Meet the Child Crisis Arizona leadership team.

Dynamic. Altruistic. Strategic. Torrie Taj is a passionate and dedicated professional with more than 28 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy. Torrie is a heartfelt leader who loves to create big visions for the future while embracing a theory of abundance.  Her energy is contagious and attracts the best talent of individuals who want to make a difference today and for the next generation.

As CEO at Child Crisis Arizona, Torrie provides support and leadership to her team to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect, creating safe kids and strong families. Torrie started her career as a volunteer in 1991 and worked her way up, overseeing a variety of human-service programs and departments before being recruited to lead Child Crisis Arizona in 2015.

Torrie encourages her staff to give back through volunteer work in the community. Leading by example, Torrie enthusiastically serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and teaches at ASU, her alma mater . . . Go Devils! Her WHY is to mentor, motivate and inspire incredible people who collectively work together so that our community is a better place for everyone. For fun, Torrie loves spending time with her three children, gardening and traveling! Torrie’s determination and love for humankind drive her to achieve extraordinary results. Her abundant life is filled with gratitude, optimism, and lifelong learning which keep her inspired and moving forward.

Lisa is a licensed CPA and Florida State University, graduate. She started her career as an auditor at Big 4 accounting firms leaving her role as Senior Manager to begin a career in nonprofit finance. As CFO, Lisa is responsible for all fiscal operations, including internal and external reporting. She has received a Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the ASU Lodestar Center and works with Lodestar Center faculty to teach financial management principles to other nonprofit professionals. Lisa came to Child Crisis Arizona because she is passionate about the agency’s mission and wanted to use her talents to help protect Arizona’s most vulnerable children and families. For recreation, Lisa enjoys long distance running, cooking and college football.

EJ Hughes joined the Child Crisis Arizona team in 2016 and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer. He brings over 16 years of nonprofit management experience and leadership to the organization. In the past, EJ served in a myriad of roles for other child-focused nonprofits in the Valley including programming, operations, development, and strategic planning. He is eager to use his skills to help shape the future of Child Crisis Arizona and is passionate about expanding the vision and impact of the agency to ensure Arizona’s most vulnerable children and families have access to the help they need. EJ is a graduate of Arizona State University and a native of Arizona. Outside of work, his passions include – family, football, and all Arizona sports teams!

With more than 20 years of nonprofit experience, Justin leads a talented philanthropic resource development and communications team. Since 2016, he has been connecting our community of supporters with the mission and vision of Child Crisis Arizona. As Vice President of Resource Development and Communications, Justin oversees the agency’s philanthropic and marketing efforts. His passion for the agency’s mission is shown through his efforts in expanding our impact by ensuring a sustainable future through philanthropic giving. Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University and earned his Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certificate in 2019. For leisure, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids while cheering on all Arizona sports teams, especially the Phoenix Suns!