INSIDE THE DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE: Remembering Jim Babbitt p. 3 Why this Holiday Shopping Season is Different p. 4 A New Era for Peace Surplus p. 6
Verde Wines Gain Status p. 8 Community Profile: Jeff D’Arpa On Board with Polar Express p. 15 How You Can Relieve Stress for Shelter Dogs p. 25
Exploring the Potential of ‘Lived Experience’ Data PWR Lab is Moonshot’s latest pitch winner with wearable information concept By Cindy May, FBN
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hen Adam Stepanovic worked as a data scientist in big tech in Northern California, he saw a problem with the way data collected by these companies was – and wasn’t – used.
On the one hand was the wealth of information collected, analyzed and segmented to target end users, insights basically aggregated for “marketing and manipulation,” as Stepanovic put it. Meanwhile, a lot of actionable data was left out – information that, with a
user’s consent, could be employed to benefit both companies and consumers. “If we give individuals the power to choose who has access to their data and what they want in return for that access, it creates a balanced opportunity for companies and customers alike,” he said. With that philosophy, Stepanovic and his partners, computational en-
gineer Chris Berthiaume and physical therapist Jeff Moreno, founded PWR Lab four years ago. The company has developed a platform that aggregates “lived experience” data, primarily what is collected by devices like smartwatches and other wearables. For example, a runner wearing a GPS-enabled smartwatch generates data that would tell a running shoe
FLY FLAGSTAFF FIRST!
Continued on page 43
Rejoicing in the Gift of Participation Arizona Snowbowl, Nackard Pepsi making the slopes more accessible
Arizona Snowbowl Adaptive Program Ski Instructor Truman Shoaff positions himself behind Jessica Fieldsted for her first ski lesson last March. Courtesy photo
December 2021 | Issue 12 Volume 14
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Bonnie Stevens, FBN
essica’s joy says it all: “I am a skier! Now I can ski with my family!” Jessica, 27, was born with a rare genetic condition known as COACH, which stands for cerebellar vermis aplasia, oligophrenia, congenital ataxia, coloboma and hepatic fibrosis. Only a few thousand people in the country are believed to have this syndrome in which part of the brain does not fully form. Most individuals with COACH have a cognitive
disability, organ problems and difficulty with movement. For Jessica, life has revolved around medications, treatments and surgeries. She had a kidney transplant when she was 13 and currently is struggling with “major” liver problems, say her parents, Joy and John Dillon of Flagstaff. She had another “really big liver surgery” last month but will eventually need a liver transplant, too. “Our daughter has a lot of special features,” said John. Continued on page 37
CHECK OUT OUR NEW FBN PET NEWS SECTION, COVERING A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS ABOUT OUR FAVORITE FURRY FRIENDS ON PAGE 24
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DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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Jim enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, Helene (pictured here), brother Bruce Babbitt and his wife, Hattie. “We loved the quiet special times, mostly long walks,” said Helene. Courtesy photo
Jim Babbitt Leaves Legacy of Kindness, Environmental Conservation and a Pathway to the Past
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By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
n Monday night, Nov, 15, James E. Babbitt died peacefully at his home in Flagstaff with family, after a battle with illness. In the days to come, as word spread, the cry of hearts breaking could be felt from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the tops of Hopi mesas. The world had lost a kind and gentle giant who walked the streets of downtown Flagstaff, explored deep canyons and great mountains, held immense respect and appreciation for Native cultures, was a steward of wild places and searched relentlessly for lost pathways and stories of days gone by. “I was born about 100 years too late,” Jim Babbitt would say with a wistful grin as he’d stroll around the downtown checking in on merchants, visiting with friends over coffee or longing for what mattered most to him – a simpler time, when people greeted each other on the street and wrapped their arms around the community – a time when the meaning of things was more important than the acquiring of things. “We loved the quiet special times, mostly long walks,” said Helene Babbitt, who was married to Jim for 48 years. “We loved to travel – Jim just fit in with the culture wherever we were. We’d feel so special visiting the trading posts and attending Hopi religious dances, such as the bear dance where the women would bring their children to have them blessed.” This third generation Arizona Babbitt is remembered as authentic, understated and substantive as the time-worn sandstone bricks of the historic Babbitt Brothers Building on the corner of San Francisco St. and Aspen Ave. Jim had a quiet, yet revered and undeniable, presence that served as a source
of encyclopedic knowledge and steadfast perseverance to those seeking to uncover, preserve and honor the past. He was a role model to younger people who aspired to be like him and an inspiration to those who knew he could make things happen, like start a movement to restore old buildings and historic places. “There were those who wanted to demolish our old buildings, but Jim was one of the few who said, ‘No, we’ll maintain the history.’ Plus, he had the contacts and his word was trusted,” said Weatherford Hotel owner Henry Taylor. Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters owner Keith Harris calls Jim “inseparable” from the downtown. “I have to remind people all the time, if you didn’t know Jim, look outside, that’s Jim – Heritage Square, the trees, the bricks, the benches with the train wheels. He had a vision and he was able to carry it out.” “For me, Jim was like the mortar,” said Late for the Train owner Dave Dobrick, who recalls penciling out his idea for a coffee shop on a napkin with Jim at Charly’s Pub and Grill. The new shop would serve coffee, that was understood, but its true purpose would be to pour into the community as much as it would pour into coffee cups. “Jim was never a showy guy, but he was always creating and doing and very aware and alert to the feel of Flagstaff. It was never about him, it was about relationships that would be carved out on a business-to-business level. He became my landlord. And I wouldn’t be here without him. It’s that simple.”
HOME-GROWN VALUES
Jim Babbitt was born in Flagstaff on March 15, 1948. He was the fifth of six children born to Paul and Frances Babbitt. His grandfather Continued on page 38
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Brightside Bookshop Manager Amy McClelland points to some of the store’s bestselling books for the holidays. Photo by Theresa Bierer
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Supply Chain Challenges Creating Unique Holiday Shopping Environment
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By Theresa Bierer, FBN
ith the holiday season upon us, many merchants and customers alike are watching the supply chain backlog at the Southern California ports. Up and down the coastline, the view includes large numbers of container ships facing delays in unloading. The Western hemisphere’s two largest shipping container ports are Los Angeles and Long Beach, each about an eight-hour drive from Flagstaff. The supply chain problems are not a new issue, according to Edmund Bushman, chair of the Yavapai Community College School of Business and Computer Science. “It started with COVID over 18 months ago; consumer goods were just not being produced and supply was lacking,” he said. With each passing month since then and the pandemic-induced demand spike, officials at the ports have watched delays for unloading containers increase with each passing month. In earlier times, containers would be unloaded from ships and sit at the docks for just a few days before being transported to other destinations. Now, there is a backlog of containers waiting on rail transfer or truck drivers, as well as a growing pileup of empty containers waiting for a return to Asia. A spokesman with the Port of Long Beach reports that they expect to set a record this year by moving more than nine million TEUs (a measurement of 20-foot-long containers). Despite expanding operations to a 24-hour schedule, the port lacks capacity for storing additional empty containers and facilitating offloading of the many waiting cargo ships. Many people blame a shortage of truck drivers. Supply Chain Digest says that the number of people wanting to drive trucks is
down since the start of the pandemic, because former drivers can find similar wages without working 70-hour weeks on the road. As if the massive delays weren’t enough to drive up prices in the marketplace, the ports have a new system of exponentially increasing fees for ocean vessels that are delayed in unloading containers.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON?
Higher prices, says Bushman. While he thinks the supply-chain issues may be a short-term problem, he recognizes that they could be part of a new normal: long waits for goods. It is an imperative for shopping local, says Thomas Barr, vice president of businesses development for Local First Arizona. “A lot of our businesses are not at full capacity because of the pandemic. They’re still climbing out of the revenue declines,” Barr said, adding that with Arizona’s 100,000 small businesses, individuals should support them regularly whether there are supply chain delays or not. Sheree Denetsosie agrees and has always preferred to purchase holiday gifts locally. As logistics manager at Grand Canyon Adventures, she offers items shoppers cannot find anywhere else. “We sell books by local writers, works of art by locals, prints taken by our tour guides, Grand Canyon-themed gifts, and stocking stuffers.” The gift shop and tour company are located in a former City of Flagstaff fire station adjacent to Natural Grocers. Buying unique local gifts may be more than the smart thing to do in 2021. Karen Scuncio, an international business development professional for more than 25 years, is concerned. “Many of the people in the freight-forwarding industry predict the supply chain problems are going to get a lot worse Continued on page 42
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Route 66 Icon Changes Hands New owners plan to continue traditions at Peace Surplus By Betsey Bruner, FBN
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hen Albert (Al) Chatinsky drove his son, Steve, up to Flagstaff in the spring of 1976 from their home in Tucson, he was in search of a four-season town to start a new outdoor recreational business. Originally from a suburb of Minneapolis, the Chatinsky family had moved to Tucson when Steve was 14 years old. After leaving Pima Community College, the son joined his father in 1973 to start a Tucson-based electronic and military surplus store, which began with selling vacuum tubes, precious metals, camping gear and bails of fatigue pants in the open market. The Flagstaff trip opened up new possibilities for the entrepreneurs. “We drove around with a realtor for a few hours and did not see any properties that were of interest,” Steve Chatinsky recalled. “As we were leaving town, I saw a small sign, ‘For Rent by Owner,’ in the window of 14 W. Historic Route 66. My father said, ‘This is it!’”
At first, Steve thought, “This is an old ugly downtown area, with an ugly building and no one is around,” but then he decided to trust his dad and figured, “He must know something.” Dad did know best, and the Peace Surplus store the family founded across from the Amtrak Train Station downtown has thrived and grown throughout the years into a very popular, one-stop sporting goods source, beloved by locals and visitors alike. With a motto of “If it’s outdoors – it’s us!” the Peace Surplus business has been voted the Best in Flag for Outdoor Sports Store since 2005 by the people of Flagstaff and the Arizona Daily Sun. Even though the store still carries the surplus name, it has evolved into a full-service outdoor camping, skiing, hunting, hiking and backpacking store. It features top brands for footwear, apparel and outdoor gear, including The North Face, Kuhl, Columbia, Black Diamond, Patzi, Mountain Hardwear, Merrell, Osprey, Prana, MSR, Sherpa and Salomon. Peace Surplus also maintains a ski shop and a complete summer and winter rental program. When Al Chatinsky closed the Tucson store in 1992, he retired to
Former owners (l to r) Lyvier Conss and her husband Steve Chatinsky welcome a new family ownership. Shown here are Erin Ahmed, Jade Wright and Kazi Ahmed. Courtesy photo
enjoy retirement with his wife, Lola. “Both of my parents lived to see the great success of Peace Surplus,” Chatinsky said. “My dad passed away in 2018, two years and a day after my mom. They had a wonderful love story, a great life, wonderful children and a successful business. In their retirement, they traveled all over the world.”
At the beginning of November, after leading the Peace Surplus legacy for 48 years, four months and 28 days, the younger Chatinsky followed in his father’s footsteps and retired to savor life with his wife, Lyvier. “The beauty of being retired is that you can have many choices and can pick from what you feel like doing at that specific time,” he said.
Chatinsky has also sold the business to a new family, Erin and Kazi Ahmed. “I had numerous choices, but after meeting the Ahmed family, I knew they were the right people to continue the legacy of Peace Surplus,” he explained. “They are smart, have a strong work ethic and commitment Continued on page 36
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Verde Valley Wines Receive ‘American Viticultural Area’ Status
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fter six years of study, The U.S. Treasury Department has named Arizona’s Verde Valley an American Viticultural Area (AVA), elevating the Valley’s $56 million wine industry to the same status as Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and other well-known wine-producing regions. According to the Treasury Department’s Tax and Trade Bureau, an AVA is a grape-growing region with geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from surrounding areas and affect how grapes are grown. Labeling local wines with the Verde Valley AVA designation certifies that the unique taste produced by the soils, grape growers and vintners of the region is found within every bottle. Tom Schumacher of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium says AVA status is critical because “consumers often seek out wines from specific AVAs.” He added that Verde Valley wines will stand out in the marketplace, command higher prices and attract aficionados. “Definitely a reason to cheer for
Verde Valley grape growers and winemakers,” Schumacher said. A critical reason for the Verde Valley’s success is reported to be the expertise of local winemakers in improving their art to reflect the Valley’s unique conditions. In addition, the Southwest Wine Center, an industry-scale model of a working farm/winery with a 13-acre sustainable vineyard at Yavapai College in Clarkdale, contributes with highly trained homegrown vintners and viticulturists. SWC graduates operate about a quarter of the area’s two dozen vineyards. “The AVA designation is also excellent news for the ‘dispersal’ concept of sustainable tourism,” said Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau President and CEO Candace Carr Strauss. “Dispersal means sending visitors to newer areas of interest to ease pressure on popular spots and balance economic impact.” “The Verde Valley AVA can easily entice travelers to Sedona to try a completely different experience just a stone’s throw away,” she added.
