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BizLETTER Downtown: 12 Economic Drivers Make no mistake – Tucson is a better place because downtown has become a massive economic driver for the community. But the truth is, it needed to be. “In most cities, downtowns are the primary economic engine, repository of knowledge and culture and generator of new ideas, new technology and new ventures. They are the very heart of the city,” said the late Alexander Garvin, an influential urban planner in New York City. In this issue, BizTucson delves into 12 economic drivers for Downtown Tucson. Rio Nuevo alone has helped generate over $1 billion in investment from the tax dollars it invests in projects and businesses locating there and from the developers and investors who have put their own money into downtown. Through a business lens, the economic drivers include: the world’s largest gem show; Tucson Convention Center’s $100 Million in upgrades that makes it nationally competitive on a number of fronts; El Tour de Tucson’s global prominence as a leading cycling event; tourism growth that includes adding a Hyatt Grand Regency (in 2027) to an impressive list of hotels and historic inns and loft living construction; providing professionals with the finer element of urban living. Historic venues are seeing a renaissance and renewed appreciation, beginning with exciting news for Fox Tucson Theatre’s expansion, based on a $5 Million donation from Hughes Federal Credit Union. The Fall 2026 issue has a trio of business milestones, with in-depth special reports, focused on three local success stories. We begin with a special report on a company that is celebrating its centennial. Founded in 1926 by Roy H. Long, a Minnesota native and World War I veteran, Long Realty became known for the motto, “Take care of the people and the business will take care of itself.” Roy channeled his propensity for business, caring and community into civic engagement, helping to found the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo, securing land for Himmel Park and building the first 4 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
Volume 18 No. 3
Fall 2026
Steven E. Rosenberg Brent G. Mathis
Publisher & Owner Creative Director
Jay Gonzales Tara Kirkpatrick Loni Nannini
Editor Emeritus
Donna Kreutz
Contributing Writers
Loni Nannini Dave Perry Steve Rivera Valerie Vinyard
Contributing Photographers
Dean Kelley Kathleen“Rocky”LaRose Brent G. Mathis Michael Richards
Contributing Editors
YMCA. Loni Nannini reports on the Long Legacy. Celebrating 75 years of service to the community is Pima Federal Credit Union. The credit union’s approach is rooted in a culture that places equal importance on employees, members and the communities they serve. CEO Eric Renaud has taken a similarly personal approach to building the workplace culture. To him, that means breaking down the barriers that can come with being the chief executive and encouraging employees to enjoy their work by being themselves, reports Jay Gonzales. The success story of Bon Voyage Travel begins with a founder who saw opportunity where others didn’t. It’s a skill that helped entrepreneur Peter Evans strategically pivot again and again in his company’s 50 years in operation. Simply put, he built a company around good people, great judgment and the best business relationships. “His entrepreneurial vision for this company was not one vision in 1976 that stayed true for 50 years,” said Bon Voyage Travel President and COO Ryan Hansen. “It was the evolution, the pivoting with the times, with technology changes.”. Tara Kirkpatrick reports on this home grown success, which is highly-regarded around the globe. As always, we are grateful for our loyal readers, our advertisers and our team, committed to exceptional journalism, along with innovative design and photography. Steven E. Rosenberg Publisher & Owner BizTucson
April Bourie Rodney Campbell Jay Gonzales Tara Kirkpatrick Tiffany Kjos Christy Krueger Thomas Leyde Tyler McCusker
Andrew Brown Kathleen Dreier Nadia Hagen Logan Havens BizTucson News Update (Email Newsletter) BizTucson.com
Brent G. Mathis Tara Kirkpatrick
Contributing Technology Director
Mike Serres
Member:
American Advertising Federation Tucson DM-50 Metropolitan Pima Alliance Oro Valley Chamber Southern Arizona Leadership Council The Chamber of Southern Arizona BizTucson Magazine Issue 4 (ISSN 1947-5047 print, ISSN 2833-6739 online) is published quarterly for $16 per year by Rosenberg Media, LLC., 4729 E. Sunrise Dr., PMB 505, Tucson, AZ 85718-4534. Periodicals postage pending at Phoenix, AZ, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: BizTucson Magazine, 4729 East Sunrise Dr., PMB 505, Tucson, AZ 85718-4534 ©2026 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in columns or articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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BizCONTENTS
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FALL 2026
VOLUME 18 NO. 3
COVER STORY: 31 32 36 38 44 48 50 52
DOWNTOWN: 12 ECONOMIC DRIVERS Rio Nuevo District Corporate HQ City of The Arts Tourism: The Big Picture World’s Largest Gem Show Tucson Convention Center Historic Theatres & Venues
58 60 64 66 70
Cuisine Supreme Loft Living El Tour de Tucson Diverse Festivals Modern Streetcar
DEPARTMENTS
BizLETTER From the Publisher BizKIDS 72 Children’s Museum Tucson at 40 Years BizCONSTRUCTION 102 University of ArizonaNew Catalina Dorm 104 Astrie Luxury Residential Community BizFOUNDATION 106 University of Arizona Fuel Wonder Campaign Surpasses $3 Billion SMALLBiz 110 Desert Breeders: Civano Growers and Civano Nursery BizSPORTS 140 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Moves to January 4
44 70
144 163 164 166
170 174 176 178
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32 SPECIAL REPORTS
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SPECIAL REPORT 2026
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LONG REALTY
100 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE
BizEDUCATION Pima Community College’s IBEST Program Shortens Career Paths 115 BizAEROSPACE Albers Aerospace Expands in Region BizSTARTUP BON VOYAGE University of Arizona Among Best TRAVEL Producers of Billion Dollar Startups Celebrates 50 YEARS BizCHARITY Angel Charity for Children to Fund a Record 10 Beneficiaries Angel Charity Foundation: In Margaret Larsen’s Memory Scarritt Foundation: Supporting Animal Welfare 147 First Down Faith Foundation: UA Football Stars Launch Foundation Tu Nidito Children & Family Services PIMA FEDERAL Honors 30 Years CREDIT UNION Tucson Classics Car Show TURNS 75 Presented by Rotary Club of Tucson
ABOUT THE COVER DOWNTOWN: 12 ECONOMIC DRIVERS Creative Design by Brent G. Mathis
Long Realty Company at 100 Years
SPECIAL REPORT 2026
THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Bon Voyage Travel at 50 Years
SPECIAL REPORT 2026
THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Pima Federal Credit Union at 75 Years
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BizDOWNTOWN
By Jay Gonzales
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“Downtown Tucson is incredibly vibrant because you can have a completely different experience every time you visit,” said Crystal Moore, president and CEO of Downtown Tucson Partnership, the nonprofit corporation tasked with providing municipal services for the downtown Business Improvement District. “You can enjoy an incredible meal, see a concert, Broadway production, symphony or sporting event, have a cocktail afterward and stay overnight, all within a walkable urban core.” In addition to the fun stuff, major developers have built massive residential projects downtown. Eight hotels have gone up after decades when not even one was built. Even the long-vacant Hotel Arizona adjacent to the Tucson Convention Center will soon reopen as a Hyatt Regency. Nothing says progress like a building vacant for 14 years being revitalized to add to the portfolio of downtown hospitality. Rio Nuevo alone has helped generate over $1 billion in investment from the tax dollars it invests in projects and
businesses locating there and from the developers and investors who have put their own money into downtown. More importantly, a recent tragedy notwithstanding, Downtown Tucson has become a place where you can walk, enjoy an outdoor cocktail or meal, attend a performance, visit a friend, and just spend money to help the economy. “We’ve spent a lot of money making downtown safe,” said Fletcher McCusker, chair of the Rio Nuevo board. “What makes downtown special is that it still feels distinctly Tucson,” Moore said. “We have longtime local institutions alongside new restaurants and concepts, historic venues alongside new investment, and a growing residential community that brings energy downtown every day, not just during events. “And we continue to see significant investment in downtown, from new restaurants and entertainment concepts to major hospitality projects. That tells me there is real confidence in downtown’s future.”
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12 ECONOMIC DRIVERS
Make no mistake – Tucson is a better place because downtown has become a massive economic driver for the community. But the truth is, it needed to be. “In most cities, downtowns are the primary economic engine, repository of knowledge and culture and generator of new ideas, new technology and new ventures. They are the very heart of the city,” said the late Alexander Garvin, an influential urban planner in New York City. In this issue, BizTucson delves into the economic drivers for Downtown Tucson. They range from big businesses like hotels, residential developments and corporate headquarters, to the many entertainment offerings and events, and to the small businesses − local restaurants, bars and coffee shops − that have transformed the landscape and turned downtown into a bustling hub of activity. As Tucson’s downtown has been revitalized over the last 15 years, it’s easy to see the financial engine it has become for the community.
More than $1.2 billion has helped turn downtown into the economic driver that every community needs.
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BizDOWNTOWN
RIO NUEVO DISTRICT ROI on Rio
When the history of Tucson is written 25, 50 or 100 years from now and it continues to grow into a thriving tourist and commerce center, Rio Nuevo and what it has done for Downtown Tucson will be the center of the story. The argument can be made that the Rio Nuevo Tax Increment Financing District, or TIF, has essentially saved Tucson from being just another dot on the map with basic amenities and little to captivate the metropolitan population base of more than 1 million. Through the mid-2010s, downtown was on the ropes. Government and business offices were the primary occupants. As they used to say, the streets rolled up at 5:00. There was little activity in the evenings and on the weekends outside of the events taking place at the Tucson Convention Center and few others. The Rio Nuevo TIF had collected – and spent – hundreds of millions of dollars with little to show for it. But a band of community members invested in making downtown an economic driver for the community formed a board that has, in the last 15 years, led to a transformation of the city center.
Entertainment, dining, hotels, event centers and a base of residents who live a modern urban life have turned downtown into a bustling hub of activity. A few notable corporate headquarters – Caterpillar, Tucson Electric Power and Hexagon among the most prominent – have set downtown as their base.
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When businessman Fletcher McCusker was asked by the Arizona Legislature to chair the Rio Nuevo board in 2012, a relatively simple plan was developed by McCusker and those who joined him on the board to give downtown the shot in the arm it needed. “We believed two things then, and we still believe two things now,” McCusker said. “The things that attract people to an urban environment are, No. 1 food, and No. 2 music. “If you look at any other successful urban downtown − Austin, Nashville, Cleveland − they thrive on destination dining, destination bars and music. Our initial focus was to create entertainment-type activity that would bring people downtown to step over these broken-down sidewalks and vacant alleys and boarded-up buildings.” From then until now, Rio Nuevo has helped 66 restaurants open or helped them stay in business, provided investment for eight hotels, and put more than $200 million in TIF money into the projects that have brought downtown to life. That $200 million has generated more than $800 million in continued on page 34 >>> Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 33
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PHOTO BY DEAN KELLY
By Jay Gonzales
BizDOWNTOWN
PHOTO BY DEAN KELLY
continued from page 33
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private investment in downtown, which has generated momentum for people to live there. With the $89 million that Rio Nuevo has invested directly into projects like the revamp of the Tucson Convention Center, more than $1.2 billion has helped turn downtown into the economic driver that every community needs. The tax base in the district, which stretches from west of downtown along Broadway to Park Place mall, has doubled. TIF revenue, which is 50% of sales tax revenue above a baseline amount in the district, was $9.8 million in the 2013 fiscal year. It was $19.9 million in FY 2025. Still, with all the highly visible progress Rio Nuevo has made downtown, the Arizona Legislature sought to shut down the voter-approved TIF in the 2026 budget process even though the district was extended by thenGov. Doug Ducey through 2035. “What’s so weird about the (attempted) repeal is that in our 15 years, we doubled the tax base,” McCusker said. “There’s a group of Republicans that hate what we’re doing. We’re the only TIF in the state and they’re very envious of that. Tempe’s tried to get one, Peoria, Glendale, they’ve all been denied. So one of the ways they can deal with that is to eliminate the only other one.” In addition to the fact that Gov. Katie Hobbs was not going to approve a budget that including killing Rio Nuevo, McCusker said he got legislative leaders to actually visit Tucson and see what the TIF revenue was doing to be the economic driver that it is. “We got the speaker and the president of the Senate to visit Tucson,” McCusker said. “They were astonished at what they saw. We learned the hard way that you’ve got to see it to believe it.”
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CATERPILLAR FALL 2016 2012
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HEXAGON
TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER
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BOURN COMPANIES
When Caterpillar relocated the headquarters for its surface mining & technology division to downtown, it was estimated the 1,000 jobs at the headquarters would have an annual economic impact of $600 million. www.BizTucson.com
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CORPORATE HQ Choosing Downtown for Operations, Connection By Rodney Campbell When Tucson Electric Power moved into its energy-efficient headquarters 15 years ago, the company made supporting Downtown Tucson a priority. The company, one of the first headquartered in Tucson during downtown’s resurgence, has invested in electric infrastructure that helps support redevelopment projects and the Sun Link Streetcar. TEP also is contributing $61,000 toward the Downtown Tucson Partnership’s Business Improvement District next year to support services that invite visitors and residents to explore the area. TEP advertises on Sun Link, provides free electric vehicle charging stations in front of its building and supports regional events, including the Downtown Parade of Lights. A power provider since 1892, TEP knows the many benefits that come from a viable downtown. “TEP supports Downtown Tucson because a strong city center supports our region’s economic health and quality of life,” said Steven Eddy, TEP’s director of public affairs. The nine-story building accommodates more than TEP’s employees. The ground floor offers nearly 11,000 square feet of retail space. “By locating hundreds of employees downtown and incorporating groundfloor retail space, the building helps increase economic activity, supports nearby businesses, and reinforces confidence in the city’s urban core,” Eddy said. Caterpillar
Other companies have followed TEP’s lead. Ten years ago, Caterpillar was looking to move its surface mining & technology operations from Chicago. Upon making the Fortune 500 company’s finalist list, the Rio Nuevo District, Sun Corridor Inc. and the City of Tucson went into a full-court press. Rio Nuevo Chair Fletcher McCusker convinced then-Gov. Doug Ducey to www.BizTucson.com
commit state dollars to help get Tucson into the game with site selectors. The battle with Denver was won when Rio Nuevo and other stakeholders were able to offer land, site remediation and construction costs to Caterpillar. It was a big step forward for downtown. “Denver was really aggressive with incentives,” McCusker said. “We were successful because we made the economics irresistible.” In 2019, Caterpillar opened its 150,000-square-foot building on Cushing Street west of Interstate 10. The new headquarters brought 1,000 jobs to the community, many filled by new residents moving from Chicago. Word of mouth traveled quickly from the first wave of Caterpillar transfers. They told their colleagues that Tucson was a great place to live and work. “The first 50 people came to Tucson, and they became the best marketing people we’ve ever had,” McCusker said. “At the end of the day, 95% of Caterpillar staff transferred to Tucson.” McCusker said using public dollars to support downtown is a good investment. Without them, other communities would benefit from Tucson’s lost opportunities. The competition is fierce. “There’s a lesson in that for people who hate tax ‘giveaways,’” he said. “Caterpillar will be the first to tell you if it wasn’t for Rio Nuevo, they would be in Denver.” Hexagon Mining
A year before Caterpillar’s new building opened, positive ripple effects were already being felt when Hexagon moved its North American headquarters from the city’s outskirts to the City Park building on Congress Street. Hexagon’s mining division solves surface and underground challenges with technologies for planning, operations and safety. Hexagon’s contemporary five-story building comprises not only private offices, but a rooftop patio, restaurants
and a coffee shop, Wi-Fi workspace banks, communal areas to meet and brainstorm, a 400-person auditorium, and sound-proof rooms for solo work. “Downtown Tucson is the ideal location for a North American headquarters of a global technology company,“ Josh Weiss, then-mining division president said in 2018. “It’s highly attractive for millennial talent from universities and abroad. Better yet, as a training center for customers, this location allows us to fully expose the rich possibilities of smarter, safer, fully connected mines.” Then-Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild also celebrated the announcement of the relocation. “Bringing a tech company headquarters to a new downtown building is a double win for Tucson,” he said. “Hexagon will be part of Tucson’s emerging downtown technology hub.” Bourn Companies
Bourn Companies has been a key part of the Tucson development community since 1990. President and CEO Don Bourn, whose company has played a role in numerous downtown projects, said it’s important to have his company’s headquarters on Congress Street. “As the City of Tucson and Rio Nuevo made the commitment to rebuild our downtown, we felt it was important for us to contribute and lead by example − despite the cynics who warned that it was not possible,” Bourn said. “We are proud of what has been accomplished downtown, which has been an example of ‘all boats rising together’ with great cooperation and camaraderie between private and public groups.” Bourn said a vibrant and growing downtown makes the community healthier. “We have long believed that to be a great community, we need great nodes throughout the region where people want to gather,” Bourn said. “It is critical for Downtown Tucson to be at the epicenter of that ecosystem.” Biz Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 37
12 ECONOMIC DRIVERS
PHOTOS: COURTESY TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER, BOURN COMPANIES & BRENT G. MATHIS
Tucson Electric Power
Tucson ranked No. 10 Best City for Street Art— USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
WINTER FALL 2012 2023
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$9 6 BILLION ARIZONA ECONOMIC IMPACT
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ARIZONA OPERA
BALLET TUCSON ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY
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BizDOWNTOWN
CITY OF THE ARTS From Visual to Performing Arts, Downtown is Arts Epicenter
The downtown arts scene is a draw that lures the masses for a magical experience. Whether through the performance arts—concerts, exhibitions, theater, and dance—or the distinctive museums and venues that showcase paintings, photography, sculptures and other mediums, Downtown Tucson knows how to entertain, educate and inspire. This vibrant array of arts and culture is a contributing factor to the city’s recognition in the 2026 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, highlighting its appeal as a travel and living destination. The Power of Performance
Downtown Tucson’s performing arts offer “far more than great shows: they are economic and community assets that help define who we are as a region,” according to Laura Shaw, chief communications officer for The Chamber of Southern Arizona. Performing arts power players such as the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Tucson, Arizona Opera, and Arizona Theatre Company also create a true sense of place. “A vibrant performing arts district attracts visitors, supports restaurants and small businesses, creates jobs and makes Southern Arizona a more compelling place to live, work, invest and build a business,” said Shaw. Orchestrating Change
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra, which staged its first concert in 1929, is the oldest continuously operating orchestra in the Southwest. “As the primary resident of the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall since its opening in 1971, the TSO has been a cornerstone of Tucson’s vibrant downtown arts and culture for over half a century,” said Paul Meecham, president of the TSO. “We’re very proud,” Meecham conwww.BizTucson.com
tinued. “This is an organization that does spectacular things for our audiences. It strengthens our community.” Almost 38,000 people attended a TSO concert last season, providing a significant boost to local businesses, according to TSO Artistic Administrator Ben Nisbet. He commented on the evolution of Downtown Tucson. “Now that so much has changed, people want to come down here not just to see a show, but they want to go to the restaurants. That is unquestionably a very different environment than what it was.” Nisbet believes that TSO’s diverse programming also helps connect the entire community. “In terms of the sheer number of offerings we have, we really are trying to do something for everybody,” Nisbet said. “For families, for young people, we offer. . .a broad cultural spectrum. We’ve done a really good job of delivering for our city.” Toeing the Line
Tucsonan Margaret Mullin is in her fifth season as artistic director for Ballet Tucson. The former Seattle ballet dancer is all too familiar with the challenge of attracting crowds, especially since the pandemic. “I think there is a challenge to get people back out in the world, to get people to a show rather than watching it on a screen,” Mullin said. As Ballet Tucson celebrates its 40th anniversary, Mullin spoke about the innovative collaborations, community events and the exciting company premieres that will highlight the organization’s momentum, including “Debonair,” which was inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Justin Peck. “We’re bringing the world to Tuc-
son,” Mullin said. “I think the Tucson art scene is excellent. It’s a great secret in a lot of ways; there’s a level of surprise.” Actors, Arias and More
Arizona Opera, now in its 55th season, offers additional surprises. “We add to the downtown cultural and economic offerings by bringing in thousands of visitors each year through programming and tens of thousands of dollars in economic impact through people who come to Downtown Tucson to eat, shop, park and stay in hotels before and after performances,” said Brian DeMaris, president and general director of Arizona Opera. As an added draw, programming is re-expanding after post-pandemic cutbacks with two performances each of modern and timeless classics such as El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots); The Pirates of Penzance; and La Traviata. Additionally, a Studio Series will feature performances in partnership with Treasury 1929, and “Opera Everywhere” pop-up venues at the Children’s Museum Tucson and other locations. Improving lives and connecting people through theatre is a priority for Arizona Theatre Company, the official theatre company of Arizona. ATC is also distinguished as the only member of the League of Resident Theatres that serves two cities—Tucson and Phoenix. The organization hires local and national artists and has a full-time staff of 65 who facilitate musicals, American classics, new world premieres, wildly popular farces and murder mysteries at the Temple of Music and Art, “just two blocks from the main downtown strip.” “Our season is filled with enough diversity in offerings that people feel like they just had a complete five-course meal,” said Matt August, Kasser Family Artistic Director of ATC. continued on page 40 >>> Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 39
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PHOTOS: COURTESY TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BALLET TUCSON, ARIZONA OPERA & ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY
By Valerie Vinyard
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continued from page 39 That diversity has resulted in a jump in ticket sales for the 2026-2027 season. “Tickets are selling on average 200% better than the same period from last year. . .we are seeing a deeper impact through the community and building on deeper partnerships with other organizations and reaching out to wider audiences.” Urban Masterpieces
The downtown visual arts scene is equally vibrant, boasting more than a dozen galleries and museums including the Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum; the Arizona Transportation Museum; Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson; Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón Museum; and the Tucson Museum of Art. The museums are a huge draw for the area, according to Adriana Kong Romero, Tucson Market president and senior VP for global commercial banking at Bank of America, which has been a proud supporter of TMA and Tucson arts for decades. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch card holders get free admission the first weekend of every month to the TMA or Pima Air & Space Museum. “We see the arts and cultural institutions as economic drivers, educational resources and powerful tools for bringing people together across generations and backgrounds,” Romero said. “It helps to inspire future generations and attract visitors to our Downtown district.”
TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART
PRESIDIO SAN AGUSTÍN DEL TUCSÓN MUSEUM
ALFIE NORVILLE GEM & MINERAL MUSEUM
The 102-year-old TMA at 140 N. Main Ave. boasts a permanent collection of more than 10,000 pieces of Pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, American, European, Indigenous, contemporary and folk art. It also features a block with five historic homes on a site that was once part of “El Presidio,” the Spanish military post from which Tucson originated. Anne Breckenridge Barrett was appointed in May 2025 as the Jon and Linda Ender director and CEO of the four-acre campus. “Last year was a rebuilding year,” said Breckenridge Barrett, who worked with her team to erase a decadesold deficit during that time. “We really looked at the programming … What I focused on is to understand who we are. We are hyper-local and globally relevant.” Breckenridge Barrett noted that the mission of TMA is to connect art with life. “It resonates with everyone that visits Tucson,” she said. “We really want to center on focusing on our community. It has been amazingly fun to do that.” New programming this year includes the Sonoran Project, which brings artists from around the world to react to the Sonoran Desert. The museum will also welcome Patrick Dean Hubbell, an artist from the Navajo Nation, for his first solo Arizona museum exhibition: “After Everything, You Embraced My Being Like A Warm, Gentle Breeze” will run at the TMA from Oct. 24 through March 21. Cutting-Edge Creative at MOCA
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That collaborative spirit is also on display at MOCA Tucson, which “inspires new ways of thinking through the cultivation, exhibition and interpretation of concontinued on page 42 >>> www.BizTucson.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY VISIT TUCSON & BRENT G. MATHIS
A Historic Icon
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MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
IGNACIO GARCIA’S “LOS TRES AMIGOS”
continued from page 40 temporary art,” according to Curator Alexis Wilkinson. The commission-based museum incorporates paintings, drawings, performance, photography, video, and other innovative mediums in exhibitions such as “Light as Resistance” by the artist collective Hilma’s Ghost, on view through Jan. 24, 2027. Also on exhibition this fall and winter are “Only in Darkness Can You See the Stars,” by Coco Fusco; and “After Heaven” by Clifford Prince King, who revisits his Tucson childhood through mediations on memory and family archives. En Plein Air: Tucson’s Epic Street Art
Art literally meets landscape daily through Tucson’s renowned murals and public art. Patrons can enjoy self-guided tours downtown and citywide of hundreds of larger-than-life masterpieces such as “Desert Colossus”—Arizona’s tallest mural—and “El Tour de Tucson” by Joe Pagac, along with Ignacio Garcia’s “Los Tres Amigos” celebrating La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo and Rock Martinez’ 50-by-54foot “Goddess of Agave.” These outdoor wonders “create visual landmarks and generate interest and engagement,” according to Felipe Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Tucson. “Tucson’s vibrant mural scene is a powerful example of how creativity can drive economic impact. Public art gives visitors another reason to explore our neighborhoods, discover local businesses and experience the authentic character of our destination.”
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PHOTOS: COURTESY MOCA (ANDREW_BROWN) & VISIT TUCSON
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AC HOTEL
HAMPTON INN TUCSON DOWNTOWN AND HOME2SUITES HILTON DOWNTOWN HYATT REGENCY TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER
The planned Hyatt Regency Downtown Tucson Convention Center, expected to open in 2027, is the global brand’s very first Tucson location. ARMORY PARK INN
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HOTEL CONGRESS
OMAR MIRELES THE LEO KENT HOTEL THE MOXY
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TOURISM: THEHotels BIG PICTURE to Historic Inns By April Bourie Downtown Tucson’s hotel scene is thriving, anchored by investment from new chains, historic inns and next year, the first international brand to arrive. Earlier this year, news broke that the Hyatt Regency Tucson Convention Center will open in late 2027–the first Hyatt Regency-branded property in Tucson. The hotel, which will renovate the vacant Hotel Arizona, will offer 291 guest rooms and suites, a fitness center, an elevated pool and approximately 22,000 square feet of meeting space. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Hyatt to introduce the Hyatt Regency brand to the heart of Downtown Tucson,” said Omar Mireles, president of HSL Properties. “This investment reflects our confidence in Tucson’s continued growth and our commitment to enhancing the city’s hospitality offerings.” Crystal Moore, president and CEO of Downtown Tucson Partnership, said the new Hyatt property continues to enhance the larger hospitality story downtown. “Collectively, these projects represent significant private investment and, more importantly, confidence in Downtown Tucson,” Moore said. “More hotel rooms mean more people walking our streets, eating in our restaurants, attending performances and events, shopping locally and experiencing what downtown has become.” Long anchored by the historic and iconic Hotel Congress–for decades the only hotel downtown–new interest in the downtown area was fueled by the very first AC Hotel to open in late 2015. “It was easy to understand that there was a need for one, if not five, more hotels downtown in a community of our size,” said Scott Stiteler, principal owner of Tucson Urban LLC, which built and owns the AC Hotel. “That said, the first is always the hardest. Thankfully, we were able to work with Marriott to get one of the first AC Hotels in the U.S. in www.BizTucson.com
Downtown Tucson. It was a big feather in our cap because that was their darling new brand. It was the right time and right fit.” Fletcher McCusker, board chairman of Rio Nuevo, added that, “once one hotel is interested, all the other brands start snooping around. And things from then exploded.” Several hotel openings have followed, including the Doubletree Tucson Convention Center, The Leo Kent Hotel, Hampton Inn Tucson Downtown and Home2Suites Hilton Downtown. Another newcomer will be the Moxy Hotel, being built by Stiteler, which is expected to break ground by the end of 2026. Obie Properties’ Tucson Inn and Marketplace is also on the horizon, said Moore. “Each project brings something different to downtown,” she said. “The Hyatt strengthens our ability to support the Tucson Convention Center and attract larger meetings and conventions. The Moxy introduces a different hospitality concept designed around guests getting out of their rooms and experiencing the surrounding city. And the Obie project is particularly exciting because it combines a boutique hotel with local retail, food and beverage, and an activated event alley, creating another destination for visitors and Tucsonans alike.” Management at The Leo Kent Hotel said increased downtown entertainment such as Mr. Bing’s Presents has helped business. “Mr. Bing’s brings high-level, sophisticated productions to places like the Century Room at Hotel Congress, The Skylark Club in The Treasury 1929 and here,” said Erica Federico, The Leo Kent’s group sales and catering manager. “Events like this have helped bring in a new dynamic and demographic to downtown.” “This hotel has been continually out-
performing due to business travelers coming through,” added Anthony Peterson, The Leo Kent Hotel’s assistant general manager. “Here, we are cranking. We even had nights of full occupancy every week for a lot of the summer.” Along with the hotel chains, historic inns and bed and breakfasts round out the downtown staying experience. Hotel Congress, with more than 100 years here, joins treasures like the Blenman Inn, the Armory Park Inn and more. “A lot of our guests come to see concerts or go to other venues, and the Tucson Convention Center is a big draw for us,” said Margo Caylor, owner of the Blenman Inn. “Events like the Gem & Mineral Show and El Tour de Tucson also bring us guests. We are so grateful for community events that help us to be in business.” “People want to walk and enjoy the art, history, and culture downtown, and they can do that now,” added Richard Oseran, Hotel Congress owner. History and culture are at the forefront in the eight-room Armory Park Inn. Each room at the boutique bed and breakfast is curated and named for a famous Tucson pioneer. “We want our guests to have more than a lovely stay. We want them to experience Tucson and all of the amazing things about our city,” said Amy Draper, owner of the inn and an eighth-generation Tucsonan. Hotel development remains an attractive growth strategy, according to Cindy Aguilar, Visit Tucson’s VP of communications. Downtown’s average daily rate is up 59% since 2020, highlighting the area’s strong pricing power and continued demand. “We’re not simply adding hotel rooms; we’re building the infrastructure that allows more people to experience Downtown Tucson as a destination, a place to eat, stay, explore and be entertained,” said Moore. Biz Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 45
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PHOTOS: COURTESY SWAIM ARCHITECTS AND ASSOCIATES, VISIT TUCSON, HAMPTON INN TUCSON DOWNTOWN, HSL PROPERTIES & BRENT G. MATHIS
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ALLAN NORVILLE AND HIS LATE WIFE ALFIE (PHOTO IN 2011)
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WORLD’S LARGEST GEM SHOW It’s difficult to overstate the impact of the annual Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, which brings Tucson tens of thousands of buyers and sellers—including more than 55,000 from outside the area—and generates millions of dollars in direct spending and tax revenue annually. Downtown Tucson stages some of the showcase’s largest exhibitions. The entire showcase, a collection of dozens of independently operated shows, spans four weeks from Jan. 27 through Feb. 14, 2027. It is the largest event of its kind in the world. Once here, visitors spend money on lodging, attractions, dining and drinks, car rentals, gas, groceries, souvenirs and gifts, all adding up to tax dollars for the state and region and income for local businesses. “You really can’t cast a wide enough net around the businesses that benefit from this annual Tucson event,” said Jane Roxbury, senior director of gem show and stakeholder engagement for Visit Tucson, the nonprofit organization that works to attract tourists, conferences, travel writers and others to the region. The showcase is Tucson’s biggest tourism-related economic driver and continues to grow: A study of the 2025 event found that direct spending surged 118% since 2019, the year of the previous study, to more than $286 million, while city tax revenue rose 41% to $11.6 million. The event’s growth, according to the report by the Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University, “can be traced directly to the high level of customer service provided and effort put into continual improvement by the City of Tucson and Pima County in collaboration with Visit Tucson.” That is where Roxbury comes in: She travels to shows such as France’s massive www.BizTucson.com
Mineral & Gem à Sainte-Marie-auxMines to create buzz and meet with the enthusiasts who make the showcase tick. “Part of what I’m doing to grow the gem and mineral business here in Tucson is representing Tucson on the international stage—and it’s working,” Roxbury said. “I’ve spoken at the conference portion of their show. . .Our counterparts who operate that show give Visit Tucson a very large banner, the size of a chain-link fence, promoting our show and how exhibitors, especially those from outside the United States, can get ready to come to our shows.” Started in 1955 as a single show staged by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, last year the showcase encompassed 56 shows at around 40 locations. “The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is far more than an extraordinary economic engine for our community—it is one of Tucson’s most powerful global calling cards,” said Joe Snell, president and CEO of The Chamber of Southern Arizona. “What makes the showcase especially valuable is the visibility it creates for Tucson. Every visitor who comes here experiences our community, our hospitality, our culture, our restaurants,
The 2025 Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase generated $286 million in direct spending, including $12.9 million in local tax revenue – Arizona State University Seidman Research Institute study
our outdoor lifestyle and our business environment. They leave with a much deeper understanding of what Tucson and Southern Arizona have to offer.” Downtown, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® is held at the Tucson Convention Center, with the Pueblo Gem and Mineral Showcase next door at the Ramada by Wyndham Tucson. The wholesale-only Gem and Jewelry Xchange (GJX) show occupies a 120,000-square-foot temporary structure west of the TCC, while the Tucson Gem Show on 22nd Street is a short hop from the city center. Another must-see is the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum located in the Pima County Historic Courthouse at 115 N. Church Ave. In February, during the showcase, the museum hosts “A Day at the Alfie,” featuring free admission and public talks. “The gem shows are stretching a little longer every year, but it’s about four weeks, and during those four weeks, if you’re in minerals and gems, Tucson is the center of the universe,” said Museum Director Violetta Wolf. “We have people coming from all over the world—very famous gem artists from Germany, people from Japan— and I get to see them every year because they always come to Tucson. It’s this absolutely magical, crazy four weeks, and then the rest of the year we get to go back to being a nice, normal city.” The museum welcomes 10,000 visitors a year, but its largest attendance is the month after the showcase, Wolf noted. “We actually see a huge increase in March as well. I’d say everyone still has the gem show hangover, where they’re thinking, ‘I’m so excited about what I bought’ or ‘I want to learn more about this,’ so it’s really a very fun time for us.”
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PHOTOS: COURTESY TUCSON GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOWCASE, VISIT TUCSON & BRENT G. MATHIS
By Tiffany Kjos
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TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER
$100 Million Upgrades, Nationally Competitive For Craig Barkdull, the Tucson Convention Center is all about bringing in new audiences and keeping the returning ones happy. It’s worked for him at other venues and has worked in Tucson, as well. “We at the Tucson Convention Center will continue to strengthen our existing partnerships and create new business opportunities that further establish our extraordinary facilities as the foremost meeting and event venues in both Southern Arizona and the Southwest United States,” said Barkdull, who has been in his new role as TCC’s general manager for just a few months. “Through an enhanced emphasis on elevating live entertainment programming and maximizing meeting and event activity – all while consistently delivering unforgettable experiences for our clients, community, and guests – we will collaborate with our vast network of local destination and global industry partners to enhance the vibrancy and economic impact here in the heart of downtown Tucson and beyond.” After all, the TCC is the centerpiece of Tucson’s downtown and arguably all of Tucson. Want to see a big sporting event? Head to the Tucson Arena. Want to see a concert? Head to the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Want to see the ballet? Catch you at the Leo Rich Theater. There’s something for everyone seemingly all the time, whether it’s shows, events or nonprofits using the space for fundraisers. According to its latest numbers – fiscal year 2024-25 – there were 422 events in the TCC space. That’s equivalent to 1,349 event days, meaning events might overlap in the TCC’s usage, said Kate www.BizTucson.com
Breck Calhoun, TCC’s director of sales and marketing. “The 422 events are very successful,” Calhoun said, but added booking events in the summer months is still challenging. She added that 72% of the events are spearheaded by nonprofits. “We are always doing the most we can to accommodate our nonprofits based upon their budget constraints,” Calhoun said, “while being a fiduciary to the city of Tucson.” All the TCC is trying to make is a place to go to for various reasons/ events. “We are focusing on the cultural diversity of the community and the differences in performances, whether it be concerts or performing arts and with our meetings, conventions and other things,” she said. It does have the space. The TCC has 233,000 square feet of new and remodeled event space. It spans 27 acres. Over the last 10 years nearly $100 million has been put into renovating the TCC for a refresh and to become more
Over the last 10 years, Rio Nuevo has invested nearly $100 million into renovations of the various facilities, beginning with a renovation of the arena completed in 2016.
nationally viable. “It was voted on so (voters) could see more events come into the downtown corridor to generate more tax dollars,” Calhoun said. “We want to be a more competitive facility, as well.” It allows for big conventions or events like the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show and more recently has played host to the State Department of Education programs, of which there are four. That will continue again in 2027 and 2028. Then come the sporting events like the Tucson Roadrunners, Tucson Sugar Skulls and a host of sporting events, including the recent Indoor Football League National Championship, and the Club Cactus Volleyball event which occurs annually. The Garmin Marathon had its first run last November and will be back this fall. “Our community would be in trouble if we didn’t have the TCC,” said Edmund Marquez, a local businessman and Tucson Sugar Skulls president. He is also a former Rio Nuevo Board member. “It’s a multi-pronged approach to entertainment.” Marquez said it helps that the 125room DoubleTree Hotel is next door, but it’s still not big enough, so the revitalized Hotel Arizona by HSL Properties with 250 rooms adjacent to the TCC will add needed accommodations. “That’s so important because before the DoubleTree was built,” Marquez said, “Tucson was the largest city with a convention center that did not have a hotel, which means you didn’t have conventions. “But now, (the hotels) put us in true convention space. The future of the TCC looks great. The TCC is a major driver for crowds and families in the downtown area.” Biz Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 51
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PHOTOS: COURTESY TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER & BRENT G. MATHIS
By Steve Rivera
Fox Tucson Theatre has welcomed 1.4 million guests since its 2006 restoration. – Fox Tucson Theatre 2025-26 annual report
FOX TUCSON THEATRE TEATRO CARMEN
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HISTORIC THEATRES & VENUES Preserve Past, Propel Future Growth Downtown Tucson’s historic venues do more than herald the city’s past. Together, they bring hundreds of thousands of people downtown each year, filling restaurants, bars and hotels and driving an entertainment economy that continues to grow. Chief amongst those performance spaces is the Fox Tucson Theatre, which is in the midst of a major project that is expected to bring even more people and spending downtown. The Fox and Hughes Federal Credit Union this summer announced a $5 million multi-year naming-rights partnership for a 20,000-square-foot expansion of the theater, one of the largest corporate investments in the arts in Tucson history. The timing fits: The credit union is nearly 75 years old, and the Fox will celebrate its centennial in 2030, when the Hughes Federal Credit Union Event Center at the Fox is expected to open. “This is an investment in young minds and in the long-term vitality of the communities we serve,” said Andrew Britton, president and CEO of Hughes Federal Credit Union. “To lend our name to a space that will welcome more than 150,000 visitors a year, generate millions in regional economic impact, and bring STEAM and arts programming to Tucson’s youth is both a privilege and a lasting commitment to our city’s future.” Elisa Ross, Hughes chief experience officer, agreed. “It’s two community cornerstones reaching historic milestones, investing in each other’s future in Tucson. We believe, and the Fox believes, that the arts belong to everyone. We’re proud to lead that effort.”
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The expansion will add dedicated space for youth education and community programs, significantly extending the theater’s reach, Ross said. “A child’s ZIP code should never determine their access to the arts. This partnership helps change that.” The Fox already generates an estimated $7.6 million a year in economic activity downtown, according to the Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Calculator. That is projected to reach $18 million a year after the Hughes Center at the Fox opens. Theater patrons often grab dinner before or drinks after a show and perhaps stay in a hotel nearby, said Bonnie Schock, the theatre’s executive director. “So the impact goes way, way beyond the theater. And it’s local,” she said. “If you start to look at the ripple effect that an anchor organization like the Fox has, it is extraordinary. This is why events-based economic development is so incredibly important. Because we continue every day, all year long, to be bringing people in.” A Preservation Project
With 1,164 seats, the Fox, at 17 W. Congress St., hosts movies, concerts and other events 150 days a year that bring in 90,000 to 120,000 people. That number is expected to grow to 150,000 people after the adjacent building, a collection of suites at 1 W. Congress St. through 27 N. Stone Ave., is demolished and the new center is built. “We view this very much as a preservation project. The Fox must continue to be moving forward into the future,” Schock said. “Our current space is simply not big enough for audiences. The pre-function space is simply not sufficient for the volume of people that we
bring to the facility, not to mention that it’s not accessible. There’s no way for us to add an elevator, for example, in the existing facility.” The new event center will have an entrance on Stone Avenue along with new public and service elevators and curbside drop-off that will make the Fox accessible for the first time ever. The theatre, opened in 1930 and on the National Register of Historic Places, will remain nearly untouched, but doors on both levels will connect it to the event center. “The opportunity to build immediately next door, integrated with the historic facility, could not be more perfect,” Schock said. The center will offer flexible event space, a second-floor performance venue with a 350-seat capacity, rooftop terrace, grand lobby and bar, catering kitchen and additional restrooms. The $5 million contribution brings the Fox’s $26.6 million capital campaign to nearly its halfway point. Design is expected to go through the city approval process in 2027, with groundbreaking in 2028. The credit union also has issued a challenge for donors to contribute $100,000 or more by Dec. 31 to keep the project moving forward. “Standing behind the Fox’s expansion reflects what our members believe: that every young person in Tucson deserves the opportunity to imagine, create, and thrive,” said Fabian Cordova, board chairman of Hughes Federal Credit Union. Restoring Teatro Carmen
The Fox’s latest chapter follows a rescue effort led in part by Herb Stratford, who co-founded the Fox Tucson Thecontinued on page 54 >>> Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 53
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PHOTOS: COURTESY FOX TUCSON THEATRE & TEATRO CARMEN – LOGAN HAVENS
By Tiffany Kjos
TEMPLE OF MUSIC AND ART RIALTO THEATRE
continued from page 53 atre Foundation in 1999 to restore and reopen the theater in 2005. Today, Stratford Art Works Inc., a nonprofit led by Stratford and his wife, Kerry, is rehabilitating Teatro Carmen, 380 S. Meyer Ave., in Barrio Viejo. Built as a showcase for Spanish and Latin American theater and opened in 1915, it is Tucson’s oldest performing arts venue. The Tucson Jazz Festival, Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Tucson have all expressed interest in the space, which will accommodate 300 seated or 500 standing patrons. Stratford Art Works has raised just under $6 million of the $9 million needed for the restoration, which began in 2021 and is expected to be complete in 2028. The theater will have an attached restaurant, and several other restaurants are within easy walking distance, so Stratford expects events at the theater to generate business throughout the historic neighborhood. “All of a sudden you’re going to have events 300 days a year, and clearly that’s going to impact surrounding areas.” A Different Kind of Stage
CENTURY ROOM
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A few blocks away, amid cobblestones and tree-lined streets, the Temple of Music and Art offers a quieter atmosphere than some other venues. The Spanish Colonial Revival building at 330 S. Scott Ave. was built in 1927 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. “There is a calming vibe here. I mean, the energy shifts depending on what event is occurring. But it’s an energy that can’t be bought. It can’t be built. It has to just sort of happen over time,” said Nick Cianciotto, director of operations and events. The venue draws nearly 50,000 people each year and hosts about 175 events, ranging from Arizona Theatre Company productions to corporate gatherings, weddings and performances by community groups such as Ballet Tucson and the Reveille Men’s Chorus. The temple, owned by the city and managed by Arizona Theatre Company, features a courtyard, lounge, rehearsal hall and the intimate Cabaret Theatre. Its 627-seat Alice Holsclaw continued on page 56 >>> www.BizTucson.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY TEMPLE OF MUSIC AND ART, RIALTO THEATRE, CENTURY ROOM & BRENT G. MATHIS
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BizDOWNTOWN continued from page 54 Theatre offers audiences an up-close experience, Cianciotto said: “In my opinion, there is not a bad seat in the house.” Jazz, History and Nightlife
Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., has drawn downtown crowds since 1919. In 2022, it expanded its offerings with the Century Room, an 85-seat jazz club that hosts performances six nights a week and attracts 35,000 patrons annually. The hotel opened in 1919 and is on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. The Century Room has its own entrance on the corner of North Fifth Avenue and East Congress Street, making it easily accessible, and retains much of the hotel’s historic properties, said Arthur Vint, a musician and former Tucsonan who worked at the famed Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City and returned here to help design the Century Room. “It certainly has the feel that it belongs here,” he said. “When you come in, you’re coming through the original doors. Then we have a vestibule, which has 100-year-old swinging doors on it. So you definitely get a sense of history just upon walking in.” Historic Neighbors
Across the street, the Rialto Theatre at 318 E. Congress St. hosts more than 200 shows a year, drawing more than 120,000 patrons. Depending on the show, fully a quarter to a third of audience members are from out of town, said marketing director Valerie Richarme. “We do typically get people from everywhere.” The 926-seat venue, which can accommodate 1,300 standing patrons, hosts everything from Modest Mouse concerts to all-ages shows and rap artists, including Snoop Dogg. The Rialto opened in 1920 after it was constructed by California-based William Curlett and Son, the same company that built Hotel Congress. Originally home to vaudeville shows, cartoons, silent films, newsreels and the occasional full-length film, it later became a Paramount Theatre, a furniture warehouse, a home for first-run Spanish-language films under the name El Cine Plaza and, for a couple of years, even a pornographic movie theater. Most recently it became a partnership between the Rialto Theatre Foundation and the City of Tucson, which leased the building to the foundation in 2005 for 50 years. With its art nouveau and “faux 18th century” décor, according to its National Register of Historic Places nomination, the theater was listed on the NRHP in 2003. Recent improvements include installation of a new PA and sound system and replacement of the air conditioning, both with an eye toward preservation. Routine upgrades require far more care in a landmark facility, Richarme noted, explaining that a standard air conditioning replacement that normally takes weeks took five months because “literally everything is historic” and requires “a much gentler hand.”
