Tempe, AZ March 2024

A Special Peek Into Your Personality

What does home mean to you? Is it a place just to sleep? Is it a monthly bill that keeps a roof over your head? Is it a safe cocoon where you can let your guard down? And the biggest question—is it the place that most reflects who you are at your core?

These were some of my thoughts as we were putting together this issue, our Home Issue.

How many times do you think you know someone— maybe a co-worker who you chat with every day, a parent you hang out with on weekends during sports games, or a friend who you see at galas, always all dressed up—and you have an image of who they are until you finally see their home. It’s like an in-depth peek into their true selves. Maybe it reflects what you thought, and maybe it doesn’t. Maybe the home of the shy, quiet person is done in bright, loud colors and prints. Maybe the home of the person who dresses in muted colors reflects the same.

That’s the best thing about your home—it can be the best reflection of who you truly are.

My question to you is, Does what you’re surrounding yourself with truly reflect you? Does it make you happy?

Right now, personally, I’m asking myself the same questions. We had a flood and most of our home was torn out. As we piece it back together, making changes in the process, I’m also trying to decide what best reflects me. When it’s done, I hope it reflects who I am at my core.

Enjoy the issue and the inspiration!

Yours,

MICHELLE GLICKSMAN, EDITOR @TEMPECITYLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Deb Shapiro, founder and creative director for Amplify Voices, and Amanda Schneider, executive director for Amplify Voices. 2: Deb Shapiro with Amplify’s Triumph Over Trafficking graduates Amanda Schneider, Aliza Amar, and Nikki Valencia. 3: Community sponsor Brooke Bogart with Look to Brooke, Keller Williams East Valley, and Deb Shapiro. 4: Keith Hunter with Umpqua Bank and Kassandra Beavers with Tempe Chamber of Commerce. 5: Paul Quinn with Benchmark and Keep Tempe Beautiful and Glen Hayward with Good Works Auto. 6: Sara Scoville-Weaver of Conceptually Social, Christine Boisen and Sonya Wade with the Phoenix Zoo, and Colleen Geary with Integrity Staffing. 7: David Key (center) with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, with Abhinav Walla and David Reno with Southwest Human Development.

8: Coaches Kamryn and DeVonte at the Body20 ribbon-cutting. 9: Krystal Mack of Early Bird Vegan, Kassandra Beavers, Katherine Wallerstein of Body20, and Chris Ashby with Graze Craze. 10: Coach DeVonte, General Manager Katherine Wallerstein, and Coach Kamryn. 11: Coach Camryn enjoying a professional stretch with Stretch Zone Ahwatukee. 12: Body20 Coaches Morgan, DeVonte, and Kam. 13: Body20 owners Cassie and Gerard Richards. 14: Kamryn (center), sales associate, with owners Cassie and Gerard Richards.

business monthly

Graze Craze Now Open

One of Tempe's newest locales is Graze Craze, which specializes in crafting convenient and beautifully presented charcuterie boards and boxes. Its handcrafted boards are filled with house-made dips, jams, cheeses, meats, and farmfresh produce. Each board is made-to-order and always bursting with colors and flavors. The company's mantra is "celebrate everything"—they know that every order placed at Graze Craze has a special meaning. GrazeCraze.com

Devon Bozeman Joins The Exercise Coach Personal Training Studio

The Exercise Coach Personal Training Studio in South Tempe recently added Devon Bozeman, a certified personal trainer who has degrees in biology and nutrition, to its staff. The Exercise Coach offers cutting-edge personal training via an approach based on science, which proves exercise quality matters more than exercise quantity. They created a unique, hi-tech process that helps their clients get the results in just two 20-minute workouts per week. Bozeman is offering two free sessions. ExerciseCoach.com

The Westin Tempe Debuts New Wellness Package With Lululemon

The Westin Tempe recently debuted a limited-time wellness stay package in partnership with Lululemon, alongside its new fitness offerings, including a digital running route curated by Strava and a gear-lending program featuring workouts and recovery equipment from Hyperice and Bala—all designed for travelers seeking to maintain an active lifestyle. The Lululemon In-Room Fitness Experience package, which includes perks such as branded yoga items for use, a breakfast credit, and more, is available now through April 30. Marriott.com

It was Nov. 6, 2017, when Brando Salazar began working at LB Closets. The job would prove to be fortuitous.

