Inside Tucson Business 081222

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Dining Bites Page 14 August 12, 2022

Volume 30 • Number 16

InsideTucsonBusiness

The Art of Life

@AZBIZ

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

FEATURES

Mightier than a Mouse Page 6

NEWS

Water worries

Arte de la Vida shares life from Mexico

Tucson Water holds town hall

Page 5 ON THE HORIZON

By Karen Schaffner / Page 4

A slice of Havana is coming to Tucson Page 9 GUEST COMMENTARY

Sharon Joseph Page 10 TECH TALK

PEOPLE IN ACTION

ON THE TABLE

New hires and promotions Page 3

Chef Maria Mazon opens a new restaurant

Page 13

Origins of COVID-19 and epilepsy Page 12 1

Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process

Page 2 1

May 7, 2021

Volume 29• Number 10

InsideTucsonBusiness

@AZBIZ

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

Nonprofit Perspective Education Acceleration Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs? | Page 2

May 21, 2021

Advertise Here!

You could have this prime advertising spot!

Call 520-797-4384

Volume 29• Number 11

InsideTucsonBusiness

An Outpouring of Optimism

@AZBIZ

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

TECH TALK

Improve Local Workforce Development Efforts

TECH TALK

InsideTucsonBusiness

@AZBIZ

Page 12

Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian

Page 2 Volume 29• Number 12

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

BUSINESS SUPPORT

EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

| Page 6 in a virtual year Volcanoeslearning Pima JTED balances hands-on

Local First Arizona and YWCA

Page 8

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

Page 8 PEOPLE IN ACTION

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

Page 15

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

Page 13

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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AUGUST 12, 2022

Inside Tucson Business is published 26 times per year (once every other week on Fridays) plus the Book of Lists in January. Cost is $1 per single issue, $50 for 26 issues, $85 for 52 issues and $105 for 78 issues. The Book of Lists is included in annual and multi-year paid subscriptions. Back issues from within the past 12 months are $1 each. Delivery is available by U.S. Postal Service.

ADMINISTRATION Steve T. Strickbine Publisher Michael Hiatt Vice President Claudine Sowards Accounting, claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL Christina Fuoco, Executive Editor, christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com Alexandra Pere, Assistant Editor, apere@timespublications.com Katya Mendoza,Staff Reporter, kmendoza@timespublications.com Hope Peters, Staff Reporter, kmenhpeters@timespublications.com Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter, kschaffner@timespublications.com PRODUCTION Courtney Oldham Production Manager, TucsonProduction@timespublications.com Nathalie Proulx Graphic Designer, nproulx@timespublications.com CIRCULATION Aaron Kolodny Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org Brian Juhl Distribution Manager, brian@timeslocalmedia.com ADVERTISING TLMSales@Tucsonlocalmedia.com Kristin Chester Account Executive, kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

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EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT

Inside Tucson Business expresses its opinion in the editorial. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author. The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Tucson Local Media assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement. Publisher has the right to edit for size or refuse any advertisement at his or her discretion. 7225 N. Mona Lisa Road, Ste. 125 Tucson AZ 85741 • Ph: 520-797-4384 www.insidetucsonbusiness.com

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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE BY THOM K. COPE

SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA

Details emerge about fed infrastructure funds By Alexis Glascock Tucson Local Media

New details have emerged regarding how small businesses might be able to win some of the federal dollars flowing to the state of Arizona as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill, signed into law by President Biden in November 2021, allocates funds to states and businesses by means of grants and specialized programs. Both delivery methods have direct state recipients as well as competitive opportunities. We now know that about 39%, or $77 billion, of the nearly $200 billion that will be directly distributed to states within the next five years will be competed for among the states. State governments, local governments and businesses alike will be eligible to apply for these roughly 240 competitive grant programs depending upon the stipulations outlined in the specific fund pool or program Arizona is eligible to compete with other states for $2.36 billion allocated for the Bridge Investment Program in FY 2022, $16 billion apportioned for economically significant infrastructure improvement projects, $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to electric vehicle charging and $5 billion in discretionary funding over five years to address aging infrastructure at its airports, as well as other funds designated to specific public works projects.

In some situations, Arizona will apply to the Federal government to secure funding for the state. The private sector will then be charged with public infrastructure projects and a formal bidding process will begin to award a contractor. Bidding is the typical way in which government-backed infrastructure projects are contracted out to firms. In other situations, the private sector will apply directly to the government in an effort to secure funds for specified projects. Competitive grants will be applied to and released on a rolling basis. Applicant specifications, general grant information, and upcoming grants can be found on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s web page. One example of a federally backed program that will directly be impacting Pima County is the funding of a water authority that will receive $18.5 million to create water pipelines, wastewater treatment capabilities, flood detention and filtration treatments. The funds will also benefit the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Yavapai Apache Nation, Maricopa County and certain Northern Arizona neighborhoods that lack flood mitigation structures. It is worth noting significant challenges arise when dealing with the disbursement of funds from state agen-

cies, such as high application eligibility requirements and inequitable allocation. Past major federal spending bills such as the 2008 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as well as the 2020 Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act have demonstrated significant lags in the transfer of funds to those — the businesses — working toward specified objectives. Given past wait times, one can predict a continued wait for funds to flow to businesses won at the state level. Arizona businesses that operate in sectors such as infrastructure and energy can expect an increase in projects as the flow of funds to Arizona increases. Businesses have had the opportunity to prepare operations and anticipate projects before they occur given the bill was signed into law over nine months ago. The lag has been critical for contractors to recruit employees to complete the projects given the nationwide labor shortage, but has helped support local economies during the current economic downturn. Expect to see more news and information regarding infrastructure funding in the state within the next few months. Alexis Glascock is an attorney in Fennemore’s government relations and regulatory practice group and oversees government relations in Arizona. Reach her at aglascock@ fennemorelaw.com. ITB

