Elevate AZ | Winter 2023

earth first

How the environmentally friendly path can be good for business

SCOTTSDALE EVOLVED

The ‘west’s most western town’ becomes the ideal place to live, work and play

STATE OF PLAY

How sports tourism means big dollars for Arizona

MORE THAN BUSINESS.

DEPARTMENTS

Arizona’s No. 1 Bank

For 19 years, we’ve been voted Arizona’s No. 1 Bank by Ranking Arizona, the largest business opinion poll in the state. And though we’re proud of that recognition, we’re even more proud of what it represents: our commitment to building strong relationships, providing exceptional customer service and going the extra mile.

Everyone deserves to have a personal relationship with their bank. Start yours today.

Recognized by such media outlets as The New York Times and Esquire magazine, Bacanora is making quite a buzz in Phoenix’s food scene.

02 @NB|AZ

What’s happening at National Bank of Arizona

04 AZ WORKS

High-Tech Haven Arizona becomes a magnet for semiconductor makers, tech employers

06 FOOD & DRINK

Liquid Assets

FEATURES

16 Earth First

When being environmentally friendly is good for business

22 The Evolution of Scottsdale

The ‘west’s most western town’ gains momentum as the ideal place to live, work and play

28 State of Play

Arizona’s emphasis on hosting sports teams and events means big dollars for the state

Beer guild promotes state’s independent craft brewers

08 ARTS & CULTURE

Mission Masterpiece Tucson landmark proves to be a testament to time and service

10 TRAILBLAZERS

Taste of Success

Meet the power couple behind three of the Valley’s most lauded restaurants

12 AZ NONPROFIT

To Live & Give

Survivor provides support and resources to women fighting cancer

32 EXPERIENCE AZ

A moment in Wickenburg

PUBLISHER

National Bank of Arizona

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jenavi Kasper, jenavi.kasper@nbarizona.com

PROJECT EDITOR

Matthew Pazik, matthew.pazik@nbarizona.com

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, Debra Gelbart, Angela Muniz, Jake Poinier

PHOTOGRAPHER

Mark Lipczynski, mark@marklipczynski.com

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. © 2023 Zions Bancorporation, N.A. All rights reserved.

ON THE COVER

Learn how Arizona businesses like First Solar, a solar manufacturer based in Tempe, are increasing eco-friendly innovation while reducing our carbon footprint. Page 16

PB+J CREATIVE content + photography + design pb-jcreative.com

Photo courtesy of First Solar Inc.

New Year, New Outlook

WE ARE FORTUNATE to live and work in a state that continually exhibits strong foundational economic growth in employment, wages and investment. Ranked fifth in the nation in terms of growth, Arizona will likely see continued job growth, but challenges do exist—a historic national recession. A recession will negatively influence job growth in Arizona, impacting potential total employment announcements at many new employers in the state.

Inflation

Inflation is a genuine concern not only for businesses experiencing margin compression from wages and the cost of raw materials, but for consumers as it impacts the price of housing, food and basic utility staples (energy, medical, recreation, etc.).

We’ve been talking about wage inflation and its impact on margins for over two years with our customers. Because inflation was not addressed in a timely manner by the Federal Reserve System, the recent and expected additional rate increases will likely push the Fed discount rate (the rate banks and the Fed charge each other for overnight obligations) to 4.6% or something slightly over 5%.

The 75-year historical average Fed discount rate is 4.65%, so while this is much higher than the past 15 years at near 0%, it is not outside the normal range. We do not expect inflation to be a long-term problem, subsiding within three years, provided the Fed maintains its aggressive hawkish posture on rates.

From a near-term perspective, this will impact corporate earnings and move investment return expectations further north. This will undoubtedly hamper real values across the board on a nominal to slightly larger basis in terms of investment opportunities.

NB|AZ Volunteer of the Quarter

Housing

We expect to see housing values diminish by 20% from peak levels of 2022. Homebuilders are seeing significant increases in their cancellation rates from near 0% to 25%. Although 20% to 25% has been an historical average, recent cancellation rates are rising above those levels in many cases, along with interest rates for mortgages.

There is an old adage that buyers delay buying decision when interest rates are declining or increasing, and this cycle has not been the exception. We have been advising clients to utilize adjustable terms up to 10 years to take advantage of the current lower rate differential to a 30-year fixed rate, mainly in anticipation of them cooling over the next three-to-five-year period.

Jobs

The overall job outlook for Arizona has been strong, but is cooling. Many businesses are still having difficulty filling open positions with nearly all industries experiencing significant wage growth expectations from the labor pool.

Arizona State University economists predict the state will continue to add jobs in 2023, with approximately 24,500 net jobs in Arizona. That rate of growth would account for a meager .8% gain, but it’s still positive and beats what many of our neighboring states may experience. Additionally, the 30-year outlook forecasts close to 1.4 million jobs added through 2052, which is robust.

While there isn’t a lot of cheer in the near-term forecast, the expectation is for reasonable and sustainable growth. We anticipate opportunities for contrarian investors to be available between now and the next 18 to 24 months.

Opportunities for investors who prefer confirmed data points and trend lines are not likely to emerge until after that time. We are in pretty good shape relative to core economic fundamentals here in Arizona, and benefit from a highly competitive economy relative to many of our neighboring states.

Stay positive and find ways to benefit your community through active engagement both professionally and philanthropically with local organizations.

Mark Young PRESIDENT AND CEO NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA

EACH QUARTER, we celebrate the volunteerism efforts of our associates. Our volunteer of the quarter for 3Q22 is Sandy Navarrete. A retail regional sales manager in Yuma, Sandy is being recognized for the volunteer work she does for such organizations as the Yuma Community Food Bank, Arizona Historical Society, and the Yuma County Industrial Development Authority.

Sandy leads a group of NB|AZ associates who volunteer at least once a quarter for the Yuma Community Food Bank, where they sort food or build food bags to distribute to families in need. She says she chose the food bank because it’s a great organization that truly helps the community in their time of need. The Yuma area has a significant seasonal work population that is dependent on this assistance while agriculture is down during the hot summer months.

Sandy is also on the finance committee for the Arizona Historical Society. The committee reviews financials and makes recommendations on saving money or bringing more money in to help different charters. After participating in her first call with the society, she was hooked.

“It’s great to see how a nonprofit works and how we can help others become more effective and efficient in their financial operations to continue seeing

them succeed,” she says.

Furthering her work in the community, Sandy works with the Yuma County Industrial Development Authority, which reviews new construction projects that come to the city. As a volunteer, she helps decide if each new project is a good investment and verifies if appropriate financing is available to start and complete the projects. She also reviews paperwork associated with the new business or construction, and makes recommendations on where the new construction should be placed.

“I usually volunteer with organizations that really make an impact in people’s lives, whether it’s in an economic, social or educational capacity,” Sandy says. “I believe it takes a village to have a successful and productive society. I love to volunteer. It gives me a sense of purpose knowing that can make a difference in people’s lives…even if it’s just a little.”

