On March 31, Arizona born band The Maine, will release its highly anticipated fifth full-length album, American Candy. After remaining withdrawn from their usual high presence in social media, the American rock band dropped a new single, album release date, and tour schedule, much to fan’s excitement. With their past two albums being darker and more serious, the band has adopted a lighter and brighter approach for their fifth one. Starting the tour off in their hometown of Tempe, the band is excited to jump back on the road and experience their loyal fan’s reactions. Humble lead singer and eloquently spoken, John O’Callaghan sat down with us to talk about the new upbeat album, what he loves to drink, and how Arizona has always served as an inspiration.

AFM: I know you guys had a lot of social media silence leading up to the announcement. Were you guys trying to build anticipation for your fans or was it more for you guys?

John: As far as the slow release kind of stuff, most of that just kind of coincided with our personality. I think a lot of it also contributed to us growing up and anticipating records of stuff that we dug on. Especially nowadays the accessibility of information and how connected we all are, I think for us it’s important to balance giving too much information all at once and not enough. So we felt like this was a cool way of building a little bit of hype and a little bit of anticipation and we were excited with the way it all turned out a couple days ago.

AFM: Do you think that the silence accomplished everything that you intended it to?

John: I think there are always things that you can learn that you could have done differently. What I think as far as engaging the people that are attentive and care what we’re up to, I think it did its job.

AFM: I listened to the new single English girls, which I loved. Do you think it’s a good representation of the rest of the album, and of what people can expect to hear?

John:  Yeah, I think it is. I think that’s predominately why we chose to release it first as well. I think people can kind of expect a similar vibe. It doesn’t necessarily represent the record semantically or lyrically. But I think sonically everything kind of has a certain balance to it. We kind of set out to make a more lighter, more poppy-ier, that sounds kind of like I’m trying to make a beer, but we tried to kind of create a more lighter atmosphere sonically. I think the last record was dressed up darker and this one we’re just trying to take a different approach.

AFM: Do you think it’s closer to your first couple of albums?

John: I think people will associate it with those. I think obviously I’m speaking from a different perspective but I’d like to think that my lyrical content and what I’m talking about is leaps and bounds beyond the earlier stuff, I’d hope it would be. Eight years have surpassed but there’s serious material on the record and then there’s just kind of easy to follow along with stuff. And I think that’s where I was mentally when we first started and I’d wanted to kind of revisit that because things have been really serious the past two releases. I wanted to kind of lighten up and just to feel better myself. Because I think you get into a rut of saying the same things and I think that eventually that will kind of just seep into how you’re feeling. But I’m trying to be positive and I’m trying to be upbeat. I think that’s kind of worked itself into my routine as of now and who I am and how I feel. Hopefully it remains.

AFM: I know you guys are obviously from Arizona; does Arizona ever serve as an inspiration for you guys lyrically or musically?

John: Absolutely. Just even being outdoors right now talking to you there’s not a cloud in the sky. It’s sunny, it’s 80 degrees, and it’s beautiful. It’s all about perception and how you are in your head I guess at any given time. But I’ve always lived in Arizona and so I think naturally just growing up here as a kid makes its way into a lot of my songs and I’d like to think that it continues to do so and continues to shape who I am and just the environment and the people and the community I think that everything kind of attributes to the inspiration and writing from what I know. That’s the most important thing; writing from an authentic and earnest place. This is all I really know.

AFM: Do you guys ever use real people and situations in your life for your songs?

John: Yeah not all the time and I don’t want to get into specifics because I don’t want anyone to know but yeah absolutely. And you know it doesn’t work that way for everybody that writes songs, but I think it’s important to kind of develop your own song writing technique and for me I definitely used personal experiences. I definitely used a lot more on the last record and even “English Girls” is a very specific incident that happened in my life.

AFM: So you still live in Arizona then?


John: I do, yeah.

AFM: Do all of you or is it just mainly you?


John: Everybody lives in Arizona. We’re all kind of spread out over the Valley. I’m here at Garrett’s house here in Phoenix. He lives downtown and I live in Chandler and we actually have a couple guys that live in Chandler and one in Tempe. And one way out in gilbert.  So we’re here but we’re not right by each other.

AFM: What is a typical night off? What do you guys do and where do you guys go?

John: Well when we’re on the road that obviously varies depending on which state we’re in and how familiar we are with the area. Down here we go out a lot downtown. Like last weekend we were out at First Friday and did that whole thing. I’m 26 now so when I was 19, 20, 21, we would go out down towards the college. Now I just feel old. I’m only 26 but I feel like I’m out of place. I feel like people are looking at me like the old dude. I mean occasionally you can find us there but I think we like to stick more so to downtown. We’re not like the ‘we strictly drink red wine and talk about literature’ guys. We’re still a few years off but we’re getting there.

AFM: So I know you start touring in Tempe almost immediately after the album’s released. What is different about performing in Tempe as opposed to anywhere else?

John: We started playing shows here, I mean other than that first summer. We could book shows at venues that I don’t think are open anymore, but we could book shows and not have to go on a full tour to play here. Which it’s always been great here because you can get your friends and family to come out and that’s always a good time. But I think what’s really great and what’s really cool to be apart of is that the people that are coming to the shows we’ve known them for a long time and there’s always new faces which is really exciting as well. It doesn’t feel like less people are coming every time. I know there’s a heap of tickets already sold for the show and I know it’s going to be a great opening show. It’s always a little bit chaotic because of the friends and family but I think we’ve been doing it for so long so we know and they know what to expect. I think everybody has a good time.

AFM: Is there any anticipation or excitement the night before your album is released? Do you guy’s ever feel that or not really?

John: Oh yeah. We were in control of putting up the site just a couple days ago and actually I live with our manager. And he was kind of just running the whole show and getting excited. Pat, our drummer, was right there with us and they were freaking out over you know when are we going to post it. I mean they live for this stuff and I don’t necessarily don’t live for it, I’m just not really familiar with that whole online world so it was just kind of cool to be a fly on the wall and just sit back and watch them manically orchestrate this whole thing. They were freaking out about just releasing the song and artwork and there’s always that same kind of buzz, but even amplified, when we put out the album. It will be crazy.

AFM: How have all of your families shaped how far you guys have come and where you are today?

John: I think it’s an interesting position for them all to be in because unless you’re really a part of it, and by a part of it I mean actually involved in it on a daily basis, then you might just naturally have a different perception. Especially early on when we first were signed and then moving to the major label, I think not only from our perspective but from theirs there was a lot of expectation and I think that you just think things because you see them in movies and you see them on TV, and you read about them in Rolling Stone or whatever, and I think once you start living it you realize that there is some truth to the stuff but it’s all kind of sensationalized and they kind of romanticize the whole thing. All I know is that the greatest part about it all is that everybody’s family has been super supportive and very, very in our corner. In that regard we couldn’t ask for anything else. And they’re very good about keeping out of it all to be honest. And that’s got to be pretty hard for a parent. Going from coaching the little league team where it’s like ‘why is my kid not playing?’ But this is a dynamic that they have zero knowledge about and I think it’s really great that they’ve kind of kept their distance. I think we’ve proved ourselves to them and I think they don’t really question or try to interfere too much, which is nice.

AFM: What’s your favorite song on the new album?

John: Actually someone asked me that yesterday. It’s kind of weird talking about songs without anyone having heard them but there’s a song called “I Am Pretty” that was a song that was on the fence for me. Prior to recording it I didn’t know how I felt about it. I didn’t know if what I was saying was actually going to translate once we laid it down, but it actually turned out to be one of my favorites.

AFM: You say it’s hard to talk about ones that fans don’t know, but what about on your past albums? What’s your favorite one that you’ve ever done?

John: I think a lot of it is dictated by what we’re playing live. I think a lot of the time you’ll just love playing a certain song live. But I think strictly song writing, like speaking from that side of thing, on the last album I would say it’s the more stripped down one on the album, it’s called “These Four Words.” I felt like I went into it not really thinking about writing a song but, I guess as clichéd as it is, just speaking from the heart and actually saying what I felt like saying. I felt like it wasn’t really a song where I was like ‘okay I got to write a song.’ It was more so something that kind of wrote itself because of where I was at the time and what I wanted to say. I think that one for me on the last record really stands out.

AFM: I know one of the main reasons I love you guys is for your lyrics. What other band for you are you super into in that way?


John: Now I think of songs in a little different light because I write in songs. Writing songs has kind of shaped the way I digest songs. And in that regard, I started to really dissect a lot of Tom Petty stuff. And I’ve heard him quoted saying, “a great song records in the truth.” I don’t even know if it’s his quote, he might have been quoting someone else but he really does a phenomenal job at taking something that seems so broad, a concept or a theme, and making it and twisting it in a way that sounds so specific to his life and pertinent to who he is as a person and I really respect that. There’s guys like Tom Petty and Neil Young obviously. Something fresh would be a band called Beach Slang out of Philadelphia I believe. They’re just a very young band or a new band and there are a couple lyrics of theirs that I just love. I love that ‘I wish I wrote that.’ I love when I have ‘I wish I wrote that’ kind of moments. Death cab for cutie has always been that way for me. I think I love songwriting and I love music so much that it’s like I don’t really discriminate at this point you know? I’ve heard great pop songs as of recent that I’m just as envious about. It really ranges all across the board.

AFM: What, for this album, are you most excited for fans to hear or know about it?

John: I think just knowing our approach going into it. Even after just the little response that we got from “English Girls”, I’m excited to release the rest. Just knowing that our intentions for the album was to create something a little more light and a little more not as serious as what we’ve done in the past. I think there are undoubtedly, serious moments on the record and you know there’s still going to be hints of everything. But it’s still a combination of everything that we’ve ever done so I’m excited to hear kind of people’s reactions, and not so much online. I can’t wait to talk to people after shows because that’s really how I gauge the whole thing. I think that’s great and that’s very much a part of society and what we have to do and be apart of to be a band and I think it’s a really beneficial tool but on the same token I think there’s such a lack of personality via text message or a YouTube comment. You can kind of hide behind your computer and say whatever you might think you want to say at the time, whereas a handshake and a hi-five, for me, goes a hell of a long ways so I’m just excited for people to hear the album and hear what they have to say about it.

AFM: Is it hard touring for you guys or do you enjoy it?

John: It’s such a part of who we are at this point that it’s just what we do. But I’d be lying if I said it was all easy. It’s not easy being away from the people that you love. It’s not easy being in a different city and not sleeping in your bed every night. But on the same token, we appreciate the opportunity to the moon and back. It’s incredible that we get to travel, and not only travel the United States, but travel the world and go places we wouldn’t have dreamed of going if it’d hadn’t been for music. It’s just a part of who we are. There’s the studio and there’s the road, and I think that’s what we’re really looking forward to is the latter.

