SUMMER ISSUE 2014
From The Publisher –
Women Who Lead
Our summer edition offers wonderful insights about remarkable women who lead and why they have been so successful in their careers. These women head some of the largest companies in this region.
The largest public sector employer is University of Arizona – headed by President Ann Weaver Hart. Other inspirational leaders profiled are Tucson Medical Center’s Judy Rich, Geico’s Martha Furnas, Long Realty’s Rosey Koberlein, Cox Communications’ Lisa Lovallo, CRT Partners’ Laura Olguin and Boys & Girls Clubs’ Linda Wojtowicz.
On the cover is Mara Aspinall, who took the reins of Ventana Medical Systems just three years ago, expanding our perspective on what this region can become in the world of bioscience – specifically diagnostics – as she and her world-class team are waging war against cancer. Aspinall declared “I want Tucson to be the hottest place for diagnostics. The best is yet to come.”
Other reports in this issue tie directly to Aspinall’s leadership, vision and passion. The Flinn Foundation’s 10-year Bioscience Roadmap details the strategies of Aspinall and other statewide leaders to develop Arizona’s prominence as a hub of innovation. This year Ventana Medical Systems presented its 10th Tucson Global Science Symposium, attracting cancer scientists from around the globe.
“Women of the Heart” introduces you to the women who are leading the UA Sarver Heart Center – including Dr. Nancy K. Sweitzer, the new director and chief of the cardiology division; co-director Carol Gregorio, professor of molecular, cell biology and anatomy; and Sarver researcher Dr. Jil Tardif, who holds the Steven M. Gootter Endowed Chair for the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death. This team is all about collaborative multidisciplinary research.
Check out our resort report for staycation opportunities this summer, following a record-setting season – thanks in part to the Polar Vortex winter.
Forbes has rated Tucson as one of the Top 20 cities for innovation, in part because we are home to Fortune 500 companies including Raytheon Missile Systems, IBM’s data storage division and Ventana Medical Systems. These companies stay in Tucson because we have one of the nation’s top research universities to provide a workforce of engineers and scientists.
Now for our special report on Tech Parks Arizona….
Two decades ago, the UA established its first science and technology park which evolved into an economic engine with an annual impact of $2.4 billion.UA Tech Park now is home to more than 40 businesses including six Fortune 500 companies with nearly 7,000 employees. This park includes the world’s largest solar research and development facility, The Solar Zone.
Today Tech Parks Arizona includes the original 1,345-acre campus near I-10 and Rita Road, plus a 65-acre second park closer to the UA with infrastructure already in place. Both parks are crucial elements of the university’s strategic planning.
The smaller site, formerly the Bio Park, is now called the UA Tech Park at The Bridges. Long-term projections estimate the park will have about 4 million square feet of developed office and laboratory space and support 18,000 to 20,000 employees.
This future-focused enterprise is a synergistic collaboration between Tech Launch Arizona, UA Tech Parks and the university. This is where Arizona’s innovations move from concept to prototype to actual product for the global marketplace.
On the economic development frontline, we report on TREO’s new Economic Blueprint, charting a collaborative course to create 40,000 new high-wage jobs over the next five years.
We are indeed are poised for a bright future.
Steven E. Rosenberg
Publisher & Owner
BizTucson
