The State of Public Education in Arizona

Arizona has 1,983 public schools that are comprised of 1,424 district schools and 559 charter schools. National reports say Arizona has made steady progress in education, but more needs to be done, and the pace of improvement is too slow, education advocates say. It is critical that we do everything we can to give today’s students the education, the tools and experiences they need to be successful in the future. It is this investment that will be realized for decades to come.

Dr. Tracey Lopeman, Maricopa Unified School District

Dr. Tracey Lopeman, a career educator entering her 30th year in public education, is currently serving in her second year as the Superintendent of Maricopa Unified School District. Under her leadership, the district led the state in new National Board Certified teachers, and the expansion of the community preschool program brought quality early childhood education to Maricopa families. She has shared MUSD points of pride on panels, in community forums, and statewide conventions. Dr. Lopeman launched a strategic plan by asking stakeholders to “Start With Why.” Through their work, the Maricopa Why was developed, which serves as a guidepost to develop goals and strategies to steer the District to success.

Dr. Lopeman began her career as a junior high language arts teacher in the Alhambra Elementary School District. After five years in the classroom, she entered administration as a teacher on assignment and eventually an assistant principal. After assisting five different principals in three different Alhambra schools, she became the principal of Alhambra Traditional School. During the thirteen years of her leadership, the instructional programs offered at ATS expanded to meet the needs of a diverse population resulting in a 20% growth in enrollment and student achievement that was consistently among the highest in the state. At the district level, Dr. Lopeman worked out of the superintendent’s office as the Executive Director of Strategic Alliances and Government Relations. In this role she grew partnerships with universities, business, government agencies, and employee and parent groups.

Dr. Lopeman earned her bachelors from NAU and her masters and doctorate from ASU. She is an expert trainer in Leadership Development, Consensus Building, and Participatory Action Planning.

Connect with Dr. Tracey Lopeman on LinkedIn, and follow Maricopa Unified School District on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Brian Garcia, Tempe Union High School District

Brian Garcia is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. He currently serves as Vice President on the Governing Board of the Tempe Union High School District, where he represents 160,000 residents and 13,000 students.

Brian holds a Bachelor in Global Studies and a Master of Legal Studies from Arizona State University. Through his programs, Brian has worked and studied in London, Paris, Milan, and Cuba. He is currently a Juris Doctor student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Brian served as a Child Advocate for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights Center. In addition, he is a Fellow with the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership program for statewide leadership.

Before starting law school, Brian was the Outreach Coordinator for Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema. He is passionate about ensuring reflective representation in all levels of government, and he has also mentored students through Inspire Arizona and worked with the Human Rights Campaign Arizona Steering Committee as the Political Co-chair.

Connect with Brian Garcia on LinkedIn, and follow Tempe Union High School District on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sales Productivity and Personal Development

MJ Cordova

MJ Cordova is Founder and CEO of Map To Sales, an Arizona based company focused on sales improvement. They have a subscription based web training program available to sales professionals looking to improve their skills. The company has also helped businesses of all sizes to improve their sales productivity. Map To Sales has an innovative system of auditing the sales process and providing a comprehensive report of the results. They pioneered a sales process that can be adapted to any industry.

MJ is a best selling author and performance expert. With over 30 years in sales, across different industries, he has a wealth of experience to share. MJ has been a keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies, Chambers of Commerce and many small businesses. His unique approach of combining personal development with tactical skill improvement has regularly produced a 100% increase in sales for his clients.

Connect with MJ Cordova on LinkedIn and Facebook and follow Map To Sales on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Small Business Sales & Selling the Business

Tish Times

Tish Times is a sales and networking expert, speaker, trainer, author and the founder and CEO of Tish Times Networking & Sales Training, a sales coaching and training company headquartered in Buckeye, AZ with a national reach and clientele. Tish teaches entrepreneurs and sales professionals to sell with unstoppable confidence, because many are frustrated with their income, struggling to fill their pipeline, and afraid to make follow up calls. She helps them to increase their income with strategies and systems for networking, follow up, and closing the sale.

Connect with Tish Times on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and follow Tish Times Networking and Sales Training on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Lisa Riley

Lisa Riley, Owner and Business Intermediary at LINK Business-Phoenix, has been serving clients in the Phoenix metro area as well as across the country. She has been engaged by a wide variety of buyers and sellers and provides a higher closing rate than the national average. Having earned the prestigious designations of CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) and CCB (Certified Business Broker), Ms. Riley is skilled in negotiations and is an experienced adviser and a key member of any business transaction team.

