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Volume 30 • Number 9
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Build Back Busier TECH TALK
OSIRIS-REx gets a new NASA mission Page 13 RIBBON CUTTING
Fourth Avenue businesses and events seeing increased traffic
EMPLOYEE CENTER Roche unveils ‘Forum’ at Oro Valley Campus
Page 6
Jeff Gardner Inside Tucson Business / Page 10 ON THE MENU
VENTANA VEGGIES
A chance to learn to love liver and onions
Page 14 BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Bookstores and shopping enters
PEOPLE IN ACTION
REAL ESTATE
New promotions, hires and awards Page 3
YMCA announces $5 million expansion Page 4
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Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process
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May 7, 2021
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Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian
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BUSINESS SUPPORT
EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
| 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
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PEOPLE IN ACTION
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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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VENUE GRANTS
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Hospitals, hospice, and assisted living facilities
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REAL ESTATE
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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PANDEMIC RECOVERY
“PAST THE WORST OF IT”
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
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MAY 6, 2022
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CHAMBER CHATTER
TUCSON METRO CHAMBER
BY MICHAEL GUYMON
Growth Mindset for Business
I
recently sat down with my exceptional team at the Chamber to discuss how we can all embrace a growth mindset. There are several theories related to how we can best improve ourselves and our situations, but I like Dr. Carol Dweck’s description where she says, “The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.” To illustrate growth mindset further, it needs to be contrasted with a fixed mindset. Here are some differences. • Related to challenges, the fixed mindset avoids challenges while the growth mindset welcomes them. • Related to obstacles, the fixed mindset gives up easily while the growth mindset wants to turn them into opportunities. • Related to criticism, the fixed mindset ignores useful or negative criticism while the growth mindset works to listen and learn from criticism received. • Related to the success of others, the fixed mindset is threatened by the success of others while the growth mindset sees other’s success as something to strive toward or is inspired by such success. The bottom line is that
the individual with a fixed mindset will not achieve their full potential due to their disinterest or unwillingness to continue to learn and grow while the individual with a growth mindset will continually strive for even higher levels of achievement and success. The growth mindset principle is the impetus behind Tucson Metro Chamber’s Business Summit and Expo to be held at the Tucson Convention Center on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As successful business owners and executives, we are continually working to develop innovative ideas and learn ways in which we can improve. The keynote speaker for the Chamber’s Business Summit will be Jack Selby, part of the group that founded PayPal. We hear a lot of stories about how taking risks and implementing innovative ideas can result in great advancements in our society and, let’s be honest, create a great deal of profit. Mr. Selby now manages funds that help get new ideas off the ground that will make even greater improvements. The luncheon will be followed by a series of breakout sessions focused on helping business owners and managers learn how to grow and new ways to achieve success. The following breakout sessions were developed by listening to Chamber members and assembling the right
subject matter experts who will share their experiences and information based on those specific interests: • How to Tell a Fundable Story • Understanding Access to Venture Capital • Innovative Digital Presence, Social Media and Google Analytics • Responding to Today’s Vulnerabilities, Risks and Issues • Emerging Business Trends and Achieving Growth • Workforce Development and Talent Attraction: What is being done about it? • Leaving Your Legacy and Succession Strategies • Impact of Advocacy and Outreach, and Why Community Collaboration is Crucial • Accessing Grants and Government Funds Between Mr. Selby’s story and the information shared by the breakout session panelists, the optimal outcome of the Chamber’s Business Summit will be inspiring attendees to achieve their full potential. Part of the Chamber’s mission to “champion an environment where your business thrives” includes bringing forward the right resources to assist in business growth and success. Successful businesses turn “obstacles into opportunities” and “welcome challenges.” Let’s keep learning together and expand our growth mindset. ITB
WEEKLY TOP
BY LISA LOVALLO
10 reads that should be on the bookshelves of every business owner
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o matter the industry, successful business owners are always learning and seeking out innovative ways to improve. Whether you own a business or are taking the first step towards launching your startup, here are a few business books to get you on the path to success. 1. Good to Great by Jim Collins. Throughout this book, Collins teaches the characteristics needed to run a successful business and the importance of confronting the hardships of running a business. 2. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. One of my personal favorites, Dare to Lead, teaches us that a great leader practices vulnerability to foster creativity, innovation and connection. 3. The Art of Learning by Joshua Waitzkin. The title says it all. Understanding the way you learn as an individual will lead you to success as a business owner. Waitzkin takes you through his journey of personal achievements by sharing the art of learning. 4. Built to Last by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras. These writers took 18 successful, long-standing companies and examined them through each step of their business – as startups, mid-size and all the way to large corporations. Learn about the common practices and principles these companies applied to make your business last. 5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. As a timeless bestseller, this book will encourage you to make small but impactful changes to find success in your business and personal life.
6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Becoming a successful business leader requires problem-solving skills. That starts with personal change. Covey shares a step-by-step path for developing practices that give us the power to take advantage of the opportunities presented to us. 7. Think Big, Act Small by Jason Jennings. Jennings takes you through the screening of thousands of companies to find nine that, although rarely received media coverage, had increased profits by 10 percent or more for 10 consecutive years. Keeping the startup spirit alive is the key to success. 8. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. While many talk about the joys of starting a business, very few are honest about the difficulties that come with it. Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s most experienced entrepreneurs, offers insights from his time within the technology industry. 9. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. Launching a startup often comes with uncertainty. Learning how to work through that fog of uncertainty is the key to success. Ries takes you through inspired lessons to help startup business owners shift directions with confidence. 10. Emotion by Design by Greg Hoffman. Former Nike CMO Greg Hoffman shares lessons on the power of creativity. Learn ways to unlock inspiration and build stronger emotional connections with stakeholders. Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communicationss. Reach her at lisa.lovallo@ cox.com.
