BEAT

GREEN MACHINE

Attorney Jason Pritchett is bringing a free, sustainable transportation alternative to Scottsdale

Blazing new trails is nothing new for Jason Pritchett. When the longtime Valley attorney joined Radix Law, where he currently serves as president, it became the first multilawyer traditional law firm to be approved as an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) in the United States. “The ABS designation allows our team to have non-lawyers as owners and leaders within our business,” Pritchett says. “Through this model, we have a diverse variety of legal minds, but can also offer more entrepreneurially minded partners who have overcome real-life business issues.” Pritchett has served as general counsel to many local businesses, including the Phoenix Rising and Signing Day Sports, a virtual company he helped take public that utilizes videos to help college coaches analyze talent. He is also an active Thunderbird. “Through the WM Phoenix Open, we have helped create literacy programs, fund domestic violence shelters, provide school clothes for low-income families, and even furnish safe places to live for recently homeless, veterans in need, and youth aging out of the foster care system,” says Pritchett, noting the organization’s total giving now exceeds $175 million. “We are blazing impactful trails that will support hundreds of thousands of members of our community for years to come.” Beyond all this, Pritchett – in partnership with his brother, Japheth – launched GEST Carts in Scottsdale. “GEST stands for Green Easy Safe Transportation,” Pritchett says. “It is a free, 100% electric alternative to rideshare, taxis or driving one’s own car.” The open-air, temperature-controlled GEST Carts operate similar to Uber as riders can request a cart through the mobile app, downloadable through the Apple and Google Play stores. Rides are free thanks to advertisers that are marketing on the carts. Each cart is able to legally travel up 35 miles per hour and carry five passengers. Pritchett’s plan is to initially focus on Old Town Scottsdale’s Entertainment District as well as at major events like Spring Training and Super Bowl before expanding to Downtown Phoenix, Tempe and the WM Open. “In addition to being safer and more comfortable than golf carts, GEST Carts are both cheaper and greener than rideshare, and we think they can lower the incidence of drunk driving, especially among those who incorrectly assume they ‘are fine’ to drive after a few beers,” Pritchett says.

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTO BY CLAUDIA JOHNSTONE

LOCATION: W HOTEL SCOTTSDALE