Chamber Chatter Businesses are the Lifeblood of a Thriving Community
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Volume 30 • Number 5
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Tracing Treatments
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
UPGRADES AND EXPANSION
University of Arizona researchers’ startup uses artifical intelligence to detect the ‘fingerprints of disease’ Jeff Gardner
Arizona ports of entry get $315 million
Page 6 FOOD AND DINING
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MOVING TRENDS Oro Valley joining Tucson as a food destination
Page 12 BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Venture capitalists and manufacturing firms
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ON THE MENU
New promotions, hires and awards Page 3
BATA embraces “the legends and lore of fire” Page 13
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Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process
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Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian
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BUSINESS SUPPORT
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| Page 6 in a virtual year Volcanoeslearning Pima JTED balances hands-on
Local First Arizona and YWCA
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LOCAL Gardnertheir Local venues are once again scheduling shows andJeff opening doors Inside Tucson Business / Page 4 STARTUPS
‘HOWL-ITOSIS’
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UA researchers study how to cure bad breath in dogs
Space bucks and robot surgeons
Margaret Regan Inside Tucson Business / Page 10
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New promotions, hires and awards THIS YEAR’S Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades NUMBERS Page 5 Page 3 Art Galleries
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Texas-based Builders FirstSource acquires Arizona building materials supplier for $400M | Page 4
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THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS REAL ESTATE
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VENUE GRANTS
Sen. Kelly tours Rialto, highlights aid program
UA researchers stops COVID reports
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Hospitals, hospice, and assisted living facilities
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Colleges, universities and optics companies
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Sunawards Corridor releases post-COVID plan Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation New promotions, hires and Page 10 Page 5 Page 3
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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
Understanding health care law changes
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COBRA SUBSIDY
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Healthcare Heroes
Nurses look back on lessons learned during the past year Christina Duran Inside Tucson Business / Page 8
Photo courtesy UA / NASA
Galactic Maps and Cancer Treatments
Chamber Chatter
June 4, 2021
Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines Still in business after 43 years
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Culinary Confluence
Zio Peppe fuses classic Italian with flavors of the Southwest
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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
MARCH 11, 2022
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CHAMBERCHATTER BY ALEXA SCHOLL
SPECIAL TO INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS
WEEKLY TOP
BY LISA LOVALLO
TUCSON METRO CHAMBER
Launching a successful Businesses are the Lifeblood startup in 2022
of a Thriving Community
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lthough I am new to Tucson, I am a lifelong Arizonan. I grew up in Prescott and received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University. Don’t worry, I checked my Sun Devil attitude at the door and am more than happy to support the Wildcats! My first visit to Tucson was in fourth grade when my teacher took my class on a fieldtrip to the University of Arizona and the San Xavier del Bac mission. My fourth-grade teacher is the granddaughter of Hi Corbett and made sure to teach her students about the rich history of Tucson. In November 2021, I completed a four-year term on the Prescott City Council. I also served as Mayor Pro Tem for one year while on the City Council. I was considered a pro-business Councilmember. I proudly supported streamlining and improving permitting processes in the City’s Community Development department. During my tenure, the City started and completed construction of a brand-new airport terminal and secured reliable, convenient commercial airline service to Los Angeles and Denver, critical to attracting and retaining businesses. Additionally, during the pandemic, I was a proponent of allowing
restaurants and bars to build parklets in order to expand their outdoor seating capacities. Businesses are the lifeblood of a thriving community, and I am excited to support the Tucson community and businesses in my new role with the Chamber. In my role, I will be supporting several of the Chamber’s committees. Our committees help drive how the Chamber can best support and advocate for businesses at the local and state levels. The Public Policy Council is critical in assisting the Chamber in developing pro-business policy goals and objectives. The goals and objectives that come from the Public Policy Council give our legislative agendas and advocacy work purposeful direction. In response to the pandemic, the Chamber created the Tucson Restaurant Advisory Council to help restaurants navigate pandemic-related issues and restrictions. We plan to keep this committee going in order to help us understand the needs of the restaurant industry. Additionally, our Coalition Against Retail Theft recently had its first meeting. This group was brought together to address theft and vandalism issues experienced by both
retail and non-retail businesses. The Chamber will take the ideas and priorities from these committees to our local elected officials and leaders to work on pro-business policies. I will also be supporting some of the Chamber’s member engagement programs, including Issues with a Twist and Interface. Our Interface events allow our members to engage with local elected and public officials to share their perspectives on doing business in Southern Arizona and how local jurisdictions can better support business in and around Tucson. Our Issues with a Twist events are an opportunity for members to learn about policy issues pertinent to business leaders. Each event hosts a speaker or panel made up of local experts covering a variety of topics. My role and the role of the Tucson Metro Chamber is to help businesses thrive and grow in Tucson. In fact, not only is it our role, but it is also our mission to champion an environment where your business thrives, and our community prospers. I look forward to getting to know Tucson and the business community. Alexa Scholl is the Director of Government Affairs at the Tucson Metro Chamber.
