Chamber Chatter A collective vision of Tucson’s future
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Volume 29 • Number 17
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A Heavy Lift TECH TALK
Automated agriculture, energy tracking and a sleep apnea trial Page 11 GUEST COMMENTARY
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Gyms are making a comeback from a tough year, but owners worry about the impact of the Delta variant Christina Duran
1031 Exchanges should not be capped
Page 7
Inside Tucson Business / Page 4
PANDEMIC UPDATE
MASKING RULES
TUSD requires masks for all students, staff
Page 12 BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Health & Fitness Clubs
PEOPLE IN ACTION
REAL ESTATE
New promotions, hires and awards Page 3
Long Realty completes highest Tucson-area sale in 14 years Page 6
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Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process
Page 2 May 7, 2021
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CHAMBERCHATTER BY FERNANDA QUINTANILLA SPECIAL TO INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS TUCSON METRO CHAMBER
A Collective Vision of Tucson’s Future
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hen I introduce myself as Tucson Metro Chamber’s director of External Affairs, the word “director” gets people’s attention, while “external affairs” usually causes someone to cock their heads in confusion. Incoming Chamber Board Chair Kelle Maslyn, a veteran in this line of work, summed it up best with a few simple words, “government engagement on behalf of business.” I focus on engaging local government on behalf of business for the greatest opportunity for success. My role in my family’s taco stand business gave me a firsthand account of the significance of government engagement. When challenges with the local governmental jurisdiction in Texas arose, my father was uncertain of how to navigate what can sometimes feel like the heavy hand of bureaucracy. I advised him to reach out to his local chamber of commerce and they immediately took up his cause. They had already done the leg work of investing in the connections necessary for addressing the issue and were a valuable resource in a time of uncertainty. So, what does it mean to engage? And in a political world that has been polarized to the point of a stalemate, how can we get back to dreaming of what we want our city to be? How can we take the hands of those around us and move forward together as the public, private and
Fernanda Quintanilla
viewing each other as equal partners dedicated to community building, the more successful chamber endeavors will be. This does not mean that challenges will not arise that take thoughtful conversation and compromise. However, with a solid foundation built on trust and a mutual vision, that middle ground is easier to find. If I had to create a working title for myself, it would be “the eternal optimist.” It’s easy to get discouraged in this line of work where it can sometimes feel like a roadblock looms in every corner. I’m old enough to understand that challenges lay ahead of a road bent on building bridges, but young enough to believe that all hope is not lost. My children look to me to pass the baton of an environment that I gave my professional career to make a better place for them. The Chamber is dedicated to showing up every day as a viable community partner. We are dedicated to the success of the businesses that make up the backbone of our vibrant city. We understand that when business in Tucson thrives, everyone in our community is stronger. It’s time to rethink engagement and it’s time to build a collective vision for our future.
non-profit sector? The Tucson Metro Chamber does not stand against those in leadership but rather comes beside them and contributes to the imagining of what a great community looks like. This doesn’t mean appearing only when there is an issue but rather a proactive position where we take part in the planning for what we want to see rather than reacting when we encounter problems. This is a higher level of collaboration: a world where we no longer wait for issues to arise to bring parties together because we are constantly searching for ways to partner and elevate Tucson. The environment for this type of work is built on trust. This means giving of your resources with an emphasis on the most important resource: time. I believe the act of showing up is highly overlooked, especially in a fast-paced world where a meeting always comes with a virtual option. A reliable partner looks for ways to give rather than take and naturally Fernanda Quintanilla is Tucson doors will open for ways Metro Chamber’s director of to collaborate and build External Affairs. goodwill. The closer that community stakeholders come to
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WEEKLY TOP
BY LISA LOVALLO
Effective communication in a virtual world
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hree-quarters of face-to-face communication is non-verbal. Think of body language, facial expressions and hand gestures. But over the past year, many businesses have shifted to virtual work and meeting face-to-face is not as common anymore. Take a look at the following tips for practicing effective communication in today’s virtual world. 1.Create an agenda. Having a meeting agenda is more important now than ever. Virtual meetings can be all over the place without proper structure. It is helpful to share your screen so everyone can follow the agenda collectively. Be sure to send a recap and notes after the meeting as well. 2.Be inclusive. Employees may feel overlooked in virtual meetings since you are not able to look them in the eye. Be sure to call on others for their opinions and include them in the conversation. 3.Avoid interruptions. Since it is difficult to read body language virtually and be able to infer when someone is about to speak next, avoid interrupting or speaking over others by waiting for a moment of silence before you begin speaking. There is also a “raise hand” function in Zoom that is helpful. 4.Eliminate distractions. Just as it is rude to be texting or checking emails on your phone in an in-person meeting, it is the same for virtual meetings. Keep your phone away and if there is an emergency, mute and turn off your video to handle it. 5.Respect instant messaging. Before, employees were able to stop by the desk of a colleague to ask a quick question. Now, instant messaging has taken over this form of communication, but it can be easy to overstep boundaries.
Respect when a colleague has their status set to “busy” or “do not disturb.” Try not to IM them too often and interrupt their focus. 6.Respect meeting times. While working virtually, it’s easier to create your own schedule and work when you want to. Keep in mind that others may still want to keep their work hours the same. Avoid scheduling meetings during the lunch hour and be sure to wrap up all meetings before the end of the workday. 7.Don’t overbook. Zoom fatigue is a real thing, and employees need down time scheduled throughout their day. Avoid scheduling back-toback meetings if possible and give them a chance to recharge and catch up on their work. 8.Use emojis sparingly. Emojis are a fun way to display emotions virtually, but not everyone feels the same. Keep it respectful with simple emojis or refrain from using them altogether, especially when you are unsure of how it will be received. 9.Move to BCC. There are many instances where a colleague is CC’ed on an email for their knowledge but no longer need to be a part of the conversation. Respect their inbox by moving them to BCC when this is the case, or when you know they are on PTO. 10. Check in on others. It can be easy to forget to check in with employees the way you used to in the break room. Since virtual work meetings strictly follow an agenda to respect everyone’s time, remember to set aside separate time to reach out to colleagues and continue to build rapport. Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications, leading a team of 250+ Southern Arizona Cox employees. Prior to joining the Cox Southern Arizona team, Lisa ran a family business based in Tucson and is a graduate of the University of Arizona. Reach her at lisa. lovallo@cox.com.
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PEOPLEINACTION
Kara Riley
AUGUST 13, 2021
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Oro Valley police chief Kara Riley has been appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to the ArizonaCriminalJusticeCommission,abodycreatedtocoordinateandmonitorcriminaljusticeprogramsthroughoutthestateincludingdrugcontrol,gangsandvictim assistance. Riley, who became chief in early 2020, has served in law enforcement for nearly three decades. Before serving as chief, Riley was the commander for Oro Valley for three years. As commander, she oversaw the Field Services Division for patrol, motors, K-9, SWAT, negotiations, and the Community Action Team. The Commission comprises 19 members who represent various elements of the criminal justice system in Arizona. Fourteen of the 19 members are county or elected officials and the remaining five are criminal justice agency heads. Commissioners who are appointed by the governor serve for two years and terminate when the first regular session of the legislature is convened. “On behalf of the commission’s professional staff, I welcome our new members and thank Gov. Ducey for these important appointments to our commission,” said Director Andrew LeFevre. “Adding their unique views and voices to the commission will help ACJC continue to be the state’s leading criminal justice resource agency.”
