2009 Up & Comer's award article- Humberto N. Stevens, Vice President at Commerce Bank of Arizona

1. Inside Tucson Business: Humberto Stevens: Building relationships to help... http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2009/05/22/news/doc49f207d5dba50386...
By Kymberly Harris, Inside Tucson Business
Published on Friday, May 22, 2009
As a vice president and business relationship manager at Commerce Bank of Arizona, Humberto Stevens
mainly focuses on business development, rapport and education.
“I want to support the emerging markets and offer financial assistance,” he said. “A lot of businesses have
found themselves with little cash because they didn’t forecast hard times and overspent. I want to help
existing businesses and educate them.”
Stevens, who is from the Arizona side of Nogales, was one of the first in his family to graduate from a
four-year college. He earned his degree in Mexican American Studies from the University of Arizona.
“I was doing accounting and finance when I was 15 years old for the family company,” Stevens said, “I didn’t
want to take anymore business classes, I wanted to obtain cultural and social knowledge.”
Not only does Stevens preside over of the UA’s Hispanic Alumni Club, but he has been actively involved in
Pima Community College’s Small Business Development Center, volunteers at UA’s Eller College of
Management Finance Department, is chairman for the Portable Practical Educational Preparation
Foundation, helps provide financial guidance with the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a sitting
member on the UA President’s Hispanic Advisory Council.
Besides promoting education and partnerships between businesses, Stevens also gets involved by reaching out
to people.
His service efforts extend from involvement with the Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition to the Muscular
Dystrophy Association. In the summer of 2008, Stevens helped raise the association about $105,000.
However, his efforts don’t go unnoticed.
In 2008, Stevens received the League of United Latin American Citizens/FBI Outstanding Community
Service Award, the Women’s Conference Community Service Award and the 2007 University of Arizona
Hispanic Alumni Service Award.
“These awards particularly come to mind,” he said. “I have always worked in nonprofits volunteering, but in
these last few years I’ve really stepped forward and given more of my time.”
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2. Inside Tucson Business: Humberto Stevens: Building relationships to help... http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2009/05/22/news/doc49f207d5dba50386...
Especially during times when paid jobs aren’t readily available, Stevens said, volunteering is a form of work
that people shouldn’t pass up.
“Don’t just sit at home, volunteer your expertise,” he said, “or if you don’t have an expertise yet, volunteer
so you can gain knowledge. Educate yourself one way or another.”
What is currently playing on your iPod?
Rock, Jazz and Latino
What’s your Facebook/Twitter status?
n/a
What do you want to see changed in Tucson?
“I want to see more of a business friendly government. I hope for the city and Pima County to work in
conjunction with one another and be more business minded. We also need to realize we need to fund
education.”
How do you spend your free time?
“Try to get together with friends, spend time with family and exercise as often as I can.”
Copyright © 2010 Inside Tucson Business
2 of 2 6/19/2010 3:37 PM