NB|AZ Supports Families in Need this Holiday Season

THE HOLIDAYS are a time for sharing, caring and spreading joy. As part of our company picnic in early November, NB|AZ associates collected food donations totaling 550 pounds, which will allow St. Mary’s Food Bank to provide enough food to make 459 meals for those in need in our community.

Associates around the state also volunteered their time at local food banks to help during this busy time of year, and more than 40 children from Southwest Human Development were “adopted” for the holidays, receiving gifts from their Gingerbread Kids Wish List.

TEAM EFFORT

Grand Canyon State becomes a magnet for semiconductor makers, other tech employers

high-tech haven

FASTER THAN YOU CAN say “semiconductor,” high-tech jobs in Arizona are increasing so rapidly that the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) predicts the state will rank second in the nation in tech occupation growth in the coming decade.

Technology jobs in the Phoenix area grew by nearly 70% during the first half of 2022 compared with just a year earlier, notes Dice, an online career marketplace for tech professionals. Among the employers that have brought high-tech projects to Arizona in the past few years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the largest foreign direct investment in the state’s history. The company plans to construct up to six fabrication facilities at its site near the Loop 303 and Interstate 17 within the city of Phoenix, reports the City of Peoria Economic Development department.

Expected to begin chip production at the site in 2024, TSMC will create thousands of new jobs. TSMC spokeswoman Nina Kao told the Phoenix Business Journal in May 2022 that all recruiting for the Arizona fabs is occurring domestically. Already, TSMC is looking to hire at least nine different types of engineers, as well as logistics and supply chain experts.

TSMC “means a lot for our community, but more importantly our country,” says Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). When TSMC selected Phoenix as the location for its new multi-billion-dollar plant, it originally planned to invest $12 billion. That commitment later expanded to $35 billion. “We’re going to shore up the U.S. supply chain for the

most advanced chips that exist in the world…used by the U.S. Department of Defense for national security and in our phones, tablets and other consumer devices,” Camacho says. “These chips made in Arizona will be exported around the world. So, there’s a lot of pride in having that investment here in greater Phoenix.

Camacho describes it as “a oncein-a-generation-type opportunity for this market that will yield tremendous results economically and financially, bringing thousands of highly specialized jobs to the region, both directly with TSMC, as well as indirectly with the surrounding supplier ecosystem.”

In a report by the Phoenix Business Journal, suppliers for the TSMC plant that have expanded or plan to expand to the Valley include Taiwan Puritic Corporation, which has signed new leases in Phoenix and Glendale; Rinchem, which will locate in Surprise; CTCI, with a new office in Phoenix; Sunlit Chemical in Phoenix; and EMD Electronics in Chandler.

GPEC has worked with 15 semiconductor-related locates since May 2022, including nine TSMC suppliers.

During the early months of 2022, The State Press reported that Arizona State University spent nearly $250,000 lobbying for legislation for the CHIPS and Science Act. The bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022. The new law will invest more than $52 billion into U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.

“The signing of the CHIPS and Science Act will certainly have a profound effect on TSMC and Intel, but it will also impact the nearly dozen other deals that we have in the GPEC pipeline and 16,000 potential new jobs that might not have considered Arizona had this bill not passed,” Camacho points out. “These are high-wage, high-growth, high-tech jobs. The investments being made at area universities like ASU will feed a pipeline of new talent directly into these

Technology jobs in the Phoenix area grew by nearly 70% during the first half of 2022.

high-impact jobs and fuel our growing economy.”

More than 30,000 students are enrolled in engineering programs across Arizona, he emphasizes, “but just as importantly, there are tens of thousands of students enrolled in advanced technical training and certification. Combined with the nearly 100,000 new residents greater Phoenix welcomes every year—75% of whom have post-secondary education of some kind—we’re well-prepared to fulfill the needs of employers.”

Site Selection Magazine reports that Intel estimates its $20 billion investment in two new chip factories at the company’s Chandler campus will create more than 3,000 high-paying jobs.

Additional opportunities for high-tech employment will come from projects announced by Meta (Facebook); Virgin Galactic, building its new rocket ship assembly plant at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport; Google Fiber; KORE Power; electric vehicle makers Lucid Motors, Nikola, and ElectraMeccanica; and Gulfstream Aerospace, which is building a new aircraft service center in Mesa that’s expected

to create hundreds of jobs.

Greater Phoenix “has led the nation for six years as a top job growth market,” Camacho continues. The last three years “have been the top three years for our market in terms of job creation. We’ll see investments in new technology and our innovative, entrepreneurial ecosystem for years to come with access to the most advanced, cutting-edge technology in the U.S. We need to ensure that we continue to invest in STEM and technical education, infrastructure and high-tech growth sectors to harness this momentum and carry it into the future.”

Arizona and greater Phoenix are not, however, trying to become another Silicon Valley, Camacho stresses. “We’re not trying to replicate what’s been done in Silicon Valley. We are doing things differently here and we can go beyond that. We want to be a generous, open and cooperative entrepreneurial community, where there is an approach to helping one another. Greater Phoenix is a uniquely positioned, young and vibrant region. No matter where you come from or your pedigree, if you have a great, disruptive idea, you will get attention.”

Debra Gelbart

Chris Camacho, President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council

Liquid Assets

Beer guild promotes Arizona’s independent craft brewers

FROM FESTIVALS FILLED with Arizona beers, local drafts at most restaurants and bars, and brewery-run taprooms around the state, it’s easy to take Arizona’s reputation as a craft beer state for granted. But behind the scenes, a nonprofit organization has been helping our craft beer trade succeed for nearly 25 years.

Established in 1998 when there were only 18 breweries in the state, the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild took on the mission to “work in partnership with independent breweries to promote the virtues and raise the profile of Arizona’s locally crafted beers.”

Today, Arizona’s breweries top more than 100 and the once volunteer-run Guild now has a small staff that does everything from event planning to legislative advocacy and industry outreach.

Andrew Bauman, deputy director of the Guild, explains that while the scope of Arizona’s craft beer trade has grown, the Guild’s mission remains the same.

“It was the same as it is now—to make sure that the legislative needs are being paid attention to and that we are promoting craft beer in Arizona,” he says.

As a 501(c)(6) organization, the Guild represents its members on legislative issues that include updating laws for modern consumer demands—like expanding packaging definitions that used to limit take-away growlers to glass containers—and advocating for new products and business models that can help brewers diversify.

But to the general public, the Guild is probably best known for the festivals it runs, like the Strong Beer Fest in Phoenix; the Baja Beer Festival in Tucson; and Arizona Beer Week with 10

days of beer-focused events throughout Arizona. Bauman says these events showcase what Arizona brewers are creating.

