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Travel is one of metro Tucson’s top industries. In 2019 (pre-pandemic), visitors spent $2.6 billion in Pima County, the travel industry employed 25,000 people in our region, and we accommodated nearly 8 million overnight visitors.The COVID-19 pandemic cut visitor spending nearly in half to $1.35 billion in 2020. While domestic leisure travel has rebounded strongly, corporate and international travel, meetings, and festivals and events, continue to lag.
You will hear from Felipe Garcia, Interim President/CEO about Visit Tucson’s efforts to bring back Tucson travel to pre-pandemic levels, along with his predictions about how long it will take to get there.
J. FELIPE GARCIA – BIOGRAPHY
J. Felipe Garcia has a varied background in tourism, international trade, investments, business transactions and government strategies. Currently, Mr. Garcia serves as the Executive Vice President of Visit Tucson. At Visit Tucson he is responsible for developing and implementing programs to enhance the relationships between Tucson and Mexico. Mr. Garcia also works with the Tucson Film Office to attract film and commercial production to Southern Arizona. In addition to his work at Visit Tucson, Mr. Garcia is board member of several organizations including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Tucson City of Gastronomy. Recently, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Board of the Delice Network with representatives from Brussels, Barcelona, Lyon, Stavanger and Cape Winelands.
Mr. Garcia was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Arizona District Export Council, an organization of business leaders that provides professional advice to help U.S. companies export.
Prior to joining Visit Tucson, Mr. Garcia worked for the Tucson-Mexico Trade Office as an economic development specialist, and for the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, where he was responsible for conducting in-depth analyses of the statutes and legal frameworks of several countries in areas related to customs, investment, trade and product liability, among others. While at the National Law Center he also participated in a project to introduce amendments to the Civil Code of Argentina, while working on issues dealing with liability in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Argentina.
Mr. Garcia has published several articles pertaining to international trade in numerous specialized publications, such as The Exporter Magazine and the InterAmerican Trade Report. Mr. Garcia has also participated as a speaker in various conferences around the world.
Every Thursday, you can see Mr. Garcia on two different Television shows in Mexico, providing insights about the U.S.-Mexico relationship to its viewers.
Mr. Garcia holds a law degree from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) in Mexico and an L.L.M. in international trade and investment law from the University of Arizona, James Rogers College of Law.
Richard will be discussing the contribution of The Hotel Congress to the history and culture of the Tucson community.
Tucson is located on the ancestral lands of the O’odham. O’odham ancestors, whom they refer to as Huhugam, were farming ancient maize along the Santa Cruz River at least 4,000 years ago. Over the last 20 years archaeological studies prior to freeway construction and other urban development have revealed early irrigation canals, agricultural fields, and the villages where people lived. Tucson’s City Hall and Museum of Art are located just inside the walls of Tucson’s former Spanish Presidio. And a thousand-year-old Hohokam ballcourt village was likely an even older layer below downtown Tucson. One of the factors that helped Tucson to become a UNESCO City of Gastronomy was the community’s deep agricultural history.
Singing sensation Crystal Stark takes the stage in a concert devoted to celebrating American legend Ella Fitzgerald. Joined by Khris Dodge, Crystal will scat, swing, and serenade you to your heart’s delight. Crystal has been praised for her “style and attention to detail that truly bring the greatness of Ella Fitzgerald to life”.
The Replacement/Social Mixer is on Wednesday, 10/27/21 at Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden, 4999 N. Sabino Canyon Road from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This Mixer will be a replacement of our lunch meeting on Wednesday, 10/27/21. Let's all have some fun and fellowship on the 27th. 
Ted Maxwell ~ Biography 
We are getting ready for our 15th anniversary of our Tucson Classics Car Show in our Centennial year of our club! The Rotary Club of Tucson has raised nearly $1.8M to support local charities focused on literacy, education, development of job skills, and senior assistance. This year, like last year, we are supporting Pima JTED, and 100% of our proceeds will go towards meeting our commitment of $250K. 
The Club will hold a Replacement/Social Mixer on Wednesday, 9/29/21 at Prep & Pastry, 2660 N. Campbell from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This Mixer will be a replacement of our lunch meeting on Wednesday, 9/29/21. ALL must register on the Club Website under "Upcoming Events". Bring your Guests, the fee is $25.00 and will be billed to your account. Let's all have some fun and fellowship on Wednesday. 
Zach will share about the growth of Tucson Young Professionals into the largest network of its kind in the state of Arizona, TYP's role as a platform for young professionals to shape the most prosperous, innovative and inclusive Greater Tucson possible, and the opportunities and challenges ahead for getting there.
A brief look at the Fox Tucson Theatre, the Crown Jewel of Downtown Tucson and the role that live performance plays in an increasingly fractured world. We'll look at where she's been, where she is today, and where she's headed including the Return to the Fox 2021 - 2022 season unfolding in the midst of ongoing change and uncertainty.
Native Montanan and Army wife, Henrietta “Hank” Huisking became a member of the Rotary Club of Sierra Vista West in its charter year, 2005. Hank is serving as the Service Projects Chair of her club.
Pima JTED, as the proud recipient of the RCOT 2021 Centennial Grant, is providing transformational innovative learning opportunities through their new campus, the JTED Innovative Learning Center at The Bridges. Updates will be provided about the new campus, the new programs and why this project is so innovative as it relates to the student experience, how the project was funded and community partnerships as well as the economic and workforce development opportunities that Pima JTED provides.
d F. Kicanas, D.D. - Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tucson ~ Biography 
Adia Barnes was introduced as Arizona's head women's basketball coach on April 4, 2016 and agreed to a contract extension to lead the program through 2026 in May of 2021. The leading scorer in Arizona women’s basketball history and a WNBA Champion, Barnes came to Tucson after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Washington for five seasons.
Col Joseph C. Turnham is the Commander of the 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. He is responsible for one of the largest installations and flying operations in the United States Air Force, with 34 mission partners, more than 46,000 personnel, 152 aircraft, and 51 billion dollars in assets. He is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping a wing comprised of 25 squadrons. The wing provides A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for close air support and forward air control, combat support, and medical forces for combatant commander requirements worldwide. The 355th Wing also provides combat search and rescue personnel recovery capabilities through the employment of HC-130J Combat King IIs, HH-60G Pave Hawks, and Guardian Angel weapon systems. The wing has units at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and Nellis AFB, Nev. The 355th Wing is also responsible for training A-10C pilots for the entire Total Force and is the Air Combat Command executive agent for Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty compliance.
Randy looks forward to sharing with the Rotary Club of Tucson the state of the real estate market today. In addition, Randy will talk about the history of the association as TAR is celebrating their 100th birthday in 2021.
My journey into Rotary might surprise you.
Wednesday June 30th is a scheduled DARK DAY, there is no luncheon meeting. Our next regular scheduled meeting is July 7th at the Tucson Convention Center. We want to wish all of you a Safe and Happy 4th of July. Enjoy and we'll see you on the 7th at the TCC as we start the new Rotary Year (2021-22)!!! 
Jedd Fisch ~ Biography 