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f you are planning to launch a startup this year, you are likely researching how to maximize funding to get your business up and running. Whether you are seeking investment from an angel investor or applying to an accelerator program, make sure you have the following buttoned up before reaching out to increase your chances of success. Sharing a few tips here that I have come across. Wishing you great success! 1. Solid business plan. Investors always have a keen eye towards preparedness. It’s important to show your competency of the market with a detailed, data-driven business plan that includes your concept, market insight and financials. 2. Value proposition. If your concept is simply a “nice to have” instead of “need to have,” you will have a tough time selling to consumers, much less investors. Focus on the benefits of your product and how it will solve consumers’ problems. 3. Market size. Most investors are looking for a business opportunity with significant growth potential. Not every product is going to have a global market, but you need to have a market with significant reach and more than just the 25 miles around your headquarters. 4. Market need. If the market you plan to enter is saturated, monopolized or unprofitable then investors will quickly dismiss you. Do your research and plan to show exactly why there is a need for your product or service. 5. Differentiators. What makes your product or service unique? Investors want to see
proof that your competition cannot easily beat or copy you. Be prepared with a thorough competitive analysis to highlight your differentiators. 6. Leadership. Be ready to prove that your team is well positioned to execute your business plan and become authoritative market leaders. Highlight individual skillsets and strengths, and the chemistry your team has when working together. 7. Passion. They say that investors don’t invest in ideas, they invest in people. Many value the passion and drive of the founders over any business plan, because ultimately you are the one bringing the concept to reality. Illustrate your passion with personal anecdotes, knowledge and experience in the market. 8. Exit strategy. Investors want to see a financial timeline and when they will begin to see a return. Include a capital budgeting and ROI analysis to address these concerns. 9. Great pitch. In order to perfect your pitch, practice your pitch in front of peers, take public speaking lessons, and be sure you are talking with investors instead of at them. It’s not important to be overly professional (that might feel stiff), so just be you and show up confident. 10. Connection. There’s a moment that an investor has with a founder where everything just seems to click. Focus on how you are going to build that close connection with the investor such as mentioning a common interest, mutual colleague or shared background. Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications. Reach her at lisa.lovallo@ cox.com.
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PEOPLEINACTION
Ryan Goodell
MARCH 11, 2022
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The University of Arizona’s vice president for facilities, operations and campus planning Ryan Goodell has joined Tech Parks Arizona’s board of directors. With a background in both university proceedings and the private sector, Goodell will help guide Tech Parks Arizona’s sustainability and community impact. Previously, Goodell served as the Associate Vice President for Real Estate and Business Operations at Washington State University. In that position, he was responsible for the University’s real estate, business operations and contracting services. He was also responsible for the management and operation of the University’s Research and Technology Park and the Innovation Building. “I am honored to join the board of directors of Tech Parks Arizona,” Goodell said in a press release. “The organization has immense opportunities for growth, and I’m excited to be involved in the great work that Tech Parks Arizona is doing for the University of Arizona and for the community. Tech Parks Arizona works to attract and retain technology companies whose research and goals align with the University of Arizona. Tech Parks Arizona directs the UA Tech Park, the UA Tech Park at The Bridges and the UA Center for Innovation.
Sunnyside Science Teacher Wins Tucson Values Teachers Award Camille Pons
Nicholas Knauer
Wendy Goodman
Christina Baker
Camille Pons has joined the nonprofit Arizona Land & Water Trust as donor engagement manager. In this role, Pons will lead stewardship efforts and support overall fundraising activities. The Arizona Land & Water Trust works to protect Southern Arizona’s landscapes, ranches and wildlife. Pons has an extensive history with Tucson, earning her bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Arizona and previously working at the Tucson Medical Center Foundation, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for 20 years. Inside Tucson Business previously granted Pons the award for Executive Leader of the Year for a nonprofit organization in 2017.
The Pima County Superior Court has appointed Nicholas Knauer as a commissioner. He will fill the vacancy in Division 52/B created by the recent retirement of Alyce Pennington. Knauer is currently an assistant attorney general assigned to the Tucson office, where he is a team leader and supervisor in their Protective Services Section representing Arizona’s Department of Child Safety. Knauer spent three years as a staff attorney with the Pima County Office of Children’s Counsel, and, in 2017 and 2018, served as a Pima County Superior Court judge pro tempore.
The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona recently awarded a local teacher with their Literacy Champion award during their 17th Annual Business Leaders for Early Education Breakfast. Wendy Goodman, a pre-K teacher at Cragin Elementary School in the Tucson Unified School District, earned the award for editing professional anthologies and facilitating literacy workshops nationwide. Goodman is the daughter of University of Arizona professors emeriti Kenneth and Yetta Goodman, and holds a master’s degree in reading from UA. Her teaching certifications include Elementary Education, Early Childhood Special Education, and Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona also awarded Christina Baker with a Literacy Champion recognition. Baker is a firstgrade teacher at Roadrunner Elementary in the Marana Unified School District, and has been teaching for 14 years. Baker says she’s passionate about reading and works to spread that passion to her students through read alouds, engaging shared reading, fun buddy reading and enjoyable independent reading time. “Both Wendy Goodman and Christina Baker are stellar examples of teachers who have made it their life’s work to care for and educate our children,” said United Way Tucson president Tony Penn.
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Tucson Values Teachers awarded B.L. Lauffer Middle School teacher Hennessy Miller the February Teacher Excellence Award. Miller works as an eighth-grade science teacher in the Sunnyside Unified School District, and is in her third year of teaching. “I became a teacher after working as an engineer,” Miller said. “Teaching is both harder and more rewarding. I love the Lauffer and Sunnyside community and am glad to work in such a supportive school environment.” According to TVT, Miller is also the club sponsor for the Trekking Rattlers, a hiking club that explores Tucson on the weekends. She also co-coached the cross-country team in the fall. “Ms. Miller’s life experiences in the Peace Corps have led her from California to South America; she speaks fluent Spanish and she shares these experiences with her students,” said fellow teacher Lorinda Pierce, who nominated Miller for the award. “She differentiates instruction for students at multiple levels of learning and makes an effort to meet students where they are.” Recipients of the monthly TVT award receive $250 cash courtesy of Helios Education Foundation, a $100 gift certificate to Jonathan’s Educational Resources, and flowers.
