Sonoran Lifestyle Faces of Fountain Hills

Chocofin Chocolatier Sami Fine Jewelry

Entrepreneurs and Volunteers Building a World Class Lifestyle …

WELCOME

FACES OF F OUNTAIN HILLS

SET Enterprises VFW Carl Krawczyk Cummings Termite & Pest Control TruFit Studio

The Faces of Fountain Hills features innovative entrepreneurs making a local, regional and global impact. But the Faces of Fountain Hills honorees have created their work and their recreation into a Sonoran Lifestyle that is often sought after, is very rare, but is surprisingly achievable in Fountain Hills.

Euro Pizza Café

more than successful businesses. They have blended their passion for living,

Matthew Hummel Family Medicine

Welcome to the Inaugural edition of the Faces of Fountain Hills ... Fountain Hills’ matchless vistas are world famous, and the area is rich with distinctive individuals who are the soul of the “Sonoran Lifestyle.”

The Faces of Fountain Hills is a group of community leaders imbued with an innovative spirit. But these honorees have created more than successful businesses.

They have created a fulfilling flow between their work, social and recreational pursuits that uniquely defines the lifestyle we enjoy in the Sonoran Desert Foothills.

For those of you who are fortunate enough to call the Northeast Valley home, we hope these vignettes make you smile and say a mental “Yes!” for the business you know, and a “Wow!” for the ones you are just learning about. And for those who are experiencing our area for the first time through these business innovators, we invite you to picture yourself living, working and playing in one of the “Best Places to live in Arizona”.

We think Fountain Hills, could be right up your “fairway.”* Dori Wittrig, CEO, Designated Broker Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate

Connect at the Chamber of Commerce Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce welcomes all who want to become actively involved in a thriving business environment. From local, regional and state issues, educational seminars and marketing opportunities to leads groups, monthly breakfasts and networking with other engaged business professionals, the Chamber is the place to connect in Fountain Hills.

Entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and business professionals find our community to be very welcoming, supportive and interested in keeping business local. In addition to our business members, the Fountain Hills Chamber welcomes Friends of the Chamber – residents who are not local business owners, but who enjoy participating as volunteers supporting the business community.

The launch of the Faces of Fountain Hills by one of our members, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate, highlights one of the very best advantages of establishing a business in Fountain Hills – the ability to grow a business in a supportive environment where you can live, work and recreate in one of the most scenic and friendly locations in the Southwest. Each of these entrepreneur’s stories are a great example of our unique business environment.

The Staff, Board, and Committee members of the Chamber are available to meet with and answer questions for anyone considering joining our business community. Please feel free to contact me via phone or email. We thrive on helping local business develop and prosper.

Scott Soldat-Valenzuela, CEO scott@fountainhillschamber.com 480.837.1654

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Fountain Hills is a dynamic, growing city that is located within the Phoenix Metro­ politan Statistical Area with a population of just over 24,000. Fountain Hills offers convenient access to urban assets, yet is located within the McDowell Mountains, offering nearly 20 square miles of panoramic vistas and lush desert landscapes.

Fountain Hills is an award winning community with a wide range of housing options providing plenty of opportunities.

Whether you’re interested in starting a business, moving your company to the area, or moving your family here, you’ve come to the right place. Fountain Hills extends a warm welcome and full community services to make your relocation a success. Our schools, climate, excellent transportation, growing economy and proximity to a major metropolitan area all combine to make Fountain Hills a great place to visit, work, and live.

If you are considering a location for your new or expanding business, contact the Fountain Hills Economic Development Department. We provide confidential site selection services and act as your single point of contact for gathering the people and information necessary to position your business for success.

Scott Cooper, CEcD Economic Development Director scooper@fh.az.gov 480.816.5104

https://youtu.be/acQqhwRIWIY

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CHOCOFIN CHOCOLATIER Louis and Denise Mirabella

“The lifestyle we have – with work, home, school, shopping, medical care within minutes works especially well for families caring for children or adults in their homes. The lack of stress from traffic, customers we enjoy, the tranquility of the views, the ability to be outdoors and enjoying nature … it all adds up to a fulfilling life.”

