Tempe 02.15.2018

Mike Jones

What do you do when you and two friends have a simple desire to do creative work together (like writing and graphic design) and get paid for it? Start a brand agency, of course! That’s exactly what I did in 2009 with my two business partners, David and Jeff. Read more>>

Amy Lamp

’ve been a maker and artist for as long as I can remember, and always took a more structured and methodical approach even as a kid. When I entered college I made a beeline for the Art Department and discovered graphic design, which is what I chose as my major. Read more>>

JJ Briles

In 1997, the founder of Stellar Adventures set out on a little expedition of his own: To build a premier adventure company specializing in invigorating and informative off-road excursions in the Sonoran Desert. Since then, the team at Stellar Adventures has worked tirelessly to create one of the largest and most diverse family-owned outfitters of adventure and Southwestern style. Read more>>

Richard Porter

I started collecting a few Trichocereus cactus back in 2013 with the intent of having some easy to grow “sacred” plants around the house. I really wanted to have a few native style plants that I could enjoy growing without too much work. Read more>>

Daniel Oromaner

I founded my original company in 1987. It seems like ages ago. At first I was a focus group moderator, with product naming thrown in. Our clients were Fortune 500 companies like AT&T, Chase, Citicorp, Mennan, Warner-Lambert, Compaq, Nabisco, and Northern Telecom. Read more>>

John Keating

We opened in 2016 after I had been a training consultant for several years. Wanting to get out of the constant travel schedule, we decided to open our own business. Because we wanted to offer something fun that also incorporated my background in corporate training, an escape room was a great fit. Read more>>

Landis Owens

I was a 3 sport Athlete in high school and got a scholarship to Mesa Community college and after 2 years of football i stop. i started gaining weight up to 260lb. so i decide to do a Bill Philips transformation Challenger and lst 100lb in one year to do my first bodybuilding show. then i decide to become a personal trainer. Read more>>

Jeffrey Kraus

Receiving the Local Hero Award from Edible Phoenix for chef/restaurant in the spring of 2015 and named Phoenix Magazine’s Best New Restaurant in 2013, the former ‘Truckin’ Good Food’ chef has continued to advance his neighborhood brunch and coffee spot into an award winning destination. Read more>>

Rekha Shah

I initially started in medicine as a Gastroenterologist, working in a variety of settings from community hospital to academic centers. As a provider, I saw my patients regularly struggle with illness and navigating the complexities of the healthcare system: various diagnoses, unexplained maladies, and numerous treatments. Read more>>

Lea Junia

As a kid, I always wanted to be a martial artist like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, even Jet Li. When I was 4, I stuck it out with the boys doing Taekwondo and in middle school “boxing” in the garage with my older brother. Throughout the years I’ve always searched for a style but could never settle for a single one. Read more>>

Kimberly Coates

I grew up always wanting to work in the Veterinary field ever since I can remember. After accomplishing every goal I had set for myself and after graduating in 2012 with an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Sciences and obtaining my state license, I always had the dream of starting a business of my own. Read more>>

Matt Boggs

I decided to get my FFL so that I could get cheaper guns for me and my friends. Then one day I just decided that I hated my job to the point where I couldn’t do it so I quit and opened a gun store. I sold my house to raise extra cash and a good friend and I decided to open the store. Read more>>

 

Pamela Gangler

In 2001, I attended the New York Institute of Massage Therapy (long story short, I went because I wanted a summer job working at a spa, and I needed a license to touch. I had never even had a massage!) There I learned a variety of massage modalities including Shiatsu Massage which is based on the acupuncture meridians of the body. Read more>>

Shawn Nerdahl

This is a great question. A group of friends decided it was time to do something different in the world of Ballroom Dancing. I got my start in 2014 teaching out of a dance room inside of a gym. With in a short year I was able to open my own location in Tempe. Read more>>

Dave Duke

Growing up in New England, I often would hang out with my father on Saturdays at the ad agency in Boston where he worked as an art director. It was at an early age that I knew exactly what I wanted to do for a career. Though I had no idea what path to take, I was always fascinated with design, advertising, and packaging. Read more>>

Thomas LaPenna

I was a music junkie in middle school and high school. I never played any instruments but always loved music. I started going to concerts when I was 14 (The Eagles- Hotel California Tour) in Los Angeles at the Forum. After that, I was hooked and went to every show I could attend (Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Queen, Genesis, Bad Company, Ian Hunter, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Styx, ELP, ELP). Read more>>

Andrew Littlejohn

I was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and had a knack for business early in life. One of my first ventures was in partnership with my mother. She would babysit neighbourhood kids and invite them to play the fun game of creating wood chips. Read more>>

Kim Knotter

The Mission of the Rio Salado Foundation is to promote, preserve and enhance the cultural, historical, recreational and natural resources of the Rio Salado and Papago Park region and to ensure the area’s success as a major urban destination through the creation of public-private partnerships. Read more>>

Jack King

I started in the flooring industry over 40 years ago. From 1984-2015 I was a full-service flooring contractor offering complete flooring removal and installation of all types of flooring materials. I had the opportunity to work for the best flooring companies in the Phoenix area. Read more>>

Scot Smith

After graduating high school in 1986, I entered the United States Air Force and trained, then worked as a jet engine mechanic. Once my service ended , I was at home in California in my garage one day fixing my dirt bike. I was approached by a neighbor who asked if I was interested in helping him buy, fix, and sell motorcycles. Read more>>