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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
MARCH 11, 2022
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
EMAIL YOUR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS TO JEFF@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM
Golf Links apartment complex sells for $42 million Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
W
ith rent rates in Tucson jumping sharply over the past year, several apartment complexes around town are changing hands as investors attempt to profit from the rush. Recently, a 364-unit community in south east Tucson was purchased for $42,000,000, at an average rate of $115,385 per unit. Private investor of Next Round Asset Management purchased the community Standard Raintree, which is located at 6450 E. Golf Links Road. “Standard Raintree was a great opportunity for Next Round to continue their expansion into Tucson, a market they’ve focused on because of its strong fundamentals,” said Jesse Hudson, senior vice president of investment sales at NorthMarq. “We expect investment demand to remain elevated in the Tucson area as the momentum established in the fourth quarter of 2021 will carry over into 2022.” Standard Raintree, built in 1983, is a garden-style community in a park-like setting with pool, gazebo, volleyball and racquetball courts and a dog park. The complex includes studio and one-bedroom units that range in size from 327 to 418 square feet. Northmarq Phoenix’s Investment Sales team of
Courtesy photo
ates, LLC for $1,400,000. Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, Principal, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Boron Properties purchased a 13,200 square foot multi-tenant industrial building at Broadbent SALES Business Center, 2030 N. Forbes Blvd. in Tucson, Tucson 28 LLC, purfrom M.A.O.R.I, LLCfor chased 17,647 square feet of multifamily space located $1,300,000. Jesse Blum and Paul Hooker, Principals at 3050 N. 2nd Ave. in and Industrial Specialists Tucson. La Paloma Apartwith Cushman & Wakefield ments, a 28-unit property | PICOR, represented the was purchased fromGould Family Properties VIII, LLC, buyer in this transaction. Max Fisher with BRD Realty, for $2,500,000. Allan LLC, represented the seller. Mendelsberg, Principal, Elvira Apartments, LLC, and Conrad Joey Martinez, purchased Elvira Duplexes, Multifamily Specialists with 7,080 square feet of multiCushman & Wakefield | family space located at 335 PICOR, represented both E. Elvira Rd., in Tucson. parties in this transaction. Schnitzer Properties, LLC The 6-unit apartment proppurchased 8.52 acres of in- erty was purchased from dustrial land at 2713 & 2717 Clear Value Investments II, E. Corona Rd., in Tucson, LLC, for $865,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, from Grossprops Associand Conrad Joey Martinez, Trevor Koskovich, Bill Hahn, Jesse Hudson, and Ryan Boyle conducted the sale. According to CBRE data, Tucson was a top market for rent growth in the final quarter of 2021, posting a year-over-year rent growth of 21.7%
Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. Elvira Apartments, LLC, purchased 9,127 square feet of multifamily space consisting of 10 apartment units and 2 single-family residences. Elvira Apartments, located at 320-326 E. Elvira Rd., in Tucson, was purchased from Monteer Properties, LLC, for $865,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Joey Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. Halter Holdings LLC purchased 1.81 acres of industrial land at 2630 E. Ginter Rd., in Tucson, from DEFT TUC II LLC for $315,000. Stephen D. Cohen, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the buyer.
LEASES LM Brokerage and Logistics, Inc., leased 28,736 square feet of industrial space from CAB Produce, LLC, located at 2527 N. Grand Ave., Unit-A in Nogales, AZ. Jose Dabdoub and Cintya Denisse Angulo
Garcia, with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. R & G Food Services, Inc. renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 7,383 square feet of industrial space at 4560 S. Coach Dr., Suite. 100-110 in Tucson.Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Eyemart Express, LLC leased 6,334 square feet of retail space at Wilmot Plaza, 6351 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 115 in Tucson, from DSW Wilmot Plaza, LLC. Principals,Dave Hammack and Greg Furrier with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Alan Houston with SRS Real Estate Partners-West, LLC, represented the tenant. Harrington Plastics Inc renewed their lease with Tic-Tac Properties, LLC for 6,000 square feet of industrial space at Tucson Industrial Center, 4141 E. Tennessee St., Suite 121 & 127 in Tucson. Cintya Denisse Angulo Garcia, Commercial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this Transaction. Michael Petrick with Fischer & Company, represented the tenant.
Whelcon Contractors, LLC renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 3,840 square feet of industrial space at Broadbent Business Center, 2015 N. ForbesBlvd., Suite 101 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert, with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Eric Hutchens with Hutch Companies, LLC, represented the tenant in this transaction. Harbottle Brewing Company LLC renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 3,807 square feet of retail space at Palo Verde Business Center, 3820 S. PaloVerde Rd., Suite 102 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Mesquite Pediatrics, PC, renewed their lease with TMC Holdings, Inc., for 3,657 square feet of medical office space located in Tucson Medical Park, 2350 N. Kibler Place in Tucson. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, Principal, and Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Buzz Isaacson with Buzz Isaacson Realty, LLC, represented the tenant.
INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
MARCH 11, 2022
UA researchers’ startup uses artificial intelligence to detect the ‘fingerprints of disease’ Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
W
hen cells in the body become diseased, their signals and molecules change, sometimes long before symptoms emerge. New technology out of the University of Arizona aims to detect these metabolic changes with machine learning to hopefully catch diseases sooner and expedite the healing process. A new startup company co-founded by two UA researchers uses artificial intelligence to identify these “fingerprints of disease,” possibly before the issue is detectable through other means. Ruslan Rafikov and Olga Rafikova, both associate professors in the UA College of Medicine, launched MetFora with help from Tech Launch Arizona, the UA office that commercializes inventions from university research. While the research that led to MetFora originally focused on the lungs, this technology has the potential to detect diseases in a wide variety of organs. “The idea came from our animal research on pulmonary hypertension. We found that
if we induce pulmonary hypertension in animals, before they produce any physiological effects in the lungs, they are changing their metabolic profile very quickly. It can be after only three days. That gave us the idea that we check these same changes in a patient’s blood,” Rafikov said. “This is important because people usually struggle to get a diagnosis. They can spend years from the first symptoms to get a correct diagnosis. If we can detect it as soon as possible, it will be a more impactful treatment.” While human researchers may manually monitor the molecules, Rafikov describes it as a very complex process involving more than a dozen metabolites. “It’s so complex that in our finding, training AI is more important than finding a way to train a physician to find these tiny metabolites,” said Rafikov, who is an affiliate of the American Thoracic Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “Each disease affects different organs, and within the organs, each disease can affect different types of cells. And once the cells are affected, they change their fine-tuned metabolic fluxes in and out
of the cell. Using this knowledge, we think we can determine the exact problem in each organ.” The process involves a blood draw that is then tested with mass spectrometry. However, because of the complicated nature of the test, it would not be able to be conducted in-hospital, and the blood would need to be shipped to MetFora’s lab for testing through an AI statistical analysis. “The model for most diagnostics is some sort of kit or instrument that the hospital has, but this would not be that. The most natural way to bring it to market is through a lab developed test,” said MetFora CEO Martin Fuchs. “The test time isn’t long at all. It’s really about getting the sample to us in our lab and getting the results back. And we see that taking about two to four days.” Fuchs was introduced to the researchers through Arizona FORGE, an office under the same umbrella as Tech Launch Arizona that helps foster entrepreneurship across the university campus. “One of the things that caught my eye is that it has applicability to a broad range of diseases,” said Fuchs, who has launched two other technology companies.