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WHO WANTS CHOCOLATE? Luckily for Louis and Denise Mirabella, lots of people in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, the Valley, and a bevy of fans from across the US and Canada are passionate about their unique artisan chocolates. Their delightful shop, Chocofin in the Basha’s Center is the “go to” place in the area for exceptional desserts, ice cream, and most of all, for their exquisite handmade chocolates. Launched as a wholesale business in Fountain Hills industrial area in 2001, Chocofin has become one of Fountain Hills most successful boutique businesses.

Denise remarks with a smile, “We love the sense of community here, and the fact that we are five minutes from home and our son’s school have made it possible to dedicate the time our business demands and still have a family life.” Louis adds “Our peak times are holidays, when the demand for fine chocolates as gifts and luscious deserts are at their peak. I can go home after closing, have dinner with my family, return to do several hours of extra production and still be back home at a reasonable hour. We enjoy hundreds of hours of extra leisure time because our home and business are just minutes apart.”

Networking at Chamber of Commerce functions and participation in the Fountain Hills Art Fairs increased their customer base, both inside Fountain Hills and across the country. “Wholesale sales to resorts and specialty shops remains about 20% of our business, and we have added cakes, pastries and ice cream to our retail offerings. Summers are slower, but people still have birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions. Diversification, the addition of a robust on-line business, and loyal ‘regulars’ maintain steady flow of business throughout the year.”

“The lifestyle we have – with work, home, school, shopping, medical care within minutes works especially well for families caring for children or adults in their homes. The lack of stress from traffic, customers we enjoy, the tranquility of the views, the ability to be outdoors and enjoying nature ... it all adds up to a fulfilling life.”

Chocofin Chocolatier 13404 N. La Montana Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-836-7444 www.chocofin.com

FACES

Owners: Louis and Denise Mirabella

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Stop in for Deserts, Chocolate, Gelato, Sorbet, and more!

Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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SAMI FINE JEWELRY Stephenie Bjorkman

Stephenie loves that her home, family, business, dogs, and show horses are all within a 20-minute radius. “I can take off one hat and put on another without wasting time with a long commute. I am passionate about all of the things I do, and treasure my life serving the people and the community I love.”

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DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND! But if you are Stephenie Bjorkman, your “BFF’s” would include not only diamonds but a large portion of exclusive Arizona Amethyst and hundreds of exotic stones that the team at Sami Fine Jewelry transform into exquisite jewelry for thousands of delighted customers.

A cowgirl at heart, Stephenie weaves diamonds, boots, jeans, denim and horse hair into her unique fashion statement. And though she spends her weekends competing with her reining and cow horses, when the sun comes up on Monday morning, she is once again the vibrant and creative President of Sami Fine Jewelry.

“In my late teens, I worked at Sami Fine Jewelry with my Mom, Sami Jack, never dreaming I would find my niche in the jewelry business. She convinced me that riding and showing horses would require a job where ‘I’ could support my lifestyle! So I embraced the jewelry business and now I have found my passion.”

“I use a multi-touch media outreach to thousands of our local, national and international customers. Shopping at Sami’s is fun, and keeping in touch lets our customers browse or buy without feeling like they have been ‘sold.’ From Pokémon Go for the younger set to “Love in the Hills,” for our more mature clients, we make Sami’s relevant and accessible to buyers of all ages and genders. Our expanded American Gemstone Collection, features individual rare jewels we source like Montana Sapphires, California Tourmaline, Colorado Aquamarine, and New Mexico Fire Agate. Knowing our customers’ preferences, we often e-mail a picture of a new piece and make a sale before it hits the case. Personalizing our social media helps us respond to our customers’ changing tastes and preferences, but creating these new designs improves and diversifies our entire line of products.”

Passionate about Fountain Hills, Sami and Stephenie have supported fundraising efforts for decades, so S ­ tephenie and the Sami’s crew have created two Fountain Hills extravaganzas.

