Golden Corridor ROX! Magazine

Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

EVERYTHING ABOUT ARIZONA’S GOLDEN CORRIDOR

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Sales (520) Manager/Loan Originator www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com | AZ 0913936 NMLS #177235 421-1171 ▲ Cell: (480) 221-9826 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 (520) www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda 421-1171 ▲ Cell: (480) 221-9826 Co r p NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com NMLS #177235 | AZ 0913936

442 W Kortsen Road, Suite|#3113 104, Casa| Grande, AZ 85122 AZ 0913936 NMLS dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda Co#177235 r p NMLS Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com Co r p NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda | AZ 0913936 NMLS #177235 www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda | AZ 0913936 NMLS #177235 Co r p NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 NMLS #177235 | AZ 0913936

SUMMER VOL. 2, 2014

SalesManager/Loan Originator Originator DaSales w(520) n S vManager/Loan o bo da▲ Cell: 421-1171 (480) 221-9826 (520) 421-1171 ▲ Cell: (480) 221-9826 Sales Manager/Loan Originator Da w442 n WSKortsen v o bo daSuite Road, 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, Da wdawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com n S v o bo▲da (520) 421-1171 Cell: (480) 221-9826AZ 85122 Sales Manager/Loan Originator Da w(520) n S v o bo da dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com Sales Manager/Loan Originator www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite Casa Grande, AZ 85122 421-1171 ▲ 104, Cell: (480) 221-9826

“The Voice Of The Community”

EVERYTHING ABOUT ARIZONA’S GOLDEN CORRIDOR ARIZONA CITY • CASA GRANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • MARICOPA

Summer Vol. 2, 2014 - C o m p l i m e n t a r y

The rox interview: ROX GROUP Founder Rock Earle

THE BUSINESS ISSUE • Women In Business • Bryan T. Bunt on Business Turnarounds Budge Huskey: Forging His Own Path

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F E A T U R E S INSIDE

THIS ISSUE:

520-423-8250

coldwellbankerrox.com Each office is independently owned & operated

VOICES, CHANGE, & LEADERSHIP page 9

rtaxlk

Community Calendar 10 520-836-7660

The 8th Annual John Hemmings Cancer Foundation Purse Auction page 11

with

520-426-2074

usasmartshopper.com

The ROX! Interview:

ROCK EARLE

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DIRECT.com

BIZ

14.........Nihao & Xiexie 24.........The Value of Business 36.........Our Foundation for Success 42 ........Mortgages: Where do I begin

520-426-2074 raxxdirect.com

520-426-2074

YOU

FUN

520-509-1000 roxco.com

HEALTH, WEALTH & EDUCATION

44.........Local School News Wire 50.........Come On In 60.........Planting Seeds of Hope 72.........New Economy: New Face

roxmagazine.com

520-836-8517

ECONOMY & LOCAL BUSINESS

TRAVEL, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

76...........Women In Business 90...........Tips for Warm Weather Workouts 94...........Around the World in Eight Months 96...........It takes a Village to Save a Life

Summer

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

WOW

– we did it! Another great issue showcasing this community we call home.

This magazine is ABOUT LOCAL and we can’t do it without all our contributing writers. We strive to bring you articles about what matters most to everyone, our community. And if you have a creative muse just waiting to break free, please contact me. I’d love to talk with you on how you can contribute to making this publication even better!

First order of business is reminding everyone that school is back in session. Children, especially young children, are traveling to bus stops or schools – so drive slow, drive careful and please pay attention! We don’t want anything bad to happen. Your extra vigilance doesn’t take any additional time and is well worth the effort.

There is much happening in the area over the next couple of months. It’s that time of year where the weather cools off to sub-100 and everyone comes out of their air-conditioned caves to enjoy Arizona – events, fundraisers, just about anything in the great outdoors where people once again interact face to face without sweat and racing back to the shade.

This edition features several area fundraisers and community events. The 28th Annual Taste of Casa Grande features to-die-for food from area restaurants as each tries to outshine the next. Tickets are on sale now and sell out quickly, so no procrastinating! The 8th Annual John Hemmings Purse Auction is 100% a girl’s night out to bid on PURSES, with the proceeds going to benefit local families dealing with cancer. Russell’s Run, a 5K fun run in memory of local REALTOR® Brian Russell also benefits cancer survivors and their families. The 2nd Annual Viva Grande promises to be another entertaining city event for all ages – mmmmm, SALSA CONTEST!! And let’s not forget the Silent Witness Anti-Crime Night where the residents enjoy an evening under the stars with lots of exhibits and fun for the kids.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS is a special feature commemorating, well… Women In Business! In less than 100 years, women have gone from first getting the right to vote to running multi-BILLION dollar companies. There aren’t many careers a female hasn’t established herself just as well as a male. Well, maybe professional football… but anything non-contact sports related is open – equally – to both genders. Pay continues to lag but the gap is closing. From my mother’s generation where management fields were few and related mostly to teaching and nursing to my daughter’s generation where the sky’s the limit based only on personal ability, women have proven themselves to be equal in all they pursue. And perfect timing, the 5th Annual Celebrating Women of Today and Tomorrow on September 20th for moms and their 6th grade daughters.

The next edition – our Leadership issue – promises to be very exciting, engaging and we hope the start of many conversations. Politics, that love/hate topic, will also play a big role as candidates vie to get their message to the masses right before the big day.

The coming edition will be sure to bring LOTS of surprises as well as all the features you have come to expect. No letting the cat out of the bag – but IT IS BIG so prepare yourself!

Bea

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

PUBLISHER Rock Earle

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bea Lueck

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Harold Kitching

MEDIA COORDINATOR Angela Johnson

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Mark Benner Saundra Anderson Jamie Wagner Marketing Assistant Tami Deeks

GRAPHIC DESIGN Kyle Bogan

CHIEF OF OPERATIONS & FINANCE Elaine Earle

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Richard Lueck

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Info@raxxdirect.com

COMMENTS & IDEAS Editor@raxxdirect.com

CALENDAR INQUIRES Calendar@raxxdirect.com

(520) 426-2074

3151 N Piper Ave., Suite B117, Casa Grande, AZ 85122

It‘ s about LOCAL

gcROX is published by RAXX Direct. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of RAXX Direct, community members and local organizations.

The publishers of gcROX assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. In no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement. gcROX shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from the use of information contained herein. Submitted articles do not reflect the opinions of the owners or management of gcROX. Information contained within submitted articles had not been verified for accuracy and readers are responsible for forming their own opinions. Real estate information is as of 7-31-14 and is subject to current availability and pricing.

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L e ad e r s h i p

Spe ini aking Comtiative, of Voic mun and es, w o i e t u y L ead r effor are w e t it r s h ip S needs h this i urv you ssu e e r y v i s hitti oice! kicking n O o g th ur off o fi f t h e lu e stree rst ann ur Lea cky ts n ua der invit influen ow. If l (2014ship atio cer s you ) n us k to com who re are one n o w me cei resp what nt, PL ve an E o y A o n whe ses wi u think SE let ll . th issu er in p be pub All l r e i i s sin or on nt in th hed, l c i n e e gets rely ho e. We Fall p it on the co e this s t arte nversa d.

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You may have noticed our new tag line “The Voice of the Community”, printed at the very top of the cover. We refer to ourselves that way because of all the community members who have gone to the trouble to share something about their worlds in print in these pages.

Have you noticed all that temporal, on-point, citizen-written content? These are Voices of the Community – YOUR voices.

CH A N

- Rock Earle

x r alk t

VOICES AND CHANGE AND LEADERSHIP ALL CONNECTED So to the point: it seems we constantly harp on not only Change but also Leadership around here. In fact, the three of you who regularly read ROXTalk are probably sick to death of hearing about it. But the nib is smarter than I am and somehow when I sit down with quill and inkwell, it magically just starts writing about … Change and Leadership. Here are the connections as I see them: • Everyone wants things to get better: regardless of the current state of affairs, we all believe that things can or should get better

• For things to get better, by definition, things must change; that statement is just simple logic.

• Human nature is that we like to be led, especially in groups, as a community or society. Group change requires leaders; without Leadership there is no volitional Change.

• Our society has become desirous of certainty; certainty is the direct antithesis of change.

• Maybe it is because nobody wants real Change anymore that we have let Leadership wither and die?

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Community Calendar AUGUST - September 2014 8/2 First Saturdays-Exit 185 Improv 7:00pm @ Western Trading Post (520) 426-7702 8/5 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 8/7 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 8/7 Line Dancing 10:00am-12:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218760 8/7 Food Drinks and Fun 6:00-8:00pm @ The Dorothy Powell Center (520) 421-8760 8/7 Volleyball Open Gym 6:30-8:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218655 $2 8/8 Casa Grande Valley Car Club 6:00 10:00pm @Sonic Restaurant 8/9 Second Saturdays at the Museum- In Her Voice 12:00pm @ The Museum of Casa Grande (520) 836-2223 8/11 Chat Chew & Chocolate Coffee Chat 9:0010:00am @ Mimis Cafe in Casa Grande (559) 361-1221 8/12 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 8/12 Satin Slippers Ballroom Dance Club 7:009:30pm @ The Dorothy Powell Center (520) 421-8760 $5-$7 8/14 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 8/14 Line Dancing 10:00am-12:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218760 8/14 Volleyball Open Gym 6:30-8:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218655 $2 8/16 2nd Annual PCVMF Bowling Tournament 11:00am @ Cotton Bowl Lanes (520) 5606643 8/16 Car Racing @ Central Arizona Speedway 5:00pm centralarizonaspeedway.com 8/16 Veterans Memorial Bowling Tournament @ Cotton Bowl Lanes (480) 332-6916 8/16 Western Auction 10:30am @ Western Trading Post (520) 426-7702 8/19 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 8/21 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 8/21 Line Dancing 10:00am-12:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218760 8/21 Volleyball Open Gym 6:30-8:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218655 $2 8/23 Boys and Girls Club Annual Dinner-Mystery Theatre 6:00-9:00pm @ The Property (520) 876-5437 8/26 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 8/28 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org

8/28 Line Dancing 10:00am-12:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218760 8/28 Volleyball Open Gym 6:30-8:00pm @ Len Colla Recreation Center (520) 4218655 $2 8/29 State of Mind Wine and Cheeseburger Fridays 6:00pm @ BeDillons Restaurant and Cactus Garden (520) 836-2045 8/30 Pancake Breakfast at the Airport 8:00-11:00am @ Casa Grande Municipal Airport 9/2 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 9/4 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 9/9 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 9/9 Satin Slippers Ballroom Dance Club 7:00-9:30pm @ The Dorothy Powell Center (520) 421-8760 $5-$7 9/11 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 9/12 Casa Grande Valley Car Club 6:00 10:00pm @Sonic Restaurant 9/13 Doggie Dive-In 2:00-4:00pm @ Palm Island Family Aquatic Park (520) 4218650 $2 per dog 9/13 Museum Exhibit Opening 12:00pm @ The Museum of Casa Grande (520) 8362223 9/13 Western Auction 10:30am @ Western Trading Post (520) 426-7702 9/16 Diabetes Support Group 7:00-8:00pm @ CGRMC-Discovery Room 9/16 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 9/18 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 9/18 Food Drinks and Fun 5:00-7:00pm @ Casa Grande Library, Main Branch 9/19 Arizona Days/Skydive Arizona @ Skydive Arizona (520) 466-3753 9/19 Day of Playtopia 6:00-8:00pm @ Carr McNatt Park (520) 421-8677 9/19 Party in the Park Concert Series 6:00pm @ Peart Park (520) 421-8760 9/20 Car Racing @ Central Arizona Speedway 5:00pm centralarizonaspeedway.com 9/20 Celebrating Woman of Today and Tomorrow Conference @ Cactus Middle School (520) 836-8798 9/23 Farmers Market 8:30am-1:30pm @ Western Trading Post (480) 818-3092 9/25 Casa Grande Kiwanis Club 7:00am @ Holiday Inn www.kiwaniscg.org 9/27 Pancake Breakfast at the Airport 8:0011:00am @ Casa Grande Municipal Airport 9/27 Viva Grande, Celebrate 5:00-9:00pm Paul Mason Sportplex (520) 421-8769

If you have an event that you would like listed in the ROX! Magazine Community Calendar, please send all your available information (who, what, where, when) to calendar@raxxdirect. com.

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The 8th Annual John Hemmings Cancer Foundation Purse Auction

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he 8th Annual John Hemmings Cancer Foundation Purse Auction is scheduled for Friday, September 5, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at The Property Conference Center in Casa Grande. $25 registration fee includes hors d’oeuvres, one drink ticket and one raffle ticket.

Last year the event hosted over 150 women for a night of fun filled with Live and Silent Auction items, jewelry raffles and over 70 new name brand handbags by designers such as Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Coach and many more.

The John Hemmings Cancer Foundation, Inc. is a local, nonprofit organization. The Foundation’s namesake, John Hemmings, was a prominent local banker and community activist, who died of lung cancer in December 2004. In 2005, many of John’s coworkers and friends united in John’s memory to participate in the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life. The team organized a purse auction as a fundraising event. The first purse auction was held at Be Dillon’s Cactus Garden in 2005 – a small event with 30 women in attendance. With each passing year the unique event expanded and the group began to explore ways to honor John’s memory by serving the community he so loved. This led to the formation of the John Hemmings Cancer Foundation in 2011. The Foundation consists of a 6 member Board of Directors, as well as a team of dedicated volunteers who generously devote their time to ensuring the annual purse auction is a success. The John Hemmings Cancer Foundation is committed to assisting cancer patients and their families in Pinal County. In 2012, the John Hemmings Cancer Foundation partnered with the local Cancer Treatment Services Support Center to establish a smoking cessation program which is available free of charge to members of the community. In 2013, the Foundation modified it's By Laws to assist individuals residing in Pinal County who are fighting cancer with the cost of treatment and care. In addition, the Foundation continues to partner with the Cancer Treatment Support Center to bring services and education to the Pinal County community.

If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation or would like more information regarding the Foundation, please contact the John Hemmings Cancer Foundation, Inc. at jhfoundation@rocketmail.com.

8th Annual John Hemmings

Purse Auction Saturday, September 5th The Property Conference Center 1251 West Gila Bend Hwy Casa Grande, Arizona 85122 Cocktails begin at 6pm – Auction begins at 7pm Presented by The John Hemmings Foundation, Inc. to aid in the research, treatment and cure of cancer.

$25 REGISTRATION

(Includes hors d'oeuvres and one raffle ticket) RSVP: Mary Ann 520-431-0583 Theresa 520-431-2244

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

THE ROX! INTERVIEW

ROCK

EARLE I first met Rock Earle some years ago at a gathering a REALTOR® was hosting and remember thinking “this guy is an eccentric”. Little did I know that we would travel the world and become friends and business partners. That aside, it fell upon me to conduct the interview with Rock for the business issue of this magazine. I must admit he fought me the entire way because Rock doesn’t like to talk about himself. If you have ever met the man you know he is extremely intelligent and is an idea generator. Sometimes to a fault…please read on.

– Brett Eisele

GCROX: You were born and raised in Southern California?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, primarily Escondido where I attended primary and secondary school.

GCROX: What were your hobbies as a child? What gadgets did you like to play with?

ROCK EARLE: I remember I was given an erector set for Christmas which held my imagination for hours at a time, and I would go out in a field behind our house and build forts and other stuff like WW1-style Army tanks from scraps of lumber. There were no Legos in those days.

GCROX: Knowing you, I would imagine you would design things other than what was in the directions supplied with the erector set?

ROCK EARLE: Oh yes, my mind would just take off!

GCROX: What do you remember about your schooling in Escondido?

ROCK EARLE: I vaguely remember going to a Christian preschool in the morning and then having lunch from Tupperware in Grape Day Park before I went to public school afterwards.

GCROX: Interesting memory. After preschool when you entered 1st grade, did it

interest you or was it boring?

ROCK EARLE: A little bit of both. The new stuff was interesting and then it got boring really fast.

GCROX: What were you interested in?

ROCK EARLE: I was interested in reading about all kinds of other places and times.

GCROX: Did any of your teachers pick up on your aptitude for reading?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, in fact in 3rd grade, I was a reading tutor for 2nd graders.

GCROX: Reading took you to places you always wanted to go?

ROCK EARLE: Yes. One of my favorite books at the time was about a young boy in the Mongol era who had a favorite hawk, a hunting hawk or falcon. He was one of the Golden Horde in that time and I read it, reread it and reread it. The teacher actually gave me some grief over that. She wanted me to read a new book.

GCROX: When did you, as boy, start realizing you had an aptitude beyond the erector set, beyond the building of forts, that you had an aptitude for certain subjects that set you aside from others? Were you ever told you were advanced?

ROCK EARLE: Little bit of both. My report cards began coming back with A, A, A,

A, A. Problems are: "He gets his work done and then bugs the other kids". I never understood why the other kids were still doing their work. Eventually in 4th grade the administrators wanted to skip me a grade, but they decided against it for some reason.

GCROX: In those days, did they have curriculum enrichment?

ROCK EARLE: The school offered what was called “More Able Learner”, which I thought was interesting because even then I understood that “MAL” was the Latin root for bad. But yes, I was in the “More Able Learner” program and I still got done early and bugged the other kids.

GCROX: When did you start physically growing and were you taller than everybody?

ROCK EARLE: Oh yes! Junior high and high school especially. I grew six inches my freshman year in high school.

GCROX: Speaking of which, what interested you in high school?

ROCK EARLE: Math, particularly calculus GCROX: Junior year?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, they had some rudimentary pre-calc types of things junior year, but then I graduated before my senior year. My Levi’s would tend to have holes in

Summer

the knees which I proudly displayed and one day the vice principal called me into his office and told me there would be no more of that. Oddly enough shortly thereafter, one of the counselors called me into his office and said, “You know, if you did it right, you could be out of here at the end of your junior year.” What he meant was taking some college courses at the local community college at night and as a result I did and I was gone. I never had a senior year.

GCROX: And so it begins. Where did you go from there?

ROCK EARLE: I attended junior colleges for a while, without a clue as to what direction to go in. It seems strange to say now, but as a kid I was always an active investor, along with my Dad, in real estate limited partnerships. Back in the day, there were various programs that would take investments a small as $1,000 per Unit, so I would kick in $100 along with my Dad’s $900. We invested in budget motels, land all over California, the odd income property, and even a vineyard. One of our most attractive investments – we thought – was a large undeveloped tract of land in Santa Cruz, which our group had visualized as a luxury oceanfront resort and conference center.

GCROX: What did you learn from those experiences?

ROCK EARLE: I was developing mentors in the business and financial world.

One of the reps for the syndicator we invested with most heavily was a very successful financial planner in San Diego, and one of my best mentors. He told me if I wanted to help people invest like he did, I would need to find out where their money was, and the best way to do that was to prepare their tax returns.

GCROX: Did you follow that advice?

ROCK EARLE: Yup. I took H&R Block’s course at nights and on weekends, and in 1975 I was the nights and weekends guy, doing tax returns by hand with an adding machine and a pencil. I did 365 returns that year.

GCROX: Well, you do have a penchant for numbers.

ROCK EARLE: Right, and I thought maybe that would be the right career for me, and the next step in taxation was to become an Enrolled Agent – a special designation to enable non-attorneys or -CPAs to practice in Tax Court. So I took a night course again, this time at UCSD, taught by an IRS agent whose name I will never forget: Max Poppleheimer! That course culminated in a 1½ day test, which I passed, and which brings us to the point of this whole digression.

After receiving notification that I had passed, I applied for my “Treasury Card” (or T-card as it is commonly known) only to be notified in April 1976 by the IRS that the regulations state the minimum age requirement was 21 (I was 18) but suggesting that I apply for a waiver. On June 7, 1976, the General Counsel of the Treasury informed me my waiver request had been approved!

I was 19 at that time, and I thought that was pretty cool!

My direction was still unclear, though, and I moved to San Diego, bouncing around between several more institutions of higher learning studying an odd mix of business and science before ending up at UCSD. How I got in there I'll never know because I did not take the SAT’s, but I guess my college career to that date made a little sense because I wrote my entrance essay on my desire to become a great scientist/businessman, like Hewlett or Packard or Wang or Land. And believe it or not, I was pursuing a double-major of computer engineering and physics. Go figure.

GCROX: But your brain helped pay for your college, didn't it?

ROCK EARLE: It did. I got a job as a computer operator for Hewlett Packard on the third shift. I would show up at 11 at night and run the old IBM360 until 7 in the morning and then go to school.

GCROX: And how old were you? 19?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, maybe 20 by then.

GCROX: What would you do the other eight hours?

ROCK EARLE: I got my real estate license, started selling real estate and I was also learning to fly.

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GCROX: All of this before 20 years of age?

ROCK EARLE: Yes. GCROX: Tell me about when you were flying one day coming back from …

ROCK EARLE: Memories from that time are dim now but I think it was supposed to be a cross country solo and I believe it was after departing Hemet, California that at some point in time during the trip I had no idea where I was or what I was doing.

I had been thinking about everything else going on in my life. I looked out the window and had no idea where I was, where I'd just landed and where I was headed. It took me awhile to figure that out and I eventually landed back at Montgomery field in San Diego and walked away from flying. There was just too much going on in my life.

GCROX: Were you doing well in real estate in California?

ROCK EARLE: No, not at all. I was doing too many other things at the same time when I started in residential. I began “farming” for listings in an area called Bay Park, walking and knocking on doors and doing open houses, but my heart wasn't really in it.

GCROX: In College, how far did you advance?

ROCK EARLE: I had completed three and a half years which meant upper division science courses at UCSD – advanced math, physics, courses like that. I looked at it as I had at least three years to go because all of my credits were not in the same discipline – most of my early college classes were business-related.

GCROX: Did you come up with a model of the unified theory?

ROCK EARLE: Almost, but not quite. [laughs] GCROX: I'm curious why after you went on with life you chose real estate over science which you loved?

ROCK EARLE: That's an interesting question and the reality of the situation is that after I arrived at UCSD I soon found myself with 3 ½ years invested already and another three or so to go, and I looked at my chances. If you're in science, you're eiContinued on page 22

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

ACCESS ARIZONA:

“Nihao” & “Xièxie” 你 好 谢 谢

By Jim Dinkle, Executive Director, Access Arizona

I recently spent 10 days on vacation touring the People’s Republic of China. China has long been a country that I most wanted to visit since I was a child.

I was struck by the friendliness of its people, the lack of graffiti and litter, modern infrastructure everywhere, the abundance of food and consumer goods, the blend of historic and modern architecture and construction cranes everywhere building high-rise apartments and new factories.

My visit took me to the capital Beijing, Xi’an in Shaanxi province and to the country’s largest city and financial center Shanghai.

Shanghai’s population of 22 million is more than the countries of Ireland, Denmark, Singapore and New Zealand combined!

China itself has a population of over 1.3 billion, which makes it the world’s largest country in terms of population. On the international stage China is the second largest country in land area, the second largest economy and second in purchasing power.

One cannot miss the looming

Shanghai Tower, which stands 2,073-feet tall and is 127 stories.

In its shadow is the Port of Shanghai, which is the world’s busiest intermodal container port. Shanghai also serves as China’s financial center.

American and European cars are common throughout China. Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Buick, Citroen and Chevrolet are very common. State-owned car companies are emerging with stylish, reliable, affordable vehicles that will one day become competitive in the global marketplace.

President Xi Jinping is effectively engaging China in world economic affairs. Xi has advanced China’s involvement with the “BRICS” economic alliance, which is Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The BRICS countries account for 40 percent of the world’s population, one quarter of the world’s land area and one quarter of the world’s gross national income.

Goldman Sachs projects“by 2050 that their combined economies could

eclipse the combined economies of the current richest countries of the world.”

China is a country on the move that reveres its past, yet is embracing its future.

Mao Zedong wrote, “We must persevere and work unceasingly.”

Let there be no mistaking that the Communist Party Politburo put into place by Mao in 1946 is China’s indisputable governing authority. But, what has emerged is a Communist-led government with a Capitalist-driven economy.

How that marriage plays out in the years ahead remains to be seen.

Access Arizona is eager to engage the Chinese market and to extend a welcome “nihao” to our Chinese friends and a sincere “xièxie” for their consideration of Pinal County as a place to do business in North America. Interstate 8 to southern California and the Union Pacific Railroad main line are Pinal County’s avenues to the world and we look forward to them delivering commerce, visitors and new friendships.

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The nation’s explosive region for growth.

The nation’s explosive region for growth.

Multimodal access. Solid infrastructure. Skilled workforce. Collaborative local leadership.

Multimodal access. Solid infrastructure. Skilled workforce. Collaborative local leadership.

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

CITYSPEAK COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS

By Robert “Bob” Jackson, Mayor, Casa Grande

W

ho are the business leaders in Casa Grande today? When I first moved here in 1991 the business leaders were people that invested their personal money to make the community a better place. They created the Economic Development Group that is now known as Access Arizona to attract new industries to town. Their early successes included Frito Lay and Abbott Nutrition. They recognized the need to have industrial property available for new businesses to locate here and put infrastructure into the VIP Industrial Park, attracted Meredith Burda (later it became RR Donnelly and is currently National Vitamin) and the Airport Industrial Park.

