Health News SIERRA TUCSON EXPANDS TO SCOTTSDALE
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Volume 30 • Number 12
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Economic Ups and Downs REAL ESTATE
Luxury home sells for record price Page 4 LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
White House touts ‘robust’ Arizona economy; critics call that half the picture
CAN YOU PAY EMPLOYEES IN BITCOIN? Page 2 ON THE MENU
Neetish Basnet Cronkite News / Page 7
TAKE THE KINGFISHER SUMMER ROAD TRIP! Page 13 BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Minority-Owned Business PEOPLE IN ACTION
TECH TALK
New hires and promotions Page 3
Asteroid Hunt
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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’
TECH TALK
UA researchers study how to cure bad breath in dogs
Space bucks and robot surgeons
Margaret Regan Inside Tucson Business / Page 10
PEOPLE IN ACTION
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS
New promotions, hires and awards THIS YEAR’S Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades NUMBERS Page 5 Page 3 Art Galleries
BOOK OF LISTS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PIVOT PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE
BOOK OF LISTS
Texas-based Builders FirstSource acquires Arizona building materials supplier for $400M | Page 4
BOOK OF LISTS
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THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS REAL ESTATE
New promotions, hires and awards Page 3
Page 10
VENUE GRANTS
Sen. Kelly tours Rialto, highlights aid program
UA researchers stops COVID reports
Page 6
Hospitals, hospice, and assisted living facilities
Pages 14 & 15
REAL ESTATE
Colleges, universities and optics companies
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Page 14 DEVELOPMENT
Sunawards Corridor releases post-COVID plan Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation New promotions, hires and Page 10 Page 5 Page 3
PEOPLE IN ACTION
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
Understanding health care law changes
FEDERAL FUNDING
PANDEMIC RECOVERY
“PAST THE WORST OF IT”
COBRA SUBSIDY
Page 4
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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
ON THE MENU
Culinary Confluence
Zio Peppe fuses classic Italian with flavors of the Southwest
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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE BY JESSICA POST AND DAVID McCARVILLE
SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA
Is it OK to pay employees in Bitcoin?
A
trend has emerged where some celebrities, professional athletes, or other high net worth individuals are asking to be paid at least part of his or her salary in cryptocurrency. The practice has trickled down to at least one company in Mesa that is paying employees in Bitcoin. What does this mean for the mainstream? Should or can Arizona employers start paying employees in cryptocurrency? Here are some considerations. Right out of the gate, this form of payment would not work for the majority of employees. According to a recent CNBC report, 61% of employees live paycheck to paycheck. Even well-compensated employees would likely need to be paid a portion, if not the majority of their paycheck in cash in order to pay expenses on an ongoing basis. It also would not be advisable to pay employees only in cryptocurrency. That would exclude many potentially qualified applicants and there are additional issues with this method as described below. Even NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is only taking a part of his salary in Bitcoin. If you are still interested, you need to be aware of wage-andhour issues in this area.
Wage-and-Hour Law Considerations At the federal level, employers in the public and private sectors need to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act
Courtesy illustration
(FLSA), which governs minimum wage, overtime pay and other wage-related issues. Relevant here, the FLSA requires payments of the prescribed wages including minimum wage and overtime compensation, in cash or negotiable instrument at face value. This requirement applies only to compensation required under the FLSA, including: (1) minimum wage and overtime pay for non-exempt employees; and (2) a minimum weekly salary for most exempt employees. Most exempt employees need to be paid at least $684 per week in order to be classified as exempt, assuming other requirements of the exemption are met. If an employer paid an employee in cryptocurrency and that was not deemed an acceptable mode of payment under the FLSA, then the employer would lose the exemption for that employee for the period in question and would owe overtime for all weeks in which the employee worked more than 40 hours. Therefore, to avoid the risk
that payment in cryptocurrency is not considered “cash or negotiable instrument” under the FLSA, an employer should not use cryptocurrency to pay: (1) a non-exempt employee’s minimum wages or overtime compensation; or (2) an exempt employee’s salary that is necessary to satisfy the salary portion of the exemption. State law governing wage and hour practices is also a critical consideration. In Arizona, employers may pay an employee in any of the following ways: (1) in lawful currency of the United States; (2) in negotiable bank checks; (3) in warrants payable on demand and bearing even date with the payday; or (4) by deposit on the payday to the employee’s credit at a financial institution, with certain requirements being met. It is not clear that paying an employee with cryptocurrency falls neatly within any of these categories and therefore may be illegal under A.R.S. § 23-351(D). Other states have PERSPECTIVE
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WEEKLY TOP
BY LISA LOVALLO
10 tips for conducting successful job interviews
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cross many industries, pandemic recovery has led to a strong growth in employment and your company may have several new roles to fill this year. While interviewees are the ones in the spotlight, it is important that interviewers prepare as well. Here are a few ways to help you conduct successful job interviews and hire the right talent for your business. 1. Understand the role you are hiring for. As employers, it is your responsibility to understand the role you are hiring for. Fully understanding the role means knowing the ins and outs of the position, the work and daily tasks that it may include. 2. Highlight important skills. After understanding the role, dive into the top priority skills you are hoping to find among the candidates you will be interviewing. Not only will this give you a greater insight to the needs of the team, it will prepare you to find the best candidate. 3. Prepare a list of questions. Before meeting with potential candidates, take time to write down the questions you would like them to answer about themselves. Consider the contributions they can make to the organization and have them highlight their skills through these questions. 4. Involve those needed within the hiring process. Make sure you include other colleagues that could potentially help you with the interviews. Their added perspective can enhance the interview process and assist in determining the best fit. 5. Evaluate internal candidates. To encourage career development within the company, evaluate internal candidates. If they have yet to apply, invite
them to an interview. Their skills and expertise could end up filing the position you are hiring for. 6. Ask the real questions you are wanting answers for. Don’t spend too much time on introductions. Give them the chance to showcase their experience and skills. Refer to your list of questions and apply them within the interview wherever you see fit. 7. Consider the cultural fit. Depending on the organization of your business, consider how they would fit in with other team members. While it should not be the deal breaking decision, it is important to understand how they may adapt within the workplace. 8. Provide real-life scenarios. Provide the candidate with real-life scenarios they can expect to see within the role. How would they handle it? How do they manage a team? How do they work under stress? 9. Have answers ready for candidate’s questions. Interviewees will have questions for you as well, be ready to answer them. Research industry salaries, understand the scope of work being asked for, evaluate the culture of the company, etc. The way employers answer this question could make or break the candidate’s decision to join the team. 10. Provide a timeline for communication post interview. At the end of the interview, provide a detailed timeline of when the candidate can expect to hear back from you. ITB Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications, leading a team of 250+ Southern Arizona Cox employees. We are proud that our employees complete more than 3,000 hours volunteering in Southern Arizona annually. Reach her at lisa.lovallo@cox.com.
