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Camila Frederico takes the reins at Civana

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

On her second go-around in Arizona, Camila Frederico is taking it in. “As the new general manager of Civana Wellness Resort & Spa, doing so has been easy,” Frederico said. “It has certainly lived up to the hype from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and USA Today — and then some — so far.” Frederico’s oversees the resort’s 22 acres, 144 rooms and suites and its 20,000-square-foot spa and wellness center. Frederico has trained for this position since before she could read, but she didn’t know it yet. Born and raised in São Paulo, Frederico competed in gymnastics at 4, going so far as to be named to the country’s national team at ages 13 and 15. During this time, Frederico earned local celebrity status when she became the first Brazilian female to do a triple rotation on the floor exercise. “I competed until age 17, when I finished high school and after about a dozen broken bones,” Frederico said. “I was ready for a new challenge, but I took the lessons learned about wellness and exercise with me the rest of my life.” Unlike the United States, after high school one must declare a major before

Camila Frederico’s second stint in Arizona is made all the sweeter by offi ce views like this. (Photo

courtsey of Civana)

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entering college. “My brother suggested I go into economics, and for some reason I did, but with a twist,” Frederico said. “In Brazil, one may work toward a master’s degree at the same time as a bachelor’s, so I did.” Admittedly, she said she was falling asleep working toward a B.A. in economics from the University Mackenzie in São Paulo, Frederico also worked toward an M.A. in journalism from the University Casper-Libero, also in São Paulo, with the goal of being a movie critic. “After graduating with both by 21, however, there were neither journalism nor economics jobs in my home country,” Frederico said. “As such, I accompanied my travel agent mother to a convention, where I learned about J-1 visas to work in the hospitality industry in the United States.” Intrigued by travel, Frederico booked a one-way ticket for Orlando, packing just one bag. “I laugh at that now,” Frederico said. “The Camila of today would need 20 suitcases for shoes alone.” Armed with that one suitcase and work ethic instilled by her family and years of gymnastics training, Frederico earned a job as the front desk clerk at the then-largest Marriott in the country. She fell in love fast with the pace and people of the industry. Frederico worked her way up in the industry over the next few years before driving cross country to Phoenix to accept a role as a meeting and event coordinator at the then-Phoenix Ritz-Carlton in 2002. “That iconic hotel became my home for the next decade,” said Frederico, who left the property as assistant director of meetings and events in 2012 to take on an even bigger role, director of food and beverage, at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in California. At Half Moon Bay, she successfully led a $40 million culinary operation. �ee CIVANA Page 13

CIVANA from Page 12

“The first six months there were the toughest in my career, but doing something so far out of my comfort zone pushed me to learn, grow and accept new lessons in an industry I thought I knew pretty darned well,” Frederico said. Her discipline was rewarded with a promotion to director of rooms at the resort and then the opportunity to join the W Hotel in a leadership role upon the Marriott’s purchase of it in 2017. Life was moving along swimmingly for Frederico until 2020. As with the rest of the world, she was rocked by the global pandemic. “It certainly was not the time to think about a job change, yet her I am,” Frederico said. At first, she ignored a headhunter’s information about Civana and the idea of returning to Arizona. However, on a whim, she Googled the resort, just to check it out. “It was as if someone looked at my life, starting from my first floor routine at age 4, and built a resort with me in mind,” Frederico said. “It was love at first sight with everything Civana stands, for when it comes to wellness, health, relaxation, self-care and fun. I had to come out and see it for myself in person.” The visit solidified it: in spring 2021 Frederico moved back to Arizona to be the resort’s general manager. “Being on property feels like home, but a home with aerial yoga, sunset sound healing and 25 spa treatment rooms,” she said. She takes at least one wellness class per week on-site in addition to running the property to fully immerse herself in the culture. “I am even working on my certification in aerial yoga, which I think will make me the first local hospitality leader who also happens to be able to teach yoga in the air, and to do so a full 25 years after retiring from high-flying stunts in the first place.” For more, visit www.civanacarefree. com.

Camila Frederico is the new general manager of Civana. (Photo courtesy of Civana) After years in competitive gymnastics, Camila Frederico is jumping at the chance to take part in Civana’s wellness classes, like this one, each week. (Photo courtesy of Civana)

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Tramonto mom uses crafts to ease her pain

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Megan Gladney and her now-5year-old daughter, Gemma, frequently created crafts together. “She’s really smart,” Gladney said. “She is literally the craft master. She can make anything.” When the Tramonto resident was diagnosed with endometriosis, it became even more important. She founded Carefree Highway Market (@ CarefreeHighwayMKT on Etsy) to sell their personalized crayons, along with barrettes and garland. Holiday goodies are available, too. “Right now, I sell to boutiques around the country,” Gladney said. “We also have DIY paint kits. Boutiques are loving that right now. They can say it’s women made.” Larger companies have asked to sell her items on their sites and in their boutiques, but Gladney doesn’t have the available support, nor would she like to. “We’re growing at the speed I want to right now,” she said. To promote her business, Gladney spent the quarantine posting on a plethora of social media sites. The result? Customers came “in droves.” “It became this fun thing,” said Gladney, whose 71-year-old mother gets involved as well. “It was something fun for kids because everyone was so, so bored.” Carefree Highway Market was born, thanks to Gemma, in some ways. Gladney and her husband, Christopher, named their daughter after an Italian saint. It was hard to find personalized items, so Gladney took matters into her own hand. “Children’s names are unique now,” she said. “You can’t find them on a keychain. My items are personalized and so special.” Gladney hails from Milwaukee and Christopher from Scottsdale. Gladney’s skills run deep, as her grandmother worked for Minnesota Fabrics longer than anyone else in the United States. “She was sharp as a whip,” Gladney said. “She was valedictorian of her class, but she would cut all the fabrics and know all the measurements in her head. She would sew anything for you, any design you wanted.” On her site is a list of her products, social media—and a link to the Endometriosis Association. “Since I was a teenager, I’ve had pain,” she said. “I was ignored by every single doctor I went to, even though my mom had surgery and probably had it. “Everybody looks at you like there’s nothing they can do for you. I pushed to get my surgery. I’m glad I had it done. I hope that’s my last surgery for that, specifically.” Endometriosis is painful and occurs when tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of a woman’s uterus — the endometrium — grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. Gladney explained she was embarrassed by the endometriosis, so only a few close friends knew about the pain. “Everyone would say, ‘She looks great,’” she recalled. “They don’t know I’m up most nights in pain. Some think I’m a faker, so I try to be really open about it and tell everyone I sell to about it. It’s not something that should be ignored.”

After an infertility battle,

Gladney gave birth to her daughter. In some ways, she was prepared for birth.

“I would show up at work— in sales, which is male-driven a lot of the times—and they would look at me like, ‘Oh, she’s not feeling well again,’” she said. “The pain was so bad last night that I felt like I gave birth to six children last night. My husband wanted to call 911, but you can’t call 911 for this.” Gladney was on bed rest immediately after Gemma’s birth. She wanted to return to work but wasn’t confident she could do so. Carefree Highway Market has kept her occupied. “I’m glad it’s taking off,” she said. “It’s a great work environment.”

Megan Gladney created Carefree Highway Market to sell personalized crayons, barrettes, garland and other holiday goodies while battling endometriosis. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

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