Local

LOCAL TERI TWARKINS KELLEY, THE POWER OF A G.I.R.L.

By Alison Bailin Batz

Troon resident Teri Twarkins Kelley is a Girl Scout from way back. “I started with my Brownie troop in second grade, and the courage, confidence and character I learned at that young age transformed my life. With these ‘Three Cs,’ I knew I could do anything,” said Kelley, who would earn the Girl Scout Silver Award – their second highest honor—before she left for college.

Once in college, her belief that she could do anything only strengthened as she ran Division 1 track and cross country for the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Two-a-day workouts and year-round competitions made the college experience very full,” said Kelley, who earned a degree in communications when she wasn’t busy running laps.

After school, Kelley had the courage not many people have in their early 20s – moving across the country, from her home in the South to Arizona. And doing so based simply on a book.

“As a little girl I read a book about a girl who lived in this cool town called Tucson, a city no one in the Southeast really knew at that time, save for perhaps college basketball,” Kelley explains. “So when I graduated, I contacted a friend from Arizona State University I had met in college, who helped me make Arizona my home.”

Once she made her way to Arizona, she would embark on her next chapter.

“I got my start in public relations and marketing, and then eventually moved on to marketing and finance. After I earned my MBA at ASU in the early 2000s, I jumped in head first with a complete career change,” said Kelley, who became a financial advisor for then-Smith Barney, now Morgan Stanley.

And she didn’t just become a run-of-the-mill advisor – she worked her way up to senior vice president, and now serves as a corporate retirement plan director. Kelley also dipped her toes back into Girl Scouting, volunteering as a troop leader in the local Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC), which serves more than 20,000 girls in grades K-12 in the region.

“As I tend to do – both literally and figuratively – I took the volunteer position and ran with it, eventually joining the council’s board of directors in 2008,” said Kelley. She would also get back into actually running that same year after being diagnosed with osteopenia, a type of bone deterioration that is the precursor to osteoporosis. “But I wasn’t about to let the diagnosis stop me from any of my new passions.” About 18 months after her diagnosis, Kelley completed her first Ironman, which included a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. This race, which helped her stave off the symptoms of the osteopenia, led to four more such competitions over the next three years, including participating in World Championship Ironman in Hawaii in 2011. So, after all this, Kelley must have been satisfied – and ready to take a break? Not by a longshot. In the years since, in fact, she’s made this community her home, started a family and helped GSACPC complete its Campaign for Girls in Arizona, an $18-million fundraising campaign to significantly expand and enhance the Girl Scout experience for more girls, culminating in the building and opening of The Bob and Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain in 2017, just as she took on the role of GSACPC board chair. “Today, I am dividing my time between being a mom, my career and our newest Girl Scout project, called Badge Bash, an ‘un-gala’ of sorts where guests bring their own ‘troop’ of friends to The Parsons Leadership Center to test their skills at earning fun badges and patches, as well as enjoy a night of food, drinks and entertainment,” said Kelley. “This November 2 will mark just our second year undertaking Badge Bash, and we are hopeful the entire community will come out in support.”

Kelley also notes that a big part of her work on behalf of GSACPC, in addition to Badge Bash, is spreading the word about the power of Girl Scouting, and how the girl-led, girl-centered leadership experience helps girls empower themselves to become G.I.R.L.s.

“That stands for Go-Getters, Innovators, Risk Takers and Leaders,” says Kelley. “That, at its core, is what we are all about.”

For more information about Girl Scouts or Badge

Bash, please visit www.girlscoutsaz.org.

FARMERS MARKET NORTH SCOTTSDALE WHEN: Saturdays, October - April, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. WHERE: The General Store, 8711 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale, AZ WHAT: Fresh, local, unique. The Farmers Market North Scottsdale offers family-friendly shopping for meats, dairy, cheese, eggs, bread, honey, sauces, and other food, pantry and pet items grown and/or created in the local community. Shop for groceries and enjoy hot food from our rotating variety of trucks and vendors while browsing unique art, jewelry, and clothing.

