National Bank of ArizonaÂŽ
From inventors to entrepreneurs to CEOs, women are making their mark in Arizona business
[Wo]men at Work MOTHERS OF INVENTION female entrepreneurs share their stories of hard-earned success
FIND YOURSELF IN KINGMAN Historic Arizona city celebrates its rich past and promising future
FALL 2018
YOU’RE INVITED
THURSDAY OCT. 11, 2018
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in this issue
Located on historic Route 66, the Kingman water towers were once used to add water to railroad steam engines.
What’s happening at National Bank of Arizona
04 AZ WORKS Economy of Design Fashion incubator provides essential resources for new designers
06 FOOD & DRINK Meat & Greet Phoenix market brings back the art of whole-animal butchery
08 ARTS & CULTURE Mapping Creativity Public art project shines a spotlight on Phoenix’s street murals
10 TRAILBLAZERS Perfect Pairing
FEATURES
Renowned restaurateur and wine expert finds her niche at historic mansion
18 Mothers of Invention
12 AZ NONPROFIT New Day, New Life
Women entrepreneurs share their stories of hard-earned success
22 ‘Find Yourself’ in Kingman
Historic Arizona city celebrates its rich past as it looks ahead to a promising future
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michelle Jacoby, michelle@pb-jcreative.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nathan Joseph, nathan@responsecreative.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Adams, cwadams@me.com CONTRIBUTORS Sally J. Clasen, Julia De Simone, Bruce Farr, Leigh Farr, Debra Gelbart, Jake Poinier PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Lipczynski, mark@marklipczynski.com
Elevate AZ magazine may contain trademarks or trade names owned by parties who are not affiliated with National Bank of Arizona, Zions Bancorporation, or its affiliates. Use of such marks does not imply any sponsorship by or affiliation with third parties, and National Bank of Arizona does not claim any ownership of or make representations about products and services offered under or associated with such marks. Articles are offered for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, financial or business advice. Please contact a professional about your specific needs and advice. © 2018 ZB, N.A. All rights reserved. A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC
32 EXPERIENCE AZ
Female business owners lay the foundation for success in a male-dominated industry
PUBLISHER National Bank of Arizona EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jenavi Kasper, jenavi.kasper@nbarizona.com PROJECT EDITOR Michelle Hamel, michelle.hamel@nbarizona.com MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER Ali Adib, ali.adib@nbarizona.com
14 EXPLORE AZ Former Glory Historic Arizona resort reopens as a luxury destination
28 [Wo]men at Work
Phoenix nonprofit gives Valley’s homeless hope for the future
A moment in Sonoita
NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA® 6001 N 24th St Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-235-6000
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ON THE COVER In recent years, mural art has exploded in the downtown Phoenix art scene. Helping to document and create awareness about these works is the Phoenix Mural Project. Find out more in “Mapping Creativity” on page 8. Photo by Mark Lipczynski Mural art by John “MDMN” Woody. While not sponsored by the Phoenix Mural Project, the mural is one of more than 400 works of art that are on display in downtown Phoenix.
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Cuisine | Culture | Community 12th annual Taste of the Biltmore kicks off AZ charity event season
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OOLER TEMPS AND gorgeous evenings not only point to the return of fall in Arizona, it also signals the official start of the social season, when the community comes together to support local nonprofits and organizations at celebrations throughout the state. Helping kick off the season is National Bank of Arizona, who is hosting its annual Taste of the Biltmore event on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the bank’s corporate center in Phoenix. Now in its 12th year, the event celebrates fine food and drink from some of the state’s most popular restaurants and eateries. “As a local bank, we want this event to benefit Arizona and celebrate the community we live in,” says Kimberly Robb, NB|AZ marketing supervisor, adding that Taste of the Biltmore
initially started as a client appreciation event more than a decade ago. This year’s event is expected to draw more than 1,200 attendees. Participating restaurants include longtime participants Benedict’s Catering, Bluewater Grill and Nothing Bundt Cakes, as well as newcomers La Bocca Urban Pizzeria and Wine Bar, La Purismia Bakery, Tres Leches Café, San Tan Brewing + Distilling and Wrigley Mansion. Wine is provided by Young’s Market Company of Arizona, with entertainment provided by Soundbite. And while guests savor and sip the night away, they’re also helping support some of the Valley’s most dedicated nonprofits and their missions to improve the lives of people in Arizona. Each year, a different charity is selected to receive the proceeds
from Taste of the Biltmore. This year’s benefitting charities are Feeding Matters and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central Arizona. Feeding Matters furthers advances in pediatric feeding disorders by accelerating identification, igniting research and promoting collaborative care for children and families. UCP of Central Arizona provides comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities and their families by providing physical and developmental support as well as educational growth. According to Robb, NB|AZ has raised more than $95,617 since 2007. “Taste of the Biltmore demonstrates NB|AZ’s commitment to the community in which we live and work,” she says. Julia De Simone
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit tasteofthebiltmore.com.
Junior Achievement of Arizona
COMMUNITY
NB|AZ Volunteers of the Quarter EACH QUARTER, National Bank of Arizona selects one associate as the Volunteer of the Quarter. These associates are selected, largely, based on number of hours volunteered within the given quarter. For Q1 and Q2 2018, NB|AZ selected two exceptional employees for this distinguished honor. Q1: Mike Naylor Branch Manager, Willow Creek (Prescott) With a passion for baseball, Naylor commits a great deal of his free time to coaching Little League baseball and softball. He is vice president of the Prescott Little League board of directors and is active with the Boy Scouts. Naylor is also a minor division representative and helps oversee a league of 10 teams. He averages about 200 volunteer hours a quarter giving his time to the Little Leaguers of Prescott.
LET’S ROLL! GIVING BACK
Q2: Kayla McKernan Teller, Heber/Overgaard While she works as a teller in the Heber/Overgaard office, McKernan's passion outside of work lies with Girl Scouts of America. “I was a Girl Scout when I was younger,” she says. “My parents were the troop leaders, which has, in some way, led me to be my own daughter’s troop leader.” McKernan’s Brownie troop are all in second or third grade, and participate in outdoor activities like horseback riding, camping, learning first aid, geocaching, and even survival skills. “Education is, of course, vital, but I also think it’s important for them to have some of these life skills, just in case,” McKernan says. In all, McKernan dedicates much of her free time to planning events for her troop, along with helping them earn badges, and coordinating with other troop leaders in the area. “I just really love that I get to be there for the girls, especially my daughter,” she says.
