♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK AT HOW ARIZONA'S MAJOR POLITICAL RACES ARE SHAPING UP ON THE EVE OF ELECTION DAY.

>>> WE'LL MEET "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL'S NEW METEOROLOGIST.

>>> AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW, AND POLLING NUMBERS SUGGEST THAT DEMOCRATS COULD MAKE SOME BIG GAINS IN ARIZONA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HERE TO INTERPRET THE POLLING NUMBERS IS PAUL BENTZ, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND STRATEGY AT HIGHGROUND.

YOU ARE PUTTING OUT POLLS HERE, AND THE LATEST ONE, LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT BECAUSE THE ONE PREVIOUS TO THAT, HOLY SMOKES, THERE WERE BIG MARGINS FOR DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS.

THE MARGINS FOR DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS IS PRETTY BIG, NOT QUITE AS BIG, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> SEEING UPTICK IN REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM.

WHEN WE DID THE SURVEY RESEARCH LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE SAW VERY LARGE MARGINS FOR DEMOCRATS WITH A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG REPUBLICANS.

SINCE THEN, THE PRESIDENT CAME TO TOWN, VISITED THE REDDEST COUNTY IN ARIZONA, WE SAW SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS SPENT BY OUTSIDE GROUPS TRYING TO INCREASE THE REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM.

SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED A LITTLE BIT.

REPUBLICANS ARE MORE ENTHUSED AND GOING TO SHOW UP MORE THAN WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

ULTIMATELY THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO GET INDEPENDENT VOTERS ON THE SIDE.

REPUBLICANS ARE, AND HAVE A GAP AMONG FEMALE VOTERS AS WELL.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT INDEPENDENTS, SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF INDEPENDENTS ARE SWINGING TOWARDS DEMOCRATS IN THIS ELECTION.

THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

IN THE OLDEN DAYS, INDEPENDENTS OFTEN SWUNG RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THEY WENT FOR TRUMP IN 2016, NARROWLY FOR BIDEN IN 2020.

BACK TO TRUMP IN 2024.

THEY GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES, NOT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

IN ONE CASE, WE'RE SEEING TWO TO ONE, EVEN HIGHER.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY REJECTING THE REPUBLICANS AND GOING TOWARDS THE DEMOCRATS IN THIS ELECTION.

TED: I SAW 50+ VOTERS, BIG INCREASE IN SUPPORT FOR VOTERS 50+ FOR REPUBLICANS, TRUE?

>> TYPICALLY THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE.

IT'S CLOSER THAN USUAL.

IN PAST ELECTIONS SAW 54 OR 65 AND OLDER WERE VERY RELIABLE BASES FOR REPUBLICANS.

LARGE NUMBER OF RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES HERE.

CONCENTRATIONS OF THOSE 65 AND OLDER VOTERS WERE RELIABLE FOR MANY YEARS FOR REPUBLICANS.

EARLIER IN THE CYCLE, THEY SEEMED TO BE MORE IN THE MIDDLE.

THEY'VE DEFINITELY DEFAULTED TOWARDS MORE OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

TED: YOU THINK THE LATE GOP SPENDING IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE?

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT'S WHO THEY'RE TARGET.

THEY'RE GOING AFTER OLDER VOTERS.

THE MORE TRADITIONAL ROUTE, DIRECT CONTACT, TALKING TO THE 50-YEAR-OLDS PLUS VOTERS TO GET THEM TO COME BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I DON'T THINK THEY BOTHERED WITH INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'VE BOTHERED WITH YOUNGER VOTERS.

I THINK THEY SPENT MOST OF THEIR TIME, AND THEIR STRATEGY WITH TALKING TO THOSE OLDER VOTERS, AND THEN USING NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING TO SUPPRESS THE AUDIENCES THEY DON'T THINK WILL VOTE FOR THEM ANYWAY.

TED: SAID THAT, LATEST POLL, THE LATEST RACE, GOVERNOR HOBBS MAINTAINS A 12-POINT LEAD.

IT WAS 17, NOW 12.

STILL AN AWFUL LOT.

>> STARTED AT 15, UP TO 17, DOWN TO 12.

WE EXPECT IT WILL NARROW SOME.

BUT THE THING THEY'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS EVEN WITH A BUILT-IN REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE, WE USE THE SAME MARGINS FOR EVERYTHING, WE HAVE BUILT-IN REPUBLICAN 8-POINT ADVANTAGE.

