HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of the Town 2023 STATE OF THE TOWN 2023
AUDIO/VISUAL SCRIPT
[MARANA CHAMBER SLIDES ON ROTATION]
INTRO / MARANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / JEFF SAUNDERS
(MAX VOLUME SO JEFF CAN BE HEARD AND CALM THE CROWD)
On behalf of the Marana Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, I would like to welcome you
to the 2023 Marano State of the Town. I am Jeff Saunders, Chair of the Marana Chamber of
Commerce, and a local business owner.
We have been very busy behind the scenes introducing new policies and procedures to ensure
the chamber runs smoothly and efficiently. A year ago, we announced a new logo at this event
and within the last year we launched a strategic plan and updated the organization's Mission,
Vision, and Values. I am excited to share our Chamber membership has been consistently growing.
All the organization's success is possible through the support from our members and the business
community. The Marana Chamber of Commerce has been recognized by the Reader's Choice
Awards as the best chamber in Southern Arizona for 7 years in a row! Also, we have been named
the Best of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for your continued support and
choosing to vote for the Marano Chamber.
I encourage you to utilize the brand-new 2023 Official Marana Guide and Map-located at your
table and in the lobby-to search for services and products from local businesses who support the
community through their Chamber membership. And share your resources with your family,
coworkers, and neighbors.
Finally, it is my pleasure to introduce today's Emcee. Radio and television personality Joan Lee has
over 25 years of on-air experience. She's recorded thousands of commercials and hosted hundreds
of interviews and charity events.Today,we are excited to introduce to you our Emcee,-Joan Lee,
KDRI The Drive Radio, now a proud member of the Bustos Media Family.
JOAN LEE / SPONSORSHIPS / LUNCH
It is an honor to be with you all today. Each year, this event highlights the community and some of
the community partners working to ensure that Marana is an incredibly special place. Many of you
here today exemplify that culture, and I want to thank each of you for your contributions to
Marano.
We gather today to highlight a few community leaders that work each day to ensure this
community remains transparent and accountable to the people who get to proudly call Marano
home. Marano is the fastest-growing community in southern Arizona because people want to be
here.
This event is possible due to the strong sense of community and the businesses and people who are
investing in that future.Thank you to the sponsors of this afternoon's event.
Please join me in thanking our Signature Sponsor, CalPortland.
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Our Diamond Sponsors:
Bayer/
Chasse Building Team /
Crown West Land Group & Gladden Farms /
CTI /
HSL Properties /
Hughes Federal Credit Union /
Management &Training Corporation /
Pima Federal Credit Union-Corporate 1
Tucson Electric Power/
Trico Electric Cooperative, Inc. /
In addition, today's Ruby Sponsors:
Arizona State University/
MHC Healthcare /
Psomas /
The University of Arizona /
Tucson Airport Authority /
Visiting Angels
These companies and organizations listed in your program and on the screens around me have
invested in our community and we would like to thank you for your commitment to Marano.
I'd also like to take a moment to recognize a few folks in the audience today. We have several
elected officials with us, and I'd like to invite each of the elected officials to stand to be
recognized for your public service.
Finally, I'd like to take a moment to recognize members of the armed forces, veterans and
emergency responders who are here with us today.Thank you for your service to Marana and our
country. Please stand to be recognized.
JOAN LEE / PRESENTATION OF COLORS, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, NATIONAL
ANTHEM
Please stand for the Presentation of the Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance by Marana Police
Department and Northwest Fire District. Followed by the National Anthem sung by the Marana
High School and Mountain View High School choir students.
JOAN LEE / INTRODUCE INVOCATION
Pastor Dale Moe will now lead the invocation.
12:20 / JOAN LEE / LUNCH BEGINS
And now please enjoy your lunch.The program will begin in a few minutes.
[SWITCH TO TOWN OF MARANA POWERPOINT]
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[SLIDE 1 : STATE OF THE TOWN BRAND]
12: 25 / JOAN LEE INTRODUCES MAYOR AND VIDEO
I hope you're enjoying your lunch! Before I invite Mayor Ed Honea up here to start the presentation,
I'd like to draw your attention to the screens, where Town of Marana staff have prepared a special
message.