“With so many of [our breweries] being a taproom model and not into distribution so much, it’s hard to get a complete view of what they are doing,” he explains. “When you go to festivals, you learn a lot more. Breweries will bring their favorite beers and share that with people. So that’s where you can get the best idea of what’s going on.”

And there’s a lot going on.

Arizona brewers recently brought home three medals from the pinnacle of craft brewing awards, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Gold medals went to Wren House Brewing for its Oktoberfest and Oro Brewing Company for its coffee beer. Saddle Mountain Brewing took home a Bronze for its Scottish ale that Bauman says wins nearly every time it’s entered.

“It’s incredible consistency to be able to beat the entire country—or in World Beer Cup, the entire world—in the category of Scottish ale,” he says. “…it’s pretty cool!”

Closer to home, a bevy of brewers took top honors at the inaugural Arizona Craft Beer Awards & Festival, held in September. More than 40 Arizona breweries submitted entries in 14 categories ranging from best IPA to best specialty to best packaging. Taking home top honors in Best in Show was PHX Beer Co. for their Monsoon IPA, which also took Gold in the American IPA category.

The festival continues to create a bridge between training, education and good fun. As part of the award process, the Guild trained judges to GABF standards and gave them an opportunity to judge at a professional level. It also created an opportunity for the public to try many of the award-winners brews for themselves.

Where festivals educate the public about craft beer and build pride in Arizona’s breweries, the annual Arizona Brewers Conference organized by the Guild offers educational and technical tracks designed to help members improve the overall quality and business of beer making.

“There’s a lot that goes into any business, and breweries are exactly like it,” Bauman explains. “You have to sell, you have to manage your taxes, you have HR, you have liability issues. So, in addition to the technical skills required for brewing, we have educational tracks on all those things, as well.”

Bauman says Arizona’s craft beer community isn’t slowing down. According to the national Brewers Association, the state ranks 40th in the number of breweries per capita. This room for growth in the state continues to attract new breweries that are adding diversity to the industry.

“It went from being a little niche thing to, ‘Yeah, we can do this.’ And once that happens, you naturally see a wider range of people choosing to get into the business,” he says. “We can add that, yes, there is great opportunity in Arizona. So, choosing to do that here makes a lot of sense.” Angela

Muniz

“There’s a lot that goes into any business. You have to sell, you have to manage your taxes, you have HR, you have liability issues. We have educational tracks on all those things.”

Andrew Bauman, Deputy Director, Arizona Craft Brewers Guild

(Left to right) Adam Wojcik, brewery director, PHX Beer Co.; Rob Fullmer, executive director, Arizona Craft Brewers Guild; Andrew Bauman, deputy director, Arizona Craft Brewers Guild.

N THE MIDDLE OF the Tohono O’odham Nation Indian community, approximately nine miles south of downtown Tucson, stands a centuriesold Catholic mission that continues to be a sanctuary of faith and service to the local community: San Xavier del Bac.

The mission is also a pilgrimage site for more than 200,000 visitors each year who are drawn to San Xavier del Bac’s historical religious roots as well as its notable 18th-century architecture, traveling from around the world to observe its legacy.

San Xavier del Bac was established in 1692 by Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino on land that, at the time, belonged to New Spain. It was named for Francis Xavier, a Christian missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit order) in Europe. In addition to being a missionary, Father Kino also was a geographer, cartographer and astronomer, and

closed due to a decrease in enrollment and staffing.

Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the mission remains dedicated to its original purpose of serving the religious needs of local residents, operating as a parish for community members to attend mass, weddings, baptisms and other special occasions.

“The benevolent Father Francisco Eusebio Kino founded San Xavier del Bac Mission to serve the Tohono O’odham community, Tucson’s original inhabitants. Visitors can step through its doors to explore the mission’s campus and get a firsthand glimpse into the architectural, historical and religious significance of this place, situated in the Tohono O’odham village of Wa:k,” says Aguilar.

mission masterpiece

founded a number of Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert to serve the needs of local communities.

“San Xavier del Bac Mission is often referred to as the White Dove of the Desert, but that description only scratches the surface of the beauty and history that’s inextricably linked to this National Historic Landmark,” says Cindy Aguilar, a spokesperson for Visit Tucson.

According to Father Kino’s diary, construction of the original mission’s foundation, located two miles from the site of the current church, began in 1700, but it was never completed. Father Kino died in 1711 and the first church was built in 1756 and was nearly destroyed around 1770.

Franciscan priests Juan Bautista Velderrain and Juan Bautista Llorenz then started to rebuild what survived of the mission campus between 1783 and 1797, borrowing 7,000 pesos from a local rancher and relying on O’Odham workers to complete the project.

As with many historical properties, the storyline of San Xavier del Bac is marked by colorful highs and lows with periods of great achievement, neglect and conservation. For many years, the mission was abandoned while it was under Mexican jurisdiction because the government forced all Spanish-born priests to vacate the country. Local Native Americans attempted to preserve what they could of the decaying property.

When San Xavier del Bac became part of the U.S. and the new territory of Arizona in 1853, efforts were taken to reestablish the mission. It was reopened in 1859, eventually becoming part of the Diocese of Tucson.

In 1913, the Franciscans returned to San Xavier del Bac and continue to run it today. The campus included a school opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1872, which was overseen by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity for many years. In 2022, the mission school

Considered the oldest, intact European structure in Arizona, San Xavier del Bac also is thought to be the best example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States. The Moorish-inspired, white stucco exterior is made of low-fire clay, brick, stone and lime mortar and its massive, carved wood doors are made from mesquite.

Inside, the church is filled with original ornamental paintings, statues, frescoes and murals, combing both New Spain and Native American artistic influences. Other elements include theatrical curtain displays, faux doors and marbling.

Over the years, conservation efforts at San Xavier del Bac have included repairing damage to the mission caused by an earthquake, a lightning strike and water seepage. In 1999, an international team of restoration experts cleaned, removed over-painting, and repaired interior painted and sculptured art.

Restorations efforts are ongoing, particularly to the exterior. In April 2022, repairs to the front of the East Tower were completed and new iron gates—inspired by the twisted waist ropes worn by Franciscan priests—are currently being added to the main entrance and candle shop. The mission’s front facade will get a facelift next year and a project focused on the side and back of the East Tower is in the works.

As funding is available, cosmetic and structural upgrades will help keep San Xavier del Bac intact for years. It also will reinforce its place in time as one of the most sacred and cherished landmarks in Arizona.

Sally J. Clasen

Tucson landmark proves to be a testament to time and service

the oldest, intact European structure in Arizona, San Xavier del Bac is thought to be the best example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.

TASTE OF SUCCESS

Meet the power couple behind three of the Valley’s most lauded restaurants

HUSBAND AND WIFE restauranteurs Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin had $50 in their checking account the day they opened their beloved taco shop Tacos Chiwas in 2016. Since then, the couple has wrapped enough tacos to increase their operating budget and become owners and co-owners of some of the hottest restaurants in the Valley: Tacos Chiwas, Espiritu Cocktails + Comida, and Bacanora.

