Scottsdale Airpark - March 2022

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MARCH 2022

THE FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACE Sneaky Big Studios launches new virtual reality technology

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A

‘Leader’ in His Field Brick Road Studio owner finds his niche in the Airpark

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Contents March

22

10

30 T H E

V O I C E

O F

T H E

A I R P A R K

B U S I N E S S

C O M M U N I T Y

F O R

4 1

Y E A R S

MARCH 2022

THE FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACE

6 All-Star Storyteller

Bill Baer reignites his passion for talking to people

17 Dead Again

Scottsdale district system supporters aim for ballot

19 A ‘Leader’ in His Field

Brick Road Studio owner finds his niche in the Airpark

Sneaky Big Studios launches new virtual reality technology

22 The Future of the Workplace Sneaky Big Studios launches new virtual reality technology

Nick's Italian Restaurants

24 All-in-One Control

A

SmartRent is opening doors for rental property life

‘Leader’ in His Field

36 Tourism Talk

Brick Road Studio owner finds his niche in the Airpark

Commercials keep Scottsdale top of mind

On the cover:

Brick Road Studio owner Scott Leader (Photo by Dennis Murphey)

10 Family Affair

Horse show attracts crowds for fun and competition

14 ‘Crazy Movie Love Fest’

30 Standing the Test of Time

Nick’s Italian Restaurants bring the real thing

Phoenix Film Festival inching toward normalcy

2 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

6 28 32 38 39 40

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MEET YourAirparkNeighbor

All-Star Storyteller Bill Baer reignites his passion for talking to people

G

By Justin Liggin

Bill Baer worked as a sportscaster and news anchor for 13 years before starting his own production company.

(Photo courtesy of Bill Baer)

rowing up in Chicago as the son of an English teacher in a family full of sports fanatics, Bill Baer was allowed to forfeit his perfect attendance record at school for one day each year: Wrigley Field’s Opening Day. “My life revolved around sports,” Baer says. “I wanted to grow up and be a professional athlete, but I was too young to know it wasn’t going to happen.”

Though he had planned to be a two-sport star like Bo Jackson, it was in fifth grade when Baer realized the magnitude of his dreams and decided to play for the love of the …continues on page 8

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MEET YourAirparkNeighbor …continued from page 6 game, opting for a different profession — sportscasting.

“When I came home one night and told my family I wanted to be a sportscaster, they were very supportive,” Baer says. “And like a true English teacher, my mother let me know I would have to brush up on my grammar skills.”

Upon graduating from high school in 1984, Baer set off on his dream of becoming a sportscaster with an academic scholarship to Texas Tech University in his pocket.

“What drew me to Texas Tech was their campus radio station. It was the only station that allowed underclassmen to get on air if there was an opening,” Baer says.

With his sights set on joining the station, Baer popped into the general manager’s office every day to check if there were any radio jobs available. One day, the opportunity came.

“Before the manager even told me what the job was, I took it,” Baer says.

From midnight to 4 a.m. on Friday night into Saturday morning, Baer commanded the campus airwaves at KTXT-FM, spinning vinyl while other students were either fast asleep or out partying.

Baer’s success on air led him to the sports director position, where he did the play by play for the school’s sports team and later secured internships at the NBC affiliate in Lubbock, Texas, and 12 News — the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, where his parents retired. Armed with experience in his senior year, Baer

8 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

Bill Baer has two daughters, Ally, 11, and Lexi, 8.

(Photo courtesy of Bill Baer)

eventually moved broadcast departments and began anchoring newscasts prior to graduating in 1988.

“While the experience was awesome, I desperately wanted to get back into sports, which happened shortly after my graduation,” Baer says.

What came next was a whirlwind of moving that took Baer from Lubbock to Charleston, South Carolina, to Fox 10 in Phoenix, to Providence, Rhode Island, and ultimately back to the Valley in 1994.

“As a sports reporter, I got to go to all the games, talk to all the players and get the full pro experience I wanted, but unlike the players I didn’t have to deal with any injuries,” Baer says.

After 18 months of doing sports at CBS 5 in Phoenix, Baer became the station’s main news anchor, but he quickly found out it wasn’t everything it cracked up to be.

“As a news anchor, I reported on death and destruction for 12 minutes and then turned it over to the weatherperson. I didn’t want to do that anymore,” Baer says.

Though he once enjoyed his experiences working in news, Baer felt more like a talking head and missed his days of crafting stories from beginning to end.

“I used to get butterflies before every show, and once I stopped getting those feelings, I knew that it was time to move on,” Baer says.

Upon leaving broadcast news in the mid-1990s, Baer realized he would have to take a different path to explore his passions.

Enter Baerclaw Productions, a full-service video production company he founded in 1997.

“I didn’t just want to report on the news of the day, I wanted to talk to people, find out what makes them unique, hear their story and then piece it all together. This is what I get to do now,” Baer says.

Though Baer had a Rolodex full of professional connections and the tech knowledge from editing, taping and stacking his past broadcast shows, he enlisted the help of his father, an experienced businessman, to help guide him through the business side of things.

Bill Baer and his wife, Susan. (Photo courtesy of Bill Baer)

“For the first couple years, my dad became the sounding board for my ideas,” Baer says. “I was fortunate to have him to guide me through the process.”

After listening to his father’s guidance, Baer was ready to do the talking as the company began to blossom, producing everything from 30-second commercials to full documentaries for small businesses, Fortune 100 companies and nonprofits like Partnership with Native Americans, Drug Free AZ and the Scottsdale Charros.

It was along this journey that Baer met his wife, Susan. They married in 2005 and had Ally, now 11, and Lexi, 8. They live in Scottsdale, a city Baerclaw Productions calls home as well.

“As the base for our operations, I can’t think of a better place to be than the Airpark area,” Baer says. “The con-

centration of vibrant businesses made it a no-brainer for me to move my business here.”

Instilling the same important values his parents once passed onto him, Baer encourages his daughters to chase their passions.

“I always end my car rides to school with them with a mantra, ‘Respect yourself, respect others, respect the process,’” Baer says. “Though they may not understand what respect the process means now, they will someday, just like I did.”

Now, Baer looks ahead to a bright future for his daughters and continuing to do what he loves most — telling stories.

“I don’t know if this is the last chapter of my work life or not, but I love what I do and I want to keep doing it.”  MARCH 2022 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /

9

AIRPARK Events The Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit quarter horse show features events such as showmanship.

(Photo by Kristen Spinning)

Family

Affair During the quarter horse show, riders take part in classes such as cow horse.

Horse show attracts crowds for fun and competition

(Photo by Kristen Spinning)

By Laura Latzko

orey Cushing has worked with many world-champion horses through his business, Corey Cushing Performance Horses.

The North Scottsdale resident strongly believes that each horse must be treated as an individual.

“For my family and I, our lives revolve around horses 24/7,” Cushing says.

He is one of many exhibitors at the Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit quarter horse show, hosted by the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s annual Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit quarter horse show highlighting the breed through various classes.

In its 49th year, the event is set for Saturday, March 5, to Sunday, March 13, in seven arenas at WestWorld of Scottsdale. At the event, Cushing — who specializes in train-

ing and showing cow horses in reining, cutting and roping disciplines — and his clients will show around 16 horses.

Showing horses runs in Cushing’s family. His 10-year-old son, Caleb, also competes in cow horse events. His wife, Kristen, showed when she was younger,

10 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

and her parents were trainers. She and their son help run the business.

Like his son, Cushing grew up around horses and began competing at an early age — first on appaloosa horses and then on quarter horses. His mother also showed appaloosa horses.

AIRPARK Events roping and ranch riding events.