AFM: Do you guys mesh pretty well? I know traveling with friends, after awhile you can kind of get on each other’s nerves. Does that ever happen?

John: I mean absolutely it happens. I mean haven’t you seen the Real World? Fortunately we’re still all very close and times like this at home is when we can kind of take a break from one another. I think that just like anything, any friendship, it’s important to have those times where you’re not just surrounded by them and you can break away and kind of do your own thing. To be honest, we also get to bring out really good friends. The people that help put on the shows are not just part of the work staff. They’re actual friends that believe in what we’re doing and want to be apart of this whole thing and I think that’s what also keep us so close knit.

AFM: Which one of you sleeps the most when you’re on the road?

John: That’s a great question actually. I have trouble sleeping on the road. Something about the bus and not being in control, it kind of freaks me out. Garrett usually gets up pretty early, and Patrick gets up pretty early. I’d say depending on how much we’ve had to drink it’s either Kennedy or I.

AFM: What was your last argument about between you guys?

John: They’re usually like small things. It’s usually how we’re going to go about releasing something. I think all the elephants that could have been in the room; I think they’re all extinct. Hopefully at this point, we’ve already kind of tackled the big issue kind of stuff, which is really cool and really great that we were able to do so early on. Now it’s just who’s hogging the mirror I guess.

Interview by Suzanne Koch

MEET THE FACES

STORY BY STACIA AFFELT AND TAMARA KRAUS

After weeks of casting calls, online voting and meetings with local fashion and modeling experts, Arizona Foothills Magazine has announced its annual Face of Foothills winners. Meet the three lovely ladies who are proving—that with passions like photography, academics, philanthropy and sports—they are more than just a couple of pretty faces. 

FACE OF FOOTHILLS: DANIELLE MEDRANO

Since Danielle Medrano was little, her parents have taught her two core life values: to use her talents to benefit others and to never give up on her dreams. And that’s exactly what the 21-year-old sophomore at Arizona State University is doing. She’s not only this year’s Face of Foothills, but she’s also studying psychology and is working on adding a music therapy degree. She hopes to one day be a clinical child psychologist.

Medrano, who was raised in Tucson but now lives in Phoenix, has always had a heart to perform for others. She started dancing when she was two, acting at eight, singing at 10 and acting in film at 13. Once she started working in film, her modeling career naturally took off. At 18, she signed with Dani’s Agency.

Two years ago, Medrano competed in the Future Face of Foothills, landed in the top 10 but didn’t win. That didn’t get her down. So she tried again—and her perseverance certainly paid off. “When they said my name, it kind of hit me like a bus,” she says. “Now that I’ve really just let it sink in, I am truly looking forward to being able to highlight what it means to be the Face of Foothills.”

In her free time, she continues to give back. She’s an officer for ASU’s music therapy student organization and enjoys volunteering, especially with individuals with autism. And without support from 500-plus friends and family who voted for her, she says she wouldn’t be living her dreams. “I feel incredibly blessed to know that other people in this world do still care about others.” —T.K.

FACE OF FOOTHILLS TEEN: TAYLOR HOWARD

Just two years into modeling, Face of Foothills Teen winner Taylor Howard, 17, already has big plans for her career. Traveling tops the list for the Arizona native. After graduation, Chandler-based Howard plans to pack her bags and head to Milan, Paris, London and more to further her modeling career. “I love to travel,” Howard says. “It should be a pretty big first experience for me.”

Since there are no guarantees with modeling, Howard wants to do as much as she can now. So far, she has been featured in magazines, on runways and even in a music video for a local singer. Despite her recent success, Howard also focuses her efforts on academics. “Everyone thinks blondes are not smart, but I am actually smart,” Howard says.

While modeling is her most favorite thing to do, Howard is also interested in photography and capturing little moments of the world around her. She especially enjoys sports photography, and a lot of her work was featured in the school newspaper and yearbook. “People would probably be surprised to find out that I know about the other side of the camera,” she says.

In the future, Howard plans to attend Arizona State University to study business. For now, however, she is enjoying life as a model. “I want to do this while I’m young and experience everything while I can.” —S.A.

FACE OF FOOTHILLS JUNIOR: SYDNEY PRESTIA

A fashionista in the making, Face of Foothills Junior winner Sydney Prestia is a typical 14-year-old who enjoys fashion and dressing up with her friends in Gilbert. “I like to model because I usually hang out with my friends and do photography, and I just love taking pictures,” Prestia says.

Her favorite thing about fashion is how the colors and clothes come together to make a stylish outfit. Her go-to look is combat boots with frilly socks, a skater skirt and a long-sleeve shirt. “I just like the final product of getting dressed up...how it all comes together is really perfect,” Prestia says.

At the right place at the right time, Prestia came across a Face of Foothills casting call during a visit to the mall and thought it would be a fun, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out. Little did she know she would become the Face of Foothills Junior winner with the help of her friends and family who diligently voted for her.

With her love of fashion and lovely long hair, Prestia says most people assume she is a model or cheerleader. What they don’t know, however, is that she also loves playing soccer. Prestia says she turns to the sport as a stress-reliever and as a way to spend time with her closest friends. “Whenever I play, it is just really fun and I love it,” Prestia says.

Rather than choosing between her two loves, fashion and soccer, Prestia says she just wants to see where both take her. —S.A. 

When times get rough, this inseparable duo doesn’t quit. Thompson Square has had quite the active past few months. Not only have they been working around the clock on their third album, but they’ve also added construction onto their to-do list.

After a flooding in their Alabama home while away on the road, Keifer and Shawna Thompson have now had to go through an entire house reconstruction and decoration process. Without skipping a beat on their musical ventures for the year the two-time ACM and CMA “Vocal Duo of the Year” winners will visit The Grand Canyon State to hit the end of Arizona’s Spring season for a concert just in time to jump start Talking Stick Resort’s summer music series.

We chatted with Keifer Thompson himself while in the midst of working on his home reconstruction during a break before they packed back up and hit the road to the Wild West.

AFM: Go ahead and tell me about the flood and what’s been going on?

K. Thompson: “We been having to building everything from scratch, from the inside out really. It was just a hose in one of the upstairs bathrooms that broke and flooded for six and a half days vefore anyone knew what was going on. And, we just literally just moved in too. We’ve been there a few years but we just literally got all the furniture in and decoration done, and now it’s all gone. It sucks, but we have a good attitude about it  and we’re fine. It’s going to take six to eight months to rebuild and we’ll be back in business.

AFM: What was something that was lost that meant the most / cant get back?

K. Thompson: “Honestly you know… one of the main things was our awards got rained on. Most of those were metal so we can get the rust off those but the envelopes the said the ‘The winner is’ were destroyed.”

AFM: How’d you deal with the news of the flooding while traveling?

K. Thompson: “The day we found out, we were in Florida. We just left and drove home. We had to leave the radio tour that we were on for a bit. Luckily we have an assistant that’s been helping us out and family is down there.”

AFM: How has it affected you both personally?

K. Thompson: It really hasn’t. We keep each other going.”

AFM: What keeps your hopes up/ positive?

K. Thompson: “Well, Shawna made the example the other day that when you lose a parent or someone like that, and everything else kind of fails, you have a continuum. It just sucks… and thank God it’s not like losing a family member. Just life happens to everyone - sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad.”

AFM: What’s it like being a married duo/ performing team?

K. Thompson: “Well for us, it’s a dream come true. We get to be together and do what we want for a living. I think what gets you down is having a job you don’t like and bringing that frustration home, and we just don’t have that. We get along really well, and it works out great for us.”

AFM: Tell me your love story.

K. Thompson: “In reverse order, Shawna’s been doing music a lot longer than I have. That’s all she’s ever done is music and I was a little different and went to college. We’ve both loved music since we were little kids. We both ironically moved to Nashville that same week and met each other right at that time in 1996, and have been together ever since. Married 15 years now. Some say serendipitous.”

AFM: When did you decide to start performing as a country duo together?

K. Thompson: “Um we dated for three years and were married for three years and that’s when we decided, we didn’t like being a part. I was doing stuff and she was doing stuff and we just didn’t like being a part that much. Our marriage is really important to us and that’s how we came up with Thompson square and everything else is history, you know.”

AFM: Are there any struggles being a married couple duo?

K. Thompson: “There are struggles in any marriage. You just deal with it differently when you’re working together. But, a lot of it is letting things go and have a maturity level that is very difficult for men and admitting when you’re wrong and moving on. We just decided a long time ago that sometimes you have to accept when you’re wrong and move on. You don’t have to prove your point because it doesn’t really do anybody any good.”

AFM: How did you both fall in love with country music specifically?

K. Thompson: “I don’t know. I guess that’s like asking someone why do you like ice cream? We’ve just always been in it. It’s the first thing we were exposed to. Her dad was in a band playing country music and I’ve always loved it. We love all kinds of music, though. Its not just country, but for us to sing… kind of like breathing, we have to have it.”

AFM: Who is your country role model or idol?

K. Thompson: “Merle Haggard. That’s really hard, too. Honestly for me I fell in love with songwriting because of his songwriting. I love the way he’s a true artist and sings soul music. I do more of his songs than anybody.”

AFM: Any relation to AZ / good memories here?

K. Thompson: Well we haven’t spent a whole lot of time there. I definitely love the west from the scenery standpoint and the weather and everything about it. Usually that’s the bitch about our business – we roll into town, do a show and then leave. So we don’t get to spend a whole lot of town anywhere. But I just love that whole area. It’s great to have your fans out there.”

AFM: What’s a normal day for Thompson Square?

K. Thompson: “You wake up, go to the gym, come back. Emails… catch up on some business. Relax a little bit. Sound check. Shower. Meet and greet every night. It’s kind of the same thing every night to be honest with you.”

AFM: And when you guys are not on the tour, what’s a normal day like?

K. Thompson: “Wow, um…if it’s nice, we’ll usually buy motorcycles or yesterday I wanted to go fishing so I took to fishing… so we did that all day. We like to do normal stuff because we don’t really get to do that a lot, like going to dinner, going to the movies. Hanging out with friends is really important to us. So we try and do as much of that as we can.”

AFM: What’s something you want the audience to take away from the tour?

K. Thompson: “I think we’re extremely serious about what we do and we hold music in high regard. We have a lot of fun, and we have a great fan base that knows what they’re going to get when they come out there. It’s a rocket show. It’s kind of like a roller coaster. You have your ups and it’s not always the same. We just kind of decided to make our stuff a little bit different than everybody else’s and it’s just a lot of fun. We have a blast as a band on stage.”