REPUBLICANS ARE UP ABOUT ONE POINTS, ABOUT A 12,000 VOTE ADVANTAGE GOING INTO ELECTION DAY.

WE EXPECT THERE WILL BE MORE REPUBLICANS THAN ANYONE THAT SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY, BUT IT'S STILL A LARGE MARGIN TO OVERCOME WHEN THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE TRADITIONAL LEAD WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

TED: ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES HOLDS AN 11-POINT LEAD IN THAT PARTICULAR RACE, IS THAT SURPRISING THAT THAT LEAD IS -- SHE BARELY PULLED IT OUT LAST TIME.

>> RUNNING AGAINST THE SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN, A WELL-KNOWN COMMODITY AS WELL.

HE MOVED HIGHER IN THE 65 AND OLDER.

SHE WILL -- SHE'S GOING TO WIN.

WE LOOK AT INCUMBENT, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE, IT'S SAFE TO SAY WE THINK THE DEMOCRATS WIN THE THREE RACES.

I THINK MAYES WILL WIN BY MORE THAN THE COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES THAN LAST TIME.

A MORE COMFORTABLE MARGIN.

TED: FONTES, 11-POINT LEAD OVER KOLODIN, YOU SEE FONTES HOLDING ON?

>> I DO.

THOSE WHO STAND AGAINST THE ELECTIONS, WANT TO ELIMINATE EARLY VOTING.

THE FOLKS THAT DEPLOY TRUMP'S PRINCIPLES WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING OR INFLUENCING THE ELECTION.

MAGA FOLKS HAD NOT HAD LUCK CHANGING THE ELECTION, THAT HOLDS TRUE THIS ELECTION.

TED: LATEST POLL HAS A DEMOCRAT UP SIX POINTS IN TREASURER'S RACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS TO FALL OFF A LITTLE BIT AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THE INCUMBENTS ARE DOING VERY LYMPH THE FURTHER DOWN WE GO, A QUESTION OF TURNOUT.

NORTON SPENT THE MOST MONEY, HE BANKROLLED A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS MAKING SURE HIS NAME IS ON ALL OF THOSE ITEMS.

I THINK HE'S POSITIONED HIMSELF TO HAVE AS MUCH EXPOSURE AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS WILL BE THE QUESTION OF HOW BIG OF THE BLUE WAVE IS IT AS WE'VE BEEN CALLING IT THE REPUBLICAN UNDERTOW, WE'RE SEEING PLACES WHERE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD GREAT ADVANTAGES AND DOWN THE TICKET, DOWN THE BALLOT IS WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE DEFAULT BACK.

THEY MAY GO BACK AND FORTH FOR DEMOCRATS AT THE TOP.

AS IT GOES FURTHER, IT GOES TOWARDS THE REPUBLICANS.

THAT WILL BE A BIG TEST TO SEE HOW BIG OF A MARGIN DEMOCRATS ARE GETTING.

TED: SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION LEYVA RUIZ UP FOUR POINTS ON KIMBERLY YEE, YEE DOES WELL COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER FOLKS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

>> THAT ONE IS IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

YEE IS THE HIGHEST VOTE GETTING REPUBLICAN FOR SEVERAL CYCLES IN A ROW.

SHE'S A KNOWN COMMODITY.

BIGGS HAS RUN IN HIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NOT STATEWIDE.

YEE IS A STATEWIDE CANDIDATE, SHE'S MORE KNOWN AMONG THE AUDIENCES AND THAT'S TO HER BENEFIT.

SHE'S RUN A GOOD CAMPAIGN.

THERE'S A WORLD IN WHICH YEE IS THE HIGHEST-RANKING STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: IS THERE A WORLD WHICH REPUBLICANS LOSE THE STATEHOUSE AND/OR LOSE THE STATE SENATE?

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO POLLING ON THIS, BUT CONSIDERING THE WAVE OR THE UNDERTOW, CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL, IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE SEATS.

THEY GAINED SEATS FROM 22 TO 24.

BACK IN 2022, WHEN HOBBS WON, THEY HAD A ONE-VOTE ADVANTAGE IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

CALCULUS IS DIFFERENT, THEY HAVE TO PITCH A PERFECT GAME FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO TAKE OVER ONE OF THE CHAMBERS, THEY CAN CERTAINLY SPLIT ONE OF THE BODIES IF NOT BOTH WHEN YOU LOOK AT RACES, LD-17 AND LD-2 AND 4.

