< PreviousVCRE 202 3 EDITION 90 INARIZ ONA Founder and Designated Broker Vincent ClarkINCENT CLARK FACED A DILEMMA. He had just helped his newlywed clients find their dream home, but one thing was missing: an automatic garage door opener. “[The buyer] made a comment during one of the showings that the house would be perfect if it had a garage door opener. I thought the simple thing to do was to buy one,” says Clark. It turns out the garage door wasn’t working correctly. Fixing the issue would require more time and money than initially anticipated, but Clark was committed to ensuring the house was perfect. He arranged to have the necessary work completed and surprised the couple on their closing day. “They were in tears,” says Clark. Actions like this come second nature to Clark, who previously worked for many notable hotels and restaurants like The Ritz-Carlton and Houston’s. “My entire work life has been built around a service- based mindset,” says Clark. “My focus has always been trying to hit a bullseye on what people desire.” After leaving the restaurant industry, he began flipping and selling houses. As Clark gained more referrals, he noticed a common thread throughout conversations with prospective buyers: stories of negative interactions with brokers who only cared about the final sale. “The client never felt a sense of genuine care,” says Clark. Determined to improve the overall buying experience, Clark founded VCRE in 2018, allowing him to infuse his signature brand of hospitality into the world of luxury real estate. To serve clients the way he envisioned, Clark knew he’d have to deviate from the status quo, starting with his business model. Rather than measuring success with sales numbers, Clark measures success by client satisfaction. Scaling the business isn’t a top priority—an intentional decision made to prioritize his clients’ needs. “It’s far more important to deliver a high level of service,” says Clark. “I don’t feel we can hit that mark if I’m focused on growing the business from a sales- volume standpoint. We instead have a hyper-focus on serving the clients we have today and trust that the future will take care of itself.” The tradeoff is working exceptionally well. VCRE is currently in the top 1% of the luxury real estate market and only operates on a referral basis. For Clark, this accomplishment goes beyond the surface level and serves as a powerful statement of what Black entrepreneurs can accomplish in a predominantly non-Black market. He hopes his story will encourage young Black men and women who may feel uncertain about starting their real estate journey. “I’m here to show our community that it is possible and absolutely worth it,” says Clark. Clark’s philosophy stems from his faith, viewing hospitality as caring for a stranger like you would a friend. Acknowledging the human desire to feel cared for, he sees luxury as an overall experience, not just a price point. From the first meeting, Clark gets to know the buyers personally to better anticipate their needs. “I love the idea of knowing our clients well enough so that they never need to ask questions,” says Clark. Beyond the sales transaction, he maintains relationships with many former clients through frequent text check- ins, coffee meetings and golf outings. Adhering to the core principles of hospitality extends far beyond Clark’s business. He is a founding board member of 1Mission, a non- profit community-development organization, and often sponsors local charity events. In the future, Clark hopes to bring on an apprentice to help train and mentor the next generation of real estate brokers. VCRE serves clients throughout Arizona, specializing in the northwest Valley, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and Central Phoenix. Learn more at vincentclarkRE.com. n By Cassie Brucci Selling Hospitality V INARIZ ONA 91 202 3 EDITION Founded in 2018, Vincent Clark Real Estate (VCRE) is a Black-owned brokerage thriving in the top 1% of the high-end real estate vertical. With a focus on client relationships and attentive care, Founder and Designated Broker Vincent Clark is reshaping the luxury real estate buying experience. , LA RUE PHO T OGRAPHYocumentary Photographer and Filmmaker Thomas Machowicz has a camera, a heart for animals and the passion to tell their stories. During the first month of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Machowicz spent three weeks in Poland and Kyiv, Ukraine, documenting the unique story in front of him, which he calls “the animal rescue pipeline.” “[Animal rescue] supplies and volunteers were coming in through Western Europe, all over the world really, but mainly through Western Europe and then being distributed into Western Ukraine where it was a bit more safe,” says Machowicz. “From there, local animal rescue groups and individuals were distributing those supplies throughout the country.” In the opposite direction, refugees from Southern and Eastern Ukraine were flowing into Western Ukraine to stay shortly or flee the country with their companion animals. This incredible animal rescue effort of brave volunteers and individuals in Ukraine was something that Machowicz had not seen happen during a conflict and refugee situation before, and it inspired the photographer to document how