The Chamber of Southern Arizona

What The Chamber of Southern Arizona does

The Chamber of Southern Arizona is a nonprofit chamber of commerce formed in May 2025 through the strategic merger of the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce and Sun Corridor Inc., creating a unified business advocacy and economic development organization for the Tucson and Southern Arizona region. The organization represents approximately 1,400 member businesses that collectively employ roughly 85,000 individuals, with Sun Corridor's predecessor membership covering nearly 90% of Pima County employment. Its core offerings include business advocacy and policy influence, workforce development and talent attraction programs, economic development initiatives, networking events, and an investor/membership program structured in Gold and Silver tiers, alongside specialized councils, committees, and economic research resources.

The Chamber generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring membership/investor dues, event registrations and ticket sales (e.g., Business Summit, USMCA forums, Industry Impact Series), and multi-tier corporate sponsorships for events and programs. Pricing for member events ranges around $50–$110 per attendee, while non-member rates run higher. Services are delivered through a regional, relationship-driven go-to-market model that combines direct membership sales, event-based engagement, and an online investor portal supporting directories, job listings, and member offers. The organization has no proprietary technology platform or SaaS product; its competitive value rests on network density, advocacy access, and convening power.

Leadership is anchored by Joe Snell (President & CEO, previously Sun Corridor Inc. CEO), Alison Flynn Gaffney (Chair of the Board), Michael Guymon (Chief Advocacy Officer, former Tucson Metro Chamber CEO), and Karla Bernal Morales (Chief Partnerships Officer, hired December 2025). The Chamber has built strategic alliances with the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Pima Community College, Tucson Electric Power, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Bombardier, Schnitzer Properties, the Arizona Mexico Commission, and the UA Space Institute, signaling an explicit focus on cross-border trade, aerospace/defense, bioscience/healthcare, and workforce pipeline development.

Name

The Chamber of Southern Arizona

Legal name

The Chamber of Southern Arizona

Website

https://thechambersoaz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chamber of Southern Arizona is a nonprofit chamber of commerce formed in 2025 via merger of the Tucson Metro Chamber and Sun Corridor Inc., serving approximately 1,400 member businesses and 85,000 employees in the Tucson and Southern Arizona region through advocacy, economic development, and membership-based networking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Chamber generates revenue through investor/membership dues. Organizations become investors/members to access networking, advocacy, and economic development services. Tiers include Gold and Silver investor levels with presumably different benefit packages.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event registrations, ticket sales, and table purchases for chamber events such as the Kickoff Luncheon, Business Summit, and other networking programs.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for chamber events and programs, with multiple sponsorship tiers including Title Sponsor, Supporting Sponsor, Collaborator Sponsor, Advocate Sponsor, Signature Sponsor, and Kickoff Sponsor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chamber of Southern Arizona is a nonprofit chamber of commerce that delivers business advocacy, economic development, workforce development, and networking services to businesses across Tucson and Southern Arizona. It operates an investor/membership program with tiered benefits (Gold and Silver), runs an events calendar (Business Summit, Good Morning Tucson, Chamber XChange, USMCA forums), and provides councils and committees such as Military Affairs, Ambassadors, and Small Business Council.

Product overview

The Chamber of Southern Arizona offers chamber of commerce and economic development services, including business advocacy, economic development initiatives, workforce development programs, networking events, investor/membership programs, and community development activities for the Tucson and Southern Arizona region. It does not offer a distinct digital product, software platform, or SaaS offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investor Membership Program Tiered membership program (Gold and Silver investor levels) providing businesses access to advocacy, networking, councils, committees, and economic development services across Southern Arizona.
• Kickoff Luncheon Annual signature event launching the Chamber's programming year, featuring leadership presentations, networking, and recognition of new investors. Includes registration fees for members ($110/person) and non-members ($130/person).
• Business Summit & Expo Recurring business summit and exposition event providing networking, exhibits, and business development opportunities for chamber investors and the regional business community.
• Industry Impact Series Presented by the University of Arizona, this forum series convenes industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers on topics such as national security in space, with paid registration ($65 including refreshments).
• The Future of USMCA Forum Trade policy forum on the impact of USMCA on Southern Arizona's cross-border economy with Mexico, featuring Governor Katie Hobbs. Hosted by Bombardier at the Tucson Service Center. Pricing: $50 for chamber investors, $75 for non-investors.
• Business Advocacy Services Policy advocacy and lobbying services on behalf of member businesses, including the Competitiveness Agenda, candidate forums, and support for measures such as Proposition 312.
• Councils & Committees Program Structured engagement groups for investors including the Military Affairs Committee, Ambassador Committee, Emerging Leaders, and Small Business Council, providing targeted networking and policy engagement.
• Economic Development Programs Programs supporting business attraction, retention, and expansion across Tucson and Southern Arizona, including workforce/talent resources, demographics data, incentive navigation, and reports such as the Economic Blueprint, TUS Blueprint, and Pivot Playbook.
• Electronic Certificates of Origin Issuance of electronic certificates of origin to support businesses engaged in international trade.
• Event Sponsorships Tiered corporate sponsorship packages for Chamber events and programs (Title, Supporting, Collaborator, Advocate, Signature, Kickoff Sponsor tiers) generating recurring sponsorship revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85,000 employees represented through member organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, host, collaborator sponsor, supporting, major support and project partner.

