Get your SOTT expo booth! |
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To date, 52 booths are spoken for at the 2021 Oro Valley State of the Town Address, Luncheon and Business Expo, planned for Thursday, Oct. 28. Would you like a booth? We'd love to have you, but hurry! Sponsorships and expo booths are almost sold out! Email Dave, Shari or Kristen for more information on sponsorships. Want an expo booth? Click here to download the registration form. Fill it out and send it back to Kristen. Booths will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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This Week's
Update
Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
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All Seasons marks
1 year, 4-6 Friday
If you’re reading this before 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, stop by Chamber member All Seasons Oro Valley for its 1-year anniversary celebration and belated but joyous ribbon-cutting.
The celebration runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, and your Chamber is cutting the ribbon at 4:15. There will be live music, food and drinks. And it’s all free.
All Seasons Oro Valley is located at 1734 E. Innovation Park Drive, just north of Tangerine and east of Oro Valley Hospital.
All are welcome. Please join us!
PCC hosting
free vaccine
clinic at NW
Campus 9/30
Chamber Copper member Pima Community College hosts a free, no-appointment COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Northwest Campus this Thursday, Sept. 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It is open to the public. Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccine is available.
PCC is partnering with the Pima County Health Department to offer free vaccination clinics at each of the 5 college campuses. A series of clinics for second shots will be announced.
The Northwest Campus is located at 7600 N. Shannon, Tucson, Az., 85709. It’s immediately south of the Northwest YMCA, a Chamber member.
GOLD now open,
gift shop Oct. 1
at Westward Look
GOLD has reopened for dinner at Chamber member the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa.
Chef Todd Sicolo is featuring a rotating menu based on regionally selected items each Wednesday through Sunday evening from 5 to 9 p.m.
Of further note, the Westward Look’s gift shop is reopening next Friday, Oct. 1. “The shop will be under the management of the Tucson Botanical Garden Gift Shop personnel, and if you’ve ever been, you know what a fabulous shop it is!” said Mary Beth Seamands, director of sales and marketing at the Westward Look. “Please stop by to check out the locally and regionally sourced items that will be available at the shop.”
The Westward Look, newly annexed into the Town of Oro Valley, is located at 245 E. Ina, Oro Valley, Az., 85704. The website is here.
Amphi Foundation
‘Bowl-a-Thon’ is
Wednesday, 9/29
Chamber member the Amphi Foundation is back with its annual Bowl-a-Thon, resuming for the 19th year.
The event is next Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Fiesta Lanes, River and Oracle in Tucson. Check-in time is at 2:30.
The Bowl-a-Thon is an afternoon of team building and fun for Amphi educators and staff. Sponsorships are available. All funds directly impact Amphi students and teachers through classroom grants.
To become a sponsor, or to donate, call 520-696-5147, or go to this website.
Pusch Ridge 9
recruits friends
Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf are recruiting supporters as the Town of Oro Valley prepares to reopen the 9-hole course around El Conquistador Tucson this fall.
An invitation to join says its members can “show your support for the continued economic vitality of Oro Valley.” It’s free to join.
“When you become a Friend of Pusch Ridge Golf, you are acknowledging the value tourism plays in making Oro Valley a very special place to live,” it continued. With the annexation of the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Oro Valley now has more than 1,000 quality hotel rooms for guests. “The Pusch Ridge Golf Course, when fully restored and promoted, will contribute to attracting groups and visitors to our town, thereby contributing to a clean and healthy economic activity.”
Tee it up for
T4t on Nov. 6
Newly renewed Chamber member Treasures 4 Teachers presents its 4th annual golf fund-raiser, Tee Up 4 Teachers, on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Omni Tucson National Resort.
Sign up to play before Oct. 1, and get the early-bird special at $125 per player. It’s $150 after Oct. 1. All teachers, military and first responders get the early-bird rate.
You can be a sponsor, too. Contact Adrienne Ledford here, or go to T4Teachers.org. The mailing address is T4T of Tucson, Box 91144, Tucson, 85752.
Treasures 4 Teachers of Tucson provides educators with hands-on interactive learning materials for use in their classrooms through donated and re-purposed items.
It’s time for
BBB Torch
nominations
Chamber member The Better Business Bureau is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Torch Awards.
The Torch Awards focus on celebrating and honoring companies demonstrate best practices, leadership, social responsibility and high standards of organizational ethics that benefit their customers, employees, shareholders and communities.
There are 3 categories – for-profit ethics, non-profit ethics, and the Spark Award for millennial-owned businesses.
For information, visit here.
Noble, Daigle promoted at Catalina Springs
Hope Noble has been promoted within Frontier Management, owner of Chamber member Catalina Springs Memory Care.
