< PreviousMEDIA INNOVATOR LA D MAKIND E A SELF DESCRIBED “multipotentialite,” Lad Makinde is driven by the desire to connect people through storytelling. He is a creative director, filmmaker and marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience leading teams and serving some of the world’s most notable brands. He is cofounder of Phoenix-based Web3 media company, Co-Media, and the VP of Phoenix-based outdoor startup, Tru Flask. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? To me, being an innovator is about being curious. A curious mind leads to questions, which typically serve as the starting point on the journey to solving problems, both great and small. • www.co-media.co, @co__media, www.truflask.com, @truflask AZFOOTHILLS.COMAZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS MEDIA INNOVATOR DIANA BRANDT Influencer Diana Brandt—also known as Arizona Foodie— began sharing food photos in 2014 as a way to create a community around food locales. As she began her journey, Brandt had a goal to help support the food industry and to try to shine a spotlight on all the amazing things happening in town. She had no idea that taking pictures of food and posting on social media would lead to it being a career. Since Arizona Foodie was whipped up, Brandt has been able to create her own event, Smoked, host the podcast “Social Dysmorphia” and even launch her own coffee line, Brew’d. www.arizonafoodiemag.com, @azfoodie DORRELL EDWARDS Always Timeless Productions Dorrell Edwards is the founder and CEO of Always Time- less Productions, where he specializes in photography, videography and music production. Edwards has been behind the lens for a decade-plus in a career in which he has been blessed to work with everyday individuals, major brands and celebrities. His goal is to expand his company in a capacity that impacts his community in a positive manner, leaving an indelible mark on each individual he encounters while making each memory timeless. www.alwaystimelessproductions.com, @alwaystimelessprd DABI ADEYEMI Co-Media Adeyemi is co-founder of Co-Media, a media collective and collaboration network, with Lad Makinde. “We believe in stories,” says Adeyemi. “We believe stories are the thread that tie the entire world together, the driver for everything we do. And we use our passion for storytelling to produce original film and TV content and create new startups, all centered around community. Our current projects are #Afterthehashtag (film), Phoenicians Getting Food (online video series), Musicshed (startup) and The Goat Is A Lamb (startup).” www.co-media.co, @co__media O’SHEA TOMETI Photographer & Creative Director O’Shea Tometi is the photographer and creative director for Shoutheory Collaborative Group. Born and raised in Phoenix, Tometi has employed his camera to capture authentic moments and create content for more than seven years. His expertise includes, but is not limited to family portraits, couples, weddings, maternity photos, brands, headshots and senior photos. @okoshea ANEBI AGBO Eikon Labs Anebi Agbo is the founder and chief strategist of Eikon Labs, a full-service web design consultancy that helps brands come to life through custom Webflow websites, UI/UX design and marketing. www.eikonlabs.com LAD’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES H I M AZFOOTHILLS.COM MUSIC INNOVATOR LEWIS NASH “Rhythm Is My Business” is the title of his 1989 debut recording as a bandleader, and legendary drummer Lewis Nash is all about the business of keeping rhythm. UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED AS one of the great drummers in jazz history and one of jazz’s most-recorded musicians, Nash has had an illustrious four- decade career, appearing on over 500 recordings including 10 Grammy winners and numerous Grammy nominees. A Phoenix native, Lewis arrived in New York City in 1981 at the age of 22 and first gained international recognition as a member of vocalist Betty Carter’s trio. In the years to follow, Nash toured, recorded and performed with many of jazz’s most celebrated icons, including Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson and more. In 2012, The Nash, a jazz education center and performance venue named in Lewis’s honor, was established in downtown Phoenix, where jazz masters Randy Weston, Jimmy Cobb and Roy Hargrove played some of the final performances of their careers. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? I see an innovator as a visionary . . . someone who is able to see and perceive possibilities where others cannot. An innovator often has the ability to simplify the complex and to make accessible to many what was previously only available to few. Innovators are the catalysts and initiators of change, advancement and development in their chosen field. For example, musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker influenced jazz in a way that dramatically changed the way the music was played by all jazz players on every instrument. The rhythmic, melodic and harmonic innovations of these two musicians, who played trumpet and alto saxophone, respectively, altered the way that pianists, drummers, bassists, guitarists and vocalists approach the music. To be an innovator is to be fearless, determined and committed to creating new pathways, parameters and possibilities. • www.thenash.org, @thenashjazz AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS MUSIC INNOVATOR THE CHARLES McPHERSON QUINTET The Nash celebrated its ninth anniversary in 2021 with a special performance by bebop luminary Charles McPherson on alto sax, Terell Stafford on trumpet, Bruce Barth on piano, Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. RANDY WESTON The pianist, composer and bandleader Randy Weston is considered one of the world’s most influential jazz musicians and a remarkable storyteller whose career has spanned five continents and more than six decades. His autobiography is memorialized in the book African Rhythms, as told by him to the music journalist Willard Jenkins. Weston performed at The Nash in 2017. ELIO VILLAFRANCA Born in the province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, Elio Villafranca is a Grammy- nominated pianist and composer. Since