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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.

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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.

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Nick Morin, President of ELC
Founder | Growers Network

nick@growersnetwork.org

👥 Jonathan Rothschild | Former Mayor of Tucson

💡 Digital marketing, cannabis, community building, YouTube

❣️ Big Brothers Big Sisters | El Rio Vecinos |Tucson Young Professionals | Breakfast Club of Tucson | Greater Tucson Leadership | Global Shapers Tucson Hub | Old Pueblo New Economy Podcast

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Alicia White
Senior Manager | Keegan Linscott & Associates

ELC | Executive Committee Treasurer

Tucson Metro Chamber | Finance Committee

awhite@keeganlinscott.com | 716.572.4028

👥 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

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Brendan Lyons
Executive Director | LOOK! Save a Life

BrendanLyons.Az@gmail.com | 520.248.9874

👥 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.

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Crystal Adams
Senior Director, Eller MBA Innovation and Student Experience | University of Arizona

ceadams35@arizona.edu | 520.626.7883

👥 Alice Templeton | Barker Contracting

💡 Innovation and Strategy, Process Development and Improvement, Designing Experiential Programs

❣️ Tucson Young Professionals | League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson

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Derrick Polder
Regional Vice President | Summit Funding

Empower | Coalition

dp@thepoldergroup.com | 520.991.0893

👥 Ian McDowell | Sundt

💡 Real Estate, lending, finance, credit, investing

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

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Diana Charbonneau
Development Coordinator | IMPACT of Southern Arizona

dystnce@gmail.com | 520.850.8308

👥 Kate Jensen | Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern AZ

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

❣️ Junior Achievement of Southern Arizona | Tucson Young Professionals

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Eli Peart
Chief Operating Officer | Port of Tucson

eli@portoftucson.com | 520.906.7065

👥 Jennifer Chenault | Lovitt & Touché

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

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

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Emil Tramblay
CEO | SGNT INC

emil@sgnt.io | 480.225.6500

👥 Carol Stewart | UArizona

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

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Eric Smith
Executive Director | UA Center for Innovation

esmith@uacenterforinnovation.org |  520.907.5550

👥 Bob Hoffman | Tucson Roadrunners

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

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

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Hiram-Jesus Cruz
Manager | Tony’s Auto Glass

hiramjesus.cruz@gmail.com | 520.490.7160

👥 David Ollanik | Sundt Construction

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

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

isaac@larsenbaker.com
| 520.490.5385

👥 Duff Hearon | Ashland Group

💡 Commercial Real Estate Development, Investment, Construction and Brokerage

❣️  Tucson Young Professionals |Greater Tucson Leadership | Downtown Tucson Partnership | Imago Dei Middle School | Centurion |  Honorary Commander- USAF 357th FS | Tucson Children’s Museum

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

Tucson Metro Chamber | Board of Directors

Lwelch@techparksaz.org | 785.477.3434

👥 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

❣️ Greater Tucson Leadership | Angel Charity | Women’s Foundation of SoAZ | NAWIC | CREW | Tucson Metro Chamber

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John Winchester
Executive Director | YMCA of Southern Arizona

johnw@tucsonymca.org | 520.850.2287

👥 Lesli Pintor | Growth Partners

💡 Public policy, politics, nonprofit/public management

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

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

Jonathon.crider@arizona.edu| 520.275.5219

👥 Edmund Marquez | Allstate; Rio Nuevo; TMCC

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

❣️ Arts Express | Tucson Pops Orchestra

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Leah Bogen
Vice President Commercial Real Estate | WaFd Bank

Leah.Bogen@wafd.com | 520-314-8079

👥 Rob Assenmacher | CAID Industries

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

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

ELC | Executive Committee Secretary

venezia@arizona.edu | 602.391.4499

👥 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

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 Michael Miller
Project Manager | Sundt Construction

memiller@sundt.com | 916.200.8587

👥 Howard Stewart | AGM Container Controls

💡 Construction/ General Building, contracts, budgets/ finance

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

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Sarah Letzkus
Of Counsel | Rusing Lopez Lizardi PLLC

sletzkus@rllaz.com | 520.529.4282

👥 Brandy Ferrer | Pathfinder Strategies

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

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Sarah Wheeler
Corrections Lieutenant  | Pima County Sheriff's Department

sarah.wheeler@sheriff.pima.gov | 520.820.9184

👥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

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Tanya Mitchell
Sr. Business Planning Analyst | Trico Electric Cooperative

tanyamitchell321@msn.com | 520.609.1145

👥 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

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

yvettemarie@abaconsultinggroup.org | 520.437.4904

👥 Barbi Reuter | Kushman & 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)

 

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

Interested in joining the Emerging Leaders Council?

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

Applications will be accepted through May 3

National Mentoring Month

January 4, 2021

New Year, New Emerging Leaders Council Members

January 4, 2021

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero to Deliver Inaugural  

November 23, 2020

Emerging Leaders Council: Recap of 2020, Our Thanks to Lindsay Welch & Welcoming a new President

November 23, 2020

ELC Blog

National Mentoring Month

January 4, 2021

New Year, New Emerging Leaders Council Members

January 4, 2021

Emerging Leaders Council: Recap of 2020, Our Thanks to Lindsay Welch & Welcoming a new President

November 23, 2020

Meet Suzanne McFarlin | ELC Mentor, Step Up Leaders!

September 1, 2020
"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