Scottsdale Airpark News - Feb. 2017 by Times Media Group

CHIPPING AWAY

Golf biz forced to evolve

THE BUSINESS OF GOLF AND THE AIRPARK

BOB PARSONS’

SCOTTSDALE GOLF CLUB

What the WELL-ARMED WOMAN is wearing

480-483-8107

Buildings for Sale by Owner

Perfect Corporate Headquarters

14901 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 7320 E Butherus Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Mont Aster is a 3-story full-service executive office building on Scottsdale Road just a fraction of a mile south of the Kierland Commons business/shopping area. It has 9 suites, from approximately 500 to 3500 S.F. +/-, with a state-of-the-art monitored building security and heating/ cooling system, a central elevator, an exterior stairway, and a restroom facility on each floor. 42 covered and 18 uncovered assigned parking spaces surround the complex with an additional 10 spots for visitors and 3 handicapped spaces.

• Walking distance to taxiway hangars

• Cooling tower & computer control

• Digital thermostat

• Security door

• 3 Story Free standing office building

• 17,770 SF +/-, on 44,702 SF +/- lot

• Adjacent to Kierland Gardens & Scottsdale Quarter in major Scottsdale Airpark area

• Shopping, dining and other amenities within walking distance

• Total of 73 parking spaces

• 5 min drive from 101 freeway

$6,000,000.00

Sky Peak is a 2-story full-service executive office building on 7320 E Butherus Dr, one block east of Scottsdale Road, Accross the street from the Scottsdale Quarter and the Kierland Commons business/shopping area. It has 15 suites, from approximately 892 to 4300 S.F. +/-, with a state-of-the-art monitored building security and heating/cooling system, a central elevator, an exterior stairway, and a restroom facility on each floor. 35 covered and 88 uncovered parking spaces surround the complex plus 4 handicapped spaces.

• 3 Covered airplane parking spaces

• Cooling tower & computer control

• Digital thermostat

• Security door

• 2 Story Free standing office building

• 35,934 SF +/-, on 144,449 SF +/- lot

• Adjacent to Kierland Gardens & Scottsdale Quarter in major Scottsdale Airpark area

• Shopping, dining and other amenities within close walking distance

• Total of 128 parking spaces

• 5 min drive from 101 freeway $10,800,000.00

• Newly built modern lobby

• Newly renovated pilots lounge, flight planning, conference rooms, quiet rooms, shower room

• Spacious ramp

• Go Rentals luxury cars on site

• Secure parking for passengers vehicles

• Easy access to US Customs (PPR)

• CAA Preferred FBO

• Gourmet catering available

• Easy access to upscale dining and shopping

• Hangar Space Available

February 2017

FEATURES

20 | Meet Your Airpark Neighbor Energy Efficiency Pros’ Don Arrigo is a bright light in energy savings.

48 | They’re packing heat in style Former homeless-ministry leader empowers the well-armed woman.

THE BUSINESS OF GOLF

24 | The Bob Parsons project drives on First GoDaddy and motorcycles, now it's golf for the Airpark icon.

32 | Buddy, can you spare 5 hours? In the age of short attention spans, golf finds ways to speed play for survival.

38 | They’re no Danny Noonans Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship winners are a cut above.

40 | Caddies taking a step forward Long-lost loopers may resurface near the Airpark.

44 | Where’s the first tee, and what’s the course record? Airpark entrepreneur’s app may change the world of golf.

46 | Get in the swing of the game Airpark’s Bocieri Golf, maker of splendid putters and clubs, can also fix your swing.

SPOTLIGHT

50 | Remember when Scottsdale has a rich history in space exploration.

56 | Caught You Looking Good Iconic winter events draw crowds to Scottsdale.

57 | Dining Destinations Eastern European fare invades the Airpark area.

60 | Passion and Pedigree The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show celebrates 62 years.

COLUMNS

62 | Chamber of Commerce Community-service volunteers are recognized.

64 | Legal Perspectives

Can my neighbor take a portion of my property?

66 | Talking Tourism 3 ways to boost and sustain the industry.

68 | Insurance and Benefits Take steps to improve your fortunes.

70 | Commercial Real Estate and You Dealing with HVAC issues can be tricky.

72 | Financial Fundamentals Don’t fall prey to the retirement killer.

75 | Coach’s Corner Rise and shine, it’s rooster time.

Rob Rashell, a Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies alum, gives back to the game as director of instruction at TPC Scottsdale in the Airpark.

Photo by Larry Mangino

Golf and the Airpark

“Golf? Nixon plays golf.”

The source of that jab was the movie “Caddyshack.” The year was 1980.

So 37 years ago – long before we had the internet, smart phones or attention spans shorter than a 300-yard drive down the middle of the fairway – some were already bemoaning the impending death of golf. Many were saying the younger generations found the sport irrelevant.

Golf fared pretty well through those subsequent years.

But now, nearly four decades later, the industry is scrambling once again to attract a broader audience, lest it go the way of bowling and tennis.

Roberta Peterson Editor In Chief

This month, in our annual golf issue, we examine the business of golf, still an economic driver in the Airpark.

Of course, the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale draws hundreds of thousands of spectators with deep wallets to the Airpark annually. Wisely, the tournament has loosened its grip on tradition and recognizes that its future depends not only on the game, but also upon creating an event.

Golf is hardly a sideshow at the Open, but the party atmosphere in the gallery, especially on the infamous 16th hole, is now as important to younger spectators as the leader board. So is the after-hours Birds Nest, which expanded its musical lineup this year hoping to take on more of a festival feel.

In this issue, we take a look at what golf-course operators in general and especially near the Airpark are doing to ensure a robust future. The industry is luring younger players with options that ensure a faster pace, more technology and affordability.

You’ll also meet a former caddie-scholarship winner, now director of instruction at TPC, on page 38. He, and others at high-end golf courses in the area, are attempting to bring back caddies.

Airpark icon Bob Parsons has roared onto the local golf scene. He recently bought Scottsdale National and created PXG, an elite golf-club manufacturer in the Airpark.

Parsons is betting that golf still is relevant. That’s a pretty strong vote for the future of the sport. Learn why on page 24.

This we know: The skies are blue and the grass is green in the Airpark, and there’s no better place to find yourself in February. Enjoy every day of it!

1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, Arizona 85282

Phone: (480) 348-0343 • Fax: (480) 348-2109

Website: www.scottsdaleairpark.com

PUBLISHER

Steve T. Strickbine steve@scottsdaleairpark.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Roberta J. Peterson rpeterson@timespublications.com

MANAGING EDITOR Lee Shappell lshappell@timespublications.com

STAFF WRITERS

Mike Butler, Shelley Ridenour, Jim Walsh

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alison Bailin Batz, Paul Breslau, Thomas K. Brueckner, Stephen A. Cross, Beth Duckett, Joan Fudala, Shelley Gillespie, Gregory Gillis, Weiss Kelly, Ken LaFave, Jimmy Magahern, Tim J. Randall, Rachel Sacco, Jen Smith

DESIGNER

Veronica Thurman vthurman@timespublications.com

AD DESIGN

Paul Braun- pbraun@timespublications.com

Christy Byerly- cbyerly@timespublications.com

ADMINISTRATION

Courtney Oldham production@timespublications.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lou Lagrave lou@scottsdaleairpark.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Maryglenn Boals - MgBoals & Associates

Beth Brezinski - Underwriter

Beth Cochran - Wired Public Relations

Steve Cross - Cross Commercial Realty Advisors

John Meyer - Airport Property Specialist

Kevin Newell - Hymson Goldstein & Pantiliat

O/W/S

±3,904 SF 7326 E Evans Rd. O/W/S SCOTTSDALE PROPERTIES - SALE

±1,365 SF 15720 N Greenway-Hayden Lp. Ste. 8

±12,653 SF 16114 N 81st St. O/W/H

±13,344 SF 14619 N 74th St. O/H

±15,000 SF 15834 N 80th St. O/H*

±19,935 SF 14809 N 73rd St. O/W/H

±30,313 SF 15721 N Greenway-Hayden Lp. O

±1,360 SF 13236 N Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix

HANGARS - LEASE

±933-1,322 SF T-Hangars/Shades, Airport

±3,932 SF 15827 N 80th St. Unit 1 O/H*

ADDITIONAL OFFICE PROPERTIES - LEASE

±1,836-2,073 SF 1825 W Knudsen Dr., Deer Valley

ADDITIONAL HANGARS - LEASE/SALE

±3,600 SF 2745 N Green eld, Falcon Field #124

±3,600 SF 2745 N Green eld, Falcon Field #111

±4,030 SF Hangar AC-3, Chandler Airport

±8,500 SF 5103 E Road Runner, Falcon Field O/H/W

±9,800 SF 1658 S Litch eld, Goodyear Airport O/H

±5,000-25,800 SF 5615 S Sossaman Dr. O/H

LAND FOR SALE/LEASE

±1.97 acres 15080 N 78th Way

±2-16 acres Casa Grande Municipal Airport

±20 acres Cooper & Queen Creek, Chandler

—Joe Heard, former White House photographer

WE WANT YOUR NEWS!

Send your Greater Airpark/North Scottsdale business news to editor@scottsdaleairpark.com.

Barrett-Jackson auction sets sales record and raises $2.2 million for charity

Barrett-Jackson consigned 1,719 vehicles, the most in its 46-year history, set 40 world auction sales records, and raised $2.2 million for charity during its 2017 run at WestWorld in the Airpark in January.

Vehicle sales reached approximately $100 million (unaudited) at a 99.5-percent sell-through rate, and more than 1,800 pieces of automotive memorabilia sold for more than $2.5 million (unaudited), according to Barrett-Jackson.

Approximately 320,000 people attended this year’s auction, according to the company, including professional athletes and entertainment personalities.

“Despite the rain and colder temperatures, we had a phenomenal turnout,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson.

The auction gave bidders a wide range of American muscle cars, European classics, exotic sports cars and one-of-a-kind customs.

The top cars sold included a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (Lot 1397), $1,485,000; 1960 Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle 1 (Lot 1390), $1,320,000; 1930 Duesenberg J Dual-Cowl Phaeton (Lot 1378), $880,000; 2005 Porsche Carrera GT (Lot 1396), $616,000; 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback (Lot 1365), $445,500; and Justin Bieber’s 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia (Lot 1372), $434,500.

Barrett-Jackson helped raise approximately $2.2 million for charities serving U.S. veterans, children and medical research during the auction.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steven Tyler auctioned his 2012 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder (Lot #3003), with 100 percent of the $800,000 price to benefit Janie’s Fund.

The sale of the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-designed 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle (Lot 3006) and his 2014 Chevrolet No. 88 race car (Lot 3006.1) raised $400,000 to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, helped raise $207,000 with the sale of a one-of-one 2017 Ford Raptor (Lot 3004) to support Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North hires Chuck Kazmer as executive chef

Chuck Kazmer, a 25-year veteran of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, most recently at the brand’s sister property in Amman, Jordan, is the new executive chef at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, a AAA Five Diamond property.

Kazmer assumes responsibility for three main restaurants – Talavera; Proof, an American Canteen; and Saguaro Blossom poolside grill – in addition to Onyx Bar & Lounge and all food and beverage service throughout the

conference and banquet facilities.

As executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Amman, Kazmer was responsible for the property’s seven kitchens and eight restaurant outlets. Kazmer’s crowning achievement while in Amman was opening brasserie La Capitale, a multi-million dollar project.

When not in the kitchen, Kazmer enjoys home brewing, visiting local farmers' markets and gardening.

Hundreds attend Plexus Worldwide’s ‘Super Saturday’ in Scottsdale

Scottsdale was among 26 communities across the U.S. and Canada that took part in a massive, simultaneous live training forum for current and potential Plexus Worldwide independent resellers on Jan. 7, hosted by Airpark-based Plexus Worldwide, a direct-selling health, wellness and weightmanagement company.

The training forums attracted more than 21,000 in venues across the U.S and Canada, up from 15,000 the previous year, the company says.

During the four-hour session, attendees learned about Plexus and received training on how to share product information to grow their independent home-based businesses. Speakers included top ranking ambassadors who shared tips for success and led the company-organized training.

Since its inception, Plexus Worldwide has helped people transform their lives with health and wellness products and home-based entrepreneurial opportunity. Plexus has been featured on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing

companies, and was named the 46th largest direct-selling company in the world in 2016, according to Direct Selling News.

Recently, Plexus Worldwide earned an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau, the highest ranking a business can achieve from the organization.

(submitted photo)

Chuck Kazmer, formerly executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Amman, is the new executive chef at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, a AAA Five Diamond property.

Erin O’Keefe (from left), Rhonda Shaw and Rebecca Pavey presented to a large crowd at the Double Tree Resort in Scottsdale during Plexus Worldwide’s “Super Saturday” forum on Jan. 7.

(submitted photo)

Gregory P. Gillis, Shareholder

Phone: (480) 609-0011

Email: ggillis@ngdlaw.com

We are proud to announce that Gregory Gillis has been appointed as an arbitrator and mediator on the Construction and Commercial Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators of the American Arbitration Association.

Greg is a founding shareholder of Nussbaum Gillis & Dinner. He has focused his practice on construction, commercial, real estate and bankruptcy litigation in Arizona for more than 25 years. He has been recognized by his peers and enjoys multiple distinctions, including Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation and Construction Law (2010 to present), and Super Lawyers® Construction Litigation (2014 to present).

from page 10

Toll Brothers wins Gold Award for Best Outdoor Living

Talon Ranch in Scottsdale, a luxury-home community by Toll Brothers, won a Gold Award at The Nationals 2017, an annual competition honoring the best in new-home sales, marketing and design. Its Trovilla model won Best Outdoor Living Space.

The ceremony is among the highlights of the National Association of Home Builders International Builders Show, Jan. 10-12, in Orlando, Florida.

Toll Brothers took four of five Silver Awards for home communities in Arizona and California. Talon Ranch was the only Arizona community recognized.