One of the largest quarter horse shows Kristen Spinning, media in the nation, the Scottsdale event features coordinator for the Scotts2,000 horses from around the country. dale Arizona Sun Circuit, Top competitors in different classes says the show gives the will receive cash prizes and items such as public a chance to see what custom saddles or golf carts, along with makes quarter horses’ ribbons, trophies and buckles. In several abilities. classes, sponsors contribute additional “The American quarter money. horse is such a versatile Contestants also earn points based on breed that they can do anytheir placement in their classes. To qualify thing from pulling a cart for American Quarter Horse Association to cattle classes,” Spinning world championship competitions, com- says. petitors need to score at the top of their “We have roping events. classes.

We have cow horse events It isn’t just about the competitions, where it demonstrates the though. Vendors will sell themed items horse’s ability to move a such as boots; cowboy and cowgirl hats and cow around an arena. These horse equipment; tack and feed; as well as things go back to how the jewelry, home décor, trucks and trailers, horses were used for for and food. hundreds of years, espeOn Wednesday, March 9, the National cially in Arizona with ranchSnaffle Bit Association will honor disabled ing and transportation. A veterans and wounded warriors through lot of our events are rooted Heroes on Horses. These veterans can in what a horse needed to compete in a special Western pleasure class, do and still needs to do as a as well as take part in a parade and a flag working horse and of course ceremony. as a pleasure horse.”

During free clinics on Friday, March 4, The show also has attendees can learn skills needed for events, classes such as English or such as showmanship, ranch trail and cow Western pleasure riding, in which the horses horse boxing. The clinics, which are taught will walk, jog, and canter or lope around the by professionals, are geared toward those arena. In these categories, the horses and who want to advance their skills or learn a riders will go through patterns individually new discipline as well as those considering and/or do work along the rails as groups. showing horses.

The English and Western pleasure riding Friday, March 4, features a performance classes differ in saddles and attire. In the horse sale of horses bred for cow horse, showmanship classes, exhibitors take the horses through designated patterns, such as Corey Cushing competes walking, trotting and in cow horse events presenting for judges. around the country.

(Photo by Kristen Spinning) “That one is judged on how well the horse and handler work together as a team, how well conformed the horse is, how well it does the moves and how well it stands there pretty to be inspected by the judge,” Spinning says.

“That’s a fun class for people to watch because it’s so beautiful, and these horses move with this elegance and fluidity.

Busy event

The Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit show spotlights quarter horses.

(Photo by Kristen Spinning)

In halter classes, judges look more at conformation, or how well horses fit breeding standards.”

For trail classes, horses go through a series of bridges, poles and gates at various speeds, and in reining classes, horses perform patterns at high speeds and do sliding stops, spins and circles.

For cow horse classes, exhibitors and horses work together and guide the movements and direction of one cow.

Team roping is similar to rodeos, where two riders work together to rope steer around the horns and feet. At the quarter horse show, the judges look at areas such as how well the horse performs and is positioned.

“That comes from old cowboy tradition,” Spinning says.

“This is how they caught steers out in the field and would bring them in, brand them or doctor them. So, it’s those kinds of skills but taken to a competition and an entertainment level.”

Spinning says, in the last 40 years, horse shows have changed. Exhibitors used to show the same horses in different classes.

These days, horses are bred and trained to be more specialized.

“These horses are bred to have a refine-

MARCH 2022 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /

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AIRPARK Events

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The Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit quarter horse show highlights classes such as ranch trail. (Photo by Kristen Spinning)

ment, beauty, athleticism and a fluid motion,” Spinning says.

Classes are divided by age and by skill level. For seniors over 50, there are select classes. Classes are also divided by professional trainers or amateur owners.

“Everyone shows against their peers, which makes it really nice. Not all amateurs ride at the same level and would have a hard time competing against a professional trainer. So, they compete amongst themselves,” Spinning says.

Spinning says through horse competitions, young people learn body positioning, health and fitness, as well as respect for not just trainers and judges but animals as well.

Spinning says the quarter horse community is very supportive, and young people can often learn tips and tricks from professionals during the Scottsdale show.

While there is a high level of competition, the exhibitors tend to be a tight-knit group.

“These people may compete against each other and be very competitive, but they are also going to cheer on the person who beat them. Not everyone is at 100% every year. Not every horse is at 100%. If your friend or competitor’s horse is doing extremely well, people are going to cheer,” Spinning says. 

SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA SUN CIRCUIT QUARTER HORSE SHOW WHEN: Various times Saturday, March 5, to Sunday, March 13.

WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale COST: Free admission and parking INFO: suncircuit.com

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AIRPARK Events

‘CRAZY MOVIE LOVE FEST’ Phoenix Film Festival inching toward normalcy

By Connor Dziawura Oh, here we go again,” the Phoenix Film Festival’s Jason Carney remembers thinking leading up to last year’s event.

Delayed from its usual spring setting to late summer, he says the annual festival came right as concerns were mounting due to the COVID-19 delta variant.

Thankfully, the event performed well — better, in fact, than the previous year’s event, which had been delayed and dissected into a smaller version of itself amid the pandemic’s early waves.

Carney, the festival director, is similarly hopeful for this year’s 22nd annual Phoenix Film Festival, which returns to its usual spring setting at Harkins Scottsdale 101 from Thursday, March 31, to Sunday, April 10. The International Horror & Sci-Fi and Arizona Student film festivals are once again tied in.

And Carney says he’s still seeing the enthusiasm filmmakers and audiences had toward last year’s festival this time around.

“Audiences were crazy enthusiastic — and so were the filmmakers,” Carney says of 2021. “Many of these filmmakers, they played other festivals, but all of them had been virtual. This was the first time for them to have an audience, and so their excitement level was really high, and many of the audience members hadn’t been back to the movies yet, and so they were really excited. It was just like some The Phoenix Film Festival returns to Harkins Scottsdale 101 from Thursday, March 31, to Sunday, April 10. In festival tradition, posters are inspired by famous movies — this one John Carpenter's "Escape from New York." (Image courtesy of Phoenix Film Festival)

"Anaïs in Love" is slated for the Phoenix Film Festival.

(Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures)

14 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

kind of crazy movie love fest.”

This year’s diverse lineup is projected to include more than 200 works spanning local, national and international productions, plus appearances from guest filmmakers. And over the festival’s 11 days, audiences will be able to see films from all over the world compete for awards.

Films range from feature length to shorter projects, encompassing mediums and genres like live action, animation, narrative stories, documentaries and college productions — or “kind of a little bit of everything,” as Carney puts it. The inclusion of the annual International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival lends credence to genre pictures.

Highlights, according to Carney, include director Dan Mirvish’s Watergate thriller/dark comedy “18 1/2” and the “wildly enter-

AIRPARK Events

Connection will be a focus at this year's festival, with the opening weekend parties — as part of the Party Pavilion — returning. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Film Festival)

taining” documentary “The Pez Outlaw,” about a smuggling operation of rare Pez dispensers from Europe into the United States in the ’90s.

“You want to come to a festival and you don’t want to see a bunch of dramas or you don’t want to see a bunch of dark documentaries,” Carney says, emphasizing the variety. “You want to be able to see some light stuff, too. And so it’s important for us to program some romantic comedies, you know what I mean? There’s a place for that, and you want to lighten up; you want to have an enjoyment of your day.

“You’re going to see these powerful, amazing performances of trauma, but like, hey, let’s cleanse our palette and see something that’s going to make us laugh or see a documentary that’s going to raise awareness or just give us a good feeling.”

The recent Unified by Film category, on the other hand, has been rebranded and expanded as Community Spotlight — with the hopes of showcasing the diversity of filmmakers from the African American, Latinx, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ communities.

The idea, Carney says, is to work with and promote nonprofits in those communities to create opportunities and raise awareness of the issues they face, while also giving those communities the opportunity to see films with their same world view.

“It’s nice to see yourself represented on screen in some regard or at least getting that vision and having that commonality with the director of films,” Carney says. “There’s plenty of 30-year-old white guys making movies out there. So it’s good for us to do that and not only just do it for the sake of doing it, but really commit to it and be part of these communities and grow this thing.