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BATA EL CHARRO CAFÉ
THE MONICA
Tucson’s food and beverage sector supports more than 12,000 jobs and generates nearly $1.2 billion in annual sales. —¡Somos Uno! State of Culture Report 2024
THE EMERALD 29
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BLOCK A SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
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CUISINE SUPREME Culinary Scene Sizzles
On a balmy August day, Angie Hixenbaugh strolled along Congress Street in Downtown Tucson. Hixenbaugh was visiting family and was on her way to meet them at the cozy Italian restaurant, Perché No. “This is my first time in Arizona. The heat is brutal, but I’ve eaten at some really tasty places this week,” said Hixenbaugh, a 30-year old nurse from Boston who visited El Charro Café, Tavolino Ristorante Italiano and “some funky Mexican spots” around town. Hixenbaugh wasn’t surprised that Tucson was named the nation’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015. “That makes sense to me, because there are a lot of terrific restaurants here,” she said. “Every meal I’ve had has been incredible.” Much of that culinary magic can be found downtown. It’s home to 89 food and drink establishments, according to Downtown Tucson Partnership, the nonprofit that manages and markets the 54-block area. “Tucson’s UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation is absolutely reflected downtown,” said DTP President and CEO Crystal Moore. The current Tucson City of Gastronomy certified restaurant list includes several downtown and immediately adjacent favorites, including BATA, Charro Steak & Del Rey, Cup Café, El Charro Café, Jojo’s and The Monica, among others. “Beyond the certification itself, I think downtown is one of the best places to actually experience why Tucson earned the UNESCO designation,” Moore said. “You can move from generationsold Tucson institutions to some of our newest chef-driven concepts within just a few blocks...” Jonathan Mabry is the executive director of Tucson UNESCO City of Gastronomy. He co-authored the apwww.BizTucson.com
plication that obtained the UNESCO designation, detailing Tucson’s “unparalleled agricultural tradition, a rich tapestry of cultures and some of the most inspiring food experiences available anywhere.” He said downtown restaurant operators are becoming resourceful with square footage instead of chasing more of it. “The trend I keep noticing this year is old buildings getting creative second acts as culinary spaces instead of new ones going up.” The Emerald 29 speakeasy, a part of The Treasury 1929, is a perfect example. The historic and glamorous venue, once a bank built in 1929, is an iconic location for weddings, business dinners and more. The speakeasy operates out of what used to be the bank’s vault. Owner and celebrated restaurateur Daniel Scordato knew he could not pass up the downtown location for his latest venture. “It was a chance for me to get into something that no one else has in all of Arizona and I didn’t want to pass that up,” he said. Emerald 29 “has beautiful stairs leading down to it – all the things that had a uniqueness to it.” Stacks Book Club “turned a shuttered ice cream shop on the Sunshine Mile into a bookstore with a wine bar,” Mabry added. Additionally, an investor group has created Tucson Gastro Park, a chef and artisan retail cluster and culinary event venue, from a row of 1920s bungalows. And Grant Krueger, owner of Union Hospitality Group, recently opened his new Block A Sports Bar and Grill on Congress and 4th Avenue. El Charro Concepts President Ray Flores has three downtown restaurants: El Charro Café, Charro Steak and Del Rey and The Monica. He said they’re not going anywhere.
“As a 104-year-old family restaurant, we are committed to the effort to protect and grow Tucson’s culture,” he said. We have to protect what got us here.” Carlotta Flores, chef and owner of Flores Concepts, said that while Tucson deals with downtown issues such as construction and parking like many other cities, she encourages people “to look at the total picture.” “It’s great to be part of it. I hope people stay excited; tourism is such an important part of us. We’re all in this together,” she said. “There’s just so, so much to see here - let your heart enjoy it.” And downtown is just the start of the amazing UNESCO designation that has put Tucson on the culinary map for 10 years. “A decade after UNESCO named us a Creative City of Gastronomy, here’s what evolution of our culinary landscape looks like: A chef who built his menu at Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen on recipes his abuela taught him before he ever cooked professionally is carrying that family knowledge to the James Beard stage in Manhattan; and a selftaught chef-owner of La Frida Mexican Grill and Seafood is a James Beard semifinalist in the Best Chef: Southwest category,” Mabry said. The 10-year anniversary features free educational events; cooking and mixology classes and demonstrations with tastings; culinary events showcasing top chefs and winemakers; and fundraisers highlighting regional food heritage. Though early fall saw several culinary events, including the Pueblos del Maiz Fiesta on Sept. 26 and DUSK Street Food Contest on Oct. 4, several events will continue through 2027.
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PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT TUCSON, TREASURY 1929, RIO NUEVO, BATA & THE MONICA
By Valerie Vinyard
363 residential units are currently under construction in Downtown Tucson – Downtown Tucson Partnership
THE MARIST ON CATHEDRAL SQUARE THE FLIN
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RENDEZVOUS FLATS
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LOFT LIVING
Downtown Lures Professionals for Urban Life Every work day, Brendan Will goes against the stereotypical flow of Tucson. He lives in Downtown Tucson. And he commutes to an office in the Foothills. “Everything to do for younger people is downtown,” Will said. “The buzz is good. It’s the closest you can get to a big-city experience in Tucson.” Will, 26, is a two-year resident of RendezVous Flats, one of several striking new urban apartment communities attracting people and their energy to Downtown Tucson. Others new urban spaces include The Flin, The Marist on Cathedral Square, 1 West Broadway and more. Young professionals, engineers, empty nesters, healthcare workers and University of Arizona faculty and students live downtown because they like walking to night spots, sporting events, restaurants and entertainment. And, with its quick access to the Modern Streetcar and I-10, downtown is “20 minutes from everything,” Will said. “Young people want an energetic, urban environment,” said Phil Swaim, principal in the architectural firm Swaim Associates, which partnered with Davis Architecture on the RendezVous Flats project. “From a live / work balance and lifestyle, people love it,” said Jim Tofel, managing member of Tofel Dent Construction, which built The Flin, HSL Properties’ downtown apartment community. The six-story, 245-unit Flin, located at 110 S. Church, is described as downtown’s “most luxurious apartment community,” with 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units, high-end appliances, a rooftop lounge, an on-site movie theater, an area for pets, a 2-story fitness center, and an www.BizTucson.com
onsite Savaya Coffee House. Tofel said building The Flin was “probably the most difficult project we’ve done. It’s hard to articulate all the challenges.” Now that it’s thriving, “I’m very proud of it,” he said. “It’s an incredibly successful project for HSL now.” The 100-unit, six-story, contemporary RendezVous Flats at 20 S. Stone features floor-to-ceiling glass, oversized balconies, exceptional storage and the full complement of amenities. “These aren’t your typical three-story walk-ups or garden-style apartments,” said Tom Rathbun, VP of operations with Aerie Development, which built RendezVous Flats. “They’re larger, with higher-end finishes, nicer appliances, taller ceilings, better views, and a unique, concierge-style management.” Downtown occupancy rates are strong, Rathbun said, “with continued leasing momentum. Downtown is coming back.” Initial market research suggested the RendezVous Flats would appeal to empty nesters and retirees, Rathbun said. Then the pandemic struck, disrupting the momentum. Yet, something else happened too. Raytheon engineers, UA educators, and medical professionals from the nearby Tucson Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Banner-University Medical Center Tucson discovered downtown living, Aerie’s Rathbun said. “Downtown Tucson appeals to a much broader range of residents than people might initially assume.” “When I leave or come home, I see a lot of people in scrubs, doctors and residents,” Will said. “There is a good contingent of U of A athletes, football and basketball players,” as well as up-
perclassmen and graduate students who “want to be a little away from the college scene.” Larger employers like Tucson Electric Power and Caterpillar are also “getting their people to come back downtown and into the office,” Swaim said. “Business owners and even employees are realizing they miss that collaboration, they miss that environment. It’s returning.” And their activity is stimulating small businesses, investors, and apartment communities. Among those investors is Rio Nuevo, which continues to power downtown activity. Rio Nuevo “has done a great job in helping to incentivize businesses to move down there,” Tofel said. Its board consists of “successful people who realize a good city needs a good downtown,” Will added. “Someone needs to take a risk, and Rio Nuevo support lets an ecosystem be built.” “There’s so many questions that come up when you try to revitalize a downtown,” Swaim said. “It’s not just chickens and eggs, it takes the farmer, and a little bit of everybody along the way.” Rathbun said the RendezVous Flats project “has reinforced our belief that there has been demand for thoughtfully designed urban housing in Tucson.” Thoughtful design continues; Aerie is expanding the property’s dog park and installing a dog wash. “Tastes change, and you’ve got to keep up with the times.” Will works as an analyst with Iridius Capital, one of the developers of RendezVous Flats. He acknowledges being “a little bit biased.” But, he added, “even if I didn’t work for the company, I’d live here.”
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PHOTOS COURTESY TOFEL DENT CONSTRUCTION, AERIE DEVELOPMENT & MICHAEL RICHARDS
By Dave Perry
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THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
E-EDITION OF THE FALL 2023 & COVER STORY ON BIZTUCSON.COM SPECIAL REPORTS: Sun Corridor Inc. BFL Construction
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Since the initial event in 1983, El Tour de Tucson has raised $138 million for charity.
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EL TOUR DE TUCSON Globally Recognized Cycling Event
El Tour de Tucson, the region’s premier cycling event, benefits each year from holding its start and finish line at the same place − downtown behind the Tucson Convention Center. Tucson, in turn, benefits from the spending that comes with the annual race. This year’s El Tour is Nov. 21 as it celebrates its 43rd year as a globally recognized race, attracting nearly 11,000 riders. The event moved downtown after TCC finished its renovations in 2022. Since then, it has created a measurable economic success for downtown hotels, restaurants and bars. “It’s definitely an economic driver getting people to stay downtown, and people that stay downtown are going to eat and have a good time downtown,” said T.J. Juskiewicz, CEO of Perimeter Bicycling, the company that produces El Tour. Absent an official economic study of spending by El Tour patrons, Juskiewicz estimates there is an $8 million to $10 million boon to the city of Tucson each year. “Our spending to put the event on alone is $3 million,” said Juskiewicz. “Barricade companies, toilet companies, most of them are right here in Pima County. As much as we can do here in town to create that economic impact, we do.” El Tour ranks as one of Tucson’s largest international and tourism events, said Steve Morganstern, board chairman of Perimeter Cycling. “The week of El Tour de Tucson has a huge economic impact for the downtown area,” Morganstern said. “Behind the gem show, no other event brings people from all 50 states and many more countries around the world to Tucson. People don’t just come for one day. They arrive early, frequent our restaurants, shops and hotels, and are exposed to all that Tucson has to offer.” www.BizTucson.com
Juskiewicz said El Tour organizers were excited to give the event a centralized location at the TCC, which is an improvement for riders and their families. In addition to the race lines, it also is home to the event’s expo and fiesta. “It used to be scattered throughout the city. A ride would start in Marana, one at Udall. People would have to get done with their ride and take a shuttle back,” said Juskiewicz. “Now, they do 100 miles, get back six to seven hours later, and their loved ones are there to greet them.” Hosting everything downtown also means hotels and restaurants are full. “If you walk into some of the downtown restaurants and see tables of 15 to
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It’s definitely an economic driver getting people to stay downtown, and people that stay downtown are going to eat and have a good time downtown. – T.J. Juskiewicz
CEO Perimeter Bicycling
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20 on the evening after the ride, that’s the economic impact you can feel,” he said. Kate Breck Calhoun, director of sales and marketing at the TCC, also believes it has been a resounding success to partner with Perimeter Bicycling. “It’s great to have it in the building,” she said. “If you’ve never been to the start line at 7 a.m., it’s a spectacle.” Calhoun, who has been with the convention center for 23 years, emphasized how fortunate Tucson is to have a venue like TCC to host an event like El Tour. “The diversity of events that we have really complement the diversity of the community. There aren’t a lot of complexes around the world as unique as we are.” El Tour continues to grow and saw a record number of riders last year, along with notable bike legends and influencers, Juskiewicz said. High-profile cyclists share their weeklong Tucson itineraries on platforms like Instagram, and they broadcast the event’s appeal to a global audience. This digital word-of-mouth not only elevates El Tour’s international prestige but serves as a continuous advertisement for downtown’s hospitality sector. This year, El Tour will welcome 2012 Tour De France Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Sir Bradley Wiggins, five-time Olympian George Hincapie and well-known sports and cycling commentator Bob Roll. Another driver to Tucson’s economy is El Tour’s charitable contributions to the community. The event has raised more than $138 million for Tucson charities since its inception, according to Juskiewicz. “It’s probably the biggest fundraiser for many of the groups we work with,” said Juskiewicz. “El Tour is not just a bike ride; it’s a cause.”
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PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN DREIER & COURTESY VISIT TUCSON
By Tyler McCusker
TUCSON INTERNATIONAL MARIACHI CONFERENCE
TUCSON JAZZ FESTIVAL
Core arts and cultural industries annually contribute $4.1 billion to the Tucson economy, which accounts for 7.3% of the city’s overall economy. —¡Somos Uno! State of Culture Report 2024
TENWEST FEST DUSK MUSIC FESTIVAL
ALL SOULS PROCESSION WEEKEND TUCSON DESERT SONG FESTIVAL TUCSON MEET YOURSELF
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By Tiffany Kjos Tucson is a city of festivals − as recognized by the International Festivals & Events Association − and downtown is at the epicenter. Free and ticketed events tailored to every interest draw a steady stream of locals and visitors that fill bars, patios and plazas throughout downtown and surrounding historic neighborhoods. Whether you are a foodie who wants to experience regional culinary heritage and maize traditions at the Annual Pueblos del Maíz or a bird enthusiast who wants to enjoy the Tucson Bird Alliance Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, there is something for everyone. Below is sampling of the distinctive festivals and events that help keep the economy humming year-round. 53rd Annual Tucson Meet Yourself
Expected attendance: 110,000+ When: Oct. 16-18, 2026 Tucson’s free flagship folklife festival spans three city blocks downtown and brings together more than 500 musicians, dancers, artists and home cooks to share the traditions of the region’s many communities, per organizer Southwest Folklife Alliance. This year, the festival joins the Smithsonian’s “Of the People” initiative marking America’s 250th anniversary − one of roughly 40 folklife festivals nationwide chosen to help tell the country’s story through its living communities, with new stages and pavilions added for the occasion. Info: tucsonmeetyourself.org 37th Annual All Souls Procession Weekend
Expected attendance: 150,000 When: Nov. 6-8, 2026 Presented by nonprofit arts collective Many Mouths One Stomach, this “massive, radically inclusive” event honors, mourns and celebrates loved ones who have passed. It opens with ticketed “Dance of the Dead” concerts Friday and Saturday, then culminates Sunday in the two-mile All Souls Procession www.BizTucson.com
downtown, ending with the ceremonial burning of the Urn. Community altars and free traditional-arts workshops run throughout the weeks leading up to the weekend. Info: allsoulsprocession.org 10th Annual DUSK Music Festival
Expected attendance: 15,000 When: Nov. 13-14, 2026 This downtown celebration of music, culture, food, art and community features nationally recognized musical artists, immersive art installations and local food and beverage offerings. The lineup is a mix of electronic, hip-hop, R&B, underground, alternative, pop, indie, psychedelic, punk, rock and folk music. Headliners include Phantogram, Fetty Wap, BigXthaPlug and Knock2, plus more than 25 other artists. Info: duskmusicfestival.com HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival
Expected attendance: 12,000-18,000 When: Jan. 15-23, 2027 This collection of separate ticketed and free events includes more than 40 concerts featuring local, national and international jazz artists. Performances in a variety of jazz styles, including swing, Latin and fusion, range from intimate club sets at La Rosa and the Century Room and late-night jam sessions to bigger shows at venues such as the Fox Tucson Theatre and Rialto Theatre. The festival’s marquee event, free and open to all ages, is the Downtown Jazz Fiesta, which features local jazz musicians on two outdoor stages. Info: tucsonjazzfestival.org 15th Annual Tucson Desert Song Festival
Expected Attendance: 15,000+ When: Jan. 21-April 20, 2027 This three-month celebration features world-class singers in a mix of programming, from classical to jazz, opera, theater, chamber and choral ensembles,
orchestral, ballet and solo vocal recitals. Internationally celebrated vocalists, including soprano Ana María Martínez, mezzo-soprano Angela Brower, bassbaritone Dashon Burton and vocal ensemble Chanticleer as well as violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larisa Martínez, will join Tucson’s leading performing arts organizations, presenting premiere performances, master classes and lectures in intimate settings. Info: tucsondesertsongfest.org TENWEST Fest
Expected attendance: 1,000+ When: March 30-April 2, 2027 Billed as the Southwest’s largest entrepreneurship and creativity festival, TENWEST is fueled by Vantage West Credit Union and hosted by Startup Tucson. TENWEST “calls forth the entrepreneur, creator and innovator within all of us so we can navigate our changing world,” according to its organizers. Events include conference sessions, keynotes, workshops, mixers and IdeaFunding, Arizona’s longest-running pitch competition. In the 10+ years of TENWEST, tens of thousands of attendees have launched and grown their ventures as founders and creators. Info: tenwest.com 45th Annual Tucson International Mariachi Conference
Expected attendance: 15,000 When: April 28-May 2, 2027 The world’s longest continuously running event of its kind features mariachi and folklórico workshops for students, student concerts and the El Mariachi Canta Vocal Competition, plus Friday’s Espectacular Concert with renowned mariachi groups and baile folklórico dancers. Saturday’s outdoor Festival de Garibaldi runs all day downtown, and Sunday closes with a mariachi mass. Proceeds benefit children’s services provided by La Frontera Arizona. Info: tucsonmariachi.org
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PHOTOS: STARTUP TUCSON AND TENWEST, VISIT TUCSON, TUCSON JAZZ FESTIVAL, DUSK MUSIC FESTIVAL, TUCSON DESERT SONG FESTIVAL & DEAN KELLY
DIVERSE FESTIVALS Enduring Attractions
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In fiscal year 2025, there were nearly 1.7 million riders on the Sun Link Streetcar with an all-time monthly high of 222,968 in October 2024.
FALL FALL 2012 2014 2014
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MAJOR SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
E-EDITION OF THE FALL 2014 COVER STORY ON BIZTUCSON.COM
SPECIAL REPORT:
TUCSON METRO CHAMBER ACCELERATING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
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FALL 2014 • $2.99 • DISPLAY UNTIL 12/31/14
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MODERN STREETCAR Major Catalyst for Construction/Transportation
For Sandra Kunkel – and likely thousands of others – the Tucson streetcar is exactly what she needs. “I love the slink (the sun link),” said Kunkel, a senior at the University of Arizona via Boston. “I’ve lived downtown going on two years now and I use it daily. I don’t have a car, so I take the slink everywhere I can. It’s my ride to class every day; my friends and I take it to football and basketball games, as well as to and from university to go to the bars. “Seeing how it’s free, comes every 15 minutes for the most part and has an app to track it, it’s super convenient for UA students like me.” Students. Tourists. Residents. The streetcar is ideal for those who want to travel in the downtown area – for free – on a route that covers 3.9 miles and features 23 stops. It connects the Mercado San Agustín district west of Interstate 10, Downtown Tucson, Fourth Avenue, Main Gate Square, and UA. “The streetcar is the gem of Tucson,” said Mikel Oglesby, general manager of Sun Tran, Sun Van and Sun Link. “It connects everything downtown, including the college, the stores and storefronts. It’s the only way to see Tucson. “It’s also the heart of Downtown Tucson where you get to see sites and businesses – the main vein of Tucson where we also have the buses where we can feed it to, helping people from all over and they, too, can enjoy the downtown.” It recently celebrated its 12th anniversary, in which more than 10 million riders have been passengers on Tucson’s streetcars. According to its most recent annual report, monthly ridership in 2025 included 222,968 riders in October and 117,793 in May, the highest monthly totals since launch. www.BizTucson.com
For 2025, ridership was 1,693,871, which surpassed its goal of a 1% jump from the previous year of 1,688,089. Overall, from 2025 ridership reflects “continued growth, reinforcing Sun Link as a vital mobility option for residents, students, and visitors and has helped revitalize the downtown and surrounding areas,” Oglesby said. “The Sun Link Streetcar is more than transportation. It’s an economic connector,” said Crystal Moore, president and CEO of Downtown Tucson Partnership. “By linking downtown with Fourth Avenue, the University of Arizona and the Mercado District, it drives activity, supports our businesses and has helped spur investment and attract new development throughout the entire corridor.” Restaurant mogul Ray Flores, who has five downtown businesses, including
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The Sun Link Streetcar is more than transportation. It’s an economic connector.
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– Crystal Moore President & CEO Downtown Tucson Partnership
three on the railway system, is on board with its impact on downtown. “While Downtown Tucson has improved significantly in the past decade,” he said, “the fact is that Tucson’s economy still blooms, and the streetcar is a catalyst to get more Wildcats downtown.” Convenience is a big deal. There are cars, six of which run on a schedule that varies on weekdays and weekends. Recently, Ruben Montenegro, assistant general manager of Sun Link, said he had friends and family visit and one of the first things he did was take them to dinner near the Link station and then took them on a ride. Why? “Because it’s amazing,” he said. “When you have cities that have streetcars, they are flourishing and the businesses around them, too. It’s very convenient for people to come and see what Tucson is all about.” Streetcars seat 29 and accommodate another 127 who can stand, and they’re all electric. “Rail is the only way to go when you want convenience,” Oglesby said. “Since it’s on track, it’s on time and on schedule. It’s safe and it’s safe because we have an action plan that we place all around Tucson and that includes the streetcar. “I’m proud of our entire system. I’m proud of our streetcar service and who we serve and what it’s about,” Oglesby said. “When people come in from out of town the first thing they want to do is go to the streetcar. We say jump on and they see the smooth ride and see a 10 (to 12-minute) headway (trip) that other states with streetcars have. Even when we went to 15-minute headways, it was still better than most locations.”
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PHOTOS BY BRENT G. MATHIS
By Steve Rivera
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BizKIDS
All Grown Up
Children’s Museum Tucson Celebrates 40 Years
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TUCSON
By Valerie Vinyard
While wandering through Children’s Museum Tucson on a recent Saturday morning, Benito Gonzalez held his daughter Adriana’s hand. Adriana, 4, wore angel wings on her back as part of her outfit. “She loves the Children’s Museum,” Gonzalez said. “This is our third time coming this year.” Opening in 1986, the Children’s Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Its expanding home in the historic Carnegie Library, near South Sixth Avenue, features 17,000 square feet with 10 indoor exhibits and an outdoor courtyard that encourages “kids to play and imagine.” Exhibits and programs are geared toward kids up to 10 years old. Hilary Van Alsburg has been the museum’s executive director since 2019. The Flagstaff native, who graduated with a law degree from the University of Arizona in 1992, has lived in Tucson for 30 years. To add to her expansive resume, Van Alsburg is a certified elementary school teacher who ran a gallery for 10 years. In 2011, she entered development and nonprofit work. Now it’s all about the Children’s Museum, which serves more than 200,000 visitors annually. “The hallmark of everything we do is make sure we are focused on accessibility for everyone in the community,” www.BizTucson.com
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The hallmark of everything we do is make sure we are focused on accessibility for everyone in the community. We make sure our programs authentically reflect the community that we serve.