THEY ARE HAVING LARGER THAN USUAL DEMOCRATIC RETURNS.

IF THE FOLKS VOTE THE WAY WE'RE SEEING, MIGHT BE PLACES WE SEE DEMOCRATIC GAINS.

>> LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN OUT AND ABOUT SAYING THINGS, A VARIETY OF THINGS.

WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT, BUT HE'S EMPHASIZING THINK OF ME AS BEING ON THE BALLOT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE POLLING NUMBERS AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING AROUND THE COUNTRY, HE'S GETTING HIS WISH.

>> YAVAPAI COUNTY PUT OUT A TWEET TODAY THAT SAID THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT, STOP CALLING US.

TED: WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I THINK FOLKS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONFUSED.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, YES, SEEMS LIKE THE PRESIDENT FEELS LIKE HE'S ON THE BALLOT EVERYONE AND IS TAKING NO.

THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT NOW WHETHER IT'S AFFORDABILITY, GAS PRICES, COST OF FOOD, INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT, THE SWING AUDIENCES THAT GAVE HIM A DECISIVE WIN IN 2024 IN ARIZONA AREN'T WITH HIM RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY ARE ACTING LIKE HE'S ON THE BALLOT AND DRAGGING DOWN SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS WITH HIM.

TED: INTERESTING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW.

PAUL BENTZ HIGHGROUND, ALWAYS A PLEASURE SIR.

.

TED: PARTS OF THE VALLEY SAW UP TO 5" OF RAIN THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH AREAS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ARIZONA HIT WITH EXTENSIVE FLOODING LEADING TO EVACUATIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES, KEEPING AN EYE OF ALL THIS, ESPECIALLY THE WEATHER PATTERNS THAT CAUSED ALL THE RAIN IS A NEW METEOROLOGIST FOR "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

WE WELCOME TEVIAN WHITEHURST TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA, TOO.

HOW LONG YOU BEEN HERE?

>> SIX MONTHS.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M GLAD IT'S NOT HOT ANYMORE, SEEING THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

TED: YEAH, WE DON'T SEE TORNADOES IN ARIZONA.

WE GOT A RARE TORNADO, THE SUPER EL NINO.

IS THIS SUPER EL NINO WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW, OR IS THAT GOING TO STILL COME?

>> THE SUPER EL NINO HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

IT'S HARDER TO PIN DOWN ONCE WE GET INTO THE SUMMERTIME, BUT THE RECORD STRENGTH OF IT THAT WE'RE PUSHING AND CONTINUE TO SEE HAS BEEN KIND OF GRADUALLY ADDING TO EACH ISSUE.

IT'S EASIER TO SAY YES IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON WHICH IS STILL GOING, STILL WATCHING THE SYSTEMS AND DISTURBANCE CHURN OUT.

WHEN IT COMES TO SEVERE WEATHER, CAN BE HARD TO PLACE, BUT WITH ALL THE MOISTURE IN THE STATE, THAT'S A LOT EASIER TO BE THE IMPACT OF EL NINO IS MORE VISIBLE.

TED: WE THOUGHT EL NINO IS A WINTER PHENOMENON.

WE GOT A MONTH AND A HALF TO GO BEFORE IT'S WINTER.

SUGGESTS THAT THINGS AREN'T GOING TO BE DYING DOWN ALL THAT MUCH?

>> DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

EVERY FORECAST THAT LOOKS TO THE SOUTHWEST IS RELATIVELY POSITIVE WE'RE SEEING ABOVE AVERAGE RAINFALL.

WHETHER THAT MEANS WE SEE A CONSISTENT STREAM OF RAINFALL EVENTS OR WHETHER THAT'S MORE BIG EVENTS THAT HAPPEN LIKE THIS, THAT'S HARDER TO POINT.

TED: TALK BUT PERSONALLY, I LOVE THE FACT, I TOLD YOU OFF CAMERA, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," I LONG WAITED FOR THEM TO HAVE MORE THAN IT RAINED, IT'S GOING TO RAIN.

IT'S WINDY, IT'S GOING TO BE WINDY.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY.

I WANT THE SCIENTIFIC ASPECT, AND HERE YOU ARE AND DOING THIS.

WHAT GOT YOU INTO METEOROLOGY?

