Southern Arizona Leadership Council Member Newsletter

Trade, talent and leadership anchored the 11th Annual Arizona CEO Summit on September 9 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. More than 150 members of SALC, Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance came together to examine the opportunities and decisions shaping Arizona’s competitiveness.

Trade and talent on the agenda

• University leadership: SALC member Chad Sampson hosted a panel with four members of Arizona’s Board of Regents on the universities’ economic impact, talent development and research.
• Taiwan–Arizona connections: Ambassador Alexander Tah-ray Yui joined Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO Sandra Watson to discuss trade, investment and supply chains.

View Ambassador Yui’s Taiwan presentation (PDF) ↗

With the November election approaching, separate candidate forums featured Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs and Governor Katie Hobbs, who appeared with lieutenant governor running mate John Giles. These conversations, moderated by SALC President and CEO Ted Maxwell, provided members an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their visions for Arizona.

The Summit also created time for something equally valuable: connecting business leaders across regions. Those relationships strengthen SALC’s ability to bring Southern Arizona’s priorities into statewide conversations and work with partners on the conditions businesses and communities need to thrive.

November’s ballot will be long, and some of its most consequential decisions may also be among its least familiar. SALC’s November 2026 Voter’s Guide gives members and partners a clear starting point: what selected measures would change, why they matter to Southern Arizona and where SALC stands.

But publishing the guide is only the first step. Its value grows when we put it to work.

As business and community leaders, our responsibility extends beyond educating ourselves and casting our own ballots. We have networks of colleagues, employees, industry partners and neighbors who look to us for perspective. Sharing credible information and explaining why these decisions matter can help people move from confusion or fatigue to informed participation.

SALC’s membership spans the political spectrum. Our recommendations reflect a shared focus on public policy and the conditions that help our region thrive. The guide offers a practical way to bring that perspective into conversations throughout our community.

Put the guide to work

• Read and share: Circulate the guide through your organization and professional networks.
• Start a conversation: Make time at your next leadership meeting to discuss what is at stake.
• Extend your reach: Share a link in your newsletter and on social media.
• Encourage participation: Help colleagues and neighbors make informed choices and vote.

Voter apathy and election fatigue leave consequential decisions to fewer voices. We have the relationships and credibility to help change that. It’s up to us to use them.

Read and share SALC’s 2026 Voter’s Guide ↗

SALC Vice President Nicole Barraza recently joined a statewide delegation of Arizona civic and business leaders in Boston for a three-day program focused on leadership, democratic institutions, innovation and the future of the Arizona economy.

The delegation, convened by Arizona Talks, brought together a notable group of Arizona leaders, including former Governor Doug Ducey, a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School; Stephen Richer, Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation; and Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick. Barraza was the only participant from Southern Arizona.

Inside the three-day program

• Harvard Kennedy School: Sessions on leadership and democratic institutions.
• Kendall Square and Lab Central: A look at Boston’s biotech and innovation corridor, including shared lab space for startups.
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library: A private program connecting history with contemporary leadership.
• WBUR: A discussion at Boston’s NPR station about the press’s role in holding public leaders and institutions accountable.

Discussions focused on the responsibilities of leadership in a deeply divided country, the future of American capitalism and innovation, and opportunities to build partnerships between Arizona and Massachusetts in bioscience, semiconductor technology and advanced manufacturing.

The program was particularly timely as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, providing an opportunity to consider both the history of American democracy and the leadership required to sustain its institutions into the future.

For SALC, participation reflects a commitment to engaging in statewide leadership networks and ensuring Southern Arizona has a voice in broader conversations about Arizona’s economic competitiveness, civic institutions and future.

SALC member Howard Stewart and Vice President Aaron Ball continue to serve on the TUSD Reconfiguration Committee. In September, the committee met to provide input and feedback on the framework for the three facilitated community engagement sessions. During the three recent community engagement sessions, parents and community members raised considerations, including the preservation of specialized dual-language offerings, the safety of grade combinations, and the impact of closing high-quality neighborhood schools.

The Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is progressing through its strategic reconfiguration process to address long-term enrollment declines and facility excess. Built to accommodate more than 67,000 students, the district currently enrolls under 40,000, leaving an overall building utilization rate of 58% across its campuses. To create a sustainable operating structure, TUSD is evaluating scenarios that include closures, consolidations, and grade reconfigurations.

Key upcoming milestones include:

• Site-Specific Consultations: TUSD will conduct targeted engagement sessions at individual school sites once the proposal list is drafted.
• Governing Board Action: The Governing Board could take action to vote on the closure and consolidation plan on December 8.

District officials maintain that student experience, equitable access, and operational stewardship will guide all final recommendations.

SALC was featured prominently at Pima Community College’s 2026 Futures Conference: The Roadmap for Resilience. The centerpiece was a dialogue between SALC member Chancellor Dr. Jeff Nasse and SALC Vice President Dr. Aaron Ball. Their discussion emphasized aligning higher education with regional industry needs, highlighting state-of-the-art facilities like the Building Construction Technology expansion that directly mirror employer requirements. Both leaders underscored the importance of leaving minimal daylight between PCC programming and workforce demands to drive sustainable economic development across Southern Arizona. Attendees actively engaged through the Converge platform, utilizing AI-grouped live polling and submitting questions throughout the program.