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– Hilary Van Alsburg
Executive Director Children’s Museum Tucson
Van Alsburg said. “We make sure our programs authentically reflect the community that we serve.” Van Alsburg noted that the museum serves all of Southern Arizona, including Nogales, Douglas and Bisbee. “It’s an important childhood experience,” she said. “Usually, it’s their first time at a museum.” To commemorate the 40th anniversary, a Tree of Life mural designed by Jeff Christensen of Maggie Mae Mosaics was installed in the main courtyard. And that’s not all that is new at the museum. “We are in the middle of an expansion,” Van Alsburg said. “We are working very much on investing in downtown.” As part of that, the Children’s Museum purchased the 13,000-square-foot building next door for just under $3 million in 2023; it invested an additional $2 million to create spaces for administration, after-school programs and birthday parties. Angel Charity for Children selected the museum as its beneficiary in 2024, contributing a $1 million Impact Grant. “It created a much wider space for school kids. . .it expanded all of the programming” said Van Alsburg, noting that plans also include a café and gift shop, restroom improvements and upcontinued on page 74 >>> Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 73
BizKIDS
continued from page 73 dates of all the exhibits. So far, Van Alsburg said about $5 million of the $15 million needed for the renovations has been raised. The museum’s yearly budget is $3 million. “We’ve created our home in Downtown Tucson,” she said. “Downtown is booming and thriving; it’s great to be able to be here.” North Carolina resident Sarah Denoto agrees. She was checking out the exhibits with her daughter and grandchildren, 18-month-old Harper and 4-year-old Harrison. “I think this is perfect for children,” Denoto said. “Children love to touch everything, and it’s very interactive. They can touch, they can see, and they can explore.” Van Alsburg touted the variety of exhibits throughout the museum. “I think what’s special is we’re intentionally screenfree,” she said. “It’s families engaging in play. You get to come in, and it’s not hard to see that kids can come in and touch everything.” The museum is also a family affair for Sara Platter and her husband, Quinton, and their 2-year-old son, Daniel. The Sahuarita residents returned after a visit several weeks prior when Daniel had especially loved crawling inside the ambulance and fire truck. Platter noted that she frequently visited the museum herself as a child. “It was one of my favorite places to come to when I was a kid,” she said. “It’s generations of fun.”
Biz
WHAT: Children’s Museum Tucson WHERE: 200 S. Sixth Ave. HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays COST: $12.50. Half-price admission after 3 p.m. every weekday during MyTime; free from 5-7 p.m. on Thursdays for Discovery Nights. Art after Dark is held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month; admission is pay-what-you-wish. Other discounts are available for military families and families with SNAP or WIC cards. Information: (520) 792-9985 or childrensmuseumtucson.org
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BizPEOPLE Mimi Coomler
Mimi Coomler has been named president and CEO of TMC Health, replacing Jennifer Mendrzycki, who stepped down for personal reasons. Coomler joined TMC in 2006 and brings a deep commitment to quality, safety, clinical excellence and patient-centered care. Coomler served as COO of Children’s Clinics of Rehabilitative Services and later CEO. She also served as Tucson Medical Center’s Chief Nursing Officer and CEO.
Julia Strange
TMC Health has promoted Julia Strange to senior VP of external affairs and brand. She will continue to lead the organization’s government relations, public policy, communications, community engagement and brand strategy efforts across Southern Arizona, as well as its work building alliances with rural partners across the state. Strange joined the organization 30 years ago and has grown steadily in scope and responsibility since.
Sheila Schmidt
Cushman & Wakefield|PICOR appointed Sheila Schmidt as CEO. Schmidt was unanimously selected by the firm’s shareholders as the organization builds on more than four decades of commercial real estate leadership. In 2025, the firm completed 630 transactions totaling 7.4 million square feet and $366 million in transaction volume. Schmidt previously served in leadership roles at Meridian and Ryan Companies.
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SPECIAL REPORT 2026
THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
LONG REALTY
100 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE
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BizMILESTONE PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
Playing the Long Game Long Realty Celebrates 100 Years of Real Estate By Loni Nannini
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He credits the company for “creating jobs, developing talent, investing in communities, supporting other local businesses and providing a sense of stability and continuity that cannot be replicated.” “Their success has become intertwined with the success of the places they serve,” Guymon said. Rooted in Southern Arizona: Generations of Real Estate Experience Founded in 1926 by Roy H. Long, a Minnesota native and World War I veteran, Long Realty became known for the motto, “Take care of the people and the business will take care of itself.” Roy channeled his propensity for business, caring and community into civic engagement, helping to found the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo, securing land for Himmel Park and building the first YMCA. His son, Barry, continued that legacy after taking over the business in 1952. By 1980, Barry grew the company into eight branches prior to turning it over to his sons—Roy II, Russell and Steve—and expanding ownership to Robert Piersol and eventually Steve Quinlan. Over the next several decades, the company expanded to Green Valley, Sierra Vista and Benson. A 1999 merger with HomeServices of America marked an era of unprecedented growth with expansion of Long franchises to Phoenix and throughout Arizona. Long Realty also became an innovator offering the complete real estate experience, with insurance, mortgage lending, title, and continued on page 86 >>>
COVER & INSET PHOTOS COURTESY LONG COMPANIES
A centennial commemorates more than a milestone. For Long Companies, it celebrates the ongoing evolution of an iconic brand that prioritizes caring, community, integrity and professionalism while delivering on the American dream of home ownership. “We have been doing this for so long and so well that there is a reputation that precedes us for quality and professionalism,” said Kevin Kaplan, CEO of Long Companies. “Building a brand around a real estate company is hard to do, but we have done a really good job of that. The experience we give people resonates with them and it means something and I think that is reflective of the high caliber of our real estate agents.” Long Companies is the umbrella corporation for Long Realty and affiliated entities: Agave Title Agency, Prosperity Home Mortgage and HomeServices Insurance. Kaplan said that over the years, innovation and reinvention—combined with a “vertical” plan for growth—have contributed to success for Long Realty, which led the Southern Arizona residential real estate market with a 22% overall market share in 2025. Long also commanded just under 40% of the luxury market, closing more than $704 million in sales for homes priced at over $1 million. It is significantly dominant in the Catalina Foothills, Oro Valley, Dove Mountain and Saddlebrooke. Michael Guymon, chief advocacy officer for The Chamber of Southern Arizona, said Long Companies has earned the trust of Arizonans over generations, evolving into a pillar of the community.
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1920 - 1979
1920
Roy H. Long moved to Tucson for a climate that could heal his sick wife. His home was located at the present day University of Arizona Baseball Field.
1925
Long assisted with founding the first Fiesta De Los Vaqueros Rodeo. He helped out in the community further in the 1920s, securing land for Himmel Park and building the first YMCA.
1926
Baron Gauna President Long Realty
Long saw potential for real estate in the dry, warm Southwest and started a realty company from his home with two other sales associates. Long’s original motto: “Take care of your customer and the business will take care of you.”
1952
Roy Long retired and his son Barry took over the business and grew the company into eight different branches with multiple services. continued on page 86 >>>
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1980 - 1999
escrow. Additionally, the company broadened and formalized philanthropic efforts with the Long Realty Cares Foundation, which has funneled more than $4 million into Southern Arizona nonprofits since 2002. Today, Long Realty has nearly 1,000 licensed real estate sales associates in more than 30 offices, including 16 affiliate realty and property management companies across Arizona. Baron Gauna, president of Long Realty, attributes this growth to an unwavering commitment to values with an eye toward excellence in customer service. “All the decision-making here is based on five core values that we take seriously: compassion, excellence, leadership, integrity and teamwork. These core values are our guiding light, whether hiring or making business decisions with the company,” Gauna said. Ultimately, he said these principles are personified by agents and other employees. “Our agents are extraordinary. They are passionate about the brand and about doing a good job for their clients. We are extremely agent-centric, and that is a big differentiator. Every decision we make considers how we can make our agents’ business and lives better so they can support their clients,” Gauna said.
1980
Long Realty Company expanded ownership. Barry Long retired and turned the company over to his sons Roy II, Russell and Steve, as well as the new president, Robert Piersol. Shortly thereafter Lex Sears also became part owner.
1984
Steve Quinlan became part owner of Long Realty Company along with a few branch managers.
1995
Long Realty Company extended services outside of Tucson into Green Valley by purchasing Green Valley Realty, and also expanded into Sierra Vista.
1997
Long Realty Company launched a new website, www.LongRealty.com, which later became the leading real estate company website in Arizona. The company also announced its first franchised location in Benson.
1998
Steve Quinlan became the sole owner of Long Realty Company and takes on the role of President. Rosey Koberlein became General Manager.
1999
Long Realty Company merged with HomeServices of America, the largest residential real estate brokerage firm in the nation.
2000 - NOW
2000
Long Realty Company expanded with Core Services by developing Long Mortgage Company, Long Title Insurance, Long Insurance Group and the Long Advantage program.
2001
Long Realty Company purchased the Residential Division of Tucson Realty & Trust, the company’s biggest competitor.
2002
Long Realty Company created the Long Realty Cares Foundation to help improve the quality of life for Arizonans.
2004
Rosey Koberlein became President and CEO of Long Companies. Steve Quinlan became Chairman of the Board.
2005
Long Realty Company reached $5 billion in written sales volume for the year.
2009
Long Realty Company expanded its footprint in Phoenix by adding multiple franchised locations. continued on page 88 >>> 86 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
Building a Brand: Local Service, National Scale HomeServices of America has been central to the advancement of those goals. A full-service real estate brokerage that offers brokerage, mortgage, title and insurance under one roof, HomeServices owns and operates 40 brands across the country and was ranked third nationwide in 2025 with $139 billion in revenue. It is committed to providing a national voice and presence behind the Long brand. “We know for those making real estate decisions in their local market, choosing local is of paramount importance. We also know that in our industry, scale matters,” said Chris Kelly, CEO of HomeServices of America. “We bring a level of stability, strength and scale that allows Long to tap into sister brands and sister companies across the country for relocation opportunities and best practices for clients and agents. So, we are bringing the very best locally to Tucson while taking what Long is doing great and making sure that other companies learn from that.” HomeServices provides support for accounting, IT, human resources and back-end systems, enabling Long to focus on service for clients and agents. “We allow local companies and local leaders to concentrate on what matters most: providing the best tools, resources, education and coaching for agents, which in turn benefits the clients and communities those agents serve,” Kelly said. continued on page 88 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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2021
Reneé Gonzales became CEO of Long Companies. Rosey Koberlein became Chairperson of the Board. Long Companies created a new title and escrow company, Agave Title Agency.
2022
Long Realty Cares Foundation celebrated their 20 year anniversary. The foundation has raised more than $4 million for local nonprofits.
2024
Long Realty Company introduced a movement - SMART MOVE. More than just a tagline; it’s a testament to the exceptional journey we’ve shared and the bright path that lies ahead.
2026
Long Realty Company celebrated their 100-year anniversary • Agave Title Agency celebrated their 5-year anniversary • Kevin Kaplan became CEO of Long Companies • Reneé Gonzales became Chair • Launch of OnePoint – the complete real estate experience Present – Today, Long Realty Company has nearly 1,000 licensed real estate sales associates in more than 30 offices, including 16 affiliate realty and property management companies in Arizona.
continued from page 86 Convenient and Comprehensive: OnePoint of Contact Long Companies has leveraged these tools and resources into OnePoint, a program designed to connect and coordinate real estate, mortgage, title, and insurances for home buyers and sellers. Reneé Gonzales, Chair of Long Companies, said that studies have shown that more than 90 percent of consumers want a homebuying process that is smooth and easy. The OnePoint platform delivers a “comprehensive real estate experience” directly to them. “Consumers buy on average five to seven homes in their lifetimes. It is not something they do day in and day out. If we can take away the unnecessary stress of buying or selling a home, that is what we want to do,” said Gonzales. “We want to provide the complete real estate experience that clients want.” Gonzales said that meeting clients where they are on the path to home ownership ultimately contributes to community growth. “What comes through about this company is that we are here to help communities grow and help them reach their goals and we are proud of that. Our communities in Arizona are critically important to us.”
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CEO Long Companies
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PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
Kevin Kaplan
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Passion Meets Empowerment Long Leadership Promotes Dynamic Company Culture By Loni Nannini As the CEO of Long Companies, Kevin Kaplan believes that longevity is built through shared passion and empowerment of those around him. He embraces a team-first leadership style that supports those ideals. “I think sharing the same passion to be great is key and I am very fortunate that we have a lot of people here like that. Our people really care about the brand and what we do. . .and my philosophy is very much about empowerment and listening: I am probably the opposite of a micromanager,” said Kaplan. He views it is as his role to develop strategies—and then offer tools—that empower people to excel at their jobs. “I find that everyone wants to be great at what they do. How can we help them be successful? That may be helping people learn new skill sets and giving them the right environment and the technology to succeed or develop new ideas, but also understanding what we are trying to accomplish and working together to get there,” said Kaplan, who joined Long Realty as director of marketing in 2008 and put this philosophy into practice as he rose through the ranks at Long Companies. Drawing on a background in real estate, technology and brand strategy, Kaplan—along with the company’s executive team and agents—have built a scalable platform. They have elevated Long’s brand throughout its evolution from a brokerage to a suite of real-estate related services that make home buying easier for the consumer. It Takes A Team Kaplan has utilized a team approach in his strategic vision for continued www.BizTucson.com
growth and expansion of Long Companies, which is comprised of Long Realty, Agave Title Agency, Prosperity Home Mortgage and HomeServices Insurance. “Teamwork is very important. We need to have a shared vision and make sure everyone is on the same page to accomplish that,” Kaplan said. He credits Long’s skilled executive team, many of whom have worked together for decades, for building relationships based on honesty and openness and the ability to challenge one another by asking tough questions when necessary. With the team’s intentions aligned, Kaplan said they are able to work as a unit to move forward. “I think that is important in any company. We are fortunate to have that kind of tight-knit relationship and trust at the executive level so we are able to spend 100% of our energy on keeping the company great.” He noted that the building of team relationships is facilitated by a favorable agent-to-manager ratio, a business model that sets Long apart from many other real estate companies. “Humans are central to helping consumers buy or sell houses and we believe that we need quality professionals in management to help our agents be the most successful at what they do,” Kaplan said. A Culture of Curiosity This solutions-oriented ethos also puts an emphasis on communication as well as “genuine curiosity” to constantly improve Long’s image for quality, trustworthiness and caring service. “People have developed a perception
about what Long stands for and to deliver on that and give people what they need, we have to work at it constantly.” To meet consumer needs, evaluation and adaptation are an ongoing process in the ever-changing real-estate market; and proactive communication is a key component of strategy development, according to Kaplan. “We talk to our agents constantly about how we can be better. The best idea could be right around the corner. You miss out on so much when you think you have it all figured out and you bias yourself. You have to be curious about exploring other people’s ideas and allowing conversations to roam. That dynamic works very well for us here.” Kaplan honed his inclusive leadership style as a 2015 graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership Council; he also served as a board member and board president. The experience reinforced his conviction—and Long’s founding principle—that giving back is vital. Whether through support of nonprofits, economic development, development of people or filling needs in the community. Kaplan describes the Long team as being “ambassadors of Tucson and Southern Arizona.” “This is our community, where we live and where we work. It is hard to be on the periphery and in real estate without caring about the community. That is part of our brand—the ‘we are in it with you’ trust piece. We are very much about how we can keep making this a great place to live.”
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Long-Term Vision Adaptation & Innovation: Long Companies Looks Ahead By Loni Nannini Long Companies is blazing trails into a second century of residential real estate with a vision that melds time-honored values with transformation. “We made it to 100 years and will be going forward into this next century because this company is always very much learning and adapting. There is not an ego to the company. That is how to make a good company great: by not being too complacent,” said Kevin Kaplan, CEO of Long Companies. “We always want to be there to give consumers the best experience and the right services and the products that they need today. That may change in a couple years, so we are constantly working to stay on top of it. We are always making refinements.” Long Companies has formulated a strategic plan to navigate advancements in technology, consumer expectations, communications and the ever-changing real estate marketplace. The three-pronged plan involves continued focus on professional real estate services; a commitment to helping consumers better understand the process of buying and selling homes; and continued community engagement. Professionalism is Priority Compassion, integrity and professionalism have been founding principles for Long Realty since it became a pioneer of Southern Arizona residential real estate in 1926. The company has become known for talented, highly experienced agents who can pair buyers and sellers and close transactions when emotions often run high, according to Baron Gauna, president of Long Realty. “It takes real talent to put two folks together who may not see eye-to-eye— a seller who wants to sell a home for a certain price and a buyer who may 94 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
not want to pay that price—to close a transaction in 45 days or less. It presents unique challenges every single time and takes a high-level skill set,” said Gauna. Long Companies is dedicated to providing assistance with business development, coaching, technology and other professional resources that benefits both agents and their clients, said Erin Fitzgerald, president of Agave Title Agency. “They have a true infrastructure behind the agents and that is one of the many things that sets them apart: They continually invest in tools, people and resources that allow agents to focus on what they do best, which is building relationships and serving clients.” As a market innovator more than two decades ago, the company expanded infrastructure into integrated core services that now include Agave Title Agency, Prosperity Home Mortgage and HomeServices Insurance. The expansion was the result of customer requests for seamless services, according to Matt Rivera, mortgage manager of Prosperity Home Mortgage. “It is about the consumer and their experience—getting them to the finish line of home ownership as smoothly as possible versus using four separate companies that have no affiliation and different cultures. This is really an aspect of relentless service,” said Rivera. Fitzgerald said improved collaboration results in more transparent, streamlined communication between all parties. “Real estate transactions involve lots of people and communication between multiple parties, and having these services in-house allows us to work collaboratively,” she said. “This results in reduction in friction and confusion and better communication, and, I believe, a better experience for the consumer.”
Consumer Education: Technology and the Human Connection Long Companies is addressing increased customer desire for information, innovation and technology through OnePoint. The digital platform provides a point of connection for Long’s affiliated real estate services and was built with input from agents, the executive team and support from HomeServices of America, Long’s parent company. This technology provides consumers with immediate access to information and real-time updates about every aspect of home-buying to “shepherd them through the process” from beginning to end, according to Rivera. He believes technology is essential to educating consumers about everything from the pros and cons of owning a home to qualifying for a mortgage and options for interest rates, insurance and more. “We need to dispel misconceptions and help them to understand the buying process with their eyes wide open— along with the long- and short-term benefits of building equity and wealth through home ownership.” Even with the rapid rise of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence in real estate services, Long remains committed to the human element. “There is a human element to real estate and we want to be fundamentally available to have face-to-face conversations, maintain accountability and continue to build trust with agents and customers,” Rivera said. Fitzgerald emphasized that, ultimately, it is vital to recognize that the experience created by integration and technology is what matters. “Long is doing what it has done throughout history, which is continuing to evolve and invest in people and relawww.BizTucson.com
PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
tionships,” she said. “Buying or selling a home is deeply personal. It has been, and will always be, one of the largest emotional and financial decisions people make, so companies need to improve the human experience rather than replace the human experience: That means managing the human connection.” Forging Partnerships, Promoting Community Engagement Since Long was “built as a relationship company,” human connections remain at the forefront, according to Reneé Gonzales, chair of Long Companies. Continued development of innovative professional and philanthropic collaborations is at the heart of these relationships. Kaplan promotes mutually beneficial partnerships with other local businesses, organizations and nonprofits. The company also champions community impact through the Long Realty Cares Foundation and through volunteerism, agent-and-employee-led fund drives and other initiatives. “We wouldn’t have made it to 100 without our community. The community supports us and we want to give that back to them and support them in their areas of need,” said Gonzales. Ultimately, Kaplan said that Long Companies’ plan to draw on lessons of the past while moving into the future. “Our company has been through recessions, wars, pandemics and other big events over the past century and we are stronger than ever because we are adaptable, passionate about helping people and we focus on doing high quality work. These last 100 years are a great start, we are just getting going.”
Erin Fitzgerald
President Agave Title Agency
Matt Rivera
Mortgage Manager Prosperity Home Mortgage
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Community Impact Comes Home Long Companies Distinguished by Foundation & Philanthropy By Loni Nannini
Almost 25 years ago, agents with Long Realty made a move that changed the landscape of philanthropy in Southern Arizona. They channeled their “people first” philosophy into the Long Realty Cares Foundation, formalizing a process for giving and volunteerism that began with the company in 1926. Since then, the foundation has gifted more than $4 million to more than 425 local nonprofits. “We touch so many lives every month in Southern Arizona where we live, where we earn our money and commune with everybody. It is a huge impact and we hear ‘thank you’ all the time from people. It makes us feel really good to help the community and hopefully put people in better positions by fulfilling their needs,” said Peter DeLuca, president of Long Realty Cares Foundation. The foundation has supported a spectrum of nonprofit sectors covering social services; health, wellness and research; seniors and veterans; education; animal care and rescue; arts and culture; and more.
“
We touch so many lives every month in Southern Arizona where we live, where we earn our money and commune with everybody. It is a huge impact...
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– Peter DeLuca
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Local beneficiaries range from Habitat to Humanity and Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson to El Rio Health Center Foundation and Literacy Connects; a diverse variety of smaller nonprofits such as Bag It, Bald Beauties Project, Beads of Courage, Esperanza en Escalante and I Am You 360 have also been recipients. Spearheaded by Steve Quinlan, president of Long Realty at the time—and a group of agents and executives such as Diane Weintraub and Rosey Koberlein—the foundation implemented innovative processes that engaged the agents. “The real beauty of what we do is that it gets people involved with the nonprofits that they contribute money to and all of the money stays here locally. They get to choose the charities that receive grants and are personally energized about helping,” said Ron Sable, past president and long-time board member of the foundation. Long Realty agents can choose to contribute a percentage or flat fee from their commissions on sales transactions continued on page 98 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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BizMILESTONE continued from page 96 during closings; they can also make annual donations. Long Realty employees can contribute through paycheck deductions or private donations, as can employees with Long Companies. Those who contribute become foundation members and are eligible to “sponsor” nonprofits for written consideration by the board of directors, which is comprised of representatives from Long Realty offices throughout the region. Donations are gifted to local nonprofits through monthly grants, most of which range from $500 to $5,000. DeLuca said the foundation gifts an average of $14,000 a month. In an effort to amplify that impact even more, the foundation also funds “Annual Significant Gifts” between $20,000 and $65,000. DeLuca said the entire process illustrates the power of collective giving. “Collective giving can affect so many more people. By combining donations from individuals, we have a huge im-
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pact versus individuals trying to do their own thing. It also makes people want to be part of it when they see how much good we are doing in the community,” said DeLuca. The inclusive process also opens a window into the world of local nonprofits and spreads awareness about opportunities to support them through handson volunteerism and other initiatives. “When you work collectively, everyone has gifts and brings more to the game. You get more information and more points of view and learn about different nonprofits. It is much more enriching,” said DeLuca. Support of employee volunteerism and sponsorship of community events is also a priority for Long Companies. In celebration of its 100th Anniversary, the company has rolled out sponsorship of the Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson Meet Yourself and El Tour de Tucson. “We wanted to have a number of signature events and engagements in the
community that are meaningful and represent Tucson. . . we are always looking for good community partnerships,” said Kevin Kaplan, CEO of Long Companies. The sponsorships are representative of Long’s historic commitment to community development and economic prosperity, according to TJ Juskiewicz, executive director at Perimeter Bicycling, which stages El Tour de Tucson and other cycling events in Southern Arizona. “Long has been a great community player for many years. Above and beyond writing a check as a sponsor, they have team members who will be riding and team members who will be volunteering. . .they have been involved in so many mainstay events that make a difference in the Tucson community,” said Juskiewicz.