• Arizona Mexico CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Arizona Mexico Commission is a partner for 'The Future of USMCA' event focused on trade policy impacts on Southern Arizona's cross-border economy with Mexico.
• BombardierhostGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Bombardier is hosting the USMCA event at their Tucson Service Center and serves as event host for the trade policy forum featuring Governor Katie Hobbs.
• University of Arizona Space InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026UA Space Institute partners with the Chamber for the Industry Impact Series focusing on National Security in Space, featuring research and local defense initiatives.
• Arizona State University (ASU)collaborator sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 May 2025ASU is a Collaborator Sponsor for the Chamber Kickoff Luncheon and presents the 'Good Morning Tucson' monthly event series.
• Schnitzer Propertiescollaborator sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 May 2025Schnitzer Properties is a Collaborator Sponsor for the Chamber's Kickoff Luncheon. The company has invested over $200 million in Tucson industrial developments.
• TMC Healthcollaborator sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 May 2025TMC Health is a Collaborator Sponsor for Chamber events, supporting healthcare workforce initiatives and regional healthcare development.
• University of Arizonacollaborator sponsorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2025University of Arizona is a Collaborator Sponsor and partners with the Chamber on the Eller College of Management 'Breakfast With The Economists' event and the Industry Impact Series. Joe Snell, President & CEO of Sun Corridor Inc. (now Chamber), came from Sun Corridor Inc. partnership with UA on economic development.
• Bank of AmericasupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 May 2025Bank of America is a sponsor for the USMCA event focused on trade policy and Southern Arizona's economy.
• Desert DiamondsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 May 2025Desert Diamond is a sponsor for Chamber events, supporting economic development initiatives in the region.
• Tucson Electric Power (TEP)major supportOthersTEP is listed as a major supporter of the Chamber. Susan Gray, President & CEO of Tucson Electric Power, served as the first chair of the newly merged Chamber organization.
• Pima Community College (PCC)major supportOthersPCC is listed as a major supporter of the Chamber, providing educational and workforce development alignment.
• Davis-Monthan Air Force BasecoreOthersThe Chamber's Military Affairs Committee (MAC) supports Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, fostering connections between military personnel and the business community.
• 162nd Air National Guard WingcoreOthersThe Chamber's Military Affairs Committee supports the 162nd Air National Guard Wing as part of advocacy and community relations efforts.
• Willmeng Constructionproject partnerOthersWillmeng Construction is the construction partner for Schnitzer Properties' Corona Commerce Center and Drexel Commerce Center developments in Tucson.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber serving the Scottsdale area with similar member tiers, event programming, and advocacy services. Comparable business model but in a different Arizona sub-market.
• Mesa Chamber of Commerce: City-level chamber of commerce in Arizona with membership dues, events, and advocacy programs. Operates the same chamber-of-commerce model in a different geography.
• Tempe Chamber of Commerce: Another Arizona-based regional chamber serving a single city. Comparable membership/event model but in a different metro area, making it a regional peer rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Greater Tucson Economic Council: An economic development organization focused on attracting and retaining businesses in the Tucson region. Directly comparable in economic development function and target member base, though with a narrower focus than the merged Chamber.
• Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: A competing chamber in the same Tucson market, serving a specific demographic segment of the local business community. Directly comparable in service mix (advocacy, networking, events) but differentiates by community focus.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Phoenix Chamber: The largest chamber of commerce in Arizona, serving the Phoenix metropolitan region. Comparable as a regional business advocacy organization with membership-based funding, but operates in a larger and more economically diverse market, making it a broad incumbent rather than direct competitor.
• Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Statewide business advocacy organization focused on policy and legislative influence. Comparable in advocacy function but operates at the state level rather than regional, serving as a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem.

Others

• Visit Tucson / Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau: Regional economic development and tourism promotion organization in Tucson. Comparable in promoting regional economic vitality but focuses on tourism rather than business advocacy.
• National Association of chambers of commerce peers (e.g., Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives): Industry association serving chamber of commerce executives across the U.S. Comparable at an industry/membership association level but operates as a peer network rather than a competing chamber.
• Arizona Mexico Commission: A binational trade organization that partners with the Chamber on USMCA events. Comparable in cross-border economic development focus but operates at a different level (state-bilateral) rather than regional.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheTucsonChamber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thechambersoaz
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechambersoaz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Chamber of Southern Arizona