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

WEEKLY TOP

BY LISA LOVALLO

How to tell a compelling brand story Whether you started your business in your garage or give back to the community, customers feel more connected with a brand with a unique story. Did you know our founder, James M. Cox, worked on his family’s farm before acquiring several newspapers and broadcast stations, leading to the creation of Cox Enterprises? The Cox family also owns several automotive companies such as Kelly Blue Book, Autotrader, Dealer.com and Ready Logistics. That’s due to our founder’s personal interest and hobby collecting cars. Storytelling and sharing the “why” behind your business can be a great way to attract new customers and build loyalty in your brand. 1. Tell your story. How did you take your dream of being a business owner and make it a reality? Share how your business was created and any obstacles you overcame to get where you are today. Add an “about” page to your business website where you can include this information. 2. Share your mission. It’s important to create a mission or vision statement for your company. This will tell customers exactly who you are and what your business purpose is. 3. Explain your background. Many customers enjoy feeling like they really know who they’re buying from — that’s what separates your business from the big-box brands. Share insights into who you are and what your life is like outside of the workplace. 4. Credit your mentors. Did someone inspire you to be an entrepreneur? Did a book shape the way you conduct business? Share a story about your mentor or inspiration and explain how they helped you along the journey to becoming a small business owner. 5. Highlight team members. Consider telling the stories of your employees as well. After all, they shape your business

story! Spotlight an employee on your company’s social media and highlight their unique hobbies or professional accomplishments. 6. Create a blog. Much like I contribute tips and columns here, businesses can share their insights through a website blog. It’s an excellent way to get noticed by potential new customers if you share valuable content. 7. Go behind product creation. Take your customers behind the scenes by creating short videos about how your business operates to share on social media. Show what goes into creating your products and offer fun facts about what it’s like to run a small business. 8. Show the culture. If your workplace has a unique culture, share it! Whether you bring your dog to work or host team-building events — consumers will appreciate these fun glimpses into your world. 9. Create a mascot. If it aligns with your business, you may create a mascot to show consumers your company’s personality. Just like the Geico gecko, you could have your own personable character that encapsulates your brand values and tells your story. 10. Support the community. One way to show consumers what your brand believes in is by taking action. Get involved in volunteer work that aligns with your company’s mission. Cox Charities involves Cox employees in volunteer efforts to give back to the community we serve. Our Southern Arizona employees do hundreds of hours of community service each year! Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications, leading a team of 260+ Southern Arizona Cox employees, who contribute more than $692 million in total economic impact in Southern Arizona each year. Prior to joining the Cox Southern Arizona team, Lovallo ran a family business based in Tucson and is a graduate of the University of Arizona. Reach her at lisa.lovallo@cox.com.


INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

AUGUST 12, 2022

PEOPLEINACTION

EMAIL YOUR PEOPLE IN ACTION DETAILS TO APERE@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Lana Baldwin joins Alexander | Carrillo Consulting

Lana Baldwin

An experienced nonprofit administrator and fundraising professional with a 20-plus year career in Tucson, Baldwin has expertise that spans fundraising, marketing and communications, strategic planning, organizational development, nonprofit mergers and acquisitions and program development. Before coming to Alexander | Carrillo Consulting, Baldwin served in a variety of nonprofit roles, including over 15 years in executive leadership. She previously worked for Pima Council on Aging, Our Family Services, and Family Counseling Agency, in addition to consulting. Baldwin is a UA alum, a certified fundraising executive, and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. She serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Southern Arizona Chapter, and as co-chair of its National Philanthropy Day committee for 2021 and 2022. She received the Outstanding Fundraising Executive award from AFP in 2020. Alexander | Carrillo Consulting is a full-service consulting firm specializing in nonprofit organizational development and fundraising. Based in Tucson and founded in 2010 by partners Laura Alexander and Jenny Carrillo, the firm has established itself as highly ethical, credible and effective in their work with a wide range of notfor-profit clients. Her tasks include offering organizational development and strategic planning; training and facilitation; board development and governance; annual fund development assessment, planning and implementation; capital campaign planning and oversight; ‘major’ and planned giving program development; CEO and development staff coaching; and other services that help nonprofit organizations Do Good. Better.

Dr. Thaker named American Brachytherapy Society fellow

Dr. Thaker

Arizona Oncology’s Dr. Nikhil G. Thaker, MHA, MBA, CMQ, DABR, DABPM, FABS, has been inducted into the 2022 class of the American Brachytherapy Society Fellows (FABS) by the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) Board of Directors. Brachytherapy, a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is sealed inside a seed or pellet and implanted inside the body, requires a high degree of skill and expertise. The ABS Fellowship is granted to physicians with significant contributions and accomplishments in the field of brachytherapy, and nominees are evaluated by their contributions to research, patient care, education or leadership. The fellowship is prestigious as only six physicians have been inducted nationwide in the past two years. Thaker is double board certified in radiation oncology and clinical informatics and works with leading experts in all aspects of radiation oncology. He treats a wide range of cancers including prostate, breast, and gynecologic cancers, and has helped develop leading-edge cancer therapies, including novel therapeutic combinations for brain tumors. He has worked with national leaders in health care innovation at Harvard Business School and holds national leadership positions in the American Society for Radiation Oncology and The U.S. Oncology Network. “We are extremely proud of Dr. Thaker and of all the hard work he puts forth as a physician and on behalf of the Arizona community. An ABS Fellowship is a significant professional recognition and a tribute to Dr. Thaker’s contributions and accomplishments in the field of brachytherapy,” said Dr. Joseph Buscema. “It is an honor to have an ABS fellow at Arizona Oncology and a significant benefit to patients in our community.” Thaker is based at Tucson-Craycroft Radiation Oncology, 2625 N. Craycroft Road, Suite 100, Tucson. To schedule a consultation with Thaker, call 520-324-4214.