An active resident of Maricopa County, Ms. Riley is involved in both the local business and philanthropic communities. She is a member of the Arizona Business Brokers Association (AZBBA- Current Board Member and past chair), the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA-Current Board Member), Market Pulse Chair (a quarterly survey/report on Main Street and Lower M&A markets), M&A Source, and has been involved with several local non-profits since moving to Arizona. Working the last 10 years in the Phoenix metro area, she has access to a broad spectrum of business types and sizes. Additionally, she heads a team of agents specializing in various industries.

Ms. Riley holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. She enjoys spending time with her husband, as well as traveling, hiking, wine, music, and enjoys helping others transition to the next phase in their lives.

To hear more, listen to Lisa’s appearance on Valley Business Radio in March 2019.

Connect with Lisa Riley on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and follow LINK Business-Phoenix on LinkedIn.

Filmmaking, Visual Storytelling, and Marketing

Phil Bradstock

Phil Bradstock is Film Commissioner at the Phoenix Film Office, the ultimate resource for everything you need to film in the City of Phoenix, including permits, information regarding technical crews, talent, local resources, and coordination with other agencies to film at city-owned locations.

Phil grew up in Phoenix and graduated from Brophy College Prep before earning a degree in Political Science from Boston College. After graduation and following an Endless Summer around the globe, he was offered a position as a Production Assistant on the TV show Suddenly Susan at Warner Bros. Studios. While never intending to pursue a career in the film industry, he soon settled in his role as a Production Coordinator for Warner Bros. Television and worked on such shows as Nikki (WB), Presidio Med (CBS), Run of the House (WB), Center of the Universe (CBS) and Hot Properties (ABC).

After meeting his future wife on set, they decided to relocate to Phoenix where Phil was hired by the City of Phoenix as the Film Commissioner in 2006. Phil’s role as the Film Commissioner is to attract projects into the Phoenix market, direct them to local resources, provide location assistance, and act as the logistics coordinator amongst multiple government agencies and the local community.

Connect with Phil Bradstock on LinkedIn, and follow the Phoenix Film Office on Twitter.

Patrik Matheson

Patrik Matheson is Co-Founder of Bridge, a passion-driven creative studio that pushes the boundaries of both online and offline visual communication. They BRIDGE the gap between business strategy and creative execution, building impactful brands through authentic storytelling, graphic design, and web development.

A producer at heart, Patrik has been creating little businesses, experiences, and events for friends since he was eight years old. He started learning HTML and CSS in high school and by his senior year, Patrik was doing freelance work for family friends. He moved to Phoenix and quickly found an intership at Atmosol, the premier Amazon webstore builder for major brands. There he learned quality assurance, documentation and ultimately how to code very well. Patrik also interned at The Lavidge Company, where he worked on major social media accounts like the Waste Management Phoenix Open and The Phoenix Suns. He then went on to take a front end development position at Prizelogic for about a year which was his last “job,” ending in 2013.

As the co-founder of a creative agency, Patrik has learned the importance of separating himself from many parts of the business that previously fell solely on his shoulders as a freelancer. This change in mindset has allowed him to play a role that often involves being a good communicator and articulating vision to produce higher quality work than he could ever do alone.

Connect with Patrik Matheson on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and follow Bridge on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Roger Hurni

Roger Hurni is Co-Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Off Madison Ave, an integrated marketing communications firm in Tempe, AZ. Off Madison Ave specializes in new media, strategic planning, interactive marketing, public relations, advertising, market research and strategies, and media planning.

Roger’s belief is that great creative and marketing results stem from the alignment of behavioral triggers along the lifetime customer engagement path. He has worked with top tier brands such as Nike, Doubletree Hotels, PetSmart, Safeway, Wells Fargo, Starwood Resorts and Hotels, and P.F. Chang’s, to name a few. And as a business owner, he understands the true value a brand can bring to the success of an organization.

Roger is also Managing Partner and Chief Marketing Officer for LighthousePE, an AI-driven personalization and proximity marketing solution for mobile app developers that “delivers the right message to the right person in the right place at the right moment.”

Check out the co-branded campaign for @VisitArizona and @BarbieStyle on Instagram: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Connect with Roger Hurni on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow Off Madison Ave on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and follow LighthousePE on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

The Hospitality Industry in Greater Phoenix

Dala Al-Fuwaires

Dala Al-Fuwaires is Principal at FJI, a hospitality interior design firm with a sweet spot for bar and restaurant interiors. Dala has over a decade of experience in the interior design field and has worked on hospitality, retail, and residential design projects ranging in size from boutique to national rollouts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Arizona State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Purdue University.

