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WORTH THE FIND
Jordanian brings flavors of the Middle East to Scottsdale
Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health
s u o i R Ser E W O SEP
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eld fi g n i y a l olo p p e h t s l leve o h c a m a Natalie C
IT’S A THREE-PEAT Avery Lane Named Best Consignment Store 3 Years in a Row by
Darlene Richert, Proprietor
A
t cocktail parties, on the tee box and amongst the ladies who lunch, there’s a subtle whisper about an unusual design mecca — Consignment. The valley’s most savvy shoppers and discerning designers are regulars at Avery Lane Fine Consignments and they are rewarded with great deals on one-of-a-kind home décor. Avery Lane’s design style is “Paris Apartment” which is a curated aesthetic of items collected from a lifetime of international travels, inherited from generations or salvaged when the flat upstairs was vacated. And, the 30,000 sq. ft. of inventory is like a Parisian merry-go-round — constantly changing and revolving. Come check it out … sit for a spell … we’ll pour the champagne. Discover more at AveryLaneHome.com
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The small banks don’t understand you, and the big banks don’t try to. At Alliance Bank of Arizona, we get it. We bring you the best of both worlds: the capacity and sophisticated product offerings of a big bank along with the responsiveness and superior service of a more specialized institution.
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Contents September
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10 Wheels Down
Scottsdale Airport’s runway reopens after rehab
11 Light It Up
Canal Convergence is bringing back popular attraction
14 Life Goals
Airpark resident introduces the new Biltmore
20 Standing Out from the Competition
Wendy Armendariz gives neighborhoods access to health care Suzanne Enright helps commercial real estate clients achieve success
31 One-Two Punch
Jabz Boxing celebrates its roots with Airpark studio
41 Opening Its Doors
Experience Scottsdaale continues to strive for recovery
16 Serious Horsepower
28 ‘Hard Work and Faith’
26 Escaping Terrorists
33 Worth the Find
Lawyer helps Afghan interpreter flee Kabul
Jordanian brings flavors of the Middle East to Scottsdale
24 Property Expert
Scottsdale’s Brandables continues to flourish after 25 years
Natalie Camacho levels the polo playing field
WORTH THE FIND
22 Rising to the Challenge
Artist J. Pierce brightens the world
Jordan native brings flavors of the Middle East to Scottsdale
2 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2021
Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health
Serious SEPOWER
HOR
ing field polo play vels the macho le Natalie Ca
On the cover:
Natalie Grancharov Camacho (Photo by Dennis Murphy)
6 35 37 42 43 44
Business News Dining News Remember When Business Horoscopes Business Directory Scottsdale Airpark Map
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Data Destruction Recycling Published monthly since 1981, Scottsdale Airpark News serves the fastest-growing area in Arizona. Scottsdale Airpark News is delivered to businesses in and around the Greater Airpark Area. ©2020 Scottsdale Airpark News. For calendar and news items, the deadline for submission is the first of the month previous to the month you would like it to run. All submissions are handled on a space-available basis. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or illustrations will not be returned unless accompanied by properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. Scottsdale Airpark News has made every effort to authenticate all claims and guarantees offered by advertisers in this magazine, however, we cannot assume liability for any products or services advertised herein. The tradename Scottsdale Airpark News is registered. Reproduction of material in Scottsdale Airpark News in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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Times Media Group sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. Scottsdale Airpark News is printed by American Web on recycled paper fibers with inks containing a blend of soy base. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. Scottsdale Airpark News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@ azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com.
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AIRPARK BusinessNews Gainey Business Bank given FDIC conditional approval
Gainey Business Bank has received conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to establish a new community bank in Scottsdale. The Arizona Department of Financial Institutions recently approved Gainey Business Bank’s status as “in organization,” which authorizes it to raise $15 to $20 million in capital by selling shares. A new community bank has not been established in Arizona for 13 years. Gainey Business Bank will concentrate on commercial, industrial and health care business sectors, bringing the extensive local market experience of executive management and its board to benefit its customers. Gainey Business Bank will support businesses in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and North Phoenix as its primary market area but including customers throughout the metropolitan area. Its products and services will include loans, deposit facilities, cash management services and other business services. Gainey Business Bank is all about “customer service,” says Jim Unruh, board chairperson. “We will build strong relationships with our customers, enabling us to meet their individual needs in a very timely manner while offering advice and counsel in the process.” The Gainey Business Bank is led by a management team with extensive banking experience in the Phoenix market. Joe Stewart, president and chief executive officer, has been in Arizona banking over 30 years, including most recently as president of JPMorgan Chase Arizona for eight years followed by president of Bankers Trust Arizona for five years, combining large-bank and small-bank experience. Other members of the executive team reflect similar experience in the Phoenix market. The management team is supported by a board of directors resident in the Phoenix area with substantial experience in technology, banking, insurance, finance and general business. “We believe there is a significant banking need in the Valley for local decisions, local management, local knowledge,” Stewart says. “So many of the banks in our market are in affect ‘outposts’ with out-of-state control. We intend to work hard to be a local asset to the community.”
By Scottsdale Airpark News Staff
SCC interim President Chris Haines to retire
After 38 years in higher education, including 30 years of service and dedication to the Maricopa County Community College District, Scottsdale Community College interim President Chris Haines will retire in January. “I have had the honor and privilege to work with and for so many amazing higher education professionals,” Haines says. “I have learned something from all of them and am grateful to have served the students, staff and faculty of MCCCD these last 30 years. I am especially proud to have served as SCC’s interim president. I cannot think of a better group of innovative and caring educators to collaborate with and serve over these last three years.” MCCCD interim Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales adds, “The Maricopa Community Colleges have been very fortunate to have President Haines on our team for the past 30 years and are grateful for the incredible impact she has had on Scottsdale Community College. “I know I am not alone in saying that she will be dearly missed, and we wish her all the best in her retirement and future endeavors.”
Maricopa County Community College District will begin the official search for Chris Haines’ replacement in September. (Photo courtesy of the Maricopa County Community College District)
The Maricopa County Community College District will begin the official search for her replacement in September, with the goal of having a new, permanent president hired and in place by January to ensure a smooth transition.
Arizona Bank & Trust continues to support the community Arizona Bank & Trust, powered by HTLF, introduced its home improvement loan for low- to moderate-income consumer borrowers. It’s a new loan product is structured to help low- to moderate-income borrowers access credit. “We’re proud to launch this new loan product to help the communities we serve,” says Bill Callahan, president and chief executive officer at Arizona Bank & Trust. “Arizona Bank & Trust is dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers by providing access to credit. The new home improvement loan will provide credit for those who need it most.”
The new home improvement loan is secured by the borrower’s primary residence. The loan is a 60-month term for loan amounts of $5,001 to $14,999. This new product is part of a broader initiative at Arizona Bank & Trust and HTLF to help consumers in need of credit. “HTLF is a consortium of community banks in 12 states,” says Kevin Karrels, EVP, head of retail banking. “We have the size and strength of a larger regional bank but operate with local leadership and decision making. That allows us to offer products and services that our customers and communities need.”
Wilde Wealth Management continues Tucson expansion Scottsdale-based Wilde Wealth Management Group has enhanced its affi liation with Tucson fi rms JRS Wealth Management and Hallmark Financial, adding Tim Lewis to its shared Tucson office. Lewis is a new member of Wilde Wealth Management Group, serving as an investment adviser. To celebrate the
6 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2021
enhanced relationship between the firms and to welcome Lewis as Wilde Wealth’s first formal Tucson team member, JRS and Hallmark have updated their respective logos to include Wilde Wealth Management Group’s brand. Recently, the firms contributed $3,000 to Gospel Rescue Mission, an emergency shelter.
AIRPARK BusinessNews Emerge founders named regional entrepreneurs of the year Emerge founders and co-chief executive officers Andrew Leto and Michael Leto were named Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 Mountain Desert Region Award winners by Ernst & Young LLP. “What an honor to be recognized for our craft by the EY team,” Michael says. “We build great companies because we partner and work with the best people. Our success and gratitude truly go to our Emerge family who demonstrates hard work, focus and dedication to our
customers and the industry.” Andrew adds, “The freight and logistics industry is changing rapidly. Technology is solving these challenges head-on, and Emerge is excited to help lead that evolution. We look forward to being at the forefront and continuing to connect an ecosystem of shippers and carriers.” In its 35th year, EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program honors entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies’ success,
transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities. As winners, Andrew and Michael will become lifetime members of the multi-industry community of award winners. As regional award winners, they are eligible for the Entrepreneur of the Year National Awards, which will be announced in November. The Entrepreneur of the Year National Overall Award winner will then compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in June.
Dunkin’ awards $5,000 to Make-A-Wish Arizona The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation granted Make-AWish Arizona $5,000, which was raised during sales of iced coffee on May 26. “It is heartwarming to see the finished product of a wish granted and the impact it has on the whole family,” says Paul Faust, executive vice president of Southpaw Arizona, one of the local Dunkin’ franchisee groups that owns 17 Dunkin’ restaurants in the Phoenix and Prescott areas that contributed. “Our teams are grateful to give back to our community, help restore hope to deserving children, and support an organization that does so much to bring joy to children who need it most.” Since 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has gifted
more than $30 million in grants to children’s charities nationwide. This year it’ll grant $7 million across the United States, $5 million of which will go to children battling illness or hunger, 100,000 free cups of coffee to front-line workers and more than 350 grants. Additionally, within the past year, the foundation has supported local organizations like United Food Bank of Mesa and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix. “We are excited to receive our first grant from Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation as we continue our efforts to grant wishes for Arizona children with critical illnesses. This donation will enable us to create life-changing wishes for children when they need it most,” says Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish Arizona.