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MAY 6, 2022
PEOPLEINACTION
Jessica Tierney
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The National Science Foundation has awarded University of Arizona geoscientist Jessica Tierney their highest honor for early-career scientists. The Alan T. Waterman Award comes with $1 million over five years, and recognizes outstanding individual achievements in NSF-supported research. Tierney studies ancient climates to better understand larger weather trends. Using high-tech modeling and ancient climate data, she has generated maps of past climate conditions. According to UA, her research has redefined the understanding of global temperature changes in the geologic past and developed a new understanding of temperature and climate sensitivity to carbon dioxide. “Receiving this award signals that one of the nation’s top research funders recognizes the urgency of understanding the Earth system as humans drive climate change,” Tierney said. “It makes me feel like my research is important and really making a difference.” Tierney is an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences in the College of Science, and is the first climatologist to win the award since Congress established it in 1975. She is also the first UA faculty to receive the honor. In total, three scientists received the Alan T. Waterman Award this year. The award is named after the National Science Foundation’s first director.
Tucson Jewish Community Center merges with Arts for All
Cristian Cormier
Joni Bates
Devin Dunatov
Portia Cooper
Carondelet Health Network has hired Cristian Cormier as the Chief Financial Officer for St. Joseph’s Hospital in eastern Tucson. Cristian joins the health network with more than 20 years of finance and accounting healthcare leadership experience. Most recently, she served as the Chief Financial Officer for The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus in El Paso, Texas. She has played a crucial part in implementing cost saving initiatives, staffing improvements and growth initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s of business administration from Belhaven University, as well as a master’s of accounting and financial management from Keller Graduate School.
Joni Bates has joined the staff of the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. She brings 20 years of chamber experience, and is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute of Organization Management. She previously worked at the Glenwood Springs, Colorado Chamber Resort Association, where she recently received a lifetime membership. “Joni comes to our Chamber at just the right time,” said Oro Valley Chamber President and CEO Dave Perry. “She brings a wealth of experience and genuine enthusiasm for Chamber work. As we grow, our needs expand, and Joni can fill the gaps and help propel our members forward.”
Burning Tree Programs, a 12step clinic for young adults, has hired Dr. Devin Dunatov as medical director for their Tucson location, Burning Tree West. Dunatov brings more than 10 years of experience to Burning Tree West, most recently having served as a psychiatrist at Clarity Behavioral Health Group. “I am thrilled to welcome a very talented and experienced doctor to our leadership team,” said Anthony Marengo, Executive Director of Burning Tree West. “Burning Tree West has long served the state’s and nation’s youth transitioning into sobriety beyond treatment, and Dr. Dunatov will bring added depth and experience to the treatment we provide.”
Portia Cooper, a 12th grader at Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning Charter School, recently received a $130,000 Flinn Scholarship that includes tuition, fees, housing, and meals at one of Arizona’s public universities, plus study abroad funding. Cooper is heavily involved in computer science, having learned seven programming languages and graduating with more than 100 college credits from Pima Community College. She plans to attend the University of Arizona to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science. More than 1,000 students applied for the scholarship, but only 20 Arizona high schoolers were awarded.
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In April, the Tucson Jewish Community Center announced that Arts for All had joined the organization under the umbrella of their Disability Program Services department. The Tucson-based nonprofit Arts for All has brought arts programs to the disabled community for more than three decades. “We are very appreciative of all the professionals who oversaw and implemented this integration,” said Isaac Rothschild, who sits on the board at both Arts for All and is the immediate past chair of the JCC’s board. “There was a substantial process to make sure the two organizations were the best fit for each other.” According to JCC, integration will allow both organizations to leverage their strengths, offering more robust programming, support, and opportunities for the Southern Arizona disability community. “Arts are the key to reaching people,” said Arts for All executive director Marcia Berger. “I’ve never met a person that some form of arts didn’t touch, whether it’s music or drama or art or ceramics… What this integration with the J will bring is true sustainability and the opportunity to enhance the program and serve more people. I’m excited that Arts for All will continue with an organization that has such national strength behind it. The way I see it, the J is the crown on the gem.”
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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
MAY 6, 2022
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
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Downtown YMCA announces $5 million expansion and renovation cipals and Retail Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction.
Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
O
n April 11, the Lohse Family YMCA located in downtown Tucson broke ground on a $5 million expansion and renovation that will increase both the space for and quality of programming. In total, the so-called Mission Expansion Campaign that began in 2018 raised $4.3 million. Contributions from the Burton Family Foundation and the Kasser Family also helped solidify the expansion of the 30-year-old facility. “It has become increasingly apparent that our (downtown) 1992 facility must evolve to remain relevant, innovative, and accessible. As the needs of our world and community have changed, we must also. With re-imagined, multi-purpose spaces we can support all who seek a healthier and more connected life, today and well into the future,” said YMCA President and CEO Kurtis Dawson. “We are humbled by the level of support the community has provided us over these past few years. Whether it was a gift of time or money, so many individuals and organizations have helped us stay strong through very challenging times.” The expansion will
LEASES
Courtesy photo
modernize the welcome center (which will be renamed The Burton Family Foundation Welcome and Connection Center), add a new YMCA bike hub, add an “airnasium” for outdoor programming, add a new connection lounge, and renovate the aquatics center. The project is expected to complete in early 2023.
SALES BLW Holdings, LLC purchased a 10,724-squarefoot industrial building located at 546 E. 25th St. in Tucson. The single-tenant, manufacturing property was purchased from Applied Process Technologies, Inc.
for $1,020,000. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the buyer in the transaction. William Mordka, with Harvey Mordka Realty, represented the seller. Kristina Olivarez purchased 2,628 square feet of retail space at 335 W. American Ave. in Oracle, from Circle K Stores, Inc. Greg Furrier and Rob Tomlinson, Principals and Retail Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Zach Nichols with Realty Executives Arizona Territory, represented the buyer.