THIS SUMMER, NB|AZ associates came out in full force to show their support of budding young entrepreneurs and financially-minded youth at the 31st Annual Hula Bowl-a-Thon, sponsored by Junior Achievement. Designed to inspire friendly competition between local banks—while raising funds for Junior Achievement and its programs—the event featured teams from NB|AZ, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Arizona Business Bank, Biltmore Bank, and Wells Fargo. NB|AZ had three teams and 15 bowlers, and raised $3,046 for the organization. According to Junior Achievement, the cost to fund one student for a year is $36. With their winnings, NB|AZ was able to fund nearly 85 students, allowing them to participate in programs that focus on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! VISIT NB|AZ on your favorite social media channels, where you’ll learn more about the people and places that make Arizona a great place to live, work and dream. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram, to get these amazing stories delivered straight to your newsfeeds. FACEBOOK
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Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
CONNECT
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Fashion incubator provides essential resources for new designers
economy of design
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FEW YEARS BACK, building a successful career as a fashion designer in Arizona meant hopping on a plane to New York City, Los Angeles or Paris. With few resources or employment opportunities in the Valley, emerging designers and graduates from local fashion programs fled to prominent fashion hubs to seek recognition on the world’s runways. But, that was then. Now, with the recent launch of a fashion industry incubator in downtown Tempe, the fashion landscape is having a big moment. Housed in F.A.B.R.I.C. (Fashion and Business Resource Innovation Center), the collective is sewing opportunities for apparel designers to launch and sustain businesses in Arizona. “Our mission is to provide emerging designers with innovative, small-batch manufacturing and strategic business resources so they can grow their brands sustainably and locally,” says Sherri Barry, who co-founded F.A.B.R.I.C. with Angela Johnson, a prominent fashion industry educator in the Valley. With digital retailers taking the place of many brick-and-mortar stores, Barry says the time is right to help small brands establish businesses outside of traditional fashion hubs. F.A.B.R.I.C. is here to help them take their ideas from design to production, while having access to the materials and manufacturing services they need to be successful. “As I sit inside F.A.B.R.I.C. today, I am more than excited to be able to provide all the things emerging designers need under one roof,” says Johnson. “I used to have to send designers to L.A. or New York City or overseas to find the manufacturing resources they needed. And I watched as hundreds of them failed because it is nearly impossible to manufacture apparel when you aren’t in the same city where your garments are being made.” Launched in October 2016, F.A.B.R.I.C. serves as the headquarters for a number of organizations that have joined forces to create a unique business model. The collective was made possible through a partnership between the City of Tempe; the nonprofit AZ Apparel Foundation; apparel
F.A.B.R.I.C. founders Angela Johnson (left) and Sherri Barry provide essential resources for Arizona’s design industry at their incubator and co-working space in Tempe.
manufacturer AZ Fashion Source; and fashion industry directory and consulting firm LabelHorde, as well as other tenants and co-licensees providing fashion business support services. F.A.B.R.I.C.’s creative professional environment nurtures promising fashion talent by providing apparel manufacturing, low-cost design studio space, education, business mentoring, consulting and design services, and abundant networking opportunities all under one roof. “F.A.B.R.I.C. was built to help these smaller, emerging brands by providing the no-minimum manufacturing resources they need along with the consulting and education they need in order to manage their production,” says Johnson. “We haven’t found anything else quite like it in the U.S. The combination of equipment, work space, skilled labor, education/consulting, library, fabric store, photo studio, runway and fashion directory makes this a very unique model that offers everything a small brand needs from A to Z.”
“The fact that we have an opportunity in Arizona to create an industry that didn’t exist… it’s beyond exciting.” Sherri Barry co-founder, F.A.B.R.I.C.
talent, and that we can do it responsibly and sustainably, it’s beyond exciting.” To date, more than 300 designers have used F.A.B.R.I.C.’s services. The collective has produced 14 full-time jobs ranging from pattern maker, to events coordinator, to production technicians. An additional 15 jobs have also been generated by the 10 designers and other entrepreneurs renting space in F.A.B.R.I.C. In keeping with its focus on responsible, sustainable manufacturing, F.A.B.R.I.C. is proud to support a top-quality working environment. “Fashion should not have to come at a human and environmental cost,” says Barry. “We’re proud to not only be a zero-waste factory, but also provide a place where our workers can do what they love in a great environment.” With sustainability always at the forefront, Barry looks forward to providing more jobs and building a thriving industry from scratch. “Fashion is a $400 billion industry,” says Barry, who is excited to help build a budding field where graduates from fashion institutes throughout the Valley and from ASU’s new four-year fashion design program, can benefit. “We have a lot of big goals. I’m confident that we’ll get there. It’s the right thing to do at the right time in the right place.” Leigh Farr
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
Barry was motivated to launch F.A.B.R.I.C. after attempting to start her own fashion line and running into supply chain difficulties. “I spent 17 years in retail running 350 stores and that didn’t seem as hard as starting a fashion line,” she says. “So, I thought if I can build a shared resource, not only can I help with my line, but I can also help anyone else who has the same problem.” Barry met Johnson when Barry was pursuing her MBA and preparing to launch her brand. Deciding to devote their energy full-time to F.A.B.R.I.C., the two rolled up their sleeves and began planning how they could make Arizona the next fashion state. “I love fashion, I love design, I love helping people,” says Barry. “The fact that we have an opportunity in Arizona to create an industry that didn’t exist, that we have a ton of
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meat greet
Phoenix market brings back the art of whole-animal butchery
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FTER BECOMING A PARTNER in a beef company in 2016, Arcadia Meat Market owner Nick Addante was busy selling to restaurants, hotels and golf courses, as well as participating in events such as the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market. “People were singing our praises and kept asking where they could buy our products during the week,” he says. “That’s what sparked the idea to open up a shop that’s all local meat. I basically hit the road and started meeting with
different farmers and people around the state who are raising animals and doing cool products.” Although he’s still a partner in the beef company, Addante’s day-to-day focus is now on operating the shop, which opened in January 2018. On any given day, Arcadia Meat Market features a full array of meats and cuts of beef, lamb, chicken, pork, bison and duck. Almost everything comes from family-run farms and ranches in Arizona, such as chicken from Benson, pork
Nick Addante (right), owner of Arcadia Meat Market, relies on his team of butchers to offer an array meats from family-run farms and ranches in Arizona.