Photo by Audria Abney
University of Arizona’s Arizona Arts Announces First ‘Equity in the Arts’ Role Jamie Villaseñor
Jeremy Pinard
Delmer Montoya
Suresh Mukkamala
Jamie Villaseñor has been promoted from tax manager to partner at the regional accounting firm Regier Carr & Monroe. A Tucson native, Villaseñor has worked with RCM since 2016, focusing on the areas of business taxation, real estate taxation and business assets. “Jamie is an integral part of the RCM team, and her deep expertise in tax issues is a valuable asset for RCM and our clients,” said Nicole Harrigan, RCM partner-in-charge. “She also has a professional and personal passion for real estate and effectively navigating complex tax issues that often accompany real estate transactions and planning.”
Vantage West Credit Union has announced Jeremy Pinard as their new chief lending officer. In this new role, Pinard will lead the Consumer and Mortgage Lending Divisions. He will work to create and execute the credit union’s lending strategy and operations. Vantage West is a Tucson-based credit union that was originally formed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base with the mission to help Tucson’s airmen and their families. Since 1955, they have expanded to serve more than 100,000 members and 19 locations.
Dr. Delmer Montoya, who specializes in medical oncology, has joined Arizona Oncology’s Tucson-Wilmot location. Originally from Honduras, Montoya studied at the University of Texas before relocating to Tucson this month upon completing his medical oncology fellowship at the University of South Alabama. Montoya is fluent in Spanish and brings several years of experience in hospice and palliative care to the Wilmot location. Arizona Oncology has centers throughout the state, treating cancers including breast, lung, prostate, skin, ovarian, colorectal and more. Their services range from chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy, as well as diagnostic imaging and screening.
Dr. Suresh Mukkamala has also joined Arizona Oncology and will be working at their Tucson-Rudasill location. Mukkamala is new to the Tucson area, recently completing a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. “Arizona Oncology believes in the benefit of receiving cancer care close to home and within the communities that our patients live in throughout the state,” said Dr. Edgar Staren, chief of operations at Arizona Oncology. “We’re looking forward to adding even more industry leading physicians to our team of oncologists in Tucson and hope to continue expanding our services for Southern Arizonans.”
Arizona Arts, which organizes arts programming through the University of Arizona, recently hired Amy Kraehe as the inaugural associate vice president of equity in the arts. In her new role, Kraehe will promote transparency and coordination around the Arizona Arts’s “equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, leading effective strategic planning with collective goal setting.” Kraehe already serves as a tenured associate professor at the UA School of Art. She earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in cultural studies in education and an M.A. in art education from the University of Texas at Austin. Her book, “Race and Art Education,” is due to come out this summer. According to UA, one of Kraehe’s first responsibilities will be to conduct an “equity audit” with curriculum mapping across the division. She will also work on redesigning the annual peer evaluation, promotion and tenure policies. “I’m most looking forward to seeing what we can do together in the division to make substantive changes to ensure inclusive excellence is not simply a virtue but instead is a habit that infuses the culture of Arizona Arts,” Kraehe said. “I’m also excited to foster greater connection, coordination, and communications among inclusion innovators in Arizona Arts.”
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AUGUST 13, 2021
A Heavy Lift: Gyms are making a comeback from a tough year, but owners worry about the impact of the Delta variant Christina Duran
Inside Tucson Business
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lanking weights, cheerful greetings and soft instructions can be heard as you walk through Tucson Strength, a staple gym in the community for more than 11 years. In her red leggings, vintage “Evolution Fitness” racerback tank top (the gym’s former name before Tucson Strength), a red headband and gold hoops, Rachel Tineo, gym ambassador and patron, walks across the gym greeted by other gym members. She points to different people working out in the afternoon. Whether they are high school graduates who just overcame a personal record or former olympic medalists, Tineo knows their story. Beyond the amenities provided by the gym, like the food service, the massage area or the sports recovery service, Tineo, now in her 50s, has returned to this gym almost daily for the last 11 years because of the community. “First is community. Second, we treat each other like family,” said Tineo. “And third we welcome everybody. Doesn’t matter
who your employer is, political affiliation. Doesn’t matter your size, color, color of your hair.” At around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, the gym slowly fills up with people going about their individual workouts, and some heading to the outdoor gym area founder Danny Sawaya redeveloped in the summer to stay prepared. “We don’t know where the pandemic’s gonna turn and we wanted to make sure that we had an outdoor space that could pretty much handle year round, anytime of the year, and give our members who feel safer an outdoor space to train at,” said Sawaya. Like other gyms in Tucson, Sawaya had to shut down in March at the start of the pandemic, but after reopening his gym last May he stayed open. Before reopening, Sawaya increased cleaning and sanitation for an already clean gym, made sure equipment was spaced 6 to 8 feet apart, set a limit on capacity and had staff wear masks, while strongly encouraging patrons to mask if they saw other people. Then at the end of June last year when indoor gyms were asked to close again, Sawaya and his
team quickly set up a tent, large fans and equipment outside to stay open. Tineo said every member made an effort to train in the heat to keep people safe and keep the gym open. Since then Sawaya has made an effort to follow the health guidelines while maintaining his gym open for his patrons who supported the gym for the two months the gym closed, by continuing to pay their memberships. “It really was amazing. It kept us in business,” said Sawaya. “We did everything we could to stay open for them after they supported us.” Tucson Strength patrons say they were giving back what they had received. Two years ago, Dan Nicolette, a Tucson Unified School District employee and patron of Tucson Strength, and his wife Gloria had spent 140 days at Tucson Medical Center with their newborn, who came 15 weeks early. Sawaya gathered patrons to participate in a lifting meet to raise funds to help cover some of Nicolette’s hospital bills through registration, donations and raffling gift cards from local businesses, like Bookmans Book-
Rachel Tineo, Tucson Strength ambassador, preparing to lift weights. Photo by Christina Duran.
