angishields, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Global Chamber: Young Global Leaders with Ali Anderson, Anibal Abayneh, Tina Sweis

December 2, 2019 by angishields

Young Global Leaders

Ali Anderson with Squire Patton Boggs, Anibal Abayneh with Africa Fest USA & Cafe Lalibela, and social impact consultant Tina Sweis broadcasting live from the Valley Business RadioX studio in Phoenix, Arizona

Valley Business Radio

Global Chamber: Young Global Leaders with Ali Anderson, Anibal Abayneh, Tina Sweis

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This episode of Valley Business Radio is brought to you by the Global Chamber, a unique, growing and collaborating community of CEOs, executives, and leaders taking on global business in 525 metro regions around the world. The Global Chamber provides information, connections, and mentoring for leaders to capture global business opportunities. Connect with their resources and tens of thousands of members and followers worldwide to accelerate your success and improve your business, our region and the world.

Follow the Global Chamber on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

**Get tickets for the Global to Local Innovation Summit: Sustaining Growth on December 10, 2019 in Scottsdale, AZ**

Ali Anderson, Squire Patton Boggs

Ali Anderson is a corporate attorney in the Phoenix office of Squire Patton Boggs, where she advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and financial services matters. She has been instrumental in state, national, and international business transactions valued at more than $4 billion.

A native Arizonan who graduated top of her class from Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University, Ali spent time working for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Senator Jon Kyl in Washington, DC, and the U.S. Embassy in The Hague. After graduation, she was awarded a Fulbright grant and spent two years in South Korea. There she served as a cultural ambassador, researcher, and instructor to over 650 students, was a special assistant to the Executive Director of the Korean-American Educational Commission, and was a liaison to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

Ali went on to receive her law degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and serve as editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Law and Business. Her legal career began in Washington, DC with a leading international law firm, Paul Hastings, LLP. Since returning to Phoenix, she has participated in the State Bar of Arizona’s Bar Leadership Institute (2019) and Valley Leadership Advance (2017), and was recently named Young Global Leader of the Year by the Global Chamber (2019).

Connect with Ali Anderson on LinkedIn, and follow Squire Patton Boggs on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Anibal Abayneh, Africa Fest USA & Cafe Lalibela

Anibal Abayneh is founder and Executive Director of Africa Fest USA and CEO of Lalibela Healthy Foods, an offshoot of Café Lalibela, a top-rated Ethiopian restaurant in Tempe, Arizona.

Anibal grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and worked there as a videographer for more than a decade. He owned and operated a video production company and was a cameraman and editor at Orion Video Production. In 2006, Anibal migrated to Canada, where he set up a production company, Leyu Entertainment Inc. in Calgary, Canada. After taking a break to work in the oil industry, Anibal moved to the US in 2013 and started managing Café Lalibela, his family’s restaurant in Tempe. In January 2018 he opened a food processing company, Lalibela Healthy Foods LLC, to expand the Lalibela line to mainstream markets like Whole Foods Market and Natural Grocers.

Being an active member of community, Anibal tries to give back as much as possible. In 2017 he created a non-profit organization called African Fest USA, to educate, serve and entertain people in Phoenix, Arizona and to promote African culture through music, film, arts, fashion and foods. African Fest USA is an independent collaborative of professionals for the advancement of African culture. Culturally and entertainment focused, African Fest USA invites and encourages artists, and other professionals to showcase their work and contribute to the ongoing conversation and action across the diaspora. From family stories told to children, to the written stories, entertainment is part of many cultures across Africa, with distinct stories in each country. The cultures, identities, and people of Africa are holders of a unique individual and continental story. Africa’s story is yet to be told on a global stage. African Fest USA can play a critical part in introducing African culture to the citizens of Arizona.

Connect with Anibal Abayneh on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Africa Fest USA on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Cafe Lalibela on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tina Sweis, social impact consultant

Tina Sweis is a social impact consultant with over a decade of experience directing youth engagement programs, establishing creative problem solutions, developing curriculum, and connecting people with their passion. Tina believes that every successful partnership starts when you pair an individual’s passion and skills with an environment that is ideal for their growth.

Tina earned an MA in American Studies and has served in a variety of roles in her home country of Jordan, most notably as Youth Advisor for the Prime Minister of Jordan. She is a Board Member of the NewThink Theatre-Festival in Jordan and a Board Member at Phoenix Modern, a free public school and learning community in Phoenix, Arizona.