Restaurant success isn’t that common right out of the gate, but the duo, who met at an ASU party, discovered they had similar back stories. Both were born in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, had immigrated to the U.S. as children, and were exposed to the food and restaurant industry early on. And both wanted to recreate the recipes of their youth.

“Everything is kind of against you,” says Hernandez of the challenges of opening a restaurant for the first time. “But when you’re so eager, you have this mentality of just like, ‘Hey, you know what? I think we can be successful and awesome.’”

The team’s confidence paid off. Tacos Chiwas was an immediate hit and the perfect platform to showcase the food of their upbringing in an affordable, fast-food setting. Lines quickly formed around the original taco shop at 12th Street and McDowell (a former Dairy Queen) to get a taste of their stuffed gorditas and quesadillas made from 100% organic, handmade flour tortillas.

“I always wanted to open a restaurant here, with a focus on the originality of Chihuahua, so a year after we were married, we decided to go for it. Every aspect of what we do is based on how we can make the best product,” says Hernandez of keeping things simple and using fresh ingredients.

Most new restaurant owners pine for media and peer approval, waiting years for acknowledgment. Yet the accolades—both local and national—have come fast for Hernandez and Holguin. Tacos Chiwas, now with three locations, has consistently garnered praise as one of the best taco shops in town by Phoenix New Times. Guy Fieri featured the eatery on his show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Their collaboration with chef Rene Andre at the Sonoran-style Bacanora, which opened in March 2022, has a three-month wait list. It’s also been recognized as a James Beard Foundation finalist and named one of the 50 Best Restaurants of 2022 in America by The New York Times.

Executive chef Roberto Centeno of the team’s seafood-driven Espiritu Cocktails + Comida, a partnership with Andre, recently won the culinary challenge on the popular TV show, Chopped.

In addition, Holguin, a classically trained chef who graduated from

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Scottsdale, was a 2019 James Beard award nominee for her culinary direction at Roland’s Café Market Bar, a short-lived, but celebrated venture she and Hernandez had with chef and restaurateur Chris Bianco in downtown Phoenix.

The attention is flattering, but the goal for Hernandez and Holguin has never been to capitalize on what’s popular at the moment. Instead, they are in it for the long haul.

“We have a story that is very true. We’ve never really gone for gimmicky, meaning we don’t chase trends,” says Hernandez of staying authentic to their culinary roots. “The expectation is greater when people are talking about you. The notoriety just means we have to be better.”

Buzz aside, it might appear their momentum happened with little effort, but he points out building a small restaurant enterprise has been anything but easy in a fickle industry that can eat its own.

“People talk about success as it just happened overnight, but for us it’s been 16-hour days, 31 days a month, nonstop. You’ll find it hard to find someone who’s worked harder than us,” says Hernandez.

It appears their workload won’t lighten anytime soon. In January, they’ll launch another restaurant, Cocina Chiwas, at Culdesac, a 17-acre, car-free community in Tempe with an expanded menu including chile-centric vegetable bowls and wood-fired cheese crisps, deconstructed breakfast burritos, Chihuahuan French toast and seasonal salads.

“We’re not just trying to make a money grab. You know, there are people in our own field who need opportunities. And obviously that’s been our narrative,” says Hernandez. “As long as we’re able to do it in a fashion that still represents who we are, then we’ll just continue to try to do our thing. If you are true to what you’re creating, then it just comes out better.”

Sally J. Clasen

“The expectation is greater when people are talking about you. The notoriety just means we have to be better.”

Armando Hernandez, Co-owner, Tacos Chiwas, Espiritu Cocktails + Comida, Bacanora

Tucked in a historic space on Grand Avenue in Phoenix, Bacanora is attracting national attention for its wood-fired Sonoran cuisine.

Nadia Holguin and Armando Hernandez

To Live & Give

WHEN THE DOCTOR REVEALED to Holly Rose that she had breast cancer, a somber image of life without her husband and their two daughters flickered before her. Time stood still. Memories perched on her heart while the future seized the unknown.

“I thought, I’m not going to be there for them,” she chokes. “I’ve done nothing to leave them a legacy.”

When she was diagnosed in 2009, Rose says she had no reason to suspect breast cancer. She was an active mom, exercised regularly and believed she ate healthy. But when a childhood friend’s playful post on Facebook prompted her to perform a self-breast exam, she discovered a lump.

“You just intuitively know [that] this is not good,” she says.

After nine months of treatment including two surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, Rose survived breast cancer. Deciding to make it her purpose to “live and give,” Check for a Lump was officially formed in 2011.

The organization’s mission is to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer through education, free mammograms and diagnostic testing via mobile mammography units, a free wig program, and access to several resources in Arizona. In addition, various events such as the Pink Out 5K and the upcoming Wig Out on March 31 assist with fundraising efforts.

Rose says during her treatment, what helped her get through was simple kindness, compassion and generosity from family, friends, neighbors and strangers—including a community on Facebook.

People delivered meals for weeks at a time, while neighbors supported them with wigs, cards, flowers

and offers to watch Rose’s daughters. Friends also showed up at her doorstep sporting gloves ready to scrub her floors.

“There was always someone cheering me on and cheering me up when I was at my lowest moments,” Rose shares on the organization’s website. This outpouring of support was something she wanted for all women fighting breast cancer. But humorously referring to her past career as a serial entrepreneur, she admits didn’t know a thing about running a nonprofit—nor was she interested. Rose was painfully shy and terrified of public speaking.

“I said to myself, ‘Really, God, this is what you want me to do?’ But the purpose and the passion were bigger than I was, so I had to humble myself,” she says.

Initially, the organization’s mission was to educate women in detecting breast cancer early on by performing self-exams. But it soon expanded to educational outreach programs with sponsorship assistance, community grants and supporters. Check for a Lump also formed relationships with other nonprofits, hospitals, doctors and breast-cancer related businesses in the community.

One essential resource is the Wig Program, which gives Arizona breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy the ability to receive a free wig. As of June, more than 1,950 wigs have been provided since its inception.

Five years ago, Ashley Plum received a wig through the program. A caregiver for her husband who was also battling cancer and a mom to their then young daughter, the Glendale mom had her hands full.

“At first, I was super angry. Not sad or holding a pity party, but angry because I was the healthy one,” she says. “I was the one that took care of everyone. I was always on.”

While enduring the whirlwind of scans, doctor

appointments and chemotherapy, Plum says the worst part of having breast cancer was losing her hair. While chemotherapy was physically difficult on her body, the hair loss was emotionally tough.

“It was my identity. My hair was always fun with different colors and shades,” she says, adding that your hair also provides a natural protection. “When you lose your hair, your head is very sensitive because the skin is exposed to all these elements. There’s a lot of stuff you don’t think about, and nobody told me when I was diagnosed.”