Hope, a longtime Chamber supporter, is now the company’s regional sales specialist for the Southwest. She’ll continue to support Catalina Springs and its team.
The company has promoted from within, naming Joe Daigle as the new marketing manager for the Oro Valley business. Joe was previously the business office manager.
“Joe has the best understanding of the community and its residents; he also has a strong background in sales and marketing, which I believe will lead to the continued success of Catalina Springs,” Noble said.
Catalina Springs Memory Care is located at 9685 N. Oracle, Oro Valley, Az., 85704. The website is here.
OneAZ has
special rates
OneAZ Credit Union is advertising special rates on new and used auto loans, credit cards and home equity lines of credit.
The Chamber Silver member is making 48-month new auto loans at a 1.74 percent interest rate. Used auto loans start at 1.99 percent, as do new credit card rates.
Home equity lines of credit can be secured at an interest rate of 2.79 percent.
OneAZ is located at First and Oracle in Oro Valley. Stop by, or go to oneazcu.com.
Oro Valley Dental
Group has offers
New Chamber member Oro Valley Dental Group offers and encourages free consultations.
The locally owned and operated dentistry has a $99 new patient special, to include a full exam, Xrays and a regular cleaning. Implants start at $3,500 in an offer that ends Oct. 31.
Oro Valley Dental Group is located at 10425 N. Oracle, Suite 125, Oro Valley. It’s the corner of Pusch View Lane and Oracle Road. Call 520-297-2227.
SAHBA Home
Show 10/29-31
The SAHBA Home & Garden Show is on the calendar for Oct. 29-31 at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church in Tucson.
Billed as “The Best Home Show Ever Built,” parking is free. Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. that Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
For information, call 520-795-3025, or click here.
BBBS presents
Big Luau 10/9
Don’t miss the Big Luau gala dinner and auction to benefit Chamber member Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona.
The event is Saturday, Oct. 9, at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
There will be tropical drinks, a kiva patio, an online silent auction, dinner, entertainment by La Flamma, hula, fire dancers and more.
Tickets are on sale now; visit soazbigs.org, or call 520-624-2447, extension 119.
Chamber seeks
proposals to run
its social media
Your Chamber is seeking proposals from qualified Chamber members to manage its social media.
We are asking someone to assume responsibility for our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linked In presences, to include regularly scheduled postings that inform our members and community alike. We’d also like suggestions and ideas on how to best promote the Chamber and its members.
We ask for quotes built on a per-month basis, broken out so we can best fit our activity to a budget.
Please submit proposals by Sept. 30 to Dave.
Daily Star has
employment
special ads
Chamber Platinum member The Arizona Daily Star / tucson.com is creating new ways to help businesses fill open positions.
On Sunday, Sept. 26, and again Sunday, Oct. 3, businesses can secure help-wanted advertising at special rates.
The Tucson JobFinder, with Super Sunday employment ads, includes both print and digital components. Each ad package includes a value-added presence in the following Wednesday’s publications.
Deadlines are approaching. Call Denise Tellez at 520-820-2336, or go to tucson.com.
Roadrunners offer
deals to members
for 5 contests
Chamber Copper member the Tucson Roadrunners Hockey Club is offering Chamber members discounted seats to 5 games throughout the season.
The discounts are available Sunday, Oct. 24; Friday, Dec. 31; Monday, Feb. 21; Saturday, March 19; and Friday, April 15.
These tickets start at $17 for all Chamber members and their families. The link to purchase tickets is here: Roadrunners hockey!
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Your Chamber's Annual Report is out in hard copy, and exists digitally. Click on the image above to
read all about it!
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Upcoming free
ACA boot camps
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Building Small Business Value – Strategies for a Successful Sale or Succession of Your Small Business, Thursday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m. Register here.
Packaged for Success: Cybersecurity tips and tricks, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m. Register here.
The Workforce Employers Want, Thursday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. Register here.
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Business Development Director
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Our Board
of Directors
Chair
Nancy Boyle
Splendido at Rancho Vistoso
Vice Chair
Anne-Marie Braswell
Golder Ranch Fire District
Treasurer
Eric Renaud
Pima Federal Credit Union
Secretary / Clerk
Dinny Cosyns
NorthStar Strategies
Members
Veronica Apodaca
Northwest Healthcare
Ron Arenas
Picture Rocks Cooling,
Heating and Plumbing
Susan Swan
Swan Pilates
Lisa Bayless
Long Realty
Lila Chapman
Sierra Tucson
Mark Davis
Canyon Community Bank
Dan Wesson
The Post Workspaces
Tom Hebner
Roche Tissue Diagnostics
Robert Ramirez
Robert Ramirez CPA
Otton Suarez
El Conquistador Tucson,
A Hilton Resort
Jack Talmage
Oro Valley Country Club
Jeremy Thompson
Cox
Paul Tees
Commerce Bank of Arizona
Ex-officio
Paul Melcher
Town of Oro Valley
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Lisa Bayless gives
$25K for robotics at
5 elementary schools
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Northwest side Realtor Lisa Bayless has donated $25,000 through the STEMAZing Project at the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office to bring the STEMAZing / SARSEF Elementary Edison Robotics Pilot to life in 4th- and 5th-grade classrooms across three school districts, Amphitheater, Marana and Tucson Unified.