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Paul Faust, executive vice president of Southpaw Arizona, one of the local Dunkin’ franchisee groups that owns 17 Dunkin’ restaurants in Phoenix and Prescott, is flanked by Make-A-Wish Arizona employees. Dunkin’ recently donated $5,000 to the nonprofit. (Photo courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts)
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Sarah Porter is bar association’s guest speaker
Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at the Morrison Institute, will present “Water Law” at the Scottsdale Bar Association’s CLE program on Tuesday, September 14. This program is sponsored by Legal Technology Systems. The meeting will be held at Gainey Ranch Golf Club, 7600 Gainey Club Drive, Scottsdale. Info: scottsdalebar.org
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AIRPARK BusinessNews
HomeSmart International hosting weekly job fairs HomeSmart International is hosting one more recruiting day at its corporate headquarters 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, September 9, at 8388 E. Hartford Drive, Suite 100, Scottsdale. Professionals in the Phoenix area have the chance to sit with company recruiters, human resources representatives and department heads to learn about opportunities
across various divisions of the organization. The company is looking for individuals who value collaboration, community and innovation to join the team. HomeSmart benefits and perks include comprehensive health plans with employer contribution; personal time off package; 401(k) with company match; wellness initiatives, happy hours and employee
engagement events; pet insurance and employee discount programs. On-site amenities include a gym and massage chairs. Job seekers should bring their resume and dress for success. HomeSmart representatives will have private interview rooms available. Info: homesmart.com/current-openings
Alkaline Water Co. expands distribution of Alkaline88 eco-friendly bottle The Alkaline Water Company Inc., which produces bottled alkaline water and CBDinfused products, says its Alkaline88 ecofriendly 16-ounce aluminum bottle is available in more than 9,000 stores around the country. It’s a more than 300% growth of in-store distribution. Locations that carry the product include independent grocers and chains including Albertsons (and their subsidiary Vons), Sprouts Farmers Market, Meijer, H-E-B and Harris Teeter. “The future looks bright for our eco-friendly aluminum bottle,” says Ricky Wright, president and chief executive officer of the Alkaline Water Co. “Through our distribution and brokerage partnerships including Natural Distributors,
KeHE and UNFI, we now have reach into over 75,000 independent, regional and national retail grocery locations. With more of them currently reviewing our aluminum bottle for their next resets, we anticipate significant retail expansion for the product this year. This is an important step toward our sustainability goals, and we anticipate significant retail expansion for the product this year.” In other news, Tom Hutchison has been named the company’s chief marketing officer. Hutchison will spearhead the company’s development and implementation of marketing strategies, including new marketing campaigns and product collaborations with Shaquille O’Neal. The new Shaq Paq is a 2-liter six pack set to launch around the country soon.
“Tom will be leading our company’s firstever comprehensive, omnichannel marketing campaign with the legendary Shaquille O’Neal,” Wright says. “Combining Tom’s experience with Shaq’s unparalleled marketing prestige and business acumen is another huge step in building Alkaline88 into a household brand. Right now is an instrumental time in our company’s growth trajectory and handing the marketing reins over to someone as talented as Tom is very reassuring. He is joining Alkaline88 at a perfect time to create and leverage advertising assets with Shaquille and to guide our first product collaborations with Shaq to market.” Alkaline88 ionized water contains just two pure ingredients — water and pink Himalayan rock salt.
Plexus Worldwide hires chief sales officer Linda Smith-Maughan, CPM®, Designated Broker Linda@LosArcosRealty.net
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Plexus Worldwide, a direct-selling health and wellness company, welcomed Jennifer Orlando as chief sales officer. In this role, Orlando will be responsible for developing and implementing the global sales strategy, leading global sales efforts, and setting revenue target initiatives to support Plexus’ growth in existing countries and new international markets. “Jennifer brings a wealth of sales experience that will be valuable in helping Plexus grow in Australia, Canada, Mexico and right here in the U.S.,” says Travis Garza, president of sales and marketing for Plexus Worldwide. “We’re confident her strategic mindset, and dynamic leadership skills will drive incredible results while providing support for our 500,000 ambassadors (independent sales representatives) around the world to help them grow their businesses and create development opportunities for themselves.” Orlando brings more than 20 years of sales, marketing and leadership experience to the organization. Prior to her role at Plexus, she was the chief sales officer for Arbonne, where she led
a global strategy that led to double-digit growth. She also supported the marketing, technology and customer service departments to develop a new brand vision and loyalty program. In addition to direct selling experience, Orlando has an extensive career in the beauty, health and wellness industry with positions at Ever Skincare, Benefit Cosmetics and Estee Lauder. She is passionate about developing strong sales organizations by inspiring a strong collaborative culture. “With my role at Plexus, we can help people make a positive change in their lives and encourage our current ambassadors to set higher ambitions,” Orlando says. “It is incredibly rewarding to be a part of our ambassadors’ journeys and witness their goals become reality as Plexus adds new cutting-edge products and wellness solutions to its product line.” Orlando will be based at Plexus’ headquarters in Scottsdale and help develop strategies to support the company’s ambassadors grow their home-based businesses in United States, Canada, Mexico and Australia.
WE WANT YOUR NEWS!
Send your Greater Airpark/North Scottsdale business news to editor@scottsdaleairpark.com.
8 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2021
AIRPARK BusinessNews Pedego has reached $121 million in sales
Pedego Electric Bikes has surpassed an estimated $121 million in systemwide retail sales over the last 12 months. The nation’s largest private e-bike company has seen steady, strategic growth in sales and overall revenue coming off the hitch of the pandemic. During the past 10 years, Pedego sales increased an average of 44.34% annually. While the pandemic gave the e-bike business a fast pass in popularity, with rising industry sales 145% in 2020, Pedego is still riding the steady sales climb with its cult following. The company’s success is attributed to more than 200 locally owned stores around the world; a five-year warranty with each bike purchase; a peer-to-peer bike sharing community; and a ticket to healthy, outdoor fun. Stores are locally owned and expand the company’s reach. “The Pedego community is one of a kind, and we owe our loyal enthusiasts the utmost
Jon and Molly Krick own Pedego McDowell Mountain in Scottsdale. (Photo courtesy of Pedego)
gratitude, as this milestone could not have been achieved without our Pedego family,” says Don DiCostanzo, chief executive officer of Pedego Electric Bikes. “Our Pedego community connection will continue to expand our e-bike footprint with each passing year as we strengthen our voice with motivation, healthy inspiration and a renewed spirit.”
New trauma healing office opens
Dr. Kim DiRe’, trained, practiced and certified in multiple disciplinary treatments for trauma healing, opened a private practice and office in Scottsdale. Physicians refer her to individuals seeking her trauma healing response model. DiRe’ is also certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and has master’s degrees in education and counseling. She earned a doctorate of behavioral health at ASU. She is a certified clinical hypnotherapist and is certified in Shapedown and KidShape, two childhood obesity programs. In 2015, Dr. DiRe’ received a Spirit of Achievement Award from Sierra Tucson for her clinical work in the trauma healing field. Her trauma healing therapy approach uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Somatic Experiencing integration. She uses the tools of attention, intention, awareness, and clients’ levels of resilience. She uses DBT and SE developed by Dr. Peter Levine to help regulate the autonomic nervous systems of all ages, from infants, children and adolescents to adults. Dysregulation of the nervous system is caused by traumatic experiences, natural events such as fires, the COVID-19 pandemic, tornadoes, catastrophic illnesses or human breeches such as in utero and birth trauma, attachment issues, all abuses including neglect, tissue trauma, surgeries or car accidents.
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Kim DiRe’ helps trauma-experienced individuals complete self-protective responses that were not completed at the time of trauma. (Photo courtesy of Kim DiRae’)
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AIRPARK Buzz
Wheels Down Scottsdale Airport’s runway reopens after rehab
S
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski cottsdale Airport’s Runway 03/21 and taxiways Runway 03/21 was reopened after an extensive rehab that was paid reopened August 14 ahead of schedule after a for by an $11 million federal grant. (Photo courtesy of the city of Scottsdale) multimillion-dollar rehabilitation. The first aircraft was greeted by a water arch this whole airport for operations. We considered how we could from the Scottsdale Fire Department. Brief remarks work with an accelerated schedule.” by Mayor David Ortega and Aviation Director Gary P. Mascaro The city paid for the project with a $11 million federal grant. followed. The facility was closed to airport operations — aside from “We’re very excited and probably more excited that it was helicopters — since July 6. finished before the anticipated date,” says Sarah Ferrara, the Ferrara says jets were landing just after it reopened. city’s aviation planning and outreach coordinator. “We celebrated with a Lear jet that came off of alpha 5,” she “It took 39 days, as opposed to 45 days, which was amazing, adds. “He was the first one who came by the Aviation Business especially with the weather that hit us. We had to shut down Center. It was great to see flights.”
Airpark News
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AIRPARK Events
Canal Convergence, which runs Friday, November 5, to Sunday, November 14, will offer several fire pieces for visitors to enjoy. (Special to the Scottsdale Airpark News)
Light It Up Canal Convergence is bringing back popular attraction By Alex Gallagher fter having to downsize its signature piece last year, Walter Productions is excited to bring the fire back to Canal Convergence. This year ’s piece will be an iteration of its 2018 piece titled “Floatus.” That series comprised floating fire features that shot flames up to 30 feet in the air. This year, “Floom” will be a series of stainless-steel water lilies that flow through the canal and produce flames and lights choreographed to music. “It’s the return of the fire show,” Canal Convergence Public Art Manager Jennifer Gill says. “We missed that last year because of COVID-19, and we finally feel comfortable enough to go forward with it.” Despite lots of art, music and food at the site, Walter Productions has been the center of attention at Canal Convergence since it was commissioned to create a sculpture in 2018. “Really, the thing that we bring is the show,” Walter Productions founder Kirk Strawn says. “We provide an interactive show, we play music that people know and will sing along to and it’s a live choreographed thing that plays off the energy of the crowd.” Fans can expect “Floom” to incorporate the signature elements of every Walter Productions piece. “Our art pieces are collaborative pieces that integrate sculptural elements as well as kinetic elements like fire,
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AIRPARK Events choreography and LED lights,” Strawn says. “Those have been the signature elements of most of the pieces we’ve made.” These are elements that Strawn feels will complement the ambiance of Canal Convergence. “We try to bridge the ambiance by creating something beautiful,” he says. “We take a lot of time to make sure that it’s beautiful no matter when you see it,” Gill says. “The way they’re going to be working with the concept of the flowers and reinvigorating it will have a beautiful contemporary feel that will fit right in with the overall flow of this year ’s artwork.” Strawn has made the piece stand out by bringing on Sean French, an artist who specializes in metal sculpting, to add to the detail of the work. “I became interested in creating something that’s exciting and can be bigger than itself,” French says about working on “Floom.” “Floom” will be one of the largest pieces on display at Canal Convergence this November and requires a considerable amount of logistics for its on-site build. “There’s a lot of design that goes into integrating lighting, fire, floatation and operationalizing it all together,” Strawn says. “We’re really trying to adapt these creative elements so that everybody gets something out of it.” Strawn and French hope that even if attendees cannot make it to one of the nearly 30 fire shows spread across the 10-day event, they can admire the stagnant piece. “I want people to see this work and have a wow effect and then look deeper to find a subject matter that it’s talking
about,” French says. The tandem is most excited to show off what their new project can do. “The beauty of these sculptures is next level for us,” Strawn says. “We’ve gained a lot more experience with the choreography over the years, and we’re going to hone our shows to emphasize the energy and connection that these shows bring to the event.” The lilies is the only illuminating feature of “Floom.” Strawn says there will be another fire element that has not been part of previous shows on display. Walter Productions will build on one of its most successful creations to be able to show a large fire-based piece once again, he says. “It’s such an exciting environment to put art in,” French says. “It’s so neat to be in the element of water in that really cool space.”