Connect with Tina Sweis on LinkedIn, and follow Phoenix Modern on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

**Get tickets for the Global to Local Innovation Summit: Sustaining Growth on December 10, 2019 in Scottsdale, AZ**

BRX Pro Tip: What to Have in Your Studio

December 2, 2019 by angishields

BRX Pro Tips

BRX Pro Tip: What to Have in Your Studio

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BRX Pro Tip: What to Have in Your Studio Transcript

Stone Payton: [00:00:01] And we are back with BRX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, let’s talk a little bit about the environment. What should a studio partner have in the studio?

Lee Kantor: [00:00:11] Yeah. I think it’s important for a new studio partner, especially to understand what are some of the elements that you should have inside the studio. And every studio, obviously, has their own personality and has their own stuff in it. But some of the things that we find useful in a studio is to have bottled water of some kind. And for us, we like to use the smallest size possible. I think we use eight-ounce sized bottle water. We get it from Costco. It’s not really because they’re thirsty or dehydrated. They’re just nervous. We used to give big bottles, like 20-ounce bottles of water. And then, they take one step, and we’re throwing it away, full bottles. Now, you get in a little bottle, they’ll take the one sip, and you feel better about throwing out the eight-ounce bottle instead of the 20-ounce bottle.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:56] Another thing we like to have is carpeting on the table. That, for us, we do black carpeting over the tables and that prevents the high-pitch noise like from rings, or bracelets, or watches that bang on the table when they are just sitting there. A lot of people have a kind of little nerve—from nerves, they move around, and this kind of deafens some of that sound.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:19] Another thing that I think is important is to have some sort of a photo album or a—we have a TV in our studio, and the show photos of previous guests. That’s an important because the guests, as they’re waiting their turn to be on the show, they’re going to look around, and they’re going to see people they now in the studio. That’ll make them feel comfortable and confident they’re in a good place. Also, a TV screen allows you to put some sales messaging on the screen that can help open the doors for potential sales. Like you can say, “Oh, you know, a sponsor is available,” or “We do live remotes,” things like that. That gives you some kind of subtle sales messaging opportunities.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:01] Another thing we do, the on-air light, super important. It creates some tension and makes it look like a real radio station. Mic flag, super important. Branded, you want to put some Business RadioX branding somewhere. If you have sponsors, that’s a perfect place to add on one of the sides of the mic flag, add a sponsor sticker on one of the sides or put sponsor stuff up around the room. Clean mic socks, you should be cleaning them or trading them out for new mic socks periodically. That’s important because you don’t want the guests to feel like there’s been a hundred people there before them. Anything else, Stone?

Stone Payton: [00:02:38] Oh yeah. Kleenex, cough drops, writing pads. It sounds silly, maybe a little bit, but I’ll tell you what, when someone has a cold, or their throat’s a little scratchy, or whatever. And I don’t even put it out in the main table. I hold it back, and then when I see that happening. But if someone’s got a scratchy throat, and you reach back behind the desk, and pull out a cough drop, you are a hero, and if you have some Kleenex around. And then, I like the idea of having the writing pads. I think some of that, too, is nerves. I think they just want something to doodle on.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:09] Well, they like to write down the names of the people, so they remember the-

Stone Payton: [00:03:12] Well, that’s true.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:12] … who’s sitting where.

Stone Payton: [00:03:13] Yeah. And you might even get your local printer to print you up some nice ones just to have that exposure. So, those are three things that I like to do.

BRX Pro Tip: Why Business Brokers are Ideal Studio Partner Candidates

November 29, 2019 by angishields

BRX Pro Tip: BRX as a Complement to Your Existing Business

November 28, 2019 by angishields

BRX Pro Tips

BRX Pro Tip: BRX as a Complement to Your Existing Business

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BRX Pro Tip: BRX as a Complement to Your Existing Business Transcript

