Seven Community Leaders Elected to Tucson Airport Authority Membership

Seven community leaders were elected to join the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) active membership at the TAA annual meeting Monday, January 23, 2023. An effort was made to increase diversity within the membership to better reflect demographics of the region and to and further advance the mission and vision of the TAA. With these additions, active membership is now at a total of 57. The TAA bylaws allow for 60 TAA Members.

A unique, independent authority created by state charter in 1948, the TAA is responsible to manage, operate, maintain, and develop Tucson’s airport system, which consists of Tucson International Airport (TUS), the region’s major commercial airport, and Ryan Airfield (RYN), a general aviation reliever airport.

“We are thrilled to welcome seven community leaders to the Tucson Airport Authority membership,” TAA President and CEO Danette Bewley said. “Our goal continues to be diversification of our membership by adding qualified individuals who will be active advocates for the TAA, Tucson International Airport and Ryan Airfield. We look forward to the new perspectives and impact this group will bring to the TAA.”

The seven new TAA active members are:

Lydia Aranda, M.A., co-founder and principal for DiVeritas consulting firm. With over 30 years in public, private and nonprofit sector leadership roles, Aranda has remained committed to leveraging experience, expertise, and executive networks to bring services and resources to youth, families, and businesses in un- or under-represented communities. A third-generation Southern Arizonan, Aranda received degrees from Arizona State University and Claremont Lincoln University. She is involved in Sun Corridor Inc., Chicanos Por La Causa, American Heart Association, and the Arizona Governor’s Council on Small Business, among other local non-profits.

Teresa Bravo, government relations representative for Tucson Electric Power. Bravo has over a decade of experience working in diverse areas of government in projects related to economic development, international projects, and tourism. Bravo has received two degrees from the University of Arizona, including her MBA. Within the community, she is involved with the Southwest Folklife Alliance, Tucson Mexico Sister Cities, Tucson Metro Chamber Emerging Leaders Council, Congressional Hispanic Staff Association, and El Rio Health Center Vecinos.

Edmund Marquez, owner of the Edmund Marquez Allstate Insurance Agency. A loyal Tucsonan, Marquez owns and operates the largest Allstate agency in Southern Arizona and the second largest Hispanic-owned Allstate agency in the U.S. As a community advocate, he is a University of Arizona alumni and received a business certificate from Stanford University (LBAN). Marquez serves in various volunteer positions with Rio Nuevo, Tucson Metro Chamber, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, among numerous others.

Nancy McClure, First Vice President of CBRE Incorporated. McClure has been in the commercial real estate industry for the past 33 years and currently works for one of the largest commercial real estate service companies in the world. She has been at the forefront of bringing new companies to metro Tucson and has developed and redeveloped key properties. McClure holds a degree from Southern Methodist University. In the community, McClure is involved with the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management’s National Board of Advisors, Women at the Top, Charter 100, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and Literacy Connects, to name a few.

Shannon Murphy, director of sales and marketing for Diamond Ventures, Inc., DVI Realty, LLC. Murphy has been a commercial real estate broker for more than 25 years. Currently, she oversees her company’s custom lot subdivisions and retail assets, created site plans and merchandising strategies, among other duties. Born and raised in Tucson, she is passionate about seeing the region prosper and succeed. Murphy attended Southern Methodist University where she earned her undergraduate degree. Her volunteerism within the community includes Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, Metropolitan Pima Alliance, Tucson Association of Realtors, Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona, among others.

Shaima Namazifard, SBA business development officer for Wells Fargo Bank. For more than a decade, Namazifard has advocated for local businesses and the Tucson economy. She focuses on helping to finance start-ups, business expansions, commercial real estate purchases and lines of credits to assist clients grow business. Namazifard attend the University of Arizona and in 2014 earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix. She volunteers with numerous local groups, including El Rio Health Center Vecinos, Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona, Commercial Real Estate for Women and YMCA.

Amanda Wiggins, President and CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce. As a leader of a vibrant and active business organization in our region, Wiggins has experience in economic development, strategic business planning and community engagement. Although new to Tucson, Wiggins is deeply involved in Marana and Southern Arizona and serves in various community roles with MHC Healthcare, Junior League of Tucson, Tucson Young Professionals, among others. Wiggins received her degree from Florida State University.