Since their family was financially strapped and quality wigs run nearly $300, Plum was elated when her application for a free wig was approved. “Having that wig gave me a sense of normalcy. I could go to the store and people wouldn’t stop me saying, ‘Oh, you poor thing.’ It gave me the ability to not think about the cancer for a while.”

Today, Plum and her husband are cancer-free.

The support she received from Check for a Lump also prompted her to give back, which she strives for as the nonprofit’s director of development.

“My role allows me to show women that they can get to the other side,” Plum says. “A positive mindset makes a huge stand in the way to heal and get better.”

Providing support from others enduring the same battle or in remission, Check for a Lump hosts monthly “Survivors Unite” activities, ranging from yoga in the park to making tie-dye breast cancer support T-shirts. These free activities are designed for breast cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers. The nonprofit also offers free comfort kits to women going through cancer treatment.

Plum says the future goal of the nonprofit is expand their reach, especially in Latino and Native American populations. “We would really like to grow more, reach more, bring awareness and help everyone we can in the state of Arizona.”

Rose knows firsthand that the initial bleak image of a cancer diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end to someone’s story. “This is not a death sentence,” she says. “If it was, I never would have been so grateful or question if I had soaked up every minute of being with my girls. Moments would have swept by if not for my cancer diagnosis. I would never have created a legacy for my kids.” Julia

De Simone

Survivor provides support and resources to women fighting cancer

“ the purpose and the passion were bigger than I was, so I had to humble myself.”

Holly Rose, Founder and CEO, Check for a Lump

Holly Rose, founder and CEO, Check for a Lump

Rose with Ashley Plum, Check for a Lump’s director of development.

NB |AZ simplifies credit card rewards with new program

Vivid Rewards 1,2 Credit Card from NB|AZ

ARE YOU SOMEONE who likes to eat at restaurants, travel, go to concerts and enjoy streaming services? If so, the no-annual-fee Vivid Rewards Credit Card from National Bank of Arizona might offer the perfect reward points program for you.

Whether you’re going out or staying in, you benefit from no limit on three times the points as rewards (basically a 3% reward on every purchase in wide-ranging select categories). In every other purchase category, you can earn one point per dollar spent.

On the other hand, if you prefer to get consistent cash back rewards that you can set and forget, the no-annual-fee Agility Cash Credit Card from NB|AZ gives you the same 1.5% cash back reward on every single purchase with no limits on how much cash back you can earn.

“With our credit card rewards programs, we offer a great deal of flexibility,” says Robyn Puzey, Vice President, Bankcard Marketing Manager. “Instead of being limited to a set catalog of products or travel itineraries when redeeming your accumulated reward points, with our Vivid Rewards Credit Card, you can choose which past purchase or purchases

you would like your reward points applied to, essentially reimbursing part or all of those purchases, based on how many rewards points you have.”

Rewards points never expire and can be saved or “banked” for as long as you want. These are the categories that qualify for three-reward points (worth $.03 on every dollar spent) with the Vivid Rewards Credit Card, which NB|AZ says will help you “experience everything life has to offer”: Eating – Restaurants, fast food and meal delivery services

Playing – Entertainment, like concerts, sports, amusement parks and theaters

Going – Transportation, including gas, public transit and rideshares

Connecting – Digital services, such as streaming, cable, internet and wireless

There’s never an expiration or limit on the Agility Cash Credit Card, either. You earn 1.5% cash back on every single purchase. If you have at least $1 in cash back available, you can request whatever cash back you’ve accumulated be credited to your credit card account any time you want. Or you can set up automatic redemption for set periods of time or cash back amounts.

Applying online for either the Vivid Rewards Credit Card or the Agility Cash Credit Card is easy. Maximizing the rewards on either card won’t require you to keep track of how much you’ve spent in special categories like some other banks do with limits and fees on rewards.

“We offer long-term value for our customers, with transparent, straightforward features,” Puzey says. “Whether you choose reward points or cash back, there’s no limit on spending to get rewards or on the rewards themselves.”

Debra Gelbart

Earn three times the points in a wide range of select categories. 1=1

Earn one point per dollar spent in every other purchase category.

1.5% Get 1.5% cash back on every purchase. No limits on how much cash back you earn.

No annual fee, and no expiration on cash back rewards. Set it and forget it.

) Credit card accounts are subject to credit approval. Certain terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. See the credit card application and disclosures for more details. Offers are available for new credit card accounts only and subject to change at any time.

2 Vivid Rewards For every $1 spent on net purchases, Vivid Rewards cardholders earn 3 reward points for purchases categorized as eating out and ordering in, for entertainment like concerts and theme parks, for gas, rideshares and transit, and for popular streaming and telecommunications services like cable, internet, and cellular phone carriers. The bank does not determine which Visa merchant categories are used to classify purchases. One reward point per $1 spent is earned on all other net purchases. Reward points are not earned on transactional items such as cash advances, balance transfers, returned merchandise, etc. Must have at least 2,500 earned reward points to redeem. Account must be in good standing. See the Vivid Rewards program Terms & Conditions for details.

3 Agility Cash For every $1 spent on net purchases, Agility Cash cardholders earn 1.5% cash back. Cash back is not earned on transactional items such as cash advances, balance transfers, returned merchandise, etc. Must have at least $1 earned cash back to redeem. Account must be in good standing. See Agility Cash Program Terms & Conditions for details.

choose rewards or cash back

Robyn

Puzey, Vice President, Bankcard Marketing Manager, Zions Bancorporation

earth first

Renowned for its natural beauty, Arizona is also fast-tracking a reputation for high-tech innovation. Meet three companies who’ve have found that taking the environmentally friendly path can also be good for business.

blending trees and tech WAFFLE FOREST

THE NAME Waffle Forest might sound like something out of an imaginative children’s book, but it actually derives from a real-world effort to improve Phoenix’s air quality—which the American Lung Association ranks as the fifth worst in the nation for ozone contamination and eighth in terms of particulate pollution exposure.

Planted in a grid of 15-by-15-foot square footprints, Waffle Forest’s smart trees are designed to alleviate the problems by creating what the 501(c)3 nonprofit calls the first-ever tech forest.

“We want to plant smart trees on the site of a former landfill and use exclusive new technology to measure the amount of carbon they remove from the air,” says Waffle Forest founder Ernest Lerma. “Once the forest is planted, we’ll be installing state-of-the-art direct-air-capture infrastructure nearby to further reduce carbon emissions and improve air-quality in a green, sustainable, cost-efficient way.”

For Lerma, a successful entrepreneur who was born and raised in a poor Hispanic neighborhood in South Phoenix, the inspiration was highly personal. “In December 2020, I was sitting on South Mountain looking at the layer of pollution over the city, and I had the idea to bring new life to land ravaged by landfills,” he says. “I want to do something to improve my community and other marginalized communities across the country.”