“The libations and hospitality of the popular Verde Valley Wine Trail and the Valley’s fertile landscape along Oak Creek and the Verde River can generate more overnight stays and spawn new attractions, making the ‘dispersal’ concept a reality.” Verde Valley wine country also contributes to Sedona’s growing reputation for sustainability, with many wineries certified by the Arizona Sustainability Alliance. At Clear Creek Winery in Camp Verde, herbs and peas reduce erosion and add nitrogen. Free-ranging chickens eat insects, domestic geese chew up weeds, and two Great Pyrenees dogs keep raccoons at bay. Page Springs Cellars vineyards in Cornville are no-till, meaning they don’t disturb the soil which releases carbon. Solar panels produce 75% to 85% of the electricity and wastewater runs through biological filters to an artificial wetland, supporting local flora. AVA status is the second time in recent months Verde Valley wines have been in the national spotlight. In August, the Valley was named a “Top
The Verde Valley’s new wine industry status puts it on par with other well-known wine producing regions. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography
Ten Winegrowing Region” in the USA Today Readers’ Choice poll. The U.S. Treasury Department says there are 260 established AVAs in the United States. Arizona has
three. The Verde Valley is the only one in the North-Central region; the Willcox and Sonoita Valley AVAs are in Southern Arizona. FBN
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Business Woman FBN
of the Month
World Traveler Making Flagstaff Home for Seniors The Bluffs to open in spring By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
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hat do you do when a king cobra strolls into your yard and steals your chicken? Well, according to The Bluffs of Flagstaff Senior Living Executive Director Janet Mars, who once lived in Nigeria, West Africa, you chase it. “I was totally oblivious to the danger, but I do believe the snake was more scared than I was,” said Mars. “The cobra was on its tail end and all puffed up, slithering down a hill with the chicken in its mouth.” If that wasn’t enough, Mars also remembered the baboons coming out at night. “They would pluck lemons off our trees and throw them on our tin roof. Then, they would laugh,” Mars recalled. “They knew exactly what they were doing.” With a dignified English accent, Mars’ dazzling life began in England, about 73 years ago. She also lived in Nigeria, where her first husband was stationed with NASA installing satellite communication stations. “I went to work as a nurse there,” she said. “Because it was in the interior, they would give me a big box of medications and bandages and I’d take them to our house to attend to the people in the villages.” After losing her husband to melanoma, Mars came to the United States in 1978 as a single “mum” of five children. “We lived in Houston, then later moved to Ft. Worth, totaling 33 years in Texas.” Holding an impressive string of credentials, Mars obtained her Registered Nursing degree in England and holds an associate’s degree in mental health, a bachelor’s degree in health care administration, a master’s in psychology and clinical psychology and she’s currently finishing up her doctorate degree in health care administration. “I’ve been an executive director in health care since 1999,” she said. Working alongside Mars, The Bluffs Community Relations Director Leah Veschio, R.N., says that Mars is set on making sure seniors have the
best life possible. “Janet has dedicated her whole life toward health care in one capacity or another and is a very experienced executive director.” In 2011, Mars made her debut in Flagstaff when she was recruited to The Peaks. A bit of fate and serendipity played a big part in her current position. “While secret shopping for land and playing with the possibility of building a senior living facility here in Flagstaff, my former employers from Texas, Wayne and Misty Powell, came to my workplace and saw my nametag on my office door. There’s only one Janet Mars, right?” she said with a grin. Deciding to purchase land in Flagstaff and build a new senior care facility, the Powells asked Mars if she would work for them as executive director. “They even asked me what I would name the property and I said, The Bluffs. I was greatly honored they would trust my opinion.” “The Powells, along with corporate partners Amy and Cooper Vittitow, who started their company Civitas Senior Living, are four amazing people and we have become great friends,” said Mars. “I met Janet 15 years ago when she was an executive director of a senior living community in Fort Worth,” said Civitas Senior Living Chief Marketing Officer Amy Vittitow. “When my CEO and I met her again in Flagstaff, it was as if the stars had aligned for us and we knew she was the right person to achieve our vision for a wonderful community for senior living in Flagstaff. She was and is such a well-known and trusted advisor for senior living and has a trusted reputation wherever she goes.” Vittitow added that Mars is the kind of professional you want leading your community, taking care of your loved ones. “She does all of this with such grace and integrity.” “Currently, Civitas has 60 communities around the country. The Bluffs will be their flagship community and the most expensive they’ve built so far. It’s going to be gorgeous and I
Highly educated and experienced in health care and senior living communities, Janet Mars will head up The Bluffs, the future home for more than 200 people. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography
feel very honored to be the person who will be managing the property.” The Bluffs at Flagstaff will be home to 212 residents total: 123 independent living, 25 memory care and 64 assisted living. “We were going to open in December, but we had a delay and are now are scheduled to open in March 2022,” said Mars. Just under a year ago, Mars found herself battling cancer. “It was the first health setback I’ve ever had,” she said. “My red hair was my signature, but it faded away and went white. I’m still getting used to it, but I feel great.” Mars and her husband, Charles, a materials buyer at W. L. Gore & Associates, love to travel and find new places to eat. “We have a camper and love to go to Lo Lo Mai Springs in Cornville.” The couple has 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. FBN
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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Taking an Electric Car Guest Drive By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
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ith an impressive lineup of Electric Vehicles (EV) to view, about 100 Flagstaff residents showed up for the Electric Guest Car event on Saturday, Nov. 6. Sponsored by Arizona Public Service (APS), the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program and Electric Car Insider (ECI), guests were given the chance to test drive several EV vehicles, including the impressive Tesla Model X that boasts a price tag of $109,000. There was no charge for the event. “The vehicles are privately-owned and the owners donate their time. It’s a neighbor-to-neighbor kind of learning experience for people who want to test drive an EV,” said Public Affairs Manager Janet Dean of the APS Northeast Division. “It’s not a sales event, but rather a learning experience and a great way for people to ask questions.” Flagstaff Resident Mike Mills attended and test-drove five cars. “This is my first time driving a full EV. They were all very impressive across the board, especially the acceleration.” Mills stated that he won’t be purchasing an EV for a couple of years
but is interested in the Ford F-150 Lightning, which is expected to be released next year. Produced by Electric Car Insider, the Electric Car Guest Drive (ECGD) is an event held in cities all across the United States. Electric Car Insider Founder and Publisher Christopher Alan was in Flagstaff coordinating the event. “This hands-on EV experience gives people a chance to learn directly from EV owners without any sales pressure and talk to their neighbors about their daily experience of driving electric,” said Alan, who started producing the event 10 years ago. “Our magazine is a catalog of all the EV cars available right now or within the next 12 months. We don’t cover concept cars or anything that’s going to be available in four or five years. We cover cars that people want to buy now,” said Alan, who says his favorite is Tesla. “The Tesla technology is more advanced than anybody else and they have a better charge network. Their navigation and infotainment systems are far more sophisticated than most other cars.” Canyon Moon Theater Producer and Artistic Director Mary Guaraldi and her husband, Tom Broderick, own a nine-year old Chevy Hybrid
The Tesla Model X is famous for its Falcon Wing doors. “The doors are very smart and open straight up. If you’re in a tight parking space you can safely open your doors – quite a feat of engineering,” said Electric Car Insider Founder and Publisher Christopher Alan. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography
Volt but stopped by to drive and research other cars. “We hope to eventually buy an SUV,” said Guaraldi. “They had a Hyundai here we could drive and we learned how they function, how far they go and what people like about the car. There’s nothing like talking to someone who has owned a car for two or three years
and say they love it.” Eric Glerum, a stay-at-home dad from Litchfield Park, volunteered his time and his Tesla Model X for the Electric Car Test Drive. “I’ve had my EV for about a year and it’s great and I love it. I can’t go back to gas. I came to Flagstaff to share my car with other people and inform the public
about EVs and also clear up some of the misconceptions about driving one. I also love visiting Flagstaff, the weather is so nice.” “The City of Flagstaff has been wanting to promote EVs for our fleet as well as encourage residents to consider them,” said City of Flagstaff Continued on page 42
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Kinney Construction Promotes from Within
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inney Construction Services, Inc. (KCS) has announced the promotions of Dan Flint to senior project manager, Ron Lusk to senior superintendent and Francois Badenhorst to senior superintendent and safety liaison. The company says Flint, Lusk and Badenhorst all have been integral members of the KCS team, proving themselves as client and community champions. “Dan, Francois and Ron are some of the best in the business and each one of their projects Dan Flint Ron Lusk serves as a testimony to that,” said KCS CEO and Founder Tim Kinney. He added that he structure and community needs,” and is recognized as Flagstaff’s first is honored they are part of the KCS commercial Net Zero Energy facility. he said. “A building’s design is the team and knows they “will continue driving factor in meeting goals such to grow and prosper within the orga- Flint also led the design-build team as energy efficiency, comfort, owner/ to complete the City of Flagstaff’s nization” by providing their clients end-user satisfaction, operations Municipal Court Facility, which with the highest quality of work. efficiency and overall aesthetics.” achieved Green Globes Certification Flint has been a key member of With 10 years of steadfast com(Three Green Globes) and earned two KCS since 2015. He has worked on mitment to KCS, Lusk has worked Excellence in Masonry Architectural such notable projects as Northern on numerous high-profile projects, Awards by the Arizona Masonry Arizona University (NAU)’s LEED including the City of Flagstaff’s Council. Platinum certified International Municipal Court Facility, Northern Flint is a believer in the KCS tagPavilion, which received the coveted Arizona Intergovernmental Public line, “Building Better Together.” President’s Award (Best of Show) Transportation Authority (NAIP“Building Better Together means and the Crescordia Award during designing and constructing buildings TA)’s bus storage facility, wash the 36th Annual Arizona Forward while being respectful of surrounding facility and fueling station, and Verde Environmental Excellence Awards,
Francois Badenhorst
Valley Medical Center’s Camp Verde Campus, which earned an Excellence in Masonry Architectural Award by the Arizona Masonry Council. Lusk says the most impactful project he’s worked on with KCS is the city’s Municipal Court facility because of its community impact. “I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process, including working with all of the Departments of the City of Flagstaff,” he said. Badenhorst has been with the organization for 14 years and is known for his whatever-it-takes attitude. Cur-
rently, he is working at Grand Canyon National Park, bringing to life the Maswik South Complex Reconstruction project in partnership with Xanterra Travel Collection and the National Park Service. He has worked on numerous award-winning projects with KCS, including NAU’s International Pavilion and Highlands Fire District Stations 23 and 25, the latter of which earned the Gold Design Excellence Award in Satellite Category by Fire Chief Magazine. He says the key to success is teamwork. “No matter the project, you need people to come together, collaborate and work effectively to hit the goals and build a successful brand,” said Badenhorst. “The future is bright at KCS, thanks to our team and especially with the experience and expertise these three continue to bring to the table,” said KCS President Mike Thomas. FBN
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
Real estate industry experts are conducting information sessions to help homebuyers navigate the popular Flagstaff-area market whether they are looking for their first home, a move-up home or an investment. Courtesy photo
Series Presenting Opportunities and Hope for Homebuyers
T
he housing market in Flagstaff is “anemically undersupplied,” says Zion Realty’s Lori Anna Harrison; yet, demand is higher than ever. The unprecedented rise in prices has some wondering whether there hope on the horizon for new homebuyers; are there opportunities for sellers who want to trade up but ponder where to move next; and, is this a good time to invest in rental property or space for an Airbnb? Harrison says the answer to all of these questions is “Yes.” “Lately, there has been an abundance of statistical reporting on the real estate market, yet there are very few solutions provided for those waiting on the sidelines to find and purchase a home,” she said. “While the numbers indicate both increases in price per square foot and average home price, the opportunity to achieve the American Dream of home ownership does still exist. The key components are the education of resources available for current conditions coupled with a successful implementation strategy.” As rents have increased 25% since last year – the average rent is $2,241 per month, compared to the average rent of $1,799 a year ago – some may be wanting to purchase a home but are struggling with having enough money up front. “Although it is not well known, there are down payment assistance programs for firsttime homebuyers, designed to make it easier for residents at all income levels to purchase a home,” said Harrison. In addition, the Flagstaff City Council recently released a 10Year Housing Plan focused on increasing the number of available housing options. Because of employment shifting from in-office to virtual for many since early 2020, families and professionals need larger spaces to accommodate working from home. Some homeowners want to move into a bigger house but feel perplexed about how to accomplish this goal because sellers often do not want to accept a contingent offer. Yet, Harrison
says there are viable options available to help, but most are not aware of the possibilities in lending. For potential investors, real estate agents point out that Flagstaff is a top destination for short-term travelers, noting that there are few places that have beautiful summer weather coupled with great alpine skiing in the winter. “Airbnbs are often at maximum weekend capacity. This provides an incentive for investors to buy, however, many neighborhoods in town do not allow short-term rentals,” said Harrison. “Also, some investors want to sell an existing rental and purchase a four-plex to better facilitate an Airbnb. Learning about local HOA rules and tax benefits of a 1031 exchange can be helpful in making these decisions.” For those considering purchasing a first home, trading up to a bigger home or looking to invest in real estate in the New Year, Zion Realty, Clear Title Agency of Flagstaff and Academy Mortgage are teaming up to introduce the free three-part Buyer and Seller Educational Series featuring experts who will provide hope as well as expertise and resources to make homebuying goals a reality. The following topics will be discussed for the three-part Buyer and Seller Educational Series: N Move-up Buyers | 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27 N First-Time Homebuyers | 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17 N Investors & Airbnb | 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3 To reserve your seat at the Buyer and Seller Educational Series, call 928-396-5851, text 602-524-5674 or email Lori@AZdreamlifestyle.com. The series will be conducted at Clear Title and Academy Mortgage, located 2076 S. Woodlands Village Blvd., Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001. FBN
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
// BUSINESS CENTS // BY BONNIE STEVENS
Navigating with Purpose
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ava Falls Rapid is white-water fierce. It is, by far, the most famous and daunting rapid on the mighty Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. It comes up after a nice calm stretch of laid-back, almost complacent, floating. Most wouldn’t even notice the distant spray and subtle splashing up ahead. But Christa Sadler does. With oars thrusting forward, she remains on high alert, reading the river. Within about half a mile of the falls, the passengers in Christa’s raft also will be on high alert as they hear the thundering roar of a massive churning, thrashing, wild river dropping 15 feet or so across a span of 100 yards in just 20 seconds. Lava Falls is a Class 10 rapid, the highest rating for rapids under the Grand Canyon’s old classification system. Sure, there’s more intimidating and challenging white water to be found in places like Alaska, says Christa, a seasoned river runner and world explorer who has navigated through Lava Falls at least 90 times since she was 23. But for most people, this is the most formidable natural force they will ever want to face. Christa, a small woman with a
fabulous belly laugh and a full-speedahead kind of appetite for adventure, has many titles – archaeologist, paleontologist, geologist, educator – but out here, she is Wonder Woman, a river running superhero, and this is her territory. Whatever your image of a river runner is, Christa is not that. Don’t be looking for someone who hasn’t seen a hairstylist in eons and wearing a stinky t-shirt, stained and streaked by decades of sun and sweat. Keep moving on down the sandy shore because that would not be her. In fact, she says, “This is where I feel beautiful and strong. I wear my favorite skirts and dresses and jewelry – sometimes three or four bracelets.” Christa is glowing and having a blast. “I will literally be laughing so hard that I can’t row – not in the rapids, because something bad will happen – but just being on the river,” she said. “This is the real world. This is where I feel most alive. This is my church, my home. I get to spend time in the most extraordinary places in the world and I’m never as happy, connected and fulfilled as when I’m outside. There’s nothing more
grounding to me than having my feet on the earth or in the water and being surrounded by something that humans didn’t make.” And for her, time on the river isn’t just about the big-adrenaline moments. “Part of it to me is that life here is reduced down to its essence,” she explained. “It’s very simple – you’re cold, you’re hungry, you’re exhausted – and when you’re with a group of people, it’s a tribal thing. You take care of each other. Other elements take over and you’re participating on nature’s terms.” Reinvigorating her boatload of new tribal members, Christa cooks for them and serves them and basically trains them to eat like a river runner. One of her most satisfying and substantial meals is her famous Green Curry. With a mixture of boileddown coconut milk, tofu, chicken, ginger and peppers, she fortifies five to 30 rafters at a time. “It’s really creamy. I make it for spring and fall trips, not in the summer. It’s warm, spicy and heats you up from the inside out.” Christa pursues a mission of helping to open the eyes, hearts and
minds of river rafting guests to the extraordinary history of our planet and all its creatures. Through her education business, This Earth, she brings students into her world of adventure and exploration. She offers interactive classroom presentations, field trips and lab exercises, and most of all, facilitates discovery. “Kids do a lot better learning about natural sciences when they are outdoors,” she said. “It makes more sense to everyone. And I love teaching them about fossils,” she added. Common fossils found at the South Rim are brachiopods, shellfish that are a distant relative of modern-day clams. They lived 270-million years ago when a shallow ocean covered the region. “We talk about what kind of environment these creatures lived in,” she said, “the depth and temperature of the water, and how they were filter feeders, eating plankton that were just floating along.” Unlike those prehistoric organisms, Christa is doing anything but just floating along. Beautiful, strong and in charge, she has found her strength, confidence, passion and purpose among ancient rocks and
powerful forces. It is here that she ponders and appreciates that one of the most powerful forces on the planet today is education. She has “adopted” dozens of girls and women that she calls her daughters in places like Haiti, Guatemala and Nicaragua. “The thing that gives me hope is when I’m actually doing something to make the world more equitable,” she said. “It breaks my heart what people have to go through in other nations. Research reveals that worldwide, countries are better off when they educate the women, but the world still fights that.” And Christa is fighting back. Through her non-profit organization, One New Education, she has supported young women through secondary and advanced education, where they, too, can find their strength, purpose, power and passion. As Christa shows us, the natural world, and Lava Falls Rapid in particular, has a lot to teach us about resilience. There are obstacles we need to maneuver around, massive waves and huge holes that we need to pay attention to, and if we get flipped, Continued on page 35
Giving Light to Lost Loved Ones November 29th - December 22nd 2021 at the Flagstaff Mall
When contributions are made, the donor may place a tag with the name of a lost loved on a Christmas tree, Menorah or Pet remembrance tree to give light to those lives. Contributions that are $25 or higher will receive a beautiful handmade ornament by Hooven & Hooven Porcelain.
