The Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) is a diverse team of under-40, upwardly mobile young professionals rooted in the Tucson community whose mission is to accelerate the growth of Tucson’s business climate along with their own careers. The ELC is comprised of young professionals who are proven top performers representing “best in class” companies across a variety of local organizations including private, public and non-profit. Each ELC member is paired with an accomplished senior executive who can help them navigate the road ahead with valuable insight and experience. Chamber members that qualify, apply to serve on the Council. This group meets monthly and the Chair is automatically appointed to serve on the Chamber Board of Directors.

The ELC was founded in 2014 under the leadership of Ben Korn, Safeguard, Melissa Dulaney-Moule, T.E.P. and Whitney Thistle, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and is supported by the Tucson Metro Chamber’s executive team and its Board of Directors. At monthly roundtable meetings, the ELC has robust discussions about what political, economic and social challenges we face here in Southern Arizona. The ELC also regularly hosts guest speakers including prominent local elected leaders and key business leaders who share valuable insights about our community and career development.

What differentiates this group from others is its demonstrated commitment to mentorship. Each ELC member is paired with an accomplished senior executive who can help them navigate the road ahead with valuable insight and experience.

Additionally, the ELC promotes a culture of civic activism and awareness relative to our local political and business landscape. Through these key tenets of knowledge and connections, the Emerging Leaders thrive on a desire to enrich the Tucson community while simultaneously propelling their own careers.

The Emerging Leaders Council also serves as a contributor to members of the Tucson Metro Chamber Board of Directors on issues involving strategies to keep Tucson competitive in a world economy.

The Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) is a diverse team of under-40, upwardly mobile young professionals rooted in the Tucson community whose mission is to accelerate the growth of Tucson’s business climate along with their own careers. The ELC is comprised of young professionals who are proven top performers representing “best in class” companies across a variety of local organizations including private, public and non-profit.

The ELC was founded in 2014 under the leadership of Ben Korn, Safeguard, Melissa Dulaney-Moule, T.E.P. and Whitney Thistle, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and is supported by the Tucson Metro Chamber's executive team and its Board of Directors. At monthly roundtable meetings, the ELC has robust discussions about what political, economic and social challenges we face here in Southern Arizona. The ELC also regularly hosts guest speakers including prominent local elected leaders and key business leaders who share valuable insights about our community and career development.

What differentiates this group from others is its demonstrated commitment to mentorship. Each ELC member is paired with an accomplished senior executive who can help them navigate the road ahead with valuable insight and experience.

Additionally, the ELC promotes a culture of civic activism and awareness relative to our local political and business landscape. Through these key tenets of knowledge and connections, the Emerging Leaders thrive on a desire to enrich the Tucson community while simultaneously propelling their own careers.

The Emerging Leaders Council also serves as a contributor to members of the Tucson Metro Chamber Board of Directors on issues involving strategies to keep Tucson competitive in a world economy.

Interested in joining the Emerging Leaders Council?

Complete the form below and a member of the Emerging Leaders Council will contact you!

Applications open August 18 to August 31

Nick Morin, President of ELC
Founder | Growers Network

👥 Jonathan Rothschild | Former Mayor of Tucson

💡 Digital marketing, cannabis, community building, YouTube

Alicia White
Senior Manager | Keegan Linscott & Associates

ELC | Executive Committee Treasurer

Tucson Metro Chamber | Finance Committee

👥 Melissa Lal | Larsen Baker, LLC

💡 certified public accountant, industry expert behavioral health, for profit, employee benefit plans

❣️ Greater Tucson Leadership | Tucson Metro Chamber | United Way of Southern Arizona

Brendan Lyons
Executive Director | LOOK! Save a Life

👥 Ted Maxwell | Southern Arizona Leadership Council

💡 Masters in Public Administration, Collaborative Governance; Public Safety (Fire Service); Policy Implementation, Non-profit Administration

❣️ Candidate for State House of Representatives for Arizona's 9th Legislative District Greater Tucson Leadership | Honorary Commander at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base | Tucson Young Professionals | Red Shoe Society at Ronald McDonald House | Special Olympics | Knights of Columbus.

Derrick Polder
Regional Vice President | Summit Funding

Empower | Coalition

👥 Ian McDowell | Sundt

💡 Real Estate, lending, finance, credit, investing

❣️ Tu Nidito | Honorary Commander | Empower | Ride For a Child

Diana Charbonneau
Development Coordinator | IMPACT of Southern Arizona

👥 Kate Jensen | Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern AZ

💡 Non-profit, volunteering, fundraising, mentorship, community issues

❣️ Junior Achievement of Southern Arizona | Tucson Young Professionals

Eli Peart
Chief Operating Officer | Port of Tucson

👥 Jennifer Chenault | Lovitt & Touché

💡 Refugee volunteer work regarding budgeting, job skills & career development, people management

❣️ Goshen Ministries International | Goshen International Church | Foster & Adoption

Emil Tramblay
CEO | SGNT INC

👥 Carol Stewart | UArizona

💡 Technology, leadership, startups, entrepreneurship, music/arts.

Lindsay Welch,
Vice President of Corporate Relations | Tech Parks AZ

Tucson Metro Chamber | Board of Directors

👥 Jennifer Tuefel | Film Fest Tucson, Tucson Foodie, Dishful, Consultant

👥Ron Sable | Concord Solutions Ltd.

💡 Strategic Development, Business Development, non-profits, Sales, Marketing, Early Childhood Education/Administration, Military Spouse

Eric Smith
Executive Director | UA Center for Innovation

👥 Bob Hoffman | Tucson Roadrunners

💡 Startup creation & support, University technology commercialization, Community & economic development

❣️ Tucson Jewish Community Center | Desert Angels | Tucson Young Professionals

Hiram-Jesus Cruz
Manager | Tony’s Auto Glass

👥 David Ollanik | Sundt Construction

💡 Sales, business operations, management and connecting people/companies for new business opportunities.

