Next Gen Leaders for 2022

RISING RISING STARS STARS TO WATCH Tucson’s Next Generation of Leaders

By Loni Nannini

BizTucson is proud to announce the list of 2022 Next Gen Leaders — 22 Rising Stars to Watch. This group of leaders and visionaries are businessbuilders, changemakers, community creators and problem solvers who are working toward a prosperous future for Tucson and Southern Arizona. Using 21st century skills, technology and innovation, they seek to build a region where current and future generations can thrive.

(All profiles by Loni Nannini)

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NEXT GEN

LANI BAKER

PRINCIPAL & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER HOLUALOA COMPANIES

Lani Baker brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate to Holualoa Companies, a commercial real estate asset management and development firm. Baker’s areas of expertise and responsibility encompass the planning, implementation and management of the company’s finance activities, including commercial real estate transactions, treasury, management reporting and investor relations. A native Tucsonan, Baker received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management in 2002 and also earned an MBA.

Baker is a member of the board of directors and past VP of the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona. She is also past president and board member of CREW and a member of Angel Charity for Children. She was a Tu Nidito Remarkable Mom in 2018 and the 2020 Women of Influence Real Estate Champion. “In addition to our beautiful weather and scenery, Tucson is great because of the connectivity within the community. Depending on your interests, there are so many opportunities to be a part of the city’s growth and evolution.”

Lindsey Baker has always worked in nonprofit management. The skills she acquired nationally have returned with her to her hometown and to Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona. Baker built her nonprofit credentials on a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Emory University and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She also boasts 15-plus years of experience at Hands On Atlanta, Feeding America and other nonprofits in Atlanta, Chicago and Washington D.C. Baker said there is something magical about bringing the knowledge acquired in major metropolitan cities to the city where she was raised. She hopes to promote awareness about the robust opportunities for every generation in the region’s nonprofit sector. “Nonprofits need leaders who know how to manage finances, raise funds, galvanize communities and mentor and lead staff — the same skills needed in the private sector. We need business people of all kinds who recognize that nonprofits can be a career path along with a way — speaking of board service — to build skills and give time, talent and treasure.”

LINDSEY BAKER

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

GUSTAVO CORTE

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR SCHAEFER PRESENT INVESTMENT GROUP/RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Gustavo Corte, CFP®, earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management in 2015. Corte, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, passed the Series 7 and 66 securities exams and holds life, health, disability and long-term care insurance licenses in Arizona.

An advocate of affordable housing and mentorship, he is chair of the finance committee for Casa de los Niños and chair of the advocacy board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona. He is also a member of El Rio Vecinos, Tucson Young Professionals, the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders Council.

Corte views Tucson as a growing hub of opportunity for young professionals and businesses of all sizes. “I see the dollars being invested in Tucson’s businesses and the arts, and that attracts young people. We are in a big boom in Tucson and that should continue over the next few years.”

As the manager of government relations for Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services, Steven Eddy represents and advances company and utility policies with federal, state and local elected officials, while also maintaining relations with government agencies, trade associations and community stakeholders. A native Tucsonan and University of Arizona graduate, Eddy has been with TEP for 10 years. Prior to that, he held positions in land use planning, real estate development and economic development. Eddy is active in the Tucson Conquistadores and the Centurions. He sits on the Arizona Chamber of Commerce Board and Industry and Arizona Tax Research Association. Additionally, he is chairman of District Four Board of Adjustments and chair of the Community Advisory Board for Arizona Public Media. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Eddy believes that young people who enjoy nature will appreciate that Tucson is “a bicyclist paradise that offers two of the most treasured assets in America for cyclists, runners and hikers: Mount Lemmon and The Loop.” The environmentally aware will also appreciate that TEP is at the center of clean energy transformation, he said. RISING RISING STARS STARS

STEVEN EDDY

MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER AND UNISOURCE ENERGY SERVICES

NATALIE FERNANDEZ LEE

PRESIDENT MERIDIAN WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO-CHAIR, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION 2022 GO RED FOR WOMEN

