February Business News

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GENERAL

Kohler Academy has changed its name to Penrose Academy. The cosmetology and skin-therapy academy, owned by Jill and Bill Kohler, opened in 2006 at 13402 N. Scottsdale Road. The owners say the name change was born from an unwelcome lawsuit over the Kohler name by “a large plumbing corporation.”

Barrett-Jackson Attendance Rises to 270,000
Car collectors took home more than 2,100 vehicles from the Valley’s Barrett-Jackson car auctions in January and left behind $185 million in total sales, according to AZCentral.com. Barrett-Jackson at WestWorld of Scottsdale led the field with $92 million in sales and nine cars that sold for $1 million or more. Sales were up by 32 percent and attendance rose 16 percent to 270,000.

The Law Office of Larry P. Karandreas PLLC selected Scottsdale Airpark-based website design firm Fasturtle Interactive, 7575 E. Redfield Road, to create a website for the law firm and provide ongoing digital marketing services.

NEW PHOENIX AIRLINE  ROUTES FOR 2012
Several airlines are adding additional Phoenix flights early this year, reports USAToday.com. Southwest will add an Atlanta-Phoenix flight starting March 10, and US Airways will add a Phoenix-New York/LaGuardia flight starting the same day. Also, Spirit will add three flights from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport going to Las Vegas starting Feb. 9, and Dallas and Fort Lauderdale starting March 22.

Miss Details Design has merged with Tempo Creative. The two Airpark businesses now share an office at 13951 N. Scottsdale Road.

Scottsdale Airpark-based Blueprints for Tomorrow has entered into a long-term partnership with AXA Advisors, an international financial services company. The alliance allows AXA to use the Blueprints For Tomorrow Program of services—which centers on business solutions and succession planning—to strengthen its own business platform. As part of the alliance, Blueprints for Tomorrow plans to license and train an estimated 300 to 450 AXA representatives before Dec. 31. Blueprints for Tomorrow Founder Nathan S. Sachs says the partnership gives his firm the opportunity to expand its reach throughout the United States. Already it has established a presence in AXA offices in Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Nassau County, New York.

Scottsdale Tourism Revenue on the Rise
Scottsdale’s tourism industry posted strong results in January, according to Smith Travel Research. While occupancy was up roughly 1 percent from a year ago, room rates and revenue per available room both rose significantly. The average room rate for Scottsdale hotels in January, according to Smith Travel Research, was $172. That’s 6 percent higher than last year’s January rate. In addition, revenue per available room increased 6.9 percent to $115. Nearly 67 percent of Scottsdale hotel rooms were occupied in January. The rate was 66 percent a year ago.

KUDOS

Trilogy, a 12-year-old financial planning firm, is celebrating its one-year anniversary at the Scottsdale location. Jeff Motske, CEO and owner, had a dream to create a company that encompasses every financial need; Trilogy, he says, is that company. Motske formed the firm in 1999 with fewer than 30 representatives, and today Trilogy is on track to be 200 reps strong by 2013. ”Trilogy promotes comprehensive wealth management incorporating tax professionals and attorneys to help clients attain goals, preserve and distribute wealth efficiently,” Motske says. “We give unbiased guidance, helping clients achieve financial independence for generations.” (Securities offered through NPC, Member SIPC, a separate entity.) Trilogy Financial Services is located at the Promenade, 16427 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 420. More: scottsdale@trilogyfs.com.

Nextiva, a cloud-based business VoIP service provider, announced that TMC, a global, integrated media company, has named Nextiva Office as a recipient of the 2011 Internet Telephony Product of the Year Award. Nextiva Office delivers a comprehensive phone service for small and midsize businesses. More: www.tmcnet.com. 

Scottsdale Airpark-based GlobalMed collected more than 1,300 items for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in December. GlobalMed, Phoenix-based HR Betty human-resources service provider and Molina Fine Jewelers each donated $5,000 to purchase the toys, which went to the Paiute Neighborhood Center, a south Scottsdale community facility. The company also recently received national recognition for its success in developing telemedicine systems that provide greater access to quality healthcare. DiversityBusiness.com selected GlobalMed as a “Top Business” from among thousands of companies. 

