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Leaders in Business & Community . . . . 28

Our Future Leaders: The New Casa Grande Youth Alliance . . . 48

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WELCOME NEW AGENTS

Erin & Yzmira

On behalf of Coldwell Banker ROX Realty, I’m excited to welcome two new amazing ROX Stars to our team! Erin Dugan and Yzmira Andujo boast enthusiastic, professional and caring attitudes. Please join me in welcoming them aboard! - Kelly Herrington, Sales Manager | Realtor

Erin Dugan

I was born in raised in good ol’ Casa Grande, AZ and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I too am obsessed with Cook-E-Jar Snickerdoodle cookies, Little Sombrero Hot Sauce, and McMashers wings!! I am also a CGUHS Cougar for life!! (GO COUGARS!!) I am a wife and a mother of two blue-eyed boys who love to keep me on my toes, all while making my heart so incredibly full. Growing up in Casa Grande and having watched the tremendous growth that has taken place over the years, I take pride in calling myself a local. Seeing how our community has embraced the growth while remaining true to its historic roots and keeping that small-town feel that we all love, that’s what “community” is all about, plain and simple. I knew I wanted to leave my own footprint in the community, which eventually lead me to real estate. My true joy is helping others. Whether my clients are looking to buy or sell, I love being that go to person along their journey who is ready to help them plant roots in our beloved city.

Yzmira Andujo

I’m a proud Arizona native with deep roots in Pinal County who was raised between Florence and Eloy, and now call Casa Grande my home. I’m a wife and mother to 3 beautiful girls. I am a graduate of CAC (go Vaqueros), ASU (go Devils) and NAU for graduate school. I have worked in the Real Estate field for a combination of almost 10 years. I have also worked in the human service industry. Working as a Realtor allows me to use my education, business sense and passion for helping others collectively. I have a proven track record of setting goals and accomplishing them, I bring that same energy and determination to each and every transaction I work. I pride myself on working hard for my clients, being reliable and having integrity. I love this community, and I want what’s best for my neighbors. It’s amazing to see all the growth over the past several years, and the growth still to come. I’m happy to be part of that growth and serving the people one home at a time.

520.423.8250 | roxsells.com 1919 N. Trekell Rd. | Casa Grande, AZ 85122 6

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2021 Winter Visitors Guide A comprehensive area information guide, including communities, accommodations & RV parks, dining & entertainment, shopping, sports & recreation, attractions & activities, museums & cultural activities, plus a calendar of events and detailed maps.

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ss & Community

Leaders in Busine

. . . 28

s: The New Casa Grande

Our Future Leader

Youth Alliance . .

“THE VOICE OF

FALL 2020

THE COMMUNIT

Y”

SINESS LEADERS IN BU

Y & COMMUNIT

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The ROX Interview:

Feature Article:

Renée LouzonBenn President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

Special Section:

Leaders in Business & Community

Where’s the State’s Money? Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee Knows

Boys & Girls Clubs Pivots, But Stays On Mission

Special Section:

Home & Garden

Economy, Finance & Business

Health, Happiness & Education

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

Leadership Found in All Corners of CG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Quebec Shines as City for All Seasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Not Business as Usual. . . . . . 25

Dessert Spends Golden Years Serving CG Kids, Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Leadership, Take the Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Super Moms Sound Off on Staying Fit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Casa Grande Public Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Call the Doctor! . . . . . . . . . . 60

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Letter from the Editor

Discovering the Leader in You

H Bea Lueck

ello, and welcome to our first Business and Community Leadership issue! This year, we decided to expand our popular Women in Business section to salute all leaders in all sectors of our growing community as it prepares to become a manufacturing powerhouse that still offers the same superior quality of life: cleaner air, shorter commutes and “wide-open opportunity,” as Pinal County likes to say. These pages contain many tributes to local leaders, many of them penned by other leaders. Casa Grande City Councilmember Donna McBride profiles Ann Dessert, an active 99-year-old community leader with a long track record of spearheading and organizing for organizations including Court Appointed Special Activists (CASA) and Daughters of the American Revolution. The City of Maricopa’s economic development team talks to several women entrepreneurs who have opened brick-and-mortar businesses within the past year, expanding the range of shops and services available to residents who won’t have to leave town to find them anymore. Coolidge Mayor Jon Thompson turns his spotlight to his community’s Chamber of Commerce and its Executive Director Lynn Parsons, highlighting how the Chamber benefits Coolidge’s small businesses and government officials. And Parsons, herself, writes about how leadership styles change during a crisis. Our ROX Interview also accentuates the vital role these organizations play, through a conversation with Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Renee Louzon-Benn.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

Superior Mayor Mila Besich lauds the efforts of all the leaders and citizens of her Town as they navigate the obstacles 2020 has thrown into their paths — in school, at work, at healthcare facilities —while keeping their minds on enhancing the greater good. We also feature statewide leaders of the present and past: Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, a rising star on the state and national scene, and the late Ernest McFarland, who launched his career in Pinal County almost a century ago, on his way to the U.S. Senate and Arizona’s Governor’s Mansion and state Supreme Court. Our focus on people who have already attained some level of recognition as leaders does not mean there’s a finite supply of leadership, or those who haven’t exercised that skill in the past can’t develop it for the future. Far from it. Here are just a few of the programs set up to teach people of all ages the skills and background they need to be able to guide other community members toward the greater good: • City of Casa Grande Leadership Academy — This is a free civic education program for those who want to learn more about how the City of Casa Grande operates. Participants discover how the City builds roads and parks, keeps the community safe, manages day-to-day operations and plans for future growth. They also learn about running for office and applying for a seat on City committees. See: www. casagrandeaz.gov/city-manager/ leadership-academy. • Hispanic Leadership Institute-Pinal — Open to anyone from any background, this

10-week program of weekly classes is conducted at locations throughout the county. HLI-Pinal participants receive college credits through Central Arizona College and get the opportunity to engage Arizona’s foremost business and policy authorities in a continuing dialogue about leadership and our Latino communities. See: www.valledelsol. com/hlipinal. • CAC Student Government Association — Central Arizona College’s student government promotes student engagement by sponsoring activities, offering programs, developing leadership potential and coordinating clubs and organizations. The association advocates student interests to the college administration and community at large. See: www. centralaz.edu/campus-life/student-activities/student-leadership. • RAZE Leaders Fellowship — An eight-month program for high school students throughout the county, it teaches participants how to identify an area of change, research the issue, develop a plan of action, identify and create relationships with the “powers that be,” all while being empowered to redefine who has the expertise to add knowledge to our world. See: www.raze.org/leaders. As with any gathering, course or event of any kind these days, check with these programs on the status of future events. And enjoy discovering the leader within you!

–Bea GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

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VOICES

PUBLISHER Elaine Earle, CPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bea Lueck DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Laurie Fisher ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Jamie Brashier COPY EDITOR/WRITER Blake Herzog CREATIVE DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tim Clarke GRAPHIC DESIGNER Shannon Price CUSTOMER SERVICE/AD TRAFFIC MANAGER Jamie Brashier DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING SERVICES Julie Turetzky COMMENTS & IDEAS editor@roxco.com CALENDAR INQUIRIES calendar@roxco.com • goldencorridorliving.com/calendar SUBSCRIPTIONS info@roxco.com • goldencorridorliving.com/copies

Angela Askey Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College Angela is the Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Central Arizona College. Prior to her arrival at CAC, Angela served as the Media Relations Coordinator at Mesa Community College and the Community Relations Coordinator at Idaho State University College of Technology.

Joel Belloc Mayor, City of Eloy Mayor Belloc was elected as mayor of the City of Eloy in November 2014. He has also served as a member of the Eloy City Council from 2002-2012 and as Vice Mayor from 2012-2014. He graduated from Central Arizona College with an AAS degree in drafting/ design, attended Pima College and the University of Arizona, where he enrolled in landscape architecture. He currently manages his family’s farming business Belloc Inc. Mayor Belloc is a longtime resident of Eloy and has been married to his wife Cecilia for over 40 years. Together they have three children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mila Besich Mayor, Town of Superior Mila Besich, a fourth-generation resident of Superior, was elected as the Town’s Mayor in 2016. She wears many hats in her community and region, serving as Executive Director of the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition and Advertising Director for Copper Area News Publishers.

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES info@roxco.com • goldencorridorliving.com/advertise (520) 426-2074 442 W. Kortsen Rd, Ste 101 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT Tiffanie is the owner of WickedFiTT in Casa Grande, AZ. She is a well-known personal trainer, group fitness instructor and allaround fitness junkie. Tiffanie specializes in weight loss, strength and conditioning and general fitness.

Tim Kanavel Golden Corridor LIVING is published by Raxx Direct Marketing. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of Raxx Direct Marketing, community members and local organizations. © 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, including but not limited to editorial content, illustrations, graphics and photographic images, may be republished, reproduced or reprinted without the prior express written consent of the publisher. The publishers of Golden Corridor LIVING 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. Golden Corridor LIVING 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 Golden Corridor LIVING Information contained within submitted articles had not been verified for accuracy and readers are responsible for CORRID LI V ING 10 GOLDEN forming their own opinions. OR Real estate information is as of 9-1-20 and is subject to current availability and pricing.

Economic Development Program Manager, Pinal County Tim graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in regional development. His career in Arizona has taken him from the former Greater Tucson Economic Council to the Arizona Department of Commerce, to private enterprise at the Tucson Airport, to president/CEO of the Wickenburg Regional Economic Development Partnership, and to his present position as the economic and workforce development director for Pinal County. THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

of the

Community

Renée Louzon-Benn

Lynn Parsons

President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Renée became President of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce in May of 2019, bringing over 22 years of involvement with the local business community and the Chamber to her new role. She is passionate about “living local,” and loves our community. Renée and her husband enjoy dining at favorite eateries, walking the downtown area and hiking Casa Grande Mountain.

Executive Director of the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce Lynn Parsons has been the Executive Director for over 10 years. Prior to this, she was a local business owner and very active as a Chamber board member. She is also a board member with Arizona @ Work and Friends of the Casa Grande Ruins and is passionate about her community and committed to working for positive growth. She and her husband raised their children in Coolidge and now are enjoying being grandparents. They believe faith and family are the basics to a good life.

Donna McBride

Christian Price

Councilwoman, City of Casa Grande Donna is the Program Administrator/Public Information Officer and Supervisor for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Unit for Pinal County Juvenile Court. She is actively involved as a Board Member for Casa Grande Alliance, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, BlackBox Foundation, Mayor’s Reading Program, Pinal County Town Hall Vice Chair, Parks and Block Watch Captain for the Casa Grande Police Department. She is a current member of the Casa Grande City Council.

Mayor, City of Maricopa Mayor Price is serving in his third term as Mayor. Mayor Price is an entrepreneur and small business owner and is a partner of the Sierra West Group, a financial advisory firm. Raised in Tucson and a graduate of Northern Arizona University, he participates in numerous regional and national coalitions including serving as the President of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, until mid-September 2020.

Craig McFarland

Bob Shogren

Mayor, City of Casa Grande Born and raised in California, Mayor McFarland has lived in Casa Grande since 2005. He is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and retired from Golden Eagle Distributors in January 2015 as VP of Sales after a 10-year run with the company. He has spent 36 years in beverage business-sales management, marketing and operations. McFarland began his first term as Mayor in December 2016 and just won his election for a third term.

Gigi McWhirter Resident Animal Whisperer Conceived in a plane behind the Airport Tavern, Gigi is living proof that it takes a village to raise a kid properly. She is married to the best man and lives in what she calls the “Best Dog House in Casa Grande” shared with a bunch of dogs, two parakeets and a finch called “Rusty”. Lived in Alaska, drove on the Arctic Ocean, walked on the Great Wall of China and drank Guinness in Ireland. But none of this compares to her profound love of animals and Flying Leap wines!

Director, Casa Grande Alliance Bob is a longtime resident of Pinal County. He has been an educator, school district administrator, community organizer and nonprofit board member. He also served for many years at the state and national level, working with AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs.

Jon Thompson Mayor, City of Coolidge Mayor Thompson graduated from NAU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was first elected to the Coolidge City Council in 2002 and served as Vice Mayor from 2006 to 2010. He gave up his council seat to run for Mayor and since being elected has retired as Division Director for the Pinal County Adult Probation Department after 30 years.

Ray Newton

Tori Ward

Journalist and Professor-Administrator Emeritus, Northern Arizona University A veteran of weekly and daily newspapers and book editing and writing — Ray has been there. He is a Professor-Administrator Emeritus from Northern Arizona University, now retired and residing in Prescott with his wife, Patty.

Cruise and Resort Specialist, ROX Travel Victoria “Tori” is a cruise and resort specialist with a master’s degree in political science. She has completed more than 30 certification courses with the cruise and tour industry including the most advanced certification, Commodore, from Princess Cruise Lines. Tori is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

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Rock Earle

Kelly Herrington

Susan Abdallah

Yzmira Andujo

Robin Armenta

Kari Bell

Sarah Campbell

Erin Dugan

Susan Gallegos

Veronica Garza

Karen Henson

Deborah Houston

Robert Huddleston

Justin Johnson

Kay Kerby

Jerry Kirkpatrick

Jennifer Lopez

Bea Lueck

Robert McManigle

Jon Orphanidis

Eryn Ortiz

Connie Rush

David Schlagel

Jocelyn Scots

Joyce South

Annalisa Tapia

Jennifer Turner

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THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION â&#x20AC;¢ FALL 2020

WHERE HOME BEGINS

BUSINESS INDEX A Latte Vino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Absolute Homes / Vivid Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Academy Mortgage - CG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Annie-Mac Home Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 84 Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Capital R Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Casa Grande Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Casa Grande Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 CASA of Pinal County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Central Arizona College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Chris Buys AZ Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Coldwell Banker ROX - Property Management . . . . . 23 Coldwell Banker ROX-BROKERAGE . . . . . .