Lofts de Barrios LLC purchased a 6,675-squarefoot multifamily property located at 1250 E. Manlove St. in Tucson. The 6-unit, 2-bedroom/1-bath apartment complex was purchased from Santa Rita Lofts, LLC for $1,200,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Joey Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. Oscar Chaparro, JR purchased 2,400 square feet of retail space at 2246 N. Pinal Ave. in Casa Grande, from Circle K Stores, Inc. for $350,000. Greg Furrier and Rob Tomlinson, Prin-
Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.
Sonora Quest Laboratories, LLC renewed their lease with Magnum Realty, Mettler-Toledo Thornton, Inc. renewed their lease LLC for 2,933 square feet of space at 603 N. Wilmot with East Park VI Holding Company, LLC for 8,050 Rd., Suite 141 in Tucson. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, square feet of industrial space at Broadbent Business Principal, Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield Center, 2102 N. Forbes | PICOR, represented the Blvd., Suite 103-107 in Tucson. Robert C. Glaser, tenant in this transaction. Buzz Isaacson with Buzz SIOR, CCIM, Principal, Isaacson Realty, LLC, repIndustrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PI- resented the landlord. COR, represented the landTile Outlet LLC renewed lord in this transaction. Tim Healy with CBRE, Tucson, their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 2,876 represented the tenant. square feet of retail space at Palo Verde Business Center, Thayer Medical Corpo3820 S. Palo Verde Rd., ration renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner Suite 105 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, LLC for 7,287 square feet Andrew Keim, and Molly of industrial space at Butterfield Business Park, 4575 Mary Gilbert with CushS. Palo Verde Rd., Suite 335 man & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in in Tucson. Paul Hookthis transaction. er, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Title Security Agency Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, repre- of Arizona, LLC renewed sented the landlord in this their lease with William transaction. Tim Healy with and Susan Daugherty, JT/ CBRE, Tucson, represented RS, for 1,900 square feet of office space located in Tanthe tenant. que Verde Place, 7479 E. Tanque Verde Rd. in TucTMC Medical Network leased a 4,955-square-foot son. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, Principal, and Office medical office from TMC Specialist with Cushman & Holdings, Inc., located at 1396 N. Wilmot Rd. in Tuc- Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in this son. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, Principal, and Office transaction.
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MAY 6, 2022
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Literacy Connects celebrates 10 years of reading and storytelling Jillian Bartsch
Special to Inside Tucson Business
T
he National Center for Education Statistics estimates that nearly 5% of American adults are “functionally illiterate,” which can make it hard to maintain a job, understand critical paperwork, and even navigate the world. For a decade, one local nonprofit has worked to improve reading comprehension and passion throughout Southern Arizona. Literacy Connects is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide people with opportunities through literacy and creative expression. Literacy Connects Executive Director Matt Tarver-Wahlquist explained that the organization has grown a lot over the past 10 years. Literacy Connects was born in the wake of a Tucson Regional Town Hall. The group was looking at factors that affected the well-being and the economic health of the Tucson community. They identified literacy as the most important factor in someone’s economic well-being, so they looked to improve the literacy landscape in Tucson. They identified a number of small organizations doing literacy work in Tucson, including Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, Reading Seed, Stories that Soar!, Reach out and Read Southern Arizona and Literacy for Life Coalition. They thought that if those organizations came together to form a large literacy organization, it would better serve the community.
On July 1, 2011, those five organizations had merged into one organization: Literacy Connects. The nonprofit still operates many of the programs from its founding organizations, including the Reading Seed for children and various adult literacy programs. The Reading Seed program started out focused on kindergartners through fifth graders. Teachers would refer individual students who would be provided with reading coaches. While they still do that, they now focus more on kindergarten through second grade since they found that starting earlier produced better results. Literacy Connects also offers adult basic literacy and General Education Development test preparation in English and Spanish. When the pandemic started, they moved services online and they were able to aid people they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to reach. They realized that providing classes online worked better for some people who had transportation issues or other challenges. Literacy Connects provides services across the entire age spectrum and provides services for more than 40,000 people in a typical year. They also partner with the International Rescue Committee to provide English language instruction for refugees and have a garden on their property where refugees can grow their own food, according to Tarver-Wahlquist. While they only have 30 employees, they tap the skills of more than 1,000
volunteers. Hope Beck Goldsmith has been a Reading Seed volunteer for five years and currently works with two kindergartners and a first grader. “It is so special to connect one-on-one with the kids,” Goldsmith said. “I see the same children every week, all school year, so we have formed a relationship.” Tarver-Wahlquist said the volunteers fill an important role. “They don’t ‘teach kids to read,’ teachers teach kids to read,” Tarver-Wahlquist said. “What we do is we try to get kids to identify as readers.” In the Reading Seed program, they pair a volunteer with a student and they get to meet one-on-one. The volunteer brings them a book every time they meet and the student gets to take the book home. This allows the volunteers to get to know the kids’ interests and find books that would be interesting to the student. “In doing so we’re creating a positive association between the child and between reading, so that this book in front of them is not something that someone is forcing them to do, it’s not boring, it’s not a task,” Tarver-Wahlquist said. “It’s actually something they want to be a part of and they want to be involved in.” Another program is Stories that Soar, where they partner with a school and bring a box called “the magic box.” The idea of the magic box is that it eats stories, so the kids have the opportunity to write down stories and feed it to the magic box.
