Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Today and Tomorrow in Scottsdale

Long-time public servant back home in Scottsdale 

Kira Peters has been serving Scottsdale residents for nearly three decades – minus one year. Last year she moved to Bozeman, Montana, where she worked as assistant city manager. But her heart remained in Scottsdale. She came back home this year to take on the role as director of Scottsdale Human Services. She knows the city perhaps as well as anyone thanks to her long and diverse career here. And she has big plans in her new role overseeing services for those most in need in our community.

Reflections on election, future with Tammy Caputi

Scottsdale City Council member Tammy Caputi will be ending her 4-year term in a few weeks after she came up short in her re-election bid. Join us as she looks back at her accomplishments in office and talks about the key issues facing the city, both now and into the new year. You’ll discover that she has few regrets about the election results and soon will be exploring other opportunities to continue her leadership in ways that benefit our communities.

Wrapping up elections, Scottsdale and beyond

Election Day has arrived, finally! It’s been a long season, to say the least. Tune in as Kevin and Don review events on the road leading up to Election Day, from Scottsdale’s city council and school board races to the state and federal campaigns that dominated the media. We also discuss the work the Arizona Democracy Resilience Network and other groups are doing to help us navigate through the days ahead.

Artist shares whirlwind journey to Scottsdale

Scottsdale is known worldwide as one of the Southwest’s premier arts destinations. The brand is supported by a host of individual artists who collectively add to that reputation. Meet one of them, Kirk Russell, a mixed media artist. Kirk started his career as a photojournalist and now creates composite images with acrylic paint. Find out how a hurricane in the British West Indies blew him all the way across the U.S. to his home now in Scottsdale.

Familiar face takes on another key role in Scottsdale

For nearly 25 years, Rachel Smetana has been serving the city of Scottsdale in a variety of jobs. From human services to mayor’s chief of staff, with stints working at the library, in planning and economic development. Now her new job is director of the city’s tourism and events department, a key role overseeing an industry that has a $3.5 billion impact to the city. She’s a quick study and has big plans, as you’ll learn when you tune in.

Scottsdale mayoral race: Focus on Lisa Borowsky

Lisa Borowsky is running for election as Scottsdale’s mayor, challenging the incumbent, David Ortega. Tune in for a question-and-answer session with her to learn where she stands on the important issues of the day and her vision for the future of the city. Last week’s episode featured Mayor Ortega.

Scottsdale mayoral race: Focus on David Ortega

Mayor David Ortega is running to be re-elected for a second term in office. Tune in for a question-and-answer session with him and find out where he stands on the issues of the day and his vision for the future of the city. Next week’s episode will feature his opponent: Lisa Borowsky.

Spotlight on Scottsdale school issues, candidates

There are six candidates running for three seats on the Scottsdale Unified School District’s governing board in an important election this year. We had a chance to catch up with three of them: Donna Lewis, Matt Pittinsky and Mike Sharkey. Listen in as they discuss some of the critical issues facing the district and their ideas on how they would deal with them and build on SUSD's continued success as one of the state's outstanding districts.

Scottsdale Saguaros chief shares vision for growth

Tune in for the inside story of the Scottsdale Saguaros with its new president Braydon Dennis. Since its founding in 1987, the Saguaros, a philanthropic and social club, has raised millions of dollars for local non-profit organizations, with a focus on supporting children’s charities. Find out what’s ahead for the group as it continues to evolve and grow, all while benefiting great causes across the Valley. And check out how they manage to have a lot of fun along the way.

Drawing inspiration from Scottsdale’s Poet Laureate

Meet Lois Roma-Deeley, Scottsdale’s Poet Laureate. Listen in as we dive into her creative process and explore her role as Poet Laureate. With decades of experience, numerous awards, critically acclaimed poetry collections and years of teaching, Lois continues to inspire and captivate audiences with her powerful words. With funding from the Academy of American Poets, she’ll be hosting a “PoetryFest” at Scottsdale Community College on Oct. 19, open to anyone who wants to explore and connect with the world of poetry

Scottsdale woman’s journey to blend wine, charity

Kristen Shroyer, co-founder of OneHope Wine, is a trailblazer in the world of socially conscious entrepreneurship. Blending her passion for wine with a mission to create positive change, the Scottsdale woman has helped create a business that has raised over $10 million for 40,000 charities. OneHope is a direct-to-consumer winery that empowers its customers to enjoy wine and give hope to the causes that matter most to them. With every bottle purchased, 10 percent is donated to a charity of their choice. Kristen’s story is one that can inspire us all.