“We really see this as something everyone can get during their annual doctor’s visit. Because it’s a simple blood draw, I feel like it could become a standard of care.” Although Tech Launch Arizona does not create the startups themselves, they help researchers through the process and work to negotiate licenses. Doug Hockstad, assistant vice president for TLA, says the university system has 250 to 300 inventions disclosed every year. For researchers
and their inventions, TLA assigns licensing managers to help them through the process of commercialization. “They do a market analysis to see what companies are operating in a particular space, and a patent landscape analysis to see what patents are out there in the same area. That information is taken back to the inventor, and we more or less jointly come up with a plan on whether or not we’re going to target this invention to an existing company or
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target this to create a startup company around the technology,” Hockstad said. “Technologies coming out of universities are at a very early stage. Often, much too early for an existing company to be interested. So with a lot of technologies, the right way to go is to create a startup around it.” Hockstad says the market analysis will sometimes discover that there is no market for the product, or that it’s too heavily patented already. Continued on P14
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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
MARCH 11, 2022
Arizona ports of entry get at least $315 million for upgrades, expansion Emily Sacia
Cronkite News
A
rizona is set to receive at least $315 million for improvements to three ports of entry along the Mexican border, money that officials say is badly needed to ease cross-border trade while improving border security. The funds are Arizona’s share of the $3.4 billion in federal funding that will be used at 26 land ports of entry on the northern and southern borders, which in turn is part of the $1.2 trillion Infra-
structure Investment and Jobs Act approved last fall. The General Services Administration announced Friday that $200 million is expected to go to a new commercial port in Douglas, $115 million is budgeted for modernization of the San Luis I port and a still-undetermined amount for the Raul Hector Castro port, which is also in Douglas. “This funding is a big deal for the region and our state as a whole,” said Annie Vogt, spokesperson for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. “Not
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just from an obvious national security perspective, but also from a commercial perspective.” Port delays affect everything from the shipment of produce to the crossing of farmworkers who pick that produce, from customs safety to supply chain issues that can eventually drive up the prices consumers pay. “The greater the efficiency of our ports, the better it is for U.S. consumers,” Vogt said. “We’ve seen how the cost of shipping delays is getting passed on to shoppers in stores, so improving these ports
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and ensuring they’re more efficient is a win for really all of us and our pocketbooks.” Twenty of the 26 projects identified by the GSA are on the Canadian border, with the southern border projects divided between three in Arizona, two in Texas and one in California. Not all of the projects had price tags attached and the GSA did not release detailed schedules for the work. “These are long-term investments,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan during a press briefing Thursday. “But there are some instances, like Calexico and San Luis, that we actually hope to have contracts awarded by the end of this year.” The San Luis project aims to improve the primary border crossing for Yuma-area farmworkers. The port was not designed to handle its current amount of traffic, leading to long wait times that can dissuade Mexican workers from seeking jobs across the border. It can also mean that trucks carrying produce get stuck idling for hours at a time. “Having people and produce sit for hours at a time at a port of entry is not efficient,” said Robert Medler, government affairs manager for Western Growers.
“That port in particular is integral to Yuma County’s and Arizona’s economy to have safe, efficient, cross-border travel and trade.” The Castro crossing handles commercial and noncommercial traffic in a facility that is old and not big enough to meet current demands. The complex, which dates to 1933, has one building that is on the National Register of Historic Places and it was last expanded in 1993, according to a GSA fact sheet. Not only is the facility too small “for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s current mission,” but the GSA said it forces truck traffic through the “same undersized commercial vehicle inspection compound, which slows traffic and poses safety hazards.” Initial plans call for the demolition and reconstruction of parts of the complex to “replace the systems and buildings that are undersized and well beyond their useful life.” The Castro work will not begin until traffic can be shifted to a new port dedicated to commercial traffic at Douglas, a $200 million project that is “long overdue,” according to Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Tucson. The GSA said the new port will allow for oversized mining equip-
ment and chemicals to cross the border safely. Grijalva said the new Douglas port will shift commercial traffic away from the middle of the city, while making it easier for CBP officers to do their jobs. “The whole issue is to expedite movement of goods, services and people… in a secure way,” Grijalva said. “That’s the kind of investment we need to be making.” But he said there is a larger benefit to this type of investment: It brings jobs. Construction jobs in the short term as well as longer-term jobs tied to the economic activity that an improved port can spur in the region. “It increases the flow of goods, services and people, shoppers, retail businesses, import-export, commerce, all of that are job generators,” Grijalva said. “If you look at every one of these ports, there’s significant dependency on our side of the border and that side of the border on the flow of goods and services and people.” ITB For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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MARCH 11, 2022
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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
MARCH 11, 2022
TECH TALK
Tucson helps NASA with ‘Spacecraft Swarms’ Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
W
ith a major research university right in our backyard, a strong military presence and innovative companies throughout the metro region, there’s often a plethora of interesting science, medical and technology news to be found in Southern Arizona. Here’s a breakdown of the most interesting recent developments. Spacecraft Swarm. Faculty at the University of Arizona are part of a new NASA mission seeking to better understand one