These leaders saw the need for medical care and were instrumental in creating what is now Banner Casa Grande. In short these city leaders were willing to risk their personal wealth to make Casa Grande what it is today. Virtually all of these early leaders are now gone, who is going to step up to lead our community into the 21st Century and the global economy?

The world is a much different place today than it was 20 years ago. The U.S. economy was somewhat independent from the rest of the world and was somewhat self sustaining.

Today we find ourselves in a global economy and each country is dependent on all the others. We in Casa Grande are at a cross roads. Much has been written about the Phoenix Mart Project. One of the biggest opportunities it brings to town is the ability to help market US products on a global scale.

This project has the potential to impact Casa Grande’s economy on a scale much bigger than the 1980’s when we saw Abbott, Frito Lay and RR Donnelly come to town. It

“

is not just the creation of thousands of jobs but also the potential to become a logistics center for the transportation of goods not only within the United States but throughout the world with connections to California ports and Mexico.

We as a community need to start developing the next generation of leadership to help us grow into the global economy and assure we play a role in Arizona’s future for international trade. Twenty years ago our leaders were predominately male, today’s world has shown the valuable contribution of both men and women as well as diverse population.

Casa Grande has been lucky to have many women in leadership roles throughout our history. We need to take advantage of our long history in recognizing and encouraging strong leaders to step forward and help future generations flourish in our local economy. We are the center of the planned Sun Corridor Megapolitan area and need to be in a position to play a prominent role in the future growth of Arizona. This can only be done thru strong leadership that is interested in making the community a better place and when necessary putting their own financial interests aside for the betterment of the City.

I hope this article has prompted everyone to think about how they can contribute to making Casa Grande a better place to live and help make sure that we continue to be a leader in how Arizona moves into the global economy. Get involved and be part of moving our community forward to assure our kids and grandkids can continue to live, work and play in Casa Grande.

We as a community need to start developing the next generation of leadership...

“

Women have come a long way...

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Helen Neuharth, President/CEO Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

T

o quote an old Virginia Slims commercial: “You’ve come a long way, Baby”. A little derogatory calling women ‘baby’ but consider that ad was created more than four decades ago – but whether a stay-at home mom (CEO of a home based business), a retired business woman or in the business world today - women have come a long way.

When I first started in my career as a chamber executive some twenty-plus-years ago, chamber executives/CEOs in

Arizona and across the country were predominately male. A few years ago, I attended a regional chamber conference and it was obvious that ratio has changed. In the state of Arizona, there are 110 chamber of commerce organizations; 65 belong to the statewide organization called Arizona Chamber Executives and from that membership there are 37 female executives/ CEOs and 28 male chamber executives/CEOs. I don’t know how many of you have taken the time to research or read quotes from influential women, but I have a book of famous quotes that was given to me many years ago and, of course, the Internet can always provide this information.

I would like to use this article to share a few quotes, some older and some current, that have had an influence on my life, both professionally and personally.

“Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt “You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough.”

- Mae West “Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun.” - Christina Rossetti “Don’t limit yourself…you can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” - Mary Kay Ash “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou “Remember we have two ears and one mouth – keep that ratio in mind at all times” I may have made this up from other quotes I have heard but I won’t take authorship on this one!

A more simplified version of the “golden rule”, which my mother stressed to me often “treat others as you would like to be treated”.

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

By Rina Rien, Director, Casa Grande Main Street

Day Out Downtown Historical Walking Tours every third Tuesday starting October.

Historic Downtown…

Experience the Difference

By Rina Rien, Director, Casa Grande Main Street

A

s most of us reach our breaking point with monsoon storms and air-conditioning induced lethargy, take heart in knowing fall is just around the corner with outdoor fun just about every week planned for your historic downtown. Here are some old favorites and new twists you can look forward to as our new season kicks off in October: First Tuesday’s “Street Scene”: First Tuesday evenings kick off October 7th with an encore of our “Oktoberfest” theme from last year. Authentic live music, a biergarten and street food will be featured starting at 5:30 p.m. As always, this event is free to attend and will continue to include guest exhibitors, a community car show and “Live! In the Alley” open mic on the alley stage.

Come dressed to impress in your lederhosen and we’ll show our appreciation for your enthusiasm with impromptu prizes!

Second Saturdays @ the Museum: Interactive family activities during the day and adult-oriented evening events will continue where “cool meets culture”. Special events in October include the return of “Ghost Tours” October 10th and 11th and “Hot Wings for History” October 25th. Berlin Loa, Director of The Museum of Casa Grande, has been working hard over the summer with her interns to update exhibits and create a wonderful new experience for the fall. Visit www.cgvhs.org or call 520-836-2223 for more details about each month’s calendar.

Third Tuesdays “Day Out Downtown”: Back by popular demand, our day event will be moved to the third Tuesday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to expand the event offerings. We will continue to feature historical walking tours staged from our Main Street Patio and a Merchant Scavenger Hunt where you can compete for prizes. Plans are in the works for cooking, gardening and crafting demonstrations by local talent and community groups. Should you be interested in having your group or talents showcased at Day Out Downtown, please contact me immediately for more information.

Fourth Fridays “Live! In the Alley”: I’m pleased to announce Exit 185, our local comedy improv group, has found a permanent home at Western Trading Post to perform every first Saturday! As a result, our alley evenings featuring live performances and art exhibitions will be moved to fourth Fridays. Each month will follow the themes of our Street Scene events, so look forward to beer and wine tastings, game show competitions, painting to music and a season finale inspired by television talent competitions.

15th Annual Historic Downtown Street Fair and Car Show:

110 W. 2nd St., Casa Grande 520-836-8744 Mark your calendars for January 17th and 18th as we present our signature downtown event. More than 100 exhibitors reserved their space for this year at last year’s event! The initial call for exhibitors is out and we are anticipating another record year. Contact us now for information to reserve your space or sponsorship opportunity.

If you are looking to get involved in your community, please consider joining our “Main Street Mob” or sponsoring one of these free community events. Our season would not be possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers and financial support from businesses dedicated to an investment in our community.

Casa Grande Main Street is a non-profit organization designed to improve all aspects of the downtown experience. Strengthening public participation and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to Main Street’s future as drawing new business, rehabilitating structures and expanding parking options.

You can find all the latest information for ongoing events and more by checking out our website at www.cgmainstreet.org. Click on our Facebook link to stay connected and “like” our page for impromptu announcements.

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

CG News

By Harold Kitching

PHOENIX MART UPDATES

P

hoenixMart, the proposed international wholesale operation north of Florence Boulevard two and a half miles east of Interstate 10, continues its slow progress.

The Planning and Zoning Commission in early July gave approval to subdivide 234 acres of the 585-acres site into three parcels for the PhoenixMart building itself, a future high-density residential development and a hotel.

In mid July, the Board of Adjustment approved a temporary use permit for a 17-and-a-half foot-high metal monument sculpture, including the base, at the Florence/Toltec Buttes Road entry, a followup to the board’s approval in May of four entry monument signs. PhoenixMart has since announced that it intends to construct only two of the signs during the initial phase.

Because the city has not yet approved the major site plans for the development or a comprehensive sign plan, the monument signs and sculpture are being done atrisk, meaning that if they are not approved when the sign plan comes before the Planning Commission they would have to either be modified or taken down.

The monument logo itself would be 12 feet, 10 inches by 13 feet, six inches on a metal pole. It would be made of aluminum painted in brilliant gold color.

At the time of the early July subdividing approval, Senior City Planner Leila DeMaree said the major site plan for PhoenixMart, or the final development plan, is in the pipeline and could be brought before the Planning and Zoning Commission in about two months. She said the planning staff

is also reviewing the final landscape plan and the comprehensive sign plan.

DeMaree pointed out to the commission that the traffic analysis found that two traffic signals will be required along Florence Boulevard as part of the PhoenixMart work.

“One of the signal lights required is at the intersection of Toltec Buttes Road and Florence Boulevard and the second will be at Hacienda Road intersection and Florence Boulevard,” she said.

“The light off of Toltec Buttes Road will be fully financed by the PhoenixMart developer. The second traffic light will be financed by two development entities.

PhoenixMart will be responsible for 25 percent at the intersection of Hacienda Road and Florence. The rest of the cost will be paid through the established Mission Royale Community Facilities District.”

With the progress toward development, commission member Joel Braunstein brought up the question of fire protection.

“Way back when we first considered PhoenixMart the question of a fire department was brought up, talking about phasing in the fire department,” he said.

“Is the fire coverage adequate for this phase right now?”

DeMaree said the nearest fire station is Station 2, east of Lowe’s on Florence Boulevard, although there would eventually be another station east of the interstate as development grows.

“As far as I know, there is no concern from the Fire Department covering that area,” she said.

Jeremy Schoenfelder, representing PhoenixMart’s parent company AZ Sourcing, told the commission that there are regular meetings with the Fire Department. “I can’t quote minutes, but they were talking about response times at the last meeting, so I know that they’re well aware of what the situation is,” he said.

Schoenfelder pointed out that the city will be working with an outside consultant to determine fire safety requirements at the main PhoenixMart building, which will be about 1.7 million square feet in size.

Commission member Brett Benedict

asked what progress is being made on an agreement with Electrical District 2 to provide power to the site.

“Actually, we’re progressing,” Schoenfelder said. “I can’t say that we have a final agreement with them yet.

We’ve had a few back and forths, to be perfectly honest, but I think we’re right about at the end. We’ve worked with them from a timing perspective, we’ve worked them to be able to order things ahead of finalizing agreements or right at finalizing agreements to try to mitigate time issues as much as possible. But I can’t sit in front of you here today and say we have a finalized agreement. I do believe we’re close, though.”

Commission Chairman Jeff Lavender asked for a best guess as to when PhoenixMart might be open.

“I can’t give a specific date for that because of the offsite issues that did go into that,” Schoenfelder responded. “The building itself is, I’ll say, the least of our concerns from a timing perspective and the outside utilities are more of a critical path for us. Working through that is going to dictate time more than anything else.

“From a construction perspective, we expect to be doing major site work in fall of this year. We already have a little bit of, I’ll call it mini work, as we speak and we expect to be able to keep work going on. We want to make sure that everybody understands that we’re continuing to move forward and progressing to be able to go full bore.

“My best guess at this point would be late 2015 or early 2016, but to be any more accurate than that would be a guess at this point.”

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cgnews-info.webs.com RED LIGHT – GREEN LIGHT

P

utting up a new traffic light in Casa Grande is a bit more than just looking at an intersection and saying maybe that one would be good or getting a call from someone's great-aunt Sadie saying there needs to be one at her corner because she's afraid the stray cat she adopted is going to get run over while crossing the street.

(As if cats, which genetically ignore human commands, would stop, look, listen and then mince across on green.)

It's a lengthy process, taking in a range of research, city Traffic Engineer Duane Eitel says.

In the latest case, the intersection at Jimmie Kerr Boulevard and Sunland Gin Road, was chosen. At the time of the studies, that intersection was carrying 11,820 vehicles a day and had had 12 crashes.

As Eitel explains, "When I first got here about three years ago somebody said we want to build two new signals a year. I said, why do we want to do that, where do we want to build them?

"Our GIS people had all the traffic counts, crashes and everything in the system. I said, I'm interested in the traffic at these intersections, the number of crashes and the percentage of minor and major traffic. Plug that all in and give me a way where I can rank the intersections.

"I can weight those three things however I want to to come up with intersections that we need to look at further.

"That in itself wasn't enough to say we need a signal or 4-way stop or anything, it was just to give us a priority list of intersections."

Eitel said the GIS data run brought a hundred intersections. He took out the intersections controlled at that time by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

There were also discussions among himself, Public Works Director Kevin Louis and Streets Superintendent Pedro Apodoca, at which it was decided that 13 of those intersections made sense to look at further.

What is known as a traffic signal

warrant study was then done.

"One that surprised everybody, of course, is Sunland Gin and Jimmie Kerr," Eitel said. "Most people didn't even know that was in the city, but it kept coming up on all these lists as number one to look at. I'm not saying it was the number one dangerous, or anything, it was just number one on all these factors together.

"You look at factors such as traffic volume, number of crashes. If you really look at crashes, we don't have a lot of crashes in this town. And, of course, fatalities are pretty random. You've got to have like three fatalities somewhere before it really means something.

"Usually you'll find it's not the geometrics of the road, it's somebody doing something stupid.

If you start having a number of crashes, there may be something wrong here, let's take a look at it. Taking all this into account comes up with a priority index, and that's how we prioritized.

"Sunland Gin and Jimmie Kerr, I don't know if you've driven out there, a horrible intersection coming off of Sunland Gin and you want to turn on Jimmie Kerr.

What happens is people wait there and wait there and the longer the wait, the gap that you'll accept gets smaller."

The initial Jimmie Kerr/Sunland Gin signal, now being designed, will be the light on a wire spanning the intersection, Eitel said, "because we know someday we're going to improve that whole area (as development grows). Build a signal now that we don't spend a huge amount of money now because we know we're going to be doing improvements in the future. We're going to put the controllers in the right place for future development, but a span wire will take the signal rather than put some poles in there and have to move them or buy new poles and all that in the future."

Money for the signal is in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, Eitel said, but added that, "with all the railroad (crossing signals) coordination that needs to be done with Sunland Gin and Jimmie Kerr, that one might not be built until the

year after."

Who pays for signals?

Sometimes the city pays for the signals, sometimes a developer covers the cost, sometimes the cost is split.

In the case of O'Neil Drive and Trekell Road, which was number 5 on the priority list, "It's built, but that's because a developer paid for that," Eitel said.

"That was because of the Legacy charter school, they paid for that signal."

What's next?

"Peart and McCartney's a big deal, that four-way stop," Eitel said. "Traffic sometimes will back up all the way to I-10.

But it is a four-way stop and it is working OK. I think I can get federal safety money to do that whole intersection and the signal in the future. Let's go for a safety project there and see if we can get 100 percent federal funds, build that one and spend our money somewhere else."

Also now being designed is a signal at Casa Grande Avenue and McCartney Road.

"A lot of problems in Casa Grande and McCartney." Eitel said. "When school lets out it's a tricky intersection, backs up.

"We worked out a deal with the Arroyo Grande development. We looked at how much traffic they were contributing to the flow of traffic on McCartney, worked out a percentage, and for this signal at Casa Grande and McCartney they're going to pay a percentage. We're meeting with the city attorney and stuff to make sure we can legally do that and how we want to set a policy so we treat all the developers as much the same as we can."

As anyone who has tried to get out of the Camino Mercado center during heavy Florence Boulevard traffic knows, a signal is needed there.

"Camino Mercado is another place where we feel we need a signal," Eitel said. "There's a Valero station going in there. Are they really responsible for paying $250,000 for a signal or some percentage of that. We're going to work together.

"We're hoping to put a signal up there in the near future. We don't have any Continued on page 26

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

Continued from page 13: ROX! INTERVIEW ther going to be an engineer or you're going to teach. I had no interest in academia and if you're an engineer that means you're on a team. And all I wanted to be was Albert Einstein. I just wanted to sit around and have an idea and win a Nobel Prize and call it a day. At some point I realized neither of those was going work, so I started losing interest. I didn't want to be an engineer, I didn't want to teach. And then the real problem was I had never learned to study; to do any homework or anything.

GCROX: Because to that point everything taught to you came naturally?

ROCK EARLE: Yes and then one day I was sitting half awake at some upper division algebra class and I can still remember to this day this crazy Hungarian teacher with white frizzy hair. It was kind of like Einstein was up there doing stuff on the board.

I couldn't understand him and the stuff on the board meant nothing intuitively to me.

GCROX: That must have been a rude awakening.

ROCK EARLE: Yes. I listened to that class for a couple of weeks and I realized, well, I guess I'm done with college. [laughs] GCROX: So that's when a decision was made?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, I realized that my real estate business could proceed as a sole practice and I could do my own thing by myself and not have to interact with other humans as co-workers.

GCROX: Did you just pack up and leave?

ROCK EARLE: I did. I left school. I left Hewlett Packard and I drove to Phoenix because I'd always liked the desert. In high school while my buddies were surfing, I was always in the desert camping or doing whatever. Also, my sister had moved to Phoenix because her fiancé at the time lived there and I had met a guy in the real estate company I was working with who wanted to go to Phoenix and buy properties and invest so that's exactly what we did.

GCROX: Did you have an Arizona State

real estate license when you came over?

ROCK EARLE: No. GCROX: So you just came over and went to work? You obviously had to take the state exam.

ROCK EARLE: Yes. GCROX: Who did you work for?

ROCK EARLE: I hung my license with Auerbach Real Estate located on 32nd Street just South of Campbell.

GCROX: Did you go right back into residential?

ROCK EARLE: No, my partner was experienced in the land business, and we went right out and bought a bunch of land that we thought looked good.

GCROX: Where was that?

ROCK EARLE: We bought a piece at Cave Creek Road, north of Cactus, and an apartment zoned piece in East Mesa. This being in 1978.

GCROX: That property was way out in the middle of nowhere!

ROCK EARLE: Yes, exactly and we were funded by an investor and sold the properties almost immediately at a nice profit! We thought we were just the smartest guys on the planet.

GCROX: After you put the required 2 years in, you obviously went and obtained your broker's license.

ROCK EARLE: Yes in 1981, which means I've now been a broker for 34 years. I formed Newport Properties, and even then I had other companies, other partners. We had the Gibraltar Group, clever right? “Rock of Gibraltar”…? We were developing fourplex lots and condos; condo-convertible four-plexes and lots. We had a Canadian partner in the development, and we hooked up with a couple guys who were doing arid crop commercialization research and development. We were buying, actually the agricultural arm, was buying farms in Casa Grande that we would then plant in jojoba.

And to do that, we needed some real estate expertise. We had hired a custom farmer, Tom Gaddis, and his wife Nan had her li-

cense, so we opened a branch office here in Casa Grande that I was the broker of, she was the manager, and I would come down here every couple weeks and look over the files, and I ended up liking it so much that I moved here.

GCROX: What year was that?

ROCK EARLE: I moved down in 1996, actually to the Maricopa area, near the air park that we developed and then I moved out to Tierra Grande area in 1997, and then to Casa Grande proper in 2007.

GCROX: The air park which is now known as...

ROCK EARLE: Ak-Chin Regional. I've always done well with what we'll call “old infrastructure”. Water lines, power, and asphalt that someone else paid for, like someone else's dog and someone else's boat and someone else's cabin-someone else's infrastructure that they'd forgotten about, you can buy for a discount and get the land for free. There's a whole section that Cecil Crouch had farmed …

GCROX: Saddleback Farms?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, Saddleback Farms.

And in-between the residential subdivisions, he'd left a big area that was split into 40 acre parcels, and they were zoned heavy industrial, and there were 2 major waterlines for the company; the water company at the time was Mohawk Water Company, and it had the right zoning and everything else needed so I started investing, and selling land there to some guys, investors, and little by little the investors turned more into users, because everything was there that you needed to escape Phoenix as an industrial user.

One of those guys was a pilot, he was a metal building guy, and he wanted a yard to store his steel, and to build a little shop, and he also had the idea to develop the air park, and that's how what is now Ak-Chin Regional Airport started in 1991.

GCROX: How did you decide which direction the runway was to run and all that business and paperwork with the federal Continued on page 30

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24

THE VALUE OF BUSI Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

TURNARO

By Bryan T. Blunt

I

t is the same set of questions whether the business is a manufacturer or a service organization. Could this business, formed with so much hope and promise, be next in line to fall? How do we turnaround our competitiveness to lead rather than follow and fend off the storm clouds of business downturn?

The short answer to that last question is that business priorities must be in the proper order. Yes, that means there is a proper order; and no, that does not mean that paying a respectful salute to such a concept will get the job done. The priority must be lived by management. Only then will it be also lived by everyone else in the organization, and only then will it make a difference. That said, let us take a look at what the factors are that require prioritizing, what the order of priority is, and why that order will make the defining difference in setting the stage for business success.

Three factors that affect competitive advantage in any business are quality, schedule attainment and cost. To clarify, we will refer to quality here as a delivered outcome that pleases the customer. Each business needs to clearly define what that outcome is. Is it a manufactured hard-good or food item? Is it a service transaction? Whatever it is, the quality of that outcome is what we are referring to. Schedule attainment refers to delivering the business outcome in the timeframe the customer expects. Cost then relates to the amount of money spent to achieve quality and/or schedule attainment.

The problem at many businesses is that, while quality receives an obligatory round of applause from the corner office, the top spot in terms of real attention goes to one of the other factors. Sounds like small potatoes right? It is not. In fact, when such a situation becomes a business’ operating reality, it represents a huge problem; one that can ultimately lead to business failure. Unless the top of the organization consistently and tirelessly demonstrates by words and actions that quality excellence unambiguously surpasses the other two factors in terms of importance, the business has little chance of making a turnaround. Here is why.

Ask most customers what is the one thing they are searching for when they decide between your business and someone else’s. Do you know what you will find? Most customers will tell you they are looking for value. Value is what customers are searching for. Now value may be a “catchy” word in business jargon, but it is far more than that. In fact, maybe the best way to explain it is in terms of an equation; so here goes. Value equals perceived benefits received di-

SINESS

OUND vided by perceived price paid. Write that down. In looking at that equation, one term almost jumps off the page: perceived.

This of course refers to the customer’s perception; and that perception is a big deal.

Perceived benefits equal the sum of what the customer believes they must have plus what they would like to have.

With that in mind, the first question for your business is, “What does the customer believe they must have?” The second question is, “What would they like to have?” When you arrive at those answers, their sum equals your business’ perceived benefits potential in the eyes of the customer.

On the other hand, perceived price paid equals acquisition price plus whatever else the customer gives up along with that price. This gets a little more difficult to nail down. Of course acquisition price is relatively straightforward. That is the price the customer directly pays for your business’ goods or service.

But what else could the customer give up? Convenience is one thing a customer could give up. Time required to understand a process or to return an item is another. The main point here is that the acquisition price of your goods or service is only part of perceived price paid. As soon as a customer feels they have had to give up something other than that acquisition price, their perceived price paid jumps up. Now let us look back at the value equation.

Consider for a moment that the bottom number (price) in the value equation remains constant. Conceptually then, if the business is dialed-in on what the customer must have, but is not able to deliver what that customer would also like to have, the top number on the equation will not achieve its potential.

Adding the “like to have” will increase that top number. It may help to visualize the difference between two fractions such as 3/5 and 4/5 with regard to this. In this case, 4/5 represents when the “like to have” was added. The value total increased.

That is the same thing as saying that value in the eyes of the customer went up.

Now let us consider that the top number (benefits) in the value equation remains constant. Conceptually, if the business collects a fair acquisition price for its goods or service, but the customer feels that they had to give up something else along with that price, the bottom number will be larger than it should be. Again, it may help to visualize the difference between two fractions such as 4/5 and 4/6. In this case, 4/6 represents when the “what else the buyer gives up” was added. The value total decreased. That is the same thing as saying that value in the eyes of the customer went down.

With that in mind, the question becomes, “How do we in-

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crease the likelihood of delivering what the customer would like to have, while decreasing the likelihood that that customer will have to give up more than the acquisition price?” The answer can be found in our discussion on priorities. As quality goes up, so does the likelihood that the “like to have“ will also go up and the “what else the buyer gives up” will go down.

What is more, increasing quality over the long term will lead to a corresponding increase in schedule attainment and a decrease in operating costs.

Is there more to it that just prioritizing properly? Absolutely. Remember, that is the short answer. There are tools and techniques that can help optimize processes such that the probability of achieving quality excellence is dramatically increased. Nevertheless, specifically placing increasing value in the eyes of the customer as your organization’s competitive objective and putting in place the priorities that will enable that increase to happen will position the business well to begin fending off the storm clouds.

ABOUT BRYAN T. BLUNT Bryan T. Blunt is a process improvement professional with over twenty five years’ experience in business and production operations.

His work has taken him across the United States and to three other continents. Bryan served as director of quality for Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. defense industry, homeland security and aerospace company headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, director of quality at the famed Lycoming Engines facility in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and director of supply chain quality for Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. He is a Fellow with the American Society for Quality and president of Quality Works Consulting LLC, an operational improvement resource for the manufacturing industry. Bryan holds a BS in Manufacturing Technology from Southwestern College, a BA in Management from the University of Phoenix, an MBA from Western International University, and several professional certifications including three Six Sigma Black Belts. His book Turnaround: The Quality Path to Saving the Business (QW Press LLC, 2011) is available at amazon.com. Bryan lives in Eloy, Arizona and can be reached via email at info@qw-consulting.com.

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

Continued from page 21: CG NEWS money to build it right now."

One question from residents has been why not put the signal at the entrance to the Cracker Barrel restaurant.

The answer from the Arizona Department of Transportation when it controlled Florence Boulevard and its lights had been that it would be too close to the first signal on the Interstate 10 overpass, impeding the flow of traffic.

"A quarter mile is where I like to see them," Eitel said, "because it's hard to get coordination if you're any closer. We can do it, but it's a lot tougher."

