Picture the Future of Marana’s Tourism Economy

Jill McCleary is a passionate advocate for preserving Marana’s cultural heritage. Jill earned her master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 2006 and moved to the Marana area shortly after graduating. She has over twenty years of experience working in museums and archives, including positions with the Arizona Historical Society and the University of Arizona.

As the Cultural Heritage Specialist for the Town of Marana, Jill collects, preserves, and shares the town’s rich history. Since starting in the role in December 2023, she has begun an active oral history program to capture the stories of long-time locals and has collected over 200 photographs that document the Town’s history. Jill is now the Town Clerk for Marana but also retains her Cultural Heritage work.

Outside of work, Jill loves to travel locally, nationally, and abroad. You can often find her outside at one of her favorite historic locations in Marana, including Los Morteros, El Rio Preserve, or Crossroads Park.

Amanda Wiggins has served as the President/CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce for nearly three years – furthering the organization’s mission of building a thriving community through connected business leadership.

She is the proud wife of Dillon Wiggins and mother of Elliot & Theodore. Her family relocated to Marana, AZ from Tallahassee, FL in December 2020 where she worked as the Program Director for Leadership Tallahassee at the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.

Amanda was honored by BizTucson as one of the 22 Rising Stars to Watch – Tucson’s Next Generation of Leaders. She has a heart for serving the community and demonstrates that through her volunteerism on the Board of Directors for four local organizations: MHC Healthcare, American Red Cross - Southern Arizona Chapter, Gladden Farms Elementary PTO and the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance (SADA). Amanda is also currently participating in the Davis-Monthan Airforce Base Honorary Commander program and is a member of the Tucson Airport Authority.

For the past 20 years, Catherine Campbell has enjoyed a career promoting the place she loves to call home. As the Deputy Director of Pima County’s Attractions & Tourism Department she develops the marketing and advertising and oversees the operation of the Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center located in the County’s Historic Courthouse in downtown Tucson. Catherine finds great joy helping visitors and locals discover and experience the natural beauty, heritage attractions, delectable cuisine, art, music, and cultural events that make southern Arizona so special.

As a Tucson native raised in Oro Valley, Catherine is grateful to have grown up surrounded by the mountains, saguaros, and sunsets of the Sonoran Desert, exploring its hiking trails, delicious restaurants, and taking day trips around Southern Arizona.

She is a graduate of the Eller College at the University of Arizona with a marketing degree and computer science minor, and has held positions in tourism and economic development in various capacities for the County over the years. She currently serves as Vice President on the board of the Tucson City of Gastronomy and is excited to be a part of the Marana Tourism Master Planning Committee.

Vic Hathaway is an award winning communicator with over a decade of experience in local government and public communications. She currently serves as the Communications Manager for the Town of Marana. In addition to serving on the Marana Tourism Master Planning Team, she is also on the Town of Marana Public Art Review Committee and the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy Community Advisory Board.

She loves the many different “layers” of Marana’s rich history, including the first farmers and villagers in ancient times, the Anza Expedition, the westward expansion bringing the Butterfield Overland Stage Company and the Southern Pacific Railroad, and Marana’s recent farming history, that all helped to create the community that we are today.

Her favorite Marana event is the Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting, and her go-to place to get ice cream to cool off from the summer heat is The Screamery or Boba Cucue. She loves monsoon season, and the rain and late-night thunderstorms that it brings.

Stefanie Boe is not just the Tourism and Marketing Manager for Discover Marana, she is also a passionate storyteller and a proud resident of the town. She has deep roots in the Marana area, going back to the 1970s when her entire family moved here from Chicago. She loves to share the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Marana with visitors and locals alike.

Stefanie has a background in television, marketing, social media and communications, but working in tourism is new for her. She enjoys exploring the trails, attractions, and events in Marana and learning more about the history and ecology of the region. She is especially fascinated by the rare crested saguaros, which have a fan-shaped top instead of an arm.