Natalie Fernandez Lee makes it a priority to create the best financial experience for her clients. Fernandez Lee discovered her passion for business while studying education at the University of Arizona. She developed her career over 10 years with Compass Brokerage and then partnered with her father, Ruben Fernandez, in 2007. In 2020 she spearheaded the opening of the Meridian Wealth Management Tucson office. Meridian manages $1.8 billion in assets and serves clients in 40 states through offices in five cities. She and her team believe in creating individualized plans centered around trusted relationships with clients, which include individuals, families, small businesses and corporations, nonprofits and foundations. The mother of five is committed to educating youth in finance and personal responsibility and to empowering women to command their financial futures. She is co-chair for the American Heart Association’s 2022 Go Red for Women and serves on the board of directors for the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson and Banner UArizona Advisory Council. “As a native, I have watched Tucson leadership grow and develop and bring fresh and new ideas to complement the authentic character that makes Tucson so special.”

A native of Tucson and the Gila River Indian Community, Kendall Foster wants to shine a light on the underserved Black and Indigenous communities through economic development. Foster has utilized skills attained through the University of Arizona Eller College of Management to promote economic development with the tribal governments, assist with workforce development in sectors such as industrial sewing with Sonoran Stitch Factory, and launch native entrepreneurial courses with Startup Tucson. The father of two believes that Tucson offers unparalleled opportunities for all entrepreneurs. “Tucson is small but mighty: It offers a ‘big fish in a small pond’ mentality as opposed to some of the bigger cities where you can get lost. Entrepreneurs and artists can showcase their talents and quickly rise into the top five in their chosen category or industry.” Foster is a member of Tucson Young Professionals and serves on the board of directors for University of Arizona Cancer Center, The Dunbar Pavilion and Boys to Men. Other passions include Twenty Five Twelve Collective Tattoo Studio, which he hopes will grow into Tucson’s first Black-owned and operated strip mall.

KENDALL FOSTER

CO-CHAIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE TUCSON YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

MELISSA LAL

PRESIDENT LARSEN BAKER

Melissa Lal is the president and managing member of Larsen Baker. She handles all facets of Larsen Baker’s commercial development, brokerage and management divisions including investor and lender relations, property leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, and the financing of the company’s $300 million portfolio. Larsen Baker is the largest privately held retail property owner in Southern Arizona.

Lal graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in American literature and obtained her Certified Commercial Investment designation in 2011. She is a former president of the Southern Arizona CCIM Chapter and president-elect of Southern Arizona Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women.

Lal, a member of Angel Charity for Children, praised Tucson as a great city because it is completely unpretentious. “We know who we are. We are a million-plus population, but we feel like a small town. We resist growth. Summers are hot, but the nights cool down. Homes are affordable. The reasons I love Tucson are sometimes the same reasons I hate it, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jordan Lancaster is the co-founder and CEO of Avery Therapeutics, Inc., a Tucson-based regenerative medicine and therapeutics company dedicated to curing heart disease. Lancaster earned his bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology and a doctorate in physiology from the University of Arizona. He began as an assistant professor at UArizona College of Medicine and a member of the Sarver Heart Center. He serves on the Alliance of Regenerative Medicine’s Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Committee and was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. He has been at the intersection of academia, science, biotechnology and entrepreneurship for more than a decade. “Avery Therapeutics is an amazing story,” he said. “The core technology started as an idea in the laboratory that we’ve continued to pursue and today we are on the forefront of ushering in a new class of medicine — cellular medicine — which has the potential to enable curative and transformative therapies for intractable diseases.” As the company grows, he said it will bring new economic opportunity to Southern Arizona and put Tucson on the global map for biotechnology. RISING RISING STARS STARS

JORDAN LANCASTER

CO-FOUNDER & CEO AVERY THERAPEUTICS

JUSTIN LUKASEWICZ

PROGRAM MANAGER GREATER TUCSON LEADERSHIP OWNER & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TUCSON IMPROV MOVEMENT

As the CEO of Greater Tucson Leadership, Justin Lukasewicz is committed to leadership development, recognizing people through their strengths and working to create a stronger community. When he joined GTL as a program manager in 2021, Lukasewicz focused on improving access to programs. He has since worked to refine Lead Tucson and the Civic and Political Leadership Academy curriculums and helped launch GTL’s Tucson Youth Leadership Academy. Originally from Pennsylvania, Lukasewicz earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. He moved to Tucson in 2006 to pursue a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Arizona and fell in love with the desert. Lukasewicz worked at UArizona for over a decade, managing student groups and the training and development of more than 500 students and staff annually. “As we face an ever-unpredictable world, our greatest asset is community leaders. As millennials step into leadership roles, GTL gives them the foundation to understand the community issues we are facing and how to make change in our community.”