AFM: What’s your favorite song to perform together?

K. Thompson: “I wouldn’t say we like more than the other. Right now though, one of my new favorite songs to sing is Trans Am is fun because we’re showing everybody the new evolution of Thompson Square. We’re doing like three or four new songs for the show. It’s kind of our job to show different aspects of how we are and they’re tons of song. We’re still Thompson Square but the whole project is very forward and we’re excited to play.”

AFM: Releasing third album?

K. Thompson: “Probably October or November. It’s going to be stellar; it’s going to be the best album we’ve ever put together.  We took almost an entire year off just to write the songs. Sometimes you just have to do that for your creative juices, and we did. It’s really paid off.”

AFM: What’s the forward theme you’re hoping to show?

K. Thompson: “It just sounds different. We listen to the radio and we want to sound different than anybody else. We don’t want to blend in and sometimes you have to punch through that. We’ve always wanted to do our own thing and the artists that we’ve historically loved always stood out and never really sounded like anyone else. We do as much of that as we possibly can without being so weird that no one gets it.”

AFM: What’s something silly about you and Shawna that no one would know?

K. Thompson: “Shawna is a good shot. We just got a handgun together and we always pack it, so don’t mess with us! Just kidding. We’re definitely pro-gun type of people. We come from hunting families. The first time I bought Shauna a 9mm glock and she took it out and shot dead center. She’s got a better shot than me, yes.”

With Father’s Day around the corner, we here at AZ Foothills have been thinking a lot about the importance and significance of a dad. Be it your birth-given father or a supportive, father-figure in your life, it’s hard to say where we’d be without them. For many of you, your dad was the first one to teach you how to ride a bike or throw a baseball. He pushed you to be your best, supported you in all your endeavors, and maybe even bought you your first beer when you turned 21.

We all have special memories with our dads, and despite any gift we give them or cards we send them, we could never begin to explain the tremendous impact they’ve had on our lives. If we made a list of all that we were grateful for from them, we’d be here ‘till the apocalypse.

To celebrate Father’s Day this year around, we’re asking two new, first-time fathers from the Valley about their experiences raising children. Get the tissues, readers. Their responses are heart warming and could probably make the Grinch’s heart grow two sizes too big.

Jason Adler (left) and Joe Diggs (right) are both operations directors for Triyar Entertainment Group, a Scottsdale company that owns and operates several bars and nightclubs in Old Town. Diggs is a new father to seven-month-old daughter Isla and Adler an even newer father to two-month-old Gwen.

According to Diggs, he and Adler work a 55+ hour workweek to ensure events and promotions run smoothly at all locations. Diggs heads the W Scottsdale and Dakota, an upscale, high-volume bar and restaurant, and Adler leads Maya Day + Night Club and Triyar’s newest concept, The District. Between working far-from-average hours in the entertainment industry and raising newborn babies, the two are tremendously busy and said they are still working on striking that perfect balance.

They are exemplary modern dads, working hard to provide for their families, and have a surprising amount of wisdom from their short time periods as fathers. They deserve major kudos for their efforts and success.

AFM: How do you balance working and being a dad?

Diggs: A lot of times you work six or seven days a week, but you are working when the baby’s sleeping. While my schedule is probably more hours (than others’), there’s a little bit of flexibility. I get a lot of alone time with (Isla) in the morning. I try to work my schedule or whatever events we have, around Isla. She has swim class every Monday, so I make sure I’m there for that, (and) I try to get in an early pattern of not missing doctors appointments or (any) kind of events that she’s going to, and I’m there for bath time pretty much every night.

Adler: It’s pretty new to me. I actually did take some work off right when the baby was born, which was great. So it’s something I’m adjusting to now. Usually when I get (home) at nighttime, the baby’s just getting up. I’ll take the baby and put her back down while the wife gets some sleep. Then, throughout the day, my wife will bring her over to one of our properties or to my office to let me see her a little bit, and most of the time, Sunday through Wednesday nights, I’m at home and I get to spend the quality time I need to with both of them.

AFM: What is most difficult about balancing it all?

Diggs: The most time consuming part is basically it’s a full week of work during normal business hours, (and) then you have to go back at nighttime as well and be there. I’ll be honest; at this point it’s probably not even the baby. I think it’s when you’re leaving the wife to go back to work. Your weekends are eliminated. That’s the hardest thing, but then again, that’s the business I chose. I love my job, and I have since the first time I started. (Diggs, his wife and daughter shown in photo above)

Adler: Not getting to see her. I want to be with her 24/7 but at the same time, in life, you have to make money and support your family and make sure they’re taken care of. She’s such a new baby. I hope I don’t miss laughing and smiling and different things that are happening, and I hope that I’m there and that she’s doing these things when I’m actually around.

AFM:  What has been the most rewarding part of being a dad thus far?

Diggs: At her age right now, it’s that she acknowledges you right as you walk in the room. She starts smiling and laughing and making noises. Being there when she starts crawling. Introducing her to new toys and foods. It’s interactions with her when she’s having a bad day and (is) a little whiny or something and you pick her up, and she stops crying.  

Adler: Man, that’s a difficult question. It was surreal to me before the baby came, and now it’s actually real. Just being able to be a father… it’s an unexplained feeling of having a newborn baby or just having a baby – knowing that it’s yours. Knowing that you’re able to guide them and give them a good life and upbringing and make sure they see life the same way you did, in a good way.

AFM: What have you learned about raising a daughter?

Diggs: I don’t think you really understand until you hold her for the first time or until you watch her wake up and watch her go to bed, how much you really want to protect her, and it’s so hard to put it into words. You look at life in general after and nothing else matters. The world could be coming to an end. You could have a long day at work, and I Just want to hold her, whether she’s happy or sad. Go on walks, play on blankets with toys... She chases everything I put in front of her. I could put any little object in front of her and she’ll crawl faster. She’s pretty special. I think she’s the best looking baby, and we get told many times when we’re out or at the mall that she is, so…

Adler: When I found out I was having a girl, I’m pretty sure my heart dropped instantly. I’ve always heard it’s harder to raise boys than girls, but just being a father and a parent and knowing eventually one day she’ll start dating and she’ll have different things going on in her life? – It’s not just that I’m here for (her), I want to make sure she’s okay to experience life on her own and nothing bad will happen to her.

AFM: Do you have any goals as a father or things you try to consistently work on?

Diggs: I want to introduce her to stuff early and often, whether it’s food or experiences. She gets bounced around by our dogs a little bit, but she loves it. She’s very resilient. She had her shots today and cried for like, 30 seconds and is like over it. I think knowing that we’ll always be here for her and she’ll always be safe with us but at the same time, giving her a resiliency to be able to explore on her own, even if it’s just crawling around the living room or something like that, (is my goal).

Adler: Every day I come to work and go to work knowing it’s for her. It’s for my daughter. The future goal is obviously to give her a good upbringing and make sure she has everything that she wants and needs to be successful by herself. (Adler's wife and daughter in photo above)

AFM: If you were to instill one value in your daughter so she may grow up to be strong and independent, what would it be?

Diggs: I think her personality is like her mom, which some would say is feisty, but I would just say independent and opinionated. We don’t baby her that much. We like her to tell us when she’s not doing well. She uses her hands and she’ll yell and verbalize some stuff. I think she’ll turn into a very opinionated young lady, and I’ll be in trouble when she’s a teenager. I’m sure she’ll try and pull some moves on me.

Adler: I was actually raised in the Midwest, so I had family around me all the time. Good family values and morale are probably two of the biggest things instilled in me – to make sure you’re a very fun-loving, caring, giving person to everyone, no matter who it is. It would probably be the most important to me to push on to her – to make sure that she is the same exact kind, caring and loving person we were raised to be as well. 

AFM: What are your favorite traits about your daughter?

Diggs: The only trait she got of mine is her blue eyes, which is good. I’m glad she got those, but that’s kind of a personal thing. She’s tall, she moves around. I definitely want her to play some type of sport and be active, and she’s definitely trending along that way already.

Adler: Some of the facial expressions she does, she looks very much like me. Her facial expressions are very, very similar to mine. I get pictures sent to me from my wife throughout the day of what she’s doing and it reminds me very much of myself.

AFM: Do you have a favorite activity you enjoy doing with your daughter?

Diggs: I take her and one of our dogs on a 30-minute walk every single morning after I go on a run. I talk to her, and I leave my phone at home, which is very rare for me. Half the time I’m talking and interacting with her and just rambling, and the other half she’s in the zone and just takes in other dogs and bikes and people running around. So that’s pretty cool. It’s a cool little routine.

Adler: I think tummy time when she’s actually learning how to hold her head up and just be on her own, since it’s pretty fun right now. She’s so tiny, I haven’t actually gotten to experience seeing her walk or seeing her crawl. I guess it’s a day-by-day process. She’s my first child and it’s something that’s exciting to see – her progressing and being able to hold her head up and giving smiles and such.

AFM: How do you plan to celebrate your first Father’s Day?

Diggs: We take her everywhere. It’s not like we put her up with a nanny or a sitter all the time. It’s not like I’m going to leave and go play golf or something like that. I think we’ll just go to a fun brunch and bring the baby along. She loves to swim, so we (could) go to a different resort pool. She’ll pick up the water - she loves that. So I don’t know. We don’t really celebrate the holidays that crazily, it’s more like we hang out as a family pretty much every day. 

Adler: Probably to go into work because she is so little, but I don’t know what my wife has up her sleeve. We could probably do something else. Maybe a good Father’s Day brunch or hanging out with my wife and the baby. I don’t need much. Very small things make me happy as long as I’m just with them. That’s all I really need.

Without skipping a beat you see her go swiftly from morning and afternoon practices to behind-the-scenes computer work and then quickly darting off into the parking garage to pick up her two children. After an incredible first year with the organization, Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Sandy Brondello was named WNBA Coach of the Year for the lead team to be the 2014 WNBA Champions, and she did so all in style.

Brondello is arguably the best-dressed coach in not only the WNBA, but in the professional sports industry. Her professional and trendy style on the court has been nationally spotted and raved about.

The dynamic Australian native has made such a statement as a true fashionista that the Phoenix Mercury is incorporating her fashion-sense into a bobble head this season by asking fans to vote on the outfit that will be featured on the figurine.

We were able to catch up with this leading woman for a few moments pre-season before their season opener taking place Friday, June 5th to chat about being a style icon in such fast paced and high-profile sports industry.

AFM: Tell me a little about yourself in general, and tell me how you describe yourself.

