EXECUTIVE TEAM

Amber
AMBER SMITH
President & CEO

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
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

Heather
HEATHER WUELPERN
Director of Communications

Christie
CHRISTIE LEE
Member Services Director

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

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

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
OPERATIONS

Carissa
“Quality control” for home improvement projects (her husband loves this), reading, cheering her kids on from the sidelines of the soccer field
Carissa has a fear of birds – yes, even cute little ones such as ducklings.
CARISSA FAIRBANKS
Director of Operations

Diana
DIANA CORTEZ - LUNDIN
Administrative Coordinator

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.
DAVID LONG
Creative Manager