Carson Mehl began his development career with projects in Texas, California and Colorado before returning to his hometown of Tucson in October 2009. A 2004 graduate of Pepperdine University, Mehl is a licensed general contractor in Arizona.

He oversees sales and marketing for Cottonwood Properties, which develops residential communities, resorts, retail centers, office complexes and apartment communities in excess of $800 million across the region. As president of Dove Mountain Homes, he serves as general contractor of The Ritz-Carlton Residences and additional custom homes within Dove Mountain.

“In Dove Mountain, we are creating a community that celebrates and respects the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and enriches the lives of those who come to visit, play or choose to make it their home,” said Mehl. Mehl said believes that natural beauty is the number one reason for young people to consider Tucson, as well as its affordability. “There are a lot of terrific businesses based in Tucson, but a local career is not a prerequisite for living here with so many remote working opportunities across the country and world.”

CARSON MEHL

VICE PRESIDENT, COTTONWOOD PROPERTIES PRESIDENT, DOVE MOUNTAIN HOMES

SHAIMA NAMAZIFARD

SBA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER VICE PRESIDENT WELLS FARGO

With more than 10 years in the commercial banking industry, Shaima Namazifard has held business lending positions in retail banking, business banking, commercial banking and Small Business Administration. The University of Arizona graduate, who has an MBA from the University of Phoenix, takes a collaborative approach to lending. Her goal is to add value for clients and prospects by creating efficiencies for their businesses and providing solutions to their specific needs. Namazifard is president of CREW Tucson and El Rio Vecinos. She also serves on the board of directors for El Rio Foundation, the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of Southern Arizona and Southern Arizona Land Trust. She also is a member of Angel Charity for Children. The Tucson native received the Wells Fargo 2019 Pinnacle Award and is gratified that work and service give her a front row seat to Tucson’s growth. “Tucson has a lot of heart and soul and we have so much to offer: It is a city built on relationships and it is very conquerable,” she said.

As interim executive director of the Tucson Urban League, Keneshia Raymond is dedicated to empowering the Black community by dismantling systemic racism and securing generational prosperity through the advancement of social, economic and educational equity. Raymond’s diverse skill set includes more than a decade of extensive project management experience in the creation and cultivation of communities and small businesses.

She also utilizes those skills as the director of programs and access to capital for StartUp Tucson, where she is committed to building the startup community and increasing the quality and diversity of startups and small businesses. A California native, Raymond relocated to Tucson five years ago. She realized immediately that “Tucson is a city that puts people first. It’s a place where people can come together and work to see change. By changing things here, we can change Arizona, the nation and then the world.” “People starting businesses have more support and opportunity here than anywhere else. They have opportunities for growth from within. You can get a leg up that you wouldn’t in a bigger city,” she said. RISING RISING STARS STARS

KENESHIA RAYMOND

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TUCSON URBAN LEAGUE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, STARTUP TUCSON AUTHOR, “FROM HOTMESS EXPRESS TO ACHIEVABLE GOALS”

ANTHONY SCHAEFER

REALTOR/TEAM LEAD AT THE SCHAEFER TEAM AT LONG REALTY VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT LONG REALTY PRESIDENT, EL RIO FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS TUCSON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 40 UNDER 40 HONOREE

Tucson native Anthony Schaefer leads the Schaefer Team at Long Realty with a commitment to excellence and a heart of service. He has created notable value in the marketplace, earning 1926 Circle of Excellence Platinum recognition for three consecutive years. A University of Arizona graduate, Schaefer is committed to improving the lives of those around him. He and wife Emily co-chaired the 2019 Cirque El Rio Gala and the 2022 American Heart Association Heart Ball Campaign. Schaefer has held numerous offices within El Rio Vecinos and received the Vecino of the Year award. He has served as president and VP of Long Realty Cares Foundation, is a mentor for Social Venture Partners and has been recognized as a Rising Star with Tucson Real Producers. “Tucson offers special opportunities for millennials as they can enjoy all the amenities of a larger city while they retain the personal touch and feel of a smaller town. Add a thriving cultural scene, notable affordability, natural beauty and growing economic opportunities, and Tucson makes a compelling case to plant roots and build a life.”