SB: I actually grew up on a sugarcane farm in North Queens Land Australia, so I’m a real country girl. So like obviously as most country kids (I was) very outgoing. Rode motorbikes, horses, swam in the creeks. There were 50 kids that went to my school. Everyone knew everyone and all that good stuff, so that was kind of nice.

I started playing basketball at the age of nine. I played a lot of sports, but really fell in love with basketball and you know, and lucky for me I was good enough to keep representing my city and then the state and then started playing for Australia at the age of 16.

Then I had moved along to the big city to practice at the sports institute in Australia that targets and brings in players with potential, in every sport, not just Australia. That was a bit of an eye opener, moving away from home at 17. It was a great situation; it was the beginning of my national career. I played for Australia for a long time and went to the World Champs and retired in my 30’s and then went straight into coaching.

Talking fashion, fashion’s always been something I liked, but I cant really take credit because actually I have a former player that that’s what she does, she’s a stylist.

AFM: Tell us about how you pick our your looks and about your stylist from the Indiana Fever.

SB: I started working with her a few years ago and I just continued to ask her to style me more and more. Then, last year being the head coach, I enjoyed dressing up and I like the outfits that she did, so I’ve asked her to do more. I’ll just call her and say, “OK, I’ve got this game’s coming up, let’s go!” Knowing her knowing me personally kind of helped, her knowing what I want or like to wear. I’ve always liked fashion, but I hate shopping. I hate doing it because I don’t have any time being a coach and having two young children. Really it was a great investment for me. I get excited.

AFM: You say that you’ve always liked fashion and had a passion for it, was your stylist a leading force to encouraging you as a coach to dress up?

SB: I think I’ve gotten into fashion more as I’ve gotten older. But when I was younger, I was a big tomboy because I was from the country, so shorts and a T-shirt was good for me. Obviously once you get in your 20s, you always get a little more interested in how you dress up and having a stylist … people think it’s expensive but it’s not that expensive. Depending on how many clothes you wear or where you buy, that’s what gets expensive. It’s a great investment for me. It really makes sense for my lifestyle, and I’ve gotten more and more interested in it. But yeah, I hate shopping so working with her is great.

AFM: What are your favorite brands and designers?

SB: Well, Vince Camuto because it has a good fit and stays how it should look after you wash it.. I buy a lot of clothes from Nordstroms and keep it reasonably priced. You know I’m not buying $500 outfits. I want ones that obliviously really look good and go from there. I like Vince, I like Michael Kors…some of the name brands just like everyone. My stylist is really starting to use a new company… ASOS. I like to mix it up as long as it looks good.

AFM: What do you wear off of the court?

SB: Sports gear! Whatever I have. Obviously I’m a big fan of Nike and I like Adidas. I like to wear like ¾ comfortable pants and just a comfortable shirt.

AFM: You have a very diverse family for living in Arizona (being Australian with a German husband who also coaches in Russia part of the year)– how are you guys raising your kids with that?

SB: [My children] They’ve lived in 3 different countries and visited probably 10 others because they travel with us. I mean for being our kids at 8-years-old and almost 5-years-old, they’ve really gotten to see the world, and what I like about it is they’re so open to change. They just adapt so well. Travelling’s not a problem for them, adapting to new situation’s not a problem for them. As long as mom and dad’s there, they’re fine. And some might say because they’re so young, they’re worldly. They kind of understand. They speak differently, and they live differently. This is what we do. There’s not judgment or anything and that’s what I like. That’s how we try and bring our kids up. We treat people how we want to be treated and we have fun with what we do and they just adapt. It’s really neat in that regard, but if you actually spoke to our children, mom’s Australian, Dad’s German, and they’re American. So that’s neat, they’re growing up seeing so many things. And we’re very grateful to coach all around the world, but we’ll only do Russia one more year and I look forward to staying put in Phoenix for hopefully many years to come.

AFM: Back into style, why is it important professional woman as a professional woman to present yourself with style?

SB: I do it for my own personal feeling because I’m the head coach and representing the organization and myself. You want to do it in the right way, and you said it, it’s just presenting yourself in a professional way. Running up in tracksuits, that’s not really professional. I can do that for practice, which I love to do, but we’re still a product out there and you’re showing that you’re serious about your profession. And I think it’s a personal thing for women – their style. Everyone has a style.

AFM: Every little girl that grows up in sports tends to be labeled as a tomboy who isn't seen in a feminine light. What do you think about that stereotype?

SB: Yeah, true. I totally agree with you. If you play sports, you’re a tomboy. That’s on the court, that’s our business to wear sports gear. We’re sweating, we’re yelling, we’re being physical and stuff like that, so we’ll dress appropriately. But you see the girls off the court, and you know, sometimes you wouldn’t recognize them, but they all like dressing up and looking good. I think that’s just a perception. Everyone enjoys dressing up. Everyone likes looking like a woman and feeling attractive in whatever style they might have.

AFM: How do you feel being a style icon and a role model to other women?

SB: Fashion icon [laughs]! Not sure about that, that makes me laugh. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that. But, you know, it’s just being professional. It’s my position and the girls get a kick out of it – seeing what I’m going to wear every day. I have to kind of keep my act up now!

AFM: What’s it like being a leadership role for young women to look up to?

SB: I think it’s important being in a leadership role. They are too far and in between. I’m always going to think that if you decide between a male and a female, that females should be given more opportunities. If you decide between a male and a female, the best person should get the job, but I’m always going to think females should get a little more opportunity because there are some very talented women out there and a job will sometimes go to a man. I think it’s performance based, not because of the gender, but I think it’s great to see women in those leadership roles. We’re pretty good at what we do too. And it’s just getting that opportunity.

AFM: What do you have to say to people that peg women in a stereotype, considering you break many of them?

SB: I think there’s always going to be naysayers out there. I don’t even think about them to be quite honest. This is what I’m going to do and you’ll see me in sports. I like being active; I’ll be working out. I like getting sweaty and I like being comfortable around the house. I’m not going to wear any makeup if I don’t need to. Stuff like that. For me, it’s all about being natural and who I am. I’m not going to pretend to be something that I’m not. Most girls I know, that’s the same thing for them. They’re not trying to pretend to be what they are not. People want to talk about how they dress; they should probably find a hobby or something. Go for a run. That’s life and that’s ok. I’m fine with that. There’re people that enjoy doing that and that’s fine. I’m just very blessed to be in Phoenix and it’s a great organization basically. And we have a great fan base here, and that’s what I really appreciate. People are just so nice and it is nice because we’re in a pressure situation, too. We’re not always going to win but we’re always going to do our best and I think for the most part, people see that, and that’s a great position we’re in. 

As the saying goes, you can take the girl out of the California, but you can never take California out of the girl. You must arguably cannot ever take the Golden State out of this woman; nor the Grand Canyon State in her case either. In a crossroads of the two western desert states, we meet the *reigning Ms. California United States and MLB Network P.A. Sande Charles; the fire-filled, passionate beauty queen who thrives between her two homes, trades in her crown for a baseball cap and breaks stereotypes in the workforce wherever she goes.

The Glendale, Ariz., native, sister of five rowdy brothers, and a proud graduate of Arizona State University jetted to Los Angeles the day after her graduating with her undergraduate degree to pursue her career with television and communications.

“I knew I wanted to be on TV, and I knew I wanted to be in film so I moved as quickly as I could. I started working in TV and production and acting as an extra, or as a P.A., or anything like that,” says Charles.

Eleven years later after climbing the production and reporting latter, from working for the Los Angele Kings to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the same vivacious and spirit-led woman still calls both Arizona and California her home. Working full-time at MLB Network since 2011 and Fox Sports Los Angeles, to traveling back “home” for Spring Training and freelance reporting and hosting events.

Even in such a fast paced and male-dominated industry, the crown-wearing sports-lover wouldn’t change it for the world.

“Hands down, the people are the best part of the job. I’ve never worked for a network that has your best interests at heart. They’re my family. I don’t know what I would have done the last four years without all of my bosses and everyone here. I don’t know how I got so lucky, God is too good” says Charles. 

Working in sports and reporting was always on the checklist for Charles, but competing in a pageant—not so much. Holding a pageantry title was the last thing on her mind in life until the opportunity to compete fell into her own perfect timing last year.

“It’s still surreal because I don’t look at myself as ‘it.’ I have always been such a tomboy. I can put on the dress, I love the shopping, and I love taking care of myself, but to be Ms. California is still crazy. All of these great connections came out of it but are still surreal,” she says.

“I constantly want to be a role model to other women. I want to say ‘hey little girls, you can do this. Dreams do come true. You can work hard, you can feel good about yourself, and you can be healthy with it. You can have it all. It’s possible.’” 

Adding to her list of accomplishments and schedule book, Charles now has added work as the in-game host for Honda Center and reporter for Focus Magazine and Focus TV. She will continue to travel between Arizona and California.

Charles just recently gave up her crown to the new reigning Ms. California United States who will serve for a 12-month duration (2015-2016).

Paradise Valley great-grandmother Anne Lorimor, 85 years old, is attempting to be the oldest woman to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.  She leaves Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Saturday, June 27 for Tanzania, Africa as part of her mission to raise awareness and funds for underprivileged children. “While I am not a professional climber I’ve always enjoyed hiking.  If I combine my interest in climbing with my passion for helping children, what could be better?” says Anne, who says she would rather be called by her first name than Ms. Lorimor.

She has traveled to more than 100 countries and climbed dozens of mountains including four peaks with an elevation of more than 14,000 feet. At 76, she climbed Pike’s Peak in Colorado at 14,115 feet.  Mount Kilimanjaro is one mile higher than Pike’s Peak at 19,341 feet above sea level. It is the tallest peak in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the world (not part of a mountain range like the Himalayas, which boast Mt. Everest which is 10,000 ft. less than Mt Kilimanjaro). Anne is training in Northern Arizona and Colorado to prepare for the biggest climb of her life, a climb she says she will complete for the sake of children in need.

To understand Lorimor’s mission is to understand her past.  Anne was born at the start of the Great Depression and was the oldest of ten children.  She and her family were homeless at times and lived in tents.  She believes her experience is what drives her to help individuals in need, especially children. “My family was poor. There were times we were hungry and cold but people were often kind. We never lost hope.  I was very fortunate that a teacher even offered to pay for my high school tuition because she saw potential,” says Anne. “Since then I’ve been compelled to pass that forward.”

