Tucson’s Next Big Opportunity | Ted Maxwell talks Growth, Jobs & Infrastructure

What does Southern Arizona need in order to grow, compete, and keep more opportunity here at home? In this episode of The Upside, Edmund Marquez sits down with Major General Ted Maxwell, President and CEO of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, infrastructure, economic development, transportation, business growth, and Tucson’s future. Ted shares his path from the U.S. Air Force Academy to flying F-16s, serving 34 years in the military, commanding the Arizona Air National Guard, and eventually leading one of Southern Arizona’s most influential business and civic organizations. The conversation explores the role of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, the importance of business-minded public policy, the successful reauthorization of the Regional Transportation Authority, the need for infrastructure investment, and why job creation is central to addressing long-term challenges like poverty, homelessness, and opportunity gaps. Edmund and Ted also dig into one of the region’s biggest questions: how does Tucson build on its assets—especially the University of Arizona, space sciences, optics, engineering, entrepreneurship, and workforce development—to create more high-paying jobs and give students a reason to stay in Southern Arizona? At its core, this episode is about saying yes to growth, building the infrastructure to support it, and creating the kind of economy that allows Tucson and Southern Arizona to reach their full potential. In this episode: 00:00 – Opening preview: growth, opportunity, and Tucson’s economic future 01:12 – Welcome to The Upside with Edmund Marquez 01:34 – Introducing Major General Ted Maxwell of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council 01:48 – Ted’s military career, Air Force Academy background, and flying F-16s 02:27 – Meeting President Ronald Reagan at graduation 03:07 – Becoming eligible to fly fighters and training at Luke Air Force Base 04:09 – Transitioning from the military to the Southern Arizona Leadership Council 04:31 – Joining SLC and later becoming full-time president 05:08 – Tucson’s Air National Guard and the F-16 mission at Tucson International Airport 06:37 – What is the Southern Arizona Leadership Council? 07:09 – SLC’s focus on business, public policy, jobs, and opportunity 07:50 – Growth of SLC membership and the influence of the room 08:36 – Major SLC successes, including RTA Next 09:26 – The Making Action Possible dashboard and using data to drive policy 10:43 – Tucson’s pothole challenge and the role of public accountability 11:22 – Infrastructure, water, education, health care, and governance priorities 12:07 – Who is in the SLC room and why leadership matters 13:06 – Tucson’s loss of headquarters and the need for engaged local leaders 13:54 – SLC members serving on boards, commissions, and regional organizations 15:02 – Why high-quality jobs are central to solving regional challenges 15:35 – The Regional Transportation Authority and why it mattered so much 16:19 – Infrastructure funding, gas tax challenges, and regional transportation needs 17:25 – Why Tucson does not need to be Phoenix, but still needs better roads 18:38 – Cars, transit, and the reality of transportation in a spread-out region 19:34 – Tucson’s size, walkability limits, bike infrastructure, and road needs 20:38 – The streetcar, RTA, and the connection between transit and transportation funding 21:50 – Why the streetcar is unlikely to extend to the airport 22:11 – Bus rapid transit and future transportation options 22:45 – Comparing Pima County and Maricopa County growth 23:10 – Why business growth helps fund infrastructure and quality of life 23:30 – The upside: transportation, infrastructure, and Tucson’s economic engine 23:50 – University of Arizona, space technology, optics, engineering, and opportunity 24:50 – Turning university innovation into local businesses and jobs 25:20 – Workforce development, entrepreneurship, and keeping talent in Tucson 25:44 – Closing thoughts with Ted Maxwell The Upside is brought to you by The Heath Team at NOVA Home Loans, the Tucson Sugar Skulls, and Lumify Creative Agency. #TheUpside #TedMaxwell #SouthernArizonaLeadershipCouncil #Tucson #SouthernArizona #TucsonBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #TucsonDevelopment #RTA #RTANext #Transportation #Infrastructure #UniversityOfArizona #WorkforceDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #TucsonLeadership #NovaHomeLoans #TucsonSugarSkulls #LumaFive