With mature, desert-adapted trees that are 10 to 20 feet tall, the waffle concept also turns forgotten or mismanaged land into usable park spaces.

The organization’s leadership team includes chief scientific officer Dr. Riccardo Valentini, a 2007 Nobel Prize winner and top climate scientist. His patented TreeTalker technology uses small devices mounted to trees to monitor growth and general health, then relays the information to a nearby data server every hour. The system tracks each tree’s absorption of carbon dioxide and water needs, and even provides an alert if a tree is under attack from insects or fungi. Plans also include using solar hydropanel technology to extract clean, pollutant-free water from the air to be stored in reservoirs and used to water the tech forest.

The initial phase of the project will build 100 waffles on the 19th Avenue superfund site, with the ultimate goal of creating a greenspace containing 10,000 trees. Lerma is working with government agencies to plant Waffle Forests on unused or waste land sites in the Phoenix metropolitan area this year, with longer-term plans to expand the concept across Arizona and the U.S.

WHILE MUCH OF the sizzle in the electric vehicle industry is focused on passenger cars, Mesa-based Atlis Motor Vehicles has set its sights on the grittier work of powering heavy and light duty work trucks used in the agriculture, service, utility, and construction industries.

Founder and CEO Mark Hanchett brings a mechanical engineer’s mindset and skill set to the challenges of developing emissions-free trucks and batteries capable of matching diesel-powered vehicles. At the core of Atlis’s hardware platform is a battery technology that can charge a full-size pickup truck in less than 15 minutes, and a modular system architecture capable of scaling to meet the specific vehicle or equipment application needs.

Although the company technically launched in 2016, the milestones have come fast and furious during the past year. In fall 2021, Atlis debuted the prototype of its Atlis XT, a four-wheel-drive truck with 500-mile range and the capabilities of a half-ton truck—plus a few extras. The truck is powered with four identical motors and includes electric outlets that can be used to power tools and even welding equipment. Instead of side mirrors, the truck is equipped with 180-degree cameras that display on either side of the steering wheel.

In addition to 60,000 pre-orders at the prototype launch, Atlis has attracted international attention. Australia-based AUSEV recently placed an order for 19,000 XT trucks, as well as 270 of the Atlis’s 1.5 MW charging stations that will be distributed throughout territories in Australia where the XT vehicles will be deployed.

In the first half 2022, Atlis announced partnerships with VCST, a world-class automotive supplier of powertrain components, and a U.S. military supplier, which seeks to convert military vehicles such as gasoline or diesel-powered High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles into electric vehicles. In September, the company went public on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

At the end of the year, Atlis was named a finalist at the Arizona Technology Council’s 2022 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards in the Innovator of the Year: Start Up category. “We believe our approach is unique, as there are few technologies available as flexible as our AMV XP platform,” Hanchett said. “There are currently no battery technologies based in the United States that are truly designed for extreme EV use cases.”

Looking forward, the company’s plans include building battery factories in Mesa and Australia—creating even more jobs and opportunities in a climate-conscious sector.

powering the way we work ATLIS MOTOR VEHICLES

“I had the idea to bring new life to land ravaged by landfills. I want to do something to improve my community and other marginalized communities across the country.”

ERNEST LERMA FOUNDER, WAFFLE FOREST

“There are currently no battery technologies based in the United States that are truly designed for extreme EV use cases.”

MARK HANCHETT FOUNDER AND CEO, ATLIS MOTOR VEHICLES

Waffle Forest

Atlis Motor Vehicles

Atlis Motor Vehicles

SCOTTSDALE THE EVOLUTION OF

Take a drive down Scottsdale Road, the arrow-straight north/south artery that extends for 24 miles, neatly bisecting its namesake city. Once you reach the city center—where the pavement widens and decoratively-lit fan palms line your way— you traverse a dazzling cityscape, one that’s rife with brand-new, contemporary low- and mid-rise commercial buildings and condos; a posh mall; sprawling, lowslung furniture galleries; and a dizzying array of tony retail stores, restaurants, boutiques and curios shops.

/The ‘west’s most western town’ gains momentum as the ideal place to live, work and play

It’s an eye-popping excursion, but what boggles the mind even more is to recognize that, as recently as 1957, local ranchers herded livestock down that same—albeit then unpaved—thoroughfare, their hooves kicking up clouds of desert dust that momentarily blotted out the scenery along “The West’s Most Western Town’s” main street.

The experience of that drive conjures up questions of what U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott, Scottsdale’s founder in 1894, might make of his eponymous city’s strikingly rapid, 128-year transformation. It was Scott who, 10 years earlier, purchased 640 acres in the vicinity of where Scottsdale’s charming Old Town is today.

Scott reportedly thought that the Salt River Valley’s favorable climate, irrigated desert location and beautiful scenery were the right mix of attributes to settle the area. He built a ranch, gathered some livestock, planted a few olive and fruit trees, and, as they say, a city was born. Scott’s lasting influence notwithstanding, it actually was another Arizona pioneer, Albert Utley, who pushed the necessary paperwork to establish a community nearby Scott’s ranch.

In 1894, Utley made the new settlement official with the Maricopa County Recorder’s office. His plan was to subdivide the 40 acres on the northwest corner of the property into a townsite he intended to name “Orangedale.” As we now know, however, it was Chaplain Scott’s authority that prevailed.

Tapping the talent pool

Over the course of the city’s history, transforming Scottsdale (aka managing its growth) has been in the hands of some of the city’s most visionary planners and administrators.

Not least among them is Rob Millar, Scottsdale’s director of economic development. Millar is straightforward about his and his six-member team’s mission.

“To put it simply, my job is all about selling Scottsdale, and you couldn’t ask for a better product,” he says. Millar would know. He grew up in Scottsdale and has worked for the city for the past 32 years. He understands the “product” inside and out. “In fact,” Millar says with pride, “I’ve never lived anywhere else.”

One of the most recent focuses of Millar’s economic development agenda is to concentrate on attracting talent to Scottsdale. And by talent, he means individuals from all over the country who have the schooling, training and experience to “fit what our industries need,” he says. “It might be technology, or healthcare, or insurance…areas where we continue to grow that have certain job classifications within that industry. It’s all about encouraging these talented individuals to look at Scottsdale as a great place to live, work and play.”

There is good reason to seek out a qualified workforce. Millar says that there are roughly 20,000 businesses currently operating in Scottsdale. “We’re no longer an island unto ourselves, so to speak. We’re a part of the Phoenix metro area. That puts Scottsdale into a different category of urban planning and execution.”

Years ago, Scottsdale was not the household name around the U.S. that it is today. A few decades ago, if you mentioned the city by name to people, it often didn’t register with them.

“Right next to Phoenix” was typically the clarifying point. That’s all changed, of course. With 9 million annual visitors, Scottsdale’s magnetism as a tourist destination is off the charts. But, as Millar explains, its appeal as a better place to live and work is also gaining momentum.