Some of her favorite places to visit in Marana are the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Ironwood Forest National Monument, and Dove Mountain Brewery. She also likes to hike parts of the Arizona Trail, the 800-mile trail system that goes from the border with Mexico to the Utah border. She says it might take the rest of her life, but she is up for the adventure.

Curt Woody is the Economic Development and Tourism Director for the Town of Marana. He has been in this role for nearly 12 years, after a successful career in the private sector, where he worked in development and commercial building. He is also a former president of the Arizona Association for Economic Development, a statewide organization that promotes economic growth and prosperity.

Curt loves his job because he gets to showcase the many attractions and opportunities that Marana has to offer. He is passionate about creating partnerships with businesses, organizations, and individuals that share his vision of making Marana a great place to live, work, and play. He is always looking for new ways to promote Marana’s assets, such as its regional connectivity, business-friendly government, incentives, properties, talent pool, demographics, and the airport.

One of Curt’s favorite aspects of his job is tourism. He enjoys sharing the culture and history of Marana with visitors and locals alike. He is proud of the Discover Marana team, which works hard to provide information and resources for tourists and residents. He is a regular on the Marana courses, with the Golf Club of Dove Mountain being a favorite. But, he says the most memorable hole is No. 11 at Quarry Pines. It’s a par 3 downhill with canyons on the left, front and right of the green. He says it’s basically a tee to green shot or you’re in a mess of trouble.

When Curt has guests from out of town, he likes to take them to some of his favorite places in Marana. For ambience and experience, he takes them to the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain patio for cocktails and bites. For great Mexican food, he has several options, such as Guadalajara’s Grill, Nana’s Kitchen, and La Olla.

Curt prefers mild winters over monsoons because he can enjoy outdoor activities all year round. You may just see him on the course, on a trail or on his bike this winter.

For over 20 years, Alia Pierson has enjoyed a career dedicated to hospitality and tourism. As the owner and Certified Travel Advisor of Briar & Main Travel Boutique & Patisserie, Alia Pierson, along with her national team of advisors, specializes in crafting seamless and luxurious vacations, focusing on destinations like Disney & Universal, Europe, cruises, and the Caribbean. Her passion extends beyond travel as she also brings the flavors of the world back to Arizona through her delicious desserts, creating a unique blend of global experiences and local indulgences.

Born with a natural wanderlust spirt, Alia has spent her life exploring and sharing the wonders of different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes.

She is excited to be a part of initiatives that enhance the travel experience for everyone and looks forward to continuing her journey in promoting the joys of exploration and adventure.

When she’s not baking and traveling, she’s busy with her husband raising her young family of 4 children in Marana.

Brandon Mejia is the Marketing and Tourism Specialist for the Town of Marana, a vastly expanding community throughout southern Arizona. Having grown up amidst the continuous sunshine, cotton-candy sunsets, thunderous monsoons and desert wildlife, Brandon couldn’t be happier to join a team that looks to bolster its tourism in a place he has always called home.

Brandon is a product of the Marana Unified School District and proud Arizona Alumni. His multi-faceted background includes radio and television news, social media distribution, public affairs and communications. He loves spending time outdoors playing in his slow-pitch softball leagues, golfing at Quarry Pines, and being an avid cross-fitter at his local gym, CrossFit Onward.

When welcoming those to town, Brandon encourages everyone to taste the array of Sonoran-style Mexican food that bursts with flavors native to our region and served up at local eateries and food trucks. He also notes that nothing pairs with it better than the wide variety of craft beers brewed locally and tapped at places like Casa Marana and Growler’s Taphouse. But if you are here in October - Terror in the Corn is his favorite heart-pumping experience that lives up to its name.

While he loves being out on the water to beat the heat, every year he looks forward to the monsoon. Especially the lighting shows that bring with it the nostalgic smell of rain that derives from the Creosote bush, a native plant to the Sonoran Desert, a region he is proud to support and hopeful to encourage others to visit.