In 2017, Dala created Design It Forward, an annual competition that awards interior design services to one food or beverage concept in the Greater Phoenix area. She created this arm of the business to support the talent, passion, and innovation found in our local community.

To hear more of her story, listen to Dala’s appearance on Valley Business Radio in February 2019.

Connect with Dala Al-Fuwaires on LinkedIn and Instagram, and follow FJI on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

David DeLorenzo

David DeLorenzo, AKA DeLo, is the owner of Bar & Restaurant Insurance, a speciality insurance agency serving the hospitality industry. They excel at finding complicated insurance coverage for some of the largest bars and restaurants in Arizona, California, Texas and across the country.

A native Arizonan, DeLo attended college at Arizona State University and graduated with a BA in Marketing. He worked for Warner Bros records distributor after college, which started a 10-year career in the entertainment industry. While engaged in the record industry, and armed with marketing knowledge, DeLo opened his first marketing company called Diamond in the Rough Promotions. While building that business, DeLo discovered a niche market that could use his services: the restaurant industry. He developed his current affordable insurance for all sectors of the hospitality industry. DeLo is a dedicated member of Arizona’s restaurant community, constantly staying current on the bar and restaurant industry, in addition to the latest marketing trends, to ensure he is providing high-quality and cutting-edge services for restaurateurs and bar owners.

Connect with David DeLorenzo on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and follow Bar & Restaurant Insurance on Facebook and Instagram.

Patty Gii

Patty Gii is Chief Executive Member and Owner of Rott n’ Grapes, with two locations in Phoenix. “Rott n’ Grapes Uptown”, the first location, opened its doors in November 2016 and features an open-window bar, dog friendly patio and open-air lounge. Serving up a menu of small bites, bruschetta, paninis and pizzas, “Uptown” features top-notch selections to wine enthusiasts and beer snobs of all levels. The Uptown location is the perfect balance of big city ambiance and locals’ bar atmosphere. It is located at the base of Landmark Tower Condominium complex and walking distance from the Valley Metro Light Rail.

“Rott n’ Grapes RoRo”, the newest location, opened September 26, 2018 in the historic Gold Spot building in the Roosevelt Row District. Seated in a neighborhood of high-rise condos, town homes, single family homes and small businesses, “RoRo” is a one-stop shop for all beverage and food needs. It features a three-level, multi-use, full-service restaurant and bar, serving up lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends and offers catering. “RoRo” exclusively offers an artisan cocktail menu and to-go bottle shop. This location is also a short walk to the Valley Metro Rail and is becoming a local favorite and destination for valley visitors.

At the age of 12 Patty journeyed to Italy with her mother and around 20 family members. It was at this ripe, adventurous age when she became immersed into the world of wine through culture, religion, and most poignantly – a single parents’ income. When inquiring what she could order with dinner, (the water and pop were digging into the travel funds) mom looked her in the eye and said in a hushed voice, “Have the wine. It’s free.” Her path was set! If her mom were here now, she’d certainly take some credit for Patty’s start in the restaurant business and how she enjoys sharing her passion for great wine.

In addition to an early introduction in wine culture, Patty also grew up with dogs as part of the family. So it was only natural that she adopted her first Rottweiler “Harley” in her early 20’s. She would be the first of many Rotties that Patty has loved over the years. Along with her “partner in wine” Keith, their love of wine and Rottweilers was the inspiration for the name Rott n’ Grapes. They currently have 2 Rotties: “Onyx” and “Dolcetta” – both names wine-inspired.

One of Patty’s proudest achievements since Rott n’ Grapes’ inception is the wine club. Not only has Rott n’ Grapes brought great wine to many Phoenicians, it has also brought a great many Phoenicians together … yes, to drink great wine. Their club memberships hover around 50 with 2 tasting events each month – one at each location. In the few years they’ve been in business, Rott n’ Grapes has witnessed people who have lived in close proximity to each other but have never met, become friends, confidants and even engaged/married – all because they met at Rott n’ Grapes. When asked what sets them apart from the competition, it’s simply, “Maintain a friendly and authentic atmosphere where everyone feels like they’re ‘Norm’. Be knowledgeable about the quality products being delivered without being a snob about it. Oh! And always have FUN! Cheers!”

Connect with Patty Gii on LinkedIn, and Instagram, and follow Rott n’ Grapes on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.