BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Lauren Bailey Co-founder and CEO of Upward Projects and Jonathan Keyser Founder and President of Keyser Co
What does it take to lead from a place of service vs authority? How do you facilitate massive growth while keeping your feet to the fire …head on straight …team intact; and, your stakeholders remaining loyal to you? Join us in this candid conversation with two Arizona business leaders who are disrupting the restaurant and commercial real estate industries with their hearts of gold and tenacity.
On this segment of Business Solutions Radio with Host, Jon Deiter, we hear from Lauren Bailey, Co-founder and CEO with Upward Projects and Jonathan Keyser, Founder and Thought Leader behind Keyser Company. Business Solutions Radio is powered by Conscious Capitalism AZ and Jon Deiter Solutions, LLC.
Upward Projects creates inspired restaurants that are connected to the communities they serve. Beginning 17 years ago with the Valley’s original local WineCafé, Postino Arcadia, founders Kris & Craig DeMarco and Lauren & Wyatt Bailey built a foundation on historically relevant buildings integral to the neighborhoods that surround. Today, Upward Projects continues this tradition with multiple Postino and Joyride Taco House locations, as well as Windsor, Churn and Federal Pizza.
Lauren Bailey is the CEO & co-founder of Upward Projects, a group of locally focused restaurateurs creating inspired restaurants that are connected to the communities they serve. Recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, Upward Projects places an emphasis on preparing high-quality food and adapting and reusing historically relevant buildings that are an integral part of local neighborhoods. To uphold this philosophy, Lauren focuses primarily on conceptualization, design and operations for seven industrial wine cafes – Postino Arcadia, Postino Central, Postino East, Postino Annex, Postino LoHi (Denver, CO), Postino Kierland, Postino Highland, Postino Heights (Houston, TX); Windsor, a pub-style neighborhood hangout; Churn, the adjoining nostalgic ice cream shop; Federal Pizza, an artisan pizza restaurant; and two Joyride Taco House’s, a scratch-kitchen Mexican concept. Collectively, Lauren is responsible for growth and vision of the existing concepts as well as future projects.
In 2017, Lauren and the Upward Projects executive team partnered with the private equity group Brentwood Associates to strategically drive regional & national expansion efforts for the Postino brand. Lauren recently completed a five-year term as a board member of Local First Arizona, an organization determined to protect, strengthen and foster local business. She is also a Steering Committee Member for Devour Phoenix, a city- wide, non-profit coalition of independent restaurants that maintain a forum for sharing ideas, increasing Arizona’s visibility as a culinary destination, stressing the importance of sustainability and hosting culinary driven events. She is also a board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization, a group comprised of 12,000 entrepreneurs from all around the globe, plus sits on the Grand Canyon University Colangelo College of Business Advisory Board, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Corporate Advisory Board, the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation Board, and is also a proud “big sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. In 2013, Lauren was recognized by the Arizona Republic as “35 Entrepreneurs Under 35,” while in 2014, she was inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame as Restaurateur of the Year, honored as the 2014 Food Pioneer by the Arizona Restaurant Association, and selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as “40 Under 40 – Class of 2014.” In 2015, the Phoenix Business Journal selected Lauren as the 2015 Outstanding Women in Business honoree.
Lauren was raised in the state of Indiana and has inhabited a fair amount of cities up and down the East Coast, including New York City and Nantucket. She attended Arizona State University, graduating in 2002 with dual degrees in Communication and Fine Art. In her spare time Lauren travels the world, hunts for vintage treasures, creates art, cooks up amazing flavors, and spends time with the most important people in her life.
Follow Upward Projects on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Keyser is a world-class commercial real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents companies of office, industrial, retail, medical, education, and non-profit space helping them with all types of real estate matters including lease renewals, relocations, build-to-suits, acquisitions and dispositions. Keyser was created as a new kind of commercial real estate firm that would transform the commercial real estate industry through selfless service. Getting involved and being of service in the community is foundational to the business model at Keyser.
Jonathan Keyser is the founder and thought leader behind Keyser. With more than 18 years of experience in the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Jonathan represents companies both domestically and internationally across a broad range of industries. Jonathan is particularly good at identifying creative strategies to align real estate with business requirements, designing and implementing unique solutions to complex real estate challenges, and solving Landlord / Tenant conflicts where negotiations have deteriorated in the face of rising hostilities.
Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn and follow Keyser on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS SOLUTIONS RADIO
In 2014, Jon Deiter was working on the leadership team of a company which began implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®). Jon experienced first-hand the value and power of EOS and its simple tools to establish a clear vision, gain traction toward that vision, and grow a healthy team.
He also came to realize his true motivation and passion ….. to help many more companies achieve great things through implementing EOS! He was trained as a Professional EOS Implementer and since 2015 has been working with organizations to help them implement EOS. He offers his implementation/coaching services through his company, Jon Deiter Solutions, LLC.
EOS is a people-centric management system that embodies successful, proven ways of working with people and a team. In addition to company growth and achieving the life you desire, implementing EOS has positive impacts to employees, culture and team health.
Jon has worked for over 30 years in leadership/management positions in privately held and family owned entrepreneurial businesses as well as smaller divisions of public companies. He earned an MBA in Finance from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois and he has worked as a licensed CPA with Accreditation in Business Valuation and Certified Global Management Accountant. He has held positions in a variety of industries as Tax Advisor, Consultant, Controller, Vice President, CFO, and President.
His leadership career in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses, along with experience as both a user and implementer of EOS, give Jon a unique perspective to pursue his passion of helping business owners and leadership teams achieve all they want from their business.
Jon is active in the Conscious Capitalism movement and is a founding member and Treasurer of the Arizona Chapter of Conscious Capitalism. Jon lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife Julie, having moved to Arizona from Chicago suburbs in 2003.
www.linkedin.com/in/jondeitereosimplementer
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