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ILLUSTRATION CONCEPTS BY GENSLER
BizCONSTRUCTION
New Catalina Dorm Coming to University of Arizona University of Arizona broke ground on a new dorm at the corner of East Speedway Boulevard and North Campbell Avenue on July 14. The new, nine-story dorm, called the Catalina, will house more than 1,300 students and a dining hall and will 102 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
align with student preferences for more suite-style units and access to programming and support services. The dorm is being developed in partnership with Collegiate Housing Foundation and Mortenson Development. CHF is providing the financing and ac-
quisition of the facility, with Mortenson leading the development, design and construction. The development was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in February.
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PHOTOS COURTESY BOURN COMPANIES
Astrie Opens at Uptown
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Bourn Companies celebrated the grand opening of Astrie with a July 23 ribbon-cutting, marking the first completed chapter of Uptown, the company’s 2.5 million-square-foot redevelopment of the former Foothills Mall site. The luxury residential community welcomed its first residents in late June and is now leasing. Astrie is the first opportunity for Tucsonans to experience life within the Uptown vision. Envisioned as an Urban Resort Village, Uptown will blend the energy of urban living with the ease of a resort-inspired destination. “The Astrie is where Uptown becomes real,” said Don Bourn, CEO of Bourn Companies. “For the first time, people are no longer watching this district take shape, they’re living in it. Welcoming our founding residents is the most meaningful milestone in the project so far, and it reflects the quality and intention we’re bringing to every phase of Uptown.” Residences range from studios to two-bedroom plus den homes, featuring nine-foot ceilings, open kitchens with quartz countertops and large center islands, full-size washers and dryers, smart keyless entry, and floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies in select homes. Residents enjoy a hotel-inspired lobby with concierge service, a resort-style pool and spa, rooftop terraces, a boutique fitness center, a demonstration kitchen, a speakeasy, a Skybox sports lounge, a pet spa, massage rooms, and direct bridge access to structured parking with EV charging. The Astrie was built by Chasse Building Team and designed by PMM Architects with interiors by INDesign. Asset Living manages the community. “Projects like Astrie are only possible through a truly collaborative team,” said Jeff Dupois, director of operations for Chasse Building Team. “Bourn Companies came to this project with a clear vision, and it shows in the craftsmanship throughout Astrie. We’re proud of what this team has built for Tucson.” Construction continues across Uptown, with the Tempo by Hilton hotel expected to open in early 2027 as the district’s first hospitality offering, followed by retail, dining and entertainment destinations including Barnes & Noble, Clio, Memoir and a Los Milics Vineyards tasting room. Biz Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 105
JANUARY 2017 Fuel Wonder leadership phase begins The campaign quietly begins counting gifts and commitments, launching what would become the University of Arizona’s most ambitious fundraising effort. Here are 10 game-changing gifts: 2017-2022 Momentum builds across campus Thousands of alumni and friends invest in scholarships, research, endowed faculty, healthcare, athletics, the arts and community impact as the campaign gains momentum during its quiet phase. 2017: Ed Bass commits $30 million to Biosphere 2, including creation of two endowed faculty positions 2018: James C. Wyant makes $20 million gift to Optical Sciences; college named in his honor in 2019. 2019: An anonymous family supports the College of Engineering and the Cancer Center with $27 million, including multiple endowed faculty positions 2021: Honors College named to honor Bill and Carolyn Franke’s $25 million investment in academic excellence 2021: College of Pharmacy named in honor of alumnus R. Ken Coit in recognition of his visionary $50 million gift
John-Paul Roczniak President & CEO University of Arizona Foundation
JUNE 2026 Fuel Wonder surpasses its $3 billion goal A record-breaking, $431 million fundraising year pushes the campaign beyond its historic goal, marking the most successful campaign in university history. OCTOBER 2026 Celebrating what became possible The Fuel Wonder campaign officially concludes during Homecoming, celebrating the thousands of donors whose generosity helped shape Arizona’s present while laying the foundation for its future. 106 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
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NOVEMBER 2023 Fuel Wonder launches publicly During Homecoming, the university announces the public phase of the $3 billion campaign, having already raised over $2 billion. The public launch includes more than $118 million in new gifts supporting scholarships, faculty excellence, research, health care, athletics and public media. 2023: An anonymous family gives $24 million to support Eller College of Management, athletics and student success priorities 2023: Humberto and Czarina Lopez contribute over $24 million across the university, including a $9 million gift to the Eller College to name the HSLopez School of Business Analytics 2024: An anonymous donor invests $50 million in the astronomy department to make space telescope missions quicker, more efficient and more cost effective 2025: The Garcia Family Foundation gives $20 million to make study abroad accessible to students with financial need 2026: An anonymous donor commits $20 million to create an endowed Presidential Strategic Leadership Fund
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Game-Changing Gifts University of Arizona Fuel Wonder Campaign Surpasses $3 Billion By Rodney Campbell
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James C. Wyant
gaged in a while, it’s an invitation to learn more about where the university is going and see how they can be part of its future. We have many donors who care deeply about the U of A and have given again and again, through multiple campaigns, over decades. “Our greatest champions are with us because they have relationships with the U of A that go beyond a campaign.” The Wyant Foundation Trust, for example, was established by the lateJames C. Wyant, founding dean of the UA College of Optical Sciences. This gift will support the launch of LENS: Linking Engagement, Networks and Student Success, an initiative that will boost community and industry connections while highlighting student success and programs in optics education and workforce development. “Jim Wyant was among the university’s biggest champions,” Roczniak said. “He gave generously during Fuel Wonder and the university’s previous campaign, Arizona NOW.”
PHOTO BY CHRIS RICHARDS
Mineral Museum, the Student Success District, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, William M. “Bill” Clements Golf Center and the Paul and Alice Baker Center for Public Media. Another milestone achievement for the campaign is the naming of three colleges: James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences in 2019, followed by the W.A. Franke Honors College and the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy in 2021. Each of those donors committed tens of millions of dollars to the UA. A historic $20 million pledge from the Garcia Family Foundation will expand access to study abroad programs for students with financial needs. Another $20 million, given anonymously, sparked the UA’s Annual Giving Day in February. The donor challenged the UA community to pitch in and donors delivered. That goal of $5 million was easily beaten when 1,324 gifts added up to almost $25.7 million. “A campaign is an opportunity to share the university’s story with alumni and donors in a new way,” Roczniak said. “For those who haven’t been en-
PHOTO BY CHRIS RICHARDS
When the Wyant Foundation made an $800,000 commitment in July to support the University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences, the gift represented more than an act of generosity. It also pushed Fuel Wonder, UA’s fundraising campaign that started quietly in 2017 before its public launch in 2023, past its $3 billion goal months ahead of schedule. “Reaching this milestone is cause for celebration of everyone who made it a success—especially the thousands of donors whose generosity has made such an incredible impact on the U of A,” said John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the UA Foundation. “Their investment in scholarships, faculty excellence, groundbreaking research, patient care, athletics and countless other priorities will transform lives for generations to come.” The Fuel Wonder campaign celebrates several completed capital projects and buildings thanks to donor investment–the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center, Alfie Norville Gem &
R. Ken Coit
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continued from page 107 Fundraising efforts function effectively with dedicated leadership. Fuel Wonder Co-chairs Terry Lundgren (Class of 1975) and Marianne Cracchiolo Mago (Class of 1993) have been significant donors and volunteers through the years, helping further a spirit of giving that creates opportunities for students, faculty and staff. “They are both Wildcats through and through, with different areas of passion on campus, and both have tremendous credibility with our extended alumni and donor community,” Roczniak said. “I am grateful to them for making transformational gifts on this campus, and for sharing what their philanthropy means to them personally. Their public support helps inspire additional giving.” Fuel Wonder donors helped double the university’s endowment and add 110 endowed positions, including a $5 million gift from Sarah Smallhouse to fund the College of Science deanship; an $8.5 million gift from Ginny Clements to the Ginny L. Clements Breast Cancer Research Center at the Cancer Center; and multiple gifts from Bruce and Pat Bartlett, who support research positions as well as student success. They also gave a record $425 million to support the UA in the fiscal year that ended on June 30. The UA Foundation manages the university’s donated assets and processes gifts. Arizona NOW, the university’s most recent campaign, topped its $1.5 billion goal two years ahead of schedule in 2016. Roczniak, who has led the UA Foundation for 11 years after serving as an associate vice president, said donor and staff commitment to the university made Fuel Wonder’s aggressive goal realistic. The campaign’s final numbers will be announced after Homecoming Weekend in October. “This campaign is the most ambitious in the university’s history,” Roczniak said. “We set our sights high with a $3 billion goal because we knew we had the alumni and donor base to achieve it, and a team of talented professionals working tirelessly to connect our alumni and donors with opportunities to make a difference at the institution we all care so deeply about.”
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Standing in front of a Laredo Texas Ranger, from left Les Shipley, Alex Shipley, Nick Shipley, Chris Shipley. Mexican Rose Baja Fairy Duster, normally grows to 8’x8’ Bred to grow to 4’x4’.
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Civano Seedless Mesquite, grows with no seed pods and no thorns.
Little Gold Star Tecoma, normally 10’x’10’, bred to grow to 4’x4’.
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SMALLBiz
Desert Breeders Civano Nursery, Growers Cultivate a Lush Southwest
INSET PHOTOS COURTESY CIVANO GROWERS
By Tom Leyde Civano Growers and Civano Nursery are inventing new ways to make the Southwest bloom. The family-owned businesses comprise the largest plant-growing operation in the Tucson area, with both wholesale and retail outlets, and are literally creating breeds of plants that are native to the region, will thrive in a desert environment, and fit into modern landscaping. “Home lot sizes are shrinking. Our climate keeps changing. It’s getting hotter, getting colder,” said Chris Shipley, president and co-owner of the family business he runs with his father, two brothers and wife. The thought process to make the company founded in 1998 competitive and unique in the market was to give customers something they can’t get from other nurseries and growers. “If we could take the best plants that are sold commonly and do something to them that make them fit a niche and make them better in our view, then we could have something,” Shipley said. Chris’ brother, Nick, is the man behind the breeds. When the company embarked on a breeding program, they started with the most common plants in the region, the mesquite and the desert willow, two plants that are often including in the landscaping in new developments throughout the region. “We have a mesquite tree now that we came out with called Civano Seedless. We took the thorns and the seeds off, and we gave it nice form,” Chris said, adding that the breed does not drop www.BizTucson.com
those pesky pods all over the yard. “The tree is great looking, and you don’t have to be out there in 110 degrees raking. “We took the desert willow and gave it bigger leaves, better flowers and no seed, so it’s more of a shapely plant. It turned it into a lower-maintenance plant.” Another common plant found in thousands of local landscapes is the Texas Ranger, a flowering bush that can grow to 10 feet by 10 feet and can take up a large percentage of space in a small yard. “The size that people want are 3-by-3 and 4-by-4,” Shipley said. “If you have to prune something down every month, that costs money. It’s more labor. It uses more water.” The breeding program, which uses cross-pollination and cloning to develop new plants, has grown the company into one of the largest growers and wholesale nurseries in the region. The company does business throughout the Southwest as far as Texas and Oklahoma. The company’s roots extend back to 1998. That’s when Les Shipley and sons Nick, Alex and Chris, along with Chris’ wife Melanie, started a tree-salvage operation. Working with contractors, they identified and preserved large native trees from development sites. Then they boxed them up and relocated them. Four years later, the Shipleys bought a 70-acre farm near Sahuarita, at 12190 Old Nogales Highway, where new plants are bred and patented. The site employs about 120 people.
Stephanie Vickers, Civano’s sales and marketing manager, said Civano propagates varieties that can thrive in weather in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada and parts of Oklahoma. “They need to be able to withstand a little bit of everything and hardy enough to survive a wide range of climate and soil and low rain,” Vickers said. “We have, over the last five to six years, reduced our growing to about 100 items.” The Civano Garden Center, which opened in 1999 at 5301 S. Houghton Road, offers an abundance of plants. Employees will even deliver and plant them for customers. The team also is knowledgeable on how to design and implement gardens. Civano is constantly working to streamline its operations, Vickers added. “We’re always introducing better and new selections (of plants) for everyday landscaping.” Over the next 12 to 16 months, the company will be focusing on a new sales office, currently under construction. And it will be expanding its planting acreage, allowing Civano to offer more plants to commercial customers who need larger quantities, such as new housing developers who may need 300 to 500 plants of the same variety. While there are larger nurseries in the Phoenix area, Vickers said, “hidden near Sahuarita is a little 120-acre gem in the middle of the desert.”
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SPONSORED CONTENT
BizTRAVEL
Why to Fly TUS
Q & A with Courtney Spector Director of Strategic Partnerships University of Arizona Why did the University of Arizona partner with Tucson International Airport, TUS?
For the past three years, the University of Arizona and Tucson Airport Authority have built a partnership around a simple idea: make it easier for our students, families, alumni, faculty and staff to choose Tucson International Airport. Together, we’ve found meaningful ways to incorporate TUS into the university experience while highlighting the convenience of having an outstanding airport just minutes from campus. The basis of our partnership is to highlight and reinforce the ease and convenience TUS offers. From faculty and staff to students, alumni, parents, and families, we want everyone in our ecosystem to develop a strong familiarity with TUS. The University of Arizona and TUS are two of Southern Arizona’s most important economic engines. When we succeed together—attracting students, visitors, researchers, business travelers and investment—it strengthens our entire region.
Q: A:
What are some benefits of the partnership?
We run a complimentary Lyft Ride program for students during heavy travel times, making it even easier to get to and from TUS and main campus. The program has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly from parents living in other parts of the country looking for an economical and safe option for getting their students back to campus. TUS has been an exceptional partner in making this program possible for another academic year. Beyond the Lyft program, we’ve woven TUS into the campus experience in ways that remind students and families just how accessible Tucson is. For many students and families, TUS serves as the welcoming gateway to the University of Arizona, so we want to highlight the fact that this beautiful airport is only eight miles from campus – close, convenient and incredibly easy to use as our students, families and
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alumni travel into Tucson. We are fortunate to have an airport that makes travel simple and stress-free. That ease is exactly why we want our university community to think TUS when choosing to fly. That’s why you’ll see TUS incorporated throughout the university experience—from prospective student tours to graduation communications. TUS has been an outstanding partner in helping meet the travel needs of our students and their families.
Q: A:
As a working mom of young children, why do you personally enjoy flying in and out of TUS?
I have two toddlers and I think when it comes to flying, any parent can attest that it can be a little daunting. Walking into the Tucson airport is like a breath of fresh air. I know exactly what to expect every time I fly TUS. You’ll be able to check your bags, quickly move through security with little, if any, wait time, followed by a short walk to the gates, which are clean, easy to navigate, and spacious for my toddlers to burn off some energy prior to boarding. Parking is just as easy. It’s convenient, close to the terminal and eliminates one more stress point when you’re traveling with little kids. For all those reasons, flying TUS is a no-brainer. TUS takes the stress out of flying for our family.
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What are your thoughts on the food and retail options at TUS?
TUS offers great options for food, drinks, apparel, and other items you need to quickly grab before you board. Whether it’s a book or even a U of A shirt, TUS has what travelers need. Some of my favorite U of A apparel has been purchased at TUS! We love seeing the local food choices the airport provides, like El Charro and Barrio Brewing. Those local businesses give visitors an authentic first taste of Tucson and make the airport feel distinctly Southern Arizona. Supporting local businesses through TUS is another way we help strengthen our regional economy. When I fly TUS, it feels authentic and easy!
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IMAGES COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
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SPECIAL REPORT 2026
THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
BON VOYAGE TRAVEL Celebrates
50 YEARS
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Peter Evans Founder Bon Voyage Travel
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Kathy Orr & Peter Evans
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BizTRAVEL
Bon Voyage Travel Celebrates 50 Years The success story of Bon Voyage Travel begins with a founder who saw opportunity where others didn’t. It’s a skill that helped entrepreneur Peter Evans strategically pivot again and again in his company’s 50 years in operation, building a portfolio of more than 100,000 vacations planned, a robust online and cruise division and recognition as a premier partner of global travel networks. Simply put, he built a company around good people, great judgment and the best business relationships. “His entrepreneurial vision for this company was not one vision in 1976 that stayed true for 50 years,” said Bon Voyage Travel President and COO Ryan Hansen. “It was the evolution, the pivoting with the times, with technology changes.” Other travel agencies in Tucson folded “because they didn’t have the business acumen and the willingness and the vision to make these moves.” Industry insiders and loyal clients are quick to laud the legacy. “For more than 50 years, Bon Voyage Travel has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted, respected and innovative travel companies in the industry,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. Added restaurant mogul and longtime client Sam Fox, “They’ve just always been there for us. Their commitment to Tucson and the community they are in has been fantastic.” From Airline Tickets Only to Strategic Growth With an ambition to start his own business, Evans launched Bon Voyage www.BizTucson.com
Travel in Tucson with a partner in 1976, initially focusing on airline ticket sales. His was one of roughly 100 such agencies in the region, at the time. “We were just an airline ticket factory,” Evans said. “Back then, you had to get an airline ticket from either a travel agent...or you went to an airline ticket office or the airport. My standard joke is...we opened by this little strip mall near the Rillito racetrack and we had more flies from the horses than we had customers.” Evans bought out his partner after a year, and dug in to expanding Bon Voyage Travel, but not without challenges. “We struggled,” he recalled. “I was always good at getting business, but in the early days I didn’t manage the financial side very well. My wife, Kathy, helped with the start of it. I wouldn’t have succeeded without her.” He’s also indebted to friends David and the lateGeorge Mehl, the developers of La Paloma, who helped him secure a line of credit to stay in business during an early rough patch. Evans persevered, and would grow the company to 16 offices and add one in Phoenix. The company started securing more corporate accounts, a strategic transition to move forward from solely airline tickets. By 1998, Bon Voyage Travel was the largest corporate travel agency in Southern Arizona, and soon after, the largest privately held corporate travel agency in Arizona. The 2000s then ushered in the company’s successful foray into online and luxury cruise pursuits.
From the start, Evans had an eye for good hires. “I flew at 30,000 feet with ideas,” he said. “I always tried to surround myself with people who could execute.” He also treated his employees well–some of his advisors have stayed at the company more than 40 years. Wendy Hathorn, executive VP of strategy for Bon Voyage Travel, started at age 16 as an airline ticket delivery driver. “Peter and Kathy created an environment where they genuinely cared about the wellbeing of the team,” she said. “By the time I was in college, I was handling the bookkeeping and working under Kathy. I always credit her for keeping the business on track while Peter was the idea man who kept the business evolving with the times.” Arizona Athletics One of Bon Voyage Travel’s most significant corporate accounts was Arizona Athletics–a relationship that would last more than three decades. Bon Voyage Travel had a representative inside McKale Center who would help organize travel accommodations for the athletic teams, most notably the men’s basketball team, the coaches and the boosters – often on short notice during March Madness. “What we learned and what we did with Final Four trips was miraculous,” Evans said. “It was not without hiccups and mistakes, but we learned as we went along. We got really good at it.” Among the best stories from those days, Bon Voyage Travel managed a booster trip that had the first DC-10 land in Tucson continued on page 120 >>>
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INSET PHOTOS COURTESY BON VOYAGE TRAVEL & COVER PHOTO COURTESY OCEANIA CRUISES
By Tara Kirkpatrick
BizTRAVEL 50 Years of Bon Voyage Travel: A Journey Through the Decades 1976 — Bon Voyage Travel Opens Its Doors Founded in Tucson, Bon Voyage Travel begins helping Southern Arizona travelers plan unforgettable vacations with personalized service and expert guidance.
1988 — Wildcat Travel
The University of Arizona names Bon Voyage Travel the Official Travel Partner of Arizona Athletics. Over the next 38 years, Wildcat Travel escorts thousands of fans across the country from Maui to New York City to cheer on their beloved team at away games, bowl appearances, and Final Fours.
1990s — The Big One Cruise Sale Launches a New Era Bon Voyage Travel begins expanding its focus from corporate travel to leisure with the launch of the annual Big One Cruise Sale, a major weekend event held each January. Continuing for more than 15 years, the sale helps establish BVT as a cruise travel leader and strengthens its relationships with the world’s leading cruise lines. Late 1990s Early 2000s — A Strategic Shift to Leisure Travel
BVT sells off the corporate travel division to World Travel Partners who is currently BCD travel, one of the world’s largest corporate travel companies.
2010 — Online Travel Meets Expert Advice As online booking changes the industry, BVT combines digital access with real advisor expertise, giving travelers convenience without sacrificing service. 2015 — CruiseInsider.com Launches Bon Voyage Travel launches CruiseInsider, a cruise-focused division/subsidiary that expands BVT’s reach beyond Arizona and connects travelers nationwide with cruise vacations. 2020 — Guiding Travelers Through Unprecedented
Change During one of the most challenging periods in travel history, BVT helps clients navigate cancellations, future cruise credits, changing protocols and the return to travel.
2026 — Bon Voyage Travel Celebrates 50 Years
Bon Voyage Travel marks 50 years of trusted travel planning, supplier partnerships, and unforgettable journeys for generations of travelers.
2026 — A New Chapter with arrivia
Bon Voyage Travel becomes part of arrivia, opening the door to new resources, expanded opportunities, and continued growth while maintaining its local presence and focus on high touch service and unmatched expertise. 120 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
Ryan Hansen
Wendy Hathorn
Peter Evans
continued from page 119 and in a nod to the agency’s full-service approach, once found a way to respectfully return a wealthy donor’s false teeth left in a hotel room. “They handled everything so gracefully and wonderfully and just gave us a lot of peace, knowing that we could focus on the team and hopefully victory,” said then-Arizona AD Kathleen “Rocky” LaRose. Now a prominent photographer, LaRose continues to host large group trips with Bon Voyage Travel for adventures around the world. “Thank you to Peter for approaching me with this idea,” she said. “It’s turned out to be one of the great joys in my life.” Arizona Athletics also introduced Evans to the perfect successor–Ryan Hansen, a talented leader who started his career as the operations manager for the men’s basketball team. His deep friendship with Evans, fostered over nearly 20 years of arranging team travel, meeting for lunch, talking sports and even coaching Evans’ son at a Lute Olson basketball camp, helped convince Hansen to take over Bon Voyage Travel in 2011 as Evans was running additional business ventures. “He said would you ever consider leaving athletics?” Hansen recalled. “You’ve got a great logistics and operations mind. It made sense to come on board and run the day-to-day operations. We had a vision for the business, to grow it and do exactly what we did.” Evans added, “I know it was a hard decision for him, but he took a leap of faith and it turned out to be great for both of us.” Decisions that Triumphed Perhaps the longevity of Bon Voyage Travel can best be heralded through the many pivot points Evans embraced to move the company forward. “I think one of the things that clearly was the key to our success was our ability to adapt to changes,” he said. Starting with the company’s first enterprise – airline tickets. “There were so many changes in the airline industry. All of a sudden, they were no longer paying us commission. We had to go to a fee base. That was a total continued on page 122 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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1980s — Becoming Tucson’s Corporate Travel Leader Originally focused primarily on airline ticketing, Bon Voyage Travel transitions into corporate travel and grows to become Tucson’s largest corporate travel agency, with 16 branch offices throughout the city. As the corporate division continues to expand, BVT moves its corporate travel headquarters to Phoenix.