of the most common, yet mysterious, forms of matter in the universe. NASA’s new “HelioSwarm” mission aims to use a group of nine spacecraft to monitor plasma ejections, or “solar wind” from the sun. UA assistant professor of planetary sciences Kristopher Klein will serve as the mission’s deputy principal investigator. In this role, Klein will “ensure that the science questions can be answered with the instruments onboard the HelioSwarm spacecraft.” Research indicates plasma makes up more than 90% of the visible universe, comprising everything from lightning to the sun’s rays to
interstellar space. The HelioSwarm mission will send nine spacecraft to orbit the Earth, studying the frequency and turbulence of solar wind for a better understanding of the SunEarth connection, and the constantly changing space environment. “Studying the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field is important from a basic physics perspective, and it’s also important to understand how energy moves through the system and evolves,” Klein said in a UA release. “And during periods of heightened solar activity, these processes also affect things like global positioning and commu-
nications satellites, other spacecraft and astronauts.” According to NASA, the mission will consist of one hub spacecraft and eight co-orbiting small satellites that range in distance from each other and the hub spacecraft. The hub spacecraft will maintain radio contact with each small satellite. All radio contact between the swarm and Earth will be conducted through the hub spacecraft. “Think about the solar wind like a waterfall,” Klein said. “If you want Photo courtesy of NASA to understand a waterfall, you have to measure at NASA announced a new mission with a University of Arizona astronomer multiple points throughthat will seek to better understand solar winds. out its flow. There have been previous missions testing; magnetic particle Aiming High. that have had a few spacetesting; electromagnetic Students at Pima Comcrafts providing multitesting; ultrasonic testing; munity College can soon point measurement, but and radiographic testing. begin learning how to the dream is to have a set Courses will meet test and maintain aircraft of spacecrafts that will be the Level I and Level II parts thanks to a federal separated in such a way academic requirements of grant. A nearly half-milthat some of them will be lion dollar grant from the the American Society for relatively close and others Nondestructive Testing Federal Aviation Adfar. By doing that, we can (ASNT). Level II handsministration has created measure both large- and on work will be conducted a new certificate option small-scale physics at the same time and get a better in a lab at Pima’s Aviation within PCC’s Aviation understanding of how Technology Center, as well Technology Program. energy flows and evolves as The 42-credit course in as through apprenticeships it moves through the solar at local partner locations. “Nondestructive Testing” system.” PCC was one of 15 Aviafor aircraft maintenance The $250 million inspections will be offered tion Maintenance Techmission is set to launch in nical Workers Workforce starting in Fall 2023 and 2028. Development Grant remay be completed in two “The technical innocipients from around the semesters. vation of HelioSwarm’s country. The FAA grant Program director Jason small satellites operating Bowersock said most of the program aims to “help edtogether as a constellation ucate the next generation federal grant will pay for provides the unique ability equipment and supplies of aviation professionals to investigate turbulence for the training, which will across the United States in and its evolution in the rural, suburban, and urteach the “most-asked-for solar wind,” said Peg Luce, aviation inspection techban areas.” PCC received deputy director of NASA’s one of the largest grants in niques in the industry”: Heliophysics Division. the nation. ITB visual testing; penetrant
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MARCH 11, 2022
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University of Arizona researcher wins Health Champion award Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
H
ealthcare workers and researchers of nearly every discipline worked overtime during the pandemic to ensure patients were cared for, hospitals ran smoothly, and vaccines were administered. However, a certain group of workers took an overhead view to better understand how systems operated and the most help was delivered to the most people. In early February, the All of Us research program, a collaboration between the University of Arizona and Banner Health, honored assistant professor of family and community medicine Karen Lutrick with the inaugural Arizona Health Champion award. The recognition is for Lutrick’s research to better understand COVID-19 infection and reinfection rates, and vaccine efficacy. Lutrick works with the Arizona Healthcare, Emergency and Other Essential Workers Surveillance (AZ HEROES) study, which examines infection rates among first-responders and essential workers to better protect them and the community. The UA-Banner All of Us program which awarded Lutrick shares a similar goal of speeding up healthcare by building
“the largest most diverse database of health information of its kind that researchers can use to study health and illness.” “Our missions definitely align. We have similar philosophies when it comes to research and representation. It’s a natural partnership,” Lutrick said. “I’ve had a lot of roles at the University of Arizona, but most recently I worked in clinical research operations and managing ICU studies. In addition to Latinx health, one of the areas I also study is emergency preparedness and disaster medicine research, such as how institutions like hospitals can respond to public health emergencies.” Lutrick explains her research in ICU and critical care as using the seasonal flu as a proxy for a public health emergency. Every year the flu happens, but we don’t know how bad it will be or which strains it may produce. In addition to evaluating how the flu impacts individuals, researchers can evaluate how it impacts entire institutions. “Obviously you can imagine there are some parallels between influenza and COVID,” Lutrick said. “And there have been a handful of us working on these types of public health emergencies, such as a
natural disaster, train derailment or pandemic. So when the pandemic finally did hit, we were well-positioned to jump in and be ready for all the new folks entering this space, because their research got shut down or they wanted to help out. We were able to be there and do some big COVID in-patient, out-patient community surveillance and research.” AZ HEROES is a twoyear research project funded by the CDC. Their research team is working with roughly 4,000 health care workers, first responders, frontline workers and other essential workers throughout Arizona, half of whom have been infected by COVID. The study has three objectives: assess the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic re-infection in frontline workers, identify patterns of COVID-19 immunity, and evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. “Before COVID hit, I was still doing public health emergency research, but it was less about a specific disease,” Lutrick said. “It was more about the infrastructure approach: how do we think about research in a way that allows us to be responsive as things change and evolve? Even if you’re thinking about
Photo by Kris Hanning/University of Arizona Health Sciences