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JUNE 17, 2022
PEOPLEINACTION
EMAIL YOUR PEOPLE IN ACTION DETAILS TO JEFF@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM
Justin Cluck promoted to Pima County Public Fiduciary
Justin Cluck
Justin Cluck, 46, was appointed public fiduciary by a unanimous vote of the Pima County Board of Supervisors at their May 17 meeting. In 1999, Cluck graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with his bachelor degree in history. Cluck then graduated with a law degree from the University of Mississippi in 2002 where he was named Outstanding Public Interest Law Student. Cluck has more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer and worked in a law firm early in his career handling guardianships, wills and estates, Social Security law, civil and commercial litigation, complex civil litigation, and personal-injury law. He has been working as an assistant public defender since 2017 for Pima County Public Defender’s Office. “I am humbled to be appointed to this position and look forward to serving the citizens of Pima County who are in need,” Cluck said in a Pima County press release. “I have spent my entire legal career advocating for the poor, the less fortunate and those who have been ignored or victimized. I am eager to use that same zeal to advocate for the clients of the public fiduciary.”
BeachFleischman Principal and President is appointed Chair of TMC Board of Directors Alan F. Willenbrock
Scott Bennett
Diane Sloane
Avi Poje
Alan F Willenbrock, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial, has been awarded the Ameriprise Client Experience Award for the third year in a row. To receive this award, financial advisors must receive an overall customer satisfaction equal or greater to 4.9 out of 5.0 while maintaining an excelling business result. Willenbrock has both a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Marketing as well as an MBA in Finance. He has over 30 years of experience as a financial advisor and specializes in investments, retirement planning and investment management.
Scott Bennet has been hired as a wealth advisor for TCI Wealth Advisors, which does financial planning and wealth management in Tucson. Bennett previously worked for TCI as a financial paraplanner before leaving to become executive director of 3rd Decade, a nonprofit devoted to teaching young adults financial literacy. This nonprofit came out of the TCI Foundation, which promotes financial planning support for individuals who are typically underserved by financial advisors. Bennet received a bachelor’s in economics from Northern Arizona University.
Diane Sloane has been hired as a Builder and Trust Services Manager at Landmark Title Assurance Agency. The Arizona native started her career in real estate in 1998 as a Title Officer and Recording Clerk. Sloane offers expertise in public reports, amendments, as well as the Arizona Department of Real Estate reports, third-party assurance agreements and land trusts. Sloane’s 20 years of experience as a trust and title officer at Title Security Agency has developed these expertise along the way. “Adding Diane to our team is extremely beneficial to our clients,” said Vicki Etherton, president of Landmark Title.
Avi Poje received recognition as the outstanding financial partner for his work in supporting the Earn to Learn matched-savings scholarship program partnership with Hughes Federal Credit Union. The Hughes training and educational manager, Poje was recognized during the Virtual Earn to Learn Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Luncheon held on May 4. Earn to Learn helps low- to moderate-income students save and earn money for higher education opportunities.
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David J. Cohen was recently appointed as Chair for the newly organized Tucson Medical Center Board of Directors. Cohen brings experience with him from serving as a member of the TMC Healthcare Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and TMC Foundation Board of Directors. Cohen has been working in public accounting for over 40 years and is co-founder of BeachFleischman, a major consulting and accounting firm. Cohen’s firm assists private companies or wealthy individuals with navigating financial and tax planning. Cohen’s duties as board chair will include include hospital operation oversite, financial needs and patient experience. Cohen attended the University of Arizona, receiving his Bachelor of Science in business administration. He continued his connection with the University by serving on the Eller College of Management’s National Board of Advisors. “David Cohen is a respected member of this community, and we are thrilled to work with him as the new board chair of the TMC board of directors,” TMC CEO Mimi Coomler said in a press release. “David brings a level of expertise, vision, and experience that will help guide us as we continue in our work to improve the health and well-being of our community.”
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
EMAIL YOUR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS TO JEFF@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM
Marana home sells for a record $6.9 million Staff Report
A
Marana home sold last month for a recordbreaking $6.9 million
dollars. The home, on 3.13 acres in the Residences at Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, features four bedrooms, five baths, along with “a host of amenities and ultra-luxe design features, starting with a 15-foot-tall walnut pivot door at the main entrance,” according to a Long Realty press release. Maria Anemone, an associate broker with Long’s Dove Mountain office who was the listing agent, said the property had been on the market “since right before Thanksgiving.” She added that is sold at the listing price. Built in 2020, the home is located at 6355 W. Rockpoint Ridge Place in Marana, which is one of the highest-elevation sites in Dove Mountain, commanding both mountain and city views, according to the Long Realty press release. “People said I was crazy to take this on,” Anemone said, “but my goal was to set a record and make history. I built an amazing marketing plan with Long Realty and worked hard to make it happen.” Long Realty is the luxury real estate leader in Tucson and southern Arizona, with over $580 million in luxury sales in 2021, according to the press release.
SALE
Hughes Federal Credit Union
Submitted
This luxury home in Marana sold for a record $6.9 million. purchased 79,072 square feet of industrial space at 3301 - 3321 E. Global Loop in Tucson. The property was purchased from Global Loop Tucson, LLC, Mercator Properties, LLC, and RSD MT Marathon, LLC for $13,893,950. Jesse Blum and Stephen D. Cohen, Principals and Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Brian Harpel with Velocity Retail Group, Tucson, represented the buyer. ZFI, LLC and 45th Street Senior Apartments LLC purchased 17,784 square feet of multifamily space located at 219 W. Fort Lowell Rd. in Tucson. Westview Apartments, a 38-unit multifamily complex was purchased from 219 West Fort Lowell Owner, LLC for $2,800,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Joey Martinez,
Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. Tin Cup Properties LLC purchased 8.31 acres of vacant land located at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Valencia Road in Tucson. Lots 1-11 were purchased for $750,000 from Santo Tomas Partners, LLP, and Martin J. Weil and Deirdre McGuire Weil, as Trustees of the McGuire Weil Family Trust. Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR industrial specialists handled this transaction. Jose Dabdoub represented the seller, and Ron Zimmerman represented the buyer. Bronco Towing purchased a 1.85-acre warehouse/office property located at 4484 E. Tennessee St. in Tucson. The industrial zoned property was purchased from T Rex
Penguins LLC for $529,500. Aaron LaPrise, Principal, and Retail Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the buyer in this transaction. Dean Cotlow, with Cotlow Company, represented the seller. TH Holdings Group, LLC purchased 3.55 acres of land at 3131 & 3161 E. Atlas Place in Tucson, from Mosey 1, LLC & Deb-Bar Investments, LLC for $510,000. Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, Principal, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Chad Neppl with Citywide Commercial, LLC, represented the buyer. HDB Properties, LLC purchased a 600-square-foot industrial building located at 2025 W. Gardner Lane in Tucson. The single-tenant property with yard was
purchased from Walter A. and Frances MXC Kniaz for $325,000. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction.
