Bio
Joe Higgins Biography
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Joe was born in New Richmond, Wisconsin and moved to Tucson Arizona in 1976. In Wisconsin, Joe was raised in a small farming community his family operated a beef cattle operation and butcher shop. He learned the benefits of family and community support and the ability to work hard to achieve goals.
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Joe has been married to Christine for the past 13 years and they are the parents of Hailey, 12 years old and Jack 9 years old. Joe is father, community leader, business owner and supporter of local charities.
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Education
Joe attended St. Peter and Paul Catholic elementary and went on to graduate in 1987 from Salpointe Catholic High School. Joe put himself through college at the University of Arizona by bartending . Joe graduated with a BA in Political Science.
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Business Experience
Joe is a serial entrepreneur and small business owner that has a proven track . Joe has grown all this businesses from scratch and used bootstrapping funding and creative financing to launch each of his entities. He has identified, started, grown and stabilized the following businesses in southern Arizona:
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Hydrogrowth and Abtech Industries (founded 1992 and 1996)
Gotta Go Wireless (1999 – 65+ employees)
Big Time Balloon Advertising (2001 – outdoor promotional ad company)
Sports Buzz Haircuts (2001 – 45+ employees)
Talking Trash Waste Removal (2005 – 12 trucks – commercial & residential)
Silverbell Pavilion (2006 – developed a retail center on Tucson’s west side)
QLMC Medical (2009 – Mngt staff for with a multi-specialty medical practice)
Tiburon Diagnostics Lab (2010 – Turn around mngt of 30 staff medical lab)
Wake Up Tucson Radio (2009 – Co-Host of a morning talk show)
Charity Involvement
Joe Higgins serves on a number of local charity boards in Tucson including:
- Founding t President of Catholic Community Services Foundation
- Past Member Executive Committee Catholic Community Services
- Salpointe Catholic High School – Board member
- Sts. Peter and Paul School Board
- Foothills Sertoma – Founding President
Business/Political Involvement
Joe Higgins is a member of a number of business commissions and panels in Pima County, including:
- City of Tucson Small Business Commission – 2007 Chairman
- Citizen Sign Code Committee
- Environmental Services Advisory Committee
- TREO – Small Business Sub-Committee Chair (2006)
- Caballeros Del Sol – Business Ambassador Club of Tucson
- Arizona Small Business Association - Executive Committee 2010
- Candidate Pima County Board of Supervisors - Republican primary 2008
Awards and Recognition
- 2004 Copper Cactus – Wells Fargo Small Business Leader of the Year
- 2005 1st Inaugural Tucson Citizen 40 under 40 winner
- 2007 Rev. Joseph Gilmore Salpointe Alumni Service Award
- 2008 Arizona Small Business Leader Award – Vantage West – Marketing
Business Profile
Hydro Growth – AbTech Industries – www.abtechindustries.com
While at the University of Arizona he became involved in the start up of an agricultural company, Hydro Growth Industries. HydroGrowth created patented technologies that manufactured and installed cross-linked polyacrylomides or water/nutrient absorbing polymers into specialty crops. The polymers were also designed into a neck scarf that could be hydrated and used to cool people in dry climates. Joe was named National Sales Manager for the NeckFX Cool Ties. His background in creating an independent sales broker networks helped place NeckFX Cool Ties into specialty shops, mail order catalogs and retailers like Walgreen’s and Sports Authority.
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Joe was involved in the start up phase and early marketing and product, packaging and distribution of the Abtech product. Abtech used patented polymer technologies to absorb oil out of water. Their applications range from open sea oil spill containment to catch basins for road way run off. In 2007 Abtech was listed by Fortune Small Business as one of the 10 Big Ideas of the year. Joe remains a stockholder and supporter of the company he helped start.
Gotta Go Wireless – www.igottagowireless.com
In 1999 Joe left corporate sales positions at Alltel and Nextel Wireless to found Gotta Go Wireless. The enterprise started as a direct wireless sales company where Joe sold wireless plans and services to business. In a converted room and from the trunk of his car Joe secured the carrier contracts, brought on partners and opened retail stores. The timing was ideal as wireless was catching on in the United States. In a few short years the growth was phenomenal. Some of the highlights of the Gotta Go Wireless business include:
- Growth to 12 retail locations with locations in Tucson, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Albuquerque NM, Yuma and Casa Grande.
- $2.1 million in gross income by 2001.
- The company employed over 65 sales and support staff
- Created a household brand recognized in each of the markets they worked in.