Stone Payton: [00:00:01] Welcome back to Business RadioX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, as we are beginning to build this thing out, this idea of being a Business RadioX studio partner, what we’re beginning to realize is that it really can be a marvelous complement to your existing business. Let’s talk about that a little bit.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:21] Sure. I believe it’s a perfect complement to any professional service business in any local market, especially if you’re the challenger brand in that market. If you’re not the kind of the one with the deepest pockets, this is a very affordable way to really separate yourself from other professional service providers. One of the reasons that having a—being a Business RadioX in your local market is good is it’s demonstrating. It’s not giving lip service. It’s demonstrating that you’re a good corporate citizen. That you’re there, a force for good, helping support and celebrate the work of business in the market. And one of those—the benefits of doing that is you get to be a mega connector. This puts your Rolodex on steroids. You’re going to meet so many different people in so many different diverse parts of the economy that you never knew and are going to be able to kind of connect those people together. That is super important.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:16] Another thing, another benefit of it is this is a great tool to nurture your existing clients. What better way to say thank you to your clients than giving them an interview, and letting them tell the story, and publicize it around in the studio, and then throughout the network. Another way is to meet new clients. This is a great tool to meet existing clients. It’s a great way to explore new verticals. By being this kind of de-facto media outlet in each of those niches, it allows you to have the authority and influence in the business community that your competitors can only dream of. You’re going to be totally different. You’re going to be the only Business RadioX in town. And that is just—it should be money in the bank.

Stone Payton: [00:01:58] Well, I’ll tell you two of the things that I really like about it is they come to you, which just creates an entirely different dynamic. Also, I can remember when selling high end, you know, pretty high fee consulting services and speaking services, sometimes, it was difficult for me to live into this value system that I genuinely had and those around me genuinely had of trying to serve the entire local business ecosystem, but it was hard for me to really do a good turn for the printer, or the dry cleaner, or the local business person. But if you have your own studio, you can actually live into that value. And so, to me, that’s one of the greatest gifts is that you have a way to actually live into this value system that you say you espouse.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:47] Right, and reciprocate for all the people that are doing good deeds for you.

Charlie Williams of Charles Williams Real Estate Investment Corporation

November 27, 2019 by angishields

Rome Business Radio

Charlie Williams of Charles Williams Real Estate Investment Corporation

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Charlie Williams is the CEO of the Charles Williams Real Estate Investment Company (CWREIC), which invests in development and property management opportunities, specializing in self-managing their own portfolio of residential communities. The company has a 51 year old history and was founded by the late Charles Williams Sr. As a Real Estate Broker and CPM, Charlie directs the daily operations and casts the vision for new investment opportunities for the company.

Under his leadership, CWREIC manages one of the most diversified residential portfolios in the State. The communities range from Market Rate Apartments, HUD Section 8, USDA, Tax Credit, Supportive Housing for the Homeless and Mentally Ill, Assisted Living and Memory Care for Seniors.

Charlie always enjoys the challenge of new projects but focuses on a servant style of leadership that elevates others around him. He is very community minded, enjoys serving within his church, and has been actively engaged in leading several boards in the past and currently.

Charlie has been married to his wife Liz for 30 years in December. He is a dedicated family man and proud to have had two children who are alumnus Dawgs with their last son hopefully heading to Athens in another year.

Global Chamber: US-Mexico Business Opportunities with Indira Jeffrey, Gabriela Castro, and Eduardo González

November 27, 2019 by angishields

US-Mexico Business Opportunities

Indira Jeffrey with EKATAR All In One Marketing, Gabriela Castro with Trade in Motion, Eduardo González with 258 Consulting broadcasting live from the Valley Business RadioX studio in Phoenix, Arizona

Valley Business Radio

Global Chamber: US-Mexico Business Opportunities with Indira Jeffrey, Gabriela Castro, and Eduardo González

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Follow the Global Chamber on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

**Get tickets for the Global to Local Innovation Summit: Sustaining Growth on December 10, 2019 in Scottsdale, AZ**

Indira Jeffrey, EKATAR USA

Indira Jeffrey is a partner and business development consultant with EKATAR All In One Marketing, a 360° marketing company headquartered in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. A banking and finance professional and passionate entrepreneur, Indira’s 22-year business and academic career has spanned the US, Mexico, Latin America and Europe. She has launched two successful start-ups focused on Economic Development that serve corporate, non-profit, start-up, SBO, and entrepreneurial clients across a spectrum of industries such as education, food & beverage, and aerospace.

Founder of iGlobal Business Consulting and partner with EKATAR USA, Indira is also the Adjunct Director for the Global Chamber Guanajuato Chapter, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Previously she spent 16 years in banking and finance with Fortune 500 companies (Charles Schwab, JP Morgan Chase, and HSBC Mexico), where she held several roles ensuring compliance with department policies, procedures, objectives and strategies, as well as adherence to applicable State Federal and US Regulations including OFAC, FDIC, AML and the Bank Secrecy Act.

