Not many people can say they’ve been working in their respective industries since the age of six. However, Chris Johnson, CEO and chairman of Tempe-based Johnson Carlier Construction, is one of the few who can. The Johnson family legacy dates back to 1892, when Chris’s grandfather, C.O. (Carl) Johnson was born in Sweden. In the following century, Carl emigrated to America and … [More]
OH Partners + Nomadic: Changing the Agency Model
A lot has changed in the world of advertising and marketing since Matt Owens and Scott Harkey launched OH Partners 12 years ago. Owens grew up working in his late father Bill Owens’ Phoenix advertising agency, Owens & Associates. Harkey, who always had an entrepreneurial spirit, started his career selling radio ads. While second cousins, they really didn’t know each … [More]
Sarah Jennings: Earning Her Family Legacy
Sarah Jennings started her career in commercial real estate in 2007 specializing in retail leasing. Due to unfortunate timing and the ‘08 recession, Jennings spent one year of trial and error in the industry before she decided it was time to join the family business, a local security firm called Safeguard. She had always been intrigued by their product, QuickPass, which is … [More]
Alta Southwest: Nurturing Valued Resources and New Talent
Before Dan Vermeer and Dan Speck founded their consulting engineering firm, Alta Southwest, they were happily retired. The last thing on their minds was starting a business, until they both realized that their invaluable contacts in the industry and business management expertise could be the start of something great. Creating a name and reputation for Alta Southwest didn’t come … [More]
Wilbur You: From Humble Beginnings to Marketing Empire
With $600 and nothing to lose, then-22-year-old Wilbur You launched a marketing agency — and, in just seven years, built it into a $20-million-plus award-winning marketing agency. Now 29, You, CEO and founder of Youtech, sits on various advisory boards and is a published author, with his first book, Happy, Humble, Motivated, released this year. What began in 2012 as a team … [More]
Chris Koch: Leading Carlisle through Dynamic Change
D. Christian “Chris” Koch, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Carlisle Companies Incorporated, is leading the diversified industrial company through one of the most challenging times in recent economic and geopolitical history: the global pandemic. Carlisle factories and facilities manufacture highly engineered products and solutions for their target markets … [More]
Edgar Olivo: Advocating for the Hispanic Business Community
An award-winning bilingual business communication expert, Edgar Rafael Olivo founded Compass CBS in 2011 as a computer and business school to provide services on workforce initiatives. “This was at a time many people were trying to get back on their feet after the 2008 recession. We did great work supporting veterans find employment through our partnership with the City of … [More]
Spencer Tatum: Igniting a Fit in Fitness
In the first grade, the future Ignite THP founder Spencer Tatum was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. He decided at that early age he would not allow his disabilities and bullying from his peers to define him but rather turned to his advantage his ability to persevere and adapt to changes around him to grow his business. It was sports, in fact, that taught him how to … [More]
Lectric eBike Founders Pedal Their Way through Challenges
Lectric eBikes founders Levi Conlow and Robby Deziel, both 24, met in in middle school playing video games. Fast forward 12 years: Their electric bike company is barely a year old and already has more than 12,000 purchases, earning ElectricBikeReview.com’s Top Choice Award for Best Folding Electric Fat Tire Bike of 2020. The company is expected to hit more than $13 million … [More]
Alkaline Water’s Richard Wright Leads a Wave of Growth amidst Turbulent Times
With its rapid-fire growth and national brand awareness, Richard A. Wright knew it was time his Alkaline Water Company make another bold move: The Arizona-based business that produces bottled alkaline water, flavored-infused waters and CBD-infused waters recently announced its investment in complete brand refresh. A less bullish brand leader might have postponed such an … [More]
Stan Sipes Builds Veyo’s Niche in Transportation Industry
“As a critical component of the healthcare industry, Veyo is doing all we can during this [COVID-19] crisis to ensure access to care while continuously evaluating and implementing responsible policies that protect our constituents, our partners, our people and the public,” says Stan Sipes, whose leadership at Veyo has driven innovative advances for the company. Since … [More]
Mike Greenawalt: Powering Rosendin’s Charge
As a young man, Mike Greenawalt was a self-proclaimed gearhead who loved working on cars and hanging out in the metal shop at Sunnyslope High School. He went on to college, but quickly discovered he missed working with his hands and dropped out to start an apprenticeship with the Phoenix Electrical JATC (Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee) and IBEW Local 640. “My … [More]
Suzette Smith: The Future Is Fermented
Growing up on a farm in rural Georgia, Suzette Smith learned the great art of garden-to-table cooking at an early age. Her parents were modern-day pioneers who left the city and moved the family to the country. Smith harvested the garden, which was the foundation for her passion of whole food nutrition. From soil to seed, she has stuck to the basics when it comes to food and … [More]
Peter Holt: Bringing Alternative Pain Management to the Masses
When Peter Holt assumed the mantle of CEO at the Joint Corp. in June 2016, he knew the company had enormous upside potential. “It was clear to me there was an incredible opportunity to build the company’s culture from the ground up,” he says. “My primary responsibility was to improve our relations with our franchise community and at the same time make our portfolio of corporate … [More]
Fired Pie Founders Expand with Relevance
Doug Doyle Fred Morgan It’s rare to find a locally owned and operated fast casual chain that has grown as quickly as Fired Pie without becoming a franchise. In 2013, Fired Pie exploded on the dining scene as the first fast-casual pizza and salad restaurant of its kind in Phoenix. For the past six years, Fired Pie co-owners Fred Morgan and Doug Doyle have navigated the … [More]
Shannon Quagliata: Op for App for Open Houses
On a quiet summer afternoon in 2017, then-realtor Shannon Quagliata sat in an empty open house and couldn’t understand why there were no interested homebuyers insight. The open house signs and directions she had organized led directly to the house and still it was deserted. What she didn’t know was that, while her client’s property was very popular and had all the components to … [More]
K.C. Kanaan: Making NEMT More than Just a Ride
When K.C. Kanaan’s parents lost their ability to drive, Kanaan began looking for solutions to help his aging parents maintain their independence. But after extensive searching, he discovered a lack of reliable transportation, assistance and companionship services that his parents required. “My siblings and I became their lifeline to the world. My parents relied on us for … [More]
Trish Gulbranson: From Novice to No. 1 in Skin Care
As a way to help women and men feel as young and vibrant on the outside as they do on the inside, Trish Gulbranson founded Derma Health Skin & Laser. In just 15 years, Tempeheadquartered Derma Health has become the No. 1 provider of facial fillers and Botox in the Southwest and is ranked as a top 1-percent med-spa in the nation. More than 50,000 patients have received … [More]