The long, long outlook "Our population projections are that the buildout of the city will be about a million people," Eitel said. "Stop and think what's this town going to look like with a million people in it, the road system and all that. We need to be thinking about that now, not wait."

juices) as opposed to foods that need to be fully cooked or grilled,” the staff report says. “The final menu will be approved prior to the opening of the café.”

The coffee shop/café space is 140 square feet with additional storage space of 70 square feet. Seating will be available in the hallway adjacent to the café and on the 720 square foot outdoor patio.

According to the staff report, the Cook E Jar will pay the city 15 percent of net profit during the first year. The contract could be extended for another year, with the percentage payment to be negotiated at that time.

The Cook E Jar will be responsible for adequate staffing, the cleanup of the adjacent seating areas and the hallway, as well as the patio area.

“Attendance at the library draws about 15,000 people a month and so we think that there’s a serious opportunity there for a great partnership opportunity with the cafe experience,” Schwind said.

C

T

he owners of the Cook E Jar bakery and cafe at Second and Florence streets in old downtown will expand to the main library to operate a small cafe/concession area in the newly renovated structure.

The operation is expected to open in August.

Community Services Director Bill Schwind said that several local businesses were notified about the cafe plan and in the end the Cook E Jar owners, Mary Ann and David Yandell, met all of the requirements that were established by the city.

“The Cook E Jar has agreed to operate the cafe during regular main library hours, although the contract does allow some flexibility as approved by the library manager,” Schwind said.

The staff report says the hours of operation will be 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, 9a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday. The cafe will be closed on Saturday.

“The Cook E Jar will establish a menu that focuses on foods that require only warming, cooling or finishing on site, (i.e., salads, sandwiches, pastries, coffee and

ontracting out of maintenance at the city golf course is expected to accelerate the improvements there and eventually erase the need for a taxpayer subsidy.

The contract was given final approval by the Casa Grande City Council in early July.

The taxpayer subsidy this year was $120,000. If that seems high, consider that a a few years ago the council was grappling with how to deal with subsidies ranging from $400,000 to $600,000 a year. That, in short, resulted in changing many financial and operational aspects, slowly bring the subsidy down each year.

The two-year contract with Falcon Golf Management, with final approval expected during the July 7 council meeting, calls for payment of $438,400 annually, with the option for three one-year renewals.

“The total operating budget is estimated to be reduced by approximately $143,000 with this conversion,” Community Services Director Bill Schwind told the council.

“The vast majority of savings are derived in the area of personnel services, through the acquisition of materials and supplies.

“And it’s anticipated that the golf course conditions will continue to improve while having a positive effect

on revenue generation and the overall longterm financial plan of the golf course enterprise.”

Under the contract, Jim Bellows, the principal at Falcon, will hire his own maintenance staff.

The staff report says that, “It is anticipated that all golf fees being charged and all other associated revenue generated at the golf course will remain under city administration.

The golf pro will remain as an independent contractor. The golf pro assistant and all part-time clubhouse staff will continue to remain on the city payroll. The remaining three full time golf course maintenance staff members (crew leader, maintenance worker and assistant mechanic) will be absorbed into three vacant positions currently being held open within the Community Services and Public Works divisions.”

The immediate question was whether the move will end the annual taxpayer subsidy for the golf operation.

“I know part of the focus is reduction of the subsidy,” Councilman Ralph Varela said. “Does this accomplish that, or are we moving toward it?”

Schwind answered, “It is our plan, based on this maneuver, to eliminate the General Fund subsidy from the golf course and turn it into an enterprise fund.”

Enterprise funds are operations that must pay their own way, such as sewers and trash collection.

Councilman Dick Powell asked if the city will still have a budget for carts, mowers and other equipment.

“We would buy those and the maintenance would be done by the contractor?” he asked.

There is about $36,000 in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, Schwind answered.

“We are looking at replacing a series of golf carts with that funding,” he said. “The golf course equipment that currently is out there is owned and belongs to the city. As it ages, we will continue to assess that and potentially look at our options for leasing and acquisition via capital expenses in the future for replacement.

“The daily maintenance falls under the administration of the golf course maintenance contract.”

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

INSURANCE ROX!

EASY AS PIE...

By Lisa J. Atkinson

D

epending on your bakery skills, making a pie from scratch can be a challenge. However, if you take advantage of modern conveniences, you can buy a store made crust, empty canned pie filling into it and voila! You’ve got a tolerable pie.

Insurance is a little like the pie experience. The internet has made it easier to shop for insurance. It is open 24 hours a day.

All you have to do is plug in the requested information and you’ve got yourself a quote. Maybe.

Just a few days ago, after new clients were introduced to me, I listened as they told of their internet insurance shopping experience. After spending some amount of time entering personal information, the site would not give them a quote. Why? It said they had too many vehicles. Also, they have a camping trailer and the internet site had no idea how to quote that.

I reassured the client that I was able to help them. We spent about 45 minutes getting to know each other. I was able to listen to what is important to them. There was some information on their current insurance papers that they were puzzled about. After our conversation, I had a clear picture of how I could help them next.

Many people are not aware that when they do an internet search for insurance quotes, they take absolute responsibility for the choices that they make. If you have a background in this area, it might not be such a big deal. However, most are not aware of specific state laws that can impact them nor do they realize that a large chunk of their background will be immediately out there for the anonymous somebody on the other end of that search engine.

Our agency is a little like the pie made from scratch. It’s true, you must make contact with us and you must give us several pieces of information, but we’re the experts, the professionals. We will take what you give to us and maneuver the insurance obstacle course for you. As an independent agency, we are able to check the rates of several companies, saving you time and frustration.

We can tell you upfront what personal information we need and how it will be used.

As a bonus, you can count on an actual person, a face behind the name, to help when you need it. In a world where instant gratification is at the top of the list of must haves, it’s wise to give the important things a little extra consideration.

My grandmother made absolutely the best rhubarb strawberry pie anyone ever tasted. Like that pie make from scratch, dealing with our agency will give you peace of mind along with the best service you’ve received in a long time. The point? Give us a taste.

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RHUBARB STRAWBERRY PIE INGREDIENTS

Crust: 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional flour as needed, up to 1/4 cup 1/2 cup cake flour 3 teaspoons powdered sugar, sifted 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening 1/4 cup salted butter Pinch salt 1 egg 2 teaspoons vinegar 1/4 cup ice cold water Filling: 2 1/2 cups fresh red rhubarb, chopped 2 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, washed and cut into large pieces 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons minute tapioca 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces 1 egg white beaten with 1 teaspoon water Large granule sugar for decorating Directions Crust Preparation: Blend the flours, sugar, shortening, butter and salt, preferably with a pastry blender. Whisk the egg, vinegar and water in a 2-cup measuring cup and pour over the dry ingredients incorporating all the liquid without overworking the dough. Toss the additional flour over the ball of dough and chill if possible. Divide the dough into 2 balls. Roll out 1 piece of dough to make a bottom crust and place into a pie dish. Refrigerate dish to chill Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Filling Preparation: Mix the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, tapioca, flour, lemon juice and zest, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well in a large bowl and pour into chilled crust. Dot the top of the filling with the butter. Brush edges of pie crust with egg white wash. Roll out the other piece of dough and place over filling, crimping edges to seal. (Pie can also be made with a lattice top. Cut rolled dough into strips and weave) Brush with egg white wash and garnish with large granule sugar. Cover edges with aluminum foil to prevent burning and bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. Decrease temperature to 375 degrees F and bake for an additional 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling starts bubbling.

Cool before serving.

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

Continued from page 22: ROX! INTERVIEW government, how, how did all that evolve?

ROCK EARLE: He did all that. I didn't have anything to do with it. He just said, "well let's do it this way, can I buy this piece?"

GCROX: The next thing you know you own an airport.

ROCK EARLE: Yes, until the Ak-Chin group eventually purchased it, I think in 2005.

GCROX: The beginning of the golden years! When did things really start to get good for you?

ROCK EARLE: Back in the years when we were developing it, the mid-nineties, nothing was easy but in 1997 things began to really get better for me. All the land I'd been investing in for ten, fifteen years was starting to become valuable, people had discovered Casa Grande and the whole area as a legitimate investment venue. You could just feel that activity was picking up.

Many of my partners and investors were guys in Phoenix, builders who had gotten sick of building, but understood the value of infrastructure in the ground. So we started scouring the area for roads and sewer and power and dirt that's really ugly and nasty and cheap. .GCROX: Around 1999 or 2000 you found a project in the Eloy area with an industrial zoning use that had that infrastructure.

ROCK EARLE: Yes, we bought the original Eloy industrial park. It had rail to it and all the utilities. There were utilities, but they were tired pipelines, there were tired roads and tired everything. I believe we paid about $4,000 an acre for ... I don't remember how many acres. We started putting money into the infrastructure by extending the rail, we extended the roads and we extended the sewer. We ended up selling some parcels to some big industrial users, brought some good jobs in there and it turned out to be a really great thing for everybody.

GCROX: And then one day a real estate broker from Phoenix comes in and talks to you.

ROCK EARLE: Well, it's a little more complicated than that. All of our holdings at that time, say the early 2000's, were becoming quite valuable, and I had partners in everything I was doing, imagine that: me, a mediator of sorts! We had sold a couple pieces and made a bunch of money and in retrospect, I think we all started bickering, and I think it's because we all thought we were the one responsible for the success, like "I'm smarter than you, I'm the one who made this work, not you", and we were just sick of each other. Finally we got so angry with each other we said "we're just going to sell it". And that was a controversial decision at the time, because things were right on the way up and we thought we had the best piece of land in the universe ... and we ended up doing exactly that. We sold it for

what we thought was just a fire sale giveaway price.

GCROX: Do you still feel that you gave it away at a fire sale price?

ROCK EARLE: Oh no, no. All that bickering was the best thing that could ever have happened, because of what happened next: the Great Recession - who knew the end was so near?

GCROX: It turned out to be a very wise move on your part, but now you've reached the pinnacle. Where do you go from there?

What did you do?

ROCK EARLE: Well see, that's a good point too. At the time, everything was priceless. $2,000 per acre dirt was selling for $20,000 to $40,000 per acre and I couldn’t get my head around that so I sold everything. I just thought "these prices are crazy, it's fine, I have enough". I sold everything and I just left. And actually, the crazy prices continued for a year or 2 after I was gone and I would hear about some deal. I would be in Barcelona and some deal would happen, and I'd think "I really screwed up by leaving". Frankly, it was the best thing that could have happened. I wasn't tempted to be in any deals any more, I wasn't tempted to buy or double down, and I never did any tax deferred exchanges, which would have forced me to re-invest. I was in Europe with all my cows safely in the barn, so to speak, when things crashed.

GCROX: Did you stay in Casa Grande?

ROCK EARLE: I did.

GCROX: How old were you?

ROCK EARLE: 48.

GCROX: 48 years old, you've retired and now you begin to do something that you've always wanted to do since reading that book about the Mongol boy and the hawk when you were a child: travel the world.

ROCK EARLE: Yes, I'd actually started traveling a little bit in the early 2000's, you know the Europe thing, the first trip to London, it's wonderful, and I wanted more of that.

GCROX: In the early days you were traveling coach back and forth to London.

ROCK EARLE: Oh yes! Back in those days I had a million different strategies for getting the exit row because it was the only way to get legroom in coach, the first 13 times across the Atlantic we were in coach – seriously! For a guy my size, which is 6 foot 5 that was excruciatingly painful, it was utter hell.

GCROX: You were mostly in Europe then?

ROCK EARLE: All Europe in those days, England and Continental Europe and you know the prototypical grand American tour where you do 13 countries in 8 days, just rented cars and drove around.

GCROX: And how long did this last?

ROCK EARLE: I would say that phase of travel really started in ‘98 or ‘99 and lasted

until about ‘05 or ’06.

GCROX: Did you tire of it?

ROCK EARLE: I was tired of coach and the cheap motels, but I was not tired of traveling, I wanted more and at that point I had bought into the ADA Travel agency with Hope Wallace, who you interviewed last issue, and so all kinds of new things opened up, I started going to the travel conventions and started seeing new ways to do things and had the resources to do things a little differently, a little more comfortably. For a couple of years I did everything I wanted to do; I had no more business, I had shut down the office and was not doing anything actively. I made plans to go everywhere I wanted to go. I was gone half the year for a couple of years in a row and I just got tired. I did a lot of solo traveling, because no one wanted to travel as much as I did.

I wore out, came home and did nothing for awhile...

GCROX: When I first met you, you walked into the old Mahoney Group Real Estate department and during the course of discussion with someone, somewhere you heard they were going to close the real estate division down?

ROCK EARLE: Yes, this was right on the brink of the crash and I think the Mahoney people felt insurance was more stable than real estate and in turn made the decision.

I've grown to have a healthy respect for bad times because all chance and opportunity shows up and this was the first, “recession” shall we say that I was ready for.

I got killed in the previous two or three recessions in my career and this time I was sitting around, completely liquid, nothing to do all day, tired of traveling. When it turned out Mahoney’s real estate division was potentially available, I thought, how interesting that was because I always wanted to be Mahoney, I wanted a real estate operation that had an insurance arm and was a pillar of the community and sponsored every event and everyone knew they were the goto people for solidity and permanence and scale. When I was offered that opportunity I thought, "Eh, the recession will be over in a couple of years. No big deal." So I bought the best building in town, built it just the way the real estate people said they wanted it, and lo and behold, one day twelve people walked out of the Mahoney office and into mine and ROX Real Estate was born.

GCROX: It was successful from the beginning, it was as successful as it could be during the recession, but then there was another opportunity that opened up for an insurance company.

ROCK EARLE: Well yes it was, the real estate was as successful as it could be and we held our own in a really challenging environment. I want people to know here that we opened our doors in the second week of September 2008. In the third week of September I was floating around

Summer

the Galapagos Islands doing my traveling, snorkeling expedition thing and that's the week that Lehman Brothers went bankrupt.

We get back to the boat every afternoon and we're with a bunch of East Coasters, so all the New Yorkers, the stock market people would be in there watching the TV, watching the latest DOW closing down 900 points, then next day down 800 points and it was like people were cutting their throats on the boat, after a day of snorkeling with seals, so that's the environment that we opened ROX Real Estate in.

So we operated it for a year or two and actually along with that I made a bunch of what I considered really nice land purchases at post-crash prices, most of which we still own today. We'll just say the recession went a little longer than I thought it would.

Anyway the next step of it was to look around for some kind of insurance arm, and as it happened the company that I had dealt with for years, Stu Rasmussen's old Casa Grande Insurance, had sold to Mike Johnson; Mike had sold it to a couple of fellows from Phoenix who were commercial brokers, and they were looking for a new local partner. They didn't want to come to Casa Grande anymore so one thing led to another and we found ourselves with Casa Grande Insurance under the ROX umbrella.

GCROX: Now you have insurance, and you have real estate which are two businesses you wanted, but also a large portion of your life involves travel and another op-

portunity presented itself?

ROCK EARLE: That's an interesting story too. I mentioned earlier I was a small minority partner in Hope's business ADA Travel for years, and we had always thought that on the day she was ready to retire it would be a perfect thing to incorporate into ROX as ROX Travel. There was some conversation and it turned out she wasn't ready to retire. So, we pulled in a couple of other travel industry veterans and formed a new ROX Travel. Now we have the three different businesses under the same umbrella that I always dreamed about.

GCROX: Was that the old Desert Travel?

ROCK EARLE: Right. Peggy Eck had worked for Jim and Joann Kroll who owned Desert Travel. In fact that story is in our last issue as well.

GCROX: I remember we were talking in your office one day and you had this idea.

ROCK EARLE: I wish this were a video interview and you could see the smiles in this room right now. Yes, I had this idea of how do you grow companies? Well, sales agencies you grow with leads, how do you grow leads, well there's a variety of ways, there's vertical, there's horizontal, but really it’s about marketing and marketing's about scale and a variety of other things. And what I thought we should do is find a way to set ourselves apart with marketing and that idea certainly went to the idea of a quality print publication that no one else had.

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GCROX: But nobody in the company was for it?

ROCK EARLE: Except for you and me and of course Bea Lueck shortly thereafter.

Everybody thought it was a waste of time and money and had their own ideas about how promotional money should be spent.

I thought it would be a substantial investment of time and money for several years, but I thought it would continually improve and as it integrated the companies into the mainstream, it was a natural adjunct.

GCROX: How big was the first issue?

ROCK EARLE: I think it was 44 pages.

GCROX: And now we're over 100 pages?

ROCK EARLE: Yes. We had hired a consultant who knew the magazine industry, and we were led to an over-sized very high-quality publication, which I think really was the way to enter the market. It didn't fit in any racks, it was hard to mail, but we got people's attention.

GCROX: And the whole idea behind marketing is to gain a franchise in the minds of people, and I would venture to say there are not too many people who have not been exposed to the word "ROX".

ROCK EARLE: It's funny how in the American culture, I mean, “ROX” came about because it's, my name is R-O-C-K; in the possessive, with an apostrophe and the S, that sounds like R-O-X, but in the American culture it's absolutely common place to say, "Soccer rocks." OK, maybe not soccer, Continued on page 75

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Forging his own path

Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

This article originally appeared in the summer 2014 edition of LORE magazine. Reprinted with permission of REAL Trends, copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved.

A

t age 23, Budge Huskey was ready to take on the world. In between his first and second years in the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program at Wake Forest University, Huskey says, “I won an internship to study finance in Europe and worked with an insurance brokerage in London.” Sure, there was a family business, real estate brokerage Huskey Realty, to consider, but Huskey, now president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, wanted to go in a different direction. Home from London, however, he and his father, Everette, had a talk about the possibilities should he choose to join the family brokerage. “Over a period of time, I matured and my father mellowed, so we started a conversation. There was a feeling that if we don’t take the chance, we’ll miss an opportunity to work together,” he says. So in 1984, Budge chose to join Huskey Realty, where he stayed for 14 years.

Differentiating Himself As father and son, the Huskeys didn’t always see eye to eye.

Chalk up some of that to normal familial relationship angst, but it was more complicated than that. “Some of the disconnect is probably very common when parents and children elect to work together,” says Huskey. “I know that one of the reasons my father and I didn’t see eye to eye was that we viewed opportunities and business dealings differently,” he says. “My dad was the eternal optimist. Because he always assumed things would work, he took extreme risks,” he says. “I am more Lives of Real Estate

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Real Estate Leaders conservative and pragmatic. It was my attempt to balance him that caused disagreements,” he says.

One of those disagreements happened in 1998. With the elder Huskey close to retirement, Budge was positioning the company for a sale to residential brokerage company NRT. “Based on where [my father] was in his career, I felt it was in his best interest. But he couldn’t do it,” says Huskey. “He couldn’t give up ‘his child’ [the company],” he says. With the door closed on the buy-out, Budge decided to move on from the family business. “I felt I needed to do something different,” he says.

He gave Everette six months’ notice and then joined NRT. Ironically, 18 months later, Everette did decide to finalize the NRT deal. “I had the privilege of working with him in a different capacity for the balance of his life,” says Budge.

Everette died in 2007 at age 81.

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Lessons of the Father The elder Huskey’s legacy lives on with Budge, who learned some valuable lessons from the way his father did business. “I credit him with teaching me the most important lesson in real estate—to recognize and understand the emotion behind what drives real estate sales,” he says. “He taught me what represents great customer service.” That’s because Everette believed that ethical behavior and above-and-beyond service were the cornerstones of a successful brokerage. “This sounds a bit odd, but he taught me how to be a gentleman. He taught me to always be aware of the feelings of others. Those are some of the qualities that stay true to me today. The things that bothered me growing up, where I would look at him and roll my eyes, are the very

One of the things I strongly believe in is that everyone should be treated with respect.

When hiring for key positions, I take prospects out to dinner or lunch and observe how they treat the wait staff.

Do they make eye contact? Do they say, “Please” and “Thank you”? If they are dismissive, I can’t hire them. No matter how qualified you are, if you treat the wait staff without respect, then you’ll treat your employees like that, as well. — Budge Huskey

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things that are important to me today,” laughs Huskey. “I have become so much like him. For example, the things that bugged him—lack of commitment, lack of caring, not treating people well—are the things that bug me most.”

The fact is, says Huskey, “My dad came from nothing and always treated people with respect, no matter their station in life. I respect that most about him.”

Moving Up Through the years, those lessons learned have served Huskey well. After serving as a branch manager for Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Longwood, Fla., he eventually became a district and regional manager in the organization’s Central Florida region before being named president and COO of NRT’s Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Florida in 2004. After several other key moves, he was promoted to president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC in January 2013, and moved to New Jersey.

During his years in the business, Huskey has seen the real estate industry shift and reshift.

“Everyone likes to talk about how much the industry has changed, and it has, but in many ways, the fundamental aspects have not,” he says. “The industry is more sophisticated, but it’s really as basic and as dysfunctional as it was when I started 30 years ago,” says Huskey, who notes that the industry has moved from what was historically a cottage industry to one where there are major players—public companies, investment capital and major brands. “Despite those structural changes, the ultimate success is based on the caliber of entrepreneurial salespeople who are entrusted with successfully managing one transaction at a time for the consumer.”

One way the business has fundamentally changed, he notes, is with the brokerage financial model. “Brokerages are becoming service companies with diversified income. The brokerage bottom line is less reliant on transaction commissions.” Huskey notes that he would be remiss if he didn’t mention the most-talked-about change—technology. “I’ll go there and say there’s no doubt that technology has empowered the consumer, but we’ve moved from a phase in which the disrupters were openly calling the demise of the real estate agent to acknowledging the need for the real estate agent. These tech companies have moved to a partnership approach rather than declaring the agent a dinosaur.” The fact remains, he says, that integration of technology is a mandate for brokerages, but the benefit is for the consumer, not for agent productivity. “We’ve all seen owners invest more money in tech without any significant changes in agent productivity or adoption. In some respects, the technology is about creating and delivering efficient experiences to the consumer,” he says. “Change in this business is inevitable, but brokers and agents must stop changing course every 30 days with every new, shiny object. We must set a consistent course and make decisions based on that course.”

Real Estate Leaders

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Time Off The key to brokerage With his finger on the pulse of real estate, success is not the business Huskey travels frequently to Coldwell Banker model. You can find success offices to prepare brokerages for the future. A within any of the different self-proclaimed workaholic, he has little time for time-consuming hobbies such as golf. “I grew up in models. It still boils down to Florida, so I surfed, played soccer through college, leadership and the ability to owned horses and played golf, but when I got into build a culture of execution real estate, I adopted my father’s work ethic,” he within an organization which says. “His mind was engaged in business 24/7, and I fell into that from day one. I didn’t want to spend inspires and drives teams to my limited time off engaged in a four-hour golf perform better than others in game. I would rather spend that time with my wife.” the market.— Budge Huskey Huskey and his wife, Jill, are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year. “We’re going on only my second long vacation since I started in real estate.

The only other time I took a two-week vacation was when Jill and I got married,” he laughs. However, work and family aren’t Huskey’s only two passions. “I worked in college record stores and love music,” he says. So much so, that he’s amassed a serious collection of more than 5,000 albums and compact disks. “I enjoy live music; that’s a hobby of mine,” he says.

In addition, he says, “My wife and I don’t have children, but we Huskey and his wife, do have two dogs that have become our children.” Thor is a blue Jill, are celebrating weimaraner, and Jäger is a German shorthai pointer. “We didn’t name their 25th wedding Thor, but we did name Jäger, which is German for hunter,” he says.

“

anniversary this year.

For Huskey, his future is something he doesn’t spend a whole lot of time planning.

“Maybe it’s a fault of mine. Of course, I have goals, but my goals have never been about the next position or promotion. To me, the future is all about what I do in this role. Right now, I’m focused on positioning our company to capitalize on the next housing cycle and continuing to protect our brand. We want to ensure relevance to the next generation of talent.”

He adds, “This is a relationship business.

People come and go, and they work with different organizations, but these are the relationships you nurture and continue.

Our industry is large, but it’s also very small.

It’s all about reputation in the marketplace.”

Huskey’s reputation should take him far. L

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Our Foundation for Success

By Dan Mace, CPA

I

have been fortunate to work for an accounting firm that believes that there is more to accounting than debits and credits. Don’t get me wrong, having the technical expertise to advise our clients is one of the foundations of our firm (or “Pillars” as we refer to them at Henry & Horne), but it is only one of the factors that contribute to having a successful relationship with your accountant.

As a matter of fact, my firm has five pillars that we consider critical to form a foundation of success.

These five pillars focus on business health, exceptional client service, service to the community, technical expertise and team engagement. I think it is important to note that the philosophy of the firm is that it takes more than just having superior technical expertise to be a leading accounting firm.

While all of the pillars are vital to the success of our firm, there are some characteristics that help to make all of the pillars successful. Probably the most important factor is communication. Communication is vital to being able to advise clients in the most successful way. We must always remember that communication is a two way street, and in order to provide exceptional client service, we must listen to our clients in order to help them figure out solutions to their challenges.

In addition to communication, we like to follow the “Golden Rule”. As silly as this may sound, we firmly believe that treating others how you would like to be treated is paramount to having a successful business.

We take pride in this and strive to always be respectful and courteous. We take this even further by taking

the time to understand our clients and find solutions that are right for their situations.