2022 Book of Lists

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AVAILABLE NOW Find out more information at www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/bol/ or call 520-797-4384

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AUGUST 12, 2022

Arte de la Vida shares life in Mexico By Karen Schaffner Tucson Local Media

Kevin Pawlak and James Goodreau’s knowledge of Mexican art runs deep. It began simply as trips to estate sales. Then, the couple moved into an eBay business. Then it was 800 square feet of storefront. Now they share their “collection” via the 2,600-square-foot Arte de la Vida, which is jam packed with every bit of vintage and new Mexican art and arts and crafts anyone could ever want. At Arte de la Vida, 37 N. Tucson Boulevard, just steps from Broadway, the partners and husbands have scored more than their share of beautiful, remarkable and just plain interesting Mexican stuff. “We came into this as collectors,” said Pawlak, who started with Day of the Dead artifacts. “The collecting bug got so carried away that we realized we had to start selling because we couldn’t keep everything we kept buying.” The shop survived COVID-19 and the expansion work on Broadway, which, Pawlak said, has not been kind to the merchants on that street. The first week of September marks 10 years in business, tin being the gift traditionally given for a decade. It seems appropriate because tin is a bit of what they sell, but just a bit There’s also pottery, textiles, furniture, vintage dinnerware, artwork, and that only begins to describe what guests might

see. There is clothing made from organic cotton that was hand spun, dyed with natural dyes and handwoven. There is religious art and colorful paper flowers, masks, Catrina art and Dia de los Muertos pieces. There are carved, painted animal figures known as alebrijes; and beautiful folk-art plates adorned with simple images of fish and other sea creatures. Some pieces were created by well-known artists, others by artists on their way up, and still more by those who will never be named. For people who are attracted to the Mexican arts and want something for their home, this is the place to start. “What medium do you prefer?” Goodreau asked. “Pottery, tin, wood, textile, glass. That’s basically five categories.” From there, the door swings wide open to a world of artwork and crafts where shoppers are bound to find something they like. For example, after watching Disney’s animated feature, “Coco,” viewers might be curious about alebrijes. “They’re from Oaxaca mostly,” Goodreau said. “You’re going to find out there’s a lot of other stuff in Oaxaca, too, and you’re going to be in closer contact to it visually. You’re going to get the association of other stuff because of that.” “I say buy what you like,” Pawlak said. “For example, you’ve picked something you adore, so then the next step would be to look for famous makers, and then also look

(Photos by Noelle Haro-Gomez)

Arte de la Vida is owned and operated by Kevin Pawlak and James Goodreau at 37 N. Tucson Boulevard. for young artists who are coming up, because they’re going to be the names in 20, 30 years.” Pawlak said when a folk artist dies, generally speaking, the value of his or her work increases. That advice comes with a caveat, though. “Not every folk artist in Mexico is going to withstand the sands of time,” he added, but “I like to tell people it’s really important to follow the trends, but also to buy things that are going to be of greater value in a few years.” Once Pawlak or Goodreau have a sense of what guests might like, it’s time for education.

“I always like to tell customers when they walk in the door, and they say, ‘Well, I really like trees of life,’ for example. I say, ‘Let me show you some artists,’ and I’ll show them an artist and I’ll explain that the reason why this is $300 is because of the person who made it, and he’s collectible or he’s passed on. It opens the door to them, and then they begin to share their discoveries with me.” What’s hot right now among collectors? “The large trees of life are very popular right now,” Pawlak said. “Everybody wants one in their house or their collection, and the

prices keep going up, so invest in a good tree of life. Keep it indoors.” Other items to look for: mid-century Mexican items and Mexican prints. Pawlak said there are many up and coming Mexican printmakers. Pawlak and Goodreau enjoy the relationships with their customers. Some have even become friends, people like Helen Ingram, a longtime University of Arizona teacher, who has been with them since they opened their doors. She talked about what it’s like to shop at Arte. “It’s like going to Old Nogales,” she said. “Seeing all

these wonderful old things makes me so happy. … We have a place in Fort Lowell district, and it’s filled with things from (this) store.” In the end, what Pawlak and Goodreau are aiming for is twofold: to keep the arts and arts and crafts of Mexico alive and to bring those arts to a U.S. audience. “We are trying to preserve and carry on the legacy of the popular arts of Mexico,” Pawlak said. “This was all created many years ago basically as ephemera. It wasn’t supposed to last, but

ARTE DE LA VIDA

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AUGUST 12, 2022

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Tucson Water will hold a public town hall By Alexandra Pere

ter Plan was created with feedback from the public in mind. Tucson One Water said they want to continue engaging with the public on the planning process. ITB

Tucson Local Media

In response to heightened concerns over water conservation, Tucson Water will hold a community wide Town Hall to discuss their master plan. Tucsonans can attend the Town Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1,6 at the Tucson Convention Center Copper Ballroom, 260 South Church Avenue. According to the Tucson One Water website, the One Water 2100 Mas-

Water WHAT: Tucson Water Town Hall WHEN: 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16 WHERE: 260 South Church Avenue

Nonprofit Perspective It’s time for a renewed push for renewable energy

Page 2 June 18, 2021

@AZBIZ

InsideTucsonBusiness

Volume 29• Number 13

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

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

InsideTucsonBusiness

STARTUP BUSINESSES

@AZBIZ

CONTAINER HOMES

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

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

InsideTucsonBusiness

Volume 29• Number 14

@AZBIZ

InsideTucsonBusiness

Volume 29• Number 2

@AZBIZ

Last Call?

Page 8 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Local bars sue Pima County, saying they can’t survive COVID curfew Nicole Ludden

The Home Stretch

Building Momentum TECH TALK Austin

ROAD WORK

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

TECH TALK

1

Photo courtesy UA / NASA

Galactic Maps and Cancer Treatments

2021

Volume

29• Number

An Outpouring of Optimism Page 12

Nonprofit

11

RECOVERYWORST

“PAST

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researchers

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Hospitals, facilities 14 & 15

Pages

IN ACTION

hires and

Arizona

venuesPage 10 are once again

Regan

building

BOOK OF LISTS Inside Tucson Business / Page

TECH TALK

Engineering Solar-PoweredAwards, Karts and GoVolcanoes Martian

scheduling

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS shows and 10 and optics companies Colleges, universities

Page 15

Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades Page 5

10

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New promotions, 3 Page

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acquires 4 FirstSource | Page Builders for $400M Texas-based supplier materials

REAL ESTATE

PEOPLE

Understanding health care law changes

REAL ESTATE

DEVELOPMENT New promotions, and awards plan ECONOMIChires PLAYBOOK Page 3 PIVOT releases post-COVID

Christina

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www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

Page 8

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PANDEMIC

Healthcare

Page 5

@AZBIZ

Local First Arizona and YWCA

and bucksInside Tucson Business / Page 4 Jeff Gardner Space robot surgeons Page

Perspective

Would from your business lower benefit energy and water | Page

InsideTucsonBusiness costs?

