Did you miss out on attending our Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast? Enjoy this recap video created by Chamber member Regal Fierce Media! To watch the full program click here. | | |
Join us for a comprehensive senior expo designed to empower you and your loved ones with valuable information and resources! This free event offers a one-stop shop for exploring essential aspects of senior living, featuring expert advice and practical solutions.
Talk with experts concerning
- Elder Law: Understand your rights, protect your assets, and navigate legal complexities with expert guidance.
- Financial Planning: Secure your and your family's future with personalized financial strategies and retirement planning advice.
- Advanced Directives: Make informed decisions about your healthcare and ensure your wishes are respected.
- Care Givers: Access support, resources, and strategies for navigating caregiving challenges with compassion and confidence.
- Health & Wellness: Discover valuable health information and resources, learn about healthy aging, and explore options for maintaining your well-being.
- And Much More!
Free and open to the public!
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Join us for this month’s second mixer at Tohono Chul’s Garden Bistro as they celebrate 40 years of connecting people with nature, art, and culture! Enjoy a beautiful evening with live music, handcrafted charcuterie boards, and a great selection of drinks—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic—while networking with fellow chamber members in a stunning garden setting. Don’t forget to bring a door prize—Tohono Chul will be giving away memberships, and it’s a great chance to showcase your own business with some fun giveaways. We look forward to seeing you there!
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County buying ranch on edge of OV, state park
By Dave Perry
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------For $6 million, Pima County is purchasing Kelly Ranch, a 109.7-acre piece of environmentally sensitive land sandwiched between Oracle Road and Catalina State Park on Oro Valley’s eastern boundary.
------On April 1, county supervisors voted 4-1 to approve the transaction, first contemplated more than 20 years ago. Pima County “intends to conserve the ranch and eventually deed it to the state park,” it said in a release.
------Kelly Ranch sits along and east of Oracle Road, bordered by the 5,525-acre state park on three sides. Tangerine Road’s eastern terminus at Oracle Road is directly across the state highway from the land. The property includes a home and guest house designed by the famed Southwest architect Josiah Joesler.
------Pima County’s desire to protect Kelly Ranch from development dates back to its involvement in the multiagency effort to acquire Romero Ranch and turn it into Catalina State Park in the 1970s.
------“The county and owner were unable to reach agreement” on the sale of Kelly Ranch, the county said. “Finally, 21 years later, the owner and county have reached agreement.”
------Over the years, Kelly Ranch owners have entertained offers to develop it. Proposals for offices, a hotel, a resort, a golf course, and a shopping center have been proffered. None have progressed.
------“Strong public reaction rebuffed those efforts in the county and in the town of Oro Valley,” the county said.
------“The county never gave up trying to deliver on that desire” to protect Kelly Ranch, said Board of Supervisors Chair Rex Scott, who represents District 1, home to the ranch. “The Kelly Ranch acquisition continues our legacy of environmental preservation and stewardship.”
------Oro Valley has also searched for ways to preserve the property, and town officials support the county’s effort to acquire the property for the park, the county said.
------“Oro Valley is proud to serve as the gateway to Catalina State Park,” said Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield. “And I am honored to represent a community that places high value on the preservation of outdoor public spaces. Pima County’s purchase and donation of this additional acreage ensures the preservation of open space, and the expansion of a beloved state park.”
------Including closing costs and interest payments, Pima County expects a total price of $6.255 million for Kelly Ranch.
------It is beginning with a $2 million downpayment. The acquisition agreement is structured “to enable the county to make an initial payment, followed by two additional payments over the next two years,” according to the county.
------The Pima County Parklands Foundation, a non-profit that supports county parks, has set up a donation fund specifically for Kelly Ranch. Its website is pimaparklands.org, the phone 520-317-2260, the email info@pimaparklands.org
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Architecture for apartments at Marketplace is approved
By Dave Perry
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------Architecture has been approved for a 320-unit apartment community in Oro Valley Marketplace.
------HSL Encantada at Oro Valley Marketplace would be constructed immediately south of Tangerine Road across from Oro Valley Hospital. It is planned for both sides of Water Harvest Way, the southbound entrance to the Marketplace from Tangerine.
------HSL Properties plans to build 14 apartment buildings, a clubhouse, and a maintenance building. Three 3-story buildings would be built east of Water Harvest Way, with 11 apartment buildings, a maintenance building, and a clubhouse with pool to the west of the roadway.
------Both of the 2-story apartment buildings would sit closest to Tangerine Road on the project’s largest, westernmost section. That parcel was scraped to dirt when the Marketplace was built in 2008-‘09.