“We just try to do it a little bit more each year, and I’m just really proud of our organization and our commitment to it. It’s never been just a one-off thing; we want to transform it and continue to grow it. So you can count on that happening again this year.”

The Arizona Student Film Festival is set for Saturday, April 9.

MARCH 2022 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /

15

AIRPARK Events

"The Pez Outlaw" is a key documentary.

(Photo courtesy of Sidestilt Films)

The annual competition screens short films created by grade school and high school students, with one high school winner to receive a $1,000 scholarship.

“It’s always a fun day at the festival that Saturday morning,” Carney says.

“It’s just exciting to see not only have the opportunity for these young filmmakers to have their films on the screen, we get to see the family, their parents, their siblings, their grandparents, they’re all there and they’re all supportive. It’s just such a great feeling, and we’re just really proud of that program for sure.”

Notable this year, beyond films, is more of an emphasis on the social aspect that had been reduced the past couple festivals. While last year’s audience was not the size it had been just a few years back, Carney says it “set the tone for us just kind of moving forward and setting us up for hopefully an even bigger comeback this year with the return of our Party Pavilion, which we haven’t been able to do since 2019.”

The opening weekend Party Pavilion, he says, is back with some changes aimed to ensure comfortability and openness. Highlights are the Opening Night cocktail party; Friday’s Industry Night, which Carney calls “the biggest networking event of the year for the state;" and the Saturday night Film Prom.

“It’s kind of fun to intermingle that with so many great films we play,” Carney says.

Free educational filmmaker panels will also be set up in the theater on each weekend.

Plus, there’s the free Kids’ Day the first Saturday morning, April 2, another opportunity for connection — and education. Carney says

the festival works with area film schools to set up hands-on filmmaking experiences.

“We try to do a whole thing where it’s different parts of the filmmaking so it’s educational and fun, and it’s a wide enough variety so they can kind of go from station to station without waiting forever to do an activity,” he explains.

After a great 2019 and then a quick scaling back of the festival’s many activities due to the pandemic, Carney feels the pieces are moving for the Phoenix Film Festival to remain on track toward a successful future.

“2022 gets us another step towards where hopefully we were and get us back on our big growth mountain that we’ve been climbing over the years.” 

Phoenix Film Festival WHEN: Various times Thursday, March 31, to Sunday, April 10 WHERE: Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix COST: See websites for more information INFO: phoenixfilmfestival.com, horrorscifi.com, azstudentfilmfestival.org

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AIRPARK Buzz

DEAD AGAIN Scottsdale district system supporters aim for ballot

By J. Graber

T

he perennial issue of districting in Scottsdale is dead again as far as city council is concerned, but it could become very much alive for voters this November.

Although council on a 5-2 vote February 15 instructed city staff not to look into the issue any further, the 3-2-One Scottsdale Political Action Committee intends to try getting an initiative on the November 8 ballot.

“Yes, we most certainly plan on going out and obtaining the signatures required to it put to a vote by the people Scottsdale,” 3-2-One Scottsdale President Paul Simonson says.

The committee will have its work cut out for them, though: The PAC will need to get 27,244 signatures to city clerk Ben Lane’s office by early July to give him time to certify them.

Scottsdale has had at-large councilmembers since it incorporated 1951 with a population of about 2,000 living within an area of less than a square mile. With a population of almost 250,000 people in 184.4 square miles today, some feel the city has outgrown that system.

Scottsdale is the second largest city in Arizona that uses an at-large council system. The state’s three largest cities — Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa — all use a district system along with Glendale, which has a slightly smaller population than Scottsdale. Both Chandler and Scottsdale, the state’s fourth and fifth largest cities, respectively, use at-large systems.

The topic has been coming up periodically for years.

The city explored a six-district system, with the mayor elected at large, in

Scottsdale’s population has grown since its incorporation as a city and adoption of an at-large council system. (Photo courtesy of the city of Scottsdale)

2003 by forming a citizens task force to research the topic. The in-depth report compared Scottsdale to similarly sized cities across the country and found that of 48 “comparably sized cities” nationwide, only nine — or 19% – had at large forms of government.

The proposition went on the ballot in 2004 but failed with just 39% of voters supporting it.

Then-Mayor Jim Lane brought the idea of three districts to council in 2016, but the idea died there.

The two dissenting votes in support of further staff research were cast by Mayor David Ortega and Councilmember Betty Janik.

Ortega pointed out that no councilmembers live south of Indian Bend except for him.

He likens the city council to a jury: “If this were a map of jurors in a court system … and for 10 or 12 years no juror was selected from area one, it would not fly as a jury of your peers.”

He pointed out that in the 2014 council

election, 33% of possible votes were not cast. That number was 46% in 2016, 38% in 2018 and 32% in 2020.

“Either people could not relate to somebody in their area, (or) they hadn’t got the message of who they were,” Ortega says. “You know what, that’s, in my opinion, a failure of the at-large system.”

He said the at-large system makes it easier for big developers with deep pockets to come to Scottsdale and get whatever they want.

“One of the biggest problems of this at-large system is the developers come in and they divide us into growth and no growth,” Ortega says. “No, we have revitalization, we have blight, we have security, we have so many other issues, but the big money goes for ‘Are you a pro-growth or a no-growth?’ That’s really not what the city is about. The city is much more complex.”

He also notes the 2003 task force found a district system would lead to greater local accountability, lessen costs to run for

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AIRPARK Buzz a council seat and make it less intimidating for people to run.

He says it also increased an individual member ’s effi ciency because he or she could spend more time with a smaller area of the city rather than traveling from one end of Scottsdale to the other.

And decreasing costs to run for council is important when it takes $200,000 to $300,000 to run a successful campaign, he said.

Janik says the city has nothing to lose by putting a proposed charter amendment creating three districts (north, central and south — each containing about 80,000 residents) on the November ballot.

“To me, the most important thing about Scottsdale is everybody needs to feel equally represented and based on my experience, in the southern part of Scottsdale in more recent conversations I feel that part of the city believes (it is underrepresented). And historically when you go back, I think that’s kind of proven.

Councilmember Tom Durham says it is easy for councilmembers to reach all parts of the city because of the freeway.

“During my campaign, I spent large amounts of my time in the southern end of the city because I didn’t know what was going on there as well,” Durham says.

He points to the short-term rental issue as an indicator of how councilmembers who do not live in South Scottsdale can tackle an issue that mostly aff ects that area. He also pointed to the city council’s recent approval of the Greenbelt 88 development in the Lucky shopping plaza near the intersection of Hayden and Osborn roads as evidence council does not ignore issues in South Scottsdale.

“At the recent open house on that issue, every member of the council and the mayor were there, so no one is neglecting any part of the city,” he says.

He also shot down exaggerated estimates of the cost to run for city council.

“Several people have criticized the amounts spent on campaigns, saying it takes up to $290,000 to run for city council.

Well, I’m sitting here as evidence that you don’t need $290,000. I think I spent about $50,000.”

He also notes under voting can occur within districts.

“If you’re in a district of 80,000 people there’s a good possibility you might not know either or both of the candidates. …

Not voting for somebody is also part of democracy,” he says.

Durham then made a motion to direct staff not to investigate the issue any further, but withdrew it so all his colleagues had a chance to speak.

Councilmember Kathy Littlefield says, “I do not believe that creating districts is in the best interest of Scottsdale.

Two thousand years ago the Romans said it best and most succinctly, divide and conquer. They used this ploy and it worked like a charm over and over.

Developers know this strategy.

“I am a native of Scottsdale,” she continues. “I went to Scottsdale schools and have lived in all parts of the city: north, south and now central. In my eight years on the council I have worked hard to represent our gorgeous, beautiful city and to have a citywide focus. Other cities throughout the state and country have used districts and it usually worked to the detriment of every city involved. In order to get projects passed in each district, councilmembers have to barter, ‘I’ll vote

I think its whether or not that person has demonstrated to the voters they understand the residents of Scottsdale and they care about their constituency and they have the skill and competency to represent the various Scottsdale residents. I am concerned that geography does not equate to representation. for yours if you vote for mine.’”

