< PreviousSPORTS INNOVATOR HAVING FIRST ARRIVED at the world-renowned performance enter- prise back in 2013 as an intern, Kollars eventually earned her keep at Exos in a full-time capacity, leading some of the world’s best professional athletes en route to greatness. As one of the few leading female performance experts in her field, Kollars annually directs Exos’s NFL Off-Season Program, preparing the NFL’s best for their return to the gridiron the following season. A true Swiss army knife, Kollars’s expertise stretches across injury prevention, nutrition strategies, speed, field work, strength, and power. Known in some circles as “Chef Nat,” she doubles down as a scratch chef in her downtime, devoting herself to her rooted passion of nutrition and cooking. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? To me, being an innovator means using my knowledge and experience to challenge the status quo. In the field of sports performance, we are always searching for ways to find a new competitive edge for our athletes, making it necessary to progress and evolve year after year. I believe in using my platform, specifically as a female in a male- dominated industry, to not only make a positive impact on my athletes’ lives but also the lives of other females in this field. • www.teamexos.com, www.chefnatskitchen.com, @nataliekollars NATALIE KOLLARS AZFOOTHILLS.COM A mainstay within the performance industry for nearly 10 years, Natalie Kollars has been an anchor for the Exos Sports division since 2017.SPORTS INNOVATOR AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS ANDREW CHAVKIN Chiropractor As an active release chiropractor for the Arizona Cardinals’s athletic training and medical division, Andrew Chavkin ensures the football players are in tip-top shape. DR. BRANDON BOOTHE Chiropractor “Get Treated Like a Pro” is Dr. Brandon Boothe’s philosophy and focus for every patient he treats. As owner of PROCARE Spine and Sports Therapy, Brandon Boothe, DC, CCSP strives to treat all patients with the same skill and approach as he does with the wide range of professional athletes he works with. As a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, Dr. Boothe has been running his clinic in the Scottsdale area for nine years, providing preventive, functional and sports rehabilitative care to his patients. He uses a comprehensive therapeutic approach, incorporating spinal manipulation, dry needling, myofascial soft tissue therapy and corrective exercises. Dr. Boothe also treats a large number of professional athletes, spending time traveling across the country to help these athletes get through their rigorous seasons. He dedicates his time and skill to helping people feel and function better and recover as quickly as possible from sports and other injuries. @procare_sportstherapy GIOVANI URRUTIA Tactical Education Specialist Specializing in elite-level physical preparation, Urrutia has dedicated himself to the pursuit of elevating elite performance, traveling across the world to work with all types of athletes— from Olympic sailing to the military. Urrutia’s love and understanding of biome- chanical, psychosocial and technological principles are maximally leveraged for all those he comes in contact with. Urrutia’s clients note his attention to detail, intensity and infectious energy. www.teamexos.com, @evolve_to_rise JELANI PORT Culinary Chef Jelani Port has been a private chef for over a decade, providing nutritionally balanced, elevated dishes to some of the world’s top athletes. His passion for the culinary industry is stimulated by serving and connecting with others through sharing a hand-crafted meal full of love. Chef J started his culinary journey as a junior at Metro-Tech High School in Phoenix, where he received the Heavy Medal Scholarship his senior year from C-CAP (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) in 2009. Today, he operates his private chef company, Chef Xport, and has the privilege to work with elite professional athletes, such as Odell Beckham Jr., Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and Christian Kirk, among many others. He gives back to C-CAP, the same program that gave him his start, through employment opportunities and mentorship for students. @chefjman KEEGAN ROSS Performance Specialist & Physical Therapist A leader within the sports performance industry, Ross spreads his expertise across nearly all sports performance programs, athletes and functions. His unique, dual-threat role as performance specialist and physical therapist allows him to truly deliver success and results based on continuity of care from the field to the PT table. Within his current role at Exos, Ross serves as the lead NBA offseason performance coach, the strength coach for Exos’s industry- leading NFL Combine program and as well as a leader among the WNBA, college, youth, adult and Olympic training programs. www.teamexos.com, @keegan_ross_dpt DR. BRANDON BOOTHE NATALIE’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES H ER AZFOOTHILLS.COM TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR JONATHAN COTTRELL JONATHAN COTTRELL DESCRIBES himself as a Jesus follower, family man, people lover, serial starter, community builder, tentmaker, Phoenix dweller, film nerd, iced americano