All proceeds go directly into pati tieent care.
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
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// COMMUNITY PROFILE // BY V. RONNIE TIERNEY, FBN
Making Holiday Magic with the Polar Express Jeff D’Arpa oversees the Grand Canyon Railway
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oing to work in places where he could play is what Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel General Manager Jeff D’Arpa had in mind while growing up, and that’s exactly what happened. With ski resorts, national parks, hotels and now the Polar Express and Grand Canyon Railway in his professional queue, D’Arpa has completed 25 years with the Xanterra Travel Collection. In his new position as Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel General Manager, D’Arpa oversees 280 to 340 employees and said, “The team I work with is outstanding and makes this a manageable assignment. To be able to incorporate trains and hospitality at this scale is a unique opportunity and I cherish the challenge it provides me.” D’Arpa’s career began at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, where he began working in the ski shop. “My goal was to manage a ski or golf resort,” he said. Again his dream was fulfilled as he stepped
into the role of restaurant manager at Deer Valley. When the snow melted, D’Arpa took off to work at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as a food server in the summers. He stayed busy hiking the Grand Canyon trails and climbing the corporate ladder. Starting as a food server for Xanterra Travel Collection in 1996, D’Arpa was able to work his way up to management. He served as regional general manager of Zion National Park in Utah, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Park before becoming director of resort operations at the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams. Chief Parks Officer Gordon Taylor has worked alongside D’Arpa for many years. “He certainly has integrity, intelligence and the energy to get things done. I am a very lucky man to have the honor to call Jeff both a teammate and a friend.” Along with his responsibilities at the Grand Canyon Railway and Ho-
Standing on the newly built Polar Express stage, Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel General Manager Jeff D’Arpa explains how actors will get the audience revved up for the big ride. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography
tel, D’Arpa also oversees the Grand Hotel in Tusayan and the Tusayan Trading Post. Born in Yonkers, New York, where he spent his formative years, D’Arpa moved to Florida when he was
16. While working at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, D’Arpa would visit Flagstaff in the mid ‘90s. “I always enjoyed the atmosphere, lifestyle and community. I also had some great friends from back East relocate
to Flagstaff, making our transition to the area quite easy.” Married to Lisa, the couple has two daughters and spends their free time hiking, skiing and cycling. D’Arpa Continued on page 35
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Rest Well, DMK
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SCOTTSDALE EXECUTIVE WORKSHOP Best Practices for a New Asset Class in RV & Boat Storage
t FBN, we mourn the loss of our long-time sales associate Deborah "DMK" Mainville-Knight. Deborah passed peacefully on November 19, surrounded by loved ones after a long battle with illness. "DMK was an important and beloved member of our team," said FBN Publisher Troy Bix. "We will miss her spirited personality, her great laugh and how much she loved the people of Northern Arizona. She will always hold a special place in our hearts." FBN
Deborah Mainville-Knight 1951 - 2021
February 19, 2022 | 7 AM – 9 PM Includes breakfast, lunch, RV & Boat storage facility tour, networking reception, and dinner.
Our lineup of industry experts will provide the details of the RV & Boat storage market with strategic how-tos on every aspect of operating a business from inception to success. Speaking Topics Include: } Feasibility } Development } Operations
} Ancillary Revenue } Financing } Facility Features Tour
As the RV & Boat markets explode nationwide, the need for quality storage facilities for these vehicles is paramount. In this growing market, we advocate for RV & Boat storage facilities that define a new asset class (Executive-level) within the RV & Boat storage industry. Executive-level facilities with the following amenities are a NEW ASSET CLASS.
To register, go to: toystoragenation.com
Watch Your Business News!
Bonnie Stevens' Communication Station is delivering a refreshing, engaging and inspirational vodcast (video podcast) that features Northern Arizona businesses, outdoor adventure and leadership tips twice a month. Zonie Living is sponsored in part by Flagstaff Business News. Go to https://starworldwidenetworks.com/shows/bonnie-stevens
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
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Honoring the Holidays Through Grief
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By Katherine Simmons
winkling lights, festive treats, family gatherings…they say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No day is easy when we are grieving the loss of a loved one, but the holidays can be especially difficult for some of us. A season that is supposed to be filled with joy can seem overwhelming when we are missing someone special in our lives. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the loss and sense of isolation may be heightened. There are some things we may do to help ourselves and those close to
us who are suffering from loss. First, be kind to yourself. Remember that there is no timeline for our grief, and we all have our own path to walk. Don’t put unrealistic expectations on yourself. You may need to set some boundaries on your own expectations or on the expectations of others, about your activities, your participation in events or even sharing your feelings. On the other hand, you may want to reach out to others for support and to share memories. Our loved ones who share the same loss may be a great comfort to us. Honor your loved ones with traditions or create new traditions.
Making family recipes and passing down stories to younger family members can keep our loved ones close to us. Volunteer at a non-profit or do an act of charity. Giving is truly good for the soul. If you want to reach out to a professional, there are resources available. A great place to find bereavement and grief counseling is hospice. All Medicare-certified hospices are required to offer counseling to families for 13 months. Of course, not all our loved ones may have been a hospice patient, so different hospices can offer a variety of services in addition to the Medicare requirement. Indi-
vidual and group counseling, counseling for children, groups to support those of us who have lost a loved one to suicide, caregiver support groups, grieving the loss of a pet –these are just some of the services that hospices may offer. Some hospices offer these services at no charge, so cost should not be a barrier to seeking help. Wishing you peace. FBN Katherine Simmons is the CEO of Northland Hospice & Palliative Care, which includes the Olivia White Hospice Home and the HodgePodge Thrift Store. Northland Hospice & Palliative Care is
Northern Arizona’s only not-for-profit hospice, serving the community since 1983. Our mission is to serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay. Northland Hospice offers individual and group counseling, caregiver support, counseling for children, groups for loss through suicide, and pet grief support. All our bereavement services are open to the community at no cost. Our fundraising efforts, such as “Light A Life,” support these programs. Look for our beautiful Christmas trees and “Light A Life” table at the Flagstaff Mall from Nov. 29 through Dec. 22. For more information regarding our services or volunteer opportunities, call us at 928-779-1227 or KSimmons@northlandhospice.org.
REAL ESTATE TIP OF THE MONTH WITH KEELE SMITH Listing Photos? When preparing your house to be listed, a qualified agent will spend the money to have quality, professional photos taken to showcase your home in the best possible way. The photos of your home are going to be the first thing that most buyers see, and you need to put your best foot forward to get them to want to put their best offer in. Depending on the list price, square footage and area, you might also want to ask for a virtual tour and/or drone photography so they can mentally place themselves in the space and begin to take ownership. That is where the buying process really begins. Wow them from the start to realize the highest ROI!
homesbykeele.com | 928-853-7373 | keele.smith@outlook.com
Thank you for flying Flagstaff first! As we all continue to get back to normal, we appreciate your patience flying in and out of the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport!
To make your flying experience better: • Be dropped off at the airport vs. parking
• Arrive 90 minutes before your flight to ensure boarding • Check luggage
• Print boarding pass
• Begin TSA screening ASAP and place containers carrying liquids in a clear plastic bag
6200 S. Pulliam Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86005 | 928.213.2930 | discoverflagstaff.com
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Touch is Contagious
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By Vonda Chisholm
s we enter the last month of the year 2021 and work our way through the end of the “giving season,” many of us have already contemplated how keeping our distance has affected us, our relationships, our friends and families – heck, even our co-workers! After all, right before COVID-19, I had just painted and hung a picture on my office door that said, “Free Hugs.” Wasn’t I disappointed when I couldn’t follow through with my favorite form of giving affection anymore! Before we were all afraid to touch or get closer than six feet apart without a full HAZMAT suit on, being casually affectionate was acceptable.
Visiting your friends and family, celebrating birthdays, weddings, even gathering for funerals was a regular part of life – and no one gave gathering a second thought. Now, we have been programmed to not give a second thought to standing on circles stuck to the floor that say, “Wait Here,” or “Stay Six Feet Apart.” We have learned that, despite all the disagreements, COVID is dangerous and can be deadly, and taking chances with our health or our lives is not something most of us are willing to do. Touching, kissing, hugging, even standing too close to someone with COVID without proper protection has been detrimental for many people. Even with the COVID vaccines, boosters, masking, and social
// Touching, kissing, hugging, even standing too close to someone with COVID without proper protection has been detrimental for many people. Even with the COVID vaccines, boosters, masking, and social distancing, some of us have gotten COVID despite our best efforts. //
distancing, some of us have gotten COVID despite our best efforts. As much as we hate to admit it, some things are just out of our control, like those who don’t take protection seriously. We can only be responsible for ourselves, but even the best efforts by some of us have failed during the COVID pandemic. Alas, let me switch to a more positive topic – one in which you have TOTAL control. In a world where the biggest concern has been COVID for the past two years, there are still health issues all of us need to be aware of and not pretend they are no longer issues just because we have something “scarier” to focus on. The health issues I am referring to have to do with our sexual health. Sexual health is a human issue that occurs because we have physical bodies and humans share themselves physically. Touch, sex and affection are all wonderful and amazing things that we humans get to enjoy. If we take and maintain control of our sexual health, there is no reason these things can’t stay amazing without causing us annoying, painful, contagious and sometimes dangerous infections or diseases. Of course, we want touch, sex and affection to stay amazing because not
only are these things physically enjoyable, but also, they are so important for our mental health! Research has shown repeatedly that receiving and giving physical signs of affection boosts our mental health. It does not matter in what form we give or receive physical touch; what does matter is those who do not receive it are considered “touch-deprived” and are more likely to experience stress or depression. Not good! OK, so because COVID has kept many of us from getting the physical attention we need as humans, where do we go from here? We don’t want to continue to be touch-deprived, do we? Hopefully, you have taken the precautions to stay safe from COVID; but here is my burning question: Are you taking the precautions to stay safe from HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections? If your answer is yes, good for you! Keep taking those precautions and staying safe! If your answer is no, it’s not too late – know your HIV status by getting tested with your PCP or at a facility that does regular testing. If you are currently or recently were sexually active, it is imperative that you get a
full-panel STI test. Even if it has been a while since you’ve enjoyed a sexual relationship, do yourself, your sexual health and your future partners a favor. Your body (and your partners) will thank you for it! Considering we are still working our way through a horrible pandemic, do all you can to stay healthy and COVID-free. Just as importantly, take your sexual health seriously so if you and your partner do manage to avoid the pandemic, you can enjoy all the touch, sex and affection you can handle. This holiday season, get all the affection you can and catch feelings, not HIV or STIs! FBN Vonda Chisholm is the Executive Director of Northland Cares, a specialty HIV and Prevention Clinic that serves HIV-positive clients in Yavapai County and provides Education, Prevention, and Testing services for all Northern Arizona. Northland Cares is located at 3112 Clearwater Drive, Prescott, AZ 86305 and can be reached at 928-7764612. Call us for information on free testing today!
We are proud to announce that our Flagstaff location has moved!
WE HAVE MOVED!
525 North Switzer Canyon Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Torey Botti, M.D.
John H. Flint, M.D.
Marshall Meier, M.D.
Catlea Gorman, D.P.M.
Darius Moezzi, M.D.
John F. Hall, M.D.
Amber Randall, M.D.
Ross A. Jones, D.O.
Nathan A. Swain, D.O.
(928) 773-2280 www.flagstaffboneandjoint.com
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
PrEP medications are safe and effective and can help prevent you from getting infected with HIV. When someone is exposed to HIV, PrEP medications can work to keep the virus from causing infection. Taking PrEP medication can stop new HIV infections and help end the HIV epidemic.
Help25% us stop the spread of HIV in EHE Yet less than
The national goal for PrEP coverage under the (Ending the HIV Epidemic) initiative is to achieve at least 50% coverage by 2030.
of the
Yavapai County.
estimated more than
1 million Americans
who could benefit from PrEP are using this important medication.
PEP PATHWAY Less than 72 hours
YES
More than 72 hours
Call Northland Cares.
their risk when taken daily as prescribed.
Patient is engaging in risky behavior who could benefit from PrEP
YES
Patient wants to be prescribed PrEP
“Are you confident in providing complete prevention services for the patient?”
NO
Are you confident in providing care and follow-up services?
dramatically reduces
PrEP PATHWAY
“Are you confident in providing complete prevention services for the patient?”
Can you see patient today?
PrEP use among people at risk for acquiring HIV
NO YES
NO
Help us stop the spread of HIV in Call Northland Cares or Call PEPLine (888) 488-4911 Send RX to Walgreens in Prescott Valley
Proceed with provided care and RX to Walgreens in Prescott Valley.
PEP PATHWAY
PrEP PATHWAY
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Prescott: 928-776-4612 Cottonwood: 928-649-0833 Faxcomplete - 928-771-1767 providing patient today? prevention services for the patient?”
Are you confident in providing care and follow-up services?
NO Call Northland Cares.
NO
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Proceed with provided care and RX to Walgreens in Prescott Valley.
Refer patient to Northland Cares for specialty care and treatment services.
If patient cannot afford PrEP, refer to Northland Cares.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? If patients meet the requirements, all prescription Lesscovered. than 72However, hours the cost of necessary More than hours costs are 100% clinic72 visits and lab tests may vary based on patient income and insurance coverage.
YES
Proceed with quality care and treatment.
Yavapai County. YES
NO
Proceed with provided care.
Refer to Northland Cares.
YES
Patient is engaging in risky behavior who could benefit from PrEP
“Are you confident in providing complete prevention services for the patient?”
NO YES
Proceed with provided care.
Patient wants to be prescribed PrEP
Refer to Northland Cares.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? If patients meet the requirements, all prescription costs are 100% covered. However, the cost of necessary clinic visits and lab tests may vary based on patient income and insurance coverage.
Prescott: 928-776-4612 Cottonwood: 928-649-0833 Fax - 928-771-1767
Proceed with quality care and treatment.
If patient cannot afford PrEP, refer to Northland Cares.
NO Refer patient to Northland Cares for specialty care and treatment services.