CANAL CONVERGENCE
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, November 5, to Saturday, November 6; 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, November 7, toThursday, November 11; 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, November 12, to Saturday, November 13; and 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, November 14, closing night WHERE: Scottsdale Waterfront along the pedestrian pathways, bridges, and in and above the Arizona Canal, between Scottsdale Road and Goldwater Boulevard COST: Free admission INFO: canalconvergence.com
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MEET YourAirparkNeighbor
Life GOALS
Airpark resident introduces the new Biltmore By Alison Bailin Batz
bby Murtagh calls serving as the Arizona Biltmore’s general manager the “greatest production of her life.” “The entire industry has been buzzing about the Biltmore and its multimillion-dollar re n o v a t i o n f o r a year,” Murtagh says. “The responsibility was great, but one I worked toward my entire life.” The new Airpark resident has spent her hospitality career in New York, Pennsylvania and San Francisco. But she fits in snugly at the recently renovated resort. She says true leadership is the ability to seamlessly direct a team to the performance of their lives and then to do it again the next day but even better. “My parents were the first directors in my life, running a 36-acre farm outside of York in Pennsylvania,” Murtagh says. “The farm was a dance of sorts, and everyone had their parts, from feeding the pigs to milking the cows to cleaning the stalls.” Murtagh’s position of choice was making lunch. “I was always the first to volunteer for the jobs inside the house that had creature comforts while being a nice distance from the actual creatures,” Murtagh says. The business-minded Murtagh soon realized the lack of supply and surplus of demand for cooking in the town, so she opened a catering service at just 14. Within a few months, she was catering teacher luncheons and hosting tastings in her home.
At one point in her career, Abby Murtagh moved from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco, making a name for herself with several brands, including Kimpton. (Photo courtesy of the Arizona Biltmore)
She would also work as a busser in a local tavern once old enough, solidifying her love for hospitality. “To take my love for this people-pleasing dance to the next level, I decided to pursue a college degree in the industry, setting my sights high,” Murtagh says. “I made a portfolio with sample menus, profit-and-loss statements and even comment cards and used it to apply to Cornell University, where I was accepted and graduated in 1992.” Her first job was a doozy. “It was as the restaurant manager on the Spirit of Philadelphia, a ship that takes passengers along the Delaware River. Five stars, it was not,” Murtagh says. It was at this first job that Murtagh
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learned a big lesson about leadership. “Most of our staff was on parole. It was a rough crowd, but finding a way to listen to their needs and get along with them taught me that in order to lead anyone, I had to speak their language, not the other way around,” Murtagh says. After avoiding being thrown overboard for a year, Murtagh moved on to Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania and then the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. “After a few years, I learned another big lesson,” Murtagh says. “If I wanted to continue moving up the ranks in the industry, I needed to get out of my comfort zone and be open to moving, even cross-country.”
MEET YourAirparkNeighbor She moved to Washington, D.C., and then San Francisco, making a name for herself with several brands, including Kimpton. As her career progressed, and as she became more adept at learning and speaking the many languages of team members, Murtagh doubled down her commitment to on moving as needed, taking a leadership role at management company that required regular travel to hotels and resorts nationwide. “Somehow, between moves, I also found love. And I found it more or less next door,” Murtagh says. She met her now-husband Tony in the early 2000s while doing rideshare in Virginia to cut down on the often-horrendous commute to work. The two married in 2004 and made a home in Florida. By 2006, the couple welcomed a son, Patrick, and daughter, Caroline. “I was actually taking time off to care for the kids when I got a call with a life-changing proposition,” Murtagh says. “I was being recruited to be the food and beverage director at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, which would mean moving the family 7,000 miles away but would also mean leading a $30 million operation, which felt like the ultimate challenge.”
Originally opened in 1929 and beloved for its Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Chase McArthur design, our team worked meticulously with Wright devotees to respectfully restore, repair and ultimately celebrate the resort’s storied legacy while elevating the guest experience for visitors from around the world. The family loved its time on the island, especially Murtagh, whose commute consisted of jetting down the side of a mountain for 10 minutes in a Jeep with no doors. Soon, however, they sought a means to move back to the mainland. “The opportunity to come back came in 2012 thanks to the New York Palace, which was undergoing a massive renovation.” She took a job leading its culinary team and moved the family to New Jersey, effectively adding three hours to her Hawaiian commute. All those hours in the car paid off quickly, thank goodness. After three years, the Waldorf Astoria in New York came calling with a lofty management position, which she took and excelled in in short order. By 2015, there was only one role Murtagh had yet to earn: general manager. “The general manager of a resort is the true director and choreographer of all
operations on any property,” Murtagh says. “In 2016, I got my first opportunity at the role via the Hilton Salt Lake City, a position I took sight unseen.” She remained at the resort for several years, including through COVID-19, which was the hardest time in her career. She started talks with the Arizona Biltmore in late 2020. By May, as general manager, Murtagh led the reopening of the iconic property after a 15-month propertywide transformation. “Originally opened in 1929 and beloved for its Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Chase McArthur design, our team worked meticulously with Wright devotees to respectfully restore, repair and ultimately celebrate the resort’s storied legacy while elevating the guest experience for visitors from around the world,” Murtagh says. “I think what we’ve created here is the greatest production of my life.”
New Date : Wednesday, Sept. 29th, 2021 JOIN US IN HONORING THE 2020 INDUCTEES Denny Brown • Melinda Morrison Gulick • Dennis Robbins Gregg Tryhus • Experience Scottsdale • Salt River Project The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce is honoring the people and organizations who have contributed immeasurably to the rich heritage of Scottsdale. Join us for a truly special evening celebrating the individuals &
Join Us reception: 6:00pm - 7:00pm (sunset plaza) event: 7:00pm - 9:00pm (Grand Coronado Ballroom)
The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch 7700 East McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Presenting Sponsor
organizations who have contributed to making the City of Scottsdale one of the “best cities to live” in the Nation.
This event sells out quickly Secure your sponsorship (starting at $2,500) Don’t miss out, get your tables early!
$95 per person (Table of 10 is $950) Corporate Sponsor Tables of 10 are $1,300 Heritage Sponsors
Program Sponsor
In-Kind Sponsors
Media Sponsor
Peter Jordan Photography
Corporate Table Sponsors
Contact Cheri Valentino
cvalentino@ScottsdaleChamber.com 480-355-2708
Christine Kovach / Diana Smith / DMB Community Life / Don Carson Melinda Morrison Gulick / Mullin360 / Salt River Project (SRP) / Scottsdale Arts Scottsdale Community College / Titus, Brueckner & Levine / Virginia Korte
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s u o i r Se
HORSEPO
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Natalie Camacho levels the polo playing field By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Airpark resident Natalie Grancharov Camacho is a 0 goal handicap player who has traveled to Saint-Tropez, France, New York, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Oregon and California. (Photos by Dennis Murphy)
OWER
olo and horses have gifted Airpark resident Natalie Grancharov Camacho with the best things in life. Camacho met her husband, Andres, on the polo field, and she and her family bond over horses. “I love it,” Camacho says. “I met my husband playing polo. My sister plays polo. My husband’s family plays polo. For us, it’s a lifestyle. We have horses that are off-the-track racehorses who we rehabbed to teach polo.” She loves it for its physicality. Like football, hockey and soccer, polo is a contact sport, she says. “You get to bump a little bit. It is really fun. It’s a total adrenaline rush to full speed gallop on a horse. It’s hard to describe how fun it is,” Camacho says. Camacho has been with the Arizona Polo Club for 15 years and serves as the player coordinator for The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort set for Saturday, October 23, at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Its 10th anniversary event will see polo star Nic Roldan suiting up for the Aspen Valley Club, owned by Marc and Melissa Ganzi. The club will face off against La Mariposa Argentina Polo Team, which is making its event debut. Among the additional teams scheduled to play in 2021 are Jet Set Women’s All-Star Polo Team, Bogota Polo Team, Arizona Polo Club, Grand Champions Polo Club and Wales Polo Team. Camacho has missed one Polo Championship at WestWorld. She admires the organizer, Jason Rose, for bringing the event to Scottsdale. “When you see clubs that put on a huge polo event and concert, Scottsdale did it first,” she explains. “He has some of the best polo players in the world, and the highest-rated female and male players. “There are a lot of other amazing things — opera, a senior ladies cheerleading group and rugby at halftime. The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona is there. There’s an art auction, a dog fashion show and a car show as well. It’s a really wellrounded event. It is like a circus, but not really.” Rose held the event last year during the pandemic, although it was scaled down. On-site testing was available. Organizers of The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort begin planning the event 10 months in advance. “What is surprising is the players love Scottsdale,” Camacho says. “Guys from England have been here multiple times. This is their thing. Pretty famous players love coming back, and they love Scottsdale. “Women (attendees) love this event, too. Some plan their hats and outfits six months in advance.” SEPTEMBER 2021 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /
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Natalie Grancharov Camacho has been with the Arizona Polo Club for 15 years and serves as the player coordinator for the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort set for Saturday, October 23, at WestWorld of Scottsdale.
The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 23 WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road COST: Tickets start at $30 INFO: 480-423-1414, thepoloparty.com, info@thepoloparty.com
Natalie Grancharov Camacho has been fascinated with horses since she was young.
Fascinated with horses
Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Camacho has been fascinated with horses since she was young. In her hometown, barns were not readily available. “I just thought they were cool animals, but I love all animals,” she says. Camacho learned to play polo 20 years ago, when she was attending UC Davis. “I thought UC Davis’ team looked awesome, so I checked it out. I really liked it. I liked the people and being around horses.” Camacho connected with polo. She rides six days a week during the season — October to December, and then February to April. Mondays are off days for the horse and riders. Tuesdays to Fridays are reserved for workouts and conditioning. Scrimmages or tournaments are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays. She often sees people who are addicted like her. “People come out and take one lesson and they are just hooked.
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They’re dropping all their money for polo. It’s one horse, and then a truck and trailer, and traveling on the weekends. There are people who really love their golf. I really love polo.” Sir Winston Churchill once said, “A polo handicap is a passport to the world.” That’s been the case for Camacho. On the international rating system, Camacho is a 0 goal handicap player who has traveled to Saint-Tropez, France, New York, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Oregon and California. “It’s not as many places as I would like, if I was being honest,” she says.
