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Cullum Homes sees new luxury buyers’ demands

Canopy by Hilton pumps up guest rooms

BY DAVID M. BROWN Progress Contributor

Luxury homebuyers’ needs have changed as more people want dual offices, green screens and air purification systems, sophisticated home gyms, golf simulators for the basement or garage, among other options.

So say Scottsdale residents Rod and Kim Cullum, founder-owners of the company bearing their family name that builds homes valued at $2.7 million and more in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Carefree, including custom mountainside estates in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Since its founding in 1985, Cullum Homes has earned numerous local, regional and national awards that include the 2018 National Custom Home Builder of the Year, given to a single builder selected from the Washington, D.C.-based group’s 140,000

Rod and Kim Cullum, left, relaxed with daughter Lindsay Cullum-Colwell and her

husband Paul Colwell. (Special to the Republic)

members. It also recently won two Custom Home of the Year awards from the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.

Integrity has been the keey to their success for 37 years, Rod said.

“We make a promise to all of our buyers that every home we put our name on is created using only the highest standards of design, building practices and materials, providing a luxury product they can be proud of,” he explained. Cullum was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and his family moved to Scottsdale in 1970.He attended Saguaro High School and graduated from Arizona State University.Kim is a Georgia native and when her father retired from the Army, the family moved to Arizona in 1966. She attended Scottsdale High School and is also an ASU graduate.

The husband-and-wife team started working from their McCormick Ranch Scottsdale home and moved into their first office in Old Town in the mid-1990s, when they hired their first employee. Just after its founding, Cullum Homes built its first $1 million custom home in Paradise Valley. With more projects and seeCULLUM page 30

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Hilton Hotels has recently launched its new “Tempo” concept and has brought it to Old Town. Hilton has partnered with Peloton and Therabody and has installed their technology in rooms at Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town.

Stating that the Tempo concept aims to “implement in-room wellness rooms at some of their brands with the plan to make it a brand standard in all of their properties,” Devin Mahoney, the general manager and chief enthusiast at the Old Town Canopy location, said Hilton “approached some select Canopy properties to get a read on what guest reaction would be.”

The implementation of these technologies has come at an opportune time for

Devin Mahoney, who holds the titles of general manager and chief enthusiast for Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town, is excited about the addition of Peloton exercise bikes and Theragun percussive therapy devices to rooms. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer) Canopy as it is reporting improved bookings now that COVID-19 has ebbed.

“There was a bit of a lull after the holidays, which is natural, but it was a bit more severe because it coincided with all things omicron in the news,” Mahoney said. “But after January, when the news shifted, we had a banner February and March is looking to repeat. People are still traveling and want to get out and the travel sentiment with guests has come back.” And Hilton has been elated that it has had numerous clients able to test out its latest concept.

“We got this out right at the beginning of the year so we could get a full year of data and also have it in place for the peak season,” Mahoney said. “We started with a few rooms and the feedback has been re-

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 6, 2022

Recovery center starts nonpro�it for ‘alumni’

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Scottsdale Recovery Center has launched Scottsdale Recovery Continued, a non-profit of more than 300 alumni members that focuses on connection after treatment for all graduates of its program. Since its inception in 2009, the center has provided drug and alcohol treatment and company officials said with overdose deaths topping 100,000 annually, “now more than ever, the connection created by alumni is vital to continued recovery.” “Our alumni group fosters a community of champions who have struggled and overcome their addiction” said CEO Lee Yaiva. Membership begins upon completion of treatment, regardless of the level of care. The organization has five board.

“Scottsdale Recovery Continued is a family,” said Andrea Dermott, director of alumni. “We stay connected, support each other, and most importantly have fun!” The nonprofit also incorporates full dimensional wellness through activities and volunteerism that promote sobriety, enhance the recovery lifestyle and positively impact outcomes upon completion of treatment.