------The project would displace paved parking spaces east of Water Harvest Way, closest to the active commercial building housing several Chamber members within the shopping center.
------Encantada at Oro Valley Marketplace is similar in design to HSL’s Encantada at Steam Pump Village, with contemporary desert styles and a desert-inspired color palette. Its architecture received unanimous 6-0 votes from the town’s planning and zoning commission on April 1, and the town council on April 16.
------There is no identified timetable for the start of construction.
| | OVPD hosts 'dispose-a-med' Saturday, April 26 | | |
------The Oro Valley Police Department hosts the community’s next “dispose-a-med” event on Saturday, April 26, at its main station.
------Residents can safely discard expired and unneeded prescription drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
------Only pills can be disposed; no liquids, creams, aerosols or sharps, an invitation said. “Please leave medications in their original containers,” it added.
------Dispose-a-med is free.
------The station is located at 11000 N. La Canada Drive, on the Oro Valley Town Campus.
| | Paranormal society checking out Pusch House on May 17 | | |
------The Tucson Paranormal Society has asked the Oro Valley Historical Society to participate in an “investigation” of the Pusch House at historic Steam Pump Ranch.
------“Don't freak out!” OVHS secretary Devon Sloan said. “A paranormal investigation is a process that aims to uncover evidence of paranormal activity which may involve ghosts, spirits, or other supernatural forces.”
------The event is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
------The historical society is seeking people “who lived or worked on the property, knew someone who lived or worked on the property, was related to someone who lived or worked on the property, or has made discoveries of any unusual events that occurred on the property,” Sloan said.
------Contact her at devonsloan@comcast.net
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Vantage West celebrating 70 years of helping people
By Dave Perry
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------Vantage West Credit Union is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
------The Chamber Silver member, and presenting sponsor at your Chamber’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast, started in a 1-room barracks at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.
------Today, Vantage West is one of Arizona’s largest credit unions, serving nearly 200,000 individuals and businesses.
------“Even with that tremendous growth, our mission remains the same -- to help our members achieve financial success,” President / CEO Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott told the audience April 10 at Platinum member El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.
------“To us, it’s about more than dollars and cents — it’s about creating opportunities, removing barriers, and ensuring that that our members are empowered with the tools and financial education they need to achieve their own dreams,” Sagehorn-Elliott said.
------Vantage West believes “strong communities are built through meaningful partnerships,” Sagehorn-Elliott said. For 70 years, Vantage West has been committed “to helping individuals and businesses achieve success.”
------She praised the Chamber for its “continued dedication to and support of local businesses and nonprofits.” Sagehorn-Elliott also lauded guests and businesses; “your passion and hard work are what make Oro Valley such a wonderful place to live, work, and do business.”
------“Since we are here to celebrate the achievements of today’s award winners and this incredible community, I’d like to recognize the innovation and hard work that make Oro Valley a thriving and connected community where people and businesses can succeed together,” Sagehorn-Elliott said.
| | Tohono Chul searching for new board members | | |
------Tohono Chul is currently seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join their Board of Directors. If you believe in the power of nature, culture, and community, they invite you to consider applying.
------Mission:
------The mission of Tohono Chul is to create a community oasis where reverence for the cultural and natural ecology of the Sonoran Desert region inspires responsible stewardship so that future generations may thrive.
------Vision:
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An immersive environment — celebrating the wonders of the Sonoran Desert
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A commons — integral to the community, meaningfully engaging with the diverse histories and cultures of the region
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An ecological leader — championing actionable, nature-based solutions to the core environmental challenges facing arid lands
------As a board member, you'll contribute to the strategic direction of the organization, support fundraising, educational efforts, and help uphold the mission and values.
------Outside of organizational events, training, retreats, and committee meetings, the board meets four times a year (Jan, April, June, October) on the third Tuesday of the month in person from 4pm-6pm.
------The deadline to apply is May 31st, 2025.
------To learn more about the board role and how to apply, please visit their website: https://tohonochul.org/board-application/
------Tohono Chul is excited to welcome new leaders who will help carry forward their legacy and growth. Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a lasting impact.
| | Oro Valley Optimists' Scramble for Youth on Saturday May 3rd | | |
------The Oro Valley Optimist Club presents its annual Scramble for Youth golf event on Saturday, May 3 at the Golf Club at Dove Mountain, with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
------It is seeking sponsors and golfers for the event, which generates funds for youth-oriented charitable giving.
------To play, it’s $175 per person, or $700 for a foursome. Go to orovalleyoptimist.com.