the Ukrainian people were rescuing animals and evacuating with their pets. “My hope is that people will be able to put themselves in their place and have some empathy and ask, ‘What can I do to make the world better for people and animals?’” says Machowicz. Machowicz’s documentation of animal rescue in Ukraine is the first chapter of a long-term project, The Sanctuary Project, which focuses on animal rescue efforts within all the major challenges humans and animals face today, including climate change and deforestation, war and conflict, animal labor, the exotic pet trade and homelessness. The next chapter of The Sanctuary Project highlights animal rights issues in agriculture through a short film Machowicz directed with photographer Sabina Diethelm which documents animal rescue for farmed animals in Switzerland; it’s set to premiere online later this month. “One goal of mine is to show a perspective of the suffering that animals go through and on the other hand to inspire people to do something maybe a little extraordinary in their lives and go out of their way to help animals,” says Machowicz. In addition to providing visuals of animal rescue and social issues through Machowicz’s lens, The Sanctuary Project is also a platform to give back. The moving images Machowicz captured in Ukraine were donated to We Animals Media, which makes them freely accessible to organizations that promote animal welfare for use in their campaigns. Machowicz’s work, which has been highlighted by BBC News, Vox, The Arizona Republic, The Raw Society and We Animals Media, can be found on his Instagram @thomasmachowicz and at www.thomasmachowicz.com, where viewers can support The Sanctuary Project and Machowicz’s mission through Patreon memberships, stay up to date on future projects as well as sign up for local events in Arizona. n BY S A V ANNAH LEED Y PHO T OGRAPHY BY THOMA S MA CHOWIC Z D LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS ANIMAL RESCUE AMID RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR & OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES A volunteer at the Dim Sirka animal shelter lls out an animal passport for a dog being taken to the Fundacja Centaurus aid camp in Medyka, Poland. Dim Sirka was extremely low on food and supplies when Anu and Kaspar, volunteers from Estonia, replenished them with over 600kg of food and evacuated nine adult dogs and four puppies to Poland. Thomas Machowicz 202 3 EDITION 92 INARIZ ONA , JORGE DEL G ADO-UREN AMichailo Kucherenko walks his dog Kashtan near a residential apartment building that was hit by an air strike in Kyiv, Ukraine. He lives in the area and is on a waiting list to join the territorial defense. Alexandra Vynnysta prepares to evacuate her daughter Diana, son Marko, and dogs Cherry (left) and Muska from Lviv, Ukraine to Berlin, Germany. She rescued both her dogs as well as a third puppy who will be given a home in Berlin when she gets there. Anu, who came from Estonia to rescue animals, loads her van in preparation to rescue cats from Ukraine. The Fundacja Centaurus camp has thousands of kilograms of food ready to be delivered to shelters in Ukraine. Cherry and Marko in the van outside Alexandra's mother's house. Alexandria is taking her family from Lviv, Ukraine to stay in Berlin, Germany because of the constant threat of air strikes. Dogs wait to be walked while their cages are cleaned at the Fundacja Centaurus aid camp in Medyka, Poland. These dogs are from different parts of Ukraine, all rescued and brought out of the country by volunteers. March, 2022. A volunteer walks a dog at the Fundacja Centaurus aid camp in Medyka, Poland. INARIZ ONA 93 202 3 EDITIONFOUNDRES S Coley Arnold 202 3 EDITION 94 INARIZ ONAWhen a woman surrounds herself with other women who have similar interests and goals and who uplift one another and support each other’s ventures, she can flourish. That is the vision local entrepreneurs Coley Arnold and Lindsey Holt have for their networking group, The Foundress, which they debuted four years ago to provide female business owners with a creative community of women who can collaborate with one another, be inspired from leading female entrepreneurs and gain the tools they need to continue to grow their businesses. As the co-owners of Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market, Arnold and Holt understand the importance of having a support system and guidance from fellow entrepreneurs when operating a new business. “The whole time that we were building that business [Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market], we kept wishing that there was a community of women who have walked before us or were going through the same things as us as entrepreneurs to kind of bounce ideas off of and be supported by,” says Arnold. Since successfully operating Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market for almost 12 years, Arnold and Holt now have the knowledge and resources to create that space and opportunity for other women that are in the same position they once were. For $79 a month, The Foundress offers members exclusive access to mentorship from experienced female entrepreneurs and industry leaders who will educate, inspire and share their trials and successes; community gatherings featuring expert