“I am 100% into my recovery and the alumni program,” said John Bentley, director of outreach. “I have to be, my life depends on it. If I’m even only at 98%, there’s a chance that I won’t do everything I need to stay sober.” The organization has weekly meetings seeRECOVER page 30

CANOPY ���� page 27

ally positive so far, more so than I thought. In fact, I’m probably going to convert a few more rooms into these wellness rooms.” Mahoney said most guests marvel over the convenience the rooms have to offer fitness buffs. “At hotels, you generally have really nice fitness centers – which we do – but this is convenience on top of convenience. If you want to stay in your room and maintain your regular fitness regimen, you can do that,” he said. Additionally, some guests love access to a machine similar to one they have at home while others enjoy the privacy that exercising in their own room provides.

“There is always the element of having to gear up, head down to the fitness center and be in the public eye,” Mahoney said. “Folks that have Peloton bikes at home are used to doing at-home workouts and not having to go to the fitness center is a big convenience factor that drives some of the popularity.” Mahoney also admits that this has also aided travelers in staying on top of their fitness while they indulge in the treats that OldTown has to offer.

“The extra level of convenience helps people stay on top of their regimen,” he said. “Being in OldTown, there are a lot of detractors from staying on top of your fitness goals but having these tools in your face is a good thing.” While these rooms have flown off the shelves, Mahoney strongly believes that this has been a genius marketing strategy for Peloton and Therabody.

“Not everyone is super comfortable to try these items unless they have a comfortable area to do so,” he said. “If guests rent these rooms, they can test it out just as if they owned it at home.” Mahoney also underscores that his staff has done everything within its power to ensure that these machines stay sanitized in between usage and guest stays.

“We’re still doing everything we can to make everything safe but for the most part guests are ready to travel again,” he said. “Specifically with these items, sanitizing between guest stays is paramount to ensure that everything in our hotels stays safe. “We also provide sanitizing wipes in the room for the guests in case they feel they need to so they can feel comfortable and safe using them.” While this has seen early success, Mahoney is anxious to see the figures at the end of the year and get more rooms converted into wellness rooms.

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employees, the company moved to a larger office along the Shea Corridor in 2001. Like other Valley businesses dependent on the real estate market, the Great Recession of 2008/2009 required Cullum Homes to refocus and retool. During this time Cullum Homes’ first lock-and-leave guard-gated luxury home community, Paradise Reserve, came on market. That Scottsdale neighborhood has just sold out. Other luxury Scottsdale communities the company has completed or is building homes at are Cholla Heights, Ironwood Golf Villas, The Village at Mountain Shadows, The Village at Seven Desert Mountain (which the company shares with other luxury builders) and The Village at Silverleaf. The newest neighborhood is Ascent at The Phoenician, where Cullum Homes also builds with other companies. Sanctuary on Black Mountain, comprising seven electronically gated estates in Carefree, is just getting started. Cullum Homes pioneered super-energyefficient luxury homes in the Scottsdale area.

“We pride ourselves in constructing clean, comfortable and quiet homes that incorporate many features commonly referred to as ‘green,’ but that really represents a collection of best practices and components that together produce the highest quality and best-performing home,” Cullum said.

Some of these products include indoor air quality ventilation systems, TruTankless all-electric water heaters, LED lighting throughout the home and Daiken multizone variable-speed mechanical systems.

This focus on the home environment will continue through the pandemic and beyond, he added.

“We are seeing increased demand for additional home office space, places for expanded family activities, room for extended family, additional outdoor features and amenities, continued awareness and focus on air quality and overall healthy environment and the products that deliver those features.”

The company’s white-glove full service includes an in-house architect, construction management, interior design, renovations and concierge client service, which, among other amenities, helps assist clients with locating the perfect site for their custom home.

