< Previous30 AZFOOTHILLS.COMDR. STACIE STEPHENSON IS A VERY BUSY WOMAN. A DOCTOR, BUSINESS OWNER, PHILANTHROPIST, PUBLIC SPEAKER, BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND CERTIFIED LEADER IN FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE, SHE IS ALSO THE MOTHER OF TWIN BOYS, VICE CHAIR OF GATEWAY FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION. DR. STACIE J. STEPHENSON S TH E REA L-LIF E G LO W of PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB AND DAWN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN @AZFOOTHILLS #AZFOOTHILLS 31“Part of the reason I left private practice was because I wanted to help more people than I could feasibly treat in a single day, week, month or even over the course of an entire career. First with VIBRANT, and now with GLOW, I’m thrilled to help people implement intentional living across the globe. — Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson 32 AZFOOTHILLS.COMIn fact, she just took the stage at the second Annual Gateway Celebrity Fight Night right here in Phoenix on April 1st, which raised more than $3 million for cancer research in a single night. Months in the making, the event was hosted and emceed by 16-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster, who has served as the event's musical director for 22 years, and included performances from Earth, Wind & Fire; Nile Rodgers & CHIC; Taylor Dayne; Thelma Houston; The Sugarhill Gang; Katharine McPhee; and neon and LED dance troupe Light Balance. Guests were also presented with the incredible stories of some of the real-life patients and researchers whose lives have been changed by Gateway for Cancer Research, and all this took place a mere two weeks after Dr. Stacie received the 2023 Unsung Hero Award with her husband, Gateway Founder Richard J Stephenson, at The WCRF’s “Unforgettable Evening.” It would be understandable—even commended—if she decided to take a little time off. But that’s not exactly Dr. Stacie’s style. This Independence Day, Dr. Stacie’s second book, GLOW: 90 Days to Create Your Vibrant Life from Within, hits shelves, published by Harper Celebrate. In contrast to her first book, the nationally bestselling VIBRANT: A Groundbreaking Program to Get Energized, Own Your Health, and Glow, this new book is less of an instruction manual for how to live a vibrant life, and more of a roadmap for living intentionally and joyfully, glowing from the inside out. But the common words in both titles are no coincidence. In VIBRANT, Dr. Stacie explained to readers what “glow” truly was. While energy is a primary internal manifestation of vibrancy, glow is an external indicator of that internal vibrancy. According to Dr. Stacie, glow and beauty that radiate from within indicate deep health, and no matter what your external features are, no matter your age or height or weight or abilities, when you are vibrant, you will glow. The new book aims to help readers transform their health and encourage that glow with morning and evening meditations grounded in Dr. Stacie’s holistic approach to physical and mental wellness, centering around her VIBRANT lifestyle: Voice, how you talk to and express yourself; • Intuition, how you listen to your inner voice; • Balance, how you juggle your external • responsibilities with your internal needs; Rejuvenation, how to slow down and find • restoration; Abundance, how to fill your life with good • things; Nurturing, how to love others well; and • Thoughtfulness, how you express gratitude, • kindness, and joy. Dr. Stacie has helped thousands of Americans take control of their own health and design their own plan for wellness using her unique whole-person approach to disease prevention, and GLOW is just the newest tool in helping readers take control of their health by making overall wellness the cornerstone of their daily habits. “Part of the reason I left private practice was because I wanted to help more people than I could feasibly treat in a single day, week, month or even over the course of an entire career. First with VIBRANT, and now with GLOW, I’m thrilled to help people implement intentional living across the globe,” says Dr. Stacie. In fact, the new book is dedicated “To all the women who go through life wearing many hats, pulled in many directions, who give and give until they feel like they have little left for themselves.” As Dr. Stacie has seen in her own life and in her years as a healthcare practitioner specializing