Friendly competition
Camacho met Andres eight years ago and married seven years ago. Andres is a fifth-generation polo player, and the sport has been part of his family for more than 100 years. As a young child in Colombia, he and his brother accompanied their father to polo matches at the Polo Club of Bogota on weekends. He continued playing the sport after moving to Arizona in 2010 to pursue his MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Polo has kept the Camacho family together. “My parents love horses,” she says. “They FaceTime us and ask how the horses are doing. We have 2 acres in Scottsdale with eight horses. We keep them on our property. I’m very thankful for this lifestyle. I’m very thankful for this lifestyle in the heart of the city. I can still have horses in our backyard.” Andres and Natalie enjoy the friendly competition around the field. “Polo is a great sport where men and women can compete on the same field,” she says. “It’s one of the few sports that is truly equal. I encourage anyone to come out and take a polo lesson.”
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Amanda Wigal-Schlosser is the owner and president of Brandables, a promotional products supplier. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
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Standing Out from the
Competition
Scottsdale’s Brandables continues to flourish after 25 years
By Jordan Houston manda Wigal-Schlosser never intended to go into promotional product manufacturing, but she couldn’t resist the offer to own her own business. Now, the Phoenix native says she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Wigal-Schlosser is the owner and president of Brandables, a promotional products supplier that has serviced the North Scottsdale community for more than 25 years. Opening its doors in 1992, Wigal-Schlosser says she was asked to take over the company as a former employee three times before she finally took the plunge. “I took this job just as a year thing, I didn’t love the idea of selling Tchotchkes,” she says. “I didn’t understand it, but now I love it. I absolutely love it. “I think once it became my own boss and I started working hard and saw the success. I never really thought of anything else. It’s my baby. It’s my first child before I had children. I nurtured it, and I saw it grow and grow.” Brandables is a nationwide, Scottsdalebased promotional products supplier that seeks to help companies advertise and create their brands while standing“ out from the competition.” The company, located at 7707 E. Acoma, Suite 110, offers engaging products that can be given away at trade shows, conventions, online or from places of business. The products range from ceramic mugs to tote bags, wristbands, lanyards, flash drives and key tags. Other popular items include wearables, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts and ball caps, and gifts and wedding
favors, like framed wedding photos, thank-you cards, calendars and silicone bracelets. Sports-related items are also in demand, especially golf products, the site continues. Brandables offers golf balls, golf towels and gift bags. “I don’t like to be the 1-800 number, where someone calls and says ‘I want pens’ and then we take the order,” Wigal-Schlosser says. “We say, ‘Well, what are you trying to do and what are you trying to accomplish?’” Growing up in Central Phoenix, WigalSchlosser majored in marketing at ASU and minored in French and international business. The businesswoman intended to pursue international business school and later move to Washington, D.C., but fate had other plans. After graduating from ASU in 2003, she took a job at Brandables as a placeholder until her next move, she recalls. WigalSchlosser worked for the company for three years before she agreed to purchase it in 2006. “I really didn’t know anything about owning a business,” she explains. “I didn’t go to school for owning a business. Sometimes you just learn from figuring things out. “The idea intrigued me to be my own boss. It’s really cool to work for yourself. It’s really difficult, but it’s extremely fulfilling to know it’s yours.” Wigal-Schlosser has since expanded the company to include fulfillment warehouse services, which allows companies to store marketing collateral, company products and supplies. Brandables typically stores clients’ promotional products inventory, however, fulfilling orders for them when called upon. “I thought this was a great avenue to
look into and expand,” the Brandables president says. “Right before this pandemic, we really reworked our warehouse to make it work for a lot more storage for other customers who weren’t just our customers. They would buy our product and would also bring in their own product. “Then the pandemic happened, and now lots of people decided they don’t want to work in an office and want to start their own e-commerce site. But they don’t know where to store that, because it can’t fit in their garage. It was really perfect timing.” Wigal-Schlosser says that although she would like to expand her Brandables in some capacity in the future, she enjoys the framework of small-business operations. For her, the most rewarding part of the job is the connections that she fosters with her staff and her clients, Wigal-Schlosser explains. “Of course, I always want to grow, but I purposefully try to keep us smaller,” she expresses. “I like that small-business mentality and feeling when people call and talk to us and we all kind of know what’s going on. “What I’ve noticed is everyone needs what I do, but people don’t think about it until the last minute and then they’re in a rush or in a crunch. And then we make them look like a star and they’re so happy. It’s so neat to be a part of someone’s story, but in the background.”
Brandables 7707 E. Acoma, Suite 110, Scottsdale brandables.com
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e h t o t G N I S I R
E G N E L L A CH health care to s s e c c a s d o o ives neighborh g z ri a d n e rm A By Kathryn Reeve Wendy
endy Armendariz has been working toward better health equity and supporting the health and social needs of Arizonans for nearly 20 years. She has dedicated her career to public health, and her ability to transform organizations and meet needs continues to accelerate. For nearly 10 years, Armendariz, chief executive officer of Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH), has led her team from a small and determined group into the fourth-largest community health center in Maricopa County. As health care challenges and opportunities present themselves, as they did in 2020, Armendariz and her team rise to the challenge, focused on the needs of the communities they serve. NOAH is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center with nine locations throughout Maricopa County. More than 350 passionate employees, from medical doctors and dentists to community resource and support staff, deliver on NOAH’s promise of high-quality, affordable health care for all. NOAH delivers on this promise for 40,000 patients because individuals and partners in the community believe in the mission and see the results. NOAH’s model is comprehensive, wholeperson care. Traditional medical practices offer one type of service. Because health and wellness are rarely isolated, NOAH doesn’t just treat one thing but is focused on addressing underlying issues to support proactive and preventative care. NOAH offers internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, prenatal care, nutrition services, psychiatry, counseling and behavioral health, dental and community resources. “We don’t have small goals here at
NOAH,” Armendariz says. “I am amazed every day at the work our NOAH team does for our patients, and to reach those who aren’t our patients yet but need our services. Every member of our growing team knows the job is important and that our patients deserve the best possible care, and they always find a way.” In 2020 every business, organization and individual learned to adapt to the global pandemic. Under Armendariz’s leadership, NOAH responded by transitioning from 100% in-person medical visits to 100% telehealth medical visits in two weeks. In addition to medical visits, NOAH’s community resource and behavioral health teams also transitioned to virtual visits with people, many desperately in need of everything NOAH could offer. “One of the things I love most about our team — and there is a lot — is that they are part of NOAH because they Wendy Armendariz has served as the CEO of the care about the community nonprofit organization Neighborhood Outreah Access to and serving the underserved Health (NOAH) for nearly 10 years. (Photos courtesy of NOAH) population, often overlooked by services and accessibilfor patients: psychiatry. From operational ity in our increasingly tech-centered world,” and workflow considerations to staffing and Armendariz says. integration, she was committed to NOAH “People needed basic needs met. They patients having access to full psychiatric needed food. They needed to know where to services. The plan was for psychiatry to launch turn to feel safe. They needed health insurance in early 2020, and despite juggling health care when their job disappeared. We didn’t want transitions, PPE shortages and staffing flexanyone to be left behind.” ibility during that time, NOAH’s psychiatric Leading into 2020, Armendariz worked services launched in May 2020. for more than a year to launch a new service Then came COVID-19 testing and vaccines,
22 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / SEPTEMBER 2021
From left, Phoenix Councilwoman Debra Stark, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Rep. Judy Schwiebert and NOAH CEO Wendy Armendariz. Armendariz gave a tour to these local leaders to showcase a community COVID vaccine event and back-to-school donations.
Talking to NOAH team members in June at the topping off event at the new Desert Mission Health Center in Phoenix.
and the NOAH team did it all over again. “Wendy hires talented people and lets them shine,” says Christopher Sweeney, director of clinical quality improvement at NOAH. “She mentors employees on leadership skills and advancement, particularly young females, and advocates for equal representation from women leaders in the workplace. NOAH has been on a path of growth and community support long before the challenges of COVID, but that culture she created allowed NOAH to respond to the crisis and help our communities in a meaningful way.” No stranger to rising to a challenge, Armendariz motivates her team and shows up right alongside it. When NOAH held its first COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru event in February 2020, Armendariz was there, working with staff, registering patients, and communicating to Spanish-speaking patients about the vaccine. Over the next few months, Armendariz and her executive leadership team attended almost all of the vaccine events, working long, rewarding hours with the NOAH team. From February to August, NOAH gave more than 21,000 vaccines, many to underserved, low-income, uninsured, homeless or undocumented individuals. Outside of the challenges and opportunities the pandemic presented, NOAH has made substantial investments in the health of the greater Phoenix community, including partnerships, financing and support to build a new state-of-the-art community health facility in the center of Sunnyslope, one of Phoenix’s
Wendy celebrates the groundbreaking of the NOAH Desert Mission Health Center in Phoenix.
How to help
As a nonprofit organization, NOAH continues to accept donations and charitable gifts that can make a lasting impact. NOAH is a qualifying organization under the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, which provides a dollar-for-dollar credit off Arizona income tax liability. To learn more or to donate to NOAH, visit noahhelps.org. most economically diverse communities. When completed in late 2021, the Desert Mission Health Center will expand services to more than 36,000 patients. One thing Armendariz cares deeply about is the ability to make health care more equitable for all people by addressing some of the causes of health inequity. Known as Social Determinants of Health, she is committed to integrating the support, access and services to change their health and wellness in a lasting way. Screening patients for food insecurity lets NOAH meet an immediate need — food
— and relieve that stress so patients can focus on their health. Having specialists at NOAH who can help patients enroll in health care through the Healthcare Marketplace, Medicare or Arizona’s Medicaid program AHCCS means people can get ongoing, comprehensive care. NOAH has big plans as the growing team led by Armendariz innovates in new ways to serve people exactly where they are. Later this year, NOAH will launch an RN triage line with extended hours, open a newly built health center and enhance direct community support. Armendariz is on a mission to transform the health of the community through NOAH and its programs. More than access to high-quality affordable health care, she aims to change lives for individuals and families, and she has developed a passionate, empowered and committed team to do just that for neighbors, family and friends around the Valley.
