Local First: Stories from Arizona's Small Business Community

Seanloui Dumas is a man of many talents. From performing music and building a studio in his home to organizing cultural events showcasing the talent of Arizona's Black community, he seldom takes a break. Learn about his passions and the launch of Black Renaissance, a unique Arizona experience originating in Tucson elevating the culture of Black artists.

Kevin Lebron has been cooking food in some of Phoenix's most well known restaurants for years. Ever been to the Windsor? You've likely eaten from Kevin's talent. Getting their start through Local First's Community Kitchen in Mesa, Arizona, hear about Kevin and his wife Maria's journey bringing Pachamama to farmers markets and a brick and mortar location showcasing their vegan cuisine.

Located in the heart of downtown Tucson on Congress Street, Hotel Congress is a staple to the community and an Arizona landmark. While things have changed over the years, the art, entertainment, food and beverage, and culture hasn't faded at all. Not only that, but Hotel Congress is tackling environmental opportunities through electric vehicle adoption in Local First's Scale Up program. Hear Todd Hanley share how the company has offered a place to stay, eat and enjoy music to tourists and residents alike while innovating along the way.

What do you picture when entering a laundromat? Christy Johnson Moore knew that most laundormats don't create a welcoming environment that benefits those using the services, and she set out to change that. Hear Christy's story as a social worker and entrepreneur committed to solving a problem through launching a social impact business.

Jason Marino has traveled the world capturing moments from weddings to corporate events through his photography business. Before settling in Kingman, Arizona he was flown to Guyana and other parts of the world. Hear about his passion for delivering high-quality experiences and products to everyone he works with.

"Millions still unemployed, the aid's not enough." In March 2020, you'd be more likely to expect David Tyda to be sharing about the great weather we'd be seeing before his upcoming pizza festival in Gilbert than reporting on congressional legislation. But a global pandemic will change that. As a long-time festival organizer in The Valley, David is more well known for bringing us together with tacos, french fries, and donuts. Hear about his own pivot (he said it, not us), and what the future of events may look like for Arizona.

Ginger Flaherty has been involved in the wine industry for years, but didn't know her love for it would bring her to the mountain town of Jerome, Arizona. From views of the landscapes of Sedona, to the unique experience of spending a day or two in town, VinoZona gives visitors and residents of Arizona a true taste of why our state has a lot to be proud of.

When visualizing a "family-owned" business, what comes to mind? Add Del Sol Furniture to your list moving forward. The Macias family has been committed to community for years, including contributing to the launch of Fuerza Local, Local First Arizona's initiative providing education and assistance to Latino entrepreneurs. Hear from Alex Macias on how his family's business grew to be a Valley-wide staple and an ideal option when looking to furnish your home.

For a catering business that has relied on special events and in-person dining, there's no guessing that the Covid19 pandemic took a hit to Bruce Brown. But giving in would not be an option. Participating in unique community programs including "Feed Phoenix", hear firsthand from a business that has battled the ongoing challenges of the economic crisis and forced his company to adapt and persevere.

Tucson, Arizona is arguably the city full of the most pride in our state. From quirky businesses in funky buildings to international recognition as a City of Gastronomy, it's no wonder why those transplanting or growing up in Tucson love their home. When Julie Bonner moved to Tucson she immediately felt that connection and launched her business, Julie Originals. Get to know an artist and business based in the "Old Pubelo" and how her surroundings and love for her community drive her inspiration.

How do you connect with your community digitally? With the rise in social media and technology, it's easy to be disconnected rather than closer to others. Tony and Adrian launched Local Buzz to solve that problem. Hear their entrepreneurial journey, commitment to community, and work being done to shine a light on the diversity in Arizona.

Have you stood on a corner in Winslow Arizona? While The Eagles may have written a catchy phrase in a popular song that gave a small town worldwide recognition, it's the people within Winslow driving the uniqueness forward. Meet Brian Law from Motor Palace Mercantile - a storyteller, bike rider, and business owner who will invite you in and make you feel right at home in one of Arizona's smaller towns.

7th Ave or Northern Ave? For 60 years the Valdivia's restaurants, Los Compadres, delivered comfort Mexican food out of two well-known locations in The Valley. After venturing from Globe/Miami years ago, the family's recipes took many shapes and forms in different corners of the state. Monica Valdivia-Merenda has now taken the reigns of the Los Compadres legacy. From dining in to farmers markets, hear how she's adapted the business and continued carrying forward the food so many people have come to love.