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BizTRAVEL “Peter’s a great friend and an accomplished businessman. To successfully keep a business thriving for 50 years is no small task. What he’s done with Bon Voyage is impressive.” Sam Fox Owner, Fox Restaurant Concepts
“For more than 50 years, Bon Voyage Travel has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted, respected and innovative travel companies in the industry. Their unwavering commitment to their clients, deep expertise, and enduring partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line have made them an exceptional advocate for travelers and a true leader in the travel advisor community.” Marc Kazlauskas President, Norwegian Cruise Line
“We wanted to make sure that our donors were taken care of. Bon Voyage fulfilled that beyond our expectations for a long time. And now, wonderfully, in my personal life being able to travel around the world. Of course, I go to Bon Voyage Travel just because of their service.” Kathleen “Rocky” LaRose Retired, Arizona Athletics, 35 years Athletic Director 2009-10 Photographer
“Peter has been a great friend of mine. I have enjoyed watching his ability to grow Bon Voyage Travel into a major travel company, and also Peter’s many other business ventures and investments. Peter is smart, has integrity and a great smile, and he also has a truly wonderful family. I am glad for his success.” David Mehl President, Cottonwood Properties 122 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
continued from page 120 paradigm switch, and there were a lot of folks with their head in the sand...and they didn’t react,” Evans said. In cruise planning, he went directly to the cruise lines with his bold sales ideas. Bon Voyage Travel, for instance, created a unique cruise sale that offered buyers a two-category upgrade in every level, not just starting at the baseline cabins, which was usual practice. “I said let me do this,” Evans said. “I’ll do all the advertising. Let me sell your ships a twocategory upgrade on every cabin category. Just let me try it, and we just blew the doors off. We were successful and we ran that sale a long time.” Hathorn agreed. “He’s a marketing genius, he would come up with these ideas, but he would put himself at risk to get them to listen to him to engage. That’s how our cruise business took off.” Indeed, today, Bon Voyage Travel is one of the biggest cruise sellers in the world. When the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks decimated air travel, Evans refused to lay off his staff, even under financial stress. He then took the opportunity to dive into the digital travel footprint. “He said, let’s market what we do. Let’s expand the horizons outside of just the radius of 50 miles of Tucson,” Hansen said. “If you look at the agency community today that didn’t enter into an online presence of some sort, those agencies no one knows about.” Finally, when COVID-19 stopped the world, Evans and Hansen sat for hours on his back patio with two legal pads and figured out how to stay in business with zero revenue for a year. “He could see beyond what many in the industry were saying, that it would only be 30 days and we’ll get restarted,” Hansen said. The Next Chapter With a milestone honored, Bon Voyage Travel now looks optimistically toward the future. The agency was acquired in January 2026 by arrivia, a global travel rewards platform across hotel, resort and financial brands. Bon Voyage Travel will continue to operate under its name with Hansen at the helm. Evans will remain in an advisory capacity. “We had been approached over the last five, six years, maybe longer, by companies interested in buying us, and landed with arrivia,” said Evans. “Finally, we found one that seemed to be a great fit.”
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President & COO Bon Voyage Travel
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Ryan Hansen
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BizLEADERSHIP
Q&A with Ryan Hansen
President & COO of Bon Voyage Travel By Tara Kirkpatrick From managing operations for the Arizona men’s basketball team to an award-winning travel agency with global reach, Bon Voyage Travel President and COO Ryan Hansen has always had a knack for logistics. The late-Coach Lute Olson even mentioned Hansen in his autobiography, The Seasons of My Life, as the glue that kept the team together from venue to venue for almost a decade. It took a determined Peter Evans, founder of Bon Voyage Travel, to lure him away. “I was a student manager, I had not proven anything and he took an interest in me,” said Hansen. Over 19 years, the two connected over sports, lunch and conversation until Evans made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. “He said, ‘hey, if you’re looking to run your own show, be a leader of a business..I might have an opportunity outside of athletics,’” Hansen said. That was 2011. Now, 15 years later, he offers his thoughts on the company’s half-century milestone.
Q: A: years?
What are your thoughts on Bon Voyage Travel’s success over 50
Peter really built the company around people, while his business acumen and the moves he made kept it alive. We are a service industry and when you’re in service, you have to have good people. The impact of individual people along the way has kept it going and has made it what it is. We had a vision for the business, to grow it and do exactly what we did, which was use the current retail brick and mortar foundation at that time to build off of and expand into the digital space. It was kind of open-ended. Let’s see how this goes, but we are in this www.BizTucson.com
together. Let’s go build something special and that’s exactly what happened.
Q: A:
What makes Bon Voyage Travel such a strong leader and national player in the industry? I think one of the reasons why we’ve expanded and become a dominant player in the travel space, especially in the luxury cruising sector, is it really starts with the online piece and growing our footprint to talk to more people. We have a pretty cool business model that combines service with the online connection point. We have incredible advisors who are experts in the thing you want to do and can connect with you through the digital platform. As a client, I don’t have to walk into their office. I don’t have to sit across the desk. Bon Voyage can deliver that same expertise, insight and value through the phone, or an email or a FaceTime call. The luxury cruiser, for example, wants more than just saving $100 on the booking–it’s wrapping together the entire experience.
Q: A:
In this day in age, why is a travel advisor still important? The next trip you take that doesn’t have a problem will be the first trip you take that doesn’t have a problem. Because it just happens – air issues, delays, cancellations, the room’s not perfect. Something along the way breaks down. It’s complex. There’s lots of moving parts and that’s where our advisors shine. They know the complexities. They develop a relationship to anticipate and match people to the right product. And there’s a comfort in knowing an expert has taken care of the details, so you can focus on enjoying the experience.
Can you do it yourself ? Sure. You can also sell your own house. You can also create your own retirement plan. You can be your own lawyer and go online and write up your own will. You could do all of those things. But on things that you dream, plan and save for, don’t you typically want an expert? That’s what our advisors do. They match people to the right style of travel and the right product. It might be savings, it might be extra amenities, it could be a room upgrade at a hotel. That’s the kind of high-touch service we are selling. And, because these are lifelong memories, you want to get it right.
Q: A:
Why was the arrivia acquisition the right one for Bon Voyage
Travel? A by-product of our success and growth–it brings acquisition opportunities. There were many that came to us. One guiding light was we were looking for someone that valued Bon Voyage Travel for who we are, how we do things and the people. Multiple suitors were excited about Bon Voyage, but wanted to change the brand. They wanted us to be folded into their big national brand. That didn’t match the magic that we had set up. There’s too much blood, sweat and tears that have been pumped into this business to change it. Arrivia was looking to diversity their portfolio. They saw what made Bon Voyage special and didn’t want to change it – they wanted to give us the technology, resources and reach to do more of it.
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BizTRAVEL
Leading the Luxury, Cruise Sector When clients contact Bon Voyage Travel to plan cruises or luxury travel, they are guaranteed to work with an experienced advisor who will help make their trip memorable. It’s the key reason customers return to these seasoned travel professionals and their many resources. Indeed, Bon Voyage Travel oversees an envied online division that includes CruiseInsider. com, WorldCruiseSale.com and RiverCruiseSale.com “The value proposition for Bon Voyage is our advisors,” he said. “In travel, there are lots of moving parts, and that’s where our advisors shine. They know the complexities. They develop relationships to anticipate and match people to the right product.” In a business that could be fiercely independent, BVT advisors team up to be even more effective. “I might not have been to Croatia, but we might have three advisors who have,” said Thea Lawrence, who has been with BVT for 40 years. “We can tell you about restaurants and give little pieces of inside information. It’s important to be able to talk to somebody who’s had experiences.” Cruise lines work with BVT to host advisors, giving them a chance to see destinations first-hand. Shelley Heyman, who’s been with BVT for 22 years, went on a customized 15-day trip to Southern Japan this past April. Julie Freeh, her coworker, was on a Northern Japan journey at the same time. When they returned to Tucson, they compared notes and deepened their knowledge of the country. “We shared the different areas we went to and our experiences,” Heyman said. “There were so many things coming out of that trip that I have since referred to my clients.”
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BVT is part of the Signature Travel Network, a cooperative of agencies with more than 650 locations worldwide. Members share knowledge across the network, forming partnerships that benefit clients. Lynne Miller, a BVT advisor for 31 years, said having access to a community of advisors and destination specialists has been beneficial. “They have been hand-picked to represent different areas of the world, and they either live there or really know it,” Miller said. “We can’t know it all, so we sometimes get our information through these companies. It’s an incredible tool for us.”
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The value proposition for Bon Voyage is our advisors. In travel, there are lots of moving parts, and that’s where our advisors shine. – Ryan Hansen President & COO Bon Voyage Travel
”
Representatives from cruise lines often come to BVT’s office to update staff on itineraries and offers. They value their partnerships with the company and know that the advisors’ client relationships are built on years of dream vacations.
“Decade after decade, Bon Voyage Travel has set the standard for exceptional travel expertise and service for their clients,” said Holland America Line & Seabourn senior VP Rob Coleman. “We are honored to have been their trusted partner for the journey.” A BVT advisor for 30 years, Penny Leonhardt said her job doesn’t end after a client books a trip. Her assistance is part of the package, following travelers along the way in case they need her to solve an issue. “I’m their advocate,” Leonhardt said. “I’m their person when things go wrong. If people are doing their own reservations, they don’t have anyone to step in and help.” There have been challenging times for the industry, including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the 2008 financial crisis and COVID. Jennifer Bustamante, a BVT advisor for 16 years, credits former owner Peter Evans and her coworkers for keeping things going during the pandemic when advisors were sent home and spent their days refunding or rescheduling trips. “There was a lot going on, but we stood strong and did what we needed to do to keep our clients happy,” Bustamante said. Lisa Summer has been a BVT advisor for 11 years. With more than 30 years of customer service experience, she believes she’s found the right fit. “I’ve never felt so connected to a business as I have with Bon Voyage,” she said. “It has really felt like home, and I have no desire to go anywhere else.” Advisor Katie Clark agreed. “My co-workers, now friends, have been the best–highly professional and all willing to help one another if needed. Many of us have known each other for over 30 years.” Biz www.BizTucson.com
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By Rodney Campbell
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BizCOMMUNITY
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Mike Nelson
PHOTO COURTESY ARRIVIA
BizTRAVEL
A Future with arrivia Bon Voyage Travel Embraces New Chapter with Acquisition By Rodney Campbell When Peter Evans made the decision to sell Bon Voyage Travel after 50 years of ownership, he wasn’t just focused on financials. His goal was finding a buyer that would treat the organization with care and build on its legacy as a premier full-service travel agency. Ryan Hansen, BVT’s president and COO, said Evans wanted the search to yield an enthusiastic buyer that had an eye on the future. His company needed to be led by a new owner that cared. “Many founders of businesses look for the biggest check when they exit,” said Hansen, who has been with BVT for 15 years. “Peter was thoughtful about what Bon Voyage would look like in the next 50 years, and that is incredibly unique in an acquisition situation as the seller of a business that he founded.” Evans’ goals were achieved when arrivia, a global travel loyalty and technology company, finalized an agreement to purchase BVT this past January. Arrivia CEO Mike Nelson said BVT had the elements that his company valued: a sterling track record of success and great employees. “Bon Voyage stood out because it had built a business with an outstanding reputation, exceptionally loyal clients, and a team of experienced travel 132 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
advisors who are passionate about what they do,” Nelson said. “Ryan Hansen and the entire Bon Voyage team have created a culture centered on service, expertise and long-term relationships. Those qualities are difficult to replicate
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The acquisition complements our broader strategy. Arrivia serves millions of travelers through our travel loyalty and membership businesses, while Bon Voyage brings deep expertise in the luxury cruise market.
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– Mike Nelson
CEO arrivia
and were every bit as important to us as the business itself.” Arrivia, founded in 1997, has headquarters in Scottsdale and offices in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Portugal, India and the Philippines. It works with Fortune 500 brands and leading organizations in financial services, hospitality, travel and membershipbased businesses. As the world’s largest standalone travel loyalty partner, adding a luxury cruise travel agency to its properties was a natural next step. “The acquisition complements our broader strategy,” Nelson said. “Arrivia serves millions of travelers through our travel loyalty and membership businesses, while Bon Voyage brings deep expertise in the luxury cruise market. Together, we’re able to combine the personalized service that Bon Voyage is known for with the scale, technology and resources of a larger travel company.” Nelson said arrivia didn’t want to come on the scene and start making big changes to a business model that was working well. Its leadership is taking the opposite approach by being curious and willing to help. continued on page 134 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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BizTRAVEL
“When you acquire a company because it’s successful, the first priority should be to understand why it’s successful,” Nelson said. “Our philosophy has been to preserve what makes Bon Voyage special while providing additional capabilities behind the scenes. “Over time, there will naturally be opportunities to share best practices in both directions, but we believe the strongest acquisitions build on success rather than replace it.” Hansen said BVT knows its audience and excels at meeting its needs, making the company an attractive addition for arrivia. “We are probably not the one-stop shop for every cruiser on every single cruise ship,” he said. “We specialize at the more premium luxury experience. That singular focus helps us be great in that area.” BVT is in a good position to continue offering its clients what they want. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the worldwide luxury
cruise fleet climbed from 28 ships in 2010 to 98 last year. Projections are for smooth sailing: 1.7 million travelers are forecast to choose a luxury cruise experience in 2029, accounting for 4% of the total passengers that year. “We’re very optimistic about the luxury cruise segment,” Nelson said. “Consumers increasingly value experiences over things, and cruises continue to offer an exceptional combination of convenience, value, and access to destinations around the world.” BVT has helped plan more than 100,000 vacations in its five decades. Many of those trips have involved repeat clients who trust the company’s experienced advisors. Nelson said it’s easy to see why travelers keep coming back to BVT. “People making a significant investment in a luxury vacation want someone they trust,” he said. “There’s a comfort in knowing an experienced advisor has thought
through the details and is there when you need them. Bon Voyage has earned that trust through knowledgeable advisors who genuinely care about creating memorable travel experiences. That’s a tremendous asset and one of the primary reasons we were excited to bring Bon Voyage into arrivia.” As part of arrivia, Bon Voyage Travel now combines 50 years of local expertise with the strength and scale of a global travel company. That expanded reach creates new opportunities to deliver greater value and added benefits to travelers. “We’re excited to continue investing in the business here in Tucson, supporting the talented team that’s already in place, and building on the reputation Bon Voyage has earned over decades,” he said. “We believe the future is very bright, and we’re grateful to be part of the next chapter of Bon Voyage’s story.”
Biz
A look at the organizations Bon Voyage Travel has helped over its 50-year history: Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation
Father’s Day Council of Tucson
Special Olympics of Arizona
ALS Chapter of Arizona
Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona
Tucson Conquistadores
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson
Make a Wish
Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson
San Miguel High School
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University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center
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PHOTOS BY ROCKY L a ROSE
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BizTRAVEL
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Santorini, Greece
A NEW ERA OF
SMALL-SHIP CRUISING
®
AZAMARA FORWARD At Azamara, every cruise is designed to immerse you more deeply in the world’s most captivating destinations. Through Azamara Forward, we’re elevating every aspect of the guest experience—from refreshed public spaces and staterooms to enhanced dining, wellness, and onboard amenities—while preserving the intimate, destination immersive experiences our guests love.
“As we continue to invest in our fleet and the future of small-ship cruising, we’re proud to celebrate Bon Voyage Travel’s 50th Anniversary and the trusted partnerships that have connected travelers with extraordinary experiences for five decades.” Discover what’s next with Azamara.
DONDRA RITZENTHALER Chief Executive Officer
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©2026 Azamara. Ships registered to The Republic of the Marshall Islands.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
BizHEALTHCARE
Lifestyle Spending Account benefit helps personalize a health and wellness journey Submitted by Heather Kane, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona & New Mexico If you’re looking for more personalized support with your health and wellness goals, you may soon be able to choose lifestyle offerings that fit your needs — with financial assistance to pay for them. UnitedHealthcare’s new Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) is a benefit designed to offer people more flexibility to choose their own health and wellness experience to help complement their employer benefits. Employers can choose to offer the LSA benefit to their employees to help support their health and well-being. With the LSA, employees have the flexibility to use the LSA to shop for offerings they value in the UHC Store at any time during the year.
transaction is handled at the point of purchase within the member’s personal UHC Store experience. The UHC Store currently includes more than 30 different offerings from nationally recognized vendors for a variety of lifestyle, health and wellness needs, including offerings for: • Managing stress • Improving sleep • Staying active and fit • Nutrition and weight management • Women’s health and family planning • Mental well-being and mindfulness
What is a Lifestyle Spending Account? UnitedHealthcare’s LSA is integrated with the UHC Store, a memberexclusive digital shopping experience within the UnitedHealthcare® app and myuhc.com®. From there, members can browse and purchase eligible offerings, often at a discount, using their LSA. With UnitedHealthcare’s LSA, there’s no waiting for reimbursement since the
The UnitedHealthcare LSA was created in response to expanding consumer expectations for health and wellness that go beyond traditional models. Today, nearly 90% of employees say their well-being is just as important as salary — and they expect their employer to support them. At the same time, employers are trying to meet those expectations without dramatically increasing costs or overhauling their entire benefits structure.
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More choice for employees, more flexibility for employers One of the biggest advantages of an LSA is flexibility for both consumers and their employers. For employees, the employersponsored, post-tax benefit means more freedom to decide what well-being looks like for them. Instead of being limited to a fixed set of programs, you can choose from a growing list of options that fit your lifestyle. For employers, it can offer a simpler, more cost-efficient way to expand benefits without adding complexity or major health benefit redesigns. Rather than managing dozens of vendors or rolling out programs that only some employees use, they can fund an LSA and let individuals decide how to spend it. People are used to personalized recommendations, easy checkouts and on-demand choices in other parts of their lives — and health and wellness should be no different. The UnitedHealthcare LSA aims to be a meaningful step toward making healthcare work a little more like everything else in our lives: tailored, convenient and built around individual choice. Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 139
Snoop Dogg
Kym Adair
Executive Director Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl 140 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
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BizSPORTS
New Date, Same Fun Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Moves to January
Back in 2015 – maybe a bit before – Arizona Bowl co-founder Ali Farhang envisioned the game being like a bowl he grew up watching − with plenty of fun, can’t-miss festivities and fierce competition. “I wanted a community event and, regardless of the matchup, it would be a day of celebration for Tucson,” Farhang said. “There would be a great tailgate with an engaging fan experience. Why not make it a big party? And why not include a big party downtown? The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop, is that and more. And this year, it has a new date. Traditionally held between Christmas and New Year’s, it’ll be different this time around. The game is in 2027 – Jan. 2 – at Casino del Sol Stadium. While it’s a change on the calendar, the fun will still be there. “With our game date on January 2nd, Bowl Week will kick off with our Taco Bell NYE Downtown Bowl Bash for the first time,” said Kym Adair, the bowl’s executive director. On Jan. 3, there will be a golf tournament to conclude the game’s festivities. “These events not only attract locals to the celebration, but they extend the trips of the visitors staying in Tucson, which is another win for our community,” Adair said. “I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you it has succeeded in a lot of ways,” Farhang said. “Snoop has got a lot to do with that. And the Bowl Bash gotten bigger than expected because we have people www.BizTucson.com
from out of town coming in for New Year’s Eve just to see the taco drop at midnight.” Snoop Dogg, the international celebrity and media presence, has been all-in on the bowl since he put his name on it. “The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl is all about bringing people together through football, celebrating the young athletes who represent the future of the game, and showing love to the community,” said Snoop Dogg. “This partnership gives us a powerful platform to have fun, give back, and make a real difference in the lives of kids and families.” While the game date has changed, it will continue to feature teams from the Mid-American Conference and the Mountain West Conference. Fresno St. is the defending champion after taking an 18-3 victory over Miami, Ohio, in front of 37,232 fans. Adair looks to continuing the bowl’s success, by possibly:
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Breaking its 40,000-attendance record set in 2024
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Giving away $1 million to charity annually. It has given $5 million through 10 years, and has created more than $150 million in economic impact
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Breaking its viewership record by having 2 million more people watch the game annually.
“When I came on board, I could have never imagined that Snoop Dogg would be our title sponsor and that Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop would be our
presenting sponsor,” Adair said. “Having the added national recognition that Snoop brings to all his endeavors is a dream come true. “However, my personal mantra is that complacency is a four-letter word. I don’t ever feel like we can rest on our laurels. This is a very competitive space, and fans expect to be entertained and engaged. For that reason, we are always trying to be better, be innovative, and push the boundaries of the traditional football game. Anyone that has been to our game the past 10 years will tell you that this isn’t a typical football game experience.” From the important Blue Blazers − local leaders who help steer the ship − to the sponsors to the administration to the board members, everyone is an important part of the bowl’s success. “I joined (to help) because I saw what the bowl game stood for and what it was trying to do,” said Mike Myers, a bowl board member since 2021. “I like the event because it’s something that brings people from out of town and excites and galvanizes within the community. The No. 1 one thing is that all the proceeds – after paying the expenses – go to charities. That was my attraction to it.” Unlike previous years of giving charities money in one swoop, this year, bowl officials will give targeted grants to charities throughout the year. So far, the bowl has donated over $100,000 to charity and $22,000 to teachers with more to come.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY ARIZONA BOWL & BRENT G. MATHIS
By Steve Rivera
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Basic Skills Boost
PHOTOS COURTESY PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BizEDUCATION
Pima Community College’s IBEST Program Shortens Path to Careers By Tiffany Kjos Going back to school to train for a new job or earn a high school equivalency diploma can be transformative but time-consuming. Pima Community College is helping adult learners shorten that path by building basic academic skills while they train for careers. Among Pima’s efforts is IBEST, or Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training. Rather than requiring students to complete separate remedial courses before beginning college-level career training, IBEST allows them to tackle both simultaneously with two instructors teaching each course, said Wendy Scheder Black, PCC director of teaching and learning, Adult Basic Education for College and Career. 144 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
“This educational model creates an environment for learners to develop basic reading, writing, math, English and digital skills at the same time they are in college programs,” she said. “So, it really accelerates the journey for these learners to go through their basic skills education and through college training and into the workforce.” PCC launched IBEST a dozen years ago and has seen completion rates of 75%, Scheder Black said. The program is offered in select college certificate programs that are designed for direct employment, most culminating in a Level 1 certificate that students can earn in a year or less.