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BUSINESS
Property
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Expert
Suzanne Enright is a senior associate at Shell Commercial, the top commercial real estate services company in the Airpark. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
Suzanne Enright helps commercial real estate clients achieve success By Kamala Kirk s a senior associate at the top commercial real estate services company in the Airpark, Suzanne Enright has spent the past 21 years providing clients with successful results. She was invited to join the team at Shell Commercial in 2010 by her longtime friend John Quatrini, who is an associate broker at the company. “John and I have been friends for over 20 years,” Enright says. “We were chatting one day about why I was in real estate school studying for my license. My husband and I had almost a dozen rental properties that a management company took care of. We joked that one of us should get our real estate license to leverage our expertise, and I decided that would be me.” Prior to joining the team, Enright began her career selling copy machines at Eastman Kodak before working at Vision Graphics, an award-winning commercial printing company. Born and raised in New York, Enright attended ASU before returning to her home state to finish college. Her family began migrating to Arizona, and she eventually followed suit. “I knew I’d be back out here. I always loved it,” Enright says. After Enright earned her real estate license, Quatrini says that he was looking for someone to join his team at Shell Commercial because business was flourishing. Enright, who had previously worked in sales, jumped at the opportunity and has been with the company ever since. “It worked out perfectly. We’ve been a team this entire time,” Enright says. “We’re a small boutique firm, but we’re really powerful and we have a huge presence in the Scottsdale Airpark. We represent sellers, buyers, investors, landlords and tenants. We do it all, which enables us to see all sides of transactions.” Enright regularly works out in the field, showing and touring properties that are
available for sale or lease. Her areas of expertise include investing, sales and leasing for buyer and seller representation, tenant and landlord representation, marketing, location intelligence and contract negotiations. She specializes in office, industrial, retail, religious facilities and school properties and always makes it a point to figure out what her clients are looking for so she can help them find the perfect property quickly. “I ask a lot of questions to narrow down the requirement,” Enright says. “There’s no reason to show a client dozens of spaces causing confusion. I make sure to find out the key features of their space requirements, from parking spaces to conferences rooms, and work hard to match their space requirements with building features and benefits.” Founded by Randy Shell, Shell Commercial has built a reputation for its local expertise and in-depth market knowledge, along with a proven track record of providing clients with successful results. Its scope of work takes them Valleywide representing and touring clients through properties. They have established long-term relationships with other real estate agents in the area. “We have a huge presence in the entire Valley, and people know us in the community,” Enright says. “If another agent has a client who wants to see one of our properties and can’t be present, we’re more than happy to meet with their client and show the space. Agents trust us and feel comfortable with us.” Shell, Quatrini and Enright are the top three agents in the Airpark, based on volume and real estate transactions. They approach each transaction with dedication and work hard to achieve success for their client. Enright has received numerous awards including the prestigious U.S. West Winners Circle Award, ranking No. 1 in the nation for performance. “In addition to our experience and knowledge, we always put our clients first,” Enright says. “We negotiate deals on their behalf and take care of them as if they were our own family members. It’s important when you’re helping someone grow their business to find out what their goals are and where they want to be in the next three to five years. I think that’s so important and separates us from the rest.” Despite the pandemic, Shell Commercial has remained busier. “We were considered essential workers, so I never stopped working,” Enright says. “I was out there showing properties the entire time. Initially the office market took
a hit, but the industrial market has been on fire ever since. In the beginning, there was a lot of subleasing going on when COVID hit, but in the past month I have been doing lease after lease of office spaces. People are constantly calling me. We are receiving multiple offers on properties for sale, and I have several buyers for office and industrial properties as well. It’s been incredible.” Enright is also passionate about churches and, along with Quatrini, she runs Arizona Church Brokers, which specializes in church, school and religious facilities transactions. “John and I help a lot of schools and churches, and we love working with pastors,” Enright says. “That’s our passion, to help them find the church or building they want to grow in. We’ve worked with over 100 churches of many different denominations. “We know a lot about industrial buildings and guide them on the benefits of steeple church buildings versus industrial space. We provide solutions and out-of-thebox thinking when developing a plan in finding the right facility that other agents don’t know how to do. We can assess church resources, programming needs and counsel them on building campaign strategies. We pray over our client transactions, and we’ve had many miracles happen over the past few years. It’s been pretty amazing to work in this industry the way that we do.” Enright shared her favorite Scripture: “Nehemiah 2:20. The God of Heaven he will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build.” Enright looks forward to continuing to serve her clients and their property needs, in addition to assisting schools and churches prosper. One of her favorite things about working in the industry is helping others grow and achieve success. “I love working at Shell Commercial. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Enright says. “I love meeting so many interesting people and working with different businesses all day long. I’m always looking to support others in their endeavors. I see it as my life work to help businesses grow, take care of their families and prosper.”
Shell Commercial 16410 N. 91st Street, Suite 112, Scottsdale 480-443-3992 shellcommercial.com
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ESCAPING T Lawyer helps Afghan interpreter flee Kabul By Alex Gallagher
Darius Amiri is the chair of the immigration department and an attorney at Rose Law Group who worked tirelessly to free an Afghan interpreter from Kabul. (Photos courtesy of Rose Law Group)
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s chair of Rose Law Group’s immigration department, attorney Darius Amiri has helped countless clients around the world gain legal status in the United States. He is used to fighting through bureaucratic processes and filling out papers upon papers to help clients obtain a green card, business visa or asylum. But Amiri never thought his work at the Scottsdale firm would end up saving a life. Amiri was referred to a case a few years ago by a high school friend who was a Marine battalion commander and wanted to help an Afghan interpreter appeal his denied application for immigration — a time-consuming process. “He has to pass clearances, background checks, biometrics and medical exams,” Amiri says of the yearslong process. The interpreter, who was only identified as Zabi to protect his identity from Taliban forces, had been going through the process in Kabul, and when the capital city of Afghanistan fell to the Taliban on August 15, Zabi lost the luxury of patiently waiting for the bureaucracy. He knew if he was found by the Taliban, he was going to be killed. “As the Taliban began to come back into Kabul, he asked what more could be done because there was no embassy or office to go to,” Amiri says. With that in mind, Amiri began reaching out to members of Congress and was fortunate enough to receive a response from U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s office, which
TERRORISTS Zabi, pictured wearing a helmet, interprets for a U.S. soldier conversing with citizens of Afghanistan.
helped escalate Zabi’s case. Still, Zabi felt like he constantly had to look over his shoulder as he moved through Kabul. “He thought the Taliban knew who he was, but the Taliban who are in Kabul right now are not the same Taliban he was fighting in 2012 and 2013,” Amiri says. “They’re younger kids and fresh recruits.” Despite the recruits being a new generation of the enemy Zabi once fought, they still posed the same danger to him and his family. Zabi was fortunate enough to sneak around Kabul until he finally made his way to the airport. It was when Zabi arrived at the airport that the danger increased. Outside the airport, Marines had a manifest of who they could let in and who had to stay and wait. Because of this, Zabi had to fight his way up to the gates but found himself having to wait in the wave of people seeking to flee Kabul. As Zabi was waiting, Amiri kept pressing for a special immigrant visa, which is specifically for interpreters who assisted the U.S. military. There are many requirements to obtain
this visa, but primarily it involves passing a background check, demonstrating the applicant does not pose a security risk, had served for two years as an interpreter and had never abandoned his or her post. There was a misunderstanding with one of the sergeants, who ended up drafting a document that asserted Zabi had abandoned his posting Amiri obtained letters from several soldiers refuting that claim. “Because that determination is such an important one, that document became a controlling piece of evidence that held up his case and resulted in the initial denial and need for an appeal,” Amiri says. “Initially when I was contacted, it was a case of trying to get this case appealed, and it quickly turned into a case where I had to get this guy out of Kabul before they killed him.” Amiri’s attention quickly shifted from trying to get Zabi his paperwork to getting him to a safe location. Zabi’s name and contact information were eventually transmitted to Marines at the airport.
On August 22, Zabi and his wife were extracted from Kabul through a coordinated effort that resulted from a connection made by the wife of a Marine in Kabul who had heard about Amiri’s efforts via social media. Zabi and his wife were flown from Kabul to Qatar, where they will remain as Amiri continues to process their special immigrant visa applications. Once they get it, they can enter the United States as lawful permanent residents. “This is another time in my career where I feel a calling,” Amiri says. “People who put their lives at risk to help our country, we owe them the bare minimum of getting them out of there and making sure they’re safe.” Despite fearing for his life several times over the course of the past week, Zabi has nothing but admiration for the United States and the soldiers he once served alongside. “The main takeaway from me is that he is upset about what’s happening in his country but there is no love lost for the American military,” Amiri says.
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‘HARD WORK J. Pierce brightens the world with the stroke of a brush By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
sits on the sofa of his Gilbert home donning black pants, a playful Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles T-shirt he designed, and colorful shoes that pop. The cream-colored walls are bare, which is surprising for the prolific artist who has sold his Keith Haring-like artwork to likes of rapper Rick Ross and Ethan Lawrence of Lawrence Motorsport in the Airpark. “His personality and his being are truly what his art is like also,” says Lawrence, who commissioned Pierce to paint murals throughout his showroom. “He’s as much of a character as his drawings are.” Pierce is one of Arizona’s best-kept secrets. Besides his work for Ross and Lawrence, Pierce designed T-shirts for Samuel L. Jackson and artwork for former professional baseball player Howie Kendrick, who lives in Phoenix. Pierce’s work, particularly for Jackson, led to mentions on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “It was cool when Jimmy Kimmel gave me a shout out,” Pierce says with his trademark wide smile. “He said I was an Arizona artist. There are always California artists, New York or Miami artists, Chicago artists. It’s cool to represent Arizona. “It’s been awesome, man. I originally started out doing art walks, like the Chandler Art Walk, and selling my paintings, right, for $20 or $40. Now I’m seeing my artwork sell for hundreds and thousands.”