Since there isn’t a teacher grading the stories or anyone checking the grammar, the Stories that Soar program gives students the opportunity to focus on being creative. Literacy Connects then collects the box and has a group of artists read through the stories and select a few of the stories to be performed by professional actors in front of the school. “It really gets kids excited about reading and it honors their stories by trying to do something high quality with them,” Tarver-Wahlquist said. When the pandemic hit, they could no longer do live stage performances, so they changed Stories that Soar to Stories that Stream. They used professional artists, clay
animation specialists, animators, actors, and green screens to put those stories together through film. The Reach Out and Read program partners with pediatric clinics to give pediatricians training on how to incorporate literacy into the well-child visits for parents. When pediatricians provide information on care for the baby, they are also able to provide parents with a book to take home and encourage parents to read to their children. They encourage parents to let the kids hold the book, turn the pages and not feel like they have to follow the story so their kids can engage more with the book and reading. Literacy Connects’
programs rely on volunteers, which has been a challenge since the COVID outbreak. “The volunteers are what make us go, and it’s volunteers that we need, especially for this next school year coming up,” Tarver-Wahlquist said. Literacy Connects is celebrating their 10th anniversary at the Tucson Museum of Art courtyard on May 6 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the 10th anniversary dinner can be purchased on their website. The event will feature dinner and a series of speakers sharing the inspirational stories from Literacy ITB Connects’ past 10 years. Anyone interested in volunteering can apply at literacyconnects.org.
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MAY 6, 2022
Roche unveils ‘Forum’ at Oro Valley Campus Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
R
oche Tissue Diagnostics cut the ribbon on a 45,000 square foot employee forum at their campus in Oro Valley’s Innovation Park on Tuesday, April 26. The new building will serve as the central hub for the campus, with conference space, a cafeteria, a gym, a wellness center and more. The building also has a publicly accessible “Innovation Showcase” of the company’s role in research and global healthcare. With nearly 2,000 employees, Roche Tissue Diagnostics is Oro Valley’s largest private employer. At the ribbon cutting, Oro Valley Mayor
Joe Winfield highlighted the company’s critical role in the community, such as bringing more than a thousand high-paying jobs to the area. “I’m trying to channel the enthusiasm of the 48,000 residents of the Town of Oro Valley for the opening of this facility. This expansion will add so much. Of course, with an expansion like this, there are economic benefits, but there are also environmental and social benefits,” Winfield said. “We’re incredibly proud to have you as a member of our community. You have a presence in more than 100 countries, it’s really remarkable. And we’re so grateful that you chose the town of Oro Valley to be a part of this community.”
The Forum building has been in the works since 2017, when the company asked its employees what they’d like to have on their campus. Major requests included a gym and a larger health and wellness center. Roche broke ground on the building roughly two years later. “We thought about choice, because not everyone wants the same environment to work in,” said Terri Johnson, head of Real Estate, Facilities and Site Services for Roche Tissue Diagnostics. According to Roche, the new Forum building is powered 100% by renewable energy in the form of solar credits. This also goes for the entire campus, which head of Roche Tissue Diagnostics
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Jill German says is “essentially 100% renewable.” The expansion project produced 3,800 tons of waste, 84% of which was recycled. “If you do any research on the Roche company, you’ll see that sustainability is a huge part,” German said. “All around the world, we are very focused on the long term. It’s about what we’re doing as a company and as employees to ensure the sustainability of our planet and the sustainability of our company.” Globally, Roche has reduced energy consumption by 19% since 2015. The overall company has a goal of halving their total environmental impact and achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2029. While the Roche Tissue Diagnostics campus had previous gathering spaces for employees, German says it was insufficient. The cafeteria was smaller, it did not have attached meeting rooms or gyms, and “was not suited for a campus of 1,800.” “This particular building
has no laboratory space, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great space for innovation. The spaces have been built with engagement in mind,” German said. This is not the only new Roche building in the area. In June 2021, the company also broke ground on a new 60,000-square-foot manufacturing building in Marana. Roche plans to move some of their manufacturing and employees from their Oro Valley campus to their expanded Marana facility
upon completion. This can include moving up to 150 existing employees to the new location, and expanding their employee base at both facilities. “When I encounter people in Tucson, they don’t really realize that the world’s number one cancer tissue diagnostic company is right here in their own backyard, full of scientists and manufacturing,” German said. “There are all kinds of folks here contributing to the betterment of people with cancer.” ITB
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MAY 6, 2022
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Report: Arizona needs to graduate more high-school and college students to fill available jobs tion point in its economic trajectory with a comparatively low college completion rate and a growing labor demand for workers rizona will be with bachelor’s degrees,” issuing far fewer the Advancing Arizona’s bachelor degrees Economy: Investment in through the end of the Workforce Development decade than are needed to report noted. fill jobs, according to a new Ron Shoopman of the report presented at The Arizona Board of Regents Future of the Workforce, a warned that as a result of discussion sponsored by the that low graduation rate, University of Arizona Eller Arizona won’t have enough College of Management’s people to fill the jobs MAP dashboard on Thurs- created by development in day, April 21. Arizona’s private and public “Arizona is at an inflec- sector. Alexandra Pere
Inside Tucson Business
A
The Advancing Arizona’s Economy: Investment in Workforce Development report estimated Arizona will issue 26,300 fewer bachelor’s degrees than the economy needs annually until 2030. “Last year, companies in Arizona imported, hired and moved into Arizona 19,000 people with four-year degrees to fill jobs that they couldn’t fill with the people in Arizona who were either unwilling but likely just not qualified to fill,” Shoopman said.
Shoopman, however, doesn’t put the blame on Arizonans. He said it goes back to what the Board of Regents found in 2019: Arizona has a 79% high school graduation rate. One out of every five students in Arizona is not receiving a high school diploma. “We know … that if you don’t have a high school diploma, you probably don’t have a job,” Shoopman said. “Less than half of the people in the state that don’t have a high school diploma are unemployed.”