She points to the approval of the Greenbelt 88 project as a source of the frustration people in South Scottsdale have with council.

“In fact, I share them, but dividing Scottsdale into smaller parts is not the answer,” she says. Littlefield and Ortega cast the two votes against Greenbelt.

Councilmember Solange Whitehead said a person’s residence doesn’t define whether or not he or she can represent voters.

“I think its whether or not that person has demonstrated to the voters they understand the residents of Scottsdale

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and they care about their constituency and they have the skill and competency to represent the various Scottsdale residents.

I am concerned that geography does not equate to representation.”

She added that having four members on council able to affect a neighborhood without accountability to the people who live there is disconcerting.

“As Councilman Durham said, I don’t see a groundswell interest for this particular cause,” she said.

The petition by 3-2-One Scottsdale that sparked the debate only contained 15 signatures.

Whitehead also says it’s not the cost of campaigns that keep people from running so much as it is the pay. Whitehead, Littlefield and Councilmember Linda Milhaven make $18,000 per year as councilmembers.

Janik, Durham and Vice Mayor Tammy Caputi make $31,000. Ortega makes $51,000 as mayor.

“It’s not a living wage,” Whitehead says.

School board members, meanwhile, receive no stipend.

Milhaven tried to prevent the discussion altogether by moving to direct council not to proceed with the idea just as the meeting began, but that move was shot down 4-3, with Durham, Janik, Ortega and Whitehead voting against it.

“There are times we need to listen and there are times we need to have an informed opinion, and I think as council members, this is one of those times we need to have an informed opinion,” Milhaven said. “If we think something is a bad idea, we need to say it’s a bad idea and encourage folks to not move forward.”

She adds, “I think we have talked about money, but if money made a difference, we would have a different mayor.”

Caputi reiterated Milhaven’s comments about telling people to only vote for one candidate “is actually a very strategic move. Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between tell their voters this. We all know this, we all utilize that strategy, so to pretend you don’t know what an undervote is seems incredibly naive to me.”

She also said, “The population of Scottsdale has only grown 10% over the last 10 years. We were the slowest-growing city of any in the Valley over the last 10 years. … So this idea of sort of excluding population that needs more representatives, the facts just don’t bear that out.” 

A

‘Leader’ in His Field Brick Road Studio owner finds his niche in the Airpark

B

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

rick Road Studio owner Scott Leader has recorded vocals for pop star Dua Lipa and helmed voiceover work by Michael Phelps and restaurateur Craig Culver.

But the Airpark producer’s passion is in Jewish music and singer-songwriters.

“I love real instruments and songwrit-

ing,” he says. “I do the computer stuff when I have to. I produce rap and make beats for people, but for me there’s nothing like getting in with a good songwriter, taking their song and bringing it to life with production.”

Leader is being forced to move in midMarch because the building in which his studio is located was sold. Also relocating is his neighbor, Jeff King, and his studio

Brick Road Studio owner Scott Leader will move his business to 7430 E. Butherus, Suite C, in mid-March after the building his studio is currently located in was sold. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

Scottsdale Music Company.

“I was very unhappy about it at first,” Leader says. “But I turned that energy into figuring out how to create a new space. Jeff and I have separate businesses, but we share a space. Now, we’re going our separate ways. It’s a little bittersweet. I didn’t want to leave here, but I’m excited for the new place.”

In mid-March, the Brick Road Studio will be found at 7430 E. Butherus, Suite C.

Music is a longtime love

Raised in New Jersey, Leader experienced a recording studio for the first time with his high school grunge band in the 1990s. He fell in love with the process of

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Brick Road Studio owner Scott Leader has recorded vocals for pop star Dua Lipa and helmed voiceover work by Michael Phelps and restaurateur Craig Culver. The Airpark producer's passion is in Jewish music and singer-songwriters. (Photos by Dennis Murphy)

making music.

“I felt like I could express myself more musically than I could just by playing,” he says. “I just got bit by the bug and loved it.

“I knew I wanted to learn how to do that.

Luckily, I’ve had good mentors along the way who helped me get started. I feel really lucky to have been able to make a living at it all these years.”

His father was in a band in the 1960s, while his grandfather was a concert pianist.

“When I was about 7, he played piano, and I remember him identifying that I had an ear for music,” Leader says.

“I can remember him sitting at the piano

and he would play a few notes and I would play them back. The piano wound up at our house, and I taught myself piano.”

Playing music is still in his blood. Leader, whom King calls a “Jewish rock star,” is in the trio Sababa. A cantorial soloist, he is an accomplished pianist and guitarist.

He earned a master’s degree in education from ASU and degrees in science and Judaic studies from the UA. As an undergraduate, he taught music at Temple

Jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter George Benson recorded part of his "Walking to New Orleans" album at Brick Road Studio. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

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Emanu-El in Tucson with friend and music partner, Cantor Billy Tiep.

Leader taught science and music at the Austin Jewish Academy in Texas; was director of Camp Isaiah in Los Angeles; became cantorial soloist at Temple Sinai, Denver; and now serves as the music director of Temple Gan Elohim in Phoenix partnering with Rabbi Tracee Rosen.

Leader’s solo discography includes “Lift my Eyes” (2003) and “Gates” (2006).

Sababa is well known in its field. Leader calls it “a random, little niche of music to be in.”

“We do original Jewish rock music,” Leader says. “You hear ‘Jewish music’ and you think ‘klezmer.’ It’s not like that at all. It’s guitars, drums, rock and vocal harmonies. Pre-COVID, we were playing all over the country at places for years.

“Now it’s three years later, and I’ve become really busy in the studio. Everyone’s lives have changed. Now we’re considering doing another album, but we’re not sure. It might be over, but not for any negative reason.”

Wide-ranging talents

His resume is impressive, having worked with George Benson, the aforementioned Lipa — before her three Grammy awards

Raised in New Jersey, Scott Leader experienced a recording studio for the first time with his high school grunge band in the 1990s. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

Scott Leader once had Bubba Watson do voiceover work at his Brick Road Studio for the Waste Management Phoenix Open without knowing his status as "one of the most famous golfers ever on Earth." (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

— and several voiceover clients. Craig Culver of Culver’s stopped by and did voiceovers — but Leader had not heard of the fast-food chain.

“Michael Phelps did his voiceover work here for his documentary, too,” Leader says. “Bubba Watson, the golfer, was here.

Because he was here for the WM Phoenix Open, he came over and did a voiceover for ESPN. He was super nice. I had no idea who he was. My wife said, ‘Did you take a picture?’ After I said no, she told me to Google him and I saw he was one of the most famous golfers ever on Earth. I thought, ‘Holy crap.’

“But places like this don’t really work with celebrities. They have their own team and their own space. But if they’re coming through town and they need to do a quick vocal or voiceover, they can come here.”

Leader says Lipa’s team spent “thousands” to overnight pricey equipment, like a $10,000 Sony C800 microphone, to Brick

Road Studio for the “Levitating” singer to use for two hours.

“In addition, they sent a vintage Neve 1073 preamp for the mic,” he says. “They had sent a handful of other united as well ‘just in case.’”

Versatility is the key to Leader’s success, he says.

“I’ve seen other studios open and close,” he says. “I engineer, mix and master. I can do the full production when it comes down to it. I like the versatility because it’s necessary.”

Leader partners with Rashied Arekat, whom he dubs “an unbelievable producer and songwriter.”

“He works with only a handful of artists — unlike me,” he says. “I want to bring in a big group. He’s very selective. He also works in real estate, so he understands construction and our new studio.”

Jeff Harris of Artifact Studio Services designed the new space.