Living in the ‘hood’
As a child, Pierce split his time between California and Chicago after his parents separated. He attended high school and college in San Jose. In Chicago, he lived in the “hood,” as he calls it, where he learned to hustle and paint T-shirts for gangsters. “I never messed around in that (gang life), but I was always protected,” he says. “They liked me because I skateboarded and lived in the hood in Chicago. “But there would be barbecues every other day with my family. So, I would be in Chicago, going downtown and being in the city. Then, living in San Jose, it had the whole Cali vibe.” He discovered penciling and sketching at age 15, when he was in foster care as his parents were going through “tough times,” he says. They went their own ways, and Pierce spent two years in foster care. He, in turn, basically emancipated soon thereafter. “In high school, I started painting custom clothing — like painting on shoes, shirts and dress shirts,” Pierce says. “I’d wear it to school, and all my friends asked where I found the stuff. It led to painting on canvases.” In high school, he was inspired to start his own brand by LRG owner Jonas Bevacqua, who died of natural causes in 2011. “He was one of the biggest streetwear brands,” he says. “I’d send him my art and show him. He emailed me and said to keep up the good work,
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AND FAITH’
Artist J. Pierce brightened and added humor to the walls in Lawrence Motorsport’s restroom. (Photos by Dennis Murphy)
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keep doing my thing. He sent me free gear. That inspired me through those times in foster care.” He moved to Anthem at age 18 and worked at Outlet at Anthem stores like Docker’s, Quicksilver and Columbia Sportswear. Besides participating in the Chandler Art Walk, he was part of the jury. “I had a business partner who I was working with in Anthem,” Pierce says. “He was a business partner and investor who was going to help me get my brand and my art to the next level. Nothing really panned out, and we parted ways.” He stayed in the Valley, however. In 2008, he moved to Gilbert, where he still resides with his wife, Christi Fuller, an avid supporter. Pierce has collaborated with a slew of local businesses, restaurants and organizations. He encourages his clients to share their art direction, and he takes it from there. “We created a limited-edition shirt that can be purchased at any of the Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles stores,” he says. “It’s pretty cool, because I’ve never collaborated with a restaurant. And to see the staff walking around with my shirt and my name on it, it was so cool.” When the Arizona Coyotes hosted Hockey Fights Cancer night on April 19, he created a special sneaker for several players — captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jakob Chychrun, Clayton Keller and Jordan Oesterle — to share how cancer touched their lives. The shoes were auctioned to raise money for the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. The collaboration came about after Gutierrez’s wife contacted Pierce through Instagram. “She said they were looking for a painting for a wall space,” he says. “They invited me to their house.” Unfamiliar with Gutierrez, Pierce asked what he did for a living. He told Pierce he was the president and chief executive officer. “I thought, ‘Oh, dang. That’s awesome,’” he says, laughing. “I said I always wanted to do the Kachina logo in my style of art and collaborate with the Coyotes. “He said, ‘That’s why I wanted to talk to you.’ He connected me with the foundation.”
Inspired
Inspired by the late Haring, Dr. Seuss and Picasso, Pierce says Arizona is the lead character. “I started doing Arizona landscapes because you see horses in oil paintings and things like that,” he says. “I wanted to create a new, fun look at Southwestern art. “I’ve done tons of portraits. I do a lot of cartoons based on pop culture and retro cartoons that we grew up watching, like Looney Tunes. Landscapes and skylines are big, too. I’m always trying to think of new stuff to paint, rather than just sticking to one.”
J. Pierce not only shares his designs on canvas but skateboards and sneakers as well, as shown here at Lawrence Motorsport.
Pierce grew up skateboarding and was entrenched in the culture and lifestyle. He attended skateboarding trade shows and hung out with the skateboarding community. He’s always tickled when new collectors discover his art. “There was this one dude who I worked for, he has 80 paintings throughout his house and just found out about my stuff,” he says. “He said, ‘Dude, I want to collect a lot of your stuff.’” Art is Pierce’s full-time job. If he isn’t painting murals, he’s working on product design logos, custom shoes and “anything art related.” “Other than that, I’m always busy painting, fulfilling orders and patterns,” he says. Pierce has plenty to be proud of, between his works for Jackson and Ross, as well as businesses and homes around the Valley. He’s still amazed by the way his art has traveled. He even had a clothing and shoe line in Wuhan, China, four years ago. “It’s huge,” he says of Ross, who purchased a painting of himself and custom art. “He’s a huge person and to have my art go into his house and the way he hung it up and
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everything is so awesome. “My other huge accomplishment was when Samuel Jackson shouted me out on ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ and then getting Jimmy Kimmel to follow me on Instagram. Being friends with Samuel Jackson has been a blessing.” Pierce and Jackson became acquainted two years ago when he, on a whim, reached out via Instagram to Jackson, who was filming overseas. “I hit him up late at night because he was in another country,” Pierce says. “It was morning for him, and he responded. I said, ‘Yo, can I send you some of my shirts to you?’ He responded with, ‘You had me at shirts, brother.’ Then he gave me his address and I thought, ‘Wow, this is sick, dude.’ Hard work and faith are the keys to whatever I do in life.” J. Pierce Instagram — @iamjpierce Website — artbyjpierce.com Online store — https://arena.store/ collections/j-pierce
One-Two Jabz Boxing celebrates its roots with Airpark studio
Punch
By Drew Schott abz Boxing has returned to its Scottsdale Airpark roots on North Scottsdale Road. The boxing-inspired gym with workouts including kickboxing, plyometrics and cardio eventually became its flagship location for a company with 14 gyms nationwide — including 11 in Arizona. Yet for a time, Jabz’s first location, which opened in 2013, was closed. “I’m sure it was honestly pretty sad for people who had started their journey at Jabz at that first location to then drive by it having it be empty,” spokeswoman Erin Seaboyer says. The pandemic forced the gym to close last year, but Stacey Frank, owner of the Jabz location on Via Linda since January 2019, decided to relocate to the original Airpark site. “It’s where the foundation of Jabz started,” Frank says. “That’s the flagship store. That’s where the magic happened. "If it wasn’t for that first Jabz, we wouldn’t be here, so it’s kind of cool that I got to move into that location.” Frank closed the Via Linda location a few months ago and moved her equipment to Suite 23 at 13610 N. Scottsdale Road. After repainting the vacant location and moving her equipment,
Jabz Boxing in the Scottsdale Airpark chose to return to the site of its original location. (Photos special to the Scottsdale Airpark News)
the location was ready for business. On August 14, she held a grand opening at the Airpark gym with vendors, giveaways, a nutrition booth and a stretch lab. “It’s where the whole concept began and
what it is allowing us to continue to do what we do today,” Seaboyer says. “It’s pretty cool to be able to go back and reintroduce it to the original neighborhood and bring it back to life.”
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Before becoming a Jabz client in 2016, Frank worked out at facilities including big box gyms and Orangetheory Fitness — a studio with over 1,200 locations. Frank then found Jabz, located near her salon, and was drawn by the gym’s incorporation of cardio into workouts and one-hour completion time. Jabz also prioritizes variability in its training. Each day of the week focuses on a different muscle. For example, classes on Monday, Saturday and Sunday work on the full body, while sessions on Tuesday and Thursday focus on the upper body. Every class starts with warmup exercises involving rowers, jump ropes and speed bags, among other exercises. Then, two rounds of a circuit with various stations commence. After spending 45 seconds at a station, one immediately goes into a 25-second cardio blast before moving on to the next station. The workout concludes with a cooldown and light stretching. “We have a combination of so many different things that nobody else has,” Frank says. “We have something that we offer that you can’t get anywhere else. You’ll never plateau. You’ll never see your body hit a wall. And you’re never bored.” Community is an important aspect of Jabz’s mission. According to Frank, the gym’s target audience comprises moms and teachers because the Scottsdale Airpark location caters to four education centers: Sequoya Elementary, Cheyenne Traditional,
Jabz Boxing's target audience is moms and teachers, but owner Stacey Frank hopes to expand the clientele at her location.
Sandpiper Elementary and Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary schools. Frank is still trying to grow the studio, which has 70 active members and nine employees. She plans to send out a marketing mailer soon and relies on clients to refer their friends to Jabz. Additionally, Frank is giving “10-for-10 offers” — 10 days for $10 — as an introduction to the gym. While the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the landscape for various gyms and studios across the United States, Jabz is expanding its product across the country, with planned studios in Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and Maryland. Additionally, it has reopened the place that sparked the gym’s popularity. “The community, the empowerment and everything that goes along with what Jabz is,” Frank says, “is going to resonate back into that exact location.” Jabz Boxing offers a variety of workouts so patrons never tire from monotonous series of exercises.
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Jabz Boxing 13610 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 23, Scottsdale 480-454-8402, jabzboxing.com
FOOD & WINE
Popular dishes at De Babel include falafel vegan; chicken tawook, grilled chicken cubes, pickles, fries and garlic olio; falafel and fries. (Photos by Pablo Robles)
Worth the Find
Jordan native brings flavors of the Middle East to Scottsdale
W
Fresh potatoes are used in myriad dishes at Marwan Kandeel’s De Babel.
By Jordan Houston
ith more than 25 years of experience in the food and beverage industry under his belt, including stints with some of the industry’s biggest names like Cinnabon and Five Guys, Marwan Kandeel wanted to test his expertise. Recently, the Jordan native founded De Babel, an authentic Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant located near the Scottsdale Airpark, and he hasn’t looked back since. But what makes the already wildly successful eatery unique is its discreet location, Kandeel explains. The first-time restaurant owner says he chose the hidden spot, located at 14884 N. Pima Road, to test out a theory. “Because I’m so passionate about
food, I have a lot of recipes in my mind. I felt that I had a product to sell; I have a product to serve,” Kandeel says. “I wanted to know if people can put in an effort to find me. “I chose a location that is some kind of hidden — not a bad location, but some people need to put effort in to find it. So, if people put the effort to find me, then I’m 100% certain that I have a product. This proves my point that I do have a product and the concept is complete.” Kandeel’s theory appears to be paying off, as customers from around the Valley are visiting De Babel Monday to Sunday at all hours. De Babel specializes in Middle Eastern fare with fan-favorite dishes such as crispy falafel, hand-carved shawarma, lamb kafta, appetizers and hummus. The kitchen is scratch
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FOOD & WINE
De Babel’s owner, Marwan Kandeel,
and headed by master chef Suliman Saleem, checks fresh pita a 25-year veteran who specializes in Middle petals just out of Eastern food. the oven. “I always wanted to do something just the right way that I wanted,” Kandeel says. “We do everything from scratch; we don’t have a food or meat freezer.” He notes that the restaurant does import pita from a 102-year-old bakery based in New York, though. The space boasts black framed photos featuring imagery from all corners of the world, including street scenes, artisans, foods and places of worship across the Middle East. Kandeel says each photo has inspired him in some capacity. “A lot of photos are from Middle Eastern cities where I’m bringing a dish, sauce or recipe from that city,” Kandeel explains. “It’s a message that this place is for everybody. I have all of the cultures and all of the religions all the way.” The name De Babel also stems from a religious concept. The term is a Hebrew word for Babylon, which was the capital city of the ancient Babylonian empire founded over 4,000 years ago. “Babel is my ode to the authenticity of the brand, Marwan Kandeel, shown here in his restaubecause it is very authentic rant, De Babel, has been in the restaurant food and because I can’t find an industry for years. His resume includes stints older city,” Kandeel shares. “And at Five Guys and Cinnabon. it’s all modest cooking.” “I needed a bigger place or bigger In Jordan, Kandeel had a passion for cooking and quality cuisine. After city for my growth,” he says. “I visited spending several of his teen years helping Arizona for the first time in January 2021, at a local Italian restaurant, he moved to and I was so in love with the area from the minute I entered the airport. Dubai in 2001. “I always wanted to open up my own It was there his “real” professional business. I struggled to find authentic career began, Kandeel says. “The minute I landed in Dubai, I cuisines.” De Babel opened its doors on July 13, decided I wanted to be a professional in this industry,” he explains. “Because and Kandeel says he couldn’t be prouder. The restaurant has amassed an imwhen I landed, it was super fast growing. It was like a train that is slowly moving, pressive five-star rating on Yelp, with but every minute it is increasing in speed. scores of customers leaving positive “You either decide to grow and be pro- reviews. It’s also open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. fessional or be left behind,” he continues. Mondays to Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 Kandeel worked on the operations side p.m. Sundays. “To me, this is a dream. I’m so proud of major corporate entities throughout the Middle East, such as Cinnabon and Five that, in my old life, everything I learned Guys. The foodie was later recruited to didn’t go to waste,” Kandeel says. “I’m so work for Sheraton Hotels in Texas before proud I used all my resources and all my skills, knowledge and experience I have settling down in Arizona.