These basic principles are very easy to say, but believe it or not, they are very hard to implement in a large organization. With over one hundred team members, it would be easy for our firm to say these things and never actually follow through with them.

Fortunately, we have a great team of partners that lead from the top. This is definitely necessary, especially as an organization grows. Our leaders firmly believe in being strong examples of how to implement the pillars that they consider vital to the success of our firm. As a matter of fact, one example of this is how they have committed to giving back to the community. In addition to having monthly opportunities to volunteer with fellow team members on weekends, the entire firm closes down for an afternoon each year and everyone participates in a volunteer event. Last year we spent the afternoon at Florence Crittenton of Arizona helping them beautify their campus. This year we will be volunteering at the Phoenix Zoo. Being a leading accounting firm is something that we are definitely proud of at Henry & Horne. We know that it takes everyone that works here to continue to be successful and without all of the awesome team members that show up every day, there is no way that we could be able to say that we are one of the leading accounting firms in Arizona.

Daniel Mace, CPA is a manager in the Casa Grande office of Henry & Horne, LLP specializing in individual and small businesses. He can be reached at danm@ hhcpa.com or 520-836-8201.

Summer

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

It’s coming again!!

By Debie Neely Owner, Kiva Insurance & Financial Services, LLC

DEBIE NEELY OWNER, KIVA INSURANCE & FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC

SPECIALIZE IN HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, AGRIBUSINESS, LIFE, HEALTH AND ANNUITY PRODUCTS.

September is the national life insurance awareness month The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) designates September as national life insurance awareness month with essentially one goal -- getting people to think about their need for life insurance. Every day, millions of Americans put their families’ financial futures at risk by not owning any or not enough life insurance coverage. At most recent tally, 95 million Americans don’t have any life insurance and those that do, don’t have enough. Life insurance can do some pretty amazing things for the people you love: it pays off debt, keeps a roof over the family’s head, continues the operation of a business or ensures your child’s college future. If your family’s weekly lifestyle is dependent on your income – how would their future lifestyle be

affected if you and your paycheck suddenly or accidentally don’t walk through the door any longer? A recent advertisement poll suggested that parents will spend on one child: $2,577 in diapers, $38,500 on food before college, $10,000 on essential clothing before age 18, and college costs (sigh!!!!), easily over $30,000. Now do that math if you have more than one child.

Many people are simply unaware of how to purchase coverage; they don’t know how much they truly need and put off buying life insurance for fear of making the wrong decision. Truth is – some is better than none. Hopefully by now you’re thinking! We are available to you for the questions and advice you have regarding your life insurance needs and can help you achieve a financially secure future for the people you love.

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to Have a Professional Detail Your Auto

By Chris Martin

1. Prevent Interior Mold, Mildew and Germs

like new condition. Think of detailing as a maintenance program. In most cases, it is less expensive to replace an engine than it is to replace a “factory paint job”!

Air Vents can spread dirt, dust and other allergens to the inside of your vehicle. Not only will an interior detailing prevent this irreversible damage, it will also These tools and products allow them look better. Proper interior detailing can to get better and faster results than ones help prevent dash panels from cracking, interior trim from fading as well as pre- that are offered at your local car parts store. Your vehicle will be cleaned with venting odd smells from accumulating. gentle cleansers, and will be treated by solutions and solvents to help your paint job last for years. For example, clay will be used to remove harmful pollutants from When selling your vehicle you want to the exterior painted surfaces without havmake it look as attractive as possible. A ing to sand or use harsh abrasives. Clay professional will detail it from top to bot- also works great on removing paint overtom and get in every nook and cranny. If spray, tar and road grime, tree sap, water you wait until you are going to sell your spots, and bugs. The experts will know vehicle, it may be too late. There may be how to get to all of the hard to reach plactoo much wear and tear to restore it to a es in your vehicle.

3. Professionals Have Specialty Tools and Products

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

Becoming Banner Health Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Updates

By Karen-Kerr Osman, Director of Community Relations

Casa Grande Regional Medical Center (CGRMC) has served our community for 30 years since August 1984. As a nonprofit community hospital, we partnered with our community to provide the highest quality care, while offering a wide range of services, allowing patients to remain in our community for treatment. Since 2011, the facility struggled financially due in large part to cuts to the state AHCCCS program and the elimination of childless adults from the state’s Medicaid program.

As these uncompensated care costs sky rocketed from $13 million to $26 million and finally to $43 million over a two-year period, we could no longer maintain our independence.

On June 9, 2014, many months of planning and hard work culminated as we officially became Banner Casa Grande Medical Center (BCGMC). Banner Health is a nonprofit health system and its mission is to make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care. This mission is so close to our facility’s former mission that this transition has been seamless in the arena of patient care. We are pleased to continue offering outstanding health care to our community.

On June 16, Banner began a large remodeling project on the front lobby of Banner Casa Grande. This project is scheduled for completion by November 2014 to provide an updated look and infrastructure to support patient registration and the volunteer front desk. Permanent signage is on order and will be installed by the fall of 2014. In addition, the planning progress to integrate clinical systems with Banner Health is underway with an anticipated go-live in November 2014. Future

plans include a renovation of Maternity Services and evaluation of other areas, to provide excellent service and increase the population we serve.

2014 RECOGNITIONS Over the past several years, the hospital has received a number of recognitions that demonstrate its success on both a statewide and national level. Between July 2013 and June 2014, the facility was again recognized as an outstanding company to work for in both health care on the national level and as a top company/most admired company in the state. This third party recognition communicates the strong and positive culture that is evident at BCGMC. In the fall of 2013, CGRMC was selected by Arizona Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ as one of 40 winners for the 2013 Arizona’s Most Admired Companies’ Award for a second year.

CGRMC was selected from over 300 applicants for this prestigious award.

Arizona’s Most Admired Companies are chosen based on workplace culture, leadership excellence, corporate and social responsibility and customer opinion.

This was followed in the spring of 2014 with a national award naming CGRMC as 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare

by Becker’s Hospital Review. The year concluded with the 2014 CareerBuilder Top Company to Work for in Arizona award. This was also the second year in a row for the facility to receive this distinguished award which is based on a combination of overall satisfaction scores from an Employee Engagement Survey and evaluation from an Employer Questionnaire.

QUALITY SERVICE Since 2011, the hospital has been accredited through DNV Healthcare. This accreditation was upgraded in 2014 after our annual survey to the DNV International Accreditation Standard (DIAS), which integrates clinical and patient safety requirements with ISO 9001 Quality Management System principles. In our 2014 DIAS survey we also achieved ISO 9011:2008 certification which provides assurance to our patients and the public of the high standard of safety and quality of service we provide.

Our infection rates continue to be extremely low due to our high rate of hand hygiene compliance which averages at 96.8 percent for the year. Since hand washing is the single best way to prevent infections, this is directly correlated to our low infection rates. Central line-associated bloodstream infections were at 0.384 percent with the state average at 0.615 percent and the national average at 0.522 percent. Our catheter-associated urinary tract infections were at 0.29 percent, which is significantly lower than the state average at 1.258 percent and the national average at 1.160 percent. Finally, our surgical site infection rate for the year was at 0.35 percent which continues to be exceptionally low.

CONCLUSION As we move into an exciting future with Banner Health, BCGMC will continue to distinguish itself in our community and state based on our strong and established foundation of excellence. We are especially pleased to continue offering our community outstanding local care. Together with Banner Health, we will continue to pursue quality care and innovation for our patients.

Summer

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BANNER HEALTH’S INNOVATIVE

CARE IS NOW CLOSER

TO THOSE WHO MATTER MOST.

Casa Grande Regional Medical Center is now Banner Casa Grande Medical Center.

That means your community hospital, already known for providing outstanding care, is now part of a health system nationally known for innovation. We understand that people heal better when surrounded by friends and family. That’s why Banner Health is committed to bringing innovation in intensive care, obstetrics and patient care close to home. We couldn’t be happier to continue serving this community with medical advancements that help save lives and enhance patient satisfaction—right where you need it.

(520) 381-6300 • www.BannerHealth.com/CasaGrande •

/BannerCasaGrande

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Mortgages:

Where do I begin?

By Rudy Benitez, Senior Mortgage Consultant, Gencor Mortgage

W

hen beginning the process of qualifying for a home mortgage, there are several immediate questions that the prospective borrower must address. “Where does my credit stand? How much home will I be able to qualify for with my current debt and income? Do I have sufficient employment history or am I able to qualify on simply my retirement and Social Security?” These are all common and very important questions that will ultimately be answered with your mortgage banker once the loan pre-approval process progresses. This information will also help determine which type of loan program best aligns with your current and long-term housing goals.

As a local mortgage banker here in Casa Grande, AZ. since 2005, I have seen many loan programs come and go. There are always new niche’ loan products that hit the market in order to entice new buyers or to hopefully open the doors for other potential buyers who may have credit or income issues. There are several dozen loan options available so where do you begin?

I want to provide you with a basic overview of the four most prominently used loan programs available (Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA) to allow you some general insight of what they entail and better prepare you for mortgage qualifying. This will assist you in answering the ultimate question …“What loan is right for me and my family.”

Beginning with the most widely-used loan option, Conventional Financing (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) allows for buyers looking to purchase primary, secondary, and investment properties. The potential minimum down payment is 5% for primary, 10% for secondary, and 20% for investment purchases. The credit scores with most lenders need to be above 620 with total debt being under 43% of your total income (i.e. income $1000/month, total debt is $430/month=43% debt-to-income). Conventional lending guidelines are the most stringent when it comes to qualifying after a foreclosure or bankruptcy, or if you credit history is “young” and not well established. However, it does not require that you qualify with your spouse’s credit debt, like the majority of other loan programs do. For example, if your spouse has had a foreclosure and has tremendous credit card debt, this could prohibit you from mortgage qualifying with other loan types. However, as noted, Conventional does not require spousal debt to be reviewed so it allows for leniency if one spouse can qualify solely on his/her income. In addition, the mortgage insurance required (if less than 20% down is placed) in often less than the next most commonly used loan program, FHA, and can be removed once substantial equity is achieved.

FHA (Federal Housing Admin.) loans have long been the stable for many years for those buyers looking for a minimal down payment, great low rates, and the need for more lenient credit guidelines. The potential minimum down payment is 3.5% and this loan is primarily geared towards buyers purchasing only a primary residence. Credit can be as low as 580 with debt being as high as 55% of your total income. If your credit has some obstacles (i.e. medical collections, late payments, minimal credit history), this is often the loan that is used for qualifying for these items may not necessarily prevent you from moving forward. The waiting period for qualifying for a mortgage after say a foreclosure, is as little as twelve months with the government’s FHA “Back to Work Program” where with Conventional, you may have to wait as much a seven years, depending on the lender. With FHA, spousal debt

must be used, contrary to Conventional. What this means simply is if you are married and your spouse does not possess adequate credit history to qualify, his/her debt must still be applied towards your debt and only your income can be used. The mortgage insurance is higher on FHA loans (1.35% of loan amount) than on most other lending options and remains on the loan until loan balance is paid in full.

VA (Veteran Affairs) is the designed for our valued veterans and family. The VA loan minimum down payment is 0% and allows for credit as low as 620 with debt approaching 50%. The veteran is required to provide a copy of their DD214 form and ensure the VA Certificate of Eligibility is available for use. This loan, much like FHA, is designed for primary residences and you are allowed to have multiple VA loans open simultaneously if your VA eligibility permits. Spousal credit does come into play within this program and VA does frown upon open collections received within the past twelve months. However, if credit is not well established and minimal late payments appear on credit, VA may still remain a viable route for financing. In addition, this loan does not carry mortgage insurance which is a major benefit to our veteran home buyers.

USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) is another 0% down loan program for buyers purchasing primary residences. Credit can be as low as 620 with debt approaching 47%. This program is very similar to FHA in that the rates are very low, credit guidelines are not as harsh when compared to Conventional, spousal debt must be included and mortgage insurance (.40% of loan amount) remains on the loan until paid in full. In most cases, you are not permitted to own any other habitable property, and there are total household income limits that do apply depending on the number of dependents within the household. A major advantage of this loan is a portion/all of buyer closing costs are permitted to be rolled into the loan amount if the initial appraised value comes in higher than the agreed upon purchase price. Please note, many areas of Pinal County will no longer be eligible for financing beyond September 30th, 2014 unless legislation takes place prior to the expiration date.

Making the right loan choice isn’t easy and there are obviously plenty of loans to choose from. As with any major housing decision, doing your research and selecting the right professional mortgage support team can make the difference. I sincerely hope this information has been of benefit to you and will assist you in navigating your way through the process. Please feel free to contact me or stop by and I will be delighted to become your valued partner. Enjoy your summer and happy home hunting!

211 NORTH FLORENCE ST. STE #102-103 CASA GRANDE, AZ 85122 WEBSITE: WWW.RUDYLOANS.COM EMAIL: RBENITEZ@GENCORMORTGAGE.COM COMPANY LICENSES NATIONAL - 478688 STATE – 0918451

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Contact: Roy Pittullo 520-251-0349 or Vernon Barnes 520-705-0196 Reata Land – Roy Pittullo, Designated Broker

Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

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The responsibility is Yours and Mine

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Success for Every One

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Since 2010, The Rodel Foundation has recognized four current Casa Grande Elementary principals as Arizona Exemplary Principals. This is more than any other school district in Arizona!

The choice for families in Casa Grande

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esearch consistently shows a positive relationship between the effectiveness of school leaders and student achievement. Therefore, under the guidance and direction of Dr. Frank Davidson, Casa Grande Elementary School District Superintendent, leadership development has been made a top priority and the results have been positive. “We’ve known for a long time that good leaders make a tremendous difference for schools and students,” said Dr. Davidson. “We also know that effective schools and districts need to develop their own leaders from within the organization.” As a result, the District has developed a plan to train and support current and future educational leaders. Since 2008, the District has offered the Leadership Academy to teachers and staff members who are interested in learning about school leadership. Led by Villago principal Jeff Lavender, the Academy focuses on helping aspiring school leaders learn about how to effectively lead a school. Members of the Leadership Academy discuss a wide variety of issues ranging from school budgets to strategies to increase student achievement. So far, the results have been extremely positive. Close to 20 current Casa Grande Elementary principals, assistant principals, and teachers on assignment have completed the Leadership Academy. The District has received state-wide attention and recognition for its efforts as well. Annually, the Rodel Foundation identifies a small number of principals throughout Arizona that have demonstrated effective leadership and a positive impact on student achievement. Since 2010, four current District principals have been recognized by the Rodel Foundation as Exemplary Principals. This is more than any other school district in the state of Arizona.

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Casa Grande Elementary Schools Leading the Way!

Casa Grande Elementary School District is

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Did You Know?

• Casa Grande Elementary has more A+ Schools and A+ Programs than any other school district in Pinal County • The District has a proven, rigorous instructional program built upon “Success for Every One”

Visit Your Child’s School Today!

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

WWW.CGELEM.K12.AZ.US

520.836.2111

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

Manufacturing Engineering Program Prepares Graduates For Jobs In Automation Industry

By Angela Askey, Director of Marketing

With the variety of certificate and degree options offered through Central Arizona College’s manufacturing program, students can choose the training to best meet their educational goals and needs, including online training. Certificates offered include; Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Labview Programming, and Manufacturing Electronics. Two associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degrees are also offered: Manufacturing Engineering and Nanofabrication Technology.

Within the 18 credit FPGA certificate, students receive training on FPGA fundamentals, embedded fundamentals and MircoBlaze processor applications, while the 16 credit LabVIEW Certificate provides the basis for entry level careers in LabView programming. Once a student completes the LabVIEW certificate and the certification test through National Instruments, they are employable.

The Manufacturing Electronics Certificate (32 credits) provides the basis for an entry-level career as a technician in electronics, manufacturing and service-maintenance. This certificate can also be utilized by those currently employed to upgrade their skills.

The Manufacturing Engineering A.A.S. Degree was developed in cooperation with local automated manufacturing industries.

Throughout their program of study, students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for employment as an entry-level technician in electronics, maintenance, and other related manufacturing fields. They may choose to specialize in

automated manufacturing, semiconductor, or both, providing them with experience in programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

Similar to the manufacturing certificate option, those presently employed in the industry can enroll in the AAS degree to upgrade their skills.

The Nanofabrication Technology Degree program offers students the opportunity to enter the exciting world of Nanotechnology and opens the doors to potential careers in the fields of bio-technology, biopharmaceuticals, material science labs, and chemical or electronic technology among others.

Professor Pete Lomeli explains, “In place of a textbook, students purchase their own industry standard lab equipment, they build their own trainers and then use these throughout their courses.” He added, “The key topics we cover include PLCs, DeviceNet, Frequency Drives, HART Communicator and Control Logix. Students are prepared for any automation industry job.”

The manufacturing program currently partners with several industries including Daisy, Frito Lay, Abbott and Hexal to ensure the current methodologies and processes are being taught. As new industry arrives in Pinal County, the college’s partnerships are bound to expand.

Campuses: To learn more about CAC’s manufacturing program, speak with SignalatPeak Campus an academic advisor one Campus of the five campusAravaipa locations, online at www.centralaz.edu or by phone, (520) 494-5444.

Professor Lomeli 8470 N. Overfield Rd. 80440 E. Aravaipa Rd. can be contacted directly by calling (520) 494-5317.

Preparing Today’s Students to be Tomorrow’s Leaders

Educational, Cultural and Coolidge, AZ 85128

Winkelman, AZ 85192

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Casa Grande Center 1015 E. Florence Blvd.

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Centers:

Preparing Today’s Students to be Tomorrow’s Leaders

Educational, Cultural and Personal Growth Opportunities Campuses: Signal Peak Campus 8470 N. Overfield Rd. Coolidge, AZ 85128

Aravaipa Campus 80440 E. Aravaipa Rd. Winkelman, AZ 85192

Maricopa Campus 17945 N. Regent Dr. Maricopa, AZ 85138

San Tan Campus 3736 E. Bella Vista Rd. San Tan Valley, AZ 85143

Casa Grande Center 1015 E. Florence Blvd.

Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Corporate Center 540 N Camino Mercado Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Florence Center 800 E Butte Ave. Florence, AZ 85132

www.centralaz.edu

Centers:

Superstition Mountain Campus 805 S. Idaho Rd. Apache Junction, AZ 85119

Summer

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! e p p e J t e e M Host an Exchange

He is from Denmark and is an exchange student who will be attending Vista Grande High School for the 20142015 school year. We at ROX! Magazine met with him after being in Casa Grande for just 24 hours – fresh off the plane!

Student this year!

Open Your Home

Across the US, families are welcoming talentedmand motivated mm...

M

high school students into their homes this Fall.

Taste of come FirstStudents

eer Root-Bfor from over 60 countries and share your enthusiasm education, personal growth, and cultural exchange.

Make a Difference If your family enjoys exploring new cultures and nurturing youth, please contact us to request more information about this amazing opportunity to share your life with a special young person and to learn how you can make a difference.

To Learn More, Contact Charlotte Loomer

Host an Exchange Student this year!

Open Your Home Across the US, families are welcoming talented and motivated high school students into their homes this Fall. Students come from over 60 countries and share your enthusiasm for education, personal growth, and cultural exchange.

Make a Difference If your family enjoys exploring new cultures and nurturing youth, please contact us to request more information about this amazing opportunity to share your life with a special young person and to learn how you can make a difference.

To Learn More, Contact Charlotte Loomer cloomer@ayusa.org | 480.529.9933 | www.ayusa.org

ROX! cloomer@ayusa.org MAGAZINE: Hi Jeppe!

What is your first impression of | 480.529.9933 | www.ayusa.org Arizona?

JEPPE: I love the hot weather and the climate of Arizona. It is the opposite of Denmark which will give me a whole new experience. Everyone I have met has been nice to me and helpful. It is for sure a good first time impression.

ROX! MAGAZINE: What do you hope to accomplish in this coming school year?

JEPPE: I hope to improve my English, and hopefully get lifelong relationships. Furthermore I am going to have Spanish in college when I get back to Denmark, so I hope it will be possible to pick the subject in Vista Grande High School.

ROX! MAGAZINE: What do you think of the food here? Is it much different than Denmark?

JEPPE: I like the food in the US, even the burgers from McDonalds taste different than Denmark in a positive way. There are a lot more food chains than in Denmark and I really want to try them all. I have not tried to eat from a restaurant in the US yet.

ROX! MAGAZINE: What sports do you want to get involved with? What are the sports in your home country?

JEPPE: I want to get involved with soccer, golf and baseball. I love playing different types of sports and golf and baseball are new to me. It is possible to play golf and baseball in Denmark but it is not that popular. The most common sports in Denmark are soccer, handball and swimming. I play badminton myself four times a week, and sometimes tournaments on the weekends.

ROX! MAGAZINE: What is the biggest difference that you have noticed so far in America compared to Denmark?

JEPPE: Everything in USA is a lot bigger and cheaper than in Denmark. All the people I have met so far have been very helpful and happy, in another way than in Denmark.

ROX! MAGAZINE: What are you long-term plans after high school?

JEPPE: After the year in USA, I have planned to go to college, and study to become a physiotherapist. I am not sure about which specialty I should work with yet.

ROX! MAGAZINE: What do you hope to see while you are here in the US? JEPPE: I want to see and experience as much as possible. I hope to see a lot of attractions as well as new cultures and a new way of living. I hope to experience as many American traditions as possible.

ROX! MAGAZINE: Thank you very much, Jeppe! Have a great first day of school at Vista Grande!

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Dr. Tyson Davis, D.D.S. & Staff Dr. Tyson A. Davis grew up in Mesa, Arizona and graduated from Mesa High School. After high school he attended Arizona State University for a semester, and then served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Venezuela, where he learned to speak fluent Spanish. Upon returning from Venezuela, he continued his education at Brigham Young University where he studied Physiology and Developmental Biology. Dr. Tyson Davis studied dentistry at one of the top dental schools in the country; University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in beautiful San Francisco. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery and graduated with honors for academic excellence.

While attending BYU, he met his wife Courtney and they married before the start of dental school. They now have two beautiful children, Colter (6) and Adalyn (2). Dr. Davis finds the most joy in spending time with his family. He also enjoys watching and playing all sports, especially golf, riding quads and motorcycles, and simply being outdoors.

Dr. Davis has been at Agave Dentistry for about four and a half years. Agave Dentistry is a general family dental office and they see patients ranging in age from young children to adults. They do cleanings, whitening, fillings, implants, dentures, root canals, and any other dental service you need. They understand how painful a toothache can be, and do all they can to make time to see people with emergencies. They realize that going to the dentist can be scary, but they have a lot of experience helping uneasy patients feel more comfortable in the dental chair. Dr. Davis’ favorite part about his job is interacting with patients. He genuinely loves talking to and being around people. The most rewarding part of his job is seeing people more confident with their smiles before they leave the office. Call the office to see how you can get free whitening for life as a patient of Agave Dentistry.

Dr. Davis has a wonderful staff who have a collective total of over 100 years combined dental experience. His staff members are hardworking and excellent at keeping a positive work environment.

They are friendly and kind, and go above and beyond to put their patients first and make sure they are comfortable. We would like Staff Photo: Juli, Sindy, MacKenzie, Dr. Davis, Monica, Melanie, Maria

Dr. Tyson Davis & wife Courtney

to introduce you to a couple of our fabulous staff members: Melanie is a member of our wonderful front office staff and started working for Agave Dentistry in 2008 when the practice opened, bringing over 20 years of dental experience with her. She says, “It has been such an awesome experience watching the practice grow and seeing the patients get the care they need! We have such a great staff and really enjoy working together. I’m sure Agave Dentistry has a bright future in Casa Grande…can’t wait to watch it happen!”

Monica also works in our front office. She has been married to her best friend for 6 years and they have three great kids. She has lived in Casa Grande since 1988, but never called Casa Grande home until she had to briefly move away for a few years. Monica says moving away made her quickly realize that Casa Grande is a great city and she truly missed it. They moved back in January 2013 and she started working for Agave in late February 2013. Monica says, “I had no dental office experience until then, but I love every aspect of my job. I personally think we have the best patients and knowing we are helping them with the oral care they need gives me peace of mind that I am doing my little part to make this world a better, happier place.”

Agave Dentistry is currently accepting new patients. Call us today at (520) 876-9955.

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520-876-9955 Tyson A. Davis D.D.S

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2028 N. Trekell Rd #107 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

WWW.AGAVEDENTISTRY.COM

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR SPECIALS & GIVEAWAYS

n I n O Come

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By Bea Lueck

As a young child, David Schlagel watched his father renovate and flip properties – renovation was then his babysitter. Now as an adult and real estate agent with Coldwell Banker ROX Realty, it is his therapy and meditation.

Earlier this year, Dave acquired the church property located at the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Cameron, just a few blocks east of downtown Casa Grande. The building, built in 1948, was originally the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and last served as the Christian Science Society.

Dave had always wanted to flip a church, when he found this one on the Multiple Listing Service, he jumped at the opportunity to buy it. Normally working with a group of friends and family to renovate properties, Dave talked for several days about the potential the church held. When talking to Rock Earle, his friend and owner of Coldwell Banker ROX Realty, Earle expressed that he was definitely on board with the project of renovation, espe-

cially if it wasn’t his money in the project. Ideas and suggestions always are plentiful if your cash isn’t involved.