BUSINESS SUPPORT

EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Pima JTED balances hands-on learning in a virtual year

TECH TALK

YEAR’S Art Galleries

Page

in nation

14

NUMBERS

ON THE CulinaryConfl MENU fuses classic Italian uence with

Zio Peppe

flavors of the Southwest

Page

7

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Page 4

Financial trio donates to Gospel Rescue Mission

Page 6

Officials ‘devastated’ as feds extend nonessential border travel ban

BOOK OF LISTS

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS

PEOPLE IN ACTION LITERACY FINANCIAL

REAL ESTATE

HOME New EQUITY promotions, hires and awards Another line of credit 13 3 PagePage

The region’s sales and leases Page 11

Commerical real estate brokers and management

Page 18 ON THE MENU

Page 10

BOOK OF LISTS

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS

BOOK OF LISTS

Page 11

@AZBIZ

May 21,

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

PUBLIC SERVICE

BORDER DIFFICULTIES

Inside Tucson Business / Page 4

Fourth Avenue restaurateurs see opening for opportunity

Engineering firms

@AZBIZ

STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Page 12 Christina Duran

Page 4

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Mayor wants Uhlich to return as replacement

Page 11 Tucson’s rising housing prices are putting home ownership out of reach for many.

Pima County’s 2021 transportation projects

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS

Page

29• Number

2021

COUNCILMAN RESIGNS

Counts Inside Tucson Business / Page 8

A map of the stars and local science fair champions

CLOSED AND OPEN

2020’s Top Columns: Whiskey, meat boxes and, of course, COVID

Chamber Chatter

Engaging in the Political Process

Page 2

InsideTucsonBusiness

Efforts Improve Development

InsideTucsonBusiness

Volume

June 4,

Commercial real estate thriving despite pandemic

NEW BUSINESS

ON THE MENU

1

Volume 29• Number 10

Education Acceleration

Inside Tucson Business / Page 5

Local promotions, awards and hires Page 3

Page 15

A Smartphone COVID Test and Virtual Science Fairs May 7, 2021

TECH TALK

PEOPLE IN ACTION

Highest Residential Real Estate TECHSale TALKin the Catalina Foothills in More than a Decade | Page 10

Workforce ChamberChatter Local

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

Cyberinfrastructure, quantum sensing and pest eradication

Minority-owned businesses

REAL ESTATE

New promotions, hires and awards Page 3

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

Page 2 Jan. 15, 2021

PEOPLE IN ACTION

Real estate appraisers, brokers , and mortgage lenders

PEOPLE IN ACTION

REAL ESTATE

New promotions, hires and awards Page 3

Meritage Homes Developing Multiple Communities in Vail Page 10

Touch Down

Arizona Sands Club reimagines UA stadium dining

Page 16

Page 15 1

Page 9

Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process

Page 2 1

May 7, 2021

Volume 29• Number 10

InsideTucsonBusiness

@AZBIZ

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

Nonprofit Perspective Education Acceleration Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs? | Page 2

May 21, 2021

Advertise Here!

You could have this prime advertising spot!

Call 520-797-4384

InsideTucsonBusiness

Volume 29• Number 11

An Outpouring of Optimism

@AZBIZ

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

TECH TALK

Improve Local Workforce Development Efforts

TECH TALK

@AZBIZ

Page 12

Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian

Page 2 InsideTucsonBusiness

Volume 29• Number 12

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

BUSINESS SUPPORT

EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

| Page 6 in a virtual year Volcanoeslearning Pima JTED balances hands-on

Local First Arizona and YWCA

Page 8

LOCAL doors Gardnertheir Inside Tucson Business / Page 4 STARTUPS opening Local venues are once again scheduling shows andJeff ‘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

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

COBRA SUBSIDY

Page 4

Understanding health care law changes

Page 10

FEDERAL FUNDING

Page 13

VENUE GRANTS

Sen. Kelly tours Rialto, highlights aid program

Healthcare Heroes

PANDEMIC RECOVERY

“PAST THE WORST OF IT”

Nurses look back on lessons learned during the past year

UA researchers stops COVID reports

Page 6

PEOPLE IN ACTION

BOOK OF LISTS

PIVOT PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE

Hospitals, hospice, and assisted living facilities

Pages 14 & 15

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS

Colleges, universities and optics companies

Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines

Page 5

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS

Page 15 DEVELOPMENT

releases post-COVID plan Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation

BOOK OF LISTS

Texas-based Builders FirstSource acquires Arizona building materials supplier for $400M | Page 4

REAL ESTATE

Page 14

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Corridor Sunawards New promotions, hires and Page 10 Page 3

REAL ESTATE

New promotions, hires and awards Page 3

BOOK OF LISTS

Page 8 PEOPLE IN ACTION

Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades New promotions, hires and awards THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Page 5 Art Galleries Page 3

Christina Duran Inside Tucson Business / Page 8

PEOPLE IN ACTION

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ARTE DE LA VIDA

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(Photos by Noelle Haro-Gomez)

now it has, and it’s become collectible. We like to share the stories of where this stuff comes from, the history behind this stuff.” Goodreau especially likes that many of Arte’s pieces are made by members of the same family, and that family legacy continues in their business. “Sometimes we’ll know that it’s a certain family,” Goodreau added. “For example, there’s a line of pottery, beige background with chocolate drawings. It’s very much pure folk art, doesn’t try to be fancy. Na-

tividad Peña started it. Her daughter Consuelo took it over and then cousins and brothers-in-law or whatever. There’s a family history of doing it, and the grandmother created the style way back in the 1950s, 1960s, and it’s still going today, but it’s a family who started doing something.” ITB