- Gave back to the community in the form of annual charity golf tournaments benefiting Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
- Media budgets in excess of $20k per month including campaigns in TV, radio, print, online and outdoor.
- Business grew by locating, opening and establishing locations then selling or transferring ownership to a qualified manager or partner.
- Gotta Go Wireless was the first dealer to sell all 7 wireless carriers in the Arizona and New Mexico markets.
- Gotta Go Wireless holds sales records and customer retention records from Alltel, Voice Stream and Nextel Communications.
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In late 2001 with the correction of the technology industry and the events of 9/11 Joe could see that the wireless broker model may not be around in the distant future. Joe spent the next year identifying the next business model to focus on. From the experiences at Gotta Go Wireless he realized that the next enterprise needed to be:
- Consumable – service based
- Minimal inventory requirements and pressures from mass retailers
- Expandable brand that could be moved to other markets
- A franchise opportunity that can be expanded around the western US.
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Sports Buzz Haircuts – www.sportsbuzzhaircuts.com
In 2002 Joe launched his first Sports Buzz™ Haircuts location. Sports Buzz™ is a unique new sports themed hair care concept that markets and caters predominantly to men and children.
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In the fast food arena, major fast food chains like McDonalds, Chuck E Cheese, and Peter Piper Pizza have built their entire business not around the food, but around the experience to the target audience they are attracting. Sports Buzz™ is selling the entertainment aspect of the common hair cut. Sports Buzz™ stores consist of bright red, white and blue stores with hard wood basketball court floors, TV’s and or video games and each station and throughout the waiting area. Sports memorabilia and photos set the tone of each location. An integral part of each location is creating a special area for children. Child play areas, racecar cutting chairs and cartoon stations make the experience of a Child’s haircut less traumatic and a fun place to visit.
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The brand grew to 9 locations in Tucson within 4 years. The model consists of company owned and licensee/franchise owned stores. The entire blueprint from location selection, to recruitment, training and marketing have been tested and proven in the 5 years of operation.
Sports Buzz™ stores have been visited by 40-50k Tucsonans since it’s opening. The brand and image has become an integral part of the Tucson landscape. There are over 50 employees that are part of the Sports Buzz™ team. Area managers run the day to day operations of corporate stores and Joe now focuses on licensee relations, marketing, cross marketing opportunities and community or charity outreach.
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Talking Trash Waste Removal – www.88trash.com
Through advertising with Sports Buzz™ and Gotta Go Wireless, Joe developed a relationship with Ad Vision Outdoors bus and shelter advertiser in the City of Tucson. Ad Vision was having issues with their trash service provider and offered the contract to Joe in 2004. Ad Vision maintains over 1000 trash receptacles at Tucson bus stops. Talking Trash purchased large commercial trucks and equipped them with state of the art GPS technology and greatly increased the trash collection process, quality and frequency.
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Since the trucks and contract required hand throw, non-automated trash service Joe looked for opportunities to keep the trucks busy during the day. Currently Talking Trash services 22 homeowner associations in Green Valley and the Tucson foothills. Talking Trash has grown rapidly in a highly competitive industry that is dominated by multi billion dollar firms by providing superior service, tailored to the customer. Talking Trash has 5 trash trucks and 9 employees in Tucson.
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Talking Trash has added roll off commercial trash collection and automated curbside cart collection and is reviewing expanding into the medical waste industry.
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Political and Community Involvement:
In the city government and small business area Joe has become a “go to” professional with a level head and the ability to energize and unite people on both sides of an issue.
An example of how Joe took an issue and saw it through would be his work on the A Frame Ordinance and the City of Tucson Sign Code. An A Frame sign is a critical lifeline for many small businesses in a community. An attention getting sign on the street is an affordable way to get customers in the door. The permitting process for an A Frame was very difficult. It took him 3 sign companies and over $1500 in review fees to get a single A Frame permitted for one of his Sports Buzz™ locations.
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Joe took the effort of fixing the cumbersome ordinance and making it easier to get a sign permitted. He enlisted the support of the Tucson Chamber and established a panel of concerned stakeholders to come up with a working ordinance. After 12 months of working with City staff, neighborhoods and elected officials they was able create legislation and receive a unanimous vote from a politically divided Mayor and Council. As a direct result of his work local businesses went from 28 permitted A Frames in 2004 to over 200 today.