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in this business. From day one, I did not struggle. I had a safety system.” A father of six, the restaurant owner adds that he hopes to use his resources to support organizations dedicated to raising awareness for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One of Kandeel’s son’s lives with the disorder, he explains. “I want everyone to know about ADHD,” Kandeel says. “At one point, I want to contribute to ADHD and contribute myself to the awareness of ADHD and how to manage those cases. It’s so important, even for families without ADHD kids. They need to learn about this.” Those living with ADHD may have trouble paying attention or controlling impulsive behaviors, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Although it can’t be cured, symptoms can be successfully managed through the right treatment methods, the organization says. As far as the restaurant’s future, Kandeel says he wants to expand when the time is right. “I want to grow when I’m ready, definitely,” he states. “I want to grow to be reasonable. I don’t want to open stores for the sake of just counting how many stores and showing off how many I have. I want every new store to be a duplicate of the success we have here.”
De Babel 14884 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale 480-991-2002, de-babel.com
FOOD & WINE
s w e N ale By Scottsd
ews Staff
Airpark N
Entrees and appetizers are aplenty at Thirsty Lion. (Photo courtesy of Thirsty Lion)
Thirsty Lion, local schools partner for fundraiser Thirsty Lion Gastropub is teaming with schools to help raise money for their Parent Teacher Associations in a Dine-to-Give fundraiser. Schools registered to participate with Thirsty Lion will notify their server that they are participating in the fundraiser by showing the event flier with the name of a participating school they would like 15% of their check to be given to. This event will be held Mondays to Thursdays throughout September at Thirsty Lion locations, including Desert Ridge Marketplace. “We value our communities and are thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to local families with our Dine-toGive fundraising event,” says John Plew, president and chief executive officer of
Thirsty Lion Gastropub. “These funds will be given directly to teams of dedicated parents who care about their children’s education. We are happy to lend a hand in their concerted efforts.” Donation checks will be paid to the PTO/PTA for schools who have raised a minimum of $100 or more through guests’ contributions (dine-in only). The 15% rebate is based on pretax prices, excluding gratuity, retail and gift cards. Tallies will be done Monday, October 4, and checks will be distributed the following week. Info: thirstyliongastropub.com Famous 48 unveils new fall menu Famous 48, in the northeast corner of the Shops at Gainey Village, 8989 N. Scottsdale Road, has added Arizona pizza to its fall menu; it is a new dessert. Also
Baby back ribs are perennial favorites at Famous 48. (Photo courtesy of Famous 48)
included is a pizza and wings happy hour deal and a 10 a.m. start time Saturdays and Sundays to catch all the sports action starting Labor Day weekend. Four varieties of pizza join perennial entrée favorites like Southern fried chicken and baby back ribs. Famous 48 pizzas are 12 inches with a thin and crispy crust using fresh mozzarella and provolone, with an optional cauliflower crust. Featured varieties are margherita with grilled tomato, basil and extra virgin olive oil; Famous 48 with pepperoni, sausage and onion; the Nacho Mama with ground beef, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, taco sauce, a blend of cheddar jack cheese and crumbled nacho cheese Doritos; and barbecue chicken pizza with barbecue sauce, provolone, chicken, red onion and cilantro. In addition, diners can indulge in a delicious pizza and house bottle of wine (white or red) for $25 during happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. “We like to keep our menus fresh, and we’ll always offer Arizona favorites. That’s the inspiration for the four pizzas on this new menu at Famous 48,” says Robert Wagner, executive chef of Famous 48 and sister restaurant Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers. “We aim to please, and we’re happy the neighborhood enjoys our great food.” Adding to the dining experience is live music Friday evenings at this 4,500-squarefoot neighborhood spot. Info: famous48.com Rubio’s Coastal Grill offering a lunch special Rubio’s Coastal Grill locations across Arizona will offer $8 lunch specials from
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FOOD & WINE
September 6 to October 3. Exclusively for Rubio’s Rewards members, the specials will vary by week: • $8 bowls and salads the week of September 6. • $8 burritos the week of September 13. • $8 two taco plates the week of September 20. • $8 coastal trio the week of September 27. Visit rubios.com/rewards to sign up to take advantage of these lunch specials and to receive $5 off the first order. Rubio’s locations are open for dining in, and guests may also order online or through the app for contact-free curbside or express pickup or delivery. Rubio’s x Blais Street taco plate, developed with celebrity chef Richard Blais, is on the menu through September,. Also on the menu: Hula Hula carnitas bowl, Po-Boy shrimp burrito and cauliflower rice. For more information and to view the menu, visit Rubio’s, rubios.com, Facebook and Instagram. Restaurant celebration is not just for vegans Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week is hitting the Valley from Sunday, September 12, to Saturday, September 18, and Scottsdale restaurants are involved, including Dilla Libre, Positively Frosted and Simon’s Hot Dogs.
The offerings at Earth in Phoenix include plantbased vegan "chikn n waffles." (Photo courtesy of Earth)
The event is the brainchild of chef Jason Wyrick of The Vegan Taste and Glendale’s Casa Tera, as well as Jozh Watson of Phoenix Vegan. “For me, food is about community and bringing people together. Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week makes us celebrate the opportunity to do that,” Wyrick says. During Vegan Restaurant Week, baker-
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ies and food trucks are banding together to create pre-fixe plant-based menus. Each dining institution will offer its own specialized three- or five-course meal that will continue throughout the week. Wyrick says this experience will allow customers to enjoy plant-based cooking at a fair price. Info: phoenixvegan.com/phxvrw
REMEMBER When This 1996 view of lower Manhattan shows the 110-story twin World Trade Center towers, brought down by suicide hijackers on September 11, 2001. (Photos by Joan Fudala)
9/11 E
By Joan C. Fudala
veryone older than 25 surely remembers where they were on September 11, 2001 — the day America was attacked. Looking back at the day, weeks and months that followed, the changes in our lives have been both subtle and profound. Let’s remember together — and never forget the sacrifices made: As the year 2001 began, George W. Bush (the younger) was inaugurated January 20, Jane Dee Hull was governor of Arizona and Mary Manross was Scottsdale’s mayor. After closing in 1999, Los Arcos Mall on McDowell was razed for development for SkySong. In April, a home exploded in southern Scottsdale, killing a mother and two children inside; the suspected perpetrator is still at large. The city of Scottsdale celebrated its 50th anniversary
ROCKED OUR WORLD years ago
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of incorporation on June 25. The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (now Experience Scottsdale) separated from the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce to become a stand-alone organization; it moved into the Scottsdale Galleria (former shopping center repurposed as a corporate office center). A microburst on July 14 wreaked havoc on the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park area. On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, suicide terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York City (and bringing the 110-story twin towers crashing down), one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth — believed to be
headed to the U.S. Capitol but diverted by its brave passengers — crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. More than 5,000 people died because of the four attacks. First responders continue to suffer health crises from exposure to emanations from the World Trade Center rubble. Within hours of the attacks, all air traffic was grounded in the United States, stranding passengers and air freight for several days. In-bound passenger planes from Europe were diverted to Newfoundland, where residents mobilized to feed and house the stranded. Locally and nationally, even air ambulances and traffic-reporting flights were grounded. The city of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale
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REMEMBER When Headlines in local papers underscore the trauma of terrorism on September 11, 2001, and the days afterward.
Jaycees hosted a candlelight vigil at Scottsdale Stadium on September13 to honor those killed and injured in the terrorist attacks and to demonstrate national unity. Hundreds of attendees signed huge “Our Hearts Are with You” condolence banners that were sent to New York’s mayor and that Mayor Manross delivered to the Pentagon. Vigil attendees donated nearly $1,500 for Red Cross disaster relief. Faith organizations also held prayer services throughout the week. FBI investigations found that one of the hijackers, Hani Hanjour (who crashed a plane into the Pentagon), did some of his basic flight training at Scottsdale Airport in 1996 and 1997. The terrorist attacks sent Scottsdale and the nation into an economic downturn. Operations at Scottsdale Airport were halted for several days. Tourism was significantly impacted for months, affecting not only the local hospitality industry but reducing the amount of bed and sales tax collected by Scottsdale. The New York-based stock market — headquartered in and near the World Trade Center — was closed for a few days following 9/11, and nervous investors caused a stock market plunge in the aftermath of the attacks. Many consumers put major purchases and relocations on hold. Scottsdale and the nation demonstrated renewed patriotism. Immediately after the 9/11 news broke, U.S. flags began appear-
entry points. Strict vehicle and ID checks created long wait times to legally cross the border. Regrettably, anti-Arab/Muslim sentiment arose, and several incidents targeted Valley-area residents of Arab heritage. On Sunday, October 7 — less than a month after 9/11 — the United States sent troops to Afghanistan to root out al-Qaida. Led by Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida was behind the U.S. attacks. Men and women patriotically joined the U.S. military to help this effort. One of the most prominent of the enlistees was Arizona Cardinal and former ASU football star Pat Tillman, who joined the Army and was later killed in Afghanistan. Scottsdale and the Valley had a unifying bright spot amid the tears and fears generated by 9/11. The Arizona Diamondbacks, in only their fourth season of play, made it to the World Series, playing the New York Yankees. In a poignant scene, the D-backs visited the World Trade Center Ground Zero site to pay tribute to the recovery teams and the lives lost in the attacks. When the Diamondbacks won the series
ing everywhere — on homes, businesses, vehicles, as well as lapels and collars. Many new security measures, especially at airports, were put into effect. Once flying resumed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, cars entering the parking garages were stopped for inspections of interiors and trunks. Curbside checking was halted Hundreds of Scottsdale for an extended period. Pasresidents attended a candlesengers and their luggage light vigil on September 13, were handscreened and IDs 2001, to honor lives lost in checked. Knives and other the terrorist attacks and to cutting tools were banned demonstrate community from carry-on luggage (hard and national unity. to believe they were once allowed). Only ticketed passengers were allowed to proceed through security checkpoints to the gate area (and families were stopped from greeting/seeing off loved ones at airport gate areas). Elsewhere, barriers, mazes, cordons, magnetometers, wanding, bag/purse checks, security cameras and other security measures began at government buildings, office complexes and events. The U.S. border was restricted, impacting travel and trade at Arizona-Mexico
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REMEMBER When CrackerJax on Scottsdale Road in the Scottsdale Airpark area was one of many businesses immediately displaying the U.S. flag after September 11, 2001.
