Elevate AZ | Spring 2022

National Bank of Arizona®

Innovative transportation companies take Arizona’s business landscape to new heights

AZ on the Move

SMALL TOWN, THE OFFICE, BIG IMPACT THEN & NOW There’s no mistaking that Cottonwood has arrived

SPRING 2022

Two years in, the pandemic is permanently reshaping the traditional workspace concept

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committed TO YOUR BUSINESS AS YOU ARE. We’re in this together.

Since our beginnings in 1984, we’ve put relationships with the

communities, businesses and people of Arizona at the center of everything we do. Because the truth is, these businesses and people are our neighbors, and Arizona’s communities are our homes. That’s why we take what we do so personally: because we believe that we’re all in this together, and that when you succeed, so does the entire community.

LET’S TALK BUSINESS VISIT NBAZ.COM

NBAZ.COM | A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC

in this issue

Downtown Cottonwood.

DEPARTMENTS 02 @NB|AZ What’s happening at National Bank of Arizona

04 AZ WORKS The Good Life Multi-family development firm succeeds in enhancing the lives of employees

06 FOOD & DRINK Good to the Corps

FEATURES

Brothers inspired to make hard cider with heart

16 AZ on the Move

Innovative transportation companies take Arizona’s business landscape to new heights

08 ARTS & CULTURE A Novel Idea Independent bookshop is a bright spot in downtown Flagstaff

22 Small Town, Big Impact

10 TRAILBLAZERS Western Spirit

There’s no mistaking that Cottonwood has arrived

Woman-owned business blazes trails in Wickenburg

28 The Office, Then & Now

12 AZ NONPROFIT Newfound Independence

Two years in, the pandemic is permanently reshaping the traditional workspace concept

Phoenix nonprofit aims to open doors for living, learning and leading

32 EXPERIENCE AZ A moment in Oro Valley

PUBLISHER National Bank of Arizona EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jenavi Kasper, jenavi.kasper@nbarizona.com PROJECT EDITOR Matthew Pazik, matthew.pazik@nbarizona.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michelle Jacoby, michelle@pb-jcreative.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nathan Joseph, nathan@responsecreative.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Adams, cwadams@me.com CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Berman, Sally J. Clasen, Julia De Simone, Bruce Farr, Debra Gelbart, Angela Muniz, Jake Poinier PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Lipczynski, mark@marklipczynski.com

Elevate AZ magazine may contain trademarks or trade names owned by parties who are not affiliated with National Bank of Arizona, Zions Bancorporation, or its affiliates. Use of such marks does not imply any sponsorship by or affiliation with third parties, and National Bank of Arizona does not claim any ownership of or make representations about products and services offered under or associated with such marks. Articles are offered for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, financial or business advice. Please contact a professional about your specific needs and advice. © 2022 Zions Bancorporation, N.A. All rights reserved.

A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC

NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA® 6001 N 24th St Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-235-6000

PB+J CREATIVE content + photography + design pb-jcreative.com

ON THE COVER With its wide open spaces, Arizona is a place where getting from point A to point B as smoothly and efficiently as possible is a must. Meet three businesses that specialize in keeping the state and its residents moving. Page 16.

Photo by Mark Lipczynski

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NB|AZ Employees: Our No. 1 Asset Good employees are hard to find and keep. So being voted the No. 1 bank in Arizona for the 19th year and the No. 1 best place to work proves that NB|AZ is doing something right when it comes to serving the community and our customers, and providing an exceptional place to work for our employees.

T ’ S N O S E C R E T.

Over the past few years, we have seen the competition for talent intensify. Like many local banks, NB|AZ has experienced the effects of worker shortages, especially in our branches. To find and retain the best talent, we have had to think outside the box.

Job seekers want more than just competitive pay. Therefore, we’ve stepped up our offerings to existing and new employees by developing internal development programs, providing benefits on the first day of employment, and enabling appropriate job positions to have flexible working arrangements.

Additionally, we have found most employees are also looking for a place to work where they feel valued and empowered to make a difference—not just on the job, but also in their community. Therefore, we have always encouraged our employees to connect with the community in which they live and work. We even go as far as recognizing an employee every quarter for their philanthropic activities and donating to the charity of their choice. We then select a volunteer of the year from the quarterly honorees and recognize this employee at our annual service awards luncheon.

I know we have leaned hard on our employees this past year and have asked many to do more with less, as compared to our larger bank competitors.

Not only have they accepted the challenge, but every employee has stepped up to go the extra mile for our customers and each other.

During the pandemic, our goal has been to maintain personal connections and rely on our strong workplace culture of having a can-do

attitude, being a true partner, and being genuine and approachable. For us, it’s become more than just catchy phrases on a poster in the breakroom; it’s our way of life at National Bank of Arizona.

On March 4, we, like many organizations around the country, celebrated Employee Appreciation Day. To let our employees know how much they are appreciated, valued and recognized for their above-and-beyond efforts, we gave every employee an additional half-day off as paid vacation in 2022.

Rather than sending a gift card or providing a group lunch, we know that many of our front-line employees are combating burnout. What would be better than taking a few more hours of well-deserved time away from the office to focus on their personal life?

Our employees are our No. 1 asset. They are the sole reason for any successes the organization has experienced the past couple of years, and they will be what continues to drive future success. Here’s my personal note to all NB|AZ employees: You are appreciated much more than you can imagine and valued greatly. Thank you again for all you do at home, in your community, and for our customers.

“ Every employee has stepped up to go the extra mile for our customers and each other.”

Mark Young PRESIDENT AND CEO N AT I O N A L B A N K O F A R I Z O N A

COMMUNITY

NB|AZ Volunteer of the Quarter

TEAM EFFORT

2022: A Year of Giving NB|AZ IS LOOKING to ramp up volunteering in 2022 with more in-person volunteer opportunities for its employees. From partnering with local food banks in our rural communities and employees volunteering with organizations that are meaningful to them, to providing financial education and technical support to small businesses in partnership with the Arizona Small Business Association, we have the following initiatives planned: American Heart Association Heart Walk Free Arts – affirmation cards for children in foster care

United Way – summer water drive Military Assistance Mission – back-to-school supply drive Southwest Human Development – children’s book drive, holiday gift drive

PARTNERS

Forge Ahead FOUNDED IN 1973, the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) serves as the collective voice of small businesses in the state by driving a better environment for all of us to do business. Today, the organization is focused on delivering statewide education, mentoring, networking and advocacy programs, providing innovative entrepreneurs with the resources necessary to grow and evolve in an ever-changing marketplace.

In its continued efforts, the ASBA launched Forge Ahead in 2021. The program gives small business owners and their employees access to online, personalized training in key areas to help them recover revenue, reposition and thrive.

NB|AZ has partnered with the ASBA and the Forge Ahead program by having banking experts participate in courses focused on financial matters such as learning how to build an accounting system, developing a relationship with a community bank, and understanding the basics of business capital.

