< Previous68 AZFOOTHILLS.COM THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 Stuart Graff President and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, who just helped land Taliesin West on the UNESCO World Heritage List @WRIGHTTALIESIN Oct Issue.indd 689/20/19 4:26 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 69 THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 You became familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright at a young age. What most intrigued you about him/his work? There were two things that intrigued me. First was the work itself—it was just so diff erent from any architecture that I had seen growing up in the northwest side of Chicago. I wanted to understand what these buildings were about and why they looked the way they did. And that curiosity took me to Wright’s life story—a farm kid, largely self-trained, who would go on to revolutionize the world. For a kid from a pretty humble background, that taught me that the only limits to my success were my willingness to learn and to work hard. Great stuff for an 8-year-old. What does the UNESCO World Heritage List designation mean for modern U.S. architecture and Arizona, specifi cally? The experts who evaluated Wright’s work for this nomination have now validated something that the Foundation always understood—that Wright was pivotal in the development of modernism throughout the world. And this is important to our country because he was one of our fi rst great cultural exports, at a time many Americans thought great work only came from Europe. Wright took ideas steeped in American values to Europe and started a design revolution. All of Wright’s work is inspired by the American landscape, but Wright singled-out the Arizona desert and its raw geometry as a source for the most creative and prolifi c part of his career. How is Wright’s legacy being kept alive for future generations? Preservation of Taliesin West, and its older sister, Taliesin Wisconsin, is the core of our work—but we don’t just preserve buildings and landscapes. These places were all about advancing ideas of how we can live with a connection to the world around us and with each other. So our programs are evolving from traditional historic site tours into active engagement of our community, both on the campuses and through digital media, to spread these ideas, develop new thinking around connection as a sustaining force, and other work rooted in Wright’s ideas but looking forward, not backward. That’s why he created the Foundation—not to glorify his past, but to create a better future. What is the most rewarding part of your career? What about the biggest challenge? Every day, my job is to use something I love—a legacy rooted in American values like liberty and democracy—to inspire others to fi nd a connection with those values, and live as part of the world around them, and not merely in the world. To fi nd beauty in the landscape, and to design every aspect of their lives around beauty in all its forms. And that’s a big mission—so the challenge is fi nding the means to support it. What do you hope for the future of arts and architecture within the Valley? The Valley is challenged to sustain itself in the face of a changing climate, scarce resources and growing population. Those solutions require us to design our world to be more sustainable, to be connected to the environment and not just taking from it, but giving back. The architecture of our buildings and cities should be focused on creating an eco-system in which we play a nurturing role, rather than a destructive role. We can use the arts to help develop empathy to accept each other’s diff erences, too. So I hope we can build better and more resilient arts and culture institutions to help us shape a better community. What infl uence do you hope to have on the Valley? We are the fi fth largest metro area in the United States, but we fall far behind much smaller cities when it comes to establishing great institutions— whether we are talking about schools, hospitals, museums and other institutions that shape the quality of life in the Valley. I’d like to help us build the kind of institutions that generations of Arizonans will benefi t from and be proud of. It’s happening all around us, and it’s exciting to be a part of the change. Oct Issue.indd 699/20/19 4:26 PM70 AZFOOTHILLS.COM THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 What do you believe is the secret to your success, especially at such a young age? Being young, and also a high school dropout, I definitely don’t have a lot of things that I can list that would be a common secret to success. The one secret that has continued to provide success and accomplishments is always trying to increase emotional intelligence. No one would ever mistake me for being the smartest person in the room, but being able to sincerely show desire to align my interests with other’s interests in order to accomplish a common goal is the ultimate secret to success. Harrison Rogers What is the most rewarding part of your career? What about the biggest challenge? The most rewarding part of my career is when my staff, a partner or a client finds a solution to a large problem or accomplishes an “unrealistic” goal. The biggest challenge for me with my career is when I have to be the one to decide or suggest when a goal needs to no longer be pursued. I myself am a forever dreamer and believe anything can be accomplished with enough hard work. So when I have to look reality in the eye and decide or suggest to someone else that we need to change course, it is the hardest thing for me. You have hundreds of employees. In what ways do you excel as a boss to this number of people? I think the only place I excel as a boss is patience. I see many business owners who employ lots of individuals who make the decision to terminate or replace staff when they are not perfect for a position. What I’ve found is that we make that judgement call a little too quickly sometimes. When I allow my staff to make mistakes and learn from them and show that they will be additionally trained and supported in their growth, they not only feel less anxiety at work, which of course provides better production, they actually become more invested in the position. Do you have new business ventures planned