While television shows and how-to books make “flipping” sound glamorous and a way to make BIG MONEY, flipping for big bucks is a misnomer a majority of the time. If you walk away from a project with $10-15,000, you are doing pretty well. Many times renovation costs can equal that of the initial purchase investment.

Over-improving the property, long hold times and unexpected repairs quickly eat into budgets and can mean the difference between making money and just exchanging cash. Losing money is a HUGE risk if you aren’t careful! One thing that does happen, however, neighboring properties benefit from increased curb appeal and renovated values, especially if the property in question is run down or in need of attention.

At only twenty-four feet wide and 50 feet long, Dave saw great potential for a small congregation.

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The building was a composition of good bones and outdated decor. With rust colored carpet, bland white walls, cracked stucco on one side and exposed overhead beams, original windows and dark wood wainscoting on the other, Schlagel wanted to incorporate beautiful wood and dark colors.

He has worked on the church almost daily since the June purchase to get it where it is today, replacing the doors, rebuilding two large closets (to hold tables and chairs for receptions), painted the walls with an inviting tan color, installed cherry wood flooring to compliment the wainscoting and installed multiple brown ceiling cans to blend with the dĂŠcor.

With the help of Bernardo Zuniga and a friend, the exterior of the church has been pressure washed and sealed to ensure the new exterior paint in an Adobe Brown would be pristine in appearance. Dave’s father, Donald, is bringing the new glass door and side windows down from Colorado.

In addition to the church, the parish hall will eventually be renovated, depending on the needs of the new congregation. For now, it is still original. Dave plans to lease or sell the church and parish hall to a small congregation. If you would like more information, you can contact Dave at 520-280-9049

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28th Annual

Taste of Casa Grande

an hour later she appeared at the shelter gate with her two children. The staff member who took the call introduced herself and the young lady “K” began to cry saying she was embarrassed. After she calmed down, they talked about her situation. She did not have time to get her work uniform or kid’s school uniforms out of the house when she left. She was also concerned because her in-law used to babysit the children and she was sure that assistance would no longer be available. Staff helped her organize what she needed to do, which started by calling her place of employment and asking for the next day off to take care of things. AAI assisted her with an order of protection and police escort to get her belongings out of the home. She then applied for alternative housing resources. AAI gave her childcare, transportation assistance and counseling. Her children finished school, she applied for and received more hours at work, and she was eventually approved to enter a transitional living program. o-gooder foodies have some place to be on October 19, Possibly the most exciting thing about “K” is that she took all 2014 between 1:00-4:00 p.m. - and that is at Eva’s Fine of her counseling sessions and group lessons very seriously Mexican Food for the 28th Annual Taste of Casa Grande! and she became a peer mentor for other women coming out For 28 years, restaurants, concerned community members, of abusive situations!

Each dollar contributed and the general public have goes a long way toward come together to enjoy great helping people in crisis regain food, good drink, and generous hope, a sense of meaning and company – all while benefiting purpose to re-establish their Pinal County’s own Against lives. For example $5 pays for Abuse, Inc. (AAI). It is a big party prescriptions, $10 helps get for an important cause – and we copies of birth certifcates/ID’s hope you will come out to sample for housing, $20 can purchase all of the wonderful cuisine that work/school clothing or non-slip is situated right here in our own shoes needed for employment, backyard! $50 helps with transportation/ Founded in 1981, Against relocation costs, etc.

Abuse, Inc. is one of Arizona’s Never forgotten are the most well-respected domestic innocent child victims in AAI violence agencies. As a 501(c)3 services. To meet their needs, non-profit, we serve victims of AAI has developed programming domestic violence and child Photos by Steven King/Casa Grande Dispatch abuse through shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, education, for children who have witnessed violence or suffered case management and a myriad of constantly evolving abuse themselves and we also teach teens about healthy services designed to help victims become self-sufficient. AAI relationships. funds its programs through a combination of federal, state and You may support Against Abuse, Inc. by attending the corporate grants, as well as community events and individual 28th Annual Taste of Casa Grande on October 19th at giving. Like many small non-profits, each year AAI pieces Eva’s Fine Mexican Food located at 2033 N. Pinal Ave together funding for staff salaries and program materials in in Casa Grande. You will have a great time and be able order to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve. to sample various hors d’oeuvres, amazing entrees, Here are a couple of examples of the impact of services for scrumptious desserts and beverages from over 25 local women and children: restaurants! You will be astounded by the variety and 1) Eight year old “Johnny” returned to the shelter with QUANTITY of food donated by local eateries. Entry his mother after a nine month absence. His mother had several tickets are $40 and all proceeds benefit AAI and the broken bones in her face and ribs, but it was little “Johnny” who victims we serve. remembered what he had learned in the children’s education The Taste is also well known for its beautifully presented group: When his mommy was getting hurt again he didn’t raffle baskets and imaginative door prizes! Raffle tickets waste any time - he ran to the next door neighbor’s house and are available for purchase on-site. Please visit the AAI had her call 911. He was SO proud of himself! website under “Events” to purchase entry tickets (www.

2) We recently took a crisis call from a young lady who against-abuse.org). Sponsorship opportunities and other was crying and upset. Staff could hear her husband yelling questions can be directed to Pat Griffen, Executive and cursing her in the background. When asked if she wanted Director. 520.836.1239 x 12. us to call 911 she said ‘yes’ and whispered the address. About

D

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f o e t s “Ta ” e d n a r G a s Ca 28th Annual

Sunday, October 19, 2014 1:00-4:00pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE

BY CALLING 520.836.1239 $40 per ticket, limited number available and will sell out quickly!

SPONSORED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF OF AGAINST ABUSE, INC.

2033 N PINAL AVE CASA GRANDE, AZ 85122

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So you want to be a...

Landlord??

By Colleen Gunderson, Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

The word “Manager” brings to mind some of thoughts; First-Class, Top-Quality, Expert, and Excellence. But according to an interesting blog post I read, by Infolio director, Lauren Staley titled “the average life span of a property manager” the average time a property manager will stay in a job is nine months.

When I read it for myself, I didn’t want to believe it. From time to time I have experienced it in my own companies, and unless the management company’s portfolio is so small that one person is the bookkeeper, REALTOR, agent, repair and maintenance coordinator, turn over seems to be inevitable.

That got us at CB ROX Realty thinking about what it is that really sets us apart from many competitors, so when you do your final analysis here are a few points that our clients have said made the difference for them. We hope these will help you as well.

• If the Management Company’s fees are lower than gen-

manager is using the latest software program, how can you ac-

erally most all others….beware! This usually is due to other

cess your statements, receipts or see your ledger and owner

“income streams” created by running an in house repair busi-

reserves? Is it via email OR can you log into a secured portal

ness that ultimately might not be the best pricing or the best

site? We are currently using a program called “Propertyware”, it

workmanship. Or perhaps mark ups on repairs or trip charges,

has robust functionality. Payments are directly deposited, and

vague language in the agreement leaves it open to up charge.

soon we will have the ability to accept online payments from all

• Many of our clients discovered too late that “in house re-

parties.

pairs” generally translate to higher costs, and maybe less qual-

• Lastly, let’s talk about the “elephant in the room” and that

ity in workmanship. Our Vendors are not related to us, and

is the experience required to make things work for you as an

we do make them compete with each other for best pricing

owner, as well as the tenant. Experience includes guidelines,

while still providing a quality“workmanship” like result. Not all

policies, and supervision by the Broker. Owners, and the ten-

repairs are required to be done by licensed contractors based

ants should always have a clear picture of what is realistically

on the total cost of the repair and materials, but MANY ARE!

the responsibility of the Management Company, in addition to a

We follow the Arizona Registrar of Contractor’s laws regarding

full and fair understanding of their independent responsibilities

these matters.

to each other. We use the Arizona Landlord Tenant Act as the

• Lack of communication or understanding seems to be another issue for people changing companies. Find out if your

guide for all policies and then complement that with the best practices our years of experience has taught us.

If you need more information or resources regarding property management or wish to find out about the market of rental value on your home we will gladly give you the resources, no charge and no obligation.

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BATTERY & BULB

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Watch Battery & Installation

Limit 2. Reg. price $8.99.

Some makes, models and styles may be excluded.

Offer valid on in-stock products at participating locations.

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No cash value. See store for complete details. Expires 7.31.14. NP001

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Over 45,000 batteries, light bulbs & related products

3.00

Rebate on Duracell® Procell® A Shape LED Light Bulbs

Limit 15. Save $3 by Mail-In-Rebate per bulb.

Offer valid on in-stock products at participating locations. Not valid with other offers or business pricing.

Some exclusions may apply. Not valid for online purchases.

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520-421-1111

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Mon-Fri 8 - 8, Sat 8 - 7, Sun 10 - 5 For additional savings visit batteriesplus.com ©

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2014 DURACELL, a division of the Gillette Company, Bethel, CT 06801. DURACELL is a registered trademark of the Gillette Company, used under license. All rights reserved. All registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Beauty At Its Best Micropen with PRP - $200 (save $100)

Collagen induction therapy with platelet rich plasma=anti-aging at its best.

Want to see how the Hollywood stars stay young looking, here’s the secret.

This treatment is for wrinkle reduction, texture, tone improvement and softer younger looking skin.

Permanent Cosmetics $50 Off

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MicroVenom Facial - $80 (save $45)

Don’t worry, we won’t have a snake bite you. Instead we’ll use the synthetic venom of a snake in a muscle relaxation facial. Smooth fine lines, expression lines and wrinkles. Intense hydration using stem cells and peptides for this perfect anti-aging treatment.

Facial Fillers and Xeomin

Buy 1 syringe of Radiesse or Belotero filler and get 20 units of Xeomin free plus $50 reward Visa card or buy 20 units of Xeomin and get 10 units free plus $50 reward card (while supplies last).

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DAYBREAK at BENSCH RANCH All country. No clubs Custom 1/2 to 1 acre Homesites

As a resident of Daybreak, you may build a custom home on one of our spectacular lot settings.

In keeping with tradition, the architectural style will reflect the heritage and character of ranch life in Arizona´s high country. It´s the West as you've always imagined it.

J OA N N A L E S S I O

R E A LT O R ®

Great View Realty, LLC

O F F I C E : ( 9 2 8 ) 6 3 2 - 410 0 CELL: (928) 899-5630 12 0 0 0 E H I G H WAY 6 9 , M AY E R , A Z 8 6 3 3 3

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FREE CONSUMER SEMINAR!

Overcoming Diabetes & Borderline Diabetes Wednesday-July 16th—6:00-7:30pm SIRCLE® Wellness Classroom 820 W. Cottonwood Lane, Suite #6 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

PLEASE, RSVP BY CALLING

(520)509-6380 About a third of Americans and counting suffer from borderline or full-blown diabetes. So it is with obesity, CVD, neuropathies, renal failure, stroke and cancer, much of which arise out of the same underlying public health trends.

That is, unless enough people wake up and become deeply concerned about what is causing this growing pandemic. Despite the fact that underlying causes are multifactorial and complex, an emerging body of research shows that up to 90% of cases can be turned around.

Trends driving most diabetes today:



A genetically modified, irradiated, de-germinated, synthetically fortified, over-processed, micronutrient starved, microwaved diet.



A five-to-six-fold per capita increase in intake of caffeine, GMO high fructose & added sugar, and toxic artificial sweeteners since 1980.



An increasingly sedentary lifestyle; Physical Education nearly abandoned by the public schools.



Most diabetic and other medications contribute to or actually cause cause worsening diabetes and weight gain.



Many diabetes cases today are actually pancreatitis, developing kidney disease, septic dental problems, and/or medication side-effects.

“...But what can be done about it?”

“To find out,” said our instructor, Max Stanley Chartrand, Ph.D. (Behavioral Medicine), “you and your loved ones will want to call today and register for this unique, exciting consumer-oriented seminar.

The cost is nothing, but the information is priceless.”

Our instructor is a professor of Behavioral Medicine, chair of doctoral research committees, and a widely published author. He lectures worldwide on vital topics relative to health care.

“It is time the public wakes up and reverses the everyday and seemingly benign practices that have lowered quality of life for so many individuals and families. Diabetes type 2 just happens to be the single largest driver behind most other chronic disease, costing Americans nearly a trillion dollars a year. So unnecessary, so avoidable.” *Note: Information provided in this seminar is for educational purposes only and not to be construed as medical treatment or diagnosis for any individual’s specific health condition.

THE DIABETES CASCADE Cardio Vascular Disease

Acid Reflux Pancreatitis

Hyperinsulinemia =Weight Gain Diabetes

Mellitus Type 2

Neuropathy CO2 Stroke Cancer

Renal Failure

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Meet the Coldwell Banker ROX REALTY Agents Cathy Taylor

Brett Eisele

Bea Lueck

Annalisa Tapia

Colleen Gunderson

Connie Rush

Cynthia Perry

Dawn Zimbelman

Dave Streicher

David Schlagel

Dennis Callahan

Donna Anderson

Doreen Riley

Elaine Canary

Georgia Schaeffer

Gretchen Slaughter

Jim Beck

Joyce South

Kay Kerby

Keith LaVoo

Linda Pixler

Rock Earle

Robin Armenta

Sandy Wascher

Sarah Campbell

Sherry Balentine

Sue Pittullo

1919 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande

520-423-8250

Each office is independently owned and operated.

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Planting

Seeds of Hope

By Terri Durham

Since 1992

If you were around Casa Grande twenty years ago, you’d know a lot has changed since then. But one thing that’s stayed the same is Seeds of Hope’s commitment to promoting opportunities to improve lives through relationship and community development. It was 1992 when the First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande, led by Pastor Rick Lemberg, appointed a steering committee to begin developing a ministry to reach out to the poor. The name Seeds of Hope was adopted and the first Executive Director, David Brubaker, was hired. David met regularly with area pastors, social services, and government leaders to plan programs for the “felt needs” of our community.

Those meetings led to the creation of the Hot Lunch Program in 1993. It was the first program of Seeds of Hope and 21 years later still serves a free hot meal six days a week to the homeless and less fortunate. Last year we served over 9,200 meals.

The After School Program for school-aged children began in 1994 as a result of another felt need. The concern for children living in a drug ravaged environment united police, neighborhood watch, and Seeds of Hope.

The After School Program first met in a former drug house near Cottonwood Elementary School. After a few years, the program relocated to the west side of Pinal Ave. in a rented 3 bedroom 1,000 sq. foot house. Finally in November 2012, the program moved to its permanent home in our 4,300 sq. ft. Mondo Anaya Community Center in Albert Cruz Park where it operates year round.

Additional programs have been started over the course of our 21 year existence.

Those still providing services in our community include Peer Leadership (1997), Community Garden Above: 1) After School Program 1994. 2) After School Program 2012 (1998), Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (2006), Stanfield Medical Clinic (2009), and Adult ESL (2012).

Today, the Board of Directors has expanded to 10 members, and is a cross-section of our community with many faiths and business backgrounds represented. A full-time Executive Director and three-part time Coordinators keep every program running smoothly.

Above: (Left) Community Garden 1998 (Right) Community Garden 2012

Above: Grandparents Raising Children (2007).

Below: 1) Hot Lunch Program 2000, 2) Hot Lunch Program 2005

Over 4,400 hours of volunteer time was given to our various programs in 2013, indicating volunteers are our most valuable asset.

Seeds of Hope measures success by lives changed for the better, and we couldn’t do it without the financial support of local donors. In 2013 just 21% of our total income was from grants.

The other 79% income came from our community; individuals, families, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and schools.

The future is bright for Seeds of Hope! We will continue to promote opportunities for individuals to make pro-social changes to better their lives and those around them. You can stay up-to-date on our activity by visiting our webpage at www.seedsofhopeaz. com.

Above: Permanent After School Program location 2014

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Serving the Lord & the Community!

By Carolyn Ellzey, Women’s Ministry Coordinator & Dr. Philip W. Calvert, Senior Pastor

T

he people of Trinity are passionate about serving the Lord and serving our community. We have a range of ministries for the entire family, including preschool, children, youth, college and career, young adults, young couples with children, median adult, and senior adult ministries. We also serve the Lord in other ways, including supporting missionaries and ministries around the world in places like Ecuador and Ghana.

We also offer dynamic worship services, as well as small group fellowship and outreach, grief, caregiver, multicultural, men’s and women’s ministries, as well as a ministry to homeschool families.

Who are the Women of Trinity? Trinity has a diverse group of women of all ages, life stages, and backgrounds.

Our women include active and retired farmers, homemakers, lawyers, teachers, homeschoolers, small business owners, missionaries, artists, CEOs, CFOs, students, and more. Our women’s ministry offers the opportunity for all women to serve others, to have fellowship, to be discipled, and to glorify God. In addition to participating in the many ministries of the church, the Women’s Ministry offers activities including ladies’ Bible Study groups, Ladies’ Breakfasts and Teas, retreats and conferences, hiking, and other outings. Our last Ladies’ Tea in May featured guest speaker Diana Johnson - mother, school teacher, and wife of the Executive Director of the Arizona Southern Baptist convention. In September our women will be participating in a retreat in Prescott. We invite you to join us for the fun!

For more information about our church, our services and our ministries, as well as our many events and activities, please call or visit us in person or online: Trinity Southern Baptist Church 1100 E. Trinity Place Casa Grande, Arizona 85122 520-836-2383 www.trinitycg.org

Picacho Peak hike – a great time of mutigenerational fellowship

Regular Sunday Schedule: First Morning Worship Service 8:00 am to 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am to 10:30 am Second Morning Worship Service 10:45 am to 12:00 pm Discipleship Training, Youth Ensemble for 6th grade to 12th grade 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Sunday Night Seminary, Kids Choir for 4-year olds to 5th Grade, Youth Group 6th grade to 12th grade 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday Prayer Warriors 6 pm to 7 pm

Canyon Lake drive and lunch – a time of fellowship and praise for God’s creation

Ladies’ Tea - having fun in discipleship

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Sun Life Family Health Center

By Lindsey Gemme | Community Relations Coordinator, Sun Life Family Health Center, Inc.

CASA GRANDE - If there is one way that Sun Life Family Health Center (Sun Life) likes to lead, it’s in healthcare excellence.

Sun Life is Pinal County’s largest primary healthcare provider. The nonprofit organization is committed to providing both the insured and uninsured with access to quality and price-conscious services.

There are currently no other healthcare providers in this county serve both of those populations equally.

Sun Life’s History In 1976, a healthcare practice called West Pinal Family Health Center opened its doors as a basic clinic operating out of a trailer in western Casa Grande. It functioned as part of the Arizona Job College program, which provided job skill training services to seasonal migrant farm workers. The Center saw nearly 12,000 patient visits annually with only one full-time and one part-time healthcare provider on staff.

The Center then moved into a more permanent space the next year with three full-time and three part-time physicians, in order to serve not just migrant workers, but the entire Casa Grande (and beyond!) population. And from there, the nonprofit organization blossomed. Dental and women’s health services were introduced in 1978, and satellite sites began to sprout in neighboring communities like Maricopa, Eloy, and Coolidge.

And in 1996, the Center underwent some big changes and rebranded, thus changing its name to Sun Life Family Health Center. Along with its new name, the organization also moved into a newly constructed building on Arizola Road in order to serve the growing Casa Grande population, both insured and uninsured.

The facility still stands today as Sun Life’s headquarters, while being the organization’s largest family practice service locations, along with dental and pharmacy.

Since their humble beginnings of

FAMILY PRACTICE

providing healthcare in Pinal County in the 1970s, the Sun Life nonprofit organization has brought many much-needed services to the area, as well as expanded to a total of nine facilities across the county, along with a mobile dental van. The organization staffs over 36 medical providers and helps patients to manage their health by providing almost 130,000 patient visits a year Sun Life now offers doctor visits, pre-natal and pediatric care, women’s wellness, diabetes classes, integrated behavioral health, as well as dental cleanings, treatments, and orthodontics.

What Makes Sun Life a Leader In addition to meeting community health needs with comprehensive medical services in Pinal County, Sun Life also keeps in step with convenience in healthcare treatment.

For one, Sun Life’s services have been likened to being a “one-stop-shop,” with several sites providing on-site pharmacy fillings, lab and blood work, and integrated

FAMILY DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS Quality, Affordable care

Quality, Affordable care for Everyone!

Accepting New PatientS Hablamos Español

for Everyone!

Accepting New PatientS Hablamos Español

Same Day Appointments Based on Availability

We accept most insurances.

We accept most insurances.

On-site application assistance with AHCCCS, Healthcare.gov and Sun Life’s discount programs.

520-836-3446

865 N. ARIZOLA RD., CASA GRANDE

On-site application assistance with AHCCCS, Healthcare.gov and Sun Life’s discount programs.

520-381-0381

865 N. ARIZOLA RD., CASA GRANDE

Summer

behavioral health. These assist patients in making health treatments easier habits to adopt.

Sun Life is also dedicated to training in the next generation of healthcare workers by acting as a clinical education resource. Sun Life provides opportunities for students with majors related to medical or healthcare careers, including dental, to serve in interdisciplinary primary healthcare teams at area community health centers. High school students training in healthcare-related programs through Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) have shadowed, trained, and later hired on as new staff at several of Sun Life’s area centers. And helping to educate the next generation starts as early as childhood. Sun Life was the first medical practice in Pinal County to participate in the nationally acclaimed Reach Out and Read program, where doctors give babies and toddlers free books at well-child visits to encouraged readership and literacy.

Quality healthcare are not only words in the organization’s mission statement, but a real everyday effort throughout the organization.

Sun Life is accredited by the Joint Commission, which is completely voluntary. Being accredited by the Joint Commission means that Sun Life adheres to the Commission’s mission, which is “to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public.”

“Quality care,” Sun Life’s CEO Travis Robinette says, “is the right thing to do for our patients and staff.”

Sun Life has also recently achieved the highest level of recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for

its companywide, patient-centered healthcare approach. Sun Life adopted this model called the Patient Centered Medical Home about two years ago as a way to improve quality care to patients in Pinal County. Currently, there are 134 medical practices in the state of Arizona using the PCMH model that have been recognized by the NCQA and 6500 practices/40,000 clinicians across the country.

Although the organization has been culturally branded as a nonprofit entity that relies on federal grants funds to operate, Sun Life’s

CENTER FOR CHILDREN Quality, Affordable care for Everyone!

Accepting New PatientS Hablamos Español

Same Day Appointments Based on Availability

Back to School

Immunizations!

We accept most insurances.

On-site application assistance with AHCCCS, Healthcare.gov and Sun Life’s discount programs.

520-836-5036

1856 E. FLORENCE BLVD., CASA GRANDE

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Health Center Program grant monies make up only about five percent of its annual revenues. The rest of the organization’s revenue is earned by serving all area populations from the insured to self-paying patients.

“I believe that to be a leader in anything, it is not a state of being or a plateau you reach. It’s a constant, never-ending effort. We don’t just sit back and rest on our laurels. At Sun Life, we will always continue to strive and raise the bar in delivering quality healthcare and achieving excellence.”

CENTER FOR WOMEN Quality, Affordable care

for Everyone!

Accepting New PatientS Hablamos Español Same Day Appointments Based on Availability

We accept most insurances.

On-site application assistance with AHCCCS, Healthcare.gov and Sun Life’s discount programs.

520-381-0380

1864 E. FLORENCE BLVD., SUITE 2 • CG

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L e a d

hip ers

E G N A CH

VOICES

2014

Leadership Survey

Your invitation is on the way

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FOOTHILLS BANK CENTRAL ARIZONA ADVISORY BOARD

L to R: Matt Herman, Advisory Board Member, Eric Wilkey, Advisory Board Member, Marci Benge, Advisory Board Member, Shea Nieto, Regional President, Dr. Grant Walton, Advisory Board Member, Not pictured: Dr. Raj, Advisory Board Member

F

oothills Bank Central Arizona Regional President, Shea Nieto, recently announced the formation of the bank’s Central Arizona Advisory Board. The Advisory Board meets periodically to discuss issues and opportunities within the central Arizona market, as well as providing valuable insight and advice to the bank. The Advisory Board is also available to answer questions that members of the business community may have about Foothills Bank.

The Advisory Board members are:

• Marci Benge: A lifelong Casa Grande resident and mother of 3, Marci owns and operates Pristine Cleaners, together with her husband, Jeff.

The company, which has provided dry cleaning and other clothing related services since 1991, has locations in Casa Grande and Coolidge.

• Matt Herman: Born and raised in Maricopa, Matt lives in Casa Grande with his wife, Erica, and their two daughters. A graduate of CGUHS and ASU, he is employed by the family business, Norris RV Sales and he is part owner of another small business. Matt serves on several civic organization boards and is a member of the Casa Grande City Council.

As a business owner, you want a bank with great resources, sophisticated solutions, and smart ideas.

You also want a bank that genuinely values you as a customer. Well, you’ll find all this at Foothills Bank.

You’ll get the level of expertise you’d expect from a big bank, with friendly, personalized attention from a local business just like yours. Superior service without a superior attitude? Consider it done.

