UA Cancer Center adds 6 to advisory board

The University of Arizona Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in Arizona, has added six diverse community leaders to its advisory board.

The UA Cancer Center Advisory Board provides support and leadership to the interim director and administrative staff, including the development and communications teams. The board’s primary goals include increasing community awareness, legislative support and philanthropy, while enhancing partnerships critical to continued success of the UA Cancer Center.

Jack Wilson, a leukemia survivor, is the chairperson of the UA Cancer Center Advisory Board, which includes active members in both the Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan areas.

The new members of the UA Cancer Center Advisory Board are:

• John Duval, former CEO of Virginia Commonwealth University Hospitals and Clinics; Former chief operating officer of then-University Medical Center in Tucson;

• Kendall Foster, partner, OOROO Business; MBA Eller graduate, ’05;

• Becky Kueker, cancer survivor; motivational speaker and author;

• Arlene Kutoroff, breast cancer survivor; community patient advocate;

• Justin Lanne, MEd, UA; managing director, NAI Horizon Tucson;

• Matt Seigel, managing director and market leader, CBRE Tucson; former UA assistant baseball coach.

Arizona Complete Count Committee announces executive director 

Arizona Complete Count Committee Chair Debbie Johnson announced that Alec Esteban Thomson will serve as Executive Director of the Arizona Complete Count Committee. Thomson has been with the Office of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey since 2017, previously serving as Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

“Alec has experience working at all levels of government, across party lines, and in every corner of Arizona, and he understands how to bring people together around common goals,” said Johnson. “Alec’s personal and professional diversity will be a great asset to our work and offer a unique perspective as we work together to ensure that all Arizonans are counted in the 2020 Census.”

In this role, Alec will manage the work of the Arizona Complete Count Committee, announced by Governor Ducey last month. He will lead the state’s marketing and outreach campaign for a 2020 Census complete count in Arizona, while collaborating with federal and local partners to maximize efforts. In addition, Alec will focus on working with state and local elected officials in Arizona’s Hard-To-Count areas, to ensure maximized returns from places with traditionally low response rates.

As COO of the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC), Alec implemented strategic efforts to strengthen Arizona’s relationship with Mexico. Under Alec’s leadership, the Arizona-Mexico Commission held two binational summits with record-breaking attendance, introduced new initiatives such as the Arizona Gateway series featuring Arizona’s border communities, and key expansion efforts for the organization in Northern Arizona. Alec developed collaborative efforts with community partners and oversaw the implementation of the organization’s recently launched campaign in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In addition to his work with the AMC, Alec has led key efforts for the Governor’s Office to reach Arizona’s Spanish-speaking citizens on issues ranging from the Opioid Epidemic Act to the recent 20×2020 effort supporting Arizona’s teachers.

USA Pickleball adds George Bauernfeind

The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) has recently added another member to its leadership team and growing list of staff personnel. George Bauernfeind will be the governing body’s Managing Director of Marketing and Communications.

In his new position with the organization, Bauernfeind will lead USA Pickleball’s Marketing, Communications and Business Development department with a focus on building and executing a comprehensive marketing and brand strategy to broaden the reach, build the brand, drive increased membership and grow the sport of pickleball. This also includes efforts to grow digital and social media engagement with members, pickleball participants and sports fans. He will also lead targeted media plans across all channels that highlight USA Pickleball’s key strategic initiatives and events, including the National Championships, the Regional Tournaments, junior programs and recreational play.

“I’m excited about the tremendous opportunity to help aid USA Pickleball’s explosive growth through an integrated marketing, communication and sponsorship agenda,” said Bauernfeind.  Prior to joining USA Pickleball, George was Head of Marketing, Olympic & Paralympic Programs for BP America, a Team USA partner through the London, Sochi and Rio Games. During his leadership, they built from the ground up a fan base and social following of more than 400,000 for @BPTeamUSA channels.  He also implemented several multi-channel, integrated marketing, brand and digital campaigns that increased revenue; and created, planned and managed 300+ events and experiential programs, driving a big increase in attendance, receiving “experience of a lifetime” customer feedback and an ‘outstanding’ rating from internal teams. BP’s leadership and support for the Paralympics and communities earned the team the ‘Amazing Impact’ Award from the U.S. Olympic Committee.