for 2020? Among several other things, I plan to add a restaurant chain and entertainment venue to HJR Global’s portfolio that not only will act as a major tenant for HJR Global’s commercial real estate properties, they will be great employers for our amazing adults with special needs. Lexington Services helps provide services to individuals with special needs, and we are excited to have businesses that will be able to provide employment to them. In what ways do you give back to the community? I started Lexington Services in 2012 to provide a variety of professional services to individuals with special needs because I grew up with an amazing older sister who has autism. As my entrepreneurial/business career expanded into the variety of industries I am in now, I am always trying to find synergistic ways these businesses can benefit my special needs population. I always try to find a way to incorporate a beneficial partnership. Founder and CEO of Lexington Services and HJR Global, father of five and author of Falling Forward: The Secrets to Successful Leadership @HARRISONJROGERS Oct Issue.indd 709/25/19 11:34 AM @azfoothills #azfoothills 71 What is your dream job? My dream job would be to own my own business. I’m leaning toward an online clothing store. What prompted your start as a YouTuber? I was 13, and I didn’t really have any friends. I had nothing to do one day, and I really liked watching YouTube so I created my own channel. I never thought it would have turned into what it has. What was your goal in doing the videos? My goal was to have fun and have something to take up my time. I never thought it would turn into a business, but I’m really glad it did! You have more than 360,000 subscribers. Does that put a certain pressure on you? Yes. If I think about that many people in a single room, it really stresses me out. When I think about it as personal interactions with my subscribers, it’s less pressure. Do you have a most memorable interaction with a follower or subscriber? There are quite a few. The ones that stand out are when people get emotional about the content I’ve shared. Keegan Acton Knowing I’ve made an impact on them makes me feel like what I’m doing is bigger than just me. What can your followers expect from you in 2020? I’m hoping to be able to announce next year a line that my followers will be really excited about. Follow me and stay tuned! What infl uence do you hope to have on the Valley? I want to inspire people that through hard work, anything is possible. I am a full-time college student, a full-time YouTuber and I still make time for an internship, my family and my friends. In what ways do you give back to the community? I volunteer a lot in local elementary schools, a domestic violence shelter and I’m very active in my sorority. What are some of your free-time passions? YouTube is my free-time passion. It’s also my job but it’s what I do for fun and brings me so much joy! 18-year-old Arizona State University marketing student who also happens to have a following of 360,000-plus on YouTube who tune in for content on beauty, lifestyle and college life THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 @KEEGANTAYLOR13 Oct Issue.indd 719/20/19 4:26 PM72 AZFOOTHILLS.COM THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 What prompted your interest in hockey? I actually fell in love with “The Mighty Ducks” movies as a kid. My dad finally brought me some plastic skates, and I was hooked. Tell us about Small Frys and Kachinas. The goal with Small Frys is to take girls who have been through the Coyotes’ Little Howlers program and get them on the ice with an all-female staff throughout the summer. This enables them to have a girls-only social experience, get inspiration from female role models and ultimately build their confidence. Kachinas is a full-blown Lyndsey Fry youth hockey association that is exclusively for girls and falls under the Arizona Coyotes umbrella. The hope is to continue to build out the association so that any girl who wants to play hockey with other girls in Arizona has a place to do so. What is the most rewarding part of your career? What about the biggest challenge? The most rewarding part of my career thus far is the impact that I have been able to have on not only the girls’ hockey community in Arizona but also throughout the Western U.S. I have been fortunate to be able to run multiple camps outside of Arizona in places like Montana, New Mexico and Utah. It’s incredible to think that I’ve had the opportunity to help and inspire close to 1,000 players in my relatively short career, and I look forward to continuing that momentum. I think my biggest challenge is that I just want to do it all! Tell us about your 2014 Winter Olympic experience, when you won silver with the US women’s ice hockey team. Honestly, the best part of the entire experience for me was being able to be in Sochi with my family there watching. As a little girl from Arizona, I wasn’t supposed to make it that far. But my family gave me every opportunity to get there, and I will be forever grateful to them for that. Beyond having my family there, the other great thing about my Olympic experience is that I knew that no matter if we won a medal or not, I would be able to come home to Arizona and change the face of girls’ hockey forever with what I had accomplished. What role do you think team sports play in a child’s life? I tell people all the time that the reason why I am so passionate about getting kids into hockey is because everything I’ve ever had in life, from friendships to family memories to education to job opportunities to life skills, has all come from hockey. I don’t think it’s possible to get that from many other things as a kid growing up in today’s world. Sports offer a unique community and teach things like teamwork, overcoming adversity and respect. What advice do you have for girls and young women who wish to become successful athletes? Honestly, work hard and have fun. If you do those two things, you will find your version of success and your sport will never feel like work. Olympian, hockey ambassador, special advisor to the president/CEO of the Arizona Coyotes and coach of Small Frys, the first NHL-sponsored girls-only program @LYNDSEY_FRY_18 Oct Issue.indd 729/20/19 4:26 