Arte de la Vida 37 N. Tucson Boulevard, Tucson Summer hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday artedelavidatucson.com facebook.com/artedelavidatucson


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Oro Valley Tik Tok star is mightier than a mouse By Hope Peters

Tucson Local Media

Oro Valley’s own Shaun Gray has achieved many goals living in Oro Valley for more than fifteen years. Known as mightyyyymouse by his TikTok and Instagram followers, Gray has had an extensive work history in Oro Valley. Gray, 34, was born in northwest Tucson (Marana) but moved to Oro Valley at age 15. After high school, Gray obtained three degrees and a final degree in nursing. “I am a certified (OV) police officer and certified firefighter, I went through the fire academy so I am both,” Gray said. “And I just got my nursing degree.” Gray was an OV police officer for four years, but he always wanted to be a nurse. His 20-week mental health training with OVPD and his law enforcement phlebotomy (a procedure using a needle to extract blood from a vein) for the DUI unit cemented his decision to go to nursing school. He said the in-depth police department mental health training is unique to the Tucson area police departments. “Tucson is one of the biggest mental health advocates, (in the state),” he said, “It (the OV police department mental health training) is pretty much statewide. We always had interdepartmental training.

“Being an officer takes a certain type of person and it was a fun job,” he explained his move to nursing. “But I always said, God had a plan for me. I am a very spiritual religious person so I believe in that. For a career, I always wanted to be a nurse.” Gray recently graduated from nursing school and must now take his state exam to be a licensed registered nurse. “It was hard, actually really hard to go to nursing school during COVID and having COVID,” he explained. “When I had COVID it was … not when it first came out, but when it had left its first full wave, my whole family got it.” Gray, a father of two young daughters, said he had to take care of his family and himself and go to school while also doing homework. It was a difficult time, but he did it. “Nursing is something you have to do a lot of hands-on stuff, you can’t do it virtually,” Gray said. “They (the school) tried for a semester. They did the best they could, but nursing school is very hard on top of that.” The mental health training at OVPD and his psychology studies from nursing school have been a jumping off point for his TikTok platform. “I have been through a lot of stuff in my life,” he said. “And I learned that nowadays, I look forward

(mightyyymouse Instagram)

Gray celebrates Father’s Day with his two youngest daughters. to stuff I can learn from. That is where I get most of my content that I post (on Tik Tok).” “For someone like you and I, when we are speaking, with a sane

mind, we can have a conversation,”he said. “I can tell you, that’s not ok to do, you should look into doing this, here’s some advice, and you’d listen to it,” he explained.

“For someone that has a mental health crisis, they can’t comprehend that, they can’t. … You need to find ways to be able to communicate it and to be able to use the science

beforehand.” Gray first went on TikTok to discuss his own social anxiety. “I first got on TikTok

MIGHT MOUSE

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MIGHT MOUSE

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because I was suffering from anxiety. I post things I have gone through, stuff I have been through that I know about and learned from,” Gray said. “So I had anxiety, social anxiety, such as talking in front of people. So, I learned to confront it, to face the fear I would start with TIkTok,” Gray explained. “To do dancing, to do something I don’t know how to do.” He said he knew he would look silly, but to his surprise he gathered quite a following on his platform. Also, Gray often references his greatest inspiration, his grandfather, in his

videos. “He was just one of those people, when you look at him and you talk to him,” he said. “My goodness, that’s a wise person! He just had that impact on me.” Gray said his grandfather taught him that any “knowledge you have learned from life that you don’t share with people is wasted, is wasted knowledge.” After his first successful TikTok posts, Gray looked for more to share with the TikTok community. “I started to look deeper in myself,” Gray said. “I thought I would make a couple of posts, like motivational stuff, inspiring stuff, stuff or quotes like that would help.” It definitely helped in-

crease his following. Gray saw a substantial surge of 230,000 community followers in the first posts to a whopping 1.3 million followers in three months after his new posts. “It just blew up,” Gray said. “I had my first viral video on social media with over a million views. “So I started to think, is this the content I should be doing? Is this what I should be concentrating on?” he asked. “So I did and it just blew up.” He started with the “Hard Hitting Quotes You Didn’t Know You Needed’’ series, posting 38 of them. “Then people started to follow me and like me and the fan base, I don’t like to say fan base, the

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community of people who started following me, grew,” he said. For upcoming projects and new posts, Gray is starting new videos, called “Bless A Stranger” videos. “I have merchandise I am trying to sell that I’m not profiting from. I take a certain amount of money, $100 or couple, go right up to a stranger, walk up to them, and I give them a note card with an inspirational message and it will have the money in it,” he said. “They don’t know who I am, I don’t know them. Just one act of kindness that most people don’t get.” Gray calls himself a one act of kindness product. He said he had a stranger change his life in one act of kindness.

“I was a teenager in a grocery store. I was having a real bad day, but not acting irate or anything,” he said. “I was walking out and an older man, maybe in his 70s said, ‘Hey young man, are you doing okay?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I am fine,’ he said, ‘Good, keep your head up, you have a long life ahead of you, don’t give up’.” Gray said that exchange changed his life. “People don’t understand it, how one simple unselfish act of kindness can seriously change someone’s life,” he said. “And the way I want to do it … I want to just drop it and leave it. I don’t want credit for it … ‘oh that’s such a nice thing you did’ … it is more about them being

blessed.” He said, “I have the platform, I believe in using it for a purpose, for everyone. I have the platform for a reason. I’m using the platform for bettering the world rather than bettering myself. It is paying it forward, blessing a stranger … just out of nowhere.” Gray’s advice for others wanting to start up a social media platform: “Every single person possesses one elite trait that they have, that no one else has. Use your social media for that. … Teach people how to do it. … Be an example. Whatever tools you have, be yourself and never lose who you are. If you do it for the right reason, it is so rewarding.” ITB