Research Loop, Suite 360 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.
LEASE
And Go Concepts, LLC, dba Salad and Go, negotiated a 20-year ground lease with Kolb Slaw, LLC & 8195 N. Oracle Road, LLC, for 12,300 square feet of retail land located at 1302 S. Kolb Rd., within Eastpoint Marketplace Shopping Center in Tucson. Greg Furrier and Dave Hammack, Principals, and Retail Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, handled this transaction.
Highland Valley Partners LLC renewed their lease with SN Investment Properties, LLC for 67,500 square feet of industrial space, at Medina Business Park, 2201 E. Medina Rd., Suite 1 A/C/D/E in Tucson. Jesse Blum, Principal, and Alexandra Demeroutis, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in this transaction. Manufacturing Machining Services LLC renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 11,218 square feet of industrial space at Clairemont Plaza, 1668 S.
Oak Street Health MSO, LLC, leased 10,387 square feet of retail space from MROF I REAL ESTATE
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JUNE 17, 2022
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JUNE 17, 2022
TECH TALK
Virus Transmission and Asteroid Preparedness Alexandra Pere
factors into the secondary transmission of COVID and flu. The Arizona Household Virus Study is a part of the Centers for Disease Control ith a major and Prevention’s Respiraresearch univertory Virus Transmission sity right in our Network. The Network is backyard, a strong military interested in investigating if presence and innovative vaccines reduce the transcompanies throughout the mission of COVID-19 and metro region, there’s often influenza. “It will help us a plethora of interesting science, medical and technology understand transmission news to be found in Southern rates in households as well Arizona. Here’s a breakdown as risk factors that influof the most interesting recent ence transmission, such as household size, comdevelopments. position, and vaccination status,” Dr. Kate Ellingson said in a press release. University of Arizona Ellingson is the assistant reHealth Science Researchers search professor in the UA are beginning to investigate Mel and Enid Zuckerman
Tucson Local Media
W
Tricky Transmission
College of Public Health. Ellingson and Dr. Karen Lutrick from UA College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine are leading the study. The study will look deeper into transmission factors such as vaccination status, virus characteristics and day-to-day factors like physical and behavioral characteristics. Tucson community members can participate in the study and may be compensated for their time. Participants who quality should have tested positive for COVID or influenza in the last six days; lived with someone who is not yet sick and who lived with you 10 days prior to
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testing positive, and can read English or Spanish. Interested people should contact a study coordinator at 520621-8357. “Dr. Ellingson and Dr. Lutrick are the ideal researchers to lead the Arizona portion of this vital national CDC study,” Iman Hakim, Dean of the Zuckerman College of Public Health said in a press release. “They bring experience and expertise to the job, including current experience working on COVID-19 research with the CDC.”
Preparing for an Asteroid Apolocaplyse It is well-known in the scientific community that dinosaurs were effectively wiped out by the aftereffects of an asteroid impact/and or massive volcanic eruptions. Geological evidence suggests that these events led to worldwide environmental change and dinosaurs were no more. If the extinction was caused by an asteroid, humans are not safe from experiencing a similar fate. To address this otherworldly threat, scientists from all over the world are testing new reaction programs to deter an asteroid from entering the earth’s atmosphere. Some of these astronomers work at the University of Arizona and recently did a mock exercise of the International Asteroid Warning Network’s reaction
Courtesy illustration
to an incoming asteroid. The mock exercise was used with the Apophis asteroid’s close orbit around Earth. UA researchers detected the asteroid and logged its trajectory through the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey. UA’s detection and other scientists around the world leaped into action to make more measurements to investigate risk. “This real-world scientific input stress-tested the entire planetary defense response chain, from initial detection to orbit determination to measuring the asteroid’s physical characteristics, and even determining if, and where, it might hit Earth,” Vishnu Reddy, associate professor at the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, said in a press release.
Hacking Cybersecurity Cybersecurity is one of
the most important features of an online business in the modern age. In the last year, major companies like Microsoft, Facebook and even the Federal government were hacked and the personal data of millions of citizen were stolen. To address this national issue, UA scientists began a startup company called BG Networks to bring UA tech to the public. The creators include electrical and computer engineering professor Roman Lysecky, professor of electrical and computer engineering Jerzy Rozenblit, graduate student Aakarsh Rao, former graduate student researcher Nadir Carreon, and professor Johannes Sametinger of Joannes Kepler University Linz in Austria. The technology works in two parts; a security automation tool, and embedded security software. ITB
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JUNE 17, 2022
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AZ ECONOMY
White House touts ‘robust’ Arizona economy; critics call that half the picture Neetish Basnet
part of an administration messaging effort to highlight gains in all 50 states. Beside pointing to several positive indicators, they also said the espite rising economy under the Biden inflation and high administration is wellgas prices, White House officials insisted this suited to absorb any “shocks week that Arizona is sharing and crises.” “We came out of this in the nation’s “robust” recession so quickly and economic recovery, with so robustly,” Boushey said. low unemployment and “We’ve been able to create a expanding wages in the lot of resilience in the U.S. state. economy over the past year The call with reporters or so.” by White House Council Critics took issue with the of Economic Advisers administration’s assertions, Heather Boushey and Jared saying consumers may Bernstein on Monday was Cronkite News
D
not share that view of a flourishing economy. “I don’t think that Arizonans feel that the economy is doing well when they’re paying $5 a gallon for gasoline, and when the cost of getting groceries goes up every time you go to the supermarket,” said T.W. Arrighi, a National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the PhoenixMesa-Scottsdale area saw a one-year inflation rate of 11% in April, well above the national rate of
8.3% for that month. Gas prices in Arizona hit the highest-recorded average price at $5.181 on Wednesday, according to AAA. Bernstein said that while “we completely recognize and are doing all we can to help ease the price pressures that families face, we shouldn’t lose sight of the strong backdrop that is helping families to cope with that challenge.” “Imagine trying to meet this price of the pump issue with an unemployment rate that was multiples of that,”
he said. A White House fact sheet released Monday on Arizona showed that the state added 152,500 jobs since January 2021. The biggest growth came in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which added more than 38,000 jobs in the last year, the report said. According to the White House, Arizona’s real gross domestic product was 6.2% higher in the fourth quarter of 2021 than the same period of 2020. In financial services and real
estate, the state’s largest business sectors, real GDP in the fourth quarter grew by 7.5% over the previous year, compared to 3% in 2020 and 4.9% in 2019. The job gains in Arizona might not provide the full picture, though, said George Hammond, director of the Economic and Business Research Center at the University of Arizona. He noted the state has so far only been able to replace the jobs lost during the
ECONOMY
CONTINUES ON PAGE 11
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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
JUNE 17, 2022
Sales of over-the-counter hearing aids await final FDA rule Jenna Sauter Cronkite News
B
efore Cliff Mills, 75, began wearing hearing aids 15 years ago, he couldn’t have expected to spend $5,000 on his first pair. But asked whether the cost was worth it, he responded: “I would have paid more.” “On wearing my first pair of aids on the first day, I could hear birds and so many other long forgotten sounds. … It took time to get used to hearing them all,” said Mills, a retired event planner who lives in Montrose, Colorado. About 15% of adults in the U.S. have some trouble hearing, according to federal statistics, and nearly 30 million people 18 or older could benefit from using hearing aids. Nevertheless, even among older adults, those 70 or older, only 30% of those who would benefit from a hearing aid use one. Among younger adults, the number is 16%. Why the low rates? Comfort and stigma are two reasons – some people don’t want to admit they need help hearing. But the biggest barrier may be what Mills encountered, which is lack of insurance coverage