Best Outdoor Living Space was judged on concept, creativity and impact of furniture and accessories. The Trovilla model is set against a Sonoran desert backdrop with views of Pinnacle Peak and Four Peaks.

With design and landscape by Creative Environments based in Tempe, the Trovilla’s outdoor spaces rival the most famous five-

star resorts with desert contemporary style, functionality and luxury.

Designed for entertaining, the Trovilla features a dramatic great room seamlessly overflowing onto an oversize covered patio through expansive multi-slide doors. The light-filled dining room and bonus room each open onto an additional covered patio.

The backyard features another oversize patio surrounded by a negative-edge pool and cascading water features. This swim-up covered patio is also accessible via concrete steps over the pool.

Private sitting areas and a designated area for playing lawn games complete the outdoor amenities.

The 33 home sites at Talon Ranch average

more than 1 acre.

The Talon Ranch sales office, 11756 E. Quail Track Drive in Scottsdale, is open noon to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

For additional information, visit TollBrothers.com/luxury-homes/Arizona.

…continues on page 14

7625

7575 E. Redfield Rd.

E. Redfield Rd.

(submitted photo)

airpark business news

…continued from page 12

Sleep Number opens store in Airpark area

Mattress chain Sleep Number has opened its eighth store in the Phoenix area, at 16500 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 110, just south of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard in the Airpark.

“Sleep Number saw North Scottsdale as an underserved market,” store manager Carol Desfosses says. “The area offers a fresh and relevant retail energy and provides convenience to local shoppers.”

At the new store, customers are guided by a sleep professional and receive an individualized sleep experience that helps them understand their sleep needs and find product solutions to achieve their best sleep.

Sleep Number recently was recognized by the Association of Retail Environments for outstanding store design. The new 4,000-square-foot Airpark store employs a staff of five sleep experts.

Kona Grill announces preliminary quarter and year sales

Scottsdale-based Kona Grill, Inc. announced preliminary restaurant sales for the fourth quarter and full year that ended Dec. 31, 2016.

For the fourth quarter, restaurant sales increased 14.5 percent to $43.6 million, compared to $38.1 million for the same quarter in 2015.

For 2016, restaurant sales increased 18.5 percent to $169.5 million, compared to $143 million for the previous year. The increase was driven by sales contributions from eight restaurant openings, including three in the fourth quarter.

The company has generated positive same-store sales in each of the last six years.

“For the full year, we added eight restaurants representing over 20 percent annual unit growth,” says Berke Bakay, president and CEO of Kona Grill. “In 2017, our priorities are limiting development to three restaurant openings so that we can better digest our recent high growth and ramp up four-wall margins across the

entire system, dramatically lowering our capital expenditures for increased financial flexibility, and making effective use of our upsized credit facility for the benefit of all shareholders, including acting opportunistically upon our $5 million stock repurchase plan.”

Kona Grill features a global menu of contemporary American favorites, awardwinning sushi, and specialty cocktails in an upscale casual atmosphere. Kona Grill owns and operates 45 restaurants.

…continued on page 16

He has more than just your eyes. He has your energy. Your stick-to-itiveness. Your fire. And in those oh-so-familiar eyes, you can see he has just what it takes to finish what you started. At Alerus, we have what it takes to help keep your legacy in good hands, from generation to generation. Call us today at 800-279-3200. IN FAMILY BUSINESS, FAMILY ALWAYS COMES BEFORE BUSINESS.

AISPROPERTIES

• 3-story full service office bldg

• 17,400 sf corporate office

Office Building and Hangar for Lease 7345 E Acoma Dr, Scottsdale

• 10,000 SF divisible hangar space with a/c

• 26,000 SF total office space

• 1,000 SF - 5,000 SF suites

• 3 story modern office bldg

• Central elevator

• Security entrance doors

• Cooling tower w/ computer control

• Direct access from Scottsdale Rd

Office/Warehouse for Lease 7333 E Helm Dr, Scottsdale

• 24,511 SF office/warehouse space

• 1,700 SF-19,500 SF units

• 100% air conditioned

• Wide loading and unloading space

• 10 Ft overhead doors

• 14 Ft ceilings

• Adjacent to taxiway

• 1/2 mile from Scottsdale Quarter

Office Building for Lease 14901 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale AISPROPERTIES Commercial & Hangar Properties 480-483-8107

Office Space for Lease 7320 E Butherus Dr, Scottsdale

• From 1,144 sf +/- to 4,224 sf +/-

• T-shade parking for plane

Office Building for Lease 7301 E Helm Dr, Scottsdale

• 18,000+/- rentable SF

• 1,400+/- SF - 5,000 +/- SF suites

• Private Courtyard

• Covered parking

• Shopping, dining and other amenities within walking distance

Office/Warehouse for Lease Gross Industrial 14405/14435 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale

Single Suites

• From 1,518 sf +/- to 1,748sf +/Double Suites or more

• From 3,209 sf +/- to 3,648 sf +/-

• 100% Air Conditioned

• Wide loading and unloading space

• 10' Overhead door

• 14' Ceilings height

• Scottsdale Rd. frontage

Scottsdale Bar Association program set for Feb. 14

The Scottsdale Bar Association will present “A Time of Change: The 2017 ARCP Revisions” on Feb. 14 at Gainey Ranch Golf Club, 7600 Gainey Club, just off of Doubletree Ranch Road.

Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

The new Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure that became effective Jan. 1 will be discussed. The seminar will be taught by one of the co-chairs of the task force that proposed the amendments and a judge and lawyer who served on the task force.

Sponsors of the luncheon program are Kotzin Valuation Partners, a nonmember sponsor, and Paige Martin, of Clark Hill PLLC, a member sponsor.

For more information, go to scottsdalebar.com.

Pima Crossing sold

for $46.15 million

Pima Crossing, on the northwestern corner of Shea Boulevard and Pima Road, near the Airpark, sold for $46.15 million to an entity formed by Los Angeles-based Karlin Real Estate, Cushman & Wakefield announced.

Anchored by the PGA Superstore, Pima Crossing encompasses 283,275 square feet spanning 27.5-acres. The property is home to well-known national and regional tenants that include Pier 1 Imports, Lifetime Fitness, Stein Mart, Scottsdale Beer Company and Discount Patio. The center is 95 percent leased.

Centrally located in North Scottsdale, Pima Crossing is adjacent to Loop 101. The

LiveOps Inc. names new CEO

Scottsdale-based LiveOps Inc., a virtualcontact-center solutions company, named Keith Leimbach chief executive officer.

LiveOps describes Leimbach as a proven leader adept at building teams and gaining new business in the business-processoutsourcing industry. Leimbach’s track record of leading profitable growth in the industry combined with the value he places on culture makes him an ideal fit for LiveOps, according to Jim Watson, a LiveOps board member.

Leimbach was chief

center has its own signalized intersection at the south end of the shopping center.

Cushman & Wakefield executive managing directors Michael Hackett and Ryan Schubert represented the seller, Regency Centers, L.P of Jacksonville, Florida.

“Pima Crossing presented the opportunity to own a fantastic piece of in-fill, freeway positioned, Scottsdale real estate offering several avenues to add significant value,” according to Schubert.

Cushman & Wakefield is a global realestate services firm with 43,000 employees in more than 60 countries. It is among the largest commercial real-estate services firms, with revenue of $5 billion.

executive of ESG and chief operating officer at ServiceSource. He held multiple executive leadership roles at BEA Software and Accenture.

Leimbach has a degree in mechanical engineering at Ohio State University as well as post graduate work in Executive Leadership and Finance from the Haas School of Business at the University of California.

LiveOps Inc., a pioneer in the contact-center industry, claims the largest U.S.-based network of more than 20,000 virtual, independent agents. In 2000, LiveOps started the journey to help establish the work-from-home model in customer service.

…continued from page 14 …continued on page 18 •

(submitted photo)

Keith Leimbach is the new chief executive officer at Scottsdale-based LiveOps Inc., a virtual-contact-center solutions company.

(submitted photo)

Pima Crossing, on the northwestern corner of Shea Boulevard and Pima Road near the Airpark, sold for $46 million to an entity formed by Los Angeles-based Karlin Real Estate, Cushman & Wakefield announced.

…continued from page 16

Western State Bank announces promotion

Viviana Sexton was promoted to business banking assistant at Western State Bank in Scottsdale.

Her duties include preparing loan documents, file maintenance and providing customer service. She had been a customerservice representative at Western State Bank in Scottsdale since October, 2013.

Western State Bank is a 115-year-old employee-owned, community bank with assets of more than $900 million.

Internet connectivity firm Ingenu to open Airpark campus

Ingenu, which bills itself as “The Innovator of Things,” is opening a campus in the Airpark at 8900 E. Bahia Drive with a Feb. 16 ribbon cutting.

This expansion will bring employment opportunities to the area and serve as an innovation hub for the company, the company says.

Ingenu brings connectivity to machines. It enables long-range, low-power connectivity, and is building the first wireless Machine Network, the world’s largest IoT network dedicated to connectivity for machines, according to the company website.

The company’s technology is a proven standard for connecting Internet of Things and machine-to-machine devices around the world, with more than 35 networks deployed over seven years, it claims.

The Machine Network will have further reach, global range and longer-lasting battery life than any existing network, the company claims. It is also future-proof –enabling technology solution providers to

maximize their product’s efficiency and longevity, with unparalleled control and visibility.

GPS Insight donates $200,000 to charities

GPS Insight, an Airpark-area technology provider of GPS vehicle and asset-tracking solutions for commercial and government fleets, announced that it donated $200,496.75 in 2016 to 60 local and national charities and not-for-profits chosen by its customers and employees.

The customers and employees posted their picks on social media of the charities that mean the most to them. Every customer or employee that participated had a minimum of $250 and as much as $5,656.75 donated to the charity they requested.

The fleet-tracking company had a goal to donate $175,000 for the year. Among the charities are Donate Life America, Habitat for Humanity, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Honor Flight Network, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

By using GPS Insight Vehicle & Asset Tracking Solutions, customers may realize a significant increase in efficiency and gain insight into all aspects of their fleet operations.

Visit gpsinsight.com for more information. 

Ingenu is pleased to announce opening of its new Scottsdale This expansion will bring opportunities to the area innovation hub for the Internet Please join us as Ingenu’s ribbon cutting ceremony the new location. YOUR PRESENCE REQUESTED.

Ingenu, which brings connectivity to machines, is opening a campus in the Airpark at 8900 E. Bahia Drive with a Feb. 16 ribbon cutting.

(submitted photo)

Viviana Sexton was promoted to business banking assistant at Western State Bank in Scottsdale.

(submitted photo)

NEIGHBOR YOUR AIRPARK Meet

DON ARRIGO shines a light on energy savings

By Shelley Gillespie

When the lights come on for his customers, it also lights up Don Arrigo’s life.

After Arrigo, president of Energy Efficiency Pros in the Airpark, tells them they can upgrade their commercial lighting to LED, do it essentially for free and then continue to save money, their reaction generally is, “It’s too good to be true,” he says.

And then he shows them the numbers.

“It never costs them any money,” Arrigo says.

Arrigo opened Energy Efficiency Pros, 16650 N. 91st St., Suite 107 in the Airpark, in 2012 and, unlike many new businesses, it was profitable the first year, Arrigo says.

Using tax and rebate incentives, and knowing that LED lighting has reduced energy usage dramatically over the years, he can show clients that swapping out incandescent lights yields savings.

“Typically, an Arizona business spends 60 percent of its energy bill on HVAC, 40 percent on lighting,” he says. “We save them 90 percent on that 40 percent.”

Arrigo makes use of SRP and APS rebate programs, which provide savings when companies upgrade to LED.

“In 2017, we want to do $10 million,” Arrigo says. “That’s probably a stretch goal, but I believe it is attainable. Our new shared-savings program, where the client pays nothing but splits the energy savings with us, is going to be a huge success.”

Arrigo, a former Marine, who was working in the telecommunications industry, came to Arizona from Chicago 20 years ago. The telecom/phone systems that he sold were tied to energy controls. Segueing into monitoring HVAC and lighting systems was an easy transition.

“No matter how hard you work or how smart you are, if you can’t hire good people who can work together and motivate, then your chances of success are very, very small.”

Although it would seem counter productive for energy companies to give back money, Arrigo explains that with reduced energy demand on power plants, fewer power plants need to be built.

A new power plant takes roughly five to seven years to cover construction costs. So power companies can afford to offer rebates to customers who help them save energy. And LED lighting cuts massive amounts of energy usage over incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

“Right now, we average an 85 to 90 percent reduction in the cost of lighting for our clients,” he says. “Companies can’t afford not to do it.”

Arrigo has taken his business from revenues of approximately $500,000 in 2015 to $3.9 million last year. He has roughly 200 clients across the Valley and among bright-lights users in Las Vegas.

– Don Arrigo

During a discussion in early 2012 with a representative of SRP’s rebatemanagement program, as the rep discussed “more-efficient lighting” that competed with incandescent, Arrigo saw potential. By converting to more energy-efficient LED lighting, which had little market presence at that time, it was possible to cover as much as 75 percent of the job cost with a rebate.

After more research and study, Arrigo said he “jumped in with both feet in the lighting business.” He was ahead of the curve, and now it is paying off for him.

“It’s a phenomenal business to be in, because I can help businesses cut operational costs, and we help the environment. It’s fun,” Arrigo says.

Among EEP’s clients that have been retrofitted with LED lights are Levi Straus Corp., The Village Health Clubs, First Solar, Pinnacle Grill, Sauce restaurants and many resorts, hotels and motels. 

More information about Energy Efficiency Pros: eepros.com, 480-585-9161.

Customers can switch to energy-efficient LED lighting and save money, according to Energy Efficiency Pros President Don Arrigo.

