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Women in Leadership Morning Meetups are designed to be easy, welcoming, and low pressure. Think open house style, come when you can, stay as long as you’d like, and don’t stress if you’re running late after school drop off or a meeting.
Women in Leadership is proudly sponsored by OneAZ Credit Union, whose support makes it possible for us to create spaces like this for women to connect, grow, and support one another.
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Join us for an evening mixer! Connect with fellow professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The premier networking event you won't want to miss!
| | Chamber prepares for TOV Candidate Forum | |
------The Oro Valley Chamber will be hosting a candidate forum on April 23rd at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene. The event is free and open to the public. In preparation for the event, we are asking that the public submit topics and questions that they would like discussed at the event. If you would like to contribute, please use this link. Submissions will close on the 17th.
------The event will run from 4:30-8:30 with a candidate meet and greet from 4:30-5:30. The forum will begin with candidates for three open council seats at 6 p.m. immediately followed by mayoral candidates. There are two mayoral candidates, current vice mayor Melanie Barrett and former Pima County sherriff Mark Napier. Current town council candidates are Rosa Dailey, Chris DeSimone, Jake Herrington, Rhonda Pina, and Matt Wood.
------The candidate forum will be available on a live stream for those unable to attend. The livestream will be posted to the Chamber's Youtube following the event.
------For questions or concerns, please contact Makenna.
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Art State Arizona earns legacy honor
By Dave Perry
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------Art State Arizona was born in Oro Valley.
------Its roots remain in the community.
------And, in its expanded statewide vision, “we carry Oro Valley with us,” Amanda Staples told the audience at your Chamber’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast.
------Your Chamber awarded Art State Arizona its Legacy Award, recognizing its multi-layered commitment to art, creativity, and engagement, “weaving culture into the fabric of Oro Valley and Southern Arizona for nearly 30 years,” Chamber President / CEO Kristen Sharp said.
------Staples, the artistic programs director for Art State Arizona, said the award is “so meaningful to us” because “our story is rooted right here.”
------In 1997, Oro Valley nonagenarian Dick Eggerding and the late Bob Weede had “a simple but bold idea” to put arts “at the center of everyday life,” Staples said.
------They helped form the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council.
------Over time, it grew into the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance.
------Then, in the last year, it expanded its vision to Art State Arizona.
------“Oro Valley has always been our proving ground,” Staples said. “This community not only supports the arts, but invites us into spaces where creativity can lead, in transportation corridors, in public art, in health care centers, business development, youth education, parks and recreation.”
------Oro Valley “believes in and supports the arts, and trusts artists to shape how the community, looks, feels and connects,” Staples said. The arts are “not an accessory in Oro Valley.” They are “part of the infrastructure of this town.”
------Oro Valley believes creativity “belongs everywhere.” Its leaders are willing to say “yes” to new ideas. And the community welcomes artists, residents and partners who “continue to show up and create something meaningful together,” she said.
------The community believes the arts “can strengthen every fabric of civic life.
------“And we’re just getting started,” Staples concluded.
------Jonathan Frahm, Amanda Staples, and Kevin Larkin were present to accept the award.
| | No More "Nigerian Prince" Emails, but the Threat is Real | |
------We’ve all seen it—the famous “Nigerian Prince” email promising millions of dollars. Most of us laugh and delete it.
------But today’s scams? They’re not so obvious.
------In fact, they’re getting very convincing. Recently, even our own Oro Valley Chamber CEO Kristen Sharp received a phishing email that looked to be a correspondence between a vendor and billing asking for payment and at first glance looked legitimate! That’s how far these attacks have come.
------While your IT provider can put strong security tools in place, the biggest risk is still human error. One click. One reply. One moment of distraction. That’s all it takes. In fact, phishing emails are responsible for over 90% of successful data breaches.
------So what can your business do?
------Start with awareness:
- Check the sender carefully. Names can look right—but email addresses often aren’t.
- Be cautious with requests. Unexpected payments or sensitive info? That’s a red flag.
- Avoid clicking links. When in doubt, go directly to the company’s website instead.
- Don’t open attachments unless you’re sure they’re safe.
- Verify unusual emails. A quick phone call can prevent a major problem.
------The good news? You and your employees can prevent these attacks.
------Simple cybersecurity training for your team—often just a few dollars per user each month—can stop these attacks before they start.
------Because in today’s world, it’s not just about having the right technology.
------It’s about having people who know what to look for.
| | OVCN hosts National Day of Prayer | |
------Pastor Genell from Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene invites you to join them for a National Day of Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 7:30 am. They will be serving a light breakfast and will be praying for our community leaders, business owners and first responders.
------Click Here to let them know that you will be able to attend. Please feel free to invite your team as well!
| | Workshop for Moms: Business Ownership & Real Life Lessons | |
------Chamber member Timeless Play is hosting a free, story-driven workshop for moms who are curious about business ownership or already running a business.
