BUSINESS

State Forty Eight CEO aims for a difference

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

Staff Writer

People across the state have been showcasing Arizona pride with State Forty Eight tops, bottoms, accessories and more.

Now, the 8-year-old Chandler company’s founders are aiming to show that they’re more than just apparel manufacturers with their newly launched State Forty Eight Foundation and upcoming Entrepreneur Speaker Series.

“We’re so much more than just selling T-shirts and hats,” said State Forty Eight co-founder and CEO, Michael Spangenberg. “The foundation will prove that we stand by what we say and that we really want to make a difference in the community.”

State Forty Eight was founded in 2013 by local entrepreneurs Spangenberg and brothers Stephen and Nicholas Polando to show their appreciation for Arizona.

The brand “represents a lifestyle, a sense of community and is an expression of pride,” and “is about redefining the status-quo and inspiring others to rise up and stand for something they believe in,” according to State Forty Eight’s website.

Last year, State Forty Eight established the State Forty Eight Foundation with a mission “to enrich and strengthen Arizona through thoughtful partnerships, inspired community action, and investment in the changemakers of tomorrow,” it said. The nonprofit contributes to the wellbeing of Arizonans by organizing fundraising and events for community causes, conducting workshops and providing mentorship to educate and inspire Arizona youth.

It also offers start-ups entrepreneurial education and access to resources by partnering with incubator organizations, Spangenberg said.

“It’s very rewarding to help people follow their passion and make a difference in the community,” Spangenberg said.

While State Forty Eight was founded as a charitable apparel company, there was only so much it could do as a forprofit entity, Spangenberg said.

So, the brand found different ways to expand a positive impact.

In 2019, State Forty Eight launched an initiative called Community Impact, which was committed to empowering others to do good. In its first year, the company attracted over 250 volunteers and donated more than $21,000 to local charities.

After witnessing incredible support for their Community Impact efforts – especially an event with United Food Bank where volunteers packed 4,800 emergency food bags, Spangenberg was inspired to do even more for the community and officially launched the State Forty Eight Foundation last year.

State Forty Eight CEO and co-founder Michael Spangenberg said that by forming a foundation, the Chandler apparel company can expand its efforts to give back

to the community. (Special to the Arizonan)

seeFORTYEIGHT page 28

One of city’s last farms giving way to industry

BY KEVIN REAGAN

Staff Writer

The Chandler Planning and Zoning Commission last week unanimously approved a rezoning that allows industrial development on one of the city’s last remaining farms – and one of the last large parcels of developable land.

The commission okayed the rezoning of the 71-acre Schrader Farms property at Queen Creek and McQueen roads after the developer, Core5, assured the panel tenants renting the six proposed new buildings on the site would not be high-traffic, large-scale manufacturers.

The Schrader Farms Business Park, named after a family that for decades maintained a hay farm, will consist of six buildings that will house a variety of undefined businesses.

“Schrader Farms Business Park will attract new companies, high-paying jobs and enhance Chandler’s growing reputation as one of the best places to live in America,” the project’s developers told the commission.

The developer said the site’s buildings were intentionally designed to invite the type of tenant that will not upset surrounding neighborhoods.

Core5 estimates Schrader Farms will generate 1,500 new jobs and produce an economic footprint worth nearly $825 million.

Positioned south of Tumbleweed Park, the business park would replace one of Chandler’s last large parcels of farmland that hasn’t already been turned into a strip mall or residential subdivision.

Chandler has been approaching buildout for the last few years and the Schrader Farms project pushes the city even closer to exhausting its supply of vacant land. As of 2019, about 11 percent of Chandler’s land had not yet been developed.

For decades, Chandler’s south side was the site of numerous dairy, cotton and alfalfa farms. But the city’s economic base has since steered away from agriculture as more farmers sold their properties.

A city survey a few years ago indicated that most of Chandler’s remaining farmers weren’t interested in preserving their land and likely to sell to developers.

William Schrader and his sons had been farming on their land along Queen Creek Road for years and decided that now seemed like the right time to hand the property over to commercial builders.

“Farming and city don’t mix anymore and I think it’s time to have the opportunity to move on,” Schrader said in a promotional video for the project. “There’s no place to be farming now in the middle of a city.”

During their consideration of the rezoning request, some planning commission members expressed concern that the project could disrupt or bother the community.

“That’s the challenge of both commission and Council,” said Chairman Rick Heumann, “To make sure our last remaining land is best utilized because once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

Chandler could be seeing more than 100 acres getting developed across the city for industrial or business purposes in the near future.

At least two other projects are cur-

Chandler photo company expanding headquarters

ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Savage Universal, an international supplier of background and photographic products based in Chandler, is growing.

Phoenix-based Stevens-Leinweber Construction recently broke ground for Savage’s build-to-suit headquarters.

The 45,117-square-foot expansion will sit directly next to Savage’s existing headquarters, a 61,908-square-foot office/industrial flex building at 2060 S. Douglas Drive.

The site is located immediately adjacent to Chandler Municipal Airport, just west of Gilbert Road and approximately one mile south of the Loop 202/Santan Freeway.