[SLIDE 2: PLAY VIDEO]
[SLIDE 3: STATE OF THE TOWN BRAND]
JOAN LEE/MAYOR ED HONEA INTRODUCTION
Mayor Honea is the third generation of a five-generation Marana family and has served on the
council on three different occasions. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Marana as a
contractor for 29 years before retiring in 2007.
Mayor Honea is a member of the Pima Association of Governments, including chair in 2014, and as
the current chair of the Regional Transportation Authority. He serves on the executive board of the
Arizona League of Cities and Towns and is a member of Arizona Town Hall, Central Arizona
Association of Governments, the Arizona Association of Economic Development, the Marana
Optimist Club, and Marana Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Honea is a graduate of Marana High School, the U.S. Naval School of Construction, and
Pima Community College. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War and is a
lifetime member of VFW Post 5990 in Marana.
TOWN OF MARANA/MAYOR ED HONEA OPENING REMARKS
[off teleprompter]
JOAN LEE/ NEWS ANCHOR DAN MARRIES BIO
Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.That is exactly how Dan Marries feels
about working as the evening news anchor at KOLD News 13,where he's been keeping Tucsonans
informed since 1999. Dan got his start in television news in 1995 while he was still a junior at Mesa
State College in Grand Junction, CO. Further news jobs took him to Mankato, MN, Yuma and finally
Tucson. It was also during college he spent four summers as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of
Land Management.
Dan is the father of three boys.
KOLD/ NEWS ANCHOR DAN MARRIES
Good afternoon..
My name is Dan Marries...and I love Marana!
It's truly an honor to be here today, and even more so since it comes at the request of Mayor Ed
Honea.
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We go back quite a few years now and I've come to know him as a man of his word, a man of
honor, a humble leader, and most of all, a man of God. I feel blessed to consider you a friend.
Where else can I live where I see the mayor at church, at the grocery story, at a town park? This is
one of many reasons I CHOOSE to live in Marana...because of its down home feel. BUT, I'll still do a
story on you if you screw up!
The latter half of my childhood, I spent in Pawnee, Oklahoma where I went to Junior high and high
school. Class of 90! It's a very small town,with less than 2,000 people, two stop lights, and everyone
knows everyone. Which has its ups and downs. It definitely kept me out of trouble. For the most
part. My great grandfather homesteaded there in the land run of 1889. Pretty sure he wasn't a
Sooner but there's some family debate on that.
Pawnee, home of the Pawnee Tribe, is a strong knit community where neighbors watch out and
help each other. It's a farming and ranching community. My uncle and cousins still raise cattle
there. Saturdays were spent at the sale barn where the ranchers would get caught up over a cup
of coffee and burger. It's basically an all American small town. I share this with you because I get
that same nostalgic feeling here in Marana and I'll take that any day over a big city where sky
scrapers block the view...one of the many reasons I CHOOSE to call Marana home.
It's also because of the Marana Unified School District.
My oldest son, Kurtis, who's now 24, attended Ironwood Elementary School where Mrs. Vemich
back then would stand at the front entrance every morning greeting the students and parents by
name. Where I volunteered once a week in his class with Ms. White, his kindergarten teacher. It
was, and still is, a family oriented campus.
My middle son, Dean, who is a 3rd grader at Twin Peaks K-8,where his teacher, Mrs. E, sends out
frequent messages keeping his mom and me up to date on how he's doing in class. Where
Associate Principal, Mr.Tidwell, stands in the drop off circle waving and chatting with parents
dropping off their kids. A friendly, welcoming atmosphere I feel pretty much everywhere in Marana.
