ARIZONA NEWS

Tucson Open
Sponsor a Mystery to Most

By Ryan Finley,
Contributor

Even the company bosses are excited.

“Tucson Energy is thrilled to again partner with the Tucson Conquistadores and participate in such exciting golf action,” Dennis Criswell, Vice President of Touchstone Energy, said. The energy provider is currently in its second year of sponsorship of the Tucson Open.

• TGM Quick Look: All About Tucson • Preview: Touchstone Energy Tucson Open • GolfArizona.com coverage of the PGA Tour • Past articles by Ryan Finley

So I went in search of some answers. I donned my golden conquistador hat (what else—it’s the Tucson Open!) and found some answers. Here’s what I came up with.

The Touchstone Energy website states it’s “mission statement” as this---“Touchstone Energy is an alliance of small, consumer-owned utilities around the country committed providing high standards of service to customers.”

Cute.

To state it a little more simply, they take smallish gas companies around the country and consolidate them with the hope of providing a higher quality of service to the average customer.

Touchstone Energy now has 560 cooperatives in 38 states, currently America’s largest alliance of utility service providers. Touchstone Energy currently serves more than 15 million customers in those states.

According to Touchstone Energy, the event is a chance to serve their customers on a much different level: entertain them.

“Through events such as the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open, we are continuing our commitment to serving all customers, large and small”, Criswell said.

As long as people like myself are going to great lengths to find out what the company is all about, Touchstone Energy has spent its money wisely by sponsoring the annual tournament.

That’s a wise investment.