in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game on November 4, all of Arizona celebrated a sweet victory. Although eventually proven unrelated to the 9/11 attacks, several mailborne anthrax incidents in October 2001 impacted the Postal Service and further increased anxiety. As families and friends gathered for Thanksgiving 2001 and entered the holiday season, a newfound sense of gratitude prevailed. A survey of Scottsdale-area caterers indicated that corporate and social holiday celebrations were scaled down and included more comfort foods. New terms and phrases entered our post-9/11 vocabulary, including Ground
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Zero, The Pile, debris field, “Let’s Roll” (the last words heard from Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer as he rallied passengers to overcome the hijackers), “See something/ say something,” safe rooms, disaster drills, jihad, threat level, war on terror, Patriot Act, TSA, Guantanamo/Gitmo and enhanced interrogation. In the months and years following the 9/11 attacks we gained a new appreciation, even reverence, for first responders — firefighters, paramedics, police and others. We renewed respect for members of the military, too, rekindled from that generated after Desert Storm in 1991. Eleven days after September 11, Tom Dial Corp.’s headquarters in the Scottsdale Airpark displayed a patriotic United We Stand banner in the months after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
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REMEMBER When Ridge was appointed the first director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security. He and his staff coordinated and unified national homeland security efforts. In January 2009, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano became the third secretary of homeland security. By then it was a White House cabinet post. President Bush signed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act in November 2001, creating the Transportation Security Agency. The act required federal officials to conduct baggage screening, expanded the federal air marshal service and required airlines to reinforce cockpit doors. After a December 2001 attempt to bring down an airliner with a bomb in a passenger’s shoe, the TSA required travelers remove their shoes before going through security checkpoints. We’ve made so many changes to our pre-9/11 routines, especially to enhance security during travel and at large events. But we’ve also gained gadgets and infrastructure that continue to alter our world. Just think, at the time of September 11, 2001, we didn’t have iPhones, iPads/ tablets, Facebook or Twitter, Zoom, Kindle/ eBooks, the ability to stream movies and TV shows at home, proliferation of commercial and personal drones, Uber/Lyft
To observe the one-year anniversary of lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, attendees at the Diamondbacks vs. Padres game at then-BankOne Ballpark donned commemorative white T-shirts.
and ride-share companies, fitness trackers, etc. We also didn’t have a completed Loop 101, SkySong, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Salt River Fields and the Talking Stick entertainment district, the Scottsdale Waterfront and Southbridge, HonorHealth Thompson Peak and the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Mayo Medical School, nu-
merous trailheads in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and so much more. Life goes on. Despite 20 years, we remain a vigilant city and nation. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our routines even more than 9/11, the events of that momentous day two decades ago will reverberate in our hearts and minds for generations.
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TOURISM Talk
Opening Its Doors
Experience Scottsdale continues to strive for recovery
F
By Rachel Sacco Experience Scottsdale or Scottsdale’s tourism industry, March 12, 2020, was a day clouded by confusion and uncertainty. Major League Baseball canceled the remaining games of the Spring Training season, cutting short our largest event of the year. Shortly thereafter, businesses shut their doors and people stayed home. Vacations were postponed. Meetings and conferences were canceled. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage across the country, throwing Scottsdale’s founding industry — its most valuable industry — into a tailspin. The situation, however, calmed exactly one year later. In March 2021, vaccinations rose, COVID-19 cases declined and spring events returned, along with a full Cactus League season. People longed to travel after being confined to their homes. More specifically, they longed to travel to Scottsdale. Suddenly, visitors once again filled our hotels and resorts, restaurants and attractions. Though fewer in number than years past,
these visitors provided much-needed relief to our businesses and much-needed tax revenue to our community. What inspired these travelers to vacation in Scottsdale, making them eager to enjoy the warm sunshine and wide-open spaces of the Sonoran Desert? Perhaps it was a heartwarming commercial they saw. Perhaps a social media post from a trusted influencer. Perhaps a detailed magazine article. Perhaps a travel adviser’s enthusiastic recommendation. Whatever captured their attention, none of it happened by chance. Because Experience Scottsdale never stopped working on behalf of our industry and community over these past 18 months. We developed strategies that allowed us to be efficient and flexible so that our efforts evolved as the pandemic evolved. We connected — albeit virtually — with travel professionals and media so they would share Scottsdale’s opportunities with their clients and readers. Experience Scottsdale’s marketing campaigns also kept leisure visitors engaged. In the fall, our email campaigns encouraged locals to support Scottsdale’s hospitality businesses. In the winter, our social media promotions enticed people to road trip to Scottsdale. In the spring, our TV commercial
showcased the memories awaiting travelers in Scottsdale. Despite this optimism amongst travelers and hospitality businesses alike, the virus is still very much among us — as are its scars. International and business travel, both pillars of the tourism industry, have yet to return to full volume. Experience Scottsdale continues to strive for recovery for these segments, championing the destination in international markets and educating meeting professionals about Scottsdale’s venues. Once wider travel resumes, we are confident international travelers and meetings groups will choose Scottsdale. According to Longwoods International, 9 in 10 U.S. travelers have travel plans over the coming months. The steps Experience Scottsdale has taken since March 2020 have ensured Scottsdale remains top of mind for all travelers. Recovery is on the horizon, and though much work remains for Experience Scottsdale, we are hopeful that our industry will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. Rachel Sacco is the president and CEO of Experience Scottsdale, which establishes Scottsdale as a year-round, luxury travel destination.
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ADVICE fromWeiss SEPTEMBER 2021 Business Horoscopes By Weiss Kelly, PMAFA
ARIES 3/21-4/20 Each season brings its own changes in our planet, just like each month brings changes to our lives. Last August’s eventful chaotic happenings may seem to intensify until midmonth. Spend two weeks ridding yourself of unneeded clutter starting with the new moon on September 7. Address self-care. Network the week of September 23. Personal Power Days: September 21, September 22, September 23 TAURUS 4/21-5/20 Unexpected occurrences in housing, banking and supply chains bring shakeups every 24 hours. This forces you to go in a different direction. Be flexible with money September 10 to September 26. Instead, review your assets. Personal Power Days: September 24 and September 25 GEMINI 5/21-6/20 Last month’s projects have been disrupted because of the outer planets. You seem to handle it well. The new moon on September 7 is a good time to make cold calls or take a new approach. You’ll get a response by the full moon on September 20. Virgo rules health. Things are changing rapidly this month. Ask how this affects your work. Personal Power Days: September 26, September 27 and September 28 CANCER 6/21-7/22 September is a challenging month, especially for small-business owners. Don’t give up. Realtors or those in construction celebrate; it’s a sellers’ market. The planet of action, Mars makes September a proactive month. There’s going to be a rapid financial change in the month head. Personal Power Days: September 1, September 2, September 3, September 29 and September 30. LEO 7/23-8/21 Last month’s second full moon will affect the rest of your year. This month’s Virgo sun highlights your finance. Stock market inves-
tors should expect shockwaves. Underline the week of September 12 and forward. Order electronics or other heavy-money items for Christmas before September 27. You’ll be more socially active the last two weeks of the month. Take a short two-day break. Personal Power Days: September 4 and September 5 VIRGO 8/22-9/23 September is a progressive and demanding month. The focus is on world affairs like climate control, COVID-19 and developing viruses. The world is filled with misinformation. Do your part. Take a self-assessment. You’ll complete tasks, so create an agenda. Use the last half of September for personal time. For football fans, let the games begin. Personal Power Days: September 6 and September 7 LIBRA 9/24-10/23 Address work-related changes in the next three weeks. World affairs will make a dramatic transformation. Sun entering Libra on the September 23 motivates your positive attitude. Your work relationships and social affiliations are important and will improve rapidly. Check all travel, signed papers, agreements and orders before September 17. Personal Power Days: September 8 and September 9 SCORPIO 10/24-11/22 Slow down a bit and try not to react to financial issues. Respond to social associations. Circle the weekend of September 10 as a starter. Get together with like-minded people who have information. Try to inject happiness into your life. In October, get together with likeminded people to address financial compromises. Watch your spending at the end of the month. Personal Power Days: September 10 and September 11 SAGITTARIUS 11/23-12/21 Although your sign is known for being lucky, you haven’t escaped the planet Uranus’
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surprises. It will affect your work and remove what needs to be altered. Uranus rules technology and spirituality. Prepare for challenges that could relate to travel or litigations. Some Sags may be waiting for a decision associated with education, travel, legal field or sports. Expect new restrictions or laws to be announced on September, a new moon, or September 20, a full moon. Don’t worry. You’re lucky. Personal Power Days: September 12 and September 13. CAPRICORN 12/22-1/19 You will have the support you need to face the last mile of a two- to three-year uphill battle to success and happiness. Capricorns, you love a challenge. This month, you’ll encounter advancements thanks to education. The week of September 13 introduces change in the financial market. Personal Power Days: September 14, September 15 and September 16 AQUARIUS 1/20-2/18 You’ll begin your journey forward by leaving part of the past behind you. September focuses on money obligations. You will have clarity midmonth as decisions will be reached. It’s a favorable month to start a budget or savings account. You may want to change directions in your job. Send out resumes. Personal Power Days: September 17 and September 18 PISCES 2/19-3/20 It’s not a “me” month. It’s more of a “we” month. Monetary stress could start in the wrong direction. You can make financial adjustments in spite of any excessive spending of last month. Work with the cycles of the moon to start a project on September 7. You may have to compromise. Personal Power Days: September 19 and September 20 For inquires or readings by email or on CD, contact Weiss Kelly at weissastro@aol.com.
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