“We really had to maximize the space we have here,” he says. “In the new spot, we really created a very high-end vibe.

We’ll have guitars everywhere. It will be a place you can go and just work on your songwriting. When I say ‘high end,’ I mean ‘high end’ like the equipment, quality and build. It’s not a stuffy LA kind of place.”

Leader says he knew the new spot was perfect when he laid eyes on it.

“There just so happens to be a path from the parking lot to the front door that’s all brick. I said, ‘Oh, my God. There’s brick. It’s perfect. We have to say yes.’” 

Brick Road Studio

7430 E. Butherus Drive, Suite C, Scottsdale 480-788-3573, brickroadstudio.com

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THE FUTURE

of the

Workplace Sneaky Big Studios launches new virtual reality technology

By Jordan Houston

M

ove over, Skype and Zoom.

As COVID-19 disrupts the traditional workplace dynamic, Scottsdale’s Sneaky Big Studios is tapping into virtual reality to promote a new and safe way for businesses to stay connected with clients and employees.

The full-scale production studio, located at 15750 N. Northsight Boulevard, is offering virtual reality technology designed to make large, companywide meetings, virtual conferences and training events feel as intimate and connected as possible.

Sneaky Big, which features production, motion graphic and post-production services, debuted the new technology in 2020

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Sneaky Big Studios Chief Executive Officer Marianne Guenther says she believes virtual reality is the future of remote or hybrid working.

Scottsdale-based Sneaky Big Studios boasts a 4,000-square-foot main stage, a 500-square-foot sound stage, production control rooms, five editing suites and a color correction suite armed with advanced equipment and software, including virtual and augmented reality systems.

(Photos courtesy of Sneaky Big Studios)

on the hit TV show “Judge Jerry Quarantine Court,” according to Sneaky Big Studios Chief Executive Officer Marianne Guenther.

“Because we had the technology in place, we were able to step in during the very early phases of COVID to help companies continue their productions and conferences — but in a virtual way,” Guenther says.

Sneaky Big partnered with NBCUniversal to film in three states at one time and merge feeds to create a virtual courtroom. “Judge Jerry” is typically taped in front of a live studio audience at the Stamford Media Center in Connecticut and is produced and distributed by NBCUniversal Television Distribution, Guenther notes.

The syndicated court show, premiering

as the highest-rated court show in five years for the 2019-20 season, features TV personality and former lawyer Jerry Springer at the bench, using “law and order to settle disputes.” The legal show takes on actual cases from real people, according to NBCU. Sneaky Big merged five video feeds and more than half a dozen audio feeds to create a seamless courtroom experience for viewers, Guenther explains. Although the cast appeared to be standing next to each other, the remote production and virtual reality set allowed staff and crew members to follow strict COVID-19 safety guidelines.

“We were using our technology platforms to thread them together to make them look like they were in the same room,” Guenther says.

“So, for example, the litigants were in front of a green screen. It’s beautiful technology.”

Springer was filmed on a green screen from his home in Florida, the show’s bailiff Najee Hinds was filmed at home in New York, and the litigants were recorded at Sneaky Big’s Scottsdale studio. The NBCU team also produced and directed its talent remotely from their respective homes.

Following the show’s success, Guenther says she believes the virtual reality effort is just the beginning of what the new technology has to offer to the future of the workplace.

“It could be anyone and really across different sectors,” the CEO says. “It could be brands producing a new commercial, or a town hall interactive platform with their executive leadership or CEO. It could be award shows. These are just some of the things we’ve done recently.

“Not only do I think VR is here to stay, but we are doubling down on that front as a leader in this space and in Arizona,” Guenther continues.

Founded by businessman and philanthropist Bob Parsons, Sneaky Big boasts a 4,000-square-foot main stage, a 500-squarefoot sound stage, production control rooms with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment, five editing suites and a color correction suite with “the most advanced equipment and software, including virtual and augmented reality systems, on the market,” according to Sneaky Big’s website.

The production studio’s recent virtual reality efforts aren’t going unnoticed.

Sneaky Big won a Gold Davey Award in the Experiential & Immersive Virtual Reality category and a Silver Davey Award for Virtual & Remote Experiences-Media & Entertainment.

The gold award recognized the company’s work with the National Association of Basketball Coaches Guardians of the Game Awards.

The Silver Davey was a nod to Sneaky Big’s partnership with NBCUniversal Syndication Studios for the virtual and remote production of “Judge Jerry.”

“I think virtual reality is here to stay,” Guenther shares. “So many brands, whether big or smaller, have understood exactly what it could bring to them. VR creates this interactive, immersive world in an easier-to-produce way than traditional good, old-fashioned set builds.”

Next on the horizon is the installation of an LED wall, Guenther discloses, which uses a dynamic background to match the perspectives from the camera and replace the green screen.

“Not many folks have LED walls,” Guenther says. “It’s the same kind of technology you would find in a large-scale film project like ‘The Mandalorian.’ It’s an immersive set of hyperreality VR.” The chief executive officer says the wall should be up and running by the middle of March. 

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BUSINESS

All-in-One

Control SmartRent is opening doors for rental property life

F

By Allison Brown rom the front door to the thermostat, everything is getting a “smart” upgrade, and SmartRent combines all those devices into one system, saving property managers and renters money and time.

SmartRent is an Airpark-based enterprise smart home and smart building technology platform.

Lucas Haldeman, chief executive officer of SmartRent, says he and other company leaders found a need for the product while they were starting their real estate careers.

“We discovered there were a lot of really good smart home devices — thermostats, locks, leak sensors — but none of them were designed to work together and then be deployed in mass,” Haldeman says.

The company provides property managers seamless visibility and control over their communities’ assets while delivering an all-in-one smart home control app for residents. …continues on page 27

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SmartRent CEO Lucas Haldeman saw a need for smart home devices to work together, creating an all-in-one smart home control app for residents.

(Submitted photo)

IT’S A THREE-PEAT Avery Lane Named Best Consignment Store 3 Years in a Row by

Darlene Richert, Proprietor

A

t cocktail parties, on the tee box and amongst the ladies who lunch, there’s a subtle whisper about an unusual design mecca — Consignment. The valley’s most savvy shoppers and discerning designers are regulars at Avery Lane Fine Consignments and they are rewarded with great deals on one-of-a-kind home décor. Avery Lane’s design style is “Paris Apartment” which is a curated aesthetic of items collected from a lifetime of international travels, inherited from generations or salvaged when the flat upstairs was vacated. And, the 30,000 sq. ft. of inventory is like a Parisian merry-go-round — constantly changing and revolving. Come check it out … sit for a spell … we’ll pour the champagne. Discover more at AveryLaneHome.com

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W W W . O L M C S C H O O L . I N F O

BUSINESS

SmartRent is an Airpark-based enterprise smart home and smart building technology platform.

(Submitted photo)

…continued from page 24 “We’re talking about people who own rental housing. Whether multifamily apartments or single-family homes, it doesn’t really matter,” Haldeman says. “It helps rental operators sort of better understand their assets, better protect those assets and increase their revenue, because resident renters will pay more to have a smart apartment.”

He adds that SmartRent has sold well because it helps everyone involved. It isn’t just for the property managers. Renters get a lot more perks than just a convenient app.

“It helps both,” Haldeman says. “Owners save money by not cooling an empty gym, and then as a resident, you might pay more for rent, but you’re actually saving $50 or $75 on your utility bill. It’s a bargain.”

Especially in Arizona, having a smart air conditioner can help save residents big bucks. Another way SmartRent helps residents and property owners save money and avoid a big hassle is by using leak sensors.

Haldeman says while most people don’t consider a leak to be a big problem, water actually causes 70% of damage done to apartments. SmartRent uses sensors that automatically write an emergency work order if they get wet. Without the leak sensors, residents must find it, send in a maintenance request that could get buried in an inbox and wait for a response, as the problem gets worse or is forgotten about.