Another reason I choose to live in Marana is safety. I feel safe here.The Marana Police Department
does a fantastic job of keeping our community safe. I realize we do have some problems,just like
any other town or city. I had someone break into my truck a couple of years back. That one night I
didn't park in the garage. Someone busted out my window and stole some things but Marana PD
responded, dusted for fingerprints, and has called a couple of times letting me know they're still on
the case. Knowing there are detectives working to solve these types of property crimes is reassuring
to me. They care. They want to catch the bad guys...just as much as we do. From a professional
standpoint as a journalist, Marana PD has always been quick to respond when I have questions
about what's going on and when I'm out and about and come across a scene, the officers are
always incredibly professional and courteous as I nose around shooting video and asking
questions.So for the Marana officers here today, thank you for that and thank you for your service.
We appreciate your hard work.
Marana has changed drastically since I moved here in 1999. I remember the two houses that stood
where the Wal-Mart is at 1-10 and Cortaro. I love hearing stories from others who recall the
Shamrock Dairy Farm east of 1-10 towards Oldfather,where I live now. Before all the houses,
Shamrock sported a herd of milk cows that numbered about 1,500 by the late 1970s. A good friend
of mine, Rick Hummer, has a 10-acre parcel there at Cortaro and Camino de Oeste and tells me
how he used to ride his horse north to the Tortolitas and pass only three houses. He can name every
family that lived in those homes.
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It's all gone now but it's a part of our heritage and history that Marana embraces and honors as we
continue to grow and change. Remembering where we came from helps guide us where we're
going. I appreciate how town leaders recognize and preserve our history instead of forgetting it. It's
showcased with projects like the Marana Heritage River Park and the preservation of artifacts from
an ancient Hohokam village at Crossroads at Silverbell Park. People have lived here for thousands
of years along the Santa Cruz and now we're blessed to call this same area home today.
Marana has so much to offer. We still have plenty of wide open spaces with unobstructed views of
the Tucson and Tortolita Mountains. We have an abundance of hiking trails, the golf courses, a
portion of the The Loop, hot air balloons on those cool crisp mornings, and so many wonderful
parks. As a dad with two young boys,we play in the parks all the time. During the summer the
splashpads are a huge hit with Dean and Preston along with the zip line park off Tangerine. Thank
you to the Marana Parks and Rec Department for all the work you do.
Not only do I live in Marana, but I also work in Marana.The KOLD News 13 studios are just down the
road from Arizona Pavilions at Cortaro and 1-10. We've established deep rooted relationships with
the community and businesses based right here in our town. We cover Marana news more so than
than the other two stations, forging a neighborly bond with our fellow Maranans. Is that what we
call ourselves? Marananans or Maranians? Mayor, can you put together a committee so we can
settle that debate once and for all. I can chair it.
In summary, Marana is more than a town...we're family. We have a strong heritage spanning back
thousands of years - comprised of centuries of culture, pride, ambition, a can-do desert attitude,
and a vision for the future...with endless possibilities.
I just want to say thank you to all of here today. It's people like you who make Marana our town. It's
our neighbors, it's my favorite Courtesy Clerk, Sarah Mathews at the Fry's at Ina and Thornydale
who always greets me with a genuine smile and asks how my boys are doing. It's the friendly faces
at the Clean Freak Car Wash on Ina where I wash my pickup. It's the helpful employees at Ace
Hardware on Cortaro who walk me to the stuff I need when trying to fix things at home and I'm not
a DIY kind of guy. It's people like Javier at Spectrum Ina Road Collision who's fixed a few dents on
my trucks over the years. It's Vanessa Duley at Great Clips on Cortaro who's been cutting my hair
for more than 20 years and Chris across the street at QT, who always gives me a cheerful hello and
asks, "how's it goin' my man!" It's Jon Post who works like a mad man to make the Marana Pumpkin
Patch a fun family event, and it's people like Councilwoman Patti Comerford who will text me
during a newscast letting me know my tie is crooked. I always appreciate that too...very much.
And it's people like Mayor Ed Honea,who work tirelessly and selflessly to make our town the best
place to live as we move forward while keeping a proud eye on our past.Thank you.