Dr. Katherine Blaskovich

Dr. Tina Ansari

Dr. Alli Hoppert, FAAD

Dr. Susan Reckell

Dr. Lindsay Jung

Bob Parsons The

Photos courtesy of PXG

Parsons project

Airpark icon buys a country club and creates an elite line of clubs

By Mike Butler

If you can casually throw down five grand for a set of PXG golf clubs, you probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash at hopping on a jet to Scottsdale and spending $15,000 or more for a fitting package that includes a two-night stay at the Four Seasons Resort and several rounds of play at Scottsdale National.

Bob Parsons riled up the Airpark-area golf world by buying Scottsdale National Golf Club and creating Parsons Xtreme Golf. His dad and brother were players, but Parsons didn't get the bug until in his 30s.

• Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet with Cooked to Order Omelet Station

• Complimentary cooked to order breakfast

• Complimentary Wireless Internet

• Free Local and Long Distance Phone Calls

• Outdoor Heated Pool and Jacuzzi

• Complimentary cooked to order breakfast • Free

• Free local and long distance phone calls • Outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi • Brand new 55" Samsung

• Brand New Samsung LED HDTVs in all Standard Rooms and Suites

• 24 Hour Fitness Center

• Spacious 1 and 2 Bedroom Suites with Fully Equipped Kitchens, Private Patios, and Gas Fireplaces

…continues from page 25

For an extra $5,000, Parsons Xtreme Golf will put you up at the W in Old Town. Have $100,000 burning a hole in your pocket? You’ll be treated to all sorts of lavishness, including a private breakfast and 18 holes with none other than the legendary Bob

Apparently, the GoDaddy founder and brash billionaire didn’t get that memo about the golf industry being on its deathbed.

“Nobody makes golf clubs the way we do. Period.”

— Bob Parsons, PXG Founder & CEO

Like a Harley pulling away from one of his dealerships, Parsons roared into golfclub manufacturing in a big way in 2014.

Parsons was getting tired of club-design improvements that overpromised and underdelivered.

“PXG has developed game-changing club technology with a singular focus: performance,” Parsons says.

“We have removed all barriers to innovation, such as cost and time, and targeted the high end of the market.”

Parsons lured longtime Ping designers Mike Nicolette and Brad Schweigert, and gave them a simple mission: Take as much time and money as you need to build

…continues on page 29

With wins in two major tournaments, Zach Johnson now has PXG clubs in his bag.

Johnson was the 2007 Masters champion.

Some pro players putt for dough with this creation.

…continues from page 27

the best iron possible, an iron that looks and feels like a pro blade, but plays like a forgiving cavity back.

Along the way, PXG amassed global patents - more than 100 – like Zach Johnson, a PXG player, rolls in birdies.

Parsons and the PXG team have attracted quite the stable of touring pros. James Hahn gave PXG its first PGA victory at the Wells Fargo Championship last May. Billy Horschel, Charles Howell III, Chris Kirk and Charl Schwartzel also have PXG in their bags.

On the ladies side, World No. 1 Lydia Ko recently signed to play PXG clubs in 2017. Parsons also has three-time winner Christina Kim and reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion Brittany Lang on the bandwagon.

“Tour endorsement is an important aspect of our efforts to validate our equipment and grow brand awareness globally,” Parsons says.

A Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Parsons named his irons 0311, the code assigned to riflemen. Fairway woods are 0341 (mortarmen); hybrids are 0317 (scout snipers); and drivers are 0811 (field-artillery cannoneers).

“We find that PXG customers fall into one of two buckets: Those who can stroke a check and don’t bother to ask the price, and those who know the lasting value of purchasing quality equipment,” Parsons says.

…continues on page 30

Airpark entrepreneur Bob Parsons, known for creating GoDaddy and motorcycle dealerships, has shifted his focus to golf.

Ko, at 17 two years ago, became the youngest player of either gender to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf.

Lydia Ko, the world’s top-ranked women’s golfer, made several off-season changes for 2017, among them an equipment change to PXG.

…continues from page 29

After his military service, Parsons graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore, and learned to code. Although his father was a scratch golfer and his little brother was an avid player, Parsons didn’t fall for the game until he was in his 30s.

He and associates would sneak away from Parsons Technology in Iowa (where he first met Zach Johnson) to play rounds whenever they could. Like most newly minted golf nuts, Parsons went on a neverending quest for better equipment.

The year before starting up PXG, Parsons estimates he spent $350,000 on golf gear.

Parsons riled up the golf world, or at least the Scottsdale corner of it, in a different way in 2014 by buying Scottsdale National Golf Club, a move he made after toying with buying an NFL franchise.

In a letter to the 175 members, Parsons said some who used the club the most supported the club the least. He offered to buy out anyone who didn’t agree with his vision for it. That included refurbishing the signature Mineshaft Course, adding another 18 with six holes each of par 3s, par 4s and par 5s, and creating the Bad Little Nine, which he describes as “the toughest, most unsympathetic par 3 in the world.”

But that’s old news to Parsons, who’s laser-focused on growing PXG’s distribution channels this year so golfers can get fitted for his clubs wherever they happen to live.

“The golf business, it’s a conservative group by its nature,” he says. “I’m not a conservative guy.” 

Parsons lured longtime Ping designers Mike Nicolette and Brad Schweigert to PXG, and gave them a mission: Take as much time and money as needed to build the best iron.

LPGA golfer Gerina Piller, who joined the PXG team in 2016, placed 11th in the Rio Olympics.

Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart winner Bob Parsons named his PXG drivers 0811, for field artillery cannoneers.

The golf business, it’s a conservative group by its nature. I’m not a conservative guy.”

golf Reinventing

Facing flat growth, can course operators blast out of the bunkers?

By Jimmy Magahern

Last year, the Waste Management Phoenix Open brought in a record $222 million in gross state product, a formula that Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business tallies based on ticket sales, hotel stays, restaurant visits and other tourism revenue.

Billed as the “People’s Open,” the annual stop at TPC Scottsdale has become the most-attended tournament on the PGA Tour, giving the Airpark-area economy a major boost.

The Phoenix Open always has been emblematic of the Valley’s year-round love affair with the game, our mild climate making the Valley — and in particular North Scottsdale, with its abundance of lush green courses (200 plus) — the perfect setting for the languorous sport.

But today, the legendary Phoenix Open has become more like an annual rock festival for a crowd less interested in the sport than the spectacle. Golf industry statistics say the game itself is in decline, particularly among impatient Millennials, who are not picking up the time-eating activity while Boomers are aging out. They’re closing business deals more on Snapchat than on the golf course.

Innovations like TopGolf, a combination sports bar and driving range, with an added dose of high tech — players hit balls containing computer microchips that score each shot’s accuracy and distance like a video game — have been successful in luring a new generation to at least a variation of the sport.

But is traditional golf in trouble? Can the sport that has fueled so much of Scottsdale’s growth finally be facing obsolescence?

Stephanie Pressler, community affairs manager for Experience Scottsdale, the rebranded name for the Scottsdale Conven-

(Waste Management Phoenix Open)

The TPC Scottsdale, magnificently groomed for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, is a thing of beauty.

tion and Visitors Bureau, insists it’s not quite as bad here as the national golf publications suggest.

“On the national level, obviously the golf industry is facing tough times,” Pressler says. “But we’ve been very fortunate that Scottsdale’s golf industry is extremely innovative and has mostly been able to buck the nation trend so far. We host nearly 9 million visitors each year, and according to a city of Scottsdale report for 2015, 13 percent of those visitors are playing golf at their destination, which is much higher than the U.S. norm of 4 percent. And that doesn’t even factor in our percentage of Canadian and international visitors who play golf.”

Still, Pressler acknowledges that participation is not growing as it has in the past. Quoting the latest data from the ORCA report, a locally produced metric that measures how Scottsdale-area golf courses are performing, Pressler concedes that Scottsdale’s golf business is stuck in a bit of a sand trap.

In the 2016 year-to-date numbers through November, rounds played remained flat at 51.5 percent, representing a 5 percent decline. Average rate per round was down 1.3 percent. Revenue per available round dropped by 1.8 percent, according to Pressler.

Experience Scottsdale began commission-

ing the ORCA report last July to learn how Scottsdale-area golf courses are performing and how their performance compares to competitive markets in the region. For example, Palm Springs and Las Vegas experienced year-over-year drops in occupancy through November, while revenue per available round was unchanged. Average rate per round experienced minor growth in those markets.

Pressler sees Scottsdale’s golf courses already addressing the issue by introducing new twists on the game, most designed to speed the action and make it more attractive to the new generation of recreational sports participants.

“We’re fortunate to have golf courses that look to boost interest in the game and even make it more accessible by offering programming like the ‘digital caddy’ at the Boulders Golf Club, or the GolfBoards and Segways at Kierland Golf Club, or the nine-hole courses at the Phoenician,” she says. “Not everyone can take the whole day to go out and play a game of golf anymore. So innovations like these are adapting the game to fit our new lifestyles.”

Scottsdale courses are feeling another threat: the decline in Canadian visitors, due to an ongoing drop in the value of the Canadian dollar, commonly called the loonie.

In 2015, Experience Scottsdale initiated a discount program, Loonie Love, offering Canadian tourists, the city’s No. 1 source of international visitors, discounts on hotels, restaurants, events and activities, such as golf-course entries.

“Sometimes as much as 20 percent off,” Pressler says, “which makes it pretty much comparable to how much it cost them in the past to visit Scottsdale.”

(Experience Scottsdale)

Stephanie Pressler, community affairs manager for Experience Scottsdale, the rebranded name for the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, insists it’s not quite as bad here as the national golf publications suggest.

There is more than one way to have fun on the golf course at Westin Kierland.

get some friends and have some drinks and people are talking and hitting shots. It’s really captured the social nature of the game, and made it all about having a good time.

“And so a lot of the golf courses are looking at that and saying, ‘Hey, there’s something here. There’s an untapped market here, let’s take advantage of it.’”

Some of the first courses to try radical new angles are, unfortunately, a distance from the Airpark, but Rose says all of Scottsdale’s courses are watching the new ideas that other operators are testing.

Golf and Social Club, which underwent a substantial redesign last April.

“A lot of what they did was to give players more options, so that it wouldn’t necessarily have to be as difficult all the way up,” Rose says. “If you want to have more of an enjoyable, relaxed kind of round, for instance, you can play the middle tees or the forward tees.”

Mountain Shadows is pretty much following suit.

“They’ve redone their par-3 course so you can get around it more quickly. You’re not going to lose a ton of golf balls. You’re gonna have a fun experience, as well as a bit of a challenge. That’s another thing: People want to play faster. It’s just about making golf more accessible to more people so you’re not beating yourself to death over hard shots.”

Rose says course design has changed since the mid ’90s, back when Tiger Woods began his winning streak that sweepingly widened public appeal of professional golf.

“Back then, we all thought courses had to be really long and challenging. That’s kind of gone by the wayside. People realize now that not every player wants that experience.”

Revamping golf courses to meet the new fast-and-furious preferences of younger players is not an easy task, however. Luke Beardmore, senior vice president of agronomy and construction for OB Sports Golf Management, says it can be difficult and extremely expensive to rework an existing course. OB Sports manages several courses within range of the Airpark, including McDowell Mountain, Eagle Mountain in Fountain Hills and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club at Fort McDowell.

The net result is a local golf industry incomparably primed to take on whatever changes impact the game going forward. But just what’s in store for the business of golf in 2017? And will Scottsdale stay ahead of the curve?

The TopGolf effect

“TopGolf definitely hit a nerve,” says Jerry Rose, vice president of Communication Links, a 24-year-old Scottsdale-based marketing-communication services firm catering to the local golf industry. “Their facility is fantastic. My wife had never picked up a golf club in her life before TopGolf came to town, and now she loves going there. We’ll

“Courses are changing what they’re doing, making the game more social,” he says. “Like the Wickenburg Ranch Golf and Social Club, where they just opened what they call L’il Wick, a nine-hole, par-3 course that loops around a bar at the center. And four of the nine holes are lit, so you can play into the evening. It’s more social. There’s more interaction. You can kind of come and go as you please. Out there, you have the opportunity to basically play horse with golf. You can say, ‘We’re gonna play from this tee to that green, and whoever wins the hole can pick what green we’re playing to next.’ You’re not confined, and there’s more creativity and flexibility to the game. It just keeps it fun.”

Another innovator is the new Verde River

“There are golf courses that are doing things physically to the courses themselves to try to create shorter loops and quicker playing times,” he says. “But, quite frankly, it’s often better to change things through course management. You’ve got to have marshals, you’ve got to have staff out on the golf course that can identify where the choke points are and make sure you have spotters there who can move people along. We’re constantly doing that at every property every day.

“But we’ll also do a lot of programming, offering maybe a kind of ‘Wine and Nine’ package, where you can play shorter rounds with a social element, or something we call Express Lane Tee Times, that are offered specifically for people who want to play golf in three hours and forty-five minutes or less.”

Not all players like the rushed feel that’s taking over the game. In October, one longstanding team of older players in Tucson, the El Rio Men’s Club, was booted from another OB Sports property, Randolph North Golf Course, reportedly because of a history

Luke Beardmore, senior vice president of agronomy and construction for OB Sports Golf Management, says it is difficult and expensive to rework golf courses to make them more player friendly to a younger, more impatient generation of golfers.

(OB Sports Golf Management)

(Experience Scottsdale)

Pristine golf courses like McDowell Mountain Golf Club help keep the sun from setting on the game.

of slow play. Rose says older players will simply have to adapt.

“The days of the dad taking off on a Saturday morning and being gone for six or seven hours to play golf, that’s over,” he says. “That doesn’t happen anymore. We need to be mindful of peoples’ time. It can’t take five hours to play a round of golf. Today it’s four hours. Four-fifteen, tops.”

Techy but simple

David Bataller, director of communications and public relations for OB Sports, adds that new technology also is helping speed play and make things a little more fun for the new generation of players.