------Event sponsors are Chamber members the Lisa Bayless Team at Long Realty and Klipper Automotive.
| | Summer hours resume at Oro Valley farmers market | | |
------Summer hours resume this Saturday, April 19, at the Heirloom Farmers Market, held each Saturday at historic Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley.
------Those hours are 8 a.m.-noon. They apply to Heirloom’s other farmers markets – Fridays at Udall Park on Tanque Verde, Saturdays in Oro Valley and the Rincon Valley, and Sundays at Rillito Park in Tucson. Summer hours in Green Valley start May 7.
------The Oro Valley Farmers Market is now open beneath its new shade structure, complete with concrete walkway. Steam Pump is located at 10901 N. Oracle.
| | Speakers at Parks Store have been everywhere | | |
------Two Arizona residents who have visited all 432 National Park Service units in the U.S. are speaking at The National Parks Store in Oro Valley at noon Saturday, May 3.
------Kathleen and Darryl Toupkin went to every state and inhabited U.S. territory. The explorers “will discuss their travels, talk about the National Park System, highlight some of their favorite destinations, and introduce you to some of Western National Parks Association’s partner parks,” an invitation said.
------“Bring your questions so they can help you with your national park adventures!” it continued.
------Pre-registration is required, and space is limited.
------To sign up, click here.
| | Baca, Coldwell Banker hosting free shred event in OV May 3 | | |
------Chamber member Bruce Baca and Coldwell Banker Realty are hosting a “post-tax time shred party” on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the real estate company’s La Canada office in Oro Valley.
------“It’s a great time of year to clear out clutter – including old documents you no longer need,” said Baca, an Oro Valley-based real estate agent.
------It is a “free, secure shred event. Stop by to say hello and take advantage of this hassle-free way to dispose of your paperwork safely,” the invitation said.
------The Coldwell Banker office is located at 11165 N. La Canada, Suite 175, Oro Valley, 85737. It’s on the southwest corner of La Canada and Naranja.
| | PCC cuts hospitality center ribbon on Friday, April 25 | | |
------Chamber Copper member Pima Community College is celebrating its new Hospitality Leadership Center of Excellence with a ribbon-cutting at 3 p.m. Friday, April 25.
------All are welcome at the Desert Vista Campus, 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz.
------Students in Pima’s hospitality leadership program can earn an associate’s of applied science degree. They can “learn the fundamental principles of hotel and restaurant management, combined with culinary arts, while completing lower-division required courses for a bachelor's degree in hospitality management,” a description said.
------The Center of Excellence includes a full-service, community-welcome restaurant / bistro, state-of-the-art simulation hotel suites and front desk operations learning labs, as well as three commercial kitchens, and a recommissioned grill.
------Hospitality is “a critical element of metro Tucson’s creative economy, accounting for 40,000 jobs and $2.8 billion in revenue for metro Tucson,” the college said.
------The Desert Vista Campus is located just west of I-19 between Drexel and Valencia roads.
| | Springboard Gala April 25; provides aid for teen girls | | |
------For the third year, Chamber member Teen Challenge Arizona hosts the Springboard Gala, a “story of hope” on Friday, April 25.
------The event is a benefit for Springboard, one of Teen Challenge’s programs. Springboard’s mission is to help young ladies between the ages of 12 and 17 become mentally stable, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.
------Attire is “Tucson formal” for the gala, which is being held at New Life Bible Fellowship, 4900 West Cortaro Farms, Tucson, 85742. The doors open at 6, with dinner and a program at 7. Guests can listen to a panel discussion, “How the Gospel Informs the Healing of Trauma.”
------To get tickets, go to springboardhome.com, or call 520-448-4363.
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------What does Oracle Road have to do with a sailing ship? Just two more weeks to find out at the Oro Valley Historical Society’s exhibit – Oracle Road/Historic Route 80/Oro Valley’s Main Street. Visit the Pusch House Museum at historic Steam Pump Ranch for the full story. The Museum is open from 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, April 19, and the exhibit will be available until April 26. Tours of the Museum are free and self-guided, with donations gladly accepted. Docents will be available to provide additional information and answer any questions. Visit the Heirloom Farmer’s Market and then visit the Museum to see how they keep Oro Valley history alive!
------An extra attraction on April 19 – take a walk around Steam Pump Ranch with volunteer Paul Canez, outdoor adventure guide at Miraval, to learn more about the history, and the flora and fauna of this historic property. Meet at the entrance to the Pusch House Museum. Tours are an hour long, with the first tour beginning at 9:15 and the second tour beginning at 10:30. For your comfort, bring a hat, water, and closed-toed shoes to learn more about this Ranch and its inhabitants.