Along with helping students, IBEST is addressing a critical worker shortage here. Tucson’s core industries—including aerospace/defense, IT and cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, public safety and healthcare—all have difficulty finding trained employees, said Amanda Abens, PCC assistant vice chancellor for workforce development. “In order to be able to attract new employers as well as support our existing employers and those looking to expand, it’s imperative that we tap into some of the underserved markets. Otherwise, the numbers just are not there coming out of high school to meet our employers’ needs.” continued on page 146 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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BizEDUCATION
continued from page 144 So, the college’s efforts benefit not only students but local employers as well, according to Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, assistant vice chancellor for Adult Basic Education for College and Career. “In Pima County, there are over 70,000 adults who need a high school diploma and there’s another almost 60,000 who are linguistically isolated—they need those English skills if they’re going to access any college or career training,” she said. “We serve over 4,000 learners a year in our various programs, all adult learners who are working on those skills they need to be ready for college and career.” IBEST is paid for through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, with the state matching dollars and local funding. While the program is free, students pay for credit courses themselves. But IBEST provides a unique financial opportunity for those without a diploma. “It’s only through this type of program that someone who doesn’t yet have a high school diploma can access financial aid, through a provision called Ability to Benefit,” KiersteadJoseph said. IBEST is part of a broader approach known as Integrated Education and Training, or IET, which PCC is expanding to create even more entry points for adult learners. In 2021, the Adult Basic Education program partnered with the college’s Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute to provide CPR and first aid training along with health-focused reading, writing, math and English instruction. More than 400 adult learners have completed CPR and first aid training through the health IET programs. One of the newest IET programs involves Pima’s nursing department, where faculty saw many students who were skilled and academically ready struggling with English language skills because English was not their first language. That led to the eight-week Health Bridge program for English language learners, in which students receive English instruction contextualized around healthcare while taking HRP 100, a one-credit health profession introductory course. They also complete basic life support training and get that certification as well. English language learner Lorenia Grijalva learned about Pima’s Health Bridge program while taking English for Speakers of Other Languages classes through the college. Already interested in a healthcare career, she enrolled and last spring, earned college credit and Basic Life Support certification. Grijalva has since started Pima’s medical billing and coding certificate program. She said Pima instructors and staff have helped her with more than academics, assisting with financial aid forms, connecting her with advisers to work on her educational goals and even loaning her a laptop after hers broke. “Pima has a lot of good teachers who help us with whatever we want,” she said. “I feel comfortable being at Pima because I don’t feel alone. I have friends, like a family.”
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SPECIAL REPORT 2026
THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
PIMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION TURNS 75
The Pima Federal Credit Union executive team, from left, Bruce Barnett, Chief Technology Officer; Celyna Cervantes, EVP, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer; Eric Renaud, President & CEO; Sarah Holt, Chief People Officer; Adam Coggshall, Chief Credit Officer
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BizCOMMUNITY
Pima Federal Credit Union Turns 75 For the Members, the Employees & the Community
INSET PHOTOS COURTESY PIMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
By Jay Gonzales
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From the day 75 years ago that a small can to create meaningful value for our group of Tucson teachers pooled $84 to membership.” form a credit union for themselves and While the credit union sprouted from their counterparts, Pima Federal Credit the efforts of teachers, after 75 years, its Union has worked diligently to remain service goes beyond the education comtrue to its purpose – serving its memmunity. In 2009, it merged with Desert bers, its roots, and its community. Energy Credit Union, which was the In those 75 years, Pima Federal has credit union for Tucson Electric Power grown from that $84 to start in 1951, to and Southwest Gas employees. There a full-service credit union that remains are 14 brick-and-mortar branches focused on education and has now acstretching from Green Valley through cumulated $1.7 Tucson, into Phoebillion in total asnix’s East Valley, sets with a grander and in the White purpose than makMountains. ing a profit for itStill, its reason self. for existing re“What are we mains tied to its doing to support roots in education. each member “That committhrough every ment will always stage of their firemain at the heart nancial journey?” of what we do,” is how President said Celyna Cer& CEO Eric Renvantes, EVP, chief aud describes the growth and stratcredit union’s misegy officer. “Our – Eric Renaud sion and its role roots in education President & CEO in the community. continue to inspire Pima Federal Credit Union “We’re not focused how we support on selling products. We’re focused on schools, students and educators.” serving people. At the end of the day, Like most credit unions, Pima Federal our responsibility is to do everything we is steadfast in its personal approach to continued on page 150 >>>
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At the end of the day, our responsibility is to do everything we can to create meaningful value for our membership.
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BizCOMMUNITY continued from page 149 its members. Questions are answered locally. Decisions are made here. Branch employees understand that when a member approaches them, they have a responsibility to make them welcome and meet their needs. It takes a special kind of employee, working within a culture grounded in shared values to deliver that level of service consistently, said Sarah Holt, Pima Federal’s chief people officer. The shared values are specific, Holt said − service excellence, teamwork, integrity, engagement and community involvement. “These five values truly define our culture − who we aspire to be, how we guide the decisions we make, and the kind of people we seek to welcome to our team,” Holt said. “When we find people who are rooted in those values, we can teach them the skills they need to succeed.” Pima Federal Board Chair Jason Larter, a retired Oro Valley Police officer, said the employees are one of the best things about the credit union in that they embody the overall credit union mission which is to be there for members who come for personal service they might not be able to get at a bank. “You’re only as strong as the people on the front lines – the employees our members see and rely on every day,” Larter said. “We do things a little differently, and that is by design. We operate as a leaner organization, but our greatest asset will always be our employees and their shared commitment to serving members in a way that sets Pima apart from other financial institutions.” None of that implies that financial performance takes a back seat, Renaud said. Quite the opposite. Renaud said he believes a credit union has to be financially strong if it is going to provide meaningful value to its members. With an already lengthy career in the credit union business, Renaud joined Pima Federal as CFO in 2011. He was named interim president and CEO in October 2015, and was named to the position permanently in January 2016. “My journey in that is to be very fiscally disciplined so that we can afford to 150 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
give the best value to our membership,” he said. As he evaluated the organization, Renaud thought Pima Federal had room to improve its financial performance and operational efficiency. “We weren’t growing significantly at the time,” he said, noting that while growth is not the sole measure of success for a credit union, “it is an important indicator of scalability and longterm viability.”
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You’re only as strong as the people on the front lines – the employees our members see and rely on every day. – Jason Larter
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Board Chair Pima Federal Credit Union
The larger concern when he became CEO, he said, was that high expenses and low earnings limited what the credit union could give back to its members and the community. His response was to make the organization more efficient − not simply for the sake of producing better financial numbers, but so those improvements could ultimately benefit members. “I really wanted to operationally create a much more efficient shop, so that we could lower operating expenses and then provide that value,” he said.
That member-first philosophy also shapes how Pima Federal employees interact with the people who walk through its doors. “I want Pima Federal to be a place where people with financial needs can turn with confidence – knowing they will be treated fairly, supported without excessive fees, and made to feel comfortable asking for help,” said Board Member Linda Kennedy, who served as chair until May and was on the Desert Energy Credit Union board when it merged with Pima Federal. “What I value most is that we help people achieve financial success.” Renaud acknowledges that banks and credit unions both have an interest in providing good service, but he sees a fundamental difference behind Pima Federal’s approach. “We want to meet that member where they are when they come in,” Renaud said. Or, in Bruce Barnett’s world, anywhere the members make contact with the credit union often via technology that is generally expected to match or exceed what they can find at a bank, not only in service and convenience, but in security. “Your first touch point with your members is your technology,” said Barnett, the credit union’s chief technology officer. “Most members are signing up online. They’re learning about you from the internet. They’re opening up an account online with your app, seeing how your systems work. You have to be as good or as seamless as Wells, Chase, B of A, because that’s what they expect.” In the end, Renaud said, Pima Federal’s role in the community is not so much a battle for market share as it is to provide financial services and value to its members. “The way I see our community, and our broader place across the state, is that there is ample opportunity for everyone,” Renaud said. “What weighs most heavily on me is the human side of our work. At the end of the day, it is, and always will be, about people.”
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BizCOMMUNITY
‘Shared Values’ Employee Culture Embeds Pima Federal in the Community By Jay Gonzales At Pima Federal Credit Union, community involvement does not begin with a sponsorship check or end with a volunteer event. It starts inside the organization, with the people who serve its members and the community every day. The credit union’s approach is rooted in a culture that places equal importance on employees, members and the communities they serve. The idea is that if employees genuinely care about their work and the people around them, that commitment will ultimately be reflected in every interaction with a member. Chief People Officer Sarah Holt said the company’s culture is rooted in five shared values: service excellence, teamwork, integrity, engagement and community involvement. Those values influence how Pima Federal hires as well as how it develops its employees. Holt said that from the beginning of the hiring process, the organization looks for people who already possess the characteristics that fit its culture. “We try to keep that conversation present throughout the recruiting process,” Holt said. “While skills can be taught, those innate characteristics and qualities are much harder to develop. When someone already shares those values, they are more likely to be a strong fit, embrace our culture and carry it forward into the community.” President & CEO Eric Renaud has taken a similarly personal approach to building the workplace culture. To him, that means breaking down the barriers that can come with being the chief executive and encouraging employees to enjoy their work by being themselves. “I want every person to feel they can bring their whole self to work,” he said. 152 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
“It is a sentiment that is often repeated, but not every organization truly understands how to make it part of the culture.” That approach also extends to the way employees interact with members. Unlike a sales-driven model in which employees might be rewarded, for example, for opening particular types of accounts, Renaud said Pima Federal wants employees to focus on the needs of the individual member. “We’re a not-for-profit, memberowned financial cooperative,” Renaud said. “At the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to do the best we can for our membership.” Celyna Cervantes, EVP, chief growth and strategy officer who has spent 14 years with the credit union, said that human connection is one of the things she values most about her work. “For me, what is most meaningful is the opportunity to connect with our members, our community and the people I work alongside every day,” Cervantes said. “Each interaction is a chance to help someone, understand their story and strengthen the relationships that make this work so rewarding.” Those relationships inside the credit union also help fuel its involvement in the community. Holt said employees have an “intrinsic care” for the communities where they live and work, and the organization encourages them to devote time to causes that matter to them. As of the end of August, Pima Federal employees had accumulated 2,165 volunteer hours in 2026. Those hours include paid volunteer time, personal volunteer work, company-sponsored activities, and events employees come up with themselves.
That connection between employee culture and community involvement is deliberate. “I believe our employees all have that intrinsic care for the communities where they live and which they serve,” Holt said. Lynette Arvizu, Pima Federal marketing director, said that philosophy is particularly important for an organization founded in Tucson and built around serving its members, which initially were education-based. “We would not be here without our members, and we would not be here without the community,” Arvizu said. “There is a true sense of social responsibility to give back to the people and places that helped build us.” Founded by teachers, the credit union continues to place education at the center of its community efforts, including school supply drives and financial-literacy programs. But its definition of community has expanded. Since 2013, the annual Pima Federal Golf Classic has raised almost $900,000 for community organizations, while the credit union also supports causes involving youth, food insecurity, housing and other needs. Arvizu said the common thread is strengthening the community as a whole. “We try to let those values guide everything we do,” she said. “I believe our actions are what make that commitment visible. By doing much of the volunteer work ourselves, we are able to truly walk the talk.”
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Eric Renaud President & CEO Pima Federal Credit Union
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BizLEADERSHIP
A Vision for Members, Employees CEO Eric Renaud ‘Believes in What We’re Doing’ By Jay Gonzales
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“I didn’t fully underBeing president and stand the distinction CEO of a billion-dollar between a bank and credit union was never really on Eric Renaud’s a credit union at first. radar as he journeyed That understanding through his career, in developed over time,” financial services, at a Renaud said. “What software company, at I came to deeply apa bank and eventually preciate is that, while to Pima Federal Credit financial performance Union. matters, it is not the sole measure of our success. “CEO was never in At the heart of what we my view,” Renaud said as he sat in his office as do is helping each mempresident and CEO of ber navigate their own Pima Federal. “I think financial journey and I was really looking improve their financial at someday achieving well-being.” chief financial officer. That philosophy I thought there was an would eventually beopportunity for that in come central to the way the credit union space.” he approaches leader– Eric Renaud ship at Pima Federal That opportunity President & CEO both with members and came while he was livPima Federal Credit Union with employees. ing in the Phoenix metAfter serving as CFO ropolitan area in 2011 at Pima Federal for a little more than four working for a credit union when an executive recruiter contacted him about a CFO posiyears, he accepted the interim president and tion at Pima Federal. Having gotten into the CEO position in October 2015. Four months credit union business in 2003 as a treasurer later, he was named president and CEO. and in finance, he had begun to understand The transition brought a different set of how the credit union model was different challenges. continued on page 156 >>> from banks – and he liked it.
I want people to feel comfortable being genuinely themselves at work, while also inspiring one another to be a little better each day than we were the day before.
PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
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BizLEADERSHIP continued from page 155 Renaud had gone from being an executive peer to leading many of those same executives. Relationships changed, he said, and he had to learn how to balance his own goals for the organization with supporting the leaders responsible for individual areas of the credit union. But one issue quickly became clear to him − Pima Federal needed to become more financially and operationally efficient to be able to provide the services it needed to for its members and its employees. That value, in his view, went beyond simply providing the friendly, personal service to members that most credit unions are known for. He knows members also want competitive loan and deposit rates and fewer fees and most of the services they can get at a bank. Renaud believed that financial discipline would make those things possible. It’s a two-sided coin – serving the members while creating a culture where employees buy into a member-first phi-
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losophy. “One of the things I really admire about him is when he comes into a room or when he has an idea or if one of his staff has an idea, there’s genuine enthusiasm,” said Pima Federal Board Chair Jason Larter. “He believes in what we’re doing. It’s not a brochure. It’s not a tagline. He truly believes in what we’re doing.” “I want people to feel comfortable being genuinely themselves at work, while also inspiring one another to be a little better each day than we were the day before.” Renaud said. “I think we’ve been able to find employees that really appreciate that, resonate with that, support that.” His leadership philosophy also places a premium on knowing employees personally. Renaud said he tries to meet with every department without its executive at least once a year, giving him an opportunity to know employees by name and allowing them to see him as a person rather than simply as the CEO.
Celyna Cervantes, EVP, chief growth and strategy officer, said Renaud’s vision of the culture is more than words. “I think he models it,” Cervantes said. “You see it when he’s out interacting with the community. He’s very clear with what our vision is. “He challenges us to think about what it truly means to make an impact in the community and what we want Pima Federal to represent,” Cervantes said. “That gives us the opportunity to share our input and creates deeper buy-in because we understand the why.” And his concern for employees extends beyond their work at Pima Federal. “I’m deeply invested in our employees,” Renaud said. “I want them to know we care not only about who they are and the work they do at Pima, but also about their future and the path they’re building beyond our organization.”
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BizCOMMUNITY
Maximizing Value Meeting Members’ Needs By Jay Gonzales For Pima Federal Credit Union, deciding what products and services to offer its members starts with a question that has little to do with selling a product. It starts with asking what members need. That philosophy shapes everything from the credit union’s financial offerings to the way employees interact with members, whether that interaction takes place at one of its branches or through a digital channel. “Our focus is on maximizing value for our members,” said Adam Coggshall, chief credit officer for Pima Federal. “We do that by offering low-cost loan products, keeping fees low and identifying services that fill meaningful gaps in the community.” “Ultimately, we want to ensure our services truly reflect the needs of the community,” Coggshall said. “That is our purpose. It is why we exist, and it is woven into who we are.” That approach reflects a broader effort at Pima Federal to make the member experience the starting point for decisions about the credit union’s products, services and delivery channels. CEO Eric Renaud said the credit union had a strong member focus when he took the job in 2016, but he believed it needed to do more to give people a reason to choose Pima Federal. The answer wasn’t simply to offer more products, he said. Instead, Pima Federal has sought to create an experience in which members can get the financial services they need while having access to people who can help them navigate those choices. 158 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
“In banking, strong service is often tied to retaining and growing client relationships, and many bankers are rewarded through sales incentives,” Renaud said. “At Pima Federal, our member service representatives are not measured by whether they sell five checking accounts or earn a bonus for doing so.” That distinction is important, Renaud said. Celyna Cervantes, EVP, chief growth and strategy officer, said serving members is often less about a particular financial product and more about understanding the circumstances behind the need. “Exceptional service begins with truly understanding our members and our community,” Cervantes said. “Our goal is to recognize what people need sometimes before they realize they need it and be ready to help.” That philosophy also influences how Pima Federal approaches its digital services. Not every member wants or needs face-to-face interaction, and Pima Federal recognizes that convenience is an important part of modern banking, whether it’s with a bank or credit union. Sarah Holt, who oversees the employee culture at Pima Federal, said the goal is to give members a choice without losing the personal element that distinguishes the credit union. “The beauty of our approach is that we can serve members in the way that works best for them based on their preferences, circumstances, location or whatever else shapes how they choose to connect with us,” Holt said. That means technology isn’t viewed as a replacement for people. Instead, it
is another way for Pima Federal to deliver the same member-focused philosophy. “We’re focused on ensuring our technology is designed around our members’ needs − fast, easy to use, efficient and as seamless as the apps they and their families use every day,” said Bruce Barnett, Pima Federal’s chief technology officer. When Coggshall talks about “gaps,” one big one that Pima Federal is addressing is the ability of the first-time homebuyer to buy a home in a market where the average sale price is roughly $325,000, according to Zillow, the popular property search site. One way is through a loan program Pima Federal participates in, Tucson Welcome Home, with five other local credit unions. The other is to let members know that the decisions on loans – whether for a home or a car − are going to be made locally with a lean toward finding a way. “Local decision-making is critically important,” Coggshall said. “We’re a close-knit team, and I’ve always encouraged our loan underwriters that when a decision is not clearly yes or no, we should look for every responsible way to make it a yes. “If we were to experience a loss on an auto loan, it would not define the credit union or jeopardize who we are. What matters is understanding the full story. When the circumstances make sense, we consider those qualitative factors and make a thoughtful, informed decision.”
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Chief Credit Officer Pima Federal Credit Union
Celyna Cervantes Executive VP and Chief Growth & Strategy Officer Pima Federal Credit Union www.BizTucson.com
PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
Adam Coggshall
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PHOTO COURTESY ALBERS AEROSPACE
BizAEROSPACE
Albers Aerospace Expands Operations in Region Albers Aerospace, a next-generation aerospace and defense contractor with a strong focus on delivering warfighterrelevant products and services, plans to grow its operations in Tucson. Albers Aerospace leased 30,000 square feet of space at 3480 East Brittania Drive. The full expansion over three years will add 24 jobs to the existing employment base, primarily in operations and manufacturing, with an economic impact of approximately $36 million. The facility became operational in July 2026. Headquartered in McKinney, Tex., the company offers a wide variety of services, including precision machining, CNC programming and simulation, tool and fixture design, sheet metal fabrication, complex assemblies, specialized containers, specialized surface treatments and welding. Albers Aerospace began in 2015, growing from a solo operation into a thriving team, and in 2021 the company began expansion plans. After multiple acquisitions in advanced manufacturing, CLS services and a dynamic inno-
vation platform, it remains committed to excellence, its clients and the nation. The purchase of Tucson-based Parallel Ventures in 2025 provided an opportunity to increase proximity and collaborative presence with customers in Tucson and the Southwest, and strengthen aerospace manufacturing capabilities, ensuring the delivery of highquality, mission-critical components to defense and commercial aerospace clients. In addition to The Chamber of Southern Arizona, partners in the project include Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, City of Tucson, PICOR and Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson. “We have been very impressed with the aerospace and defense ecosystem in Tucson,” said John Albers, founder and CEO of Albers Aerospace. “Proximity to our customers, access to raw materials, good transportation infrastructure and a superior technical workforce are all critical to our strategic growth plans.” “Albers Aerospace’s expansion reinforces Southern Arizona’s position as
one of the nation’s premier locations for aerospace and defense manufacturing,” said Joe Snell, president and CEO of The Chamber of Southern Arizona. “Companies continue to choose Tucson because of our highly skilled workforce, world-class research institutions, military assets and collaborative business environment. We’re proud to see Albers Aerospace investing in the kind of innovation that keeps our region competitive on a national and global scale.” “Tucson continues to attract companies that value innovation, quality, and talent. Albers Aerospace’s expansion reflects the strength of our manufacturing ecosystem and the outstanding workforce that calls Tucson home,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “This investment builds on Tucson’s longstanding areas of excellence in aerospace and science, and reinforces our growing reputation as “Optics Valley,” a premier city for scientific research, aerospace, and astronomy,” she said. “Our technical talent pipeline will be instrumental to Albers Aerospace’s continued success for years to come.”
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Startup Sensation
University of Arizona Among Best Producers of Billion-Dollar Startups University of Arizona ranks among the nation’s leaders in producing founders of billion-dollar startups relative to its size, according to a Stanford Graduate School of Business analysis. UA ranked No. 3 in the nation for its likelihood of producing a unicorn company and No. 5 for producing unicorn founders, placing it ahead of institutions including Stanford, MIT and Yale on those measures. Unlike rankings based on the total number of startup founders, the Stanford analysis measures the likelihood that a university will produce unicorn companies – privately held startups valued at more than $1 billion – and the founders who start them. The university’s success is not the result of a single startup, inventor or commercialization office. It stems from an innovation ecosystem that UA has spent more than a decade intentionally building. “Being a leader in research and discovery is important and we’re proud of our achievements,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior VP for research and partnerships. “But discoveries alone aren’t enough. The real question is: How do they reach the public? How do they create sustained societal and economic impact? That comes from setting
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commercialization and the creation and nurturing of startup companies based on university IP as a strategic institutional priority and supporting it with the right team and resources, as Tech Launch Arizona does.” Tech Launch Arizona, UA’s commercialization and startup incubation office and a unit of the Office of Research and Partnerships, helps turn discoveries into society solutions by protecting and moving newly created intellectual property into commercial licenses and enabling startup formation and business incubation. TLA has built an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, industry partners and alumni who help transform UA discoveries into successful products, companies and jobs. In return for mentoring university innovators, these experienced professionals gain early access to emerging technologies and ideas emerging from university research labs. In some cases, they step into leadership roles to help launch new companies. Funding is another key component. Through the Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund, TLA provides early-stage funding for promising startups commercializing UA technologies. Supported through philanthropy, the evergreen fund strategy is to reinvest proceeds
from liquidity events like acquisitions or initial public offerings to support future UA startups. “We understand that our faculty and graduate students are at the top of their academic and technical fields,” said Doug Hockstad, chief innovation officer and executive director of TLA. “While their work often results in new inventions, we also understand that research, science and technology are their areas of expertise – not business. We need to work with them to find ways to transition those inventions from the lab to society.” Since TLA was established in 2012, UA has steadily expanded its commercialization pipeline. From July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, UA faculty, staff, researchers and graduate students disclosed 372 inventions to be evaluated for commercialization opportunities, the highest annual total in university history. That activity reflects growing interest in commercialization and entrepreneurship across campus while expanding the pipeline of technologies with commercial potential. TLA has helped launch over 160 startups based on UA innovations, 71% of which are still active or have been acquired. And since 2015, UA startups have raised over $1.1 billion.