“We launched the Valentine’s Day Love in the Hills vow-renewal event in Fountain Park, and it’s grown to one of the largest of its kind in the world. I’m an animal person, so we organized a costumed ‘Pets & Their People,’ never dreaming Halloween in the Hills would become one of top five Halloween celebrations in the State!

Stephenie loves that her home, family, business, dogs, and horses are all within a 20-minute radius. “I can take off one hat and put on another without wasting time with a long commute. I am passionate about all of the things I do, and treasure my life serving the people and the community I love.”

FACES

Sami Fine Jewelry 16704 E Ave of the Fountains #100 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-837-8168 Owner: Stephenie Bjorkman Founder: Sami Jack

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The destination for AZ Four Peaks Amethyst, AZ Peridot, and AZ Anthill Garnet

Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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SET ENTERPRISES Colette Falco

Expanding the business in Fountain Hills was a natural choice for Colette, who believes that … flex time in a small company reduces stress and encourages employee retention.

“If one of our employees wants to attend a school activity, or has to meet a repair person at home, it’s no problem for us because it only takes a few minutes to go from place to place in Fountain Hills.”

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YOU MAKE A LIVING MAKING GAMES? Colette Falco, CEO of Set Enterprises, Inc., gets that question a lot. But then so did her Mom, Marsha Falco, when she invented the card game, Set in 1979, and launched the company in 1990. Shortly after the first production run of 5,000 games, Set won a coveted MENSA Mind Games competition, and the family indeed began to “make a living making Games!”

As a packaging engineer working in California, Colette never imagined she would be back in Fountain Hills, as she says, “taking over this deceivingly small company.” Fourteen years later, Marsha is still inventing new games, while Collette has molded Set Enterprises into a culturally-responsive international company.

Licensed and distributed in 40 countries around the world, the Set family of games are consistently judged among the 10 best card games in the U.S. by the toy industry’s Toy Directory, and among the top 10 educational games for kids by Imagination Soup.

Expanding the business in Fountain Hills was a natural choice for Colette, with a safe, convenient location available to accommodate the company’s growth.

She believes that cross-training and flex time in a small company reduces stress and encourages employee retention. “If one of our employees wants to attend a school activity, or has to meet a repair person at home, it’s no problem for us because it only takes a few minutes to go from place to place in Fountain Hills.”

“I love to be out of doors, and my dogs Maui and Kya and I volunteer with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue Unit. Fountain Hills is adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, so we can be near Saguaro Lake or the Verde River in 25 minutes. The Posse can call on us to leave work and be at a search site within minutes during weekdays, which most of the Unit can only do on weekends.”

“I’m spoiled living and working in Fountain Hills. With flexible work hours and no commute, I can manage an ­interesting company that challenges me every day, have a personal life, and support my community through Search and Rescue.”

Set Enterprise’s challenging games for players of all ages have undergone yet another evolution from the Falco’s family game night in the ‘70’s. The Set family of games are increasingly used as learning tools in school programs ranging from gifted to autistic students, and everyone in between. So it’s a good thing Colette loves travelling – with new countries to conquer, educational and cognitive function studies on the horizon, it is no doubt a matter of “Forty countries down, 1000 to go” for Set Enterprises.

SET Enterprises 16537 E Laser Dr # 10 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-837-3628 www.setgame.com

FACES

Owner: Colette Falco

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Challenging games for all ages, enjoyed every day across the Globe.

Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, PAST 7507 Carl Krawczyk

“We have members from WWII, those returning from recent deployments, and every conflict in between. For many of our younger members especially … they feel adrift stateside. Others can no longer drive, and although they have plenty to contribute, are feeling isolated. We want this VFW Post to be a hub for Veterans to enjoy camaraderie while using his or her talents to quietly help a sister or brother who served.”

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NEIGHBORS HELPING VETERANS When Carl Krawczyk became commander of VFW Post 7507 in Fountain Hills, he had one guiding principal at heart: to make this chapter a true “Member’s Post.” Working with like-minded committee members, they have built a welcoming, inclusive organization – Veterans helping Veterans -- regardless of their branch of service, or the conflict in which they served.