What’s behind Waymo’s expansion in Scottsdale

If you think you are seeing a lot more Waymo autonomous vehicles in Scottsdale these days, you’re right. Waymo has expanded its coverage area into northern Scottsdale and beyond and now covers 315 square miles in the Valley. Meet one of the key people behind it all: Amanda Ventura, public affairs manager. She’s in “the driver’s seat” as Waymo continues to grow its footprint here and she gives us the inside story of why the Valley is Waymo’s No. 1 service area in the U.S. and previews how its advanced technology is fueling its success.

Scottsdale film school one of nation’s best

Scottsdale Community College’s School of Film and Theatre consistently is rated as one of the best film schools in the country by magazines like MovieMaker and Variety. Meet Amanda Embry, chair of the department and the woman directing that success. As Arizona’s film industry expands, Amanda’s students are filling a much-needed pipeline of jobs for the future. Her work is helping SCC, whose alumni include actor Bill Hader, boost the state’s reputation as a premier movie-making destination.

Meet the woman behind Scottsdale’s Riot

Lissa Druss, who leads communications and government relations efforts for the Riot Hospitality Group, brings an amazing career record to her work in Scottsdale. She has nine Emmy Awards for her three decades of work as a broadcast journalist. She then founded a national crisis communications firm and now leads Riot’s lineup of high-level nightlife and restaurant venues in Scottsdale and four other cities. Tune in and find out why she also won The Order of the Star of Italy.

Jason Richardson is the founder of Bad Birdie Golf, a company known for its vibrant and unique golf apparel. The path that led him there started when he was 12 and introduced to golf as a caddy at Forest Highlands. Along the way, he came up with the idea of building a business around golf apparel, which lead to an appearance on Shark Tank and now has resulted in a solid business based in his hometown of Scottsdale. Whether you’re are skilled player or not, Jason has found a way to make everyone look good on the golf course.

Diana and David Vowels have launched Pet Ortho Braces, a Scottsdale company that provides compassionate care for pets. Specializing in custom orthotic braces, they offer non-surgical treatment options for dogs suffering from torn canine cruciate ligament injuries. They also produce a range of other braces, prosthetics, and wheelchairs for various pets, including horses. Their innovative solutions help pets regain their mobility and lead healthier lives and bring comfort and peace of mind to their owners.

Nathan Slater, the district athletic director for the Scottsdale Unified School District, is nearing the end of a 30-year career in the school system. His roots go deep. He is an SUSD graduate who returned to spend a remarkable career in a number of positions with the district, with the last overseeing athletics for all the district’s schools. He has always made core values and academic standards the priority for his student athletes and those values no doubt will continue long after his retirement.

With two business degrees from ASU, J.D. Hill was ready to join the business world after graduation when he discovered that his true passion was farming. As he started looking for options in that field, he learned of the food recycling business. Soon, he started composting recycled food in his back yard and … fast forward … today it’s a business with 20 employees that recycles 12,000 pounds of food waste per day from 150 commercial and 3,500 residential customers, with lots of them in Scottsdale. Check out his impressive career journey, one that is making a big difference for our environment.

Betty Janik is in the last year of her first term as a member of the Scottsdale City Council. Find out what it’s been like to serve on council – including good and bad surprises – and her take on the most important issues facing the city. Betty has decided not to seek re-election but she’s been a consistent contributor to the community and there’s no doubt she’ll do more of that after her term expires. She has ideas already on how she’ll continue to be a champion for Scottsdale.

David Ariosto has worked as a journalist, editor, executive and author in a career journey through more than 50 countries. Included along the way were two years in Cuba working for CNN, where he developed material for a book, “This is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro’s Shadow.” It’s a fascinating look at his time there. Find out how David’s journey led him to now living in Scottsdale where he’s working on a new book about the great space race.

Navigating the complexities of the Veterans Administration world can be complicated and frustrating for our service veterans. Anna Mineer and Derek Debus are working to make it easier for them to deal with those challenges through the Arizona Veterans Mission Group. Their goal is to ensure our veterans get the health care, resources and opportunities they deserve. And while the group is young, their success stories already prove their work is effective and making a big difference.