The pilot program will empower teachers with more than 500 Edison robots, classroom sets of robot books, and supporting supplies along with two full days of professional development.
Participating teachers are working together with Sherrie Dennis, SARSEF manager of STEM Curriculum and Instruction, and DaNel Hogan, director of The STEMAZing Project, to integrate robotics, computer programming, and engineering across subject areas from language arts to social studies, math, and everything in between.
Twenty teachers at 5 elementary schools – Copper Creek, Donaldson, Harelson, Innovation Academy, Dove Mountain CSTEM K8 and Oyama Elementary – are involved.
“Everyone is really excited about this because it will teach kids to program robots and encourage diverse students / teachers to work together towards a shared goal,” she said.
Lisa, a member of your Chamber board, is making the investment as part of her Community First Program. She established the Community First Program 5 years ago to invest in the communities where she sells homes. Her goal is to make “thoughtful, meaningful investments to enhance the people’s lives that live in those communities,” she said. In the past 5 years, Lisa has invested more than $250,000 in those communities, emphasizing safety, education, and entertainment.
Lisa is affiliated with Long Realty at its Oro Valley office. She’s also the presenting sponsor for the 2021 Oro Valley State of the Town Address, Luncheon and Business Expo on Thursday, Oct. 28. Her website is www.lisabayless.com.
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Northwest's new CEO
thanks its employees
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On June 1, Brian Sinotte became the new Market CEO for Northwest Healthcare, leading the strategic growth and development efforts for the company, its 3 hospitals, physicians’ group, 2 free-standing emergency departments and urgent care locations.
He succeeds Kevin Stockton, who has taken on a larger role within the company.
In a release, Stockton said Brian is “a dynamic leader with a strong commitment to serving the community.” “Our healthcare system – and our community – will greatly benefit from Brian’s experience.”
Sinotte comes from University of Chicago Medicine. He has 15 years of experience leading hospitals in Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana and Illinois.
He is a graduate of St. John’s University in Minnesota, and holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Recently, Brian wrote an op-ed offering insights into Northwest Healthcare's past year and the medical care it provided to more than 800,000 patients.
"Each and every employee in our system has played a role in keeping our community healthy, and in caring for those who do become sick. I am incredibly proud of the work they do, but I am also proud of our healthcare system as a whole." Click here to read the full editorial.
Northwest Healthcare is a Silver-lever corporate member of your Chamber. You can view its website here.
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Sam Levitz, Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield and Amber Levitz handled the scissors on Sept. 16, when the orange ribbon flew at the new Ashley store in Oro Valley Marketplace.
Photo by Kristen Sharp
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Before a large audience Sept. 16, Sam Levitz and his family cut the ribbon at Ashley, the gleaming new home furnishings store that opened its doors in Oro Valley Marketplace.
“This is a big deal for our town,” Mayor Joe Winfield told the assembled audience. While the Marketplace has lost Big Lots, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Cost Plus World Market in recent years, the Ashley investment is a positive development. Town West’s Jim Horvath and his staff “are turning things around” in the “wonderful, wonderful complex,” the mayor said.
“This is a win, a win for all of us. Welcome to Oro Valley.”
Levitz thanked many, to include his daughter Amber, a company vice president, and the entire staff.
It’s taken 2-1/2 years from Levitz’ initial commitment to getting the doors open in Oro Valley. COVID-19 created delays. “A lot of things didn’t work the way there were supposed to,” Levitz said. “We stuck with it. We appreciate all the Oro Valley help.”
Ashley sent officials from across the West to the event.
During its grand opening celebration, Ashley plans to give away a new car. The store is located at 11935 N. Oracle, in the former Dick’s Sporting Goods location at the Marketplace.
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Cindy Hanson, branch manager at OneAZ Credit Union in Oro Valley, introduced Thursday night's program about fraud to guests at your Chamber's customer development event. Melissa Plascencia, risk investigator for OneAZ, was on the big screen from Phoenix. |
Financial fraud is
rampant; ‘be wary,’
OneAZ guests told
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Financial fraud attempts are rampant, guests learned Thursday at your Chamber’s customer development event.
