REAP - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Manager of Diversity & Inclusion at Salt River Project

Essen Otu is the Manager of Diversity & Inclusion at Salt River Project (SRP), one of the nation's largest public utilities, where he is charged with building a more equitable and sustainable future for SRP's customers, employees and community. With a career spanning government, non-profit, healthcare and utility industries, Essen has managed to harness his passion for philanthropy to create equitable and inclusive organizations and communities. Essen is a graduate of Valley Leadership, a Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 awardee, Virginia G. Piper Fellow alumni and currently a board member of the Arizona Community Foundation, Diversity Leadership Alliance and the Vitalyst Health Foundation. However, he is most proud of the social impact REAP's community of givers that has had since its inception.

Essen received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and graduate degree through the National Urban Fellows Program at Baruch College in New York.

Tyrone Benson, PhD, is a Reliability Research and Development Engineer at Intel Corporation in Chandler, AZ, where his most recent roles include Lead Reliability Engineer for the Artificial Intelligence Products Group and Product Integrator for Intel's 5G ASICs. In addition, Dr. Benson has worked with Intel as an Assembly Integrator, Analog & Digital Designer, Product Reliability Engineer, and Engineering Manager. Dr. Benson believes whole-heartedly that STEM is a foundation on which great careers can be built, so in addition to his day job, Benson has introduced thousands of students at several local high schools and community colleges to the many STEM career options. He serves on the Center for Research in Engineering, Science and Technology Advisory Council Board and is a graduate of Valley Leadership. He is a founding member of both Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy in Phoenix and The Dreamality Conference, which is a grassroots effort aimed at career exploration and college preparedness for students in Benson's hometown of Alexander City, AL and the surrounding communities. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.