From arts and environmental groups to organizations that provide limited-income assistance, TEP employees help lead nonprofit groups as board members – one way the company supports volunteerism in our community.
TEP encourages employees to provide their professional expertise in leadership roles on nonprofit organization boards and other community organizations. About 60 employees serve on the boards of nonprofits and other community groups.
Our company helps match TEP employees with local groups that request our participation. TEP also provides training and support to employees who serve on boards.
“We encourage our employees to serve on nonprofit boards. It’s a great way to support our community,” said Cheryl Gottshall, Outreach Project Coordinator.
Meet some of the employees who serve on local boards:
Jean DiMaria: Boy Scouts of America Catalina Council
When her oldest son was in first grade, Jean DiMaria followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a den leader of a Cub Scouts pack. She was looking for a fun activity to bond with her two boys.
About five years ago, DiMaria, a Real-Time Trader for TEP, took on an additional role when she joined the board to represent TEP on the Boy Scouts of America Catalina Council.
“I serve on the board to give back to the community through TEP and also because scouting has given so much to my family,” DiMaria said.
Both of her sons – Connor, 14, and Carson, 17 – have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. DiMaria, her husband and both sons regularly volunteer with the scouts, ranging from cleaning out the scout hut on weekends to assisting as leaders at overnight camps.
On the board, DiMaria serves on the marketing committee and helps with fundraising events, some of which TEP sponsors.
“It’s really a family effort. It has brought us closer together,” DiMaria said.
Sean Bowen: Unscrewed Theater
TEP Lead Accountant Sean Bowen has never acted in a play or worked on a stage crew. But he uses his accounting skills as a member of the Unscrewed Theater’s board.
“They liked the fact that I was someone who was not heavily involved in theater,” Bowen said. “I always like to help out in the community. I saw this as an opportunity to help.”
Bowen learned of the opening about five years ago from an acquaintance as part of a business networking group. At the time, the improv comedy club needed a volunteer to help draft paperwork to become a nonprofit organization and keep track of its books.
Since Bowen joined its board, the theater has moved into a new location on Speedway Boulevard where it hosts classes and shows for both families and adults. Bowen still doesn’t have the acting bug, but he did get on stage as a subject for a hypnotist show.
“I really think theater adds a lot of value to the community,” Bowen said. “I love to support it.”
Amy Welander: Children’s Museum Tucson
Amy Welander heard about an opening on the Children’s Museum Tucson board soon after the birth of her second child. Welander regularly visited the museum with her oldest son, then a toddler, and had memories of going to the museum as a child before it moved downtown.
In 2012, Welander, TEP’s Assistant General Counsel, joined the board as a TEP representative. She now is in the second year of a two-year term as chair.
“I feel like it’s a way to share my skill sets with the organization. With my background as a lawyer, I can bring a different perspective,” Welander said. “We all pool together our connections, knowledge and resources to help the museum grow.”
Welander continues to take her three children, ages 3, 8 and 11, to the museum, which has expanded under her board tenure and includes the Electri-City exhibit sponsored by TEP.
“This is one of the few things we have for this age group in our community that is focused on play-based education and development,” Welander said. “It’s really great to know that we are providing a fun and educational experience for kids.”