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9

A little piece of Havana is coming to Tucson By Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

Cuba will come to Tucson through a new restaurant and rum bar opening this summer. Mojo Cuban Kitchen

and Rum Bar is slated to open later this summer at 1929 E. Grant Road. Local restaurateurs Nick and Alison Schaffer recently unveiled the menu that will be filled with Cuban comfort

(Courtesy: Mojo Cuban Kitchen)

foods and a full-service rum bar for sipping and cocktails. “We always wanted to open a Cuban-themed establishment and Tucson seemed to be in need of one,” said Nick, whose great-grandfather fought with Cubans during the Spanish-American War. “With my family’s background, our love of Cuban food, culture and traditions, and the opportunity to respectfully build this concept in one of Southern Arizona’s treasured historic neighborhoods, we felt that this was the perfect time and

place to launch our new business, one that will transport our guests from midtown Tucson to the heart of Havana.” Mojo’s kitchen will be packed with talented food industry professionals, including Chef Janet Balderas, native Cuban Patricia Espinosa and James Beard award-winning Chef Douglas Rodriguez. Mojo will serve lunch, dinner and a “SleepIn Breakfast” on the weekends. Notably, Mojo will have a pickup window designated for pick-up orders and quick access to Cuban coffee and pastry. ITB

(Courtesy: Mojo Cuban Kitchen)

Lead architect and interior designer Miguel Fuentevilla’s Cuban background will be reflected in the design inside and out.

Follow Mojo Cuban Kitchen and Rum Bar’s progress at mojocuban.com, @MojoCubanKitchen on Instagram and @MojoCuban on Facebook.

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Guest Commentary: Include pharmacy benefit managers in drug pricing reform BySharon Joseph

Executive Director Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona

As someone who works closely with the patient community, I feel it is my responsibility to monitor the actions in Congress when it comes to drug pricing. Most often, I am left disappointed that various pieces of legislation that would have a real and tremendous impact on the patient community ends up dying on the vine due to the bitter partisanship in our current Congress.

Opportunity after opportunity to receive real savings at the pharmacy counter for those who need it the most have been missed, despite the many promises made by our elected officials every campaign season. Lupus is a very expensive condition to treat. New treatments have an annual cost between $30,000 and $40,000. While the new treatments have had tremendous benefits to those with lupus, it has forced many patients to skip doses or delay prescription

refills. These are choices no patient, whether one with lupus or any other chronic disease, should have to make. So, it’s refreshing to see there may be another way to tackle high out-of-pocket costs for our patients, and it is through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In early June, the FTC announced it would launch investigations into major pharmacy benefit managers and their business practices. This has been a long time coming, as Congress has

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repeatedly called on them to take a closer look at these institutions and the role they play in the final cost of a prescription medication. Explaining the role of pharmacy benefit managers is about as easy as explaining quantum physics to many of us, but it essentially boils down to this: Pharmacy benefit managers(PBMS) basically serve as the middlemen between your insurance company’s drug plan and the drug manufacturer. Now comes the confusing part. The role PBMs play is something of an enigma. As the online publication Fierce Healthcare put it, “the role (of PBMs) can’t be quantified, at least not for the public, because PBMs are secretive about their price negotiations with pharma companies.” That should be an enormous red flag, and it’s great to see the FTC agrees. Many of the tactics PBMs employ range from questionable to highly suspect, but of particular concern to the patient side of this issue is the topic of drug rebates. These are the rebates, or coupons, a manufacturer provides to discount the list price of a drug. The intention of them is to obviously lower the price for the consumer, but the problem is PBMs often get in the way with

(Courtesy: Sharon Joseph)

its web of administrative and authorization hurdles, and the result is the discount is never properly passed through to the consumer. It will be fascinating to see what the FTC finds in their investigation into PBMs, but we shouldn’t be relying on them alone to fix this issue. As Congress continues to work throughout the summer on drug pricing bills, I hope our elected officials, especially our very own influential U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, will work parallel to the FTC and demand action on PBMs through legislation or as part of the drug pricing reconciliation bill. Of course we know the answer to lower drug prices doesn’t

rest with PBMs alone, and it will take all those in the prescription drug supply chain to come to the table in order to make tangible progress. But the FTC launching this investigation should serve as a call-to-action for Congress. The message the FTC is clear: The solution to high drug costs is out there. We just need to work to find it. ITB A Tucson resident, Sharon Joseph is the board president at the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona (LFSA). LFSA’s mission is to provide support, education and partnership to those affected by lupus, while promoting the development and enhancement of health and social welfare at the local level.


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AUGUST 12, 2022

HOT PICKS

Check out these local events By Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

Green Chili Roast.

Head down to Wilcox for Apple Annie’s renowned Green Chili Roast to pick yourself some delicious hot peppers. Buy a 50-pound bag of fresh picked hearty green chilies to watch them get roasted for free at the farm. Skip the 50-pound bag for a quart of Apple Annie’s mild, medium or hot roasted green chilies to take home. Take your chilies to the Orchard Grill for lunch to add roasted green chilies to your hamburger! Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. The Chili Roast starts the weekend of Saturday, Aug. 13, and Sunday, Aug. 14. Located at the Apple Annie’s Produce Farm, 6405 W. Williams Road. The produce farm is open every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ranger Led Hike.

The National Park Service leads Ranger Hikes every Wednesday at the Chiricahua National Monument. Starting at 9 a.m., the Hike

begins at the Park Visitor Center where the Ranger will then lead the group on a two- to four-mile hike. The trails will be easy or moderate, and hiking boots are highly suggested. Bringing water and a snack is a must-have. All ages are welcome to join the hike. The hikes are educational too, offering opportunities to learn more about the plants, trees, wildlife and history of the Chiricahua Mountains. The hikes will be running Wednesday, Aug. 10, and Wednesday, Aug. 17.

TEEN Paint Night.