A DAY OF MISCHIEF WHEN: Saturday, October 6, 9 am – 5 pm and 7, 10 am to 4 pm WHERE: Westworld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260 WHAT: Magic is coming for all ages. Get out your wands, cloaks and brooms and get ready for a magical time. If you love Wands, Owls, and Grumpy Professors like we do……We invite you to join us on October 6th and 7th for A Day of Mischief at Westworld event center in Scottsdale! Come celebrate the magical world we all know and love! Are you heading back to your magical school soon? Come seek a magical wand, enjoy plenty of Butterscotch Beer, enjoy all your favorite activities, shop at Magical Alley, go to a Magical Creature Scavenger Hunts, do some wand dueling, see Strolling Characters, catch Photo Ops ,play a round or two of Magical Games on brooms, participate in the Costume Contest, and meet our LIVE OWLS. Tickets at tickettailor.com

ARIZONA TACO FESTIVAL WHEN: October 13 & 14 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. WHERE: 7555 N. Pima Rd. in Scottsdale WHAT: Over 100 varieties of tacos will be available both days, all for just $2 each. Now in its 9th year, it’s a taco-topia of epic proportions. Inside the event, you’ll find about 50 restaurants dishing out $2 tacos and bars/beverage stations serving margaritas, cervezas, water, and soda. Vendors will be on hand to sell other food (mostly desserts) as well. Plus, there’s entertainment everywhere! Highlights include Lucha Libre Wrestling, Chihuahua Beauty Pageant, Kids Zone and more! Get tickets online at aztacofestival.com

FALL MAKE ‘N TAKE EVENT WHEN: October 13, 12:30 pm WHERE: Stencil Studios 14435 N. 73rd St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260 WHAT: Make your own mini pumpkin string art at this FALLTASTIC event. Approximately 8 inches square, choose any color string and wood stain from our collection. With this project you will sand and stain the wood, hammer the nails and string it. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. $20 per person. To reserve seats visit: stencilstudios.com/fall-make-n-take-stringart-event/

PHOENIX FASHION WEEK WHEN: Thursday, October 18, 8 am – Saturday October 20, 10 pm WHERE: Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale WHAT: Join the Leading Fashion Event of the Southwest at Talking Stick Resort (Oct. 1820) where we will showcase 30+ Emerging Designers and Established Designers in a runway/ marketplace setting. Enjoy Five Restaurants on Location, Pop-Up Shopping, Music, Cocktails, the Red Carpet, Runway Shows and more!

ARIZONA’S BEST HOME SHOW WHEN: Friday October 19 – Sunday October 21; 10 am WHERE: Westworld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260 WHAT: Arizona’s BEST Home Show is featuring Ty Pennington from Extreme Home Makeover

A World Class High School for the 21st Century

CAREFREE FINE ART & WINE FESTIVAL NOV 2-4 101 Easy Street, Carefree

F E S T I VA L S SURPRISE JAN 11-13 CAREFREE JAN 18-20/MAR 1-3 WATERFRONT FEB 8-10 FOUNTAIN HILLS MAR 8-10

Meet renowned artists, stroll throughout juried fine arts, enjoy sipping fine wines and listening to live music. $3 Admission • Held Outdoors • 10am-5pm

Coming soon to Carefree: THUNDERBIRD ARTISTS GALLERY

ThunderbirdArtists.com • 480-837-5637

CACTUS SHADOWS HIGH SCHOOL

Advanced Placement • International Baccalaureate®

Cactus Shadows High School Class of 2018 received over $15 million in scholarships

480.575.2000 www.CCUSD93.org

and TLC’s Trading Spaces. Meet Ty and shop more than 1,000 fun and unique shopping booths for one weekend only! Bring your family and invite your friends because there’s something for EVERYONE.

GELATO FESTIVAL SCOTTSDALE WHEN: October 20 & 21 at 7 p.m. WHERE: Kierland Commons, 15205 N. Kierland Blvd. in Scottsdale WHAT: Gelato Festival World Masters is the most important event dedicated to Artisan Italian Gelato. It is a challenge of Gelato Chefs that recognizes the greatest flavors through competition. The mission of Gelato Festival America is to spread the culture of Artisan Italian Gelato. Born in Florence, Italy, Gelato Festival is an all-star lineup where the biggest names in Gelato making compete against one another with a one-time flavor they have created just for the festival.