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
How the Gut-Brain Connection Impacts Mood
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By Amber Belt, ND
ave your ever heard the saying, ‘the gut is the second brain’? Have you ever wondered what it means when people say that? I’d like to answer that question and more today! First, the second brain is your enteric nervous system (ENS) and it consists of hundreds of millions of neurons, or nerve cells, that line your gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum. The connection between the gut and the brain is becoming more and more recognized when it comes to our moods, such as anxiety and depression. This brings up the question: How does the enteric nervous (ENS) system play into our moods? Isn’t the brain in the head in charge of how we feel? Of course, the enteric nervous system plays a primary role in our digestive function. This alone makes the ENS crucial to our survival and ability to thrive. But there is crosstalk between the central nervous system, which consists of our brain and spinal cord, and the gut. The communication between the brain and the gut, of course, helps to regulate our digestive function but it’s interesting to note that signals from the gut to the brain can trigger mood changes. People ex-
Your
periencing irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn or other gastrointestinal dysfunction may also experience anxiety, depression or other mood changes due to this connection between the gut and the brain. The connection between the brain and the gut is one way that the enteric nervous system regulates our mood. But there’s also communication between the gut and autonomic nervous system, which governs our fight or flight reactions. And, of course, this connection can play a role in mood, too. When we perceive stress, our immune system, which is largely housed in our gut, undergoes changes and releases inflammatory chemicals. From an evolutionary standpoint, these inflammatory changes hopefully help us survive the attack from the lion or the bear. However, since we tend to perceive almost everything in the world today as stressful, those inflammatory components are up and running for much longer than they should be. These chronic inflammatory elements can cross the blood brain barrier to cause neuroinflammation that result in short-term or longstanding mood changes. The chronic stress that we experience also dysregulates the hypotha-
lamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The enteric nervous system interacts with our hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which plays a critical role in regulating our stress response. The HPA axis, when dysregulated, can cause us to produce inappropriate amounts of a hormone called cortisol. If cortisol levels are chronically too high or too low, mood changes such as anxiety and/or depression can be seen. Dysregulation of the HPA axis can also cause fatigue and insomnia, both of which play a huge role in mood disorders. The levels of cortisol a person is producing is easily measured with salivary or urine testing. There’s yet another way that our second brain influences our mood and that is via our gut microbiome. Our gut microbiome consists of the organisms that live in our gut, which can be helpful or harmful to our health. In fact, the bugs in our gut can release their own neurotransmitters, impacting our mood! If bad bugs are allowed to grow out of control, they release inflammatory mediators that spark the release of cortisol and adrenaline. This can result in a stress response without you perceiving any stress! This sounds a lot like unprovoked anxiety, right? Helpful organisms keep the bad bug count
low, limiting the effect they can have on inflammation and mood. Our good intestinal bugs also interact with our hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, to modulate and turn down our stress response. Dysbiosis, the imbalance between good and bad bugs, in our gut has been highly associated with mood disorders and linked to the dysregulation of serotonin, GABA, and other mood-impacting neurotransmitters. One of the most common conditions that I treat where I can clearly see the gut-brain connection is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, otherwise known as SIBO. SIBO is quite common and results from the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. This bacterial overgrowth has huge implications for mood. When I work with a patient to treat their SIBO, I most often see a sharp decrease in anxiety as we reestablish proper bacterial balance in the gut. The most accessible way to test for SIBO is with a simple breath test that can be done in the home. I hope you’ve found this article helpful understanding the gutbrain connection. We can help our gut health and,
Advent
Giv ing Box
therefore, our moods by eating real food rather than processed foods. Some of us may find probiotics (the good bugs) in foods or supplements helpful. And, sometimes, testing for imbalances in the gut microbiome is crucial for restoring the health of the enteric nervous system which can, in turn, help us to our best mental health. FBN
Amber Belt, N.D. is a naturopathic physician and co-owner of Aspen Integrative Medical Center where she helps patients get healthy from the inside out. She is also co-owner of Sage Sirona, which focuses on natural first aid and education. Dr. Belt has been practicing naturopathic medicine for more than 15 years and can be contacted via aspenmedcenter.com or sagesirona. com. You can also call her office at 928-213-5828.
THE HOL FOR IDAY GIV S AR ING E !
Suggested Advent Box Items:
Dec. 1 Boxed Cereal
Dec. 2 Jarred Peanut Butter
Dec. 3 Packaged Stuffing Mix
Dec. 4 Boxed Potatoes
Dec. 5 Boxed Mac & Cheese
Dec. 6 Canned Fruit
Dec. 7 Canned Tomatoes
Dec. 8 Canned Tuna
Dec. 9 Packaged Dessert Mix
Dec. 10 Canned Sweet Potatoes
Dec. 11 Canned Cranberry Sauce
Dec. 12 Jarred Applesauce
Dec. 13 Canned Beans
Dec. 14 Boxed Crackers
Dec. 15 Packaged Rice
Dec. 16 Canned Green Beans
Dec. 17 Packaged Pasta
Dec. 18 Spaghetti Sauce
Dec. 19 Canned Chicken Noodle Soup
Dec. 20 Canned Mixed Vegetables
STEP 1: Grab a sturdy household box. STEP 2: Make this a family, friend, or work team project! Get crafty with it and make the box fun and festive for the season! STEP 3: Each day, add a non-perishable item to your Advent Box (at your home, at your office). On Dec. 21, deliver your filled box to the Flagstaff Family Food Center, 1903 N 2nd St.
FLAGSTAFF LOCAL.COM
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
21
Considering Health Insurance Options for Early Retirees
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By Ken Whitley
hen you retire from your job before turning age 65, you will likely lose your group health insurance coverage. You will then need to find a new health insurance plan to cover you until you qualify for Medicare. You may have a number of options from which to choose when selecting a health plan. The best choice for you likely depends on your income, your health and the network of medical providers to which you want access.
COBRA (CONTINUING GROUP COVERAGE)
You may be able to continue your group health insurance benefits through COBRA. The COBRA Act, passed in 1986, is a federal law that requires employers with 20 or more employees to allow employees to continue their health coverage after leaving employment. In most cases, you can keep COBRA coverage for up to 18 months. However, your employer will no longer pay a portion of your premium, so the coverage may be very expensive. If you are generally healthy, finding other coverage is probably a better option.
Here are a few scenarios in which getting (or remaining) on COBRA may be a good choice: N You are very happy with your plan and are OK with the monthly premium cost. N Your doctors accept your COBRA plan but do not accept other coverage options you have found. N You take medication that is affordable on the COBRA plan, but is much more expensive on other options you have found.
OBAMACARE/ACA PLANS
In Coconino and Yavapai counties, Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) plans are available from carriers such as Ambetter, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna. When you lose group coverage, you have a “qualifying life event” that allows you to enroll in a plan even if it is not currently an Open Enrollment period. Plans are required to accept you and must cover pre-existing conditions. Depending on your household income, you may qualify for a tax subsidy that makes these plans substantially cheaper. For example, a 62-year-old living in Flagstaff with an income of $50,000 qualifies for a $934 monthly premium tax credit – this means that
the government will pay that much of that person’s monthly premium. The full price for this individual for Ambetter Balanced Care 11, a very popular ACA plan in Arizona, is $1,354. The monthly tax subsidy brings the cost of the plan down to $420 a month.
SHORT-TERM HEALTH INSURANCE/NON-ACA PLANS
Short term health insurance plans are an alternative to traditional major medical health insurance and can be kept for up to three years. These plans are ideal for people who do not have major health issues and make too much money to qualify for a tax subsidy under the Obamacare marketplace plans. The plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, so they are not a good choice for people with major health issues. They will also deny coverage to you for certain conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart conditions. (These types of plans can refuse to cover you since they are not required to comply with the Affordable Care Act.) N Pros: Access to nationwide PPO networks, about 50% cheaper than
Obamacare if you don’t qualify for a tax subsidy, can apply any time (not subject to Open Enrollment). N Cons: Do not cover pre-existing conditions, can refuse to cover you.
FINDING THE RIGHT PLAN FOR YOU
When you start your retirement early before turning 65, it is important to find health coverage that will get you to Medicare. If you’d like to go over your options, give us a call at 1-800600-9663 ext 19, or go to AzRates. info and fill out the small form there and we will get back to you usually within an hour. FBN Need help deciding which plan is best for you and your family? Fill out our form at LehrmanGroup.com or give us a call at 928-813-7173, extension 19. We’ll help you determine which plans you qualify for, and your smartest option to take based on your particular situation.
// You may have a number of options from which to choose when selecting a health plan. The best choice for you likely depends on your income, your health and the network of medical providers to which you want access. //
Ken Whitley is the director of group sales at Lehrman Group.
Meet Your Local Banking Experts: Tim Dodt Senior Director, Commercial Banking tdodt@alliancebankofarizona.com (928) 214-3402 Tony Hannigan Vice President, Commercial Banking thannigan@alliancebankofarizona.com (928) 214-3422
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Alliance Bank of Arizona, a division of Western Alliance Bank. Member FDIC. Western Alliance Bank ranks high on the Forbes “Best Banks in America” list year after year.
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Maintaining Your Revocable Living Trust By Elizabeth Christy and Trevor Kortsen
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ou’ve done the responsible thing and set up your estate plan, which includes a Revocable Living Trust. You’ve gone through the process of choosing your agents, planning distributions of your assets, nominating guardians and conservators for your children, and naming agents under health care and general durable powers of attorney. You’ve signed all the documents, so now you’re done, right? Not exactly. There are steps that you should
continue to take even after you have signed your documents to ensure that your trust offers all of the benefits it was designed to offer and continues to meet your estate planning goals. Here are a few tips on maintaining your Revocable Living Trust after signing.
FUNDING YOUR REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST
After you sign your trust agreement, you must go through the process of “funding” your trust, or moving assets into the trust. Funding your trust during your lifetime is essential to
// Some assets, such as qualified retirement accounts (e.g. IRAs and 401Ks) and life insurance policies may not be retitled into the trust, but you should ensure your beneficiary designations are updated and accurately align with your planning goals. //
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
ensure that your assets will be distributed without the need for court intervention in a process called probate. Funding your trust during your life is also a necessary step that allows your chosen trustee, or successor trustee, as the case may be, to manage trust assets on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated without your trustee having to get a guardianship from the court. You may have done all or some of this after originally signing your trust agreement, but if you never completed the process, or if you have acquired new assets after signing your estate plans, you should review how they are titled. For most assets, with a few exceptions, moving them into your trust is typically done through re-titling. For example, any deeds for real property, bank accounts and vehicle titles should list the owner as “Your name(s), as trustee(s) of Your Revocable Living Trust, dated The Day You Signed It.” Some assets, such as qualified retirement accounts (e.g. IRAs and 401Ks) and life insurance policies may not be retitled into the trust, but you should ensure your beneficiary designations are updated and accurately align with your planning goals. For qualified retirement
accounts, which beneficiaries typically have to pay income taxes on, it’s a good idea to speak with a tax advisor and attorney to ensure you are properly considering the tax consequences associated with achieving your estate planning goals.
UPDATING FOR LIFE CHANGES
If you haven’t reviewed your trust agreement in the past few years, you should pull it out from your safe deposit box and do so now. It’s always a good idea to review your trust agreement every year or two and with any major life events to ensure that your trust provisions still align with your estate planning goals. Did you execute your trust agreement when your kids were still minors? Do you have a new baby or grandkids now? Has the value of your estate or the assets you own changed? Did you move to a new state? These are only a few of the things that may prompt you to make changes to your estate plans.
UPDATING FOR LEGAL CHANGES
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From time to time, laws that impact your estate plans may change. For example, changes to the estate tax laws and rules surrounding inherited retirement accounts may have dramatically altered the benefit of certain estate planning tools, such as A/B Trusts or conduit and accumulation trusts designed to manage inherited IRAs. As another example, if your trust was executed prior to 2016, it may not give your trustee the necessary powers to access and manage your digital assets, such as email, social media accounts, and online photo albums or cloud-based storage. It’s always a good idea to review your estate plan with your attorney to ensure it aligns with current laws and to make any necessary updates. FBN For additional information or to schedule an appointment with an attorney, visit Aspey Watkins Diesel’s website at awdlaw. com or call 928-774-1478. Aspey Watkins & Diesel’s Flagstaff office is located at 123 N. San Francisco Street on the third floor in the AWD Building next to Heritage Square.
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
23
COVID-19 and the Ear
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By Jeff Lane, Au. D.
or the past two years, the world has been battling the COVID-19 pandemic. While great progress has been made, there is no denying that it is still a global health crisis. Because of its novelty, questions remain about the long-term effects on those who have contracted the virus. This includes the virus’s impact on the auditory and balance systems. Fortunately, research is beginning to appear. To be clear, it is still in the early stages, but it does provide an idea of what to expect.
HEARING SENSITIVITY
In recent months, I have had patients who felt that their hearing changed after recovering for COVID-19. Did
the virus affect their hearing, or was any possible change coincidental? COVID-19 affecting the ear is certainly possible. Other viruses or severe medical conditions have been known to affect the ear, and more significant cases of COVID-19 appear to affect much of the body. There are multiple ways the virus could affect a person’s hearing. First, it could cause inflammation of the cochlea or auditory nerve. The cochlea in particular is a very delicate organ, which means any slight disturbance could pose a threat. Cardiovascular disturbances associated with the virus could also restrict blood and oxygen flow to the cochlea. So, what does the science say? It is still not entirely clear. For one, other coronaviruses (e.g., SARS) have not
// There is a possible physiologic link between the virus and tinnitus. Sensory cells in the cochlea are referred to as hair cells, because of their appearance. There are inner hair cells and outer hair cells. Outer hair cell damage has been shown to have a positive correlation with tinnitus. //
been seen to impact the ear. However, each virus is unique. Current statistics show that about 13% of COVID-19 patients report hearing or balance symptoms lasting up to two months. A systematic review examining studies related to COVID-19 and hearing loss was published in March. It included both case studies (individual patients) and cross-sectional studies. About half of the case studies reported some form of hearing loss as a symptom of COVID-19. Twelve of the cross-sectional also reported hearing loss as a symptom. The authors estimated the prevalence of hearing loss as a result of COVID-19 to be 7.6%. While the evidence does seem compelling, two considerations should be noted. First, the majority of the studies were deemed to be of Fair, not Good, quality. Second, three of the studies included in the cross-sectional study performed a full test battery on both positive and negative participants. Two of these studies did not find a significant difference in hearing sensitivity between COVID-19 patients and the control group. Thus, more research needs to be done before hearing loss can be definitively listed as a possible symptom of COVID-19.
TINNITUS
Tinnitus is any sound that a person hears that does not originate form a source in their environment. It is often experienced in conjunction with hearing loss, but they can exist independently. The systematic review mentioned previously estimated a prevalence of about 14.8% in COVID-19 patients. However, it was unclear whether the virus caused the tinnitus, or had simply made it worse. It is also possible that the stress of suffering through COVID-19 might be exacerbating the tinnitus. Studies do show that when a person is under more stress, they tend to rate their tinnitus as being more severe or bothersome. There is a possible physiologic link between the virus and tinnitus. Sensory cells in the cochlea are referred to as hair cells, because of their appearance. There are inner hair cells and outer hair cells. Outer hair cell damage has been shown to have a positive correlation with tinnitus. We can measure outer hair cell status with otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). One study showed that COVID-19 patients had significantly reduced OAEs. Again, this was only one study, but it is worth noting.
