TMB E25: B. McClure, J.English, C. Belussi, M. Taylor
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GUESTS:
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.
Jennifer English
Jennifer is a multi-award-winning broadcaster, writer, Hospitality Industry consultant and culinarian who is the founder and host of the Food & Wine Radio Network, and host of Friends in The Business.
Her in-depth interviews and intellectual musings on the craft, history, and culture of all areas of food and drink have earned Jennifer the prestigious Gracie Allen Award from The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television and The James Beard Foundation Award for Best Radio Show.
Jennifer served on the Board of the New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society and was proud to participate in the very first Seminar Panel at Tales of the Cocktail.
Jennifer is a co-founder of the World Margarita Championships and is a Founding Editor of Tea Journey Magazine.
Jennifer developed and launched the Let’s Make A Meal cooking segments for NBC affiliate KVOA TV-4 and the Around the Table, “Bottoms Up Radio Hour”, and R.S.V.P. Radio Shows.
Jennifer is delighted to welcome friends, old and new, to her table to cultivate conviviality.
Cherisse Belussi, Licensed Wedding Officiant
A Romantic Dream Wedding
6490 N. Tierra De Las Catalinas Street:
Tucson, AZ, 85718
520-237-5211
cheri@a-romanticwedding.com
www.a-romanticwedding.com
Cheri/Cherise has for more than 18 years specialized in creating and preserving romantic wedding ceremonies and vow renewals in the most beautiful locations Arizona have to offer.
Cheri’s expertise in this highly specialized field has allowed me to orchestrate beautiful and memorable weddings in every location Arizona has to offer. I endeavor to make each couple’s special day a beautiful memory for the rest of their lives).
Cheri is licensed through the Unity Church of Naples, Florida. I began performing weddings in beautiful Sanibel Island and Naples, Florida. She offers her services in Spanish and English. I have performed weddings for couples from all over the world, incorporating their traditions and customs that are unique to their heritage. It is a privilege and joy to perform your wedding ceremony or provide my wedding packages to the location of your choice. I offer a free consultation to discuss your preferences for a religious or romantic personalized wedding ceremony. I also perform commitment ceremonies, vow renewal/anniversary celebrations and blessings Quinceañeras and baptisms).
Cheri’s packages contain all the key services for your wedding: Officiate, Photography, and Flowers, with each vendor providing the highest quality of service. They can be customized to suit your needs. A deposit of $50 is required to reserve a package).
To help you create your dream wedding, see the information on my Ala Carte services and our wedding packages. Once I know the date of your wedding and the location you have chosen, you can send out invitations.
McKenzie Taylor, Executive chef at Forty Niner CC
McKenzie Taylor has been the executive chef at Forty Niner CC since August of 2018 and is not both “Chef and B” as she runs the kitchen and the restaurant as a whole.
Although her position at the 49 Golf and Country Club at the Rincon Grill is demanding, it is unusual for a solo person to run all areas of a restaurant.
McKenzie attended Pima Culinary School in 2010 and has since been loving working for catering companies and restaurants across town. McKenzie has a 12-year-old daughter named Lyla and enjoys teaching kids how to cook.
Forty-Niner Golf & CC – Tucson’s Hidden Jewel
TMBS E28, Mr. Corbridge, MD, Adj. Prof. of Medicine
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Thomas C. Corbridge, M.D., is a medical expert for GSK and pulmonologist in Chicago, Illinois
Thomas C. Corbridge, M.D., is a medical expert for GSK and pulmonologist in Chicago, Illinois, affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He is also an adjunct professor of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and has been in practice for almost 30 years.
LIVING WITH COPD DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN A LIFE OF BREATHLESSNESS.
Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD affects nearly every aspect of daily life. Yet, nearly half of the 27 million living with the condition wait years before receiving a proper diagnosis and managing symptoms.
The symptoms – feelings of breathlessness or shortness of breath – can worsen over time and potentially lead to hospitalization and even death. In fact, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of disability. Nine out of 10 people with COPD admit they are not completely open with their doctor when discussing their symptoms. Even more concerning, one in four patients hospitalized for a COPD flare-up to die within a year.
While many people with COPD accept breathlessness and difficulties completing daily activities as part of normal aging, these can be a sign of COPD disease progression and should be discussed with a physician. So, what should people living with COPD do? There is a need to speak openly about the impact that COPD symptoms have on day-to-day life.
Visit www.COPD.com for additional information about COPD, which includes information and resources that patients and their loved ones can use to better manage COPD.