Salazar didn’t intend to make the industry his career to begin with—he had simply needed money and had been offered the job as a closet installer.

LB Closets was a company that Salazar became passionate about. And in 2023, he bought the company he’d been part of for so long.

LB Closets, which had been founded in 1996 by Lance Bevans and originally known as L & B Closets, offers custom closets and

“I’VE GREATLY ENJOYED GETTING TO USE MY CREATIVITY AND SKILLS.”

“I never expected how much I would enjoy working with my hands and tools, and how naturally everything came to me,” he says. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to grow and be better at my job.”

Soon Salazar was promoted to the role of lead installer, and later, into design and sales. While sales weren’t normally something he was comfortable with or had excelled at prior, with this company, he did well.

“I think maybe it was because I was passionate about what I was selling and our services, and people could see that,” he says. “I’ve never made an effort to upsell, play the sales game, [use] rebuttals, and fight to overcome objections. Some people in the industry might disagree with my approach but I don’t care. I see everyone as human beings, not just another sale. I want you to feel good about the product and trust that we take pride in our work.”

organization systems and shelving for master closets, pantries, office spaces, laundry rooms, entertainment centers, garages, and more. It also offers custom cabinetry and Murphy beds.

“We help maximize your space, whether it’s for organizational/storage purposes or aesthetics—we can do both,” Salazar says.

The most popular areas LB Closets receives requests for are closets and garages. And while they also receive requests for kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, those are actually two options not available through the company.

Clients are the top priority at LB Closets, and every project begins with an in-home consultation to discuss vision and design elements. From there, a 3D design is created. Once the design and budget are approved, the fun of the creation and installation—which Salazar aims to make stress-free—begins.

“Our installers treat every home with the utmost care and meticulously clean up during and at the end of every project,” he says.

For Salazar, being in the cabinet and organization industry is something he truly enjoys.

“I like seeing our customers get excited and organized,” he says. “A lot of people express themselves through their home— some of my customers are shoe collectors or have a passion for clothes and enjoy displaying them.”

His personal favorite request? Kitchen pantries, since he and his wife both love to cook.

Being in the business for so many years has provided Salazar with extensive insight into what makes a space most functional. When asked if he has any tips or advice, he shares, “Have a variety of shelf widths. If you have wide shelves, you will find something to fill it with—it will just become a catch-all. If you have smaller to mid-length shelves, you are forced to get organized. Also, flooring first, closet second. And last, donate your old clothes to a shelter instead of Goodwill.”

“WE HELP MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE.”

For Salazar, the quality of his product is also extremely important and so the cabinetry is guaranteed for life.

“My goal is to be known as the custom closet company Arizona homeowners can count on for exceptional customer service, gorgeous and effective designs, and precise workmanship,” he says. “I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to use my creativity and skills in a way that was truly life-changing for the homeowners I worked with each day.”

LBClosets.com

sew PERFECT

FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES, BY THE YARD HAS BEEN MORE THAN JUST A FABRIC STORE

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

It was October 1987 when By The Yard first opened on Warner Road in Tempe. It’s been there— and been a community staple— ever since.

“Many people say it’s a candy store!” says Colleen Simon, who has been working with the store for 24 years. “All of the beautiful in-stock fabric options, coupled with our large resource room containing hundreds of books and fabric samples—it’s a onestop shop. We do everything … help with the design, make the product, measure, deliver, and install.”

By The Yard not only sells upholstery and drapery fabric and trim, but designs and manufactures custom items including window treatments, pillows, bedding, and more—the company even once made a custom boat cover upon request. There also is a selection of wallpaper.

Window treatments and upholstery are the most common requests, says Simon, who shares that store designers offer consultations in-store or at a customer’s home.

“I love helping customers create beautiful pieces or complete rooms that make them happy!” says Simon. “[And what we do] allows every day to be different, with new clients and new projects.”