BALANCE
Vertigo and dizziness have also been reported by those with COVID-19. The March study gave a prevalence range of 3.4% to 7.2%. However, the studies do not seem to acknowledge a mechanism for the dizziness. Based on what we know about the balance system in general, it could be a result of the virus attacking the vestibular nerve. Or, it could be simple dehydration or exhaustion. No matter the cause, it does seem to be a possible symptom. As stated before, more research needs to be done to determine the possible effects of COVID-19 on the audiovestibular system and the likelihood of developing such symptoms. But it does seem something to bear in mind. If you or a loved one develops symptoms following COVID-19, let your audiologist know to help aid understanding and receive the appropriate care. FBN Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Jeff Lane is a doctor of audiology with a passion for improving the lives of others. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@ trinityhearing.net.
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Blind Author Recalls Success of Canine Support on 9/11 M
By Colleen Keefe
ichael Hingson and his partner, Roselle, rode the train into New York City that day. Admittedly, the night before was a bit rough. A thunderstorm decided to camp out over their home. Roselle hated storms. They made her nervous. The pair worked together in the North Tower. It was September 11, 2001. Michael recently spoke at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Rescue Me fundraiser. Michael is blind. Roselle was his guide dog. “Guide dogs do not lead blind people. Guide dogs don’t lead. They guide,” Michael explained. “My job is to be the navigator. The dog’s job is to be the pilot.” Michael was printing documents when the building lurched, and he heard a muffled explosion. He went and stood in the doorway, his co-worker, David, was clinging to his desk, and Roselle was asleep under it. “David and I said goodbye to each other because we thought we were about to take a 78-floor plunge to the street,” Michael recalled. When the tower was erect again, he went straight over to Roselle, now coming out from under his desk, and gave the command “heel,” prompting her to his left side, which she did. “At about that time, the building dropped down about six feet,” Michael said. “David was frantically shouting, ‘Oh my god, Mike, there’s fire and smoke above us! There’s millions of pieces of burning paper falling outside the windows! We’ve got to get out of here right now! The building is on fire! We have to get out of here!’” Roselle reportedly was yawning and wagging her tail, and Michael calmly said, “Slow down, David.” And then, as Michael tells the story,
David used the line, “You don’t understand. You can’t see it!” But Michael related that the problem wasn’t what he couldn’t see, but rather what David couldn’t see. “The difference between blind people and sighted people is not that blind people can’t see and that sighted people can see. It is rather that, as blind people, we’ll do things differently than you do to accomplish the same thing. So, I don’t look around a neighborhood and see what’s there. I rely on having information in Braille, or asking questions in advance, or doing other things that give me information simply not made available to blind people,” Michael explained. He was 4 months old when it was discovered that he was blind because of a condition called retinopathy of prematurity. “The doctors told my parents to put me in a home because no blind child could ever grow up to amount to anything,” Michael said. In the 1950s, most blind children were extremely sheltered. Instead, Michael spent his first five years like any other kid of that era. He walked around his neighborhood and went to the candy store daily to buy pretzels with pennies. “I didn’t even think about being blind, although I knew I wasn’t exactly the same as all the other people,” Michael said. He was 14 when he got his first guide dog, Squire, a golden. They worked together for nine years. When Michael graduated with his physics degree, the chancellor gave Squire a degree in Lethargic Guidance. The canine grad worked one more year before retiring with Michael’s parents. Michael grew up with dogs – a dachshund named Rudy, then a mini dachsie, Peewee. “Dogs like to know the rules. I think that’s the most important thing that we can do with our dogs. I think that dogs want to be treated as part of
the team. They feel that they’re pleasing you by obeying. One of the keys to team relationships is accountability. Treat dogs like part of the team, as part of the family. Pay attention to them, encourage them and hold them accountable,” Michael said. “But it goes both ways,” notes the best-selling author of Thunder Dog. Roselle was part of the team. She knew the rules and the pair were experts navigating in the dark. When a firefighter nearly insisted on helping Michael out of the building, David convinced him that he was OK. The firefighter leaned down to Roselle – taboo etiquette for interacting with a working guide dog – but Michael didn’t mind this time. Roselle licked his face. Michael knew it might be the last act of unconditional love the hero might receive. Fortunately, Michael’s parents didn’t take the sheltered approach. Instead, they opted for the unconditional approach. And fortunately for those with him on 9/11. Michael’s calm presence, unmatched wit, and charming sense of humor traveled with him as they descended step by step. In many ways, Michael had prepared for this. He’d taught himself the Trade Center’s complex, prepared for an emergency and developed a mindset needed to help people focus. Teamed with his pilot Roselle, Michael navigated through obstacles and forged a path out of the North Tower to safety. FBN
Michael Hingson enlightened, educated and entertained the audience at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Rescue Me fundraiser. Hingson’s book, Thunder Dog, is now available. Courtesy photos by Camille Hall
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
Study Shows Stress Levels Decrease in Shelter Dogs When Fostered
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By Rebecca West
esearchers are studying ways to reduce stress in shelter dogs. They are finding that canine foster programs and activities like weekend or holiday sleepovers that remove animals from noisy shelters and place them in home environments have a significant impact on their cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone involved in the stress response system in both humans and animals. In order to gather this type of evidence, companion animal scientist Lisa Gunter, Ph.D., and Maddie’s Fund Research Fellow at Arizona State University are conducting a study in conjunction with Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) to determine just how big of an impact week-long fostering can have on the health and welfare of shelter dogs. Gunter works in the ASU Department of Psychology and conducts research in the Canine Science Collaboratory. She’s worked for nearly a decade with pets in animal shelters as well as canines and their pet parents. Her goal, to better the
lives of companion animals and their owners, is the driving force behind all of her work, including Wagfield Academy, an online dog training and behavior resource for owners, and The Institute for Shelter Dogs. Gunter and PACC Public Information Officer Nikki Reck have observed that canines do better in home environments until they can be placed in forever homes, no matter how well run or equipped shelters may be. Currently, the research is being conducted on the East Coast at the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA, where they are collaborating with researchers at Virginia Tech. In July and August, they worked on the Western component of the project. At PACC, 41 dogs were fostered as part of the study and followed for 17 days. Urine was collected for five days prior to fostering, seven days during fostering, and another five days post-fostering upon return to the shelter. The research team and fosters became experts at catching urine during that time. The canine participants also wore activity collars known as accelerometers during the
study, which tracked their activity in both shelter and foster settings. As a bonus, Reck says PACC is gaining valuable insight from the foster caregivers regarding an animal’s behavior in a home setting to share with potential adopters. “Studies like these are great for the animal welfare world, as we’re able to learn so much from them, and it helps us be better at our jobs where the animals are concerned. We were so excited to be chosen for inclusion in the study. It’s such an honor to be one of only two shelters selected nationwide. We loved that it was a non-invasive study where no animals were hurt or placed in uncomfortable situations. Honestly, it was a no-brainer for us to get on board.” The research team behind the Arizona State University/Virginia Tech Maddie’s Nationwide Foster Study has been helping shelters with field trip, sleepover, emergency and safety net fostering programs since 2018 and has worked with more than 100 shelters across the country during this time. Results of the study are expected to be published in 2022. FBN
During the study, dogs wore special collars that would track their activity. Courtesy photo
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
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Firearms professionals advise practicing physical skills along with mental preparedness. Courtesy photo
Are You Prepared for Self Defense?
A
By Rob Wilson
re you prepared, both mentally and physically, to defend yourself should the need arise? Many of us may think that, because we’ve chosen to arm ourselves with a firearm or other defensive tool, we’re good to go. But, it’s not that simple. It’s been said that the best defense is a good offense. In the world of self-defense, that offense means being situationally aware. Situationally aware people are active observers of the world around them. They are constantly evaluating the potential for threats and taking steps to avoid conflict. That means not having their faces buried in a screen, wearing ear buds and never looking at what is going on around them. Being situationally aware will help to avoid having to defend ourselves in the first place! If you’re unable to avoid a conflict, the next thing you must know is the law. As a minimum, you need to be familiar with Arizona Revised Statute § 13-404 Justification; self-defense. There are very limited circumstances where you can use deadly force to defend yourself, and you need to know whether the situation you find yourself in meets those requirements. The law treats certain places, like your home, much differently than others. While in some cases, you may be required to retreat, in others, you are not. Read the law, take a CCW class and be informed! Being mentally prepared to defend yourself is the next obstacle. Most of us are fortunate enough to never have been in a high-stress, high-threat environment. It’s important to understand that in those situations, there will be physiological changes happening to your body that you cannot control. Things like tunnel vision, reduced fine motor skills and other reactions will significantly impact your ability to defend yourself. Knowing and understanding these impacts should factor into your decisions on what your best defense will be. In high-stress, high-threat environments,
there are three typical human responses: Flight, fight or freeze. Do you know how you will react? Training using video simulation systems can help you better understand your own behaviors and inform your decision on what you should do in a threat situation. These simulations replicate typical scenarios that you might face and require that you respond accordingly. They can include the use of laser and/or livefire firearms. An hour spent on this type of training can teach you a lot about yourself. What you do following a self-defense situation is also critically important to the consequences you may have to face. It is imperative that you call 911 and report the event. Report the facts of what has happened and nothing more, you defended yourself and you need police/medical assistance immediately. All 911 calls are recorded and can/will be used in court. Following a defensive situation, you’ll be in a state of mental shock and will not have processed information completely. Once the police arrive, be sure you’re not perceived as a threat. Don’t have a firearm in your hand and be ready to follow their commands. Those commands will very likely result in you being handcuffed in the back of a police car. It is your right to remain silent and that is what you should do at this point. Inform the officers that you are invoking that right and your attorney will speak on your behalf. Then, remain silent. None of us ever want to be forced into a defensive situation that results in a use of force. Being mentally and physically prepared for such a circumstance is our responsibility. FBN Rob Wilson is the owner, with his wife, Elise, of Timberline Firearms & Training in Flagstaff. They offer a full line of firearms, accessories, safes and ammunition along with Liberty Safes. For more information, visit timberlinefirearms.us.
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
@flagstaffbusinessnews
27
Dreaming of a New Home for the Holidays By Lori Anna Harrison
W
ith our bellies full from the Thanksgiving cornucopia, Hanukkah upon us, and Christmas right around the corner, this is typically a time of year where we take a moment to reflect and give thanks. Yet, it can also be a time when relatives visit and we realize we don’t necessarily have the home space we desire. Perhaps a guest bedroom and larger great room for entertaining make it to the wish list. Or, maybe recognizing that a designated office space is in order since the dining room table is in use and four walls with a door would make concentrating for work infinitely easier. Regardless of the scenario, the holidays can be the impetus to consider a new home for the holidays. In this era of countless jobs going virtual, our needs have irreversibly changed. Also, now more than ever, we are witnessing multi-generations coming together under one roof, whether a college graduate returns home because of high rents or a grandparent moves in for health reasons. The bottom line is that lifestyles have shifted, which often necessitates more space. Contributing factors with families and professionals sitting on the fence and not taking action to move up
into a larger home are sensationalized reports about housing prices and lack of inventory. This can instill fear and render homeowners feeling hopeless. However, there are endless possibilities when the right resources are brought to the forefront and made accessible. One such tool is a bridge loan that will provide funds necessary to purchase a new home with cash; thus, buying time to sell the existing home afterward. The benefits of this particular loan are threefold. First, it allows homebuyers to make a cash, which carries a lot of weight in this competitive market and likely will be most attractive to the seller. Second, it provides the ability to move once and not have to fret about timing, a leaseback or double move into a temporary dwelling after the traditional sale of your existing home while shopping for the new home. Third, it offers the convenience of listing your old home without living through the showings, and minimizes disruptions during this exciting and monumental transition. Another viable option available is a result of our incredible market. Those who peruse Zillow to window shop are often amazed by the current value of their home. Homeowner equity throughout Flagstaff is extraordinary and can be utilized in several differ-
ent ways. A cash-out refinance can provide a homeowner with liquidity to put toward a new home. These down payment monies can facilitate the purchase of a bigger home or be used for an investment property to rent or Airbnb. In the former scenario, you can keep the smaller home to rent or sell it and transfer that equity into your new home. Here is a simplified example based on average home prices in Flagstaff. A homeowner might have purchased a home three years ago for $500,000. Today, the home will sell for $750,000. The difference represents approximately $250,000 in equity. A larger dream home might cost $850,000. The $250,000 can be utilized toward the new home, thus making the mortgaged amount only $100,000 more than the smaller home. (Purchase price of new home at $850,000 less down payment of $250,000 equals $600,000.) Make sure to speak with a professional to learn more about the particulars of these programs. If you would like to hear from a panel of experts to better understand your buying power, gain knowledge about new neighborhoods on the horizon, ask a CPA about tax consequences and find out why a new loan payment will be similar to an existing one, there is a free three-part
Buyer and Seller Educational Series forthcoming. This is an opportunity to ask questions and leave with tools and resources available now. Perhaps a new home for the holidays isn’t just a dream. The following topics will be discussed for the three-part Buyer and Seller Educational Series:
N Move-up Buyers | 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27 N First-Time Homebuyers | 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17 N Investors & Airbnb | 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3 To reserve your seat at the Buyer and Continued on page 35
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Buyers Beware: Shhhh, Sellers are Listening By Valerie Core and Kyle Jones
Y
ou know when you’re discussing something, let’s take new ski gloves or a Hawaii vacation as an example, and all of a sudden you are being targeted by ski glove companies or Hawaii VRBOs online? Is it serendipity? Or is it targeted marketing from our technologies passively hearing our conversations toward goods and services? Let’s go with the latter. Believe it or not, the same thing can happen with a prospective buyer touring a home. With a myriad of technologies in our home, sellers can listen (and watch) what a buyer and their realtor are discussing. For that reason we always advise our clients to wait until AFTER we’ve left the premises to discuss opinions/fixes/staging/ pricing. You wouldn’t want your counterpart to know your negotiating power before you start discussing the agreement, would you? It is not currently an Arizona law to require a seller to disclose using these mediums as a tool for observing. However, our Residential Listing Contract does include a line (Section 8, 176) stating “Owner is advised to post notice disclosing the existence of security devices on the Premises.”
