Small Business Council
Powering the Engine of Southern Arizona's Economy
Small businesses are the backbone of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s economy; they create jobs, anchor neighborhoods and drive the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our region. The Chamber’s Small Business Council exists to make sure the owners and operators behind those businesses have a seat at the table, practical tools in hand and a community that has their back.
The Council brings together small business owners, sole proprietors and entrepreneurs for monthly programming built around the real issues they’re facing right now. from AI adoption and access to capital, to tariffs, cash flow and benefits costs. It’s not a lecture series. It’s a working session for people building something.
Not a One-Size-Fits-All Seminar
Programming is responsive to current economic conditions and member-identified needs.
Time Commitment
•Meets monthly, January through December • 90 minutes, typically mid-morning. Location rotates among member businesses and Chamber facilities.
Small Business First
Built specifically for businesses with fewer than 50 employees, not scaled-down programming designed for large enterprises.
No Cost
Open to Chamber investors at the Build level or above
Who Should Join: Member Profile
The right council member is a small business owner, founder or senior operator, someone making the day-to-day decisions that keep a business running and growing.
They’re juggling more roles than their job title suggests, and they’re looking for practical answers, not theory, real tools they can use the week after the session, not just inspiration.
This council is open to businesses across every industry, with particular relevance for retail, professional services, hospitality and trades, the sectors most directly affected by shifting costs, labor and technology.
What You'll Gain: Tools, Connections and a Voice
Practical Tools: Walk away from every session with something actionable; a tool, a contact or a process you can put to use immediately.
Timely, Relevant Topics: Programming tracks current conditions affecting small business, inflation and cash flow, tariffs and supply chain, AI adoption, benefits and open enrollment, access to capital.
Direct Access to Resources: Regular exposure to local lenders, the Tucson Industrial Development Authority, SCORE mentors and other organizations built to support small business, not just information about them, but direct introductions.
Peer Network: Build relationships with other owners facing the same challenges, creating a sounding board that extends well beyond the monthly meeting.
A Voice in Advocacy: Council input feeds directly into The Chamber’s Advocacy team and Competitiveness Agenda, ensuring small business concerns are represented in policy conversations.
Connected to Advocacy and Economic Development
The Small Business Council doesn’t operate in isolation; it’s a direct feedback channel into two of The Chamber’s core functions: Public Policy / Advocacy and Economic Development & Talent.
Public Policy: Issues raised in Council sessions — tariffs, benefits costs, labor, regulation — inform The Chamber’s Competitiveness Agenda and advocacy positions at the city, county, state and federal level. Small business owners get a direct line to the policymaking process, rather than reading about decisions after they’re made.
Economic Development & Talent: Council programming draws on the Chamber’s Economic Development & Talent resources, incentive programs, workforce and talent pipelines, and initiatives like the Tucson IDA, connecting small businesses to capital, talent and growth infrastructure already being built for the region.
2026 Programming Calendar
Topics and speakers below reflect current economic conditions and will be refined as the year progresses.
July
AI in Small Business
Practical AI tools small operators can implement this month — customer service, marketing, scheduling, bookkeeping.
Speaker / Source
Local AI practitioner / small business AI consultant (panel format recommended)
August
Resources & Capital
Access to capital, coaching, and the Tucson Small Business Center as a one-stop resource hub.
Speaker / Source
Tucson Industrial Development Authority (Tucson IDA)
September
Cash Flow & Pricing
Forecasting, dynamic pricing, and managing margins under sustained inflation.
Speaker / Source
Local CPA / bookkeeping firm or Groundswell Capital lender
October
Tariffs & Supply Chain
What’s changing, sourcing alternatives, and contract protections for import-reliant businesses.
Speaker / Source
Trade attorney, customs broker, or UA Eller College trade economist
November
Benefits & Open Enrollment
Affording employee health coverage; SHOP marketplace and the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.
Speaker / Source
Licensed Arizona small-group health insurance broker
December
Succession & Year-End Planning
Exit and succession planning, paired with a member showcase and holiday networking.
Speaker / Source
Business attorney, M&A advisor, or SCORE Tucson mentor
2026 Small Business Council Roster
Greg Durnan
CEO
Acacia IT
Tech – IT
Sandra Barton
Senior Director
Commercial Real Estate
Western Alliance Bank
Banking
Ines Cabral
HR Consultant
Ignite HR Solutions
Staffing
Vena Karabilo
Branch Manager
Columbia Bank
Banking
Todd Meeks
President
Spartan Armor Systems
Manufacturing
Jeff Heath
Board Member
Tanque Verde Valley Association
Non Profit
Denny Daniel
General Manager
Tuff Shed
Construction & Building Products
Ray Flores
Owner
Si Charro
Hospitality & Restaurants
Darryl Friedman
President
Desert Beach Specialties
Promotional Products
Eugene Carter
President
LegalShield
Legal Services
Vanessa Zuber
Director of Employment Services
UCP of Southern Arizona
Nonprofit
Clark Goding
Partner
Beasley
Mitchell & Co.
Accounting & Finance
Grant Krueger
President & CEO
Union Hospitality Group
Hospitality
Andrew Ballmann
Finance and Investment Manager
Diamond Ventures
Real Estate & Development
Kasper Kalavaris
CEO / Director
Film Creations LTD
Film & Media Production
Salvador Hernandez
Owner
Valle Interiors
Home Improvement / Flooring & Interiors
Laura Barnard
Senior Wealth Advisor
Wealth Management Partners
Financial Services/Wealth Management
Stephanie Richardson
Owner
CoolVu of Tucson
Window Film & Glass Solutions
Charles Woerner
Membership Care Coordinator
A Better Lou (Men’s Telehealth and Wellness)
Healthcare
Natalina Molina
Care Access Research
Healthcare & Clinical Research
Carolina Gay
Owner
Minuteman Press
Printing & Marketing Services
Jon Aitken
Regional Manager
D and J Education
Child Care & Education
Jennifer Paris
Director of Business Development
Tucson Rehabilitation Hospital
Healthcare
Chelsea Coble
Director of Business Development
1847Financial
Financial Services
Katherine Brackett
Founder
Lighthouse Bookkeeping & Business Services
Bookkeeping & Accounting Services
Renee Schmidt
Ranch Leadership Coordinator
Double R Guest Ranch
Hospitality & Tourism
Steve Weaver
Founder
3 Pillars
Prof Development
Jesus Bernal
Founder
MueveFlex
Healthcare
Anahi Figueroa
Bilingual Financial Educator
Tucson Small Business Center
Comm Partner
Shayne Caffrey
Sales and Marketing Director
LeeShanok Network Solutions
IT
Aimee Graves
President & CEO
The Haven
Nonprofit / Behavioral Health
Emilia Honkasaari
VP of Communications and Development
The Haven
Nonprofit / Behavioral Health
James Buchanan
Account Manager
Titan Restoration of AZ
Restoration & Disaster Recovery Services