store nearby. Nicolette said Sawaya wants Tucson Strength to be known not only for the incredible equipment and innovation, but also for family. Since reopening to normal capacity and a rise in vaccinations earlier in the year, Sawaya has seen their membership grow for the first time since 2019. Sawaya believes the feeling of family and community has led people to leave bigger gyms. “I think a lot of it is people want to support locally owned gyms,” said Sawaya. “People feel more comfortable in a commu-
nity-type environment, where the owner’s on the spot, where you can talk to the owner and everyone on the staff is all kind of family.” Sawaya also said the pandemic motivated people to make the changes they had put off before, like moving from their big box gym to a more community-type local gym. Prestige Fitness owner Ron Yousefnejad, whose gym has also seen a drastic uptick in clients over the last year, said for him vaccinations have played a huge role in the rise in clients. “Clients are feeling a lot
more confident in getting outside and being around other people, because they’re vaccinated,” said Yousefnejad. At Prestige, they focus on working with an older demographic. Yousefnejad said based on the age they generally serve, he expects 90% to 95% of clients are vaccinated. Further, he believes more people are focusing on their health because of the pandemic. “People are doing a lot more research, and they’re making more educated decisions on how they want their health to change, and they’re
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seeking places that have the ability to help them in a wide array of different services,” said Yousefnejad. “I think clients are ready to make a change and they’re looking for something that’s going to help them in lifestyle approach versus just trying to go on and do just a workout or they’re looking for more advice and more education.” Not everyone has been able to stay open or have a large increase in clients. Brianna Arndt, founder of Barefoot Studios, said just this month people have felt comfortable enough to return to the studio. “Unfortunately now we’re getting hit with this variant and possible restrictions being brought
AUGUST 13, 2021
back on to the clients again,” said Ardnt. “It feels like just when we are starting to be able to come back from this, they’re pulling the rug out from underneath us and I think everybody can agree that they want everyone to be as safe as possible, but for a very small business owner in a field where we’re trying to promote health and well being, not be able to continue what we do it’s been such a challenge.” Pima County moved from moderate to high transmission last week, with 106 people per 100,000 testing positive for the week of July 25. Statewide, more than 2,000 people a day were testing positive for COVID last week. Last
month, the CDC changed its guidelines, advising everyone regardless of vaccination status to wear masks in public indoor areas. “This has kind of taken everyone for a loop so we’ll kind of see how this is going to play out over the next few weeks,” said Sawaya. He said members are welcome to wear a mask, and some like Nicolette still do. While memberships have increased, Sawaya said the gym is never overly packed, since it’s not a high volume gym. With the outdoor area fully equipped, Sawaya feels he is able to provide a comfortable alternative to working out indoors. “If we have to limit
capacity, space people out more, we will, but there’s no reason that if we have a nice big spaced out gym with great circulation, why people can’t be in there and not be at Home Depot,” said Sawaya. “It’s just that there’s no rhyme or reason to this.” Like Sawaya, Yousefnejad leaves it up to his patrons to decide whether to wear a mask or not, but has stringent guidelines in place to protect them. At Prestige, clients have to go through infrared temperature checks and they are asked to maintain social distancing, while the staff has increased cleaning and sanitization. “I think that’s what gives people the confidence when they’re looking for somewhere to go, to come
to somewhere like Prestige,” said Yousefnejad. He hopes the gym will not have to go through another shutdown and thinks that they are in a different environment than before their first shut down, as more people are vaccinated. Yousefnejad also believes there’s more information about “how statistically damaging it is to just completely shut businesses down.” “I hope that the politicians have a better training reference now to look back and kind of see what worked and what didn’t work,” said Yousefnejad. Arndt is crossing her fingers in the hope that it does not get to the point where they have to shut down, as she believes that would not be healthy for
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her business or the community. “I also just don’t think that that’s healthy for the community as a whole to continue to be in this situation where they’re in solitude and not around other folks,” said Arndt. “But we got to do what we got to do for safety, and who knows where all this variant stuff will lead and as information unfolds, we are just all doing the best we can.” Sawaya, like Arndt believes “health and fitness are essential and we’ll definitely pay close attention to crowded areas and that type of stuff, and do our best to make sure that we’re using all the strategies to make sure it’s not spreading in our gym but I will not close again.” ITB
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
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Long Realty completes highest Tucson-area sale in 14 years sale include “shifts in the market, like people wanting more space this last year and Tucson becoming increasong Realty Company ingly more enticing to peohas sold their most expensive Tucson-area ple—as it deserves… We are home in more than a decade grateful for the support of the community—both within with the closure of a $4 million house in the Ventana Long Realty and Tucson— and all the new people who Canyon Mountain Estates. have discovered our gem of a Located northwest of the city over the last year.” Sabino Canyon recreation area, the 11,000 squareSales foot property features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms Staff Experts, LLC purand a pool stretched across chased 1,650 square feet of a lot that is valued at $1 million itself. According to office space located in the Ina Long Realty, this is the 11th Road Professional Center, home in the Tucson area to 1625 W. Ina Road, Suite 109 sell for more than $3 million in Tucson. The single-tenant office building was purchased in 2021. from Thomas L. Hossfeld The sale was facilitated by listing agent Leslie Heros and Janie L. Nunez as Trustees of the Nunez-Hossfeld and selling agent George Revocable Family Trust, for Palmer. Heros sells more than 70 homes annually and $200,000. Ryan McGregor, is ranked among the top 3% Office Specialist with Cushof realtors nationwide, while man & Wakefield | PICOR, Palmer ranks among the top represented the seller in this 17% of realtors nationwide. transaction. “This is so exciting for V West Ventures, LLC Tucson to have a home purchased the 4,065 SF sold for over $4 million,” said Heros, who noted that building at 244 W. Drachman St. for $334,000. contributing factors to the
Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
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David Blanchette, CCIM with NAI Horizon represented the seller and Jim Vincent with J Vincent Company represented the buyer in this transaction. Equilibrium Villas Vida Blue, LLC purchased a 38,228-square-foot, multifamily complex located at 3525 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson. Vida Nueva Apartments, a 24-unit property, was purchased from Seajak Properties, LP for $1,250,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. 1055 N Olsen, LLC purchased Olsen Apartments, a 4,571-square-foot, multifamily facility located at 1055, 1065 and 1075 N. Olsen Ave. in Tucson. The 10-unit property was purchased from RAS Enterprises, LLC for $1,010,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with
Cushman & Wakefield | PIStellar Smoke Shop COR, represented the buyer leased 1280 square feet at in this transaction. The Shops at Camp Lowell located at 3225 N. Swan Ganas Investments, LLC Road. Dave Dutson with purchased a 6,000-square- NAI Horizon handled the foot commercial building transaction. located at 313 W. Sahuaro St. in Tucson. The single-tenElectronic Design & Deant, showroom/office/ware- velopment, Corp. renewed house property was purtheir lease with E & F Holdchased from the Michael D. ing, LLC, for 8,194 square Harris and Sandra D. Harris feet of office space located Living Trust for $575,000. at 7636 N. Oracle Road in Ron Zimmerman, Principal Oro Valley, AZ. Thomas and Industrial Specialist J. Nieman, Principal, and with Cushman & Wakefield Office Specialist with Cush| PICOR, represented the man & Wakefield | PICOR, seller in this transaction. Pa- represented the landlord in tricia Hamilton, with Omni this transaction. Thomas Homes International, LLC, Hunt, with Tango Commerrepresented the buyer. cial Real Estate, represented the tenant. Monson Properties AZ, LLC purchased a Solar Industries, Inc 3,474-square-foot office leased 6,588 square feet of property located at 2437 N. industrial space at 5252 E. Stone Ave. in Tucson. The Speedway Blvd. in Tucson, single-tenant building was from Beverly/Speedway purchased from Walker In- LLC. Paul Hooker, Princidustrial II Properties, LLC pal, and Industrial Specialist for $345,000. Paul Hooker with Cushman & Wakefield and Ron Zimmerman, | PICOR, represented the Principals, and Industrial landlord in this transaction. Specialists with Cushman & Stephen D. Cohen, IndusWakefield | PICOR, handled trial Specialist with Cushthis transaction. Paul Hook- man & Wakefield | PICOR, er represented the seller; represented the tenant. Ron Zimmerman represented the buyer. Matrix Service, Inc. renewed their lease with KCI-Broadway, LLC, Scott Leases Seldin-Broadway, LLC, BelSpike & Chester’s Scrub mont-Broadway, LLC, and Tucson 5151 Investments, Tub leased 1,050 square feet at Mountain View Plaza LLC for 2,389 square feet of located at 9725 N. Thorny- office space located at 5151 dale Road. Dave Dutson with E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 280 in Tucson. Richard M. NAI Horizon handled the Kleiner, MBA, and Thomas transaction. J. Nieman, Principals, and
Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Scott Schlotfelt with Commercial Oklahoma, Inc., represented the tenant. Turquesa Art & Beauty Studio leased 1,620 square feet of industrial space from Presson Midway, LLC, located in Midway Business Park, 4500 E. Speedway Blvd., Suite 87 in Tucson. Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, Paul Hooker and Andrew Keim, Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Robert Fischrup, with Vast Commercial Real Estate Solutions, LLC, represented the tenant. Goodfellas Barber Lounge, LLC, leased 1,260 square feet of retail space from Tucson St. Mary’s Plaza, LLC, located in St. Mary’s Plaza, 1531 W. Saint Mary’s Road in Tucson. Dave Hammack, Principal, and Retail Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. AMHEATCOOL, LLC leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space from Presson Midpoint, LLC, located in Midpoint Business Plaza, 3933 E. 29th St., Suite 506 in Tucson. Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR Industrial Specialists Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, Paul Hooker and Andrew Keim handled this transaction. ITB
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Capping 1031 Exchanges is a Recipe for Stagnation, Not Recovery Matthew A. Thrasher and Dan Wagner
Special to Inside Tucson Business
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n essential tool in rebuilding our American economy is at serious risk as part of the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan being considered in Washington— and the damage will be felt in every state, city and town still reeling from the ravages of COVID-19. For the last 100 years, like-kind exchanges, which allow investors to defer taxes on property sale gains while reinvesting that money into new properties, have been a cornerstone of the U.S. commercial real estate market, generating economic benefits on every level which far exceed the amount of taxes deferred. The $1.8 trillion plan presented last
month by President Joe Biden proposes to cap the amount of gains that can be deferred at $500,000. This shortsighted and counterproductive cap is a recipe for economic stagnation, not recovery. All across our state and right here in Tucson we have witnessed the closing of countless shopping malls, strip centers, and restaurants due to the pandemic. The fallout continues in hotels and office buildings. Virtual meetings will permanently replace significant business travel, and many people will work from home exclusively. A substantial reinvestment to repurpose these properties and redevelop commercial spaces will be required for the economy to regain its strength. The Federation Exchange of Accommodators,
the national organization of 1031 Exchange companies, analyzed the data for the state of Arizona from seven companies between 2015 to 2019. They found that there were 14,000 properties involved in exchanges, representing a total value of $23.4 billion. That is data from just seven companies and there are many more which support exchanges; it is estimated that 15%-20% of all commercial transactions nationally utilize a 1031. Proponents of the cap argue that the provision is a “loophole” used to avoid payment of taxes. In reality, a 1031 exchange is a deferral, not an elimination of tax, with taxes paid over a 15-year window and, according to a study, 80% of the taxpayers do only one 1031 exchange and
then dispose of the property in a taxable sale. A restrictive cap—whether $500,000 or any other amount—on the ability to reinvest into commercial real estate and the redevelopment of properties at this critical juncture in our nation’s economy would send an already struggling commercial real estate market into a tailspin. Ernst & Young estimated that the reinvestment through 1031 exchanges in 2021 will support more than 560,000 new jobs paying more than $27.5 billion in labor income, generate $5 billion in federal taxes and add $55 billion to the GDP. That $5 billion in federal taxes generated in one year far exceeds the estimate in the 2021 Biden budget that says capping 1031 at $500,000 raises an
average of $1.95 billion per year over 10 years. Why would anyone change Section 1031? It doesn’t raise any money. Like-kind exchanges play a critical role in many facets of the nation’s economy, including: • fueling the redevelopment of distressed commercial properties; • financing the construction or renovation of multi-family and affordable housing; • allowing business to move to bigger facilities while keeping their capital in the business; • allowing the middle class to build a real estate portfolio which will one day fund retirement; • supporting farmers, ranchers, and forest owners; • promoting land conservation and environ-
mental protection. The resurgence of our economy will need to be generated from many sources, and the private sector must again play a significant role in the recovery. The best way to encourage improvements and strengthen this infrastructure stock is to keep section 1031 unchanged to encourage investment and most importantly, reinvestment in the real estate economy. ITB Matthew A. Thrasher is managing partner, Thrasher Law Offices PLLC, a boutique law firm in the Southwest specializing in real estate transactions. Matt represents real estate developers and investors in an array of finance, real estate, and general business matters. Daniel Wagner is Senior Vice President of Government Relations for The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies. He is past president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.
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At State of the Town, Marana Mayor Ed Honea says Marana is bouncing back from the pandemic While the project cost $4 million, Honea explained that the residents living in about 1,000 homes in that eep in the Tortocommunity were sandlita Mountains at wiched between the Union the Ritz-Carlton, Pacific railroad and the Dove Mountain CAP canal, with only one resort, Marana Mayor Ed way in and out. Honea welcomed a packed “If you needed police conference room to the protection or medical or State of Town luncheon on fire protection or someThursday afternoon. body to get in there, if “It’s so nice to see every- the train was going slowly body here, face-to-face, across the crossing, you without a mask, or not on couldn’t get in or out. a Zoom meeting,” said Ho- We talked about it for nea at the luncheon, which years and finally Roxhad not been held in-per- anne Ziegler said build son since 2019 because of the––road,” said Honea to the COVID-19 pandemic. laughter from the crowd. Before beginning his In March the town address, Honea requestalso opened two water ed all guests stand for treatment facilities in the a moment of silence, Continental Reserve and commemorating the recent Saguaro Bloom area in orpassing of Ed Stolmaker, der to address concerns of former president and CEO above recommended levels of the Marana Chamber of 1,4-Dioxane and PFAs. of Commerce, and retired Three years ago, the Northwest Fire Chief Jeff town had filed a lawsuit Piechura, who unexpectwith the City of Tucson edly died in a plane crash against 3M and other comwhile battling the Cedar panies that produced and Basin Fire. sold aqueous film-forming Honea recognized that foam (AFFF), a firefightdespite hardships faced ing product containing during the pandemic, the PFAs, but Honea said they town of Marana continued didn’t wait for the lawsuit’s to grow and completed two resolution to take action. large projects. Honea said the treatOn April 23, the town ment plants “were $8 of Marana celebrated million apiece. Money we the grand opening of the didn’t necessarily have to Adonis Road Extension spend on something we project, which includes weren’t sure of. But when a two-lane roadway that it comes to our residencprovides secondary access es, the residents that live to the Adonis and San in our community, they Lucas communities from always come first.” West Grier Road to West The town continues to Tangerine Road. partner with Oro ValChristina Duran
Inside Tucson Business
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ley and Metro Water on the Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System (NWRRDS), using stored Central Arizona Project water from northern Avra Valley near the Marana Airport for delivery to homes to reduce groundwater withdrawal. “We’re going to work with those community partners to provide clean potable water for the northwest part of our region,” said Honea to a round of applause. The town has grown to nearly 55,000 residents, with 1,067 new single family residences in the last fiscal year, in spite of the pandemic. With the town growing “like crazy,” Honea said they will hire 26 new employees, including five new police officers, a new dispatcher, and other new hires for Parks and Recreation and Transportation. “We want to be able to provide service at the level that everybody that either lives or works or recreates in Marana is used to,” said Honea. In order to accommodate the growing town, Honea introduced the plan to build a multi-generational community center and aquatic facility. “We need a place to be. We need a place to go. We’ll use this center for Founder’s Day. We’ll use this center for the Holiday Festival Christmas tree lighting. We need a place for our community to go and recreate,” said
Honea. In February, the town council unanimously approved the town’s Parks and Recreation 10-Year Master Plan, which included the community center and aquatic facility. The town hopes to fund the estimated $42 million facility through a proposed half-cent sales tax increase, which would raise approximately $6 million a year and would fund the project over seven years. In telephone and online surveys conducted by the town around 80% of respondents supported the MultiGen community center and a year-round aquatics facility. To accommodate the growing Northwest Fire District, construction is currently underway for the new district administration facility. Voter approved funding was secured to build the new administration building, expected to finish in April 2022. “With a full understanding and appreciation of the investment of the residents and business owners within the district, committed to us each year, it is important to provide the best possible return on that investment in as many ways as possible,” said Chief Brent Bradley in a prerecorded message. “That is why the district committed itself to achieve an Insurance Service Office rating of one.” Bradley explained that the ISO scoring, which ranges from one to 10, determines the cost of insurance pre-
Marana Mayor Ed Honea: “We want to be able to provide service at the level that everybody that either lives or works or recreates in Marana is used to.” Courtesy photo.