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

Junior Achievement of AZ – Bowl-A-Thon, Teach for a Day

EACH QUARTER, we celebrate the volunteerism efforts of our associates.

Our volunteer of the quarter for 4Q21 is Meredith Dunlap.

Outside of her role as Retail Regional Sales Manager, Meredith volunteers for several organizations that are near and dear to her heart, including the United Way of Yavapai County and the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce.

She currently serves on both boards and sits on several committees including marketing, leadership development, education, and advocacy, in addition to being involved in the Alive After 5 Mixers and Chamber Breakfasts.

Meredith also volunteers at events like the Community Resource Fair, Day of Giving, Community Impact Gala and Fundraiser for United Way, Team Up to Clean Up, and Prescott Valley Days with the Chamber.

When asked why she selected these organizations, she explains, “Both organizations contribute to the well-being of others. The Chamber is committed to creating a strong local economy, providing networking opportunities, promoting the community, representing the interests of business in government and political action. The United Way improves lives and builds strong communities by focusing on health, education, and income stability for everyone throughout Yavapai County.”

It’s clear the Meredith is dedicated to serving her community, and grateful for the opportunity to do so. “Being able to give back is a gift and it is a blessing to be part of both these organizations who are committed to the communities they serve,” she says.

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The Good Life

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HARING THE GOOD LIFE” isn’t just a goal for Ross McCallister and his business MC Companies. It’s a mission.

This Scottsdale-based multifamily development firm was co-founded in 2001 by McCallister and Ken McElroy.

The three main functions are investment, management and development, all directed by independent companies that work together under the MC Companies umbrella to “create a fully integrated enterprise to benefit our investors, residents and employees,” McCallister says.

“It’s hard to miss our commitment to ‘sharing the good life,’” he continues. “It covers everything we do and everyone we do it for. For our residents, it means we’re delivering optimal living and service standards through our communities. For our investors, it means we’re maximizing our operating income and increasing property asset value for the highest possible returns. For our employees, it means we’re providing a quality work environment where they are respected and encouraged to grow.”

That’s certainly true for Brisa Gonzalez, who has thrived since arriving at MC Companies in August of 2017. She began working as an assistant leasing manager at a property in Tucson, hoping to become a property manager, even though her previous employer was not in the real estate sector.

“MC Companies taught me about the multifamily industry and gave me the opportunity to build a career around that knowledge. When they posted an opening for talent development manager, I knew that was my perfect job because I really love to help others grow,” says Gonzalez. “Everyone on my team has been supportive of me chasing my dream.

It’s amazing that I’ve had so many career opportunities in the relatively short time I’ve been with the organization.”

While she was an assistant leasing manager, Gonzalez was nominated in 2020 and 2021 for the Arizona Multifamily Housing Association Assistant Leasing Manager of the Year award. She was selected from a pool of about 20 other MC Companies assistant managers for the nomination.

“I didn’t know the nominations were coming, so that was a really awesome surprise both times,” says Gonzalez, who now trains new leasing managers at the company.

Property and project management, in particular, McCallister

says, “require a special kind of accountability. I equate a manager’s job to that of a mayor of a small town. That’s a big responsibility, but we’re lucky to have a team of experts, like Brisa, who fill those shoes and excel for us every day.”

One of several awards MC Companies has won in recent years is “13 Best Places to Work in Multifamily for Women,” part of the national Best Places to Work Multifamily program.

The company also has been recognized in AZCentral.com’s Top Companies to Work for in Arizona, and as the Rookie Fundraiser of the Year by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Underscoring that priority on philanthropy, MC Companies established the Share the Good Life Foundation, an employeedriven division supported by donations, vendor partners, community programs and fundraising. It’s run by a full-time, in-house director of philanthropy, who helps guide the foundation to make a positive difference in communities.

“Through the foundation, we encourage all MC employees to find ways to give back through paid volunteer hours, paid time-off donations and company-sponsored events,” McCallister says.

Be giving, be positive, be open minded, be aware and present, be respectful and kind. These are more than affirmations to MC Companies. They’re core values.

“MC Companies was built on deeply-rooted values centered on equality and social responsibility,” McCallister adds. “We welcome residents into the communities we operate, and create sanctuaries for them regardless of race, religion or creed.”

The company has approximately 230 employees and currently owns and operates nearly 7,000 multifamily units in eight markets, including Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Tulsa. Last year, as the company market its 20th year, it launched Operation 25K, an initiative to grow MC Companies to 25,000 units under ownership by 2029.

“It will also expand us to more than 330 employees by the end of 2022,” McCallister explains. “Reaching the 25,000-unit mark will require our investment arm to purchase more than 2,500 units annually and our development team to add to our portfolio through new construction. Right now, we have five new-build multifamily projects on the board that will deliver

Photo: MC Companies

Multi-family development firm succeeds in enhancing the lives of employees

MC Companies founders Ross McCallister (left) and Ken McElroy

“MC Companies taught me about the multifamily industry and gave me the opportunity to build a career around that knowledge.

It’s amazing that I’ve had so many career opportunities in the relatively short time I’ve been with the organization.”

Brisa Gonzalez, Customer Experience Manager, MC Companies

percent owned and managed by us. Whether we built them from the ground up or bought and renovated them, all are what we like to call ‘real places for real people.’ ” According to McCallister, well-managed properties maximize occupancy, which maximizes cash flow, which maximizes the returns to our investors.

“It’s a positive cycle from start to finish. The ironic thing— and the thing that some people miss—is that our business is about people. We’re now at more than 10,000 residents and counting.” Debra Gelbart

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

1,300 units over the next two years.”

Multifamily housing is a sector that typically outperforms other property types, even during downturns, McCallister says.

“And it has evolved to serve a range of demographics, from empty nesters to millennials. The growth markets that we target give us the opportunity to support these populations and our investors in the way we envisioned when Ken and I started our partnership.”

Most competitors “don’t own all of the communities that they manage,” he points out, “but our properties are 100

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Brothers inspired to make hard cider with heart

Good to the Corps

Josh (left) and Jason Duran, co-owners, Cider Corps

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“We just wanted to make cider taste better.”

years. They inked a partnership in 2021 with Hensley Beverage Company to manage statewide distribution sales. And in early 2022, the duo relocated their cidery operation from the Mesa taproom to a 14,000-square-foot production and canning facility in Gilbert, a move that’s enabled Cider Corps to more than quadruple its fermenting capabilities.

Future plans for the three-acre site include a second taproom with food provided by Food Network winner chef Adam Allison, and a familyfriendly communal cider garden projected for late fall.

“People bring kids to our Mesa location a lot. With Gilbert having a higher family population density, it will be a unique thing for the East Valley,” says Josh.

The brothers, who hail from small-town Kansas, attribute their business evolution to a willingness to go for it, a strong work ethic and ability to create a product that shines in a crowed cider market.

“In our opinion, our cider is more palatable. We’ve figured out a way to make our ciders less acidic and when we add our fruits back in, we don’t add any sugars or flavorings. You don’t have a sugar bomb that ruins your stomach and that acid bite in your mouth,” says Jason, who runs the cidery production side of the business.