“Locally, I think 2017 is going to be a big year for a relatively new product called the GolfBoard,” he says, referring to a kind of 'Back to the Future' gizmo that debuted at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show, where the Bend, Oregon-produced innovation was named Best New Product. The GolfBoard already is being used at the Kierland Golf Club at the Westin Kierland Resort and at TPC Scottsdale, along with four more courses throughout Arizona.

“The GolfBoard is basically a one-person motorized skateboard with a handle attached to hold golf bags,” Bataller explains. “You lock in your clubs to the front of it and you basically ‘surf the turf.’ It gets you around a golf course in a lot quicker time, and it’s also a way to experience a golf course in a much

more intimate way than riding around in a clunky golf cart.

“You’re really gonna feel the undulations of the fairways as you cruise right up to a green, putt your ball, and get back on and go to the next tee box. If not game-changing, at least this will be something that will impact time of play and attract that younger generation of players.”

Other tech innovations are playing a part, too. Pete Charleston, president of Golf Logix, an Airpark-based business that makes a golf GPS app for the iPhone and Apple Watch, Android and even Blackberry mobile devices, says apps present a great way of moving the game into the new millennium.

“It’s all about speeding up play, as well as giving golfers more confidence so they don’t have to walk around trying to guess the distances to the front, middle and back of the green, pertinent hazards and so on,” he says. “The app keeps track of all of your scores and stats, it gives you personalized lessons on what you need to work at, and gives you easy access to knowing the distance from anywhere on the golf course. We also like to help newer golfers play better golf. We have a club prediction software that actually recommends clubs that you should use based on your own personal stats. It’s techy but simple.”

Charleston’s company has an advantage over course operators and designers trying to get inside the quirky minds of the new

generation they’re trying so desperately to attract to the sport. As a software start-up, he’s got plenty of Millennials right there in the office and outsourced, coding, mapping and designing the product.

“We’re already working on new software that will give the masses access to golf data only PGA pros have had until now,” he says, exuding excitement. “We just did a beta test and it was mind-blowing as a golfer. It was almost like seeing 'The DaVinci Code.'” 

The traditionally raucous 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale reflects how The Waste Management Phoenix Open is as much a party as a pro golf tournament for spectators.

David Bataller, director of communications and public relations for OB Sports, cites new technology for helping speed play and make things a little more fun for a new generation of golfers.

(OB Sports Golf Management)

(Waste Management Phoenix Open)

LOOP In the

Scottsdale

golf pro, once a caddie-scholarship winner, is giving back to the

By Jim Walsh

game

Rob Rashell

didn’t object when his mother heard about a generous scholarship program for golf caddies and gently suggested that he start toting bags at Everett Country Club outside of Seattle.

Rashell was about 13 and he loved golf, so caddying immediately appealed to him. What he never imagined was how looping bags would become a springboard to not only a free education via the Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies, but a long career in golf that would include a stint on the PGA and European tours.

“I would say it absolutely changed my life,” Rashell says about the Evans Scholarship, which provided him a four-year free ride to the University of Washington. “It was a fork in the road in my life.”

Rashell now is direc tor of instruction at TPC Scottsdale in the Airpark, where he heads the juniors program, and where the Waste Management Phoenix Open is played this month.

His name might not have the same ring as Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods – Rashell, 41, happens to have the same birthday as Woods – but he played in two U.S. Opens, in 2005 and 2008. He made $85,000 on the Tour.

“You don’t know this as a kid, but you are spending a lot of time around successful people,” he says of caddying. “You see how they interact and treat other people.”

…continues on page 41

(Larry Mangino/Scottsdale Airpark News Staff Photographer)

Evans Caddie Scholarship alum Rob Rashell is now director of instruction at TPC Scottsdale.

STEPS Taking

Golf caddies may resurface near Airpark

By Jim Walsh

ACarefree pro is attempting to revive a grand tradition in golf while helping worthy teenagers earn a lucrative college scholarship that has opened the door to success for thousands.

But the Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies, established in 1930 and wellknown at private courses in the Midwest and Northwest, goes begging in Arizona, where searing summer heat and heavy reliance on golf carts have all but made caddies extinct.

The “traditional golf experience,” which Desert Forest Golf Club pro Brandon Rogers hopes to recapture, has golfers walking the course with a trusty caddie alongside, carrying a golf bag.

Rogers says caddies are a good fit at his club, where many members prefer to walk for fitness. He says the club has a

layout conducive to walking. Members would tell him over the years how they got their start in golf as a caddie, or how they helped the Evans Scholars program or benefited from it.

Slowly, Rogers has been building his “junior caddie” program at Desert Forest. Teens are paid $35 per round plus tips. He says 20 to 30 teens come every weekend and develop good relationships with the members, who request them, giving the teens a sense of belonging.

“My goal is to have the best caddying program in the state for kids,” Rogers says. “My hope now is to get these kids a scholarship.”

Rogers is recruiting others in the golf industry to help him, including Scott McNevin, president of the Arizona Junior Golf Association, and Rob Rashell, a former Evans Scholar, who played on the

PGA Tour and now is head of instruction at the Scottsdale Tournament Players Club.

Rashell hopes to bring young caddies to TPC Scottsdale in the Airpark.

So far, it has been a labor of love for Rogers, who knows there are many teens who could benefit from the scholarships.

McNevin says the Evans Scholarship program is not a natural fit in Arizona. Most caddie programs are during the summer, when teens are out of school and available.

In Arizona, the teens would be available only one or two days a week, while professional caddies are available seven days a week at some private clubs.

“We are trying to promote that to our members,” McNevin says. “It’s in the very beginning stages.” 

Caption

Club pro Brandon Rogers hopes to bring back caddies.

Photos courtesy of Desert Forest Golf Club

Rashell recalls learning the value of calling people by name, looking them in the eye while speaking to them and shaking hands with them. It was an education in how to deal with people in a respectful manner.

“It goes with you for life,” he says.

Rashell walked on to the golf team at Washington, defeating seven other players to win a spot. It was all a bit of a surprise to him.

“I played better than expected,” Rashell says. “The coach loved me.”

Evans scholars like Rashell tend to become high achievers in life. There are about 170 Evans alums in Arizona, including Stephen Peary, 68, a Scottsdale attorney, and Breana Prince, 27, of Phoenix, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy and often helps golfers conquer maladies so they can return to the game.

The Evans Scholarship program has a goal of 1,000 scholars, with a staggering $16 million a year tuition.

The program is geared toward high school students caddying in the summer. Evans scholars must log two years of caddying, have at least a “B”grade-point average, perform community service and demonstrate financial need.

“This is a carrot out there if you are caddying all the time, that you could get it,” Rashell says. “It was something at the end of the rainbow.”

Program officials hope to recruit more applicants from Arizona, a golf mecca, and from

…continues on page 42

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Tuesday-Saturday 10 am- 5 pm Closed Sunday & Monday 15613 N. Greenway-Hayden Loop 480.991.0700

AveryLaneHome.com

TPC director of instruction Rob Rashell teaches Timothy C. Rondina of Dotcom Development.

Stephen Peary, 68, a Scottsdale attorney and a former Evans Scholarship recipient, said the award changed his life for the better.

…continued from page 41

the western U.S., according to Vanessa Staublin, a spokeswoman for the Western Golf Association, which administers the scholarships.

But in Arizona, there is a catch: There are few caddies because most golf courses are

designed for golf carts, a necessity when greens and tee boxes can be far apart in desert layouts. The harsh summer heat also is not the caddie’s best friend.

Rashell is working with another pro, Brandon Rogers at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, to revive caddying in Arizona. Teens at Desert Forest are paid $35 a round

and work on weekends during the school year to log their hours rather than during the summer because “caddying in Arizona in the summer is just not feasible,” Rashell says.

Rashell also hopes to start a teen caddying program at TPC.

The scholarship program represents the legacy of Chick Evans, who won the U.S. Amateur Open in 1916. Evans recorded golf lessons and donated his royalties to launch the caddie program. Scholarships are for full tuition and housing, renewable for as many as four years.

Since 1930, when the first two Evans recipients enrolled at Northwestern University, more than 10,400 scholarships have been awarded. Twenty-four percent of the recipients have been women, including Prince.

Most recipients attend one of the 15 universities where the Evans Scholars Foundation operates a Scholarship House, where students live and work together. Each chapter elects officers, runs social and service activities and participates in campus programs. The Evans Scholars chapters have earned a reputation for

Pro Rob Rashell (center) instructs Jordan Campbell (left) and Joseph Lloyd Jr. at TPC Scottsdale.

Phil Mickelson, a crowd favorite since his playing days at Arizona State, brings out the fans at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in the Airpark.

(Larry Mangino/Scottsdale Airpark News Staff Photographer)

scholastic achievement and excellence in community service.

Because there is not an Evans Scholarship House in Arizona, students may apply to any of the universities that have one, the closest being the University of Colorado in Boulder, which Prince attended.

Prince did her caddying at RedTail Golf Course, a public facility in Portland, Oregon. She was 13 and would rake sand bunkers and mow greens early in the morning before the course opened.

After completing her normal duties, Prince would walk up to the first tee and offer her services as a caddie. She says it was a great investment, even if some people didn’t pay her. The Evans Foundation awarded her a scholarship worth about $60,000 a year to the University of Colorado.

Prince went on to physical therapy school and earned a doctorate at age 23.

Prince says she moved to Arizona with her father and brother while in high school. She says she would have struggled to afford going to Arizona State University until she received the Evans scholarship.

“It was my dream to go to a four-year university,” Prince says. “I was bawling, I was crying, I was so excited. I will always be thankful.”

While at Colorado, Prince says she lived in the house with 40 other students, all of whom were from economically deprived backgrounds and hungry for success. They would motivate each other, passing out certificates yearly for high grade-point averages.

“You don’t want to be disrespectful, wasting their money,” Prince says.

She considers herself an “Arizona liaison” for the program, noting that her caddying was in Portland, where she also captained the Wilson High School girls’ golf team.

“I would like to help more kids in Arizona get a scholarship,” Prince says.

Peary grew up on the south side of Chicago in a tough neighborhood during the 1960s. He would take the train to one of the nation’s most prestigious golf courses, Olympia Fields, where he would step into a different world.

Peary took the advice of golfers at Olympia Fields and pursued an education. He went to the University of Illinois, where he made lifelong friends at the Evans House. They still get together once a year, decades later.

Once, Peary, while in the United Kingdom. was playing a course used for the British Open and noticed three golf bags on a rack with Evans Foundation bag tags. He went inside the clubhouse and met the owners.

“It was like we’ve known each other forever,” Peary says. “It’s a spectacular program. It changed my life.

“Everything in my life, I can make a connection to the scholarship program.” 

Evans Caddie Scholarship alumna Breana Prince, 27, earned a doctoral degree and now is a physical therapist in the Valley.

An ace of an app

Tunveils new way to book tee times

By Beth Duckett

hree years ago, Scottsdale entrepreneur Dale Merritt had a vision that one might say was a bit more than modest: He set out to transform the golf industry.

After noticing a slump in customer service at many of his favorite Airpark golf courses during the post-recession haze, Merritt found that many of them were offering discounted green fees.

He calls it “commodification,” a trend that he found troubling.

It also opened the door for him to chase his dream.

Merritt founded Golfpay, a web-based app that allows golfers to reserve tee

times and pay for games, even from the convenience of their phones. The app has the potential to fill a niche and alter the industry, he says, capitalizing on the growing demand for online check-ins and fast, easy service.

Merritt says that Golfpay’s business model has the potential to be good for the industry, increasing engagement and the connection between courses and players, and avoiding “commodification” of green fees.

“We got into this business to be good for golf courses,” he says. “And there is major need for a third-party company like ours to fit that role to be good for golf-course economics.”

Scottsdale man

(Golfpay)

With Golfpay, the golfer can book and pay for a tee time and not even have to go to the pro shop before heading to the first tee.

Created in Scottsdale, Golfpay is optimized for mobile devices, so golfers can make reservations from their smartphones without paying a booking fee.

“From a golfer’s standpoint, it’s very simple to use,” Merritt says. “We tried to focus on creating the best possible frictionless user experience with a lot of accessibility.”

The company also offers a function for those players without a web connection to call or text after hours, or use the Facebook Messenger app, Merritt explains.

For Merritt, Golfpay’s CEO, the benefits of the company extend farther than the convenience of online booking.

His goal is to give golf courses an alternative to third-party marketing channels, the kind that push for discounted green fees without profit margins, he says.

Three years ago, Merritt, a self-described serial entrepreneur, sold other companies he had founded and began to research golf, a sport he has played nearly 30 years. Last fall, Golfpay rolled out its test version before its recent general release.

At Golfpay.com, players can search or use their GPS location to find nearby courses, sorting by categories, such as lowest price or “most likes.” Prices, tee times and locations are laid out in an easyto-see format, and golfers can even add friends to the booking and split the cost, making it easier to arrange a friendly game.

Players who use mobile check-in don’t have to go inside the pro shop before hitting the links, and most tee times are available as far as two weeks in advance.

Folla Media, LLC, the holding company for Golfpay and other golf brands, also has a family of golf apps available on Apple and Android devices, including FreeCaddie, a GPS-based app for scorekeeping and other needs.

As of mid-January, Golfpay had signed about a dozen golf courses.

In Arizona, partners include Shalimar Country Club, Eagle Mountain Golf Club and Legacy Golf Resort, and the company has joined with courses in other states, too.

By March, Merritt expects tremendous growth for Golfpay. The goal is to sign a few-thousand golf courses in more than 30 countries, he says.

“We won’t be able to roll out every single

feature to all of the courses at first,” he adds. “That is the slowest part of the process. Our goal is to have all of those features, including mobile check-in, by the end of the year.” 

Golfpay’s business model is geared toward increasing engagement and the connection between courses and players.

Scottsdale entrepreneur Dale Merritt hopes to change how tee times are booked and paid for with his new Golfpay app.