Massage Envy, a provider of affordable massage and spa services, announced in January that the company had performed its 40 millionth massage. The company is headquartered in the Airpark.

NEW & ON THE MOVE

Zona Hotel & Suites Scottsdale announces the newest additions to the hotel’s management team with new Food and Beverage Director Brian Blanke and new Director of Sales and Marketing Tom Waite. Adding yet another layer to the significant improvements the hotel has undergone in the past year, Blanke and Waite each bring decades of industry expertise to the hotel. Planned for the upcoming year, Waite envisions impactful promotions and hotel-owned events aimed at local and traveling guests. Under Blanke’s leadership, the on-property restaurant (7677 E. Princess Blvd.) is introducing a new menu featuring farm-to-table entrées with ingredients from local purveyors this month.

One Love Yoga will be opening its first Valley studio this spring at Grayhawk Plaza in northeast Scottsdale.

New Thompson Peak Hospital Administrator Named
Kim Post has been named vice president and administrator of Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital. Post has held various leadership positions during her 20 years with Scottsdale Healthcare. She recently served in an interim role as Thompson Peak administrator, collaborating with the medical staff, executive staff and hospital staff. Prior to that, she served as vice president of operations at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center.
Post is a registered nurse with an MBA from University of Phoenix. She currently is enrolled in a doctor of nursing program at Case Western Reserve University, and is a fellow of the Wharton executive education program.
Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital is the Valley’s first hospital north of the Loop 101 freeway, located in Grayhawk near the intersection of Scottsdale Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.

David Scholefield, director of travel industry sales for Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, has been appointed to the Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission. The TDC advises the Scottsdale City Council on matters concerning the tourism industry as well as how to spend bed-tax revenues. Scholefield joined the Fairmont more than six years ago as a national sales manager. Previously, he worked 11 years for Best Western International in various marketing and sales roles.

AZ Air Conditioning has expanded its work into the Airpark, where many buildings sustained hail damage to their A/C systems, though owners may not be aware of the problem. Recently work has been done to the Allstate/Badger Meter building at 15575 N. 79th Place. Free quotes are available. More: 480-250-3882.

Farrell Joins Studio Movie Grill
Just a few months ago, Thomas Farrell was uncertain of his future. He had spent the past 10 years building his Airpark business, Farrelli’s Cinema Supper Club, with co-owner Wendy Farrell. But a downturn in the economy combined with leasing challenges forced the popular venue to close mid-October. Fortunately, Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill (SMG) entered the Arizona market around the same time and hired him hired as SMG Scottsdale’s special events sales manager. The new theater is on Northsight Boulevard and Hayden Road. More: www.studiomoviegrill.com.

The Scottsdale Plaza Resort Fitness Center has opened its doors to the public. The facility now has a full-size, fully equipped classroom with Bose sound. La Griffin, the fitness director, will be leading group classes offering yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, cardio and the ever popular Zumba. The Plaza Pampered Club at The Scottsdale Plaza Resort, 7200 N. Scottsdale Road, offers membership to the resort property and all of its amenities. Enjoy Fitness Center benefits, spa treatments and discounts on dining and lodging, tennis courts and pools. More: 480-951-5157.

Jaime Uhrich has been promoted to executive director of the McCormick Ranch Property Owners Association Inc.

PROPERTY MATTERS

Wells Fargo Bank sold a 13,531-square-foot office building in the Scottsdale Airpark at 7020 E. Acoma Drive in Scottsdale to Acoma Holdings LLC, a travel-related services firm, for $1.2 million. Bret Isbell and Russell Fine of GPE Commercial Advisors represented the seller, and Peter Menna of Cassidy Turley/BRE Commercial represented the buyer of the two-story property.

Whitestone REIT recently purchased Phase I of Pinnacle of Scottsdale, a 113,108-square-foot class-A community center in North Scottsdale for $29 million. The transaction was originated off-market, and priced at a discount to replacement cost. The center is 100 percent leased. Whitestone now owns five community centers in the North Scottsdale trade area. “We are pleased to announce our seventh acquisition since September 2010, bringing our total to eight properties in the greater Phoenix market,” said Whitestone Chairman and CEO James C. Mastandrea in a statement. “We believe that the North Scottsdale market, which is showing signs of recovery from the recession, is a great hedge against inflation, particularly the purchases we have made at significantly discounted prices for properties with in-place cash flow.”