“We’ve been able to find our lane and skip forward because we understand the science behind the cider. It’s nothing new, but it takes a lot of work and careful monitoring to get it right. We are the only one in the United States using the malolactic fermentation process.

You have to come to us to get that quality.

In my opinion, in 10 years it will be the standard in the industry,” he adds.

While Cider Corps may not be sweet, it’s certainly full of heart. True to its Cider Corps is the only hard cider maker in the mission of “Drink U.S. to use the malolactic fermentation process.

Great Cider, Honor Great Sacrifice,” the company supports select nonprofit veterans’ groups, partnering with organizations including 22 Jumps, One More Wave, Purple Hearts, and the Vet Resource Center.

“Once we find someone, we connect and build long-term relationships instead of throwing money at different places,” says Jason. “We’re a little circle of people with common goals and latch ourselves to those kinds of groups so we can really make an impact.”

And in 10 years, the Durens anticipate more of the same success, continuing to set the bar high for quality cider and being a standout role model for those in need.

“I think our mission statement will be seen on a bigger level,” says Josh. “We’ll be making the highest quality ciders in the country. And we’ll have raised millions of dollars and [make people aware that] we honor 7 great sacrifice.” Sally J. Clasen

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

AKING HARD CRAFT CIDER wasn’t meant to be a job—or evolve into a thriving, small business with 20 employees, for that matter. But once brothers Josh and Jason Duren started experimenting with apple fermentation to produce alcoholic cider, the siblings knew they were on to something good. And marketable. Five years later, they own Cider Corps, the largest cidery in Arizona.

The cider idea first developed as a therapeutic activity for Jason, a retired Marine Corps Sergeant who suffered brain injuries from two separate IED (improvised explosive device) incidents while serving in Afghanistan. His neurologist, Dr. Javier Cardenas at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, suggested he find a new hobby to help him recover and retrain his brain.

Eventually, Josh got involved in making cider with his younger brother and the two began testing different fermentation techniques in Jason’s garage. Their plan was simple.

“We just wanted to make cider taste better,” says Jason, who studied sustainable horticulture at Arizona State University so he could understand the complexities of plant life and fermentation to perfect Cider Corps’ unique brand.

The recipe is made with apple juice and other natural fruits and botanical flavors, but no added sugars except for what occurs naturally in the cold-pressed apple juice they source from the Pacific Northwest. And its smooth, low-acidic composition is due to malolactic conversion, a two-part process that doesn’t result in sugary, tart ciders that are popular in the industry, according to Jason.

At first, the Durens started showcasing their homemade cider at tasting events around town for free. Consumers responded well to their product, as did the restaurant group Fox Concepts, which gave Cider Corps its first big break by selling the fermented alcohol in its establishments.

It took another two years for the brothers to hone their concept before opening their flagship taproom in downtown Mesa on Veterans Day 2017.

The taproom features Jason Duren 15 rotating ciders, to-go Co-Owner, Cider Corps. cider served in cans.

Currently, Cider Corps also is available in more than 200 restaurants and retail shops in Arizona, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, AJ’s, and Total Wine, according to Josh, who handles branding and marketing.

Despite some pandemic hurdles, the company has been able to pivot and experience milestone growth in the last few

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Independent bookshop is a bright spot in downtown Flagstaff

ONGTIME FRIENDS Lisa Lamberson and Annette Avery were having lunch in 2016 when they spotted a “For Sale” sign in the window of Flagstaff’s Barefoot Cowgirl Books.

“Want to run a bookstore together?” they asked each other jokingly. Soon, however, Lamberson brought husband Ben Shaffer into the conversation and on February 21, 2017, the three were handed the keys to the 2,000-square-foot store. They had no book sales experience, no employees, not even a name.

The likes of Stacks and The Deckled Edge were batted around before they took the advice of graphic designer friend Jen Saunders to focus on what they wanted the new store to convey.

After Lamberson stumbled across a Vanity Fair article headlined “The Bright Side Kid,” they

decided to call it Bright Side Bookshop, she says. “It just fit.”

Today, with annual sales growth ranging from 25% to 58%, it operates in the black, with online orders—about 10 a day—accounting for 6% of sales in 2021, earning enough to pay the business owners, as well as a staff of 15 full- and part-timers. (They also repaid an initial start-up loan late last year.)

Avery, a property manager, “took on the Herculean task of…reviewing over 1,000 newly published titles every week,” Lamberson says. Avery remains the shop’s head buyer, complemented by her and a full-time assistant buyer.

Initially the general manager, Lamberson now runs “back and forth putting out ‘fires’ at both Bright Side Bookshop and Mountain Sports

a novel idea

Annette Avery (left) and Lisa Lamberson, co-owners, Bright Side Bookshop

“ we live, work, play, volunteer and raise our kids here in Flagstaff, so we know it well. It helps guide our book/product selection, it aids in event creation and… collaboration with other local organizations.”

Lisa Lamberson, Co-Owner, Bright Side Bookshop indie bookshop thrive,” she adds.

One phenomenon that surprised the Bright Side owners: Many people simply wanted to volunteer at the bookshop.

“It was mostly in our early days when we needed extra hands for inventory day, or for selecting/curating/buying our gift items,” Lamberson explains. She’s never seen this happen in her years at Mountain Sports.

Independent bookstores have been a rallying point in Flagstaff since a Barnes & Noble opened there in December 1999, immediately sparking concern by those desperate to protect local businesses. A couple of years later, McGaugh’s Newsstand went out of business after 23 years.

Coincidentally, Mountain Sports moved into McGaugh’s old space in 2001, Lamberson points out. “So, I attribute the wild idea of owning a bookshop a bit to having heard people walk through the front door for these many years asking, ‘Where is the bookshop?’ ” Finally, when Nancy Nelson opened Barefoot Cowgirl Books in 2015, she did so in part off the back of an Indiegogo campaign that raised more than $5,000 from the community.

As for Bright Side Bookshop, Lamberson says the key to its success, as well as that of Mountain Sports Flagstaff, is this: “At its core, we have dedicated, community-minded individuals that love our mountain town and show up to support both our businesses year in and year out. And for that, I am eternally grateful.” Aaron Berman

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

Flagstaff,” an outdoor clothing and lifestyle store she also owns. Shaffer, who first served as bookkeeper and resident handyman, left in early 2020 to be a full-time paramedic for Guardian Medical Transport after they had to temporarily close Bright Side for eight weeks at the start of the pandemic.

So how does an independent bookstore stocking just 12,000 titles thrive in the Amazon age? For starters, Bright Side positions itself as a warm, inviting destination, holding author signings and “Saturday Storytimes” for children, as well as special events tied to local and regional happenings such as the Northern Arizona Book Festival.

Suspending community events during COVID-19 has been an enormous challenge, Lamberson admits; they hope to bring them back later this year under a soon-to-be-hired events and marketing manager.