The fabrics available include everything from high-end designer options to mill-direct products.

While products were made on-site when the company first launched, over the years the business has grown exponentially, necessitating the relocation of the workroom to a separate location.

The staff of By The Yard has mostly been the same for decades, a true testament to the company and its commitment to its integrity, culture, and mission.

“Even though we are not family, we’ve run like a family business for 37 years. We all have many years with By The Yard.”

ByTheYard.com

INSPIRED design

SHAUNNA COOPER HELPS CLIENTS DESIGN DREAM SPACES

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

It was a personal experience that led Shaunna Cooper to her now-thriving career. She had moved to Arizona and, in the process of decorating her apartment, realized she was very drawn to interior design. After seeing her results, family and friends soon began asking her for help with their own spaces.

Eventually, the now-interior designer launched Three & Me Designs (named for her three daughters), a full-service interior design company.

Cooper’s services range from oneroom refreshes—think window treatments, furniture, and accessories—to entire home remodels. She also offers paint/color consultations.

“I include a 3D rendering, so the client can visualize how their space will look, and I provide samples of the products I’ll be using so they can see the color, texture, and really visualize their space,” says Cooper, who brings everything to a client’s home so that the client can see the items in their space.

While Cooper designs in all decor styles, depending on the client’s vision, she always likes to include elements of nature, such as plants.

“I take my time with every project and make sure I’m meeting my client’s expectations,” she says. “I really take my time to get to know you and your space, and make sure that I’m able to meet your needs. I also like to provide fun options that you may not otherwise consider, since that’s why you hire someone with my expertise—to challenge your usual design style. I aim to meet your design style and be creative while doing so.”

ThreeAndMe.DecoratingDen.com

ARTICLE BY

MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

Perfect PLUMBING MADE

GOLD STAR PLUMBING & DRAIN TALKS ETHICS, AWARDS, AND ADVICE

Local family business Gold Star Plumbing & Drain is run by a husband-and-wife team, who is proud to say their son also works with the company. They offer professional water heater service, drain clearing, toilet repair, and other plumbing services.

“Our trained, licensed, and uniformed plumbers are standing by to assist with all of your residential and commercial plumbing needs,” says owner Michael Smith. “Our commitment to providing a Gold Star experience allows us to build long-lasting relationships with our customers that are based on trust, quality service, and fair pricing.”

“Our team’s dedication to going the extra mile has led to numerous instances where we have been able to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive experience for our customers.”

The company prides itself not only on its expertise, but its outstanding customer service—fivestar reviews on Google and Yelp, an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, a BBB Arizona Torch Award, and more.

Gold star, indeed.

What sets Gold Star Plumbing apart from others?

I feel our core values and ethics are what sets us apart. From our technician training to the way we answer our phones, we take our commitment to having the best team and making sure our company’s values and service standards are fully aligned seriously.

You recently won a 2023 Arizona Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau …

Winning the Torch Award is a tremendous honor for our company and further validates our customer-centric approach. This recognition is a source of immense pride for our team and reinforces our belief in the core values that have driven our success.

One thing you can say about your team is …

Our team's dedication to going the extra mile has led to numerous instances where we have been able to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive experience for our customers. From lending a helping hand during a natural disaster to offering support and advice for clients facing unexpected plumbing emergencies, our team continually demonstrates an unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled care and support to those we serve.

CONTINUED >

You like to give back to the community. Can you share what you do and why?

This hits home really big for me and our team. We started Project Star and have been able to give back to many homeowners who weren’t able to afford plumbing repairs to make them and their homes safe.

What are three things you get called on for the most?

Our most common call is for sewer and drain clogs, then water pipe leaks, and then I would say water heater issues.

Plumbing emergencies always seem to happen at off hours! Do you offer emergency services?

Yes, we do offer emergency services.

Any advice you can share with homeowners about plumbing?

Preventive maintenance is the key. We offer our Gold Star membership that includes a whole home inspection, water heater flush, and discounted services, and we always recommend to our customers that you also know where your main water shutoff is located and to make sure you have your plumbing inspected yearly.

GoldStarPlumbingAZ.com

““This step allows our youth more empowerment and independence.”

