BizLEADERSHIP
Linda Welter Mayor Regina Romero
Mural by: Victor Ving Lisa Beggs. Rock Martinez contributed his artwork to the letter C Location: 406 N. 6th Ave. On the back wall of Miller’s Surplus.
Tony Penn
COVID-19: Chamber Leads Through Uncertain Times Out in Front for Tucson Businesses By Romi Carrell Wittman When COVID-19 emerged on the world stage, no one was prepared for the developing crisis. In the United States, medical personnel sprang into action while others were issued stay-athome guidelines to prevent the disease‘s spread. While the health crisis enveloped the globe, another threat loomed closer to home. With residents staying away, Tucson restaurants, retail stores and other businesses saw their sales plummet with an uncertain future ahead. 72 BizTucson
<<<
Summer 2020
But Amber Smith, president and CEO of the Tucson Metro Chamber, saw a need the Chamber could satisfy. “It’s hard to look past COVID-19 right now,” said Smith. “We immediately became the air traffic controller of information.” In practice, that meant providing an information clearinghouse and a means for people to connect to the business resources they critically needed. ”Within 48 hours, we recognized the need and launched a resource page,” Smith said.
That page, COVID-19 Resources, can be easily found on the Chamber’s website. Linda Welter, CEO of The Caliber Group and a Chamber board member, said, “The minute the COVID-19 crisis hit, leaders around the globe were talking about the potential economic impacts to business, especially small business,” Welter said. “The Chamber jumped in immediately and was instrumental in starting dialogues with key continued on page 74 >>> www.BizTucson.com