and the exorbitant costs. “When I first thought about wearing hearing aids, there was a stigma,” Mills said. “Embarrassment was part of my issue; cost was also an issue.” Hearing aids can cost $1,000 to $5,000 or more per device, and insurance usually does not cover the cost. Efforts have been underway for years to make hearing aids available over the counter in stores and online, without an exam or professional fitting. The aim is to spur competition, lower costs and increase availability, especially for those who can’t afford the devices now. In 2017, Congress passed legislation directing the Food and Drug Administration to develop regulations establishing over-the-counter hearing aids. Last fall, the agency issued proposed regulations, but a final rule, which must be decided by mid-July, still is pending. “Given the complexity of the issues and the number of interested stakeholders, finalizing the rule for over-the-counter hearing aids will take time,” FDA spokeswoman Shirley Simson told Cronkite News in an email. “The FDA is continuing to prioritize this rulemak-
Courtesy illustration
ing and will work expeditiously to issue the final rule.” The over-the-counter devices would be available for adults 18 and older who have mild to moderate hearing loss. The proposed rule includes volume limits to help prevent injuries, and aids for severe hearing loss or for users younger than 18
Nonprofit Perspective It’s time for a renewed push for renewable energy
Page 2 June 18, 2021
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InsideTucsonBusiness
Volume 29• Number 13
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ON THE MENU
Flora’s Market Crudo Bar elevates the raw food conversation
Seeds of Success
News and features for Tucson and Southern Arizona’s business and legal communities
Page 13
Chicano Por La Causa charter schools bring students across the finish line
COVID IMPACTS
UNEVEN RECOVERY
+ Speaking with the new CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Minority-owned businesses face unique challenges
Chamber Chatter
Christina Duran
Page 4
Lessons learned from three years at the helm
Inside Tucson Business / Page 6
Page 2 Feb. 12, 2021
Volume 29• Number 4
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STARTUP BUSINESSES
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UACI’s real estate reinvention
Page 8 BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS
Chatter ChamberSmall Businesses,
Celebrating One Copper Cactus Trophy at a Time | Page 2
July 2, 2021
Chamber Chatter Tucson’s momentum to spur success in 2021
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Volume 29• Number 14
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Cyberinfrastructure, quantum sensing and pest eradication
Local bars sue Pima County, saying they can’t survive COVID curfew
Pima County’s 2021 transportation projects
Nicole Ludden
Page 8 ROAD WORK
2020’s Top Columns: Whiskey, meat boxes and, of course, COVID
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PANDEMIC
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Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process
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May 7, 2021
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Nonprofit Perspective Education Acceleration Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs? | Page 2
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still would require a prescription. The FDA proposal garnered more than 1,000 public comments, both for and against. The American Academy of Audiology, representing about 14,000 audiologists in the U.S., wrote in opposition, saying the proposal “does not offer any assurance of reasonable safety measures. Rather than ‘protecting the public health,’ these regulations as drafted may instead put at risk the very people they are supposed to benefit.” The Federal Trade Commission, on the other hand, is among the groups supporting the proposed guidelines. “Enhanced competition and innovation will make lower-priced hearing aids available to the millions of American health
care consumers who live with untreated hearing loss,” FTC officials said. While the final rule is pending, the Chicago hearing aid company Beltone is one getting ahead of the curve, teaming with audio equipment manufacturer Jabra to develop a pair of self-fit hearing aids that look like earbuds. Users with mild to moderate hearing loss can calibrate and customize sound enhancement using their iPhones. A pair starts at $799, although an in-person consultation is necessary before purchase. “The person is essentially programming it themselves just by listening to sounds play out and then hitting a button on their phone on an app,” said Kory Castro, a hearing aid specialist and a co-owner of
Beltone clinics in Arizona. “If you’re at a restaurant or at the bar, or in a meeting, and you just need a little bit of help understanding conversations, you can pop them out of the case and put them in your ear and just get help when you need it,” Castro said. Whether a person requires hearing help in certain environments or all the time, Castro and other hearing specialists emphasized the importance of regular checkups. “The thing that I really hound people on is just to have your hearing tested,” Castro said. “If they feel like they might have an issue … most hearing care centers will do a free hearing test.” ITB For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org
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Sierra Tucson brings programming to Scottsdale says. “The goal is to expand the Sierra Tucson model to other cities. The residents come from around the world that’s ith mental health is- why we’re expanding to other sues on the rise, Si- cities.” erra Tucson Group The Scottsdale clinic’s core is carrying its long-standing beliefs mirror the Sierra Tuclegacy of clinical and medical son model of treatment, which expertise to Maricopa County. calls for a holistic view of care Sierra at Scottsdale Out— not just the symptoms, but patient Care at 8035 N. 85th the underlying concerns with Way brings hope, according to western and eastern modalities. Monica Clayborn, the regional “Sometimes we get clients director of outpatient services. who have successfully complet“Life and treatment can exist ed the program and they have in unison, and there is no bet- identified early on that they’re ter place to do that than Sierra in the spiraling process and at Scottsdale,” Clayborn says. they reach out to someone to The strictly outpatient clinic get back on track,” Clayborn serves adults ages 18 and older says. who have been struggling with “They come back for mainanxiety, bipolar disorder, mood tenance, which is important, disorders, depression and other too.” mental health concerns, along Adults who receive outwith those who have co-occur- patient treatment at Sierra ring substance use disorders. at Scottsdale participate in The Tucson location has a variety of evidence-based, all levels of care: a subacute research-backed therapeutic inpatient hospital, resideninterventions provided by tial treatment center and the behavioral health experts. brand’s first outpatient center Each client receives a perthat opened in 2019. sonalized care plan that reflects “Outpatient is relatively their current medical needs and new for Sierra Tucson,” she short- and long-term goals. The average length of stay in outpatient programs depends on the progress each individual makes throughout the course of treatment. Sierra at Scottsdale offers partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Clients in the partial hospitalization program participate in programming from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Photo by Brittany Lorraine Mondays to Friday, Monica Clayborn, regional director of outpatient with lunch provided. The average stay services. Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucon Local Media