in alternative medicine, the small things we do over time to create life-changing shifts. “I reserve a sacred 15- to 30-minute block of time at the beginning and end of every day. No matter how busy I get, whether I’m home or traveling, I prioritize these moments when I don’t have any obligations and can sit all by myself, resting, reflecting and setting my intentions for the day ahead or settling into a restful evening,” added Dr. Stacie. She considers this daily practice to be one of the most powerful and influential things she does to keep herself feeling mentally centered, physically healthy, emotionally balanced, socially connected, spiritually calm and focused on her goals. GLOW is her way of sharing that practice with the world. drstaciestephenson.com n Gateway Celebrity Fight Night 2023 - Left to right, Earth, Wind & Fire, Taylor Dayne, Joey Fatone, Thelma Houston, Nile Rodgers, Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson, Richard J Stephenson, The Sugarhill Gang @AZFOOTHILLS #AZFOOTHILLS 33 , BOB D A VIS bo 34 AZFOOTHILLS.COMov 2023 BES T OF OUR V ALLEY From craft cocktails to custom wine cellars, pizza to private jets, nobody knows the Valley better than its locals. Without further ado, here are your 2023 Best of Our Valley winners. Want more inside scoop on Best of Our Valley? Follow @azfoothills! Drum roll, please! @AZFOOTHILLS #AZFOOTHILLS 35BEST ENTREPRENEUR Mackenzie Collier Mackenzie Collier Interiors mackenziecollierinteriors.com BEST MARKETING PROFESSIONAL Ashley Richards E Squared Marketing esquaredmarketing.com BEST MATCHMAKER Roseann Higgins SPIES (Single Professional Introductions for the Especially Selective) especiallyselective.com BEST PR Robyn Patterson Mack Media Relations > Robyn Patterson is a savvy and experienced public relations professional who has devoted her career to first-class representation, building reliable media relationships and helping clients gain results that will have an impact on their business. As founder of Mack Media Relations, Patterson has been instrumental in building innovative brand awareness campaigns for local and national companies. Her strong work ethic, integrity and outgoing personality are what drive Mack Media Relations to be successful and ensure happy clientele. Before founding Mack Media Relations, Patterson worked for top agencies in Phoenix and Los Angeles where she represented and managed local and national brands in an array of industries. She also has experience working in the media. Patterson was the co-host for an award-winning morning radio show in Phoenix and she continues to be a familiar face in the Valley. mackmediarelations.com BEST OF OUR VALLEY 2022 WINNER BEST OF OUR VALLEY 2022 WINNER BEST OF OUR VALLEY 2022 WINNER Robyn Patterson Mackenzie Collier Interiors Team boov 2023 I PE OPLE I BEST OF OUR VALLEY WINNERS 36 AZFOOTHILLS.COM , A GNES AR T AND PHO T O , MA CK MEDIA RELA TIONS , E SQU ARED MARKETINGMOST FASHIONABLE VALLEY MAN tie between Javier Soto (@javiersototv), Austin Sibbio (@austinsibbio) MOST FASHIONABLE VALLEY WOMAN Julie Xander > Fashion has always been in Julie Xander’s blood. While Xander was born and raised in Arizona, her family roots go back to New York where her grandmother started an all-women’s department store and was the largest dress buyer in the city. Her grandfather was in the wholesale dress business, working with all the big department stores and creating his own fashion lines. Xander worked as a fashion stylist at Neiman Marcus before creating her lifestyle brand, Lifestyle Jules. She has taken her passion for fashion, fitness, wellness and beauty and turned it into a guide for women of all ages to look and feel beautiful from the inside out. @lifestylejules MOST INFLUENTIAL IN VALLEY BUSINESS Monica Villalobos President & CEO Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce azhcc.com/meet-ceo MOST INFLUENTIAL IN VALLEY EDUCATION tie between Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University (president.asu.edu) and Sister Joan Fitzgerald , BVM, Sister Joanie Nuckols , BVM, and Sister Lynn Winsor , BVM, of Xavier College Preparatory (xcp.org) BEST OF OUR VALLEY 2022 WINNER Julie Xander BEST OF OUR VALLEY WINNERS I PE OPLE I boov 2023 @AZFOOTHILLS #AZFOOTHILLS 37 , JULIE XANDERMOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN VALLEY EDUCATION T he majority of the 13,000-plus Xavier graduates have been influenced by Sisters Joan, Joanie and Lynn. Presiding