addict and cranial nudist. But really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Ever since the first business he started at age 11, he’s been starting things from scratch and serving the Phoenix community in myriad ways: from being the instigator behind #yesphx and PHX Startup Week, all the way to his current focus as author of Do Nothing and CEO of Journeyage. He’s been married to the love of his life, Nicole, since 2005, and together they have three precocious kids, Riley, Tolan and Beckett. What does it mean to be an innovator to you? “It’s funny that ‘Innovation’ starts with the word ‘in,’ because I think innovation is all about being ‘out,’” says Cottrell. “Thinking outside the box, standing out, delivering out- of-the-ordinary service. It means challenging the status quo and being willing to dream and ask, ‘What if…?’ And most of all, it means being willing to fail—sometimes over and over again—because it’s about the promise of some- thing better, even if it’s at your own risk.” • www.jonathancottrell.com, @jonathancottrell AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR SHANE ETTESTAD HomeKey Shane Ettestad was driven to create a world in which managing a home and keeping a detailed record of its history is simple, immutable and passes from one homeowner to the next. As co-founder and CEO of HomeKey, Ettestad builds and leads the team to execute his big vision for the B2B2C HomeKey product, driving innovation and raising capital. A serial-founder, he experienced the dot.com boom in the ’90s at his first company, Interactive Sites. In 2007, he had a successful exit of his second company, Blue Square Studios, to TravelClick. Ettestad then served as TravelClick’s VP of digital marketing products and VP of innovation, launching the company’s first mobile app. www.gethomekey.com, @gethomekey GABE COOPER Virtuous Software Gabe Cooper is the founder and CEO of Virtuous, the first responsive fundraising CRM platform designed to help nonprofit teams build better donor relationships and increase impact with confidence. www.virtuous.org, @virtuouscrm EMILY ANNE GULLICKSON A for Arizona A unique background of executive, advocacy, legal and teaching experience as a Teach For America—Phoenix alumna, Emily Anne Gullickson is the CEO and founder of A for Arizona, which aspires to a system where all Arizona students have access to a high-quality school and classroom proximate to them. She has been recognized by the Arizona Capitol community for her leadership and advocacy skills, including the 2021 Best Activist, 2021 Leader of the Year in Education, 2020 Best Political Rising Star, Inaugural 2019 Women Achievers of Arizona—Nonprofit Leader and 2019 Breakdown Breakout recognizing the sharpest Arizona political minds under 40. She serves on the governing boards of notMYkid, Playworks Arizona, Policy Innovators in Education Network and Every Kid Counts Oklahoma. www.aforarizona.org ROMI DHILLON Sonoran Founders Fund & Arizona Founders Fund Romi Dhillon is the CEO, co-founder and managing director of the Sonoran Founders Fund. He also serves as founder and managing director of the Arizona Founders Fund, Arizona’s first-ever seed-stage investor dedicated to its startups. His funds currently hold a net-IRR of 39%, making them a top-decile performer nationally. Dhillon brings more than 14 years of investing experience in Seed, Series A and Growth Stage technologies in the Southwest and Mountain West region, along with a deep experience in startups, fundraising, management and board leadership. www.sonoranfund.com, www.azff.co LOREN FRANKLIN Dutch Bros. West Valley As the CEO for Dutch Bros. West Valley, Loren Franklin has helped the coffee company achieve 30% growth. His journey as a CPA laid the foundation to creating innovative solutions throughout his career. During his time at the waste disposal company Republic Services, Loren was recognized by Waste360’s 40 Under 40 for his work on alternative fuel solutions. When not spending time with his wife and three children, Loren enjoys a round of golf with friends. www.dutchbros.com, @dutchbroswestvalley SHANE ETTESTAD JONATHAN’S PICKS WHO AN D WHA T I NSPI RES H I MINNOVA YOUNG THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMERGING LOCAL TALENT IS ALREADY MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. MEET AND TAKE NOTE OF THESE THREE RISING YOUNG INNOVATORS WHO ARE SURE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE MOVES FOR YEARS TO COME. ATORS AZFOOTHILLS.COM AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLSR EMINGTON REBLE is a sustainable accessories designer and recent gradu- ate of the Arizona State University Fashion Program. Born and raised in Phoenix, Reble has developed an affinity for the beautiful Sonoran Desert through frequent hiking and desert photography. He has channeled this inspiration in combination with his love for fashion, design and handcrafted accessories made out of sustainable cactus leather. Currently serving as a program coordinator for the ASU Fashion Program, Reble has held many roles and responsibilities, including executive assistant, stylist and tailoring assistant and has worked across fashion, commercial and retail settings. AZF: How have you seen fashion develop in Arizona? Remington Reble (RR): I