JOAN LEE/ NEWS ANCHOR DENELLE CONFAIR BIO
Denelle Confair is proud to call Southern Arizona home. She graduated from the Walter Cronkite
School of Journalism and Communications. It's been her dream to tell your stories for the past
decade. She is extremely curious and wants to continue to use her storytelling for the greater
good. She's married to a firefighter and they have a daughter and a brand new baby boy.She
loves traveling, being outdoors and getting coffee. She works for KGUN 9 On Your Side, and
anchors weekdays at 4 pm.
KGUN 9 / NEWS ANCHOR DENELLE CONFAIR
[SLIDE 4: PLAY VIDEO]
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[SLIDE 5: STATE OF THE TOWN BRAND]
JOAN LEE/VIC HATHAWAY
Vic Hathaway has worked for the Town of Marana for just over a decade, most recently as the
Communications Manager.She leads a dynamic creative team for government public relations
and brand management, including PR, digital and print media,website management, content
creation, and more. She is married to her husband, Eric, and together they have two daughters as
well as a dog, and a hamster.
TOWN OF MARANA/ COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER VIC HATHAWAY
Thank you, Mayor Honea, for inviting me on-stage today to speak about Marana & the Media.
Also, thank you to Amanda Wiggins and the Chamber of Commerce for putting on such a
delightful event. It's always a joy to partner with you and make great things happen.
My name is Vic Hathaway, and I have the privilege of managing communications for the Town of
Marana.
First, I have to recognize the amazing programs, policies, and services provided by our
departments under the inspirational leadership of Council, Town management, and directors. It's
an honor to serve you and share your hard work with the community.
Secondly, I would like to recognize my team.
Will Ramon Armenta, Amanda Gomez, Zakary King, and Hannah Shilling please stand? They are
the creative minds behind today's event branding and the opening video, plus all the marketing,
and PR put out by the Town. I feel so lucky to work with them. Please join me in recognizing their
amazing contributions.
Our theme today is "Marana & the Media: Voices to vision".
Effective public service is, in many ways, a two-way conversation. My role is to assist our
departments in widening that conversation to as many voices as possible so that you feel heard.
We do this by diversifying our outreach methods. We do this by pursuing strategic partnerships. And
we do this by supporting a creative environment where no ideas are bad ideas, they're just the
beginning. And many times, those ideas turn into something really great.
[SLIDE 6: REAL TALK WITH THE TOWN BRAND]
The world is rapidly changing,which means we, too, must evolve.This year,we took the
conversation to new heights with the Real Talk with the Town podcast. What better way to show
transparency and accountability to our residents than to answer their questions in the most candid
way possible by the coolest-sounding Town Manager in the southwest?
[SLIDE 7: PLAY AUDIO/VIDEO]
Since starting the podcast in mid-December, we've received five-star reviews, including one who
said Real Talk with the Town is "a must-listen for all residents of Marana," and another who said
"Terry is a great host! Looking forward to more topics about our town."
Let's give a big round of applause for Marana Town Manager Terry Rozema.
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[SLIDE 8: STATE OF THE TOWN BRAND]
As I mentioned earlier, public service is a conversation, and that conversation isn't complete
without our media partners. Dan and Denelle are frequent flyers when it comes to Marana
coverage, of which we are so thankful, and I extend that gratitude to the many news outlets
located in our region, including television, print, and radio.
To strengthen our partnership and demonstrate the Town's dedication to five-star service,we've
created a training program so key staff members across all departments are well-equipped to
work with the media. Not only does this increase our transparency and accountability, it
guarantees quick response times during emergencies.
Now, when I say that our theme today is Marana &The Media: Voices to Vision, I've talked a lot
about Voices, but you may be wondering where the Vision comes in. And this where I extend an
invitation to you.
I invite you to visit our website and subscribe to our Marana Newsroom so you can stay-up-to-date
on the major projects and services on a daily basis. I invite you fill out our surveys and attend our
public meetings and contribute your voice to our planning process. I invite you to follow us on
social media, and I invite you to contact us with your questions, concerns, and comments.
Because this is where the transformation happens. Your voices turn into focus areas, goals,
strategies, and action items,which then, in turn, become a Recreation Center, soccer fields, a
police facility, paved roads, and much more.