LEADS: NEW AREA BUSINESS LICENSES

• Actual Metrics 8340 E Raintree Dr
• Allegiant Properties 9965 N 95th St
• B&G Auto Sales 7900 E Greenway Rd
• Black Shale Commercial Property
9378 E Bahia Dr
• Bodyscapes Studio 7625 E Redfield Rd
• Care H2 Energy Systems 
16419 N 91st St
• Caribbean Kids 19550 N Grayhawk Dr
• Ceterra Accents & Interiors
15125 N Hayden Rd
• Desert Gallery Properties
7655 E Redfield Rd
• Diabetic & Neuropathy Treatment 8591 E Bell Rd
• Dr Shaun Riddle NMD 8060 E Gelding Dr
• Evolution Physical Therapy
9312 E Raintree Dr
• Famray Properties
7970 E Thompson Peak Pkwy
• G Peterson Consulting Group Inc
14362 N Frank Lloyd Wright
• Grand Canyon University  
9201 E Mountain View Rd
• GT Guns 15525 N 83rd Way
• Headfarmer 9375 E Shea Blvd
• Homerun 15990 N Greenway-Hayden Loop
• Image Building Systems
16573 N 92nd St
• Innovative Fuel Solutions Inc  
8585 E Hartford Dr
• Media Glint 7735 E Redfield Rd
• Prom Management Group Inc
17020 N Hayden Rd
• Retail Investment Group
9304 E Raintree Dr
• Scottsdale Infectious Diseases  
10250 N 92nd St
• Scottsdale Soap Company
7979 E Princess Dr
• Trivedi Products 14000 N Northsight Blvd
• Universal Property Code  
9304 E Raintree Dr
• Window & Glass Pros
7735 E Gelding Drr

This is a sampling of new business licenses recently filed with the city of Scottsdale (includes licenses filed due to changed business entity or new location). Service addresses are provided.

TASTY BITES

The Compound Grill is once again open for lunch, Tues.-Sat. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Selections from the “Southwest Fresh” lunch menu include favorites such as Rockin’ Stir Fry, the Chile Burger and global salads. The Compound Grill, a popular venue for many networking events in the Airpark, is at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., on the corner of 68th Street.

Humble Pie has announced it will open a fourth restaurant in Scottsdale’s Kierland Village, 6501 E. Greenway Parkway, in mid-February. The new Airpark locale in the former home of Market Bistro will be the largest of all three of the local chain’s eateries (Hilton Village, Desert Ridge and Central Phoenix).

McCormick & Schmick’s closed its Scottsdale and Biltmore locations recently after being acquired by a new parent company.

Grayhawk Club Opens ‘Morning Joint’
Grayhawk Golf Club announced the opening of a new coffee shop and breakfast eatery, Morning Joint. The establishment (nicknamed MoJo) is now open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the clubhouse at Grayhawk Golf Club. MoJo offers roughly 2,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space to fuel up for the day with a coffee drink and breakfast item or relax and socialize with family and friends. In addition to coffees and other beverages, MoJo offers pastries, muffins and some unique twists on traditional breakfast items, such as the Skinny Frittata with pesto, spinach, Portobello mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, artichokes and sundried tomatoes, and the Breakfast Lasagna with shredded hash browns and a poached or fried egg. More: http://grayhawkgolf.com/mojo_morning_joint; 480.502.1700.

The new Scottsdale-based Whoopie Baking Co. delivers cake-like “dessert-slider” confections from the bakery to your door. The little treats come in an inventive array of flavors (that pair well with bubbles or wine) including The Morning Whoopie (chocolate cake with espresso butter-cream fluff) and the Mimosa Whoopie (orange cake with a champagne butter cream). The confections may be ordered online. Co-owners Jennifer Brya and Karen Linkins of North Scottsdale say they’ll also soon have a presence in local farmers markets. More: whoopiebakingco.com.