2012 FATHER OF THE YEAR HONOREE
Paul Bonavia
Laughter Key to Parenting By Gabrielle Fimbres
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Photo: www.balfourwalker.com
You have to laugh it up a bit. Without humor, you’d really be cooked.
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Paul Bonavia
Chairman & CEO Tucson Electric Power & UNS Energy Corp.
Family Wife Pat, son Christopher and daughter Laura, grandchildren Anna, Eva and Eric Involvement Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities chair, United Way chair-elect, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Tucson Airport Authority, Arizona Commerce Authority
118 BizTucson
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Summer 2012
Paul Bonavia has advice for dads trying to balance family, career and community involvement – lots of caffeine. “Just don’t sleep,” he mused. “That’s pretty much the strategy, that and a dozen cups of strong coffee.” Bonavia is chairman and CEO of Tucson Electric Power and UNS Energy Corp., formerly UniSource Energy Corp. He is a 2012 Father’s Day Council Tucson Father of the Year. Bonavia and his wife, Pat, are parents to Christopher, 37, who lives with his family in Brooklyn, and Laura Claughton, 35, who lives with her family in Texas. “We travel to see the grandkids as much as we can, and with Face Time and Skype, it’s easier to keep in touch,” Bonavia said. They took the family to Disneyland last fall – not exactly Bonavia’s idea of a vacation. Yet watching his little princesses with the Disney princesses “was 1,000 times better than I could have imagined. “It’s so important to build those memories,” Bonavia said. “It’s kind of the glue in life.” Also important is keeping a sense of humor. “You can’t balance family and work perfectly. You just have to do the best you can and you have to laugh it up a bit. Without hu-
mor, you’d really be cooked.” Originally from Rockford, Ill., Bonavia earned degrees from Drake University and the University of Miami School of Law, and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He took the helm of TEP and UNS in 2009. He has worked to expand the company’s leadership role in renewable energy and energy efficiency. A company culture of giving back through volunteerism has long been in place at TEP. “I’ve never seen a place where people put so much of their time and effort into the community,” he said. “The concept of giving back to the community sounds good – but the real truth is it’s fun and rewarding,” he added. “You can’t be a good utility company without being a big part of the community.” Bonavia’s community involvement is focused on creating higher-wage jobs for Tucson. He said raising money for type 1 diabetes through Father’s Day Council is vital. “The disease is so pervasive and we are seeing it in increasing numbers,” Bonavia said. “It doesn’t just affect the person, it affects the family, and it is a blight on the quality of life for people.”
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