Shoopman said this report made it clear that Arizona needs to be doing better by their students and preparing people for the workforce. However, Shoopman said Arizona doesn’t need to funnel students into four-year universities. He said state leaders needed to also focus on certification programs, community colleges and trade schools. Jennifer Pullen, senior research economist at Eller College’s Economic and Business Research Center, revealed that a surplus of
jobs available in Arizona had dramatically increased from the early months of the pandemic. In January, Arizona had 241,000 open jobs in Arizona, which amounted to 80,000 more jobs than February 2020, according to Pullen. Although Tucson has been slower to recover these jobs compared to Phoenix, the statewide unemployment rate for March was 2.9%, a 23-year low. “There are primarily two reasons that the Continued on P8
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unemployment rate falls: Either those unemployed individuals find a job or those unemployed individuals leave the labor market,” Pullen said. Pullen speculated that many people chose to retire during the pandemic or left the labor market to take care of themselves or family. Skyrocketing housing prices also increased the equity of homeowners, which could allow them to stay out of the labor market for longer periods of time. Migration should also be considered a part of the equation, although international migration
fell during the pandemic. Pullen noted that inflation may bring workers back into the labor force. Pima Community College Chancellor Lee Lambert said the job market is changing to match new trends. “We’re moving from a first-curve society, the industrial era, to a second curve era, which is a knowledge-based digital era and at the center of that is this notion of skills,” Lambert said. The overwhelming statement from each presenter and panelist is the urgent need for preparing Arizona’s workforce to fill the jobs the state has created. Mister Car Wash CEO John Lai said during his panel appearance that
investment in early education is the obvious answer to the incoming increase in job openings. “There’s a revenue issue,” Lai said. “We have to pay teachers more, or invest in our school systems, preK, K through 12, and we’re not doing that. The high school graduation rate was shocking. It’s a precursor to college.” According to the Board of Regents report, Arizona is currently sitting at an inflection point where jobs are increasing too fast for people to fill the vacancies. Shoopman said it is imperative the state prepare Arizona’s next generation of students and workers by investing in the education Courtesy photo system to retain students in University of Arizona president Robert C. Robbins speaks at the Eller College of Management’s MAP dashboard on the system. ITB Thursday, April 21.
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Fourth Avenue businesses and events seeing increased traffic Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
A
fter nearly two years, vendors and patrons filled the colorful streets of Fourth Avenue for the Winter Street Fair in December 2021. Following that successful winter fair, the larger Spring Street Fair returned just last month to an even larger turnout. The events, which annually draw hundreds of thousands of attendees, were delayed multiple times due to the pandemic, bringing fewer patrons to the already-impacted local businesses lining Fourth Avenue. With the return of these large events, plus an increase in daily traffic, the avenue is looking bright — albeit with some remaining roadbumps and potholes. Fourth Avenue might have the strongest ratio of personality-to-square-feet in all of Tucson. North of the Fourth Avenue underpass, the corridor contains multiple coffeeshops, record stores, boutiques, art stores and bars. Geographically and culturally, it is the intersection of the university district and downtown. However, that culture has suffered multiple losses over the past few years, including the closure of the Flycatcher bar to be replaced by an apartment building. The pandemic certainly didn’t help, with multiple small businesses closing. But for some, including the
eclectic art store Pop Cycle, things are well on the road to recovery. “This last year has been our best year ever. It’s kind of crazy, and we’re blown away by how lucky we were. There’s been so much support, not just from the Tucson community, but also from visitors from out of town,” said Shannon Riggs, co-owner of Pop Cycle and chair of the Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition. “The avenue’s busy. I know the retail is doing well, and of course the bars and restaurants struggled a lot more, but when I look around the avenue, it always looks pretty hopping these days.” Pop Cycle, which sells a variety of recycled and local art, closed for six months in 2020. Not only did this impact the staff, but also the local artists whose work is sold in the store. Though Riggs admits the pandemic was very difficult for the avenue, she says it could have been worse. “We’re super lucky to not have lost many businesses,” Riggs said. “We did lose a few, but all the people that I know of who were running those businesses have bounced back and are doing something else. That’s really rad.” But now with restrictions lifted and business back up, there was also an opportunity to bring back the Made In Tucson Market in addition to the Street Fair. On a smaller scale, the Made In Tucson Market is exclusively for vendors from the area. With 165 vendors and
give customers an estimated time of arrival. “People have been pretty upset at times, not understanding we have no control over it,” Stern said. “People have learned to be more flexible over the past year, but not everyone is quite used to it.” Over the pandemic, the rate of shipping a 40-foot container across the Pacific has surged more than 500%, breaking $20,000, a record price. This type of increase has even impacted stores like Pop Cycle, which use many recycled materials for their products. “Almost across the Photo by Jeff Gardner board, our artists have had Pop Cycle, which sells a variety of local and recycled art, is seeing their best sales since the pandemic began. to raise their prices,” Riggs said. “Even though it’s recycled and handcrafted, number of difficulties in thousands of attendees, this they are a smaller operthere’s always something the world we now find ation and that pre-panApril saw the largest ever you have to buy. And we ourselves in. Beyond demic time was almost Made In Tucson Market. make a lot of the things record inflation, there like operating a different “Something we hear ourselves in our studio in are also lingering staffing the back, and the magbusiness. from people is that the “I wouldn’t say that we’re issues and the pervasive Street Fair should have nets we use, the price and supply chain problems. back to where we were, more local vendors. Of shipping has doubled. So course there are local art- even without the inflation. As a result, Antigone has we’ve had to raise prices been forced to raise prices on things that we’ve never ists who do Street Fair, but It’s hard to gauge,” Stern said. “It was actually kind on their gift items like cal- raised prices on