When she moved to Scottsdale a few years ago, Debbie Steinhauer brought her dedication for helping first responders with her. She went to work building the Scottsdale Police Foundation, a non-profit group that raises funds to support Scottsdale’s police officers. Founded in 2023, she already has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide critical needs, such as equipment, training, wellness and educational programs that surpass the department’s budget. Debbie’s big heart is making a big impact on the city’s welfare.

One of the duties any city owes its residents is keeping then informed with all that is going on. And in today’s digital age, it requires a multifaceted approach. Holly Water, Scottsdale’s public affairs supervisor, plays a key role in this. She coordinates information across various departments and channels from traditional to social media platforms. Her skills in managing it all ensures that Scottsdale residents are updated and engaged with the city’s affairs.

To say Joe Iturri has been busy over the past two years would be an understatement! He has been spearheading the work it has taken to open the newest gem in the city’s hotel lineup: Caesars Republic Scottsdale. The 11-story hotel, which opened last month, has 265 rooms, three high end restaurants and a variety of amenities that bring the glitz of Las Vegas to downtown Scottsdale – minus the gaming. It’s the first non-gaming hotel in the Caesars lineup. Find out why Caesars chose Scottsdale for that brand and how Joe and his team made it all happen.

Tim Roemer’s journey has taken him from Scottsdale to the White House and back home again as chief security officer at GMI. After he graduated from Horizon High, he joined the CIA where he served 10 years providing security updates to the President. He returned to Arizona as director of Homeland Security for Gov. Ducey. Now his work in the private sector is helping GMI, a Scottsdale company, safeguard organizations across the globe against cyber threats. Tune in for a look at Tim’s remarkable career.

Todd Bankofier has lived in Scottsdale for over three decades and has been a prominent figure in business and politics, and in many ways his new role as CEO of Western Spirit’s Scottsdale Museum of the West is like a homecoming. Todd grew up on a ranch in Nevada and the western spirit is in his blood. Todd has big dreams for the museum, adding to some significant advancements already underway. Find out what’s in store for one of the city’s cultural gems.

Ben Lane has overseen three elections in Scottsdale since becoming City Clerk, marking this year as another significant milestone with a busy election season ahead. Find out how Ben deals with navigating the intricate responsibilities of upholding fair and transparent elections, particularly amidst today’s highly polarized political environment. That’s just one of the many duties Ben juggles in his role. He truly is one of the city’s unsung heroes, ensuring the seamless functioning of Scottsdale's civic machinery.

Melinda Morrison Gulick, a longtime advocate for many good causes in Scottsdale, has focused her passion and energy into ensuring the healthy development and learning of young children from birth to 5 years old. As CEO of First Things First, Melinda’s advocacy now touches children and families all across Arizona. Learn more about what her agency does and also her thoughts about leadership in the year ahead for the Scottsdale Unified School District.

Greg Dunaway is a marketing veteran who has carved a niche in the expanding cannabis industry, both in Scottsdale and across the state. In fact, he has clients across the globe that are now working in the field, as legal cannabis use is becoming more prevalent. From producing the product in controlled agricultural spaces to delivering it at dispensaries, Greg gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and successes he has discovered along the way.

No one understands the health of Scottsdale’s finances better than city treasurer Sonia Andrews. She brings a wealth of technical skills to the job and clearly understands what it takes to keep the city financially strong. You’ll also discover the personal side to Sonia, who says it’s the passion of Scottsdale’s residents that drives her work and commitment to the job. In the spirit of the city’s Western heritage, she’s also a horsewoman.

After serving as Green Beret and Special Forces medic in Afghanistan, Jesse Greer has returned to Scottsdale, his hometown, with a passion to help residents here live healthier lives. He founded Preamble, a preventive health clinic, which has opened in downtown Scottsdale. After serving to help soldiers recover from battlefield wounds, Jesse’s passion now is to treat patients before they get sick. His service to his country and now to our residents is an inspiration for us all.

There were a lot of positive developments last year in the Scottsdale Unified School District – from voter approval for its override to outstanding grades from the state education department. Listen in as superintendent Scott Menzel talks about those and other achievements and looks forward to 2024, a pivotal election year with three of five seats on the governing board coming open.