Founded in 1937, Savage is a worldwide leader and manufacturer of paper backgrounds and photographic products for professionals and semi-professionals.

Products available through the family-owned company include photography backdrops, photo mats and mount boards, LED lighting and patented studio equipment.

Photographers look to Savage’s extensive line of studio and location equipment, including light modifiers from small to large, patented design light stands and accessories like gaffer tape and clamps.

Background stands run from portable and lightweight to multi-support bar systems for heavy and wide backdrops. Several product photography kits provide a full background and lighting setup within a compact space.

Savage sells wholesale to brick-andmortar and online businesses in the photographic, picture framing and art supply/craft industries.

The headquarters expansion will allow Savage to add new manufacturing, warehouse and distribution space, and create additional office space for current and future administrative needs.

“The scope of our company has grown exponentially since our start more than 80 years ago,” said Savage Universal board Chairman Hayward Richard Pressman.

“During COVID, we experienced another unique but notable year of growth, as companies were forced to retool the way they communicate with customers and as enthusiasts and semi-professionals found they had more time to pursue photography as a business or hobby, he said.

“We expect many of these shifts will be permanent, and we look forward to using our expanded headquarters to fully support the needs of our increasingly diverse customer base.”

The Savage headquarters expansion will feature contemporary warehouse and manufacturing amenities with a 28foot clearance height.

“As a company celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, we understand the commitment it takes to remain in business and thriving from decade to decade,” said Stevens-Leinweber Construction President Jamie Godwin. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this expansion for Savage and wish them many more years of success.”

The project architect for the Savage expansion is Winton Architects. Construction is expected to be complete by January.

Stevens-Leinweber Construction is one of the Valley’s most active tenant improvement contractors, providing general contracting, construction management and consulting, and select ground-up development.

It has completed more than 8,000 projects, dominating Phoenix’s business core with more than 1,800 projects completed in 82 percent of the Valley’s submarkets.

FORTYEIGHT from page 27

“So many people want to get involved with helping the community but don’t know where to start,” Spangenberg said.

“We got hundreds of people to come pack thousands of emergency food bags, so the proof was there.”

The State Forty Eight Foundation also looks at its Entrepreneur Speaker Series as a different way of giving back.

Set to start in August, the series will cover topics including marketing, how to get trademarks, finances, sales and other basics that people aspiring to start their own business or current small business owners need to know.

“State Forty Eight wouldn’t be here without entrepreneurship,” Spangenberg said. “We’re going to be supporting entrepreneurs because we feel that it really helps make a difference in the community.

“We know how it was to get started when you had nothing and had no resources, so we want to provide help to provide those practical tips and storytelling to really inspire people to follow their dream.”

State Forty Eight donated $43,000 to charities last year, according to their 2020 Community Impact Report, so they’re no stranger to fundraising.

Spangenberg says he and his partners “try to think outside the box” when it comes to hosting fundraising events for their entrepreneurship program.

Fun ways the State Forty Eight Foundation has started fundraising for their entrepreneurship and youth mentorship programs included a garage sale outside its Chandler headquarters in April that raised over $2,500 and a tattoo fundraiser event in May that raised $4,800.

Last week, a poker game competition offered an array of prizes for the top six players.

The money raised for the entrepreneurship program will allow the State Forty Eight Foundation to provide future scholarships, Spangenberg said.

“Our actions speak louder than words,” Spangenberg said. “We want to prove who we are and what we stand for: empowering others and promoting love and positivity.”

Donations can be made at donorbox. org/statefortyeightfoundation. Information about the foundation and its events: statefortyeight.com/state-forty-eight-foundation.

FARMS from page 27

rently under Planning and Zoning Commission review that would significantly add to the city’s available commercial space.

During the commission’s July 21 meeting, members are expected to review another project that would add commercial buildings near Gilbert and Queen Creek roads.

Known as the Chandler Airpark Technology Center, the site consists of multiple buildings constructed upon a 26acre parcel near the city’s airport.

John Mocarski, the project’s director, said the park’s expected to result in 425,000 square-feet of new commercial space that could be used for manufacturing, supplying construction materials, repairing industrial equipment or as the future site of a vocational school.

“While the end users of the Technology Center are not yet known,” Mocarski said, “several users are anticipated for this flex industrial with office and showroom development or any other uses permitted under the (industrial) zoning and should be an asset to the adjacent area.”

The park’s close proximity to the local airport could attract more tenants to the area, Mocarski added, and heighten the property’s value to the business community.

“The adjacency to the Chandler Municipal Airport will create additional opportunities for users at this location,” he said.

Phase one of construction would include constructing two flex buildings that would offer up to 150,000 squarefeet of commercial space. The “flex” distinction offers some variety in how the property could be leased out upon completion. “The two proposed flex industrial buildings allow for a mix of uses including manufacturing, research, development, and office uses,” a city memo states.

The Technology Center will be asking the planning commission to approve a preliminary development plan for site layout and construction. No objections have been made against the project and city staff have already recommended its approval.

Another commercial project the planning commission will review later this month involves constructing an 86,000-square-foot office building near McClintock Drive and Chandler Boulevard. The 6-acre project would be an addition to the Chandler Corporate Center, which already houses several office buildings.