miums for property owners within the district. An ISO score of one would ensure that property owners within the district pay the lowest possible insurance premiums. According to Bradley, Northwest Fire district is one of only 275 fire districts in the United States to achieve accreditation, and one of only seven to achieve accreditation and an ISO scoring of one. “Every person inside our respective boundaries should be able to enjoy content with your family and friends, find comfort in their homes, and build their businesses, knowing that collectively we work day and night to ensure the safety and protection of each of you,” said Bradley. KOLD News 13 evening
news anchor Dan Marries also presented the Marana Branding Award and Marana Legacy Award to recipients nominated by the public. The nominations were moved to this year as the 2020 State of the Town was cancelled. Marries presented the branding irons, awarded to those who make a “mark” on the community, to Navid Kharrazi, owner of On A Wing and Prayer Horse Farm, for supporting veterans. “Kharrazi has been our coach, friend and mentor,” said Michael J. De Nicola, who nominated Kharrazi. “Through animal therapy, he taught us how to ride, and he did so with an open heart.” Continued on P12
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Local mayors support Amtrak’s proposal for a passenger rail connecting Tucson and Phoenix Christina Duran
Inside Tucson Business
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n July 13, 11 mayors, including mayors from Sahuarita, Oro Valley and Marana, led by Tucson City Mayor Regina Romero and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, sent a letter to Arizona congressional leaders, supporting Amtrak’s proposal for a passenger rail that would not only connect Tucson and Phoenix, but other towns like Marana, Coolidge and Goodyear. “It’s about a regional approach to economic development because what’s good for Tucson is good for the region,” said Romero in a media roundtable with Amtrak and city leaders on Tuesday. “It really is about offering an opportunity to all of our residents, including those that live south of Tucson in Nogales and Rio Rico, to connect even tourists that are coming in from Sonora, Mexico, which is our number one trading partner in Arizona, to Tucson.” The passenger rail would be an alternative to driving, with a five-minute shorter travel time than the peak two-hours-and30-minute commute from Tucson to Phoenix, said Amtrak President Stephen Gardner. The rail would offer
three daily round trips from Tucson, Phoenix and Buckeye, and one daily trip from Tucson to Los Angeles. The proposed line is part of Amtrak’s Corridor Vision Plan to expand low carbon intercity passenger rail service to 160 communities across the nation over the next 15 years. “We have a global climate crisis. In part congestions on the road and really in the air feed some of that. We have a history of some structural inequality in society but particularly in transportation as well,” said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. “We believe that one way to rise and address these challenges that our country confronts is through expanding intercity passenger rail service, putting in place a system that offers frequent reliable, sustainable and equitable alternatives to driving and flying.” Flynn said the rail could address long-term congestion issues in the corridor, as Tucson commuters are estimated to spend about 90% more time in traffic than elsewhere and large city commuters may be experiencing as much as 62 hours of congestion delay, estimated to cost about $1,000 a year. The passenger rail would require an investment of about $925 million and take about three years of construction
to put the service in place, said Gardner. Amtrak estimates the service would generate roughly 200,000 riders annually, producing $77.7 million a year and generate about $2.3 billion in economic activity created from one-time capital investments. Mayor Ed Honea of Marana, who signed the letter of support, said his constituents would be able to visit their families or travel for work, like his own family has, using Amtrak’s existing line to travel from San Diego to Los Angeles. He also noted the area around the Marana stop has multiple hotel and motel complexes for people to stay in for business. Beyond the leisure traveller, Visit Phoenix CEO Ron Price added that by connecting these cities it would increase interest in the region. “How much more attractive are we going to become to be landing the next corporate headquarters, the regional offices?” asked Price. Amtrak would use and build on existing lines, and use their new diesel multipl-unit train, which Gardner said is a “very effective train set.” While the train is not electric, he said Amtrak is looking at different alternatives to provide the “lowest carbon service that we can.”