Saunders Jones of Coosa Valley Credit Union, Todd Bussey of Bussey Florist, and Barry Henderson of Henderson and Sons Funeral Home
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Saunders Jones III is the Chief Lending Officer for Coosa Valley Credit Union. While he is responsible for managing all lending areas of Coosa Valley (Auto Loans, Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Mortgages, and Business Loans), his true heart is in helping small business owners and real estate investors. He has helped hundreds of his clients succeed over his 15+ years of banking experience.
A graduate of Cartersville High School, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, he obtained his M.B.A. in Finance from Kennesaw State University, and he received his diploma from Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University (LSU). He has been married to Katie Glawson Jones for over 14 years and together they have two children, Katie Anne (12) and “SJ” (9).
Saunders has served in various leadership positions over the years with many local organizations including the Rotary Club of Bartow Country, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority, and the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce where he served as the 2017 Chairman. They are active members of Cartersville First Baptist Church.
Barry Henderson is the owner of Henderson and Sons Funeral Home. The Floyd County native is a 1978 graduate of Pepperell High School in Lindale. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville State University, where he was a member of the Gamecock Baseball Team and the Kappa Alpha Order. He received his Associate Degree in Funeral Service from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta in 1987 and was awarded The Bill Pierce Award. Barry has been licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in the State of Georgia since 1987. He serves on the Board of Directors for Greater Community Bank here in Rome, is a member of the Rome Lions Club, is an alumnus of Leadership Rome. He also served as a community coach for varsity baseball at Darlington School for 13 years. Barry is a member of the Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church. Barry is married to the former Nancy Nelson and they have two sons, Wes and Garrett.
Todd Bussey is the second generation owner of Bussey’s Flowers and Gifts which has been in operation since 1976. He operates two floral design centers in Floyd and Polk counties. In addition to beautiful fresh flower arrangements, Bussey’s creates gorgeous wedding and event flowers. They also carry the most extensive collection of sympathy flowers in the area. Bussey’s sells green plants, flowering plants, succulent gardens, traditional dish gardens, blooming baskets and exotic orchid plants. They also offer a great selection of occasion themed gifts, including wonderful fruit and gourmet gift baskets.
BRX Pro Tip: The Power Partner Challenge
Dan Radin with Auxbus
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Dan Radin is building the future of audio creation at Auxbus. Never content to accept the challenges, roadblocks, and difficulties suffered by people who want to create and enjoy audio, Dan has devoted his entire career to enabling others to enjoy the magic only sound can deliver.
Making audio easier for people who aren’t audio insiders.
Dan has more than 15 years’ experience developing and marketing more than 75 audio technology products for musicians, recording studios, video gamers, home audio enthusiasts, and athletes, with positions at companies including Sennheiser, Alesis, SteelSeries, and JBL/Harman, a Samsung company.
Dan created a podcast in 2017 while starting a drum company, and immediately discovered the fragmented state of difficult tools for podcasting, which was challenging to navigate for even a career audio technologist.
Dan founded Auxbus to create the missing end-to-end platform to guide audio novices through planning and creating podcasts, handling time-consuming production and distribution tasks to save them time.
Dan spent his corporate career developing products, process, and people. He helped turn around struggling brands, introduced first-to-market technologies, and earned industry recognition including multiple CES Innovation Awards, TEC Awards, a Mix Certified Hit, and a Stereophile Product of the Year.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Business and Management from Berklee College of Music and an M.B.A. from Loyola Marymount University, half of which he completed as a visiting student at Fordham University.
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn and follow Auxbus on LinkedIn and Facebook.
TBO Ep1: Inaugural, Talking Travel and Tourism in Tucson
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GUESTS:
Dan Gibson
Senior Director of Communications
Visit Tucson
Phone: (800) 638-8350
dgibson@visittucson.org
Website: https://www.visittucson.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitTucson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisitTucsonAZ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visittucson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metropolitan-tucson-convention-&-visitors-bureau/
Bio: Dan Gibson is the senior director of communications for Visit Tucson, primarily overseeing domestic, culinary and local media efforts. Previously, he was the editor of the Tucson Weekly, a music journalist for Apple Music, Gawker and elsewhere, the manager of a bakery, a graphic designer for publications including California Tomato Grower and Mini-Storage Messenger, and a three-time game show contestant. His trivia team can be found on Instagram at @sparklemotioninformationclub.
Melissa “Misty” Shafiqullah, CTA CCC
Owner/Travel Consultant
Cruise Planners
Phone: (520) 288-8688
misty.shafiqullah@cruiseplanners.com
Website: https://www.travelsea2sea.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelsea2sea/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissa-misty-shafiqullah-p-e-cta-993b3812
Bio: Bringing together her passion for travel and 30 years of experience as a public servant and program manager/civil engineer, Misty is repurposing the skills she has used to create her own epic adventures to assist other travelers to design their perfect vacation experience. Now her Engineering degree (UofA ‘89) takes a back seat to the more recently acquired Business – Travel and Tourism degree (PCC ‘17).