Emily Schaefer proudly serves the Tucson community as a nurse with Haven Hospice. Previously, the University of Arizona College of Nursing graduate worked for 16 years with Banner University Medical Center as a registered nurse and manager consistently recognized for exemplary effort. Schaefer, known for her big smile and loving heart, is focused on creating an impact to improve the health and wellness of the community where she was born and raised. She is a member of Angel Charity for Children and Soroptimist Desert Tucson.

Schaefer has teamed up with her husband, Anthony, to become the Dynamic Duo of Gen Y fundraising. The pair co-chaired the Cirque El Rio Gala in 2019, and most recently, the record-breaking 2022 Heart Ball - Miami Nights, which raised more than $750,000 for the American Heart Association. “We believe health is wealth! By working together, we can raise up everyone around us! Our neighbors in the community deserve full, happy and healthy lives. Together, we can provide more resources and hope for those most in need.”

EMILY SCHAEFER

HOSPICE NURSE, HAVEN HOSPICE

JEREMY SHARPE

PRESIDENT SHARPE AND ASSOCIATES MANAGING PARTNER RANCHO SAHUARITA

As president of Sharpe and Associates, Tucson native Jeremy Sharpe oversees a four-decade multigenerational family operation that manages real estate investments, including master-planned communities, land development, commercial development and community management. Sharpe’s team led development of Rancho Sahuarita, an award-winning, master-planned community in Southern Arizona.

A graduate of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management MBA program, Sharpe is passionate about sustainability and building impactful places. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Housing Innovation Alliance and Young Presidents’ Organization. Sharpe is also involved with the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and serves on the board of directors for Banner Health Foundation and Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona.

“Since my early 20s, I have had opportunities to sit on boards and engage in the community in ways that colleagues may not be able to in larger markets like Phoenix, Denver and San Francisco. Another thing that sets Tucson apart is the affordable lifestyle we can create for our kids, with hiking, swimming and outdoor activities year-round. We can’t do that elsewhere.”

A Tucson native, Shalane Simmons’ experiences as a Sahuaro High School student athlete and leader prepared her to be the first female manager of the University of Arizona women’s volleyball team. Earning a bachelor’s degree in communication, she was a marketing associate with UArizona’s athletic department before moving to Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

As manager of corporate social responsibility, Simmons organizes events, collaborates with business and community partners, manages donations and the grants budget, and supports CSR social media, public relations and advertising content.

Simmons is active in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona, the Gospel Rescue Mission and Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. She serves on the board of directors for Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation and the W.A. Franke Honors College.

“There are so many choices for individuals to find meaningful careers here. Tucson is a gem that is becoming more and more popular, but for us natives or anyone who has been here for a significant amount of time, we’ve known it all along!” RISING RISING STARS STARS

SHALANE SIMMONS

MANAGER, CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY RAYTHEON MISSILES & DEFENSE

ALLYSON SOLOMON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, METROPOLITAN PIMA ALLIANCE DIRECTOR, PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARD NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION TUCSON “20 WOMEN LEADERS IN CONSTRUCTION 2020” GREATER TUCSON LEADERSHIP ALUMNI, 2013

A graduate of the University of Arizona Eller College of Management, Allyson Solomon is the executive director of Metropolitan Pima Alliance, an organization that works to create a prosperous community by promoting collaborative real estate development policies, building partnerships and finding common ground. Solomon advocates to build a community to retain and recruit other young professionals in Tucson. She launched a program called Immersion, a nonpartisan, professional leadership development program that provides indepth knowledge about the specifics of regional construction, real estate and development sectors. It also seeks to bridge gaps between public and private sectors. Solomon is a board member for the Pima Community College Foundation and champions efforts for young professionals to build both careers and social networks. “Tucson is an easy place to settle into. The weather is great, there are many young families here, the food scene is unparalleled, the culture is hip and every weekend there is something happening with festivals and events. Plus, Tucson is all about location, location, location.”