over a diverse 1,100- plus student body, 200-plus employees and a multi-million dollar 19-acre campus, and in its 80th year, Xavier College Preparatory has grown into an exceptional Catholic girls’ school. The Sisters are responsible for The Xavier Effect: Graduates who go on to make their indelible mark on the world as nonprofit executives making communities better, scientists creating life-saving vaccines, corporate leaders employing hundreds, entrepreneurs building start-ups, entertainers bringing joy to audiences, athletes competing on the world stage and mothers raising families. Why Choose an All-Girls’ School? Young women take center stage at Xavier—every leadership role is held by young women. They learn there are no limits to life’s possibilities. Their voices are always heard. Young women who graduate from Xavier are more confident and unafraid to confront problems or express their ideas both inside and outside the classroom. 7 Success Factors help you evaluate whether Xavier is a good fit: Faith, Leadership, Highly Qualified Teachers, College-Prep Curriculum, Expanded Extracurriculars, 3-Season Athletics and Community. We’ve established these Success Factors because educating the whole person is much more than simply providing advanced academics and graduating students with high test scores. A rigorous and challenging curriculum, competitive athletics, variety of activities (75-plus clubs and 11 honor societies), comprehensive technology courses (Xavier has the largest chapter of National Computer Science Honor Society in Arizona), broad arts classes, along with a commitment to service learning, blend seamlessly into a supportive and God- centered environment. Xavier’s programs in academics, athletics and arts are recognized nationally. We foster a commitment to service, leadership and excellence in character in young women. A Xavier graduate has memories and friendships for a lifetime. She leaves Xavier with an education rooted in faith that prepares her to lead, question, grow and serve. Learn more at xcp.org n Sister Joan Fitzgerald BVM — President Sister Joanie Nuckols BVM — Principal Sister Lynn Winsor BVM — Assistant Principal for Activities & Athletic Director Xavier College Preparatory boov 2023 I PE OPLE I BEST OF OUR VALLEY WINNERS 38 AZFOOTHILLS.COM , RICK D ’ELIAMOST INFLUENTIAL IN VALLEY FOOD Chef Beau MacMillan Cala and Food Network Personality > Beau MacMillan, or “BeauMac,” is an American chef and television personality. He partnered with Clive Collective to open Cala Scottsdale, where he leads as culinary director. calascottsdale.com MOST INFLUENTIAL IN VALLEY NONPROFIT Kevin Rowe Lerner and Rowe Gives Back > Kevin Rowe is an award-winning, philanthropic attorney who founded the official Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, Lerner and Rowe Gives Back. Kevin did this as a means to give back and do more for those living, working and raising families in Arizona outside of the legal arena. At the end of the day, Lerner and Rowe is more than just a law firm, and Kevin just wants to help the disadvantaged in the communities where his team serves. Through Kevin’s leadership efforts and ability to build meaningful partnerships, Lerner and Rowe Gives Back has raised and donated over $2.48 million to nonprofits and other charitable organizations in Arizona the past six years alone; this benefits children, veterans, rescue animals, survivors of critical illness or diseases and others needing assistance. A few of the more notable contributions from 2022 include reaching the $100,000 lifetime level with Phoenix Children’s Hospital; $120K annual partnership with Fiesta Bowl Charities; $100K to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale; $20K donation to PANDA (People Acting Now Discover Answers); $20K donation to Make-A-Wish Arizona; $15K donation Military Assistance Mission (MAM); and $10K donation to Special Olympic Arizona. lernerandrowegivesback.com MOST INFLUENTIAL IN VALLEY POLITICS Kate Gallego Mayor of Phoenix kategallego.com MOST INFLUENTIAL IN VALLEY TOURISM Debbie Johnson Director of Arizona Office of Tourism tourism.az.gov MOST INFLUENTIAL PHILANTHROPIST Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson drstaciestephenson.com n Lerner and Rowe Gives Back Chef Beau MacMillan BEST OF OUR VALLEY WINNERS I PE OPLE I boov 2023 Kate Gallego @AZFOOTHILLS #AZFOOTHILLS 39 , BEA U MA CMILLAN , KA TE G ALLE GO , LERNER AND RO WE GIVES BA CKNext >