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is two to three weeks, with treatments like medication management services, daily group therapy, weekly individual therapy, weekly experiential therapy and family therapy, if requested. The intensive outpatient program is 9 a.m. to noon Mondays to Thursdays, with an average stay of four to six weeks. Intensive outpatient programming includes individual therapy session every other week, along with three hours of group therapy daily. Clients can enter either level directly or as a step-down from a higher level of care. Depending on patients’ needs, they may receive care at one or both levels. “Partial hospitalization programming is a more structured environment and provides more support than the intensive hospitalization programming,” Clayborn says. “It’s like a pyramid setup. At the very top of the pyramid is where you have your more intensive level of care—inpatient or residential treatment center. “The step down is partial hospitalization programming, intensive outpatient programming and then outpatient traditional therapy and community support systems. You start at the top with the most intense programming for those needing the most support.” Sierra Tucson and Sierra at Scottsdale offer free assessment and take out-of-network insurance, as they’re not in network yet. Clayborn describes Sierra Tucson’s clients as primarily from the United States, but there is a relationship with the United Kingdom. “Sometimes Sierra Tucson clients, who come from all
Photo by Brittany Lorraine
over, don’t want to go home just yet,” Clayborn says. “They step down and stay at the Tucson outpatient clinic, as opposed to going home for continued support. It’s nice that we were able to open the doors to other outpatient centers, and offer different outpatient treatment options in other cities.” Sierra Tucson’s reputation preceded itself. Clayborn says the organization is focused on innovation and seeks ways to incorporate effective and new treatment modalities for clients. “We’re not set in our ways,”
She is looking to expand she says. “If there are new maternal mental health services services we want to add, we can and we stick with it. We’re to all of its outpatient centers. “We definitely see a huge always looking for new treatment modalities for clients. need for that,” Clayborn says. ITB It’s important to always be innovative.” Clayborn adds that chief Sierra at Scottsdale executive officer Dr. Valerie M. Kading has seen an uptick in 8035 N. 85th Way, maternal mental health, eating Scottsdale disorders and trauma. 1-888-391-0284 “More than ever, Sierra sierrascottsdale.com Tucson is committed to our Sierra Tucson Arizona community and the mental health and substance 39580 S. Lago Del Oro abuse challenges we have faced Parkway, Tucson from the COVID-19 pandem1-877-693-1042 ic,” Kading says. sierratucson.com
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U.S. House Ag panel mulls safety net changes in farm bill amid soaring costs Allison Winter States Newsroom
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embers of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee are considering how to help farmers struggling with rising costs for fertilizer, fuel, seeds and chemicals — the unfortunate harvest of the war in Ukraine, strains on the global supply system, inflation and severe weather. A panel of the committee heard from agricultural economists Thursday, as lawmakers debate how to structure the federal safety net in the next farm bill, due when current programs expire in 2023. The debate comes as traditional corn, soy and wheat farmers straddle both sides of inflation and the economic effects from the war in Ukraine. They’re seeing both huge increases in prices for their crops and soaring costs for everything they have to purchase to plant them. “Since 2018, when the last farm bill was written, farmers have experienced the economic impacts of a trade war with China, marketing and supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, historic weather events and now extreme volatility in commodity and input markets,” said Rep. Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat and the chairwoman of the subcommittee that oversees farm
Courtesy illustration
commodities. “This all has implications for the next farm bill,” Bustos added. Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he wants to pay special consideration to the margins for farmers as members work on the next farm bill. Thompson is the top Republican on the Agriculture Committee and could helm the farm bill process if Republicans take control of the House. “The bottom line is that agriculture is a business, and at the end of the day, it is not what you bring in but the margin you are left with,” said Thompson. “I have tremendous concerns with where we are headed right now.” Holes in the safety net The farm bill includes long-standing safety net
programs that offer some risk protection and financial support to American farmers. That includes crop insurance and farm commodity programs, which pay farmers if crop prices drop. But the programs don’t account for the current challenge for farmers of rising costs for fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and seeds. Economists suggested lawmakers consider pilot programs geared to aid farmers struggling in those margins. “Input costs are increasing and with inflation, you’re going to have intense pressure where that safety net will be weakened,” said Ronald Rainey, director of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The big commodity crops,
especially corn and wheat, are seeing high prices — due in part to disruption of a global market that usually has Ukraine and Russia as important players. Anticipated prices for the 2022 U.S. wheat crop are 50 percent higher than they were in January, said Joseph Janzen, an agricultural economist at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Futures prices for corn and soybean prices are also on the rise: 30% for corn and 20% higher for soybeans. But agricultural economists told lawmakers that the skyhigh prices may give a false impression, since farmers are also paying more than ever for fertilizer and fuel. The benchmark prices on crude oil and U.S. fertilizer prices approximately tripled between January 2021
and March 2022. Russia and Belarus are also major fertilizer producers and exporters. Those input prices are expected to stay high for the next few years. “What we know is going to happen, is prices are going to decline but input prices are going to stay up for a while, they always do. And that is going to leave people in a cost-price squeeze,” said Joe Outlaw, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University. The high fertilizer and energy prices have both short and long-term effects for agriculture. If farmers respond by planting less and using less fertilizer, they will have a smaller harvest — bringing in less income for their farms and potentially exacerbating rising food costs. Farm bill process Every five years lawmakers have to reauthorize the farm bill — a laborious process to re-examine the policy and funding structure for federal agriculture and food assistance programs. The farm bill is unique in that it provides “mandatory” funding for many of the programs it authorizes, so the programs do not have to go through the congressional appropriations process every year. As such, farm bill authorization is a complex and contentious process, as lawmakers debate how and where to spend more money. Most lawmakers at the sub-
committee hearing Thursday did not call for a major overhaul of the longstanding safety net. “Our main approach to writing a new farm bill should be a cautious one,” said Rep. Rick Allen, a Georgia Republican, noting how chaotic the past few years have been for agriculture and the economy. “We should not make major changes unless we are able to fully evaluate the consequences of those changes.” But some said they should consider more flexibility and innovation in farm programs to try to address mounting challenges from drought, severe weather and climate change. For instance, more than half of Arizona is in severe drought and an additional 10% is enduring extreme drought. “I have never seen conditions like this with no relief in sight. We have something that has to be overcome, and we can’t do it by half measures,” said Rep. Tom O’Halleran, an Arizona Democrat. In addition to the commodity programs, the farm bill includes crop insurance, conservation programs and food assistance programs. The bulk of farm bill spending goes to food programs, like the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) for low-income individuals and families. ITB
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different rules. Pennsylvania law requires that wages “be paid in lawful money of the United States or check.” Another consideration is the volatility of cryptocurrency, which can have significant wage-and-hour implications under federal and state law. Non-exempt employees must be paid a certain amount in minimum wage and in overtime, if owed, at the time wages are paid. If the value of the cryptocurrency spirals downward so that the employee now receives below minimum wage or doesn’t receive the correct overtime amount, the employer could find itself liable under the FLSA or under state law for unpaid wages. The same is true for exempt employees if the cryptocurrency fluctuates downward between when payroll is sent to the payroll administrator and the date of payment. In that instance, the employer is at risk of losing the employee’s exempt status for that period if the employee ends up receiving less than the $684 weekly threshold. Arizona employers who assume the risk of paying their exempt employees in cryptocurrency need to ensure that they are having near-instantaneous reconciliations.