In 2004 Lorimor founded the Challenge Youth Fund, a fund with the Arizona Community Foundation. The mission of Lorimor’s project is to help children and youth reach their full potential and, in turn, to make a difference in the world.  The fund cooperates with other organizations to offer education and mentoring opportunities to underserved children and teens with an emphasis in helping foster and orphaned children, as well as homeless youth.  “Children don’t ask to be in the situation they’re in; they just are,” Anne says. “I invite people to share in my journey to raise awareness and money so kids can have options and be given the hand up they deserve.”

Anne went on to earn her Bachelors in Journalism, Bachelors of Science in Nursing, her Registered Nurse License, a Masters in Counseling, a Masters in Health Education and her Ph.D. in Mass Communications as well as a certificate in Spanish Studies. To learn more about Anne’s mission or to donate, please visit www.AnneKiliClimb.com. To follow Anne on her journey and cheer her on, please connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Coming off a packed house at CMA Fest in Nashville and a recently released album, Locks On Doors, country artist JT Hodges is belting his way to the top.

Following the release of his 2012 self-titled album, Hodges is changing up the sound of country for all fans. Adding in hints of rock, R&B and twang to the recent release, Hodges is beginning the next phase of his career.

We had a chance to catch up with the “Ray Bans” star in anticipation of his free show Saturday, June 27 at 8 p.m. at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa.

AFM: I loved seeing all the photos from CMA Fest! How was that experience for you?

JT: It was awesome. We had a packed house at every single show and you really can’t ask for much more than that! The crowd was amazing and so energetic. That’s what makes the shows great – the crowd.

AFM: What is a ”normal” day for you when you are not on tour?

JT: Days off usually consist of hanging out with my family and friends and a lot of writing. (I’m) always looking for great new music.

AFM: Your latest album has a wide range of sound. You have “Ray Bans,” which would be your more fun, summery song, and then close it out with “She’s Alive” that definitely has a rock feel to it. How do you choose what goes on this album and what goes into your live sets?

JT: It’s funny that you mention “She’s Alive” - that’s actually the second single from this EP. That song seems to be a favorite with everyone. Truthfully, I have a lot of smart people around me that help with these decisions! It’s always great to switch up the sound and feel to each record. I like there to be a little bit of everything to my sound, because that’s what makes music so great.

AFM: There is definitely a different sound to your live sets as well.

JT: That’s the best part. My fans are definitely fans of music, not genres. I like to envision that my fans are also die-hard fans of artists like Kanye, Lenny Kravtiz and George Straight. Then, to them it’s about the music, not going to a show because it’s a country show. Growing up, I listened to a little bit of everything; it’s the reason I make the music that I make.

AFM: What is the song that means the most to you?

JT: Oh man, I can’t pick that! It’s like picking your favorite kid. But, if you’re asking my favorite at this moment, I would have to choose “Gonna Need a Guitar” from the EP. I just recorded a special version of that where my 4-year-old sings a bit of it at the end. Perfect for Father’s Day, and it’s a sweet little memory for me and her.

AFM: Does that make it your favorite to play live as well?

JT: Favorite to play live right now is a toss-up between “Ray Bans” and “She’s Alive.” They are both so fun and definitely get the crowd going.

AFM: You have had the chance to play some amazing places. Do you have a favorite venue to play?

JT: I love the big shows. To have that many people there listening to you is an incredible feeling. My favorite memory from a show has to be when I played Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington. There was a crazy amount of people packed in there just waiting for someone to play. And, let’s face it, if you are not the headliner, chances are the fans are not there for you. But, to have the entire crowd captivated by the end of your show is an amazing feeling.

AFM: Any bucket list venues?

JT: Hollywood Bowl in L.A. and Red Rocks in Colorado, for sure. Those venues are so unique and iconic; to be a part of a different show like that would be amazing.

AFM: You played at Harrah’s a few months back – are you excited to return to the venue?

JT: I am! It’s definitely a cool place to be, and it’s inside, which is a plus for Arizona. 

Interview by Kelly Potts

Local Scottsdale gym owner and Best of our Valley award winner, Nikki Metzger, was recently selected by Women’s Health Magazine as a top five finalist out of thousands of contestants for its third annual Next Fitness Star Competition.

A panel of celebrity judges and online fan votes will decide the next winner, who will star in her own fitness DVD and become a contributor for Women’s Health Magazine.

Out of the five competitors, Metzger said her gender-neutral workout style was what set her apart.

She uses her gym BODI in Scottsdale to train clients using high-intensity workouts that incorporate cardio, plyometrics and more. It’s not uncommon to see her students flipping tires, slamming battle ropes and deadlifting weights.

“The workouts will leave you feeling strong, empowered and unstoppable and will help you achieve a lean, strong and toned body,” she says. “I believe every woman has an athlete inside her, and it’s my job to help her realize that.”

In addition to being potentially awarded The Next Fitness Star, Metzger is one of 12 Nike Master Trainers in the country.

“Being part of Nike has been truly amazing, especially being able to work alongside the best of the best,” she says. “We are always learning from each other which makes each of us better trainers and people.”

Metzger says maintaining an active lifestyle has always been a part of her, and she wants to show her clients working out is a lifestyle – not just a get-thin-quick scheme.

More importantly, Metzger said the workouts leave people feeling empowered.

“The feeling I get after a workout is what keeps me going. There is nothing better than leaving a training session dripping in sweat and feeling awesome,” she says. “I don’t just train to look good, but instead to feel good inside and out.”

The Next Fitness Star competition kicked off June 22 and fans can vote every day for their top pick at thenextfitnessstar.com. Head back to the site Aug. 10 to see who will win.  

-Story by Taylor Seely

Kareem Rosser is a 22-year-old collegiate Polo player from Colorado State University. Born in Philadelphia, he learned to ride horses at 8 years old after getting involved with Work to Ride, a local nonprofit that helps inner city youth learn to play Polo in exchange for work around the stable. Little did he know fourteen years later he would be guiding his college team to its first national championship in 16 years.

Rosser has won numerous awards and was even selected to be a part of one of the US Polo Teams that competed against England in an international match last spring.

Local fans can see Rosser live and in person Sat., Oct. 24 at WestWorld of Scottsdale where he will play on the Club Cabo Team in the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships.  To meet Rosser in person, locals can attend a meet and greet session at Relish Burger Bistro at The Phoenician Thurs., Sept. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  

Before the big game, Arizona Foothills Magazine got a chance to speak to him on the phone about his thoughts on Polo and his advice to aspiring players.

AFM: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF PLAYING POLO?

Rosser: I enjoy all the cool people that I’ve met over the years. I love being an athlete and being able to go out and play with a team, (and) the adrenaline rush of going down the field at 35 or 45 miles per hour.  

AFM: WHAT DO YOU FIND HARDEST ABOUT THE SPORT?

Rosser: The hardest part is the riding part. For most people, once you get the riding down then all the other mechanics fall in place, but being able to ride different horses and understand how to ride is the most challenging part.

AFM: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HUMILITY AS AN ATHLETE?

Rosser: Sometimes I think everyone has an ego and it’s important, like always, to keep that in check. For me personally there are a lot of things in sports that motivate me to want to do more and accomplish more and learn from being around some of the best (athletes) in the world. You have to act humble, but at the same time I think it’s important to appreciate what you have and stay competitive and realize that there (are) people out there that are better than you. It makes me want to work harder. That’s kind of what I’ve learned over the years.

AFM: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PLAYERS WANTING TO PLAY POLO?

Rosser: To young players I would just say it’s important to practice and take every advantage there is to ride and know there are people that are better than you. I’ve had some good coaches, but I’ve (also) just learned from the players themselves.

AFM: IS THERE SIGNIFICANCE IN LOSING?

Rosser: I learn a lot from losing. When I first began, all I ever did was lose, but you stick around until you figure out how to win. That just comes with time, playing and practicing, but more importantly, I would tell people to focus on what you can learn from other people. I think that helps a lot of people grow their game.

AFM: DO YOU ENJOY THE SPOTLIGHT THAT COMES WITH BEING A SUCCESSFUL POLO PLAYER?

Rosser: It’s always nice when you have fans, but (for) me personally…I like to be in the background. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that all the time, but I think it’s great for the sport. If you have a good fan base, I think it’s important to help the sport grow.

AFM: BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, DO PEOPLE HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT WHAT POLO IS?

Rosser: A lot of people think it’s going to be a very wealthy person’s game and stuff like that, and it’s not all about that. Being able to follow the sport is difficult… It’s a social thing as well.

AFM: WHY IS POLO SO SPECIAL TO YOU?

Rosser: It changed my life. I get to travel the world and visit places I would’ve never had the opportunity to, and it’s opened a lot of doors for me personally. I’ve made connections I probably never would have. Not only is the sport great, but (also) most people in it are great people. So there’s a lot the game brings with the people. It’s been a good ride for me, and I appreciate every day I’ve been able to play.

For more information on where to see Rosser play, visit Bentley's website by clicking here. 

Interview and Story by Taylor Seely

The balance is tough and the struggle is real. The mompreneur boom is taking over many of us...moms eager to become an all-in-one mogul.

Granted, it's challenging to wear many hats: mom, wife, maid, chef, chauffeur, and professional. Truth be told--I do many things half-ass (like serving pizza for dinner and postponing folding laundry). However, maintaining a professional sense of self is very important to me, and I constantly strive to fulfill the creative juices flowing inside me. Success isn't always measured by money.

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference. There, I shared my top 10 tips when it comes to self branding. I refer to these tips on a regular basis, as they act as a guide to help me through the juggle of mompreneurhood.

So...here you go.

1. Have a plan

Ask yourself: what you are trying to accomplish? Create a list of goals. 

Do you want to invent something?  Determine the need, your niche, and your audience. 

Do you want to start a blog?  What makes yours different than the others? 

Do you want to market yourself? If so, create a one-sheet and contact list.

Really determine what it is you want to do...and why. I suggest making a short-term and long-term plan. Allow room for revision.   

2. Manifest & write things down

Somehow the universe works in your favor when you write things down. Jim Carey wrote himself a $10 million check before becoming famous. While that magic doesn’t work for the majority of us, it does grant you power to manifest.  

3. Try not to burn your bridges 

We are all connected; some how, some way.  You never know when you’re going to need someone from your past.  If possible, leave positive footprints wherever you go.  

4. Don’t say no to publicity

Whether it’s a big TV station or a small blogger, treat all entities with equal respect.  Any exposure, big or small, can make an impact. 

5. Take pride in yourself

Taking care of yourself is good for you in every way: mentally, physically, and emotionally.  Set an example for your children to be healthy. If you don’t care for yourself, how can you care for your family? 

6. Learn to love public speaking...and the camera

It teaches you confidence. It teaches you poise. It teaches you communication.  Whether you’re speaking to someone one-on-one, or presenting to an audience, people skills and public speaking will strengthen your brand. If this skill intimidates you, practice...it can be as simple as reading an entertaining story to your children.  