“We have members from WWII, those returning from recent deployments in the Middle East, and every conflict in between. Many Vets are eligible for benefits but haven’t the knowledge to negotiate the system. For many of our younger members especially, the bond with the troops they fought beside were the strongest of their lives, and they are adrift stateside. Others can no longer drive, and although they have plenty to contribute, are feeling isolated. We want this VFW Post to be a hub for Veterans to enjoy camaraderie while using his or her talents to quietly help a sister or brother who served.”

The Post’s Veterans Community Resource Center project kicked off in August, 2015. “Where younger Vets need help with job search and interview skills, our older Veterans want to master computers, tablets and smart phones. We have applied for a grant to obtain equipment, but our volunteers’ mentoring skills will make this Center relevant.”

Proceeds from two Beer Gardens the Post operates at the Fountain Hills Fairs, their annual Golf Tournament and Red Shirt Friday supports the Post’s operations and member assistance. It also allows the Post to provide community service recognition across many sectors in Fountain Hills: • Ceremonial Color Guards

• Fountain Hills Veterans Memorial

• Honor Roll for those on Active Duty

• Elementary and H.S. Teacher of the Year

• Military Funeral Services

• Police, Fire, EMT and Posse Member of the Year

• POW/MIA Day Flag Raising Ceremonies

• 4th of July Ice Cream Social But the Post’s community contributions don’t stop there. They award scholarships for the Voice of Democracy ­writing contest for grades 10-12; Patriot’s Pen contest for grades 5-9. Their Vets in the Classroom presentations relate personal experiences to the actual wars the students are studying. Post volunteers participate in the Town’s Make a Difference Day and the County’s Adopt a Street program.

Since January, 2016, the Post is thrilled that a growing number of local businesses have asked to give a percent of their proceeds to help fund the Post’s outreach. “It’s one of the things that makes living in Fountain Hills great ... Neighbors helping neighbors to help support those who served.”

V.F.W. Post 7507 9624 N. Monterey Dr. Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 (480) 836-5520

FACES

www.vfwpost7507.org

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Commander: Carl Krawczyk

Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

Using our talents to help a sister or brother who served.

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CUMMINGS TERMITE & PEST CONTROL Nathan and Adam Watters

“Fountain Hills is the perfect hub for service companies targeting the northeast Valley. Focusing on a specific geographic territory was key to our growth strategy, and our fuels costs dropped dramatically when we moved the Company here from central Phoenix. In Fountain Hills we could build our new facility with enough expansion space to triple our size over time.�

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BRINGING OUR “A” GAME When the Nathan and Adam Watters purchased Cummings Pest Control in 2005, it’s central Phoenix location had grown from a service area of 600,000 people in 1972 to a whopping 5,000,000 population spread all over the Valley. After analyzing their highest concentration of customers, it was clear that relocating Cummings to Fountain Hills and focusing their growth on a specific demographic would be the pathway to their success.

“We wanted to invigorate the company and basically re-launch it with a more sophisticated image,” President Nathan Watters explains. “Fountain Hills is the perfect hub for service companies targeting the northeast Valley. Focusing on a specific geographic territory was key to our growth strategy, and our fuels costs dropped dramatically when we moved the Company here from central Phoenix. In Fountain Hills we could build our new facility with enough expansion space to triple our size over time.”

Pest management is essentially a Public Health business, requiring training and certification for the company and all technicians. “We continue to recruit employees from the Fountain Hills and North Scottsdale area, so half of our service representatives now live and work ‘locally.’ We want our people to be happy to come to work here and to feel connected to the customers on their routes. I look for people with good interpersonal skills, because our business model – customer retention and growth within proscribed geographic boundaries – depends on bringing our “A” game to deliver superior customer service from the very first phone call.”

Unlike home services like landscaping, pest management places technicians inside every corner of the homes they serve, so trustworthiness and communication are essential. “A successful service business in the northeast valley should expect to be held to a very high standard of service by their customers. But if the company defines ‘exceptional service’ as the benchmark of their business model, trains and supports its employees to that end, word of mouth referrals will grow and sustain the business.”

