Construction Underway on Chamberlain Group North American Hub

TUCSON, Ariz. / TEMPE, Ariz. (Oct. 28, 2026) — Sun State Builders, a leading Arizona general contractor based in Tempe, started construction on a 100,527-square-foot addition to Chamberlain Group’s distribution hub in Tucson. The addition will support the distribution facility’s function of high-speed turnover and order fulfilment of Chamberlain Group products. The facility is located at the southwest corner of Drexel and Country Club Roads in south Tucson. A groundbreaking was held in early October, and the project is targeted for completion in April 2027.

Developer EastGroup Properties contracted Sun State Builders to build the concrete tilt addition to the existing Chamberlain Group manufacturing and distribution facility. The existing building is 300,000 square feet. With the addition, it will grow to more than 400,000 square feet. The expansion includes demolition of an existing 50-foot-tall exterior wall on the north end of the original building that will be removed once the new structure is complete. This ensures a more seamless process with limited disruption to existing operations during construction.

“Projects like this highlight the importance of strong coordination and trusted relationships,” states Sun State Builders CEO Mike Forst. “Expanding an active distribution facility requires careful planning and execution to keep operations running smoothly while maintaining the security and organization the client depends on.”

Chamberlain Group manufactures garage door openers, gate openers and access control products under brands including Chamberlain, LiftMaster and myQ. Its subsidiary, Chamberlain Doors, operates at the Tucson facility, which serves as a distribution link to the company’s manufacturing plant in Mexico.

The Tucson hub is certified under the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that supports supply chain security and expedited border processing for approved shipments between the Mexico plant and Tucson. Construction crews must comply with the program’s security requirements while working alongside the active manufacturing and distribution operation.

Sun State Builders has served Arizona for more than 50 years, with projects ranging from new commercial construction to tenant improvements. The design and construction firm is headquartered at 1050 W. Washington St., Suite 214, in Tempe.

For more information about services and projects, visit sunstatebuilders.com.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (October 28, 2026) — Latitude 33 Planning, Engineering & Surveying is celebrating its 33rd anniversary with a growing Southwest presence, including a Phoenix office opened this year.

Founded in 1993, the San Diego firm has grown from four to 75 team members and now generates annual revenue of $18 million to $20 million. Its portfolio spans major residential communities, healthcare campuses, universities, airports and civic facilities. The firm attributes its growth to close client relationships, principal involvement and investment in its people.

Building a Foundation

Latitude 33 was founded by four partners, including planner Randi Coopersmith and civil engineer John Eardensohn, who envisioned a collaborative company with principals directly involved in every client relationship and project.

A breakthrough came in 1996, when the firm partnered with Pardee Homes on Pacific Highlands Ranch. Other early clients and projects included Scripps Health, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, and Eastgate Tech Park. As its portfolio grew, the firm focused on recruiting strong leaders and building lasting relationships.

An ownership transition in 2019 established a new leadership team. Matthew J. Semic, PE, who led the firm’s commercial markets, became president and an owner alongside Chief Financial Officer Kris Taylor. Senior Principal Giovanni Posillico, PE, also acquired an ownership stake. In 2026, Taylor’s role expanded to chief financial and administrative officer.

The leadership team developed a growth strategy focused on broadening services, diversifying projects and entering new markets while preserving the firm’s collaborative culture.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built in 33 years,” said Semic. “This milestone represents a level of maturity for our firm—we have an exceptional team, trusted partners who share our commitment to collaboration, a clear understanding of where we excel, and a track record we’re proud of. After taking calculated leaps and learning invaluable lessons, it feels as though we’re entering our prime. We’re grateful for the people and communities who have been part of our journey.”

Projects That Shaped the Firm

Latitude 33’s growth has closely followed San Diego’s evolution. Projects central to that growth include:

• Pacific Highlands Ranch: The firm contributed to the 2,652-acre community for more than 25 years, culminating in the opening of Aperture Del Mar Phase 2 and the Pacific Highlands Ranch Library in 2024.
• County of San Diego Operations Center: Latitude 33 worked on the 47-acre campus for nearly two decades. With more than 15 structures, the development incorporated design and construction practices centered on sustainability and employee wellness.
• UC San Diego: The firm’s work includes the $2.5 billion to $3 billion Hillcrest Medical Campus Redevelopment, the $428 million Triton Center and the $185 million Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute.
• San Diego International Airport: Latitude 33 served as landside civil engineer for the $3.8 billion New Terminal 1 project and continues to work with the airport on the Terminal 2 East Connector Building.