Best Practices in a World of Unknown If an employer intends to pay some part of an employee’s compensation in cryptocurrency, the employer should have a clear written agreement signed by the employee in which the employee agrees to the process, acknowledges the risk associated with receiving compensation in this fashion, understands there may be personal tax consequences, and acknowledges, among other things, the lack of federal financial protections for
JUNE 17, 2022
deposits held in crypto wallets, such as FDIC protections. To comply with minimum wage, overtime, and minimum salary laws, it is best not to pay non-exempt employees with cryptocurrency. For exempt employees, it is best to pay a combination of U.S. currency and cryptocurrency and make sure to satisfy the salary requirement under the FLSA with U.S. currency. Employers need to monitor this area because there may be advice coming from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding whether some cryptocurrencies constitute securities. Advice may be coming from the Department of Labor whether cryptocurrency is considered “cash or negotiable instrument” under the FLSA. Employees who want to be paid in cryptocurrency may take control of this issue directly as some cryptocurrency exchanges such as Coinbase offer account holders the opportunity to automatically convert their paycheck into cryptocurrency on direct deposit. ITB
Jessica Post chairs the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Fennemore where she assists companies in employment discrimination, wage and hour, restrictive covenant and trade theft matters. Reach Jessica at jpost@ fennemorelaw.com. David McCarville is a Director at Fennemore and is a member of the firm’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency practice group. He also is an adjunct professor at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law teaching a Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies Law & Policy course. Reach David at dmccarville@fennemorelaw.com
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first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hammond said Arizona still needs an additional 134,000 jobs to catch up to the strength of the prepandemic labor market. “We’re going to need to see much faster labor force growth in the future if we are going to get back on that prior trend,” Hammond said. “We’ll need to see more people participating in the labor market or people moving to the state. Without that, we’re really going to struggle to get back to that trend.” Arizona unemployment currently stands at a historically low 3.2%, sparking a labor shortage that has left businesses scrambling to find workers and vacancies unfilled. But Arrighi said it’s not unemployment but things like inflation and gas prices “that people track as to whether or not they feel good about the economy. And none of those things are good right now.” The White House advisers attributed the rising prices to the war in Ukraine and the supplychain issues brought on by the pandemic, a sentiment echoed by Garrick Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The thing is that oil and natural gas are worldwide commodities and Arizona does not pump oil nor does it refine it,” Taylor said. “So we’re paying for the cost of transportation and distribution on top of the production costs that have spiked.” Bernstein said the
Courtesy illustration
Biden administration is trying to ease pressure on consumers through such efforts as lowering “dwell time” of ships at key ports and working to reduce the federal deficit, which the Congressional Budget Office predicts will fall by $1.7 trillion this year. But Bernstein said the administration also respects the Federal Reserve’s independence as the nation’s primary inflation-fighting institution. Hammond said the economic recovery in Arizona is indeed strong but uneven, with some parts of the state doing better than others. He remains uncertain on what the future might hold. “While job growth is going to be strong this year, we’re going to see a major de-escalation in income growth
because the pandemicrelated federal income support is now gone,” he said. But Taylor is confident Arizona is equipped to handle the uncertainties of the current economic climate. “The fact that the
economy is doing well should hopefully make for a softer landing in Arizona’s economy than say in some other states that are already struggling,” he said. ITB For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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SPE I-Rolling Hills, LLC, located in Rolling Hills Shopping Center, 7036 E. Golf Links Rd., Suite 150 in Tucson. Dave Hammack and Greg Furrier, Principals, and Retail Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Ty Brewster, with LocateAI Realty, Inc., Phoenix, represented the tenant. Karam Pump & Supply, Inc. leased 7,000 square feet of industrial space from Daveck Properties, LLC, located at 3791 N. Highway Dr. in Tucson. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. The Dwyer Group, Inc., who operates Mr. Rooter, leased 6,200 square feet of industrial space at 4030 E. Michigan St., in Tucson, from Mark Anderson & Jie Yang. Stephen D. Cohen, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Michael Coretz with Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson LLC, represented the tenant. Stat-Med, Inc. leased 2,489 square feet of industrial space from Eastside Center, LLC, located in Eastside Research Commerce Center, 1642 S. Research Loop, Suite 110-120 in Tucson. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Tim Healy with CBRE, Tucson, represented the tenant.