Four years ago Misty set her dream of becoming her own boss into motion and joined Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, operating her own travel franchise specializing in planning land and cruise vacations. Recently retired from Federal Service, Misty is now dedicated full time to the travel/tourism industry and making other’s travel dreams a reality.
A few of her current professional certifications/affiliations include Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Cruise Counsellor (CCC), and Certified Sandals Specialist (CSS). She is an active member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), and International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN). The destinations she has traveled, studied and assisted the aspirations of others include: USA/Canada/Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe, New Zealand and Australia. 
Christopher Schmaltz, General Counsel
Tucson Airport Authority
Phone: (520) 573-4875
cschmaltz@flytucson.com
Website: https://www.flytucson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAirport/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TucsonAirport/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flytucson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-schmaltz-68b36711/
Bio: Christopher Schmaltz is the General Counsel of the Tucson Airport Authority. He joined the TAA in 2015 as Deputy General Counsel and has since been promoted to General Counsel as of October 2019. He advises the Board of Directors, and the TAA executive team and employees on all aspects of airport regulation and operation, aeronautical and non-aeronautical economic development, non-profit corporation and Arizona public entity matters, and airport user (commercial, military, and general aviation) issues. He also leads TAA’s effort on government affairs. Prior to TAA, he was a Partner/Member in the Public Law group of Gust Rosenfeld, a law firm with offices in Phoenix and Tucson, among other locations. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Russian & Soviet Studies from the University of Arizona and his Juris Doctor from American University, Washington College of Law. Schmaltz is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and currently serves on Airports Council International-North America’s (ACI-NA’s) Political Affairs Subcommittee, AAAE’s Commercial Space Working Group, serves on the PAG/RTA Citizens Advisory Committee and is currently Vice-Chair of the Tucson Metro Chamber’s Public Policy Council. He enjoys running, hiking, camping, spending time with his wife and their 3 intelligent and talented daughters, and other nerdy stuff.
HOST:
Heather Wuelpern
Director of Communications
Tucson Metro Chamber
(520) 792-2250 X127
hwuelpern@tucsonchamber.org
Website: https://www.tucsonchamber.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTucsonChamber/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hwuelpern/
Heather’s the driving force behind most anything written at the Tucson Metro Chamber including the Chamber Edge magazine, print ads, radio spots, social media posts, press releases, event speeches, newsletters and more. She comes from a publishing background where she wrote features, edited the work of freelance writers, and managed online content and official visitor guides for clients in the tourism industry across the United States.
Heather hails from Maryland and graduated from the University of Arizona after she transferred from Boston University where she was too darn cold. And now that she’s lived in Tucson for 30 years, she considers it home.
On the topic of giving, she has volunteered and/or helped raise money for local nonprofits several times including rappelling the 17-story 5151 E. Broadway building for Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, bowling for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona (where she won the Team Spirit trophy two years in a row!), and lending her skills to Habitat for Humanity twice.
Michael Guymon
Vice President
Tucson Metro Chamber
(520) 792-2250 x150
Mguymon@tucsonchamber.org
Website: https://www.tucsonchamber.org
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | LinkedIn |
A native Tucsonan, Michael Guymon’s twenty-two-year professional career has primarily centered on political strategy, business development and advocacy, and organizational management. As Vice President for the Tucson Metro Chamber, Michael is responsible for developing and implementing the Chamber’s local public policy and workforce development/attraction programs and initiatives.
Michael’s previous positions include Vice President of Regional Partnerships for Sun Corridor Inc.; Executive Director of Metropolitan Pima Alliance; Chief-of-Staff to Tucson City Council Member Fred Ronstadt; Asst. Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce; and political consultant to The Bridges, a 360-acre mixed-use, infill development that will include Tech Parks Arizona, GEICO’s regional headquarters, housing, and a 111-acre commercial development. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona.
On a personal note, Michael’s passion is baseball and he was named the Official Scorer for the Tucson Padres AAA Baseball Club from 2011 – 2013. The team moved to El Paso in 2014.
TMBS E27, Michelle McLellan, Sr. Product Mgmt Exec. at BofA
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Michelle McLellan, Senior Product Management Executive at Bank of America
Nearly 80 percent of homes in the U.S. are at least 20 years old according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. And some much older than that. Aging homes means many homeowners either want to bring their homes up to date, or they need to replace well-worn parts of their homes.