something more tangible like a train derailment, there are still phases. There’s the immediate, the long term, the environmental. We think about systematic approaches that can evolve and respond to the needs of the community.” As part of the AZ HEROES study, she specifically helps with daily operations and the process of the research. This aligns with her other pre-pandemic research on health disparities and wellness in the Hispanic community. “I also help make sure we’re not unintentionally alienating individuals or avoiding bias that would keep us from seeing the full impact on certain communities,” Lutrick said. “As we designed these studies, I wanted to
make sure we’re as inclusive as possible. Because there are groups of individuals that are traditionally less included in research, so we’re making sure the surveys are in multiple languages and that the staff can establish rapport with communities, that we’re not just going to the places we always go.” Early AZ HEROES results published by the CDC found that first-responders who were fully vaccinated were 90% less likely to get infected with COVID. “There are still so many questions you can continue to ask after the fact, such as about vaccine effectiveness or lasting immunity, that can influence policy,” Lutrick said. “But then there’s secondary ques-
tions that allow you to understand how things work, like detectable amounts of antibodies in the blood. And once we have more time, we can look beyond that, such as the types of antibodies.” The Arizona Health Champion recognition is planned to be a series of awards honoring the work of health care heroes throughout the state. “I’m obviously incredibly honored, but at the same time, I worked alongside so many brilliant and dedicated people. This work has to be a full-on village,” Lutrick said. “There are hundreds of people working all day every day at this, who I’ve learned so much from. I think people may not realize just how collaborative this work is. ITB
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Oro Valley joining Tucson as a food destination Jake O’Rourke
Special to Inside Tucson Business
W
ith Tucson’s continually rising reputation as a food and craft beer hub, some business owners are looking beyond the city and seeking out locations in Oro Valley to start or expand their businesses. Fini’s Landing, Seis Kitchen, Tucson Tamale, Tap & Bottle, Guadalajara Grill and Street Taco are several Tucson-based businesses that expanded to the Oro Valley area over the past few years. Now, there are fresh players in the field hoping to add some spice in Oro Valley. “We had more single-family permits last fiscal year than in any time in the last 15 years,” said Dave Perry, president and CEO of the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s easier to do business in the winter because there are more people. The hard thing is to do business in the summer. If we increase that year-round residential population, that helps business go a little bit better in the slow times. That is a factor—I can promise you—in [businesses] deciding to locate here.” Hector and Marnel Martinez are spouses and the co-owners of The Hoppy Vine, a craft beer and wine taproom
and bottle shop coming to the Oro Valley Marketplace in May. Hector previously owned Old Pueblo Brew Tours where he would guide groups to various breweries around Tucson. Forced to close the business due to the pandemic, they searched for a vessel in which to start a new business revolving around their enthusiasm for craft beer and wine. As residents of Oro Valley, Hector and Marnel felt there was a lack of bottle shops in the northern area. After checking out a location available in the Oro Valley Marketplace, they decided it would be the perfect location for a new bottle shop. Thus, The Hoppy Vine was born. “The point is to produce and have a space where community members from all walks of life can come in to celebrate, unwind or just simply connect with other people,” Hector said. Marnel currently works as a realtor, and Hector works in outside sales for ADP. Both feel they have flexible enough schedules to balance their work obligations with those of the new taproom. The Hoppy Vine will have 20 beers and eight wines on tap with non-alcoholic selections available, as well. There will be temperature-controlled coolers for to-go beverages, keeping beer and red and white wines
at optimal temperatures. The drinks on tap will be a mix of local, regional, national, and international varieties. They will also offer light snacks and charcuterie boards, but patrons are welcome to bring or order food to the taproom to enjoy a meal there. “I think the first time we look around and see people drinking and having fun will be the best moment ever,” Marnel said. “This has been one of the riskiest and most stressful things we have ever done. I’m not a big crier, but when we went and saw the ground-breaking and could see the actual work being done, I completely cried. Now that it’s all happening, we just can’t wait for it to be done.” Josh Bishop is the general manager at The Keg Steakhouse and Bar. He has worked in that position for 10 years but has been with the company for 15 years overall. In July 2019, Bishop started his own enterprise by opening the Fork & Fire food truck with his brother Jason and their friend Brent. The food truck serves barbecue classics, from pulled pork sandwiches and chili cheese dogs to loaded mac and cheese and smoked beef sausages. Although they had gained popularity for their barbecue, the Fork & Fire owners noticed a need in Oro Valley for
Photo by Jake O’Rourke
“The point is to produce and have a space where community members from all walks of life can come in to celebrate, unwind or just simply connect with other people,” said The Hoppy Vine co-founder Hector Martinez.
something different from what they were serving. After being approached by an investor, Wildfire Wing Company on Oracle Road got its start this January. “It grew relatively quickly,” Bishop said. “What started off as a small side project became a full-fledged business as it became more in demand and people started to really enjoy it. We were recently approached by the owner of the building in Oro Valley Marketplace and asked if we’d like to expand our brand and open up a barbecue restaurant.” The tentative name for Bishop’s second brick-and-mortar location is Fork & Fire Smokehouse and Taproom and will occupy
the space previously housing Salted Pig. They’re aiming for their location to combine a smokehouse atmosphere with a backyard barbecue and will open in the middle of March. Sausages, briskets, ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends and chicken will all be smoked in-house and served up on a plate with sides or in a sandwich. “When you cook, you put your heart, your soul, your effort, and your mind into creating something good,” Bishop said. “When someone appreciates that, I have to imagine it’s something like being an artist when someone loves your art. It’s a really cool, very fulfilling thing to do and, at the same time, you get to nourish people and help
people have good times and enjoy themselves. It’s a passion project more than anything else.” As passion continues to develop in business owners and restaurateurs, Oro Valley has become a growing consideration for them to open new locations. Through assistance by the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, new business owners like Hector and Marnel Martinez and Josh Bishop feel poised to bring their new concepts to market. “We try to create an opportunity for people to do business,” Perry said. “If the community is thriving, and we’ve done our small part, restaurants and other businesses will see opportunities here.” ITB