Credentials, access and workforce needs

Addressing key regional challenges, Dr. Ball and Dr. Nasse discussed demographic shifts from declining K-12 birthrates and the reality of zero state aid for PCC, a critical policy issue SALC actively advocates to address. With 60 to 70 percent of future jobs requiring post-secondary credentials, PCC is expanding credentialing efforts, degree apprenticeships, and Workforce Pell to reduce non-academic barriers for recent high school graduates and adult learners alike.

Facilities that support career outcomes

Looking ahead to Proposition 430 (PCC’s General Obligation Bond), the speakers emphasized that new physical facilities serve to facilitate meaningful outcomes rather than being the goal. The primary objective remains ensuring Pima County residents gain in-demand skills, earn affordable high-value credentials, and achieve equitable career outcomes supported by tools like the PCC Employment Dashboard and expanded dual enrollment pathways. Following audience Q&A, closing comments by Ian Roark reaffirmed the vital, ongoing partnership between PCC and SALC in building long-term regional prosperity. You can view the PCC Graduate Employment Dashboard by clicking here.

How do we fund the transportation system Arizona needs, and how do we earn public support for those investments? SALC helped explore both questions during two panel discussions at the September 23–24 Roads & Streets conference in Tucson.

Wednesday, September 23 · Transportation funding

On Wednesday, September 23, SALC President and CEO Ted Maxwell joined Matt Reiffer of ACEC, Arizona Senate Minority Whip Rosanna Gabaldón and Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope for a discussion moderated by ACEC-AZ Executive Director Chris Bridges. Bringing business, engineering and bipartisan legislative perspectives, the panel examined transportation funding pressures as Arizona grows, construction costs rise and more fuel-efficient vehicles strain traditional revenue sources. The conversation also addressed federal investment, the Highway Trust Fund and Arizona’s ability to compete for infrastructure dollars, with a shared focus on safety, economic opportunity and competitiveness.

Thursday, September 24 · Lessons from RTA Next

On Thursday, September 24, Bridges moderated a discussion with SALC Senior Vice President and COO Cristie Street and Psomas Director of Engineering Alejandro Angel about the successful RTA Next campaign. The session explored coalition building, fundraising, messaging and voter turnout, including what worked and what fell short in securing approval of the 20-year transportation sales tax extension.

What the renewal effort taught us

• Start before the ballot: Early coalition building and financial commitments established a foundation for success.
• Know the audience: Earning stakeholder support and voters’ confidence required distinct strategies.
• Connect education and advocacy: PAG/RTA staff’s public education and the coalition’s advocacy helped residents understand the plan and its regional value.

Download Thursday’s presentation (PowerPoint) ↗

TVT's Stand Up 4 Teachers returns Thursday, November 5, at the Tucson Convention Center's Leo Rich Theater with a dynamic new ceremony format. This year, live performances from some of Southern Arizona's most talented young artists will be woven throughout the awards program.

The performances will share the stage with the evening's true stars, Pima County's educators. Twelve E.L.E.V.A.T.E. Award finalists, sponsored by Raytheon | An RTX Business, will be celebrated. Four winners will each receive $2,500 plus a matching $2,500 gift to their school, and eight finalists will each receive $500.

The night begins at 5:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the ceremony. TVT will also present Desert Diamond Casino with the Spirit of Education Award. KVOA's Dee Cortez and Chuck George return as the masters of ceremonies.

Members supporting local educators

TVT is grateful to Presenting Sponsor Tucson Electric Power and E.L.E.V.A.T.E. Award Sponsor Raytheon | An RTX Business, along with SALC and members supporting this year's celebration: Susan Gray, Erik Bakken, Jennifer Brummund, Brandt Hazen, Phillip Swaim, Melanie Rice, Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott, Rob Draper, Sarah Smallhouse, David Cohen, Ted Hinderaker, Jeffrey Nasse, Ian Roark.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at a range of levels for businesses ready to stand up for local educators.

Reserve tickets and sponsorship packages online

SALC leaders share perspectives on the decisions and investments shaping our region.

Jeffrey Nasse | Making education work for working adults

Pima Community College Chancellor, Jeff Nasse looks beyond enrollment growth to the barriers that keep students from completing their education, including food, housing and transportation challenges. As he puts it, “It’s hard to be persisting when you have an empty refrigerator.” Read his perspective

Danette Bewley | Keeping safety at the center of airport investment

“Safety is our highest priority,” says Tucson Airport Authority President and CEO Danette Bewley. She explains how a new FAA-funded investment in vehicle-tracking technology will strengthen airfield coordination and the safe movement of aircraft and ground vehicles at Tucson International Airport. Read more

Erik Bakken is the President of Tucson Electric Power. He joined TEP as a Corporate Counsel in 2000 after earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University and a juris doctorate (JD) from the University of Arizona’s Law School. He advanced through management positions in Land Resources and Environmental Services and was promoted to Senior Director of Transmission & Environmental Services in 2014. He was promoted to Vice President of Transmission & Distribution Planning and Environmental in 2018 before taking on expanded responsibilities in his current role in 2026.

Community connections

Committed to community and sustainability, Erik is a member of the Board of Directors for the Arizona-Mexico Commission, and Arizona Forward.

Erik was raised in Tucson, Arizona and grew up enjoying and appreciating all forms of outdoor activities in Southern Arizona and throughout the West. To this day, Erik continues to participate in many recreational and volunteer activities that strengthen his appreciation for Arizona’s natural beauty and outdoor opportunities.