Dre Thompson is the CEO of the Tucson Industrial Development Authority, a nonprofit financial institution dedicated to investing in the equitable, sustainable and innovative future of Tucson. Born in Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Tucson, Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in political history and a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago. She is passionate about helping communities tackle vexing challenges through innovative and research-based initiatives. Thompson’s experience includes economic development through startups, gang violence prevention in Chicago, universal pre-K in New York City, and helping national utilities engage customers in energy efficiency. She brings a deep understanding of policy and experience crafting community-wide initiatives. Thompson lends her time to Tucson Young Professionals, the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona, the Tucson Metro Chamber Talent Attraction and Retention Task Force, Pima Community College Business Advisory Committee and the Tucson Innovation Partnership. “There are so many exciting projects and people coalescing in Tucson. It is a great place for someone like me who is interested in leadership and helping to form the growth of the city.”

DRE THOMPSON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TUCSON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

JESSA TURNER

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS TECH PARKS ARIZONA

Jessa Turner is passionate about building the community through universitybased economic development activities. For 18 years, she has worked at the intersection of innovation and university to advance Tech Parks Arizona, which comprises UA Tech Park, UA Tech Park at The Bridge and the UArizona Center for Innovation.

Turner prepares and executes communication strategies — including marketing materials, messaging and branding — that promote and publicize the facilities.

The UArizona alumni is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, president of the Southern Arizona PRSA Chapter and an award-winning practitioner. She is also an active member of the Association of University Research Parks communications special interest group, a graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership class of 2013 and a member of GTL board of directors. “I connect with Tech Parks across the world, and our international colleagues are applauding Tucson, our startup scene, and how we support business. Young professionals can shine internationally for the work they are doing right here in Tucson,” Turner said.

Heath Vescovi-Chiordi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from the University of Arizona in 2009, followed by a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis on local government. Vescovi-Chiordi’s focus within Pima County includes economic development and workforce development with a priority on sustainable and diverse growth. The ultimate goal is to increase the county’s viability for business attraction, retention and expansion. A certified Arizona Economic Development Professional, he designed a class at the UArizona School of Government & Public Policy that focuses on teaching economic development and local government administration.

Vescovi-Chiordi is a board member for Arizona Town Hall and Tucson Young Professionals and an appointee to the Arizona Judicial Performance Review Commission. Last year, he received the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award for Emerging Leader. He is also a member of the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders Council. “I believe millennials and future generations have legitimate opportunities to shape the way that the community grows and the future of the entire region. We have representation in areas of influence and can use that influence to impact progress and careers.” RISING RISING STARS STARS

HEATH VESCOVI-CHIORDI

DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIMA COUNTY GABE ZIMMERMAN PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD FOR EMERGING LEADER 2021

RYAN VONDRAK

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER NOVA HOME LOANS RISING RISING STARS STARS

As CEO of NOVA Home Loans, Ryan Vondrak focuses on NOVA’s path of responsible growth while upholding the company’s three core values: provide borrowers with the best combination of service, rates, and fees; promote from within to provide employees with sustainable careers; and give back to the communities that NOVA serves.

Vondrak, a Tucson native and University of Arizona alumni, began his career in mortgage banking in 2003 with First Magnus Financial Corporation, where he became a key member of the Secondary Marketing team. He joined NOVA in 2010 and was instrumental in creating a Capital Markets division before his promotion to COO and subsequent promotion to CEO. The father of two considers it a privilege to lead NOVA, which is consistently ranked among the Top 50 Mortgage Lenders in the U.S. and recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in the Southwest.

“I look forward to NOVA continuing as a great community partner. Over the past 42 years, NOVA has expanded brick and mortar branches into Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada, but Tucson will always be home.”

A community builder and connector, Amanda Wiggins relocated to Marana with her family from Tallahassee, Fla., in 2020. As the president and CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, her goal is to foster collaborations within the business community to propel it forward. Wiggins believes the community is a vital part of the region, state and nation; and recognition of the business community as a foundation for growth is imperative.

Wiggins honed her skills by developing community leaders through Leadership Tallahassee, where she found that community leadership is service-based in addition to skills-based.

“I believe in heart-based community leadership with compassion and connection,” said Wiggins, who has spoken at the Association of Leadership Programs’ national leadership conference and was featured in Tallahassee Woman’s “2020 Business Women to Watch.”

Wiggins also is a member of the Junior League of Tucson and the Western Association of Chamber Executives and Tucson Young Professionals. She encourages newcomers of all ages not to hesitate to become involved.

AMANDA WIGGINS

PRESIDENT & CEO MARANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE