grandfather first opened a family practice. Before becoming the Executive Director of Potoff Private Philanthropy, Bill served as a Trustee on the Board of the Tucson Symphony, the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of Arizona Libraries, and the Dean’s Advisory Board of the College of Science.
- Bill has lived in Tucson, Arizona, for over half a century and has been married to his business partner, JoAnna Westcott, for 26 years.
- They split their time between living in Tucson and their home in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico.
- Bill has been friends with Mr. Ross Potoff for more than 40 years.
- His mandate from Mr. Potoff is to support skills-based K-12 education, design initiatives for veterans of the military, and provide support for charities that focus on the well-being of animals.
Camille Coyle
Camille Coyle
Assistant Executive Director
- Originally from Michigan, Camille attended Henry Ford Community College and Eastern Michigan University. Camille moved to Tucson in 1996. While raising her two daughters, she volunteered and served on many boards and fundraising committees.
- In 2010, she landed with Bill Westcott, Inc., a financial investment firm, as Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations. In addition to her duties, she co-founded the Women’s Salon Series™; Event Driven Media Partners / for the common good™; and has now added the role of Assistant Executive Director for Potoff Private Philanthropy.
Kathy Prather
Kathy Prather
Board Member, Secretary
- Kathy Prather has served as Superintendent/CEO of Pima JTED since 2018 and has dedicated nearly three decades to advancing career and technical education across Arizona. She played a key role in the creation of Pima JTED and continues to lead the district's growth through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to student success.
- Under Kathy's leadership, thousands of students each year earn industry-recognized certifications and college credit while gaining the skills needed for successful careers. Her work has earned statewide recognition, including the Arizona Association for Career and Technical Education's Administrator of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards.
- In addition to her leadership at Pima JTED, Kathy serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Potoff Private Philanthropy, helping advance initiatives that strengthen education and workforce development throughout Arizona.
A Tucson native, Kathy, is passionate about preparing students for college, careers, and lifelong success while strengthening Southern Arizona's workforce and economy.
Ashley Lown
Ashley Lown
NBCT, Pima JTED Engagement & Placement Coordinator-Potoff Private Philanthropy Endowed Chair.
Ashley is a Distinguished Career and Technical Education Professional With 10 Years of Experience in Teaching and Leadership. She Earned the Pinnacle of Recognition When She Became a National Board-certified Teacher in Cte, and in 2018 She Won the Association of Career and Technical Education for Arizona’s Outstanding Cte Program of the Year Award in 2015.
- As the Potoff Private Philanthropy Endowed Chair at Pima JTED, Ashley leverages relationships with business and industry partners to provide internships and job placements for students.
- In addition to her support role with teachers and students, Ashley coordinates outreach events to middle school students, oversees the interactive JTED Alumni Network, and manages a job board which is widely used by industry to recruit JTED students and alumni members to fill high-demand jobs.
- Her professional mission is to provide students with the tools and resources they need to become successful, self-directed citizens who contribute to our community.
Merrill Kemp-Wilcox
Merrill Kemp-Wilcox
Director of Research and Development
Merrill Kemp-Wilcox joins Pima JTED as the Director of Research & Development, leading efforts in multisector engagement, including business and donor engagement in support of the district. Merrill brings an ecosystem perspective to her role, understanding the need to support the economic, education, and workforce development system as a whole to ensure strong outcomes for JTED students as well as meeting the industry and community needs of southern Arizona.
- Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Merrill previously worked as the Director of Outreach and Engagement with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, an independent, nonpartisan think tank focused on advancing Georgia’s educational outcomes to improve economic and workforce development for the state.
- Merrill holds an MA in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University, and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from Georgia State University focused on linguistics and language studies.
- She has served our country through Peace Corps (Madagascar) and the AmeriCorps VISTA program. She comes to Tucson with her husband and daughter, and a deep appreciation for the dry heat.
Who We Are
Potoff Pathways is the communication link of Potoff Private Philanthropy. Our foundation exists to support research and development in the field of skills-based education to work models for K-12, to provide meaningful, targeted help to military veterans, and promote animal welfare.
