Meet our board of directors

Mason Mecartea serves as President of the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing his established professional career, leadership experience, and commitment to public and community service to the governance and strategic direction of the organization.

Throughout his career, Mason has developed a professional reputation built upon leadership, service, collaboration, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the communities and organizations with which he has been involved. His career experiences have provided him with a broad perspective that he now brings to his leadership of the Mecartea & Associates PLLC Board of Directors.

As Board President, Mason provides leadership to a multidisciplinary group of professionals and organizations representing law, family law, estate planning and elder law, developmental disability services, behavioral supports, administrative advocacy, regulatory compliance, community services, and organizational leadership.

Mason works closely with fellow Board members, the Chief Executive Officer, executive leadership, professional partners, and community organizations to establish strategic priorities and ensure that Mecartea & Associates PLLC remains focused on its mission and long-term objectives.

His responsibilities include leading the Board’s governance activities, supporting strategic planning, promoting organizational accountability, reviewing significant initiatives, encouraging collaboration among Board members, and helping ensure that executive leadership has the guidance and resources necessary to carry out the organization’s mission.

Mason’s professional career has also shaped his approach to leadership. He recognizes the importance of building relationships, bringing different perspectives to the table, making responsible decisions, and ensuring that leadership remains connected to the individuals and communities an organization exists to serve.

Under Mason’s leadership, the Board of Directors is intentionally multidisciplinary. He believes that complicated challenges affecting children, adults, families, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and other vulnerable populations are best addressed through collaboration among professionals with different areas of expertise.

Mason encourages meaningful collaboration among attorneys, advocates, providers, behavioral professionals, regulatory professionals, organizational leaders, and community partners.

As President of the Board, Mason maintains an important governance relationship with executive leadership, helping provide oversight, strategic direction, and accountability while supporting the continued development and responsible growth of Mecartea & Associates PLLC.

His leadership emphasizes integrity, accountability, transparency, professionalism, collaboration, compassion, and service.

Through his professional career and service as President of the Board of Directors, Mason Mecartea continues to bring leadership, experience, and vision to Mecartea & Associates PLLC and its commitment to expanding access to justice, strengthening community partnerships, protecting vulnerable populations, and improving systems that affect individuals and families.

His leadership reflects the mission at the heart of Mecartea & Associates PLLC:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

Joshua Oliveira serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, providing leadership, strategic guidance, and governance support alongside the Board President and fellow members of the organization’s multidisciplinary Board.

As Vice President, Joshua plays an important role in supporting the effective operation of the Board and advancing the mission, strategic priorities, and long-term development of Mecartea & Associates PLLC. He works closely with Board President Mason Mecartea, the Chief Executive Officer, fellow Board members, executive leadership, professional partners, and community organizations.

Joshua assists in guiding Board discussions, organizational planning, governance initiatives, and strategic decision-making. In the absence of the Board President, he is prepared to provide leadership and continuity to help ensure the Board continues carrying out its responsibilities effectively.

His responsibilities include supporting Board governance, contributing to strategic planning, reviewing organizational initiatives, promoting accountability, encouraging collaboration among Board members, and helping ensure that decisions remain consistent with the mission and values of Mecartea & Associates PLLC.

As part of a multidisciplinary Board, Joshua works alongside professionals and organizations with experience in law, family law, estate planning and elder law, developmental disability services, behavioral supports, administrative advocacy, regulatory compliance, community services, and organizational leadership.

Joshua values the importance of bringing different professional perspectives together when addressing complex issues affecting children, adults, families, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and vulnerable communities. His approach emphasizes collaboration and thoughtful decision-making rather than relying on a single discipline or perspective.

As Vice President, Joshua also helps strengthen communication between the Board and executive leadership while supporting the Board’s independent governance and oversight responsibilities.

His leadership reflects a commitment to integrity, accountability, professionalism, transparency, collaboration, inclusion, compassion, and responsible organizational growth.

Working alongside President Mason Mecartea and the full Board of Directors, Joshua Oliveira helps ensure that Mecartea & Associates PLLC continues developing strong community partnerships, strengthening access to justice, supporting vulnerable populations, and building systems designed to better serve individuals and families.

Through his service as Vice President of the Board of Directors, Joshua supports the organization’s continuing mission:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

Brianna Mecartea serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing financial oversight, organizational accountability, and a commitment to responsible stewardship to the leadership and governance of the organization.

As Treasurer, Brianna plays an important role in helping the Board maintain responsible financial governance while supporting the long-term stability, sustainability, and strategic development of Mecartea & Associates PLLC.

Working alongside Board President Mason Mecartea, Vice President Joshua Oliveira, fellow Board members, the Chief Executive Officer, and executive leadership, Brianna helps ensure that financial considerations remain an integral part of the Board’s strategic planning and organizational decision-making.