At Golfpay.com, players can search or use their GPS location to find nearby courses, sorting by categories, such as lowest price.

(Golfpay)

Airpark golf-equipment maker counterbalances the industry norm

doughPUTTING FOR

By Tim J. Randall

Little more than a Heavy Putter tap away from TPC Scottsdale, Airparkbased Boccieri Golf is changing the way professional golfers in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, as well as weekend-warrior amateurs, play and enjoy the game.

Boccieri Golf might not roll off the tongue the way the names of some other equipment manufacturers in the industry might, but the product that launched the company in 2005, the Heavy Putter, certainly does.

Developed by Boccieri Golf founder and CEO Stephen Boccieri, Heavy Putter sales exceed 100,000 worldwide. They have been used in 19 PGA Tour wins.

Following that success, Boccieri Golf launched its line of Heavy clubs: irons, wedges, fairway metals, hybrids and drivers.

“Everything we do is counterbalanced technology,” says Sandra Boccieri, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing,

and Stephen’s wife. “It is our niche.”

In 2012, the Boccieris moved the company from Ridgefield, Connecticut, to the Airpark.

“We fell in love with the Airpark location, because it was so central to our core group of golfers in Scottsdale, North Scottsdale and Phoenix,” she says. “We could not be happier in the Airpark. It is the perfect location for our business.”

In March, Boccieri Golf will celebrate its five-year anniversary at 15816 N. Greenway Hayden Loop, Suite 300.

“Certainly, being in Scottsdale, the mecca of golf, is where we wanted to be to extend our business from a manufacturer to a full-service golf company, doing custom fitting and robotic-swing training. We have the state-of-the-art teaching facility. It is fantastic to our business.”

Sandra and Stephen Boccieri run Boccieri Golf in the Airpark.

Boccieri Golf equipment helps players perfect their swings.

With the Waste Management Phoenix Open being this month at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, coupled with the mild winter climate that is far more conducive to a round of golf than, say, July’s triple-digit frying pan, golf is now in full swing for the season in the Airpark.

“Part of our vision statement every day is to make golfers better,” Boccieri says. “We create a fun and interactive experience and atmosphere for golfers.”

During the past two years, Boccieri rolled out the Robo Golf Swing Trainer, a high-tech solution for golfers trying to find their inner Ben Hogan.

“Using the Robo Golf Swing Trainer, golfers will immediately feel their perfect swing plane,” Boccieri says. “Our goal and our teaching staff goal is for golfers to have that swing repeatable.”

Players can come in for a free 30-minute demo of the Robo Golf Swing Trainer to experience golf innovation firsthand. Gripping a 7-iron, the golfer holds onto the club as the trainer’s robotic arm guides the swing from start to finish.

“The golfer feels where the club needs to be,” Boccieri says. “The golfer is taken on a journey, the path, to a better swing.”

The Robo Golf Swing Trainer already is a success. Vaughn Taylor, the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am winner, used the

system prior to his victory.

“He had the trainer in his home for a year and then won the tournament,” Boccieri says. “The phone here has been ringing off the hook since.”

Among the secrets to Boccieri Golf’s success is its talented staff, including PGAcertified professionals.

“These are really scholars of the golf swing,” Boccieri says. “They have the depth of knowledge on the mechanics of the swing. They live and breathe the golf swing and can teach to any level.”

Patrons visiting Boccieri Golf will enter a distinctly Scottsdale golf environment. In addition to the Robo Golf Swing Trainer, guests will find a showroom of club offerings, including a training center, fitting lab and gorgeous 2,500-square-foot putting green.

“This is uniquely different than a traditional retail store,” Boccieri says. “Customers compliment us all the time about our wonderful experience.”

Whether a patron is a scratch player or a 20 handicapper, it seems they will find something to love at Boccieri Golf.

“We are successful with all golfers: retirees, young juniors, avid golfers, male and female and PGA status golfers,” Boccieri says.

While keeping an eye on expansion, Boccieri Golf will remain committed to Scottsdale and the Airpark, she says.

“The Airpark is our home,” Boccieri says. “Coming here is one of the best moves we have made for our business.”

Visit boccierigolf.com for more information. 

A Robo Golf Swing Trainer, club-fitting area and putting green greet visitors at Boccieri Golf.

On target

Airpark business caters to women who pack heat

By Shelley Ridenour

Violence is a turn-off to her. She has come close enough to it to know that. Still, she packs heat, hoping she has to use it about as often as she’d use a fire extinguisher, which is to say, never.

Yet Carrie Lightfoot, a kind soul with a deep background operating a homeless ministry, feels safer with a gun on her.

A lot of other women feel the same way.

It’s a sisterhood, and it has needs.

Recognizing that, Lightfoot drew on her entrepreneurial spirit and gave them resources and a place to go.

She founded The Well Armed Woman in the Airpark, geared toward those who want to conceal the guns they carry. It sells leggings, purses, bra holsters and accessories designed for women who carry firearms.

Lightfoot, a native of New York, where firearms were not part of her life, had moved to Arizona and escaped a relationship she describes as abusive. Her youngest child was about to head off to college. Suddenly, she says, she felt vulnerable.

Watching a “horrible newscast about an ex killing his wife” was the tipping point for her, Lightfoot says.

She turned to friends, who taught her about gun safety and shooting.

There were few resources for women to learn how to carry a concealed weapon or what kind of weapon to

use. And she was put off by what she regarded as condescending and sexualized information about women and guns.

“I didn’t like that,” she says. “The whole sexy side of things, I can’t make it go away, but I’m not going to tap into it.”

Knowing there were others like her who needed information and wanted to carry, Lightfoot founded The Well Armed Woman in 2011.

“I was the COO of a homeless ministry then,” Lightfoot says. “I had a good job.”

Lightfoot has been a business in -

novator for decades. She lived in Sedona for 34 years, working with homeless people through a social enterprise designed to create jobs. At the same time, she owned an e-commerce business.

She had worked as the director of an art gallery and owned The Garden of Glass, which sold decorative aggregate.

“Business didn’t scare me,” Lightfoot says. Because women often find guns intimidating and confusing, Lightfoot wanted The Well Armed Woman to be comprehensive, so that any need a woman has regarding firearms could be met.

“Guns are a foreign world to most women,” Lightfoot says.

The Well Armed Woman was launched from Lightfoot’s two-bedroom apartment. Almost immediately, she had to move to a three-bedroom apartment because she needed the space.

“The response was great from the industry and the social-media community,” she says.

She now works from behind a desk in a spacious Airpark office that spans two buildings.

Initially, Lightfoot distributed information through The Well Armed Woman.

Then came the merchandise.

She designed holsters, relying on her art

(Will Powers/Scottsdale Airpark News Staff Photographer) Carrie Lightfoot created The Well Armed Woman in the Airpark as a resource for women who want the security of carrying a firearm.

This women’s top has a built-in holster.

background for the creative side and on her own experiences for the practical side. No matter what a man is wearing, he usually has a waistband and a shirt, offering clear options for carrying a concealed weapon. Women wear dresses, pants, lightweight tops and all sorts of other clothing styles. And women face a unique challenge, she says, when they are wearing a holster and need to use the restroom.

The company’s Scottsdale headquarters features a small retail store, but Lightfoot says that the majority of her sales are online. About 100 retailers around the country sell The Well Armed Woman’s products. She is bombarded with requests for more, causing her to look at ways to expand that part of the business.

About a year into the business, Lightfoot began offering women get-togethers to learn about guns and to train to shoot them.

That spawned a spin-off venture, The Well Armed Woman Shooting Chapters. There now are 11,000 members. It’s a 501(c)3 that Lightfoot describes as a comfortable environment in which women become responsible gun owners. It operates 327

chapters in 49 states, including 14 in Arizona. Only South Dakota does not have one, and she’s working to remedy that.

“It really is a sisterhood,” she says. “There are very strong bonds being formed out there and the women applaud each other’s achievements. They become support groups of a sort.”

All of the chapters have connections to domesticviolence events or shelters. Many students at the shooting clubs have been victims of domestic violence or, like Lightfoot, had a close call to being victimized. She notes that one in three women are victims of domestic abuse, and every minute in this country about 20 are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking.

Women need to become their own self protectors, she says.

“As a gender, we’ve been protected,” she says. “We gave that responsibility away.”

She believes there is a process to get it back.

“There are survivors who have a tremendous drive to not have that occur again,” she says. “Something makes them realize they didn’t know what to do in that situation.”

The shooting chapters come with a woman-instructor program that certifies and trains female shooting instructors –about 300 so far. Most of the training takes place in Arizona, at ranges near Paulden and Buckeye.

Noting that gun purchases by women represent the largest growth area in the industry, Lightfoot does not anticipate a slowdown. Gun ownership, she says, is “a holistic, protective thing. It’s about being aware about how to keep safe. It’s a mindset and a lifestyle.”

Not every woman wants or needs to carry a gun, she acknowledges. Lightfoot has no intention of forcing guns on anyone. She’s fully aware how emotionally charged the gun debate is.

“But it is my mission to raise their awareness of safety,” she says.

Lightfoot says many women find learning how to use a gun “transformative.” She was among them, and that surprised her.

“I instantly felt different after learning to use a gun,” she says. “It absolutely changed me.

“It’s not a cocky thing. It’s a confidence thing.” 

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Women can carry concealed weapons in all kinds of interesting garments designed specifically for the task.

The well-armed woman might carry a fanny pack designed to hold a gun.

Scottsdale had ties to the space race

By Joan Fudala

Many cite 1957 as the official start of the space race, when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite to orbit the earth, Sputnik.

From that moment, the U.S. and Soviets raced to conquer space, to be the first on the moon, a race the U.S. would win with “one small step for man” on the lunar surface in July 1969.

Fifty years after the Sputnik wakeup call, it’s fun to look back at Scottsdale’s historical connections to NASA, astronauts and the

quest to explore realms beyond Earth.

Ancient indigenous people living in central Arizona were fascinated by the solar system and stars, and incorporated celestial patterns into their daily lives and sacred rituals.

Fast forward to 1957. Scottsdale was six years old as an incorporated town and a new, major employer built a high-tech facility on McDowell Road. Motorola brought engineers and technicians

Kitchen West is now open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch at the beautifully reimagined Scottsdale Resort at McCormick

East McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale,

The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory partners with Arizona State University to continuously explore Mars.

(Scottsdale Historical Society)

In 1957, Motorola built a high-tech facility on McDowell Road. It brought engineers and technicians to a transitioning farming/ ranching Scottsdale, and created demand for homes, schools, hospitals and a variety of services to support its employees and their families.

to this transitioning farming/ranching town, and created demand for homes, schools, a hospital and variety of services for its employees and their families.

Within a few years, Motorola’s Government Electronics Division became a major contractor to the then-new National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Motorola, now part of General Dynamics, provided a variety of equipment to NASA, used for tracking, guidance, communications and electronics, and conducted research.

A front-page headline in the Dec.14, 1962, edition of the “Scottsdale Progress” proclaimed: “Venus to Earth Via Scottsdale.” According to the article, “Information being transmitted to earth today from 356 million miles in space by Mariner II off the planet Venus is coming from a radio communications system built in Scottsdale. It was the longest man-made radio transmission in history.”

The local newspaper continued to enthrall Scottsdale residents with updates on Motorola’s many space milestones, from providing communications for the moon landings to deep-space communications and space-shuttle equipment.

The year that Motorola built its plant on McDowell, 1957, the Spielberg family moved to the Arcadia area. Steven Spielberg was fascinated with outer space and aliens, as well as making movies.

While a student at Arcadia High, he produced his first commercial film, “Firelight,” which premiered in a local theater in 1964 and starred his entire family. The plot centered around scientists investigating mysterious lights in the night

(Scottsdale Historical Society)

Arcadia High grad Steven Spielberg created “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.”

…continues from page 51

sky. Although Spielberg went on to produce award-winning films of many genres, two of his biggest concerned aliens and space: “E.T – the Extra Terrestrial” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

The late Robert McCall is considered the premier space artist of our time, documenting 35 years of NASA milestones. He lived in Paradise Valley, where his widow, Louise, also an artist, continues to live and paint. He created numerous epic murals and paintings for the Smithsonian, NASA and Hollywood sets.

During the 1990s, McCall was a member of a Scottsdale group that proposed opening a Scottsdale Space Science Center. Among his numerous honors is the 1988 Yuri Gagarin Medal, presented to him by the Soviet Union.

A veteran of three NASA space flights, astronaut John Phillips is a 1966 graduate of Scottsdale High. After a career in the U.S. Navy, Phillips became an astronaut in 1996, held various jobs in the Astronaut Office, served as a robotics specialist and logged more than 203 days in space as a flight engineer on shuttle, Soyuz and International Space Station missions. He retired from NASA in 2011.

Apollo 17 astronaut Ron Evans left NASA in 1977 and came to Scottsdale, where he was an executive with Western American Energy Corporation, and a member of the Scottsdale Rotary Club. He died here in 1990. The 1972 Apollo 17 mission was the last to the moon. Evans was the command module pilot.

In April 1985, Scottsdale Memorial Health Systems Inc. awarded NASA astronaut and emergency-medicine physician Anna Fisher with its first Piper Clinic Award for Medical Excellence. Fisher had flown on the space shuttle Discovery in November 1984.

Astronaut Charles Lacy Veach was grand marshal of the 1992 Parada del Sol, the theme of which was “Arizona’s Heroes and Friends.” Veach was a mission specialist on the crew of STS-39, the 40th space shuttle flight. He also gave a talk, “Space – The New Frontier,” at the Scottsdale Jaycees’ clubhouse. Veach had trained as a fighter pilot at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale.

In 1994, Scottsdale, Arizona State University and NASA collaborated through a NASA grant on an aerial-mapping program that provided data about vegetation, terrain, water and topographical features of the McDowell Mountains.