speakers and the opportunity to connect with like-minded women; and monthly Mastermind Groups where women can brainstorm and collaborate in a small-group setting. Any ambitious woman with a business of her own is welcome to sign up to become a member online at www.foundress.co and join the community, which currently includes about 120 women. As members, participants can RSVP to attend the community events each month, get access to recorded monthly meetings and connect with other members through online profiles. Members can also invite a guest to each monthly event, allowing women who are not yet a part of the community to get a taste of the exclusive support and encouragement The Foundress offers. “The Foundress is unique in that it is a group of women who are showing up for themselves, they’re putting in the time, they’re putting in the work,” says Holt. “It really is a unique community and all of the women are there because they want to encourage other women, they want to grow alongside other women and [they want] to learn from them.” n www.foundress.co @thefound.ress TWO WOMEN, ONE MISSION: How The Foundress is Paving a Way for Female Entrepreneurs BY SAVANN AH LEED Y Lindsey Holt INARIZ ONA 95 202 3 EDITIONIf you are like most people, chances are you made resolutions or set goals to achieve in the new year. Surveys show that more than half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. And, if you are like most people, chances are you have already strayed from your new lifestyle changes or scrapped your resolutions all together. A University of Scranton study from 2013 concluded that only about 8 percent of Americans who make resolutions stick to them. If you are less than resolute about keeping your resolutions and are looking for extra motivation to stick to them or jumpstart your commitment, consider this: Many of the most common New Year’s resolutions may help reduce your risk of cancer. The chart lists the 10 most popular New Year’s resolutions for 2020 and the percentage of those surveyed who made them, according to the research organization YouGov. Here are five common New Year’s resolutions and how sticking to them may help cut your cancer risk. QUIT SMOKING Oddly, quitting smoking was not among the top 10 resolutions a recent YouGov poll listed as the most common. But it is on other lists of most common New Year’s lifestyle changes. In fact, quitting smoking may be single-most important lifestyle change you can make to reduce your risk of cancer. Tobacco smoking is linked to 85 percent of all lung cancers and one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, many of them toxic, that may cause DNA damage, which in turn may lead to abnormal cell growth and, eventually, a tumor. The damage from tobacco smoke is not confined to the mouth, throat or lungs. Toxins from tobacco smoke travel through the bloodstream, increasing the risk of cancer to the bladder, pancreas, breasts and other organs. If you think it’s too late to quit, consider these facts from the CDC: Your chance of developing cancer of the cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is cut in half within five years of quitting. Your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half within 10 years of quitting. GET MORE EXERCISE Multiple studies have shown a clear link between exercise and decreased cancer risk. Once study published in December 2019 collected data from more than 750,000 people over 10 years. It found that participants who are physically active for at least 7.5 hours a week reduced their risk of developing several cancers, including those of the colon, breast, uterus, kidney and liver, as well as blood cancers like multiple myeloma and non- Hodgkin lymphoma. “Health care providers, fitness professionals, and public health practitioners should encourage adults to adopt and maintain physical activity at recommended levels to lower risks of multiple cancers,” the study’s authors suggested. Regular exercise impacts several bodily functions that may improve your overall health. Exercise lowers the levels of certain hormones, such as estrogen, that may increase cancer risk. It helps reduce weight and prevent obesity, which is linked to many cancers. Physical activity may also help support the immune system, reduce inflammation and slow tumor growth. “There are studies indicating a reduction in the rate of tumor growth with regular exercise,” says Anthony Perre, MD, Vice Chief of Staff at our hospital in Philadelphia. “Theoretically, exercise may increase levels of the hormone catecholamine, which may reduce the ability of the cancer cells to form tumors in distant sites. Endurance exercise may also impact signaling pathways that increase tumor growth. Exercise may also affect immune function, namely the ability for natural killer cells and the immune system to be able to identify and kill cancer cells.” EAT HEALTHY The link between diet and cancer risk may be difficult to document because of a variety of factors that make direct connections hard to determine, including the infinite combinations of food and beverages and the multiple compounds and substances found in food. However, research has shown that a healthy diet is essential for overall health and may reduce your risk of certain cancers. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) cites several studies that suggest a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, leafy greens, broccoli) may help reduce the risk of several cancers. Diets high in fiber and low in processed and charred meats are also associated with lower cancer risk. Reducing alcohol consumption—another common New Year’s resolution—may also help reduce cancer risk. Excessive drinking increases the risks of several cancers, including head and neck, esophageal, colorectal, liver and female breast cancer. LOSE WEIGHT According to the CDC, obesity is linked to at least 13 types of cancer, including breast, liver, kidney, esophageal and colorectal. But how does being overweight increase your cancer risk? Obesity is linked to the production of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, which may increase risk. Also, those who are obese may also have chronic inflammation, another known risk factor for cancer. Obesity also has been linked to poor outcomes for patients with cancer. A 2017 study in California concluded that chemotherapy may be less effective in some obese patients. Research indicated that fat cells may absorb chemotherapy drugs and break them down. Another study of children with leukemia concluded that obese children were more likely to have a recurrence of their cancer than those who are not obese. REDUCE STRESS Stress may often trigger a number of visible physical responses, such as a furrowed brow, hunched shoulders, sweat or fidgeting or pacing. Internally, stress sets off a series of metabolic or cellular reactions that, left unaddressed, may have an effect on our ability to fight off disease. Under stress, the body produces hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol intended to help us deal with whatever crisis we may be facing. While there is no direct evidence that chronic stress causes cancer, it may inhibit the immune system and/or promote chronic inflammation, which may increase cancer risk. Research also shows that chronic stress may promote tumor growth or metastasis. Stress may also trigger unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, excessive drinking or overeating, resulting in obesity, all of which are linked to cancer. TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR RESOLUTIONS The American Psychological Association offers these tips to help you stick to your resolutions: Try one at a time. Lifestyle behaviors occur over time. Don’t try to change all your bad habits at once. Be realistic. Keep your goals within reason. Seek support. It’s OK to ask for help to meet certain goals. And you may be more likely to stick to them if you talk about your struggles and seek advice from others. Don’t get down. The road to a goal often has ups and downs. It’s also common to stray from a resolution. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get back on track or start over again. n ADVERTORIAL Get more exercise 50 Save money 49 Eat healthy 43 Lose weight 37 Reduce stress 40 Get more sleep 30 Stick to a budget 30 Grow spiritually 28 Travel more 25 • • Already quit your New Year’s resolutions? Consider your cancer risk Top 10 Resolutions Percent 202 3 EDITION 96 INARIZ ONA© 2022 COH HoldCo Inc. Our Lung Cancer Center team knows that waiting is not an option Lung cancer is the third-most common cancer in Arizona and accounts for the most cancer deaths among men and women annually. However, with screening, early detection and innovative treatment options, more lung cancer patients are living longer than ever before. At the Lung Cancer Center at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), Phoenix, our experts have the experience, training and technological tools – including the Ion® robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform – to spot lung cancer early and start your comprehensive, personalized treatment plan in a matter of days. All your appointments, from screening and diagnostic tests to treatments and side-e ect management services, are delivered under one roof. That means fewer trips to get the care you need, so you have more time to focus on healing. At CTCA®, cancer isn’t just what we do; it’s all we do. To learn more or to schedule an oncology appointment, call 833-746-2822, visit cancercenter.com/phoenix or scan the QR code. To schedule a screening, call 602-883-1463. Arizona Foothills_LungAD.indd 112/1/22 2:55 PMOur reader-loved Best of Our Valley contest returns this year better than ever. Nominate and vote online for your favorite Valley businesses and deserving individuals now through February. Let us convince you to stick around town during the summertime with our annual Summer Escapes, featuring Dog Days of Summer! Stay tuned as some of the best resorts in the Valley and across the Southwest reveal exclusive experiences and deals that are hotter than the temps outside. Then cool off with some adorable pups with the chance to nominate your own furry friend for Dog Days of Summer’s cutest dog contest! Follow @azfoothills and visit azfoothills.com to get up-to-the-minute details on local fun, finds and what’s trending now around the Valley. n What’s On Next 202 3 EDITION 98 INARIZ ONA , FO U R S E A S O N S R E S O R T S C OT T S DA LE AT T R O O N N O R T H fin THAT ’S ALL, FOLKSNext >