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
and lamb from Willcox, and 21 different American Grassfed Association-certified beef ranches around the state. Bison comes from a ranch in Buckeye, supplemented by another ranch in Evergreen, Colorado. (Wild game, by special order, is generally sourced from outside the state.) As soon as a whole, half or quarter animal comes through the door, it’s brought into the cooler. Beef gets dry aged for a minimum of three weeks, while the shop’s two full-time butchers start breaking down pork immediately to get chops and pork belly into the case, and start making sausage. In addition to the dozens of standard cuts available, the butchers can also hand-cut orders. Addante’s mission is to sell food that’s as healthy as possible, with animals that are free range or pasture raised without GMOs or antibiotics. “Today’s consumers are a lot more savvy about the food business. I can’t put a number on it, but I would say 20 or 30 percent of our customers ask questions about whether our meats are organic, or if they’re 100 percent grass-fed and finished,” he says. “Our demographic runs from the guy
who wants to grill a great-tasting steak and drink beer in his backyard, to the person who’s conscious about their health. It might be someone who had cancer and chemotherapy, or maybe their doctor told them they can’t have corn in their diet, so they need to eat grass-fed beef.” In addition to the meat lineup, the market also offers a number of locally made provisions to fill out customers’ menus, including cheeses, pickled items, pastured eggs, raw milk, bone broth, local hydroponic greens, and popular items from local companies such as Queen Creek Olive Mill and Cutino Sauce Co. In April, the shop acquired its liquor license, so it added a wide selection of Arizona wines and beers from four nearby breweries. Although Addante doesn’t focus on selling to local restaurants, there are several that create select menu items from his shop. Chef Claudio Urciuoli at Pa’La offers a flatiron steak on a sandwich flatbread, The Porch uses the market’s Italian sausage in a pasta dish, and Finestre Modern Gastronomy uses their pork belly and chicken. Addante notes that he sees a consistent flow of private chefs who buy meat for their own personal use. For those who are starting to plan their holiday menus, Addante has some interesting options to consider. “Customers started asking about the holidays as soon as we opened,” he says, adding that the market will be selling pasture-raised turkeys from two different farms in southeastern Arizona, and they’ll be taking custom orders for rib roasts. “I have to say, this is the most fun I’ve had in this business,” Addante says. “Our state has a lot of really good things going on, and I’m very happy with our purveyors. Raising animals in one state and shipping six states over doesn’t really make a lot of sense economically or environmentally, and consumers are more aware of that. Plus, the customer interaction is great, with lots of people from the neighborhood, as well as others who drive in from all over the Valley.” Jake Poinier
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mapping creativity
Public art project shines a spotlight on Phoenix’s street murals
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VEN THOUGH ARTIST Danielle Foushée had spent considerable time studying public art projects across the country, she had no idea how vibrant the street art scene was in Phoenix. But, when she moved to the Valley in 2016 to take a position at Arizona State University as assistant professor of design, she soon realized the creative tour de force happening in the city. “Phoenix was a black hole in my mind in terms of street art,” says Foushée. “Then I took a walk through central Phoenix and Roosevelt Row and started to see all the murals. I fell in love.” Her affection for local street art blossomed into the Phoenix Mural Project, a volunteer initiative to create a digital map of street murals so residents and visitors could easily tour the paintings. “The creative energy in Phoenix’s street art culture is so different and unique from other places I have lived, such as Seattle, Detroit and Los Angeles,” says Foushée, founder and director of the project. “There’s an amazing vitality to the murals here and I needed to record and share it with others.” Foushée began geo-tagging images on a Google map and quickly had 200 murals documented on her virtual archival guide, which snowballed into her meeting many of the artists and learning their stories. Today, more than 400 murals—many of which appear on block walls, apartment complexes, corporate buildings and restaurants—are pinpointed on the Phoenix Mural Project’s map that includes clusters of works in zones and neighborhoods such as Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue, Calle 16, and the alley at 15th Street and Oak Street. Foushée is using the project’s platform to showcase muralists’ talents and to increase community awareness that Phoenix is a hub of arts and culture, which helps legitimize the public art medium.
“People are coming out of the woodwork to support the project. It gives others a completely different view of a group of artists they didn’t know anything about,” she says. “That’s why I created the Phoenix Mural Project. It helps change minds about different kinds of people and art.” Foushée is also hoping the exposure generates patronage of the diverse artists and more respect for their high level of artistry that runs the gamut in styles, themes and imagery. In May, she hosted the Phoenix Mural Festival where more than 80 muralists were commissioned to do 51 paintings across the city. Professional artist and well-known muralist Hugo Medina, who has painted 50 murals in Phoenix, agrees the Phoenix Mural Project gives well-deserved attention and credibility to a talented pool of muralists who have helped shape the street art culture that has been evolving for years. “In 2009, there were only a handful of muralists in Phoenix. It’s growing and developing. The talent here is amazing,” says Medina, adding that he believes the spotlight cast from the Phoenix Mural Project helps level the artistic playing field. “The advantage of public murals is that it takes art out of the galleries and museums for everyone to see and appreciate.” Plus, the mural movement, which attracts artists from all over the world who leave their expressive mark on the city, has helped make Phoenix a destination. “Before, [Phoenix] was a ghost town and everything closed at 5 p.m. But, when artists started painting murals and opening studios, everyone wanted to come downtown. Developers started to build, then restaurants and other businesses started opening and downtown became a place to be. The muralists made it the scene.” While mapping murals is a priority of the Phoenix Mural Project, it’s also expanding its community outreach and focus. The project recently received funding from ASU to create an ongoing docu-series featuring the artists’ works. Another initiative—a partnership with Phoenix poet laureate Rosemarie Dombrowski, and Hope College and Career Readiness Academy in South Phoenix—was established to engage local youth in self-expression through poetry and muralism. “There’s a real ethos and mentoring happening in Phoenix that I don’t know other cities are experiencing,” adds Foushée. “The goal is to give muralists a voice for their storytelling and help them get work and fair wages for their talents.” Sally J. Clasen
"Lady Liberty" by Hugo Medina, Carlos Mendoza, Ryan Alexander
Mural by Collin Salazar
Mural by Ashley Macias
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
Danielle FoushĂŠe, founder and director, Phoenix Mural Project
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perfect pairing Renowned restaurateur and wine expert finds her niche at historic mansion
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“I think of it as this great passion that I’ve been fortunate enough to turn into a career.”