(Advised being the key term, as in “not required.”) As you may have already guessed, the most commonly used models are doorbell and security cameras, baby monitors and nanny cams. Statistic time: three in 10 sellers say they’ve used a hidden camera during an open house or showing at their home, according to a new LendingTree study of more than 2,000 consumers. The most common reason, cited by nearly half of those who provided reasons, is to understand what home buyers do and don’t like about the homes – 36% of those respondents said they wanted to use the camera to gather information that could be useful during negotiations; 23% of them wanted to see what their real estate agent was saying about the home. Put plainly, the risk as a buyer is losing the deal, and/or your negotiating power. Examples to consider: 1) It’s a custom home and you are verbally unimpressed with the woodwork and are planning to rip it out, however, that was a major pride for the seller who is emotionally invested. You just lost out on that deal. 2) You are incredibly impressed with the architecture and in your excitement
you verbally express that it’s priced low, now the sellers know to counter much higher. 3) In Flagstaff, sellers are focused on paying their home forward to a fellow Flagstaff resident and if buyers are openly discussing the home is to be an investment property, the sellers will no longer consider your offer. In conclusion, wait to discuss points of negotiation and impas-
sioned enthusiasm until you are in the car or back at the office with your realtor. Remember, during real estate showings, you are only a guest in someone else’s home until you sign at closing. Treat real estate showing appointments as if the seller is right there in the home with you. Electronically speaking, they might already be watching you LIVE. Our advice: don’t be paranoid, simply be security
smart. Use this information to obtain your power position in finding your next home. FBN Valerie Core and Kyle Jones are realtors with Russ Lyon. You can find out more by going to www.russlyon.com/flagstaff or calling (928) 779-5966
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DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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Holiday Gift Guide Realtors at Realty Executives of Flagstaff are matching all donations up to $15,000 through the month of December. Not only will your gift qualify for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, it’s impact will be doubled. Help us build a community that our Flagstaff children will be able to afford and enjoy. Donate today at habitatflagstaff.org.
Happy Holidays from the Staff at Flagstaff Business News!
www.flagstaffmall.com (928) 526-4827
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Flagstaff’s Holiday Magic Eight merry must-do winter wonderland experiences
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a treasured tradition for so many good reasons - it has extraordinary music, the choreography is spectacular, and it’s a wonderful holiday experience for the whole family. Nutcracker evening performances are Dec. 3 and 4, with the lollipop matinee on Dec. 4.
By Meg Roederer
lagstaff is designated as Arizona’s Winter Wonderland, featuring the state’s tallest snow-capped mountain and the grandest snow-covered meadows with the world’s largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest… with, you guessed it: tree limbs that lightly bounce with limbs laden with snow. Experience Flagstaff’s holiday season of wonderful events, amazing activities and spectacular snow play opportunities to create magical memories and fun family traditions.
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Enjoy millions of twinkling holiday lights! Bundle up to capture the magic with “Lights at the Station” in the heart of historic downtown at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. In the spirit of the holidays, please bring a non-perishable food donation to the visitor center for the Giving Advent Box to benefit the Flagstaff Family Food Center. Additionally, Little America Hotel, showcases millions of beautiful holiday lights in a stunning display for all to enjoy through Jan. 9, 2022.
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Plan a family Christmas adventure of a lifetime with the North Pole Experience. Delight in the magic of the holiday season at Santa’s enchanting workshop. Inside the toy factory, discover Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, Santa’s Sleigh and have family time with St. Nick himself.
EIGHT MERRIEST EXPERIENCES: 1.
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Joyful holiday events downtown are sponsored by the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance. Feel festive with the Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting Event, 12 Bars of Christmas, Breakfast with Santa, Noon Year’s Eve, and holiday shopping. Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. The Nutcracker is
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@flagstaffbusinessnews HOLIDAY continued from page 30
AZ Foothills Magazine voted The North Pole Experience best holiday experience for children in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. 5.
Holiday Lights Parade 2021! Join the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Flagstaff community in celebrating the holidays! Children and adults will be delighted on Saturday, Dec. 11 as all sorts of floats parade through the streets of historic downtown.
6.
Attend the Theatrikos holiday show, Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus: A Live Radio Play in Two Acts, based on a true story. “Is there a Santa Claus?” eightyear-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote in a letter to the New York Sun newspaper in 1897. The newspaper’s heartfelt reply, printed on the front page and written by a reporter struggling with the
death of his wife, has been part of American Christmas folklore for more than 100 years. Performances offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 19. 7.
Skiing, snowshoeing and snow play are snow-much fun! Did you know that Flagstaff accumulates an average of 100 inches of snow annually, offering a multitude of winter activities. Experience skiing or snowboarding at Arizona Snowbowl, cross country skiing and snowshoeing at Arizona Nordic Village and snow play at Flagstaff Snow Park with tubing, hot cocoa and outdoor fire pits. Stay in the know…call the winter information hotline at 1-844-256SNOW, download the winter recreation map, access the winter wonderland webcam for real-time views of weather downtown, and check-out the SNOW-ome-
ter at discoverflagstaff.com. 8.
Ring in the New Year Flagstaff style with the Weatherford Hotel’s annual Great Pinecone Drop! This Flagstaff New Year’s Eve tradition began in 1999, when the Weatherford Hotel rang in the new millennium and honored the Hotel’s 100-year anniversary. There’s nothing like lowering a 70-pound, 6-foot-tall, well-lit beautiful metallic pinecone. There will be two countdowns and lowerings on Dec. 31 — one at 10 p.m. to coincide with the New York Times Square celebration and another to mark Arizona’s midnight. Please stay, play, distance and mask responsibly.
See more at discoverflagstaff.com. Happy Holidays! FBN The historic Weatherford Hotel will be center stage with the return of the Great Pinecone Drop and New Year’s Eve celebration. Courtesy photos
LET’S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE We have been serving individuals, families, and small businesses with their financial planning needs since 1993. Our mission is to build long-term relationships and create a personalized plan for your unique situation.
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Favorite Immune Boosting Tips
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By Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc
n the midst of a pandemic, it is officially cold and flu season. No matter how careful you may be in taking the universal precautions to try and prevent illness, viruses happen and will always do what they do: mutate. It is important to not live in fear, as fear promotes and attracts more of what you focus on: more fear. Instead of living in fear, be in a state of knowing. Obviously, it is important to follow basic guidelines of being as careful as you can, washing your hands frequently, using alcohol/essential oil-based hand sanitizers (avoid other harmful chemicals such as benzalkonium or triclosan, which are linked to cancer and hormone disruption), avoiding people who are sick and maintaining distance. But also, I want to share with you my favorite immune system tips to help you live in a more empowered state of knowing that is more powerful and squashes the fear. I often get requests for natural ways to boost your immune system. Here is a list of my favorite immune boosters and lifestyle tips that can reduce the chances of getting sick. (Always consult your physician before starting any supplements or herbs. Certain herbs may interact or interfere with medications
and may be contraindicated during pregnancy.) Hydrotherapy: My favorite treatment is the wet sock treatment. Take a thin pair of socks, submerge in ice-cold water, wring them out well, and then put them on your feet. Then, put a thicker dry pair wool or cotton socks over the wet socks. Go to bed and stay warm. In the morning, the socks will be dry. It is a hydrotherapy technique that forces the body to warm the socks resulting in improved energy, boosted immune system and can help bring a fever down. It can be done nightly when sick or as prevention. Not into socks? Try a t-shirt, it works the same. Another hydrotherapy technique is to end a hot shower with 30 seconds
of cold water. This also boosts the immune system. Proper Self-Care: Get good quality sleep – six to eight hours is ideal. Drink enough water. Target at least half your body weight in ounces every day. If you are sweating or working out in the heat, you need more. Commit to consistent exercise and movement daily. It greatly benefits the nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems, as well as the mental health benefits by releasing of natural endorphins that exercise brings. Adapt and be consistent with stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation, massage therapy and acupuncture sessions. Maintain an Anti-Inflammatory Diet: The standard American diet
// Focus on balanced portions of protein, vegetables, good carbs like quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, lower glycemic fruits such as blueberries, apples, and increasing good fats (avocado oil, olive oil) in the diet. //
(SAD diet) promotes inflammation that will lower your immune system. It also can congest the liver, resulting in an increase in the toxic load on the body and promote an increased risk of age related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, high cholesterol, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Following a healthy Mediterranean diet rich in whole organic foods, focused on eating good quality proteins such as organic chicken, wild caught fish, eggs, grass-fed meat without hormones, additives or preservatives, avoiding processed foods and environmental chemicals, limiting sugar, wheat, corn and limiting amounts of alcohol will support the liver detox pathways that will allow the body to function more appropriately. Focus on balanced portions of protein, vegetables, good carbs like quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, lower glycemic fruits such as blueberries, apples, and increasing good fats (avocado oil, olive oil) in the diet. Adding nuts and seeds to the diet that are high in omega 3 and 6 help reduce inflammation (walnuts, pumpkin, pecans, flax and chia). Take Immune-Boosting Supplements: Vitamin C 1-3 grams per day or to bowel tolerance is a great antioxidant that benefits immunity. Zinc 15-30mg daily, NAC 500mg 1-4 daily helps
reduce phlegm, benefits the lungs and liver, and is a great antioxidant. Vitamin D – many people are deficient in Vitamin D – 5,000-10,000 iu daily helps improve mood, boost the immune system, aids hormone balance, mood and bone health. Eat more beta-carotene rich foods: 1 cup of fresh carrot juice, leafy greens or yellow and orange vegetables. Melatonin 1-10mg at night is a powerful, non-habit forming antioxidant that has sleep and immune system benefits. Quercitin 250mg 1-3 times daily can help reduce histamine production and prevent a cytokine storm of inflammation. Alkalize the Body: Get your greens in. Start your day with a scoop of organic green food powders to alkalize the body. May people are more acidic from the foods and drinks they consume. When the body is more acidic, it promotes inflammation. The green food powders are high in spirulina, chlorella, seaweeds, antioxidants and nutrients that you may or may not be getting in your daily diet. Some brands can often taste like grass so finding a reliable organic brand that adds a little stevia to sweeten can make it more palatable. Another way to alkalize the body is to drink freshly-squeezed lemon water first thing in the morning
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Estate Manage personal affairs while you're alive and control the distribution of wealth upon your death.
Money Managing your money involves more than simply making and following a budget.
Insurance A well-structured insurance strategy can help protect your loved ones from the financial consequences of unexpected events.
Retirement Steps to consider so you can potentially accumulate the money you'll need to pursue the retirement activities you want.
Investment Create an investment strategy that’s designed to pursue your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals.
Tax Understanding tax strategies can potentially help you better manage your overall tax situation.
Lifestyle How to strike a balance between work and leisure is just one aspect of the wide-ranging Lifestyle matters.
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Treating the Brain Disease of Addiction By Roy J. DuPrez M.Ed.
Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic, underlying, largely genetic brain disease, making it a he mere fact that relapse is medical issue rather than a behavioral more common than unissue or moral failing and can be a common sheds light on how difficult it truly is to break addiction. root cause behind other behavioral, No one enters rehabilitation with the social and psychological problems like depression, cognitive distortions, intention to fail; rather, they enter a social isolation and anxiety. treatment program hoping in their Addiction is created when a person heart they can stop using for good. seeks the help of drugs and alcohol The problem with this approach to stimulate the senses once ignited is addiction doesn’t happen in the by life itself. Drugs are powerful heart. It happens in the brain. The American Society of Addiction because they are immediate and they
T
// Addiction is created when a person seeks the help of drugs and alcohol to stimulate the senses once ignited by life itself. Drugs are powerful because they are immediate and they are dangerous because they, quite literally, hijack the reward centers of the brain, causing it to no longer seek other methods of feeling good. The brain learns the easiest and fastest way to feeling good is the drugs and, as a result, creates neural pathways specific to the use of the drug. //
are dangerous because they, quite literally, hijack the reward centers of the brain, causing it to no longer seek other methods of feeling good. The brain learns the easiest and fastest way to feeling good is the drugs and, as a result, creates neural pathways specific to the use of the drug. In other words, the brain stops using the neural pathways once used for such things as communication, interaction, creative-thinking, self-love and self-improvement and creates a straight line of communication with drugs and alcohol and any methods of communication necessary to attain them. The brain seeks to dispose of any behavior or activity not deemed useful in getting drugs and alcohol, and creates and supports behaviors and beliefs that are conducive to getting drugs and alcohol, which are often illegal and antisocial. Those behaviors and beliefs create an alternative cycle of behaviors and beliefs that support unhealthy characteristics such as isolation, mistrust, anger, depression, self-hate and poor physical health. Alcoholism is approximately 60% genetic and biological, which is approximately the same percentage as asthma or high blood pressure, yet no one would consider treating those
conditions with psychological methods alone. A whole-person, mind/ body approach is required and that is why the approach taken by Back2Basics applies therapeutic lifestyle changes in addition to medical and psychological treatment: a calculated approach to reducing the risk of relapse. Research has shown a lifestyle equipped with supportive relationships, a healthy diet, regular exercise, service to others, relaxation and an open mindset can be life changing, if not lifesaving. FBN Roy J. DuPrez M.Ed., is the founder of Back2Basics. Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males from 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In our program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programming. Now accepting insurance.
rehab and recovery into long-term sober living. The program is highlighted by spending time in the beautiful serene wilderness where individuals are physically challenged, their minds are cleared and they learn ways to defeat old addictive thinking patterns through various outdoor adventures. Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males, from 18-30, with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In our program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programing. Now accepting all private insurance plans. Call 928-814-2220 or email rduprez@b2badventures.com. back2basicsoutdooradventures.com
Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery combines residential therapeutic counseling with experiential outdoor adventures to treat individuals with substance and alcohol addiction and lead them through
Service at a Higher Elevation Plumbing, radiant in-floor heating systems, forced air heating and air conditioning for new construction, remodels and
24 hour service. 6993 N. Columbine Flagstaff, AZ 86004 Tel (928) 526-7006/ (928) 526-6231 Fax (928) 527-3727 www.intermountainaz.com Debbie@intermountainaz.com
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Flagstaff Business News // DECEMBER 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Winterizing Your RV or Boat
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By Tom Boggess
ith Flagstaff’s early winter temperatures still fairly warm, there may still be time to doublecheck your winterizing skills. Review these 12 easy steps to make sure your RV and/or boat is prepared and protected. 1.
2. 3.
RVs and boats should be drained of fresh water. Grey and black water holding tanks should be dumped as well. RV antifreeze needs to be applied to the entire fresh water system. Add two to three gallons of RV antifreeze to the freshwater holding tank. You can buy antifreeze at Walmart or at Home
Depot for around $3 per gallon. 4. Flush toilet and run sinks until you see pink. 5. On boats, make sure all pumps – macerator, livewell and washdown pumps – get some antifreeze through them. 6. Boats also may need moisture absorbing crystals, fuel stabilizer and fogging oil for the engine. Check with your local repair shop, they may be able to shrink wrap as well. 7. Pour a cupful of antifreeze into all P-traps, drains and showers. 8. Completely drain hot water tank with drain at bottom of tank. 9. Make sure to remove positive battery termi-
nal cable or set battery charger to trickle/hold where available. 10. Remove all food out of your rig. You may want to even set a trap or two for mice. 11. Finally, you may still have time to fix that pesky leak on your RV roof. Pick a good 50 degree day and caulk or mastic cracked seams. 12. Install a good RV or boat cover and if your rig is outside, shovel your roof after significant storms. Always feel free to reach out to your Flagstaff local RV or boat dealer for more tips. Your local storage facility may be able to help as well. FBN
Tom Boggess is the owner and operator of Flagstaff Storage and Woody Mountain
Campground. He has been in the business for more than 25 years.