ever.” we wanted to do an event that was exclusively local,” of slow here for the Street endars, while list prices of Riggs says that she Riggs said. “And I think it Fair. Traditionally, it’s al- books have also increased. doesn’t know of people Because of supply chain who can’t get what they ways a lot of people browsjust has a funkier, grassbackups, some of the book- need, it’s just that there are roots vibe. All of the signs ing, and not everyone is shopping. But overall, it’s store’s orders have either were handpainted, and I delays and price increases good for us. Our sales are not shown up, or showed feel like that matches the on everything, and that not amazing. Usually, the up months later. Stern says can be difficult for artist funky vibe of Fourth Ave winter fair is bigger for us. it’s been difficult to keep that is important.” deadlines. We didn’t notice a huge their displays stocked, and While many stores are Despite all this, merdoing better, that’s not to uptick in sales, but it’s al- people have even asked if chants like Riggs and Stern ways good for the avenue as they’re going out of busisay others haven’t been say they feel that Fourth a whole. The Fourth Ave- ness because their shelves forever changed by the Avenue business owners nue Merchants Association might be empty, even if pandemic. Just down the are hopeful. Antigone relies on that revenue, and an order had been placed avenue, Antigone Books plans to bring back their we rely on them. So it’s months prior. This has is another beloved shop own community events systemic in that way.” also impacted special book later this year. that survived. However, Stern says there are a orders, as it’s difficult to co-owner Kate Stern says “It’s been a really rough
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Photo by Jeff Gardner
couple of years for everyone, and it’s definitely better now. But we’re all still dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic,” Stern said. “Even though a lot of people in the world have moved on and are ready to be done with it, I think there are longer term effects from it. But we’re all in it together and it’s been refreshing to see that other businesses are in the same place as us. And I think the general attitude of the merchants is support. It’s made people closer, more understanding and neighborly.” The pandemic hasn’t stopped some Fourth Avenue stores from even expanding. On Thursday, May 5, the Food Conspiracy Co-op broke ground on an additional entrance on the back of their store. The finished expansion will add an entrance on their store’s east side, 2,000 square feet of retail space, 33 parking spaces and solar panels. Andrea Buttrick,
communications coordinator for Food Conspiracy Co-op, says the expansion has been planned since before the pandemic. “Our sales are now growing exponentially, and shoppers are showing back up,” Buttrick said. “There’s a feeling of excitement and interest to be back out. Of course, there is still some hesitancy, but people are excited.” Buttrick says the Food Conspiracy Co-op was in a unique position to weather the pandemic as compared to other grocery stores, because they get much of their produce from local farmers. As a result, they were able to stay open through the pandemic. However, she confirms they are suffering from inflation like everyone else. “It really shows the caliber of our staff that they showed up and continued working,” Buttrick said. In total, the Winter Street Fair had approxi-
mately 300,000 attendees. The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association says they made little revenue on the first one back as the event was primarily “to make good from all the cancellations due to COVID.” However, the following Spring Street Fair saw an estimated 600,000 attendees, and vendors reported it being one of the best ever. Because the fair was shuttered for three instances, the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association estimates it will take one more fair to get “back on its feet.” “We just want to remind people that Fourth Ave. has been this hub of localism and community fun for all these years, and we’d love to do more cool stuff,” Riggs said. “With the money we’re making from events, I think that is going a long way to helping us put on more. We just want people to come down to the avenue and remember what they like about it.” ITB
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BUSINESS CALENDAR Saturday, May 7 • The Oro Valley Chamber is hosting a customer development mixer at the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene, where you can meet new people, network, and expand your business. 7:30 to 9 a.m. 500 W. Calle Concordia. $5 for members and $10 for non-members. orovalleychamber.com
Desert, Marana’s “backyard treasure,” and Southern Arizona Attractions Passport Books. 10 a.m. to noon. At the Marana Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 13251 N. Lon Adams Road. Free. maranachamber. com.
Wednesday, May 11
• The Tucson Metro Chamber is hosting the “quick, fun and informal” morning networking event Coffee & Contacts. This • Learn about the Sonoran edition takes place at TherDesert at the Marana Chamapeutic Riding of Tucson, ber of Commerce’s Visitor where you can start your Center Education Day. This day with new business leads educational experience at while enjoying a continental the new Marana Visitor breakfast. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Center includes information At the Therapeutic Riding of about biomes of the Sonoran
Monday, May 9
Tucson, Inc. (TROT), 8920 E. Woodland Road. Members only. Free. tucsonchamber.org.
Thursday, May 12 • The Tucson Metro Chamber is debuting their Tucson Metro Chamber Business Summit and Expo. This half-day “mini-conference and expo” is filled with valuable information that will positively impact your business. The event’s keynote speaker is Jack Selby, the co-founder of PayPal. He will discuss his involvement with SpaceX, Bird, and Affirm, as well as venture capital portfolios, and how he now calls Tucson home. No matter what cycle your
News and features for Tucson and Southern Arizona’s business and legal communities
InsideTucsonBusiness.com
business is currently in or aspires to be, there will be something for all businesses of any size. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue. Tucsonchamber.org.
Thursday, May 19 • The Tucson Hispanic Chamber hosts The Mayor’s Summit, a conference from multiple mayors in Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. This event both allows mayors from the Sonoran Desert to share their perspectives, and provides an opportunity for each city/ town to share economic development information with the intent of spurring business growth. The event
EMAIL DETAILS FOR YOUR BIZ EVENTS TO JEFF@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM features Tucson mayor Regina Romero, Oro Valley mayor Joe Winfield, Sahuarita mayor Tom Murphy, Nogales mayor Juan Francisco Gim, and Hermosillo mayor Antonio Astiazaran-Gutierrez. 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. At the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $20 per person if registered before May 10, $40 per person after. tucsonhispanicchamber.org/mayors-summit. (520) 620-0005.