6, 12, 69, 83

Cypress Point Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 DM Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Fitzgibbons Law Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Grande Innovation Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Grow With Grace Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Mankel Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35, 71

MEDA - Maricopa Economic Development Alliance . . 36 Norris RV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Pinal County Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 ROX Casa Grande Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 ROX Home Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Rox Travel CG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Secure Home & Pet Sitting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

1919 N. Trekell Rd. Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520.423.8250 roxsells.com

Seeds of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Shearer Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Star Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Sun Life Family Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 53 Theta Wellness Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Title Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

FALL 2020 LATE SUMMER • THE 2020 BUSINESS • THE EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP EDITION EDITION

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PINAL COUNTY by Blake Herzog

• A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA • A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOL

CG Community Rec Center Honored for its Design, Construction

he Casa Grande Community Recreation Center has won two major awards for its design and construction. ENR Southwest, a regional edition of the national construction industry publication Engineer News-Record, honored the structure in August as Best Government Building for the area including Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. It automatically will be submitted for consideration at the national level as well, Mayor Craig McFarland said. The recreation center was funded by a bond issue approved by voters in 2006, then put on hold when the Great Recession took away any money the City had to operate it, he said. The $16 million complex, which includes a gymnasium, fitness area, two large dance rooms, a large multipurpose

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room that opens out to an event lawn, four classrooms, a computer lab, a teen center and administrative office space, also was recognized with the Arizona Masonry Guild’s Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship for the artistry of the 50,000-square-foot building’s brick construction. The rec center was submitted for consideration for both awards by its design firm, Tempe-based Architekton, where the project team was led by firm principal Joe Salvatore. He said the ENR Southwest judging committee was first impressed by the level of public input into the design of the rec center. “The City Council from the onset directed the design team to ensure every citizen of the City had the opportunity to provide their goals and vi-

sion for the project. That was achieved through two years of community outreach at events across the City where people were gathered and at special Community Visioning Sessions dedicated to the Community Recreation Center’s design,” Salvatore said. “Hundreds of people of all ages provided input to the selected program elements at the new center specific to their community.” The result was a center that began serving residents of all ages as soon as it opened last year, with fitness classes and other activities, community meeting space and the new home for the main branch of the local Boys and Girls Club, he said. “Its execution and impact on the community solidified the award,” Salvatore said. The masonry award recog-

nized Architekton’s and contractor Haydon Construction’s use of detailed brick patterns on the surface of the building at 1901 N. Peart Road. “Generally, buildings that house large gymnasiums are large boxes that could become an eyesore and detract from neighborhoods. Architekton skewed the building block on a diagonal bias and detailed the large masonry walls and site walls with modulating relief of varying depths of concrete blocks to soften the impact of the massive building walls,” Salvatore said. The firm has designed several other Pinal County public buildings, including three on the Signal Peak Campus of Central Arizona College, the Casa Grande Public Safety Complex and the Copper Sky police station in Maricopa.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

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Maricopa Parks and Rec Programs Win Statewide Awards T he Cit y of Maricopa’s Parks and Recreation Department won big during August’s Arizona Parks and Recreation Association online awards presentation, with two innovative programs receiving top awards: • Maricopa Swims, which has taught 198 first graders how to swim well enough to be safe in the water, was honored as Outstanding Educational Program, with the award presented to James Schultz, Maricopa recreation coordinator of aquatics, and Joshua Bowman, risk and safety administrator. • Maricopa Espor ts, in which up to 400 youth have participated, was named Outstandi ng Sp or t s P r o g r a m, w it h t he aw a rd presented to Esports Director Matthew Reiter. Reiter said both programs are emblematic of the department’s

commitment to innovation in its services to the public. Esports’ public profile has risen dramatically over the past few years as leagues have formed to bring video gamers together to compete at live events that attract live audiences and are streamed live to viewers all over the world. T he spor t is e x panding throughout the collegiate scene, but Maricopa was one of the first cities in the nation to start a recreational program devoted to it, Reiter said. “Normally kids play video games alone in a dark room, in a negative way. We’re turning that around so they’re doing it in a positive way and a competitive way,” he said, adding it’s a great choice for youth who don’t like playing sports to experience the positive social aspects of doing so. Maricopa Esports includes incentives for physical activity and nutritious diets, including discounts off player fees for completing workouts and diet suggestions. The City hosts an adult esports league as well.

Maricopa Swims, sponsored by local utility Global Water Resources, is a safety-centered program that was piloted last fall, teaching water survival skills to almost 200 first graders from the Maricopa Unified School District. Students from Maricopa and Butterfield elementary schools were bused to Copper Sky Aquatic Center four times for weekly water safety lessons. In a pre-pro-

gram survey, just half the parents of participating students from the two schools said they thought their child would definitely survive if they were to fall into a body of water unsupervised. By the end of the four weeks, 190 of the students were able to jump into water over their head and swim back to the wall.

Continued on page 62...

Just Under 200 Multihousing Units Approved by Maricopa Council

oning for a nearly 200unit, single-story apartment comple x at t he southeast corner of Bowlin and Porter roads was approved by the Maricopa City Council on Aug. 18, possibly bringing up to 350 more residents to the area. The 25-acre development proposed by El Dorado Holdings, which was the first major developer in Maricopa’s initial housing boom 20 years ago, also includes

a 4.6-acre area of neighborhood commercial zoning at the intersection of the two roads. Brad Hinton, director of El Dorado Holdings, told the council the development “has been a long time coming, and we have a lot of exciting things in the making here.” Known as The REV @ Porter, the project is expected to have just under 200 bungalow-style apartments, built as standalone or duplex structures. The city es-

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

timates it will attract up to 350 residents at full buildout. “We consider this more of a luxury apartment complex. Every unit has a backyard, dog friendly, lots of open space, and it’s more of an upgrade, luxury apartment living for this type of product,” he said. The majority of the units will have one or two bedrooms, but a few will have three-bedroom floor plans, he said.

The previous zoning for the area was for light industrial uses and was changed by the council vote to multiple-unit residential and neighborhood commercial. The types of businesses that could be built on the corner include small grocery or drug stores, restaurants and cafes, dry cleaners, convenience stores and small professional or medical offices.

Read more news on page 63... GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

RenĂŠe Louzon-Benn hiking CG mountain

The ROX Interview

Renée Louzon-Benn President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Interview by Bea Lueck

enée Louzon-Benn grew up on the southern coast of Rhode Island, a beachcomber at heart. The call of the sea is still strong within her and she returns as often as possible. After moving to Arizona in the early 90s, Renée has been a fixture at the Chamber and community events since she first called Pinal County home. No matter what business or organization she was representing, you could count on seeing her smiling face and sunny personality at various events. With her long history in marketing and community service, when the Board of Directors of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce announced the current president was retiring, selecting Renée as successor was an easy choice.

GC LIVING: This issue’s interview is with Renée Louzon-Benn. I’ve known Renée since the mid-90s. Let’s start at the beginning. Where were you born and raised? RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: I was raised in Narragansett, Rhode Island, born at the nearest hospital in Wakefield, Rhode Island. GC LIVING: Where’d you go to school? RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: I went to Narragansett Junior-Senior High School, I graduated in 1982. I sometimes think about Facebook and how neat it is that I’m able to keep in touch with so many people from high school. Then I attended the University of Rhode Island for a semester, as an art major because art was my thing in high school.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

Art and choir. I also took college prep classes because it was just assumed that I would go to college, but I really thought of being an art major. But my first semester, I couldn’t even get into an art class. By the end of that semester, I had no wind in my sails, and so I took a year off, which turned into quite a few more … GC LIVING: I grew up on the East Coast as well, in a small community that’s very similar, on the water. The sea played a big part of my early years. Would you go down to the shoreline at low tide and go clamming? RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: Oh my goodness. I’m such a beachcomber. I grew up at the coastal area. I could walk to the beach from

my home. I preferred walking to the beach in the off season from Labor Day to Memorial Day because from Memorial Day to Labor Day is like our winter visitor season here. I love walking on the beach and being a shell seeker. I would go clamming. When I was much younger, my parents felt I was too young to go over the bridge on my own, to go to the popular clamming areas. So instead, I used to go around the island, just scrabbling around the rocks at low tide and picking the little periwinkle snails off the rocks. GC LIVING: How did you end up in Arizona? RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: My first husband managed a marina store, selling boats and accessories, and in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s, sales slowed year over year. In 1993, one of his customers was moving to Arizona to start a business and offered him a job. After much discussion, we decided to pursue this move to Arizona and start a new adventure. We drove cross-country with our 14-month old son, Joshua, taking our time to stop along the way. We arrived in Mesa on the 4th of July. GC LIVING: So July 4th is when you decided you just located in Hell. RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: I really thought to myself, “Oh, this truly is hot.” Like a different kind of hot than I had experienced before. It was something. And my air conditioning died in my car the next week. It was just a disaster. I told my husband I wanted to move back. And we had lots of discussion and he encouraged me to really be open to giving it a try. And I did. I grew to love Arizona. I think it’s beautiful and diverse. And as much as there’s lots of places I’ve been to, Arizona Highways magazine, who I follow on Facebook, reminds me of all the places I have yet to see. It’s stunning and I love exploring it!

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The ROX Interview (continued)

Renée with her mom on graduation day at UOP

Unfortunately, the venture we moved out here for did not work out. Funny how that is, you make plans, and life has a way of happening. We hung in here. He ended up doing commercial sheet metal/HVAC work, and I worked in hospitality. We moved to Arizona City in 1995, and I took a sales position at the Francisco Grande Resort. It was in that position that I first started representing an organization to the Greater

OR LI GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR LIV VING ING • THE INTERV IE W

Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce and served on the Ambassador’s Committee. From Francisco Grande, I moved to Casa Grande Regional Medical Center in 1997, as a marketing coordinator, and during my time there, I went back to school at Central Arizona College to pursue a degree in Business. I worked at the hospital for four years, transitioning to NextCare in 2001 as the marketing manager. I went through a

divorce that same year. I focused on raising my son, working and going to school, transitioning from Central Arizona College to University of Phoenix (UOP) with a double major in Business Management and Marketing. I took the position of director of marketing at Sun Life in spring 2004, graduated from UOP that year, and my son and I moved to Casa Grande in 2005. GC LIVING: How did you meet Bob, your current husband? RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: My first introduction to Bob Shogren was through Sun Life’s board of directors. He represented the San Manuel community to Sun Life. I was really introduced to him in 2005 by a mutual acquaintance, a coworker, who felt Bob and I would get along well. Bob reached out to me via email to see if we might meet up. He was as busy in his life in the southeastern part of the county as I was in central Pinal County. I was amused at the exchange of emails it took to find a day and time that we both had free. We met for dinner and talked until the restaurant closed. A few weeks later, we met again for dinner and stayed until that restaurant closed, too. A few dates later, which included him volunteering to help me with yard work at my Arizona City house I was trying to sell, he demonstrated to my son and my son’s buddies the art of juggling. I pretty much knew then he was a keeper. A mutual contact of ours once said that we were cut from similar cloth. We bought a house together the next year and married in 2009. He’s a good friend and stepfather to my son. Life is good. GC LIVING: And you just went back to school and got your masters’ degree. RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: I did. I finished a year ago in April and have an MBA from Western Governors University. I talked to so many people who say, “Oh my God, I can’t even imagine doing school online.” It is hard, and you have to be very dedicated and disciplined. Especially if you’re doing something you don’t necessarily enjoy. There were some classes I had to push myself through and others that really excited me. It was challenging, and I really am glad I did it. GC LIVING: So while you were at Francisco Grande, Casa Grande Regional, NextCare and then Sun Life, you were always very active in the Chamber, representing the business you were with.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Renée and family in California

RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: Yes I was. GC LIVING: So when longtime Chamber President Helen Neuharth announced her retirement ... RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: I got to thinking. I had been working in health-care marketing for what, 22 years? With Helen announcing her retirement it made me think about the possibility and the fact that I love being involved in our community. I was ready for a change. I felt that work at the Chamber could be a fun challenge. I talked to Helen about my interest, and then I chewed on it a bit more. I freshened up my resume and threw my hat in the ring and got the job. GC LIVING: So, you have nine months on the job under your belt and then March 2020 happens. RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: Oh my gosh, who saw that coming? What craziness it became for me in my new role, it also gave me an opportunity to overcome. One of my

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

favorite movies is Heartbreak Ridge with Clint Eastwood. He always talked about, “We’re Marines — we adapt, we improvise, we overcome.” I’ve always treated my life that way. You have to figure out what the obstacles are and try and overcome them. And that’s what we’ve been doing at the Chamber of Commerce. It has been challenging for our team. But, we have, and we are, a great team. And through this, we’ve adapted and improvised. It’s been challenging for our member businesses. It’s been challenging for our community. I’ve seen this as an opportunity for us to be really proactive in promoting everyone we can, in every way we can, with fewer financial resources, since we’re not having fundraisers or mixers. GC LIVING: What are some of the successes you’ve seen from the 2020 crazy show? Because there are positives. There are businesses that have overcome and found ways

to adapt and succeed. What are some of the ways you see the Chamber adapting, overcoming and succeeding? RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: I’ll kind of step back to when I first started. There were some hiccups. Helen was retiring and I was applying for her position. By the time I was interviewing for the position, two longterm employees announced they were also retiring, which was changing the dynamic of what I was moving into. But I still jumped in with both feet. One of the reasons I applied for the job is because I love our community and I love the idea of marketing and promoting our businesses. All of them, not just one, as well as our community. So fast forward these past few months and look at our role right now. I apologize to all of our members who see emails from us so often, but it’s to get information out to them about what’s going on.

continued on page 74... OR LI V ING THE INTERV IE W • GOLDEN GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR VING

ELOY, ARIZONA ELOY’S PARTNERSHIPS ADD EFFICIENCY TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

by Joel Belloc, Mayor, City of Eloy

W Over the last several years, the City of Eloy has executed several strategic partnerships with both municipal and county governmental entities to maximize the use of public resources.

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e made it through another Arizona summer. I hope you now are ready to enjoy six months of the best weather anywhere! Fall, winter and spring means cooler weather, sunshine and plenty of outdoor activities. I encourage all of you to step outside and explore the uniqueness and beauty that surrounds us every day. Over the last several years, the Eloy City Council has entered into several strategic partnerships with both municipal and county governmental entities to maximize the use of public resources. These partnerships have been, and continue to be, mutually beneficial to all parties. I believe these relationships speak well of our collaborative City Council and staff. With the rise of costs and revenues that cannot keep pace — especially in this COVID-19 environment — it is important that we seek opportunities to share in the cost of important services and facilities that our citizens value. We are pleased these other agencies are as like-minded during these challenging times. Three ongoing relationships are already in place and another partnership will be completed by October 2020. First is the intergovernmental agreement between the Town of Florence and the City of Eloy to share the cost of one full-time magistrate judge. Initiated in 2015, the magistrate judge works three

days a week in Eloy and two days in Florence, and his compensation and benefits are shared proportionately. This approach has saved both communities thousands of dollars to “right-size” both communities’ weekly judicial needs. In 2018, the City of Eloy entered into a unique arrangement with the City of Surprise for funding the cost of its Central Arizona Project (CAP) water on an interim basis. Faced with significant annual increases to the cost of Eloy’s allocation of CAP water, the City needed to find a way to fund its CAP allocation without jeopardizing future growth. The City of Surprise needed water to sustain its growth, at least on an interim basis, and was willing to purchase up to 2,100-acre-feet of the City’s allocation at the current market rate. As Eloy grows and needs additional water resources, the agreement can be modified or terminated by either party. When the City began planning for renovating and rebuilding the former City Hall building into an updated and modern public safety facility, Pinal County presented Eloy with an opportunity to consolidate the Eloy Municipal Court with the Pinal County Justice Court (located in downtown Eloy). In early 2019, the City and County reached an agreement for operating both the municipal and justice courts out of the same building, allowing for the sharing of operational personnel and maintenance costs. The Eloy Justice Center is now operated by the City of Eloy, with staff being provided by Pinal County for Justice Court services. Another partnership with Pinal County focuses on animal control. In October, Pinal County will assume responsibility for animal control services on a contract basis with the City of Eloy. Pinal County currently operates a wonderful facility on Eloy’s northern boundary, and the agreement will allow for improved efficiencies in customer services, higher adoption rates, and a cost savings to both Eloy and Pinal County taxpayers. Overall, the City Council should be proud of its ability to coordinate and cooperate with our neighbors to resolve issues of mutual interest, especially if that cooperation results in shared efficiencies and cost savings. In closing, I hope everyone had a safe summer, and I wish you all a cooler and beautiful fall season.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Community Gardens Grow CommUnity One thing that has not been affected by COVID-19 is our community garden. The summer planting season brought an abundance of yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, herbs, okra, watermelon and cantaloupe. The heaviest watermelon weighted in at 38.6 lbs! Our bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables benefitted our programs all summer long. But even more special than learning how to train taste buds to like something new were the object lessons of seeing how one tiny seed can grow into something special. That one tiny seed can be an act of kindness, a gentle answer, a smile or an encouraging word. This Fall the garden will sprout a pumpkin patch with both blue and orange pumpkins and giant sunflowers. The season will culminate with a harvest party for our programs with fun family

activities that teach the value of planting and harvesting. As the weather continues to cool, we look forward to improving the infrastructure and adding some ornamental details. A 26-foot labyrinth will be completed to be used for meditation, prayer and reflection. Various repurposed items for potted plants will be added. And a pergola will be finished. Our community garden grows because of the help we receive from volunteers. Both winter residents and year round residents roll up their sleeves and pitch in when needed. Some plant, some water and some harvest. And some even help pull weeds. Everyone plays an important part. The collective effort yields a sense of community and new green thumbs are always welcome!

