Staff — Tucson Metro Chamber

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Amber

Amber considers herself a Texazonan as she is a Texas girl who became a Wildcat and never left. Raising three boys with her fire captain husband, Amber never slows down. Involved in politics since serving on Student Council in high school, and for Senator McCain after college, her passion has always been about leaving the world a better place than she found it. Wanting to create systemic change and improve the community remains an active goal that she strives to hit daily—personally and professionally.

Hobbies:

Gardening, hunting, sitting on the sidelines of Little League games

Fun Fact:

In addition to mother of 3 boys, Amber is the mother of 5 goats, 4 dogs and a lone rooster named Pierre

AMBER SMITH

President & CEO

(520) 792-2250 x 131
amber@tucsonchamber.org

Michael

A native Tucsonan, Michael’s twenty-two-year professional career has primarily centered on political strategy, business development and advocacy, and organizational management. He actually enjoys politics and policy (early in his career he was Chief-of-Staff to Tucson City Council Member Fred Ronstadt) and leads the Chamber’s local government affairs and initiatives. Between trying to reduce government intrusion into business and advancing talent development and attraction, Michael is committed to making Tucson a great place to live, work and play.

Hobbies:

Ice hockey goaltender, classical guitar, painting (mainly in the form of duplicating Rothkos and Thiebauds), live music, travel

Fun fact:

Michael was named the Official Scorer for the Tucson Padres AAA Baseball Club from 2011 – 2013. The team moved to El Paso in 2014.

MICHAEL GUYMON

Vice President

(520) 792-2250 x 150
mguymon@tucsonchamber.org

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Carrie

Carrie is an outdoors girl most comfortable wearing jeans, cowboy boots and riding her horses. She relocated to Tucson from Bend, Oregon, 16 years ago with her husband and two children, to enjoy the beautiful Arizona desert and sunshine. Left behind in Oregon were her eclectic jobs of farming, banking, jeweler, owner of a floral shop and a tile manufacturing company.

Hobbies:
Horseback riding, running, traveling

Fun Fact:
Carrie broke her finger while trying to kill a spider.

CARRIE GILCHRIST

Director of Business Development

(520) 792-2250 x 128
cgilchrist@tucsonchamber.org

Heather

Heather hails from Maryland and headed west to Tucson seeking year-round sunshine after starting college in chilly Boston. She’s had unusual jobs, such as being a “ramp rat” who guided in planes and made a living for many years by painting murals. More recently, she sold website design services and was a writer/editor for a tourism-marketing company

Hobbies:

Hiking, photography, traveling, travel blogging

Fun facts:

Heather can unicycle and once won a trip to Scotland where she learned the craft of making Scotch.

HEATHER WUELPERN

Director of Communications

(520) 792-2250 x 127
hwuelpern@tucsonchamber.org

Christie

I’m a native Tucsonan who has been dedicated to the community in the capacity of a business developer, lender/banker, event planner, escrow officer, 1031 exchange coordinator, assistant, recruiter, committee member, chair of committees, board members of for-profit and non-profit, volunteer, teacher, caregiver, friend, and mom of three amazing adult kids who have blessed me with two grandkids!

Through my personal journey in life, I have mastered the art of life balance, rolling with the punches and not losing composure, and wearing a smile every day no matter what.

Hobbies:

Family, music, travel, rodeos and ice hockey. I hike Tumamoc Hill 3 times a week with my favorite coach who happens to be the love of my life! The view from the top is amazing!

Fun Fact:

Loves practical jokes, played clarinet in the U of A Marching Band, zip lined in the rain forest in Hawaii, and my favorite movie of all time is “The American President”. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic at heart.

CHRISTIE LEE

Member Services Director

(520) 792-2250 x 158
clee@tucsonchamber.org

Rob Elias

Rob is a native son of Tucson and deeply loves this city. He graduated from the University of Arizona where he studied Political Science and was a member of the University’s baseball team. He has spent his career working to make Tucson better in his various roles—always with an emphasis on community—a practice he intends on continuing with the Tucson Metro Chamber. He is also the co-creator of Southern Arizona’s largest music festival with the Oro Valley Music Festival.

He has a passion for helping others and creating positive, meaningful change in people’s lives and his biggest pride is being a father to a beautiful daughter.

Hobbies include: Playing golf, running, meditating, and reading.

Fun Facts: Rob loves American history (a trait passed on from his dad who was an American History teacher), was a professional baseball player and is an amateur germaphobe.

ROB ELIAS

Director of External Affairs

(520) 792-2250 x 129
relias@tucsonchamber.org

Shirley

Shirley started out life (and spent many summers) on a dairy farm in Ohio before moving to Tucson in 1961. She enrolled in the Cooperative Office Program her senior year at Cholla High, through which she became employed part-time by the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. During her college years at the University of Arizona, she continued working at the Chamber and has been here ever since.

Hobbies:
Needlecrafts, scrapbooking, bowling, reading

Fun Fact:
Shirley has been called a “ding-a-ling” as one of her many musical talents is playing handbells.

SHIRLEY WILKA

Executive Assistant

(520) 792-2250 x 132
swilka@tucsonchamber.org

Tammy

Tammy landed in Tucson at an early age as the result of her father’s military transfer to DMAFB. After graduating from the University of Arizona she worked behind the scenes for a local architecture firm for 10 years before moving into the property management arena. In 1999, Tammy joined the Chamber team.

Hobbies:
Gardening, travel, basket weaving, crafts

Fun Fact:

WHEREAS Tammy has assisted with more than 1,000 ribbon cuttings, she is literally comfortable running with scissors!

TAMMY JENSEN

Member Operations Manager

(520) 792-2250 x 134
tjensen@tucsonchamber.org

OPERATIONS

Carissa

Carissa has called Tucson home her entire life and, now as a mother of two, she is proud to be raising her family in the same community she grew up in. While she loves Tucson’s warm weather, Carissa has chosen a career path where she can help others succeed from the comfort of an air-conditioned office. Through the years Carissa has managed offices, planned and executed events, and held various roles in marketing and communications.

Hobbies:
“Quality control” for home improvement projects (her husband loves this), reading, cheering her kids on from the sidelines of the soccer field

Fun Fact:
Carissa has a fear of birds – yes, even cute little ones such as ducklings.

CARISSA FAIRBANKS

Director of Operations

(520) 792-2250 x 133
cfairbanks@tucsonchamber.org

Diana

Diana is a California girl originally, although she lived on military bases throughout the U.S. for 18 years until she settled in Tucson. She worked in the jewelry industry, had her own daycare business for 17 years, and did office administration for a mortgage company. Perhaps you’ve seen her on the Chamber’s Univision commercial. She’d be happy to give you her autograph.

Hobbies:

Dancing, listening to live music, doing construction projects

Fun fact:

She lived on a farm for three years in Sonora, Mexico, where her dad owned a vineyard. She loves the country life.

DIANA CORTEZ - LUNDIN

Administrative Coordinator

(520) 792-2250 x 124
dcortez@tucsonchamber.org

David

David is from Los Angeles, California, although he lived in Mexico for a couple of years before moving to Tucson for the heat and the saguaros. He graduated from Pima Community College with a degree in graphic design and multimedia. A wonderful serenity has taken possession of his entire soul, like these sweet mornings of monsoon which he enjoys with his whole heart.

Hobbies:
Drums, guitar, skating, working out, Gameboy, running

Fun facts: |
David recorded his band’s demo in a random house near Tucson High Magnet School.