>> I WAS A BIT OF A SCIENCE NERD AS A KID.

I HAD A PALEONTOLOGY PHASE, THE SOLAR SYSTEM, I HOPPED AROUND A BIT WITH THE S.T.E.M.

FIELD AND BEING FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, HURRICANE SANDY HAPPENED.

WE DIDN'T GET TORN UP AS LONG ISLAND AND NEW JERSEY, BUT IT WAS A VERY IMPACTFUL MOMENT TO SEE.

HAVE YOU 100-YEAR-OLD TREES BENDING WITH THE FORCE OF THE WIND, THE RAIN OF IT ALL, AND THAT WAS MY SWITCHOVER MOMENT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SKY.

TED: A BIT OF AN AH-HAH MOMENT WITH HURRICANE SANDY.

AND YOU MUST LOVE IT?

>> IT IMPACTS EVERYTHING WE DO, NO MATTER HOW WHEN YOU STEP OUT THE DOOR, IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE WEATHER, THAT IMPACTED THE MOST TO ME.

TED: BESIDE HURRICANE SANDY, HAVE YOU HAD OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH SEVERE WEATHER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I CHOSE TO GO TO COLLEGE IN OHIO.

I SAW A LOT MORE THERE THAN MARYLAND.

A LOT OF DERECHOS, SEVERE STORM SYSTEMS, I WENT STORM CHASING ONCE, IT GOT THE ADRENALINE GOING, BUT THAT WASN'T QUITE THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO TAKE, AND THAT LED ME INTO FORECASTING, BROADCAST AND THEN TO HERE.

TED: EVERYONE IS A WEATHER EXPERT, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I THINK I'M A WEATHER EXPERT.

FOR A REAL WEATHER EXPERT IS IT FRUSTRATING OR AMUSING TO HEAR PEOPLE PONTIFICATE ABOUT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS AND CUTOFF LOWS.

>> SCIENCE QUESTIONS ALL OF US.

THAT'S THE JOY OF SEEING PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMUNITY, THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

WHEN WE START GETTING INTO THE DISINFORMATION, IT GETS TIRESOME, THE A.I.

ACCOUNTS AND ALL THAT.

TED: TALK TO US MORE ABOUT THAT.

A.I.

IS A FACTOR IN THIS SORT OF THING?

>> ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN SOCIAL MEDIA HAS A.I.

AS A FACTOR.

WHETHER SOMEONE IS POWERING OR A BOT ON ITS OWN.

AT MY OTHER STATION, WE CALLED THEM SOCIAL MEDIAOLOGISTS, WHETHER IT'S A MODEL OUTLOOK, THERE TENDS TO BE A LACK OF NUANCE THAT WE AS METEOROLOGISTS HELP TO COMMUNICATE.

YOU GET A SCREEN SHOT OF A MODEL THAT SHOWS WEATHER POSSIBILITY TWO WEEKS OUT SAYING A HURRICANE IS GOING TO BE HITTING ARIZONA, BUT WITHOUT EXPLAINING THE NUANCE OF THIS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF POSSIBILITIES THAT WE ARE SEEING AND THE FARTHER OUT GET IN TIME, THE LESS LIKELY THAT IS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PACIFIC COAST AND HOW IT'S COMING UP AND THERE'S A LOW DOING THIS AND A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM DOING THAT, GOT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT NOW.

IT'S GOT TO BE A CHALLENGE AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS IN BECOMING A METEOROLOGIST, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR PUBLIC FACING IN MEDIA IS LEARNING HOW TO SIMPLIFY IT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

I GENERALLY WRITE THE WAY THEY SPEAK, THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO OVERCOMPLICATE IT.

SOMETIMES THERE'S ONLY SO MANY WORDS FOR IT BUT ADDING THE DEFINITION HURTS NO ONE.

TED: CALL IT CLIMATE CHANGE OR GLOBAL WARMING, WHAT YOU WILL, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN ARIZONA, THE EL NINO, THE WHOLE NINE?

>> YES.

TED: IT IS A FACTOR?

IT'S CHANGING THINGS?

>> CAN BE HARDER TO QUANTIFY BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO LARGER-SCALE PATTERNS THAT TOUCH A BIT OF EVERYTHING.

I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A BUTTERFLY EFFECT.

WE'RE SEEING WARM TEMPERATURES AND WARMER AIR IN THE ATMOSPHERE, AND EL NINO LEADS TO WARM WATERS SO THOSE ARE COMBINING AND CREATING A MORE INTENSE AND LARGE IMPACT THAN WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A NEW NORMAL.