Seedsofhopeaz.com

COOLIDGE, ARIZONA COOLIDGE BUSINESS SUCCEEDS WITH EXCELLENT PARTNER IN CHAMBER by Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

I The Chamber has been a staple in Coolidge, and the fruits of its labor are seen in businesses that line the city streets.

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want to take a moment this issue to focus on some excellent partnerships the City has with our community. Specifically, I’d like to speak about our excellent relationship with the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce under the direction of Executive Director Lynn Parsons. The Chamber has been a staple in Coolidge, and the fruits of its labor are seen in businesses that line the city streets. We are excited to have partnered with it on many occasions for different events and outreach for economic development. One of those economic development ideas started by our Chamber is the Coolidge Economic Development Committee (www.choosecoolidge.com). The group is a partnership between government, small business and other community partners to find ways to grow existing business and entice new companies into the area. The group has proven very successful with ideas to help the business community. The Chamber has also been able to develop many great relationships over the years and is an invaluable resource for those looking for information to get started in the City.

Parsons has specifically been involved with a widerange of businesses to help with employee retention, relocation or in starting a business. Some of those include McDonald’s, Spektrum promotional products and La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor in our downtown area. All of these small businesses play an important part in the community. Another way the Chamber helps the City is with the many groups, associations and partnerships it is a part of. Many times, chambers of commerce can be a valuable voice for the cities they serve and the Coolidge Chamber is certainly an asset. Perhaps one of the most timely groups they’re associated with is the Small Business Development Center at Central Arizona College. As businesses faced some challenging times this year, financial programs from the government for small businesses became an overnight need. The Chamber was quick to reach out to its contacts, who provided up-to-date and relevant information that could help businesses right here in Coolidge. They also maintain partnerships with local and state groups, which help to stay in tune with the latest business trends as well as the community. Arizona@Work is another way the Chamber partners with the state to maintain connections with businesses looking to hire or offering incentives that entice them to do so. The Chamber has had great success in helping businesses partner with Arizona@ Work to find high quality applicants to fill positions in the local area. Job fairs are also held at the Chamber and have been widely received by businesses and local talent looking for a job. I can’t say enough about the great partnership Coolidge has with the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce. From helping tourists find a great place to eat or helping a business owner look at ways Coolidge might be a great fit, the strong leadership with Parsons and the board have helped Coolidge grow in so many ways. When local organizations partner with government, the benefit stretches across the City. I hope you stop by the Chamber when traveling to Coolidge. The friendly staff can help you find something you may have not have experienced before.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

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Economy • Finance • Business

Leadership Found in All Corners of CG by Renée Louzon-Benn, President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

he impact the pandemic has had on communities, business owners, employees and individuals has called on many to be leaders. Some are born or became leaders early in their lives while others take on the mantle of leadership in their own ways, even if they never sought or wanted to lead. Coal, when under tremendous pressure, brings forth diamonds. So it is with people who rise to challenges and shine the light of leadership to help others when needed. Locally, our area leaders, such as those in City government, the Chamber and other leaders have stepped up to make sure area businesses can continue to stay in business. They have connected Casa Grande residents to important information about where to go or who to contact for business and

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health services, business updates, updates on area schools and colleges, and digital communication/links to numerous sites for specific services or assistance. Facebook groups have been created to encourage patronage and promotion of our local restaurants. Area service organizations have provided or partnered in providing food and care boxes for the underserved in our community. Churches have provided for those in need, especially during this challenging time. There have been many instances of existing or “new” leaders who have found ways to tackle the new normal. We have often said that Casa Grande is the heart of Arizona. Now, we know that it is not because of our geographic location within the state but because we care for our community members.

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” - Sheryl Sandberg (COO, Facebook)

Business Opportunity Community THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Not Business as Usual: Pandemic-Caused Breaches of Contract By David A. Fitzgibbons III

Force majeure, “acts of God” and the “doctrine of impossibility” are among the old or seldom-used legal concepts in modern times that can provide a defense for breach of contract – but the bar for those defenses is set very high.

ith the COVID-19 pandemic having forced many Arizona businesses to significantly change their operations to avoid shutting down, many business owners are left to resolve how they will be able to keep up with their existing contractual obligations. In the wake of the pandemic, an old legal term that attracts new attention is force majeure – a concept that, depending on whether and how it is defined in a contract, can provide relief for a party that finds itself unable to hold up its end of the bargain. Under a force majeure (or “superior force”) clause in a contract, a party to the contract may be relieved of its obligation to perform when circumstances beyond the party’s control (for example, a pandemic) have rendered performance impossible or legally impracticable. It is important to note that force majeure is not a general concept that kicks in when overwhelming circumstances prevent a party from performing. Rather, it is a specific provision that, to be enforceable, generally must define what constitutes a “superior force,” what events would trigger the provision, the remedies available to both parties, and how a party would be excused from its obligations. Certain clauses list specific conditions that will be considered a force majeure and relieve a party of some or all of its contractual obligations. Other force majeure clauses are drafted more broadly, leaving more flexibility to include, for example, a pandemic. The contract might contain specific notice provisions that a party is required to honor in the event of a force majeure or other anticipated inability to comply with the contract. The contract might also require arbitration of

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

disputes arising from the failure to perform. Finally, a party seeking to be excused from performance under a force majeure provision must demonstrate that it exhausted all reasonable means of compliance with the contract. Parties should carefully document any alternative means of compliance that were considered and the reasons they were either rejected or found to be impossible or impracticable. Both parties may be challenged to show that there were no ways they could have lessened their damages. Also, specific to COVID-19, if you seek relief, you might even need to show that you properly and timely applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan (or other government assistance) and that either your application was rejected or the assistance received was inadequate. Again, this determination will be very fact-specific and made on a case-bycase basis.

clude “act of God” protection. Under Arizona law, an “act of God” defense requires complete exclusion of any human act or “human agency” from the cause of the loss. As noted above, whether an inability of a party to perform a contract will be legally excused depends to a great extent on the specific facts and contract. If you find yourself in this position, we would be happy to discuss and work through your contract with you. David Fitzgibbons is a senior partner at the Fitzgibbons Law Offices in Casa Grande (520426-3824).

Non-Contractual Defenses

Even if a contract does not have a force majeure clause, a party’s obligation to perform may still be discharged under the “doctrine of impossibility.” The doctrine refers to situations when it is physically impossible for a party to a contract to perform. If your contract is silent on the parties’ rights and obligations in times of crisis, various affirmative defenses may be available to you, such as “commercial impracticability” or “frustration of purpose” due to governmental acts. Courts have generally held that it is against public policy to require a party to continue to attempt performance when a subsequent government regulation or ordinance has made that performance illegal or practically impossible. Your non-contractual defenses might in-

GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI V ING BIZ! • GOLDEN

SUPERIOR, ARIZONA LEADERSHIP — TAKE THE CHALLENGE by Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior

H In these moments of sadness, anger, frustration and fear for those of us tasked with leading, we have had to stay focused on making the best decisions with the information we have to protect those whom we serve.

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ow can the year 2020 be described? Extraordinary… unbelievable… arduous… challenging… All of these adjectives are accurate characterizations of the past seven months of 2020. There is not one person who could have anticipated what 2020 would have had in store for us. Mayors, councilmembers and school board members across our nation have been tasked with making decisions for their constituents that truly are unprecedented. Business owners have been equally challenged to pivot and adjust their business and customer service models to survive. Our school-age children were compelled to stay at home and learn online. Parents became teachers while trying to maintain their jobs. Others were furloughed or laid off. Frontline medical workers found themselves in the pandemonium of endless shifts with an onslaught of patients. No one has been unaffected by the impact of the pandemic. Without a doubt, how we function as a society has irrevocably changed. Despite the difficulties of this year, we can find encouragement and hope in how leaders, business owners and ordinary citizens have risen to the occasion to help their communities, their employees, and their families and neighbors find new and different ways to navigate through this crisis. My biggest takeaway from this experience is appreciation. Appreciation for the checks and balances that help maintain a measure of order and keep things moving forward. Appreciation for technology that has enabled us to stay connected to sources of information needed to make informed decisions, and most importantly to stay connected with our family and friends. Appreciation for those working in the medical professions, essential workers in our retail and service industries, and others who work selflessly to keep our world functioning. Most of us have lived life assuming there would always be enough of everything. The rapid upending of our world as we knew it has been challenging for everyone. Still, it has compelled us to ask, “How do we evolve through this and emerge smarter and stronger as a society?”

It is easy to get caught up in the unending barrage of rhetoric and day-to-day challenges that all of us encounter as we manage our lives, work and businesses. The daily death toll and positive cases are indeed tragic. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by COVID-19. I have lost friends, worried for family members who are recovering and, just like the rest of us, I am fearful of this virus. In these moments of sadness, anger, frustration and fear for those of us tasked with leading, we have had to stay focused on making the best decisions with the information we have to protect those whom we serve. I am proud to serve alongside some genuine exemplars of leaders in public service, in business and in education. We have had to make hard choices along the way, and the journey is not over yet. Most of all, I appreciate the encouragement and support that has been extended to me, the Town Council, our Town manager and staff from my fellow mayors, councilmembers, school boards, and most especially, from our Superior residents. While we are not yet through this storm, only by working together and staying focused on the greater good will we emerge from these challenging times a more resilient and vibrant community. Perhaps we will be battle-fatigued, but we most assuredly will be stronger and wiser than ever before. Stay healthy and safe. Together, we are Superior!

PHOTO BY CAT BROWN, 2016

Left to Right: Councilmember Gilbert Aguilar, Vice Mayor Michael Alonzo, Councilmember Steve Estatico, Mayor Mila Besich, Councilmember Olga Lopez, Councilmember Vanessa Navarrette and Councilmember Bruce Armitage.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

PINAL COUNTY

AT A G L A N C E Poverty Level Arizona 14% Out of the 3 largest counties in Arizona, Pinal County’s poverty level is at 12.9%. Maricopa County is at 12.3%. Pima County’s poverty level is 16.2%.

Mean Commute Time:

445,125 2010 Census 375,768 INCREASE of over 15% since 2010

Land Area: 5,635 square miles

Median Household Income

(Connecticut is 5,543 square miles)

Three manufacturing companies (Lucid, Nikola and Nacero), totaling $5.3 billion, have been announced in Pinal County in the last 24 months.

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Pinal County has issued over 2,400 new build housing permits in unincorporated portions of the county from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

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55,550

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31 Minutes

Total Workforce:

193,000

Total building permits issued as of May 2020: 5,174

Education

High School Graduate or Higher

85.4%

Based on the new home build housing permits issued by Pinal County from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020, they total $400 million.

Pinal County is experiencing a current growth rate of 3.0%, HIGHEST in the state and one of the highest in the nation. Gaining about 13,500 new residents or more each year.

Housing remodels/residence alterations total over $8 million from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

Employment by Sector – April 2020 Total Nonfarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,725 Total Private. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,700 Goods Producing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,950 • Mining and Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,150 • Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,800 Service-Providing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,775 • Trade, Transportation and Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,575 • Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 • Financial Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,275

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

• • • •

Professional and Business Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,525 Education and Health Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,675 Leisure and Hospitality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,150 Other Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100

Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,025 • Federal Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,375 • State and Local Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,650 Sources: Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), US Census, Arizona Regional MLS, laborstats.az.gov, Pinal County Community Building Safety Report May 2020)

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Special Section:

Leaders in Business and Community

by Blake Herzog

L Ernest McFarland riding in the 39th annual Junior Parada Rodeo, November 1971. Courtesy of The McFarland Collection

McFarland shakes hand of Korea GI, date unknown Courtesy of The McFarland Collection

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eadership is about recognizing potential and developing it to its fullest. It’s also about not giving up when you feel you have more to offer the community. Pinal County had a lot of potential from the beginning when it was carved out of Maricopa and Pima counties in 1875. Its location between the two has been one of its strengths ever since, but far from the only one. Its land grows crops and yields valuable minerals when it isn’t simply impressing us with its desert beauty and mountain horizons. Its clear skies provide abundant sunshine and weather that’s predictable enough for year-round auto racing, skydiving and swimming. Our Golden Corridor has been shaped by leaders captivated by the future they could see shimmering in the sun, and we honor many of them here in our Leaders in Business and Community special section. Let us also remember Ernest W. McFarland, a plain-spoken man who was one of the most significant leaders the area has ever seen, for he had a direct impact on growth at the local, state and national levels. Born in Oklahoma, “Mac” moved to Arizona in 1920; a young veteran who never saw combat in World War I after nearly losing his life to complications from pneumonia. One of the few benefits he received for his

service was the right to a 640-acre homestead, so he secured one near Casa Grande. He took an early interest in water rights after earning his law degree at Stanford and represented the Santa Cruz Irrigation and Drainage District, which spurred his decades-long quest to bring Colorado River water to Central Arizona. After being elected as county attorney and superior court judge in Pinal County, McFarland unseated an incumbent U.S. senator in the 1940 Democratic Party primary and served two terms in the Senate. He introduced the first bill authorizing the Central Arizona Project in the Senate in 1947, only to have it and subsequent efforts doomed by opposition from California, which was then using water McFarland argued was Arizona’s by right. Meanwhile, he did the work for which he became known as the “father of the GI Bill.” He was one of many who worked on the law but was singled out for his advocacy of educational benefits and home and business loans, recalling the lack of benefits he’d been entitled to and fearing the economy wouldn’t be able to quickly absorb the much larger number of World War II vets. His run for a third term ended in his defeat by Barry Goldwater, so he

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

returned to Arizona and was elected for his first of two terms as governor in 1954. He’d also formed a company with friends to bring a television station to Arizona, and in 1955 opened Phoenix’s third station, KTVK (Channel 3), which his family owned until 1999 and still thrives today. He went back to Washington as governor in 1962 for an unprecedented bid to make Arizona’s case for a larger share of Colorado River water by arguing before the special master of the U.S. Supreme Court. The special master ruled in Arizona’s favor the next year, resulting in the current allocations of 4-million acrefeet of water to California each year and 2.8-million acre-feet to Arizona and paving the way for the Central Arizona Project to bring that water to Arizona’s interior. After finishing his second gubernatorial term, he tried to get back into the Senate but lost to Goldwater again, so he ran for and won a seat on the Arizona Supreme Court, an elected position in 1964. In 1965 he wrote the majority opinion in the landmark Miran-

da v. Arizona case later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court and became the state’s chief justice in 1968. In 1974 he purchased the territorial Pinal County Courthouse at Main and Ruggles streets in Florence and donated it to the Arizona State Parks system, which he had pushed for and signed into law as governor in the ‘50s. The resulting state historical park bears his name today. He lived to see construction of most of the Central Arizona Project water canals, after its delivery was finally enabled through federal legislation in 1968. He died in June 1984 at age 89, and after a small memorial on Wesley Bolin Plaza in front of the state Capitol fell into disrepair, a new one featuring a 24-foot high arch was dedicated in 2015. McFarland’s foresight and determination is at the heart of what creates all of our leaders, and is found inside everyone highlighted in our Leaders in Community and Business special section. They are “Mac’s” successors and are hard at work fulfilling the promise of Pinal County.