Immanuel Hospice, Inc. leased 2,411 square feet of office space located in Ina Corporate Center, 3275 W. Ina Rd., Suite 115 in Tucson, from CALDOR Investments of Arizona, LLC. Thomas J. Nieman, Principal, and Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in the transaction. Timothy Whipple, with HUB Commercial, LLC, represented the tenant. Louie’s Lounge leased 2,350 square feet of retail space at Parkview Place, 8060 E. 22nd St., Suite 118 in Tucson, from 8060 E 22nd St LLC. Greg Furrier, Principal, Retail Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. David Dutson with NAI Horizon, Tucson, represented the tenant. Vector Fire Technology, Inc. renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 2,120 square feet of industrial space at South Dodge Business Center, 3250 S. Dodge Blvd., Suite 9, 11, & 12 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Charles Ryan, dba Chariot Italian Bistro, renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 2,100 square feet of retail space at Midpoint Business Plaza, 1835 S. Alvernon Way, Suite 207 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Bella Luna Beverages LLC renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 1,800 square feet
of industrial space at South Dodge Business Center, 3601 E. 44th St., Suite 106 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Logan Family Health LLC leased 1,680 square feet of office space at 3444 N. Country Club Rd., Suite 120 in Tucson, from 3438/3444 CC, LLC. Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in this transaction. Chad Kouts with Jump Ventures, Inc., represented the landlord. Just Churros leased 1,304 square feet of restaurant space from Dev Properties, LLC, located in Oracle Wetmore Shopping Center, at the southeast corner of Oracle/ Wetmore in Tucson. Aaron LaPrise, Principal, and Retail Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, handled this transaction. United Builders, LLC, dba Patriot 3 General Contractors, renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Commerce Plaza, 245 S. Plumer Ave., Suite 25 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Pima Solar, LLC leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Commerce Plaza, 245 S. Plumer Ave., Suite 28 in Tucson, from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Agents with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR handled this transaction. Paul Hooker,
SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists represented the landlord. Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialist, represented the tenant. Harp Concepts LLC leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Exchange Place Business Center, 1870 W. Prince Rd., Suite 54 in Tucson, from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Tile Star LLC, dba Grout Medic of Tucson, leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Exchange Place Business Center, 1870 W. Prince Rd., Suite E-57 in Tucson, from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Eric and Kerri Akers, dba Golden Brush Painting, LLC renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 1,180 square feet of industrial space at Midpoint Business Plaza, 3933 E. 29th St, Suite 507 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, Andrew Keim, and Molly Mary Gilbert with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Soothing Touch, LLC leased 1,169 square feet of office space from Swan Court, LLC, located in Swan Court, 7290 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 142 in Tucson. Molly Mary Gilbert and Ryan McGregor, Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.
Tricord Engineering, LLC leased 1,015 square feet of office space from Swan Court, LLC, located in Swan Court, 7290 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 148 in Tucson. Molly Mary Gilbert and Ryan McGregor, Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Crimar Holdings, LTD, dba Crimar Industrial, China Liquor Sales, LLC and A Pawsitive Change Counseling, LLC leased 730 square feet of office space located in El Dorado Square, 1200 N. El Dorado Place, Suite A-120 in Tucson, from El Dorado Ventures, LLC. Thomas J. Nieman, Principal, and Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Kailey Rozalyn Carranza leased 635 square feet of office space, at Ina Corporate Center, 3275 W. Ina Rd., Suite 209 in Tucson, from CALDOR Investments of Arizona, LLC. Thomas J. Nieman, Principal, Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Eric Wilson renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 572 square feet of industrial space at South Dodge Business Center, 3210 S. Dodge Blvd., Suite 2 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. OConGI, LLC, dba Marksman Pistol Institute, renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 10,300 square feet of
industrial space at Town Central Business Park, 5025, 5051, 5063, 5065, 5067, and 5069 E. 29th St. in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Lightsense Technology, Inc. leased 4,000 square feet of industrial space from Sundance Property Management, LLC, located in Grant Interstate Commons, 975 W. Grant Road, Suite 105 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in the transaction. Robert Davis, with Tango Commercial Real Estate, represented the tenant. Restaurant and Market Distribution LLC leased 2,364 square feet of industrial space at Palo Verde Business Center, 3860 S. Palo Verde Rd., Suite 317-318 in Tucson, from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Otis Elevator Company renewed their lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 800 square feet of industrial space at Midpoint Business Plaza, 3933 E. 29th St., Suite 505 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Principal, and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Mike Gambino with Cushman & Wakefield, St. Louis, represented the tenant. ITB
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JUNE 17, 2022
Tour America without leaving Tucson with Kingfisher’s summer road trip Matt Russell
Special to Tucson Local Media
T
he text from my friend Kim couldn’t have come at a better time. She lives in the cool climes of the Pacific Northwest, and having grown up in Tucson, she’s all too familiar with the oppressive heat that we endure down here in the summer. “You gotta get up here to Washington,” she exclaimed with her thumbs. “We have amazing food, we have lots of places to suggest for local exploring, and we’re best viewed in July and August.” While those Evergreen State views sounded pretty good, particularly with summertime temps in the low 70s, Kim had me at “amazing food.” Which begs the question, what is it about Pacific Northwest cuisine that calls for booking a flight? Eager to solve this mystery, I turned to Jeff Azersky of Kingfisher Bar & Grill. His tribute to the Pacific Northwest, anchored by a special menu that will run from June 14 – 25, is part of the restaurant’s 29th annual Summer Road Trip that makes virtual stops in the most delicious regions of the country. “Owning what is primarily a seafood restaurant and loving all kinds of fish and shellfish, I’d say that, in and of itself, would be a good reason to go,” said Azersky, co-owner of Kingfisher, 2564 E. Grant Road. “They
grow everything up there, it’s such a great climate on the coast and inland, and they have some wonderful wineries.” Part of Azersky’s inspiration for his 12-day Pacific Northwest menu came from a book he just finished, titled Trask, that chronicles “a mountain man’s quest for new opportunities” along the Oregon Coast in 1848. “This guy settled his own land, and he fished and killed elk and deer to eat,” said Azersky, equating these mountain man adventures with the adventurous style of cuisine that represents the region, further noting “there’s still a lot of wild country up there.” The menu’s adventure begins with a selection of appetizers, including smoked salmon belly bruschetta with a softened and whipped Oregon blue cheese and a peach-apple chutney, as well as braised and grilled octopus served over rice noodles with scallions, green apples, cucumbers, chiles, poppy seeds and a vinaigrette of lime, mint and lemongrass. Among the entrée options is a smoked elk sausage paella, built with a
house-made shellfish stock, littleneck clams, Penn Cove mussels, fennel, tomatoes, chives, garlic and saffron, topped with a hazelnut Romesco sauce. A warm blackberry and apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream should satisfy the sweet tooth at the end of this memorable meal. In addition to the cuisine, a Pinot Gris from a biodynamic winery in Oregon will be available, as well as a craft cocktail inspired by the fragrance and flavors of the region, with a piney gin, fresh lemon, simple syrup and a blackberry liqueur called Crème de Mure. Sounds like my kind of adventure. Following the Pacific Northwest, the Kingfisher Summer Road Trip will continue with special menus for Down South (June 28 – July 2; July 19 – 23), Great Plains/Midwest (July 26 – Aug. 6), Back East (Aug. 9 – 20) and California/Hawaii (Aug. 23 – Sept. 3). The restaurant’s regular menu will be offered as well for those who won’t be taking the virtual trip. If I end up flying to Washington this summer, my
friend Kim will surely be impressed with my newly acquired wisdom on the culture and cuisine of her region. But one question remains – should I pack my mountain
Submitted
man outfit or wear it on the plane? 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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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
JUNE 17, 2022
Minority-Owned Businesses Rank 2022 2021
Business Address
Phone Company Email Website
1
Visiting Angels Tucson 7564 N La Cholla Blvd Tucson , AZ 85741
(520) 579-0099 mmsmith@visitingangels.com www.visitingangels.com/tucson
2
SW Sun Control Products, Inc 816 E Evans Blvd Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 792-1775 sales@swsuncontrol.com www.swsuncontrol.com
3
Qualified Mechanical Contracting, Inc. 1001 S. Euclid Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719
3
No. of F-T Products/Services Local Employees
Top Local Executive
Year Establ. Locally
Provider of essential personal in-home care. Our services include assistance with bathing and personal hygiene, dressing, medication reminders, meal preparation and meal planning, errands/shopping, companionship, light housekeeping, dementia and Alzheimer's care; up to 24/7 care, respite care for families, and Case Management. We also provide Medication Management by our RN.