>> BASICALLY.

TED: LAST QUESTION, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A FUN JOB, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU DO IS A LOT OF FUN.

WHAT'S THE MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECT OF IT FOR YOU?

>> IRONICALLY, THOUGH I WAS TECHNICALLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT IS ALSO THE PART THEY LIKE THE MOST.

THAT'S WHY I CHOSE BROADCAST AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING LIKE BEING WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECAUSE CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A TV SCREEN, WHETHER WRITING OR SOCIAL MEDIA, FEELING LIKE I'M PROPERLY ANSWERING QUESTIONS, TEACHING SOMEONE NEW, THAT IS WHERE THE FUN OF IT IS, BEING ABLE TO INTERACT, AND WHERE THE GROWTH COMES FROM, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I CAN SAY BETTER, HOW I DID COMMUNICATE BETTER AND JUST LEARN.

TED: AND YOU SURVIVED ONE SUMMER IN ARIZONA, HUH?

>> IT TOOK EVERYTHING IN ME.

TED: WELL, LOAD UP.

IT'S COMING AROUND NEXT YEAR.

TEVIAN WHITEHURST, CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

.

TED: ELEVATE EDAZ IS A PROGRAM LOOKING TO BUILD A PIPELINE CONNECTING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH BUSINESSES AND CONNECT EDUCATION WITH OPPORTUNITY.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME JENNIFER MELLOR WITH THE GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

ELEVATE ED-AZ.

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION.

>> WE'RE WORKING DIRECTLY IN HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS ARIZONA TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PUT THEM ON A PATHWAY TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS.

>> THE GOAL IS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE PIPELINE FOR ALL OF THIS, AND SUSTAINABLE IS AN INTERESTING WORD.

NO FLASH IN THE PAN, MAKE THIS A REAL THING?

>> MAKE SURE IT'S CONNECTED TO A REAL JOB AT END THAT GIVES STUDENTS GOOD, POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES.

TED: START WITH STUDENTS.

HOW DO THEY GET INVOLVED AND WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THEY DO GET INVOLVED?

>> WE'RE PARTNERING WITH 21 HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING PHOENIX UNION, MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTNERS, AND STUDENTS GET INTO CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIKE CONSTRUCTION OR NURSING OR I.T.

PATHWAYS AND TRY TO GET THEM DUAL ENROLLMENT AND A.P.

COURSES, HOPEFULLY THEY GO INTO A JOB SHADOW AND EXPLORE A BUSINESS, BUT THEN ALSO GET INTO AN INTERNSHIP WITH ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYERS, AND HOPEFULLY BE ON A JOURNEY TO A LONG-TERM CAREER.

TED: THERE'S COLLEGE CREDIT INVOLVED AND INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS INVOLVED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO LIKE I WAS JUST TALKING TO PAUL IN THE GREEN ROOM, AND HE WAS TELLING ME HIS DAUGHTER GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WITH HER EMT CERTIFICATION.

TED: WHOA.

>> THOSE ARE THE EXPERIENCES WE WANT OUR STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH.

TED: GRADUATE READY FOR WHAT'S NEXT, NOT JUST WHAT'S REQUIRED, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

EVERY STUDENT HAS THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

WE WANT THEM GRADUATING WITH MORE.

ALL SHOULD GRADUATE WITH 12 HOURS OF EARLY COLLEGE CREDIT, DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES, A.P.

COURSES, WE WANT THEM HAVING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT SET THEM ON A PATH.

TED: DO STUDENTS OPT IN ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

DO SCHOOLS REQUIRE IT?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> THE STUDENTS OPT IN WHEN THEY ENROLL IN THE HIGH-WAGE, HIGH-DEMAND CTE PROGRAM.

WE WORK WITH THE STUDENTS AND CONNECT THEM TO INTERNSHIPS AT HONEYWELL AND MAYO CLINIC.

TED: THAT'S STUDENTS AND TALK ABOUT EDUCATORS AND ALIGNING THIS EDUCATION TO OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW?

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

>> YES, EDUCATORS THAT ARE PART OF OUR NETWORK.

ONE, IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE THEY GET THE INTERNSHIPS ON THEIR OWN.

