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.