With an automated emergency work order, someone is dispatched immediately to fix the issue.

More than just saving residents money,

SmartRent can help provide peace of mind.

By using smart locks, residents can control and observe who is coming and going from their unit. Haldeman says this has many uses.

“It could be that you give your kids a code while you’re at work and you get notified when they get off the school bus and come home,” he says. “Or it could be letting Postmates to the front door or getting your dry cleaning put into your closet. There are services doing that.”

In addition, the smart locks can have a time sensitive code. For instance, a dog walker could be given a code that is only valid from 9 to 11 a.m. If the code is used outside that timeframe, it will not work and the resident will also be notified that someone tried to enter.

Other uses of SmartRent include parking management and self-guided tours.

What really sets SmartRent apart is the information can be viewed in one place.

Haldeman says other units may have a doorbell camera and smart air conditioning but, unlike SmartRent, they aren’t really made to work cohesively for the entire unit.

SmartRent has an app for the resident and the property’s sides.

“All of the devices in your homes — that could be the front door, the gym door, the thermostat, lights, outlets, whatever smart devices you have — are all controlled through one app and one experience.”

Haldeman headquartered SmartRent in Scottsdale because he moved there for work several years ago. He fell in love with the

area, but he says the company has a wide reach. SmartRent is a national company with employees in 41 states and is used in over 300,000 units in the United States. It also has installations in the United Kingdom and Canada, and plans to continue expanding internationally. Haldeman says the company doubled its number of units in the last year and is on trajectory to do the same in 2022.

He credits SmartRent’s linear growth trajectory, in part, to having been on the other side in real estate and knowing the operations, language and frustrations people deal with when it comes to property management. The other part of it is, according to Haldeman, the product practically sells itself. He says it’s easy for customers to see the various advantages to SmartRent.

There are some who may be skeptical of the ever-increasing smart technology, but Haldeman says SmartRent is and has always been transparent with customers about their information. He says it’s even in their company policy that customers’ information will not be shared.

“We take safety, security and privacy very seriously. If you read our terms and conditions, we explicitly say, ‘We will not sell your data.’ We will not use your data for anything nefarious,” Haldeman says. “I think it is something to be concerned about, to understand what’s happening with your data and who’s using it, but I think in our case, if you’re living in one of our smart apartments, you can rest assured that you’re very protected.” 

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PROPERTIES Troon North: 10031 E. Dynamite Boulevard For sale price: $1.2 million Lease rate: $23 per square foot NNN For lease: Info: Laurel Lewis, 602-393-6656, laurel.lewis@naihorizon.com; Dylan Whitwer, 602-393-6609, dylan.whitwer@naihorizon.com

T

Property details • Suites 150 to 155 • 4,572 square feet • Year built: 2008

By Scottsdale Airpark News Staff

he Condos in Troon North are situated on North Scottsdale Road, just east of Pima Road, on Dynamite Boulevard, between numerous golf courses, hiking/biking trails and luxury homes. 10035 E Dynamite Boulevard, Suites

150-155, is an ideal, professional environment that is perfect for business owners living in the area or serving cliental in North Scottsdale.

The space is 4,572 square feet of brandnew, Class A design and construction. No expense was spared on the finishes. This modern space boasts 10 all-glass private

offices, a conference room and plenty of space for open seating.

The upgraded lighting and open ceiling lend to an industrial chic feel throughout.

Its C-2 zoning allows for a variety of professional office, creative studios, medical and retail uses. 

Hot Properties is a new feature of the Scottsdale Airpark News, in which we feature new, remodeled or special spaces that are up for lease or sale. Want to be included? Email Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at christina@timespublications.com.

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FOOD & WINE

Nick Cohen opened Nick's Italian Restaurants 26 years ago after moving to Arizona and not finding an Italian restaurant he liked. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

Standing the Test Nick’s Italian Restaurants bring the real thing

N

By Allison Brown

icky Cohen, owner of Nick’s Italian Restaurants, moved to Arizona from Brooklyn almost 30 years ago.

While living here, he admittedly couldn’t find an Italian restaurant he liked. So, he opened his own.

“I came in and opened this restaurant 26 years ago,” Cohen says. “I love the food industry. That’s why I opened it. I love people and good food. We have a steady customer base and repeat customers who will come two or three times a week.”

of Time

Since then, Nick’s has become a staple in North Scottsdale and has been voted best Italian Restaurant in Scottsdale twice.

Nick’s, located at 13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, serves lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday; and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Lunch at Nick’s offers more than 75 menu items, and dinner has more than 95 options. Wine and beer are plentiful to pair with any dish. Specialty cocktails are available, too.

“We have 26 different pasta dishes, fish,

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veal, chicken — the menu is rich, but it’s all about making the right foods so that when you eat it you really enjoy it and want to come back,” Cohen says.

Nick’s started out with a small but solid menu. Over the years, however, Cohen says he has worked with the chef to develop it. They slowly added dishes as they experimented. He says if they liked it, the dish made the menu; if they didn’t like it, they tossed it and tried something else.

Some might see 95 menu options as a little intimidating, but Jason Brody, director of operations at Nick’s, says it makes it a

FOOD & WINE

The eatery offers more than 75

lunch menu items and has more great place to bring the whole family. than 95 dinner options. (Photo by Picky eaters can even find something Dennis Murphy) at Nick’s.

With the myriad options, Cohen says the restaurant never buys frozen food, and everything is made from scratch.

“Everything is fresh,” Cohen says.

“We make our own pasta, bread, marinara — everything is homemade basically.”

He says the distinction between fresh and frozen is apparent, which is why he always takes the extra time and money to use fresh ingredients. Even with recent supply chain issues — which Cohen says has had a massive impact — he refuses to compromise on freshness.

According to Cohen, the kitchen staff spends four to six hours prepping daily.

Brody says this commitment to quality is a huge part of what sets Nick’s apart from other Scottsdale restaurants.

“There are a ton of dining options, but those are a dime a dozen. We’ve established ourselves and been in business for 20-plus years now,” Brody says. “We attract great clientele, We retain them and they keep coming back. It’s about supplying good food that lasts, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job. It’s also to make people feel comfortable, like they’re at home. For the portion, the quality and the price, I don’t think you can really beat it.”

Cohen is a hands-on boss and says he works the floor every night because he likes to interact with customers. According to Brody, regulars stop by predictably at 4:30 for their spaghetti Nick Cohen, left, owns Nick's and meatballs or 5:15 for their Italian Restaurants, while Jason cheese pizza. Because it isn’t a Brody is director of operations. huge company, Cohen says he (Photo by Dennis Murphy) gets to know his regulars and even knows them by name.

Brody says they have such a loyal coming in a tank top and shorts and flipcustomer base because of the eatery’s flops. So, there is a mix. There’s no dress laidback, homey atmosphere. Based in code. It’s very casual, and people just kind Scottsdale and offering top-notch Italian of relax and enjoy themselves.”

Nick’s isn’t dine-in only, though. In fact, dishes, he says Nick’s can be a place for a special occasion. However, it focuses Cohen says about 40% of their business is on creating a comforting and welcoming takeout. Due to its expansive and diverse menu, Cohen says Nick’s is great for atmosphere.

“We get it all. People come from the catering, too.

Brody says when COVID-19 hit, gym, people come from business meetings, it’s a big mix,” Brody says. “We’re a big Nick’s had to close the dining area for business for the kids at prom. They all three months. Luckily, it had a wellcome dressed up, and then we’ve got guys established takeout menu. While the

restaurant still took a hit, it adapted fairly seamlessly to the pandemic.

“We really appreciate our loyal customers and everyone supporting us throughout the years, especially during COVID,” Brody says.

“It’s hard for us and getting tougher for everybody. But without them, we’re nothing. Obviously, times are tough and different, but we’re very lucky and fortunate to have great customers and great employees and we’re happy with where we’re at. We hope we can continue to keep going for another 26 years.”