Latitude 33 also holds small business certifications at the state, federal and local levels and is pursuing Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification for its military sector work.

Expanding Across the Southwest

Latitude 33’s geographic expansion has largely followed existing clients into new markets. In addition to its company-owned San Diego headquarters, the firm has opened four offices since 2023:

• Sacramento, established in 2023: Serves clients in the northern portion of California’s Central Valley.
• Downtown Los Angeles, established in 2024: Serves Ventura, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties, supported by a fully staffed survey team in Burbank.
• Inland Empire, established in 2025: Serves Riverside County and the Coachella Valley.
• Phoenix, established in 2026: Supports contracts in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Yuma and surrounding markets.

Recent project awards, including 1,200 student housing units at UC Santa Cruz, are further extending the firm’s reach along the California coast.

“We’re celebrating our 33rd anniversary because we have embraced challenges and viewed them as opportunities to grow,” said Taylor. “We’ve intentionally built the operational procedures and organizational structures necessary to support that growth—but our greatest investment has always been our people. We don’t hire to fill positions; we hire people who help drive our organization forward.”

Posillico said those relationships remain central to the firm’s direction.

“Ultimately, our greatest measure of success isn’t the projects we’ve completed, but the relationships we’ve built along the way—the people who have trusted us, grown with us, and helped shape who we are today,” he said. “Those relationships are the foundation of our past and the inspiration for our future.”

About Latitude 33 Planning, Engineering & Surveying

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in San Diego, Latitude 33 provides public sector and land use planning, public outreach, entitlement services, civil engineering, surveying and mapping for public agencies, developers and property owners.

Its expertise spans aviation, life sciences, residential, education, healthcare, military, commercial, retail, civic and hospitality projects. Women account for 40% of the firm’s engineers.

For more information, visit latitude33.com.

TUCSON, Ariz. (Oct. 28, 2026) – Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR is pleased to announce the addition of Buna George to its brokerage team as an Industrial Specialist based in Yuma, Arizona. George brings more than a decade of real estate experience, along with an extensive background in economic development, industrial land development, and cross-border trade throughout Southern Arizona.

George has held an Arizona real estate license since 2013, with experience supporting residential, commercial, industrial, and land transactions. Her background includes site evaluation, market analysis, negotiations, leasing, sales, and property management.

Since 2018, George has also served as Executive Director of the Greater Yuma Port Authority, a quasi-governmental nonprofit organization focused on international trade, transportation infrastructure, and economic development along the U.S.–Mexico border. In this role, she worked closely with local governments, federal agencies, and private-sector partners to support regional growth, including coordinating the planning and development of more than 120 acres of industrial land near the San Luis commercial port of entry.

A Yuma native, George grew up along the U.S.–Mexico border and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Her longstanding ties to the region, combined with her experience in real estate and economic development, provide valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing businesses and investors in the northern Sonora and Baja California region.

George earned a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning and Development from Arizona State University and is currently undertaking a Global Logistics Professional certification through California State University, Long Beach. She is also actively involved in regional leadership, serving as a planning and zoning commissioner for the City of San Luis, AZ, and Chair of Elevate Southwest. She was appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs to the Arizona-Mexico Commission in 2023 and is a member of the Arizona Community Foundation’s Yuma Regional Board of Advisors. In 2023, she was selected as a Flinn-Brown Fellow through the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.

Sheila Schmidt, CEO of C&W | PICOR, said, “We are thrilled to have Buna join the Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR team and look forward to the perspective she brings to clients looking at Yuma and the U.S.–Mexico border region. Few people understand this market from as many angles as she does: real estate, economic development, infrastructure, and international trade.”

“The Yuma–San Luis region works as one connected economy, with manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics strengthening one another across the border. Local leaders have spent years laying the groundwork for growth, and I’m excited to help businesses take advantage of that momentum,” said Buna George.

Buna George can be contacted at [email protected] or 928-315-9070.