When asked why Amtrak considered a passenger rail versus a high speed rail, Flynn noted the time and investment a high speed rail would take, but would be considered in the future once there’s an existing line. “High speed rail from start to finish, usually is a 15-plus-year project, and it is something that I think that we look at once there’s an existing corridor, and there’s existing volumes,” said Flynn. “The approach here is to build out the service, build out the
ridership and then explore what other future opportunities are for services.” At the moment Amtrak hopes to secure the federal funding necessary to begin the investments to start operations, including the agreements with host railroads, like Union Pacific to develop the rights to operate. Gardner said they proposed a “bold plan for federal investment” to Congress to help cover up to all of the initial capital costs and a portion of the early operational costs. They also advocated that Congress
provide additional funds to increase operation of the trains, including the two they currently have, in their long distance network from tri-weekly to daily. Part of the proposal also includes transitioning the operating funding requirement to the state after a period of time, according to Flynn. “The state of Arizona has an incredible opportunity to lead on this particular type of investment that other states, by the way, already do,” said Romero. ITB
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UA receives $4M grant to support health services in rural Arizona by supporting a number of UA-based programs, Special to Inside Tucson Business including the Arizona State Office of Rural Health, the niversity of ArizoArizona First Responders na’s Arizona Center Initiative, the Small Rural for Rural Health Hospital Improvement has received a five-year, Program and the Rural multi-million dollar grant Hospital Flexibility from state and federal Program. sources to continue their Jennifer Peters, associate mission of providing health director and program coorcare, education, technical dinator for AzSORH who assistance, data analyses oversees the day-to-day and more to rural commu- operations of the program nities throughout the state. at the state and national The Arizona Center levels, says that every federfor Rural Health aims to al dollar has to be matched support the state’s rural and with three state dollars. underserved populations The funding period Katya Mendoza
U
began on July 1, 2021, and ends June 30, 2026. The total amount of the federal award including approved cost sharing or matching this project period was $223,410, which was matched by the state with $670,230, resulting in a total of $893,640, set to be dispersed each year. The majority of these funds on an annual basis are used to support a staff of 15 within the AzSORH office, with positions in program oversight, community outreach, training and education or health systems development, with
News and features for Tucson and Southern Arizona’s business and legal communities
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some some funds allocated for travel. “A lot of our efforts go around helping collect and disseminate rural health information, education events and training,” said AzCRH director Dr. Daniel Derksen. One major challenge: An increasing shortage for primary care physicians in rural parts of the state. According to the AzCRH, Arizona meets only 41.7% of its PCP need. While the majority of the primary care doctors within the state of Arizona live in urban metro areas such as Maricopa and Pima counties, they are aging especially in rural and underserved areas. The AzCRH seeks to place and retain physicians in these areas in order to create jobs and improve access to health care as an effort to lower the cost in these low income and underserved communities. Other factors affect overall rural health outcomes, such as socioeconomics, lack of health insurance coverage and infrastructure. The AzCRH has helped create 15 federally designated critical access hospitals, 24 federally certified rural health clinics, and 160 federal qualified health centers that are part of the state and federally funded “health safety net.” The center, previously known as the Rural Health Office, has been housed within the University of Arizona Mel and Enid
Zuckerman College of Public Health for the past 30 years. Since 1990, AzCRH has participated in a five-year cycle in which they are required to submit a full application to show that they have conducted a needs assessment and that they have designed a program that has responded to the needs of a rural community. In order to convey these accomplishments, they must ensure that what they propose addresses specific guiding principles. The AzCRH looks at rural communities that are unique and not homogenous, with a focus on tribal and the US Mexico border populations that will also have their own subsets variations. “We have to ensure that everything we do addresses those variations and that are sensitive to the different needs, culture, history, the different capacities that are in all of those communities,” said Peters. “We really like to emphasize sort of a holistic view of rural health that integrates not just individual health behaviors, but also the social and structural determinants of health that exist in a community.” Certain challenges exacerbated by the pandemic have disproportionately affected the more elderly populations in rural areas, such as the Navajo and Apache nations as well as the Santa Cruz, Cochise
and Yuma counties. Both Native Americans and Hispanic populations face significant health disparities due to their isolation from in-person health care services. “Arizona is a very large state, we have most of our population in the Pima and Maricopa counties. One in four live in the other 15 counties in the state, and a lot of our efforts focus on [these] other counties,” said Derksen. These rural areas were hit hard by the pandemic due to the volume of patients and amount of people reluctant to seek health care. Despite the decreasing rate of outpatient visits, AzCRH was able to assist in the setup of telehealth for primary care, rather than in person care for these communities. “A lot of the rates of infection were high, if you only have 25 beds, you can quickly be overwhelmed by an outbreak of COVID-19,” said Derksen. While rural communities were inordinately affected by the rise in death rates brought on by the pandemic, the AzCRH in collaboration with the AZDHS, was able to set up testing sites, provide vaccinations, and information regarding the pandemic in a “culturally congruent” manner. The AzCRH will use this funding to continue to monitor and assist the underserved communities throughout the state. ITB
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AUGUST 13, 2021
11
TECH TALK
Automated agriculture, energy tracking and a sleep apnea trial Jeff Gardner
their usage away from peak times, they can save money and make the most of our renewable energy resources, while helping us keep our service reliable and affordable.”
Inside Tucson Business
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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. Automatic Agriculture. It seems no industry will stay untouched by the gradual crawl of automation. The University of Arizona-based technology company CyVerse has received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to help transform farming with artificial intelligence. With this funding, UA joins the Iowa State University-led Artificial Intelligence Institute for Resilient Agriculture. CyVerse will work with the institute to gather data such as when to plant and how to allocate fertilizer and irrigation resources while minimizing environmental impact. CyVerse co-principal investigator and director of UA’s Data Science Institute Nirav Merchant says technology can help prepare us for a changing climate, as there are limits on how much water and resources we will be able to use, but we can use AI to optimize the planting cycles and use of resources to reduce the stress in agriculture. “The University of Ari-
The world’s largest robotic field scanner, which is mounted on a 30-ton steel gantry moving along 200-meter steel rails over 1.5 acres of energy sorghum at the Maricopa Agricultural Center, is an example of precision technology used in agriculture. Photo by University of Arizona.
zona’s participation in this institute is an expression of our land-grant mission, and it speaks to our commitment to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges and improving people’s lives through innovation and thoughtful collaboration,” said UA President Robert C. Robbins. “The work of AIIRA also aligns perfectly with our continued focus on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in which the digital world, including cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, converge with the physical and biological worlds.” The Artificial Intelligence Institute for Resilient Agriculture is just one of 11 new artificial intelligence research institutes formed by the National Science Foundation. Electrical Efficiency. Tucson Electric Power is working with technology company Shifted Energy to better forecast electrical loads. Shifted Energy
uses machine learning and Internet-of-Things communication retrofitted onto electrical water heaters to better manage energy assets. Over the course of 16 weeks, Shifted Energy will demonstrate their technology in order to “accelerate decarbonization, electrification, grid modernization, and other electric power industry innovation imperatives.” The collaboration is part of the Electric Power Research Institute’s Incubatenergy Labs program that pairs 20 startup technology companies with electric power utilities throughout the nation. The 2021 Cohort runs from June to October, with results presented during interactive Incubatenergy Labs Demo Days in October 2021. “This program advances our ongoing effort to provide our customers with tools to make smart energy choices,” said Ted Burhans, TEP director of emerging technologies and innovation. “By making slight adjustments to shift
Sleep Apnea Trial. Researchers at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine are launching a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of breathing exercise known as “inspiratory muscle training” for reducing blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health in adults with obstructive sleep apnea. E. Fiona Bailey, a professor in the UA Department of Physiology, previously conducted a study that showed a specialized respi-
ratory workout entailing 30 breaths a day can lower blood pressure. Now using a $3.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, UA researchers are looking to implement the breathing exercise over six months on a group of 50-to-80-year-olds with obstructive sleep apnea and above-normal blood pressure. According to UA, study participants will undergo initial screenings of cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep health. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of two training groups, one emphasizing high resistance training, the other emphasizing low resistance training. Participants in both groups
will perform their training at home and complete 30 breaths per day, five days a week, for 24 weeks. “High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in America. Five minutes a day of inspiratory muscle training, consisting of just 30 inspiratory efforts against resistance, offers a low-cost, non-pharmacologic means of improving both sleep quality and blood pressure,” said Bailey. ITB For more information on participating in the clinical trial, contact Lupita Ramos-Barrera at (520) 626-0836 or baileylaboratory@email.arizona.edu, or visit redcap.link/breathe.