Lydia Tully, Ph.D.
2008
71
Exterior and interior shade products and retractable awnings
Billie Meuschke
1997
(520) 624-8988 nick@qualifiedmechanical.com qualifiedmechanical.com
60
Mechanical contractor - plumbing, heating and air conditioning for commercial, industrial and residential
Nick Nieto
1985
Tucson Tamale Company 2550 N Dragoon St. #120, Tucson Tamale Co Tucson, AZ 85745
(520) 398-6282 sherry@tucsontamalecompany.com tucsontamale.com
60
Consumer Packaged Goods
Sherry Martin Todd Martin
2008
5
Southwestern Building Maintenance PO Box 57090 Tucson, AZ 85732
(520) 790-6200 msmith@sbmaz.com www.sbmaz.com
45
Commercial janitorial services, carpet cleaning, floor maintenance, window cleaning
6
a23 Studios 711 E 9th St Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 245-4010 info@a23studios.com http://a23studios.com/
18
Commercial, Residential Architecture Design, Renovation, New Construction, Multi-Family, Tennant Improvement, Healthcare, Education, Retail, Hospitality, Private, Office, Industrial, Manufacturing, Permitting, Construction Documents, Site Assessment, Visual Design and Renders
Burak Bekat
2009
7
Ruiz Masonry & Building Supplies, Inc. 4249 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson, AZ 85746
(520) 883-5940 rudyruizmasonry@aol.com N/A
12
Masonry construction
Rudy Ruiz Sr.
1976
8
Desert Milagros 2550 E. Fort Lowell Rd Tucson, AZ 85716
520-531-1040 info@desertmilagros.net www.desertmilagros.net
8
Behavioral Health
Faith V. Suaso
N/A
8
Recyco, Inc. 650 E 22nd St Ste 105 Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 622-3211 cs@recycoinc.com www.recycoinc.com
8
Purchaser of scrap metals from the public and private sector
Olga H. Gallego
1985
10
Allegra-Image360 2100 N Wilmot Rd #108 Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 886-3119 Dave@AllegraCentralTucson.com www.allegratucson.com, www.Image360Tucson.com
8
Full-service marketing communications company
Nancy Ann Haase David Haase
1982
11
Monrad Engineering, Inc. 1926 E. Ft. Lowell Rd., Ste. 200 Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 338-8235 mei@monradengineeringinc.com monradengineeringinc.com
7
Electrical and telecommunications engineering
Fernando Galvez
1982
12
Southwest Appraisal Associates 310 S. WILLIAMS BLVD Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 327-0000 steve@swaa.biz swaa.biz
6
Real estate appraisal and consulting
Steven R. Cole
1982
13
Creative Catering Corp. 727 E. Holaway Dr. Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 690-0146 info@tucsoncreativecatering.com tucsoncreativecatering.com
5
Off-premise catering and event planning
M.J. Essenmacher Bill Essenmacher Keri Essenmacher
1985
14
Flickos Video Services - Tucson 4811 E Grant Rd Ste 262 Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 742-3153 david@cheng.media Http://flickos.com
4
Audio/Video Transfer & Duplication
David Cheng
2005
14
Stone Paving, Inc. 3737 N. Los Altos Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 481-6388 stonepaving@cox.net stonepavingasphalt.com
4
Asphalt paving, chip seal, seal coat, patches, driveways and parking lots
Jesus P. Barrera Lourdes J. Barrera
2002
16
Broadway Place Shopping Center 6061-6095 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 219-3100 info@goldsmithtucson.com www.goldsmithtucson.com
3
Real estate sales and property management.
Ellen Golden Claud Smith
2015
16
Esquema Architecture 6418 E. Tanque Verde Rd., Ste. 102 Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 546-0350 esquema@esquema-arch.com www.esquema-arch.com
3
Planning, commercial, industrial, educational, single and multi-family residential architecture
Ygnacio Arturo Coppola Juan De La Torre
1993
18
ArcLight Pictures N/A Tucson, AZ 85743
(520) 230-1992 info@arclightpictures.com ArcLightPictures.com
2
Film & Television Production
Elisa Cota-Francis Bobby Francis
2015
18
Designlines Interior Design 2080 N. Craycroft Rd. Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 885-9577 designlinesaz@gmail.com designlinesaz.com
2
Interior design
Patricia Mooney
1989
18
Soltero Productions 3156 W. Montana St. Tucson, AZ 85746
(520) 349-7753 bobby@solteroproductions.com solteroproductions.com
2
Video production, events, corporate, legal
Nancy Soltero
1992
18
Unique Photography by Jesse N/A Tucson, AZ N/A
(520) 884-4748 jesse@unique-photography.com unique-photography.com
2
family portraits, wedding photography, quinceanera photography, portraits
Jesse Montanez
1983
18
Xcentech Computers, LLC 7739 E. Broadway, Ste. 232 Tucson, AZ 85710
(520) 271-4733 service@xcentech.com xcentech.com
2
Computer consulting, hardware and software sales
Sam Trejo
2004
23
Joe Bourne Music Art and Entertainment LLC 13401 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Ste. 130 Oro Valley, AZ 85755
(520) 877-8446 joebourne@comcast.net joebourne.com
1
Musical entertainment for corporate and private events
Joe Bourne
2000
Native Rainbows 3364 E. Popinac Loop Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 325-6817 NativeRainbows@aol.com NativeRainbows.com
0
Native American Items
L. Karin Elliott
2000
118
1989
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
INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM
JUNE 17, 2022
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