Riordan new executive chef at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa
The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa has appointed Thomas Riordan the executive chef. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, before he made a name for himself as a chef at The Scottsdale Princess.
In his new role, Riordan will oversee all culinary functions at the facility, including oversight of restaurant concepts and menus for Ko’Sin and the resort’s signature and award-winning restaurant, Kai. Additionally, he will oversee meeting and group banquets, event catering, guest room dining for the 500-room resort and all culinary staff recruitment and training.
Riordan will work closely with Kai’s chef de cuisine, Ryan Swanson, to maintain the restaurant’s Native American-inspired cuisine and the level of personalized and elegant service that guests have come to expect.
Extensive experience
Most recently he served as the executive chef at W Austin, where he spent the past two years, and his responsibilities included management of several culinary venues including; TRACE restaurant, banquets, pastry, butchery and charcuterie, food service in the resort’s three bars and lounges, all functions of in-room dining, stewarding operations, catering and green room for the ACL theater.
Prior to that he was the executive chef at The St. Regis Aspen, where he developed and executed the concepts
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for the Italian restaurant Trecento Quindici Decano, as well as the new spa treatment for Remede Spa, the “farmto-massage table.” He also opened and served as executive chef at the Chef’s Club, Food & Wine’s collaborative platform for showcasing some of the country’s top culinary talent.
His experience includes positions at several restaurants in Arizona. He was the executive sous chef at The Phoenician, the chef de cuisine at Marquesa, which was the AAA FiveDiamond signature restaurant of The Scottsdale Princess, when open. He also held a chef position at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn.
A Coyotes fan
When he is away from the kitchen he enjoys fishing, exercising and spending time with his wife and children. He is an avid Coyotes fan and looks forward to returning to the games soon.
“It is an honor to become a part of the highly regarded food and beverage family at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa,” Riordan said. “I am excited to return to Phoenix and its expanding food scene. I look forward to working with the team to continue pushing the envelope on creative culinary concepts, service standards and delivering world-class results.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Thomas Riordan,” said Bunty Ahamed, general manager. “With his culinary pedigree and experience, his enthusiasm for sophisticated cuisine and his leadership
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qualities he will help us continue the great culinary tradition for which our resort is known.”
The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa is a destination resort showcasing the heritage, culture, art and legends of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. The resort offerings include culturally themed rooms, Forbes Five-Star/AAA
Five-Diamond Dining at Kai restaurant, the Forbes Four-Star Aji Spa; 36-holes of Troon-managed golf at Whirlwind Golf Club; the 1,000-acre Koli Equestrian Center and several nearby attractions.
Thomas Riordan is the new executive chef at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa. Submitted photo
Chandler pharmacist enjoys work as Realtor
BY ALISON STANTON
One of Dr. Chase Westen’s most vivid memories from his teenage years is leaving his Chandler home to inline skate to nearby Corona del Sol High School to take finals, and heading back to a new house after school.
“In three years, we lived in three different houses within a square mile of each other. We were always flipping our house, and my mom was a big part of it,” he said.
Westen, who works full time as a pharmacist at the trauma center at Chandler Regional Medical Center, said his experience with home flipping combined with a frustrating real estate transaction inspired him to become a Realtor with HomeSmart.
“My wife said to me, ‘I don’t understand why you can’t do real estate on your own,’ and so I looked into it and said, ‘Yes, I can do it on my own,’” Westen said.
A Chandler resident, Westen has been a Realtor for HomeSmart since June, and works with residential clients. He focuses primarily on the East Valley, including Chandler, Tempe and Scottsdale.
“I grew up here and I know those areas,” he said.
Although his real estate career is not his main source of income, he is thoroughly enjoying pursuing a second career.
“This is something that I do because I truly enjoy helping people and making sure that they get what they want and need.”
Although pharmaceutical work and real estate may not seem like they would share
a lot in common, Westen said the two professions are actually quite similar.
“In both cases, I never know what’s coming at me, so I have to be prepared for anything. Also, in real estate and at the pharmacy, I have to read between the lines when talking to people,” he said.
“For example, just because clients say they want a two-bedroom house with no pool, if the wife is expecting a baby they might actually want a three-bedroom house, and maybe a bigger backyard. At the pharmacy, if someone says they have been coughing a lot, I might ask them if they have been taking high blood pressure medications, which can cause them to cough.”
And, just like a pharmacist will go over medications with people and explain how they work and any side effects, Westen said as a Realtor, he is careful to go over the many documents with his clients and make sure they understand what they are signing.
“People need to know what they are signing, so I always say, ‘Let me go over the deal with you,’” he said.