They’re taking remodeling into their own hands to make their home fit their lifestyle. Whether it’s fashion or home design, we’ve all made trendy choices that make us look back and cringe. Wood paneling may have been on-trend in the 70s, but today it makes a room look dull and dated. And, if you still have a Tuscan-inspired kitchen, it’s overdue for a refresh. After all, reviving your space can help you feel more at home in a place you’ve already grown fond of. And while we see so many design ideas we’d like to try, we don’t get much information when it comes to paying for all these fun changes. For the big items, a trusty credit card isn’t necessarily a financially savvy choice. There are other ways to finance your home renovations, like a home equity line of credit (HELOC), but they can be a bit intimidating until you uncover the mystery).
Relevant research from the 2018 Houzz & Home Study: Role of Secured Financing in U.S. Home Improvement in Collaboration with Bank of America:
- Homeowners choose to finance the big projects – A typical homeowner using secured (e.g. home equity line of credit, cash-out refinance) financing spent $32,000 on 2017 renovations, three times more than a renovator paying with cash ($13,000).
- Home equity lines of credit provide flexibility – Those surveyed said they were motivated to use a HELOC by its ease of use (39%), low cost (38%), quick funds (30%) and tax deductions (29%).
Rhonda Wallace and Terri Ainsworth from Greater Community Bank and Colin Powell and Elizabeth Powell from Hardy Realty
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Rhonda Wallace is currently the Vice President of Greater Banking at Greater Community Bank, and has been in banking for the past 35 years. She was recently named the Best Banker in the “Best Of Rome” awards presented by the Rome News Tribune.
Mrs. Wallace is a member of the board of directors of Floyd Healthcare Management Inc., and a member of the Hospital Authority of Floyd County. She also was elected in 2010 as a Floyd County Commissioner. She is a graduate of Model High School, received her certification as a mortgage specialist from the Capstone Institute. She is a certified private client accredited advisor and a certified county commissioner.
She is treasurer and board member of the Children’s Open Door Children’s Home, a Board member of the Lynda B Williamson Women’s Leadership Academy, a board member of the Floyd Healthcare Foundation fundraising committee, The Exchange Club of Rome, the Republican Women and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Wallace formerly served as member and chairman of the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission and is a former board member of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Wallace is a 2005 recipient of the Heart of the Community award, the 2004 Woman of Excellence Award, the 2003 Wesley Johnson Leadership Award, the 2001 Outstanding Exchange Club President award and the 2000 Ambassador of the Year for the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce
She has been married to Ronnie Wallace for over 26 years. They have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren.
Terri Ainsworth is a 16-year veteran of Greater Community Bank. She serves as a Vice President and as the bank’s Mortgage Lending Officer. She was recently honored as the Best Mortgage Banker in the “Best of Rome” awards presented by the Rome News Tribune.
She moved to Rome as a child and is a graduate of Model High School.
In affiliation with her banking career, she has been an active member and participant in the Greater Rome Board of Realtors and the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce since 2003.
Terri served on the Rome Noon Optimist Board of Directors, where she has been the Co-Chair of the Terrific Kids Program since she joined the club in 2010. She has also served a term as Treasurer for the organization. In 2019 co-chair for committee involvement for Board of Realtors.
Terri is passionate about the causes in which she volunteers her time. She has been a committed fundraiser for Cancer Navigators, serving as a co-captain for the Greater Community Bank team.
She is a member of Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church, where she enjoys working in the nursery. Terri has been a teacher for Sparks program and has served as a Vacation Bible School teacher since 2010.
Terri has been happily married to Edwin Ainsworth for 35 years. They have two adult daughters, and 3 grandchildren.
Elizabeth Powell is an agent for Hardy Realty in Rome, and was recently named one of the 20 under 40 in the Rome News Tribune and was also voted Best Real Estate Agent in Rome in 2018 and 2019 in their “Best of Rome” awards. Elizabeth started her Real Estate career right after she graduated from Pepperell High School at the age of 19. She knew exactly what she wanted to do especially after growing up in a family with 3 generations of realtors and attorneys. Elizabeth is licensed in both Georgia and Florida.
She is married to Colin Powell, who is also an agent for Hardy Realty. Colin is a skilled negotiator, salesman, and business analyst. Colin has served as a real estate coach and is licensed in Georgia to teach real estate classes. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Through his Marine Corps training he has developed an unparalleled skill set in working with technology. Technology is the future of the real estate business and this is something Colin understands more than most. Colin specializes in marketing and selling fine homes in Northern Georgia and Alabama, and provides expert strategic advice to his clients. Colin has a heart to serve both country and community.
Elizabeth and Colin have one fun-loving daughter, Annistyn and they are both active members in our community. They do not miss an opportunity to give back to a community that has given them so much.