John Winchester
Executive Director | YMCA of Southern Arizona

👥 Lesli Pintor | Growth Partners

💡 Public policy, politics, nonprofit/public management

❣️ Tucson Young Professionals | Flinn-Brown Fellow | Honorary Commander Davis-Monthan AFB

Isaac Figueroa
Director of Leasing and Sales | Larsen Baker, LLC

👥 Duff Hearon | Ashland Group

💡 Commercial Real Estate Development, Investment, Construction and Brokerage

Jonathan Crider
Associate Director of Development | University of Arizona - Arizona Arts

👥 Edmund Marquez | Allstate; Rio Nuevo; TMCC

💡 Fundraising, Marketing, Public Relations, Strategic Planning, Change Leadership Management

❣️ Arts Express | Tucson Pops Orchestra

Leah Bogen
Vice President Commercial Real Estate | WaFd Bank

👥 Rob Assenmacher | CAID Industries

💡 Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, Development, Investment & Construction, Business Development

Mary Venezia
Chief of Staff | University of Arizona, Enrollment Management

ELC | Executive Committee Secretary

Suzanne McFarlin | Step Up Leaders!

Higher education access & policy, student affairs, enrollment management, admissions/financial aid

College Board | Gamma Phi Beta Sorority | Flinn Brown Fellow

Tanya Mitchell
Sr. Business Planning Analyst | Trico Electric Cooperative

👥 Linda Welter | The Caliber Group

💡 Utility industry, account management, renewables & energy efficiency, marketing & member engagement; forecasting, financing, and analysis

❣️ Talent Retention and Attraction Taskforce | POWER Grant Committee | United Way | Junior Achievement | Washington Youth Tour, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Michael Miller
Project Manager | Sundt Construction

👥 Howard Stewart | AGM Container Controls

💡 Construction/ General Building, contracts, budgets/ finance

❣️ Young Builders Council | Arizona Builders Alliance | Leadership Development Forum Class of 2019

Sarah Letzkus
Of Counsel | Rusing Lopez Lizardi PLLC

👥 Brandy Ferrer | Pathfinder Strategies

💡 Commercial and civil litigation, including business breakups, trade secrets, fraud, fiduciary duties, creditor rights, and employment defense.

Sarah Wheeler
Corrections Lieutenant | Pima County Sheriff's Department

👥Elaine Becherer | City of Tucson

💡 Corrections, Management of 100+ employees, Staff Services and Human Resources

❣️ Greater Tucson Leadership | Girl Scouts Camp Fury | Women's Foundation of Southern

Yvette-Marie Margaillan
CEO, Clinical Director | Autism Pediatrics - ABA Consulting Group

Barbi Reuter | Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR

finance, business, government consulting, healthcare, therapist for individuals with autism & other developmental disorders

provides behavioral therapy and behavioral health consulting services to members of AHCCCS and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

Alaina Krone
Director, CTO Clinical Operations | Arizona Cancer Center

❣️ Junior League | PCC Clinical Research

Gustavo Corte
Financial Advisor | RBC Wealth Management

❣️ Junior League | PCC Clinical Research

Morgan Abraham
Managing Partner | AAG Realty

💡 Real Estate Investment, Finance, Intelligence

❣️ Army Intelligence Officer | Board Member of Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona | Board Member of Hillel | Member Active 20/30 | Treasurer Pima County Democratic Party

Carina Flores
Morgan Stanley

Lacey John
Director, Alumni Career and Professional Development | UArizona Alumni Association

Kristen Wendler
Partner | Farhang & Medcoff, PLLC

Commercial Real Estate and Construction, including commercial real estate purchase, sale and leasing transactions, construction contracts and representation related to private and public projects

Jose Arias
Vice President - Business Banker | First Citizens Bank

Business Banking & Commercial Real Estate Lending, Firm & Practice Acquisitions, Equipment, Construction & Working Capital Financing. Industries: Healthcare, Professional Services as CPAs, Law Firms, Engineering, Manufacturing, Wholesale, Distribution, Transportation

Greater Tucson Leadership I Tucson Youth Development I Ace & Youthworks Charter High Schools I Tucson Metro Chamber

Are you interested in becoming a part of the Emerging Leaders Council as a member or mentor?

ELC Blog

"I consider the Emerging Leaders Council to be the foundation upon which future business leadership in the Greater Tucson area is built. ELC has put me on the path of the deepest and most meaningful development of my professional career. The personal mentorship and peer mentorship allows ELC members to become value-oriented leaders and more balanced individuals through a combination of presentation, conversation, and connectedness. I am honored to be selected to participate in this program!"

Lindsay Welch – Vice President of Corporate Relations at Tech Parks Arizona

"I consider the Emerging Leaders Council to be the foundation upon which future business leadership in the Greater Tucson area is built. ELC has put me on the path of the deepest and most meaningful development of my professional career. The personal mentorship and peer mentorship allows ELC members to become value-oriented leaders and more balanced individuals through a combination of presentation, conversation, and connectedness. I am honored to be selected to participate in this program!"

Lindsay Welch – ELC Liaison
Vice President of Corporate Relations | Tech Parks AZ

Interested in joining the Emerging Leaders Council?

Are you interested in becoming a part of the Emerging Leaders Council as a member or mentor?

ELC Blog

Member Highlight for Robert Assenmacher

Member Highlight for Michael Miller

National Mentoring Month

New Year, New Emerging Leaders Council Members

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