Updated on February 17, 2026
When Tereza Marks joined Arizonans for Responsible Tourism (AZRT) in May 2025, she became Rent Responsibly’s first-ever executive director hired to lead a state short-term rental alliance. It was a pioneering role. But Tereza didn’t come to the position through the short-term rental industry pipeline. She came as an adjunct professor and a certified nonprofit professional, looking for a way to maintain a foothold in the nonprofit sector while teaching university students.
“I am really good at breaking things down into smaller parts and letting people understand them from the smaller parts,” said Tereza at a recent staff meeting when asked to explain the “secret sauce” behind her work.
Nonprofit background
She honed that skill through her PhD work in environmental policy and years of teaching biology and environmental science at Mesa Community College and Grand Canyon University, and it has proven to be invaluable in her role at AZRT, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization.
Whether she’s explaining pending legislation to concerned hosts, crafting communications for the membership, or organizing in-person events, her approach is to make all of her content instructional and accessible.
“I didn’t come through the STR industry, so I am not always familiar with the terminology or issues,” she said. But that unfamiliarity also helped her know what it’s like to need things explained and to empathize with her audience.
For 20 years, Tereza worked in the nonprofit sector, serving as executive director of several animal welfare and environmental organizations, including a chapter of the Audubon Society, while teaching university students on the side. She has a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and certification as a nonprofit professional. That credential and her nonprofit leadership positions helped her stand out when she discovered the AZRT opening on LinkedIn.
“I was looking for something to … keep me active in the nonprofit world while teaching,” she said. She also had some familiarity with bills and ordinances, having lived in states where regulatory discussions were active, including Florida, Washington, and Arizona.
Hosting educational events
Her typical workday involves following STR news in the state, managing the organization’s finances, and informing members about policy developments that could affect their businesses. She also sends out invitations, provides logistical support, and interacts directly with attendees during in-person events – one of her favorite parts of her job.
“I get to meet new people and interact with people who I’ve only seen in emails,” she said.
She is particularly proud of helping organize and execute a series of in-person events in the summer of 2025, featuring expert speakers who provided guidance to hosts. Topics ranged from STR insurance and local market forecasts to debunking common misconceptions about short-term rentals.
“People really enjoyed the events,” she said.
Brindy Bringhurst, Secretary of the AZRT Board, said bringing Tereza on board as Executive Director has strengthened the organization.
“She’s helped us stay organized and run more effective board meetings, while also saving us a significant amount of back and forth with partners,” Brindy said. “From planning in-person events to webinars and meetups, her support has allowed us to move faster and more efficiently. Since our entire board is volunteer-based and often spread thin, having someone who can take quick action and keep things moving has truly helped extend our impact.”
Personal connection to vacation rentals
Years before joining AZRT, Tereza was a vacation rental guest, often choosing short-term rentals over hotels. She stayed at a property in Kauai that exemplified everything she now encourages in short-term rentals.
“It was in a great location with a beautiful pool and across the street from the beach,” she recalled. “The host was very nice, as we couldn’t figure out how to work the Wi-Fi and TV. There was a huge flock of parrots that hung out across the street and would fly off every sunset. Sea turtles came up on the beach just down the street.”
Those kinds of experiences with responsive hosts, local character, and a sense of place are what Tereza works to protect through AZRT’s advocacy efforts.
Life outside the classroom and alliance
When Tereza isn’t teaching or working for AZRT, she’s involved in her Phoenix community. As a certified nonprofit professional, she serves on the Board of Companion Pets in Crisis, an organization that helps unhoused people, primarily veterans and their pets.
Tereza has two rescue dogs, Hop and Addy, and understands how important pets are for moral support. Hop, a Jackabee (Jack Russell/Beagle mix), was dumped in a volunteer’s yard, missing half his foot due to an injury. Addy, a rescue dog from the Navajo Nation, tore the muscle of her thigh in half while escaping under a fence as a puppy. Both found their forever home with Tereza.
“They’re survivors,” she said
She’s also the President of the Phoenix Chapter of the University of Tennessee Alumni.
Juggling two professions, Tereza has a scarce amount of free time, but when she wants to enjoy herself, she goes to the park with her dogs or visits local breweries or craft beer festivals. A self-described “beer aficionado,” she once wrote professionally about craft beer and kept a chronicle of her beer adventures on the Beer Bloggette. She’s also a registered yoga teacher with 15 years of practice and teaches yoga and aqua aerobics at the Y.
Her husband, Dave, works for a local outdoor tour company, leading rafting, kayaking, and hiking trips around the Phoenix metro area and on the Salt River.
Pioneer model
As Rent Responsibly’s first alliance executive director hire, her experience has helped to establish a model that’s now been honed and replicated in four additional states.
“As one of the first Executive Directors hired through Rent Responsibly’s part-time ED program, Tereza reflects what this approach is all about – supporting local associations with dedicated leadership and long-term capacity,” said Abbi Booth, Rent Responsibly Director of Alliance Operations. “AZRT is well-positioned for continued growth and impact with her stepping into this role.”
Tereza’s favorite aspect of Rent Responsibly’s culture is the shout-outs at the bimonthly staff meeting.
“It’s nice to know that people appreciate what you are doing,” she said.
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