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ON THE MENU
Flame on: BATA embraces “the legends and lore of fire” Matt Russell
Special to Inside Tucson Business
W
hile many of us learned early in life about the consequences of yelling “fire” in a crowded building, the exclamation has taken residence in the formal and flame-licked lexicon of downtown Tucson’s hottest new restaurant. BATA, the newest concept in Chef Tyler Fenton’s growing hospitality group, was built on what he calls “the legends and lore of fire,” and that began with naming the restaurant. “Our name comes from the word ‘Robata’ which is a Japanese style of cooking over fire, and while we’re not a Japanese restaurant, the name connects our love of fire with our overall approach of pulling from different places and cultures and making it our own,” said Fenton, executive chef and owner of BATA who also owns Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink with two Tucson locations. Fenton’s fire touches every one of the nearly 20 dishes on BATA’s menu, from the ash-roasted beet tartlet with cultured cream on the smaller-scale side to the larger-scale pork loin with charred squash, pecans, and coffee amino. I’m told that the flame
factor is adjusted for each dish to complement the texture and flavor profiles of its ingredients. Fenton notes that a few dishes have subtle expressions of fire, such as the beef tartare garnished with a fermented and flame-dried green onion powder. “The fire here delivers just a hint of smoke in a cold, raw dish,” he said. “It’s the most finessed and delicate dish on the menu from a smoke perspective.” Facing down finesse on the opposite end of the fire frequency are dishes that he calls “bold and in-your-face,” like the grilled pork belly with a sauce made from several ingredients that are literally burned in the fireplace. “This one definitely delivers plenty of smokey depth,” he said. Fresh vegetables play central roles on many of the plates. In fact, it’s Fenton’s opinion that a fire-cooked carrot has as much appeal as a beautifully grilled steak. Given his love affair with root vegetables, it’s no surprise that a chewy carrot with ajo blanco and cilantro, and a turnip tostada with nopales escabeche and herbs, are dishes in and of themselves. To end the evening, Fenton is offering several confections of conflagrant magnitude,
including sourdough ice cream with whey granita and hearth-dried dates and chocolate mousse with a smoked almond tart and Arizona olive oil. The building that BATA calls home, in the heart of downtown’s Warehouse Arts District, was built as a supply warehouse in the 1930s. It was later transformed into commercial offices and, more recently, a community arts space. Fenton and his team have since commissioned a fundamental redesign of the space featuring original wood and metal bow truss ceilings contrasted with contemporary touches like a shou sugi ban soffit made from…wait for it…heavily charred wood. Yes, even the décor and building materials are inspired by fire. In addition to the main dining room, the restaurant offers a private dining room that seats 14 guests, a larger event space accommodating 40 guests, and a basement bar, called BAR BATA, that’s expected to open in May. Located at 35 E. Toole Avenue, BATA is open Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. Additional information is at www. BataTucson.com. Benjamin Franklin once said, “A house is
Courtesy photo
not a home unless it contains food and fire.” Knowing what I know about BATA, I may have found my home away from home. ITB
Contact Matt Russell, whose day job is CEO of Russell Public Communications, at mrussell@russellpublic.com. Russell is also the publisher of OnTheMenuLive.com as
well as the host of the Friday Weekend Watch segment on the “Buckmaster Show” on KVOI 1030 AM. Disclosure: BATA is a client of Russell Public Communications.
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MARCH 11, 2022
MetFora Continued from P5
“We try not to pick and choose ‘winners.’ At the stage these are at, it’s very hard to foresee what is going to be successful or not,” Hockstad said. TLA has helped organize more than 100 startups since 2013, with more than 19 startups in fiscal year 2020 alone. According to a report from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the UA’s Eller College of Management, startups associated with TLA have generated more than $25 million in state and local taxes and more than 5,000 new jobs.
“We do everything from software to curriculum to therapeutic compounds to medical devices,” Hockstad said. “It runs the gamut.” Most recently, MetFora was one of four medical technology companies that participated in the startup competition Venture Madness in Phoenix on March 2 and 3. “We are very grateful to TLA for the support. They helped with patents and regulatory analysis and mentoring. We’ve even had seasoned executives from area companies help us through this process,” Fuchs said. “They really provided the impetus to get the company started.” ITB
BUSINESS CALENDAR Tuesdays, March event/it-is-about-me. 15 & 22 Thursday, March 17 • The Rotary Club of Marana meets (weekly). Details: 7 a.m.; Northwest Fire Dept., 5125 W. Camino de Fuego (in person first 3 Tuesdays of the month); via Zoom (first 4 Tuesdays of the month); maranarotary. org or text 520-909-9162 for virtual meeting information.
Wednesday, March 16
• The Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce offers MCLAB Series Workshop It IS About Me: Self-Care Strategies for Handling Conflict. Details: 4-6:30 p.m.; online; $70; ourfamilyservices.org/
• The Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly breakfast. Details: 8-9:30 a.m.; in-person location to be announced; tucsonlgbtchamber.org. • The Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce holds a ribbon cutting at Greenspring Inspire Medical Aesthetics. Details: 4 p.m.; 10509 N. Oracle Road, Ste. 141; free; orovalleychamber. com. • Southern Arizona SCORE and the Pima County Library offer a webinar on how to Publish a Free Website in One Hour. Details: 6 p.m.; free; southernarizona.score.org.
EMAIL DETAILS FOR YOUR BIZ EVENTS TO SHERYL@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM
Thursdays, March 17 & 24
• The Rotary Club of Dove Mountain meets. Details: 5-6 pm; Highlands of Dove Mountain Clubhouse; 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd.; dovemountainrotary. org.
Monday, March 21
• Oro Valley Toastmasters meets. Details: 6:15 p.m. (on Zoom); https://2854329.toastmastersclubs.org or 314-8008.
Tuesday, March 22 • The Marana Chamber of Commerce holds its 4th
Tuesday Mixer. Details: 5-7 p.m.; Hilton El Conquistador Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road; $10, members free; 520-682-4314 or maranachamber.com.
Wednesday, March 23
• The Marana Chamber of Commerce holds Marana Insights on important issues impacting the Southern Arizona region and business community. Details: 8-9 a.m.; online Zoom or Facebook; members free; maranachamber.com. Send your biz events to calendar editor Sheryl Kocher at sheryl@tucsonlocalmedia.com.
