PACCA Tucson Business & Entrepreneur Expo: Free August 15 Networking for Job Seekers

Published: July 28, 2026 | By TucsonHIRED Team

TUCSON, AZ — Tucson Mall is about to trade the food-court hustle for a room full of local founders. On Saturday, August 15, the PACCA Tucson Business & Entrepreneur Expo sets up inside Catalyst Creative Collective from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and while it is billed as a small-business showcase, it is a quietly smart stop for anyone hunting a job with a Tucson shop, studio, or startup.

Free to attend, open to the public, and packed with the exact people who do the hiring at Tucson's small businesses.

📍 PACCA Business Expo at a Glance

What the PACCA Expo Actually Is

The expo is hosted by the Tucson chapter of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (PACCA), a business group that launched its Tucson chapter in 2023 and has been running mixers and community events across the Old Pueblo ever since. The chamber's pitch for the day is simple: connect, showcase, grow.

This is not just rows of tables. The floor mixes vendor exhibits with open networking, talks from local industry leaders, and live cultural performances that lean into PACCA's roots celebrating the community. Set inside Catalyst Creative Collective, a 14,000-square-foot arts and maker space on the north side of Tucson Mall, it is the kind of open, walkable room where you can move booth to booth without a badge or a big ticket price.

Why a Business Expo Is Worth a Job Seeker's Saturday

Here is the part most people miss: small businesses rarely hire through big career fairs. They hire through conversations. A boutique owner who is drowning needs a part-time sales associate. A two-person marketing shop is looking for its first contractor. A food or retail startup is quietly building a crew before it opens. Grassroots events like this are exactly where those needs surface, often weeks before a single listing gets posted.

Walk in with a stack of resumes and a friendly, specific introduction, and you are talking directly to the person who signs the checks. No applicant tracking system, no black hole, just a handshake and a real conversation. For job seekers chasing work with a smaller Tucson employer, that access is worth the trip on its own.

Roles Worth Having on Your Radar

Nothing here is a guaranteed opening, so come curious rather than counting on a job offer. That said, the businesses in the room tend to hire for a familiar set of roles. Line these searches up before you go so you know what is already posted around town:

• Marketing jobs in Tucson – content, social, and brand help for growing shops
• Sales jobs in Tucson – from retail floors to B2B and account roles
• Customer service jobs in Tucson – front-of-house and support work
• Retail jobs in Tucson – boutiques and specialty shops staffing up

Want to go in more prepared? Our Tucson customer service careers guide breaks down local pay and what employers look for, and the Tucson Career Center has field-by-field guides for the rest.

How to Work the Room

• Bring 15–20 resumes. Tables move fast and you do not want to run out.
• Dress a notch above the crowd. Business casual reads as serious without trying too hard.
• Lead with a real question about their business, not "are you hiring." People remember genuine interest.
• Ask for a card and follow up within 24 hours with a short, specific note.
• Keep an open mind. Some of the best small-business jobs never make it to a job board.

📢 Running a Tucson Business?

The expo is still signing vendors, and a table is one of the cheapest ways to put your business in front of a room full of local buyers and collaborators. Vendor spots run $125, or $175 for food vendors, and spaces are limited, so reserve early through the PACCA events page. Startups, established businesses, nonprofits, artists, and food vendors are all welcome.

Vendor questions go to PACCA Tucson's Aice Giddings at (520) 465-1097 or Angelita Doss at (520) 260-3566.

Building a team this fall instead? Post your openings on TucsonHIRED and get in front of Tucson workers who are ready to start.

Can't make it on the 15th? You do not have to wait for a Saturday expo to make a move. Browse the latest Tucson jobs and create a free TucsonHIRED account to set job alerts so new local openings land in your inbox.

PACCA Business Expo FAQ

When and where is the PACCA Tucson Business & Entrepreneur Expo?

Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Catalyst Creative Collective inside Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 110.

How much does it cost to attend?

Attending is free and open to the public. If you would rather exhibit, PACCA is selling vendor tables for $125, or $175 for food vendors, through its events page.

Is this a job fair?

Not officially. It is a small-business and entrepreneur expo, but the local shops, agencies, and startups in the room are often the ones quietly hiring, which makes it a useful networking stop for job seekers.

Who hosts it?

The Tucson chapter of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (PACCA), alongside Catalyst Creative Collective. You can learn more about the chapter on the PACCA Tucson site.

Planning your whole month? See our complete guide to August 2026 Tucson job fairs and hiring events, including the free Pima County Career Fair on August 19.

Tucson has always run on its small businesses. On August 15, they will all be in one room at the mall, and your next job might be sitting at one of those tables.