“We’re appreciative for all the tourism attraction that’s been done in the city over the past 50 years, because it’s really laid the groundwork for what we’re doing now [to promote the city],” he says.

Livable

Scottsdale

With all of its virtues now in the public eye, Scottsdale has become one of the most highly rated places to live in the U.S. The city ranked 21st on the “Niche’s 2022 Best Cities to Live in America” list, the top rating among Arizona cities. Its rankings were calculated based on grades in several areas, including crime rates, public schools, housing trends, diversity, cost of living, nightlife, outdoor activities and employment opportunities.

“People are exiting certain regions around the country for a variety of reasons, be it floods, hurricanes, snow or many others,” Millar says. “Arizona just makes a lot of sense to them. Another thing is that in spite of our growth, we’re still a relatively small community—a small city—with roughly 248,000 residents. And because of these and a lot of other advantages, we’re an attractive destination for people looking to make a long-term move.”

But growth simply for the sake of growth isn’t really what Millar’s economic development team is after. “We want growth that makes sense for our community,” he

emphasizes. “To illustrate, we don’t put a sign out on the city’s borders that says, ‘Open for Business.’ Instead, we go out and search—very selectively—for the right fits, and we do that constantly.”

Millar’s current list of industry targets include healthcare, financial services, technology, insurance and one they’ve just added: logistics management. Asked to name some of Scottsdale’s top companies, he reels off a handful.

“Axon is one of our largest employers,” he says. “Exxon is located here and looking to build a new corporate headquarters. And, as far as insurance, we have The Hartford and Nationwide, both of which have a significant presence in the city. Healthcare-wise, Honor Health is the largest employer in the city. And if we turn to financial services, Vanguard is, again, one of our largest employers.

Millar continues, “Add to those CVS Caremark which has a regional headquarters up on Shea Boulevard. And, although it’s a bit smaller, GoDaddy, of course is a long-term presence here.”

Moving furniture

Scottsdale’s polymorphism (its quality of having so many desirable aspects at once) is one of the main reasons that Peter Thomas Moosbrugger, founder and owner of Peter Thomas Designs, has settled on Scottsdale’s picturesque Old Town to relocate his expanding custom furniture design studio and showroom from its original location in central Phoenix.

Like Millar, Moosbrugger has lived in Scottsdale nearly his entire life, and no one is more attuned to the rapidly

“ We want growth that makes sense for our community. We go out and search—very selectively—for the right fits, and we do that constantly.”

ROB

MILLAR, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF SCOTTSDALE

transforming face of the city than he is.

“I’ve been here since 1968,” he says. “I remember Scottsdale when it was just a sleepy little suburb of Phoenix. Every now and then I’ll drive up near the intersection of Shea [Boulevard] and Pima [Road], and recall that when I was a boy, my brother and I hunted dove on the southwest corner of that intersection. Pima was still a dirt road then!”

Moosbrugger has devoted the past 14 years to growing his business, and grow it has. “Year to year since we opened in 2008, we’ve been experiencing 35% to 45% growth,” he notes.

Peter Thomas Designs’ team of employees has grown from what essentially was a one-person operation to 17 craftspeople and support staff. “With that level of expansion, I can’t think of a better place to showcase what we do [than move to Scottsdale]. Nothing else has the right feel, in my opinion. Part of the reason we’re going to go to Scottsdale is that it already has a built-in reputation—in a sense, it prequalifies our client or potential client.”

“There’s really two reasons why I’m planning to open a showroom in Scottsdale,” Moosbrugger explains. “First, we have our own Peter Thomas Collections pieces and I need a place to showcase them. Equally as important, though, is the fact that I want a place to showcase interior designers’ original pieces.”

Having made a lot of contacts with interior designers, Moosbrugger says they’re the company’s primary source of

business. “Most of the interior designers we work with happen to be located in Scottsdale, so it makes good business sense that we would want to locate our showroom there. It will give them—and us—international exposure. In the winter, people from all over the world visit Scottsdale’s Old Town.”

The point that Moosbrugger and Millar are trying to make is that, if Scottsdale has become a magnet for tourism and culture, then it also can claim all those cultural bona fides that make it a great city in which to live and work and thrive.

Millar sums it up neatly: “Scottsdale is about lifestyle. If you’re someone who likes good weather and the outdoors, and you’re seeking a highly amenitized community, then we’ll match up against any other location in the country.”

“ I can’t think of a better place to showcase what we do than Scottsdale. It already has a built-in reputation—in a sense, it prequalifies our client or potential client.”

PETER THOMAS MOOSBRUGGER, FOUNDER AND OWNER, PETER THOMAS DESIGNS

Peter Thomas Moosbrugger, Peter Thomas Designs

STORY BRUCE FARR

State of Play

ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2023, the biggest game in U.S. sports will once again be played in metro Phoenix. When Super Bowl LVII kicks off at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, it will be the fourth time in the game’s history that Arizona has hosted what has evolved into a gargantuan sports “mega-event,” one that’s become the envy of nearly every sizeable American city to play host.

And, as it has for dozens of other host cities through the years, the Super Bowl will have a record-breaking impact on the Arizona economy. A study conducted by the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University calculated that the total revenue generated from the last Super Bowl played in Arizona in 2015 amounted to a whopping $719.4 million.

The upcoming game promises to have an even bigger dollar impact. As Arizona Governor Doug Ducey noted earlier this year, “The Super Bowl is a force multiplier for economic development in Arizona.”

But the Super Bowl is a single sporting event, with most of the money it generates occurring over a two-week period of time. What about the impact owing to sports teams that live and play here year in and year out?

SPORTS MECCA

Debbie Johnson is in a position to know the why, where and what-for regarding sports teams’ contributions to Arizona’s culture and economy. As executive director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, it’s her job to manage the myriad tasks of promoting Arizona as a travel destination. That means heading up the development, implementation and maintenance of programs that help keep the state top-of-mind as a travel destination.

Johnson says the fact that Arizona has become a mecca for sports and sports teams shouldn’t surprise anyone. With its profusion of lifestyle positives, the state is a natural for any number and variety of teams to call home.

“It almost goes without saying, our weather—our climate—is a big draw for sports teams to locate in Arizona,” she says. “But I do also think that the quality of life here—the variety of things you can do—not just for the players themselves, but also for the fans, the visitors, is a really important piece of why they choose Arizona.”

The convenience of travel in and out of the metro Phoenix area is another obvious plus, Johnson says. “The ease of getting here for an event is a big factor. But one thing that people tend to forget is that Arizona is an eclectic place, with people from all around the country coming here to live. It’s helped build a solid fan base for all different kinds of teams…I do think that having that level of diversity in a fan base is really important to our sports economy.”

Of course, another factor Johnson points out is that Arizona has gone to tremendous lengths to ensure that its stadiums are first-rate, with every imaginable convenience of 21st century technology and comfort.