In August 2017, Indira participated in the Arizona-Mexico trade mission whose goal was to create bridges not walls between the state of Arizona and Mexico. The group of 70 people, including 35 Arizona government representatives and 35 business owners, met with Mexico City and the state of Guanajuato key representatives, and Secretary of International Relations, among others. On April 2018 Indira Jeffrey organized the first binational International Trade Masters Series event in Mesa, AZ. The goal of this event was to present to the public the different areas of the international trade, and to promote the commerce relations between Mexico and USA.

Indira is an active member of the Global Chamber, Phoenix Minority Business Development Agency, Thunderbird Alumni Association, and Toastmasters. She holds a Global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management & Tecnologico de Monterrey, Bachelor’s Degree in International Business (University of Guanajuato), Certificate in Business Affairs (Group Sup in France), and an Arizona State University Small Business Leadership certificate. She speaks English, Spanish, and French.

Connect with Indira Jeffrey on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, and follow EKATAR All In One Marketing on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Gabriela Castro, Trade in Motion

Gabriela Castro is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trade in Motion, a business development consulting firm that specializes in assisting and supporting small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter or expand into the Mexican, American and Canadian markets. Incorporated in Arizona, the firm offers integrated services ranging from initial market research through personalized meeting assistance. Some areas of expertise managed are international business development, business support, business contacts, personal business assistance, and specialized outsourcing of technical services.

Trade in Motion prepares and trains the companies which are not market ready to do business in Mexico, the United States and Canada; drafting business plans and creating a market entry strategy for them. Trade in Motion identifies opportunities for companies and their relevant sectors and supports companies who would like to open shop in North American countries utilizing TIM’s different partners who are experts in their fields, including a law firm, accountants, technicians, etc. The sectors that Trade in Motion manages in the North American market are mining, advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and clean technologies. The sector in which they have the most expertise and experience is the mining sector.

Gabriela Castro has extensive experience in business administration, commercial affairs, foreign and international trade, research and analysis, and market development, focused on client service. She has fifteen years of experience developing new business ventures and cultivating relationships with clients and contacts in the private sector and Federal and State governments. During her tenure at the Embassy of Canada to Mexico, Gabriela worked in various sectors such as mining, automotive, infrastructure, manufacturing, construction, energy, oil and gas, information and communications technology, and education. She supported Canadian companies to enter the Mexican market, providing services such as market intelligence and profiling, key contacts as well as market potential assessment.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Gabriela holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management and Administration from Hautes Études Commerciales/Montréal University in Canada.

Connect with Gabriela Castro on LinkedIn and Twitter, and follow Trade in Motion on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Eduardo González, 258 Consulting

Eduardo González is President at 258 Consulting, a Phoenix-based firm that helps companies on both sides of the US-Mexico border to find solutions for their sourcing, manufacturing, and sales expansion goals. 258 Consulting takes its name from the 258 stone monuments or obelisks that were placed in the mid-1800s to mark the border between Mexico and the US. These monuments lined the boundary from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Before there were walls and fences, the only thing marking the border were these stone monuments. 258 Consulting believes that walls and fences are not the solution while recognizing that the two countries are business partners and that together they can continue being a great force that can strive in the ever more competing international markets.

258 Consulting provides manufacturing in Mexico and supply chain development solutions for foreign companies seeking to establish a manufacturing presence in Mexico. Their target client base includes:

US or foreign Manufacturing companies
US or foreign companies that do not necessary manufacture themselves but outsource their products from Contract Manufacturers Partners (CMP)
Service providers in the US looking to source software development, call centers, or other services from Mexico
Established US companies that currently manufacture or have their supply chain in China, outside the US, or in the US
Manufacturing companies looking to move or expand where we can provide site selection services
Mexican companies looking to explore the US market for their products or services

Eduardo has an extensive experience of more than 20 years in business development and supply chain support, assisting Mexican companies with their international sales and helping foreign companies to identify new suppliers, assisting in contract negotiations with manufacturers and finding solutions for their supply chain needs. He has helped also foreign companies establish manufacturing operations in Mexico and find suppliers to source their manufacturing needs or services, in the advanced manufacturing sector (aerospace, automotive, medical device), as well as in the other industries, such as: food processing, fresh food and meat, retail sector, tourism and IT, among others.

Eduardo served as Deputy Trade Commissioner of ProMéxico in Phoenix, AZ from September 2015 to March 2019. ProMéxico was Mexico’s agency responsible for coordinating strategies aimed at strengthening Mexico’s participation in the international economy, supporting exporting firms from Mexico and coordinating activities aimed at attracting foreign investment. (The agency and all of its international offices were closed at the end of 2018, effective March 2019).