------How I Did It (and What I Learned Along the Way) will feature Timeless Play owner Rosalind Prather sharing her personal journey into entrepreneurship, along with honest insights on balancing motherhood and building a business.
------The workshop takes place on Wednesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at Timeless Play. Space is limited and RSVP is required.
------To reserve a spot, email play@timelessplay.com.
| | Sips & Suites: Discover your future at Sola Salons Oro Valley | |
------Are you a beauty or wellness professional looking to take the next step in your career? Join Sola Oro Valley for their Sips & Suites Open House on Sunday, April 19th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Located at 2040 E Tangerine Rd., this relaxed brunch event offers a firsthand look at what it’s like to run your own business in a private suite.
------Attendees can look forward to mimosas and brunch bites, guided studio tours, and a chance to win various raffle prizes. For those unable to attend on Sunday, a second open house is scheduled for Monday, April 20th, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Sola Tucson Central location (4262 N 1st Ave. Suite 130). To RSVP and enter the prize drawings visit solasalons.com.
| | Oro Valley Optimist hosts golf tournament | |
------The Oro Valley Optimist Club will host its annual Scramble for Youth Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 18 with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at El Conquistador Golf Course.
------This fundraiser supports a variety of local youth programs, including the Oro Valley Police Cadet program, Arizona Youth Partnership, Project Graduation, and more. A buffet-style lunch and raffle prizes are included.
------Registration is $175 for a single player or $700 for a foursome, with early bird pricing available through April 12.
------Learn more and register here!
| | Get creative with Tucson Museum of Art summer camp | |
------Summer is almost here and registration for Summer Art Camp at the Tucson Museum of Art is now open.
------Designed for kids ages 5–13, this hands-on camp invites young artists to explore their creativity through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, printmaking, and more. Each week, campers are guided by professional teaching artists while discovering inspiration in the museum’s galleries and historic campus.
------Weekly sessions run June 1 – July 31, with classes grouped by age so kids can learn, create, and make new friends in a fun and supportive environment.
------Whether your child loves art or is just beginning to explore their creativity, Art Camp is a great way to spend the summer making something amazing.
------Spots are limited, so families are encouraged to register early. Learn more and sign up here!
| | SCORE workshops are free, online and helpful | |
------Chamber member SCORE / Southern Arizona has a series of small business education workshops and webinars on its calendar.
------“How to Start and Run a Franchise Business that Works for You” is planned for Tuesday, March 24, at 1 p.m.
------“Implement AI in Your Business – From Overwhelm to Action” is Tuesday, March 31, at 1.
------“Bookkeeping Essentials Every Small Business Owner Needs” begins at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 2.
------“Event Marketing Playbook – Turn Event Traffic Into Sales” is Tuesday, April 7, at 1.
------SCORE workshops are free, and online. To register, go to score.org/business-education.
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The Senior Services Collaborative Monthly Meeting is a gathering that brings together local organizations and service providers to share resources, discuss challenges, and collaborate on innovative solutions. Each meeting typically features guest speakers presenting on relevant topics and open discussions aimed at fostering partnerships and improving access to services for seniors. It's a great opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and collectively work towards creating a more supportive environment for each other and our senior clients.
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Join local non‑profit leaders and community partners for our monthly Chamber of Commerce Non‑Profit Collaborative. We meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 8:30 AM, with hosting locations rotating among participating non‑profit organizations. Each gathering features a guest speaker presenting on a topic relevant to the non‑profit sector, along with plenty of time for meaningful networking, resource sharing, and collaboration. It's an energizing way to stay connected, learn from peers, and strengthen our community impact.
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The OV Chamber is hosting a candidate forum for Oro Valley's upcoming election. There will be a candidate meet and greet from 4:30-5:30. The event is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream option is available. It will be uploaded to the Chamber's Youtube account following the event.
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The Senior Services Collaborative Monthly Meeting is a gathering that brings together local organizations and service providers to share resources, discuss challenges, and collaborate on innovative solutions. Each meeting typically features guest speakers presenting on relevant topics and open discussions aimed at fostering partnerships and improving access to services for seniors. It's a great opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and collectively work towards creating a more supportive environment for each other and our senior clients.
| | Enjoy these ads. Click on them for more! | | Interested in High-Level Membership? Email Leah for more information! | | |
Executive Committee
Chair: Susan Swan, Swan Pilates
Vice Chair: Zoe Burcham, Kinghorn Law | Financial
Secretary: Mary Schulz, Schulz Financial Group
Treasurer: Bruce Barnett, Pima Federal Credit Union
Board Members
Cody Barnhart, Oro Valley Hospital
Lisa Bayless, The Lisa Bayless Team at Long Realty
Lydia Camarillo, Golder Ranch Fire District
Casey Carrillo, University of Arizona Center for Innovation
Shelby Francom, El Conquistador Tucson A Hilton Resort
Renee McCuistion, America First Credit Union
Lee-Anne Palin, Southwest Solutions
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
Member & Operations Coordinator
Shelley Fitzgerald
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