520.423.4900

foothillsbank.com Member FDIC

• Eric Wilkey: Originally from Illinois, Eric, his wife, Lisa, and their two children have called Casa Grande home for the past 24 years. Eric is the President of Arizona Grain, Inc., a privately held company headquartered in Casa Grande that operates in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico.

• Dr. Grant Walton: A native of Casa Grande, Grant has loved providing orthodontic care to the wonderful residents of Pinal County since 1990. He and his wife, Laura, have 5 children. Grant has held several leadership positions in his church, as well as in professional and civic organizations.

• Rajeesh Punnakkuttu, M.D. (Dr. Raj): Dr. Raj is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Sleep Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. He sits on the Advisory Council and is Chief of Staff for Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. Dr. Raj has lived and practiced medicine in Arizona for 10 years.

1433 N. Pinal Avenue, Casa Grande, AZ 85122

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Scott P. Gunnell, DDS

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S

ince opening our doors in 2007, we at Desert Sky Dental have been welcoming families and friends to our office to enjoy exceptional, personalized dentistry.

(520) 423-0022 • 1550 E. Florence Blvd. Suite 104, Casa Grande • www.DesertSkyDentalAZ.com

Associates in Pediatric & Internal Medicine Michael P. Ridge, M.D., F.A.A.P., A.B.I.M. Darryl R. Brown, M.D. LaTrecia M. Herring, M.D., F.A.A.P., A.B.I.M. Douglas E. Parkin, M.D., F.A.A.P. Natalie A. Teng, M.D. Craig W. Connor, PA-C Kevin G. Hall, PA-C Denise C. Sarsam, RN, MSN, FNP-C C. Marlene Hoeft, RN, MSN, FNP-C Derral E. Hawthorne, PA-C Kelsie D. Pate, RN, MSN, FNP-C 560 N Camino Mercado, Suite 7 (520) 836-5538 Casa Grande, AZ 85122 (800) 895-5538 www.cottonwoodmedical.com Fax (520) 876-0878 Accepting New Patients

FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS!

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MANKEL MECHANICAL COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL • INDUSTRIAL • MECHANICAL PIPING

PROFESSIONAL PLUMBING CONTRACTOR

Service & Repair

By Paula Leslie, co-owner of Mankel Mechanical

W

e took a family vacation to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in remember the Thanksgiving he shared with our family. We began June 1999. Eddie was officially a licensed plumber with the not only developing business relationships but friendships. When state of Arizona. Mankel Mechanical was officially registered with the housing market began to settle down, our business grew from the Arizona Corporation Commission. All our tax numbers were in a predominately residential plumbing company to a predominately place. We had a truck, a computer, a little bit of money in the bank, commercial plumbing company. It’s a different playing field but a vision, jobs bid, but no work. still the same game just with a lot more paperwork. As I’m writI remember Ed getting that call from a home builder who ing this, I have a contractor calling for a bid on a custom home this thought he'd take a chance on a new business. We didn't make morning (we haven’t even seen the plans), another contractor who money on that house. Ed raised his bid amount on the next house, expects a bid this morning for a church, another one who wants a and the next until he felt comfortable with his price. It was a learning revised bid, a crew plumbing a charter school, a crew plumbing a process. The housing market in Pinal County wasAllbooming.

MankelAre house, a dental clinic project that begins this week, a homeowner Of Our Employees Licensed Bonded •aInsured Mechanical was •building good reputation in the construcDruglocal Tested & Backgroundwho is wondering why his shower isn’t draining, and another homeAZ ROC 145043 • TX M - 39082 tion industry. Soon we were doing work for reputable local builders Checked To Provide Betterowner who needs a new water heater. It’s just barely 8:00 am.

Serving Since 1999 like Gallo Arizona Construction.

Without fail, Bob Gallo paid us on the We may be working like crazy people in the office, but we’ll Service To tenth You! of every month. That helped our cash flow immensely. However, almost always make time to sit and talk to our customers and conour big break came in December 1999 from an unlikely character, tractors. I’ll even show you that first floor plan with Eddie’s bid Gerald Kumpe, owner/builder of Stephen Homes. I don't know how notes. I laminated it. It’s our first degree in our ever learning school many houses we plumbed for him in those seven years but I do of business.

• New Construction • Remodels & Updates • Drain Cleaning • Gas Lines

• Re-Pipes • Water Heaters • Sewer Lines • Backflows & Testing

520-316-9120

FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS!

MANKEL MECHANICAL COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL • INDUSTRIAL • MECHANICAL PIPING

PROFESSIONAL PLUMBING CONTRACTOR

Service & Repair

• New Construction • Remodels & Updates • Drain Cleaning • Gas Lines

• Re-Pipes • Water Heaters • Sewer Lines • Backflows & Testing

520-316-9120 Licensed • Bonded • Insured AZ ROC 145043 • TX M - 39082

Serving Arizona Since 1999

All Of Our Employees Are Drug Tested & Background Checked To Provide Better Service To You!

YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS

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Successful Real Estate professionals come from all walks of life. Many from backgrounds just like yours. Call Colleen to discuss your career opportunity in Real Estate today, and bring your experience with you. 520-423-8250

Become a Real Estate Professional with Coldwell Banker ROX Realty (Scholarship Program Available) Have you wondered how successful you could be in a real estate career? You may not think about it, but now is a great time to start a career in real estate. A career in real estate offers new challenges, freedom from the 9 to 5 routine, and the opportunity to get paid what you are worth.

If this sounds interesting to you, give Coldwell Banker ROX Realty a call. The possibilities are endless • Residential • Commercial • Land • Agriculture/Farm • Leasing • Property Management

Colleen Gunderson 520-423-8250

1919 N Trekell Rd, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 callcolleen@coldwellbanker.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

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2577 N. Wrangler Ln, Casa Grande MLS# 5100663 $149,900 5BD – 3BA 3,211sf Mountain View: Large home on over 10,000 sf lot, 1BD/1BA down, granite counters

1210 N. Crane St – Casa Grande MSL#5133386 $129,900 3BD – 2BA 2,060sf Bennets Acre: This home has character & charm, corner lot, 272 sf basement, updated flooring

1802 N. Parkside Ln – Casa Grande MLS#5035742 $119,900 3BD – 2BA 1,568sf Desert Crossing: Move in ready, Pergo floors & ceramic tile, neutral colors, open floor plan

1268 E. Barcelona Ave, Casa Grande MLS#5110882 $105,000 3BD - 1.75BA 1,737sf Rancho Grande: Fresh Paint inside/ out, huge great room, fireplace, bay window in LR

711 E. Laurel Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5083399 $61,900 2BD – 1BA 1,082sf Marvin Gardens: single level townhouse, breakfast bar, lots of storage, comm pool

528 E. Manor Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5115039 $119,967 3BD - 2BA 1,450sf Kimberlea Addition: updated and upgraded home, new windows, roof, kitchen & cedar lined closets, 9,450sf lot with pool

892 W. Crooked Stick Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5143216 $265,000 3BD – 2BA 2,172sf Casa Grande Links: 13,504sf golf course lot, kitchen windows face golf course, must see

28474 N. Castle Rock Dr, San Tan Valley MLS#5143945 $169,900 4BD – 3BA 2,698sf Johnson Ranch: 1 BD/1BA down, view lot w/large greenbelt, sitting room in master, comm pool

1487 E. Anna Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5083414 $142,000 3BD - 2BA 1,603sf

Ironwood Commons: 18” ceramic tile/carpet, model perfect, den/office, SS appliances, sunscreens, extended patio w/pavers and Ramada

Summer

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We Do Property Management!

Don’t let the middle of the night phone calls keep you awake!

Our professional staff will handle all aspects of your rental properties including: tenant find and screening, accounting, collections, evictions and repairs.

Call 520.423.8250 or email: propertyboss@coldwellbanker.com

1919 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande

520-423-8250

Each office is independently owned and operated.

1930 S. Utah Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5118645 $85,000 3BD – 1.75BA 1,568sf Sunscape Estates: mfg home, open floor plan, RV Gate/Parking, garden, fruit trees, comm pool

342 E. Seven Seas Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5144653 $310,000 5BD – 4BA 3,941sf Villago: .25 ac lot, den/office, loft, maple cabinets w/crown molding, granite, many upgrades

200 S. La Amador Trl, Casa Grande MLS#5012420 $164,945 3BD – 2BA 1,978sf Mission Royale Fam: SS appliances, wood blinds, 2 patios in back, comm pool, lots of upgrades

15801 W. Hopi Dr, Casa Grande MLS#5010546 $89,800 4BD – 2BA 2,046sf 1.25ac with mfg home, split floor plan, covered patio deck, newer A/C unit

9269 W. Coronado Dr, Arizona City MLS#5125609 $67,400 3BD – 1.75BA 1,064sf New flooring, fresh paint inside & out, fully fenced, just blocks from golf course, no HOA

4744 E. Appaloosa Dr, Eloy MLS#5139683 $47,000 2BD – 1BA 868sf Remodeled townhouse, tile & carpet floors, new roof & A/C, all appliances, what a bargain!

405 E. 4th St - Casa Grande 5107539 $119,500 3BD/1.5BA 1,268sf Charming period bungalow w/cove ceilings, original cabinets, wood flooring, cedar closets, huge lot, close to downtown

2142 W. Wilson Ave, Coolidge MLS#5068837 $119,900 5BD – 3BA 2,287sf Heartland Ranch: fully renovated, travertine in kitchen, 1BD/1BA down, large loft, fully landscaped

603 W. Mirage Loop, Casa Grande MLS#5012656 $127,500 4BD – 2BA 1,765sf Casa Mirage: open floor plan, granite in kitchen/baths, new SS appliances, comm pool/hot tub

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W

NEW E New Face o

By Jim Rhodes, Long time small business advocate

e have mentioned in prior articles that when the vitality of our economy returns that it will not look the same as the economy that left. This will require a different set of business skills and processes. Let's take a look.

How will the new face evolve?

In our larger businesses, change will be slower. Smaller businesses, such as those on the radar screen of the Small Business Development Center, will be able to change more quickly. The constant here is "change". Change will be necessary and it will be continuous. The key word in business administration of the future will be adaptability. The key person in all of this will be a chief executive who is a change agent. In any business change can be expensive. However, not changing can be even more expensive.

Not changing soon enough can be fatal.

How will customers see the new face?

Historically, customer satisfaction has been important in nearly all businesses. Though not always practiced, customer satisfaction is generally cited as a key to business success. Customer satisfaction training is important but must be accompanied by customer satisfaction management. This is where many small businesses exhibit management failure. Unfortunately this is also where the most important customer interface resides in the relationship between business and customer. The first evidence of adaptation of a business to the new economy will be in the impression it makes on a customer.

Nearly all employees of a business represent the "face" of the business. Thus, customer satisfaction occurs to some degree at nearly all levels of the business. While training may be different at different levels of the business, the importance of customer satisfaction must be driven down through every level.

Managing to adapt From the face of the business let's go to its day-to-day operation. The activities of planning, budgeting, marketing and managing may be quite similar from business-to-business. The effectiveness and the efficiency with which these activities are accomplished are not necessarily absolute. In the free market they simply have to be done faster than the competition. This is similar to surviving the bear attack in the woods. You simply

have to be faster than the slowest runner in the group. This survival technique goes pretty much for each of the management activities. Also, please note that the general activities mentioned are not all-inclusive. They could be different for different kinds of businesses.

Another influencing factor is the experience, training and interests of the owner or key executive. We do tend to pay attention to things that we enjoy and give short shrift to those activities that are a "drag� or those at which we are not very good or with which we are not very comfortable. From my experience consulting with business owners and key executives I would say that encounters of a negative sort that tend to be the most difficult are characterized by the shortest possible distance face-to-face between an employee and the manager. Generally this is because the manager is unable to articulate the relationship between a mission statement, business goals and employee performance. At this point we should emphasize the importance of properly handling these encounters. Failure to do so unnecessarily consumes both valuable time and money. It should also be noted that generally each of these encounters represents a teachable moment. Thus the language and expressions should be suitable for a classroom rather than for use behind the woodshed. An example might be "Manager to employee: I was watching what you were doing (or heard about it, got a complaint, etc.) and I'm wondering how your performance helped us toward our sales goals (management initiatives, your performance objectives, etc.)? Please enlighten me.�The end result here is that the manager has an opportunity to teach and a companion opportunity to learn.

In support of business operations The new economy will operate in a veritable sea of technology changes most of which are not under the control of the individual business owner. The most important of these will be in the area of communication, both internal and external, between every employee, stakeholder and customer. The days of written communication are limited. The advancements in current communications technologies are occurring so quickly that leasing of systems is replacing purchasing of components. Response to complex ideas or events used to take place over days or weeks.

ECONOMY of Business Summer

Now it is sometimes seconds or minutes. In the early days of cellular telephones one major US company invested a quarter of $1 million in equipment and realized a 10% increase in gross revenues in one of its US regions. That translated into $84 million. The cellular technology resulted in an extra 1.5 hours of customer face time daily or 7+ hours a week. That advantage is scalable and works as well for small business as for large.

It has been said that the toughest management job is that of a professional basketball coach. The coach has an employee group that is the best available worldwide. The problem is that each learned from a different playbook and coach. The solution is to get all of them working together and from the same playbook.

New communications technologies help business executives to "get everyone on the same page". This addresses one of the most common laments of an executive. Coordination of human effort and dollar expenditure are difficult to accomplish if all of our "corporate oars" do not hit the water at the same time. Communications advancements help with both delegation and accountability.

Large or small-similar issues Many of our businesses do not have multiples of employees and/or locations. Changes in the economy still impact these smaller ventures. While the day-to-day management issues may be simpler because of smaller size, the activities of managing their response to markets are still important and are changing.

Distribution of goods is no longer limited to retail stores or catalog sales. Personal communications technologies have added new dimensions to the age-old system of "barter". Numerous communication portals or websites allow easy exchange of goods and services around the world. Points of contact between consumers and the purveyors of various goods and services are nearly unlimited. We have reached the point where limitations on communication are primarily political and are related to governments making revenue from consumer wants or needs.

In support of marketing Advanced communications has increased the importance of information on buyer behavior. Sales data with embedded analysis algorithms has replaced a simple report on what sold last week or last month. This allows marketing executives to predict what will sell next week, next month or next year and to whom.

Instantaneous adjustments of sales and marketing strategies have replaced hopeful predictions coming out of traditional sales meetings. Information on changing demographic data is now available immediately. This brings to the manufacturer instantaneous and important information on consumer tastes. The availability of this information has literally created new markets for

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subsets of the population in general such as teenagers, families and senior citizens. Information on new products can be available worldwide at the push of a button. For smaller firms that feel they are too small for these advanced resources there exist organizations specializing in market analysis for small companies. In fact contract experts in marketing represent an emerging industry.

Where will we work?

One of the most interesting aspects of advanced communications is the evolution of the virtual office. It is now possible for almost every activity in a communication intensive industry to be done from home or a vehicle. In still a relatively small way this has precluded the need for expensive brick-and-mortar facilities. In a much larger way this has created a burgeoning industry in small private contract firms doing almost everything that a larger firm needs done. In the hands of a competent practitioner this work can be done from a laptop computer or perhaps from a mini computer or pad like device. A laptop computer with a robust contact file has replaced the corporate complex in some industries.

Financial management Business budgeting is evolving. Data management capabilities mean that financial reports are becoming more important in the development of business strategies. Businesses that do not embrace this capability will find themselves less efficient at making strategic modifications in operations, marketing, etc. Financial support services for the new business model are also changing. Activities such as crowd funding now provide venture capital for new ideas. Leasing is taking on new importance for managing the costs of operation. Nearly every component of a business is available via lease. This includes equipment and personnel. This allows new products and services to enter the market more quickly and without a commensurate obligation of accumulating operating funds. Based on information from modern marketing, those involved in direct selling may also at the same time offer various financing plans funded by the parent company or perhaps by an outside vendor. This takes the old used car model of "buy here-pay here" into nearly every other commercial transaction.

The specific management challenge As the emerging economy takes shape businesses will appear to be or will actually be more complex. Many senior executives focus primarily on institutional complexity. This is the number and nature of interactions within a company. They may concentrate on institutional complexity and shortchange time spent on individual complexity or the way individual employees and manager’s expeContinued on page 74

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Continued from page 73: NEW ECONOMY NEW FACE rience and deal with complexity. To understand this we may harken back to the comments on executives spending time on things of interest to themselves or in which they have a background of training and experience. Individual complexity may well be shortchanged because managers are not comfortable with close faceto-face relationships. Management exchanges might occur only after a prerequisite misunderstanding on the part of the employee.

You can see the importance of having everyone on the same page.

So what do we do?

If we can agree that the economy is changing and the business will have to adapt, how do we manage to take maximum advantage of the new economy? Here is an attempt to create a regimen that will work for most businesses.

November 15, 2014

Register at

www.athletepath.com/russells-run/2014-11-15

Cost $25 All proceeds go to The Cancer Support Center (non-Profit) B

rian Russell was a great man that loved his family and supported his community. That is why this year the Western Pinal Association of Realtors partnered with the Cancer Support Center here in Casa Grande for the Russell’s Run 2014. The Cancer Support Center provides support and encouragement for mind, body, and spirit for patients and people of the community. You do not have to be a cancer patient to benefit from the programs they offer. It is their mission to provide support and education for all members of the community, regardless of whether or not they've been touched by cancer. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CancerSupportCenter

Develop a process to take the corporate vision, goals and objectives to your management to quickly deliver predicted and desired outcomes. Tailor the approach is to each manager’s strengths to ensure agreement and utilization. Leverage knowledge and experience to provide sustainable long-term growth. The lesson is knowledge to discipline; discipline to habit. Learn and/or teach the management team to: • Create clear, specific and measurable goals.

• Identify vital resources and develop timetables for completion of key tasks.

• Emphasize leadership and management development.

• Plan for feedback and follow up over the next 8 to 12 months to provide continuous reinforcement.

About Brian Russell

Brian was a very likeable, amiable and hardworking man.

Tall in stature and big of heart, he tried to support all the local businesses here in Casa Grande. He knew that was more important than always finding the “best” price.

He would hire people he knew were in need as well, providing services for his businesses. He cared about people and let them know he was thinking of them and kept in touch.

Brian supported many local youth in fundraising projects.

Brian was President of the Western Pinal Association of Realtors prior to his illness. In fact, he went from the luncheon installing the new president to the hospital later that night not feeling well, and for the first time in his life finding out he was very ill. Brian Russell was a great influence on the Western Pinal Association of Realtors and in the community he loved.

We hope that you will come and support our cause.

Register at

www.athletepath.com/russells-run/2014-11-15

20 Summer

Continued from page 31: ROX! INTERVIEW maybe "Football Rocks". I mean it's a serendipitous set of circumstances for the whole marketing idea.

GCROX: You have evolved. Many ideas evolving by trial and error where some things worked, some didn't. Are you happy where you're at now?

ROCK EARLE: Yeah, very happy. I don't like to sit around and talk about things very much, I've always been willing to just write a check to get something to happen so that's what we do. I think the whole group of companies is characterized by having a good idea or two, pick one, and then just do it! Then measure the outcome after that. So after having opened in the absolute worst week in the US and global financial world since the depression, here we are six years on and I'm quite pleased with everything.

GCROX: Where are you going from here?

ROCK EARLE: That's a very good question! One of the moves we missed during this discussion was our merger with Coldwell Banker Excel Realty and Century 21 All-Stars Realty.

GCROX: That’s right! Now you have insurance, you have travel, and you have real estate. All is running smoothly until you were approached with the opportunity to merge ROX Real Estate with not one, but two nationally recognized real estate franchises. I emphasize that they came to you!

ROCK EARLE: Yeah, that was an interesting time. We obviously had just done the insurance merger, and we had the magazines, and one of the important aspects of the real estate business was our property management. There was a firm in Phoenix, a Century 21 franchisee that had taken on the local C21 franchise here and we had had merger discussions earlier, but it didn't happen for a variety of reasons. Then one day, in the door walked a three way merger idea which would involve Connie Rush’s Coldwell Banker Excel and the Century 21 office here in Casa Grande and ROX Real Estate; all to end up under the Coldwell Banker flag. That's exactly what we did which more than doubled the volumes, more than doubled the size, and we ended up all being housed together at Connie Rush's office on Trekell. It hasn't been without its wrinkles, but I think in the long run we're extremely happy with where it is now.

A national name brand brokerage with the type of marketing we do? I don't see how you can beat it.

GCROX: Along with the property management.

ROCK EARLE: Along with the

property management, that's a very important part of the business.

GCROX: Which is done well. Do you feel you're at your pinnacle?

ROCK EARLE: Close. Back in '08 or '09, I wrote what we in the company called the manifesto - it was basically an idea to expand on three business concepts: real estate, insurance, and travel, under one roof with expansion to other geographical islands in the state, like Yuma, Sierra Vista or Prescott and cover them in each place with a print publication that markets them. I think at this point in time we're having a lot of fun with the magazines.

GCROX: Are you going to stay as hands-on as you are now?

ROCK EARLE: It's been proven to me that I am not an operator. [laughs] In fact, the key people in the enterprise now listen for ideas and then they listen for the next stuff after an idea, and they cut me off right before that, so I think I'll just stay the ideas guy, and stay pretty scarce and let the capable people do what they do.

GCROX: Well you are an idea person, and you're very good on computers, coming up with visuals of how that idea looks, which is very important.

ROCK EARLE: It's all part of the big plan. You need the vision, and you need the execution also. One of the neat things about having an enterprise of this scale is we are definitely moving into having our own in-house web programmers, and graphics people, and having that capability just is really wonderful, and effective.

GCROX: What's the next adventure for Rock? More travel?

ROCK EARLE: Back in the day I was writing a weekly travelogue that I would pump out to 3-400 subscribers, and some people thought that was fun.

It was always a lot of work and it never translated into a real business, it was always just a mission. I think something like that might be up for me in the future.

My personal circumstances have changed. I'm a married man now, with a young wife, very young twin boys and all the complexities of school and domestic life, and yetGCROX: And yet you're in the yard planting trees?

ROCK EARLE: I'm planting trees, I'm laying bricks in the backyard and I'm planning travel. I have some major international trips coming up, I have ways to handle all of that and integrate it into life. I think I may start writing travel related pieces again, but also integrating that into our businesses somehow. Stay tuned to see how that works out.

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Answers

For inquiring minds

Mac or PC? PC of course Left or Right?

Leave the People alone & balance the budget Beer or Wine?

Fine warm Saké Mexican or Chinese?

Yes Boxers or Briefs?

A guy needs room to roam Country or Rock?

Rock Football or Tennis?

Tennis Hardcover or Paperback?

Kindle or Nook Shoes or Barefoot?

A guy likes to travel light Beach or Mountains? hmmmmm Home or Restaurant?

Home Dog or Cat? either and/or both Pool or Hot Tub? both NASCAR or Indy?

F1 Dressy or Casual?

Lazy SUV or Sports Car? Very large SUV Wall Street Journal or New York Times?

WSJ Dow Jones or NASDAQ? Whatever Morning or Evening?

AM Rox or ROX? ROX

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

Women in Business Education

Women in the Workforce

In 2012, 58% of all women were in the workforce.

Comparatively, 70% of all men were in the workforce.

In 1950: 18 million women working In 2000: 66 million women working In 2050: 92 million women expected to be working.

• 1970: 11% of women held a college degree • 2012: 38% of women held a college degree • 1970: 34% of women were without a high school diploma • 2012: 7% of women were without a high school diploma Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Earnings

Facts Over Time Women in the Labor Force

In 2012, women who worked full-time had median weekly earnings of $691, which represented 81% of men’s median weekly earnings.

In 1979, women earned 62% of men’s median weekly earnings.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Their Continuing Impact on the US Workforce Summer

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By Elaine Earle

omen continue to make a difference in the US workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted 18 million women working in the workforce in 1950. By the year 2000, 50 years later, there were 66 million women working. In 50 more years, by the year 2050, this number is expected to grow to 92 million.

As a percentage of men in the workforce, women have increased to 47% in 2012 as compared to 38% in 1970. In 2012, BLS reported that 38% of women between the ages of 25 and 64 held a college degree. In 1970, only 11% held a college degree. In 2012, only 7% had less than a high school diploma; whereas, this statistic was 34% in 1970.

Women have made significant progress in earnings, education and workplace opportunity since the 1950s. As women become a more permanent feature in our workplace, they are also joining the ranks of leaders of corporations and of their own companies. The National Association of Women Business Owners reports that there are 10.1 million businesses owned by women, employing 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion into the US economy.

As women continue to advance in education, they have started showing up in a variety of positions and industries. Here in the Golden Corridor, we have a number of women in “chief� positions either as entrepreneurs, in institutions or in corporations; at the hospital, community college, local schools, parks and recreation, service business, banks and credit unions, medical professions and in our governments.

