Greater Tucson Leadership to Become Program of Tucson Metro Chamber
TUCSON, AZ (January 2, 2012)
Greater Tucson Leadership in the NEWS! (click on article)
Greater Tucson Leadership selects 34 for Class of 2011-2012
Tucson, AZ – August 23, 2011 – Greater Tucson Leadership is pleased to announce the members of Leadership Class 2011-2012. GTL program is designed to inspire a new generation of local leaders to understand and appreciate community service and diversity, work for the common good, and inspire and empower others. Each year, approximately 40 individuals from diverse fields and backgrounds are selected through a competitive process to participate in the ten-month civic leadership series beginning in September and ending in June. The program offers increased awareness and understanding of our community, leadership skills development, civic and community engagement, and a broader network of relationships.
“Greater Tucson Leadership welcomes these outstanding leaders from across greater Tucson “ said Suzanne McFarlin, Greater Tucson Leadership Board President. “These leaders were selected from an outstanding group of candidates and we have high expectations for them. We are confident that each of these leaders will make a positive impact on our community.” This is the 31st year for the leadership program. GTL is a non-profit 501c3, non-partisan leadership organization dedicated to providing leadership education, community development and civic engagement for the overall care and commitment to the Tucson community.
| Ahumada | Rick | Waste Management Inc |
| Avalos | Anna | Stryker |
| Bhola | Amy | Imagine Greater Tucson |
| Blair | Joseph | Arizona Basketball Alumni Foundation |
| Brannon | David | Waste Management Inc |
| Schuerch-Carrabis | Faith | Teen Outreach Pregnancy Center |
| Russo-Clyde | Liz | Southwest Gas Corporation |
| Cordova | B.J. | Tucson Clean & Beautiful |
| Cunningham | Paul | City of Tucson |
| Draper | Amy | Community Volunteer |
| Eichmann | Justin | Cox Communications |
| Ell | Jeffrey | Tierra Antigua Realty |
| Flannangan | Ryan | Nuanced Media |
| Gage | Art | Law Offices of Arthur V. Gage |
| Meyer-Garcia | Ciara | Tu Nidito Children and Family Services |
| Gerhauser | Rhina | Jewish Community Center |
| Grabel | Jennie | Clear Channel Radio |
| Hernandez | Kristen | Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona |
| Iversen | Heidi | Comeback Mama, LLC |
| Janjic | Caroline | Nova Home Loans |
| Korn | Ben | Safeguard Tucson |
| LeCompte | Dani | Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tucson |
| Leedy, Jr | Bill | WG Leedy Consulting LLC |
| Lyle | Jackie | Realm Environments |
| Manser | Jamie | Zocalo Magazine |
| Medler | Robert | Tucson Metropolitan Chamber |
| Melton | Connie | Junior League of Tucson |
| O’Connor | Jenn | Pima Association of Goverments |
| Richter | Vanessa | Conservation Services Group |
| Simpson | Kent | Tierra Antigua Realty |
| Sklar | Jeff | Lewis and Roca, LLP |
| States | Kim | Better Business Bureau |
| Tanzer | Laura | UA Commerce Program |
| Welter | Kristine | CODAC Behavioral Health Services |
| Zuckerman | Amy | Cloudbase Ranch |
Community Report
With your support Greater Tucson Leadership has reached several significant goals in 2011, and our success is due in a very large part to the partnerships we have developed with you and other collaborators in our local community.
2011 Achievements:
o The establishment of a new GTL brand, with Caliber Group we launched our new GTL brand with a new website, new marketing materials and logo.
o Donations of more than $30,000, which is a resource for Southern Arizona to educate and sensitize current and future leaders through our educational programming and networking of members.
o Partnership and Collaborations formed, with Tucson Young Professionals, United Way, Volunteer Center, Imagine Greater Tucson, TREO, Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
o Graduated 19 2010/2011 class participants.
o Provided 6 scholarships and 1 paid internship.
o Recruited 35 2011/2012 class participants.
o Contributions to Greater Tucson Leadership have identified, educated, and created a new leadership class. While doing this we are helping to enrich the community.
o Developing a long term agenda for future success and growth. With this letter, we launch our new Alumni Membership Campaign : Building GTL. This campaign is member-focused and member-driven. We believe that GTL has a solid foundation that will spark the necessary changes to get us through these challenging times. The Campaign website www.greatertucsonleadership.org explains our alumni campaign.
We are the sole structured leadership organization in Tucson. The importance of GTL cannot be understated. Greater Tucson Leadership delivers value through our educational programming, networking of members, and most importantly means to effectively educate and sensitize our future leaders about challenges and opportunities for greater Tucson.
The purpose of Greater Tucson Leadership is to identify, educate and inspire leadership to improve Tucson. There is still so much to be done! With this in mind, we remain dedicated to our non-partisan work to provide leadership education, community development and civic engagement for the overall care and commitment to our Tucson community.
Greater Tucson Leadership announces its graduates for class of 2010-2011
(Tucson, AZ) Greater Tucson Leadership will be presenting their graduating class of 2010-2011 on June 23rd as they successfully complete the GTL education program: a 10-month civic leadership series of seminars and field participation.
This is the 31st year for the leadership program. GTL is a non-profit 501c3, non-partisan leadership organization dedicated to providing leadership education, community development and civic engagement for the overall care and commitment to the Tucson community.
The program’s goal is to provide a platform to create understanding of community and critical issues; encourages discussion, debate and problem-solving; cultivates appreciation for differing perspectives; and inspires leadership at all levels of our community.