As the Covid19 pandemic disrupted our everyday lives, small businesses that relied on foot traffic and visitors shuttered and were forced to adapt. A staple of downtown Phoenix, FilmBar was no outlier. Hear Kelly Aubey's journey experiencing the development of an ever-changing downtown, what his small theater's role in that may or may not have been, and how his business was forced to persevere through a year of incredible challenges.

Only 2% of the teaching population are Black men. When Drew Shaw got his start in education, he wasn't sure what it would lead to, but knew he had a responsibility to give back to the community. Little did he know that would lead to writing children's books and manufacturing socks. Learn how Drew took the leap from teaching to entrepreneurship, and how he continues to influence others to consider the social impact of their daily lives.

8 years ago, Jacob Meltzer and his business partner set out to disrupt the traditional model of how you get a haircut. Rather than a sterile environment and being rushed through, what if you looked forward to going back to getting trimmed? Keep it Cut has expanded to multiple locations throughout Greater Phoenix through a monthly membership format. Hear Jacob's journey, how they're committed to everyone who walks in the door and the community, and get a taste of the different environment they bring to Arizona - all through haircutting.

Ashley La Russa has been planning events for years in Tucson, Arizona. And as a Black Woman-Owned business, her call to provide a voice for others has developed into an inspiring venture. Blax Friday was launched in the summer of 2020 as the only directory of Black-owned businesses in Arizona and quickly grew to nearly 700 businesses across the state. Get introduced to Ashley's passion for courageous conversations, uplifting voices that have been suppressed, and bringing the community together to learn, grow and inspire each other.

Real Estate Development. Intimidated? Bored yet? Let's stop you right there. Ashely Harder launched her small-scale adaptive-reuse-focused development company 10 years ago with a focus on contributing to building a more vibrant and unique environment throughout Phoenix. Discover her commitment to redefining what development can actually be, the opportunity the city has to showcase any creative development projects that make us unique, and the need for more residents to activate in their neighborhoods to build the future of the community we want.

Middle Eastern Dance (commonly referred to as Belly Dancing) has a deep history in its development across the world. Did you know how diverse and active the community sharing this special form of artistic dance is in Greater Phoenix? Meet Mahin Sciacca, owner of One World Dance Studio, a life long dancer and career dance instructor as she paints the story of the Phoenix Middle Eastern Dance community, the welcoming environment she creates through her studio in Midtown Phoenix, and how she's committed to sharing what she loves with everyone in Arizona.

Meet Eddie Hantas, owner & Chef Kelton of Hummus Xpress. Kelton may be new to the team, having joined the in May, but agrees with Eddie who says, "It's like a lab at Hummus Xpress. An abundant experience... It's a lot of fun to be around all of these fresh veggies!" Eddie hails from Lebanon and lived in Michigan before embarking on an adventure to the wild West of Arizona to escape the cold winters. In 2002, he honed his skills in the kitchen working at a local Tempe pizza spot, Gus' Pizza. Hummus Express blends traditional meals of Lebanon with a few twists (like Mexican peppers) to make it special. "It's a lot of family recipes - just like mom makes it - so it's really personal to me." To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Arizona Fall Fest, we're bringing you local stories from those who will be celebrating with us on Nov. 2nd! www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival  

Meet Booker Chandler, owner of Uncle Blues Gourmet Lemonade. Booker and host, Thomas Barr, reminisce about their favorite lemonade memories from sports games to the early days when Booker built his own lemonade stand at age 8. From farmers markets to the Arizona Fall Fest, Uncle Blues brings unique, natural flavor mixes you won't find anywhere else. What's next for Uncle Blues? "World domination," Booker says with a chuckle.To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Arizona Fall Fest, we're bringing you local stories from those who will be celebrating with us on Nov. 2nd! www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival

Meet Joe & Jana Matarazzo, owners of Goodfellas Merch in Glendale. Avid music fans of the Phoenix scene will enjoy the ode to great local bands, like: Black Carl, The Format, Jimmy Eat World, The Maine, and more as host Thomas Barr, Joe & Jana reminisce about growing up in the music scene in the community they love so much. Starting out in 2000, Joe had just graduated from high school, but already knew what he wanted to do - be an entrepreneur. He started his shop to accommodate the punk rock culture with piercings and expanded with tattooing and also carrying unique, independently made clothing, like Ed Hardy, before it was the Ed Hardy of today. Bands sought out Joe and Jana to create their t-shirts, which launched them into a whole new direction and led them to create Goodfellas Merch.To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Arizona Fall Fest, we're bringing you local stories from those who will be celebrating with us on Nov. 2nd! www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival

Meet Lisa Olson, owner of Practical Art in Uptown, Phoenix. Lisa has been bringing artists and art-enthusiasts together for 11 years, working with just 8 artists in the beginning to over 165 today in her store. The idea is to showcase functional and practical art that people can love and use in their own home. Lisa inherited the store from family friend after she passed away from leukemia, Lisa reflects, "She was my mentor, just a phenomenal woman and essential in me having a voice in the community." Hear Lisa's story about being an artist in Phoenix, running a small business, and creating a place that brings together so many people... for Lisa, she just says, "I genuinely love it."To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Arizona Fall Fest, we're bringing you local stories from those who will be celebrating with us on Nov. 2nd! www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival

Meet Alexis Carbajal, co-owner of Phoenix Coqui, the first (and only) Puerto Rican food truck. While in Puerto Rico, Alexis met his partner and co-owner, Juan, and fell in love with the country's cuisine. Based in veggies, herbs and garlic - sazon and sofrito - food is passion in Puerto Rican cuisine. When they decided to open their own food truck, Juan had the help of family, as Alexis recalls, "Literally on the phone with his dad, walking Juan through the recipes." Hear how Alexis and Juan have created a community through Phoenix Coqui from a passion to share Puerto Rico with Arizona.To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Arizona Fall Fest, we're bringing you local stories from those who will be celebrating with us on Nov. 2nd! www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival

Meet Karen & Randy Mettler, Duck & Decanter. Randy's family has been in business for over 40 years and was the original location of the first Arizona Fall Fest 15 years ago! Randy and Karen reflect on the changes made at "the Duck", like going from imported products to supporting more local vendors, having a line around the corner in the late '70s, and the very first Arizona Fall Fest where Randy realized, "This is what community feels like."Today, Randy and Karen continue to forge innovation on the breadboard and have found a community among Local First AZ members... as he puts it, "The best thing about running a local business is Local First."To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Arizona Fall Fest, we're bringing you local stories from those who will be celebrating with us on Nov. 2nd! www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival 

Meet Corey Rankin with OneAZ Credit Union. For over 65 years, the nonprofit credit union has been serving Arizona through community giving and supporting local business growth which has strengthened our local economy and helped create more vibrant communities. Corey's love for the community has been the guiding light along the way, which started at the young age of 18. Find out more about OneAZ Credit Union here: https://www.oneazcu.com/

Meet Erik Verryden, Founder of NexGen Partner Strategies. On the surface Erik's day-to-day business is credit card processing, but he's found a way to use his business to give back to community. Take a trip to a rural town in Arizona, where one particular local business owner found a way to give back to her favorite nonprofit just down the street.

Meet Lisa Lamberson, owner of Mountain Sports Flagstaff & Bright Side Bookstore. In 1980, Lisa's father started Mountain Sports in Flagstaff well before this quaint little town was known for outdoor sports and has grown it to be a cornerstone of the area. Lisa's story brings us a bit of history about Flagstaff in the 'old days' to where it's headed next - hopefully to more snowy adventures... 

Meet Michela Ricci, owner of The Early Bird PHX. Setting up a coffee shop was a slam dunk, but we hear about the real struggles entrepreneurs face when going after a big dream. Michela takes us on her journey to find community - from leaving the state, to discovering coffee culture, and then returning with a new found ambition to become a local business owner right here in Arizona.

Meet David DeLorenzo, owner of Bar and Restaurant Insurance, and known to friends and clients as simply, "the DeLo". As a second generation insurance owner, DeLo admits, "You talk to anyone about insurance and their eyes glaze over, they get bored," which is why his approach to business is anything but usual. DeLo doesn't fit the stereotype insurance salesman. First, he runs... like a lot, second he makes his job fun and has filled his office with Star Wars memorabilia, third, DeLo puts his staff, himself, and his clients front-and-center because to him, it's about helping people. Jokingly, he says he's retired at 45, "This is my passion... I love what I do... hospitality is my passion." 