Cummings Pest Control is a major supporter of the Fountain Hills Theater, contributes to dozens of fundraising efforts, and Nathan serves on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. “We use a very successful SEO campaign to reach customers across our larger service area, but in a small town like Fountain Hills, people like to do business with people they know. It’s rewarding in Fountain Hills to support other businesses with referrals and shopping locally whenever we can, and to feel their loyalty and support coming back to us.”

Cummings Termite & Pest Control 16918 E Colony Drive Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-994-9599

FACES

Owners: Nathan and Adam Watters

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Providing pest management solutions through exceptional customer service.

Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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TRUFIT STUDIO Cindy Holliday

“As TruFit Studio evolved in Fountain Hills, I have developed a community of supportive relationships that I would never have had without the business. I can ride my bike to work or walk out the door of my home and hike beautiful trails just a few steps from my door. When I was nominated for Business Person of the Year, two tables of my clients attended the Chamber Gala to support me! I could not imagine that level of loving support any place but Fountain Hills.�

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A “JUDGEMENT-FREE” EXERCISE ENVIRONMENT While working as a registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, Cindy Holliday discovered she had a gift for relating especially well with her senior patients. At the same time in her personal life, she segwayed from yoga participant to yoga teacher, and the idea for a fitness/wellness center began to take shape. So when she lights up describing the manifestation of the TruFit Studio concept, it’s a clear that she has embarked on an incredible journey.

“TruFit has evolved into a community resource over nearly a decade in Fountain Hills.

Our growth is a direct result of word of mouth referrals that are unique to close-knit communities like ours…Our members don’t just talk with their friends about their experience, they bring them to class! An expanding group of colleagues in the business community stepped forward over and over again to actively support the growth of TruFit programs. Already established as a ‘judgement free’ exercise environment, the business basically doubled when we moved into the Fountain Hills medical complex, gaining more support for our approach to fitness and body awareness. It’s been said that we never teach the same class twice – we listen to our members’ ideas and strive to make our classes an enjoyable mind-body experience.”

But TruFit’s success goes beyond developing a community of friends who come for their daily dose of stretching and conditioning. “I saw the need for a program specifically focusing on members struggling with Parkinson’s disease. After completing certification as an instructor for Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery Program, I designed our proprietary ConunDrum of Parkinson’s ® Yoga program. We concentrate on activities that retrain the neuro-pathways through a variety of exercises that enhance strength, coordination, balance and memory. Participants and caretakers relate that the effects of each session are clearly visible, and are delighted how the ­sessions provide hope and decrease frustration.”

People choose to live and work in Fountain Hills for a variety of reasons, but love of outdoor living goes hand in hand with an appropriate fitness regimen. But Cindy has also recognized the community’s insatiable appetite for learning, responding with a broad spectrum of classes.

Diabetes, like Parkinson’s, is more prevalent in the over-60 population, and TruFit responded with classes on modern nutritional guidelines and ‘clean eating’/ healthful cooking as part of a natural approach to disease management.

TruFit Studio Cindy Holliday 16838 E Palisades Blvd Fountain Hills, AZ, 85268 480-272-0547

FACES

I can ride my bike to work or walk out the door of my home and hike beautiful trails just a few steps from my door.

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Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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EURO PIZZA CAFÉ Merita Kraya

It came as no surprise to the community that Merita Kraya was honored as “Business Person of the Year” in 2012. Her popular Euro Pizza Café overlooking the Fountain has become the dining hub of downtown dining.

Known for outstanding service in a bistro-style setting, the fresh and innovative meals and small plates delight loyal customers who consider themselves part of Merita’s “family.”