McFarland in field near Florence, date unknown. Courtesy of the McFarland Collection

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

Official governor portrait 1956 Courtesy of McFarland Collection

Ernest McFarland (far right) sits as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. Courtesy of The McFarland Collection.

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

ELAINE EARLE Publisher & Chief Executive Officer ROX Media Group

laine Earle is an accomplished publisher and management professional with 22 years of experience working in public accounting, IT consulting, management, public relations and publishing on behalf of major corporations and also as a principal of her own enterprises. Elaine graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1997 and passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination immediately thereafter. Her 22 years’ work as a CPA prepared her for her current role as Chief Financial Officer of ROX Group, a business group that she owns with her husband. It includes companies with operations in the real estate, insurance, travel and media industries.

In addition, Elaine currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of ROX Media Group (RMG). In the Pinal County area, RMG publishes Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine, the Golden Corridor Smart Shopper, as well as custom publications for Pinal County and the cities of Casa Grande, Eloy and Maricopa plus area chamber directories and visitor guides. Personally, Elaine has a passion for traveling, and has been to over 40 foreign countries. Many more travels are planned, and now frequently include her 13-year-old twin sons. Elaine and her husband, Rock, are deeply committed to their family, and enjoy spending quality downtime together in addition to their dedication to operating and growing their various companies.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Elaine Earle 442 W. Kortsen Rd, Ste 101 Casa Grande 520.426.2074 roxmediagroup.net

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

ROCK EARLE Chairman and CEO, ROX Group

ock Earle’s history in Arizona began when he relocated to Phoenix in 1978. At that time, he began dealing in raw land, multifamily development and real estate brokerage. Here is a timeline of significant events: • 1985 A branch office was opened in Casa Grande and he concentrated fully on land brokerage and investment in Pinal County. • 1990 Rock Earle & Associates was formed, specializing in syndication and asset workouts and management, eventually managing over 40 real estate partnerships. • 2004 ROX Group was formed to pursue diversified business opportunities outside of real estate. • 2005 With the runup of the market and subsequent divestiture of most of the acquired properties in 2005, Rock retired from active property dealing and he traveled extensively for several years. • 2008 ROX Real Estate was born as the Great Recession raged with the takeover of The Mahoney Group’s real estate brokerage operations. He and his partners began rebuilding their portfolio of commercial property in the greater Casa Grande area.

• 2011 ROX MEDIA was formed as a captive marketing consultancy to provide marketing support to current and future ROX businesses. • 2012 The first ROX-branded print publication, cgrox, was launched. • 2012 Elaine Oaks, CPA, joined the group as Chief Financial Officer to oversee an aggressive mergers and acquisitions program; Casa Grande Insurance was brought into the ROX GROUP of companies and ROX Travel was established. • 2013 Rock and Elaine merged their personal lives; in addition to group financial oversight, Elaine concentrated on ROX Media, driving exponential growth to over 30 publications, while Rock oversaw the real estate operations. • 2020 The Shearer family of companies were brought into ROX Group, expanding its real estate-related activities to include new home construction and development, as well as remodeling, building materials and supplies sales, installation and repair, and a porta-potty company. Rock’s hobbies include travel, hiking, photography and writing.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Rock Earle 442 W. Kortsen Rd. Ste. 102 Casa Grande 520-421-9000 roxgroup.com

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

CLINT SHEARER President/CEO Shearer Development | Shearer Enterprises

lint Shearer was born in Phoenix in 1973, the same year Protective Insulation, which later became Shearer Enterprises, was founded by his parents. Shearer is a graduate of CGUHS and later went on to Central Arizona College and the University of Arizona. Clint joined the family window business in 1994 and in ‘96 added the garage door division. The following year saw his first new home construction in The Lakes in Casa Grande. His career has remained in the construction industry ever since. In 2014, Clint founded Shearer Development, a custom-home builder, building homes in Coyote Ranch as well as on client’s properties. Shearer Development is currently building homes in Cornerstone at Coyote Ranch, Desert Vista and soon to be in Cottonwood Estates. Shearer and his wife, Julie, purchased an ancillary construction business, Casa Grande Can Man, in 2017 and renamed the porta-potty company The Cann Mann of CG. 2020 saw the Shearer companies joining with ROX Group to form ROX Homes and ROX Home Services. They look forward to the grand opening of their new showroom at 2296 N. Pinal Ave this fall. In his free time, Clint enjoys spending time with his family and golfing the various courses around the state. CONTACT INFORMATION: Clint Shearer 2296 N. Pinal Ave. Casa Grande 520.836.6983 roxco.com CLINT SHEARER AND HIS DAD FRED SHEARER

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

BEA LUECK General Manager & Managing Editor ROX Media Group

ea has been the general manager and managing editor of ROX Media Group since its founding. Her team and her clients like to call her “the chief doer of stuff,” and it’s easy to see why. Before a project starts, Bea works with clients to ensure their visions are brought to life. In publications, she guides the process from concept to print to distribution and beyond. Bea has over 25 years of experience in multiple advertising media, including print, direct mail, television and web. Prior to 2010 when she joined ROX Real Estate (now Coldwell Banker ROX Realty) as a real estate agent, she was partner and general manager of KCAB, a low-power TV station that operated for 11 years in the greater Casa Grande market.

In the fall of 2011, Bea and Rock Earle launched CGROX Magazine to market Rock’s various companies. This magazine was the very first publication in what is now ROX Media Group (RMG). RMG now prints nearly five million copies annually. Bea has been married to her husband, Rick, for over 37 years, and they have two grown children and six grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and renovating her home – an endeavor she will never finish because there is always another exciting project! Bea is active in several Casa Grande area nonprofits and is past-president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley. She is a lifelong advocate for animals and currently has three rescued dogs.

JULIE TURETZKY

TIM CLARKE

Director, Public Relations & Marketing Services ROX Media Group

Creative Director, ROX Media Group

ulie Turetzky is the Director, Public Relations & Marketing Services for ROX Media Group, where she works to promote and provide support to the company and its statewide publications including Prescott LIVING Magazine, Prescott NOW!, Prescott Healthy Living, Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine and area Economic Development and Visitor Guides. Turetzky is a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience working in client and agency settings. She has created and managed marketing strategies — designed to meet client objectives and stay within an established budget — across many industries. She has experience in public relations, advertising, print collateral, outdoor, radio and television, as well as branding, packaging and tradeshows. Turetzky joined ROX Media Group after

spending five years in the publishing industry as marketing manager with House Beautiful special interest publications, where she ensured advertiser programs were delivered as contracted. She is an excellent communicator and able to keep projects aligned with their predetermined strategy.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

im Clarke is a print and digital design professional with more than 30 years of experience. He has worked professionally as Creative Director, Art Director, Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Photographer and Production Manager. Tim was most recently employed as the Art Director at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona, where he managed the school’s alumni magazine and web presence for six years. Prior to Thunderbird, Tim was the Creative Director at the Phoenix Business Journal for more than eight years. Tim is responsible for all creative consulting, magazine design, print production and web development for RMG and related companies. He manages production

of over 30 titles for ROX Media Group. He also maintains multiple websites for the company and external clients.

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

IRENE RAYRAO & KATHRYN COSAND-FULKS Insurance Agents ROX Casa Grande Insurance

rene was born in Casa Grande and grew up in Eloy. She is a veteran, serving four years in the United States Marine Corps – Semper Fi! Irene is an experienced insurance agent with 20+ years in the industry. Irene has been with Casa Grande Insurance (now ROX Casa Grande Insurance) for over 13 years. “Casa Grande has changed and grown over the years but has maintained that hometown atmosphere. I’d like to think I have contributed in a small way by assisting new and existing customers with their insurance needs. Though many of my clients are local, I also offer coverage anywhere in the state of Arizona. I look forward to meeting and assisting you.”

Kathryn moved to Arizona from Kansas in the late 80s. She worked in customer service for 30 years. Kathryn has been in the insurance industry since 2014 and is dual licensed in both Life/Health and Property/Casualty insurance. “I enjoy helping people protect the property they have worked so hard for.”

520.836.7660 roxinsurance.com

KELLY HERRINGTON Sales Manager/Realtor® Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

elly Herrington is the sales manager and a top-producing Realtor with Coldwell Banker ROX Realty. Kelly manages an office of 25 Realtors. She also serves as the chairperson for the Pinal Chapter of WeSERV (West and Southeast Valley Association of Realtors). In 2019 she was honored to be named the Pinal Realtor of the Year for WeSERV. Kelly is extremely active not only in her career, but also in volunteering in the community. She has helped co-chair the Realtor Memorial Run for the past five years; all proceeds benefit the local Alliance Cancer Support Center. She has a marketing degree from the University of

Arizona. Bear Down! Kelly has a supportive husband and two amazing children. When she’s not busy working or giving back to her community, she enjoys golfing, running and trying not to kill all the plants in her garden!

520.423.8250 roxsells.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

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THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Special Section: Business & Leadership

JOEL BELLOC Mayor, City of Eloy

ayor Belloc was elected as mayor of the City of Eloy in November 2014. He has also served as a member of the Eloy City Council from 2002 - 2012 and as Vice Mayor from 2012- 2014. Prior to this, he served 12 years on the Santa Cruz Valley Union High School Governing Board. He graduated from Central Arizona College with an AAS degree in drafting/ design, attended Pima College and the University of Arizona, where he enrolled in landscape architecture. He currently manages his family’s farming business, “Belloc Inc.” Mayor Belloc is a longtime resident of Eloy, and has been married

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PAULA LESLIE Owner Mankel Mechanical

OVID-19 has changed the way businesses operate. Paula was fortunate to have a business that was considered essential and remained open with changes. Masks, gloves, booties, sanitizer and temperature checks all became part of the norm service call. Business orders slowed down a bit but as more people worked from home, more calls came in for remodels. Even with precautions in place, they were not immune; in June one of their employees tested positive. Paula and her partner, Eddie Mankel, made the decision to close the business to quarantine. Then, almost six weeks later, Eddie started feeling ill. He was quickly admitted to the ICU. Fortunately, since he had been working from home, no employees had come into recent contact with him.

Paula was preparing to leave on a much-needed vacation and was unsure whether to go or cancel. Her sons, Vaughn and Shea, agreed there was nothing that couldn’t be done by phone or email. They wanted to take more responsibility with the daily business activities and now they had no choice. They divided the operations with one entirely responsible for new construction work and the other responsible for the service work. The recently hired office assistant held the office together for the two weeks Paula was away and Eddie was recovering. Sometimes we set out to be leaders but fail; sometimes that leadership role is thrown at us, but we don’t want to play batter. According to Paula, “My boys stepped up to the plate willingly, and knocked one out of the park.”

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

The Maricopa Economic Development Alliance (MEDA) is a 501(c)3 corporation established in 2009 to assist in fostering economic growth and prosperity in Maricopa. Since its inception, MEDA has brought together the business, government, education and civic sectors to identify and advance policies that facilitate business investment, growth and workforce development. MEDA’s board of directors is comprised of senior Maricopa business and education executives. Equally important is the actively engaged representation of Maricopa’s Mayor, Councilmembers and City Manager.

MEDA 2.0 In 2019 with the encouragement of the City Government, MEDA morphed into its “2.0” phase, which elevated the organization into a greatly expanded role. Today, MEDA is Maricopa’s trusted partner for relocating or expanding firms to provide professional, confidential services to facilitate these projects. MEDA’s new role has evolved into a formal organizational structure and physical presence in Maricopa, with the beginnings of a professional full-time staff.

BOARD ADVISORS

Dr. Ioanna T. Morfessis Senior Advisor

Mr. Bradley R. Pollock Special Counsel Snell & Wilmer

MEDA GOALS MEDA’s goals are aligned with City approved strategies. Generate Business Leads and Prospects for Maricopa Serve as the single point of contact and information source about Maricopa’s business locations advantages to firms interested in investing and/or establishing quality job producing operations in Maricopa. Promote and Market Maricopa as a Prime Business Location Execute marketing, business attraction and retention initiatives to generate opportunities for private capital investment and job creation in Maricopa. Provide Direct Assistance to the City on Key Economic Development Issues Identify barriers to Maricopa’s economic development competitiveness and support public programs, policies and investments to strengthen Maricopa’s business climate and quality of life. Strengthen and Advance the MEDA Organization Build a high-performing economic development organization in close collaboration with City Government to ensure that the organization is fulfilling its mission and realizing its goals.

Learn more about MEDA | www.InvestInMaricopa.com THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

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• FALL 2020

Special Section: Business & Leadership

MEDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-21 FISCAL YEAR

CHAIRMAN & CEO Mr. John D. Schurz President & General Manager Orbitel Communications, LLC

BOARD SECRETARY Mr. James F. Kenny President El Dorado Holdings, LLC

BOARD TREASURER Mr. Ron L. Fleming Chairman, President & CEO Global Water Resources

DIRECTOR Mr. Michael Adams Group President Great Western Bank

DIRECTOR The Honorable Marvin L. Brown Councilmember City of Maricopa

DIRECTOR Mr. Malcolm Green Director University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center

DIRECTOR Mr. Rick Horst City Manager City of Maricopa

DIRECTOR Mr. Timothy Kanavel Economic and Workforce Development Director Pinal County

DIRECTOR Dr. Tracey Lopeman Superintendent Maricopa Unified School District #20

DIRECTOR Ms. Bea Lueck General Manager and Managing Editor ROX Media Group

DIRECTOR The Honorable Robert Miguel Chairman Ak-Chin Indian Community

DIRECTOR Mr. Jason Plotke Co-Founder & President Private Motorsports Group

DIRECTOR The Honorable Christian Price Mayor City of Maricopa

DIRECTOR Mr. Adam Saks President & COO Dynamic Entertainment Group

DIRECTOR The Honorable Nancy Smith Vice Mayor City of Maricopa

DIRECTOR Dr. David Valenzuela Physician Executive, Arizona Primary Care Banner Medical Group

DIRECTOR Mr. Eric Wilkey President Arizona Grain, Inc.

DIRECTOR Mr. Daniel Wolf District Manager/ Division Operations Southwest Gas Corporation

DIRECTOR Mr. Brian Yerges General Manager Electrical District No. 3

ADVISORY DIRECTOR Ms. Lisa A. Russell Branch Manager II Great Western Bank

ADVISORY DIRECTOR Mr. Andy Kroese Vice President & CFO Arizona Grain, Inc.

John D. Schurz | (520) 208-2390 | info@MaricopaEDA.com SPECI A L SEC TION

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MARICOPA, ARIZONA COME AND BUILD A CITY WITH US:

MARICOPA WOMEN BLAZE TRAILS FOR LOCAL ECONOMY

by Economic & Community Development

“Come and build a city with us!” is our mantra. In the midst of the pandemic, building is booming in the City.

We saw a need for a medical spa and were the first ones to do it because this place is home. It was a natural and easy decision.

As of Aug. 13 the City has processed 722 new home permits, compared to 987 for all of 2019. Numerous other brick-andmortar structures, including a business park, hotel, apartments and new public library, are all underway. In celebrating Leaders in Business and Community, we interviewed strong female entrepreneurs who have come to build a city with us by opening new businesses in Maricopa over the past year, truly proving themselves to be leaders in their industries.

Vanessa McDill — State Farm (Opened January 2019) What do you offer? I provide insurance and financial services.

Kristina Donnay, FNP-C — Maricopa Wellness Center (Opened April 2019) What do you offer? I own a full-service medical spa and wellness center offering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, as well as facials, laser removal, botox, body contouring and COVID testing.