Guadalajara’s Grill’s Festivals. Local restau-

From Wednesday, Aug. 10, to Sunday, Aug. 14, the Tucson Audubon Society is sponsoring a plethora of bird-centric events at Reid Park. Festival headquarters are at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson-Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way. From 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, families are invited to attend the Family Birding Day event. The family event is free, but register ahead of time at tucsonaudubon.org/newsevents/southeast-arizona-birding-festival/. ITB

This teens-only painting class is a great chance to be outdoors while creating a masterpiece. Instruction is included with registration, along with an 11-by-14 canvas and painting supplies. Maeve Huffmon will be instructing this week’s class. Parents can accompany their teens as well. From 6 to 8 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 12, at the Marana Heritage River Park Barn, 12375 N Heritage Park Drive. Register ahead at maranaaz.gov.

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival.

rant chain Guadalajara’s Grill is celebrating 20 years since opening its first location in Tucson. The chain is promoting a series of weekend festivals to give back to communities that bolstered their success. This week’s festival is from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Broadway location, 4901 E. Broadway Boulevard. The festival is free to the public and will host music, food, and vendors.

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The Possible Origins of COVID-19 and Epilepsy By Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

With 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.

COVID-19 culprit Almost three years ago, COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was discovered in Dec. 2019 in Wuhan, China. The virus quickly spread across the world, becoming a pandemic that took 1,026,723 lives and counting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The origin of the virus was shrouded in mystery,

leading to conspiracy theories. University of Arizona researchers recently published two papers discounting many of these conspiracy theories, leaving a strong possibility for the origin of the virus: the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China. Led by University of Arizona virus evolution expert Michael Worobey, researchers tracked the start of the pandemic to the Market, which sold wild animals like foxes, raccoon dogs and other live mammals. Mammals are susceptible to coronaviruses and the virus could have jumped from animal to human hosts in the market. “In a city covering more than 3,000 square miles, the area with the highest probability of containing the home of someone who had one of the earliest COVID-19 cases in the world was an area of a few city blocks, with the Huanan market smack dab inside it,” Worobey said in a press release. Worobey heads the UA Department of

(Photo courtesy)

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The first study focused on the geographic location of cases while the second paper analyzed the virus genomic data to see if animals in the market were, in fact, where the virus contacted a human host. The second paper was co-led by Jonathan Pekar and Joel Wertheim at the University of California, San

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Flora’s Market Crudo Bar elevates the raw food conversation

Seeds of Success

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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

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Local bars sue Pima County, saying they can’t survive COVID curfew

Pima County’s 2021 transportation projects

Nicole Ludden

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LOCAL doors Gardnertheir Inside Tucson Business / Page 4 STARTUPS opening Local venues are once again scheduling shows andJeff ‘HOWL-ITOSIS’ TECH TALK

UA researchers study how to cure bad breath in dogs

Space bucks and robot surgeons

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Understanding health care law changes

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FEDERAL FUNDING

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VENUE GRANTS

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UA researchers stops COVID reports

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Diego, Marc Suchard of the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as Kristian Andersen at Scripps Research in San Diego, and Worobey. The researchers traced the virus’s early evolution with samples of its earliest genomes, then they used this data to establish parameters for molecular clock data. Clock analysis relies on the pace of genetic mutations over time. They found two lineages of SARS-CoV-2 came from two separate infections traced back to animals. Prior studies suggested the first infection came from bats and then mutated into the second lineage. Worobey wasn’t convinced by this timeline of mutation. “Otherwise, lineage A would have had to have been evolving in slow motion compared to the

lineage B virus, which just doesn’t make biological sense,” Worobey said. The animals could have acquired the virus from coronavirus-carrying bats in the wild and then spread it to humans in the market. The researchers said this should be a lesson to scientists and public officials about the risks associated with live animal markets. They said comprehensive testing should be used to prevent future pandemics.

The possible cause of epilepsy Epilepsy is a disorder that often results in seizures due to a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain. In many cases, the underlying cause of epilepsy is

unknown, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Researchers at the University of Arizona are addressing these unknowns with new research from the UA Bhattacharya Lab. The team first focused on a gene in mice that connects to the function of muscle and motor neurons. These neurons control bodily movement. The team followed this gene, finding a protein called TMEM184B that lives on neuron cell membranes. It seemed to the researchers when TMEM184B wasn’t present, the neurons were damaged. Neurons in mice fired too often when damage was present. With this in mind, lead study Author Tiffany Cho and study-coauthor Martha Bhattacharya moved their focus to study the corresponding protein called Tmep in fruit flies. “What we found in the fruit flies was that the neurons seem to overreact to an individual stimulus,” Bhattacharya said in a press release. Bhattacharya is an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience and director of the Bhattacharya Lab. To the researchers, Tmep and TMEM184B are responsible for controlling neurons and the gene that led them to these proteins could be the cause of some forms of epilepsy. ITB


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AUGUST 12, 2022

13

FOOD

Borderlands 2 will embrace the ‘competition’ By Hope Peters

Tucson Local Media

The Sam Hughes “vibe” will continue when Borderlands Brewing Company opens its second location — this time with a kitchen — later this year. Borderlands Brewing Company owner and CEO Es Teran and chef Maria Mazon of Boca Tacos y Tequila are partnering to open the destination spot. “It’s Borderlands with a kitchen,” Mazon explained. “It will be Mexican cuisine, brunch, lunch, dinner, a little bit of everything.” The project, which came about organically, is set to open in the former historic 66 gas station at 2500 E. Sixth Street. Teran’s wheels started spinning when he found out the lease was up for PJ’s Subs, which occupied the ex-filling station. “You know how you sit around with your friends and say, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to open a restaurant or bar?’” Teran said rhetorically. “Well, we already own a bar and restaurant.” Mazon said the location is perfect for the pedestrians and bicyclists in the neighborhood of University of Arizona students, professors, young families, professionals and senior citizens. Community is important to Teran and Mazon, who are promoting a comfortable, casual, hangout atmosphere for friends, families and their canine companions. Teran said the team is awaiting city permits to start construction, however, they’re hoping it will open by

