News

Chamber welcomes a new executive director. 

Carrie L. Zaragoza, a Yuma native, has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce. With her strong dedication to economic development in Yuma County, Carrie is committed to building strong relationships with stakeholders and providing strategic leadership to drive innovation and workforce development, resulting in overall business growth for the communities in Yuma.

Carrie aims to develop valuable member programs and services, as well as provide networking opportunities that meet the needs of the local business community. Her deep passion for the prosperity of the diverse communities in Yuma County motivates her to initiate positive change in the areas where we live, work, and conduct business. With over 12 years of experience managing local nonprofit organizations and workforce development programs, Carrie is dedicated to improving the overall economic landscape of Yuma County. Carrie holds a degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University and has extensive expertise in grants management, workforce development, human resources, and fiscal oversight. Her commitment to ensuring compliance with contractual expectations and local regulations, as well as her ability to form strong community partnerships, has consistently characterized her leadership style.

Previously, Carrie served as the Director of WIOA at Arizona Western College, where she developed workforce program activities connecting job seekers with employment opportunities and workplace training to provide the business community with work-ready employees. Additionally, she led the Enrollment and Student Services team at Northern Arizona University, ensuring students reached their academic and career objectives to meet the needs of the business community.

During her tenure as the Executive Director at Adult Literacy Plus of Southwest Arizona, Carrie advocated for expanded adult education and literacy programs, propelling ALPS to become the top adult education program in the state at the time. Her successful completion of a City of Yuma Community Development Block Grant for a significant building expansion dramatically increased the instruction space and course offerings, greatly impacting the lives of numerous individuals in the community.

Carrie is married to Gonzalo Zaragoza of Nicklaus Engineering, Inc. and they have four children and three grandchildren. In her free time, Carrie enjoys traveling, boating, and spending time with family off-roading in their SXS. She is also a worship leader at her church and is an avid flower gardener.