Making Life ! n o s Great in Tuc ®
520.762.4612 • GreatWesternBank.com
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MARCH 11, 2022
Venture Capitalists Rank Business 2021 Address 2020
Phone Company Email Website
0
(520) 834-3235 joann@desertangels.org desertangels.org
Desert Angels 607 N. 6th Avenue Tucson, AZ 85705
Funds Under Management $0
Funds Currently Invested
Minimum Number of Types of Investment Current Financing Preferred Investments Offered
$47,300,000
95
Early stage funding
Industry Preferences for Investment
Notable Accounts
Science and technology across all industries
Top Local Executives
Year Establ. Locally
Joann MacMaster Jeffrey Lang Mike Sember
2000
Ranked by the total funds under management Ranked information is provided by business representatives at no charge and is ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings. N/A=not provided WND=would not disclose NL=not listed last year NR=listed last year but ranking criteria not provided
Manufacturing Firms Rank Business 2021 Address 2020
Phone Company Email Website
1
Raytheon Missiles & Defense 1151 E. Hermans Rd. Tucson, AZ 85756
(520) 794-3000 rmdpr@rtx.com raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/
2
Hexagon 40 E Congress St. Suite 300 Tucson, AZ 85701
3
No. of Products Manufactured Local Employees
Parent Company Headquarters
Top Local Executives
Year Establ. Locally
13,000
N/A
Waltham, MA
Wesley D Kremer
1951
(520) 795-3891 media.min@hexagon.com www.hexagonmining.com
700
N/A
Hexagon AB Stockholm, Sweden
Nicholas Hare Rob Daw
6
Universal Avionics 3260 E. Universal Way Tucson, AZ 85756
(520) 295-2300 info@uasc.com www.uasc.com
330
N/A
Elbit Systems Ltd. - Haifa, Israel Dror Yahav
1981
4
CAID Industries, Inc. 2275 E. Ganley Rd. Tucson, AZ 85706
(520) 294-3126 sales@caid.com caid.com
245
N/A
Chicago, IL
Rob Assenmacher
1947
5
Kalil Bottling Co. 931 S. Highland Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 622-5811 jkalil@kalilbottling.com kalilbottling.com
244
Beverage's
Tucson, Arizona
John P Kalil
1948
6
Abrams Airborne Mfg., Inc. 3735 N. Romero Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 887-1727 sales@abrams.com abrams.com
140
Subcontractor Manufacturer-Precision Machining and sheet metal parts
Tucson
Gary L. Abrams Jenny A. Wilson
1965
7
AGM Container Controls, Inc. 3526 E. Ft. Lowell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 881-2130 sales@agmcontainer.com www.agmcontainer.com
115
Design and fabricate products that protect sealed enclosures from the harmful effects of Tucson moisture, pressure, humidity, and corrosion. Our products include breather valves (pressure/vacuum), desiccators, shapeable desiccant and humidity indicators (moisture protection), and tie downs, shelving and shock overload indicators (shock/vibration). AGM also manufactures ADA compliant Ascension wheelchair lifts.
Howard N. Stewart
1970
8
Perfection Industrial Finishing 1155 E. Palmdale St. Tucson, AZ 85714
(520) 434-9090 info@perfectionindustrialfinishing.com www.perfectionindustrialfinishing.com
82
Products Finishing for Military, Aerospace, Semi Conductor and Medical
Tucson with second location in Phoenix
Charles F. Zinke
1992
9
SW Sun Control Products, Inc 816 E Evans Blvd Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 792-1775 sales@swsuncontrol.com www.swsuncontrol.com
68
Retractable Shading
Tucson
Ian Meuschke Billie Meuschke
1997
10
Dataforth Corp. 3331 E. Hemisphere Loop Tucson, AZ 85706
(520) 741-1404 sales@dataforth.com dataforth.com
38
Signal Conditioner, Data Acquistion Systems, Data Communication Modems
Tucson
Lee Payne Georg Haubner John Lehman
1984
11
Evaero, Inc. 3807 E. Kleindale Rd Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 327-0053 info@evaero.com www.evaero.com
32
Aerospace and defense
N/A
12
Schnipke Southwest, LLC 6350 E. Littletown Rd. Tucson, AZ 85756
(520) 574-1994 sales@schnipke.com schnipke.com
30
N/A
Ottoville, OH
Jim Harris
2003
12
Spartan Armor Systems 1830 W Copper St Tucson, AZ 85745
(520) 396-3335 info@spartanarmorsystems.com www.spartanarmorsystems.com
30
Body Armor
Tucson, AZ
Todd E Meeks
2012
14
P4Swiss / Lindel CNC Machining 3380 E. Elvira Rd. Tucson, AZ 85756
(520) 792-3160 sales@lindelengineering.com https://www.precisioncncmachining.com
21
CNC Machined and Swiss CNC Machines parts, assemblies
Tucson
Tom Ferrara Jack B. McFarland Tony Torrez
1987
15
Kirsh Manufacturing, Inc. 801 E. 46th St. Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 792-4122 kirsh@kirshmanufacturing.com www.kirshmanufacturing.com
18
Precision Machined Parts
Tucson
Tim Kirsh
1998
16
The Metal Man, Inc. / TMM Precision 1552 S. Euclid Ave. Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 792-2220 sales@themetalman.com www.themetalman.com
12
Industrial sheet metal manufacturing job shop
Tucson
Marilyn G. Speert Alan R. Speert
1975
17
Stonehenge Manufacturing 3331 N. Palo Verde Ave Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 370-1024 steve@stonehengemfg.com stonehengemfg.com
6
CNC machined parts
N/A
Steve Fischahs Brandon Fletcher
2010
18
HT Metals 4650 S. Coach Dr., Ste. 120 Tucson, AZ 85714
(520) 807-6157 info@htmetals.com htmetals.com
5
Custom cut metallic raw material.
N/A
Carlos Ruiz
2003
19
McGowan Manufacturing 4720 N La Cholla Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 219-0884 info@mcgowanmg.com www.mcgowangifts.com
4
custom gifts, knife sharpeners
Tucson, AZ
1983
Ranked by the number of full-time local employees (2 P-T = 1 F-T) Information is provided by business representatives at no charge. Businesses are ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings. N/A=not provided WND=would not disclose NL=not listed last year NR=listed last year but ranking criteria not provided
2001
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