(Borderlands Brewing Co./Courtesy)

Boca Tacos y Tequila chef Maria Mazon and Borderland Brewing Co. owner Es Teran are teaming to open Borderlands 2 with a kitchen. September. “There’s a lot of work, and construction is in high demand,” Teran said. “The place needs improvements.” However, Mazon said they want to keep some of the integrity of the historic filling station and improve upon the space to ensure the comfort of guests. “We want to keep the Sam Hughes vibe,” Mazon said of

the new place. “It is about the neighborhood and community.” Mazon — a two-time James Beard Award nominee, (2020, 2022) and season 18 “Top Chef” contestant (2018) — said she will not feature her Boca tacos and salsas. Borderlands’ menu will have locally sourced ingredients with a Mexican flair. “We support other local

businesses,” Mazon said. “There is a little sunshine for everyone. Competition is a good thing.” The two want to blend Mexican and Arizona cultures through Mazon’s menu items. Borderlands’ brews, as well as other beers, wine and cocktail ingredients, will be sourced from the Grand Canyon State and Mexico. Creative margaritas are key.

“That’s why it is named Borderlands,” Teran said. “We will have 15 taps to showcase other beers, other than our own. Arizona beers and Mexican beers and cocktails with local and regional ingredients.” Mazon and Teran have similar backgrounds. Mazon hails from Tucson, but was raised in Sonora, Mexico. Teran was born in Hermosil-

lo, Sonora, and grew up in Tucson. “We are the yin and yang,” Mazon said of the two friends. They agree their new endeavor will be a friendly, all-inclusive neighborhood family hangout. “As a mom, I want a neighborhood place to hangout for the entire family,” she said. ITB


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AUGUST 12, 2022

Beloved chains open in new locations By Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media

Cold, Calm, and Collected with eegees Tucson’s beloved fast-food chain eegees recently opened a new location in Sahuarita. Located at I-19 and South Nogales Highway, the restaurant is another rendition of eegees famous menu with fries, sandwiches and their icon namesake frozen drinks. During opening week, from July 28, to Aug. 4, the new location gave back to a local cause by round-

ing up their total at the register to donate to The Animal League of Green Valley. The organization provides medical care, adoption opportunities and training for homeless dogs and cats in Green Valley. This location is the southern-

most location for eegees in Arizona. The brand started as a vending truck in 1971, selling frozen drinks to high school students. Now, the brand has amassed a total of 33 locations across Arizona. The August flavor of the month is Peach N’Berry with a brand new secret Kiwi flavor available while supplies last. The new location is at 18731 S. Nogales Highway in Sahuarita. The restau-

rant’s hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Open Monday to Sunday. The drive-thru remains open until 10:00 p.m.

Caniacs rejoice for new location

the brand has opened more than 360 locations in the United States and abroad. The brand also holds a Lemonade Day national 2022 Youth Entrepreneur Award contest in August for kids to participate in entre-

Raising Canes opened a new location on Tuesday, July 26, by the Tucson Airport. The fried chicken chain was an immediate favorite of Tucsonans, with constant drive-through lines. Canes started in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the Louisiana State University campus. Since its first opening in 1996,

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AUGUST 12, 2022

Insurance Brokers-Agencies Rank 2022 2021

Business Address

Phone Company Email Website

Total AZ Premiums Written in 2021

No. of Local Offices No. of National Offices

Commercial Life/ Lines Health Offered Benefits Offered

Workers Personal Other Services Offered Comp Lines Offered Offered

Top Local Executives

Year Establ. Locally

1

Lovitt & Touché, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company 7202 East Rosewood, Suite 200 Tucson, AZ 85710

(520) 722-3000 info@lovitt-touche.com lovitt-touche.com

$650,000,000

N/A N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Anthony Sylvester Jill Brooks

1911

2

RIGHTSURE, INC. 5151 E. Broadway, Ste. 100 Tucson, AZ 85711

(520) 917-5295 info@rightsure.com rightsure.com

$42,000,000

2 2

Y

Y

Y

Y

Jeff Arnold

2007

3

Lehrman Group Health Insurance Brokers 333 N. Wilmot, Ste. 340 Tucson, AZ 85711

(520) 760-0392 info@lehrmangroup.com lehrmangroup.com

$22,000,000

1 2

N

Y

N

N

Tony Lehrman Chad Lehrman

1988

4

Ronstadt Insurance, LLC 6775 E. Camino Principal Tucson, AZ 85715

(520) 721-4848 jeffr@ronstadtinsurance.com RonstadtInsurance.com

$16,000,000

1 0

N

Y

N

Y

Jeffrey S. Ronstadt

2004

5

Frisby Insurance, Inc. PO Box 369 Tucson, AZ 85702

(520) 622-1595 maria@frisbyinsurance.com www.frisbyinsurance.com

$4,000,000

2 0

N

Y

N

N

Maria Frisby

1978

6

Sandi Eghtesadi Insurance, Inc. - Farmers 4866 E Broadway Blvd Tucson, AZ 85711

(520) 881-8000 Sandi@YourTucsonAgent.com www.YourTucsonAgent.com

$3,000,500

65 13,000

Y

Y

Y

Y

Financial Services, Series 6 and 63 since 2001

Sandi Eghtesadi Kam Eghtesadi

1989

7

Elizabeth Brader Insurance 2117 E. Grant Road Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 323-5076 ebrader@farmersagent.com https://agents.farmers.com/ebrader

1 N/A

Y

Y

Y

Y

Specialty RV, Motorcycle, Boat & Toys

Elizabeth Ayn Brader

2000

$700,000

Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Key Man and Buy-Sell, Long Term Disability, Individual and Family Health Insurance, Medicare

Ranked by the number of Arizona premiums written in 2021 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 for the 2023 Book of Lists! 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

www.insidetucsonbusiness.com/bookoflists/. If you have any questions, please email BookofLists@tucsonlocalmedia.com.


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