think that fashion in Arizona is starting to take a real foothold due to a number of factors. Driven by consumer and public interest, many more outlets for fashion expression have grown: retail, media, fashion shows, and, of course, education. Due to my inside perspective, I see the most development firsthand at ASU. The Fashion Program began in 2017 and already there has been tremendous growth! AZF: What exciting things are happening now in Phoenix fashion? RR: I think it is a very exciting time to be a Phoenix fashion creative. From an educa- tional standpoint, The Fashion Program at ASU has been growing rapidly, shifting downtown to a brand new building with industry-standard studios and state- of-the-art industrial equipment. I have already seen these dividends in the recent graduate classes; the access to new resources has absolutely elevated the cap- stone collections of graduating seniors. My peers also excite me, both inside and outside of ASU. There is a hotbed of talent in Phoenix that continues to inspire and drive me, be it other designers or even art- ists of other mediums. And, of course, I am also excited by the growth of new store- fronts, particularly multi-brand boutiques, like Now or Never and Wunderkind, that stock designers I am interested in such as Maison Margiela, Commes des Garçons, Dries van Noten and Alexander McQueen. AZF: What is the change you wish to see in your area and what do you think is needed to make that change? RR: My ethos as a designer is to challenge consumers to think more critically about what and how they choose to consume. Unfortunately, I think that many consumers are not as educated on the impacts of their purchases, through no fault of their own. Fashion as an industry is extraordinarily vast and sadly has many shortcomings in both environmental and ethical standards. To truly make change, I think these issues need to be addressed via legislation and regulation as it is impossible to ask every consumer to take the time and energy to investigate issues that they have little, if any, control over. AZF: Crystal ball—Where do you see yourself in 25 years? RR: This is a tough question as with all the tumult of the past few years and the uncertainty of the present, it is tough to imagine what even the next five years will look like. However, I hope that I will have had the opportunity to continue my education, both in a formal and informal setting. While I do love Arizona, I have lived here for my entire life and I could see myself exploring other settings, yet possibly returning to the alluring Sonoran Desert. There is a part of me that envisions myself on a ranch near the Superstition Mountains, farming prickly pear and agave, with a workshop where I have the freedom to create without inhibition. There is another part that could visualize myself in Italy, working for a fashion house that I have always looked up to. Yet, there is even another part that sees me living near Cancún and operating a scuba dive shop, with little, if anything to do with the fashion industry. AZF: How do you see Phoenix evolving over the next 25 years? RR: I see Phoenix continuing to grow rapidly. Many industries are establishing roots here, bringing additional inhabitants. However, I think this is contingent on investment into our infrastructure. With many of the recent headlines surrounding Arizona’s sustainability practices, or seeming lack thereof, I do get a bit anxious about the possible future of Phoenix. I think we need to start intertwining sustainability into all aspects of how we function in Arizona in order to secure a successful future. AZF: What advice would you give to the next generation? RR: Aside from the cliches of “Put down your phone” and “Don’t be afraid to fail,” I think it is important to find balance in life. This is very much easier said than done, and I am no master myself, but learning early to balance different facets of life can be absolutely instrumental in one’s growth. • AZFOOTHILLS.COM YOUNG INNOVATORS Name: Remington Reble Age: 24 Title: Ribellé Contact: www.maisonribelle.com, @maisonribelle , Ev er ett Millo yAZF: Please tell us a little bit about yourself Yassamin Ansari (YA): As a daughter of immigrants growing up in Arizona, I saw firsthand the injustice and inequity per- vading our communities. Like any young person, your first thought is: I have to get out of here and see what’s out there. Well, I did just that. I graduated from Stanford and Cambridge universities. My career led me to serve as a senior policy advisor in the United Nations and allowed me to travel to countries I’d only dreamed of, and, more importantly, re-inspired me to make change at home. I was often the youngest person in the room asking huge corporations and global leaders to take climate change seriously and make bold commitments for our future. Inaction and no follow-through motivated me to run for office. Today, I can proudly say I am the youngest woman ever elected to the Phoenix City Council and the first Iranian American elected to public office in the state of Arizona. I’ve been serving District 7 for a little over a year now and have focused on delivering overdue investments to every corner of my district, such as new parks and green spaces, safer streets, affordable