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SERVANT LEADERSHIP Linda Currie Financial/Office Manager Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical, Inc. (520) 836-5802

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here are many good books available today that describe what Servant Leadership is supposed to look like. I am one who believes and subscribes to the old adage that Servant Leadership is more “Caught” than it is taught. Let me give you an example of someone whose life models this admirably and consistently influences the lives of others in such a way that her values of honor and integrity are passed on to others . In 1990 Linda Currie agreed to join the staff at Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical. She had been managing the local office of Bookman Edmonston Engineering Inc., located here in Casa Grande. This company had been instrumental in designing and overseeing the construction for the laterals coming off of the CAP Canal System. Bookman Edmonston was completing their work in this area and were in the process of closing down their local office and Linda did not want to relocate with this company out of Casa Grande. Her husband, Doug, was employed as a building inspector and plan reviewer for the City of Casa Grande and they had already put down deep roots in making their home here in Casa Grande. Linda and Doug and their family had been attending the same church as our family, Trinity Southern Baptist Church. It was through these faith relationships at church that we discovered that Linda was looking for her next career opportunity. As providence would have it, we here at Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical were praying for an office manager to help us grow and better manage our daily business activities. Linda was hired immediately.

During Linda’s first few weeks it was clear to all of us here that we had been blessed with a person who far exceeded our expectations. Her professional and wide ranging skill sets coupled with her prior business experiences allowed her to manage the day to day business activities of Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical with an exceptionally effective and endearing leadership style. Linda led us to be more efficient and productive in every aspect of our business, especially in remembering to take good care of our customers.

She is seldom overwhelmed even as a typical day has her working on multiple and complex tasks.

More important than all of her professional talents is her compassionate disposition and her ability to care for what is happening in people’s lives around her. She lives this out every day. She genuinely cares and has compassion for all the staff and field technicians and is never too busy to try to help people, even complete strangers, when they need her the most. It is easy for many of us to say we care and that we have compassion for others but the reality is that true caring and compassion does not come without a price.

Linda has found the recipe for her caring spirit. She told me she first caught it from her parents, Pastor Gary and Martha Ramer. As a “preachers kid” she saw her parents display each of these very important Christlike ingredients. The main ingredients are self-sacrifice, love, enjoying seeing others succeed, generosity and a willingness to show up and get the work done when circumstances call for less talking and involving oneself in the need at hand.

Linda, thank you for your 24 years of leading us forward with your excellent example of Servant Leadership. Our working family here at Brutinel is grateful that you have planted your life in the middle of our lives. We have all learned so many valuable life lessons simply by observing you selflessly live your life.

We look forward to all that we have yet to “Catch” from your life in the days to come!

Wes…for all of us at Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical PS – I think you are Bob Brutinel’s favorite.

Summer

HEELS, OREOS, COFFEE & PLUMBING

THE

took to social media for self-evaluation through the opinions of friends to aid in writing this article. As a female business owner in a predominately male field, I think I’m too brash. I had to fight for respect among my male colleagues. I’ve earned that respect by being trustworthy, dedicated, straightforward, committed, discerning, uncompromising. When I encouraged Eddie to get his plumbing license in 1999, I had to trade in business attire for jeans and boots, but kept the red heels.

My business tools include a strong will, faith, dedication and a lot of humor. I have two brothers who support me, two sons who work with me, a mom who has always believed in me, a granddaughter who loves “working” at the shop, and Eddie, my business partner and friend. These people have helped me to be successful.

One word in the social media responses caught my eye – resilient. It’s a requirement in the business ownership world, maybe even in life. I’m resilient until the Oreos and coffee run out. Because there are some things that just always need to stay the same.

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WOMEN OF CURVES CURVES FITNESS CLUB

Paula Leslie Co-owner of Mankel Mechanical 520-316-9120 paula@mankelmechanical.com

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Casa Grande Coolidge Arizona City

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indy, Anna and Frances. Curves is a fitness center designed specifically for women with fitness, meal planning and coaching and has several classes such as “Curves Workouts With Jillian Michaels” which are designed to give amazing results. In just 30 minutes a day, you will build lean muscle, amp up your metabolism and kick start your weight loss. Each workout has modifications for every fitness level, so everyone can get maximum benefits. And of course there is always a coach on the Curves circuit to help with your form and push you to your personal best. All new members receive access to the “Curves Portal” which is a personalized platform to help you track and manage your workouts and your calories burned. Curves has partnered with major health insurances including Silver Sneakers to offer free or reduced memberships. Curves is involved with local community services and has been a part of our community since 2002. There are three Curves in Pinal County; Casa Grande, Arizona City and Coolidge. For more information about Curves go to www.curves.com.

RAMONA GONZALES PRINCIPAL, MISSION HEIGHTS PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL 1376 E Cottonwood Ln (520) 836-9383

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Ramona Gonzales & Spirit of Leona winner Reyna Vega.The Spirit of Leona is given to one graduating senior who has overcome personal adversity and persevered to attain their educational foundation.

amona Gonzales is the new school leader at Mission Heights Preparatory High School in Casa Grande. The school is managed by The Leona Group, L.L.C. and is NCA Accredited. Mrs. Gonzales has been employed by The Leona Group, L.L.C. for the last 10 years.

Mrs. Gonzales is a Casa Grande native, an alumnus of Casa Grande High School.

Mrs. Gonzales attended Central Arizona College before transferring to Arizona State University. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Bilingual Certification, and holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She has teaching experience in grades two through nine in the subjects of English, social studies and Spanish in Coolidge and Chandler.

“I look forward to working with an amazing staff who demonstrate not only sincere care for our students but who are prepared, passionate, and constantly seek student improvement. I’m eager to get to know the students and families,” Gonzales said.

"Our students have the potential to succeed in college but need extra encouragement and academic rigor.”

Mission Heights Preparatory High School (MHP) opened in fall of 2011 and is a tuition-free public charter high school educating grades 9-12 in Casa Grande, Arizona.

MHP’s mission is to create an environment of academic success built on the pillars of college readiness, community service, civic duty and self-discipline. The school’s vision is that every student will be prepared to succeed at the nation’s top institutions of higher learning. The school has had three graduating classes since its inception and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate.

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COLLEEN GUNDERSON

BROKER/CO-OWNER - COLDWELL BANKER ROX REALTY 1919 N Trekell Rd, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 callcolleen@coldwellbanker.com 480-459-6489

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hen you approach every day with PASSION, good things happen naturally. Colleen Gunderson is living proof.

I couldn’t have asked for a better role model than my grandfather.

Despite the fact that most of the valuable lessons I’ve learned required me to get up before the sunrise, in hindsight I wouldn’t change a thing. Growing up in a small farming community in northern Washington state, I was instilled with a strong work ethic and learned

“From day one, real estate has never felt like ‘work’ to me. I’m inspired every day by my ability to help people with such an important part of their lives” the importance of commitment and understand how to prioritize the tasks on my daily ‘to do’ list. The most essential lesson I learned in those formative experiences had nothing – and everything – to do with farming.

“Working alongside my grandparents on the farm showed me that whatever you do in life, you have to approach it with a real joy and be passionate about what you do. My grandfather loved that land and used to tell me, ‘Your job shouldn’t feel like work. It should feel like your life’s calling’” A Joy for Life This defining life philosophy is reflected in everything I do. Those who know me best will tell you I’m a woman of diverse interests, but the

common denominator among them all is simple – I don’t do anything halfway. At different times throughout my life, I’ve devoted that passion to showing horses, making hand-made jewelry, learning to ride a motorcycle and much more. I’m currently learning how to quilt.

On a professional level, my passionate approach is even more clearly defined. The year was 1991 when I turned my sights to real estate. I quickly realized this was my true calling. I’ve very passionate about helping others make the most of their home buying and selling opportunities. I love educating my clients about the process and acting as a problem solver, presenting people with many different options en route to achieving their goals. I thrive on the fact that in real estate, no two days are the same and no two clients are the same.

My passion for real estate is also evident that despite nearly 25 years of industry experience, I never settle for the status quo. Instead, I’m always searching for new and better ways of doing business. I revel in continually expanding the suite of services I can offer my clients. As the designated broker of Coldwell Banker ROX Realty, I enjoy sharing my insights with our clients. “I love real estate because it’s never boring. It’s like putting together a puzzle but every day the pieces are new and different. I take great pride in putting those puzzles together for my clients and helping them when buying or selling their home or land.”

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CHRISSY

PAULA LAMBERT

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ROLL

AZ NEW HORIZON REALTY

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

OWNER & OFFICE MANAGER 520--836-1001 www.AzNewHorizonRealty.com

OWNER/DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

520-421-3014 www.brightbeginningscg.com

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aula Lambert is the Office Manager/Owner of AZ New Horizon Realty. Previously, she was the Office Manager of the Casa Grande and Maricopa offices for Prudential One Realty for 6 years. Prior to that, she was the Sales Manager for Fidelity National Title Agency of Pinal County for 10 years.

Paula is a past President and/or Board Member for many civic and business organizations including the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce, Eloy Chamber of Commerce, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley, United Way and Maricopa Chamber of Commerce. She has been the chair person for AZ State Open Chili Championship for a number of years.

AZ New Horizon Realty has three locations. The main office is at 3860 N. Pinal Ave, Casa Grande. Other offices include 107 E 4th St., Ste B, Casa Grande and Suite 103, 21300 N. John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa. The AZ New Horizon Team of 12 has many years of combined real estate experience and specializes in Residential Sales & Rentals, Commercial Sales & Leasing, and Property Management.

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hrissy Roll is the owner of Bright Beginnings Learning Center and Childcare in Casa Grande, Arizona. Chrissy earned dual Bachelors Degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education through Northern Arizona University. At a very early age, Chrissy knew she wanted to work with children; she enjoyed seeing their excitement when they achieved their goals. Chrissy formally began working with children 14 years ago at Yuma School District One, even though she had spent many years before that assisting her mother in her classroom. After moving to Casa Grande, she began teaching for the school district before moving on to working as the Director of Education for Sylvan Learning Center. After becoming a mother and looking for childcare for her own child, Chrissy realized that there was a need for quality childcare and preschool.

After several years of running a program out of her home, she felt it was time to expand and share her knowledge and love for children.

She purchased a childcare center and immediately offered a place where children would be safe and cared for, and also receive a quality early education.

TERRI DURHAM

SHERRY BALENTINE

OFFICE COORDINATOR SEEDS OF HOPE

REALTOR® & PHOTOGRAPHER

702 E Cottonwood Lane 520.836.6335

Coldwell Banker ROX Realty (520)560-4159

terri@seedsofhopeaz.com

treasuredmomentsbysherry@gmail.com

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ne of the greatest challenges when relocating to a new area is not knowing the area well enough to feel confident in buying. I can walk you through the process and help you make sense of the local market. I have lived in the Casa Grande area for over 30 years so I am very familiar with the area and the amenities that each subdivision and location has to offer.

I am also a photographer, please check my website: http://treasuredmomentsbysherry.weebly.com.

The best part about both of my careers is that I get to interact and be a part of the fun. Getting to know my clients each experience is unique and a new chance for me to share with others my passion for what I do.

T

erri Durham has worked as Office Coordinator for Seeds of Hope since November 2004. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Technical Writing & Multimedia Communication from Arizona State University in 2011.

Terri manages the day-to-day operations of the administrative office with efficiency and organization. She also plays an integral part of maximizing Seeds of Hope’s presence in the community through marketing and social media, responsible for all printed and digital forms of information.

Terri works closely with the executive director to research and submit potential grant opportunities and takes initiative to seek additional methods to secure funding.

Seeds of Hope benefits from Terri’s love of event planning. Her creativity and resourcefulness have been seen in Annual Dinner’s, Volunteer Appreciation’s, 5K’s, and other events.

Passionate about positively influencing others, Terri encourages those around her to strive for excellence.

A native Texan, she moved to Arizona in 2003 with her husband and three kids. While not working at Seeds of Hope, Terri is very involved in First Baptist Church, Arizona City.

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ELAINE EARLE

BEA LUECK

ROX GROUP 520-509-1000

General Manager ROX GROUP 520-509-1000

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Elaine Earle serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the ROX Group (collectively, “ROX”) and oversees all financial operations of Coldwell Banker ROX Realty, ROX Insurance, ROX Travel and all of the publishing entities including the Smart Shopper and ROX! Magazine. At ROX, Elaine serves in a multi-faceted capacity overseeing mergers and acquisitions or other expansion, capital and cash management and all aspects of financial and tax reporting. She also oversees many aspects of operations including but not limited to human resources, sales and marketing.

Elaine has actively worked as a Certified Public Accountant for 17 years, obtaining her license in Arizona in 1997 after studying at the University of Arizona where she obtained a Bachelors degree in Accounting.

In 1997, Elaine started her career at KPMG, a “Big 4” accounting firm and immediately was immersed in performing financial audits for a diverse set of clients, including many publicly held clients. Elaine had a specialty in insurance clients and took this specialty overseas to work as a U.S. GAAP specialist for international insurance companies who desired to list on the U.S. exchanges. During this exciting time, Elaine lived in London, Sydney and Zurich and worked in these financial centers for large multi-national clients of KPMG. Elaine worked with Lloyd’s of London and many other large-scale financial institutions in Europe. Elaine’s seven year career at KPMG spanned financial audits, initial public offerings, management consulting, mergers and acquisitions, SEC reporting, Sarbanes Oxley compliance and systems and technology integration.

In 2003, Elaine accepted a position in private industry with Financial Pacific Insurance Group (FPIG) in northern California as their Assistant Vice President and Controller.

Elaine played an integral part in the merger of FPIG, which was venture capital owned, and Mercer Insurance Group, a publicly held company. Once this merger was completed, Elaine assumed the lead for the company’s Sarbanes Oxley compliance and oversaw all aspects of SEC compliance.

She authored the Annual Reports and Proxy Statements filed with the SEC for several years.

After the birth of her twin boys, Elaine took a short break from public and private practice to raise her sons but kept up with markets and the accounting practice. Soon after, in 2012, Elaine joined the ROX Group as their Chief Financial Officer. In 2013, Elaine married Rock Earle, the President and CEO of ROX Group.

THE MANY HATS OF ME!

I was born the eldest child with two younger brothers. We were raised on Long Island, New York in what was then the tiny hamlet of Northport. Summers were spent vacationing, i.e. camping, in the Hamptons - long before the Hamptons became a tony destination. Yes, I know – I don’t have the LAWN GUY-LAND accent. We moved briefly to Arizona in 1976 and then back across the country the following year, this time to the central Florida community of Eustis – also known as Useless to local high school students. Yes, I know – I still don’t have the accent! Many years of voice lessons worked their magic to impart a more neutral rather than regional diction!

After returning to Arizona and marrying my husband Rick in 1983 we made Maricopa our home – long before Maricopa became the booming city it is now. We have two children, three grandchildren and DOGS: Kali, Squeakers, Shadow, Molly and Five. Yes, we named the fifth dog – Five.

I’ve worked in Casa Grande since the mid 90’s and was with KCAB-TV28, Casa Grande’s television station, from its beginning days in 1999 until we went off air 12 years later.

A mid-life career change lead me to real estate during the downturn market in 2010 with ROX Real Estate, which later became Coldwell Banker ROX. One thing led to another and while I still sell real estate, I’ve added a few twists.

“What hat am I wearing at the moment?” is just a normal day. I thrive on deadlines and multi-tasking; juggling many projects at a time is normal. To me, interacting with people on different levels is enjoyable. I may start the morning as General Manager at ROX GROUP reviewing copier contracts only to later in the day write a contract as a REALTOR® to help a client purchase their dream home. And in between - before and after as General Manager and Managing Editor at ROX!Magazine, Smart Shopper and Property Previews - the many stages of birthing a magazine round out my day. With staff in Casa Grande, Flagstaff and Prescott and four publication deadlines – meetings abound and emails are plenty.

In my spare time (yes, I do manage a few hours) I admin a Facebook networking page for the dogs of Pinal County Animal control. Adoptions and rescues are up...euthanasia is down! So all those hours are paying off.

No matter what, I wouldn’t trade the crazy, chaotic schedule for anything!

KRISTEE VANDERHEYDEN Operations Manager, Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

I have been with Coldwell Banker for 9 years, starting at Coldwell Banker Excel Realty and being a part of the merge to Coldwell Banker Rox Realty. I’ve grown up with this company and been given the title of operations manager and real estate licensee. I take pride in our office and it is my job to make sure each office transaction is done properly as well assist agents and their clients. After moving to Arizona in 1993 I’ve grown to love the desert heat and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Our weather allows me to enjoy some of my favorite things like playing softball and golf year round. I also enjoy cooking and my puppy Charlie.

Summer

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th Annual

Celebrating Women of Today & Tomorrow Mother-Daughter Conference

6th Grade Girls & Their Moms In Casa Grande Saturday, September 20, 2014 9:00-1:30 pm (Check-in 8 am-9 am) Cactus Middle School 1220 E. Kortsen Rd. An event filled with lots of fun, loads of give-a-ways, light breakfast and delicious lunch - all for free!

If you need more information or if you need a ride to the event call 520-836-2111. www.celebratewomen.org

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HOW TO PACk

a Suitcase!

By Joanne Doughty

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fter traveling with my husband, a career military man, for over 23 years, and later traveling for my job about every 4-6 weeks, I learned what works and doesn’t work for me when packing my suitcase. We are still traveling since we retired, mostly to Europe, but have taken trips to the South Pacific, Asia, and are currently booked for a cruise to Australia and New Zealand. Most of our trips are 4 weeks, even 36 days.

There are several situations to be considered before starting to pack for a trip. Where are you going? How long will you be gone?

What is the expected weather—what season are you traveling in?

How will you travel?

Now, let’s see.

• Where are you going? Out of the country—to Europe or to Asia; or within the US or Canada; if it’s summer in New England, will Arizona tee shirts be enough, or should you bring a windbreaker and waterproof jacket? Or will you be traveling to central Arizona where the daytime temperatures soar past 110 degrees F. We woke to snow in July at Yellowstone National Park.

Will you be gone one week, two weeks, or more?

• • What season will it be at your destination—including high travel season when children are out of school or workers in foreign countries travel in the two busiest summer months; or will it be to the South Pacific, when it’s summer in December and winter in July.

• After you arrive at your destination will you be on a bus excursion for the entire trip, where you will be in a different city each night—arrive at 6:00 P.M. and bags out by 6:00 A.M.? Will you be on a river cruise or larger cruise liner where you unpack once? Will you leave the cruise and continue by bus?

• Will you travel by air; how much will it cost you to check two bags? Will the airlines approve the size of your carry-on?

All of this has an affect on how you pack a suitcase: what you put in it, how much to take.

On a one week trip within the US or Canada, you probably can take only a carry-on with a personal bag with a camera, light jacket and umbrella. For several weeks in other continents you will probably need a larger checked bag and a carry-on.

For this exercise, I will assume you are going on a 3-week trip to Europe in late spring or late fall. That means it will be near Summer and possibly warmer weather in Italy, the Mediterranean Riviera, and the Middle East; cool weather near the North Sea, Iceland, the British Isles, Germany, Sweden, Russia. In late fall in Europe, you can expect very cold mornings, and maybe 50-60 degrees in afternoons, along with several rainy days. It can be pretty cold in July in Germany if it’s rainy and cloudy.

The best size suitcase is a 25 inch soft side with outside pockets. Suitcases vary in quality, but the top of the suitcase where the handle is should be pretty sturdy (hard) and not easily pushed

down in the center. Check the quality of all zippers and try them all around. Zippers should be nylon and self-repairing. Weak zippers can come apart during baggage handling. It is a good idea to have a second handle along the side to aid in lifting the bag especially on and off a bed while packing. An expandable one is a plus and should be considered. Of course, there are other types of luggage, namely a duffel bag with zipper and end side pockets and wheels, backpacks usually for hiking, etc. Deplaning in foreign airports means long walks, so wheeled bags are best!

The weight fully packed for international flights should not be more than 50 pounds; there is an extra charge for overweight bags and for more than one checked bag on most airlines. It is best to check the baggage policy for the particular airlines on which you are traveling PRIOR TO arriving at the airport. There are also various kinds of duffel and backpacks that can be used as carry-ons.

A luggage scale comes in handy to check the suitcase weight but a bathroom scale works in a pinch.

If you are traveling together with a partner, give one complete set of clothes including underwear and socks to the partner to carry in their checked baggage. Why should we do this? If one person’s checked bag gets lost, the other person is carrying an extra set of clothes for the person whose bag didn’t make it. In your carry-on place another complete set of clothes for yourself, a lightweight jacket, and maybe a sweater for layering depending on weather.

Again, in case both of your suitcases are lost, you each have a second set of clothes in your carry-on to wear during the trip.

Before we get the suitcases together, we lay the clothes we want to take on the bed matching shirts or tops with pants. It’s best to keep to one color scheme so that everything goes together. By looking at the combinations of clothes, we determine if we need more or less clothing. Traveling overseas on bus trips, you are good with quite casual clothes. On some river cruise lines, men may or may not have to wear a dress jacket. If you are on a large cruise ship, there are usually two nights a week where the dress is formal (tux or dark suit for men) at the main dining room.

I’d like to bring up something about what you wear while traveling in foreign countries. TSA suggests that you wear clothes that do not call attention to you, such as wearing a tee shirt that has the American flag printed on it, or your jacket has an American flag on it. I know about being a proud American, but in this day, you could become a target for terrorism. You not only put yourself at risk, but those around you. There was a time when I was proud for people to know I came from America, and I met a lot of nice people. But, that’s not the case today—be vigilant.

Now let’s talk about what to put in the suitcase. On the bottom place a plastic raincoat with a hood, and a folding hat if going to a place that will be rainy and/or cold, or a sun hat that has a

Summer

brim. First, think of layering and avoid carrying a heavy coat for cold mornings. This means with the lined water resistant hooded windbreaker carry a long sleeve jersey and a sweater or two that are easily washed if necessary.

Now your clothes. Usually, travel advisors say to lay out your clothes you want to take and then take only half of them.

Actually, that works. For a 3-week trip you can get by with three or four pair of pants/ jeans, not including the ones you wear. This includes what your partner carries for you, and the set you carry in your carry-on.

Some men wear shorts on trips, but in some temples, men must have long pants and women long sleeves and head covering; shoes are not worn in temples, so make sure socks don’t have holes in them. Women do not have to wear head coverings in cathedrals. On trips we’ve taken most women do not wear shorts--maybe in Southern Italy or other warm climates shorts may be worn. Most women wear capris or long pants.

I place the pants crisscross (+) on all sides of the suitcase. That is, the waist of the first pair goes to the lower end of the suitcase, the legs hang over the opposite side. The next pair waist goes to the other end (top) of the suitcase and the legs hang over the other side. I lay several shirts out on a bed, one on top of the other, sleeves together. Then I pick them up by the shoulders and lay them all together to fit the inside of the base I built with the pants, folding in the sides of the shirts; depending on your size you may have two “packages” of shirts. I continue setting the tops/shirts on top of the pants. Then fold the pant legs over the shirts, one by one. This type layering prevents multiple wrinkles in the pant legs and in the blouses/shirts. Fill in the rest of the suitcase on top and edges with a toiletry bag, underwear, and socks and other incidentals to make life easy on the trip, such as curling iron, laundry items like a few clothes pins, small liquid laundry packets (all in a plastic bag), and a few pants hang-

ers wrapped together with bands. Some people like to use packing cubes or other such item to pack a suitcase. Or, some people like to pack a complete outfit and underwear in a zip lock bag for each day; repack as they use it or launder it. I tried this and didn’t like the end result, and the bags took up too much space in the suitcase.

Shoes. Carry an extra pair of good walking shoes and wear one pair. The second pair will come in handy if the first pair gets wet in heavy rain. TSA advises to place soles of shoes to the outside on the top or bottom in a suitcase for screening; they need not be together.

Toiletry bag. The smaller the items the better. Carry two or three travel size tubes of toothpaste (checked bag only) so that as you use them up, they get tossed. You don’t need shampoo as most hotels and ships provide a multi-use soap dispenser in the shower.

Shaving cream comes in travel size; when it’s gone toss the can and less weight going home. For cosmetics I can get by with minimal and of course sunscreen and moisturizer.

In the suitcase inside pockets, place your name and address, a copy of your medical history, medical will, durable power of attorney, list of medications, and family contacts and maybe Medic Alert information in a gallon zip lock bag. Also have a copy of the tour contract and a copy of the travel protection plan policy; an extra copy of your flight itinerary; a list of banks, telephone numbers, and account numbers of your credit /ATM cards in case they are lost or stolen, you can call to inform the bank.

Some travel protection plans will assist you with this. Bring a bag of “what if” items of over-the-counter medications that you may need for cold, flu, motion sickness, the “revenge” disease, coughs, first aid kit, padded foot bandages, etc. I usually purchase OTC medication that come in tablets or gel caps to avoid breakage and save space.

Also carry copies of the same information in your carry-on.

Carry-on: This should contain your ex-

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tra set of clothes (I can fit two extra tees for dress up and a light sweater, a windbreaker and two lightweight pair of pants) in my carry-on, and pajamas. I have dual use of black stretch jeans—they look good for dress or touring. Also in the carryon have all your medications you will need for the trip plus 5-10 days more (include a list of medications here as well, in case TSA wants a bottle or list). Remember that liquids or gels have to be in a one- quart clear zipper bag, and be no more than 3 ounces. This is the 3-1-1 bag: 3 ounces, one bag, for one person. Include an umbrella, camera, extra film or batteries, e-reader or tablet in your carryon. Be sure to check the TSA.gov website for prohibited items on aircraft, how to carry medications and what has to be declared.