Additionally, he has vast experience in international markets. Before his appointment at the ProMéxico office in Arizona, Eduardo served as State Director for ProMéxico in the Mexican state of Baja California and had several responsibilities while working for Mexican Export Development Bank (Bancomext) in The Netherlands and in Mexico.

Connect with Eduardo González on LinkedIn and Twitter, and follow 258 Consulting on LinkedIn.

**Get tickets for the Global to Local Innovation Summit: Sustaining Growth on December 10, 2019 in Scottsdale, AZ**

BRX Pro Tip: BRX at Your Next Conference or Trade Show

November 27, 2019 by angishields

BRX Pro Tips

BRX Pro Tip: BRX at Your Next Conference or Trade Show

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BRX Pro Tip: BRX at Your Next Conference or Trade Show Transcript

Stone Payton: [00:00:01] And we are back with BRX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, let’s talk a little bit about this idea of having Business RadioX at your next conference or trade show.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:13] Yeah, we do so much work in conferences and trade shows in the local market here. It’s a great tool for our clients to really capture a ton of content. And I’ll tell you something that happened on the last event we did for the GWBC in Gwinnett County Infinite Energy Arena was that we did 18 interviews in about six hours. And just by itself, they were blown away with the amount of content. They were very appreciative of the interviews that we did for all their sponsors, and their members, and things like that.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:45] But one of the biggest benefits that they got was us asking for a testimonial about how that the GWBC has helped them. And each to a person, each person said, “They helped me do this,” or “I got this client because of that,” or “I wouldn’t be in this financial situation if it wasn’t for them.” And in the—when the executive director talked to us after we debriefed, she said that it has taken them decades to get that number of testimonials. People say they want to give a testimonial, but they never actually give the testimony. And we gave it to them in audio form and transcription form. So, they were able to use that, and they will use that for years and years to come.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:24] So, just capturing trade shows is—I mean, testimonials is a great reason to have us at your trade show. Just for that alone. Not only as additional revenue streams, non-dues revenue for some of these nonprofits. From a financial standpoint, it’s fantastic for the event or the sponsor of the event, but just from the content capture is another huge benefit of having us there.

BRX Pro Tip: Getting More Foot Traffic in Your Co-Working Space

November 26, 2019 by angishields

IMPACT Ep2: Thanksgiving Dinner Kit Giveaway

November 25, 2019 by angishields

BRX National

IMPACT Ep2: Thanksgiving Dinner Kit Giveaway

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Thanksgiving Dinner Kit Giveaway

GUESTS:

Barbara Barr, President
The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke
P. O. Box 8388
Tucson AZ, 85738-8388
520-358-1111
barrb1@outlook.com
https://saddlebrookerotary.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook |

Barbara Barr has spent her lifetime in the teaching and training profession. She started teaching in public schools and after winning many awards, such as Teacher of the Year and the H. Ross Perot Award for Excellence in Education, she moved into school administration.  Barbara has also been a pioneer in educational technology and trained educators in many aspects of using technology, including how to develop online classes. As a speaker, Barbara has addressed many states,  national, and international conferences in education technology. One of Barbara’s  projects was featured in Forbes Magazine. She’s also spent many years in corporate training and personal development. and spoke in every major city throughout the country.  Because of her philanthropic work in her North Texas home, her community named her the Citizen of the Year. Major changes in her health encouraged Barbara to use her training skills in the area of wellness. Since moving to SaddleBrooke, Barbara has become a frequent speaker in the area, and also offers wellness classes to a national and international audience.

About the Rotary Club:

The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke was the first club in all of Rotary International comprised of retirees. For 22 years we have contributed to the community both locally and globally through the funding of projects and scholarships as well as through community work and projects. While there are not enough lines to describe our work, we have provided funding for books for 1,200 students in the copper corridor 3 times a year, computers and educational materials for Sycamore Canyon, programs for special needs children at Little Hooves Big Hearts, after school tutoring programs, character education at First Tee of Tucson, robotics programs in the schools, supplies for fine arts programs in local schools, a sewing program for teens, leadership training for teens, a Student of the Month program,  optical equipment & glasses across the border, water filtration systems in the schools across the border. We also have fun working together at IMPACT packing food and helping deliver Thanksgiving. We also clean up Golder Ranch Road, collect food for the food bank, sponsor a high school service club, have a Veterans Day program, and help in the community when needs arise.