------The Museum is located at the historic Steam Pump Ranch at 10901 North Oracle Road.
| | Ride a horse, or a wagon, at Westward Look April 18-20 | | |
------“Springfest” comes to Trails End at Chamber member the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa next weekend, April 18-20.
------The Catalina Riding Club puts on the event, from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 245 East Ina in Oro Valley.
------Horseback rides for all ages, a horse-drawn wagon with rides, a farm petting zoo, live music, vendors, food trucks, lawn games and “bouncies” await guests.
------It’s “fun for all ages,” an invitation said.
------Tickets are $35 in advance, and $40 at the door.
------The Catalina Riding Club practices and teaches natural horsemanship riding, resulting in satisfied guests and “happier horses,” the invite said. Trails End is booking morning and sunset rides, as well as lessons. The website is catalinariding.net.
| | SCORE's 'The Business Lab' learning day is Friday, May 2 | | |
------Business people are invited to dive in for a day of learning Friday, May 2, when SCORE Southern Arizona presents “The Business Lab: Connect, Learn, Succeed.”
------The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day at the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, 5049 E. Broadway, Suite 201, Tucson. Seats are limited; they’re priced at $50 each. Click here.
------The “dynamic one-day event is crafted to inspire, educate, and connect local small business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals through three hands-on, expert-led workshops and a Lunch & Learn session,” an invitation said.
------Diana Charbonneau, corporate learning facilitator at Tucson Electric Power, leads “Telling Your Story: Crafting an Elevator Speech that Will Resonate.”
------Patricia Raines, membership chair at SCORE, offers “Simplify to Amplify: How Decluttering Unlocks Productivity and Focus.”
------Wanda Baader, SCORE marketing chair and owner of Strategize Your Success, presents “AI Meets Social Media: Your Shortcut to Monthly Content.”
------SCORE is selling sponsorships for The Business Lab. First Interstate Bank is a sponsor. Others may contact SCORE chapter chair Valerie Pullara at Valerie.pullara@scorevolunteer.org.
------“Whether you’re focused on outreach, community engagement, or making a direct impact, this is a powerful and affordable way to get involved,” she said. “Join us to connect, learn, and help Southern Arizona small businesses thrive!”
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Dive into a world of knowledge and growth at our Wisdom Wednesdays! This Wisdom Wednesday will focus on influencer marketing. What is it? Should your business utilize it? Where to start? All this and more in the workshop! We'll see you there!
| | Join us to celebrate Sol Dog Lodge's grand opening and ribbon cutting of their brand new facility! This is a joint event with the Marana Chamber, so you won't want to miss out. Al Gusto coffee will start serving at the site at 8:30 a.m. and the ribbon will fly at 9:30 a.m. See you there! | | |
Get ready for our May evening mixer! Integrative Touch will be providing yummy treats and offering complimentary massage and acupuncture mini sessions. Come unwind, mingle, and build lasting connections at our upcoming evening mixer – the premier networking event you won't want to miss!
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Join us for New Member Orientation, our quarterly Chamber gathering and refresher hosted by Gold member the El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort. It’s FREE!
We do limit attendance to 25. Come, learn about the Chamber, refresh your membership, meet some people, and enjoy complimentary coffee and breakfast bites courtesy of the El Conquistador Tucson.
| | Interested in High-Level Membership? Email Leah for more information! | | |
Executive Committee
Chair: Ron Arenas, Picture Rocks Cooling, Heating & Plumbing
Vice Chair: Susan Swan, Swan Pilates
Secretary: Zoe Burcham, Kinghorn Law | Financial
Treasurer: Mary Schulz, Schulz Financial Group
Board Members
Bruce Barnett, Pima Federal Credit Union
Cody Barnhart, Oro Valley Hospital
Lisa Bayless, The Lisa Bayless Team at Long Realty
Lydia Camarillo, Golder Ranch Fire District
Shelby Francom, El Conquistador Tucson A Hilton Resort
Renee McCuistion, America First Credit Union
Maria Parham, Splendido at Rancho Vistoso
Don Pearson, Roche Tissue Diagnostics
James Piper, Piper Family Painting
Rick Price, The Views Golf
Emma Reyes, Republic Services
Brian Stewart, Pima Community College
Ex-Officio: Paul Melcher, Town of Oro Valley
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President & CEO
Kristen Sharp
Business Development Director
Leah Bahan
Events and Communications Director
Makenna Markley
Member Engagement Director
Joni Bates
Operations Director
Leah Noreng
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