Rethink

As the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee approaches its 100th anniversary, Chair Fernando Flores joins us to reflect on its proud legacy and bold next chapter. From supporting airmen at Davis-Monthan to strengthening Tucson’s role as an aerospace and defense hub, the MAC continues to be a vital bridge between business, community, and military service. Learn how this century-old committee is reinventing itself for a new generation of leadership and impact, and hear an update on what's happening with Tucson's major military installation, Davis-Monthan AFB. Aired 11/23/25

Tucson, like many American cities, is wrestling with the realities of chronic unsheltered homelessness. What happens when mental health, substance abuse, and public disorder collide in our parks, neighborhoods, and business districts? Tucson Ward 4 Councilmember Nikki Lee and Pima County's Department of Justice Services Director Kate Vesely join Rethink to unpack how Tucson and Pima County can partner more effectively—combining compassion, accountability, and innovative policy—to help our most vulnerable residents and restore quality of life across our community.Aired 11/9/25

After years of gridlock and uncertainty, regional leaders came together under the guidance of interim PAG Director Michael Ortega to move the next 20-year Regional Transportation Authority plan forward. In this episode, we explore how "RTA Next" aims to reshape the way Southern Arizona moves—balancing roadways, transit, and growth for a stronger regional future. Hear how collaboration, trust, and tough problem-solving got this plan to the ballot for March 2026 and what’s at stake for our economy, our commuters, and our competitiveness. Aired 10/26/25

On this episode, Zach sits down with General Ted Maxwell to talk about one of the biggest policy issues facing our desert region: do we have enough water? Besides his role as the CEO of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (along with many other community hats he wears), Maxwell represents Pima County on the Arizona Reconsultation Committee that is working to make sure Arizona gets a fair shake in Colorado River negotiations. Maxwell talks about how he sees our water future as it stands right now, whether or not Arizona and the other Lower Basin States are going to get a fair shake as we negotiate our Colorado River allocations going into 2026, how business and civic leaders can do a better job telling the story about how our conservation ethos has prepared us for smart growth (while continuing to be responsible with our natural resources), what the State Legislature is doing on water issues, and more! Tune in to hear the whole conversation. Editorial Note: After this conversation aired, Ted Cooke's nomination to lead the Bureau of Reclamation was withdrawn.

On this episode, Zach sits down with Dr. Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships at the University of Arizona. Coming off transformational stints at Purdue University and the University of Oklahoma, he shares more about his and President Garimella's vision for effective private and public sector partnerships with the University that tackle our biggest human challenges for local and global impact. He also shares more about the University’s Key Research Areas and why AI and data tops the list, how Southern Arizona companies and businesses can partner, and more! Zach and Tomás also give a sneak peek at the talk he'll give at the Chamber's upcoming Business Summit and Expo. Listen for the full experience.

When we talk to businesses large and small, local and national, about the greatest challenges they face, we always hear about their need to find and retain a ready workforce with the skills needed. At the same time, Tucson's labor force participation rate is lower than regional peers and lower than the U.S. average. So what do we do about this?On this episode, Zach sits down with Daune Cardenas, the CEO of the Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation, and Jerry Valenzuela, Business Community Liaison with Workforce Training Academy USA, to talk about the Career Pivot Center, how they are collaborating to meet this great need, and what our region needs for a skilled workforce. From the physician shortage, to skilled tradespeople in construction and mining and other sectors, The Chamber is focused on working with all our partners to understand and address our workforce opportunities in the region!

Come to most any Chamber event where CEO Joe Snell is speaking, and you’re almost guaranteed to hear him talk about the issue of affordable and accessible childcare as a Chamber priority. And he’s not alone. “The ability to recruit and retain top talent is more important than ever and childcare is key to solving many of the workforce challenges that Arizona businesses face.” That’s Danny Seiden, head of the Arizona Chamber, at a Child Care Forum with First Things First, in 2024. Why, over the last few years, has affordable childcare become not just an issue of importance advocated by educators and nonprofits, but an issue championed by the business community so loudly and intentionally? And, what are we going to do about the lack of affordable, accessible childcare?Monica Brinkerhoff, Associate Vice President for Early Childhood Education at your United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, has spent a 30-year career working on just that. Monica and The United Way have been longtime partners of The Chamber in this space, and now specifically the United Way and The Chamber are a part of a cohort of 5 Counties around the US working together across sectors this year to solve how we expand the supply of affordable childcare. Tune in to hear Zach and Monica's full conversation!

Data centers. The backbone of the internet and the modern world. These physical buildings hold the computer systems and information technology needed to store and use data that we use in our daily lives, and are ever more important and needed in the era of AI. Today, there are 5,400 of them around the United States, making us the power-broker in the data and information age. It's estimated that demand for data centers will grow by nearly 10% year over year through the end of the decade. Our sister to the North, Metro Phoenix, is the second-largest hub for data centers, with over 150 of them. Here in Metro Tucson?- Zero (of scale). But that might be about to change.Over the last month, a proposed data center campus has begun the review and approval process with the Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Tucson City Council, for location on the Southeast Employment & Logistics Center north of the Pima County Fairgrounds- Project Blue. Project Blue represents an unprecedented $3.6 billion economic development opportunity, and would fund major public investments, and major energy and reclaimed water infrastructure improvements with a unique and rare commitment to stewardship and sustainability. While data centers certainly have negative stigmas, and sometimes deserved, they are not all created equal. In this episode, we explore the 5 major questions the community is asking about this project, and why the answers point to Project Blue as a model for how public-private partnerships can support responsible development of critical digital infrastructure by prioritizing local community needs. 

What does it truly take for Southern Arizona to compete—and win—in today’s economy? Host Zach Yentzer and Susan Hyatt Dumon, Chief Economic Development Officer at The Chamber of Southern Arizona, unpack:- The 5 Pillars of Economic Competitiveness - The top opportunities poised to transform our communities- A bold “Competitiveness Agenda” for public policy action- A shared vision of victory—what Southern Arizona looks like when we win!

To kickoff the podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the boldest moves in Southern Arizona’s business history — the merger that created The Chamber of Southern Arizona. President and CEO, Joe Snell, joins Zach to walk through the why, the vision, and what this means for our region’s future. What drove the decision to bring these legacy institutions, the Tucson Metro Chamber and Sun Corridor Inc., together and form The Chamber of Southern Arizona? Why now?What are some things that have changed about what defines a competitive region? How is economic development changing?What does this merger mean for our investors, business leaders, and community partners? What does success look like a year from now? Five years? How will we know if this bold bet paid off?Listen to hear the full conversation!