Oro Valley Police Department Sgt. Marshall Morris said that, so far in 2021, Arizona had some 14,000 documented fraud victims who lost more than $100 million.
Tellers and bankers at OneAZ Credit Union, which hosted our mixer at its lovely First and Oracle location, encounter attempts to defraud their customers almost every day.
One local couple stood before the audience of 50 Thursday and told their story. They lost $60,000 to “very sophisticated” criminals who convinced them to transfer money, and portrayed the credit union as the threat.
That’s not true, of course.
Melissa Plascencia, risk investigator for OneAZ Credit Union, said the company’s tellers and bankers “are pretty proactive, and catch these things. Don’t be offended by their questions. They’re trying to protect you.”
Melissa warned guests about any phone calls, emails or text messages purported to be from the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. “Social Security will never give you a call,” she said, nor will other government agencies.
Be wary of refund scams, where the individual offers a refund from a major retailer, or a virus protection service. “They’ll transfer money and ask you to send money back to them,” she said. Don’t do it.
There’s been a swelling of scammers taking advantage of the pandemic, and of unemployment benefits claims. “These fraudsters are getting smarter and smarter,” she said. “Please be extremely cautious.”
Never give anyone your full Social Security number. Legitimate companies may ask for the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and that should suffice.
Don’t share any personal information; that’s how scammers take over access to your accounts.
Sgt. Morris said Oro Valley is a safe community, which can mean “everyone’s very trusting.” Be wary. Scammers prey on lonely people, and they call every day in some instances. “They’ll put you under stress,” and demand you do things “right now. It’s a scam, 100 percent.”
Many cases of fraud go unreported, because people are embarrassed, Morris said. Fraud is big business, rivaling illegal drug smuggling.
“If it doesn’t sound right, if it doesn’t feel right, start asking questions,” he said.
“Do you ever catch these people?” Dinny Cosyns of NorthStar Strategies asked.
“Yes, we do, but we don’t always get the money back,” Morris replied. Once the money is out of the country, it’s gone. “The sooner you report it,” the better your chance of recovery, he added.
OneAZ Credit Union shared information to raise awareness of fraud and scam. To learn more about its security practices, click here.
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TSO requires vaccination
proof, masks for its season
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As it resumes live concerts this month, Chamber member the Tucson Symphony Orchestra is making the safety of its audience, musicians, staff and fellow residents of Southern Arizona a top priority.
Beginning with the opening concert at Tucson Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 24, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of the performance, supported by valid photo identification, will be required of all audience members, a release said. Audience members will also be required to wear a mask throughout the performance.
TSO encourages its audience to upload a photo of their vaccine card or use an app to store it on their phone.
TSO requires all musicians, staff, contractors and ushers to be fully vaccinated as well. These measures represent a baseline for health and safety for everyone connected to TSO. TSO management, in consultation with its stakeholders, will continue to refine, improve and update these protocols.
Call the TSO box office at 520-882-8585 for more information.
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The Cure the Summertime Blues shop local campaign hit the small screen --
We continue to give away $50 gift cards purchased at OV businesses! This week, our shopovaz.com winners are Heidi Fisher, Alicia Speer, Jayson Carver and Yukari Minemura. Congratulations! We only have 1 week left! Make sure you go to shopovaz.com to enter!
You can win, too!
Go to shopovaz.com and enter your email address once a week!
Your Chamber is purchasing more than $6,000 in gift cards from local merchants to give away to the general public. Don't miss out!
Remember to #thinkOVfirst and shop local.
Coming up this Wednesday, Sept. 29 -- Coffee Day!
Special thanks to our Cure for the Summertime Blues donors ...
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Interested in becoming a Corporate Member? Email Shari for more information!
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Friday, Sept. 24, 4-6 p.m. – 1 year celebration and ribbon cutting at All Seasons Oro Valley, 1734 E. Innovation Park Dr. Come and enjoy live music, food and drinks! We'll cut the ribbon at 4:15 p.m. Free and all are welcome!
Tuesday, Oct. 5 – A ribbon cutting at American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, open house 9-10:30 a.m., we'll cut the ribbon at 9:30 a.m. 7354 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Thursday, Oct. 7 – A ribbon cutting at Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade, 4 p.m., 7705 N. Oracle Rd., #133.
Thursday, Oct. 14 – Customer development event (a mixer) at Pima Federal Credit Union, 5-7 p.m. 6850 N. Oracle Rd. Buy your ticket here!
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Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce
p: 520.297.2191
7435 N. Oracle Road, #107, Oro Valley, AZ 85704
Our Mission
Maximizing Greater Oro Valley's unmatched assets.
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