Her responsibilities include supporting Board-level financial oversight, reviewing financial information presented to the Board, contributing to budget and financial planning discussions, monitoring financial performance, promoting appropriate financial controls and accountability, and helping the Board evaluate the financial impact of significant organizational initiatives.

Brianna’s role extends beyond financial oversight. As a member of a multidisciplinary Board of Directors, she contributes to broader conversations surrounding organizational governance, strategic priorities, professional standards, community partnerships, responsible growth, and the continued development of programs and services.

The Board brings together professionals and organizations representing law, family law, estate planning and elder law, developmental disability services, behavioral supports, administrative advocacy, regulatory compliance, community services, financial stewardship, and organizational leadership.

Within this collaborative structure, Brianna helps ensure that ambitious organizational goals are balanced with responsible planning and sound financial stewardship.

Her approach to Board service emphasizes integrity, transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, collaboration, sustainability, and service.

Brianna recognizes that responsible financial governance is ultimately connected to the people and communities an organization serves. Strong financial stewardship helps protect organizational stability, supports sustainable programs, strengthens public and community trust, and allows resources to be directed responsibly toward the organization’s mission.

Through her service as Treasurer of the Board of Directors, Brianna Mecartea works alongside the Board and executive leadership to support the continued growth of Mecartea & Associates PLLC while helping ensure that growth remains financially responsible, mission-driven, and sustainable.

Together with President Mason Mecartea, Vice President Joshua Oliveira, and the organization’s diverse Board members, Brianna supports Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to strengthening access to justice, protecting vulnerable populations, building community partnerships, and improving systems for individuals and families.

Her Board service reflects the organization’s continuing mission:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

Baumann, Doyle, Paytas & Bernstein, PLLC serves on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing decades of legal experience, professional insight, and a strong understanding of the needs of individuals, seniors, vulnerable adults, and families throughout Arizona.

Based in Phoenix, Baumann, Doyle, Paytas & Bernstein, PLLC is an Arizona law firm with significant experience in estate planning, probate, and elder law. The firm assists individuals and families with planning for the future, protecting assets and family interests, navigating incapacity, administering estates following the death of a loved one, and addressing important legal decisions affecting older adults and vulnerable individuals.

The firm’s estate planning and elder-law related services include:

Wills and estate planning
Trusts and revocable living trusts
Living wills
Advance directives
Powers of attorney
Probate and estate administration
Guardianships and conservatorships
Planning for incapacity
Assistance with protecting the interests of vulnerable adults and minors
Representation in contested and other probate proceedings
The firm also has experience in mental health law, an area that further complements Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to serving vulnerable individuals and families.

Through its service on the Board of Directors, Baumann, Doyle, Paytas & Bernstein, PLLC provides a valuable legal perspective on organizational governance, professional standards, risk awareness, strategic planning, accountability, and the development of services designed to meet complex community needs.

Its experience with guardianships and conservatorships is particularly relevant to the Board’s multidisciplinary mission. These matters can involve protecting adults who are unable to independently make certain personal or financial decisions, as well as safeguarding the interests of minor children and other vulnerable individuals.

The firm’s participation strengthens Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s ability to bring together professionals with experience across law, administrative advocacy, disability services, regulatory compliance, family support, and organizational leadership.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Baumann, Doyle, Paytas & Bernstein, PLLC supports the continued development of Mecartea & Associates PLLC and its commitment to ethical governance, professional accountability, access to justice, and compassionate service to individuals and families.

Together, this collaborative leadership reflects the organization’s broader mission of:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

Modern Law serves on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing extensive Arizona family-law experience and a valuable perspective on the legal issues affecting children, parents, and families.

As an established Arizona family-law firm, Modern Law focuses on helping individuals navigate some of the most significant and emotionally complex legal matters affecting their families. The firm emphasizes educating and empowering clients while providing professional legal representation and practical guidance throughout the family-court process.

Modern Law’s family-law services include matters involving:

Divorce and legal separation
Child custody and parenting time
Child support
Spousal maintenance and support
Property and debt division
Paternity matters
Post-decree modifications
Enforcement proceedings
Post-marital family-law matters
Family-court litigation and trial preparation
Limited-scope legal assistance and document preparation
Modern Law also works to expand access to legal information and resources through educational and limited-scope service models designed to help individuals better understand and participate in the family-law process.

The firm’s family-law experience brings an important perspective to Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s multidisciplinary Board of Directors. Issues involving vulnerable individuals frequently intersect with family relationships, parental rights and responsibilities, child welfare, disability services, financial stability, and access to justice.

Through its participation on the Board, Modern Law contributes professional insight to discussions surrounding organizational governance, family advocacy, access to justice, professional standards, strategic planning, and the development of services responsive to the needs of children and families.