Through your proactive engagement, your voice will become part of our collective vision.
Thank you to our media partners for making the conversation as big as possible, and thank you
again, Mayor Honea, for having me on-stage today.
JOAN LEE /MAYOR HONEA/TOWN OF MARANA COMMUNITY AWARDS
Each year, the Town of Marana honors members of the public for their service to the community. I
would like to invite Mayor Ed Honea back on stage to present the awards.
For our Youth Legacy Award-please welcome Caity Stueck to the stage!
This year's Youth Legacy Award goes to Caity Stueck for making a significant impact through the
power of coaching.This award recognizes individuals that promote a healthy and supportive
environment for youth and create educational opportunities to enrich young minds. As a swim
coach for the Marana Marlins, Caity has done that by serving as a role model for kids of all ages
and teaching them discipline and the importance of swim.
The Marana Marlins team says that "Caity goes above and beyond in everything she does. She is
always volunteering to be part of activities and is always willing and ready to help in every
capacity."
For our first Branding Iron Award, please welcome Don and Georgia Duncan to the stage.
Since moving to Marana in 2007, Don and Georgia Duncan have left their mark on the community,
and what a mark it's been! Their volunteer work extends from their own neighborhood HOA to the
Marana Community Food Bank and the Town of Marana. Don served on the Marana Volunteer
Police Academy, the Marano Citizens' Forum, and the Marana Planning Commission, the latter of
which he just retired after ten years.
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Georgia has always been by Don's side as-quote- "the mouse in his pocket", helping in the
background and, in some cases, taking lead on projects.
Don and Georgia Duncan have made an impact on their community and the people around
them simply by being themselves. Please join me in congratulating Don and Georgia!
Finally,for our second Branding Iron award, please welcome Dot Santy to the stage.
Dot Santy is a huge supporter of our schools.She attended a Marana High School Choir concert in
2019 and learned that one of the students was experiencing homelessness. She knew that she had
to do something to help them and any other student in a similar situation. She scheduled a
meeting with the Director of Student and Family Support Services to discuss the needs of students
and families in the Marana community, and the rest, shall we say, his history. After her first benefit
concert raised over$2,000, Dot went on to create the Youth Education Supports (YES) group to
increase awareness of student needs.Since their first fundraiser, Dot has helped raise over$300,000
dollars.
What an impact. Congratulations, Dot!
JOAN LEE I AMANDA WIGGINS INTRODUCTION I BIO
Thank you for joining me in honoring the award recipients. Now, I would like to introduce the
President/CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, Amanda Wiggins.
AMANDA WIGGINS I MARANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT/CEO
First and foremost, I would like to thank each of you for attending today's event, all of our sponsors,
our Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and our Chamber staff- Rebecca, Tammie &Sally.The Town
of Marana Communications Team-truly the best of the best, as is expected with a 5-star local
government. And our volunteers consisting of Board Members, Ambassadors and Town of Marana
staff. These are the people who make our biggest event of the year a success-thank you!
The Marana Chamber of Commerce has worked intentionally to honor the history of our Chamber
and community while adapting to the growth and needs of our community. That is why I am
honored to share and invite you to be a part of a new program of the Marana Chamber of
Commerce. Please direct your attention to the screens....
[SLIDE 9: PLAY CHAMBER VIDEO]
[SLIDE 10: STATE OF THE TOWN BRAND]
The Marana Chamber of Commerce and our community partners are proud to launch this new
program allowing our community and business leaders to take their businesses, organizations and
our community to the next level through a unique program filled with valuable information and
behind-the-scenes experiences.
If you'd like to be the first to know when more information and the application process opens for
Impact Marano, please submit your contact information through the Impact Marana interest forms
through the cards on your table or on the way out of today's event through the large posters. You
are invited to be a part of Impact Marano.
AMANDA WIGGINS I MAYOR HONEA RE-INTRODUCTION
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Thank you- please welcome back Mayor Ed Honea.
MAYOR HONEA I FINAL REMARKS
(Off teleprompter)
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