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Interested in joining the Emerging Leaders?


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

The application consists of five essay questions and a three-minute video submission. Because it may take some time for you to write your responses and film your video submission, we recommend completing the essay questions in Word before typing them in the response boxes. This form will not save your progress, and we'd hate for you to lose your work.

The Emerging Leaders (EL) 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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Alaina Krone 
Clinical Operations Director, Clinical Trial’s Office | Arizona Cancer Center

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Clinical Research

❣️ Junior League of Tucson, Pima Clinical Research Coordinator Advisory Committee

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Amanda Bruno
Government Relations Representative | Tucson Electric Power

Tucson Metro Chamber | Public Policy Council

👥 Jan Lesher | Pima County

💡 Government relations, public affairs, public policy, public administration, economic development, energy & natural resources

❣️ Arizona Association for Economic Development, Greater Tucson Leadership, Planned Parenthood Arizona, Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Junior League of Tucson, Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona

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Ashley Stewart
Commercial Insurance Advisor | The Mahoney Group

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Business insurance and risk management, commercial real estate, human services

❣️ Commercial Real Estate Women, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona, El Rio Vecinos

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Andrew Gasparro
Vice President of Land | KB Home

Tucson Metro Chamber | Public Policy Council

👥 Ian McDowell | Sundt Construction

💡 Homebuilding, Real Estate, Land Acquisition, Land Development, Government Relations, Community & Economic Development

❣️ Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona, Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, Greater Tucson Leadership, Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Commission

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Becky Richards
Realtor | Realty ONE Group Integrity

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Real estate

❣️ Tucson Young Professionals, Tucson Association of Realtors, St. Jude’s Runner

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Billy Hayes
Founder | Pedroza & Hayes Accounting and Consulting, LLC

👥 George Larsen | Larsen Baker

❣️ Tucson Waldorf School

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Brendan Lyons
Executive Director | LOOK! Save a Life

👥 Mark Irvin | Mark Irvin Commercial Realestate

💡 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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Derrick Polder
Regional Vice President | Summit Funding

Empower | Coalition

👥 Rob Assenmacher | CAID

💡 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

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Nonprofit

❣️ American Association of University Women – Tucson, 100+ Women Who Care Tucson

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Eli Peart
Chief Operating Officer | Port of Tucson LLC

Emerging Leaders | Vice Chair

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Land development and logistics

❣️ Junior Achievement of Southern Arizona

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Gustavo Corte 
Vice President, Financial Advisor | RBC Wealth Management

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Wealth management

❣️ Casa de los Ninos, El Rio Vecinos

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Heath S. Vescovi-Chiordi
Director, Economic Development | Pima County

👥 Bill Kelley | Diamond Ventures, Inc.

💡 Economic development, public administration

❣️ Pima County Workforce Investment Board, Arizona Association for Economic Development, International Economic Development Council, Canada Arizona Business Council, Arizona Town Hall, Tucson Young Professionals, Arizona Judicial Performance Review

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Hiram-Jesus Cruz
Manager | Tony’s Auto Glass

👥 Humberto Lopez | HSL Properties

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

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John Winchester
ELC Chair
Director of Government & Community Engagement | Arizona State University

👥 Carol Stewart | Tech Parks Arizona

💡 Public policy, politics, nonprofit/public management

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

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Jose Arias
Vice President - Business Banker | First Citizens Bank

👥 Edmund Marquez | Allstate Insurance

💡 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

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Justin Lukasewicz
CEO, Owner | Greater Tucson Leadership, Tucson Improv Movement

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Leadership development, nonprofit

❣️ Amphi Foundation, Tucson Young Professionals

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Lacey John
Change Process Leader | Tucson Electric Power

Emerging Leaders | Chair

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Change leadership

❣️ Tucson Young Professionals, Victory Sports Foundation

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 Michael Miller
Project Manager, Sundt Construction

Tucson Metro Chamber | Coalition Against Retail Theft

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Digital marketing, website development

❣️ Startup Tucson, Tucson Young Professionals, Downtown Tucson Partnership

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Ron Stauffer
Owner/Founder | Lieder Digital, LLC

👥 Larry Lucero | UNS Energy Corporation

💡 Web Development/Internet Marketing

❣️ Tucson Metro Chamber

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Sean Goslar
Regional Manager, Immigration Services | Chicanos Por La Causa

👥 Mentor | Mentor Organization

💡 Nonprofit, legal

❣️ Tucson Young Professionals, Flinn-Brown Fellowship

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Yvette-Marie Margaillan
CEO & Clinical Director, Autism Pediatrics | Owner, Tucson Tea Company

👥 Judy Rich | Tucson Medical Center

💡 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?

Testimonials

"The Tucson Metro Chamber Emerging Leaders program has proven invaluable. The relationships you create, the knowledge you gain, and the connection to the local community have been uniquely enriching in professional development in the Greater Tucson ecosystem"

Heath S. Vescovi-Chiordi
Director, Economic Development | Pima County

In my four years with the Emerging Leaders, I have found this to be a group of highly ambitious and motivated professionals focused on the betterment and flourishing of Tucson. Getting to know these interesting thinkers has been a joy and a blessing and Tucson will be better for the voices and thoughts this group offers and efforts

 Eli Peart
Chief Operating Officer | Port of Tucson LLC

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