About the Jaxon Foundation
The Jaxon Foundation is a non-profit entity established with the purpose of recognizing the life and goals of an exceptional young man, Jaxon Landfair. When presented with the question of what Wish would he like to realize by the Arizona Make-A-Wish granters he chose to give to the future. That Wish, to have a scholarship for students to pursue careers in Law Enforcement is the core mission of the Jaxon Foundation. In addition to financial support, all scholarship recipients will be connected with Jaxon Mentors. The Mentors are Law Enforcement professionals in a variety of areas of specialization and will stay connected to the scholarship recipients throughout their academic tenure.
Your generous donations will allow the JAXON Foundation to create scholarship opportunities for students throughout the state of Arizona to pursue educational programs in law enforcement, criminology, and criminal justice. These scholarship programs are developed in concert with law enforcement agencies and institutions of higher education throughout the state of Arizona.
Mission Statement
The Jaxon Foundation provides funding to select students to pursue careers in law enforcement and connects them to law enforcement professionals to serve as Mentors throughout their schooling. We do this to honor an extraordinary young man, Jaxon Landfair, who left us too early, and his wish to help other young people begin their careers in law enforcement.
Our fingerprints on the lives we touch never fade
Board of Directors
The pride of Jessica’s life has been being a mom raising, along with her husband, a blended family of 6 children. She is also a massage therapist who travels to clients’ homes and provides deep tissue massage and pain management techniques. For 17 years she owned GC TumbleTyme, LLC and taught many children gymnastic skills while focusing to help them build self-esteem and feelings of accomplishment. Jessica likes to be active and can often be found outdoors. She enjoys hiking, boating, camping, and off roading in her Jeep.
During Jaxon’s battle with Leukemia, Jessica was his primary caregiver. They spent every day together. During that time she learned many skills and protocols that his nurses performed at the hospital. This allowed her to be Jaxon’s primary caregiver rather than him staying in the hospital or having a home nurse come to the house. Jessica is a happy person and finds joy in sharing kindness and helping others. She looks forward to seeing the benefits that the Jaxon Foundation will bring to the lives of individuals and the community.
JESSICA LANDFAIR | Vice President
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Wesley Watson has over forty-five years experience in private accounting in a wide range of industries including retail, manufacturing, brokerage, medical, church, restaurant, and agricultural. Wes currently co-owns Watson CPA this his brother, Matt. He brings abilities which include financial planning, computer services, and consulting. Wes enjoys creating music and following Arizona sports teams. Wes is married to Dr. Kimberley Watson and they have six children and 23 grandchildren. Wes is very excited to serve on the board of the Jaxon foundation.
WESLEY WATSON | Treasurer
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Jay Landfair is a graduate of New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Services and now has 26 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry. Together with his wife Jessica, Jay helped raise 6 kids in a blended loving family in Chandler, Arizona. The months of challenge – knowing, not knowing, nurturing, supporting, and learning from Jaxon as he faced the demon of Leukemia have given Jay a new vision on life. He and Jessica, working with a supportive and talented community, want to bring Jaxon’s Wish to fulfillment and bring benefit to many lives and many families.
JAY LANDFAIR | DIRECTOR of Operations
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Jayci Landfair, sister to Jaxon, graduated from Arizona State University and is continuing her education in the Cognitive Sciences Doctoral program. She is a participant in numerous research labs on the ASU campus that have studies ranging from perception and action, to memory and cognition. Jayci is also a manager at Dynata, an industry-leading global market research firm that serves a broad cross section of industries. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and outdoor activities. Her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family, and, before his passing, pester Jaxon in ways only an older sister knows how. Jaxon’s perspective on life is a constant influence on the way she lives each day and treats others. Jayci is committed to bringing Jaxon’s Wish to fruition and being a catalyst for positive change through the work of the foundation.
JAYCI LANDFAIR | Secretary
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Brandon Ynclan is currently a Police Detective with the Chandler Police Department. Brandon has worked with the Chandler Police Department for 16 years and has served in various divisions within the department. After starting as a patrol officer Brandon served as a DUI enforcement officer specializing in removing impaired drivers from the road and then as a motor officer specializing in collision investigations and traffic enforcement. Brandon was then assigned to the department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit as a Detective where he specialized in investigating cases of vehicular homicide. Brandon is currently assigned to the department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit where he is the department’s liaison to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Prior to his work in law enforcement, Brandon served in the United States Army. In 2005 Brandon deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Prior to his Iraq deployment Brandon was stationed in South Korea near the North Korean border.
Brandon has been married to wife Cassandra for nine years, and together they have an amazing daughter named Adriana.
Brandon first met Jaxon in 2019, a few months before his passing. Brandon was blown away at Jaxon’s incredible outlook on life, and his overwhelming willingness to help people. Brandon is excited to be part of the Jaxon Foundation and looks forward to exciting things to come.
