Board Meetings

Mr. Anthony Calderon has served as Board President of the Estrella Educational Foundation since its founding in 2012, providing strategic leadership and oversight in support of the Foundation’s mission to advance educational excellence and community development. Under his guidance, the Foundation has prioritized initiatives that expand access to high-quality academic programs and promote long-term student success.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Desert Veterans, a Phoenix-based labor service company, Mr. Calderon is dedicated to creating meaningful employment and training opportunities for military veterans. His commitment to service is informed by his own experience as an Intelligence Specialist in the United States Navy, where he served from 1983 to 1987.

Mr. Calderon also has extensive experience in media and publishing, having established several ventures including Blackboard Media Group and OnTime Publications. His entrepreneurial background complements his leadership in education and community engagement.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Calderon served as Junior National Coach for the Victorian Gymnastics Association in Melbourne, Australia (1987–1990), and later as assistant coach for the UCLA Women’s Gymnastics Team (1992–1995), where he contributed to the program’s first national championship in 1995.

Mr. Calderon strives to ensure students of Maricopa Institute of Technology receive a comprehensive and innovative STEM² education that prepares them to excel and lead in their careers.

Mr. Calderon resides in Goodyear, Arizona with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys traveling, spending time with his family, and is a passionate supporter of the Seattle Seahawks.

David A. Burrows is Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Estrella Education Foundation. With more than three decades of experience in the engineering and construction industry, Mr. Burrows is a dedicated advocate for expanding access to STEM² careers, particularly among underserved and underrepresented populations. He actively engages with students to demonstrate how science and technology can be applied to solve real-world challenges, encouraging them to pursue careers that positively impact both the built and natural environments.

Mr. Burrows earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University, graduating magna cum laude. His professional portfolio includes the design of complex highway and transit bridges, industrial structures, and land development projects, as well as the management of school renovation efforts and multidisciplinary construction initiatives. He is a licensed professional engineer in Arizona, California, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Currently, Mr. Burrows serves as Vice President at Gannett Fleming, Inc., a nationally recognized engineering consulting firm. In his role with the Estrella Education Foundation, he helps lead the board of directors in advancing the Maricopa Institute of Technology’s STEM² mission to become a premier institution for engineering education, with a strategic focus on guiding students toward the pursuit and completion of advanced degrees in engineering.

Mr. Michael Anthony Arano is the CEO and President of the THOR Marketing Group based in California. The core foundation of his success is predicated on relationships and reputation. Working with top-selling individuals across the country has been integral to the company's success. The foundation of what the company is built on is the same stepping stones that M.I.T. was founded on. With proper planning and preparation, we strive to be unique and plan for success every day, just like the students at M.I.T.

Mr. Arano is a results-driven sales and marketing professional with a strong record of performance in highly competitive markets. He was a licensed insurance agent in nine states and has represented multiple Fortune 500 companies. Over the past 20 years, he has consistently delivered sustained growth in both sales volume and profitability, demonstrating strategic acumen and market adaptability.

Previously, Mr. Arano served as Territory Manager for brands such as Sub-Zero & Wolf, La Cornue, and THOR, all based in Southern California, where he managed key independent accounts, generating gross profits of over $22 million. Before that, he served as a top-selling GEICO insurance agent and a key commercial and general liability insurance broker at Target Financial Services.

Mr. Arano is deeply committed to ensuring that Maricopa Institute of Technology students receive a rigorous, future-focused STEM² education that equips them for meaningful and impactful careers.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mr. Arano enjoys being with his family and traveling. He also actively seeks opportunities for personal and professional development.

Originally from Scotland, Mr. Malcolm has made Arizona his home for the past thirty-five years. He holds a degree in physics from the University of Glasgow and began his career in the semiconductor industry, where he held various engineering and executive roles. In the 1990s, he led Motorola’s global chip manufacturing operations from Phoenix.

In 1999, driven by a deep interest in the discoveries emerging from the Human Genome Project, Mr. Malcolm transitioned into the biotechnology sector. He subsequently held leadership positions at Motorola, Amersham Biosciences, and GE Healthcare. In 2007, he founded Applied Microarrays Inc., a Tempe-based company specializing in genomics and proteomics. The firm developed multiplex diagnostic devices targeting infectious diseases, cancers, immune disorders, and allergies. In 2021, the company was acquired by Schott and now operates from expanded cleanroom facilities in Phoenix.

Mr. Malcolm currently serves as Board Advisor to RainSure Scientific, a leading company in the field of Digital PCR systems for cancer and infectious disease diagnosis. 

Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. Malcolm enjoys traveling and outdoor activities throughout Arizona with his wife, Karen, and their two adult daughters. He is an avid guitarist and a passionate supporter of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, while also maintaining his lifelong allegiance to the Glasgow Rangers and the Scotland national soccer team.

Having attended a STEM²-focused high school himself, Mr. Malcolm is deeply committed to ensuring that Maricopa Institute of Technology students receive a rigorous and forward-looking education that prepares them for impactful careers.

Dr. Farid Zehtab is a distinguished, board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in general surgery and healthcare leadership. He holds comprehensive admitting and surgical privileges at several premier hospitals and medical centers across Arizona, including:

• Abrazo West Hospital – Goodyear, Arizona
• Banner Estrella Medical Center – Phoenix, Arizona
• Cancer Treatment Centers of America – Goodyear, Arizona
• Dignity Health West Hospital – Glendale, Arizona
• Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital – Glendale, Arizona
• Abrazo Scottsdale Hospital – Phoenix, Arizona

Dr. Zehtab completed his postgraduate training at Kettering Medical Center/Grandview Hospital through Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. His clinical training included:

• Chief Surgical Resident, July 2000 to June 2002
• General Surgery Residency, July 1998 to June 2002
• Rotating Internship, July 1997 to June 1998

Dr. Zehtab has served in key professional roles that reflect his commitment to excellence in surgical practice and medical education:

• Examiner, American Osteopathic Board of Surgery
• Associate Board Member, American Osteopathic Board of Surgery
• Member, Bureau of Examiners, American Osteopathic Board of Surgery
• Adjunct Clinical Professor, Midwestern University, Arizona
• Chair, Surgical Services Executive Committee, West Valley Hospital (2014–2016)

Dr. Zehtab is an active member of several esteemed professional organizations:

• American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
• American Osteopathic Association
• American Medical Association
• American College of Surgeons

In addition to his clinical and academic contributions, Dr. Zehtab actively supports educational initiatives in the community. He has provided guidance and support to the Maricopa Institute of Technology, a STEM²-focused charter school in Phoenix, Arizona, helping to advance its mission of preparing students for careers in medicine. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, he is dedicated to mentoring future physicians, advancing surgical standards, and supporting community health initiatives. His leadership and clinical expertise continue to make a meaningful impact in the field of medicine.