Karla Wear — Sweet Cravings (Opened physical location July 2020) What do you offer? My business is home-based bakery confections (cupcakes, cookies, brownies, any dessert that you can think of) as well as custom-designed cakes for birthdays and weddings.

Why did you locate to Maricopa? My husband and I own the business with my parents. My father and I run the business. My dad has lived in Maricopa since before Basha’s (the second development in Rancho El Dorado), and I’ve lived here for five years. All my family lives here (brothers, uncles and aunts).

Why did you locate to Maricopa? We moved here in 2005 when I was in high school. I went to high school here, and I loved it here. I love Maricopa. I love the feel of the city, how open it is, how many people come in daily. I also wanted to open my business in Maricopa because I hope to be able to give back to our com-

Kristina Donnay, FNP-C

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Why did you locate to Maricopa? My family and I relocated to Maricopa in 2005. This has been a great community to live in and raise our kids. The next step in my career was to open my own agency, and there was no better place in my mind to do so than Maricopa.

Vanessa McDill

Karla Wear

munity, as I graduated from Maricopa High School. LaDonda Dees — Buff Cit y Soap (Opened December 2019) What do you offer? We make handcrafted, plant-based soaps and body products that are good for your skin and smell great, too! No animal products, no artificial detergents! What made you locate to Maricopa? I have lived in Maricopa since 2012 and thought as a resident we need more shops. When I was given the opportunity to open my first store anywhere in Arizona I thought “Why not Maricopa?” It’s a unique shop with every product handmade in the store! Building a city the easy way Maricopa takes great pride in making opening a business in the City as easy as possible. At the beginning of a project, a permit applicant is assigned a project liaison who serves as a single point of contact throughout the process from planning and engineering to building and completion. “Developers and business owners throughout the country are taking note of the excellent opportunities and customer service focus the City offers,” said Economic and Community Services Director Nathan Steele. “We can’t wait to see who else comes to build a city with us!”

LaDonda Dees

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Special Section: Business & Leadership

RUDY BENITEZ AnnieMac Home Mortgage

udy Benitez, Mortgage Loan Originator, was born and raised in Casa Grande, AZ and at an early age his family imparted the importance of shelter and service to the community. Since 2005, Rudy has assisted thousands of families realize their dream of home ownership and has sustained a local area business to support home financing demand in the community. Rudy and AnnieMac Home Mortgage take great responsibility in giving back by supporting several local Non-profit organizations including Pinal County Veterans Memorial Foundation, Ride for the Warrior, Casa Grande Boys and Girls Club, Seeds of Hope, Alliance Cancer Support Center, Casa Grande Food Bank, and numerous youth art and sport sponsorships. Through dedication and service to local home buyers, Rudy has received several national mortgage industry accolades including Scotsman Guide-Top Originator, NAHREP TOP 50, and NAMMBA Top 100. In

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the month of July, Rudy ranked #1 out of all AnnieMac Home Mortgage Originators- having surpassed a personal record of 41 loans for the months of August and is projected to close over 50 loans the month of September. Rudy Benitez and his AnnieMac Home Mortgage team are forever grateful to local realtor partners and families who continue to refer Rudy for home financing guidance. The intrinsic need for housing is on the forefront of our lives amid the COVID pandemic. The silver lining remains that interest rates are at near historic lows, property values are ever increasing, and several 0% down payment assistance programs remain available today. Whether you are looking to refinance to lower your monthly mortgage payment or require a cash out refinance in order to eliminate high interest debt we are available to assist. Please call the office to schedule a consultation with Rudy Benitez for your home mortgage review.

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

Dessert Spends Golden Years Serving CG Kids, Community by Donna McBride, Pinal County Juvenile Court Program Administrator II

hey say “good things come in small packages.” In the case of community activist Ann Dessert, it couldn’t be truer. This petite woman has a presence of a queen walking into a room. Everyone notices her. And if you are lucky enough, you might get to know her. Born in New Haven, Connecticut in March 1921, Ann graduated from high school in Massachusetts before attending the Leland Powers School of the Theater, where she studied to be a radio broadcaster. Ann said that turned out to be futile, as women weren’t radio broadcasters back then, so she enrolled in the Gallagher Business School and later graduated from De Anza College with a degree in liberal arts. Ann found work as a secretary in insurance, manufacturing, a school and even the United States Army Ordnance Corp during

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World War II. It was at the Corp’s San Francisco District where she worked for a man who would become her husband in October 1946. Together, they celebrated two children. Ann proved her leadership status by offering her time and commitment to a variety of organizations. Fast forward to Casa Grande. It was 2004 and Ann was trying to sell her car. A man stopped by the house and they struck up a conversation. He started telling her about a program called CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and said he thought she’d make a good volunteer for the program. He was Judge Gilberto V. Figueroa from Pinal County Superior Court. CASA Coordinator Pam Burke came to Ann’s house to interview her and do a background check. We don’t know if Ann convinced the judge to buy her car, but he sure sold her on the program because Ann started her career as a CASA advocate on December 10, 2004 at the age of 83. For the past 16 years she has handled cases involving 13 children and their families, not to mention mentoring new advocates coming into the program, helping in the office and attending dozens of events on behalf of CASA. For seven years she had the role of Mrs. Claus at the annual Christmas party for children in foster care hosted by the Pinal Council for CASA/Foster, Inc. Ann’s specialty is bringing people together and getting things done, especially for children. She has helped the CASA council fundraise for its programs and events. She

has also served as the official parliamentarian. Burk said, “Ann brings a bell with her to the meetings and will ring it when people are talking over each other. Everyone stops talking when she rings the bell. It’s like you got caught talking in church!” She does not demand respect, but everyone wants to have her respect. She is kind, thoughtful and when she commits, she is all in. Ann is also the conservation chair of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has raised money for the annual Science Olympiad and sponsored the Pinal Elementary Science Olympiad. It seems fundraising is in her blood. Ann admits she didn’t set out to be a “community leader.” She’s always been willing to help any organization that she gets involved with. Once she starts helping, it becomes a habit. Ann says, “There is an old saying that says, ‘In an organization 10% of the people do 90% of the work.’ I found this to be true. However, once you are comfortable being the 10% you realize that you have the satisfaction of things getting done and being able to see what you have accomplished.” What advice does this classy lady of 99 years young have on leadership and community involvement? “My advice is to get involved. If you see something that needs to be done, then get started and complete the task. As you go, bring others along to help. The sidelines may seem safe and stress-free, but they are not as interesting, exciting, satisfying and fun as getting to work and getting things done.”

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Special Section: Business & Leadership

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Expand your child’s education! grandeinnovationacademy.com

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

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Special Section: Business & Leadership

Crisis Reshapes Leadership Styles, Creates New Leaders by Lynn Parsons, Executive Director, Coolidge Chamber of Commerce

A “I am the leader that I am because I know I cannot do this alone, and I must continue to grow and learn as a person and allow my team to do the same.”

s the director of the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce, I have spoken about leadership in the past, but 2020 has changed how we all lead. I have seen so many changes of leadership style and new leaders emerging over the last six months that it amazes me. Our business leaders, City officials, board of directors and our Chamber team have stepped up and changed the leadership game. Crisis has a way of redefining what leadership means. It is not always the “official leaders” who have the most impact. Leadership requires adaptability. We must now shift from leading by old standards to leading with personalization. Today, leadership must allow others to influence in their own way, to empower others with the freedom to create previously unseen opportunities for themselves and the organization. We can only lead if we are willing to understand that we can be much more successful not acting individually but as a team. We are a community that is dedicated to keeping our businesses running and our economy moving in the right direction. No one person can do this alone. My position provides me with the unique opportunity to see how our business leaders are evolving, and that gives me inspiration. As a leader, I know that I am one person and would not be able to do the work I do if I did not have the team that I have. My board of directors is focused on

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building an environment that allows our business to prosper and grow. They provide me with the tools and the backing to do my job and to do it well. My team never says, “It can’t be done.” They say, “How can we do that or how can we do that better?” Our City leaders are motivators for positive growth and are proactive to make that happen. We work together to make Coolidge the place to be. I have tried to foster a creative mindset in our office so when we are approached by a member with an

issue, we can think outside the box to help them. Yes, I am the director and I lead my team, but as John F. Kennedy once said: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” I am the leader that I am because I know I cannot do this alone, and I must continue to grow and learn as a person and allow my team to do the same. I try to learn something new each day. It can be the smallest detail of something I already know or something completely new, but I strive to be better than the day before.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Special Section: Business & Leadership

KIM MCCREERY Owner and Director of Grow with Grace Learning Center

im McCreery is the Owner and Director of Grow with Grace Learning Center in Casa Grande. She is passionate about creating an environment where children and their families feel safe, loved and supported in their early education journey. Kim is an East Coast transplant, growing up on a rural farm in Pennsylvania until her family relocated to Arizona during her high school years. In 2000, finding herself a casualty of a turbulent corporate merger, Kim was at a crossroads in life – find a new job or start a business. Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and feeling drawn to strike out on her own, in 2001 she launched what became a very successful senior care agency that employed hundreds of people during the 18 years she managed the company. She sold the business in 2019 and retired from the field of senior care.

Owning and operating her first business gave Kim the confidence to focus on starting a business with a high-quality education program at its foundation. In 2013 Grow with Grace Learning Center was opened to provide early education and childcare services to children between the ages of 1-5 years old. She has maintained very high standards for her program, using the award-winning curriculum Get Set for School by Learning Without Tears. It integrates play-based learning, music, hands-on materials and active participation to help young learners develop physical, social-behavioral, language and early math skills. It has been very important to Kim to serve in community programs that help children grow and develop to their full potential. Over the last 10 years she has served as a volunteer board member for several non-profit children’s organizations in Pinal county.

Grow with Grace Learning Center is an early education learning center in Casa Grande caring for children 1-5 years old, providing daycare, preschool and Pre-K programs in a non-denominational, faith-based environment.

NOW ACCEPTING ENROLLMENTS for our preschool and pre-K programs for ages 3-5

Open Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 1415 N Trekell Rd., Ste. 105 | Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-251-5095 | www.gwgrace.com FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

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CRAIG MCFARLAND

RENÉE LOUZON-BENN

Mayor, City of Casa Grande

President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

TIM KANAVEL

MILA BESICH

Economic and Workforce Development Director, Pinal County

Mayor, Town of Superior

Born and raised in California, Mayor McFarland has lived in Casa Grande since 2005. He is a graduate of California State University of Fresno, and retired from Golden Eagle Distributors in January 2015 as VP of Sales after a ten year run with the company, and 36 total years in beverage business sales management, marketing, and operations. McFarland began his first term as Mayor in December 2016 and just won his election for a third term.

im graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in regional development. His career in Arizona has taken him from the former Greater Tucson Economic Council to the Arizona Department of Commerce, to private enterprise at the Tucson Airport, to president/CEO of the Wickenburg Regional Economic Development Partnership, and to his present position as the Economic and Workforce Development Director for Pinal County.

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enée became President of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce in May of 2019, bringing over 22 years of involvement with the local business community and the Chamber to her new role. She is passionate about “living local,” and loves our community. Renée and her husband enjoy dining at favorite eateries, walking the downtown area and hiking Casa Grande Mountain.

ila Besich, a fourth-generation resident of Superior, was elected as the Town’s Mayor in 2016. She wears many hats in her community and region, serving as Executive Director of the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition and Advertising Director for Copper Area News Publishers.

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DIANN PRECHEL Owner A Latte Vino

In Memory of Paul Prechel 1929 - 2020 “I dedicate this to the best leader I know, my Dad. You taught me everything I know about hard work, leadership and community service. Thank you for guiding me to be the best I can be and for teaching me to help others achieve their goals. I miss you every day.” Diann

CHRISTIAN PRICE

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Mayor, City of Maricopa

ayor Price is serving in his third term as Mayor. Mayor Price is an entrepreneur and small business owner and is a partner of the Sierra West Group, a financial advisory firm. Raised in Tucson and a graduate of Northern Arizona University, he participates in numerous regional and national coalitions including serving as the President of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, until mid-September 2020.

Leaders in Business & Community . . . 28

Our Future Leaders: The New Casa Grande Youth Alliance . . 48

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JON THOMPSON

LYNN PARSONS

Mayor, City of Coolidge

Executive Director of the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce

ayor Thompson graduated from NAU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was first elected to the Coolidge City Council in 2002 and served as Vice Mayor from 2006 to 2010. He gave up his council seat to run for Mayor and since being elected, has retired as Division Director for the Pinal County Adult Probation Department after 30 years.

ynn Parsons has been the Executive Director for the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce for over ten years. Prior to this, she was a local business owner and very active as a Chamber board member for many years. She is also a board member on the Arizona @ Work & Friends of the Casa Grande Ruins. She is very passionate about her community and committed to working for positive growth. She and her husband raised their children in Coolidge and now are enjoying being grandparents. They believe faith and family are the basics to a good life.

“Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals.” -Unknown

Thank you to all the leaders in our community. 46

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Our Future Leaders: The New Casa Grande Youth Alliance by Evelyn Benitez, Communications Specialist, and Christina Petrin, Chair, Casa Grande Youth Alliance

Drake Maestas 48

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asa Grande has 60,184 full-time residents. Approximately one-third of our population is younger than 18. We are the future of Casa Grande, Arizona and our country. We all want our youth to grow into successful adults. One of the best ways for helping us learn is through providing us with opportunities to organize as youth and develop our leadership skills. To provide more young people this opportunity, the Casa Grande Alliance has launched the new Casa Grande Youth Alliance (CGYA). Over the next year, this group will identify and research needs, organize and evaluate community and school service projects, provide a strong foundation to area Students Against Destructive Decisions chapters, and will strive for every member to earn the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Since June, Casa Grande Youth Alliance has been organizing and is working toward having representation from all Casa Grande middle and high schools. The CGYA provides a safe, stable, supportive environment for us to come together, think together about how best to help our community and then be empowered to take positive action. In return, this will provide us with the opportunity to sharpen our proj-

ect management and leadership skills, which will give us real-world training in setting and achieving goals. CGYA also provides us with a great way to find our passion and be inspired for our future. The chair of the youth alliance is Casa Grande Union High School sophomore Christina Petrin. She provides leadership to the overall effort and leads a team for decision-making, managing membership, communications and organizing meetings. The CGYA will be organizing to support the SADD chapters in Casa Grande middle and high schools. We will be working to promote healthy choices being made by our peers and hope to make a positive difference for our schools. The chair of the Casa Grande SADD chapters is Casa Grande Union High School freshman Drake Maestas. As we continue to get organized for the school year, Drake and his team will be leading the development of projects and activities to encourage fellow students to make positive choices. Another of our goals is earning the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. We are working on developing systems to track our service hours and are thinking creatively about how to organize service projects to benefit our schools and communities. To qualify for this distinction, we will

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The CGYA provides a safe, stable, supportive environment for us to come together, think together about how best to help our community and then be empowered to take positive action.

be organizing to serve up to 250 volunteer hours over the course of the next year. The chair of volunteerism for CGYA is Vista Grande High School junior Aniqa Kahn. Aniqa will be working with our group to make sure we track all of our volunteer service hours. She and her team will also be working to identify volunteer opportunities for us in the community as the head of this project. Aniqa works alongside Bob Shogren, executive director of the Casa Grande Alliance, to find volunteer opportunities and keep track of the members’ hours. Our three co-chairs of the youth alliance were interviewed about how the CGYA has impacted their lives and helped them find the leader within them. Why did you apply to be a part of the newly forming Casa Grande Youth Alliance? Drake: I joined the youth alliance because I saw it as an opportunity to help my community. My personal goals are to help to create a community that has unity. I know I can’t do this alone, so thankfully the Youth Alliance has created an opportunity for youth who feel the same as I do and will allow us to help shape a community that we want to live in. What do you hope the CG Youth Alliance will accomplish this year? Christina: I hope that the CGYA will be able to help our schools and our community with service projects. We also hope to positively represent the youth voice in our community.

peers lose their focus on what is most important as a result of the adversity and challenges in their lives. What advice would you give someone who wants to join the new Casa Grande Youth Alliance? Aniqa: We welcome new members and are continuing to recruit to make sure we have good representation from each school. We are looking for kids who really want to get involved and want to learn how to make good things happen. I would also offer that our members are willing to take positive risks and are learning to be more comfortable with speaking up and sharing their opinions. How have your parents supported your participation so far? Drake: My parents have been huge advocates and have encouraged me to take part in CGYA. They see the benefits and the leadership opportunities and have really encouraged my sister and me to engage in the program. My mom also reminds me of all our meetings and community outreach responsibilities.