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“PAYING IT FORWARD” BUILDS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS When you’ve got the moxie to leave Communist Albania as a 26 year old – not a word to family or friends – and seek political asylum in a new continent, creating a successful restaurant business on the other side of the world must have seemed like “a piece of cake” for Merita Kraya, owner and manager of Euro Pizza Café. “I was a civil engineer looking for a perfect restaurant location for a client when I found Fountain Hills. The client decided to pass on it, and I decided to stay. I had absolutely no experience in the restaurant business … none! But 43 employees later, I never had an inkling of failure.”

Through 17 years on a steep learning curve, Merita is as proud of her relationship with extended family (four by birth, hundreds via the Café) as she is for her 2012 Chamber Business Person of the Year honors.

“The restaurant’s proximity to home and school gave me the gift of time and the flexibility to raise my kids in a safe environment. Our ‘guests’ as we call our customers have nurtured my kids as they’ve grown, and like all small towns, I heard about any troubles in their school day long before it was the topic at the dinner table! My children grew up in a multigenerational ­environment where more than just Mom and Dad are invested in them. When my oldest son graduated from Marine boot camp in San Diego, two of our loyal Marine regulars drove to San Diego to celebrate “Semper Fi” with us. Who could ask for more than that?”

But Merita pays it forward in a unique way, weaving her staff’s families into Fountain Hill familyfriendly lifestyle as well. Over the years she has purchased condos in Fountain Hills and rented them to her key employees. “It is a good investment for me at many levels. I get employees who are on time, who can pop out to their child’s school or a dental appointment when they need to, who are relaxed and cordial to our guests, and who take marvelous care of my properties. When they are at the local grocery store and one of their Café regulars asks to see where their little one lost a tooth, it reinforces the sense of family that we all treasure in Fountain Hills.

And by the way, when people complain about today’s teens being spoiled or lazy – my experience is just the opposite! We love the energy and seriousness our teen workers bring to the Café, and enjoy being their first job experience.”

“Although I felt I had no choice but to succeed in my Café, many other business owners in Fountain Hills have coached and supported me, becoming treasured friends. The scenic mountains encircling Fountain Hills are unforgettable, but to me they are a kind of symbol of what is like to live and work embraced in a nurturing community.”

FACES

Euro Pizza Café Merita Kraya 12645 N Saguaro Blvd #11 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-836-0207 I was a civil engineer looking for a perfect restaurant location for a client when I found Fountain Hills. The client decided to pass on it, and I decided to stay.

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Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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MATTHEW HUMMEL, M.D. FAMILY MEDICINE Matthew Hummel

Dr. Matt Hummel’s “total health” approach to medical treatment gave rise to the partnership that created the Fountain Hills Medical Campus. The centrally located complex is now home to Fountain Hills Family Practice, Spooner and Shaft Physical Therapy Center, Imaging and Lab facilities, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Fitness and Yoga, Nutrition specialties, and more than 15 consulting physicians, including Oncology, Cardiology, and Pulmonary specialists.

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ONE OF ARIZONA’S “TOP DOCS” Matthew Hummel didn’t just want to be a physician when he grew up, he wanted to be a healer … the kind who takes the time to really get to know his patients and to treat the whole person, not just a practitioner who throws a “pill” at every problem. And by just about any measure – the “5-star” ratings by his patients or the accolades of his peers – his Family Practice in Fountain Hills has achieved that goal.

“I feel like our practice model is efficient, but I don’t rush through my consultations in impossible ‘6 minute’ intervals. We try very hard to respect the trust that our patients have in us, and to treat them in context of what we know about their total health history, not just today’s presenting problem.”

And apparently, Dr. Hummel’s peers agree with his approach, voting him one of Arizona’s “Top Docs” nearly every year from 2004 to the latest honor in 2016. He won recognition as an outstanding Preceptor in the field of Family Practice from ASU and Wayne State University has recognized his participation in mentoring Doctors and Nurse Practitioners in patient-centered practice management.