Those ages 18-24 who are aging out of foster care now have a safe place in Tempe to call home.

Foster360 opened a campus here in late 2023, due to demand and through support from funders.

The demand, says the organization, stems from the fact that 900 children age out of foster care in Arizona each year—with research showing that 50% of them go on to become homeless within two years.

Foster360 was founded in an effort to combat this cycle of trauma, poverty, and housing insecurity. The organization is focused on breaking the cycle of homelessness and adversity for youth aging out of foster care by providing holistic wraparound services that empower them with the necessary tools, education, and mindset to succeed in life, including safe housing in a community-centric and compassionate environment for those ages 18-24.

“Our first campus opened in Phoenix in 2019,” says Sommer Knight, co-executive director of Foster360, as well as a veteran trauma and resiliency life coach. “The Phoenix campus supports young adults 18 and older who have aged out of the foster care system, providing a safe home environment, as well as holistic trauma-informed care; life skills development; community partnerships; and workshops through Barrow Neurological Institute, Midwestern University, Junior Achievement of Arizona, Honor Health, and others.”

According to Knight, Foster360 also provides often-overlooked services for individuals, including traumatic brain injury intervention and support, nervous system calming, and introductory work as it relates to the re-wiring of neuropathways.

This new Tempe location serves as a second step in the program for these young adults.

“This step allows our youth more empowerment and independence,” explains Elena Reid, co-director of Foster360. “The new facility allows us to focus on our clients’ long-term plans through trauma-informed financial literacy, savings plans, education, and real-world practice as it relates to recognizing and maintaining healthy relationships, maintaining employment, identifying career paths and schooling, and ultimately being one step closer to never being homeless again.”

The campus features single units, so its resident youth take on the responsibility for their own space, and the goal is to serve as the stepping stone that so many young people need to successfully transition toward the next stage in their lives at their own pace. They can stay in the program for up to four years.

Among its biggest supporters is Mercy Care, who in late 2023 awarded the organization a Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant in the amount of $125,000.

“Mercy Care is a trusted partner with a legacy of helping Arizonans achieve better health since 1985. Mercy C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Community Action Resources Education and Service, is Mercy Care’s community-giving initiative, and amplifies our work to support the whole-health needs of Arizonans, deliver quality outcomes, promote health equity, and prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation,” says Karrie Steving, Children's System of Care and Department of Child Safety administrator at Mercy Care. “Through this partnership with Foster 360, we are able to remove barriers to housing for youth who are aging out of foster care and offer the additional support needed to help them live a healthier life and achieve their full potential.”

“ ”

Since its inception, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. has focused on partnerships with organizations across the state whose health focus areas are aligned with Mercy Care’s community health focuses, which are managing chronic conditions; supporting mental health and well-being; addressing housing security; and empowering recovery from substance use.

Just some of the other local programs and organizations benefiting from recent Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grants include Valleywise Health Foundation Pediatric Care Coordination Medical Home Project, Ryan House Support-A-Stay program, Human Services Campus, Inc.’s Respiro, Oakwood Creative Care Welcome to the Dementia Hub, and Covenant Health Network Caring for our Care Force.

Mercy Care also provided $670,000 to launch the Choose Your Person community education campaign, which includes training as many as 50 community assistors and hosting community workshops on advance care planning, where advance healthcare directives can be completed and registered in the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry AzHDR, a platform that provides healthcare providers with seamless access to patients’ end-of-life care wishes.

For more information about Foster360 and its work in Tempe, visit  Foster360.org . For more information about Mercy Cares and its Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant program, visit  MercyCareAZ.org/ mercy-cares.html .

ZONE BLUE

What’s the secret to a happy, healthy, and long life? Believe it or not, it’s actually quite simple: There are no secret ingredients, no sizable expenditures, and absolutely zero manufactured elements of any kind. Dive in with us as we share insights from our interview with the internationally renowned Blue Zones Founder, National Geographic Explorer, and award-winning journalist who is revolutionizing the way Americans make choices that can lead to living your best life.