Christina Petrin

Aniqa Kahn

How do you hope to grow in your leadership skills as a CG Youth Alliance Co-Chair? Christina: I hope to grow as a leader and become a better role model for my peers. I look forward to learning how to guide groups to make informed decisions. I appreciate the opportunity to work alongside supportive adult mentors and our other young leaders in the group.

What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your peers? Aniqa: Not seeking higher education is a large issue facing my peers. I have seen a great number of my FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

Writer Evelyn Benitez OR LI V ING SPECI A L SEC TION • GOLDEN GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR VING

If you would like to contribute images of area events, people, pets and scenery, please post on our Facebook page or email to: photos@roxco.com

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Health • Happiness • Education Wednesday, August 26th was National Dog Day! We asked you to share photos of your dogs to our Facebook page and you answered the call!

AL LACROIX

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“ T H E G R E AT N E S S O F A COMMUNITY IS M O S T A C C U R AT E LY MEASURED BY T H E C O M PA S S I O N AT E ACTIONS OF I T S M E M B E R S .”

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Thank you to each and every member of our community and our staff for their support, service and dedication.

Re s o u rc e s . H e l p . C o m m u n i t y We l l n e s s . 52

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Where’s the State’s Money?

Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee Knows by Ray Newton

s one of the state’s top six elected constitutional officers, Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee oversees cash management of the $40 billion state budget. That entails making certain payments are directed to the correct state agencies, local governments and schools.

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Beyond that, the office of the Arizona State Treasurer operates four local government investment pools that handle funds from the various cities, towns, counties and multiple government agencies. Tack onto that the responsibility of supervising management of $19 billion in state assets. She shared many of her experiences with Golden Corridor LIVING during an interview in August. Yee is the first Asian-American to be elected to statewide office in Arizona, as well as the first Asian-American woman elected to the Legislature. A native of Phoenix, she graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where she majored in English and political science before earning a master’s degree. Following graduation, she accepted a fellowship to work during in the mid-1990s in the administration of Gov. Pete Wilson. Her responsibility: to learn more about improving public education. Her reason for choosing that emphasis, she said, was because her mother had been a 38-year public school teacher in Phoenix. “I learned a great deal about how important it is to give children the opportunity to begin learning at an early level. Schools should not be for babysitting or child care. Children need experiences that stimulate brain development,” she said. Yee returned to Arizona for five

years, where she worked for the Senate Education Committee. However, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as governor in California, Yee returned to Sacramento to become his deputy cabinet secretary. “Leaders there were trying to reform a bloated government. There was a lot of duplication, and they really needed to bring their financial house into some kind of order,” she recalls. Soon after, a strong tug was pulling her back to Arizona. A friend of hers, former Sen. Dean Martin, had been elected state treasurer, and he asked Yee to return to help him. She did. “Working in that office just as the financial crisis of 2008 was happening — an incredible experience. We saw quickly how much money was coming in and how much was going out. It didn’t take us long to figure that the volume of incoming money was not the same as that going out the door because of big government spending.” She continued, “The real message I learned when I worked for Treasurer Martin was this: Keep your financial house in order. Don’t spend more than you make. That’s a simple message, and we learn it in our own households. But sometimes, government forgets that lesson because the leaders forget it is not their money, it’s taxpayer money.” Yee said she was also influenced by a longtime state legislator, Linda

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Gray, who had served 16 years in the Arizona House and Senate. Gray persuaded Yee to run for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2010. Yee served in the House for two years and then ran for and was elected to the Senate. She soon was chosen as Senate majority leader — only the second woman to hold that position. The first was Sandra Day O’Connor, who later was named to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2014, Yee was named a “Rising Star” by the national committee of the Republican Party. In 2016, she was a featured onstage speaker at the Republican National Convention. Her continuing interest in the need for fiscal responsibility in Arizona government prompted her own run for state treasurer in 2018. She took office at the beginning of 2019 and immediately began traveling throughout Arizona to learn firsthand what the issues were in the various communities. As she explains it, “Because our state is so

diverse, it’s important for those of us who come from the Phoenix Metro-centric area to get out and see what it is like in the rural communities. They are unique and have distinctly different needs. That’s why in my first year, I made a point of traveling to all 15 counties and meeting with the people there.” Noting she has two more years to serve, Yee emphasized she would not relent in continuing to represent the entirety of the Arizona population. She added, “We have a highly skilled investment team advising us, too. We’re carefully putting our investment dollars where they will do the most good for the public. For instance, we distributed $342 million into the K-12 education system last year and $358 million this year. And more money goes into the higher education system. Same is true for funds being distributed to the Arizona Pioneers Home, the Arizona State Hospital and the state prisons. The permanent land

endowment deposits our Arizona land sales into the Permanent Land Endowment Trust Fund, thus assuring secure and sensible use of those dollars.” Yee smiles broadly when asked about her future plans. “I just want to make a difference. So much has been given to me in this great state and country. I just want to dedicate my career to public policy and improving the opportunities we have. I’m optimistic that we are going to come out of the current pandemic stronger and faster than people expect, so we need to have people in positions where they understand how important it is to keep our fiscal house in order. That’s my immediate focus.” Yee demurred in responding to rumors she’s considering a run for governor in 2022: “I’ve had this question before. But right now, I am the state treasurer, and that’s where my efforts will be directed. I love the work that I do.”

“I just want to make a difference. So much has been given to me in this great state and country. I just want to dedicate my career to public policy and improving the opportunities we have.”

Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee provides an interview at ROX Media Group’s Prescott office.

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Super Moms Sound Off on Staying Fit by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT Bridgette Matheson & daughter

T I use fitness/ working out as an escape from all my own obsessive thoughts, worry or everyday stresses we all face. - Tracy Ortega

oday, the life of a mom can get super busy, right? Whether you are a working mom or stayat-home mom, the challenges are many between the demand to make zucchini noodles and cauliflower pizza crust to making sure our house looks like it was decorated by Joanna Gaines. Add in large chunks of the day with your kids: cleaning them (and cleaning up after them), feeding them, playing with them, and of course driving the mom taxi. You have so many things pulling you in different directions it often means putting yourself — and your health — last. There are just not enough hours in the day, and especially not enough hours for fitness. So, I decided to ask some of my favorite moms just how they do it? Here are a few of my favorites. Norma Montijo — Keeping fitness a priority while balancing work/school/ kids and everything else is sometimes hard. I might fall off the wagon once in a while, but I have to remind myself that if I don’t take care of me, I can’t take care of everything else to the best of my abilities. I have to keep positive and remember how amazing I feel after a great workout. Tracy Ortega — I use fitness/working out as an escape from all my own obsessive thoughts, worry or everyday stresses we all face. Even after my killer workouts that leave me walking to my car like a newborn giraffe most days, I feel so relaxed, stress-free and energized for the day, almost like a reset button. I haven’t always been consistent in making or keeping fitness a priority, but now I’m trying to be better at it. I look forward

to my time away from life’s hustle and bustle even if it’s just for an hour or two. Brigette Matheson — For me, I just have to set the time each day and go! I make it a priority for me because right now it is really the only me time I get. I get that one to two hours just for me. I am able to burn off any stress, anxiety, etc. The kids are home all the time now, and with school being at home it’s definitely important for me to have a mental and physical release. It makes me a better mother/person. And it gives me energy and motivation for the day. Plus, the kids see that and it makes them want to work out and be healthier. Brooke Gunter — The best way for me to keep fitness a priority is to have a gym membership with a set time/ class so I’m held accountable and I have someone showing me/teaching me what to do. Working out first thing in the morning also helps me to keep

it a priority before I get busy in the day. When I keep fitness a priority it positively effects other aspects in my life such as nutrition, energy and my health problems, so that motivates me as well. Karina Ethington — I believe that to be better and do better in all aspects of my life, I need to first take care of my mental, spiritual and physical well-being. Fitness helps me accomplish those things while improving my health! Fitness is a priority in my life because my life IS a priority! I would just like to add as a busy mom myself, don’t give up. Do not let that one bad day ruin your entire week. Accept the oops, learn from it and move forward! Remember, we are not always motivated, but we must be disciplined enough to keep going. I am always available for questions: www.wickedfitt.com or wickedfittgym@ gmail.com.

Karina Ethington and Teo Hatchard

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Daryl B. Potyczka, D.D.S. Tri-Valley Plaza 1355 E. Florence Blvd., Ste 107 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

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CITY

SPEAK B In 2019, their five clubs served more than 625 youth every day. Also, that year the organization impacted the lives of over 4,200 youth with its after-school, school break, summer, outreach and soccer programs.

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BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS PIVOTS, BUT STAYS ON MISSION by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande

oys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor’s focus is on our youth, on academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles. Exactly what we want for all our young people! In 2019, their five clubs served more than 625 youth every day. Also, that year the organization impacted the lives of over 4,200 youth with its after-school, school break, summer, outreach and soccer programs. In 2020 it has had to be more creative and open up additional locations due to lower club capacities. This allows for more kids in smaller groups of not more than 10. The first Maricopa location was opened Aug. 10 at Santa Cruz Elementary School, prompting the name change from Casa Grande Boys and Girls Clubs. This location will continue to operate after on-campus learning resumes. The club also opened an onsite learning location at Casa Grande’s Mesquite Elementary School on Aug. 17. This site will be open until the Boys and Girls Club resumes normal operations at its permanent locations. In Arizona, 24% of young people fail to graduate from high school. Among our local Boys and Girls

Clubs members, 94% expect to graduate, 82% expect to complete some kind of postsecondary education, and overall, club members outperform their counterparts on state standardized tests. The City of Casa Grande, both local school districts and many other local organizations partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs to help build positive programs. These include our Teen Center at Vista Grande High School, Teen Center at the Casa Grande Community Recreation Center, SMART Moves (drug and alcohol prevention and education program), Summer Brain Gain (designed to limit summer learning loss) and Project Learn (knowledge through high-yield learning activities for reading, writing, homework, tutoring and educational games). The citizens of Casa Grande, Arizona City and now Maricopa should continue to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor with money and volunteerism. Your generous support helps create opportunities to help more kids and teens achieve great futures! To donate or get more information visit www. bgcsuncorridor.org or call 520-876-5437.

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Central Arizona College Selected to Join Achieving the Dream National Network by Angela Askey, Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College

entral Arizona College is one of five colleges across the country that has strengthened its commitment to improving student success by becoming part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) National Network. CAC President Dr. Jackie Elliott said, “We are honored to have been chosen for the 2020 Achieving the Dream cohort.” A team of CAC staff recently attended the Virtual Kickoff Institute, setting the stage for the college’s work as an ATD Network institution. CAC will continue work on Guided Pathways and the implementation of nine areas of interest that provide a direct path of achievement for students. Work will focus on aligning policies, with student success and equity being at the forefront of every decision. “Transformational change is difficult under normal circumstances, and it’s particularly pronounced during such a challenging time,” said Dr.

Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “We are encouraged by the commitment of these five institutions who have shown that student success is at the core of their work. “We look forward to working with these colleges on building their capacity for change over the next three years, and we are excited to welcome them to the Network this summer.” Achieving the Dream leads a growing network of 277 community colleges committed to helping students, particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth and economic opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing academic achievement gaps and accelerating student success through a unique change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities in seven essential areas. ATD, along with 75 experienced coaches and advisers, works closely with network colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

The Achieving the Dream 2020 Cohort includes:  • Central Arizona College • Compton College (California)  • Milwaukee Area Technical College (Wisconsin)  • Northwest State Community College (Ohio)  • Wake Technical Community College (North Carolina)

PHOTO: GREG MASTORAKOS

Clear Maps to success Choose an area of study you love from our 9 Areas of Interest. See what classes you need and how long it will take!

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Call the Doctor! by Gigi McWhirter

hen in doubt, call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary care facility — not Dr. Google! In our area, there is not a 24-hour veterinary hospital. Casa Grande Animal Hospital is the only veterinary office open seven days a week. At the bottom of the article there are numbers for 24- hour emergency centers in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Please note these lists apply to animals of ALL ages. These lists have been compiled after discussion with the veterinarians I work with and, mostly, the one I live with.

Canine:

• Licking a Colorado River toad. • Refusing to drink for 24 hours or more. • Unconsciousness. • Heatstroke or heat stress. • Extreme lameness, inability to move a leg or legs, broken bones. • Severe diarrhea or vomiting — or a combination of both — more than two episodes in a 24-hour period. • Seizures and/or staggering. • Bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum, blood in urine or coughing up blood. • Severe bleeding or bleeding that does not stop within five minutes. • Not able to pass feces (poop) or urinate (pee) or obvious pain associated with either. • Eye injuries. • Hit by car or other moving vehicle/item — not all injuries are visible! • Obvious signs of extreme pain or anxiety. • Choking, trouble breathing, gasping for air, nonstop gagging or coughing. • Bloated abdomen, especially in bigger dogs with large chest cavities (example: Labrador or any retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, pointers, setters, etc.). • You suspect or know that your pet has consumed something poisonous such as: antifreeze, dark chocolate, xylitol, marijuana or marijuana byproducts, your medication (including Tylenol and Ibuprofen), rat/ rodent poison, foods deemed toxic to the species (that is another list available at the ASPCA website).

Phone numbers for 24-hour emergency care: AVECCC (Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center) Gilbert: 480-487-0222 1st Pet Veterinary Center — Chandler: 480-732-0018 Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center — Tucson: 520888-3177

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Feline:

• Straining to urinate or changes in urinary habits — especially in male cats. • Suddenly unable to use the hind legs especially but not limited to, crying out in extreme pain and breathing changes. • Open-mouth breathing and other breathing changes. • Consuming a foreign object such as string, dental floss, tinsel or any other suspect item. • Poison ingestion such as antifreeze, rat/ rodent poison or human medications (including Tylenol or Ibuprofen). • Hit by car — or other moving vehicle or object. • Severe bleeding that does not stop within five minutes. Bite wounds should also be treated as soon as possible to avoid the risk of infection or abscess. • Eye Injuries, sudden blindness or a change in your cat’s eyes. • Heat stroke or heat stress.

Equine:

• Colic. • Acute lameness. • Choke (esophageal obstruction). • Punctures, lacerations or extreme bleeding. • Joint or tendon Injury. • Eye trauma. • Exertional myopathy/exhaustion. • Reproductive emergencies. • Foal emergencies. • A.D.R. “Ain’t Doin’ Right” is actually used by veterinary professionals and astute pet owners used to describe when “something just isn’t right” with their animals.