Modern Law’s participation complements the diverse experience represented throughout Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s leadership and strengthens the organization’s collaborative approach to addressing complex legal, administrative, regulatory, disability, and family-related matters.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Modern Law supports Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s continued commitment to ethical leadership, professional accountability, family advocacy, and creating stronger pathways to justice for individuals and families throughout Arizona.

Together, this collaborative leadership advances the organization’s mission of:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

Choices in Community Housing serves on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing valuable experience in developmental disabilities, community-based services, developmental homes, direct support, and programs designed to promote independence and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.

As an Arizona provider serving the developmental disability community, Choices in Community Housing has experience supporting children, adults, and families through a variety of community-based programs and services. Its involvement with Arizona’s developmental disability system provides an important provider and family-services perspective to the multidisciplinary leadership of Mecartea & Associates PLLC.

Choices in Community Housing’s services include programs and supports such as:

Adult Day Training
After-School Programs
Summer Programs
Habilitation Services
Respite Services
Attendant Care
Transportation
Vocational Training
Developmental Home Services
Community-based support for individuals with developmental disabilities
The organization’s experience working directly with individuals receiving developmental disability services provides the Board with valuable insight into the realities faced by individuals, families, caregivers, direct-support professionals, and providers navigating Arizona’s service system.

Through its service on the Board of Directors, Choices in Community Housing contributes a community-provider perspective to discussions involving disability services, individual rights, provider operations, quality of care, regulatory compliance, developmental homes, family support, community integration, and systems improvement.

This experience is particularly valuable to Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s broader work involving administrative advocacy and vulnerable populations. Effective advocacy requires understanding not only laws, regulations, and administrative procedures, but also how those policies affect individuals and families in their everyday lives.

Choices in Community Housing’s participation further strengthens the multidisciplinary composition of the Board by bringing together the perspectives of legal professionals, administrative advocates, regulatory professionals, disability-service providers, organizational leaders, and community partners.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Choices in Community Housing supports Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to ethical leadership, accountability, disability rights, person-centered services, community inclusion, and creating stronger systems for individuals and families.

Its Board service reflects a shared belief that individuals with developmental disabilities deserve opportunities to live meaningful lives, participate in their communities, develop greater independence, and receive services delivered with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Together, this collaborative leadership advances the mission of Mecartea & Associates PLLC:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

The DS World (The Diverse Skills World) serves on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing specialized knowledge of Arizona’s developmental disability system, behavioral supports, regulatory expectations, individual rights, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

The DS World provides specialized consultation and educational support to providers, individuals, members, legal guardians, caregivers, and professionals navigating Arizona’s developmental disability service system. Its work emphasizes moving beyond labels and behaviors to recognize each individual’s strengths, dignity, abilities, and potential.

The organization brings particular expertise in Program Review Committee (PRC) processes and Behavior Treatment Plans, helping provider agencies strengthen documentation, understand PRC expectations, improve regulatory compliance, and develop behavioral supports that remain person-centered and protective of individual rights.

The DS World’s services and areas of expertise include:

Program Review Committee (PRC) consulting
Behavior Treatment Plan review and consultation
Arizona DDD services navigation
Article 9 and individual-rights education
Positive Behavior Support
Provider education and professional training
Caregiver educational resources
Behavioral-support documentation and compliance
Guidance regarding restrictive interventions and appropriate justification
Support for members and legal guardians in understanding DDD services, rights, and responsibilities
Person-centered behavioral practices
Quality improvement within developmental disability services
The DS World is led by Berenice Curro, whose professional background includes service with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities. She previously served for approximately two and a half years as Program Review Committee Chair for District East, reviewing Behavior Treatment Plans and proposals involving restrictive interventions for alignment with DDD policy, Article 9 requirements, behavioral-support standards, and Positive Behavior Support principles.

Her experience also includes developing and delivering training for Support Coordinators and service providers and helping professionals better understand PRC expectations and Behavior Treatment Plan requirements.

This depth of experience gives The DS World an important perspective on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC. Its participation helps connect organizational leadership with the realities experienced by DDD members, families, legal guardians, provider agencies, behavioral professionals, and direct-support teams.

Through its Board service, The DS World contributes expertise to discussions involving developmental disability rights, behavioral supports, regulatory compliance, administrative advocacy, provider accountability, quality improvement, person-centered planning, and systems reform.

The organization’s emphasis on protecting individual rights strongly complements Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to vulnerable populations and access to justice. Both organizations recognize that effective advocacy requires more than understanding regulations—it requires understanding how those regulations affect the dignity, independence, safety, and everyday lives of the people they are intended to protect.

The DS World’s participation further strengthens the multidisciplinary nature of the Mecartea & Associates PLLC Board by bringing specialized DDD and behavioral-systems expertise alongside professionals in law, administrative advocacy, regulatory compliance, family services, developmental disability services, and organizational leadership.