WE'RE HELPING FACILITATE THE PROCESS FOR THEM, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE EVERY CONNECTION WITH EVERY BUSINESS, AND THEN, WE ALSO PROVIDE OUR EDUCATORS EXTERNSHIPS SO THEY CAN LEARN THE LATEST AND GREATEST TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR, SKILLS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO TAKE BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.

TED: WHAT'S AN EXTERNSHIP?

>> AN EXTERNSHIP IS A HALF DAY EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY MEET WITH A BUSINESS, COULD BE A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE, WE MET WITH ONE AT PHOENIX CHILDREN'S WHERE THEY GOT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSPITAL AND THE DIFFERENT JOBS AVAILABLE.

TED: AND THE DIFFERENT JOBS AVAILABLE, IS THERE A FOCUS ON HIGHER WAGE, HIGHER DEMAND JOBS?

>> YES, WE WANT TO CONNECT THE STUDENTS TO OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THOSE CTE PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO HIGH-WAGE, HIGH-DEMAND JOBS.

TED: BACK TO THE TEACHERS, THEY HAVE COACHES, HELP GETTING ON THE RIGHT PATH?

>> YES, WE HAVE COLLEGE AND CAREER COACHES IN EACH OF THE PARTNER SCHOOLS WORKING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

WORKING DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WORKING WITH TEACHERS AND HAVE A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP TEAM THAT HELPS MAKE THE CONNECTIONS.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP TEAM AND HOW BUSINESS IS INVOLVED.

FIRST OF ALL, IF I'M TED'S HAMBURGER HAMLET, WHATEVER SHOP I'M RUNNING, GOT TO BE HIGHER WAGE.

DO I SAY I WANT TO BE PART OF THAT?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> YES, WE LOVE TO ENGAGE ANY BUSINESS, SMALL AND LARGE, WE HAVE SMALL EMPLOYERS THAT OFFER INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND HAVE LARGE BUSINESSES THAT CONNECT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND CAN BE ANY LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT.

WE NEED BUSINESSES WILLING TO TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT CAREER PATHWAYS, SPENDING HALF HOUR OR HOUR WITH STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM, WE NEED MORE AND MORE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

WE PLACED JUST HIGH OF 500 STUDENTS IN INTERNSHIPS LAST YEAR AND NEED LOTS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

TED: ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING FIRM WOULD COME IN AND SPEAK FOR 30 MINUTES AND HOPE THAT ONE OF THE STUDENTS OR 2, 3, 4 STUDENTS SAY THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING THEN THE STUDENT PURSUES?

>> WE NEED EMPLOYERS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS.

WE WERE JUST TALKING TO STUDENTS LAST WEEK IN AN AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM, AND WE ASKED ARE YOU GOING TO GO AND GET YOUR AUTOMOTIVE CERTIFICATION?

THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAM, I GUESS WE'LL DO IT.

WE BROUGHT AN EMPLOYER TO SUPPORT THAT, AND GUESS WHAT?

THEY ALL WANT TO GET THE CERTIFICATION BECAUSE THEY SEE THE DOLLARS ON THE OTHER END.

TED: HOW MANY SCHOOLS INVOLVED?

>> 21 SCHOOLS.

>> ANY AMOUNT OF STUDENTS, GIVE OR TAKE?

>> WE'VE SUPPORTED 230,000 STUDENTS SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ABOUT 40,000 ANNUALLY.

TED: WHEN DID YOU START THE PROGRAM?

>> SIX YEARS AGO.

TED: WONDERFUL TIME, DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUSINESSES, HOW MANY?

>> WE HAVE JUST SHY OF 200 BUSINESSES CONNECTED IN THE WORK, AND AGAIN, SMALL MOM AND POP SHOPS.

WE HAVE AN INTERN AT OUR OWN AT THE CHAMBER SUPPORTING OUR MARKETING TEAM, SO ANY SIZE ORGANIZATION CAN SUPPORT AN INTERN IN THEIR ORGANIZATION.

TED: SO IF YOU GOT A KID, IF YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR, IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS PERSON SAYING THIS SOUNDS INTERESTING, WHERE DO YOU GO?

HOW DO YOU LEARN MORE?

>> ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT ELEVATE EDAZ.COM.

TED: ELEVATE EDAZ.COM.

CONGRATULATIONS, AND IT'S GROWING ALL THE TIME?

>> YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE GROWING THE PROGRAM.

TED: JENNIFER MELLOR, GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.