by John Stapleton, Contributing Editor In a time before central air conditioning, before the casino, and when most of the region was farmland instead of tract housing, Robert Miguel of the Ak-Chin Indian Community grew up with many of the homes still being adobe, houses built out of sticks and mud. Miguel’s mother Janice was … Read More…
Economic Development Director, Pinal County Interview by Bea Lueck GC LIVING: So here with James Smith, the new Pinal County economic development director. Let’s start at the beginning. Where were you born and raised? James Smith: Born and raised in San Jose, California. I went to San Jose State University for both my bachelor’s in economics and … Read More…
World Champion Aerobatic Pilot Interview by Bea Lueck GC LIVING: We’ll just start at the very beginning. You were born in Texas, where? Kirby Chambliss: Corpus Christi. GC LIVING: And how long did you live there? Kirby Chambliss: I went basically through high school there, aside from a couple of short stints out to California. GC LIVING: And your dad … Read More…
President and CEO, Pinal Partnership Interview by Bea Lueck GC LIVING: Tell me where you were born and raised, and a little bit about your family. Tony Smith: I was born in Muncie, Indiana, and I grew up in a suburb of Indianapolis that was about 12,000 people, very small-town atmosphere, and it seemed like we lived … Read More…
Chairman/President/CEO, Global Water Resources Interview by Bea Lueck There is a quote often attributed to Mark Twain that goes, “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting.” No truer phrase exists in the Southwest. Dwindling supplies brought on by drought conditions have limited development growth in the region. Farm fields sit idle, subdivisions are on … Read More…
Interview by Bea Lueck GC LIVING: This issue’s interview is with Art Carlton, a planner with the Pinal County Office of Emergency Management. Tell us briefly about yourself. Art Carlton: I tell people I was born in Syracuse, New York. My folks went there for a funeral, and I was born, and then they came … Read More…
Justice of the Peace Interview by Rock Earle I had seen Brett Eisele for years around town, always readily noticeable for his sartorial choices: always distinctive, if not also occasionally downright elegant. Which always seemed to me to be oddly out of place in our rough-and-tumble little desert town. The tie clips, cufflinks, and on … Read More…
Mayor, Town of Superior Interview by Bea Lueck I first met Mila about five years ago as we worked on various print projects. At that time she was very involved with Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition as executive director, sold advertising for the Copper-Area News Publishers, a member of several chambers of commerce, served … Read More…
President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Interview by Bea Lueck Renée Louzon-Benn grew up on the southern coast of Rhode Island, a beachcomber at heart. The call of the sea is still strong within her and she returns as often as possible. After moving to Arizona in the early 90s, Renée has been a … Read More…
Founder, Shearer Enterprises Interview by Bea Lueck A few weeks ago, just as the merger between Shearer Enterprises and ROX Home Services was finalized, I had the opportunity to talk at length with Fred Shearer. Fred grew up in Maricopa and along with his wife, Jess, raised their family here in Casa Grande. His business … Read More…