According to a report in the October 1994 “Scottsdale Airpark News,” “specialists in the space flight program will process the data into a format that can be used by the City’s Geographical Information System (GIS). The result will be a portable system that can share information, such as the number and health of saguaro cacti, types of rocks and the amounts of wildlife in

NASA astronaut Ron Evans.

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…continues from page 53

the McDowell Mountains, with those working to preserve the mountains, with schools and with citizen groups.”

Several Scottsdale-area schools have linked with space missions so that students could talk “live” to astronauts. In 2001, Arcadia High spoke with those aboard the International Space Station. In 2004, Sonoran Sky became the first elementary school in Arizona to use a ham radio to talk with an astronaut on the space station.

Original Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom’s 1967 red Corvette convertible sold at the Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auction in Scottsdale in January 2007 for $275,000. Grissom also flew a Gemini mission, then was killed in a fire during a pre-launch test of Apollo 1 in January 1967.

Arizona State University has been involved in space exploration for many years. It is particularly known for its successful Mars Exploration Rover landings, named “Spirit” and “Opportunity.” The Mars Space Flight Facility at the ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration partners with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory to continuously explore Mars. ASU students, scientists and the general public have ongoing learning opportunities at the facility, in the Moeur Building on ASU’s Tempe campus.

For the past 25 years, the International UFO (unidentified flying object) Congress has convened in the Scottsdale area. It is known as the world’s largest UFO convention, and features speakers, films and interactive displays, as well as a reunion for UFOlogists. Among the perennial topics of discussion is the March 13, 1997 phenomenon known as the “Phoenix Lights,” in which thousands of Phoenix area residents observed unexplained lights in the night sky.

Could an alien landing be the area’s next link with outer space? 

(Joan Fudala)

Arizona State University is involved in space exploration and is known for its successful Mars Exploration Rover landings.

Stevans has been in the high-end furniture business since 1992. Stevans Consignment is the 3rd Generation of Stevans Furniture and Interior Design. Like the original Stevans, we o er interior design services and high-end quality home furnishings such as Maitland Smith, Theodore Alexander, Marge Carson and John Richards.

Where you host your private or corporate event says a lot about you or your company. The historic Warehouse 215 features unique architectural details, including a soaring wood ceiling, clerestory windows, warm brick walls, and sparkling chandeliers. Completely modernized for optimum comfort, your guests will appreciate the many luxe amenities, as well as the beautiful setting unlike any other in The Valley.

Call or stop by today for your private tour and learn how you can elevate your next event. Visit our website for images and more information.

Photo by Sameer Soorma

caught you lookinggood

Around the Airpark, it’s known as “The season.” Big events draw big crowds. Two of them are the Celebration of Fine Art and the world renowned Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. You were there – and so were we. And we caught you looking good.

( Larry Mangino/Celebration of Fine Arts, Will Powers/Barrett-Jackson)

It’s a day at the art show for Michelle Hutton and Stephanie Anderson.

Aileen Frick of Phoenix enjoys an afternoon perusing art.

Fine art in a fine setting: Judith Dickerson of Denver is onboard.

A splendid display of art attracted Deb DeBoer of Omaha, Nebraska.

Look who we ran into! From left, it’s Carolyn and Craig Jackson (he is the Jackson of Barrett-Jackson) with Jordan Rose at indoor polo, part of the extravaganza.

Christine Lizarraga must wonder if perhaps yellow is her color.

It’s time for a break for Tracy White of Carefree.

Rich and Sherri Heuser, and their little doggie Ginger, are ready to browse the merchandise tent.

Janelle Campbell likes the look of a vintage Corvette.

By Kenneth LaFave

Eastern Europe invades Airpark-area at Sonata’s

By Kenneth LaFave

The mood is celebratory and the cuisine is high-carb and irresistible at Sonata’s, the newest talk-of-the-town dining experience in the Airpark area.

The owner is Lithuanian and the menu favors eastern European and Russian recipes. If you’ve

been hankering for a place that serves chicken Kiev, borscht and perogies in an elegant setting at moderate prices, this is it.

The owner’s name is Deividas Molocajevas. Call him David.

…continues on page 58

Sonata’s caprese salad is a match for any gourmet caprese, with a melt-in-your-mouth buffula cheese and an amazing tomato jam, accompanied by toast.

(Sonata’s)

…continues from page 57

“I moved here with my mother and my stepfather from Lithuania 13 years ago, and we saw there was no eastern European restaurant in Scottsdale,” David recounts.

It took 10 years, but they finally did something about it. The family contacted restaurateur friends in Chicago, fellow Lithuanians with a history of opening successful eateries. They partnered up, and last October, Sonata’s swung wide its doors to an almost immediate rush of enthusiasm.

“We get eastern Europeans coming in who say, ‘Finally! Our food!’ We also get Scottsdale foodies excited for something new,” David says.

You may think the restaurant is named after the musical form employed by Mozart and Beethoven, but you’d be wrong.

Kepta duona (front) is a diner’s favorite, and after the black-pepper crusted foie gras with whipped dates, goat cheese and prosciutto ($18), you will never settle for chicken pâté again.

“Sonata is my mother’s name, and she is one of the best cooks, ever,” says her proud son.

The menu items are “about a 50-50 split” between David’s mother’s native recipes and variations of that cuisine by executive chef Josh Bracher.

“Josh has done an excellent job of adapting eastern European recipes for Scottsdale in terms of presentation,” David explains.

The crowd on a recent Friday night was testimony to that. A large dining room full of excited customers enjoyed chicken Kiev (at $17, Sonata’s most popular dish), authentic borscht with meatballs ($10), a range of seafood entrées and a stroganoff made with smoked beef ribs ($22).

It’s also possible for a social pair or group to make a fine repast from small plates and salads, which my companion and I chose to do. Protein dieters be warned, however: The word “potato” shows up more often on the menu than any other. “Bread” is a close second.

We tried the unique Kepta duona ($8), pieces of crisp, dark-rye bread tossed in duck fat aioli, drizzled with havarti and assembled as a tower. It’s hard to stop eating these. Maybe it’s the duck fat, but each bite invites another.

A caprese salad ($13) was a match for any gourmet caprese, with a melt-in-your-mouth buffula cheese and an amazing tomato jam, accompanied by toast.

The oddly named “Funeral” Potatoes ($12) was a tiny, savory casserole of whipped potatoes, two cheeses, smetana (a sour cream) and mushrooms.

The pièce de résistance: black-pepper crusted foie gras with whipped dates, goat

(Sonata’s)

cheese and prosciutto ($18). After this, you will never settle for chicken pâté again.

Sonata’s is open daily for dinner and weekdays for lunch. Music is featured five nights a week, from piano covers of the Great American Songbook to contemporary dance music to (the night we were there) favorite tunes from Lithuania’s close neighbor in cuisine and geography, Russia. 

Sonata’s

10050 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 127 Mondays-Wednesdays 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Thursdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 a.m., and Sundays 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 480-477-1390 www.sonatasrestaurant.com

Sonata’s, with its eastern European cuisine, quickly has become the talk of the Airpark area.

The spurgos varskes at Sonata’s in the Airpark are Lithuanian doughnuts with three sauces.

(Sonata’s)

Passion and pedigree

The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show celebrates 62 years

By Sondra Barr

Show horses often are regarded as intriguing, gentle and stunning animals.

But according to Taryl O’Shea, executive director of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona, a non-profit organization that promotes educational activities, trail rides and competitions to endorse Arabian horses and their breeders, Arabian horses are the world’s finest.

She’s a lifelong horse lover and rider, and says they’re the only breed she’d ever own.

“They’re famous because Arabians are the oldest dated breed,” O’Shea says. “They’re the most beautiful with the dish face, big

eyes and high tail. They’re known as works of art, but they’re also regarded as the smartest and friendliest of the breeds.”

They’ll be on display at the 62nd annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show this month at WestWorld in the Airpark.

During the show, more than 2,400 Arabian horses from across the globe engage in the pageantry of showmanship along with breeders and riders of all ages. They passionately compete for the world’s most prestigious distinctions in the most high-profile competition of its kind, O’Shea says.

“On any given day, guests will enjoy a variety of competitions,” O’Shea says.

Among the most highly anticipated, she says, is the Arabian and Half Arabian Mounted Native Costume class, in which riders and horses dress in traditional desert regalia and gallop around the area.

Other competitions include dressage, reining, driving, and English and western pleasure. Another highly popular event is the Arabian freestyle liberty class, in which the horses run free in the arena without saddles.

The most exciting addition to this year’s show, O’Shea says, is the black-tie auction on Feb. 24.

“We’re featuring some of the most high-end horses available in the world, and we’re very excited about it,” says O’Shea.

What has evolved into a prestigious and profitable competition boasts humble roots. According to O’Shea, a group of Scottsdale’s early citizenry launched the show in 1955.

“Most people recognize the names from the street signs around town,” she says. “The Chaunceys, the McCormicks … they were all well known, wealthy people breeding Arabian horses,” she shares.

It was fellow founder Ann McCormick who lent her Scottsdale acreage, dubbed Paradise Park, to host the event for two decades. The show is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation and the Arabian Horse Association, and has built a reputation as the Super Bowl of the Arabian world.

The show now is at WestWorld, an ideal venue

Courtesy of Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

A popular event at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is the Arabian freestyle liberty class, in which the horses run free in the arena without saddles.

THE 62ND SCOTTSDALE ARABIAN HORSE SHOW

Feb. 16-26

WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale scottsdaleshow.com

than 2,400 Arabian horses

for equestrian events with its generous show rings. Accessible parking for guests and exhibitors and comfortable stabling have contributed to the show’s continued popularity and esteem.

While the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is highly revered across equine circles, for Scottsdale, the event has become a signature cultural and community draw. From locals who just want to sample a taste to celebrity breeders and enthusiasts, more than 300,000 people attend annually.

The show adds about $57 million to the Airpark-area economy. The impact to merchants, including eateries, resorts, hotels and shops, is powerful, O’Shea says.

Aside from earning distinct titles, competitors are awarded more than $2.5 million. During its more than three decades, the show has raised more than $20 million for charitable causes.

“We rely heavily on volunteers each year, so many of the beneficiary charities step up to help,” O’Shea says.

This year, the AHAA has chosen March of Dimes, Scottsdale Community College and its equine sciences program, and Arizona State University and its Western equestrian team as beneficiaries. 

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Arabians are the oldest dated breed, regarded as the most beautiful of horses with the dish face, big eyes and high tail. They’ll be on display at the 62nd annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show this month at WestWorld in the Airpark.

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from across the globe engage in the pageantry of showmanship at the 62nd annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.

scottsdale area chamber of commerce

Giving back

Scottsdale Chamber recognizes volunteers for community service

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce honored leaders who embody the spirit of volunteerism in the community during its 17th annual awards ceremony on Jan. 5, as part of the chamber’s annual membership mixer.

“The chamber could not accomplish all of the good things we do for Scottsdale’s business community without the help of our volunteers,” says Mark Hiegel, president and CEO of the Scottsdale Chamber. “We simply do not have enough staff to do the job, but with the assistance of our outstanding volunteers, we are able to make the great city of Scottsdale even greater. We couldn’t

do it without them.”

The chamber has a volunteer core of more than 200, who contribute daily to the success and growth of not only the chamber but also the city and its business community. Without their selfless dedication and drive, many programs offered by the chamber would suffer, as would the business climate in Scottsdale.

Creations in Cuisine, Macayo's, Sonata’s, The Art Institute of Phoenix, Small Cakes Bakery, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Dhaba, Stronghold Vineyards and Two Brothers provided food and drink for the reception at McCormick Ranch Golf Club’s Pavilion Room.

The 2017 honoree: Legacy Award: David Bentler, Arizona Public Service.

The Legacy Award honors the long-term achievements of an individual who has impacted the success of the Scottsdale Area Chamber, and who has made a significant impact on the social and economic fabric of our community.

Segner Award: Randy Nussbaum, Nussbaum Gillis & Dinner, P.C.

The Segner Award celebrates the impact of an outstanding chamber member. Named for the chamber’s first board chairman, Wesley Segner, the Segner Award honors those who have followed in his footsteps

(Peter Jordan Photo)

Rachel Tarman (left) of Quality Reliable Solutions receives the Dale B. Fingersh Volunteer of the Year Award from Dale B. Fingersh at the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony on Jan. 5.

(Peter Jordan Photo)

Mark F. Eberle (left) of Henry and Horne presents the Mark F. Eberle Rising Star Award to William “Bill” Smith of Mountain States Employers Council.

(Peter Jordan Photo)

Mark Hiegel (left), president and CEO of the Scottsdale Chamber, and City Council member Virginia Korte (right) present Tom Keal with the Unsung Hero Award at the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony on Jan. 5.

through community trusteeship and leadership.

Mark F. Eberle Rising Star Award: William “Bill” Smith, Mountain States Employers Council.

The Rising Star Award recognizes the accomplishments of promising new leaders, whose volunteer spirit contributes to the success of the chamber and the community.

Dale B. Fingersh Volunteer of the Year Award: Rachel Tarman, Quality Reliable Solutions.

The Dale B. Fingersh Volunteer of the

Year Award recognizes an individual of outstanding character who has acted as a steward for the chamber.

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in the city, providing advocacy, education, networking, leadership and exposure oppor-

tunities to our member/client businesses.

The chamber actively works to maintain Scottsdale’s high quality of life and create an environment in which business innovation, excellence and entrepreneurship can thrive.

For more information, visit scottsdalechamber.com or call 480-355-2700. 

Longfellow Law Group, PLLC

(Peter Jordan Photo)

Anthony Ray (left) of Comerica Bank presents the Legacy Award to David Bentler of APS.

(Peter Jordan Photo)

Randy Nussbaum (left) of Nussbaum, Gillis, and Dinner receives the Segner Award from Bryce Lloyd of First Bank.