Friday, May 20 • The Marana Chamber is
hosting a business connection luncheon. The topic of this edition is health and wellness, and features guest speaker Don Martin, dean of health professions at Pima Community College. The Marana Chamber’s $1,000 Health Education Scholarship will also be presented at this event. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. At The Highlands at Dove Mountain, 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd. $35 for Marana Chamber members, $45 general admission. maranachamber.com
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TECH TALK
OSIRIS-REx gets a new NASA mission 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. OSIRIS-REx gets a new NASA mission. Upon a successful landing back on Earth next year, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will be the first American mission to retrieve a sample from an asteroid. But NASA announced last week that the story won’t end there. NASA has extended the University of Arizona-led mission, and after drop-off, the spacecraft will head back into space to study near-Earth asteroid Apophis for 18 months. In this second mission, OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) will be renamed to OSIRIS-APEX (OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer.) The extension adds another $200 million to the mission cost cap. OSIRIS-REx, led by UA professor Dante Lauretta, launched from Earth in 2016 and headed toward the asteroid Bennu. In 2020, the spacecraft briefly touched down on the asteroid’s surface, collecting an estimated
pound of extraterrestrial dust and rocks. OSIRIS-REx is expected to return to Earth orbit in September 2023 and deliver the capsule of samples, which researchers will study for information about our early solar system and potentially the origins of life. Now, the spacecraft is planned to head back into space on the Apophis mission only a month after returning the samples. “Apophis is one of the most infamous asteroids,” said OSIRIS-REx deputy principal investigator Dani DellaGiustina, who is also a UA assistant professor. “When it was first discovered in 2004, there was concern that it would impact the Earth in 2029 during its close approach. That risk was retired after subsequent observations, but it will be the closest an asteroid of this size has gotten in the 50 or so years… It gets within one-tenth the distance between the Earth and moon during the 2029 encounter. People in Europe and Africa will be able to see it with the naked eye, that’s how close it will get. We were stoked to find out the mission was extended.” The university stated that OSIRIS-APEX will not collect a sample on this next mission, but when it reaches Apophis, it will study the asteroid for 18 months and collect data along the way. It also will make a maneuver similar to the one it made during sample collection at Bennu, by approaching the surface and firing its thrusters. This event will expose the
asteroid’s subsurface, to allow mission scientists to learn more about the asteroid’s material properties. “OSIRIS-APEX is a manifestation of a core objective of our mission to enable the next generation of leadership in space exploration,” Lauretta said. Alzheimer’s Identification. A new study from University of Arizona Health Sciences found that the behavior of a specific gene may provide the path to personalized medicine for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The paper, published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, discusses how a genotype of the APOE gene is able to “influence metabolic changes and override sex-specific differences between men and women with Alzheimer’s disease.” The study was led by Rui Chang, a member of the UA Center for Innovation in Brain Science. “One of the most interesting findings of our study is the identification of key drivers of metabolic pathways that discriminate between Alzheimer’s disease and cognitively normal individuals when patient groups were separated by sex and APOE genotype,” Chang said. “These patient-specific metabolic targets will shed light on the discovery of precision therapeutics for Alzheimer’s patients, which has not been done in previous studies.” The research team identified biomarkers from the genotype that predict the state of the disease, often asso-
Illustration courtesy of NASA
ciated with mental decline in the patient. The Center states these findings have the potential to greatly accelerate drug development for Alzheimer’s disease while providing outcome measures for clinical trials.
“Dr. Chang’s research provides an initial but critical step toward the development of personalized and precision medicine for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Regents Professor of Pharmacology Roberta Diaz Brinton. “This
study provides an operational strategy to achieve that goal by integrating clinical cognitive assessments, metabolic profiling and a computational network model to identify targeted therapeutics for patients.” ITB
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ON THE MENU
Here’s your chance to learn to love liver and onions gave me comfort that I no longer have to bear it alone. My wife and I had y affinity for joined two other couples liver and onions for dinner at Ventana ranks right up Canyon Golf & Racquet there with anchovies and Club. I ordered the liver fruitcake, and I’m well and onions, which our aware that I stick out like a server respectfully noted sore thumb when I order as she circled around the these foods in public table for the balance of places. orders. To my amazeThat I enjoy dishes ment, three other liver which have evoked relovers revealed their idensponses of repulsion from tity in real time, resulting some of my friends is my in four orders of liver and burden to bear. Encour- onions served to a table agingly, though, and of six. somewhat surprisingly, I Astonished by that ratio, experienced something a and curious to know how couple of weeks ago that this old school dish reMatt Russell
Special to Inside Tucson Business
M
mains relevant today, I sat down with the Club’s chef to get his perspective in the countdown to National Liver and Onions Day on May 10. “Liver and onions is one of those classic comfort foods, like beef stew, fried chicken, and meatloaf, which has a way of connecting people with their past,” said Issa Moussa, executive chef of Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, 6200 N. Clubhouse Lane. “Our members who ate it growing up tell me that it brings back childhood memories, and that’s why it’s important for us to
preserve the tradition.” Moussa’s version starts with two sizeable slices of beef liver that he dips in corn meal and seasoned flour. He then transfers the fully dusted organ to a flattop grill, cooks it to the preferred temperature, and plates it with a red wine and mushroom sauce, caramelized onions, bacon, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. “The saltiness from the bacon, the sweetness of the sauteed onions, the savory aspect of the mushrooms and red wine sauce, all these flavors are amazing when you put them all together,” he said. Moussa’s first experience with liver was at the age of 9. His family only ate meat on Sundays, and he remembers his father bringing home these choice innards from freshly harvested calves at the week’s end. His love of food and respect for family tradition ultimately put him on a career track which led him to the Culinary Institute of America in New York with subsequent stints at their satellite location in Napa Valley. And wherever his career took him after that, from California to Florida to Arizona, he took his liver along. “I can never take liver and onions off our menu at the Club, we sell quite a bit, and there have even been times when I worried
Chef Issa Moussa
that we were going to run out of it,” he said. Just think about that for a minute. Genuinely worrying about the potential undersupply of liver and onions. This is a chef who knows his audience. While Moussa’s cuisine may be reason enough to join Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, those craving liver and onions can find it at a few public eateries around town, including Jonathan’s Cork, Old Times Kafe, and Gus Balon’s. If you didn’t grow up eating liver, or if there
was a skipped generation among your liver-loving ancestors, Moussa has some advice. “You won’t know how good it is unless you try it, and trust me, you’ll be surprised by its greatness,” he concluded. Yes, chef! 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.