Meet Deleita Kamhunga, owner and creator of Elev8ed Cre8ion. She's turning the world of parenting on its head with a modern bag to suite any parental need, "Our products are there to elevate parenting." As travelers of the world, Deleita and her husband found themselves carting three or more bags - laptop, purse, diaper bag, "It was exhausting." So they decided to create a new bag that would take the place of three for the parent on the go. Now they're looking to expand their line, but still with the same vision of creating better products to help people live better lives. 

Meet Angela Solorio, CEO & Jon Fernandez, Head Technician of Geekitek. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, Geekitek was born out of a desire to do more for community. Seeing a gap in technology resources in the Hispanic community, they knew that's where Geekitek needed to be. "There were people getting charged $50 to start a gmail account... $100 to set up their phone. How was this being allowed?"After six years of training large computer and cellphone companies on how to fix and sell their products, Jon and Angela had a realization, "Why don't we start our own?" 

Meet Tracy Perkins, Founder of Strawberry Hedgehog, a vegan bath and body product store located in Phoenix, Arizona. Tracy's personal experience with severe health issues set her on a journey to educate herself and others about the harmful chemicals and ingredients in the beauty products we use everyday. Her passion to make natural and vegan products from real ingredients has cultivated a community of fans (called "soapies") across the region and is disrupting the beauty industry, one soap bar at a time.

Meet Cierra Bennett, Owner of Vintage Oats. After a career in the corporate world, Cierra was looking for a bigger purpose in her life and her family. After putting it out to the universe to give her a vision, it answered with granola. Had she eaten it before? No. Did she know the first thing to do? No. But as a destined entrepreneur, that didn't stop her.In this episode, hear from Cierra about being "destined for it" as a small business owner, the community that rallied around her at Archwood Exchange, and how she beat the self-doubt that always tries to creep in.... "Don't ask anyone for validation. If you've put the hard work in, it'll work."

Meet Mike Spangenberg, Co-founder of State Forty Eight. Born and raised in Arizona, Mike remembers being that one kid in class raising his hand when the teacher asked, "Who is from Arizona?". This episode, we hear the story about how Mike and his friends got started, Mike's favorite AZ sports moment, and the craziest places people have worn State Forty Eight tees repping hometown pride all around the world.

Meet Abel Arriaga, a third generation Arizona native and co-owner of Mezcal Carreño. Journey to Oaxaca, Mexico where we hear how his family distills the smoky spirit from agave, and why Abel is bringing his heritage, history, and the Mezcal culture to Arizona.

Meet Jeff and Denise Malkoon, the brother and sister duo behind PB Americano. Like most entrepreneurs, Jeff wanted to make a positive change in the world and while traveling in Uraguay, his business idea was sparked. After noticing kids heading to school with a sweet and not very nutritious breakfast, Jeff had a very important thought, "We can do better." Fast-forward to today, Jeff and Denise have been on Shark Tank, still sell their in-demand peanut butter at farmers markets, and are in over 400 retail locations, including Sprouts. Hear how they got their start, a bit about going into business with family and making a product you care about.

Meet Randle House owner of Metier Pharmacy and second-generation pharmacist bringing a personalized touch to each customer. This episode we hear about Randle's family story and the passion that he has to help create a healthier, more connected community - with a little bit of that iconic Southern charm. 

Meet Erick Cedeño, owner of Bicycle Nomad Cafe. There aren't many of us that have traveled the Pacific Coast, and far fewer that have done it by bike. Erick's travels over the past 11 years have been filled with stories about dining with monks, pedaling cross-country retracing the Underground Railroad, and the kindness of strangers along the way.If you ask Erick why he started Bicycle Nomad he'll tell you it's to "inspire and motivate people to travel by bicycle - what I've seen can never transfer to instagram or social media... you have to live it."

Meet Tamara Stanger, Executive Chef of Cotton & Copper in Tempe, Arizona. From working in kitchens since 14 years old, Tamara realized that food could be more than just nourishment, it could be art and has cultivated her passion for using local ingredients to elevate the culinary scene in our state. In this episode, Tamara shares her journey, where she finds inspiration, and why it's time Arizona embraces its culinary heritage.