7. Have tough skin

Form it now and form it strong. Be ready to hear "no." Prepare for rejection. People can be MEAN. It can hurt, but don't let it get you down. Learn to accept constructive criticism and move forward.

8. Be a shameless self promoter

Use social media to your advantage. Try to engage with your friends, fans, and followers. Be consistent, savvy, and safe when posting pictures, thoughts, comments, and videos.

9. Take risks

This, by far, is my favorite tip. 

A great quote: If you're not just a little afraid each day, you're probably not doing anything big or of great value with your life.

Turn fear into tenacity.

Turn worry into action.

Go down trying. What do you have to lose? 

Sometimes we cannot stop negative and worrisome feelings from entering our bodies, but we do have the power to stop them from holding us back.

10. Be proud

Every once in a while, give yourself a pat on the back.  Be kind to you. Rejoice in your accomplishments. Sometimes you really do deserve a cookie for your hard work.

About Nadine

Nadine Bubeck is a mom, wife, multi-media personality, host, author, blogger, keynote speaker, and PR professional. She has been an anchor/reporter at TV stations in San Diego, California, and Phoenix, Arizona. She contributes to numerous motherhood-based publications and is often featured as a parenting expert on television, among other media outlets. Nadine can often be found at mommy-and-me classes, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband and sons, Nicholas and Zachary. She's a blessed boy mom and queen of the house. Her book, Expecting Perfect: My Bumpy Journey to Mommyhood, is available on Amazon.  For more: www.allthingsmama.tv

Nadine would love to hear from you: nadine@nadinebubeck.com

Photo Credit: Hector Salas Almeida

Story By: Hector Salas Almeida

It all began while running drills on the track and at basketball practice in high school, where he worked on nailing down his agility and elevating his performance on the court and track. Slowly, Michael Gagnon began to invest time into sculpting his physique while playing sports and hitting the weight room for grueling workouts twice a day.  

Michael Gagnon is a 22-year-old entrepreneur who started his own online fitness training and coaching website, MPG Athletics,  where he offers a wide range of services that help individuals get fit and living a healthy lifestyle.

Gagnon writes nutrition regimens, prepares exercise plans and offers advice on supplements suited to reach individualized fitness goals. Coaching various people from the average housewife to students and professionals, Gagnon tailors each fitness regimen to their specific needs and creates nutrition plans that incorporate some of their favorite foods to help the individual stay committed to the plan.

“You have a global reach. You are not just limiting yourself to people in your area and you can reach anyone,” Gagnon said.  He continued stating that the level of impact an online personal training website can be maximized if it is properly exposed on social media websites and other platforms by generating traffic to the website. This is what he has been doing to help bridge the gap between people who dream about being fit and living an active lifestyle and their goals.  

Signing up is quick and easy. Gagnon makes each client fill out a questionnaire to help him gage what the individual wants to gain from the experience as a whole and get a snapshot of what their lifestyle looks like.  

He uses weekly check ins via email with pictures to see how the plan is working. You can tell when people are only doing half of the plan, so he adjusts the regimen to optimize the level of outcome each person has.

“Train for longevity,” he said. The most important thing is to focus on your personal long term goals and not training for short term goals or for quick results, he added. 

Posting workout videos, pictures and the occasional shameless shirtless pictures helped increase his following on social media over the years. Currently, Gagnon’s Instagram page has 61,000 followers who look to him for fitness tips and information that he provides with each posts. Last year he had 18,000 followers and has built his online brand by providing a unique perspective on fitness given his extensive knowledge on the subject . Gagnon likes to engage with his followers to help foster a sense of community and help motivate people to excel in every aspect of life.

Gagnon said that his online personal coaching website started from people who would directly message him and ask for help. They would ask him to help with reach their fitness goals.

He is moving MPG Athletics is moving to Southern California later in October to help expand the online fitness company by increasing the capacity to which Gagnon networks with individuals in the fitness community.  This move will help grow his online company because it will widen the scope of his reach while increasing the level of exposure his personal brand has.

As a sponsored athlete with Live Fit Apparel, a fitness clothing company based in California, Gagnon wears their clothes and embodies what the brands stands for. He posts photos and videos wearing the fitness apparel brand and showcases how he makes fitness a lifestyle instead of a mundane routine. 

Gagnon said he would love to pursue modeling and acting and hopes to one day open a studio gym in Los Angeles where he can foster a tight knit fitness community that embraces fitness lifestyles.

Photo Credit: Hector Salas Almeida

By Alison Bailin Batz

On Friday, October 23, Airpark resident and PGA golfer Tom Lehman will partner with fellow Airpark business AXA Advisors Southwest as well as Talavera and Proof at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Resort Troon North, Paul Martin’s American Grill, Sprinkles Cupcakes, The Melting Pot, The Capital Grill Scottsdale, Jalapeno Inferno, Rhythm & Wine, Sol Cocina, Tom’s Thumb, Alliance Beverage and many more for the 4th Annual Weekend Jetaway Culinary Casino Classic. Though he and the team are busily coordinating the unique “taste” event, Lehman recently sat down with us to talk life, the links and – of course – the big event.

How old were you when you first started playing golf, and when did you go pro?

Lehman: I first tried it around 3rd grade, but didn’t really get into it regularly until I was around 12, so more the 6th grade. A little over a decade later, by age 23, I went pro.

What is your favorite memory as a pro?

Lehman: In 1999, I was a member of the American Ryder Cup team. This annual competition between American and European golfers is among one of the biggest events of the golf year. The Europeans were leading 10–6 heading into the final round, but we rallied on Sunday. My teammates included the late, great Payne Stewart, Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and others.

Least favorite?

Lehman: I missed a two-foot putt on the 18th green of the Phoenix Open one year that caused me to miss the cut, and that is about as mad as I ever got on the course.

Who is your favorite golfer?

Lehman: As a kid, I admired Arnold Palmer because of his style and aggressive nature. As an adult a fellow professional, I would say the late Byron Nelson because – in addition to being an amazing player – he lived his life off the course as meaningfully as he did on it.

Any superstitions while playing?

Lehman: I usually mark my ball with a dime and typically use a white tee. But I am definitely not one of those players who refuses to change his dirty socks for weeks if I am on a streak. PU!

What are some of your favorite courses in the Valley?

Lehman: DC Ranch for sure. I also love the TPC Scottsdale, Encanterra, Verrado and the Phoenix Country Club.

For most people, golf is a hobby. Since it is your job (and passion), what are some hobbies?

Lehman: I love fly fishing, specifically in mountain streams for trout, and playing any games with my kids. I also have a passion for volunteering.  

How did you get involved in Weekend Jetaway in the first place?

I serve as a founding board member of Elevate Phoenix. Our mission is to strengthen character, empower knowledge and elevate relationships among youth in Arizona’s most urban communities. Currently, we have a 98% graduation rate and 90% post-secondary rate among participating youth. In 2014, we connected with AXA to officially make Weekend Jetaway our annual fundraiser.

How is Weekend Jetaway different from other galas and fundraising events?

First, the location: we host the “taste” even of sort – thanks to AeroJet – in a luxe private jet hangar right in the Airpark. Second, the vibe: we’ve done away with the sit-down dinner and instead offer guests the opportunity to sample some of the best chefs in Arizona’s menus at their pace. Third, and this is the big one: rather than a band or dancing, we indulge our guests in a dice-style casino game during the event, with the night’s ultimate champion taking home an all-inclusive private jet vacation for four! Oh, the auction is pretty spectacular too!

How can the Airpark community get involved?

In addition to purchasing tickets to the event, which are available for $125 at www.weekendjetaway.org, we are really hoping that our Airpark friends will consider donations to our silent and live auction or even a sponsorship to be our full partner on this undertaking. The majority of funds from the evening come from our silent and live auctions – so every little bit helps in a BIG WAY toward our goal. Anyone with any questions or ideas for auction items can reach us through the website or directly by contacting abailin@hmapr.com.

There has been a big change in your Phoenix nightly newscast. ABC15's  Stephanie Hockridge is now alongside and joining Katie Raml, Steve Irvin, and Amber Sullins on the News at 10pm anchor team.

Stephanie will continue to anchor ABC15 News at 5pm and 6pm, and report on large stories around our state.

“Stephanie’s passion for storytelling radiates in our newsroom and in the community,” said ABC15 News Director Chris Kline. “She takes action every day on behalf of our audience and having her on the 10pm anchor desk gives additional depth to an already strong team.”

The Emmy-nominated multi-media journalist joined ABC15 four years ago after working in Kansas City, Missouri, Charlottesville, Virginia and Columbia, Missouri. 

To contact Stephanie: facebook.com/StephanieHockridgeTV and @shockredgeABC15. 

Photo Courtesy of: Paul Johnson 

 During his time in office, the Bertelsmann Award honored Phoenix as the “Best Run City in the World.” It came partly based in because of Johnson’s efforts to help the city transition to a self-insurance model. Now, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson (1990-1994) has been working on finding affordable solutions for business and people when it comes to cutting unnecessary healthcare costs.

Johnson ran for city council when he was 23-years-old. He said that he knocked on eighty thousand doors, and only stopped knocking when he won the city council seat. Johnson believes in disrupting the status quo and is very heavily involved in political reform around the state and the country.  

As a co-founder of Redirect Health, Johnson works to provide healthcare solutions with a team of doctors, physicians and other experts in the medical field while offering companies alternatives to the high-cost insurance plans most use.

Redirect Health provides affordable healthcare services that comply with the Affordable Care Act and helps reduce extraneous administrations costs by finding cost-efficient solutions to address healthcare needs. Customers are seeing a dramatic reduction in their premium plan with Redirect Health, according to Johnson.  

Plans cost $86 per member and offer different services such as a twenty-four hour a day phone service that helps identify the health problems and offers care and guidance to people when they are sick or injured. It is important to note that Redirect Health does not provide health insurance, and it is not an insurance company.

With this new venture, former Phoenix Mayor Johnson is working closely with experts in the medical field to help provide health care solutions to businesses and help them reduce costs.

Johnson said, “change the world, think the unthinkable and have a blast.”

Photo Credit: Hector Salas Almeida

Jason Carr is a 27-year-old personal trainer at Urban Garage Gym who left his law career to pursue his dreams of becoming a notorious fitness entrepreneur first in the valley, and then around the country. Learn more about Carr's passion for fitness and how it motivates him to succeed in the fitness world. 