The shop has thrived, in part, because “we live, work, play, volunteer and raise our kids here in Flagstaff, so we know it well. It helps guide our book/product selection, it aids in event creation and…collaboration with other local organizations,” she says.

It also doesn’t hurt that Lamberson has worked in retail for Mountain Sports Flagstaff for 20 years, finally buying it from her parents in 2016. Her father, Mark, “remains a steadfast mentor, helping to adapt long time systems that work in the outdoor industry to make our new

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Western Spirit Woman-owned business blazes trails in Wickenburg

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HE OPEN SPACE OF our Arizona desert attracts a certain character: People with that unique mix of boldness and daring, roll-up-your sleeves work ethic, and a drive to build home and community are woven in the historic threads of our state.

Theresa Dunn is no stranger to ranch life, but after discovering the town of Wickenburg on the roping circuit with her husband, that desert spirit took hold. Now, like other women before her, she is continuing to grow business and community in the Arizona town through relationships and service.

Just 50 miles northwest of Phoenix, Wickenburg balances the rough-edged charm of its mine-town past with its modern role as a Southwestern destination. Its reputation as the Team Roping Capital of the World is what first brought Dunn and her husband to the area for competitions and events.

In 2013, rather than just pass through, they rented a house for a month to see what it would be like. In no more than two weeks, they knew it was the spot for them. “Wickenberg is very, very friendly. And we dig the topography here,” Dunn says.

The couple purchased a home and split their time between their Oregon ranch and the Arizona desert. By 2018, the pull to Wickenburg had them and they put down full-time roots. For Dunn, that meant being an active part of the community. They had already bought some commercial property and when a clothing business that had served the area for decades closed, she knew the void had to be filled.

“I had never been in retail, but felt there was a big need,” Dunn explains. “Wickenburg closes up over the summer. I wanted a store that would be open year-round for women and for all the residents of Wickenburg.”

She opened Serape Bleu in 2019. The women’s boutique with a Western influence and the motto “Sweetness For Your Soul” is filled with women’s clothing, outerwear and boots, as well as a mix of baby items and locally made gifts.

Dunn takes care to stock items in a range of price points and styles for women of all ages and sizes. But this is just the start of the of the attention and care she and the boutique quickly became known for. And despite opening months before the brunt of a pandemic, Dunn says the community support has been beyond her expectations.

“How things have gone far exceeds what I ever projected, which is so amazing to me. Especially during COVID,” she says. “But it just shows how welcoming Wickenburg is and that people really do love the hands-on shopping experience.”

From tourists to locals, Dunn has grown an international clientele that continues to come back to see what’s new. And even though the boutique does not have online shopping, Dunn takes the time to reach out to customers when she gets something in that she thinks they’ll like.

“A lot of people in town joke that Serape Bleu is now a destination. That people come to Wickenburg because they’ve heard about the store,” she says. “It really is getting to know your customers.”

Serape Bleu has helped downtown Wickenburg become more than a winter destination, bringing new residents into the area and showing other businesses that year-round success is possible.

More than a century ago, another Wickenburg woman

“I wanted a store that would be open year-round for women and for all the residents of Wickenburg.”

Theresa Dunn

Owner, Serape Bleu

“I feel she felt the same way…that she thought ‘we needed something in Wickenburg’ and just created it. I feel that we both were individuals who saw a need,” she says. “In her day, I imagine she played an even bigger role than I did having a hotel. There is so much history in Wickenburg with women and their grit and determination doing things.”

Dunn is quick to point out that Serape Bleu is the result of a team of people who have been with her since opening.

She is honored by the nomination and the continued support of the Wickenburg community.

“I have been able to be lucky enough to do things I like that helped spark great energy in the community. In a lot of ways, I am so thankful and fortunate to live here, have a business here, and have the reaction that people have had to the boutique,” she says. “It’s been more than I ever expected.

I love every minute of it.” Angela Muniz

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

created the same draw to the town center.

Elizabeth Smith came to Wickenburg with her husband in 1897. The newlyweds were thought to be the town’s first Black citizens and Smith is credited for helping the town succeed beyond its mine-town boom. When the owner of the hotel and restaurant the Smiths worked at lost interest in the business, they bought it. Soon, their improvements caught the attention of the railroad and with its help, they built a new hotel and restaurant closer to the station. The Vernetta Hotel opened in 1905 and was a place for meetings, local entertainment and dining.

This year, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum has created the Elizabeth Smith Award as part of its Cowgirl Up! Exhibit. The award is meant to “recognize and celebrate accomplished women of the West and to inspire other women to future the Western spirit.”

As a nominee for the inaugural award, Dunn has reflected on connections between herself and the pioneering Smith.

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d n u o f w Ne e c n e d n e p e Ind n d o o rs e p o o t s im a rofit Phoenix nonp ing and leading n for living, lear

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N 1993, DENISE RESNIK was “physically ill and afraid” after she and her husband took their doctors’ advice and checked out several institutions for her then 2-year-old son diagnosed with autism.

“I remember what I saw and how they smelled, and I ran away as fast as I could,” she shared in a 2021 interview with Arizona State University.

But the mom in her knew her son Matt— and all children with a disability—deserved better, which prompted a revolution, of sorts.

“He propelled me [to create] a place where [he] can thrive and be happy,” Resnik says.

Fast forward to 2012 when Resnik formed First Place AZ, a nonprofit organization dedicated to setting new standards of supportive community development with a mix of residential options and resources.

It was established as a sister nonprofit to the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), which provides autism research, education, evidence-based treatment and community outreach. Resnik is also a co-founder of SARRC. “I founded First Place to complement SARRC’s services and address the looming question for families everywhere, including our own: Who will care for Matt when we’re no longer able to do so?” she says.

It was a question Chuck Heimerdinger, First Place CFO, also mulled over. He and his wife have a daughter who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at 13 years old.

“Denise realized a lot of adults on the autism spectrum are living with parents, and when their parents pass, it will be more difficult for them. The best thing is giving

them a better life, to be more independent,” Heimerdinger says.

That dream took shape in 2018 with the opening of First Place Phoenix. Today, the fourstory, 55-unit apartment property located in central Phoenix provides supportive housing for adults with autism, Down syndrome and other neurodiversities, as well as a residential program for adults with autism. Currently, 60 people reside there.

In addition to the apartments, there is the transition academy. Operated by SARRC, the two-year, on-site residential program at First Place maximizes participants capacity to live more independently through specialized curriculum and individualized support.

“What I wanted for Matt is what my clients wanted as homebuyers: a community. So why would that be different for Matt?” asked Resnik, who started her career at the former Del E. Webb Corporation.

It shouldn’t and it isn’t.

Today, Matt, 30, resides at First Place while also working at SMILE Biscotti, an entrepreneurial bakery business he founded.

It was created to help himself and others impacted by autism make advancements in life skills development, social connections and pathways toward greater independence.

And it’s indeed been a successful move for Heimerdinger’s daughter, Lauren, now 35.