So it’s only natural that Dr. Hummel’s “total health” approach to medical treatment gave rise to the partnership that created the Fountain Hills Medical Campus. The centrally located complex is now home to Fountain Hills Family Practice, a Physical Therapy center, Imaging and Lab facilities, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Fitness and Yoga, Nutrition specialties, and more than 15 consulting physicians in a single location. “We have seen some of our patients for nearly 20 years, and continuity of care and compliance is much easier to manage when they don’t have to drive all over the Valley for the tests and treatment. Many of our preferred specialists now schedule regular office hours in our facility, making on-going care for specialties such as oncology and cardiology even more effective. Patients tell me they like being able to see their doctors, have blood tests, get an X-ray and have therapy without moving their car!”

Dr. Matt’s service as Team Physician for many of FHUSD’s athletic teams spans nearly two decades, and his dedication to the health and safety of young athletes has touched hundreds of area families over the years. “With my practice, my home and the High School so close, I’ve been able to be very involved with youth sports and my own kids’ activities as they’ve grown.

Even after nearly 20 years, the beauty of the mountains is uplifting every time I walk out the door … I never get tired of looking out over the mountains and these uplifting views.”

Furthering his goal to be the kind of physician who takes time to be especially thorough over the entire spectrum of his patient’s health issues, Dr Hummel joined MDVIP, a patient-focused care organization. Seeing 8-10 patients per day, as opposed to the industry norm of 18-20 appointments gives him time to focus on wellness and preventative care in the collegial environment he and his patients treasure.

FACES

Matthew Hummel, M.D. Family Medicine 16838 E. Palisades Blvd.

Suite C153 866-404-8637 As an MDVIP-affiliated physician, I look forward to having the additional time to spend with my patients that a traditional practice does not afford.

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Celebrating Vision and Leadership in “The World’s Greatest Town!”

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SONORAN LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATE Dori Wittrig President and Designated Broker

The team at SLRE impacts the “fun quotient” of the community by sponsoring key community events … One of our favorite outreach projects is our annual holiday “Scavenger Hunt” to benefit the Fountain Hills Extended Hands Food Bank.

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SONORAN LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATE The Faces of Fountain Hills project is just one of the many community initiatives created by Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate, as service and community involvement are key operating principals of the ­company.

Community Service Defines Our “Sonoran Lifestyle” The team at SLRE impacts the “fun quotient” of the community by sponsoring key community events like our “Spider Village” Family party at Halloween, Elves Village at the town’s Stroll in the Glow event, and a great St Patrick’s Day Extravaganza. Each of us follows our passion volunteering with the Chamber and other Business, Leadership, Recreational and Cultural support ventures. Dori Wittrig, CEO of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate, was honored for her decades of community leadership in 2016 with her installation as a member of the Lower Verde Valley Hall of Fame.

“Our agents are current on Real Estate trends in the area and have in depth knowledge of the variety and value of homes in our market,” says Wittrig. “But more than that, our volunteer and community activities keep us woven into the fabric of Fountain Hills. Helping clients find their perfect home, but also a niche for them in the community is a rewarding aspect of our work we truly cherish. It is a key factor in transitioning satisfied clients into treasured friends.”

Sonoran Lifestyle Agents are Trusted Advisors Believing that Real Estate is the most personal aspect of a family’s net worth, SLRE creates a targeted semi-annual Market Report to keep clients abreast of local market conditions. Clients use this timely data to explore options and make realistic plans for the future. As valued advisors, earned over ­decades of “right-sizing” moves with many of our clients, SLRE agents also have a cadre of financing, remodeling and decorating professionals whose services enhance the pleasure of day to day living and maximize the return upon a sale.

We Are the Hub of the Community SLRE is located at the hub of Fountain Hills Town Center on the Avenue of the Fountains, and we pride ourselves on gauging the pulse of the community. In addition to the timely “head’s up” Blog posts about interesting activities, classes and special events, we have a number of key Real Estate and area lifestyle documents available on our website.

We invite you to click to browse topics of your choice, or download a printable copy.

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INFORMATION GUIDE LINKS Enjoy the most helpful library of Area Information.

PROPERTY AND RELOCATION GUIDE

FOUNTAIN HILLS DINING GUIDE

FOUNTAIN HILLS ART WALK

EVENTS AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

FOUNTAIN HILLS MARKET REPORT

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