“In addition to their homebuilding being next-level, their customer care division is unlike any other,” said Realtor Scott Grigg, who exclusively represents Cullum for new-builds “They make you feel at home

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 6, 2022 the moment you step in the door and will continue to care for their homeowners long after a home has been built and a sale has been finalized.” An office/warehouse in the Scottsdale Airpark houses all divisions and features a design center offering homebuyers selections of premium cabinetry, granite, tile, flooring, hardware, doors, plumbing fixtures and other components. The Cullums’ daughter, Lindsay CullumColwell, is the managing principal architect, overseeing an 11 in-house studio of licensed architects, NCIDQ-qualified interior designers, draftspeople and support staff. Paul Colwell, Lindsay’s husband, is the firm’s managing director and oversees field construction, new-project development and financial and office-administration activities. They are also Scottsdale residents.

“We are an architecture and interior design firm living within a custom homebuilding company,” Lindsay said. “We believe our ‘under-one-roof’ integrated and streamlined processes produce a better result for our clients and allows them to enjoy the home-building design and construction experience without worrying about dealing with multiple companies that have different processes and methods.” Doug and Jane Westhoff purchased a challenging hillside lot in Paradise Valley. “The company’s entire in-house organization, from the architects, construction crews and design studio team’s attention to detail, made the process seamless and cohesive, which was especially important as we were overseeing the project from out of state,” Jane Westhoff said. She praised architect Lindsay CullumColwell, explaining that she “took our vision and turned the space into an absolute dream home, dramatic yet comfortable modern living in the Valley.” Grigg, who has worked with the company for 14 years, considers Ron his mentor. “Cullum Homes starts where other builders finish,” he said. “What they include in a base-level home is typically the upgrade-level for other home builders; they truly set the bar.” “And it is not just in the home finishes,” he added. “They have a strong commitment to a healthy standard of living, and this shines through in what buyers often don’t see: what’s behind the walls of a home. The insulation, the HVAC system and the air quality are very important to the company and are oftentimes things other builders do not make a top priority.”

Information: cullumhomes.com.

RECOVER ���� page 28

and activities for members “to engage in occupational wellness with significant benefits.” “Members will have access to structured activities that support full dimensional wellness addressing each of the eight dimensions; emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, occupational, financial and environmental,” the company said.

They also are encouraged to volunteer for “opportunities that enhance community relations, inspire others, empower people, minimize stigma, promote unity, and strengthen the core of the SRC family.”

The center maintains four facilities in the Valley with detox, inpatient, residential, intensive outpatient, and sober living services.

Information: ScottsdaleRecovery. com.

Copenhagen Imports slates food drive in Valley

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Copenhagen Imports has partnered with community food banks across Arizona and Texas in a company-wide fundraising initiative to raise $90,000 to support hunger relief in each of the store’s locations – including Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. From now through March 23, Copenhagen will donate 5% of all gross sales to St. Mary’s Food Bank to support the food bank during a time of year when giving is historically low. Copenhagen’s fundraising goal for the Valley is $30,000. In addition, employees across the company are volunteering for shifts at food bank warehouses, gardens, kitchens, and more to show their support for this cause. To encourage participation, Copenhagen will give customers a 5% discount on purchases made in their showrooms and online and will encourage customers to donate non-perishable food items or individual monetary gifts, collected in-store its Valley locations. St. Mary’s Food Bank will provide storage bins for food collection at each location. Each showroom will have donation forms and/or a digital fundraising page setup by the Food Bank for individuals who would like to make personal donations. To create community awareness, St. Mary’s Food Bank will participate via social media while Copenhagen plans a full media blitz. As a family-owned and operated company since 1970, Copenhagen Imports has a longstanding history of, and commitment to, community involvement and has worked annually with organizations such as community food banks and other charities. “Being involved in the community has always been a priority for us,” said Copenhagen CFO and family-owner Jorgen Hansen. “We owe our success to the community, and it feels natural that we should be giving back.” Copenhagen Imports, family-owned and family-operated since 1970, is a Scandinavian contemporary furniture and accessories retailer with seven locations across Arizona and Texas. Copenhagen boasts “high-quality, tailored customer service and curates its furniture collection to ensure quality and responsible pricing” and says it fosters “fostering a family-oriented, professional workplace for employees.”

Information: CopenhagenLiving. com

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