Phone numbers for 24-hour emergency care: EQUINE: Arizona Equine Medical & Surgical Centre — Gilbert: 480-962-6660 Avra Equine — Marana/Picture Rocks: 520-870-2898 EQUINE & OTHER LIVESTOCK: Herd Health Management — Gilbert: 480-899-5088 or emergency number: 602-513-0390 It is extremely important to be reminded that these lists are not, in any way, intended to replace the diagnosis, consultation or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you suspect your animal is experiencing a medical emergency call your veterinarian or a 24-hour facility right away. To be prepared for an emergency, you should also consult with your veterinary care team for their after-hours emergency recommendations. Happy Tails to You!

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Holiday Edition 2021 Street Dates:

November 2020 - December 2020 Women in Business & Leadership . . 36

Holiday Special Section . . . . . . .48

Winter Visitor Guide . . . . . . . . . .99

“THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY”

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PINAL COUNTY PRESS A R IZONA CIT Y • C A SA GR A NDE • CO OLIDGE • ELOY • F LOR ENCE • M A R ICOPA

CONTINUED…

Republic Services Orders 2,500 Refuse Trucks from Nikola

epublic Services, the second-largest recycling and waste removal company in the country, announced in August it ordered a minimum of 2,500 zero-emission trucks from Nikola Corp., the vehicle manufacturer that just broke ground for a massive factory in Coolidge. Republic President Jon Vander Ark said, “Our agreement with Nikola represents the industry’s first large-scale commitment to fleet electrification. We expect to realize significant operating cost savings and environmental benefits from these trucks, and we are confident that our customers, communities and employees will benefit from our bold commitment.” Phoenix-based Republic set a long-term goal last year of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% and is the first waste and recycling company to have its sustainability plan approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. The order, expandable up to 5,000 trucks over the life of the agreement, anticipates on-road testing will begin in 2022 and

delivery of the vehicles, straight from the Nikola factory to Republic Services, will begin the following year. Nikola spokeswoman Nicole Rose said the company plans to produce the trucks in Coolidge, and the order will create more jobs at the factory, which has been projected to create up to 2,000 jobs in Pinal County by 2024. The Nikola Tre chassis will form the core of the trucks, which are projected to have a single-charge range of 150 miles (and 1,200 garbage cans) and recharge overnight. Nikola Founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton said, “Nikola specializes in heavy-duty, zero-emission Class 8 trucks. The refuse market is one of the most stable markets in the industry and provides long-term shareholder value. The Nikola Tre powertrain is ideal for the refuse market as it shares and uses the same batteries, controls, inverters and e-axle. By sharing the Tre platform, we can drive the cost down for both programs by using the same parts.”

PARKS AND REC...cont. from page 15

Reiter said Maricopa Esports is starting leagues this fall at two schools: A+ Charter School and Sequoia Pathway Academy. Schultz said the cit y and school district are hoping to resume Maricopa Swims for the spring semester, “but first we’ve got to get these kids back on campus.” He said the remaining MUSD elementary schools are eager to join in, and the city wants to bring it to all charter schools in town as well. “Everyone is just ready to go,” he said.

Reiter and Schultz said the City’s Youth Enrichment Recreation Coordinator Terri Cross and other parks and rec staff have been instrumental to the programs’ success, but gave ultimate credit to the community and its participation. Both programs have been forced to put the brakes on since school instruction moved online and occupancy limits elsewhere were lowered last spring, but are ready to start back up when conditions are closer to normal.

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Nikola said this is the largest single order in the waste transportation industry, valued at $1.2 billion, and signals Republic’s commitment to sustainability. The company said these vehicles will be much quieter than their diesel counterparts and overall

will be less invasive to the neighborhoods they travel through. The groundbreaking for the million-square-foot Coolidge factory was held July 23, at which point Milton said it would be ready to produce zero-emission vehicles within 14 months.

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

PINAL COUNTY PRESS A R IZONA CIT Y • C A SA GR A NDE • CO OLIDGE • ELOY • F LOR ENCE • M A R ICOPA

CONTINUED…

Shower Trailer Serving Homeless Residents in CG

Casa Grande nonprofit is offering free showers in a trailer parked at a church one day a week to people who are homeless, with hopes of expanding to other services for them. Melanie Velcko said The Rest Stop’s showers are available from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Saturdays at the Fountain of Living Waters Church, 518 E. Second St. The trailer has two stalls; one is ADA-accessible. She is able to accommodate eight showers per day, and users are required to sign up ahead of time at the Seeds of Hope hot lunch program, which is held at the same church. The showers are disinfected after each use, which limits the number of showers that can be offered each Saturday. “So far the response has been good. It’s mostly the same people that show up every week,” she said. The trailer is towed away after each use. Velcko and her husband Chris first got involved in aiding the community’s homeless population by handing out bottles of water to people in Peart Park and the downtown area. “We started The Rest Stop because we noticed so many homeless have no place to go in the heat to cool off, shower or do

MARICOPA HOUSING..cont. from page 15 The REV site, which is the northern part of a 60-acre parcel owned by El Dorado, is across Porter Road from Banner Health Center and across Bowlin Road from the Glennwilde development. A traffic study has been prepared for the project but is still under review at the city, before it goes to the Planning and Zon-

laundry. That’s why the goal is a building. They can stop in and get water, snack bags, shower and cool off and then head back out,” she said. The group has obtained two grants from nearby tribes: one from the Ak-Chin Indian Community is funding the shower trailer, and another from the Gila River Indian Community

is for leasing a building for two years. A spot in an appropriate location is still being sought. The shower trailer will be moved to the building if one is rented, so the service can be made available more often. The building also will provide a place where people can escape the heat, get water and do laundry before heading back out.

“That’s why it is called The Rest Stop. Just stop in to get basic needs met,” Velcko said. The Rest Stop won approval for a two-year temporary use permit for the showers at the church location on Aug. 13 from the City of Casa Grande Board of Adjustment, after another application to

ing Commission and the council. Mayor Christian Price asked what would happen if the analysis ultimately showed the development would create too much traffic. City Attorney Denis Fitzgibbons answered, “The zoning is just how many units can be built there. If it couldn’t handle as many units as they wanted because of the traffic study, that‘s something they could work through on the

site plan and things like that. All you’re doing tonight is giving the proper zoning for the project so they can go forth.” City officials said the rental project will be market-rate, rather than subsidized by some form of government funding. City Manager Ricky Horst added, though, that the zoning case only sets the basic parameters for what can be built on the lot

and cannot require the residences be rented at market rates. “I want our public to understand these are intended to be broad discussions, conceptual discussions, but these are intended to be market-rate units,” he said. The REV is one of several apartment complexes being developed or proposed in the City of Maricopa.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

Continued on page 70...

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

Special Section:

Pour Your Personality Into Your Backsplash by Blake Herzog

ne thing kitchens don’t usually have a lot of is exposed walls — which can make them a great place to experiment. Between all the appliances and cabinets found in that room, there’s only a little bit of vertical space, set off from the rest of your house, which makes it the perfect place to add a pop of color or texture that’ll make it glow without disrupting the flow of the rest of your abode. Backsplashes, whether they’re confined to the space immediately over the stove or unfurled around the perimeter of your kitchen, can be composed of the classic white subway tile in horizontal or vertical patterns and look perfectly beautiful. You can also try any kind of colored tile, brick, stacked stone, river rock, floral graphics, pressed tin, wallpaper to simulate any of these effects or just about any other substance you can think of. Your preferences and priorities are really the only limits to what you can do. Are you seeking an earthy look or abstract art? Do you value ease of cleaning over detail? Do you want cozy or captivating?

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THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Here are just a few ideas: A little goes a long way

Mosaic mode

Special effects

Shown here just after installation, this backsplash leans on simple, square white tiles but sprinkles a few tiny earth-toned pieces at the corners, using a consistent pattern to highlight the purity of the look without overwhelming it. The colors can be coordinated to the countertops or bring in just a touch of your favorite color to make the space your own.

Mosaic squares can introduce all kinds of elements into your backsplash. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and compose patterns that are simple or complex. This one incorporates shades of green to introduce a clean, organic vibe to the kitchen to go with the fresh food you’re preparing for your family. Mosaic tiles are made of stained glass, stone, metal or acrylic, and it’s easy to mix colors and materials to make sure yours is one of a kind!

Don’t forget about the power of lighting to make your rooms look completely different at different times of the day. This mosaic pattern already pops with the dark tiles accents, but the under-cabinet lighting is adding a dramatic golden sheen. Well-placed lights beneath cabinets or elsewhere in the room can pick up the shimmer in glass or metal tiles and add a halo effect to your kitchen.

Between all the appliances and cabinets found in that room, there’s only a little bit of vertical space, set off from the rest of your house, which makes it the perfect place to add a pop of color or texture that’ll make it glow without disrupting the flow of the rest of your abode.

Splashy backsplash

Colorific

Most of these examples keep a consistent theme throughout the kitchen, but you can also go with the original meaning of the word “backsplash” and define the space above your range, however subtly or visibly. This one uses a boundary to define that special part of the kitchen where most of the magic happens, plus a special raised-pattern tile detail that can set the mood for the rest of the room.

You don’t have to keep the splashy color confined to the backsplash either. This kitchen pulls off two jewel tones to create a vibrant heart for your home. But be sure about what you’re doing before you commit. A 3D design simulator can be a great way to take colors and patterns out for a test drive.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & EDITION LEADERSHIP EDITION THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP • FALL 2020

Spread the love Of course there’s no rule against your kitchen detail splashing into the rest of the house, especially if it’s open-concept (as most are these days). This kitchen shares its stone mosaic with the accent wall around the fireplace; the neutral tones meshing perfectly with the sandy floors. Now this is how you coordinate your home!

LI V ING GOLDEN CORRIDORGOLDEN LI VING •CORRID SPECI AOR L SEC TION

Special Section: Home & Garden

Rates Again Fall to Record Low; Phoenix One of Top Markets for Millennials

he National Association of Realtors recently identified the top 10 metropolitan areas with the most favorable conditions for millennial homebuyers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study analyzed several factors, including housing affordability, local employment conditions during the pandemic, the number of millennials in the individual metro areas, and the availability of housing inventory. The top 10 markets listed alphabetically are: Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas; Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa; Durham-Chapel Hill-Raleigh, North Carolina; Houston-the Woodlands, Texas; Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana; Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluffs,

Iowa; Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona; Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington; and Salt Lake City, Utah. The housing market remains strong and mortgage rates likely will remain low Narin Seera, vice president of capital markets operations at Academy Mortgage, says: “While the U.S. housing market remains strong for new and existing home sales, the promise from the Federal Reserve to maintain the current low rates through 2022 provides further impetus to the U.S. real estate market and the sector financing it.” For more information about Academy Mortgage — your FIRST CHOICE home-loan lender — contact us by calling 480-221-9826 or emailing Dawn.Svoboda@AcademyMortgage.com

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PINAL COUNTY PRESS A R IZONA CIT Y • C A SA GR A NDE • CO OLIDGE • ELOY • F LOR ENCE • M A R ICOPA

CONTINUED…

Lucid Air Gets 517 Miles to the Charge on EPA-Aligned Test

he Lucid Air should get 517 miles per electric charge under the Environmental Protection Agency’s rating system, its maker announced in August. The vehicles are scheduled to begin production at the end of this year at the company’s new Casa Grande facility. Lucid Motors officials brought a Lucid Air to the Michigan facilities of FEV North America, a top-rated testing center and incubator serving the automotive industry. Its testing process mirrored the EPA’s for determining how far the pure electric drivetrain will be able to take the luxury car when fully charged and confirmed it is the world’s longest-range electric vehicle, according to a Lucid press release. “I believe that our 900-volt architecture, our race-proven battery packs, miniaturized motors and power electronics, integrated transmission systems, aerodynamics, chassis and thermal systems, software, and overall system efficiency have now reached a stage where they collectively set a new standard and deliver a host of ‘world’s firsts,’” said Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson. The current longest-range electric vehicle on the market

SHOWER TRAILER..cont. from page 63 place it in front of the former high school auditorium near City Hall was rejected by the board in June. Velcko said The Rest Stop has

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is the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus with an EPA rating of 402 miles per charge, according to a June 2020 article on Cars.com. Norwalk, California-based Lucid also said in August the Air will be the world’s fastest-charging electric vehicle at 20 miles per minute, which adds up to 300 miles of range

been receiving more donations of clothing, hygiene supplies, face masks and snacks since residents started learning about the shower trailer. “I am grateful for all the sup-

in 20 minutes. The Air includes an on-board “Wunderbox” that combines several functions and makes the car fully compatible with public EV charging stations. Lucid’s online global reveal for its brand and the production Lucid Air was scheduled for Sept. 9, along with the launch of a new website with the industry’s “most advanced” configurator where those who have reserved a vehicle will be able to customize it. Lucid is also debuting an app allowing buyers to follow their car through the production pro-

cess and communicate with the automaker after delivery on service and other needs. The Air will be sold directly to the consumer, either through the website, one of 20 brick-andmortar “studios” Lucid plans to open through 2021 or some combination of the two. Robotic machinery that will be used to build the cars has been installed over the course of the summer at the Casa Grande factory at Peters and Thornton

port we have received from CAHRA (Community Action Human Resources Agency), Seeds of Hope, The Fountain of Living Waters Church, New Life Baptist Church, the City of Casa Grande

and the community,” she said. Anyone who wants to donate money or supplies to The Rest Stop can call Velcko at 520-431-8726

Continued on page 80...

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

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Benefits of Combining Your Insurance with One Company

here are huge advantages to combining your auto and home insurance with a single company. The biggest and most direct benefit is getting a multiple-policy discount. However, it goes beyond that, and the advantages can work in your favor. Let’s look at the numerous variables on why this really works to your benefit.

Discount

The combined auto-home or multipolicy discount, as some companies call it, can result in some real savings; in many cases, it can amount to hundreds of dollars per year. The best part of this is that the discount applies to both policies and, depending on the insurer, often ranges from 10% to 20% off the total price. Let’s say you own three cars and a home. Your auto policy runs to $2,500 per year and your home policy to $1,000. Let’s further state that the auto discount is 10% and the home discount is 15%. This would result in $250 off the auto insurance and $150 off the home insurance. Combined, that’s $400 savings annually.

Single online portal

Most companies give you online access, and, when you combine your policies, you only need one login to access all your documents and online needs. Nowadays, consumers have so many websites they need to access and so many passwords they need to save, so having single access simply eliminates another portal that you may need access to. It simplifies your life.

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Umbrella policy

Umbrella policies give you upper-tier liability coverage. If you have equity in your home, financial assets and you make good wages, you would want to secure an umbrella policy in order to protect your assets and future earning power in case of a catastrophic auto accident or serious liability incident that may occur in your home. Many companies require that you have your auto and homeowner’s policies combined in order to qualify for these low-cost/high-coverage policies.

The takeaway

With cost savings, a single point of contact, a simplified life and qualifying for extra coverage, having a single company really goes a long way toward bringing great value to your insurance program. This is why insurance agents oftentimes will recommend a single company and would want to quote your personal insurance with one company. If you do not have your insurance with one company, you would likely do yourself a huge favor by asking your ROX Casa Grande Insurance agent to combine policies or by consolidating your insurance if you have more than one agent.