The restaurant’s dining area has reopened, and Nick’s is still doing takeout and catering as well.

Nick’s has two other locations — one at Pinnacle Peak Road and one at Tatum and Shea boulevards — but the location on Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard was the first to open. Cohen says customers can expect the same quality of food and service at each location.

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he says. 

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13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, Scottsdale 480-314-9445, nicks-italian.com

MARCH 2022 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /

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REMEMBER When

Scottsdale Area Chamber marks

75th

anniversary

In 1958-59, the Scottsdale Chamber operated out of a 50-foot trailer on the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street.

(Photos courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society)

B

By Joan Fudala orn March 6, 1947, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce qualifies as a baby boomer.

However, as many boomers re t i re o r b e c o m e e m e r i t i members of community groups, the Scottsdale Chamber continues to serve Scottsdale residents and businesses in every-evolving ways.

From serious economic development, business education and public policy initiatives to helping businesses network and get to know their community, the chamber has logged many milestones in 75 years.

Consider this mix of chamber moments: • A forerunner of today’s Scottsdale

Chamber formed circa 1921, operating out of a room behind the Farmers Bank on Main Street (now the Rusty Spur Saloon).

Chamber members worked with Maricopa County to advocate area road improvements. That chamber disbanded sometime in the early 1940s.

• Today’s Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce incorporated March 6, 1947, with artist Wes Segner elected its first president.

In its early years, Cliff Carpenter served as the chamber’s manager. The chamber met in in the evenings (often until 10:30 p.m.) at various board members’ business locations (such as the Arizona Craftsmen Center at Brown and Main) and in the basement cafeteria of the Scottsdale Grammar School (now the Scottsdale Artists School).

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Early dues were $10. The population of then-unincorporated Scottsdale area was estimated to be 2,000 residents.

• In its early years, the chamber performed functions that would later be assumed by the town council (after Scottsdale incorporated) — holding benefits to pay for street paving and oiling (at the time only a few streets were paved), printing maps and tourism brochures, and encouraging best business practices among the many new businesses.

• In 1947, the agriculture committee was one of the chamber’s standing committees.

The chamber actively supported the 4-H Club, sponsored square dances to raise money and was geared toward supporting Scottsdale’s farming lifestyle and economy.

REMEMBER When

Between 1960 and 1964, chamber offices were in the Western Saving Building on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and First Street. A replica of the chamber’s iconic cowboy sign is in the front window.

In 1969, the Scottsdale Chamber premiered a film, “Hegira,” sent to travel agents and meeting planners to promote visits to Scottsdale.

• To give Scottsdale old-timers and new residents a chance to meet and have fun, the chamber sponsored a horse rodeo, the Hi Neighbor Day picnic and, in partnership with the Scottsdale Riding Club, staged the first Sunshine Festival in November 1951.

It was later renamed Parada del Sol and taken over by the newly created Scottsdale Jaycees in 1954. Goldwater’s Department Store hosted the Sunset Pinks fashion show on Main Street. An article in the Dec. 14, 1949, Arizona Republic reported that the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce sponsored a winter season kick-off dinner attended by more than 105 people “which featured a 4-square-foot chicken pie.”

• In 1947 the chamber adopted the slogan coined by merchant Malcolm White, “The West’s Most Western Town,” including it in tourism promotions. The chamber also urged businesses to design their storefronts with a Western motif.

• The chamber also organized the Scottsdale Community Chest in 1947 as a subsidiary with a goal of funding welfare and civic programs. The chamber committee also helped raised funds for an iron lung during the polio epidemic.

• In 1949, the chamber began hosting public meetings to discuss the pros and cons of incorporating Scottsdale as a municipality. During the winter/spring of 1951, a chamber committee led by Dr. Phil Schneider circulated petitions among Scottsdale residents who favored incorporating. Due to the overwhelming number of signatures collected, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors declared the town of Scottsdale incorporated as of June 25, 1951.

• The chamber erected an oversized cowboy sign on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street in fall 1952.

The cowboy remains an iconic landmark in Old Town Scottsdale and a perennial photo backdrop.

• Among the chamber ’s public policy initiatives in its first two decades: obtaining fire service for the town, establishing an airport to foster economic development and tourism, getting a hospital built in Scottsdale, opening a junior college and improving parking in the downtown area.

• While it pursued programs to enhance the economy and the growing community at large, the chamber also served as “boostersin-chief” during the 1950s and 1960s. It created the “Howdy Dudettes” in 1959, a group of Western-costumed Scottsdale High coeds who welcomed convention groups to town, cut ribbons at new businesses, and represented Scottsdale at Valleywide

MARCH 2022 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /

33

REMEMBER When

From 1959 to the 1970s, the Scottsdale Chamber included a group of coeds from Scottsdale High School who represented the chamber at parades, ribbon cuttings and other community events. (Photos courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society)

events. The chamber hosted travel agents and produced a promotional 16mm film, “Hegira!”, that was sent to travel agencies and tour operators throughout the United States to encourage visits to Scottsdale.

• In the late 1950s through the early 1980s, the Scottsdale Chamber organized an annual community cleanup to prepare for the arrival of winter visitors • The chamber’s offices have moved around a bit. They’ve operated out of the Walker Building, a cottage in the Village Patio Shops on Main Street, from a storefront at Pima Plaza, in a 50-foot trailer on the corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street, in the Western Saving Building on Scottsdale Road at First Street, in the Fine Arts Building at Marshall Way and Main Street, in the Little Red School House (1973-91), in the former Jed Nolan’s Music Hall on Civic Center Mall (1991-2006), the Highland Building on Scottsdale Road and to its current location on McCormick Parkway since 2012. During the late 1990s, the chamber also had Airpark office inside the Scottsdale Airport terminal.

Since July 1997, the chamber has also served its members and the public via its website, scottsdalechamber.com • From 1947 to 2001, the chamber served as Scottsdale’s convention and tourism promotion organization. With the tremendous

growth and economic impact of tourism in Scottsdale, a stand-alone convention and visitors bureau was created in 2001 (now known as Experience Scottsdale) — separate from but continuing to work closely with the Scottsdale Chamber.

• The chamber has encouraged the formation of many other community groups, such

Since the 1980s, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce has sponsored trade shows to showcase its member businesses, like this Prestige Cleaners booth in 1986. (Photo courtesy of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce)

34 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

as the Civic Coordinating Council in 1952, the Scottsdale Jaycees in 1953, the Scottsdale Charros in 1961 and Scottsdale Leadership in 1986.

• When Scottsdale’s 1909-vintage Little Red Schoolhouse (Scottsdale Grammar School No. 1) was threatened with demolition in 1968, the chamber joined with the then-new

REMEMBER When Scottsdale Historical Society to save the historic property. They held fundraisers by selling school slates and hosting dances.

When the city agreed that the schoolhouse should be saved, the chamber agreed to help renovate it and move its offices there.

• In the late 1980s, the chamber began recognizing the Small Business of the Year and, later, a Big Business of the Year.

The chamber’s annual awards program continues to recognize businesses as well as nonprofit organizations.

• The Past Presidents Council of the Scottsdale Chamber began hosting the annual Scottsdale History Hall of Fame induction dinner in 1994. It is one of Scottsdale’s most beloved community events and benefits the Scottsdale Historical Society.

• Over the decades, the chamber has conducted business, public policy and quality of life surveys and research resulting in documents such as the McManis Report (1984) and Boyle Report (1989) on Economic Development, Which Way Scottsdale (2003) and Next Steps Scottsdale (2010).

• Some Scottsdale Chamber trivia: In 1957, the chamber board made baseball legend Dizzy Dean an honorary member.