Since 1980, GTL has graduated more than 800 participants and expanded their leadership pursuits. “Two words sum up my Greater Tucson Leadership experience: exposure and inspiration. Exposure to concepts and perspectives that I couldn’t have imagined prior to the course and inspiration from my amazing classmates and all of the community volunteers and activists we met during the course. GTL is an invaluable experience that I will draw on throughout my life,” said Emily Brott, member of the 2010-2011 class.
During the 10-month program, the class participates in Issue Days every month to listen to speakers and discuss popular community topics such as education, border issues, environment, criminal justice, etc. To wrap up the year, the participants work together to create a class project to implement the community and individual leadership practices they have learned. This year’s project was Together Tucson: Tucson’s Largest Community Picnic. The goal was to emphasize community spirit and kindness following the January 8th shooting tragedy and learn of the many community opportunities that positively impact Tucson.
The Board of Directors is now in the process of finalizing the selection of approximately 40 individuals for the 2011-2012 class. The new class will be announced on June 23rd.
The graduating class of 2010-2011 includes:
- Emily Brott Sonoran Institute
- Jill Burris Dist Op Manager, Waste Management
- Suzanne Dennis Centacor Ortho Biotech Inc.
- Barbara Dolan Owner, 17th Street Communications
- Steven Eddy Tucson Electric Power
- Marcy Euler Community Volunteer & Advocate
- Joseph Lodge SCF Arizona
- Teresa Loy The Maids
- Jeannette Maré ED, Ben’s Bells Project
- Michelle Marsh Cox Media
- Sean Myers VP Programs, B/E Aerospace
- Iris Patten Assistant Professor, UofA
- Sarah Peluso-Martinez Southwest Gas Corp.
- Claudia Perchinelli President, Structural Grace, Inc.
- Joey Pouliot Outreach Program Manager, AzRise
- Beth Scott Director, Prescott College, Tucson Center
- Rob Stenson GM, Goodmans Interior Structures
- Berrett Stradford Government Relations Specialist, UPH
- Romi Wittman Director of Communications, Trico Electric Cooperative
June 14, 2011
Greater Tucson Leadership presents Linda Cohen and Kerry Stratford with Tucson Leader Award
(Tucson, AZ) On Thursday, June 23rd, Linda Cohen and Kerry Stratford of Caliber Group will be honored with the Tucson Leader Award from Greater Tucson Leadership. GTL is a 30 year old non-profit 501c3, non-partisan leadership organization dedicated to providing leadership education, community development and civic engagement for the overall care and commitment to our Tucson community. Each year the Board of Directors chooses a recipient for the Tucson Leader Award whose commitment and active involvement in the community exemplifies proven leadership.
Linda Cohen, APR, is the CEO of The Caliber Group, a brand marketing and public relations firm based in Tucson and has been involved in the marketing and design industry for over 20 years. She is accredited in Public Relations by PRSA, a past chair of PRSA’s Board of Ethics and Professional Standards, and past-president of the Southern Arizona Chapter of PRSA.
Kerry Stratford is the creative director and partner of The Caliber Group. In 2007 she was named the Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year by the Tucson chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Both of the honorees were also named Advertising Professionals of the Year by the Tucson Advertising Federation at the 28th Annual ADDY Awards in 2009.
The Board has named Cohen and Stratford for this award because they have demonstrated leadership by helping find solutions for community problems, implementing positive change that affects the quality of life in Southern Arizona, initiating and facilitating programs that generate community dialogue, and have increased understanding and appreciation of diversity and encouraged responsible action that enhances Tucson. Their leadership is clearly illustrated through the many organizations for which they work. Among the many organizations, some of the recent ones are Tucson Book Festival, Tucson Children’s Museum, and Imagine Greater Tucson.
The past recipients of this award are:
2007 – Steve Lynn
2006 – Alaina Levine
2005 – Dr. Tanis Salant
2004 – Rick Myers
2003 – Emily Meschter
2002- Dr. Richard Carmona
2001- Dr. Augusto Ortiz and Martha Ortiz
2000-Judge Nanette Warner
1999- Jim Click Jr
1998- Lorraine Lee
1997- James S. Griffith
1996- F. Ann Rodriguez
1995- Charles “Punch” Woods
1994- C. Donald Hatfield
Greater Tucson Leadership present Jeanette Maré with the Ronald L. Kurth Award
The Ronald L. Kurth Award was established in 1995 by the late Brigadier General Kurth, a former Commander of the Arizona Air National Guard 162nd Fighter Wing stationed at Tucson International Airport. The award is presented to an individual from the GTL class and is based on the recipient’s service to the Tucson community and dedication to effecting positive changes in Tucson and Southern Arizona in the future. The award is in keeping with the philosophy of General Kurth who believed, “It’s not how far you go in life that counts, it’s what you leave behind.
Everyone around the country and especially GTL Class 2011 know about and are very proud of Jeanette Maré. She is a remarkable leader, mother, & friend. You, her class mates and now friends class all voted for her unanimously! You stated that she is gifted, smart, motivated, creative, energetic, loving, lots of fun and a fabulous dancer and all feel an honor and pleasure getting to know Jeanette.
Jeanette turned grief from the unexpected and sudden death of her son, Ben, into Bells of clay. What we know as Ben’s Bells. She has created a beloved community organization out of devastating grief. An organization that has national reach and acclaim and impact!

