Photo Credit: Hector Salas Almeida

Story By: Hector Salas Almeida

After a long shift working at a local Applebee's, Jason Carr was rushed to the hospital and was cut open by a surgeon who went in and untangled his large and small intestine, rearranged his organs. The surgeon removed a dead piece of colon and saw his organs revitalize, something that was rare and unheard of in the medical community. The doctors attributed this medical miracle to the remarkable shape Carr had maintained after years and years of weight training, diet and consistent exercise. Ten years later, Carr continues to push himself six days a week for two hours in the weight room, seeking results that will help him maintain an impermeable physic.

Carr decided that his first step in the fitness world was to become a fitness trainer, where he could measure the level of impact he could potentially have on a small clientele. He began working as a personal trainer in December of 2014 at Urban Garage Gym. Located in Scottsdale, the gym is tailored towards people who are looking for a hands on, one-on-one, intimate setting between trainee and trainer. Carr works closely with people who are looking to get into better shape, with people who are looking to compete in local and national physique competitions as well as the average person who is new to the fitness world and wants to get started on improving their physical health.

While working on generating a following on social media, Carr films daily workouts and takes pictures of him at the gym doing what he does best. He uses popular hashtags to help generate traffic to his Instagram and to his YouTube Channel where we hopes to widen his reach and increase the level of impact he has on other who are interested in fitness either locally, nationally or globally.

His love and passion for fitness transcends the physical aspects of the trade. Carr said that physical fitness is a manifestation of his mental state, his emotional state and his spiritual state. His passion is fitness; he hopes to be successful in sharing his passion with others and hopes it impacts others in a way that surpasses his mortal existence.

On Jan. 11, the Arizona Organizing Committee (AOC) welcomes the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship to Glendale. Brad Wright, co-chair of the AOC, discusses how the highly anticipated four-day celebration will cater to everyone from families to foodies to music lovers as much as it will appeal to sports fans. 

AFM: You traveled to Texas for last year’s game. What did you learn there?

BW: A lot! Given that the College Football Playoff format is so new (last year was the inaugural national championship), there was quite a bit for us to learn. First and foremost, this is much more than one game. It’s a four-day celebration of college football with a wide variety of events and activities for fans and the community to enjoy. The size and scope of the College Football Playoff National Championship is truly impressive. Last year more than 33 million people tuned in to watch the national championship. It is certainly on par with that of other mega events Arizona has successfully hosted but with a uniquely collegiate atmosphere.

AFM: Did you take away any tips after witnessing the Super Bowl events earlier this year?

BW: We did. We’re in a unique position to be able to take what we learned in Dallas and what we learned from this last year’s Super Bowl and apply that to hosting the 2016 national championship.

We have worked very closely with the Super Bowl Host Committee to understand what worked best for them, as well as what could be improved. The community might notice some similarities between the two events, like our Championship Campus presented by Ak- Chin Indian Community in Downtown Phoenix, but there will be some very noticeable differences as well because this is collegiate football and a different fan base. If you were able to take part in this last Super Bowl, you know how exciting it was to be in the Valley— it was electric. That feeling is something that we hope to capture again and provide for the community. 

AFM: How will the game and surrounding events differ than years before?

BW: Hosting college football championships is nothing new for Arizona. As many sports fans know, we’ve hosted more than any other state in the last 30 years. This year will be our eighth, the first under the new College Football Playoff format, and it will definitely be different. The previous BCS format (that many Arizonans are used to) was limited to one day of festivities. The College Football Playoff format is a four-day celebration of college football for the entire community. The community can look forward to Playoff Fan Central, a multi-day fan festival; Playoff Playlist Live!, a free outdoor music series; and Taste of the Championship, a culinary event, to name a few. All of those events will be taking place in the Championship Campus presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community in Downtown Phoenix starting on Jan. 8. We’ll also be hosting a Championship Tailgate before the national championship game in Glendale Jan. 11.

AFM: What impact do you hope for the championship game and events to have on the Valley?

BW: A couple of things. I hope that we host an outstanding national championship and that it is an event that the entire community can be proud of for years to come. I also hope that we are able to drive significant, long-term economic impact and development for the entire state. We’re not just in this for one game or one event; we’re in this for many, and we are working hard to showcase everything that makes Arizona a great place to live, do business and recreate in order to encourage travelers and business owners to be part of our community. 

AFM: Which event are you most looking forward to?

BW: With all of the events, it’s hard to pick just one. I’m a football fan at heart, so I’m really looking forward to the national championship game no matter which teams are playing. One thing I know for sure is that it will be a fun- lled weekend, and we hope the community will come out and join us. 

Breaking through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with Christmas carols humming from the stereo and wish lists fresh on their minds, we hear from some of our favorite Valley families to see what makes their holiday dreams come true. 

By: Christina Tetreault Photographed By: Cori Roberts at The Wrigley Mansion

The HALL-FITCH Family

Jennifer Hall-Fitch and Stephen Fitch | Children: Jackson: 4 1⁄2; Isabella: 2 1⁄2

Christmas is everything to this tight-knit family. With much more to celebrate than just the holiday, including a family birthday and wedding anniversary, there’s quite a lot of hustle and bustle. However, one tradition never changes. “It’s a tradition I have carried over to doing with my own children. Each year we read, The Night Before Christmas, which gets the magic stirring in their heads,” says Jennifer Hall-Fitch. The founder and designer of luxury children’s brand, Henny & Coco, uses that magic that she sees in her children as inspiration for her brand. “They inspire me and a lot of what I do, how I can dress them, and how I envision things based on their personalities.” And this year, the passionate family of four will be starting a new tradition: going up north and picking out their own real Christmas tree to continue the magic around their rich and growing traditions.

FAVORITE HOLIDAY MOVIE: Isabella: “The puppy one...puppy one. The puppy one is my favorite!”

TREAT: Jennifer: Blueberry pie and Christmas cookies; Stephen: Blueberry/cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream; Jackson: “Actually, I like broccoli! Actually, what it is called that we just baked? A pie!”

CAROL: Jackson: “I like the ‘Jingle Bell’ song!” 

The TAYLOR Family

Karrin Taylor | Children: Alexandra: 22; Elizabeth: 19 (not pictured, away at school); William: 15; Olivia: 11

With long established roots in Arizona, one of Executive Vice President of DMB Associates Karrin Taylor’s fondest holiday memories was opening presents in the wee hours of Christmas morning after going to midnight mass and returning home to find that Santa had magically already trickled gifts under the tree. Going to Christmas Eve mass is also a tradition that she has held with her own children, but she’s added her own sweet spin to the tradition: pecan pie. For the Taylors, the holiday season does not begin without a full house of family and their traditional passed-down, famous pecan pie recipe.

FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITION: Karrin: “Getting to make our pecan pie with all of the cousins around”; Alex: “When all the family comes together between Thanksgiving and New Year’s”; Olivia: “Probably all of the baking, the cookies and pecan pie”; Elizabeth: “Making pecan pie”; William: “Spending time with my family”

TREAT: Karrin: Pecan pie, cookies and candies; Alex: Gingersnaps; Olivia: Pecan pie; Elizabeth: Mashed potatoes; William: Chocolate chip cookies MOVIE: Karrin: “Miracle on 34th Street,” “It’s a Beautiful Life” and “Elf”; Alex and William: “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”; Olivia: “Elf”; Elizabeth: “It’s a Wonderful Life”

CAROL: Karrin and William: “Silent Night”; Alex and Elizabeth: “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”; Olivia: “Deck the Halls”

ACTIVITY: Karrin: “Cooking and eating with family”; Alex: “Waking up on Christmas morning and eating breakfast”; Olivia: “I like to wake up on Christmas morning and make pecan pie” 

The KEPPEL Family

Scott and Melissa Keppel | Children: Gavin: 13; Alex: 11; Gabe: 8

Having a dad who’s the owner of Scott’s Training Systems and fitness director of Fit Life 120 and a mom who has defeated cancer twice, this family is one force to be reckoned with. Keeping holiday traditions as strong as their family’s bond, Scott Keppel says their family is “blessed.” The Keppels incorporate their own gym with the holiday spirit. “Every year we participate in John Jay and Rich’s Christmas Wish program,” Scott says. The family and their gym community— their second family—collect gifts to donate that the gym incentivizes. This is one way that Scott and Melissa teach their three children, Gavin, Alex and Gabe, about the true reason for the season: giving.

FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITION: Scott: “Getting each kid an ornament symbolic of them each year”

MOVIE: “Elf”

TREAT: Gabe: Candy canes and peanut butter cookies; Melissa: Assorted tray of desserts from AJ’s; Gavin: Candy canes; Scott and Alex: Making magic cookie bars

CAROL: Gabe and Gavin: “Jingle Bells”; Melissa: “O Holy Night (O Night Divine)”; Alex: “Let it Snow” 

The CARDINI Family

Michelle and Joe Cardini | Children: Amanda: 21; Joseph: 18; Nina: 14

Community makes up the spirit of the holidays for the Cardini family. What prompts their annual Christmas Eve party and new traditions are the fondest of childhood memories. “I loved my mother’s ‘Christmas Eve in Connecticut’ parties that she would throw. It was a giant open house with a big bowl of eggnog,” says Michelle Cardini. The co- founder of MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) knows the importance of a strong community for youth. This same atmosphere from her memories is one that she now recreates for her children and their school friends during the Christmas season, inviting her children’s high school and college pals so that they have a place to celebrate along with their family. And, what’s now included? An entire hot chocolate bar filled with treats.

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL: Michelle: “All I Want for Christmas is You”; Amanda: "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” [“The Christmas Song”]; Nina: “Santa Baby”

TREAT: Michelle: Peanut butter chocolate balls; Amanda: Peppermint bark; Joseph: Gram’s Christmas tree cookies; Nina: Hot chocolate

TRADITION: Amanda: “Being home with loved ones”; Nina: “Our Christmas Eve party”; Joseph: “Going to pick out a live Christmas tree” 

Meet five up-and-coming PGA Tour talents (most are celebrating their rookie year!) who you’ll see take the course at this month’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Andrew Loupe

How did you get your start in the game? My parents. Early on, I showed some athleticism, and they put a plastic club in my hand. I would whack a plastic ball around the house. As I grew older, I would use my father’s cut-down clubs, and he would take me out to play. Those are my earliest memories, being 5-years-old.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has the reputation for being one of the more fun stops. What are you most looking forward to? I played it last year. I Monday qualified. I got bad food poisoning right before the tournament. I had a couple of IVs after the first round. But I think it is awesome. There are few tournaments that have massive crowds, and Phoenix is one of them. It is rowdy, and 16 is awesome. It is like playing in a stadium. The louder the better. I think is great.