SHOW HOST:
Barbara McClure, Executive Director
IMPACT of Southern Arizona
3535 E Hawser Street
Tucson, AZ 85739
520-825-0009 / Mobile Phone: 206-915-0919
barbara@impactsoaz.org
www.impactsoaz.org
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter |

Barbara McClure wakes up each morning passionate about going to work at a place that improves lives and inspires futures every day! She has been the Executive Director of a Tucson social service nonprofit called IMPACT of Southern Arizona, for ten years. What is it that keeps you passionate about your role Barbara?

Barbara has been a visionary and planner with decades of experience as a small business owner and in nonprofit leadership; her innovative ideas and strategic thinking, along with a talent for bringing the community together, has helped grow IMPACT five-fold in a very short time. Her talents and interests are diverse but all center around helping people, improving the community, bolstering education, building capacity and sustainability, being vocal about the rights and conditions of others, experiencing art, nurturing all inhabitants of your garden, and enjoying life to the fullest.

And now Barbara is about to experience another exciting chapter in her life with hosting a brand-new Radio Show Podcast here on the Tucson Business RadioX Network starting in November.

IMPACT of Southern Arizona is a 20 – year old social service nonprofit stabilizing families and seniors, and moving people out of poverty. IMPACT’s programs are designed to stretch household budgets so earned income can be spent on necessities such as improved housing conditions, fuel to get to work, utilizes, and needed medical attention and prescriptions. Its clients are your neighbors! People come to IMPACT because it is a welcoming place where they are always treated with dignity and respect, and where they find resources, referrals, coaching, and help to attain the skills that can move them forward into self-sufficiency.

Barbara grew up in Pasadena CA, moved to Long Beach for college, got married and started our family then moved to Seattle area ten years later. Took our youngest son on an 11-month motorhome trip to get to Tucson – Homeschooled for 10th grade.

We vacationed at a rustic cabin when I was growing up, where we had no phone or television; and spent all our time outside fishing, hiking, horseback riding, listening to old radio shows, playing pool, reading comic books from the local small grocer, and using our imaginations all day long. I always admired the superheroes who defended people and cities like Gotham and Metropolis, so when our three boys were born, we named them after familiar character: Colin (Bryce for an overlay of Bruce Wayne, Kent, and Parker. Our first grandchild was born last year, and as in the family tradition, named Logan, after the Wolverine. I used to always tell them they were my superheroes – and they still are today!

Barbara loves working with numbers and has always loved math and the organization of things, so accounting seemed perfect, but I soon realized that I if I became a CPA I would have to spend many months inside doing tax returns, and that did not appeal to me as a long–term career! I have a great imagination and enjoy creating things, so thought I should find a better path that might nurture that side of my personality. I was working in the shipping industry in SoCal at the time and fell in love with import and export, so shifted my majors to Marketing and International Business. Those were wonderful fits, and I imagined graduating and moving to the largest port on the planet, in Germany; then, I met my future husband and things took a different turn.

A little bit about how Barbara got into Nonprofit work:

All along with my husband and I were always involved in nonprofits and community volunteer opportunities, and often said it was too bad we could not make a living doing those things we loved so much. Leadership roles in PTO, Boy Scouts, Historical Societies, Junior League, Elks, Rotary and more. Then when we moved to Tucson I looked for a local opportunity to impact my community. A Board position was about to open at IMPACT, and my local bank branch manager, Peggy Smoot, suggested I would be very passionate about getting involved in the mission work there. I worked in the Food Bank.

There are thousands of nonprofits in Tucson. What makes IMPACT Unique is that they bring the community together to stabilize families and move people out of poverty. Our true success lies in partnering with a large number of businesses, agencies, social clubs and other nonprofits. We invest $2.5 million in the community each year, and we do it all with a lean staff of amazing professionals supported by more than 170 volunteer shifts each week! We have put great systems in place to run efficiently, effectively and with a commitment to sustainability and integrity, protecting the community’s investment in our work, striving for perfect audits, being innovative, building capacity and most importantly – treating everyone with dignity and respect. We are an award-winning nonprofit with numerous nods to incredible customer service. Our clients are your neighbors… We improve lives and inspire futures of people living in Southern AZ.

So, IMPACT is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and you have been at the helm half that time. Share with me the things IMPACT has accomplished over the years, and the things you have planned for this celebratory year.