NPFY Team Members Mark 5 & 10 Years of Transformation

Phoenix, AZ | May 14, 2025. As we mark 36 years of transforming the lives of youth in Phoenix, we recognize that real, lasting impact is driven by the people who commit themselves to this mission day after day, year after year. This month, we proudly celebrate four work anniversaries that exemplify what it means to grow with purpose and lead with heart at New Pathways for Youth.

Blythe Newell (10 years), Emily Taracena (5 years), Mark Teetor (5 years), and Manuel “Manny” Nieto (5 years) have each shaped the culture and evolution of NPFY through seasons of growth, challenge, and transformation.

Emily Taracena, now a Senior Program Coordinator, joined NPFY during the height of the pandemic. With heart and grit, she built deep relationships with youth and mentors. “Seeing the growth of the youth I serve is what has me choose NPFY year after year,” she shared.

Blythe Newell began as a bookkeeper and today plays a key role in overseeing the financial backbone of the organization. “Time after time I am inspired by everyone I work with,” Blythe said. “Their dedication… is something you don’t get to experience in many work settings.”

Mark Teetor, our Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations, came onboard when NPFY had just 16 staff members. Since then, he’s helped lead the expansion of our team, deepen board engagement, and scale programs to meet rising community needs. “We’ve taken NPFY to a whole new level,” he said, “and it’s been amazing to be a part of something this special.”

Manny Nieto, Youth Enrollment Assistant, brings a full-circle perspective to his role. Once a youth participant himself, he now helps enroll new youth and supports outreach and data efforts that fuel our mission forward.

At NPFY, transformation isn’t just for the youth we serve—it lives in our team, our leadership, and in the commitment, we renew every single day.

From all of us at New Pathways for Youth: thank you, Blythe, Emily, Mark, and Manny. Your milestones are more than dates on a calendar—they’re proof that transformation begins with people like you.