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Marana TUSD Mandates Masks as COVID Climbs
Continued from P8
Marries also presented the Branding Award to Catherine Oberholzer, owner of The Sylvan Learning Center, which has provided tutoring service, college prep classes, STEM camps and more since 2018. “She helps children build self confidence and to grow academically in a positive learning environment,” said Marries. “She never turned anyone away, even offering reduced pricing and scholarship programs to families in need, therefore giving learning opportunities to those who may not otherwise be able to receive it.” Cameron Walsh won the Youth Legacy Award, created by the town council to acknowledge youth in the community who make “Marana a better place for everyone.” Walsh’s fifth-grade teacher at DeGrazia Elementary nominated him because he was “the first to welcome new students into the classroom by being kind, caring and helpful.” Marries said Cameron tutored others, including those with disabilities and helped them to complete their math, reading, and history lessons. He was also voted amongst his peers to be the sergeant at arms for student council and in 2019 was selected to represent Marana Unified School District at the Kids Combine day at the Arizona Cardinal Stadium. “To see this event, the deserving award recipients, and how our community came together in the toughest of times, confirms that I’m right where I’m meant to be,” said newly appointed CEO and President of the Marana Chamber of Commerce Amanda Wiggins. ITB
Staff Report
Inside Tucson Business
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he Tucson Unified School District board voted 4-0 to require everyone wear a mask on TUSD property at an emergency meeting Wednesday morning. Before school begins tomorrow, the board decided to implement masking for all on TUSD campuses, motivated by the outbreaks seen in the Vail School District and with the growing number of pediatric cases. Since the Vail School District began school on July 19, officials have reported 25 positive COVID-19 cases from students and staff as of July 25. On Monday, the district reported 57 student cases and 12 staff cases as of August 1. The Tucson Unified School District is almost four times the size of the Vail School District. Last week, Pima County Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Cullen said they received reports of 56 cases since July 19 and eight outbreaks at schools. For weeks, health experts warned of the expected outbreaks and high transmission in schools, especially with the inability of school districts to implement masking, since state law passed in June prohibits districts from mandating masks. Dr. Joe Gerald, epidemiologist with the UA Zuckerman School of Public Health, who has been tracking the virus
TUSD staff during a demonstration in October 2020. Photo by Jeff Gardner.
since March 2020, alerted the public to the impending outbreaks in his weekly forecast. “Unlike the summer of 2020 when we were headed into school re-opening with generally declining rates, the match has been lit and the kindling is aflame this time,” wrote Gerald in an email. “For good measure, we are going to throw on some wet wood (children) in the coming weeks to ensure a robust bonfire for the Labor Day Marshmallow Roast. In the absence of greater vaccination or mask mandates, it is difficult to be optimistic about what might happen when schools are running at full capacity.” The warning came along with the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases and the prevalence of the Delta variant, which is highly transmissible. Arizona has a high rate of transmission with a current rate of 175 cases per 100,000 individuals for the seven day rolling average, while Pima
County has about half the rate of transmission. Given new evidence on the Delta variant suggesting high transmissibility even among vaccinated individuals, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention updated their mask guidance, recommending all individuals regardless of vaccination wear masks in public in-door space in areas of high or substantial transmission. According to Gerald, rates are about three times higher among those 15 to 24 years of age compared to those 65 and older, but transmission is increasing among all age groups. Last Wednesday, Cullen said pediatricians are seeing increased admissions and increased severity of illness, including ICU admission. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Banner Health’s Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel said pediatric patients account for 5% of all COVID hospital admissions. Since July 1, Bessel reported COVID
hospitalizations have increased by 95% and ventilator usage has increased by 300%. TUSD board member Adelita Grijalva said she was considering not only the outbreaks and increase in cases in schools within Pima County but also about the 30% of the TUSD population ineligible to get vaccinated because they are too young. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine approved for those 12 to 17, with no vaccine approved for those younger than 12. Tucson Unified School District is the only school in Pima County that has decided to outrightly oppose the actions of the state Legislature and the Gov. Doug Ducey. “Unfortunately, Gov. Ducey is wanting to eliminate local control,” said Grijalva. “The irony is it’s actually going to close more schools.” Despite the decision, Grijalva said they have not discussed challenging the K-12 reconciliation bill,
which prohibits districts from requiring masks, in court. Aside from requiring masks, TUSD will not be welcoming any visitors or volunteers. TUSD joins The Phoenix Union High School District, who announced last Friday they would enforce their existing mask requirement district-wide. Most schools in Pima County will begin school this week without mask requirements. Marana Unified School District is not planning to mandate masks, but will recommend unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals wear face covering when indoors, said Director of Public Relations Alli Benjamin. Tucson family physician Dr. Cadey Harrel called on Ducey and the state legislature to overturn their decision and “do the right thing for our children, schools, and community by permitting schools to take necessary and proven measures, like simple mask wearing, to keep them safe.” “Physicians spoke out against this dangerous law when it passed, since many students are not old enough to be vaccinated yet, and with the delta variant spreading like wildfire, it’s even more critical for schools to be able to protect their students, educators, and staff,” said Harrel. “As a physician and mother, I want children to resume in-person learning safely, but frankly I’m scared about the suffering and death this year will bring.” ITB
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AUGUST 13, 2021
ON THE MENU
Just how do you create award-winning BBQ ribs? Matt Russell
Special to Inside Tucson Business
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ou can smell the smoke the moment you land at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Every Labor Day weekend, the small town of Sparks, Nevada hosts what’s often called the Masters Tournament of barbecue rib competitions. And that smoke? It gets measurably thicker as you make the five-mile trip from the airport to Victorian Square. Joining a typical turnout of 500,000 people, who collectively consume more than 100 tons of pork ribs, I’ll soon be returning for my 10th year as a judge at the double-blind Nugget Rib Cookoff, which USA Today has dubbed the nation’s “Best BBQ Festival.” In preparation for this important assignment, I sat down with decorated Tucson pit master Brandi Romero as she shared her strategy for wowing judges at similar competitions. Romero was a multiple award-winning fixture on the local and national barbecue competition circuit for several years before her food truck hit the streets in 2016. The community response was overwhelming, and the kind of affirmation she needed to open a restaurant two years later, Kiss of Smoke BBQ & Catering, at 663 S. Plumer Avenue. Rib competitions typically include three scoring
categories—appearance, texture, and taste. Appearance is key, since we all eat with our eyes, particularly when you’re staring down a righteous rack of ribs. “The work that’s required to produce a great appearance begins long before you rub the ribs and put them into the smoker,” said Romero. “There are many fine details in the way a rack of ribs is trimmed that makes it competition-worthy.” One of her trimming secrets is to round the corners near the bones so the meat will more efficiently pull back towards the center of the rack as it’s smoked. This technique results in that classic glamour image with the ends of the bones protruding slightly from the meat. A beautiful color is also central to scoring big appearance points, and Romero aims for a deep mahogany that requires dedicated doses of paprika and brown sugar in her rub. Nailing the texture category is all about that delicate balance of time and heat. Smoking ribs too long will make the meat fall off the bone. While this is the preferred style of ribs at many restaurants, it will put you at risk in competition. “Judges want ribs to have a bit of a pull when they bite into them,” she said, “and we do this best when working with meatier racks. We want judges to experience a slight crisp-
ness from the exterior crust, then that gentle pull, followed by a melt-inyour-mouth tenderness.” If you score big on appearance and texture in competition but come up short on taste, you’ll go home without hardware. The flavors must work together in a way that impresses judges after just one bite, which is all your ribs generally get from each judge. “We want a balance of flavors in one bite, so we apply a very thin layer of rub that combines notes of sweet, salt and heat with the smoke,” she said. “We also use a blend of pecan, cherry and apple wood, which allows for a slower smoke without becoming overpowering.” I’ll be reflecting on my conversation with Romero while performing my judicial duties in smoky Sparks. And I know where to go the moment I return home. While Kiss of Smoke is open every Wednesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., their ribs are only available on Fridays. So follow the fragrance to South Plumer Avenue and East 17th Street and save me a seat! 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.