Arizona’s emphasis on hosting sports teams and events means big dollars for the state

Debbie Johnson, executive director, Arizona Office of Tourism

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SPORTS TOURISM

“Likewise,” Johnson adds, “you can’t forget the resort-like quality of our lodging experience here. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. You can find lodging at all different levels and have a great experience, and be able to enjoy the state’s multitude of attractions.

Super Bowl XLIX

$719 MILLION National Football Championship 2016 $274 MILLION NCAA Final Four 2017 $324 MILLION Phoenix Raceway $450 MILLION Cactus League $644 MILLION Phoenix Open $277 MILLION Fiesta Bowl $170 MILLION

the nearly unfathomable array of activities surrounding the management and coordination of 15 major league baseball teams playing five weeks’ worth of spring training ball in 10 stadiums throughout the metro Phoenix area.

the Cactus League a ‘mega-event’ on par with the Super Bowl, but one that happens every spring. Generations of baseball fans have fallen in love with Arizona, and they return year after year.”

Bridget Binsbacher Executive Director, Arizona Cactus League Baseball Association

“And it’s not just the major professional sports teams,” she adds. “We have so many youth and amateur sports teams that come here for their tournaments. That’s something that’s grown, as well. The fact that the athletes’ families can easily join them here from an accommodations’ standpoint, and that sports can be played year-round…that’s grown in addition to the professional sports scene.”

According to Johnson, there’s a reason the Arizona Office of Tourism supports the Super Bowl, NASCAR, and other national teams.

“It’s not just because of the economic impact while they’re here,” Johnson explains. “It’s because

Binsbacher sees one of her most important roles as that of driving the Cactus League’s economic impact in Arizona.

“To help achieve that,” she explains, “I work closely with a number of stakeholders. For example, we’re fortunate to have a strong partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism, which helps us promote spring training outside the state. I also collaborate with the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority (AZSTA), which provides funding for Cactus League ballpark construction and renovations.”

Another major responsibility she handles is representing Arizona’s spring training industry. “That can mean news interviews, speaking to

“ People watching these events on TV, they may see something about Arizona that causes them to book a trip here. So I always say that the support we provide to these teams or the organizations, that’s advertising that we couldn’t afford to buy…ever. It puts Arizona on an international stage.”

Debbie Johnson, Executive Director, Arizona Office of

the people watching these events on TV, they may see something about Arizona that causes them to book a trip here. So I always say that the support we provide to these teams or the organizations that bring sports here, that’s advertising that we couldn’t afford to buy…ever. It puts Arizona on an international stage.”

LET’S PLAY BALL!

For all their manifest glory, such “super” events like the Super Bowl and NASCAR are hardly the only athletic enterprises that have put Arizona on the national sports map. In 1947, two decades prior to the first Super Bowl, Arizona was already a force in drawing national sports teams to the Valley of the Sun. That happens to be when the Arizona Cactus League Baseball Association was founded.

Bridget Binsbacher is executive director of the Arizona Cactus League Baseball Association, responsible for managing and coordinating

community groups and just about anything else you can imagine to tell our story,” she notes.

“I report to a volunteer board of directors and work with volunteer committees focused on facility operations, marketing and other areas.”

Binsbacher and others’ promotional efforts have paid off in spades for the state. In 2018, Arizona State University researchers estimated that spring training baseball registered an overall impact of $644.2 million.

“From an economic impact perspective,” Binsbacher says, “ASU researchers have called the Cactus League a ‘mega-event’ on par with the Super Bowl, but one that happens every spring.”

A huge portion of that income is attributed to the enormous tourism draw that spring training generates for the state. In 2018, for example, 233 Cactus League games drew a total of 1,796,403 fans, an average of 7,710 per game. Six out of 10 of those fans came from out of state, according to an ASU economic impact study.

“The survey found a statewide benefit, with 26% of fans reporting that they would visit another part of Arizona during their trip,” Binsbacher says. “The median Cactus League visitor attends three games, spends four nights in Arizona and spends $405 per day.

“Another key stat [an ASU research study tallied], about a third of out-of-state visitors had attended spring training for at least five seasons. Generations of baseball fans have fallen in love with Arizona, and they return year after year.”

BOOSTING NONPROFITS

Tourism aside, like the national professional sports teams that reside full-time in Arizona, the Cactus League’s economic impact in the state has a marked ripple effect that ultimately nourishes the livelihood of many other civic and cultural organizations throughout Arizona.

“To give you an example, there are five nonprofits directly affiliated with spring training,” Binsbacher explains. “In 2019, the most recent season that was studied, those nonprofits had 1,944 volunteers work a combined 90,000 hours and raise $2,605,000 for their respective organizations. That money went to community youth organizations, academic scholarships and public education.”

Binsbacher says that spring training is these nonprofits’ main source of fundraising, providing the most visible platform for their outreach, which includes giving back through scholarships and other initiatives.

“When you go to a game at a ballpark that has an affiliated nonprofit, you can’t miss their volunteers,” she says. “Those are the friendly folks directing you in the parking lot, taking your ticket and helping you find your seat as an usher. In some parks, they may even be serving your hot dog at the

concession stand. They are essential to the day-to-day operation of these ballparks.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Binsbacher says that the Cactus League’s ongoing success has been the result of careful planning through the years by her, her board and the many civic leaders who preceded her in the job. “Looking ahead, one of our immediate goals is to promote local attendance of games early in the schedule,” she says. “When Major League Baseball pushed the start of spring training into February, it created an opportunity for more local fans to attend before the influx of out-of-state visitors, which occurs in mid-March. The demand for tickets isn’t as strong in the early weeks, so we want to make sure Valley residents know about that opportunity to enjoy baseball during the best time of year in Arizona.

“Another goal is to help ensure the long-term funding of Cactus League facilities. Spring training is a competitive industry, and AZSTA and the host municipalities have invested heavily in it. Our facilities are excellent, but as they age, they require renovations and improvements.”

Johnson has a broader view of Arizona’s sports future. “For us, it’s about promoting the myriad things to do when you come to Arizona to attend one of these [sports] events,” she explains. “We talk about all the great things to do in metro Phoenix, but when you come to Arizona for a sporting event, we want you to stay a couple of extra days, go to the Grand Canyon or visit southern Arizona. There are so many great things to experience here that people don’t realize, so we really consider that our primary goal: educating people who may visit here for sports about all the great things to see and do.”

Source: Arizona Office of Tourism

“ ASU researchers have called

Tourism

Wickenburg, AZ

Located an hour’s drive northwest of Phoenix, Wickenburg is the epitome of Arizona’s brand of the Old West. With its cowboy life, dude ranches, and historic railroad depot, a visit here is like stepping back in time. But there’s more to this town than meets the eye. It’s also home to a burgeoning arts community, new behavioral health and medical facilities, and companies making products for national and international markets. Find out more about Wickenburg in the next issue of Elevate AZ.

PHOTO Mark Lipczynski