TUCSON, AZ (February 24, 2026) -- Pima County Economic Development Director Heath Vescovi-Chiordi is extending the department’s work beyond day-to-day operations by investing time in community leadership and high-impact business recruitment events. He says the effort helps open doors for new connections and development opportunities across Southern Arizona.
A key example came Feb. 5, when Vescovi-Chiordi attended the Waste Management Open in Scottsdale as a guest of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) alongside a group of invited businesses. The golf tournament, formerly known as the Phoenix Open, has a long history in Arizona and is widely viewed as a relationship-focused setting where recruiters and decision makers can connect outside the conference room.
“This was such a great opportunity to meet new contractors, companies and developers to create some new connections and relationships,” Vescovi-Chiordi said. “It helped me open up new development opportunities for Southern Arizona and Pima County.”
The week of Feb. 9, 2026, continued that outreach focus locally through Greater Tucson Leadership (GTL), where Vescovi-Chiordi serves on the organization’s board. GTL runs programs to build stronger civic and business leaders in the region.
On Feb. 12, he served as the first speaker for GTL’s Lead Tucson program during its Economic Development Day, delivering an “Economic Development 101” session to frame the day’s discussions. He also led a panel with regional economic development leaders focused on the push-and-pull factors that influence business expansion and attraction, and on the importance of meeting companies where they are, both geographically and in the lifecycle of their growth decisions.
On Feb. 14, Vescovi-Chiordi returned to GTL programming alongside Amanda Jones of Tucson Water, speaking to the organization’s Civic and Political Leadership Academy cohort. Their discussion centered on how younger employees can help bring innovation to government operations, from process improvements to new ways of delivering public services.
“I always appreciate so much the work Greater Tucson Leadership does in our community,” Vescovi-Chiordi said. “I’m so thankful to serve on their board and help the amazing staff execute their programming by speaking at events with my colleagues from across the region and state. It’s a privilege to talk about my work in economic development.”
Taken together, the February schedule reflects a deliberate strategy that pairs community leadership development with real world business engagement. The goal is to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline, sharpen its economic development message, and build the relationships that often precede major investment decisions.