“It was difficult, but we had planned for it and spent a lot of time at SARRC. We formalized and watched the groundbreaking, knowing it would be a secure environment [for Lauren] with support staff. It was the best thing because we felt the time was right and it was the right place. You have to

take a leap of faith to know it’s a good thing for everyone,” he says.

Lauren, lovingly referred to as a “firstie” for representing one of the first residents to move into the supportive housing, has been residing independently since 2018.

“All my life I lived with my parents and sister. I was scared of living on my own, being on my own. I’m not scared anymore.

I enjoy being here. I go to a lot of the community activities and have some friends here, as well,” she says. “The support staff will help you with learning new skills.”

Lauren, who is also visually impaired, says she enjoys a multitude of hobbies offered at First Place, such as beginning yoga and creative painting on canvas. In addition, she ventures to the neighborhood grocery store where she shops for her food.

“I’ve been on my own, lived on my own, and I am proud of myself,” she says.

Resnik—who is the founder, president and CEO of First Place—says that moving forward, the goal is to ensure that housing and community options are as bountiful for adults with autism and other disabilities as they are for everyone else.

To help accomplish this, she teamed up with the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at ASU on the recently released study, “A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities.” The report seeks to establish a common language for all the stakeholders involved in creating housing for people with autism: families, investors, real estate developers, nonprofit and philanthropic groups, government

agencies and decision-makers, according to ASU News.

Another manner in which this is being achieved is through the First Place Global Leadership Institute, which consists of a faculty of experts in the field of autism. It provides support through evidence-based best practices and a hub for learning and facilitating replication. The goal is to increase capacity in adult services and housing options nationally and globally for this population.

Last year, a new First Place endowment fund was established through the support of unrestricted donations and guidance provided by the Arizona Endowment Building Institute. The board allocated $1 million to start the yet-to-be-named fund while planning for growth and ensuring that the institute’s work continues.

“We can tell parents that their kids could have a job one day, friends, support them, and that’s what we’re doing,” she says. “It’s a different trajectory when you have hope, and no one should take that away.” Julia De Simone

(Left to right) First Place founder, president and CEO Denise Resnik; CFO Chuck Heimerdinger; and COO Nancy Ottmann.

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

First Place resident Lauren Heimerdinger.

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Agribusiness banking at NB|AZ provides important services

grow your business

F

ARMERS AND RANCHERS have unique financial challenges, and the National Bank of Arizona Agribusiness Banking team is ready to help.

Though NB|AZ has had a presence in the agricultural market for a while, Agribusiness Banking as a specialized department was established just last year.

“The group was started through the vision of Mark Young, Brent Cannon and John Lewis as an extension of NB|AZ’s commitment to servicing the needs of our rural markets,” says Matt Eyrich, Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Manager for Agribusiness Banking at NB|AZ. “Business and commercial lending is knowing your customer and being able to provide the financial services tailored to their needs,” he continues. “Our customers deal in commodity markets and face production challenges—such as weather and pests—that are not in their direct control. This makes no two years or crop seasons exactly the same and leads to financial positions and operating results that don’t provide simple trend lines.”

Brian Rhodes appreciates that level of understanding about how his business operates. He and his wife April farm more than 18,000 acres throughout Pinal County. Their company A & B Farms, with about $18 million in annual revenue, grows primarily cotton, but also alfalfa, corn, roses and grains, including Durum wheat that’s used in pasta products.

“The transition to NB|AZ was the most fluid and easiest that I’ve ever been through. I really immediately felt that they’re on my side,” says Rhodes. “We were considering other financial institutions, too, and it became apparent that NB|AZ is the right place to go.”

Relying on NB|AZ’s Treasury Management services that can transfer money quickly, he says that function saves him time and expenses. The business also has a revolving line of credit through NB|AZ. The Agribusiness team provides short-term (operating), intermediate-term (equipment) and long-term (real estate) financing.

NB|AZ banker Matt Eyrich (left) with April and Brian Rhodes, owners of A & B Farms near Eloy.

“There are only a handful of banks and finance companies that provide financing to the ag sector in Arizona. And only three or four that have dedicated teams,” Eyrich says. “So first, we provide a full line of financial services to the ag sector and second, we do it through a dedicated and knowledgeable team.”

Agribusiness Banking offers a blend of asset-based lending and cashflow lending, Eyrich notes, adding that agriculture commodity markets are volatile.

“The markets set the price the producer ultimately receives for their production,” he explains. “This contrasts with a widget manufacturer or service entity that can set their price based on what they desire as a return. Granted, they may have to adjust the price based on competition or other factors, but they still can set the price.”

For Rhodes, it’s about the personal attention and service. “NB|AZ has a very personal touch and we have had multiple points of contact through the process of becoming a client,” he says. “We appreciate that they visited the farm and really got to know our business,” adding that agriculture has always been relationship-based.

“Yet these days, that’s gone away with a lot of the bigger banks.

It’s great to deal with NB|AZ. They know agriculture and they know the right questions to ask. It’s enjoyable working with them.”

Debra Gelbart

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16

AZ on the Move

STORY JAKE POINIER PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI

T H A N K S T O A N attractive business climate, Arizona ranks among the fastest-growing economies in the country in the wake of the pandemic. As we head into the heart of the 2020s, here are a few of the notable players that are keeping our state moving.

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

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GREULICH’S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

Firing on All Cylinders

N

ecessity is the mother of invention, but it’s often the father of entrepreneurship, too.

“I’d never really worked on cars, I kind of fell into automotive service from my three brothers,” says Chris Greulich, president of Greulich’s Automotive Repair. “One of my brothers owns a machine shop and was into racecars and rebuilding engines for classic cars of all types. The genesis of my getting into auto service was that his location near Scottsdale Airpark wasn’t zoned to do retail work, so he basically wasn’t allowed to take engines in and out of cars for customers. I’d finished college in 1989 and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll go ahead and open up a service center down the street where the zoning allows it.’ ” Greulich shifted gears rapidly. After opening the service center, he later added a parts store, a towing company (which became the largest provider for AAA in Arizona) and

___ “Our growth has

an auto collision center. really been driven Eventually, he sold the by our employees. parts and body shop They’re the most businesses and exited important asset the towing business.

For the past 15 we’ve got. And for years, Greulich’s focus them to grow, I’ve has been on growing got to grow.” the service centers, CHRIS GREULICH, PRESIDENT, opening stores across GREULICH’S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR the Phoenix metro area.

Currently, there are 18 locations, with three more launching by the end of the 2022.

“Our growth has really been driven by our employees,” Greulich says. “They’re the most important asset we’ve got.

And for them to grow within their careers, I’ve got to grow.

In the past three years, it’s been exponential.”

One dramatic change, especially in Arizona, has been the consolidation within automotive repair chains.

“Sun Devil Auto and Wilhelm Automotive both were acquired in the past two years, so we’re really the last independentlyowned company,” Greulich says.