Debra Gelbart
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
RIGLEY MANSION CEO Paola Embry has been a fixture on the Phoenix restaurant and wine scene for two decades. And while it won’t surprise anyone to learn that she gained restaurant experience early in life, how and where she first learned about the business isn’t standard “here’s how I got my start” fare. Embry grew up in Viña Del Mar, Chile. The fourth largest city in the country, it’s located on Chile’s Pacific coast and its name translates to “Vineyard of the Sea.” Her roots are about as picture-perfect as can be for someone who grew up to be a wine connoisseur and certified wine expert. In a nearby village, her grandparents owned a tiny eatery called Emilia’s. The space could only hold four tables, and the menu featured four daily specials and a dessert. But, the food attracted a faithful following. “The style was simple home cooking that included empanadas, ceviche, pastel de choclo (Chilean beef and corn casserole), and lots of simple fresh-grilled fish with olive oil and herbs,” Embry says. “The specials depended on what my grandmother found at the market. She also boasted an impressive wine list of one white wine and one house red. I remember helping out by chatting with the guests and trying to charm them into buying me treats.” When she turned 12, Embry’s family left Chile and moved to the U.S. But that early exposure to restaurant operations left an indelible impression on her, as have restaurants in the 73 countries she’s visited over the years. In 1998, Embry became co-owner and operator of Christopher’s Fermier & Paola’s Wine Bar in Phoenix with her then-husband, Chef Christopher Gross. In 2008, they moved their business to Biltmore Fashion Park and simplified the name to Christopher’s and Crush Lounge. That establishment became a favorite among Phoenix fine-food lovers. In 2010, Embry was asked to work with the existing management team at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix to help improve operations. A few months later, she formally assumed the titles of CEO and Wine Director, while still co-owner and operator of Christopher’s. For the past several months, Embry may have felt like she’s almost relaxing, compared to when she was juggling two jobs for eight years. Earlier this year, Christopher’s lease ended. At the time, Embry, Gross and Wrigley Mansion owner Jamie Hormel decided that because they all work so well together, they would add Gross’s team to the Wrigley Mansion “and focus all of our efforts full time on making the Wrigley Mansion the best dining experience in Phoenix,” Embry explains. The Wrigley Mansion was built between 1929 and 1931 by William Wrigley Jr., the chewing-gum mogul. Situated on top of a 100-foot hill close to the Arizona Biltmore Resort (a property Wrigley owned at the time), the mansion has 24 rooms, 12 bathrooms and more than 16,000 square feet of space. It cost $1.2 million in 1931 (more than $19.6 million today).
Under two different owners for 13 years, the mansion operated as a private club. In 1992, Geordie Hormel, heir to the Hormel Foods empire, bought the mansion and opened it to the public for meetings, conferences and other events. Hormel passed away in 2006, and his widow, Jamie, continues to own the property. Embry is not only passionate about running restaurants and famous landmarks. She’s a devoted healthy foodie and a certified sommelier, recognized for her extensive knowledge of wines by multiple French wine associations. “I’m very hands-on with all of our wine programs,” she says, “from Jamie’s Wine Bar to Geordie’s Restaurant to the new location of Christopher’s.” This fall, Embry resumes a hectic schedule when Christopher’s opens a new location at Sky Harbor Airport, where she will oversee the wine menu. “I don’t think of it as having to ‘find time’ to put together the wine list. I think of it more as this Paola Embry great passion that I’ve been fortunate enough to CEO, Wrigley Mansion turn into a career.” The mansion’s wine selections have caught the attention of nationally known wine lovers and magazines, including Wine Enthusiast, which declared Geordie’s Restaurant & Jamie’s Wine Bar among the 100 Best Wine Restaurants in America; and by Wine Spectator, which recently presented Geordie’s Restaurant with its fifth consecutive “Best of Award of Excellence.” Embry feels grateful to work in such a supportive environment. “I find the restaurant industry to be a fairly inclusive industry for women, especially in the wine world. At the Wrigley Mansion, we have a strong team of women in leadership roles, including myself and owner Jamie Hormel.” Identifying unforgettable varietals remains her first professional love. “Being an effective sommelier is not just about tasting wines,” she says. “It’s about managing and optimizing the value of a key asset of the company. For an organization like Wrigley Mansion, investment in our wine cellar represents a significant asset class on our balance sheet. Being a sommelier gives me a unique understanding of how to maximize the financial performance of an asset class that I believe is a key skill in being an effective CEO.”
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VEN AFTER THE sun sets, Darlene Newsom’s head is still not hitting her pillow. As the CEO of UMOM New Day Centers, the largest provider of homeless services in Arizona, Newsom’s mind remains fixed on the faces of some of the Valley’s most vulnerable. “There are families that live on the streets. They are not visible because they are fearful of losing their children,” she says. “So lots of times, they live in their cars or sleep in parks. To me, it’s shattering that we have homeless children living on the streets. If you ask me what keeps me up at night, that’s what keep me up at night: knowing we have homeless children on the streets.” UMOM began in 1964 with a steadfast mission of preventing and ending homelessness. Today, the Phoenix-
based nonprofit organization is a shelter and service provider for more than 170 homeless families. Newsom oversees 300 employees and nearly 10,000 volunteers yearly with a $20 million budget via government funds, private donations, foundation grants and fundraisers. “UMOM is a second chance; it changes lives. Everybody deserves that, and that’s what drives me,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to make sure all our families have the opportunity to have a better life.” Although UMOM provides both emergency and extended shelter, Newsom says affordable housing remains a challenge because “we do not have enough resources in Maricopa County to end family homelessness.” According to the nonprofit, there is always a waiting list
Phoenix nonprofit gives Valley’s homeless hope for the future
New Day, New
Adriana Aguilar, a single mother of five children, participated in UMOM’s job training program at the center’s Helpings Cafe, where she is now a full-time employee.
for shelter for families with young children. In addition to the shelters and services provided and operated by UMOM, it also partners with 46 organizations and social agencies in the Valley. “From day one, we already have a plan,” Newsome says. “We know what we do well, and we partner with other organizations that know what they do well. I’m all about partnerships and collaborations because that’s what it’s going to take to end homelessness.” Upon arriving at UMOM, youth, single parents, families, veterans and those in need of assistance are assigned a support specialist to assess their current situation and the barriers preventing them from seeking shelter. Once the assessment is completed, the client is matched to supportive services such as childcare, education, health care and job training. UMOM also helps each participant prepare a resume, attend job fairs, complete a job search and conduct mock interviews.