his arrival to the U.S. in 1995, he has been at the forefront of the latest generation of remarkable pianists, composers and bandleaders. Villafranca shared his double album “Cinque” with a performance at The Nash in 2020. www.eliovillafranca.com, @eliovillafranca JIMMY HEATH & BARRY HARRIS QUARTET Jimmy Heath, nicknamed Little Bird, has long been recognized as a brilliant jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger and big band leader, while Barry Harris was a jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger and educator of the bebop style of jazz. Both Heath and Harris performed together with Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash himself on drums to celebrate The Nash’s second anniversary in 2014. RON CARTER TRIO Ron Carter’s dexterity, creativity and harmonic sophistication on the bass have few rivals in the history of jazz. He has appeared on 2,221 recording sessions, making him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. Carter appeared at The Nash in 2017 with his Golden Striker Trio, featuring sensational Nicaraguan-born pianist Donald Vega and stellar guitarist Russell Malone. JIMMY HEATHBARRY HARRIS , M ar k S h el d on LEWIS’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES H I M AZFOOTHILLS.COM WE ARE BOTH registered therapy dogs work- ing weekly at Phoenix Children’s Hospital with our human mom, Katee, and in 2020 we received GMA’s Pet of the Week Award for our outstanding work. Our human sister, Jessie, runs all of our social media accounts, which is where Coco has become very popular for her “paws up” pose. Online or in person, we have a goal to spread love, joy and happiness to all. Coco has a plushie for sale, where all proceeds are donated to Phoenix Children’s Pet Therapy Program. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? We are using our platform to bring awareness and donations to the Animal Assisted Therapy program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The amount of gratitude from the children and their families is amazing. These kids spend days, weeks or even months in the hospital. We are a little vacation from their normal day. The kids light up the second they see us and they can’t wait for us to get in their beds and love on them. • www.cocothemaltesedog.com, @cocothemaltesedog PETS INNOVATOR COCO & CICI We are two Maltese sisters living in Scottsdale, Arizona.AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS PETS INNOVATOR SCOTT HUBBARD Content Creator With 7.8 million TikTok followers, Arizona-based digital creator Scott Hubbard’s cute chihuahua, Gracie, is the star of the show in their humor-filled posts that are well worth the double tap. @scottyhubs SIR WESFORD & BRADFORD Pet Influencers Follow along as Scottsdale’s adorable corgi brothers, Wesly and Brady, travel and explore the world together with their “corgmom.” @weslythecorgi WHITNEY CHEWSTON Whitney Chewston is a 5-year-old miniature dachshund who is full of sass and love. She was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, but recently moved to Scottsdale with her dads, Ben and Logan. Whitney has been on Instagram (@whitney_chewston) since 2016, but recently gained popularity after becoming a now infamous internet meme (Google “the homophobic dog” meme.) While Whitney is far from homophobic, she’s used the attention to bring awareness to LGBTQI+ causes. Whitney and her family love living in Arizona and can’t wait for many desert adventures to come! www.whitneychewston.com PHOENIX CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Phoenix Children’s is one of the nation’s largest pediatric health sys- tems, named the #1 children’s hospital in Arizona by U.S. News & World Report for 2022–2023. It comprises Phoenix Children’s Hospital— Thomas Campus, four pediatric specialty and urgent care centers, 12 community pediatric practices, 20 outpatient clinics, two ambulatory surgery centers and seven community-service-related outpatient clinics throughout the state of Arizona. The system has provided world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families for nearly 40 years. Phoenix Children’s Care Network includes more than 1,175 pediatric primary care providers and specialists who deliver care across more than 75 subspecialties. www.phoenixchildrens.org RUNBUDDY MOBILE Since 2017, the K9-certified fitness coaches at RunBuddy Mobile have been training pooches in the convenience of their homes with a 30-minute fitness session that uses specifically created non-motorized dog treadmills in a safe and climate-controlled fitness unit. Owner David Lopez has been rehabilitating and training shelter dogs for over 20 years using a proprietary combination of exercise and mental stimulation to successfully burn off energy, build confidence and melt away anxiety (and weight!) in a variety of dog breeds and personalities. A portion of all proceeds benefit local shelters and rescues. www.runbuddy.com, @runbuddymobile COCO & CICI’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES TH EMCHRISIE FUNARI IS the president and founder of the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, a local nonprofit whose mission is to provide social, emotional and financial support to families who are managing the health and well-being of a loved one with pediatric cancer. An Arizona State University graduate with a degree in Marketing, Funari always knew she wanted to have her own business, but it wasn’t until she lost her daughter, Ava, to cancer that she found herself with the passion to start a nonprofit. In 2014, Funari’s personal experience inspired her to launch Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, which offers everything from navigating hospitals, providing financial assistance and other support needed by families. Funari enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling when she is not working on grow- ing her organization and helping others. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? Being an innovator in the nonprofit sector can be challenging. As a nonprofit, you are constantly trying to do more with less. I have always believed that children with cancer deserve more attention and com- passion. I work every day to raise the bar for children with cancer and the support they receive. By specifically focusing on the cancer warrior, the siblings and the parents/caregivers, we provide individual- ized support tailored to each person. Ava’s Tree House, our new facility, is innovating great change for kids with cancer. Ava’s Tree House claims a courageous and bold vision to radically transform the way children with cancer and their families are supported. The first facility of its kind in the U.S., Ava’s Tree House will offer children the gift of childhood in a safe, clean environment—a combination of peace of mind and marvel under one roof. Families as a whole will feel part of a community with ongoing financial, social and emotional support, allowing them to leave their troubles behind, if only for a short time. • www.azcancerfoundation.org, @azcancerfoundation PHILANTHROPY INNOVATOR AZFOOTHILLS.COM CHRISIE FUNARIPHILANTHROPY INNOVATOR RYAN HOUSE Ryan House embraces all children and their families as they navigate life-limiting or end- of-life journeys. The only facility of its kind in the state, Ryan House offers palliative and respite care that addresses the emotional, spiritual and social needs of the family. www.ryanhouse.org EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHARITIES Executive Council Charities is dedicated to providing grants to programs and nonprofit organizations focused on helping Arizona youth overcome adversity and reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. The organization has supported more than 125 charities during the past year, distributing more than $2.2 million. www.ec70phx.com SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY (SRPMIC) The SRPMIC is a sovereign tribe located in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Established by Executive Order on June 14, 1879, the Community encompasses 52,600 acres and operates as a full-service government, over- seeing departments, programs, projects and facilities. www.srpmic-nsn.gov CENTRAL ARIZONA SHELTER SERVICES (CASS) Founded over 35 years ago, CASS is the largest and longest serving homeless emergency shelter provider in Arizona. Both the adult and family shelters operate at full capacity 24/7, 365 days of the year. “I want to give a voice to those who have been marginalized,” says CASS Executive Vice President Alisa Chatinsky, who also runs NPO Success, LLC that is focused on assisting social benefit organizations. “Everyone deserves dignity and respect.” www.cassaz.org, www.nposuccess.org THE THUNDERBIRDS Founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports, The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members who have helped the Phoenix Open, one of the oldest and most popular golf events on the PGA Tour, eclipse a total of $165 million in charitable giving. Next year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open taking place at TPC Scottsdale on February 6–12, 2023, will mark the tournament’s 88th anniversary and the 14th year that Waste Management is the title sponsor. www.wmphoenixopen.com AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER TEEING OFF ON THE TH HOLE CHRISIE’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES H ER AZFOOTHILLS.COM BORN AND RAISED in Phoenix, Nick Witherill became obsessed with the game of soccer after playing college basketball, thus leading to the creation of Biñho Board! Biñho’s goal is to provide the highest quality boards and a true brand experience. Bring the world together with Biñho and hear someone’s story from the other side. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? What being an innovator means to me is creating something that brings people together in the form of a good time. Our goal at Biñho is for our customers to have authentic, organic experiences with friends, family and whoever wants to take a flick on the Biñho pitch! • www.binhoboard.com, @binhoboard, @nmwitherill NI C K W IT H E RI L L STARTUP INNOVATORAZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS STARTUP INNOVATOR JACOB ELGGREN Andar Meaning “to carry” and “to ride” in Spanish, Andar was founded in 2015 by Jacob Elggren with the goal of helping customers “carry what matters” with high-quality handcrafted leather goods, such as bags, wallets and tech cases, to organize and minimize through unique and durable designs. www.andar.com, @andar EMILY (EMERGENCY INTEGRATED LIFESAVING LANYARD) EMILY is a robotic lifeguard that was invented in 2009 by Hydronalix in Green Valley, Ariz. Ready at a moment’s notice, the flotation device strives to save lives in beach, ocean, river and flood situations and also aids in search and recovery missions using sonar technology. www.emilyrobot.com, @emily_rescue_robot PARADOX Launched in 2016, Paradox offers recruiting software to drive automation with a human touch to serve global clients, such as Unilever, McDonald’s, CVS Health and more. Paradox’s conversational AI assistant, Olivia, screens and schedules interviews with candidates through fast, easy and mobile-first interactions. The Scottsdale-based start-up raised $200 million in Series C funding last year, valuing the company at $1.5 billion. www.paradox.ai, @paradoxolivia FRESHLY With a corporate mission to break down the barriers to healthy eating, Freshly is a weekly subscription service that delivers fresh chef-cooked meals directly to customers’ doors that can be heated and served in three minutes. Freshly’s food philosophy is centered on less sugar, fewer processed ingredients and more nutrients through better-for-you versions of classic comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. www.freshly.com, @freshly TRUE LINKSWEAR Founded by five-time PGA Tour winner Ryan Moore and his brother, Jason Moore, TRUE crafts naturally comfortable footwear and golf gear ready to perform from the links to the streets. Born amidst the rugged golf landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and inspired by links worldwide, all TRUE gear uses only the finest and responsibly sourced materials to protect golfers from the elements and help them #enjoythewalk. www.truelinkswear.com, @truelinkswear RYAN AND JASON MOORE NICK’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES H I MNext >