BRANDON YNCLAN | Director of Fundraising
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Hello. My name is Willie Walker and I have been given the opportunity to be the SRO for Basha High School since 2019 with 14 years of law enforcement experience. During my 14 years as a Police Officer with the Chandler Police Department, I have worked over eight years in patrol and two years on our fulltime Bike Unit. I’m a certified Crisis Intervention Officer (CIT) and a Veteran of the United States Army. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from San Jose State University in Criminal Justice Administration. I thoroughly enjoy working with high school students and my door is always open to them and their parents for anything they may have. It is my pleasure to serve your school!
WILLIE WALKER | Director of Mentorship
walker.william@cusd80.com
william.walker@chandleraz.gov
Basha High School Resource Officer
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My name is Mike Mehlhouse and I was born and raised in Gilbert Arizona. I am a 19-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department and I am currently assigned to our training academy as a Recruit Training Officer. I come from a law enforcement family. My father and older sister are both retired police officers and I have several cousins back east all who are Police Officers. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my son Colton. We love going to the movies, hiking and going to sporting events throughout the valley. I heard about the Jaxon Foundation at one of our police explorer meetings when Jay and Jessica were awarding a scholarship to one of our members. I was overwhelmed by the story and knew right then and there, I had to be a part of it. I am so grateful to be a part of the Jaxon Foundation and what it represents.
MICHAEL MEHLHOUSE | Board Member (2024)
Michael.Mehlhouse@JaxonFoundation.com
Phoenix Police Department
Advisory Board
Michael is an entrepreneur who has achieved great success and overcome extraordinary challenges. In 15 years, he took over an $8 million family manufacturing business and started an international trading company, both of which he grew to a combined $45 million with over 200 employees. In the midst of the 2009 financial recession, Michael discovered that his business partner and best friend at the time had not only been embezzling, but also committing fraud, which ultimately led to the collapse of the entire organization.
By early 2010, Michael had lost everything, and his partner would go on to eventually plead guilty and serve 2 years in Federal prison. It was every entrepreneur’s worst nightmare. Later in 2010, Michael started a new business, which he grew to over $7 million in 5 short years. In 2015, he began exiting that business and created Next Level Growth, where he leads a Phoenix based team of Business and Leadership Team Coaches and shares his real-world experience with others as he and his team guide their clients on the journey to get the most out of their organizations.
In 2017, Michael published RISE: The Reincarnation of an Entrepreneur, which has become an Amazon Best-Seller, where he recounts his story with brutal honesty and vulnerability.
With his extensive background, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge in leadership, operations and finance to the Jaxon Foundation Board.
MICHAEL ERATH
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Mike served as President and principal owner of AZ Communications Group providing marketing and media relations services to businesses, communities, tribal entities, and organizations throughout the state of Arizona. Prior to founding AZ Communications, Mike served in management and executive positions in the hospitality industry. Mike and a partner built and operated the Grand Hotel and Canyon Star restaurant in Tusayan, the gateway community to the Grand Canyon South Rim. He served as interim CEO to the Moenkopi Developers Corporation – a non-profit that created the largest economic development ever on Hopi tribal land that has generated employment and opportunity for tribal members. He served as Vice President on the Executive Board of the non-profit Hopi Education Endowment Fund – HEEF. Mike was instrumental in the formation of the Buddy Whitethorne Foundation non-profit where he serves as a board member. Mike has known Jaxon’s father, Jay, for over 20 years and is honored to serve on the Jaxon Foundation Board.
MIKE FINNEY
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Captain
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Captain Tony Mapp is currently the commander of the Major Offender District. This district investigates persons who have demonstrated prolific violent criminal tendencies and blatant disregard for the law as a group or as individuals.
Captain Mapp began his career in 1989 as a trooper assigned to the Highway Patrol Division in Avondale, Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has served in numerous assignments throughout the Arizona Department of Public Safety including the Criminal Investigations Division from 1993 to 2003 where he worked several investigations and task force positions such as gangs and narcotics. After promoting to sergeant in 2003, he was assigned to the highway patrol in Nogales, Arizona. In 2004, Captain Mapp again served in the Criminal Investigations Division as the General Investigations Unit Supervisor in Phoenix, Arizona. He supervised many different types of investigations from fraud and forgery to aggravated assault. In June 2017, he transferred to the Agency Support Division to a newly created position of Community Outreach Sergeant. Soon thereafter, in August 2017, he promoted to Captain and was assigned to the Public Affairs Unit and remained there until he transferred to his current position.
Captain Mapp is certified as a General Instructor through the Arizona Police Officer Standard Training (POST). He has provided insight and instruction to law enforcement agencies concerning gangs, narcotics, crime scene and cultural diversity throughout the state.