Westen said he is glad that he followed his dream to become a Realtor.
“I’m happy to do it and I’m having a good time. There have been some bumps in the road, but at the end of the day I’ve learned from them and I’m having fun, and it all works out.”
For more information about Westen, call (602) 820-9206 or visit www.azredoc.com.
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Attorney Ryan recognized by national magazine
James A. Ryan, a partner in the Phoenix office of national law firm Quarles & Brady LLP, has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation, a publication that exclusively ranks U.S. litigation firms and attorneys. Ryan was honored among the publication’s “Local Litigation Stars.”
A Chandler resident, Ryan practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation, litigation
Submitted photo
involving direct sales companies and distributors, civil racketeering litigation, business torts, actions for breach of contract, and class actions. He earned his law degree, with honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College James Ryan.
LGE completes tenant improvements for Desert Kidney Associates
LGE Design Build has completed tenant improvements for the 4,151-square-foot Desert Kidney Associates, located at the Fairview Medical Center, a medical office building near the Chandler Regional Medical Center and Loop 202.
“The design aesthetic is modern with exposed structural steel and concrete block,” said Dave Sellers, LGE Design Build president. “All of these design elements are intended to make patients feel welcome and comfortable.”
Tenant improvements have been made at Desert Kidney Associates. Submitted photo
All that glitters
Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds does diamonds and gold beyond the mold
BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
From the time she was a child, Myranda Molina was destined for a career in diamonds.
Growing up less than wealthy, she always gravitated toward the shinier things in life. When asked about her favorite color, the answer was obvious: “Sparkle!” Decades later, not much has changed. The Chandler-based jeweler and co-owner at Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds still loves to sparkle—and in more ways than one. Her bright smile, philanthropic nature and pageant-like poise certainly
impressed fellow jeweler and lifelong lover of all things that shine, Christopher Uptain, who opened Christopher Diamonds in 2003 with decades of industry expertise in tow. When the two jewelers became partners in business, they decided to become partners in life. Molina, a jewelry reseller and custom designer, and Uptain, a certified gemologist, were a natural fit. There was a spark, and of course, lots of sparkle. The right fit Christopher Diamonds officially became Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds in 2014.
“Our store has never done better. After the merge, the name change just felt right,” said Molina, who has a stunning engagement ring of her own on her finger. Located just down the street from Chandler Fashion Center, Molina and Uptain certainly recognize that there are plenty of jewelry options in the area. But they’re sure that once their clients get to know them and what sets them apart from the competition, they’re bound to be loyal customers for life and will skip the corporate jewelry store for their more personal approach.
“We have...become known as the ‘approachable jewelry store,’” Molina said. “Clients drive from Scottsdale, Gilbert, Paradise Valley [and] pretty much all over for us to either recreate what they have or buy something from our beautiful showroom.”
From A-list celebrities to across-thepond highrollers, Molina and Uptain have custom designed pieces for all people and price ranges. In fact, 40 percent of their custom business comes from out-ofstate and out-of-country buyers looking for a special custom-designed experience,
A customer examines the fit and look of a ring and discusses it with Myranda Molina, co-owner of Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds. Submitted photo
Myranda Molina and Christopher Uptain own and operate a jewelry store that bears their first names in Chandler. Submitted photo
whether they’re looking to spend a few hundred or a few million dollars
Their custom jewelry starts with a consultation, then the piece is sketched, modified in a computer program, and before it’s created in their high-tech workshop, carved into wax so the client can see the design. Each piece sees anywhere between 10 to 20 hours of work from inception to completion, with the couple toiling over details and inspiration until the wee hours of the morning to please their clients.
“Some of our clients will literally bring in 100 pictures of Pinterest rings and say, ‘OK, Myranda. Here you go,’” Molina said. “The amazing thing is...that they think they’re going to have to come back and say, ‘No, I wanted this, I wanted that,’ but literally every single person has said ‘How did you nail every single thing that I loved?’”
The couple is proud to say that, in all of their years in the custom-design business, not one client has asked to return the final product. With a free, built-in warranty for all of their work, their honesty and integrity sets them apart from the pack.
“Our communication skills with our clients is our main focus,” Molina said. “We want the best relationship with our clients and the best communication, because we know if we listen to what they want, we could take it to a level they’ve never experienced.”
Giving back
Charity work and giving back is as much at the center of Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds as the jewels themselves.
One kind gesture early on in life led Molina down a path of philanthropy. A
basket of food was delivered to her family as a child around Christmas, and while other kids were busy hoping for a new Nintendo for the holiday, Molina was relishing in the cheese, dried milk and other food provided in the basket. Her goal in life was to make the less fortunate feel exactly the same way she did that fateful day.