In 1972, chamber members and staff and the chamber building starred in an Oxydol

The Scottsdale Chamber celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1997 in ceremonies at its then-Civic Center Mall location. From left are then-chamber Executive Director Phil Carlson, then-Mayor Sam Campana, first chamber President Wes Segner and thenchamber President Ken Harder. (Photo courtesy of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce)

detergent TV commercial. In 1984, the chamber’s tourism division ran an ad in Meeting News Magazine with the headline “We’ll Give You the Shirt Off Our Mayor’s Back” (then-Mayor Drinkwater was pictured in the ad wearing a “Meeters Meet Better in Scottsdale” T-shirt).

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce is planning to celebrate its milestone 75th anniversary throughout the year — at events, in communications and among its member businesses. Who knows… maybe they’ll even try a redo of that 4-foot-square chicken pie! 

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35

TOURISM Talk Experience Scottsdale ramped up its tried-and-true strategies that position the city as a year-round, luxury travel destination for meetings, events and leisure travel. (Submitted photos)

Commercials keep Scottsdale top of mind

S

By Rachel Sacco Experience Scottsdale pring is in bloom in Scottsdale, and after another winter of uncertainty, visitors are ready to enjoy Scottsdale’s beautiful spring weather and all the opportunities that come with it, from teeing off on the golf course to hitting the hiking trails.

Although winter surges delayed some travelers’ plans, research company Longwoods International reports more than 9 in 10 Americans have travel plans over the next six months.

People are busy scoping out destinations for their next trips, and Experience Scottsdale is working hard to ensure Scottsdale tops their list with a new commercial and tried-and-true strategies.

As they’ve been making those plans, people in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City and Seattle have been inspired by Experience Scottsdale’s TV commer-

36 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

Spring in Scottsdale sees the return of many opportunities for things to do.

TOURISM Talk Potential visitors are seeing and hearing Experience Scottsdale's promotions across search engines, on social media, on the radio and in their inboxes, among other sources.

press trips for qualified travel writers and influencers, leading to positive, meaningful coverage in publications like Travel + Leisure, Worth, AFAR and Elite Traveler.

Through all these efforts and others, Experience Scottsdale is keeping the city top of mind with leisure visitors and equipping media, meeting planners and travel professionals with the tools they need to amplify Scottsdale’s story around the world. With so many promoting all that Scottsdale has to offer, we look forward to welcoming more visitors back to our community this spring and beyond.  engines, on social media, on the radio and in their inboxes. Plus, they’re coming across magazine articles, blog posts and social media stories about Scottsdale driven by public relations efforts. They’re learning about the city from travel advisers and tour operators trained by our team to sell Scottsdale vacations. Or they’re experiencing our hotels, resorts and venues during conferences Experience Scottsdale helped secure.

As people became more open to travel inspiration, we ramped up our tried-and-true strategies that position Scottsdale as a yearround, luxury travel destination for meetings, events and leisure travel.

We resumed many of our traditional programs that were paused at the onset of the pandemic, with Experience Scottsdale’s teams hitting the road to give Scottsdale a presence in key markets and at industry events.

Our teams met with meeting planners, travel advisers, tour operators and journalists across North America. Once international travel restrictions lifted, we headed overseas to prepare travel professionals to book Scottsdale vacations Many traditional programs that were paused at the onset of the for their clients. We pandemic have been resumed. (Submitted photos) a l s o h o s t e d m o re

cials. One commercial, which we debuted last year, follows a couple throughout the years, showcasing a lifetime of memories built while visiting Scottsdale. It pulls at the heartstrings and speaks to travel’s emotional core.

Our newest commercial, which is airing simultaneously, takes on a more jubilant tone, celebrating the excitement awaiting people in Scottsdale. Travelers today seek inclusive destinations, and with a cast that features people of all races, ages, sizes and sexual orientations, our commercial allows us to better spotlight Scottsdale as a community that welcomes and embraces everyone.

While these commercials air, potential visitors are seeing and hearing Experience Scottsdale’s promotions across search

Rachel Sacco is the president and CEO of Experience Scottsdale, which establishes Scottsdale as a year-round, luxury travel destination.

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ADVICE fromWeiss

MARCH 2022 Business Horoscopes

By Weiss Kelly, PMAFA

ARIES 3/21-4/20 This month starts “The New Local,” meaning focus on local businesses, as they’re in danger of closing. It may take two years to get it together. Worldwide tensions toward the end of the month may alter your priorities. You work best on your own. Allow time to reconnect with groups and former contacts.

Personal power days: March 4, March 5 and March 31 TAURUS 4/21-5/20 Last month’s intensity does not cool Mars, the planet of action. It suggests you start building a network. Expect disappointments in regard to spending or supplies, like building supplies. Try to pay off outstanding debts. The situation in Russia brings worldwide insecurity. Bottom line: Like a rocket, prices keep soaring. Learn that less is more.

Personal power days: March 6, March 7 and March 8 GEMINI 5/21-6/21 Your career — along with confusion and a lack of transparency — is highlighted the first three weeks of the month. Compromising is necessary as there are communication snafus. With inflation, it might be smart to buy a bike. The planets are direct in motion, so business is not usual. You can handle it.

Personal power days: March 9 and March 10 CANCER 6/22-7/22 Focus on family. Pisces relates to healing, hospitals, medicine, conspiracies and hidden agendas. The United States is a Cancer sun sign and the next year or two may bring out the best in us. Circle the weeks from March 9 to march 20 as favorable cycle. Financial matters will be active and matter.

Personal power days: March 11, March 12 and March 13

LEO 7/23-8/22 Mid-month’s full moon on March 18 spotlights issues regarding financial matters. Be conservative with money. The first day of spring on March 21 is the time to reevaluate goals, day-to-day routines and goals. Underline the week of March 28. Job or career opportunities require careful researching or inquiry the first half of the month.

Personal power days: March 14 and March 15 VIRGO 8/23-9/22 The quiet sign of Pisces may not appear so quiet this month. Work on personal and professional relationships and organization. You could start off the month on the wrong foot. Underline March 10 to March 25, as order will become disorder.

Much-needed supplies may be limited.

Personal power days: March 16 and March 17 LIBRA 9/23-10/23 You seem to find balance despite world conflicts. You follow through on commitments because you’re confident and positive. Focus on improvement and opportunities to meet new friends or business connections from March 5 to March 31. Most businesses may not proceed as expected due to delays, inflation or world crises.

Personal power days: March 18, March 19 and March 20 SCORPIO 10/24-11/21 You’re “on alert” as you’ll cope with situations that are out of your control.

It’s time to do something for yourself.

Resist confrontation. Positive vibes return, thanks to Jupiter. Money may be juggled this month with home or property matters.

38 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / MARCH 2022

Personal power days: March 21 and March 22 SAGITTARIUS 11/22-12/21 Planetary energies are destined to play a lifelong role. Don’t ignore international conflicts. They will have a stake in what’s happening in the United States. Organize your affairs in order to travel or import/ export merchandise. Travel will be curtained. Repairs and renovations may be cumbersome at the end of the month.

Personal power days: March 23 and March 24 CAPRICORN 12/22-1/19 Focus on yourself this month. Everything has gone wrong with climate control, world affairs and spirituality. The good news is we’re ready to address the problems and take ownership. This isn’t easy.

Personal power days: March 25 and March 26 AQUARIUS 1/20-2/18 The sun in your financial house may bring an increase in salary. This month may be challenging, but you’ll achieve your goal.

Jupiter — the lucky planet — could introduce you to powerful people. Major career breakthroughs or job offers are possible the last week of the month.

Personal power days: March 1, March 27 and March 28 PISCES 2/19-3/20 Lady luck in your sign leaves you feeling energized. It’s time to leave your comfort zone — meet new people and discover new tools. Think back 12 years ago. Healing isn’t just medical. It can take the form of music, the arts and spirituality. All of that comes into play in the weeks ahead.

Personal power days: March 2, March 3, March 29 and March 30 

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