Passports, tickets and cash Carry your passport and boarding passes in a carrier around your neck, even inside your shirt, while in the airport. There are neck and waist packs that have protection from compromise of your personal information and credit card numbers; these are called RFID items. Make copies before you leave home of the passport first two pages, in color if possible, and carry one copy with you while touring, in a zippered pocket, neck pouch, or waist pack, and place one copy in your checked baggage and in your carry-on. If your passport gets lost or stolen you can prove you had a passport with the copy; it will help at the American embassy or consulate overseas or if you have to go to a clinic or hospital. Also carry two passport photos with you.

Instead of carrying a bulky wallet with your cash and all kinds of credit cards or cards like AARP, AAA, etc., use a very small 2- zippered pouch that has a slot for ID and carry a small amount of cash and one credit card and/or ATM card. Your partner should have a different card in case cards get stolen, there is a second card to use. My husband usually carries a 20 Euro note or similar currency and some change; his US money is in a waist pack or neck pack inside his clothing. In most major cities your tour director will be sure to remind you that that city is known for its pickpockets. If your hotel or ship cabin has a safe, you can leave your passport there while out touring.

After all is said and done, and it’s time to fly home, you have to pack that dang bag again. The way I packed it for going is not the way I pack to return home. I don’t care what gets wrinkled then—everything will go in the laundry. I don’t layer, I just fold the clothes and get them in the suitcase—it’s time to go home. After your first trip, you will know what is or isn’t going to work for you and you will pack differently the second time.

Happy traveling.

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Silent Witness Anti-Crime Night “BUILD SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT!” The Annual Silent Witness Anti-Crime Night, formerly called “National Night Out” began in Casa Grande in 1993.

The ‘official’ National Night Out takes place the first Tuesday in August. For us here in central Arizona, the first Tuesday of August brings both extreme heat and the high risk for an evening monsoon storm to dampen the festivities. A decision was made to host our own local event when the weather would be more enjoyable for both vendors and attendees and it’s been October ever since.

For many years, the Casa Grande Police Department has sponsored the event at the Old Cougar Football Stadium now known as Carr-McNatt Park. (Located at the corner of Brown Ave and 10th St, by the Palm Island Aquatics Center) This year’s event is no exception and will be held on Friday, October 3rd, 2014.

Each year, more than 7,500 residents attend and enjoy the evening festivities and entertainment. On average, more than 75 local businesses, non-profits and first responder agencies set up displays, share information, give demonstrations and provide entertainment for all ages. There are

plenty of games and rides for the kids as well as good food, drink and a raffle with great prizes given out to the lucky winners.

While an enjoyable family evening at the end of summer, the Silent Witness Anti-Crime Night has a more direct purpose. It is one of the major fundraising events for the Casa Grande Police Department’s Silent Witness program. Each year, this event raises over $14,000 to be used as rewards for crime tips as well as providing crime prevention education to area youth.

Silent Witness provides our community with the opportunity to assist in the fight against crime – safely and anonymously, with monetary rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of a suspected felon. We must make serious criminal activity unattractive, and this is not possible without a deep, direct community involvement in the law enforcement process.

The public has the responsibility for assisting in the enforcement of the law. Help continue to make Casa Grande a peaceful and safe community.

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Tips for

WARM WEATHER Workouts

Susan speaks to local business groups and home audiences on a frequent bais concerning fitness, hydration, whole food education and being helthier in the workplace.

Cell# 520-252-6796 - Susanconn_hood@msn.com - www.sueconnhood.juiceplus.com

By Susan Conn-Hood – Certified Yoga/Fitness Instructor & Whole Food Educator

1. PLAN AHEAD.

It’s too easy to call off your exercise routine when the temperature hits 100 degrees or the humidity is high, or the wind is howling. Create an alternate workout regime that won’t result in you calling it quits because the weather isn’t on your side.

Take a high energy indoor aerobic class, a relaxing Yoga class or hit the pool for laps and water aerobics.

2. STAY HYDRATED

The rule of thumb is a liter of water for every hour of activity but this varies depending on your level of intensity, duration, your body type and the weather. The key is to keep and drink plenty of fluids with you at all times whether you are exercising outdoors or indoors. Prepare yourself with electrolyte replacement beverage such as Gatorade or PowerAde in addition to your water. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to take a drink, taking smaller sips throughout your workout is best.

3. TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Always avoid the hottest part of the day – typically between 11AM – 4 PM. Head out for your exercise early in the morning or in the early evening when the sun isn’t pounding down directly on you.

4. WEAR SUNBLOCK

Sure it may be just a short workout – but even 10 minutes in the sun can do damage to your skin. Choose an oil free sun block with an SPF of 15 or higher. Check out the sport formula’s which are designed to last and protect you even when you sweat.

5. DRESS WISELY

The best choices for warm weather workout wardrobes include light colored clothing that’s loose fitting and absorbent. A selection of workout clothing made from moisture wicking fabrics such s Dri-Fit can be found at most sporting goods retailers.

6. YOUR PHONE IS YOUR FRIEND

Cell phones have become smaller and lightweight making them incredibly portable. If you are exercising alone, a cell phone can be a lifesaver if the heat becomes too much or if you are injured.

7. KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING

Choose familiar routes for walking, running, hiking or biking. IN an unfamiliar area a 30 minute workout can easily turn into a two hour adventure with one wrong turn.

This is especially dangerous when you’ve been in the heat for a long period of time and you may begin to experience some disorientation and get farther off track.

JOIN TODAY AND THE REST

OF SUMMER IS FREE!* CURVES CASA GRANDE

520-423-2458 • 312 W 10th St, Suite 2 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

CURVES ARIZONA CITY

520-466-6660 • 103350 S Sunland Gin Rd. Arizona City, AZ 85223

CURVES COOLIDGE

520-723-1001 • 903 N Arizona Blvd.

Coolidge, AZ 85228

*One time service fee charged at enrollment. Minimum 12-month recurring billing required. Monthly dues waived through August 31, 2014. All fees vary by location. Valid for new members only. Not valid with any other offer. Jillian Michaels workouts scheduled by location and only offered at participating locations.

8. PREPARE FOR BATTLE

Heat and sweat make skin more susceptible to chaffing and blisters. Ward off these types of injuries with an antifriction aide such as Body Glide which can be found at local sporting goods retailers.

9. SNACK A LITTLE

Eating is the last thing many of us want to do when we are hot and sweaty but your body needs the fuel regardless of the temperature outdoors. Nuts, fruit, raisins, and peanut butter with a few crackers are good choices for light snacks.

10. AVOID BUSY STREETS

Inhaling exhaust fumes while exercising is bad enough, but the combination of the fumes and warm weather can make you sick. Stick with neighborhood biking and walking paths.

Now that you have your warm weather tips – get out there and no excuses for not exercising!

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HAVE YOU SEEN...?

e v i D t a e r G d n u o r a s Spot rld! o w e h t

By Peggye Eck, Temptation Travel ROX!

Do you love to scuba dive? Or, maybe you’ve always wanted to learn? There are so many wonderful dive spots, and they’re all just waiting for you!

If you are a certified diver, or just want to learn, Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica is a great place to start. If you are already certified, the diving is free. Yes, I did say free. And if you aren’t certified, they will teach you and certify you for a small fee and then the diving is free. And, keep in mind….it’s not just Jamaica! They have resorts on several islands in the Caribbean, with great dive spots on all of them.

Been to the Caribbean? Want to try something a little different? The South Pacific has some of the best beaches and dive locations anywhere in the world. Resorts in Fiji are a whole different ballgame. You will find remote (and sometimes private) islands, beautiful beaches, and some of the best dive spots in the South Pacific. The neighboring islands of Tonga, Samoa and the Cooks also offer great diving, snorkeling and beautiful scenery.

How about French Polynesia? The lovely islands of Tahiti, Moorea and BoraBora will satisfy not only your scuba desires, but food and fun as well.

Maybe these places are just too far to go right now. Maybe you don’t have a passport. Not to worry! There is a wonderful alternative right next door………….The Islands of Hawaii!

5 fabulous, beautiful islands just a few hours away, with dive spots on each and every one. Not to mention hiking, biking, snorkeling, swimming, entertainment, food……….I could go on and on.

No matter your level of expertise, there is “the spot” for you, somewhere exotic, exciting, and just a short boat ride from a great beach!

Call us for information at 520-836-8517!

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Irish Adventure Coach Tour

Grab Your Girlfriends &

GO!

FREE FOR ALL Combinable offers for your family on select sailings.

KIDS SAIL FREE *

*Kids Sail Free offer valid for third through eighth guest sharing a cabin with the first and second guest paying full fare.

8 Days/7 Nights

This quality escorted coach tour features traditional Irish evening in Dublin, ferry ride on the River Shannon to view the Cliffs of Moher, a trip to Blarney Castle and walking tours of Waterford and Derry and so much more. Book your adventure to Ireland today.

CARIBBEAN FROM $399 Norwegian Epic

Best of Britain Coach Tour Beaches Resorts is rolling out the red carpet

7-DAY EASTERN CARIBBEAN FROM $499 Norwegian Getaway

for you and your friends to kick back, relax and enjoy Caribbean-style fun at the

Beaches Friends Forever (BFF) Girls Getaways.

9 Days/8 Nights

The Best of Britain escorted coach tour highlights are a traditional Scottish evening and visit and admissions to Windsor Castle, York Minster, Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge and Tower of London and more. Call us for more details.

2015 Ireland & Britain Early Booking Offer!

Save 10% up to $1,211 per couple on the land portion of any 2015 escorted coach tours of Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales!

Book by September 30, 2014.

Call for dates and deposit information!

Plunge into crystal-clear turquoise waters, enjoy unlimited premium drinks while lounging by the pool and savor delectable dining at 19 specialty restaurants. Special BFF activities planned from a jewelry and wine soiree, to seaside yoga and meditation. Plus, since girls just wanna have fun, enjoy a private Island Routes Sunset Catamaran Cruise and a $200 Red Lane Spa Certificate.

Choose the Getaway that’s right for you!

7-DAY BAHAMAS & FLORIDA FROM $499 Norwegian Breakaway

BEACHES Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa Oct 25-29, 2014 $1,499 per person Apr 23-27, 2015 $1,599 per person Sep 24-28, 2015 $1,599 per person

For more information

PEGGYE ECK • PEG@TEMPTATIONTRAVELROX.COM contact Temptation ROXANNE ECK • ROX@TEMPTATIONTRAVELROX.COM

Rox Travel today!

520-836-8517 • 1-800-690-7660 www.temptationtravelrox.com

Summer

SPOOKED

top

toturarctiisonts at

ify you! r r e t o t . .S U e h in t Queen Mary Dark Harbor, Los Angeles, CA Disney Halloween, Orange County, CA or Orlando, FL The Walking Dead, Universal Studios, Los Angeles, CA or Orlando FL Knots Scary Farm, Orange County, CA Erebus 4 Story Haunted Attraction, Pontiac, MI Markhoff’s Haunted Forest, Dickerson, MD

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to the Grand Canyon Railway Journey 130 roundtrip miles from Williams to the South Rim along a rail line that dates back to 1901 as strolling musicians perform the tunes of the west. Out your window the terrain changes from high desert to prairie, prairie to pine. It’s a view that’s ever-changing, it could very well change you.

Departing Daily From Williams, AZ Train Schedule 9:00am Wild West Shootout 9:30am Depart Williams 11:45am Arrive Grand Canyon

Here!

Then call: 520-836-8517 or visit tempatationtravelrox.com

Call ! w o N

3:30pm Depart Grand Canyon

Eastern State Penitentiary Tour: Behind the Walls, Philadelphia, PA

2014

f l e s r u Yo

11:45-3:30pm Layover/time at Canyon (Option to add a rim tour)

The Haunting of Lemp Brewery, St. Louis, MO

2.

e r u t c i P

Want to get really

for Halloween? of the Here are some

Vol.

5:45pm Arrive in Williams

Packages starting at $75 per adult…

Salem Haunted Happenings, Salem, MA Bloody Mary New Orleans Tour, New Orleans, LA

Just to name a few!

PEGGYE ECK • PEG@TEMPTATIONTRAVELROX.COM ROXANNE ECK • ROX@TEMPTATIONTRAVELROX.COM

520-836-8517 • 1-800-690-7660 www.temptationtravelrox.com

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Around the World in Eight Months

By Miss Dee Dee Davis, Adult Services Librarian Casa Grande Public Library

Y

ou might think this is a travel article or a pitch for a super extended cruise, but you’d be wrong. This journey is more for the arm chair enthusiast, for those who like a little camaraderie with their books and who are up to the challenge to be entertained. What on earth am I talking about?

The Literati. It is a top secret book club at the Vista Grande Library. Okay, so it is no longer a secret. This is not just any ol’ book discussion group mind you. It is more of an immersive experience.

The theatrics alone are enough to pull you in. Each month during the Literati season, the room is transformed into a resplendent setting from the current book selection. I do not mean little colored napkins and a few pictures taped to the wall, I am talking about a fog machine; loads of faux trees and flora; a tent; original art work, and twinkling lights, meticulously placed. I, the hostess of these meetings am always in some sort of costume. I’ve donned ball gowns, Edwardian dresses, hoop skirts and the like. The food is inspired by our reading choice. At past meetings, we’ve had Civil War rations, a bevy of French pastries, and a mini-five course meal.

The real fun comes in the form of “activities” and discussions. The last season we had a masquerade for the Phantom of the Opera, as well as two singers who came dressed in costume to belt out the title piece from the much loved Broadway musical version. For the Finale, the United States Colored Troops talked about their involvement in the Civil War along with hilarious stories about movie reenactments. Our discussions are equally invigorating. Many people delve into anecdotes, random tangents, peals of laughter and occasional tears during our debates.

Now in our second year, the Literati has grown to an average of 20 participants per meeting and more people keep coming! Our theme this season is Around the World in Eight Months. The first Wednesday of each month we’ll be traveling to another country. The Premiere will throw open the doors to 1860s Japan via Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka. I will personally be greeting people in my geisha-inspired ensemble introducing the sights, sounds, and sushi of Japan.

We’ll also have a speaker on Japanese culture, followed by a sword demonstration.

The Casa Grande Valley Historical Society is partnering with us to offer our members a special Traveling Exhibit especially curated for the Literati, touching on a certain aspect of the book and tying it back to Arizona and/or Casa Grande history.

Registration at the Vista Grande Library begins August 1st to claim a book for the Season Premiere to be held Wednesday, September 3rd at 11:30 am. There is a limited supply of the book, so hurry over to get your copy.

The Literati. The Next Chapter Begins.

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INJURY CLAIMS:

Common Misconceptions

By Joe Leal, Attorney at Law

Fallacy  You can’t be injured in a “fender bender.”

FACT  Modern bumpers are designed to protect vehicles, not vehicle occupants. Significant injury-causing forces can be transmitted to the occupants even in the absence of extensive crush damage.

Fallacy  You weren’t injured if you didn’t have pain at the scene of the collision.

FACT  After a collision, adrenalin surges and you may not immediately feel injured. Medical studies confirm that symptoms may not appear for hours or even days, depending on the injury.

Fallacy  If you fall at a store or business, the business is automatically responsible for any injuries.

FACT  The business is responsible for your injuries only if you fall because of a dangerous condition created by the establishment or its employees, or if the dangerous condition existed long enough that the establishment should have discovered and corrected the problem.

Fallacy  You have two years to bring a personal injury claim.

FACT  If a public employee or governmental entity caused your injury, you may have only 180 days to serve a Notice of Claim to preserve your right to seek compensation. If you believe you may have a claim, seek prompt legal help.

If you or a loved one have been injured, please check us out at www.coleandleal.com and give us a call, or stop by and see us. Since 1972, we’ve been dedicated to helping people who have been injured though the negligence of others. It’s all we do. This is our home, our community, and we strive to make it a safer place for us all. We’ve got the experience necessary to help you through trying times. No recovery, no fee.

helping pinal county's injured and their families

since 1972.

"Why Cole & Leal?"

• You'll talk to your lawyer, not a staffer • We're local, not an out-of-town storefront dedicated personal injury representation

Free Consultation • Se Habla Español 420 West Casa Grande Lakes Boulevard North Casa Grande, Arizona 85122 Phone – 520.836.8002 www.coleandleal.com

• We're not afraid of tough cases • Millions recovered on behalf of Pinal County residents • We're experienced trial lawyers and don't always "settle"

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It Takes a Village…

To Save a Life

By Bea Lueck, Volunteer – Pinal County Animal Care and Control

I

t’s a fact; people are passionate about their pets.

The pet industry is a billion dollar business. Exotic foods, fancy clothes and professional sitters are not too good for our beloved furry kids – no expense is spared to keep them happy and healthy.

The opposite side of the equation is unwanted pets and strays.

Animal shelters across the US struggle with the never ending volume of intakes. Pinal County Animal Care and Control (PCACC) is no exception. Empty kennels are fantasy and something only found in dreams. Reality is much tougher to accept; reality is healthy animals die every day in shelters across the US, euthanized because a forever home wasn’t found.

EUTHANASIA:

The act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy (Definition according to Miriam-Webster) Notice the definition doesn’t say the act or practice of killing of healthy, normal animals as necessary for needed kennel space. But that’s reality; shelters everywhere run out of room and can’t continue to pack animals in cages. That’s what hoarders do – take on more animals than can be safely and humanely cared for. Animal shelters need to set an example by housing animals appropriately and safely, by feeding adequate quantity of food, and by providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation. Too many animals in a kennel is not safe for the animals or their human care-

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givers. Animals fight for food and space, they go crazy from lack of exercise and stimulation; disease control is severely restricted.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED?

• Pinal County is over 5,374 square miles – the state of Connecticut is 5,009 square miles.

• Pinal County operates one main animal shelter in Casa Grande and an auxiliary shelter in San Manuel as a transfer location.

• City shelters are operated by Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Eloy and Superior. Other cities/towns such as Maricopa, Coolidge, Florence, Queen Creek/ San Tan contract with Pinal County to provide animal services as does the Ak-Chin and Tohono O’Odham Reservations. (Valley Humane Society is a private, not for profit shelter in Casa Grande not affiliated with the Humane Society of the US) • Last year almost 11,000 animals passed through the doors of PCACC. About a third of them are killed each year for various reasons such as injured, sick, owner requested euthanasia and yes – for space. Of the adoptable animals intaked in 2013, about 20% were killed last year for lack of placement.

PCACC is a county operated shelter that by Arizona state statute must accept all animals presented or picked up as strays. The animals that do the worst at the shelter are the Owner Surrenders. They go from one moment living in a home with people they know and love to dropped off at a crowded, noisy shelter in a 5x10’ kennel. These animals are terrified, confused and typically deteriorate faster than a stray. Owner surrenders happen for a variety of reasons – most commonly heard are: • Moving or landlord issues * Can’t afford to care/ feed/vet them * New baby • Lack of time * Bad behavior on the part of the animal *Allergies We’ve heard people say only ‘mutts’ are at the ‘pound’ – NOT SO! About 25+percent are purebred animals. (Source humanesociety.org). Every breed, Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier, can be found in a shelter.

RACHAEL RAY ASPCA SHELTER CHALLENGE UPDATE PCACC is in the running for the $100K top prize. As of the end of the first month, PCACC was in 12th place out of the 50 contestants.

They are in 3rd place in Division 4. CONGRATULATIONS! The challenge ends August 31st. The goal is the greatest percentage increase in Live Releases over your own numbers in the same period 2013.

VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHER NEEDED to take photos of adoptable animals for use online and with local publications. Contact Lynda Nesbitt at Lynda. nesbitt@pinalcountyaz.gov or call 520-866-7617 UPCOMING EVENTS: VACCINATION AND LICENSING EVENTS: Pinal County Animal Shelter 1150 S 11 Mile Corner Rd. Casa Grande Saturday, August 9th from 8:00AM - 10:00AM Saturday, September 6th from 8:00AM - 10:00AM Sunday, September 28th from 8:00AM - 5:00PM Oracle Sheriff’s Station, 1470 N Justice Drive, Oracle Saturday, September 20th 9:00AM – 12:00PM ADOPTION EVENTS:

Desperate Housecats

Cat and kitten adoption event at the shelter Sunday, August 10th from 10:00AM - 2:00PM DISCOUNTED ADOPTION FEES! Includes spay/neuter, microchips and vaccinations

So How Can You Help?

The first thing that comes to mind is ADOPT A SHELTER PET! For a nominal fee you get a pet that is spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated – a ready to go furry friend! Other ways include fostering for a partnered rescue or volunteering your services. VOLUNTEER?? YES! Volunteers are needed for lots of things at the shelter!

• Do you need exercise – how about walking a dog!

• Like teaching a dog a new trick – trainers needed to work with volunteers and dogs, do temperament assessments and stimulate the dogs!

• Need time to think – how about washing and folding about a thousand pounds of sheets and blankets EVERY DAY! • Construction and landscaping skills are needed to improve the meet & greet areas, install shade and make the shelter a more engaging experience for people and animals alike.

• Like working on your photography skills – take pictures of the animals, showing their best face!

• Computers your thing – NETWORK – POST – EMAIL! • Office work, filing, even assembling PVC beds – all tasks that need volunteers.

Pinal County regularly holds volunteer orientations to help get you on the path to helping. Call Lynda Nesbitt at 520-866-7617 to find out more on how you can help.

WE CAN DO THIS!!

LAST DAY for the 100K CHALLENGE Sunday, August 31st from 8:00AM to 5:00PM DISCOUNTED ADOPTION FEES! Includes spay/neuter, microchips and vaccinations SILENT AUCTION – RAFFLE PRIZES World Rabies Day event at the shelter Sunday September 28th from 8:00AM - 5:00AM Shelter will be doing low cost vaccinations, licensing, and promoting adoptable animals.

DIRECTIONS TO SHELTER: Florence Blvd, east past Promenade Mall to traffic light at 11 Mile Corner Road.

Turn right (south) to shelter, just past the County Fairgrounds on the right.

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The

T-Bones

By Hunter Penick

Perhaps you’ve never heard of the T-bones, but they were a bad gang, and this story tells how bad they were.

Eric Brown heard that some loggers were short on logs, so he decided to cut down every tree he could find.

The T-bones saw him cut down a tree and they handcuffed him from behind. They took him to a volcano and tried to throw him in but they couldn’t throw him high

enough so they just threw him as high as they could. While Eric Brown was in the air he twisted himself to the right position so when he came down he could smash them. He came down and smashed them so that he could cut down trees in peace. He cut down all the trees he could find and the loggers got enough logs. Everyone lived happily ever after, except the T-bones.

Complete Pest Control & Termite Services

Branham’s

Exterminating Co., Inc. 820 W. Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande

520-426-1160 520-316-0502

421 East Cottonwood Lane Casa Grande, Arizona 85122 Office: 520-426-4600 • Fax: 520-426-4699 Email: latisha.sopha@titlesecurity.com

Serving Casa Grande, Arizona City, Coolidge, Eloy & Maricopa Since 1982 Locally Owned & Operated ROC Lic. #15238BC

Summer

Vol.

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Let Us Help You With

Your

Spectacular

Smile!

Dr. Dustin Coles and Dr. Tyler Coles

1968 N. Peart Rd., Suite 24, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 • Phone: (520) 421-0880

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Golden Corridor | ROX! Magazine

“The Voice Of The Community”

EVERYTHING ABOUT ARIZONA’S GOLDEN CORRIDOR ARIZONA CITY • CASA GRANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • MARICOPA

Summer Vol. 2, 2014 - C o m p l i m e n t a r y

THE ROX INTERVIEW: ROX GROUP Founder Rock Earle

EVERYTHING ABOUT ARIZONA’S GOLDEN CORRIDOR

THE BUSINESS ISSUE The Value of

Business Turnaround Da boda da Dawwnn SS v oobo 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122

442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 Da wdawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com n S v o bo da (520) 421-1171 ▲ Cell: (480) 221-9826 Sales Manager/Loan Originator Da w(520) n S v o bo da dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com Sales Manager/Loan Originator www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite Casa Grande, AZ 85122 421-1171 ▲ 104, Cell: (480) 221-9826

Sales (520) Manager/Loan Originator www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com | AZ 0913936 NMLS #177235 421-1171 ▲ Cell: (480) 221-9826 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 (520) www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda 421-1171 ▲ Cell: (480) 221-9826 Co r p NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com NMLS #177235 | AZ 0913936

442 W Kortsen Road, Suite|#3113 104, Casa| Grande, AZ 85122 AZ 0913936 NMLS dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda Co#177235 r p NMLS Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 dawn.svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com Co r p NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda | AZ 0913936 NMLS #177235 www.AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda | AZ 0913936 NMLS #177235 Co r p NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 NMLS #177235 | AZ 0913936

SUMMER VOL. 2, 2014

SalesManager/Loan Originator Originator DaSales w(520) n S vManager/Loan o bo da▲ Cell: 421-1171 (480) 221-9826 (520) 421-1171 ▲ Cell: Sales Da w Manager/Loan n S v o bo da Originator(480) 221-9826

Budge Huskey: Forging His Own Path

SPECIAL FEATURE: Women In Business