New York Times Best-Selling Author and Netflix Producer, Dan Buettner, Inspires a Better Life Based on Research From the World’s Healthiest Cultures

For more than 20 years, Dan Buettner has been fully committed to studying the health and longevity of Americans, as well as influencing the proper and attainable health-centric environments our communities should embody. What started with identifying five “blue zones” around the world— where people are living longer, as well as enjoying a higher quality of life in their elder years—has now also evolved into proactively creating ecosystems where our communities engage in setting the standard for clean health.

Buettner’s first cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen, is a fantastic resource, featuring ingredients and cooking methods that can increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. The recipes also include lifestyle tips such as proper portion sizes and the best times to eat dinner. Plus, check out his additional seven books that dig deep into everything from the exact foods you should eat to how your circle of friends and family can influence your quality of life.

Every time you go out to eat, you will consume an extra 300 calories that are laden with more sodium, sugar, and oil than eating at home. “Get your hands on a plant-based cookbook, pick a dozen recipes, and cook those with your family on Sundays. If you make the effort to cook it with your family, you will gain the skills and learn to make some good and whole food plant-based recipes.”

Tap into Dan’s wisdom that is creating a new category of places that are not merely the legacy of a healthy culture, but more consciously created by enlightened individuals that are intent on supercharging healthier communities! Follow @DanBuettner and @BlueZones

visit BlueZones.com to shop

MARCH 2024

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

MARCH 1ST - JULY 21ST

Sarah Zapata: Beneath the Breath of the Sun

ASU Art Museum Nelson Fine Arts Center

This solo museum presentation of New York-based textile artist Sarah Zapata features never-before-seen works completed while she was in residence for three months in Phoenix with CALA Alliance. It employs weaving, tufting, and traditional craft techniques to create loud, architecturally responsive works. Traversing themes of gender, colonialism and fantasy, Zapata's hand-woven, manufactured environment evokes an otherworldly experience that plays on an imagined sense of time. ASUArtMuseum.org

MARCH 8TH - 10TH

Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts

Downtown Tempe | 10:00 AM

More than 350 artist booths line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets, presenting unique and handmade artwork that offers visitors a distinctive shopping experience. Find everything from woodwork to photography to ceramics and even wearable art. Food and entertainment, too. The Tempe Festival of the Arts consistently ranks among the Top 20 Art Festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist. TempeFestivalOfTheArts.com

MARCH 8TH

Mike Massé: Epic Acoustic Classic Rock in Concert

Tempe Center for the Arts | 7:30 PM

YouTube icon Mike Massé returns to Tempe Center for the Arts to take the stage and transport you back to the golden era of rock, delivering powerful acoustic renditions of favorite classic hits. Massé is an internationally acclaimed artist whose acoustic arrangements are praised for their originality and emotional impact. TempeCenterForTheArts.com

MARCH 16TH

16th Annual feeney/winthrop Benefit Concert

Tempe Center for the Arts | 7:00 PM

Local nonprofit St. Joseph the Worker's 16th Annual feeney/winthrop Benefit Concert will be held at Tempe Center for the Arts. The local band, consisting of Matt Feeney, Larry Winthrop, Pat Winthrop, Luke Holton, and Ellen Hawley McWhirter, has been making music together since the early 1990s. The event supports the organization's mission to assist unhoused, low-income, and other disadvantaged individuals in securing sustainable, quality employment. SJWJobs.org

MARCH 16TH

Zoobilation

Phoenix Zoo | 7:00 PM

The Phoenix Zoo's new gala is a culinary safari that allows guests to explore the zoo's trails on foot or via the Safari Cruiser, and experience unique performances while savoring cuisine from around the world along the way. All proceeds from the event go toward the zoo’s mission of advancing the stewardship and conservation of animals and their habitats. PhoenixZoo.org

MARCH 23RD - 24TH

Arizona Dragon Boat Festival

Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park

Who would have thought that dragon boat racing, with its roots in southern China as an ancient folk ritual for the past 2,000 years, would find its way to a modern, man-made lake in the middle of the Arizona desert? Join the Arizona Dragon Boat Association for two days of dragon boat competition with teams from all over the world. AZDBA.org