Life
One such job-training program is UMOM’s Helpings Café. Established in 2014, the café provides a handcrafted menu with barista training following the Starbucks’ curriculum. The café is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. “There are a lot of myths out there about families and that if they want to work, they will work, but it is not true,” Newsom says. “Before passing judgment, you need to know the circumstances. I do know that the families that come to UMOM are “UMOM is a grateful and ready to take the next step second chance; to have a better life for themselves and it changes lives. their children.” Everybody Adriana Aguilar of Phoenix is one of them. Nearly eight years ago, the single deserves that.” mother of five found herself without a Darlene Newsom job and facing eviction. CEO, UMOM New Day Centers “I couldn’t afford childcare and didn’t have anyone to help,” she says. After searching Valley service agencies online, the 35-yearold came across the UMOM website. In addition to helping with housing, the nonprofit also provides childcare services at their licensed development center and job training. “UMOM helped so much,” she says. Today the Phoenix mom and her family have a rental townhouse to call home and a vehicle to get around. Most importantly, Aguilar has completed an internship and secured full-time work at the café. “My seven-year-old said he was so proud of me [when I went to work],” she says. “That’s what keeps me going.” Although Aguilar admits it’s still a struggle with five children, she won’t ever forgo her dream of purchasing their own home. “I do it for my kids. You have to keep moving forward,” she says. “Don’t give up. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.” Julia De Simone
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
Darlene Newsom, CEO, UMOM New Day Centers
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Former Glory
Historic Arizona resort reopens as a luxury destination
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OR CENTURIES, before the early pioneers settled in Arizona, the natural springs in the Bradshaw Mountains— north of what is now Phoenix and near Lake Pleasant— were a healing ground for the Yavapai and Tonto-Apache Indians. As its reputation as a restorative place grew, more explorers traveled west to discover the natural beauty and healing properties of its springs, which eventually became known as Castle Hot Springs. The first person to recognize its potential as a resort destination was Frank Murphy, owner of the Congress Mine near Wickenburg, from which he extracted the modern-day equivalent of more than $2 billion in gold. In addition to building the railroad between Prescott and Phoenix, Murphy opened the original Castle Hot Springs resort in 1896. From the early to mid-20th century, Castle Hot Springs became renowned as one of the world’s most desirable resort destinations. In the early years, guests took a five-hour stagecoach ride on the road Murphy had built from Morristown.
“You really had to want to get there,” says Steve Sampson, director of sales and marketing for Westroc Hospitality. “Back then, they would stay for weeks at a time.” Visitors included the Rockefellers, Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and several U.S. presidents, including future Commander in Chief John F. Kennedy, who recuperated there from war injuries from January to May 1945. In December 1976, an ember from the fireplace hit the floor in the middle of the night and burned the main hotel building to the ground. With insurmountable costs to rebuild, the Talley family (who also owned the Arizona Biltmore) gifted the resort to Arizona State University, which used it as a retreat before selling it. The resort subsequently passed through a rotation of owners who intended to return the site to its former glory—but never succeeded. Fast forward to late 2014. With the property in foreclosure, Westroc Hospitality stepped up to the plate. “Everyone said, ‘Yeah, we’ve heard this story before,’” says
Photos: Craving Haven
When it opens in late fall of 2018, the historic Castle Hot Springs resort will be restored to its former glory as a luxury wellness retreat.
into oversized tubs. For larger groups, there’s also a threebedroom, two-bathroom house called the Historic Cottage. Activities will be tailored at the time of reservation to customize the experience, so no two weeks will be the same. Guests can choose from a wide range of programs, including stargazing, pottery and art workshops, mountain biking, hiking, yoga, archery, bocce, and horseback riding. As you’d expect, the food and beverage offerings will be top of the line. An organic farm will provide fruits and vegetables for the Harvest restaurant—and a chance for interested guests to join the chef and farmer to pick produce that will appear on that night’s unique menu. Future plans include a beer garden, featuring brews from the on-site brewery using water from the springs. Rather than a bumpy stagecoach from the west, today’s approach is from the east past Lake Pleasant. (The final stretch is on dirt roads, so four-wheel drive is recommended.) The resort also offers airport pickup and helicopter service to the on-property helipad. Current plans are for the resort to open in late fall 2018, and from early October through Memorial Day weekend in future years. Jake Poinier
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
Sampson. “But we’re a hotel company, and this is what we do. It’s also a labor of love, because all the people involved in this project are lifelong Phoenicians.” An all-inclusive adult wellness retreat, the new Castle Hot Springs Resort will offer the ultimate in luxury and relaxation. It’s also an opportunity to digitally detox: There are no guest room TVs and a cell signal is available only in the main lodge. “We want guests to feel like they’re stepping out of the 21st century and going back to a more genteel time,” Sampson says, adding that following the trend in small, elite resorts, guests must be 16 or older. “We want people to get in touch with themselves and each other.” Of course, the hot springs themselves are the main attraction: 200,000 gallons a day flow from two miles underground into three natural soaking pools. “Unlike the high sulfur or lithium content of many hot springs, these are pure 120-degree waters,” Sampson says. “You could let it cool and drink it.” The main administration building was restored for use as the main lodge, and accommodations include 32 private bungalows and cabins. Each is about 500 square feet, with deluxe king beds and water piping directly from the hot springs
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NB|AZ Women’s Financial Group maximizing potential
women helping women
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ITH A PROUD TRADITION of helping professional women connect with each other and their community, the Women’s Financial Group at NB|AZ has evolved to focus on enhancing opportunities for women who work at all levels within the bank. “The vision for the future is to include any and all NB|AZ women who want to participate in growing professionally,” explains Mary Holman, executive vice president and director of The Private Bank for NB|AZ, and the president of the Women’s Financial Group. “We want to ensure that women are represented at all employment levels—entry, middle management and senior management—throughout the entire footprint of our
organization,” she adds. “And we’re looking forward to our senior leaders helping women grow and become engaged in the community.” According to Holman, the refreshed Women’s Financial Group takes a grassroots and hands-on approach to fostering women’s interest in furthering their professional and personal goals and helping the community. She hopes the new group will attract members from Tucson and rural markets, as well as those who live in the greater Phoenix area. The Women’s Financial Group was originally formed about nine years ago and Holman says it was intended for any woman in business—including employees or customers of NB|AZ or professional women with no ties to the bank. But, now it is gradually shifting to assist women within the bank with their career goals who also have a desire to learn more about the community and volunteer opportunities. An initial meeting was held in late July by senior leaders to brainstorm ideas for engaging women employees, Holman says. Ideas for future meeting topics include volunteering in the community, professional education, and visits to a variety of organizations within the community. While it’s modeled loosely after local leadership groups whose members learn about community infrastructure and the needs of the local population, the Women’s Financial Group is open to every woman who works at NB|AZ. It also will be an ongoing opportunity whose members don’t “graduate” after a set period of time. “We want to have senior women within the organization be accessible and help other women in the bank grow and achieve their goals,” Holman says. “We will be engaging in community activities to promote relationship-building while helping those in need.” Debra Gelbart
Mary Holman, executive vice president and director of The Private Bank; president of WFG
Congratulations to
Mary Holman Executive Vice President Director of The Private Bank
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS FOR 2018 by Az Business Magazine Mary is the epitome of what National Bank of ArizonaÂŽ aims to stand for, as she acts as a champion for community and collaboration. She has dedicated herself to the growth and development of businesswomen throughout the Valley. We are proud to work with such an incredible leader within the Private Banking community.