Since then, Molina and Uptain have been involved in numerous East Valley charities, including the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA, Dignity Health, several private Christian schools and more.
As a child, Molina’s family couldn’t afford Christian school tuition, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
“Education is my big thing,” Myranda said.
in the family trade of giving back and designing jewelry. Derek beads bracelets and sells them for $2, with half of proceeds given back to charity. Athena Raquel has started designing her own jewelry and volunteers to serve food to the homeless.
“We love together, we give together and work together,” Molina said.
The next big move for the family is to expand its brand. Looking to find the perfect place in Scottsdale for a new storefront, Molina and Uptain are certainly doing their research.
“The history with that is my parents couldn’t afford for me to go to a private school. I got the opportunity to go to a Christian school my eighthgrade year...and I literally had to do half payment, half janitorial work. I have such a passion for raising money for these schools...so other children can have the opportunities that I so badly wanted.”
Carrying the tradition
Having a long-held tradition of jewelry in the family, Myranda’s children, Derek and Athena Raquel Molina, have started
In their off time, they’ll frequent Scottsdale jewelry stores to see what works for those retailers—and what they think they could do better.
“Arizona has been so good to us. It has given us the American Dream. It has given us a life that is blessed,” Molina said.
The more Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds grows, the more they plan to give, Molina said. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Christopher & Myranda Fine Diamonds is located at 2560 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. For more information, call (480) 792-1161 or visit www. christopherdiamonds.com.
Ostrich Festival accepting vendor applications
The 28th annual Chandler Chamber of Commerce Ostrich Festival is accepting applications for commercial, nonprofit and food vendors for the three-day event taking place at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler March 11 to March 13.
Vendors who apply by Dec. 31 will receive special early bird pricing. Final deadline for applications and payment is Feb. 5. Accepted vendors will have the opportunity to feature and sell their products and services for the entirety of the event.
The event, which is organized by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations (SLE), is known as one of the premier festivals in the southwest. The Ostrich Festival features live ostrich races and ostrich-themed activities, national and regional entertainment, carnival midway, spectacular food, upscale arts and crafts and more.
Vendor applications can be found on the Ostrich Festival website, www. ostrichfestival.com. For more information, please contact SLE at vendors@ slentertainment.com or call (480) 284-6033.
Myranda’s children, Athena Raquel and Derek, with Myranda Molina and Christopher Uptain. Submitted photo
Reinke recognizes Rain for Rent with Gold Pride Award
Reinke has recognized Rain for Rent Inc. in Chandler with a Gold Reinke Pride award in recognition of the company’s marketing year success. The Reinke dealership was honored during Reinke’s recent annual convention held in November in Dallas, Texas.
“We congratulate Rain for Rent on this well-deserved award,” said Reinke Director of Marketing Tom Palmertree. “We appreciate their ongoing commitment to Reinke and to their agricultural community.”
Reinke dealerships from across the United States and Canada gather each year to attend the company’s sales convention. The convention awards ceremony recognizes select Reinke dealerships for their hard work and dedication to sales and marketing throughout the past year.
The Reinke Pride awards are determined as part of an incentive program that distinguishes superior
achievement levels according to an evaluation based on a dealership’s exterior and interior housekeeping and maintenance, indoor and outdoor displays, safety, retail environment, merchandising, professionalism, promotions and event participation, and market share.
Headquartered in Deshler, Neb., Reinke Manufacturing Company Inc. is one of the world’s most recognized manufacturers of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems. Since 1954, Reinke has developed products designed to increase agricultural production while providing labor savings and environmental efficiencies. Reinke is a continued leader in industial advancements as the first to incorporate GPS, satellite-based communications and touchscreen panel capabilities into mechanized irrigation system management. For more information on Reinke or to locate a dealership, visit www.reinke.com.
Amazing Lash Studio hosts fundraiser for Waste Not
In the spirit of the holiday season, Amazing Lash Studio is teaming up with Waste Not for a fundraiser from Monday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Dec. 23, and Sunday, Dec. 27, to Wednesday, Dec. 30.
The SanTan Village studio will offer free eyelash extensions for a donation to Waste Not.
“We are excited to partner with Amazing Lash Studios and are grateful for their support,” said Dee Mitten, Waste Not’s executive director.
“These kinds of community partnerships are essential to helping us increase awareness about Waste Not and to feeding the Valley’s hungry with food that would otherwise go to waste.”