housing, new businesses and equitable access to clean public transportation. In year one, I dedicated a lot of time to ramping up our response to the climate crisis through our new Phoenix Climate Action Plan and first-ever Transportation Electrification Plan. Phoenix is the fifth most populous and fastest-growing city in the country. We are in a defining moment that will determine if we can continue to provide what so many residents move here to find: opportunity through good- paying jobs and quality of life that ensures clean air and water for all. I am determined to do so and show off the innovation burgeoning in our city daily. AZF: How have you seen public policy develop in Arizona? YA: I’m extremely proud of the diversity one can find in this bubble of Arizona politics. The Phoenix City Council is now a female majority, and more women are running for higher office than ever before nationwide. I have written more recommen- dation letters for young leaders than I ever have. Today, it’s no longer your typical family names. It’s a mom who’s been impacted by gun violence. It’s a hospitality worker fighting for living wages. It’s every- day people with real-world experiences who have solutions to our biggest challenges. AZF: What exciting things are happen- ing now in Phoenix? YA: We are constantly adding new restau- rants, breaking ground on mixed-use developments and expanding light rail and transit systems to better connect pockets of our city. I’ve been heavily focused on setting and implementing policy that makes Phoenix the model for sustainable cities in America. We just passed the first-ever transportation electrification plan in the Valley which outlines a roadmap to have 280,000 more electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and positions Phoenix as a leader in EV adoption. It’s also hard not to be excited for the future of our city! With Phoenix hosting the Super Bowl next year, I can’t wait to have so many people see the remarkable growth we have had and to experience all the city has to offer. AZF: What is the change you wish to see in your area and what do you think is needed to make that change? YA: I’m focused on two very critical efforts: 1) Transforming the way Phoeni- cians move in our city; and 2) Making sure we all have access to housing. If we want to fully reduce our dependency on gas-powered vehicles, we need to shift to a focus on walkability and micro-mobility. Car-centric planning is a policy of the past; we need streets focused on people. We need to provide adequate shade and coverage on our sidewalks, add more bike lanes to streets and continue the work of our prior initiatives, such as our E-Scooter pilot program! This effort will require immense outreach and education, but the benefits I cannot stress enough. This is the fastest way we can improve air quality and build a 15-minute city where everyone has access to their basic necessities within walking distance. We also need to position public transit as a valuable city resource and a useful alter- native to other forms of transportation. Our focus must be on removing any negative stigma associated with our public transit. It has proven itself to be safe, reliable and cost-effective. Of course, there is always work to be done to make it even more dependable and easier to use. I just had a meeting with the new Valley Metro CEO, and we have a lot of faith that she is the right person to help lead this change! As our city continues to rapidly grow, it is imperative that we concentrate on housing development, especially for affordable housing. With our unsheltered population growing by the day, we need to increase transitional, regional shelter options for our most vulnerable while putting forth long-term strategies for permanent housing. The right to shelter is a human right and one that Phoenix must uphold. AZF: Crystal ball—Where do you see yourself in 25 years? YA: I hope—that in the year 2047 and at 55 years old—I will be alive and healthy! And if I’m lucky, I’ll be surrounded by loved ones. I intend to still be serving in public office either at the state or federal level— looking back on the policies that we set today and feeling proud that we took important steps to ensure that Phoenix remains a healthy, livable city that is welcoming to all. At that point, we should be just three years away from 100% renew- able energy use citywide! AZF: How do you see Phoenix evolving over the next 25 years? YA: Phoenix will be a leader in sustainable, equitable living and viewed as one of the most diverse desert cities in the world. AZF: What advice would you give to the next generation? YA: Politicians, unfortunately, sometimes do not listen unless the people speak up. If you want to see policy change, you have to start it. Join a political club, an advocacy group, call your councilmember or repre- sentative. You need to be involved and make your voices heard for them to listen. And if they don’t listen, run against them. It will be a lot of work, but trust me, it’s worth it. Most importantly, focus on your- self and how you can take care of those around you. Don’t be afraid to have fun, explore the city and practice self-care to make sure you’re ready to face whatever task comes next. • Name: Yassamin Ansari Age: 30 Title: Phoenix