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Women entrepreneurs share their stories of hard-earned success
MOTHERS OF INVENTION STORY JAKE POINIER
PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI
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he saying “necessity is the mother of invention” is often credited to the
ancient Greek philosopher Plato’s writings in “The Republic.” In the case of three Arizona women inventors, the proverb rings as true as ever in the modern world of business. Experiencing challenges in their own personal or professional lives led them to take the risky, often daunting, steps into entrepreneurship in order to bring their visions into reality—and share their inspirations with a wider audience.
Tracy Miller SANS
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“ I thought, wow, this is a marketable product and it’s not just friends and family telling me to go for it.” Tracy Miller Phoenix. “New York was very competitive, but this was a supportive community,” she says. “As a startup, it’s nice to have people who want to help with feedback and connections.” The SANS product line uses a vacuum seal and pump mechanism to remove air and keep contents fresh. In addition to the original 16-ounce glass bottle, there’s a plastic version and 32-ounce carafes. This summer, SANS also introduced baby food savers. Being featured in publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine and New York Magazine helped with brand awareness. This summer, the big break came when SANS struck a deal with Kroger, so you can now find their products in local Fry’s Food Stores. “Rejection and quality control are the toughest part, but product development and innovating new cool products are the best,” says Miller, noting that she’s got more products in the pipeline that she’s eager to launch.
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
hree and a half years ago, Tracy Miller was living in a tiny apartment in New York City. A fan of fresh juices and smoothies, she was also on a post-college budget— and frustrated when her healthy foods would go bad within a few hours. “Like every other question in life, I turned to Google,” she says. “When I tried freezing them, some exploded in my little freezer, which was a bummer.” Then a light bulb went off. Miller worked for the manufacturer of Rabbit wine accessories and asked one of the company engineers if wine preservation principles could be used for fruits and vegetables. After a year of making samples, the results were positive and she raised $36,000 on Kickstarter in 2016. “I thought, wow, this is a marketable product and it’s not just friends and family telling me to go for it,” Miller says. During the development process, Miller moved to Arizona and set up shop at the CO+HOOTS co-working space in
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Dr. Amy Serin The TouchPoint Solution
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“ It got me thinking about not just putting an end to PTSD, but how to help people in general with their stress responses.” Dr. Amy Serin
rizona native Dr. Amy Serin has operated her Serin Center neuropsychology clinics for the past 11 years in Peoria, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Several years ago, she began consulting with elite military members on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevention. “It got me thinking about not just putting an end to PTSD, but how to help people in general with their stress responses,” she says. She believed a time-tested PTSD therapy could be adapted into a wearable technology for all kinds of users, and began working on the concept overseas at a research institution. When she returned to Arizona in 2015, her friend Vicki Mayo mentioned that her daughter was having night terrors, and Serin gave her some prototypes to reduce her daughter’s stress. “It worked a miracle,” Mayo says. Since the research institution process was slow, Mayo suggested they bring the product to market themselves. TouchPoints are digital wearable therapeutic devices worn on opposite sides of the body: on the wrists, in socks
or pockets, or on tank top straps. They use gentle vibrations— similar to a cell phone buzz—to alter the body and brain’s natural stress response. “The human stress response switches on based on sensory information,” Serin says. “The micro-vibrations, which we call BLAST technology, override the stress switch without your attention or awareness.” Data from thousands of users has shown about a 70 percent reduction in stress levels within just 30 seconds of use. In addition to professionals such as therapists and doctors, TouchPoints have been used successfully by business executives, children with developmental disabilities, college students with testing anxiety, and athletes. Among several international honors, TouchPoint won an Edison Awards 2018 Gold Medal Wellness Technology. “Ironically, using our own product helped us through the growing pains of a new tech startup,” Serin says. “But the most rewarding thing is hearing stories of how the technology has transformed other people’s lives.”
Linda Foss BoogieBulb
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“ I trust the timing and the process, and the most rewarding aspect is knowing that my product is helping people.” Linda Foss
eing a first-time mother is tough enough, but giving birth when you have the flu brings its own risks. “Basically, my daughter was born with a cold,” says Linda Foss. “The hospital sent us home with one of those little blue bulb syringes to help clear her airway, but there was no way to properly disinfect or clean it.” Unable to find quality bulb syringes in stores, Foss returned to the hospital, only to be told that they don’t give out medical devices. On the Internet, she found countless other mothers who had experienced similar frustrations. “I realized there was an opportunity when I couldn’t get my hands on one,” says Foss, who branded her first disposable product, the Original Hospital-Grade Baby Nasal Aspirator. “I also knew I was running on a short window of time, because medical suppliers hadn’t caught on to the home care angle.”
In 2011 and 2012, as suppliers began to cross into her market, she recognized her next step was to create an improved model: a durable, cleanable baby nasal aspirator. During prototyping and development, Foss had a stroke of good fortune when an industry veteran found her website and connected her with a medical manufacturer who could make the new product. In 2014, the BoogieBulb was ready to launch. Its Amazon listing resulted in significant organic reach, and then an article in The Wall Street Journal helped increase brand awareness. Currently, BoogieBulb is can be purchased at Wal-Mart, and is under consideration by CVS Pharmacy. “As entrepreneurs, we sometimes want to go from A to Z and forget all the steps in between,” Foss says. “I just trust the timing and the process, and the most rewarding aspect is knowing that my product is helping people.”
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
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Historic Arizona city celebrates its rich past as it looks ahead to a promising future
‘Find Yourself’ in
Kingman STORY BRUCE FARR
PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
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clever marketing slogan designed to help describe and promote Kingman, Arizona, perfectly fits the flourishing little city’s steady renaissance. It reads, “Find Yourself in Kingman.” It’s an apt double entendre. Kingman, which was originally founded in 1852 on the American continent’s 35th parallel, is once again a great place to find oneself—in both senses of that phrase. The town that once was little more than a tumbleweed-swept train stop between Phoenix and points north and west is now a renewed, thriving destination, with a host of attractions and pleasant diversions that are drawing greater numbers of travelers, convincing them to “stop and stay” instead of merely passing through.