Captain Mapp received the designation of a Certified Public Manager (CPM) from Arizona State University and is a graduate of the International Police Chiefs (IACP) “Leadership in Police Organizations” (LPO) Command program.
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TONY MAPP
Jon Terpay has a combined 48 years as a professional in the field of Law Enforcement. His distinguished career began in the FBI working in Washington, DC. and then on to the Phoenix Field Office. Jon joined the Mesa Police Department in 1980 and his career took him to the Buckeye Police Department where he retired as Commander. For the past 13 years he has been the Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
LETA is an intense, highly accountable and challenging training program certified by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (Arizona POST). Designed for individuals who are seeking employment as an Arizona Peace Officer, students develop skills in eight functional areas: Introduction to Law Enforcement, Law and Legal Matters, Patrol Procedures, Traffic Control, Crime Scene Management, Community and Police Relations, Report Writing, and Police Proficiency Skills.
The Academy, under Jon’s direction, has placed graduates in career positions with over 30 Arizona Law Enforcement agencies including Chandler PD, Scottsdale PD, Mesa PD, Gilbert PD, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Apache Junction PD, Tempe PD, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the City of Maricopa PD.
JON TERPAY
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Bridget Doherty, previously the Director of Philanthropy for Make-A-Wish® Arizona, is proud to have worked for a non-profit that makes wishes come true for critically ill kids. Starting in April 2017 as the Individual
Giving Director, then the Director of Major Gifts, Bridget currently leads an amazing team within the
development department that is focused on individual gifts from the annual fund, middle giving, and
major gifts. Bridget is now the Chief Development Officer for the Arizona Burn Foundation.
At the start of her career, Bridget previously worked for the City of Phoenix Police Department, where she worked
alongside detectives from multiple bureaus to help crime victims navigate the often cold criminal justice
system. During this time, she was selected as the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Advocate of the Year
and was a co-recipient of the Office of the Attorney General Distinguished Service Award.
Bridget continued her passion for serving the community during her 12 years with Dignity Healthcare. As
a community educator for St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, she built community programs and
partnerships to promote health and safety within the City of Phoenix and surrounding suburbs. She then
began her current career in philanthropy with Dignity Health Foundation - East Valley, where she raised
funds for and awareness of multiple service lines and programs that improved health and well-being in
the Southeast Valley area. She shared the stories of grateful patients with donors and community
members alike, inspiring people to make a difference.
Bridget earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Human Development from Arizona State
University and a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Human Relations from Northern Arizona
University.
Bridget was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Arizona as a child. She now lives in Gilbert with her
husband and their two children.
Bridget is so very honored to be a small part of the Jaxon Foundation and sit beside his family and key
stake holders to further Jaxon’s wish of tuition assistance to those students seeking a future in Law
Enforcement. This mission is an impactful one especially now and Bridget hopes to make Jaxon’s legacy
one that is known throughout our community. Jaxon may have not been able to realize his dream of
becoming a Police Officer, but through his foundation, many will.
Bridget Doherty
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Christopher Watson is currently a Police Commander with a local department in Arizona. Prior to his work in law enforcement, Chris spent 6 years in the U.S. Marine Corps with assignments in Yuma, Quantico, Liberia and Korea and then served for a year in Iraq as a security contractor working for Triple Canopy Security.
Chris began serving his community as a police officer in 2005 and has held assignments as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Street Crimes Detective, Drug Enforcement Unit Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Recruit Training Sergeant at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy, Crisis Negotiator Team Supervisor, DEA Task Force Group Supervisor, Patrol Watch Commander, Section Lieutenant, and District Commander.
Chris has a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Career and Technical Education from Northern Arizona University.
Chris has been married to, wife, Jihae since 2005 and they have 7 amazing children. Chris came onto the Jaxon board as the director of law enforcement relations at the end of 2020 and was nominated to serve as the president in March of 2022. Chris is incredibly excited to be part of the Jaxon Foundation to carry on Jaxon’s legacy and help develop our future leaders in law enforcement.
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CHRIS WATSON | President- Jan 2022 - June 2024
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Mentors
Basha High School Resource Officer
Hello. My name is Willie Walker and I have been given the opportunity to be the SRO for Basha High School since 2019 with 14 years of law enforcement experience. During my 14 years as a Police Officer with the Chandler Police Department, I have worked over eight years in patrol and two years on our fulltime Bike Unit. I’m a certified Crisis Intervention Officer (CIT) and a Veteran of the United States Army. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from San Jose State University in Criminal Justice Administration. I thoroughly enjoy working with high school students and my door is always open to them and their parents for anything they may have. It is my pleasure to serve your school!
WILLIE WALKER
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walker.william@cusd80.com
william.walker@chandleraz.gov