“What’s worked in our favor is that we’re hiring a lot of people who don’t want to work in a corporate environment.”

To cultivate the next generation of technicians, Greulich is partnering with Gateway Community College.

“There’s an annual shortage of about 50,000 automotive technicians across the U.S.,” he says. “We’ll provide scholarships for students who want to complete a program and agree to work for us for a certain period of time, with the hopes that they’ll become a fulltime employee long-term.”

“we’re doing about $7 million a year of revenue, and we expect to see that number increase quite a bit this year.”

TIM MORAN, CEO, PHAT SCOOTERS

P H AT S C O O T E R S

Accelerating Personal Travel

T

Amp’d, which has a Boss Audio or Rockford Fosgate speaker system; and the Golf, which features a golf bag holder, cup holder and cooler.

Other big moves in 2021 included opening the PHAT Lounge at Scottsdale Fashion Square in July and the relocation of frame manufacturing to Deer Valley, with plans to source batteries and motors in the U.S., as well. Upcoming initiatives include adding safety features and a click system for accessories.

“We want people to be able to easily attach a basket, golf clubs, cooler holder or a trailer—even if you’re challenged with a wrench like I am,” Moran says. By the end of 2022, the company also plans to have an app that will serve as a virtual key, allow riders to set speeds, and tell golfers the distance to the pin.

Moran sees the PHAT’s power in alleviating traffic while letting customers enjoy a comfortable ride with the wind in their hair. “As our city gets denser, we believe we can really help improve urban mobility with scooter that’s fast and also has up to 50 miles range,” he says.

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

here’s power in a product that puts a big smile on its customers’ faces every day. PHAT electric fat-tire scooters have become a familiar sight cruising the Valley’s bike lanes, sidewalks and golf courses since the company’s launch in 2017. Following a management change and financial restructuring in February 2021, the trend has become increasingly national.

“When I came on a year ago, most of our sales were in Arizona,” says PHAT Scooters CEO Tim Moran. “Now, about 40% of our sales are outside the state, predominantly California and Texas, and we’re starting to get a foothold in the Carolinas and Florida. About 20% of our sales are in golf, including partnerships with Troon and Dallas-based Arcis Golf Management. With 21 employees, we’re doing about $7 million a year of revenue, and we expect to see that number increase quite a bit this year.”

As part of the turnaround, Moran and team streamlined from five frame styles down to one, with three different customizable models, including the O.G. base model; the

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P H O E N I X- M E S A G AT E W AY A I R P O R T

Soaring Past Expectations

I

n the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey describes plane motors as one of the three most exciting sounds in the world. Nowhere is that truer than at PhoenixMesa Gateway Airport, which has grown exponentially since launching commercial passenger service in 2007.

“We started as a small base for Allegiant and a handful of destinations,” says Ryan Smith, C.M., director of communications and government relations. “Now we’re well over 60 destinations with five airlines and expect to cross 2 million passengers this year.”

As the facility has grown, so has its economic impact.

“We view the airport as a 3,000-acre economic development project that just happens to have three 10,000-foot runways

“we’re well over 60 destinations with five airlines and expect to cross 2 million passengers this year.”

that allow us to land the world’s largest aircraft,” Smith says.

“From a business perspective, it’s all-encompassing—everything from Apache helicopters that RYAN SMITH, C.M. are produced in Mesa to large DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS shipments for construction of AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, the new Intel Corporation plant PHOENIX-MESA GATEWAY AIRPORT to the U.S. Forest Service base.”

In the past five years, the airport has had well over $100 million of private investment. Skybridge, 360 acres of private aeronautical development, is already underway as a cargo and logistics hub. Gateway East, currently in the planning stage, will be 400 acres of non-aeronautical development, including office, warehouse, commercial and industrial space.

In addition, it was recently announced that Gulfstream will be starting phase one on a $70 million, 250,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) facility that will become their largest service facility on the West Coast, creating as many as 300 high-paying jobs.

“That’s a big deal for the entire region, because that brings suppliers and new people in that otherwise might not come to Arizona,” Smith says.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport also stands to benefit from funds dedicated to terminal modernization by Congress.

“As we grew to 10 gates, we added new modern facilities to the original modular portable buildings,” Smith continues.

“The infrastructure funds will allow us to build a new five-gate facility, adding concession space, outdoor space for our passengers, and an additional gate that allows us to continue to court new airlines and for our current airlines to add capacity.”

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport services more than 60 destinations with five airlines, and expects 2 million passengers this year.

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22

There’s no mistaking that Cottonwood has arrived

S T O R Y B R U C E FA R R PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI

SMALL BIG

TOWN, IMPACT

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

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C

OTTONWOOD, THE BUDDING

little city on the Verde River in Arizona’s Yavapai County, has long been a welcome getaway, a popular stopover for travelers an hour and three quarters north of the heat, hustle and bustle of Phoenix.

Over the past several decades, the “Biggest Little Town in Arizona”—as it’s commonly known—has quietly been building on its many charms, distinguishing itself as a worthwhile destination for visitors to check off their itineraries, en route to the Grand Canyon, the legendary Red Rocks of nearby Sedona, or many other of the area’s attractions.

But these days, there’s even something greater afoot in Cottonwood: A sense among its managers, local citizenry and visitors alike that city has once and for all morphed into the truly alluring and authentic western American community it’s always strived to be.

It’s evidenced on several fronts. For one, Cottonwood’s visitor numbers are steadily ticking up—even amid a pandemic. More and more small business owners are opening shops, restaurants, boutiques and wineries in the downtown area, and in response, tourists are trekking to Cottonwood more often and staying longer than ever before.

It’s clearly a city—and a destination—on the rise.

Possum trot?

Cottonwood’s beginnings were decidedly ordinary. The city was once little more than a crossroads for wandering animals in search of a waterhole, a happenstance that gave rise to its original name, “Possum Trot.”

Its actual recorded history stretches back to the mid-19th century, when a company of U.S. Cavalrymen were stationed at

an old adobe garrison outside Camp Verde. When the soldiers stayed on, they attracted a cluster of dwellings around their quarters and, thus, a small community was born. (Befittingly, when the soldiers left, the adobe building they were housed in became the first school in the new community.)

The town was officially dubbed Cottonwood in 1879, as the railroad line established there began to bring more settlers to the region. So-named as an homage to the abundant cottonwood trees anchoring the banks of the nearby Verde River, Cottonwood grew steadily from that point, adding farming, ranching and industry to its mix of commerce.

It was incorporated as a city much later, in 1960.

Cottonwood’s allure Since 2020, Tricia Lewis has served as Cottonwood’s director of tourism and economic development, A lifelong Verde Valley resident, Lewis is quick to point out the many superlatives of living in—and visiting—this temperate swath of Arizona countryside.

“At its most basic, what makes us unique and so desirable a destination is that we have four really mild seasons here,” she points out, adding, “and there’s just so much natural beauty to take in.”

