Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce names Penn top leader | News

Tony Penn, the 15-year president and CEO of United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, has been named “outstanding community leader” by the Oro Valley Chamber.

Penn, who plans to retire this year, was recognized at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast on April 10 at El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.

Other award recipients were Schulz Financial Group, Home Care Assistance, KE&G Construction, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, and Life Beyond the Books. More than 380 guests attended the breakfast and accompanying nonprofit fair.

In his deep voice, Penn told the audience, “It’s been an incredible honor” and a “privilege” to lead “your United Way.” He was accompanied by a number of United Way employees, whom he called “a passionate team of dedicated partners.”

The position “gave to me a chance to be able to not only join a great multi-national organization, but one focused on local impact, and the chance to serve with a great team of professionals,” Penn said. He has been “continuously inspired by them and by you, our business community.”

Over the years, Penn has learned that “leadership is not about titles, it’s not about accolades, it’s about listening, it’s about learning, it’s about taking action for the greater good.”

“It takes a partnership, it takes a shared value to make the very best environment for economic development,” Penn said. “When we come together collectively to create that very best environment, that’s when our community can come together to take care of our greatest assets,” its people.

As Penn prepares to pass the torch, he remains “deeply optimistic about the future of our community.

“The work we have started together is a legacy that will continue to grow, driven by new ideas and fresh leadership,” Penn said. “I encourage each of you to continue to be engaged. Keep caring, keep sharing, keep pushing for the kind of positive change it takes to make a difference in the lives of people, our kids, our families and our older adults.

“Together, we have shown that real change is possible, and I look forward to witnessing all the future success that will surely come our way, together,” he concluded. 

Schulz Financial Group, Outstanding Small Business

Mary Schulz, owner and principal at Schulz Financial Group, quipped “this is what it feels like when you win an Oscar, and you’re excited to be up here, but don’t start the music yet, just give me a minute.”

She came to Oro Valley 19 years ago from Princeton, New Jersey, to work at El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.

Over the years of working for major companies, Schulz has learned the recipe for success is “hiring the right people” — she introduced her “amazing team” of Shane Reed, Laurel Campbell and Nicholas Trujillo — and her family, husband Ethan and children Stephanie and Brielle.

That recipe — Schulz is trained in the culinary arts — also requires you to “do the right thing with passion, persistence, and patience. And most of all, give back to your community.”

She was drawn to the chamber in particular when she learned it has a Foundation that provides scholarships and charitable giving each year.

“This community of businesspeople banding together, supporting each other and giving back is absolutely amazing,” Schulz said. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this community or this Cchamber, so thank you very much.”

OV Pizza and Pints, and Gracie Barra Oro Valley were also finalists for the     award.

Home Care Assistance, Outstanding Midsize Business

Patricia Payne, client care director and co-owner with Mark Schmidt of Home Care Assistance, thanked everyone “for being part of this Chamber and part of the community, where people can work for the well-being of the entire community.

She described the many benefits of doing business in Oro Valley.

“Today, I want to remind you that as business owners and business workers, that you’re a very large part of the community, and I want to thank you for making this environment possible,” she said.

Done Rite Services, and Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery / Bistro, were also finalists in the category.

KE&G Construction, Outstanding Large Business

Chris Albright, president of KE&G, said Oro Valley is “a tremendous place to work and do business with. We’re proud to be part of continuing Oro Valley’s legacy.”

KE&G’s success “has always been because of our amazing employee owners, and the dedication they bring to each and every project,” Albright said.

He lauded the chamber, and the business community.

“You all inspire us to be better,” Albright said. “This is about becoming a better company, and to raise the bar for all of our employee-owners, and make the community better as a whole.” 

Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Legacy Award

Himanshu Parikh, vice president of manufacturing operations at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, noted the Oro Valley company is celebrating “40 years of diagnostic certainty,” continuing to deliver its cancer diagnostics technology all over the world.

Worldwide, more than 40 million patients and customers have benefitted by cancer diagnostic tests and instrumentation created in Oro Valley. The company’s success is due to the “outstanding commitment and dedication from our employees,” Parikh said. “They are the backbone of our industry, and the backbone for us.”

RTD is “proud of calling Oro Valley home,” he continued.

The company continues to expand its presence in Oro Valley; in January, it celebrated the opening of a new building, the former Sanofi / Icagen facility in Innovation Park, where people are “primarily dedicated to developing personalized healthcare solutions for our patients.” RTD has also expanded production of tests on its Oro Valley campus as “demand for cancer tests continues to grow.”

He appreciates the chamber for its “partnership and support we receive all throughout the year.”

Life Beyond the Books, Outstanding Nonprofit

Whether it’s learning to shake hands – “no dead fish handshakes,” founder Trindy LaForge said – or how to change a tire on a car, students in the program learn skills that are “going to help them be more self-sufficient and ready for their life beyond the books.”

Life Beyond the Books was founded four years ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the program is offered in five middle schools across the Amphitheater and Flowing Wells school districts, with plans to reach beyond those districts.

“I’m most excited we reached more than 1,000 eighth-grade students, so they’re learning the things they’re going to need when they grow up and they’re out on their own,” LaForge said.

She said Life Beyond the Books owes its success “to a partnership with you, professionals and businesspeople in the community.” LaForge lauded the Golder Ranch Fire District, Hughes Federal Credit Union, Pima Federal Credit Union, Lloyd Construction, WaFd Bank, the Oro Valley Police Department and GAP Ministries, among others, for “providing your professionals and your resources to come and teach classes.”

San Miguel High School’s Corporate Study and Youth On Their Own were other finalists in the category.