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The ROX Interview (continued) ...continued from page 19 I was participating in calls from the governor’s office and meetings with the City. The mayor would send an email asking us to “get this out there.” The Chamber is a conduit to make sure our members are informed of what is available to them — all of the first CARES Act options, making sure they were educated, participating in the teleconferences, putting together webinars and sessions to help members learn to adjust and improvise their business model to meet the current consumer need, despite the restrictions. A lot of our members have expressed that these are tough times. We are working with members to stretch out payments if needed. Our current member retention rate is 1% higher than the same time last year. We’re keeping members, and that’s a good thing. And through that we wanted to try and convene our members. So we decided, “Let’s get Zoom, and have virtual mixers” We’ve tried to make each one fresh. When we did our first virtual Business Before Hours at Casa Grande Trap and Skeet, the owner Tiger Volz (who was awesome), said, “Well, I’ll just bring someone in to do a shooting demo.” And so we walked out there; I had a Wi-Fi jet pack so we could take my computer out there and show everyone on our screen in the little “Brady Bunch boxes,” this is what it looks like to go shooting here, to experience this business’ offering. It’s like a face-to-face networking event. We’ve found ways to still give members their minute at the mic by playing games, trivia, and table topics. We announce there’s going to be questions and some prizes. It’s a

Renée and her parents attend a family wedding

Damian Marc Instagram: drone Rhode Island

chance to shamelessly self-promote and we encourage it. We had 23 to 25 attendees at our most recent event. That’s what we usually have for in-person attendance. We gave away three I Casa Grande shirts as prizes. A few businesses that agreed to be hosts of our Business After Hours cancelled. The Casa Grande Neon Sign Park was scheduled for March and we had to cancel and were sad to do so because that’s a great time of year to be outdoors in the evening and show off our now award-winning park. We’ve just taken the Zoom voyage to Business After Hours, too. The August host, Sun Life Family Health Center, alternates every year with the hospital. They agreed to do it via Zoom because they saw it not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to not just showcase one office, but multiple offices. It is really about thinking outside the box, the box being our computer, so to speak. We’re looking at our fall fundraisers; we want to still have a Business Showcase, for our members and the community. We announced it to our members to at least get that communication going with the caveat of whether or not we’ll be able to hold it. It makes more sense to start planning and have to make changes versus not to plan at all. We’ve had conversations with one of our member businesses who do a lot of digital marketing, to help us investigate a virtual option to connect our members, to have that face-to-face networking, because the whole

♥

idea is they have an opportunity to talk to potential consumers. So we’re exploring our options, whether putting together a virtual business showcase, a video or a conference-type platform where there are breakouts; or postponing to a point when we can do the event in person. We really want to develop that particular event into a fall Casa Grande lifestyle show. Unfortunately, COVID’s restricting us, but at the same time it’s teaching us to try to do different things. And that’s the approach for the fall golf tournament. You can still play golf, that’s considered mostly distancing if you’re playing with your familiars. So how can we do a golf tournament and still have the other parts of the tournament that people enjoy as well? We’re working with Francisco Grande and we’re coming up with some fun ideas. People will still want to go play golf for the Chamber and have a good day, win some prizes and get their drink ticket. We don’t yet know if we’ll be able to have a “sitdown” lunch reception like we usually do. I’m not sure we’ll be able to have crowds by Nov. 6. I’m hoping to have the Home, Health and Garden Show, as well as our annual dinner in-person in January, fingers crossed. Maybe we postpone them. It’s in our bylaws to have the annual meeting at a certain time of year, but we didn’t have a hundred-year pandemic since we were incorporated. It won’t be this way forever. It’s just right now this is the way it will be. Hopefully next year will be different.

continued on page 82... 74

OR LI GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR LIV VING ING • THE INTERV IE W

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

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Quebec Shines as City for All Seasons Article and Photos by Tori Ward, Cruise and Resort Specialist, ROX Travel

Ice Hotel Wedding Chapel

I was impressed with the quality of the artisanal products and bought my true love an alpaca scarf while he was distracted taking photos of City Hall carolers.

hen temperatures hit 98 degrees in Prescott, my friend and I fantasized about sitting by the water in the shade with a cold drink and a deli nearby that delivers. I laughed and told her I was at the perfect place at Christmas but thought we would have to settle for a restaurant that offers poutine. Last December, I longed for a Christmas Market experience. I suggested Quebec and my husband started packing. We arrived at midnight a few days before Christmas and Ubered to our B&B a block from the Château Frontenac on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Refreshed the following morning, we set out to explore Quartier Petit-Champlain and Old Quebec City. Booting up, we walked over to watch the running of the toboggans, an annual attraction dating back to

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1884. Located along the river and next to Château Frontenac, the wooden toboggans whiz by at speeds up

Ice Hotel

to 70 mph. I gave up trying to talk my spouse into a ride, so we continued down Rue St. Anne, where the tiny Chalets of the Christmas Market were calling my name. I was impressed with the quality of the artisanal products and bought my true love an alpaca scarf while he was distracted taking photos of City Hall carolers. Chocolates, sausages and other delectables were offered as samples to tempt the palate and purse. I collected a few small treats for our Christmas Eve dinner. Spending the morning and afternoon wandering around the old quarter, we finally made a stop for lunch of poutine, but French fries slashed with gravy and cheese was a bigger hit for hubby than me. We continued our stroll and walked as far as Porte St. Louis dating back to 1620. It is one of four city gates that encompass

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

Traveling • Dining • Entertainment the only historic city wall in North America still standing north of Mexico. During our exploration, we located Paillard, a French patisserie, that we stopped at on our way back to buy coffee and more items for an indoor picnic. I returned to this bakery many times in the next few days. A wine shop a few doors away completed our day’s shopping. As we strolled back to our B&B, we made a mental note of shops we wanted to return to for after-Christmas sales. Rue St. Louis, the next block over from our B&B, had many options for dinner. The area was packed with tourists, mostly families, waiting for a table, and we were fortunate not to have to wait too long to be seated. Christmas Eve was quiet, mostly spent people-watching and collecting small treats for our indoor picnic later in the evening. Instead of risking a fall trekking to Mass in dark and icy streets, we settled for a service broadcast in French over the radio in our room. Afterward, we spread our picnic of cheeses, cured meats, French bread, fruit and local honey and toasted santè while French carols played in the background. Before bed, I wrapped the scarf in tissue paper from one of our shopping trips and tied it together with bakery ribbon.

Toboggans

Christmas dinner at Château Frontenac was lovely. This historic hotel, constructed in 1892, was initially designed as a grand railway hotel. We cruised the lobby and main promenade with their impressive displays of decorated Christmas trees. The scarf was given during dessert and wrapped snugly around hubby’s neck during our walk back in the dark. A horse drawing a carriage huffed out clouds of breath as it clopped the cold cobblestones along Rue St. Genevive. The following day, the Old City center’s tourist information center was our stop for booking out-of-town reservations: The Ice Hotel for a morning excursion with a countryside tour, including a stop at Montmorency Falls in the afternoon and evening. The Hôtel de Glace, or Ice Hotel, is a large complex about 20 minutes north of the city. Although it includes an outdoor waterpark for warmer weather and the largest winter playground in North America, the primary focus is the seasonal Ice Hotel. For a few weeks during the winter, hotel rooms with beds, a bar with all accessories, a wedding chapel and lounge all carved from ice sparkle like a fairytale igloo. The structures are freshly sculpted each year with rooms available from early January through spring when it melts. The afternoon excursion to the Île d’Orléans, a small island with pastoral farmland, would be my idea of a perfect summer getaway. The island is a few miles from the city with quiet country roads that wind along the river and through fields. Well-kept homes and small rental properties make for an idyllic location where napping in the shade completes my summer checklist. Across the bridge from the island, we made a brief stop at Montmorency Falls, very narrow compared to Niagara, however taller and during our visit icy and mysterious. Packing was completed quickly the following morning, and with more than an hour before our scheduled Uber, I made a final run to Palliard for croissants to fortify us on our flight home.

FALL 2020 • THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION

Quebec City

EXPERT TIPS: •

If you go in the winter, be prepared for snow and ice. Pack boots with nonslip soles and warm caps and gloves.

•

The tourist information center provides helpful and free information even if you aren’t booking excursions.

•

ATMs are not as numerous as in the states, so take advantage when you find one if you need cash for tips, etc.

•

Make dinner reservations before you depart from home well in advance if you visit during a busy tourist period or the holidays.

•

Quebec is French-speaking, although most of the population speaks English. It’s helpful to learn a few common courtesy phrases.

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Casa Grande Public Library

Online Gale Courses Free to CG Library Users

he Casa Grande Public Library is pleased to offer access to Gale Courses for all our registered library users. The next monthly sessions begin Oct. 14 and Nov. 11. What’s on your list to learn? Maybe you’d like to build up your business know-how, master a second language, or conquer code? Whatever it is, you’re bound to find something that piques your interest with Gale Courses. These classes are held entirely online, led by expert instructors and, best of all, are free with your library card.

Explore popular topics

Select from hundreds of personal and professional development courses covering a variety of topics: • Business, including human resources, management and marketing. • Computer and technology (beginner to advanced). • Life skills, from personal finance to parenting. • Health and wellness. • Continuing education credits.

Find a course that fits your schedule

While the sessions are six weeks long, the lessons are released twice a week — so you can keep up or catch up, whatever the case may be. A new round of courses starts every month. To learn when the next enrollment period for Gale Courses is, visit www.education.gale.com/l-casa30302.

Online Library Registration Don’t have a library card? You can now register with the library online! This will give you access to all the library’s electronic resources, including Libby, Hoopla and Gale Courses. To register online, go to cglibrary.org, click on the “Log In” link in the top right corner, then click on the link to register now. To upgrade your account to borrow physical materials, please come by the library in person during our hours of operation (check website under “Library Info”).

www.cg.azsummerreading.org 78

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THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

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PINAL COUNTY PRESS A R IZONA CIT Y • C A SA GR A NDE • CO OLIDGE • ELOY • F LOR ENCE • M A R ICOPA

CONTINUED…

Sheriff Launches ‘Citizens Posse,’ Gets 3,000 Applications

inal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is offering a free f o u r-h o u r c o u r s e f o r members of the public who want to learn more about the sheriff’s office and how they might be able to help protect their homes and communities. Upon completion of the Citizens Posse class, graduates receive an ID card identifying them as a member, and there’s a possibility they may be called out to help the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office during emergencies. Since the program was first announced at the end of July, some 3,000 applications have come in. Though enrollment is not restricted to Pinal County residents they make up the vast majority of those who have applied, PCSO spokeswoman Lauren Reimer said. She said about 200 applicants are from Maricopa, Pima or other

Arizona counties, while about 80 are from out of state and three from out of the country. The first in-person class was held Aug. 15, with 17 students. Reimer said the department is hoping to keep class sizes at 20 or below. As of press time, the department was still working to finalize an online version to reach more applicants. The course includes sections on constitutional law, search and seizure procedures, home protection measures, firearms safety and use of deadly force. Participants spend time in a simulator where such decisions must be made. “Our new Citizens Posse is first and foremost a citizens academy-type program where residents can come to learn more about how and why officers and deputies do what they do,” Reimer said. Lamb said during an August Pinal County Supervisors meeting

the idea came out of the racial justice protests and riots which began in late May. “I’ve heard nothing on the national level but that we need to reach out more to our communities, and this is a great way to do that,” he said. Educating residents on what law enforcement officers do could also head off any discussion locally about “defunding” police and the sheriff’s office, he added. Some supervisors asked questions, which they said were inspired by concerns from the public. District 3 Supervisor Steve Miller asked, “These citizens also are available to be called out (for emergencies)?” Lamb said, “Supervisor Miller, with all due respect, you’re avail-

able to be called out. As the sheriff, I’m able to command the aid of all inhabitants of Pinal County.” Laughing, Miller said, “I get it. I’ll turn this off,” holding up his cellphone. The posse classes are being funded by the department’s community relations budget, Lamb said, because most of the events it had planned on holding have been canceled. PCSO is continuing to accept applications. All applicants will be put through a basic background check and are asked to disclose any history of felony convictions, though this isn’t an automatic disqualifier. To apply, visit www.pinalcountyaz.gov/Sheriff/Organizations/ Pages/CitizensPOSSE.aspx

LUCID AIR..cont. from page 70 roads, and numerous jobs related to manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and operations are posted at Lucid.com. Pre-production is scheduled to start late this year, with the first customer deliveries expected at the beginning of 2021.

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THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

The ROX Interview (continued) ...continued from page 74 Also, when I started last year, we changed things around from doing the monthly e-newsletter, which was a PDF, and started a weekly digital e-newsletter. I think our numbers prove it is a welcomed change. Our open rate is almost 11% higher than the industry average. So yay for us! We send it out to about 1,100 people each week. It has given us an opportunity to connect with our members more; and to connect the readers with our members more using links to their websites, whether it’s a new member announcement, or a business brief. We’re also doing a Business of the Week. That’s a video that gets put on our YouTube channel, in the weekly newsletter and it goes out on social media. I think we’ve had an opportunity to find little ways to increase value to our members. And the Business of the Week is a hit! The business is excited at the opportunity to be highlighted in this way. It’s a way to congratulate them. It’s not high-tech, but it’s a video and they love it. And they get a lot of positive reviews on our social media posts. In fact, during all of the shutdowns due to COVID, we created a website that’s not limited to our Chamber members called www.casagrandeisopenforbusiness. com, because we wanted to make sure there was this one place people could look for a business in Casa Grande. The Chamber paid

for the URL, and APS has supported the updates and the design of the website, and the City of Casa Grande has been proactive in communicating about the site. We have over 150 businesses on it now. Not all of them are Chamber members. We don’t go and hunt them down to join, we hope they would want to become a member, but if they don’t, it’s OK. It’s really about sharing that our community is still open, because ultimately that helps all of us. GC LIVING: I recently saw an announcement from the city. One of the items on the email was they are moving forward with the community marketing organization or CMO. RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: Actually, it’s still on hold. But, the state of Arizona is doing a Rediscover Arizona campaign for tourism. I keep thinking now more than ever, we need to get a Rediscover Casa Grande campaign off the ground. And that would be a complete website redesign with the community brand. Our current website is a bit of a tourism and Chamber website, but this would be a more robust website, a more exciting sense of arrival, and rich with images. And there would be add-ons that would be marketing the website to our community and beyond. It’s a Love Local campaign. We want people to shop local. We want people to stay local, and we want this website to be marketed to our com-

munities and our area, so they think, “Oh yeah, Casa Grande, they have what I need,” and get them coming here. You don’t need to drive up to the Valley for things. It’s really about getting more people to our different businesses. It’s like a great small town of 60,000 residents. That’s what I like about Casa Grande. It’s a growing city, there’s great industry, there’s great opportunity, but it still feels like a small town. I like to go to the places that are locally owned. I like to support BeDillon’s, A Latte Vino, Ricardo’s, Cook-E-Jar — I could go on, and on… you know, the places where you get to know them and they get to know you. GC LIVING: Sixty thousand people and you can run into people you know at the grocery store every time. RENÉE LOUZON-BENN: Yes! This is why I always think about what I look like before I leave the house. I always run into people I know. Now when I run into people, we talk about business and the Chamber and how are things going for their business. I think it gives me an opportunity to be supportive in a different way with our community members, our business members, and also to be part of growth in the economic development sector. In the short time since I began, I’ve been able to do some new and exciting things, and I’m not done. Like the shirt says, “Casa Grande: Love It!” 

Renée and family Rhode Island 2013

OR LI GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR LIV VING ING • THE INTERV IE W

THE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP EDITION • FALL 2020

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Super Moms Sound Off on Staying Fit

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