Kiss of Smoke BBQ & Catering rounds the corners near the bones so the meat will more efficiently pull back towards the center of the rack as it’s smoked. Courtesy photo.
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New book ‘In The Arms of Saguaros’ celebrates the symbolism of Arizona’s favorite cactus Jeff Gardner
Inside Tucson Business
D
riving into the Southwest from any direction, the first sight of a saguaro cactus waving on the horizon serves as a “welcome” for Arizona residents and tourists alike. But even more than a welcome sign, the saguaro is an icon of the American South, even for those who don’t know what the Sonoran Desert is or pronounce saguaro with a hard G. A new book, “In the Arms of Saguaros,” tracks the iconography of the accordion-pleated colossi alongside the development of the Arizona territory. At first a food source for Native Americans, the saguaros came to be used in art, architecture, clothing and tourism — but it wasn’t
always that way. What was at first ignored by American developers gradually became critical. Author William Bird followed the appropriation and influence of the saguaro through decades of American history. “In the Arms of Saguaros” serves as both a picture book rife with saguaro imagery, and a timeline of Arizona’s growth. Bird originally came to Tucson to earn his master’s degree in history at the University of Arizona. Though he first lived here for fewer than two years in the mid’70s, he says he was quickly enthralled by the desert landscape and flora, and research for this book served as a kind of “exercise in nostalgia.” “These photos of people posing in the arms of saguaros really suggest to me a kind of effort to become one with
the plant, at one with botany, even at your own peril,” Bird said. “It’s become a kind of meme or regional identifier that has gone national, and even international.” “In the Arms of Saguaros” is published by the University of Arizona Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill. Saguaros are easily recognizable, and can be enormous, but do you think there’s something about their vaguely humanoid shape that people connect with? Well, I always feel like they’re waving at me. That’s kind of a joke, but in every joke there’s an element of the truth. That is always commented upon when people use it to promote the desert Southwest. It reflects the anthropomorphic moods of humankind. You’ll have ballerinas mimicking saguaros, and everyone who writes about the Southwest poses with a saguaro. That pose is very telling. And you can’t get close enough to them, clearly, with all the old photos of people climbing in them, hence the title of the book. In all your research for the book, what is the most unique saguaro memorabilia or art you came across?
Courtesy photo
I’d have to say the Mary Eaton botanical illustration on the back of the book. That to me is one of the most compelling things featured in the book. But I also like the more modest things available to anyone. Like back in the day, the items made by saguaro rib
crafters, those are charming and highly collectible… As a museum person, I’m into the materiality of it. The icon is always there, and people always riff on it and make it their own. But my job as a curator and author is to find things that are interesting to look at, and build the story around that. I see that you’re the curator emeritus of the political history collection at the National Museum of American History. During your research, did you see any fascinating ways the saguaro had political impacts? Iconography is sort of an accumulative process, like getting on a slow-moving train. So I assumed quite naturally that this process was an arc that went from the lower left, and up in a steady climb. But it’s more like a sawtooth. There was a great effort made around 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair to represent the Arizona territory with saguaros transplanted to the fairgrounds in Chicago… Oddly enough, there were people who complained that was not the appropriate symbol for the territory, because it suggested that was the only thing that could grow in Arizona’s soil. So if you look through the territory and the state’s iconography, there’s actually a paucity of saguaro imagery. In fact, the state seal today has a dam, a lake, a miner, a cow, but no saguaro… It isn’t until the ’20s or ’30s that you begin to see saguaros on the edge of the brochures, and gradually it moves to the center. So
Illustration by Mary Eaton, featured on back of book
politically, it sort of begins as this fraught, problematic symbol for a lot of people… There’s almost a reluctance or “desert denial,” but they really come around to it by the ’50s and are actually creating a botanical landscape for advertising purposes that has no basis in reality. They take a golf course brochure and add in saguaros to the background. I think they recognize people are curious about it. It’s an attraction that is unique to the Sonoran Desert. In your research, did you see any appropriation of the saguaro imagery by artists outside of the desert or around the world? If so, how was the saguaro iconography changed?
Well sometimes you’ll even see it reproduced in this country and it’s wrong. Or you’ll see the Peruvian apple cactus in decorating magazines and they’ll have arms that suggest it’s a saguaro. But the ones I have seen are an English T-shirt with a saguaro outline, that was surprisingly accurate if you’re just trying to show someone what a saguaro looks like. There are others that are completely abstract but still spot-on, like an artist who had a knit stocking over their head with two eye-holes that looks quite dramatic, if impractical. ITB For more information, visit tumamoc.arizona.edu/InTheArmsOf Saguaros
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AUGUST 13, 2021
Health & Fitness Clubs Rank 2021 2020
Business Address
Phone Company Email Website
No. of No. Members Locations: Local National
Monthly Amenities Membership Fees
1
Prestige Fitness 4490 N. 1st Ave Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 334-0205 info@prestigefitnessaz.com www.prestigefitnessaz.com
3,000
N/A N/A
N/A
2
Body Works Pilates 1980 E. River Rd., Ste. 250 Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 323-7070 info@bodyworkspilates.com bodyworkspilates.com
2,773
N/A N/A
N/A
3
Snap Fitness 24-7 7545 S Houghton Rd Tucson, AZ 85747
(520) 861-4556 info@snapfitnesstucson.com snapfitness.com
200
1 N/A
35
4
Jazzercise Tucson Central Fitness Center 504 E. Ft. Lowell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 282-1532 mkjazzercise.com http://jcls.jazzercise.com/facility/ jazzercise-central-center
140
N/A N/A
N/A
5
Motivator Personal Fitness Training and Rehabilitation 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd. Ste. 115 Tucson , AZ 85715
(520) 906-5438 az.motivator@gmail.com www.motivator.net
4
1 1
0
4th Avenue Yoga 413 E. 5th St. Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 352-9850 N/A 4thavenueyoga.com
0
N/A N/A
N/A
Top Local Executives
Year Establ. Locally
Personal Training. Nutritionist. Massage. Group Fitness Classes. Comprehensive health and physical fitness analysis. 24/7 gym and facility access. Locker rooms and showers.
Ron Yousefnejad Ronald Yousefnejad Joseph Genova
2009
Private and group Pilates sessions, massage, yoga, Pilates teacher training
Kyria Sabin
1993
Open 24/7 - 365 days a year, strength ,cardio equipment, certified personal trainers,Results driven small group, One on one personal training, basic nutritional guidance Sliver and Fit, Optum and Tivity access accepted
David Gillespie Frank Robles
2006
Dressing rooms, weights, balls, mats, resistance tubes
Mary Hofferber Mary Rose Baron
1980
Cardio, free weights, kettle bells, weightlifting machines. We offer Personal Training, Alexander ART (active release technique), and Boomstick therapy. No membership fees. No Vishnevetsky contracts.
1996
N/A
2011
Tony N. Vaccaro
Ranked by the number of members 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
Make sure your company list is updated! If you’ve been included previously, watch for an email prompting you to update your information. If your company has never been included in Book of Lists, add your information online at https://www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/bol/.
If you have any questions, please call 520-797-4384.
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