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BizCHARITY
For the Kids
Angel Charity for Children to Fund 10 Beneficiaries in 2026 By Tara Kirkpatrick Angel Charity for Children, a stalwart of fundraising for children across Pima County for decades, intends to spread that giving even further this year, choosing a record 10 organizations that represent a wide reach of worthy services for youth. For more than 40 years, Angel Charity has made it a mission to improve children’s quality of life. Together with its donors, the organization of 250 volunteers has funded 152 projects across the region and awarded $34 million to help 1.2 million children since 1983. The annual selection process to apply for Angel grants is rigorous for nonprofits and includes detailed applications, site visits, financial reviews and more. This year, the 10 beneficiaries will share $1,179,320 in grants. “We find it’s really important to listen to the needs of our community and where that need is most pressing,” said Karla Looby, 2026 general chair for Angel Charity. “That’s why we have 10 total beneficiaries this year. Our membership really felt strongly that it represented a broad scope of needs, and we were going to be able to support organizations who we’ve supported in the past, but also be potentially, that first big grantor to some of these smaller organizations that haven’t had this type of funding offered to them before.” Added 2026 Vice Chair Marci Saffer: “It’s really exciting...never before have we selected 10 beneficiaries to fund in one year.” The 2026 organizations that Angel Charity selected are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, Candlelighters Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona, Catholic Community Services of Ari-
zona, Dancing in the Streets Arizona, Gootter-Jensen Foundation, Greater Vail Community ReSources, Integrative Touch, Mini Poderosas, Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center and St. Augustine Catholic High School. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson secured the largest amount – a $685,459 Impact Grant to create a dedicated teen space at the Steve Daru Clubhouse in west Tucson. The funds will help build an area for technology learning, mentoring and workforce and leadership programs. The money will also help modernize the clubhouse gym and enable other facility-wide fixes. “We walked into that clubhouse and you could see how loved it had been, but how much more love it still needed and could give the community,” Looby said. “We heard a lot about the population of kids really dwindling when it came to middle school and high school ages because they really didn’t have a space for themselves.” The clubhouse, on Silverbell Road just north of East Speedway, pulls kids from more than 20 nearby schools and at least eight neighborhoods. “We love it because it was needed in the space, but it’s also going to be a model for them to expand other clubhouses,” said Saffer. Tisha Tallman, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson said, “It couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Steve Daru Club is a growing club, especially amongst our teenagers. This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of Angel Charity.” The nine other nonprofits chosen reflect a variety of youth services. “We are funding categories of health and human services, which are drasti-
cally needed in our community, as well as education, medical, and performing arts,” said Saffer. “We’re able to really impact every sector of the nonprofit community with our fundraising efforts.” One new beneficiary this year is Mini Poderosas, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring girls and young women who face adversity that increases their risk for chronic diseases, mental health struggles and social impairment. The organization will use the $15,000 Opportunity Grant for a program to nurture resilience and remain in school. “They are a small but mighty team that is working from the ground up to get the social emotional support for these girls and young ladies, to really have the tools to feel confident in themselves and do their best,” said Looby. Another new organization this year, Greater Vail Community ReSources, will use its $15,000 grant for its Meals to Grow program that delivers nutritious weekend meal bags to children who face food insecurity. “They are boots on the ground, able to serve the children and families in southeastern Pima County.” Looby and Saffer agree that every year it gets more difficult to choose which organizations to support because the needs of children remain so great across Pima County. “The nonprofit sector works extremely smart, and they work extremely lean,” said Saffer. “They can do a lot and be extremely resourceful with what they have. We’re so fortunate to be in Tucson. It’s a community of businesses and community members and nonprofits that really collaborate and work together.” Biz
Pictured from left – Nigel Bigbee, Steve Daru Clubhouse Director; Marci Saffer, 2026 Vice Chair for Angel Charity; Tisha Tallman, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson; Karla Looby, 2026 General Chair for Angel Charity; Julie Trujillo, BGCT COO 166 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
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PHOTO BY BRENT G. MATHIS
THE REMAINING NINE NONPROFITS SELECTED FOR OPPORTUNITY GRANTS ARE: Candlelighters Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona – $65,000 To fund a Child Life Specialist position for children in cancer treatment Catholic Community Services of Arizona – $75,000 For scholarships for Pio Decimo Center’s Early Childhood Education Dancing in the Streets Arizona – $50,000 For quality ballet training and performance opportunities for lowincome children Gootter-Jensen Foundation – $65,000 To purchase and distribute 50 Automated External Defibrillators to schools, youth sports www.BizTucson.com
Greater Vail Community ReSources – $15,000 To boost its Meals to Grow program for children facing food insecurity Integrative Touch - $75,000 To support Adaptive Kids Compassion Camps Mini Poderosas – $15,000 For a support program nurturing resilience for girls and young women Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center - $74,963 To ensure children who have experienced abuse or witnessed violence get trauma support St. Augustine Catholic High School - $58,898 To refurbish and repair the gymnasium wood court Fall 2026 > > > BizTucson 167
PHOTO BY CHRIS MOONEY
BizCHARITY
Angel Charity Foundation Ensures Future Support for Children By Tara Kirkpatrick Before philanthropist Margaret Larsen died in 2022, she set in motion a foundation that would enable Angel Charity for Children to help Pima County children in perpetuity. It was a gracious final act for the Guardian Angel – the title Angel Charity gave Larsen as a guiding leader for the organization she had long served. The Angel Charity Foundation now helps facilitate planned gifts and manage endowed assets for Angel Charity for Children. The Halo Society, of which Larsen and her husband George were founding members, will recognize the generosity of those who remember the nonprofit in their estate plan, will or trust. “We wanted to make sure (Angel Charity) was going to stay around to help the children of our community,” said Adaline Klemmedson, a fellow Guardian Angel and close friend of Larsen’s who helped start the foundation. “She really took the lead on it. When the concept of a legacy giving program for Angel was discussed, she became the driving force behind its creation. We sat in her living room planning this foundation many, many times.” 168 BizTucson < < < Fall 2026
Now the foundation’s president, Klemmedson said it will act as the supportive arm that helps Angel Charity extend its work for years to come. Legacy giving to the foundation isn’t just for current and past members of Angel Charity, it’s for everyone in the community who has believed in its mission and impact for more than 40 years. Indeed, Angel Charity has helped 1.2 million children since it was founded in 1983. The foundation, a 509(a)3 supporting organization, currently has roughly $2.3 million in assets and is managed by Merrill Lynch Bank of America, said Clint Mabie, senior VP and senior relationship advisor for Northern Trust and treasurer for the foundation board. The board itself includes four members of Angel Charity and four community representatives – with term limits. “It’s mission is very simple,” Mabie said. “It supports the mission of Angel Charity. That consistency of volunteer leadership is not going to change. So, it is a fantastic thing.” Klemmedson added that as a supporting foundation, its spending policy means it gives money to Angel Char-
ity for what the organization deems its greatest need each year. This year, the foundation was able to contribute $70,000 to the group. The foundation offers several legacy gift options, including publicly traded securities, life insurance beneficiary, retirement plan beneficiary, gifts through estates, charitable trusts, retirement plan beneficiary, real estate, stock in privately held companies and gifts under wills and trusts. Now in its fourth year, the foundation is especially important to Louise Thomas, who founded Angel Charity almost four decades ago. “Our initial dream in 1983 now extends well into the future, ensuring the well-being for countless children requiring our assistance,” she said. For more information, angelcharity.org/foundation
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Adrienne Williams Founder Scarritt Foundation
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One Tail at a Time Scarritt Foundation Supports Animal Welfare
PHOTO COURTESY SCARRITT FOUNDATION
By Tom Leyde A young Tucson nonprofit foundation is making life easier for pets, pet owners and animal rescue and rehabilitation groups. The Scarritt Foundation was founded by Adrienne Williams, who has a heartfelt passion for animals and the people who care for them. “Our mission is to protect the love people share with their pets, because that love has the power to change lives,” said Williams. “Through access to critical veterinary care, community partnerships and strategic grantmaking, we are working to ensure that families never have to lose that source of comfort simply because they are facing financial hardship.” Modeled after Angel Charity for Children, the Scarritt Foundation was incorporated in December 2024 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in June 2025. Its roots began long before that during Williams’ childhood in Sedona, Ariz., where the daughter of two artists discovered that pets are not only animals, but constant sources of companionship and love. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Northern Arizona University and spent seven years working in the hospitality industry. That experience, she said, gave her a passion for caring for people. When her father developed Parkinson’s disease, her career took a dramatic turn. He enrolled in a clinical trial that gave him nearly 10 more years of quality life. www.BizTucson.com
“I realized that while I was not a scientist or physician, I could use my business background and hospitality experience to support the people bringing new medicines and therapies to patients,” Williams said. In 1999, she founded Scarritt Group with that purpose in mind. The company partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology groups worldwide. It supports clinical trials through investigator meetings, patient concierge services, reimbursement programs and services that help researchers, doctors and patients navigate the clinical trial process. “At its heart, both Scarritt Group and Scarritt Foundation were born from the same purpose: helping people through some of life’s most challenging moments,” Williams said. Williams’s philanthropic inspiration comes from her great-great-greatgrandfather, Nathan Scarritt, who left a legacy of public service. A founding father of Kansas City, he started a women’s college in the 1800s and was a big supporter of the women’s suffrage movement. The first step Williams took to start Scarritt Foundation was to contact Dr. Julie Funk, dean of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine. Funk put Williams in touch with Dr. Mary Klein of the Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center. A dinner was held with 40 independent Tucson area veterinarians from the
Tucson Independent Veterinarians Association to explain the foundation’s goal to offer free animal care paid for by the Scarritt Foundation. The ball was set in motion. The foundation also partners with the nonprofit Asavet Charities to provide a mobile veterinary service for homeless pet owners. Every month, the van’s PUP Outreach (Pets Uplifting People) visits areas in Tucson where the homeless gather. It provides pet food (more than 300 bags monthly), vaccines, leashes, spay and neuter surgeries and other veterinary services free of charge to the unhoused, low-income veterans and those receiving government assistance. “It has been quite awe-inspiring to me to see this community come together,” Williams said. “I would call it a movement. People own it, they feel it.” This year, Scarritt Foundation has distributed more than $400,000 to help homeless and non-homeless pet owners care for their animals and to assist animal rescue and rehabilitation groups with their missions. That money came from donations from individuals and businesses and from the foundation’s first large fundraiser, the Fur Ball, which was held last fall. “For me,” Williams said, “the most important thing is to make this sustainable — to grow it ... together. We can make a difference ... one tail at a time.”
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Fur Ball 2026
Culinary Extravaganza with a Purpose By Tom Leyde Curating the menu for the unforgettable evening will be Janos Wilder, a James Beard award winner and Tucson City of Gastronomy board member. Also on the culinary team are Don Guerra of Barrio Bread (another James Beard award winner); Obadiah (“Obie”) Hindman of the Mountain Oyster Club; and Devin Pinto, executive chef at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. Robert Mondavi Jr. of Mondavi Winery will provide wine pairings along with wines than can be purchased. James Beard winner Charles Joly, worldclass mixologist and media personality, will return to create signature cocktails.
The evening will also feature silent and live auctions with unique prizes such as two round-trip tickets to choice destinations on Delta Airlines; trips to Japan and Egypt; original artwork by Diana Madaras and more. Individual tickets are $450 per person, with upgrades to the VIP reception level at additional cost. Full tables also can be reserved. All tickets include the dinner, wine pairings, cocktails and a post-event casino and dance party. For more information, visit www.scarrittfoundation.org/furball2026.
PHOTO COURTESY SCARRITT FOUNDATION
The Fur Ball, an annual fundraiser for the Scarritt Foundation, will be more than just a gala evening to benefit at-risk pets and the people who love them. It will be a true culinary event. Set for Oct. 23 at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, the event is partnering with the Tucson City of Gastronomy. Area chefs will prepare memorable dishes made with local ingredients. The Scarritt Foundation, founded by Adrienne Williams, provides veterinary care and support for pets whose owners are facing challenging times. It also assists animal care organizations that rescue, rehabilitate and re-home animals.
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BizBRIEF
Doug Martin
Debra Stephens Cook
Rich Moret
Gina Brandt
Dave England
Tucson Advertising Federation Education Foundation 2026 Hall of Achievement Winners The Tucson Advertising Federation Educational Foundation announced the honorees for the 2026 Hall of Achievement. The annual event, held Sept. 10 at La Paloma Country Club, brought together industry leaders, professionals and supporters to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s honorees. Receiving the 2026 Silver Medal Award is Doug Martin, CEO of Good News Communications. The American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal is a nationally recognized award honoring individuals with outstanding contributions to advertising who further the industry’s standards, creative excel-
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lence and responsibility in areas of social concern. Debra Stephens Cook, owner of Dark Horse Media, is the 2026 Ad Professional of the Year, which recognizes marketing and advertising professionals who have mentored and inspired others to succeed. Rich Moret, owner of Moret & Associates, and Gina Brandt, owner of Brandt Advertising, were inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame, which recognizes the best among local industry professionals who have mentored and inspired others to succeed in this industry.
The Next Generation Award goes to Dave England, local sales manager at KOLD TV. This award recognizes advertising professionals 40 and younger who are making a significant impact on the industry through leadership, career achievements and personal qualities. TAFEF is the 501(c)(3) counterpart of the American Advertising Federation of Tucson dedicated to supporting the education of the next generation in the industry. TAFEF honors notable advertising, marketing and creative professionals through the Hall of Achievement.
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BizFOUNDATION
Faith, Football and Two Fifitas
Brothers Build a Foundation for Tucson’s Youth Faith, football and a foundation for young people − Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita and his brother, Dash, have brought all that to Tucson with the First Down Faith Foundation, a Tucson-based nonprofit. Who better to lead an effort to help young people than Noah Fifita, the Pied Piper of players and people who is in the discussion for best football player ever at Arizona. He broke the record for career passing yards in the Sept. 19 game against Northern Illinois. And let’s not forget his brother/teammate/ partner in the nonprofit, Dash, who has come on the scene this year as a freshman linebacker. “To play the game you love at this level with your best friend, and the same guy you’ve grown up playing this game with, is once-in-a-lifetime,” said Dash. “Add to that being able to share a foundation and attempt to inspire this next generation with a stronger and deeper understanding of who God is and to see/know anything is possible when you believe in him. “That’s how we were raised − to know that all things are possible through God − so to see this foundation my brother started grow as big as it has, it was more than a blessing to come and join him in running it. I most definitely will continue it here in Tucson and, God willing, promote this foundation and our beliefs as far as we can alongside my brother.” The two established the nonprofit in 2025 to give back to the community – while sharing their faith – in a community they have grown to love. After all, they are Southern California natives.
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And this is from a quarterback who could have left for any one of a number of programs during this era of enrichyourself NIL deals. “I love Tucson, it goes back to that,” Noah said of why he’s still at UA and in Southern Arizona. “The community embraced me and my family and there’s a belief that we can leave a legacy that Arizona football has never done. “We’ve been a basketball school for so long, and I’ve been fighting for five years to change that narrative. It’s my last opportunity to do so.” At least his name – and the foundation – could help people keep the Fifita name in the memories of many. It’s a foundation to help serve youth, through mentorship opportunities, youth camps, faith-based speaking engagements, and partnerships with local organizations and schools. Fifita has funded the foundation with his earnings as a Wildcat and has brought on local businesses to help. The idea all started from a moment when Noah needed that faith to get through something big − a loss to Arizona State. “The idea had been brewing for a little bit, but it was after that loss,” Noah said. “It was a nasty beating and I was embarrassed.” So, from “one of the lowest points in my life,” he said, “this idea of a nonprofit became my purpose.” He’s gone from winning games – which he has one more season to do – to helping people, however possible, through faith-based opportunities. Just recently he was named to the Allstate
AFCA Good Works team – the top 22 finalists will be named in September – for students who are committed to community service, academics and athletics. As part of that, he’s held football camps, helped with the Tohono O’odham Nation to put on the Generations of Faith & Strength Celebration, and served at the Gospel Resue Mission.” “The goal and purpose are simple,” Noah said. “It’s to use my platform, using the gifts and my abilities that God gave me to spread the gospel and to point others to Jesus Christ. I believe that’s my purpose and why God put me on a Division-1 football stage – to glorify him and to point people to him. Through the foundation the Fifita brothers “work directly with young people and families, creating space for candid conversations about faith, life and personal growth while encouraging strong values, building confidence, and providing guidance rooted in faith and personal responsibility,” the foundation says. To date, they have had more than 330 hours of community service with another 3,600 community members impacted. It’s his “feel for people” that makes him special beyond football, UA coach Brent Brennan said. “I think what he’s doing is awesome because he’s using his platform to help other people,” Brennan said. “That’s the neat part of him. That’s what makes him special. I don’t think every starting quarterback does it.” For information on the foundation and to donate, visit firstdownfaithfoundation.org.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY FIRST DOWN FAITH FOUNDATION
By Steve Rivera
NOAH FIFITA
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DASH FIFITA
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Executive Director Tu Nidito
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PHOTO BY BRERNT G. MATHIS
Liz McCusker
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BizCHARITY
No Child Grieves Alone
Tu Nidito Children & Family Services Honors 30 Years
INSET PHOTOS COURTESY TU NIDITO
By Loni Nannini For three decades, Tu Nidito Children & Family Services has provided “The Little Nest” for the Tucson community, dedicated to the simple but powerful mission that no child — and no family — grieves alone. Tu Nidito Executive Director Liz McCusker reflected on the unique nonprofit that provides an array of services pertaining to serious medical diagnoses and bereavement support. “There is no other organization in the country that does the full continuum of what we do, with services for families dealing with diagnosis of serious medical conditions through and after death,” said McCusker, who emphasized that all services are offered free of charge in both English and Spanish. “We are one of those organizations that if you haven’t heard of us, that is good, because you didn’t need us. But we want to be here for anybody that is dealing with grief, whether that be a death or illness. Our vision is that no child and no family grieves alone and we really take that to heart in both education and direct services.” McCusker has been with the organization almost since it began as a children’s hospice 30 years ago. She said Tu Nidito’s evolution began within the first year. “We realized that families were resistant to hospice because they thought that was admitting their child was going to die, so almost immediately we opened it up to any family who had a child with a serious medical condition. We knew they needed support when they weren’t in the hospital, when they were at home or out in the community.” www.BizTucson.com
Tu Nidito has continued to respond to community needs: It now offers bereavement support—along with support for children who have a parent or caregiver with a serious medical diagnosis—for children, teens and young adults in small group settings at 3922 N. Mountain Ave. It also provides services through programs in local schools. The services reached more than 1,000 people last year, and McCusker emphasized that the impact is significant. “Research shows that unresolved grief can show itself in drug abuse, acting out and mental health disorders. Lots of kids in the juvenile justice system are grieving,” she said. “One in nine children in Arizona are grieving and that is huge. It can be the loss of a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend or anyone who is important in a child’s life.” Tu Nidito operates on an annual budget of $1 million. It receives no federal funding and relies solely on donations. “We start each year with zero and say, ‘How will we do it?’” said McCusker. She credits generous individuals, businesses and family foundations for support and assistance with events and fundraisers, including the annual Remarkable Moms Celebration. Additionally, about 180 “incredible volunteers, make it possible to do what we do,” said McCusker. Among the longtime supporters and volunteers are Adriana and Jose Rincon. The couple found Tu Nidito after their son, Jose Jr., was killed by a drunk driver in 2008. They wanted to help their daughters—Gaby, who was
then 15, and Juli, then seven—cope with the death of their brother. “One lost her best friend and the other lost her protector. When it happened, we tried different avenues to see what would feel right,” said Jose, who knew immediately that Tu Nidito was the answer. “Tu Nidito was designed specifically to help children and our biggest motivator after the tragedy was finding our way forward to try and help our girls and give them the best shot at life.” In spite of some initial resistance, Adriana said the girls quickly found that Tu Nidito was a place where they “didn’t feel alone” and “they felt normal amongst their peers” since often friends, classmates and teachers, “while loving and supportive, didn’t really know what to say or do.” “My analogy of Tu Nidito is that they felt like there was someone in the bunker with them and they weren’t in the bunker alone or in a fishbowl, where everyone was looking at them,” Jose said. Jose and Adriana said they are forever grateful and can’t emphasize enough how valuable Tu Nidito is to the community. “Our girls are in good places. . .and we attribute a lot of that to Tu Nidito and three years of support. They gave them tools to manage triggers and when the triggers come they have tools to work through it and process it and not bury their feelings,” said Adriana. “They have become masters of communicating their feelings and their needs and we are so proud of how they have learned to communicate and be vulnerable through this experience.”
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PHOTOS: COURTESY ROTARY CLUB OF TUCSON
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2026 Tucson Classics Car Show 20 Years of Chrome, Community & Classics
There’s a reason the Tucson Classics Car Show has become one of Southern Arizona’s most anticipated fall traditions. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this one-day event brings together more than 420 original and beautifully restored classic cars and trucks, thousands of enthusiasts, automotive vendors, delicious food, and the stories behind the vehicles that shaped generations. Hundreds of Rotary Club of Tucson volunteers make it happen. Returning visitors will discover plenty that’s new this year. For the first time, the show welcomes a Classic Motorcycle category, while a special Rolls-Royce and Bentley Club Row showcase some of the world’s most elegant automobiles. A local private collector will unveil several rarely seen classics from a personal collection, and the Classics Club will reunite four previous Best in Show winners—giving guests a rare
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opportunity to see these award-winning vehicles together in one place. Whether you’re reminiscing about your first car, admiring the craftsmanship and engineering behind these automotive masterpieces, or simply enjoying a beautiful Arizona fall day, every row offers another discovery and another conversation waiting to happen.
20TH ANNUAL TUCSON CLASSICS CAR SHOW
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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 10-4 p.m. The Gregory School 3231 N. Craycroft Rd. Entry Fee: $10 Children 17 and younger get in FREE with a paying adult
Admission is just $10, and every ticket includes a chance to win a 2026 Corvette Stingray or $40,000 in cash. Best of all, every ticket purchased helps support Youth On Their Own, Interfaith Community Services, and the Amphitheater Foundation’s ECHO Program, proving that a great day out can also make a meaningful difference in our community. The Tucson Classics Car Show takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.on Saturday, Oct. 24, with the grand prize drawing at 3:45 p.m. Free parking and continuous shuttle service are available from the Wyatt Drive lot, off Glenn Road between Craycroft and Swan Roads, making it easy to avoid traffic and enjoy one of Tucson’s premier fall events. For tickets and event information, visit TucsonClassicsCarShow.com. Presented by the Rotary Club of Tucson.
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