Biz awards

Universal Avionics was named 2014 Outstanding Small/Medium Manufacturer of the Year by the Arizona Manufacturers Council.

The council is sponsored by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Universal Avionics previously won the honor in 2009.

“Our state of the art manufacturing facility in Tucson, Arizona, manufactures all of the products we sell worldwide,” Steve Pagnucco, Universal Avionics’ general manager of manufacturing, said in a news release. “We have ignored the trend of our industry and competitors to outsource key operations."

Greater Tucson Leadership announces 2014 graduates

Greater Tucson Leadership presented its graduating class of 2014 in a June 12 ceremony. They are:

Paul Casertano, Pima Association of Governments;

Jason Cook, Tucson Metro Chamber;

Karyn Damschen, Retirement Navigators;

Patrick Dooley, Sundt Construction;

Marcus Diaz, Casino Del Sol;

Charles Everett, Raytheon Missile Systems;

Jessica Galow, Carondelet Foundation;

Katie Grogan, Focus HR, Inc.;

Jennifer Harris, Long Realty Co.;

Nicola Hartmann, San Miguel High School;

Heather Hiscox, Seven Degrees Consulting;

Eliza Holland, UA Health Network;

Amanda Iverson, Pinnacle Plan Design, LLC;

Allie Jones, Northwestern Mutual;

Matt Landon, Hacienda Del Sol;

Kelly Lensink, Bank of America;

Donna Lewandowski, Arizona State University;

Meredith Lipscomb, Junior League of Tucson;

Amber Mazzei, American Lung Association;

Linda McCollum, Pima County Attorney’s Office;

Laura Nagore, Tucson Metro Chamber;

Anne Rounds, Ronald McDonald House Charities;

Brett Rustand, Crest Insurance;

Jerusha Schmalzel, Tucson Symphony Orchestra;

Francine Schooling, Tohono O’odham Gaming Entertainment;

Jeffrey Scott, Picor Commercial Real Estate Services;

Lesah Sesma-Gay, Casino Del Sol;

Debby Shively, UA Bookstores;

Milton Soditch, BE Aerospace;

Diana Valenzuela, Casa de la Luz Hospice;

Hilary Van Alsburg, Humane Society of Southern Arizona;

Jerah Yassine, TREO

Tucson publishing company gets international award

A book from Tucson-based Great Potential Press has been awarded the Independent Publisher Book Award gold medal May 28 in New York City. 

Dan Peters, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist, is the author of "Make Your Worrier a Warrior" and the companion book "From Worrier to Warrior" published by Great Potential Press. They "examine the epidemic of worry and anxiety among adults and kids. The books provide useful methods to battle and tame the Worry Monster that threatens anyone with anxiety."

Great Potential Press says it is one of four companies in the United States specializing in publishing books and materials focusing on gifted and talented children and adults.

BeachFleischman honored for women in leadership roles

BeachFleischman has been named one of 2014 Best Public Accounting Firms for Women by the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance and American Woman’s Society of Certified Public Accountants.

The “Best Firms” were among the 50 that participated in the 2014 Accounting MOVE Project, which measures the status of women in the accounting profession. A key factor in the rankings was the proportion of women partners.

At BeachFleischman, women comprise 32 percent of partners and principals, "reflecting an accelerated rate of promotions", the company said in a news release. The company says it is Arizona’s largest locally owned CPA firm. 

Auletta recognized for community service

Tari Auletta was awarded the Sharon Semon Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award May 7 at Tucson Realty & Trust Co.’s annual awards meeting.

The award to recognize individuals for exceptional community service, in memory of the late Sharon Semon, who spent many years with Tucson Realty & Trust Co. and contributed to the Tucson community. The traveling award passed from last year’s recipient, Pat Darcy, to Auletta.

Auletta has volunteered with Greater Tucson Leadership, Easter Seals Blake Foundation, Tucson Centers for Women & Children and many other groups.

Innovative new product honored

Tucson Grill Cleaning LLC was awarded the 2014 SAHBA Spring Home Show's Most Innovative New Product, earning a free booth at the Fall Home Show, proprieter Ron Beaton said in a news release.

Rusing among state's top lawyers

Michael J.S. Rusing was named among the state’s Top 50 lawyers in the 2014 Southwest Super Lawyers awards.

Rusing is a founding partner in the Tucson law firm of Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, PLLC. A graduate of Stanford Law School, Rusing heads up the firm’s litigation section.

Jewish Post takes journalism honor

The Arizona Jewish Post won a first place Simon Rockower Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism from the American Jewish Press Association.

The article by freelance writer Nancy Ben-Asher Ozeri, which chronicled Southern Arizona’s first “Firefighters Without Borders” mission to Israel in October, won an excellence in feature writing award. 

Rotary honors Quinn

Dolly Quinn, owner of Dolly Quinn Salonspa, 6823 E. Camino Principal, was honored June 4 by the Rotary Club of Tucson. She has exceeded the Rotary requirements for the "Four Way Test," in her community contributions, including her participation since 1989 to the "Look Good ... Feel Better" program of the American Cancer Society, she said in a news release.

Two honors go to Keegan

Carla Keegan was recently recognized as the Anne Eve-Johnson Award recipient from the Junior League of Tucson, Inc. The annual award recognizes one sustaining member who has made significant contributions to the community as a volunteer.

Keegan was also recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Arizona Chapter as its 2013 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, she said in a news release.

Firm wins Torch Award for customer service

Commercial Cleaning and Restoration, locally owned and operated by Richard and Margret Huebner, is a 2014 BBB Torch Award Winner for Customer Excellence and a 2013 Copper Cactus Finalist for Business Growth.

"We place as much importance on customer relationship training as any technical skills required to perform an outstanding job," Margret Huebner said in a news release.

Bass ranked among nation’s best in training

Bass & Associates, P.C., is ranked 83rd in the 2014 Training Top 125, Training magazine’s annual ranking of the top companies with employer-sponsored workforce training and development.

Bass & Associates earned higher ratings than corporations that include New York Life Insurance, with nearly 9,000 employees, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, with 58,000 employees globally, it said in a news release.

Bass & Associates, a nationwide, woman-owned, small business collections and bankruptcy law firm based in Tucson, was the smallest company to receive the honor.

Patti H. Bass, president and CEO, accepted the award with training and development Manager Andy Hoskins.

Voyager is 'Mega Park of Year'

Voyager RV Resort and Hotel is the recipient of Arizona Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds' "2014 Mega Park of the Year."

Three swimming pools, tennis courts, 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, day spa, and a full-time recreational staff are the property amenities that were recognized as superior at Voyager RV Resort and Hotel.

The full-service luxury resort offers a newly renovated hotel, resort model and casita rentals, and RV sites designed to accommodate small and large RVs.

Also, a newly opened upscale manufactured home community located at the Voyager Resort, The Bay, has recently been setting sales records, Voyager said in a news release.

Sunnyside wins financial reporting award 

Sunnyside Unified School District received the Association of School Business Officials International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting award for having met or exceeded the program’s standards for financial reporting and accountability.

The district was recognized for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending 2013..