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 73 What accomplishment are you most proud of in your time as the president of Fry’s Food Stores? I became president of Fry’s in February 2018 and am most proud of our associates’ contributions. We have many friendly, caring and dedicated associates whose work helped Fry’s get selected as the 2019 Business of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber. The award really brought into focus our work, not only as an economic driver, but as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, our broad support of the community, our commitment to Arizona-based businesses and farmers, and our on-going innovation. I’m also Monica Garnes very proud of our work to end hunger in Arizona’s communities and eliminate waste across our company as part of Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste. Last year, we donated 9.4 million meals through food recovery, donations and fi nancial support to food banks and feeding programs. We also diverted 8 million pounds of food waste from landfi lls to livestock feeding and compost programs, used 44.9 percent less electricity and increased recycling on cardboard and plastics. What makes a successful leader? Leaders that I admire create a vison that makes you want to follow. They are trustworthy, great listeners, courageous, passionate, empathetic, inspirational, decisive, humble and live their values every single day. Successful leaders create an environment where people feel valued and a part of the team, where their ideas and opinions count. What advice do you have for girls and young women who want to hold business leadership positions? The sky is the limit. There are so many opportunities now for women in business. Listen and learn all you can. Do not be afraid of a challenge. Challenges push you and help you grow at an accelerated pace. Find your passion and show up as your authentic self every single day. Lastly, the quote I live by is: “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” –Jane Howard In what ways do you give back to the community? I serve on The Phoenix Suns Charities board, St. Mary’s Friends of the Food Bank Advisory Council and The University of Rhode Island College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council as well as at various volunteer projects throughout Arizona. I have also created the Monica J. Garnes Endowment Scholarship for The University of Rhode Island College of Business to support students in need who dream to earn a college degree. What infl uence do you hope to have on the Valley? Every day, tons of food is thrown away in this country, yet one in eight go hungry. In Arizona, one out of four children will go to bed hungry tonight. This is a fundamental absurdity. I hope to bring infl uence and solutions surrounding hunger and food waste because I believe that if we would be more intentional in our food use and waste, and develop creative solutions, we could end hunger in our community. President of Fry's Food Stores, and the fi rst African- American division president in Kroger's history THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 Oct Issue.indd 739/26/19 6:55 AM74 AZFOOTHILLS.COM How did you get your start in the hospitality fi eld? My fi rst job was a bus girl at a Country Kitchen in Mound, Minn. I worked there from age 13 all the way through college. I fell in love with serving others and making them smile for the short time they were there. We had many regulars, and I loved getting to know them and making friends over time. I enjoyed the pace, the variety in each day and simply taking care and hosting others. Due to this experience, I decided to major in Hotel and Restaurant Management as I dreamed of owning my own restaurant. Why do you think you have been so successful in your career? First and foremost, due to the grace of God. Secondly, because I found something I absolutely love. Third, I had some pretty amazing role models (my parents) who taught me the value of hard work, giving everything your very best, surrounding yourself with people better than you, service and an attitude of gratitude. Lastly, I have been very fortunate to have had many leaders who have believed in me and, as a result, trusted me with great opportunities. I never wanted to let them down. Congrats on your new role! What do you think is the key to getting more women in leadership roles in hospitality management as well as Paige Lund across the board? Thank you! I think women simply need to trust themselves and go for it. We tend to wait until 'we are ready' or until 'we know everything' when, really, there is no such thing. We are never really ready, and we will never know everything. Women truly are great leaders but we must have confi dence. In my opinion, leadership is primarily instinct and emotional awareness—both qualities that come naturally to women. What do you envision for Camelback Inn? Camelback Inn has received a lot of renovations over the past few years. I look forward to fi nishing the rest of the renovations and bringing this historic and iconic resort into the 21st century all the while honoring its great history and passion for service. This resort represents so much to so many and I look forward to leading its next chapter as we attract a new generation of customers. In what ways do you give back to the community? Giving back is a true passion of mine. Whether it be professionally through serving on boards, mentoring students and young leaders or off ering the hotel or resort I lead for good use within the community or personally through tithing, adopting families, serving on boards or volunteering. My mom and dad taught me at an early age the value of serving and, when service is in my life, I am centered and at peace. Newly minted general manager at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 Oct Issue.indd 749/20/19 4:26 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 75 THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 How did you get your start in the mortgage business? My father was in the mortgage business when I was growing up, so I was able to see first-hand what it was like to help others through one of their biggest financial events of their life. He loved his job and made so many good friends through it that I always knew that one day it would