AAdverse possession

By Gregory Gillis

rizona landowners need to be wary of infringement upon their property in order to ensure that they do not lose their land through an adverse possession.

As a landowner, you may be surprised to learn that a neighbor can occupy your land for a period of time and then gain legal ownership of it. If a neighbor is using your property, even a small strip along the edge, you should be aware of the risk because that neighbor may be able to acquire title to it through a legal doctrine known as adverse possession.

In Arizona, a person is entitled to legal ownership of property if the person’s occu-

pation of the property is hostile, actual, open and notorious, exclusive and continuous for a period of 10 years.

In addition, even if a person cannot legally claim ownership of your property, the person may be able to gain the legal right to use part of your property. This is called a prescriptive easement, the elements of which are basically the same.

The distinction between adverse possession and a prescriptive easement is that adverse possession leads to acquiring actual ownership of the disputed land, while a prescriptive easement leads not to ownership but rather the right of continued use.

Hostile use

Arizona courts have defined hostile use of land to mean that one must show 1) possession or occupation of the land, 2) that they have a claim of exclusive rights to

legal perspectives

the land, and 3) denial of title to the true owner by words or action, such as continued use to the detriment of that owner.

Possession

Actual, open and notorious possession is another element. The person seeking to adversely possess the disputed parcel must actually be in “possession” of the property and treat it as if the person is the owner. This means there must be a physical presence on the land. A person’s intent to possess the land is not enough for someone to make a claim of ownership.

The words “open and notorious” simply mean that the person’s use of the land must be obvious to anyone, including the true land owner. The clear example is the neighbor whose fence or driveway is obviously on your property.

Continuous use

The person must possess the land exclusively and without interruption for the 10-year time period. In order to meet the 10-year time period, it is possible to add or “tack” on the years of use by your prior owner.

For continuous possession, the person cannot cease using the property for a period of time, recommence using the property and then include the time that it was abandoned. The use must be maintained continuously for 10 years.

Owner options

There are several steps an owner can take to prevent a neighbor from gaining a legal claim to your property:

Grant permission: One effective way to thwart a possible claim for adverse possession or easement by prescription is to give permission to use a portion of your land. To be safe, put the permission in writing and obtain your neighbor’s signature as an acknowledgement.

Obtain title insurance: When you buy a home or any kind of real property, you expect to enjoy certain benefits from ownership, such as being able to occupy and use the property as you wish, to be free from debts or obligations not created or agreed to by you, and to know that you have the right to use all of your property. Title insurance is designed to protect you from certain risks, including possible claims of adverse possession or prescriptive easements.

Hire an attorney: If you believe that a person may have a claim against a portion of your property under an adverse possession or easement by prescription theory, see a lawyer. You need to take steps to prevent losing ownership over the disputed portion of land by adverse possession. 

Gregory Gillis is a founding shareholder of the firm of Nussbaum Gillis & Dinner, P.C. His practice focuses on construction law, real estate and business litigation, and dispute resolution. Gillis recently was appointed to the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators. He can be reached at 480-609-0011 or ggillis@ngdlaw.com.

The information contained in this column is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing legal or tax advice. If you have any questions regarding the topics discussed in this article, you are advised to contact an attorney or tax adviser.

By Jack Miller

EThree to get ready

Visitor’s board cites ways to boost and sustain industry

ach and every day, we in the tourism industry are challenged by the question: What does the future hold?

We ask ourselves this when considering how to best meet the needs of current and future travelers as trends in the industry change.

We ask ourselves this when we hear economists say another downturn is just around the corner, and market analysts claim the hospitality industry has reached its peak.

We ask ourselves this when we see similar destinations refresh their brand images and expand their advertising, thus making the tourism industry all the more competitive.

Tourism is among Scottsdale’s largest industries, representing one in eight jobs in our community. Our destination attracts nearly 9 million visitors every year, who spend $40 million on sales and bed taxes alone. When Scottsdale’s tourism industry thrives, our community thrives.

But what does the future hold for Scottsdale tourism?

Experience Scottsdale’s board of directors has identified three ways in which we can

support and sustain our tourism industry for the future, no matter the challenges or obstacles that lie ahead: product and experience development, transportation and regional connectivity and downtown activation and connectivity.

Product and experience development

To remain competitive, Scottsdale must continue offering products and experiences that meet the needs of today’s travelers and are authentic to our destination. Scottsdale is considering projects that could help achieve this, from renovating Scottsdale Civic Center Mall and WestWorld of Scottsdale to building the Desert Discovery Center. Such plans could generate opportunities by maximizing current event space and creating new gathering spaces in the city.

Transportation and regional connectivity

Visitors and residents increasingly desire the ability to easily move around our community and connect to neighboring commu-

Scottsdale is compiling a public-spaces master plan that would facilitate connectivity, create distinct points of interest and provide places for people to gather and spend time.

(Experience Scottsdale)

To remain competitive, Scottsdale must continue offering products and experiences authentic to the destination. The city may renovate Scottsdale Civic Center Mall and WestWorld of Scottsdale.

nities. Scottsdale must explore options that will move visitors from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to our hotels and resorts as well as focus on our downtown, improving walkability, creating a bike-share program and adding parking.

Downtown activation and connectivity

Downtown Scottsdale is the heart of our community, but to attract new customers to the area and support local businesses downtown, we need additional energy and vibrancy, day and night. Scottsdale must take a holistic approach to downtown planning. The city is compiling a public-spaces master plan that would facilitate connectivity, create distinct points of interest and provide places for people to gather and spend time. Such spots would allow for additional product and special events, new reasons for people to come downtown.

Tackling these three ideas is a big task, and the tourism industry will continue to work with city leaders to prioritize projects that fall within these parameters. We hope to show the return on investment the community will receive by embracing these recommendations.

With them, Scottsdale will evolve and become an even more desirable destination that can compete with the very best for years to come. Once these three paths are accomplished, we in the tourism industry will be thinking about the next steps, because we’ll always plan for what the future will hold. 

e n n e t h L . C l a r k Mobile: 602-803-0933

Scottsdale must explore options that will move visitors from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to our hotels and resorts.

Miller is general manager of Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and chairman of the board for Experience Scottsdale, which is responsible for marketing the Scottsdale area as a premier travel and meetings destination to national and international leisure visitors, travel agents, tour operators and meeting planners.

Jack

(Experience Scottsdale)

IBottom-line boost

By Paul Breslau, Breslau Insurance & Benefits Inc.

f you own or run a business, implementing two immediate insurance and benefits concepts will add significantly to the bottom line.

They also will improve employee morale and operations. The first is in the 401(k) retirement plan arena and the second is to provide health care first by using the EverydayCare plan managed by Redirect Health.

401(k) retirement plan

There are two main components of a 401(k) retirement plan. The first is the record keeper who holds the assets (money), offers the investment options and provides ongoing service, such as websites and educa-

tion. The second is the plan administrator, which can be bundled by the record keeper.

However, a better option may be to use a third-party administrator due to their expertise and specialized knowledge.

On a 401(k) plan for a business with 190 employees, recently we were able to reduce plan expenses by more than $12,000 per year, the savings being shared by the business and participating employees. Simultaneously, we provided better service and improved compliance for fiduciary responsibility. Some record keepers are now requiring employers to sign a fiduciary-responsibility statement. Other record keepers provide an ERISA 3(21) co-fiduciary service at no cost.

There are significant differences in the service, expertise, and costs of record keepers and third-party administrators. Some are better at plan design and tax-savings concepts. Benchmarking, bonding, conflicts of interest, discrimination, safe-harbor, plan audits, etc. are major concerns. It is very tempting to roll forward with current providers and not make changes or double check. We recommend a complete review of your 401(k) plan.

Redirect Health is transforming the health-care industry. Dissatisfied with the traditional health insurance model, cofounders Dr. Janice Johnston, Dr. David Berg and former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson did something about it.

Insurance cost is out of control and most people can’t afford to use their insurance for anything short of a catastrophe. Redirect Health has changed that by putting the health-care first. As Director of Operations Mike Bechtol put it, “We make sure people always get the right care at the right place for the right cost, and we’re super good at it.”

Again, there is no cost for the routine everyday care that people use the most, including primary care and chiropractic. Cutting out the waste and administration that is rampant in health care makes health care affordable.

Health care first

Many agree that the current healthinsurance financing system is broken for businesses. Family medical premiums often total more than $12,000 per year with deductibles now $2,500 or higher. Co-pays and co-insurance can raise total costs to $15,000 or more. This is before any health care is provided.

Redirect Health turns this system on its head by providing unlimited primary care first at a monthly premium of $105 per person. This is paired with other lower-cost health insurance with the overall result of significant bottom-line savings. When an employee walks into the Redirect Health office or any doctor’s office approved in advance, there will be no cost for the visit. There are no credit cards, no paperwork to fill out and at a Redirect Health office you never wait more than 15 minutes for a visit.

Redirect Health is taking health care from a burden to an affordable and smart advantage for business owners. Redirect Health also manages specialty care, hospitalization and other expensed treatments to their most efficient and affordable option. For self-funded employers, the bottom-line boost is even greater.

Please check with your advisor or agent to see if they can help you with this. However, not all agents and advisors are active with Redirect Health or other preferred providers. I am now referring to expert retirement advisors and health-insurance agents. Please contact me if you would like to be evaluated and matched with one. 

Paul Breslau is president of Breslau Insurance & Benefits Inc. Contact him 602-692-6832, HRaz. com or Paul@HRaz.com.

How to deal with HVAC issues

By Stephen A. Cross, CCIM

What do heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and water heaters have in common? They both wear out.

Specifying whether the landlord or tenant is responsible for repairing or replacing them are important topics of negotiation in commercial leases. There are nuances and issues specific to HVAC systems and water heaters.

In full-service leases, also known as gross leases, the landlord maintains, repairs and replaces the HVAC systems at the landlord’s expense and delivers conditioned air during certain periods known as “building hours,” typically 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and in the morning on Saturdays.

If a tenant wishes “after hours” conditioned air, there may be a requirement to pay an additional usage fee. In my experience, building-hours and after-hours charges are negotiable, especially if a business wants only a few additional hours during weekdays, on weekends or seasonally.

If a specific temperature range is important to the business, make certain that it is clearly stated in the lease. To illustrate: A physician or dentist may require the temperature be 70 to 72 degrees for the comfort of the patients, while the occupants in a typical office may be comfortable at 74 to 76 degrees.

If the landlord does not deliver conditioned air at the agreed-upon temperatures, or fails to repair a malfunctioning HVAC system in a timely manner, the tenant may have been “constructively evicted,” and may be entitled to vacate the premises. This is especially important in very hot or cold locations, where conditioned air is critical for the comfort and safety of the occupants. Consult with an experienced real estate attorney to understand your rights and remedies in the event the landlord fails to live up to its obligations.

Most triple-net (NNN), industrial-gross (I/G) or modified-gross (M/G) leases contain boilerplate language that requires

“A physician or dentist may require that the temperature be 70 to 72 degrees for the comfort of the patients, while the occupants in a typical office may be comfortable at 74 to 76 degrees.”

that the tenant not only provide and pay for regular maintenance service, but also foot the bill in the event the HVAC system(s) require repair or replacement. As the date a unit may break down is unpredictable, the likelihood of incurring repair expenses is much like playing musical chairs, and you don’t want to be the tenant in possession when the music stops (i.e., the compressor fails).

Therefore, during the negotiation process for NNN, IG or MG leases, I suggest requesting the landlord warrant the HVAC systems, including evaporative coolers, for the entire period of occupancy (i.e., the base term and any exercised option periods). Alternate strategies could include, among others, obtaining a full warranty for a period of time (say, the first 6, 12 or 24 months of the initial

term) and/or capping the tenant’s out-ofpocket expenses for repairs or replacements at a specific amount (say $300 per occurrence or $500 per year).

If an extended warranty or expense cap cannot be negotiated, it is critical to stipulate that, in the event the unit(s) require replacement, the landlord will replace the unit(s) and the tenant will be responsible for no more than a prorated share of the cost based on the remaining lease term, actual cost at the time of replacement and the manufacturer’s estimated useful life (typically 144 months).

This also can be used as general guidelines for the repair and maintenance of water heaters. Of note is that not all sinks have hot-water service, so before signing a lease, make certain to confirm whether the bathrooms and kitchen/break room sinks are equipped with water heaters and that they are in good operating condition. 

Stephen A. Cross, CCIM, owns CROSS Commercial Realty Advisors and advocates exclusively for tenants and buyers. Contact him at 480-998-7998 or steve@crossrealty.com.

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Because I work exclusively for commercial tenants and buyers my clients get three things unavailable elsewhere:

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By Thomas K. Brueckner, CLTC

DSequence of return risk

id you know that two investors can average the same return over time, yet one can have nearly twice as much money at age 65 as the other?

Advisors call this sequence of return risk, and it’s a retirement killer.

I remember when, during the early 1990s, major brokerage firms used the results of studies and back testing to demonstrate certain “truths” about the market.

One popular brochure told of how “Wally the Winner” bought $10,000 worth of the S&P 500 on the lowest (best) valuation day of each year for 25 years, while his hapless brother “Larry the Loser” bought

the same $10,000 of the index on the highest (worst possible) day of each year.

While one might assume a huge difference after 25 years, the annualized yield of Wally’s portfolio was only 1.2 percent per year higher than Larry’s, proof that time in the market, rather than timing, leads to desirable results.

What the brokerage firm that published this endearing piece didn’t discuss, of course, was the age of the investor, implying that all investors had Wally’s and Larry’s 25-year time horizon, and that as long as one just stayed in the market over time, all would be fine. Tell that to someone

who retired at the bottom of the markets in October, 2002, down 51 percent, or in March, 2009, down 57 percent.

More recently, there was another brokerage firm-sponsored study that measured the S&P 500 over the 60 years from 1950 through 2010. It said that $1 invested and left alone to reinvest grew to $52. Ah, but if you missed only the 10 best days in that 60-year investment lifetime,

your original dollar grew to $27, only about half as much.