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Bookstores Rank 2021 2020
Business Address
Phone Company Email Website
No. of Titles No. of New and Used Periodical Titles
No. Locations: Local National
1
KruegerBooks.com Fine & Rare Books kruegerbooks.com Tucson, AZ
(520) 323-7770 books@kruegerbooks.com KruegerBooks.com
4,250
N/A
1 1
2
Thorn Books Open by appointment only Tucson, AZ
(520) 743-7773 lynne@thornbooks.com thornbooks.com
2,000
N/A
N/A N/A
Specialties
Top Local Executives
Year Establ. Locally
Rare, out of print, signed and first edition books, Book Appraisal Service for Selling, Insurance, Divorce Settlement, IRS/Non-Profit Donation, Estate Sales
Michael Krueger
1998
Fine, early and rare books
Lynne Owens James Owens
2001
Ranked by the total number of titles new and used 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
Shopping Centers Rank 2021 2020
Business Address
Phone Company Email Website
Total Leasable Sq. Ft.
No. of Tenants
Major Tenants
Leasing Company
Leasing Agents
Year Establ. Locally
1
Valencia Village SWC Valencia & Westover Tucson, AZ 85746
(520) 290-3200 cfinfrock@cradvisorsllc.com cradvisorsllc.com
161,644
3
Wal-Mart, Little Mexico Restaurant, Arco AM/PM
Commercial Retail Advisors
Craig Finfrock
2006
2
Oracle Gateway NEC Oracle & Pastime Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 290-3200 cfinfrock@cradvisorsllc.com cradvisorsllc.com
81,603
8
dd's Discounts, GC Services, eegee's, Jiffy Lube, Dunn Edwards Paint, Oak Street Health, Chuyitos
Commercial Retail Advisors
Craig Finfrock
1996
3
Broadway Place Shopping Center 6061-6095 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 219-3100 info@goldsmithtucson.com www.goldsmithtucson.com
47,031
10
Black Bear Diner, Jason's Deli, Salon Centric
Goldsmith Real Estate
Claud Smith Ellen Golden
2015
4
Pinecrest Shopping Center 4805 - 4897 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85704
(520) 219-3100 info@goldsmithtucson.com www.goldsmithtucson.com
44,653
14
Liberty Tax, Bai Thong Restaurant, 99 Cent Store
Goldsmith Real Estate
Claud Smith Ellen Golden
2015
5
Broadway Village SWC Broadway & Country Club Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 290-3200 cfinfrock@cradvisorsllc.com cradvisorsllc.com
37,379
11
Sushi Garden, Natural Grocers, Bisbee Breakfast Club, Long Realty, Barrio Bread, Avenue Botique, Session Yoga, Falora, Sidecar, Village Salon
Commercial Retail Advisors
Craig Finfrock
1940
6
Orange Grove Village NWC Oracle & Orange Grove Tucson, AZ 85704
(520) 290-3200 cfinfrock@cradvisorsllc.com cradvisorsllc.com
19,154
11
Golden Dragon, Sushi On Oracle, The Parish Gastro Pub, Tacos Del Rancho
Commercial Retail Advisors
Craig Finfrock
1964
7
Broadway Albertson's Center-Shops B 64 N. Harrison Road Tucson, AZ 85748
(520) 290-3200 cfinfrock@cradvisorsllc.com www.cradvisorsllc.com
10,400
4
Little Caesar’s Pizza, Star Smoke Shop, and Sushi Nara, United Country Real Estate
Commercial Retail Advisors
Craig Finfrock
2004
8
Monterey Court 505 W. Miracle Mile Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 207-2429 office@montereycourtaz.com montereycourtaz.com
4,000
12
Monterey Court Studio Galleries LLC
Kelly McLear Greg Haver
2012
9
148-150 S. 4th Avenue 148-150 S. 4th Avenue Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 219-3100 info@goldsmithtucson.com www.goldsmithtucson.com
3,600
3
Goldsmith Real Estate
Ellen Golden Claud Smith
2015
Tucson Yoga, Mortal Skate Shop
Ranked by total leasable square footage 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
Sign Companies Rank 2021 2020
Business Address
Phone Company Email Website
No. of F-T Local Employees
No. Offices: Local National
1
Graphic Impact 5440 E. Speedway Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 795-7446 ryanv@graphic-impact.com graphic-impact.com
14
1 N/A
2
Territorial Sign Co. 3400 E. Alvord St. Tucson, AZ 85706
(520) 294-3400 bfields@territorialsignco.com territorialsignco.com
12
3
Double T Signs, Inc. 1835 S. Alvernon Way, Ste. 214 Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 750-0189 dave@doubletsigns.com doubletsigns.com
4
Monster Signs LLC 1131 W Grant Rd. Ste 121 Tucson, AZ 85705
4
Licensed Contractor
Services Offered
Top Local Executives
Year Establ. Locally
N/A
Signs, printing, printed apparel, engraving, banners, awards, promotional items
Howard Volin Ryan Volin
1989
1 1
yes
Full-service sign company
Bill H. Fields Tara Detwiler
1975
11
1 0
Yes
Signage, dimension tactile magnetic banners
Dave L. Torres
1993
(520) 790-6400 info@monstersignsllc.com monstersignsllc.com
6
1 1
Yes
Signs and Service
Brad Welch
1987
Palo Verde Signs 3302 S. Palo Verde Rd. Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 884-4322 mark@paloverdesigns.com paloverdesigns.com
6
1 1
yes
Main ID signs, service, banners, all types of signs
Mark Daniel Shomo
1980
4
Sign Magic Inc. 435 S. Norris Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 731-2652 mike@signmagic.net www.signmagic.net
6
N/A N/A
N/A
Full-service sign contractor
Michael J Trotter Douglas P Walker
1999
7
Kachina Sign Center 1775 S Pantano Rd Suite 130 Tucson, AZ 85710
(520) 290-2000 sales@kachinasigncenter.com kachinasigncenter.com
3
1 1
yes
interior/exterior signs, vehicle wraps and more
Ranked by the number of full-time local employees (2 P-T = 1 F-T) 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
1984
16
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MAY 6, 2022
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