As a member of the Board of Directors, The DS World supports Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to protecting individual rights, strengthening provider knowledge, improving behavioral-support practices, promoting accountability, and ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities remain at the center of decisions affecting their lives.

Together, this collaborative leadership advances the mission of Mecartea & Associates PLLC:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

M Beth Family Foundation LLC serves on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing extensive experience in developmental disability services, residential supports, developmental homes, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), and direct support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

M Beth Family Foundation LLC is an Arizona developmental disability service provider contracted with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The agency provides services designed to help individuals with developmental disabilities live safely, participate in their communities, develop greater independence, and achieve their individual potential.

The agency provides and supports services including:

Child Developmental Homes
Adult Developmental Homes
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
Respite Care
Attendant Care
Habilitation Services
Room and Board Services
Family-home and community-based supports
Services promoting independence, safety, and quality of life
M Beth Family Foundation LLC’s experience with both Adult and Child Developmental Homes provides an especially valuable perspective to the Mecartea & Associates PLLC Board of Directors.

Developmental homes play an important role within Arizona’s system of services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Through its work with developmental home providers, individuals, families, caregivers, and DDD, M Beth Family Foundation understands the importance of creating safe and supportive environments while maintaining regulatory compliance and person-centered services.

The agency’s experience with Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) further strengthens its contribution to the Board. HCBS services help individuals receive necessary supports while remaining connected to their homes, families, and communities.

Through its service on the Board of Directors, M Beth Family Foundation LLC brings a provider perspective to discussions involving DDD services, developmental homes, residential services, HCBS, provider operations, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, individual rights, family support, community integration, and systems improvement.

Its participation is particularly important to the multidisciplinary structure of Mecartea & Associates PLLC. The Board brings together professionals and organizations representing law, administrative advocacy, developmental disabilities, behavioral supports, regulatory compliance, family services, community programs, and organizational leadership.

M Beth Family Foundation helps ensure that the Board also benefits from the perspective of professionals who understand the everyday realities of delivering services directly to individuals with developmental disabilities.

The agency’s philosophy emphasizes that individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities deserve opportunities for a meaningful quality of life and should receive services that promote safety, support, empowerment, dignity, choice, and independence.

As a member of the Board of Directors, M Beth Family Foundation LLC supports Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to strengthening disability services, protecting vulnerable populations, supporting families, improving provider systems, promoting community inclusion, and advancing meaningful access to advocacy and resources.

Its experience serving Arizona’s developmental disability community strengthens the Board’s ability to remain connected to the individuals, families, providers, and communities directly affected by the systems Mecartea & Associates PLLC seeks to improve.

Together, this collaborative leadership advances the mission of Mecartea & Associates PLLC:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.

Live Well Residential Care serves on the Board of Directors of Mecartea & Associates PLLC, bringing valuable experience in behavioral health, residential care, supportive services, and the day-to-day needs of individuals who benefit from structured and compassionate residential environments.

As an Arizona residential care provider, Live Well Residential Care has experience supporting individuals who require additional assistance, supervision, stability, and access to services within a residential setting. Its work provides an important direct-care perspective to the multidisciplinary Board of Mecartea & Associates PLLC.

Live Well Residential Care’s experience encompasses important areas such as:

Behavioral health residential care
Residential support and supervision
Individual health, safety, and well-being
Person-centered care
Support for individuals with complex needs
Individual rights and dignity
Community-based residential services
Quality of care and quality improvement
Regulatory compliance
Coordination with families and other professionals
Supporting independence and stability
Vulnerable-population services
Through its service on the Board of Directors, Live Well Residential Care provides insight into the practical realities faced by residential providers, direct-care professionals, individuals receiving services, and their families.

This perspective is especially important when addressing issues involving behavioral health, residential stability, individual rights, regulatory requirements, continuity of care, community integration, and the need for safe and supportive environments.

Live Well Residential Care joins a multidisciplinary Board composed of professionals and organizations with backgrounds in law, family law, estate planning and elder law, developmental disability services, behavioral health, residential services, administrative advocacy, regulatory compliance, community-based services, and organizational leadership.

Its participation helps ensure that Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s leadership remains connected not only to laws, regulations, and administrative systems, but also to the everyday realities of individuals receiving residential and behavioral health services.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Live Well Residential Care supports Mecartea & Associates PLLC’s commitment to strengthening access to services, protecting vulnerable populations, promoting individual dignity, improving community-based systems, supporting families, and encouraging accountability among organizations responsible for providing care.

The organization’s experience strengthens the Board’s ability to consider issues from both a systems perspective and a direct-service perspective, helping Mecartea & Associates PLLC continue developing collaborative solutions for individuals and families with complex needs.

Together, this collaborative leadership advances the mission of Mecartea & Associates PLLC:

Building Better Tomorrows Through Advocacy, Justice & Compassion.