Their biased conclusion: “None of us knows when one of those 10-best days is going to occur, so rather than missing out on such gains while sitting on the sidelines, one should stay in over the long run so as to catch all of those best days…”

Of course, no mention was made as to what missing the 10 worst days would have done for that dollar in 60 years: It would have grown to $127.

What so many of these misguided studies rarely address is the age of the investor and their stage of life. When one incurs those massive losses in the portfolio has far more to do with a sustainable retirement than any other factor.

Per Investopedia: “It is not just longterm average returns that impact your financial wealth, but the timing of those returns. Two retirees with identical wealth can have entirely different financial outcomes, depending on when they start retirement. A retiree starting out at the bottom of a bear market will have better investing success in retirement than another starting out at a market peak, even if the long-term averages are the same.”

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Another consequence of this to a recent retiree who is no longer contributing to his 401(k) from income is that the ability of his portfolio to recover his losses after a big decline becomes greatly diminished, and his risk of outliving his assets will likely increase significantly. Guaranteeing a lifetime income from some of one’s financial assets can help mitigate sequence of return risk.

Finally, sequence of return risk is rarely discussed by advisors who make

their living not by acting as fiduciaries, but from an assets-under-management trail commission, so long as their clients remain fully invested. As regulators are now pointing out, this sometimes creates a conflict of interest between the retiree, who can no longer afford excessive risk on monies it’s taken 40 years to save, and the advisor, whose income is dependent upon the client remaining fully invested in various market holdings.

A recent “Financial Planning" magazine article found that “advisors have a history of being significantly disconnected from their clients’ actual needs.”

When clients were asked what their top concern was, 88.6 percent said losing their wealth.

When advisors were asked the same question, only 15.4 percent believed that losing their wealth was the most important concern of those clients, virtually the polar opposite of how clients view their needs. 

Thomas K. Brueckner, CLTC, is President/CEO of Strategic Asset Conservation in Scottsdale, a conservative wealth-management firm. Reach him at go2knight.com.

By Jen Smith

ORise and shine

ne of my favorite times of year when we lived in Singapore was Chinese New Year.

While here in the U.S. things can seem a bit dull after the holidays, not so in Asia.

In early January, preparation kicks into high gear for the Lunar New Year.

Homes must be cleaned. Food prepared. New clothing secured. Red packets stuffed. There is a manic buzz of activity, until New Year’s Eve, when everything shuts down. People rush home to be with family.

Public life is silenced for a time of intimate reconnection with family and friends.

The Chinese calendar comprises 60-year periods with five 12-year cycles associated with an animal. This year we said goodbye to the monkey and greeted the rooster on Jan. 28.

So what does the Year of the Rooster challenge us to do?

Well, when we think of this fellow, the first thought might be cock-a-doodle-doo. The rooster has a reputation for being an early riser and making enough noise to roust everyone in the vicinity. In this Year of the Rooster, we are called to awaken and arise and get to work.

What chores have we been putting off?

What professional certification or education have we been planning to pursue? What household organization has been overlooked far too long? What exercise goal would make all the difference in energy and self-esteem?

Wake up and get it done.

The rooster is notorious for protecting and defending the barnyard. His noisy ruckus

may mean "danger in the area" or "tasty morsels right this way." He is large and in charge, protecting his turf.

Who needs a little TLC in your neighborhood? An elderly parent, who would love a visit or even a phone chat? A little tyke, who is eager for your time and attention to build a Lego set, go for a bike ride or take a trip to the park? A spouse, who deserves some romance? Even colleagues, who need to know you’re there and plugged in and moving in the same direction?

Last, but not least, this rooster year is a reminder to think about our appearance. The cock always puts his best foot forward. Take a look at your wardrobe, your hair style, your grooming routine.

Our outer appearance is a manifestation of our inner self. What are you saying to the world about who you are?

Does your presence inspire joy, energy and positive thinking? Don’t forget to put on a smile every morning.

First, a big smile and a word of encouragement to yourself, and then, take it to the world.

Rise early. Make a little noise. Look out for your peeps. Share freely. Look sharp. Smile. Make the Year of the Rooster one to crow about. 

Line of Sight is a Scottsdale-based coaching and consulting firm. Schedule a risk-free discovery session at jen@mylineofsight.com or 480-518-7241.

Q: I stained my dress and now it’s discolored. Help?

A: If any garments have lost their color due to a spill, the dye loss is usually permanent. However, sometimes we can move excess dye into the affected area by dry cleaning or wet cleaning. Fabric, color and degree of pickup will determine the success we have with items that picked up color. Ask for the manager when you drop off your order, and we’ll do everything we can.

- Donn C. Frye, CEO

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8752 E Shea Blvd Suite 131 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 US NW Corner of Loop 101 & Shea Blvd 480-596-3896 www.azmes.com

MOBILE PATROL & ALARM RESPONSE

Special Protection & Patrol

14358 North Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Suite 12 Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

Office: 480-477-7751

Email: tony@sppatrol.com / andre@sppatrol.com "Your Security Is Our Mission"

NETWORKING ORGANIZATIONS

7501 E. McCormick Pkwy #202N Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Phone: 480-355-2700 www.scottsdalechamber.com

JoAnn Holland, President & CEO

P.O. Box 1754

Scottsdale, AZ 85252

Phone: 480-809-3779 www.womenofscottsdale.org

8426 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-664-6600

www.boardroomsuites.com

OFFICE SPACE SERVICES

16410 N. 91st St., Suite 112 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-443-3992

www.shellcommercial.com

Stephen A. Cross, CCIM

“The Tenant’s Advocate” 10601 N. Hayden Rd., Suite 108, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-998-7998

Toll Free: 888-998-1414

Email: steve@crossrealty.com www.crossrealty.com

PRINTING

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (CONT.)

A full service real estate company, providing professional property management services to office, retail, industrial, apartments, office condominium associations and property owners associations.

3877 North 7th St., Suite 410 Phoenix, AZ 85014

Phone: 602-222-8510 ext. 222 | Fax: 602-264-8966

Email: lfarris@farrmont.com www.farrmont.com

REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPERS

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS (CONT.)

Edge Real Estate Services, LLC

William Schuckert, Designated Broker/Principal 15100 N. 78th Way, Suite 207 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-922-0460

Jackie Wszalek: President/Owner

Phone: 480-483-0166

Fax: 480-483-8409

Email: edgesdl@aol.com

Cell: 602-810-4005

15770 N. Greenway-Hayden Loop, Suite 101 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 www.splashaz.com

2013-2014 NAWBO President www.nawbophx.org PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Judy Amland, Designated Broker 7820 E. Evans Rd., Suite 400 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-483-2853 • Fax: 480-951-7460

Karlene Politi, CPM® , President 8501 E. Princess Dr., Suite 130 Scottsdale, AZ 85255

CPI's management portfolio consists of over 175 properties totaling more than 6.2 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space.

Phone: 480-427-4277

Email: k.politi@optimpmsolutions.com www.optimpmsolutions.com

2323 West University Drive Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: 480-966-2301 | Fax: 480-966-0132 www.cpiaz.com

14605 N. Airport Dr., Suite 110 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-483-1985

REAL ESTATE & Stephen

Fax: 480-483-1726 www.airportproperty.com

Phone: 602-650-2260

Terry Biehn, Nicole Brook, Joe Blegen

Kristin Guadagno, Certified Senior Escrow Officer 14200 N. Northsight Blvd., Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

14080 N. Northsight Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-538-1940

Fax: Email:

Phone: 480-596-9000 www.colliers.com

Fax: 480-538-1960 www.chicagotitlearizona.com

Email: kristin.guadagno@ctt.com

14080 N. Northsight Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-596-9000

www.colliers.com

“The Tenant’s 10601 N. Hayden Scottsdale, Phone:

Toll Free: Email: steve@crossrealty.com www.crossrealty.com

Edge Real William Schuckert, 15100 N. Scottsdale, Phone:

Judy Amland, 7820 E. Evans Scottsdale, Phone: 480-483-2853

Property Management | Building Services

Our Vision:

To always be the best choice for our clients.

7025 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 220 Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Phone: 480-966-2301 • Fax: 480-348-1601 www.cpiaz.com

Stephen A. Cross, CCIM

“The Tenant’s Advocate” 10601 N. Hayden Rd., Suite 108 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-998-7998

Toll Free: 888-998-1414

Email: steve@crossrealty.com www.crossrealty.com

16410 N. 91st St., Suite 112 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: 480-443-3992 www.shellcommercial.com

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT & CONSULTING

AISPROPERTIES

14901 N Scottsdale Rd Ste 201, Scottsdale, Az 85254 480-483-8107

Email: Lorraine@aisairpark.com

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, LEASING, FINANCING & EMINENT DOMAIN

Cutler Commercial 2150 E. Highland, Suite 207 Phoenix, AZ 85016

Phone: 602-955-3500 • Fax: 602-955-2828 www.cutlercommercial.com

14850 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 450 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 480-609-0011 Fax: 480-609-0016 www.ngdlaw.com

RESTAURANTS

Realty & Management Commercial Real Estate

Linda Smith Maughan, CPM® , Designated Broker 14415 N. 73rd St., Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-443-8287 www.losarcosrealty.net

10425 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85253 (480) 483-1939 info@chopandwokaz.com

RESTAURANTS

Scottsdale: 16211 N. Scottsdale Rd. #4 Phone: 480-607-DELI(3354)

Phoenix: 21705 N. 19th Ave. Phone: 623-581-DELI(3354)

We Deliver & Offering Catering Too! www.RinaldisDeli.com

SHREDDING

15560 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Suite B Scottsdale, AZ. 85260 Call 480.860.8446 for Appointment Times www.ShredddingScottsdale.com

STORAGE

Here for youTM 13851 N. 73rd St. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: 480-991-5600 www.StorageWest.com

TAX PREPARATION

Zito Wealth Strategies, Inc. 14300 N Northsight Blvd, #109 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480.663.3116 Fax: 480.663.3117 www.ZitoWealth.com Elaine@ZitoWealth.com

Stephen A. Cross, CCIM

“The Tenant’s Advocate”

10601 N. Hayden Rd., Suite 108

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-998-7998

Toll Free: 888-998-1414

Email: steve@crossrealty.com www.crossrealty.com

UNIFORMED ARMED & UNARMED PROTECTION SERVICES

Special Protection & Patrol

14358 North Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Suite 12

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

Office: 480-477-7751

Email: tony@sppatrol.com / andre@sppatrol.com "Your Security Is Our Mission"

VIDEO PRODUCTION

MP&E Cameras and Lighting

16585 N. 92nd St., Suite 104

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-596-6699 www.hdgear.tv

FEBRUARY Business Horoscopes

By Weiss Kelly

Professional Member of the American Federation of Astrologers

ARIES 3/21-4/20: You are ready for significant change in professional associations. Reconnect with former clients and contacts who have been ignored. Eclipses on the 11th and 28th highlight career-based relationships that can be improved. Hint: Identify with people who make key decisions.

TAURUS 4/21-5/20: Revive a relationship or start a new one. February’s impact on your public life is reflected in the overflow of sudden happenings. You can break old habits and improve how you communicate with people. Circle the 6th through 28th.

GEMINI 5/21-6/21: Your ability to “mix and match” will be put to practical use. Saying the right thing at the right time, and how and what you say, will matter. All Geminis have a way with words. (President Trump is a Gemini). Expect a lot of mental and social chatter.

CANCER 6/22-7/22: Things may happen quickly. Watch for sudden demand in the industrial-material industry. Hard work and trimming your lifestyle are among the themes. Use caution against extravagance even if your resources improve. It’s an exciting time with friends and new contacts.

LEO 7/23-8/22: Get ready for a landmark year, starting with this month’s eclipse in your sign and another in August. This

After a month of reflection, February begins a transitional cycle. The name comes from the Latin word “Februarius,” known as the month of purification (drain the swamp?), hopefully a new way of doing things.

six-month window of opportunity can be a right of passage in your work/personal life. Pay attention to who you meet, where you go, what you learn, and how you present yourself.

VIRGO 8/23-9/22: February’s social and political dynamics influence your finances and investments. Relations with superiors and what’s happening in the health-care system could concern you. Personal and work stress can be released by putting some effort into having fun.

LIBRA 9/23-10/22: The planets support your efforts with negotiations and reaching agreements effortlessly. Combining business with pleasure pays off. No excuses for not using your diplomatic talents and resources. Social venues and invitations abound. All you must do is show up.

SCORPIO 10/23-11/21: Reshape your work world. This six-month emphasis could have you making a major move. Keep an eye on the market, which will have some roller coaster rides ahead. Keep abreast of rapid advancements and discoveries in high technology.

SAGITTARIUS 11/22-12/21: You’ll be interested in political banter and social ties the second half of this month. You are in your realm, despite pressures or commitments

that should be followed through on. What will help get you through this is cooperating with groups or organizations.

CAPRICORN 12/22-1/19: Your professional life moves quickly this transitional month of U.S. economic policies and leadership. Keep a close eye on what’s going on in every form of business. Stop taking yourself so seriously. Get out and connect with your colleagues.

AQUARIUS 1/20-2/19: You push a personal project with little interference. Expect this year to be explosive. Get back to associations and interests. Revise yourself. No other sign can relate to change and the unexpected as you. Look to technology and medical sciences. Be prepared to make a move.

PISCES 2/20-3/20: Important, rapid changes in the medical, social and creative arts will be addressed. The social atmosphere is prime for personal pleasures and entertainment. Underline the second-to-last week for indulging. Sun on the 26th relates to music. It’s good for the soul. 

Weiss Kelly is a professional member of the American Federation of Astrologers. For your 2017 forecast, sent on a CD, contact Weiss at weissastro@aol.com.

THUNDERBIRD ROAD

GREENWAY PARKWAY

WHAT IS A TIMING BELT?

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