City Councilwoman, District 7 Contact: www.phoenix.gov/district7, 602-262-7492 AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS YOUNG INNOVATORS AZFOOTHILLS.COM AZF: Please tell us a little bit about yourself Vincent de Sarthe (VDS): Prior to settling back in Arizona, I lived between New York City and Beijing. I started my art career in 2006 working at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery, which pioneered artists such as Jean- Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. I then continued on to join my father, who has a gallery in Hong Kong and has been in busi- ness for over 45 years. I then spent three years representing David LaChapelle’s photography works in Asia, with multiple museum and gallery exhibitions across the region. After seeing the new generation of Asian artists, I knew I had to be involved and opened the second de Sarthe gallery location in Beijing. I would then go on to spend the next five years discovering and cultivating our represented artists’ careers. These artists are now collected by top museums, sold at auction and shown at Art Basel Hong Kong, which our gallery has been participating in since its incep- tion in 2013. I now plan to bring these artists as well as others to Scottsdale. AZF: How Have you seen art develop in Arizona?: VDS: Growing up in Arizona in the ’90s, I always remembered the Southwestern art in Old Town Scottsdale. As I grew up, I would go on to live in New York City and Beijing and travel across the world to attend and exhibit at art fairs. I would continue to see the art world move into a more contemporary direction. When I would visit home, I noticed that Scottsdale was still heavily focused on Southwestern art and had few options for contemporary taste. Although there have been outliers as well as the museums, we are still heavily referred to as a regional art scene. I believe this is now starting to change in a major way. AZF: What exciting things are happening now in the Phoenix art/gallery scene? VDS: The art community is poised to make a push in the upcoming years and become an international destination for contemporary art. We will soon see James Turrell’s Roden Crater in Flagstaff slated to open to the public in 2024. This will make Arizona a travel destination for the arts as Marfa did for Texas. Although more of a parallel to the art world, I also noticed the success of the immersive Van Gogh Experience, which proved art is in high demand. AZF: What is the change you wish to see in your area and what do you think is needed to make that change? VDS: I think an important aspect to pay attention to is the desire that now exists more than ever for our city to have a heavy focus on culture and art that extends out beyond a regional feel. I have started to notice a change; art lovers and collectors seem to already have a good base in art knowledge as many have attended art fairs such as Art Basel. I hope to see this grow and develop over the years, which will attract more galleries to the region. AZF: Crystal ball—Where do you see yourself in 25 years? VDS: I’ve spent my early years traveling and living abroad. Setting roots down in Scottsdale is what excites me; I want to commit long term and have a presence here that lasts. We are one of the fastest- growing cities, and I believe we are not going to slow down anytime soon. AZF: How do you see Phoenix evolving over the next 25 years? VDS: My family moved to Scottsdale in 1994; since then I can hardly recognize it, but one thing that has never changed is how genuine the people here are. As we grow, I hope we are able to balance turning into a major metropolis that never forgot its Southwestern hospitality. I wouldn’t be surprised to see artists and galleries relocate here to find a sense of peace and security. I also envision our museums to continue to grow and become a destina- tion in the art world. AZF: What advice would you give to the next generation? VDS: As much as I realize the future is digital and we are in many ways set on a path to enter the metaverse, art can be the final frontier in which we can live and feel in the real world. As the world becomes more and more automated and we become replaced by AI, art is the one thing that will continue to be a mystery to us, we should cherish it and lean on it for support as we move forward. • YOUNG INNOVATORS Name: Vincent de Sarthe Age: 37 Title: Owner & Director, de Sarthe Gallery Contact: www.desarthe.com, @de.sarthe @vincedegram AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS azf’s HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS A PRINT FOCUSED MAGAZINE STARTED IN , THE WORLD CELEBRATED THE TURN OF THE MILLENNIUM AND THE TECH REVOLUTION LAUNCHED FULL THROTTLE FRIENDLY REMINDER: THE IPHONE ONLY DEBUTED IN ! . AS THEY SAY, HISTORY SO OFTEN REPEATS ITSELF. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW SOME FAVORITE VALLEY BUSINESSES LEAD WITH HERITAGE AT THE FOREFRONT, EARLY AUGHTS FASHION TRENDS THAT ARE MAKING A COMEBACK AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE SUPER BOWL IN ARIZONA AS THE STATE SUITS UP TO HOST THE GAME. THEN & NOW ARCHITECTUREFASHIONTHE MAGAZINEPHOTOGRAPHYTHE SUPER BOWL IT IS AN UNDERS TATEMENT T O SAY THAT A L O T HAS CHANGED O VER THE PA S T 2 5 Y E A R S .Next >