That natural beauty she speaks of is everywhere to be found around Cottonwood. The Verde winds lazily through the state-run Verde River Greenway Natural Area, a magnet for nature lovers. The waterway is one of Arizona’s few freeflowing rivers, attracting a large wildlife population and a lush riparian community. Across the river from Cottonwood, the Dead Horse Ranch State Park offers a bounty of birdwatching, hiking, canoeing and horseback riding.

As for Cottonwood proper, the city center offers an abundance of pleasures, large and small. Old Town Cottonwood, with its flourishing array of restaurants, shops and antique stores, makes for a delightful amble along the picturesque main street.

“And then there’s the legendary Blazin’ M Ranch,” Lewis notes, “where visitors can stroll through a recreated western town site with shops and stores, and then have a rustic, chuckwagon dinner followed by a rousing show of live cowboy music. It’s great fun.

“It’s an experience that you can’t quite

Sam Pillsbury, owner of Pillsbury Wine Company, has a sip at his tasting room in downtown Cottonwood.

put your finger on,” Lewis says of a visit to Cottonwood. “But the dynamic is one of youthfulness, and a sense that this is an up-and-coming place to see and be.”

Lewis remarks that visitor numbers are up and strong in Cottonwood.

“We estimate about 1 million visitors per year come through Cottonwood, and that’s made a real difference for us in terms of sales tax revenue and other benefits of tourism,” she says. Cottonwood’s population is roughly 12,000 at present, with approximately 40,000 in the surrounding Verde Valley.

“Generally speaking, tourism is vital to our sustainability—it goes handin-hand with our economic development,” Lewis emphasizes. “Whether we’re trying to attract businesses to locate here, or residents to move here, the level of tourism we can build on and sustain is critically important to us in both regards.”

TRICIA LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF COTTONWOOD

Wine connection Economically, culturally and strategically, Cottonwood is nurturing a vision of itself today and into the future. Key to its plan, the city has been on a decade-long quest to rebrand itself as “the heart of Arizona wine country.”

The Verde Valley happens to be home to some world-class wineries and vineyards; the area’s high elevation (around 3,300 feet above sea level), rich volcanic earth and mild climate make it ideal for growing

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

“ Tourism is vital to our sustainability— it goes hand-in-hand with our economic development. Whether we’re trying to attract businesses to locate here, or residents to move here, the level of tourism we can build on and sustain is critically important to us in both regards.”

grapes and producing wine. Lewis reports that there are seven wineries and eight tasting rooms on the evolving Verde Valley Wine Trail, a passport-structured tour of local wineries and tasting rooms where guests can spend an afternoon or evening sampling vintages, each one offering a unique taste of this temperate region’s particular terroir. (In total, the Verde Valley boasts approximately 25 wineries.)

The wine trail undertaking is a major facet of Cottonwood’s master plan for economic development, Lewis says.

“The wine industry is very strong here, and because Cottonwood is the commercial hub of the Verde Valley, we have the workforce and the physical buildings themselves to offer. The wine component has added a whole new dimension to this city’s plan to become a destination experience. It’s really set us apart from neighboring communities.”

One increasingly popular winery that maintains a downtown tasting room is the Pillsbury Wine Company.

Owned and operated by former movie director and screenwriter Sam Pillsbury, the business exemplifies the allure, the fun and high spirit of what the wine trail offers.

His decision to locate both his 100-acre vineyard and tasting room in Cottonwood echoes that of many other vintners and entrepreneurs in the downtown.

“Thirteen years ago, I was looking for a place to open a tasting room,” Pillsbury explains. “The Verde Valley Wine Trail was established, and it ran right through Cottonwood. I opened my tasting room shortly thereafter, and, progressively, over the next decade, the town exploded.

Now there are eight tasting rooms and maybe 20 or more restaurants. A few years ago, The Arizona Republic described it as the ‘gourmet destination for Phoenix.’ It’s

25

26 David Witt, CEO of Spirit of Martyrdom International, attributes a strong relationship with the community to the success of his nonprofit headquartered in Cottonwood.

astounding what wine can do for a community!”

All these alluring attractions aside, Lewis says that it’s the people and the community spirit that really captivates her and others who’ve chosen to make Cottonwood and its environs their home.

“If you live or work here or are just visiting, one of the first things you feel is really welcome,” she continues.

“There’s just this community-mindedness, this spirit of people who like to help one another, work together and collaborate on so many levels. Whether it’s personal or business-related, it’s just the best I’ve ever experienced.”

Spirit of cooperation Wine production isn’t the only enterprise that’s thriving in Cottonwood. David Witt is the CEO of the nonprofit Spirit of Martyrdom (SOM) International, a global Christian

ministry that’s dedicated to helping persecuted Christians throughout the world.

“Our focus is on global leadership,” Witt says of his growing organization and ministry. “That’s our passion. We hope to draw all leaders—whether they be in business, in communities or in religion itself—to have a clean heart, to be a light and make a difference in their communities.”

With family who’ve lived long-term in the Cottonwood area, Witt says he’s always loved the Verde Valley, and when the opportunity arose to locate his ministry headquarters in downtown Cottonwood, he welcomed it. He now employs 12 people in his offices.

“It’s a great base for me to travel the country and the world,” Witt says. “This valley has some really loving people—and truly a lot of leaders from all walks have retired here. So, it was a bonus for us to be able to tap into that labor source of people who want to do something significant and make a difference in their retirement years.”

Witt cites a very cooperative and helpful relationship with Cottonwood residents and businesspeople alike as a reason his ministry has operated so smoothly through the years.

“Whether it be the many chamber of commerce events that we’ve participated in, the police or fire personnel, the city and its departments have been very favorable towards us and towards business in general. We just feel like there are very friendly people to work with in this city.”

In particular, Witt says, the Cottonwood branch of the National Bank of Arizona has been very helpful as a partner for him and his ministry.

“From day one, we started with the bank, and they’ve really listened to what our needs have been, and been a very ‘personal’ business relationship for us. I think the friendly, personal connection has made a big difference for us. And it’s a connection that we feel throughout this really wonderful community.”

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a popular destination for visitors thanks to its nature trails, fishing lagoons, and bird watching areas.

It’s that simple. We care enough to listen, and we care enough to follow through.”

Mary Holman Executive Vice President Director of Private Banking

At National Bank of Arizona, we believe that anything worth doing is worth doing the right way. And when it comes to relationships with our clients, that means putting in the work to get to know our clients and their businesses, actively listening to their needs and following through.

That’s the National Bank of Arizona difference.

NBAZ.COM/RELATIONSHIPS

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28

Two years in, the pandemic is permanently reshaping the traditional workspace concept

THE OFFICE, THEN & NOW with the entire world in a tailspin caused by the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan Brownell found herself facing a fairly inconceivable set of circumstances. Brownell—vice president of communications for Banner Health Foundation, the philanthropic, fund-raising arm of Banner Health— got word that her company’s midtown Phoenix offices were shutting down.