Alluring locale
Located at an ideal geographic crossroads between Arizona’s Route 93 and Interstate 40, Kingman has always had a reputation for mixing ample small-town charm with a rich dose of American Western history. For one thing, the city straddles a piece of the iconic Route 66’s blacktop, and it has always been a welcome stop for motorists traversing that legendary highway. Add to that Kingman’s impressive visual backdrop, the Hualapai Mountain range, which makes it easy to stay a while before moving on. Like so many other Southwestern boomtowns
that sprang up in the mid-to-late 1800s, Kingman owes its origins to the inexorable railroad juggernaut of that period, a surging force in this country to expand ever westward. That transportation crusade provided an umbilical lifeline for settlers of the Kingman area. And so, officially, in 1880, Lewis Kingman appraised, surveyed and parceled out the land along the 35th parallel that would one day become a small, yet notable Southwestern city bearing his name. Today, Kingman still trades on its appealing location. Thanks to its roughly 3,200-feet elevation and low humidity, the city and its environs are a lure for those seeking a more moderate climate in which to pursue a variety of year-round activities, including hiking, biking, and water sports on the nearby Colorado River. Climbing up a bit higher into the neighboring Hualapai Mountains, outdoor adventurists can find even more challenging activities.
‘Welcome to Kingman!’
Nothing in Kingman captures the city’s newfound passion for linking its past and present more enthusiastically than the recently
“Every block you walk down now shows that the buildings have all had facelifts and new paint; it’s amazing how much is going on.” Sarah Ferry, Owner, Southwest Trading Company
Sarah Ferry, Owner,Southwest Trading Company
new energy in the Beale Street shopping district. “It began with a wine bar that opened downtown, a brewery, and then a coffee shop, and a couple of restaurants,” she says. “Every block you walk down now shows that the buildings have all had facelifts and new paint; it’s amazing how much is going on.” One newly hatched event that Ferry points to as helping to spur the city’s renaissance is its monthly “First Friday” celebration. “It’s organized by the downtown business owners and tries to be inclusive of the whole community,” Ferry explains. “It started out kind of small, but, as we discovered, the community was starving for just this type of event.” Since its inception, the First Friday gala now partners with the city, which has seen its way to close down Beale Street on those evenings to encourage more foot traffic and celebration.
Rebranding on tap
Kingman’s retail resurgence is clearly linked to its increasing economic fortunes. Gary Kellogg, Planning & Economic
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
completed Kingman Arch. Measuring 25 feet tall and 61 feet in length, the arch—emblazoned with the greeting “Welcome to Kingman, Arizona”—spans Kingman’s main drag, Beale Street, ushering in locals and visitors alike to the city’s newly burgeoning historic district. The arch is strategically located adjacent to a city park with a 90-year-old steam locomotive, a reminder to all how important the railroad was to Kingman’s 19th century beginnings. But, just beyond the arch and the steam engine, downtown is thriving with a fresh, contemporary feel as shops and restaurants, boutiques and galleries are springing up to let everyone know that Kingman is firmly staking a claim in the 21st century. Sarah Ferry, owner and operator of the Southwest Trading Company located on Beale Street, personifies the energized spirit of Kingman as it continues to find its essence as a community. Ferry’s shop is, in her words, a “shabby-chic Southwestern boutique,” selling art, jewelry and photography by local artists and an array of gifts and other curios, all with a local connection. Ferry, a Kingman native, purchased the shop just this year, and, already, she says she’s witnessing a
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“ Kingman has changed a lot over the past few years and it’s about to change even more. We’re on the threshold of a lot of opportunity for growth.” Jen Miles, Vice Mayor, Kingman
Kingman Vice Mayor Jen Miles and Planning & Economic Development Director Gary Kellogg at the Kingman Arch, which welcomes visitors and businesses to the city’s burgeoning historic district.
Development Director for Kingman, says that, from an economic perspective, Kingman is definitely on the uptick. In addition to a comprehensive strategic plan to help continue the city’s recent growth, Kellogg says that Kingman has hired a consultant to aid in a major rebranding exercise. “It’s time to look at what’s new and exciting, what we can change and see how we can rebrand our identity,” he says, adding that recent plans to locate state and interstate highway exchanges near Kingman will bring more traffic into the city and, with that traffic, additional growth and development. “One notable thing that’s happening is that an interchange off Interstate 11 is going to be located right here in Kingman,” Kellogg says. “When that project’s completed—sometime in 2020 or 2021, I believe—it’s going to tie the I-11 corridor into I-40, which goes right through the city.” Also with an eye toward Kingman’s future, Kellogg says the city has converted part of a World War II-era airfield into an industrial park that houses a number of manufacturing facilities. “We have steel product manufacturers, piping, electrical conduit, Styrofoam,” he explains. “But, our local industry primarily revolves around the construction business. Because we’re located on the I-40 and we have the rail service here, we’re kind of the hub for
supplying construction manufacturing products to the California market.”
Collaborative spirit
With so many moving parts all focused on the continuation of the city’s newly revived spirit of growth and redevelopment, its leaders recognize a real opportunity to combine and coordinate these efforts into a more consolidated force in Kingman’s behalf. Vice Mayor Jen Miles says a lot of different city groups are working together in that regard. “Kingman has changed a lot over the past few years and it’s about to change even more,” she says. “We’re on the threshold of a lot of opportunity for growth. For one thing, we have a lively, up-and-coming downtown area with a number of merchants that I call ‘entrepreneurial pioneers.’ These are a very dedicated group of people who are banding together to make the sort of investments in their businesses that will encourage people—visitors and locals—to come down and have food and drink and all those good things.” Miles emphasizes how much the city is embracing a cultural change as well. “The arts that are coming downtown—with Beale Street Theater and Metcalf Park, the train museum, and music and other events—it all adds up to Kingman just being a really thriving community that people are discovering is a great place to live and work and visit.”
