Southern Arizona's Education and Business Communities Join Forces

By University Communications March 15, 2007

Local educational leaders are meeting with some of the area's top chief executives to learn about their similarities and differences and pave the way for more and better partnerships.

The Education and Business Boardroom -- a partnership of The University of Arizona College of Education, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), and the Eller College of Management -- will meet Thursday, March 15, 7:30 to 10 a.m., in the Palo Verde Room at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

"The benefits from this exchange include a better understanding of how to view leadership from different perspectives and the relationships that are formed from common understandings that can lead to increased partnerships and ultimately community benefits," says John Pedicone, distinguished faculty fellow at the College of Education and one of the vice presidents of SALC. "We hope that this event will lead to stronger collaboration of schools and businesses toward the common purpose of improving education throughout Tucson."

Speaker Jamie Vollmer, a national expert on change, will be followed by a joint presentation, also about change, by Dennis W. Dearden, superintendent of Marana Unified School District, and Roger Vogel, president and CEO of SEBRA. They will discuss critical change initiatives in Marana schools and SEBRA and the lessons learned from those activities.

The event is sponsored by SALC, Arizona Leads (an Arizona Department of Education program, funded through a grant from the Wallace Foundation), and Arizona School Administrators (the association of school administrators for all districts and universities in the state).

Below is a list of the business and education leaders who will be at the meeting:

Business Leaders
Mr. Larry Aldrich
President, Aldrich Capital Company

Mr. Frank Alvarez
President & CEO, TMC Healthcare

Mr. Bill Assenmacher
President, T.A. Caid Industries, Inc.

Mr. Gary Clark
Vice President, Southern Arizona Division
Southwest Gas Corporation

Mr. Chris Clements
CEO, Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc.

Ms. Anne Doris
Vice President & System Manager, Cox Communications

Mr. Eric Hedlund
Senior Vice President, Sundt Construction, Inc.

Mr. David Lane
President, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company

Mr. Steve Lynn
Vice President, Corporate Community & Government Relations

Mr. Rick Myers
Chairman, Southern Arizona Leadership Council

Ms. Colleen Niccum
Vice President Communications, Raytheon Missile Systems

Mr. Andrew Stewart
President, KGUN 9

Mr. Roger Vogel Chairman,
CEO and President, SEBRA

Educational Leaders
Dr. Linda Arzumanian
Pima County School Superintendent

Mr. Calvin Baker
Superintendent, Vail School District

Dr. Vicki Balentine
Superintendent, Amphitheater School District

Dr. Raul Bejarano
Superintendent, Sunnyside School District

Dr. Nic Clement
Superintendent, Flowing Wells School District

Mr. Dennis W. Dearden
Superintendent, Marana School District

Dr. Mary Kamerzell
Superintendent, Catalina Foothills School District

Dr. Shirley Miles
Superintendent, Tempe Union High School District

Mr. Roger Pfeuffer
Superintendent, Tucson Unified School District

Dr. Michael Schwanenberger
Superintendent, Tanque Verde School District

Dr. Georgina Takemoto
Superintendent, Phoenix Elementary School District

Dr. Manny Valenzuela
Asstistant Superintendent, Sahuarita School District

Dr. David Woodall
Superintendent, Benson School District

Et Cetera