THE ASU TROMBONE STUDIO @ ARTS AT THE ROCKS WHEN: October 21, 7 p.m WHERE: Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 WHAT: Have you ever heard a trombone quartet or sextet? What about a whole trombone choir? Well now is your chance! The Arizona State University Trombone Studio, led by Dr. Bradley Edwards, will perform a variety of music, with groups from four to over twenty trombones! The ASU Desert Bones, as they are known, will perform a piece written especially for this occasion by Jeffrey Anthony, for trombone choir, hand bells, and choir. The performance will also feature DHPC’s hand bell and chancel choirs. Come join us for the first free concert of Arts at the Rocks series and be amazed by the spectrum of sounds that can be produced by trombones!

TRUNK OR TREAT WHEN: Sunday, October 28, 4 pm – 6 pm WHERE: North Scottsdale United Methodist Church, 11735 N. Scottsdale Rd. WHAT: This event provided an opportunity for church and community families to enjoy a free, safe and friendly trick or treating experience. The event will begin at 4:00 p.m. with carnival games, snow cones and bouncer. Food Trucks and other snacks will be available throughout the evening. Halfway through the event the NSUMC Youth Group will lead children in a costume parade. The night will end with the awarding of trophies for exceptional costumes and decorated trunks, and the highly coveted “Trunk-or-Treating.”

WHERE WILL THE FUTURE TAKE HIM?

Your Arizona Tax Credit Donation will allow OCJ Kids to show foster children a future fi lled with hope.

DONATE TODAY WWW.OCJKIDS.ORG

Visit scottsdalenorthnews.com to enter for your chance to win 2 Tickets to Bodies Revealed at OdySea!

SCOTT GAERTNER

GROUP

R E A L E S T A T E

Nobody has sold more homes in Scottsdale North than Scott Gaertner!

Call Scott today for a free home valuation and find out if he has a buyer ready for you! Scott Gaertner 480-634 5000

Just Listed

2 BR | Den | 2 BA | 1,990 SF GOLF, DESERT & MOUNTAIN VIEWS $525,000 Scott Gaertner | 480-634-5000 Scott@ScottGaertnerGroup.com

Just Listed

3 BR | Flex Room | 2 BA | 3,063 SF

PRIVATE MOUNTAIN & DESERT VIEWS $730,000

Scott Gaertner | 480-634-5000

Scott@ScottGaertnerGroup.com

Just Sold

2 BR | Den | 2 BA | 1,974 SF SOLD FOR OVER $300 SF LESS IN JULY! $591,000 Scott Gaertner | 480-634-5000 Scott@ScottGaertnerGroup.com

Coming Soon

4 BR | Den | 3.5 BA 3,821 SF GORGEOUS CUSTOM HOME IN WINFIELD. SEE MORE AT SCOTTGAERTNERGROUP.COM $1,399,000 Scott Gaertner | 480-634-5000 ScottGaertnerGroup.com

Pending 3 BR | Den | 2 Bath | 2,303 SF SOUGHT AFTER HOME IN TERRAVITA. SOLD BEFORE IT HIT THE MARKET! $720,000

Scott Gaertner | 480-634-5000

Scott@ScottGaertnerGroup.com

HOUSES WANTED!

We have home buyers with specific needs. Have you thought about selling? Do you have the home our buyers are looking for?

4 Bedroom with Den, & Casita, Must have Mountain Views 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, 3 Car Garage, Must have Pool 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, Home away from Traffic Noise 2 Bedroom, less than $500,000

Coming Soon 4 BR | Den | 3.5 BA | 2,790 SF METICULOUSLY REMODELED AND UPDATED

WITH EXTRAORDINARY CHEF'S KITCHEN $799,000 Scott Gaertner | 480-634-500 ScottGaertnerGroup.com

Disclaimer: All information provided by the Arizona Regional MLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data is from 1/1/18 – 8/15/2018