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[ WO] MEN AT WORK
Female business owners are making their mark in a traditionally male-dominated industry
STO RY B RU C E FA R R / P H OTO G R A P H Y M A R K L I P C Z Y N S K I
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and businesses opting to make Arizona their home over the past half century, the state’s building and construction trades have understandably boomed. Over that same span of time, the construction industry itself has seen some remarkable evolutionary changes—both nationally and in Arizona. ITH SO MANY PEOPLE
number of U.S. construction workers was 10,328,000 and, of that number, just under 1 million were women. While this might seem a significant gap in comparison, keep in mind that several decades ago, women were statistically nonexistent in the building and construction trades (“Rosie the Riveter” and her ilk were, for the most part, a wartime anomaly). But following a more recent trend, women aren’t merely
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
In a field that was once the sole province of men, women are increasingly turning up, donning hardhats and tool belts, and taking charge everywhere from the job site to the boardroom. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women have made significant gains in finding jobs in the construction industry over the past few decades—but the numbers are still off-kilter. In 2016, for example, the total
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INDUSTRY SUPPORT
range of community service projects. NAWIC does lots and lots of ‘give-back.’ ” Hagen notes one of the reasons we’re seeing more and more women in construction is because of the diversity of opportunities it presents. “As a woman, you might start out as a bookkeeper or a crane operator, or for that matter even a ditch digger, and then move into a project administrator slot,” she explains. “And then, they might bring you back into the office as an operations manager. I don’t think there’s another industry that offers so many varied opportunities and pays as well as construction does.”
Carol Hagen is one Phoenix-area businesswoman who can speak with authority—and from a “big picture” perspective—on the issue of women in construction. In addition to running Hagen Business Systems Inc., a software development company that focuses on construction-related BUCKING TRADITION technology needs, for the past 18 years Hagen has been Yolanda Chap couldn’t agree more. She and her husband an active member of the Greater Phoenix chapter of the Ray Chap own and operate Empire Homes Inc., a SonoitaNational Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), based excavation and sand-and-gravel company that’s been and has spent some time on its board of directors. serving Sonoita and its neighboring cities and towns for Formed in 1953, NAWIC is a national organization whose charter is, simply, “to enhance the success of Carol Hagen owns a women in the construction industry.” construction-related software development Local chapter membership means company and is a member involvement in one’s own career, the of the Greater Phoenix chapter of the National construction industry and the local Association of Women community. in Construction. Through a series of educational events, seminars, networking functions and volunteer opportunities in chapters throughout the country, NAWIC has advanced the cause of women in construction and supported their efforts to find parity in an industry that’s long been dominated by men. “It’s really a roll-up-your-sleeves sort of organization,” Hagen says. “All of the chapters are heavily involved with women helping one another with their careers and performing a wide
“ I don’t think there’s another industry that offers so many varied opportunities and pays as well as construction does.” CAROL HAGEN, OWNER, HAGEN BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC.
Kathy Nieto (left) and Kathy Lyle run a successful interior design and remodel business that has been serving the Tucson area for nearly 30 years.
AN EVOLVING INDUSTRY
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
the past 30 years. When she joined her husband in running their business about 15 years ago, Chap faced a kind of “double whammy.” Not only was she a woman entering the traditionally male-dominated construction field as a business owner, she is also a Hispanic woman. She knew she was flouting Hispanic tradition by taking up a profession that might be what she terms “un-ladylike,” but Chap says she was undeterred in her desire to work alongside her husband. “When he invited me to join him in the business, I wasn’t intimidated at all—I wasn’t as concerned about men in this business who might be ‘macho.’ I was more concerned about learning the trade, and the way I overcame their doubts was through my own perseverance,” she says. Nevertheless, Chap admits there was a learning curve, made steeper by the fact that she was, after all, a woman working in an atypical business that was entirely new to her. “In the beginning, when men would call for service or advice about a project, they would always ask for my husband,” Chap explains. “So I saw it as an opportunity to learn my business well enough so I could prove to the men that I could serve them with as much knowledge as my husband. Now, when they call, they trust me to give them the answers they’re looking for.” Asked if she thinks that there’s been progress in her industry regarding women, she’s quick to reply. “Things have changed—gotten easier—for women. Today, it’s more acceptable, more common, that [women] are driving trucks, running backhoes or doing whatever, and men accept that.” But if there was any gender bias from the men she encountered on a daily basis, it didn’t faze her. “I don’t really see any of this bias,” she says, of her dealings with men. “The point is, we offer good-quality materials, good-quality work and good people who do the work.” That, in her mind, erases any attitude issues that might otherwise crop up. “More times than not, I receive compliments from the men [clients] that I deal with,” she says. “They tell me ‘I like the way that you do business’ and, to me, that’s all I think I should be concerned about.”
Kathy Nieto and Kathy Lyle are co-owners of another Tucson-based construction-related business. Founded in 1989, Interior Trends Remodel and Design is a kitchen, bathroom and residential remodeling firm doing both large and small projects throughout Tucson and the surrounding communities. Nieto got her start in construction when she was quite young, working in her family’s commercial plumbing and mechanical contracting business. “Back in the old days, it was more difficult to be a woman in construction,” she says. “Today, everyone is more educated and friendly to women who are in unconventional types of industries. If we do encounter any gender bias today, it’s very rare. Things are significantly better than they used to be in, say, the 1970s and ’80s.” Both Nieto and Lyle believe that, in the long term, one of the most significant differences women will bring to the design and construction industry is in the “look” and function of those designs. “When you go back to the ’50s and ’60s,” Nieto says, “most of the design was done by men—male architects and builders. Because of that, a lot of design has a distinct look and function. Kitchens, “ Today, it's more for instance, were considerably smaller, and acceptable, more so were closets. Women common, that have influenced some [women] are driving radical changes in those trucks, running traditional designs.” Lyle agrees. “Women backhoes or doing are ‘nesters’ and have whatever, and some distinctly different men accept that.” viewpoints than men YOLANDA CHAP, OWNER, regarding the function EMPIRE HOMES INC. of a house. Women’s voices are heard now,” she adds. Nieto is optimistic about the future of women working in the construction field, saying it’s an open avenue for any woman to get involved in. And while Lyle agrees, she understands women may still have a few uphill challenges to overcome. “Putting interior design together with construction is a little harder for women, particularly because we have to prove ourselves to our clients on the construction side,” she says. “A typical male contractor is a little more hesitant to trust our knowledge, but we’re used to it—it comes with the deal. I will say that it’s gotten so much better than it used to be.”
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Sonoita, AZ
With a history rich in ranching and agriculture, Sonoita is also considered one of the most verdant areas to produce Arizona wines. Because of this, the small, Southern Arizona town is fast becoming a popular destination not only for wine connoisseurs, but also for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Find out more about this unique Arizona town in the next issue of Elevate AZ.
PHOTO Debby Wolvos
Fall 2018 | ElevateAZ.com
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