What is your favorite course? I have to say Pebble Beach. It is so majestic. I don’t think I am the only one that would say Pebble. Monterey Country Club is also one of my favorites.

Who is your biggest mentor? Chuck Winstead; he was my college coach. I have known him for a long time. He has a very high golf IQ. He gives me great golf advice, as well as life advice. He is 20 years older than me; it is a perfect age gap. If I ever have a question, he is usually the first person I call.

Do you have any rituals prior to competing? It is getting out of control; I should tone it back a bit. I use a quarter every time, and I mark it on heads every time unless I have an eagle putt and then I will mark it on tails. Sometimes if I can’t buy one, I will start marking it on tails.

Off the course, where can we find you? I love to fish. I went the other day, and went out in the marsh in the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans. That is probably my favorite thing to do, if I had several hours to do something. I love sports, especially basketball. I like going to sporting events. I like to play basketball, but I am conservative with ankles and knees.

What are your goals for 2016? I want to be a more consistent golfer. I want to win a golf tournament. I want my preparation to be more consistent. I want to learn from past experiences. I really want to see some improvement.

Harold Varner

Congrats on your rookie year! What is that like being on the PGA Tour? It is good. It is good. I am enjoying myself for sure.

How did you get your start in the game? My dad played golf. Being around him, he played every Sunday. I got a little hook to it, but he introduced me to the game.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has the reputation for being one of the more fun stops. What are you most looking forward to? Just playing in front of that many people going nuts. I think that is going to be pretty fun because I would be one of those people going nuts if I wasn’t playing golf.

What is your favorite course? Pebble Beach is right up there. I played there once. There are a lot of good ones; Quail Hallow is pretty good in Charlotte.

Who is your biggest mentor? My college coach. Also, my dad.

Do you have any rituals prior to games? None. Zero, actually.

Off the course, where can we find you? At the local bar, probably. Either that or on the golf course wherever I am at. 

What are your goals for 2016? Just retaining my card, more than anything. I want to win.

Peter Malnati

How did you get your start in the game? I have a unique story. I was born in Indiana and moved to a very rural area of Tennessee when I was 13-months-old. One of our neighbors he was an old man—and he wouldn’t mind me saying that—and he got my dad into golf a bit. My dad is a great athlete. He was the first person who ever took me to a golf course. That was the first time I ever played. He convinced my dad to join a golf course. When I was 8-years-old, my parents joined the golf course and every day when my dad came home from work, we would go play nine holes. I owe it all my crazy neighbor, John.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has the reputation for being one of the more fun stops. What are you most looking forward to? I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to the stadium atmosphere on No. 16. I have never experienced anything quite like that. I always thought it was cool that—at baseball games, football—it was cool to be surrounded by thousands of fans and get out there playing a game. Golf is my job, my profession, but I feel like I am just playing a game. I am really excited about it. I am really excited about stepping on the tee at No. 16 for the first time—I don’t even care if I get booed.

What is your favorite course? I think Pebble Beach is the most special place. The setting, the scene. It is so special, and I enjoy the view there.

Who is your biggest mentor? As far as people who are playing, some people I have looked up to is Zach Johnson for the way he plays and the success he has had. I think he is really courageous. He uses the tools he has and uses them to the best of his ability. He plays to his strengths. That is something I admire; he doesn’t try to be anything he’s not. I wouldn’t call him a mentor, but I look up to him.

Do you have any rituals prior to games? Every golfer has some superstitions; we are all kind of a crazy bunch. I don’t really know of anything I do that is that is odd or eccentric, but I know we all have our little quirks.

Off the course, where can we find you? I’m actually at this point in my career when I just love to practice. It doesn’t wear me out. I spend most of my daylight hours at the course. When I am not golfing, I like doing just about anything with my wife, except shopping—I don’t like to shop. I like to explore new cities. That doesn’t give you much instruction if you’re looking for me because I don’t know where I’ll be. 

What are your goals for 2016? I am motivated to win again and get an invitation to Augusta [for the Masters]. I have some really positive momentum, and it is a Ryder Cup year. It is a lofty goal of mine, but I want to be considered for the Ryder Cup. 

Smylie Kaufman

Congrats on your rookie year! What is that like being on the PGA Tour? It is something I have always worked for. This is my dream come true. I have played some great tournaments this year. I am looking forward to developing as a golfer and achieving all the dreams that I want to.

How did you get your start in the game? Both of my parents played collegiate golf as Louisiana State University, where I played. I created a passion for it by myself, but I had parents that were a great influence.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has the reputation for being one of the more fun stops. What are you most looking forward to? The Phoenix Open is the one besides the Majors the one I am looking forward to this year. It is crazy, and I like atmospheres like that. It is going to be really cool. I have never played in front of that many people, especially people that are yelling at you sometimes. It will be a little different but a fun experience for me.

What is your favorite course? It really doesn’t matter to me. Golf is golf, but I do like Jack Nicklaus golf courses.

Who is your biggest mentor? My dad. I have a great team around me, but I think my dad is the one I can talk to and give me good advice.

Off the course, where can we find you? Probably in front of a TV, watching “SportsCenter.” Nothing too crazy. I do like to keep a basketball in my hand to dribble around the house, shoot into my little mini hoop.

What are your goals for 2016? I am going to try to win Rookie of the Year and to win a game on the PGA Tour wouldn’t hurt either.

Will Wilcox

How did you get your start in the game? My mom was a golfer—she was a teaching professional and probably could have played. I learned from her every day when I was younger. I wasn’t football size, so golf was a good fit.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has the reputation for being one of the more fun stops. What are you most looking forward to? Just the whole thing. It has been a bucket list tournament for every guy that plays. You have to earn your way there. Now that I have been able to do that, it is a dream come to play on the 16.

What is your favorite course? Pebble Beach is awesome. I like Spyglass. St. Andrew’s is the most fun.

Who is your biggest mentor? My mom taught me how to play. At this point, there are a few players I look [up to]. I just kind of look at how Tiger went about his golf. He worked really hard. The Tiger method of preparing to do your best is probably what I look up to more than anything.

What are your goals for 2016? To me, I will try to build on last year, keeping my card and keeping status on the tour. It was a lifelong goal, and I was able to do that. I had a good year in 2015. I like to hang around all year and have the chance to win.

Do you have any rituals prior to games? I take a fairly chilled approach to it. I shop up a little late. I am not rushing to get to my tee time. I warm up for 20, 25 minutes. I try not to over-analyze anything.

What does a warm up consist of for you? Do a little stretch in the hotel room. Get a nice meal in. Ten or 15 minutes of stretching and hitting balls for 15 or 20 minutes. Maybe a couple chips, a couple of puts. 

Off the course, what do you love to do? I like the beach; I live in Jupiter, Fla. I am a beach-goer. I am on the water a lot. I spend a lot of time in the Caribbean; I like the beach scene. It was always something I was drawn to.

“So many people hold their future hostage to their pasts,” Lisa Nichols says on the phone a week before she’s set to take the stage with Tony Robbins and others at the Unstoppable in 2016 motivational speaking tour at Comerica Theatre.  “The goal is for this [conference] to be the catalyst for long-term change.” 

In 1994, Nichols couldn’t afford Pampers for her son and was kept afloat by public assistance and food stamps. Realizing she had hit rock bottom, Nichols sought solutions by reading about the mindsets of successful people and attending inspirational speaking conferences. 

“When you get a bunch of like-minded people in a room and you set them on fire, people start running at a pace they’ve never run at before,” she says. “I went to a conference in 1997 that changed my life… it shifted my thinking and opened up possibilities I hadn’t seen before; I am who I am today because I went to that conference…”

Nichols has now authored six award-winning books, and her newest seventh, “ABUNDANCE NOW,” is a follow-up to her New York Times bestseller, “No Matter What.” She also founded, “Motivating the Masses, Inc.,” a multi-million dollar publicly traded company. At the conference, she says she wants to “ignite” the audience and inspire within them a positive and lasting transformation.

Until then, though, she’s dishing out some of her best tips to becoming improved, upgraded, and UNSTOPPABLE with the readers of AZFoothills.com.

1. Abundance is for everyone – Abundance…is not about focusing on possessions and money. Wealth is about money and possessions. True abundance is a 360 experience that will impact four areas of your life; (it’s about) the quality of your relationships, the quality of your health, the depth in connection of your spirituality, and finally, your finances. What’s your contribution to the planet? What do you need your finances to do in terms of furthering humanity?
2. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to initiate change – You don’t have to be in a rut to change. Change is growth. Growth is transformation. I’m not in a rut right now, but I can’t wait for my life to transform. We’re often pain-based motivators. What I’m excited about is the opportunity for people to no longer be pain-based motivators and be possibility-based motivators. (Rather than) trying to manage pain, come at it from a different angle; do it because you want to create more joy in life.
3. You have to want change – I think so many of us try inspire people to change when they don’t want to change, and our job is to respect that if they don’t want to change, they don’t want to change.
4. If you want change, start with your mindset and education – If you do want to change, the first thing to do is to change your mindset. To change your mindset, you have to learn something new. Go somewhere to learn something extra. Unstoppable…is designed to open doors, and it’s designed to make you think really differently. It’s designed to begin to shift your mindset. Wherever your mindset goes, your lifestyle has to follow.
5. Get specific about your goals - Limited belief systems lead to a limited life; ambiguous beliefs and goals lead to ambiguous results. ‘Someday!’ we say. ‘One day!’ Well, can you circle someday on the calendar? If you can’t…it doesn’t exist. Become crystal clear about what you want. A lot of times people create these crazy, macro goals but they don’t create micro wins to get to the macro goals. I tell people, when you set a by when date, don’t just set a by when date. Pick the date on the calendar, and not only the date on the calendar, pick the time of the day on the day and what time zone that’s in.  How clear is that! How powerful is that? (Then, combine) clarity along with action.
6. Avoid spending dollar time on penny tasks – Only spend your time on the highest revenue-generating activities that you should be doing.
7. Take responsibility – Take responsibility for your thoughts and your actions in 2016, but more importantly, take responsibility for your reactions.
8. Plan based on information, not emotion – When you’re making decisions, do it based on knowledge, not longing, and decide to do something or be something because you’ve done your homework, and it makes good sense, versus it just makes you feel good. Emotions should be our turbo boost, but it shouldn’t be our barometer to make decision on. It should be the thing that accelerates and adds meaning to our decisions that we’ve made based on data.
9. Give yourself permission to fail, but fail forward.

For more information about Lisa Nichols, visit her site MotivatingTheMasses.com or attend Unstoppable in 2016. Tickets available by clicking here.