The franchise is owned and operated by Rick and Cindy Rash, who have extensive background in business and franchising. They have been looking for new opportunities.
“While training for an Ironman competition, I became a consumer of eyelash extensions and found them to be so convenient,” Cindy said. “When we heard of Amazing Lash Studio we knew this was the business for us.”
Amazing Lash Studio SanTan is located at 2765 S. Market St., Suite 104. They can be reached at (480) 237-3022 and are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For additional information, visit www.amazinglashstudio.com.
Solve design dilemmas with help from a professional
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Arizona North Chapter’s “Design for Hire” public awareness/ fundraising program will take place February through April.
This program is designed to help homeowners and design aficionados who have not worked with a professional interior designer previously but always wanted to. For $75 per hour (a maximum of two hours), the public is matched with an ASID interior designer.
Consumers who register are matched with a particular designer based on location, project specifications and other parameters.
The ASID designers who participate in the program donate their consultation time. The fees collected are directed back to the organization for student design scholarships and educational programs that help further the profession of interior design.
This is a way for homeowners to learn how designers provide a difference in their homes and lifestyle through their in-depth knowledge of space planning, products, materials and finishes, not to mention their ability to plan, schedule, execute and manage projects from start to finish.
To sign up, email info@asidasnorth.org or visit www.asidaznorth.org.
Alert Cleaning Services assists women battling cancer
Family-owned residential and commercial cleaning company, Alert Cleaning Services Inc., has teamed up with Cleaning for a Reason, an international nonprofit foundation that help women battling cancer.
The service has agreed to clean at least two homes per month for four consecutive months at no charge. The only requirement is that the homes be within the company’s existing service areas of the East Valley. For more information about this company, go to www.alertcleaning.com.
“Alert Cleaning is proud to partner with Cleaning for a Reason,” said owner Olga Moya. “Being able to help women with cancer and giving back to our community is very rewarding and inspiring. We look forward to cleaning the homes of these women who are going through such difficult
times. Alert Cleaning wants to give these patients something to look forward to. Cleaning day is a happy day.”
Cleaning for a Reason strives to aid women who are battling cancer by teaming up with professional cleaning companies across the United States and Canada. Together, these two forces offer free house cleaning to meet the needs of women, and since 2006, have donated more than $5.5 million in free services, helping more than 19,000 women with cancer.
Based in Lewisville, Texas, Cleaning for a Reason works with more than 1,200 professional cleaning companies and continues to grow and gain support. To learn more about Cleaning for a Reason and to apply for free housecleaning, see www. cleaningforareason.org.
The editors of the SanTan Sun News are seeking residents of the Southeast Chandler community to contribute to our publication. We have been delivering the news of the area to 30,000 driveways for more than 17 years. As a writer for the SanTan Sun News you would be compensated for reporting on local stories in your community. Professional writing experience is required. If you might have an interest in joining our stable of talented community journalists, please send your resume and writing samples to Christina@SanTanSun.com.
Chamber events feature lunches, meetings for members
Throughout the year, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of luncheons and meetings for its members and the community.
Events are held at the Chandler Chamber of Commerce office, 25 S. Arizona Pl., Suite 201, unless otherwise noted.
To register, call (480) 963-4571, visit www.chandlerchamber.com or email info@chandlerchamber.com. No refunds are available within 72 hours of the event.
Women in Business
12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19
The Women in Business luncheon features a different program each month. Start the holidays on a light note with improvMANIA. This fastpaced performance troupe is well known for working with businesses of all sizes on team bonding. Tickets are $25 for members, $35 for guests. Walkins are $30 and $40.
SoHo 63, 63 E. Boston St., Chandler
Lunch Club
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21
The goal of the Chandler Chamber Lunch Club is to network and promote each business while having a great meal at a hometown restaurant. Tickets are
$10 for lunch and a drink, tip included.
IronOaks at Sun Lakes,24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes
Small Business Counseling
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22
Experienced business counselors provide advice, knowledge and insight to help you start or grow your business. Small business counseling is available Mondays and Tuesdays at the Chamber office by appointment only through the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Arizona Small Business Development Center network. Contact the Chandler Chamber of Commerce to schedule an appointment. Free.
Meet the Elected Officials Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8
The Chandler Chamber gives its members and the public an opportunity to meet the 2016 Arizona State Legislators, federal, local and school governing board officials. They will also present the Chamber’s “How We Stand” document, which depicts legislative agendas and priorities for the coming year. Visit http://bit.ly/1RHhg8y to register.
Hilton Phoenix/Chandler, 2929 W. Frye Rd., Chandler