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In the non-profit sector Joe has been instrumental in changing the landscape of some of Tucson’s oldest non-profits. As a member of the board of Catholic Community Service a $30 million dollar social agency with 600 employees. CCS is made up of agencies such as Pio Decimo Neighborhood center for children and families, St. Elizabeth Clinic which supports the communities uninsured, St. Nicholas adoption agency, domestic crisis centers, elderly meal delivery, just to name a few. Joe has worked hard to make a difference. Joe was instrumental in founding and starting the support arm, CCS Foundation. The Foundation will help raise much needed community funds to reduce the requirement for public monies and continue to deliver care the working poor.
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Since the CCS Foundation’s inception and under Joe’s tenure as President the board has grown to 13 members and 10 honorary members including Jim Click, Alan Norville, Buck O’Reilly, Jim Ronstadt, Bill Holmes and others. The Foundation has embarked on an annual Una Noche de Algria dinner and expanded outreach and donations. The Foundation groundwork will be an important part of meeting the mission on CCS for generations to come.
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As a member of the board of directors as Salpointe High School, Joe was instrumental in creating the Salpointe Yellow Pages. The idea and concept started from the natural bond that Salpointe alumni have when doing business together. The original concept was to create an online database of Alumni businesses that could be used as a way to market to each other. Joe worked with the school to turn the idea into a fund raising tool. In 2006 the first Salpointe Yellow Pages was launched. The first year of publication the directory raised over $60k for the school.
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Joe has been a member of the Sertoma service club for 3 years. In 2006 a group came together to charter a new chapter of the 90+ year old service club. Service clubs like Sertoma, Rotary and Lions have been on the decline for years. The newly formed Foothills Sertoma has tried to address the issues of poor attendance and created a service club that meets monthly and integrates charitable service with business networking. The club elected Joe the President and has grown to 24 members in 6 months. Joe is excited about the ability to show younger business professionals the value of helping the community and giving back.
In 2008 Joe ran for the Pima County Board of Supervisors, challenging Ann Day in the District 1 Republican Primary.
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Favorite Books:
Defining Moment – FDR’s 100 days and triumph of hope –
Jonathan Alter
How to Win Friends and Influence People. – Dale Carnegie
It is probably the most valuable book I ever read. It was written in 1936 and the principals are even more fitting today. I’ve bought it for friends, manager and employees a number of times.
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Andrew Matthews.
It’s a quick easy read and really great to cruise through
when you’re having a tough week.
Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
There is a whole series of books by Kiyosaki that are great to own. This was the first book that let me know I was on the right track by taking a road less traveled in my career and businesses.
Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
Want to find out what’s important in life. Read it!
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Favorite Podcasts:
If you’ve never heard of a podcast it’s basically a radio type program that can be made at your kitchen table or be produced nationally by one of the large news agencies. You can really find out a different prospective on the world, business, science or politics.
It’s a weekly political show out of LA and they tackle topical issues from the conservative and liberal points of view.
- American Public Media – Marketplace
A daily recap of business news and trends. You can catch it live on local FM too.
In a world of sound bites and short-term memory on the news CSPAN goes really deep into interesting topics.
- This American Life – Great stories about ordinary people
- On Point with Tom Ashbrook – great topical interviews and analysis on all types of subjects. Tom grew up on a Midwest farm, which I can really relate to.
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Favorite Hobbies
Golf – It’s that great shot you get a couple times per round that keeps you coming back.
Salt Water Fish – Joe has had a large tank on and off over the years and its fun and really hard to make it all work. You have to watch every variable and it’s very sensitive to just about everything. Sure is fun to see take on a life of it’s own. Kind of like life.
Antique Cars – Joe has been a Cadillac fan since high school. His most recent project is a 1963 Coupe De Ville convertible. You have to own a convertible in Arizona once in your life.
Swimming with the kids is probably my favorite thing in the world to do.
Traveling to Mexico with my wife and friends is pretty high in my book as fun things to do. I’ve been going down for over 20 years and love to get away. My phone doesn’t work, emails don’t come through..how’s that for perfect!
How to Win Friends and Influence People
This is Dale Carnegie’s summary of his book, from 1936
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
- Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
- Give honest and sincere appreciation.
- Arouse in the other person an eager want.
- Become genuinely interested in other people.
- Smile.
- Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
- Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
- Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
- Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.
- The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
- Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
- If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
- Begin in a friendly way.
- Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
- Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
- Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
- Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
- Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
- Appeal to the nobler motives.
- Dramatize your ideas.
- Throw down a challenge.