be the career for me. What is the most rewarding part of your career? What about the biggest Robert W. Schreyer challenge? The most rewarding by far is when I get to see how happy my clients are when we close their loan. I love being a part of the different seasons of their lives by walking them through the loan process. I love to get to know my valued clients and have long friendships with many of them. One of the biggest challenges for me is when I miss out on an opportunity to help one my friends, family or past clients with a home loan. I would love to serve everyone! You’re a full-time single father. What lessons do you hope to pass on to your children? The most important lessons that I have taught and continue to model for my awesome children is to always honor God in everything and to always do the right thing. By doing those things, everything else will fall into place and they will be successful no matter what. In what ways do you give back to the community? I serve on the board for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale, which is an awesome organization that contributes greatly to our local kids. I co- lead The Modern Disciples group, which is a men’s group, and I am honored to serve at my church. I am always looking for ways to serve or contribute even if it is only a one-time event or fundraiser. Imagine the impact we could have on our community if all of us served just one time per year somewhere? What influence do you hope to have on the Valley? I hope that through my actions and my attitude I can have a positive impact on my surroundings and the people I interact with each day. Whether at home with my family, or out in the marketplace, I have the biggest influence when I lead by example by having a positive attitude and outlook on life no matter what happens. What are some of your free-time passions? I am a water guy so wake- surfing on my boat and hanging out on any beach is the best! I also love snowboarding and going up north to the cabin in the cool pines. I enjoy hiking our beautiful desert mountains and doing brunch, but most of all hanging with my kids and awesome friend group makes for a great life! Arizona market leader (a k a The Mortgage Man) with Camelback Mortgage who lives by example for his clients and his children Photto b y Carly J ean Photogr aphy @THEROBSCHREYER Oct Issue.indd 759/20/19 4:30 PM76 AZFOOTHILLS.COM THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 Marc Garcia President and CEO of Visit Mesa, which recently became the fi rst-ever destination marketing organization designated as a “Certifi ed Autism Center” @MARCJGARCIA Oct Issue.indd 769/20/19 4:26 PM @azfoothills #azfoothills 77 THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOENICIANS '19 What does this designation mean for Mesa and Arizona as a whole? Exactly that, Mesa is fi rst. This initiative to become autism-certifi ed, and our eff orts to expand this beyond just our organization, is consistent with who and what Visit Mesa has become over the past several years. We strive to be on the forefront of the latest research, technology and trends in our industry–adopting best practices–and this movement is nothing diff erent. We are recognizing where the marketplace is going and being fi rst is consistent with the culture of our company. Your child was diagnosed on the spectrum. What does this designation mean to you, personally? Like any parent, when you receive the news that we did that your child has autism spectrum disorder and that the diagnosis is severe, your world is rocked. You enter a state of disbelief. Naturally, that leads to so many questions: Who off ers services? Where do I go? The next phase of discovery for us was ‘What can I do?’ and this really stemmed from experiencing for ourselves the strange looks from others when visiting a restaurant or hotel while traveling with Mason. The experience makes you feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. Recognizing that I can potentially do something about this was all part of the journey, and on this path, I really examined what I could do within our industry to see what attractions, restaurants and hotels would be open to this community. What we are doing is beyond autism-friendly. Certifi cation takes it to the next level. It’s a top-to- bottom educational platform that gets to the heart of the matter which is recognition of what this disorder is and what it looks like. This way people in our hospitality industry can identify when their guests might need additional support, compassion and understanding. In what ways do you hope other visitor industries follow in Visit Mesa’s footsteps? I hope we get to a point where every destination is autism-certifi ed. This truly comes from my personal belief that this country is not fully informed or aware of how our service levels in all facets of society will change. We don’t have a choice; we all must move in this direction. What do you hope for the future of tourism within the Valley? For Mesa, this is just the beginning. We are in phase one of what will likely be a long journey in our eff orts for total inclusivity. This moves beyond ASD and other sensory disorders but for all disabilities. As it specifi cally relates to ASD, the focus is on awareness of what we are doing in Mesa and making sure our partners and their front-facing employees are trained and keeping up the latest research, trends and training methods. We can see this eventually making employment connections for people with ASD in our industry. More generally, Mesa is a dynamic city with a diversifi ed economy that will see tremendous change in the coming years with an already great infrastructure in place. What infl uence do you hope to have on the Valley? We are already seeing the infl uence across the city with both the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Mesa Parks and Recreation and Mesa Fire Department immediately following in our footsteps. The Arizona Offi ce of Tourism completed certifi cation for their staff this summer and now we are seeing businesses outside the industry showing sincere interest in becoming autism-certifi ed and reaching out to us to learn more. The groundswell is moving well beyond our organization which has been by far the biggest reward. Oct Issue.indd 779/25/19 11:35 AMNext >