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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NEW HOME continued from page 35 IMMUNE continued from page 32
D’ARPA continued from page 15
(1/2 to 1 lemon). It naturally stimulates digestion, benefits the liver and alkalizes the body. Drink Cayenne Lemon Honey Tea: Hot water with half-to-a-whole fresh lemon squeezed plus a pinch (1/8 tsp) cayenne pepper and honey to taste one to three times daily helps boost the immune system, cuts phlegm and benefits a sore throat. Not into cayenne? Try cinnamon. Rotating immune-boosting herbs such as Reishi, maitake, shitake or mushroom blends can help boost the immune system, helps reduce fatigue, boost cognition and reduce stress. Combinations of elderberry, echinacea, Oregon graperoot, goldenseal, nettles, mullein, horehound and grapefruit seed extract all have powerful antibacterial, antiviral and respiratory benefits. Homeopathic silver or colloidal silver tinctures may also benefit. IV Nutrients or Vitamin Injections: IV Myers vitamin push or IV bypasses the digestive system by slowly infusing vitamins into the body to help ward off illnesses, boost the immune system and add hydration. It has been shown to reduce fatigue, depression, anxiety, asthma, allergies and mind fog. Injections of a mixture of B vitamins, glutathione, MIC and folate can also boost your energy, metabolism and immune system. Acupuncture: It is a great
treatment to help boost the lung qi (energy of the immune system) and has been used for thousands of years. Applying hair-thin needles in meridians or energy channels in the body allows the free flow of energy that has a balancing affect. It essentially balances anything that is out of balance. It can be used to treat many conditions, from allergies, sinus pressure, asthma, bronchitis, headaches, body aches and pain, digestive issues (acid reflux, constipation, bloating), cold and flu prevention and treatment to balancing hormones (hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, irregular cycles, fertility, etc.) and mood imbalances. Naturopathic medicine offers many modalities that can assist your body’s innate ability to heal itself and boost your immunity. Focus on making small shifts or adapting some of these methods to stay healthy this winter season. FBN Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.
also enjoys playing drums. “Weekends are never long enough,” he said. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is located in Williams and has daily round-trip excursions to the Grand Canyon. The Polar Express will run through Dec. 30. For more information, call 888-848-3511.
BIGGEST INFLUENCE
I’ve been fortunate to work for Xanterra’s Chief Parks Officer Gordon Taylor since 1996. He has trusted and supported me through all my years with Xanterra, allowing me to grow and enjoy many achievements both personally and professionally.
CHARACTER QUALITIES MOST ADMIRED Hard work and honesty.
FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT
The bottom of the Grand Canyon and top of Humphreys Peak. To have these gems in your backyard and not make regular pilgrimages to enjoy them wouldn’t make sense to me.
THE LAST TIME I LAUGHED
My daughters make me laugh all the time. Somehow they are the funniest humans alive. Any of their TikTok videos put me in stitches. FBN
PURPOSE continued from page 14
well, she says, “we’re going to feel like a Raggedy Ann in a washing machine.” But, as Christa demonstrates, we have everything to say about our own rescue and our own experience. “If you just float along, the journey is going to be harder. If you’re waiting for things to happen to you, it doesn’t always work out as well as you hope. You have to make things happen.”
GIVE THE GIFT OF AN UPDATED KITCHEN 928.707.0315 | kitchentuneup.com Each franchise is locally owned & operated.
FBN
Bonnie Stevens is a public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@gmail.com.
Seller Educational Series, call 928-3965851, text 602-524-5674 or email Lori@ AZdreamlifestyle.com. The series will be conducted at Clear Title Agency of Flagstaff and Academy Mortgage, located 2076 S. Woodlands Village Blvd., Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001. RSVP today to reserve your seat! Call 928-396-5851 or text 602-5245674 or email Lori@AZdreamlifestyle. com. FBN Lori Anna Harrison is a Flagstaff native and 17-year real estate veteran commencing post graduate school with Shea Homes. Lori is a fulltime realtor with Zion Realty, LLC. Call her today at 928-3965851 or text 602-5245674, email lori@ AZdreamlifestyle.com and visit AZdreamlifestyle.com.
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SURPLUS continued from page 6
to the community and customers.” The heart of the Peace Surplus legacy is “Consistency, great products, fair prices, excellent customer service, appreciation of our customers and, most of all, a strong team,” he said. “I worked hard at hiring a good sales force, providing professional development on customer service, appreciation of our customers and vendors, product knowledge, and giving back to our community.” That giving back to the community has included establishing a scholarship at NAU to support students studying outdoor recreation and another at Maricopa Community College Foundation to honor his parents’ love for the arts, he said. “We have also had tremendous support from the community when we hold fundraising events either at the store, or in collaboration with other businesses, to support various charities such as Grand Canyon Youth, Kahtoola Uphill and Arizona Special Olympics,” he said. Chatinsky said he would assist at Peace Surplus for several months to familiarize the new owners with the workings of owning and running an outdoor recreational retail business. The Ahmed family has lived all over Arizona, but moved to Flagstaff a year ago. “This will be a family-owned and run business,” Erin Ahmed said. “My
husband, Kazi, and I are the owners, and we have our 24-year-old daughter, Jade, and 17-year-old son, Ameer, working with us at the store.” She said their son Ali, 9 and daughter Ameena, 7, will also lend a hand at the store. They will be retaining all the Peace Surplus staff, but also will build their own team to ensure the store continues to offer great service and products to customers. “We have an amazing team that we wouldn’t dream of changing,” she said. “Our hopes right now are that we are able to make the store even more successful than it already is.” With a background in the mining industry, she and her husband had been looking for a business to buy for a few years, she explained. “It is such a cool local outdoor gear store,” Ahmed said. “We were even more impressed with the employees at the store, always so friendly and helpful. After we met Steve, the previous owner, we knew the store would be a great fit for our family. We loved that the store had a nostalgic history in our new community, and Steve had done an amazing job supporting the local community over the years. It was just the kind of business we would be proud to be a part of.” The Ahmed family loves to hike. “Kazi and I have hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and he has
braved Humphrey’s Peak,” Ahmed said. “You can find Kazi and three of our kids up on the mountain every winter snowboarding. Our little kids are involved in swimming, gymnastics, ninja and soccer. Kazi has also coached the kids’ soccer team this past year. We look forward to continuing to explore our new community, and picking up new hobbies that are offered in Flagstaff.” Chatinsky said the Flagstaff area offers a favorable business environment for both old and new owners like the Ahmeds. “One needs to be creative and entrepreneurial, and the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County will be supportive,” he noted. “Our citizens are in favor of new businesses that will enhance the lives of all in our community and those that enjoy visiting us.” In a Peace Surplus Facebook post, Chatinsky looked back on his business career in Flagstaff. “I want to thank all the people in Flagstaff and throughout the world who made Peace Surplus a success and a joy. Family-owned businesses depend on the support of their communities and visitors and you made it happen. Thank you!” Looking forward to the first of the year, he has new plans, including exploring various opportunities in real estate and the auto industry.
Erin Ahmed and Steve Chatinsky work together for a smooth transition. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography
“I also want to mentor new business owners,” he said. “I want to enjoy my passions in life, but at my own leisure. My wife, Lyvier, and I also want to do some traveling around the United States and abroad. And, of course, enjoy fun times with friends and family. Flagstaff is my
home, and so I will continue to be an active member of society in Flagstaff and enjoy all that Flagstaff has to offer.” FBN
WINNER
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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ADAPTIVE SKIING continued from page 1
Left: Jessica learned to steer by simply tilting her head from side to side. Top: Jessica, captured here at Snowbowl with her parents Joy and John Dillon, can’t wait to be back on the mountain. Courtesy photos
“She has some motor skills challenges. It’s difficult for her to use her feet and hands. She can’t open a bottle of water. And she has no equilibrium, which makes walking pretty dangerous. She has very poor eyesight and can fall frequently. As she puts it, she trips on air. She’s extremely fragile, and during this pandemic we’ve kept her mostly sequestered from the rest of the world for her own health and safety. That’s been extra hard for her.” Despite her difficulties, “she tries so hard to be happy,” said her mom, “even though she doesn’t always feel good.” Now, Jessica has a new reason to smile – outdoor fun on the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks. “I love skiing!” she said. “Last year was my first time and I just loved it and now I can ski with my family!” And that’s a big deal. “The last few years she’d see the excitement as we’d plan and go skiing with grandpa, uncles, aunts and cousins,” said John. “But Jessica would have to stay home with grandma.” Joy and John first heard about the Adaptive Program while riding a chairlift at Arizona Snowbowl. Joy went to the Snowbowl website and enrolled Jessica last March, not knowing how the lesson would go. “It was excitement and fear at the same time – a real mixture,” said Joy. “When it happened, it was heavenly.” Adaptive Program Ski Instructor
Truman Shoaff met the family at Hart Prairie Lodge. Jessica was fitted with a helmet and ski poles, which are like braces for the arms with small skis on the ends that act as stabilizing paddles. Wearing her own snow boots, Jessica was positioned into the ski chair that sits atop a wide single ski. A safety harness with straps connected Truman to the chair, as he skied behind. “He was awesome,” Jessica said about Truman. Her dad agreed. “He was so amazing, so professional, so kind,” said John. “He happens to be the same age as Jessica and they hit it off from the start. He was trained in adaptive skiing and was clearly very well versed in how to handle people with disabilities. He made her feel safe the entire time, which is hard to do for any first-time skier anyway.” Jessica tried to use the ski poles but didn’t have the strength or balance. Instead, she learned to steer by tilting her head in the direction that she wanted to go. “We chased her down the mountain for two hours and she couldn’t stop giggling and laughing,” said John. “Now, she can’t wait to go back.” John Dillon was born into a big skiing family. His parents owned a ski shop, the Village Sports Den in Flagstaff, and his cousin, Norm Johnson, owned the Snowbowl in the 1970s and ‘80s. John has been swooshing down the slopes since he was 2. “Skiing is an important part of my
life and Snowbowl is a very special place. Some of my fondest memories are on this wonderful mountain,” said John. “When I was a kid, during the winter we would pray as a family every morning and night for snow. I thought all families did that. And now, snowmaking has changed everything compared to those days of total uncertainty! Not everyone understands or appreciates just how incredible these massive investments into Snowbowl and our community really are.” Snowbowl became a special place for John and Joy as a couple, too. The two met in junior high, knew each other through high school and college, and reconnected later in life. John recalls how Jessica informed him that she and her mom were “a package deal” before the couple married four years ago. Between them, the couple has five children. In addition to their day jobs and in honor of Jessica, John and Joy started a company called Package Deal Adventures. They recently partnered with their friends in acquiring the Timberline Short Nine golf course in Continental Country Club. Also, they are planning to bring an indoor trampoline park and family entertainment center to Flagstaff next year. “Jessica will play a huge role as the company’s Ambassador of Happiness. She will welcome kids and provide birthday baskets and smiles,” said John.
“We want to provide all families with clean, fun activities and especially opportunities for those kids with special features that just aren’t living lives most people consider normal – like what Snowbowl’s Adaptive Program has provided for Jessica.” Snowbowl began the Adaptive Program five years ago. “At Arizona Snowbowl, we strongly believe that there are no limits in learning to ski or snowboard,” states the mountain resort’s website. “The Ski and Snowboard School offers a specialized adaptive skiing/snowboarding program that helps you build your confidence, improve your fitness level, make new friends, and find a new passion for winter sports. Professionally trained instructors work with a range of disabilities.” Snowbowl started Jessica on the Magic Carpet and then progressed to other chairlifts. Later, General Manager Rob Linde loaded her into a cabin on the new Arizona Gondola to have a look from the top. “It blew her mind!” said John. “It was one of the coolest days ever. I never imagined she’d have that opportunity.” “The lift expanded our operation to an entirely new level and broadened our reach to serve a much more diverse audience than ever before,” said Linde. “Being able to easily enter a comfortable warm gondola cabin and be whisked to the top of Arizona is a new experience for everyone. Visitors young and old of all abilities are able to enjoy this special place at 11,500 feet, which offers some of the most spectacular views on the planet.” “We are just so grateful to Snowbowl management and James Coleman
[Snowbowl owner] for making the Adaptive Program and the gondola available,” said John. “It is an enormous investment not just in capital infrastructure but also directly in people’s lives.” Helping to fund the Adaptive Program is Nackard Pepsi, which is partnering with Snowbowl in a recycling program. Money made from recycling cans and cups and other items will go to the program. “All of the products that Nackard Pepsi sells to Snowbowl are recyclable, but it’s often a challenge ensuring those items make it into the correct recycling stream,” said Nackard Pepsi CEO Palmer Nackard. “We’ve developed an effective system to capture recyclable items from the slopes, transport the items to our facility for sorting, and deliver the items to the appropriate facilities to be recycled. We collect a small payment when delivering the recyclable material to the recycling facility and, as an added bonus, we are contributing that money to Snowbowl’s Adaptive Ski Program. This new partnership with Snowbowl is a perfect example of a circular economy for recycled materials that will benefit numerous groups in an impactful way. Look for the new recycling bins on the mountain this winter and – most importantly – be sure to use them!” “The Adaptive Program is life-changing,” said Joy. “For the mountain to have that kind of program and those adaptations is just awesome. We’ll never forget what we experienced that day!” FBN
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BABBITT continued from page 3
was Charles “C.J.” Babbitt, one of the original Babbitt brothers who came to Arizona from Ohio in 1886 to start a ranching empire. Jim’s brother, former Arizona Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, says Jim’s values were forged in the environment he loved and by the people he admired. “Flagstaff for us was a very different place then,” said Bruce. “It was a small rural town of about 3,000 to 4,000 people. We roamed with the neighborhood kids in the out-ofdoors. The grade school was two blocks away. On autumn mornings, we’d go deer hunting before class. We were right there in the middle of all that, the rural outdoor life. And
we had a lot of wonderful experiences together.” Even as a boy, Jim was known as kind and humble, recalls Bruce. “He managed to make so many friends because he was really interested in people. He made them feel that they were important. He was always working on new projects with new enthusiasm and never taking credit for any of them, just doing his thing.” Bruce describes their hometown as a place where everybody worked together and nobody was more important than anybody else. “Jim was a product of a different era in a community that valued enduring relationships. He was deeply
// “For me, Jim was like the mortar,” said Late for the Train owner Dave Dobrick, who recalls penciling out his idea for a coffee shop on a napkin with Jim at Charly’s Pub and Grill. The new shop would serve coffee, that was understood, but its true purpose would be to pour into the community as much as it would pour into coffee cups. //
Jim Babbitt is remembered for many things: his passion for preserving and respecting history – particularly in Northern Arizona – he became known as the historian for Flagstaff; also his monumental efforts in conservation and love for wild places, like the Grand Canyon; his deep appreciation and respect for Native cultures; and, his dry sense of humor. This gentle giant is part of the pioneering Arizona Babbitt family, Babbitt Ranches and Babbitt Brothers Foundation. Courtesy photo
attached to history, tradition and all the surroundings that he knew well. Jim’s work to reinvigorate Flagstaff was a reflection of the environment he grew up in. His sense was we had to work hard to preserve those kinds of values.”