N E A R LY 2 0 2 0 ,

“It’s kind of marked in my memory that it was the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day, when we were asked, sort of casually, to tell our teams to take their laptops home that weekend because, as they said, they weren’t sure what the next week or couple of weeks were going to look like,” Brownell recalls. “No big, huge announcement, but just a quiet suggestion to tell our teams to maybe take their stuff home, just in case.”

STORY BRUC E FA R R PHOTOGRAPHY MARK LIPCZYNSKI

Megan Brownell, vice president of communications for Banner Health Foundation, has another busy day at her home office, while her faithful companion Liliana looks on.

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Things didn’t stay quiet or casual for much longer. Within a few days, everything began to close down—officially, Brownell says.

Fortunately for its employees, Banner Health happened to be one of those forward-thinking companies that, technologically speaking, was somewhat prepared for such an abrupt shift in their employees’ workspace status.

With some 52,000 employees in its six-state network, the healthcare giant was no stranger to innovation.

“We had our laptops, which were very transportable, and we had a solid VPN [virtual private network] connection.

We already had those things, so it was really pretty seamless,” Brownell notes of the transition.

Seamless as it might have been, there still were a lot of uncertainties ahead for workers as they attempted to figure out how to adapt to what would become a completely new work paradigm.

“I really never expected to work from home and, suddenly, here I was. My husband was also working at home in another room, and my college kid had returned home to finish his classes online. My high school daughter was doing remote learning, too,” Brownell says.

“In an instant, there were the four of us under one roof all day and night, each of us trying to find space in the house for quiet work and study, and learning to navigate sharing the space.”

Workplace evolution It’s difficult to write definitively about how thoroughly the pandemic has altered the “what, where and how” of American work. Things are still very much on shifting ground.

One thing we can say for certain, however, is that the radical departure from work life as we knew it prior to the first few months of 2020 came on swiftly. Since then, with all the alterations and accommodations we’ve had to make, home-office-related lingo—like social distancing, sheltering in place, Zoom fatigue, polywork and even the acronym WFH (work from home)—has entered our everyday lexicon with uncommon force.

The changes remote officing has wrought have both good and not-so-good qualities. After nearly two years of logging on from bedrooms, spare rooms or “home offices,” employees everywhere have adapted surprisingly well to their newfound flexibility. As they’ve discovered, being home to let the dog out or keep an eye on their kids or what’s

COMPANIES THAT PROVIDED WORK AND OFFICE SPACE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE THEMSELVES LOOKING AT THE PANDEMIC AS HAVING BROUGHT ABOUT CHANGES THAT ARE FAR MORE PERMANENT THAN ANYONE MIGHT HAVE IMAGINED.

simmering in the crockpot has its benefits, along with its challenges.

For their part, companies that provided work and office space for their employees are themselves looking at the pandemic as having brought about changes that are far more permanent than anyone might have imagined. These companies are taking a long, hard look at what RTO (return to office) really means.

As one corporate HR executive put it, “We basically just listened to the workforce and everybody said remote work was working really well.”

As an alternative, corporate and company leaders see the trend to “dispersed officing” as, quite possibly, the way of the future. In response, they’re reevaluating the need for—and the costs associated with—plush office spaces. In fact, many companies are busy downsizing office square footage and, more and more frequently, repurposing office space by renting it out to other companies and individuals who are using it as studio or storage space.

Another concept that’s taken root in many companies is the idea of hybrid officing, a blend of remote and inoffice working for which traditional office space has been reconfigured to create separate areas such as team working spaces, designated workstations and social spaces.

Banner’s answer As for Banner Health, its corporate offices previously occupied 10 floors of one midtown Phoenix tower and

IN THE BEGINNING, I FOUND THE ADJUSTMENT [TO WORKING FROM HOME] REALLY DIFFICULT. BUT NOW, I’VE CREATED A COMFORTABLE SPACE FOR MYSELF, BOTH FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY.” Megan Brownell Vice President of Communications, Banner Health Foundation

Now both working from home, Megan and her husband Derick have each created their own spaces, where they balance work and home life.

Finding her ‘space’ Now, at home, Brownell hasn’t lingered long over what she needs to do to effectively manage her staff of 14 and perform the challenging duties her job demands.

“For one thing, our company was already in the process of

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

six floors of another tower adjacent to it. But that setup’s becoming history, Brownell explains.

“After several months, it became clear that for most employees, remote officing was working really well.

Productivity was up, turnover was down, people were expressing greater satisfaction with their work/life balance.

So that’s when leaders of our company began looking at becoming, what Banner now terms, ‘the employer of the future.’”

What that meant in part was that Banner decided to give up one of its two midtown towers and renovate and remodel floors of the other one to accommodate a new, decentralized, post-pandemic environment that will largely follow a hybrid working plan. The company has lowered the walls and created what are called collaboration spaces, Brownell points out.

“They’re private, phone-booth-type areas,” she explains.

“We only know this because we’ve seen photos of the renovations that are occurring, and we’ve been receiving updates. Some people, like executives, will still have private offices, of course. But others who want one will have to commit to being in-office four days a week.”

moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams, and the pandemic just accelerated that move,” she says.

“And now, it’s such an integral part of our work that it’s almost hard to imagine being back in the office and not using Teams.”

One important point she makes is how grateful she feels to have the type of job that can readily be performed at home. “I so recognize people in careers where it simply isn’t an option,” she says.

“In the beginning, I found the adjustment [to working from home] really difficult. I just had this ‘icky’ feeling all the time. I couldn’t describe it; I just felt uncomfortable.

Honestly, I had never worked from home before, other than a day here and there. At first, I was nomadic—moving around the house from room to room trying to figure out a space that made sense. The fact is, I wanted it to be temporary. I wanted to go back to the office. But now, I’ve finally come to terms with fact that it’s going to be a while. I’ve created a comfortable space for myself, both figuratively and literally.”

It took some time to adapt to not being in the office, she admits. “I missed it at first; I think I was grieving it a tiny bit. I had had this separation in my life where I would get up and be a ‘working woman’ and leave the house and go to the office to do all the things I needed to do, and then come home and be a mom and a wife. Suddenly, that all blended together—there were no compartments to my life and I found that challenging at first. It felt like a change in my identity, if that makes sense.”

And then there’s the question of what it means to be a leader in this new environment. “I’ve had to rethink the definition of leadership in terms of how to do it from a remote location, where we [staff] are apart and away from one another,” Brownell says. “I have to say that it’s been a really interesting experiment.”

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Oro Valley, AZ

Nestled between the Catalina and Tortolita mountain ranges north of Tucson, Oro Valley is suburban community that, in 2017, was named Arizona’s best small city by personal finance website WalletHub. While neighborhoods, schools and recreation centers—including Naranja Park, where this family of quails prepare for some playtime fun—make up the landscape, in recent years, the area has experienced an increase in new businesses and economic growth. Find out more about Oro Valley in the next issue of Elevate AZ.

PHOTO Mark Lipczynski

Spring 2022 | ElevateAZ.com

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