PEERING INTO THE PAST
In the early 1990s, Babbitt Brothers Trading Company was at a crossroads. The board of directors was liquidating much of the company. The Babbitt Brothers Building, which covered an entire city block and housed Babbitt’s department store,
was up for sale. “Jim was crawling around in the building. He was in the attic and in crawlspaces and saw sandstone. They had covered the whole outside of this building to make it look modern,” said Babbitt Ranches President Continued on page 39
DECEMBER 2021 // Flagstaff Business News
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// “Jim was one of our longest-serving and most admired trustees,” said Grand Canyon Trust Director Ethan Aumack. “Jim was a beautiful, kind, quietly earthshaking person. He had a profoundly positive impact on Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau. I and so many others I know miss him deeply already. //
Billy Cordasco, Jim’s cousin. “He took me on the stairway, shined his flashlight behind the façade and showed me that the building was still intact.” Cordasco says Jim got creative and figured out a way for the Babbitt Brothers Foundation to buy the original Babbitt Brothers building from the company and use it as a non-profit organization to give back to the community. From the rent of the building’s spaces to downtown merchants and apartment tenants, Jim started the Viola Awards in memory of Viola Babbitt, a longtime patron of the arts, to honor Flagstaff’s arts and science excellence. Funds generated also support historic preservation, community health and educational endeavors. “All the historic renovation, the accuracy of the preservation, came through Jim’s fingers and his efforts. And from that spawned all of the historic renovation downtown,” said Cordasco.
A PASSIONATE STEWARD
When Stewart Udall was U.S. Secretary of the Interior, he wrote the book, “Quiet Crisis,” in 1964. In the preface of the book is a poem by Galway Kinnell, “Another Night in the Ruins.” And this particular passage is how Karen Underhill thinks of Jim. “The bonfire you kindle can light
Later in life, Jim picked up the banjo and enjoyed playing what he considered to be kind of a quirky instrument. Courtesy photo
the great sky— though it’s true, of course, to make it burn you have to throw yourself in ...” “Jim was a passionate steward of this place we call home – culturally and environmentally,” she said. Underhill, now retired as the head of NAU’s Cline Library Special Collections and Archives, says the two of them had great fun exploring the archives together. “He was a scholar at heart with a Western flair. He was a Renaissance man in that he
had many passions and interests. He was humble but stood up for what he believed was right. He was the best of the best as a human being.” She says, Jim cared. “He cared about this region, he cared about inclusivity, he cared about our Native people, he cared about Flagstaff, our forests, our environs, our riparian areas. He cared about protecting this place.” Jim was honored by the Arizona Historical Society, wrote several
books and served on a number of boards including for the Grand Canyon Trust, the Grand Canyon Conservancy and the Museum of Northern Arizona. “Jim was one of our longest-serving and most admired trustees,” said Grand Canyon Trust Director Ethan Aumack. “Jim was a beautiful, kind, quietly earthshaking person. He had a profoundly positive impact on Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and the Continued on page 40
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Colorado Plateau. I and so many others I know miss him deeply already.” Grand Canyon Conservancy Chief of Communications, Partnerships and External Affairs Jan Bolsom calls Jim Babbitt a lifelong friend of the Grand Canyon. “He had a knowledge that is irreplaceable. His kindness and gentleness will be missed.” Former MNA Director Robert Breunig calls Jim one of the most knowledgeable people about the history of Northern Arizona and Flagstaff. “He really knew that history well, he often did talks on historical subjects and was particularly knowledgeable about the trading posts on Hopi and Navajo reservations. What we are losing is a really important part to our cultural memory of Northern Arizona and the intersection of different types of people.” Jim also was a big fan of President Theodore Roosevelt, known as the country’s “Conservationist President.” He had the honor of naming a particular location at the North Rim, “Roosevelt Point.”
A MENTOR AND FRIEND
Harris worked for Jim for 20 years before he became owner of Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters in 2011. “It was a privilege to hang out with him every day,” he said. “He stopped me on the sidewalk out here and asked if I wanted to buy the business. There was no way I could buy it, but he said, ‘We’re going to make it happen,’ and he walked away. He changed my life right there in that moment.” Harris recalls Jim’s collection of antique machinery like old printing presses and mountains of historic photos and postcards. “He was our liaison to the past, the historian for Flagstaff. He sat up here researching history,” Harris said about the loft in Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters. “He loved to find old Babbitt logos and had a real interest in creating and printing. Jim created the “Don’t PHX FLG” bumper sticker and at one time wanted to start a newspaper. I always looked at Jim as an umbrella over us all. He was just full of life and always pursued his hobbies. He taught me how to live life. I wanted to be that person. I’ve learned more from him than
probably anybody else and I felt this security knowing he was there.” Dawn Begley worked with Jim as the Heritage Square special events coordinator. “Every conversation with Jim was a gift,” she said. “Whether it was about the history of Flagstaff and how to preserve it, advice on running, the fact that he had decided to give up running and take up yoga, or my favorite, that he was growing his hair out because he joined a band.” Jim took up the banjo later in life. Helene said, “He enjoyed the fact that people thought it was a funny instrument.” “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Jim is integrity,” said Phyllis Hogan, Winter Sun owner. “He came from a family of Native traders, first nation traders. His grandparents had the trading posts. We lost an encyclopedic knowledge of the trading posts all over the Western part of the Navajo Nation. Everyone was in awe of him. We were a little family down here [in the downtown] when Heritage Square was a dirt parking lot. Jim had a vision and he brought people together. He was a gentle giant and people would listen to him. I enjoyed his ‘Letters to the Editor’ [to the Arizona Daily Sun]. They were so well written and deeply thought out. This is Jim Babbitt’s town.” “Jim was actually a very funny human being,” said Anthony Delagarza, who works with Phyllis. “He was always happy to see you and always concerned about the people he would encounter. We’d talk about antiques, jewelry, historical furniture from around the area and trading posts. They were really important for this area – the trading posts were the banks and grocery stores for the Native people around here for a long time.” NAU Professor Emeritus of Environmental Engineering Bill Auberle enjoyed coffee with Jim and a group of friends every week for 20 years. “We called ourselves the Curmudgeons and we would talk about everything. Jim could always tell you about some aspect of Flagstaff’s or the region’s history, but you’d have to ask him. It wasn’t his personality to speak out about what he knew.” “I always enjoyed talking about city affairs with Jim,” said Breunig. “He had a very keen interest about
// “He had a very keen interest about everything in Flagstaff and got a little discouraged with development. He loved Flagstaff and was very committed to it. He was interested in everything that went on here and usually had something to say about it. I just knew him as a very wise individual and just a really good friend. I really miss him.” //
Jim and Helene loved to explore the world. The two bought the Pendleton distributorship in Flagstaff from Babbitt Brothers Trading Company and Jim is credited with designing Pendleton rugs, some of which are still part of the line today. His son, Charlie Babbitt, runs the distributorship today. “I could tell he felt like he had stepped fully into the shoes of his father [Paul J. Babbitt] and grandfather [C.J. Babbitt],” said Charlie. Courtesy photo
everything in Flagstaff and got a little discouraged with development. He loved Flagstaff and was very committed to it. He was interested in everything that went on here and usually had something to say about it. I just knew him as a very wise individual and just a really good friend. I really miss him.” Longtime Flagstaff surgeon Dr. John Hildebrand recalls the challenging and long hikes he and his friend would have. “We shared a love for conservation and the outdoors,” he said. The two helped the late Dale Shewalter realize his dream for the Arizona Trail, an 800-mile trek from Utah to Mexico. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, the friends spent hours going over maps and a lot of ground, plotting, scouting and staking the trail that so many recreationists enjoy on foot, bike and horseback today. “He was a really important citizen of our community and he never did anything that wasn’t in the best interest of Flagstaff in his estimation. I’m already missing him and I’m sure I’ll miss him on a regular basis,” said Dr. Hildebrand. “Everything reminds me of Jim.”
with them on all-day hikes. “We’d usually go down to Blue Canyon,” he said, which was about 10 miles away from the Tuba City Trading Post. Charlie spent many days of his summer vacations with his dad, visiting trading posts at Tonalea, Tuba City and other more remote locations. “As a child, I was always bouncing around in his pick-up on washboard dirt roads in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “He enjoyed searching for lost historic geographic features, prehistoric petroglyphs, trailheads, mines and old travel routes.” Charlie says his dad especially loved the trading post part of his family history and was proud to continue in his family’s traditions of doing honorable business as BIA licensed and regulated Indian Traders. “He emphasized to me that Indian trading was historically/potentially an exploitative line of business, but he felt we’d always done it to a higher ethical standard, and he felt good about that. When, later, my parents bought the Pendleton distributorship from Babbitt Brothers Trading Company, I could tell he felt like he had stepped fully into the shoes of his father [Paul J. Babbitt] and grandfather [C.J. Babbitt].” TRADING POSTS AND “Jim was larger than life, with PENDLETON Jim ran the Babbitt Trading Posts for his great knowledge of the [Pendyears and cultivated strong relation- leton] business, his appreciation ships with managers like Leo Joe Lee for his family’s legacy, nature and and his wife, Mary, in Tuba City and the outdoors, and different cultures surrounding him,” said Bob Red Lake. “We’ve known Jim for 29 Christnacht, executive vice president years. He treated my family as his of sales and marketing for Pendleton family,” said Leo. Woolen Mills. Leo remembers packing bologna Jim is credited with designing sandwiches for Jim, Jim’s son, Charlie, and himself that they would take Pendleton rugs, some of which are
still part of the line today. “He was always looking for ideas. One of his designs, ‘Shared Spirits,’ speaks so well to Native American icons and icons from nature that we all share,” said Christnacht. “The indigenous people were so much a part of what he was. He had such an appreciation for the customs and cultures and considered himself a steward of carrying on the tradition of selling a commodity that was a sign of honor and respect among Native cultures. Giving someone a Pendleton blanket represents providing protection.” “Jim really saw the value in our history and really wanted to be able to share that history in a way that mattered to people today and into the future,” said Cordasco. “He cared deeply. He was a man of depth and substance, who treated everyone the same and had a tremendous impact on people, yet he never ever drew attention to himself. He was not whimsical about anything he did. You never misunderstood that about Jim. With that genuine and authentic nature that he had, you saw his heart.” Jim is survived by his wife Helene, son Charlie, daughter-in-law Traleigh, granddaughters Stella Kalista, Isla, Britannia, brothers Bruce, Paul and Charles, sister Christine and hundreds of Babbitt relatives. FBN To hear Jim Babbitt talk about the early years of the Arizona Trail, visit Zonie Living: Business, Adventure and Leadership at https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/ exploring-arizonas-hot-real-estate-trend-remembering-arizona-legend-jim-babbitt-expanding-accessibility-at-arizona-snowbowl-video
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SUPPLY CHAIN continued from page 4
ELECTRIC continued from page 11
Jasmine Cosen, right, and T. Cly enjoy holiday shopping in downtown Flagstaff. They agree that the most unique holidays gifts are purchased at locally owned businesses. Photo by Theresa Bierer
before they get better,” Scuncio said. She noted that many of the supply chain challenges also are affecting the way people do business in the U.S. For example, she knows of company owners who, because of the difficulty attaining needed parts and supplies, are reducing the number and variety of items offered so they can focus on a smaller assortment and keep production going. FBN
APS Northeast Division Public Affairs Manager Janet Dean and City of Flagstaff Climate and Energy Specialist Jenny Niemann pose in front of an electric car owned by the utility company. “We’ve had this technology for a long time, we just haven’t embraced it,” said Niemann.
Climate and Energy Specialist Jenny Niemann. “Electricity is cleaner than gas and buying an EV can really provide some return on your investment. If you’re able to pay the upfront costs, you can see the savings over time because it’s a lot cheaper to fuel your car. Another benefit is there are fewer moving parts, so you no longer need an oil change. A lot of people are seeing EVs as a potential investment up front, but in the long run, a money-saver.” Judson Tillinghast with APS customer technology says more electric cars are expected to be on Arizona’s roads in the next 10 years. “APS has a goal of supporting the adoption of 450,000 EVs in our service territory by 2030. We want to connect drivers with the resources and information they need to make the transition to electric vehicles.” The City of Flagstaff offers a Sustainable Automotive Rebate Program for purchases of fuel-efficient automotive vehicles. For more information, visit chooseflagstaff.com. FBN
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PWR LAB continued from page 1
company how often that individual runs and whether that activity occurs on trails or pavement. Geo-location information could identify prevailing weather conditions in the region. All these are factors that would enable the company to quickly and accurately identify the best products for that runner. The customer would get timely advice on the perfect pair of running shoes and related equipment and clothing, while the company’s valuable recommendations would build brand affinity and customer loyalty. In fact, it was a lived experience that led Stepanovic and his partners to the idea of using wearable data to help both companies and consumers. “I had a running injury and was seeing Jeff as my physical therapist,” he said. “We were wondering why it was so hard to find the right equipment for runners and how helpful it would be for Jeff, as my PT, to use the data collected from my smartwatch to help me prevent my injury in the first place.” PWR Lab is currently concentrating on partnerships with brands in the athletic sector, where lived experience information from wearables is particularly relevant. Among their current clients are: Brooks running shoes, Method Seven specialty optics, and the Fleet Feet chain of stores. But, unlike most big tech companies, PWR Lab has a feeling of deep
responsibility to the individuals who are generating the information. “The data is being collected either way, if you have any type of digital device,” Stepanovic said. “Our company makes it easy to connect with brands and services that care enough about you to focus on how your data can be a benefit to you as an individual.” The PWR Lab platform makes it clear what data is being collected and individuals are in control of whether that information is shared with a particular company. Ultimately, the company expects to establish the digital standard for data from wearables across a broader range of consumer brands and categories and not just those in the athletic sector. The company estimates that currently as much as 99% of the value of data from wearables remains untapped. It was this potential that caught the attention of Moonshot at NACET, the entrepreneurial program based in Flagstaff. PWR Lab moved to Flagstaff last year as Stepanovic and his family sought to escape the frequent wildfires and prohibitive housing costs of Northern California. The family was familiar with Flagstaff through relatives – Stepanovic’s sister-in-law is an Olympic runner based in the city, and her husband, Mike Smith, heads the track and field program at Northern
Innovative entrepreneur Adam Stepanovic of PWR Lab receives congratulations and the top cash prize from Moonshot at NACET President and CEO Scott Hathcock. Fourteen area startups competed in November’s Shark Tank-esque competition. Courtesy photo
Arizona University. Not long after moving to Flagstaff, PWR Lab became a client of Moonshot and is working out of the program’s accelerator building on the North Gemini campus. “Moving to Flagstaff has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made,” said Stepanovic. “The community is warm and vibrant. The environment is unmatched. Moonshot at NACET is the cherry on top, because it’s such an ideal location to grow a company with amazing support.”
The admiration is mutual. Last month, PWR Lab took the top prize at Moonshot’s annual Pioneer Pitch competition. It was among 14 area startups in the event, which was judged by a panel of community stakeholders, business mentors and Moonshot staff. “We chose PWR Lab for first prize because it’s a forward-thinking Moonshot idea that has unlimited future uses, builds off of Flagstaff’s growing digital technology sector, and will create high-paying jobs in Northern Arizona,” said Moonshot
at NACET President and CEO Scott Hathcock. PWR Lab is now working to connect with more advisors, investors, like-minded companies and individuals that might be interested in their platform. To learn more about PWR Lab’s platform, visit pwrlab.com. For more information about Moonshot at NACET, visit moonshotaz.com. FBN
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