When you spend a little time with Velma Trayham it doesn’t take long to be inspired by her passion and commitment to make our community a better place for everyone. And you certainly will understand why she was honored as one of this year’s Diversity Champions. Velma is an author, speaker and CEO of ThinkZilla, a Scottsdale consulting firm. She works with groups in the public and private sectors across the U.S. to build and manage programs that support underserved communities. Her message, and her work, comes from the heart.

To start out the new year, join Kevin and Don as they look back at the highlights of 2023 – including some of the year’s scariest moments to some of its most rewarding – and what they look forward to in 2024. One thing they’ve discovered as they enter the third year of this podcast: there is a never-ending supply of people doing good things in our community. Plenty more of those stories will be coming in the year ahead.

At first glance, it’s Denise Wilson’s musical story that strikes you first. The freelance oboist and music teacher is the founder of the new Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra. But when you get to know her, you’ll see there is much more behind the curtain. You’ll meet an aviation entrepreneur who is an experienced pilot and flight instructor and founder of several aviation businesses, including one she grew to become an Inc 500 company. An amazing story about a multi-talented woman who now has provided local musicians the chance to perform concert events that inspire us all.

School resource officer Devon Lines is a popular presence on the campuses of the Scottsdale Unified School District. But it’s his companion, Rocket, who draws most of the attention. Devin is a Scottsdale police officer, and Rocket is his Crisis K-9 partner, an adorable Golden Retriever. They are one of three Crisis K-9 units in the district and they are making a huge difference in the lives of students, parents and teachers. Find out why their program is such a positive, calming partner for our schools.

By occupation, Bryn and Andy DeFusco are founding partners of their law firm. By passion, they are big proponents of public education, and especially teachers. They support teachers in the Scottsdale Unified School District with $300 stipends to buy supplies for their classrooms. Over the past four years, they have awarded over $40,000 to 130 teachers. Find out what motivates them to give back and ways you can help our schools, too.

When Jim Ford retired as Scottsdale deputy fire chief, it ended a remarkable 47-year career of fighting fires and saving lives in the city. Most important, he was the man behind the city adopting an automatic sprinkler ordinance that has been a model for cities across the world. Jim may have retired from the Scottsdale department but he’s not done serving his community. Find what he’s doing to help Cave Creek establish its fire department and be treated to some fascinating stories that have marked his career.

Through 100-plus podcasts, we have featured people and organizations that contribute to making Scottsdale’s quality of life the best in Arizona. This week, we flip the mic to focus on our own podcast partner, Kevin Maxwell. In a few days Kevin will be honored with the Hodges Award from Scottsdale Leadership, and joins a list of some of the city’s most influential leaders, past and present. Tune in and discover a few things you might not know about Kevin … and find out why he’s so deserving of this award.

Go backstage with Arizona Musicfest CEO Allan Naplan and you will be amazed at the growth, the variety and scope of programing and the impact the organization has on Scottsdale. Allan, a former opera singer, has led the organization through a remarkable period of growth since his arrival in 2013. In addition to top-flight diverse concerts, from the Festival Orchestra to entertainers of all sorts, the organization has a full lineup of music education, youth performance and community engagement programs that benefit the city.

Sarah Kearney is leading the Blue Zones Project in Scottsdale, which has a goal to make the city a healthier and happier place for current and future generations. Early next year, she and her team will be unveiling plans to invite everyone in the city to play a part. Listen in for a preview for what that’s all about and to check on the progress the group already has made along the way.

signature events, growing every year in attendance and programming. It takes a full-time, year-round effort to pull it all off. Meet Brian Passey, communications manager for Scottsdale Arts, which organizes the event. Learn how his group has achieved its success, highlights of this year’s event and aspirations for how this could grow even bigger in the years to come.

Caring for loved ones who need assistance can be a challenge. Bina Colman of Scottsdale discovered that when caring for her dad while working full time while being a mother and a wife. That sparked an idea and she created a business, Compassionate Callers. Her company provides services – from daily phone check-ins to virtual programs – that let families know their loved ones have a friendly voice to ensure they are getting the attention and care they need.

Shannon Easton did something no other woman had ever done before: become an official in the National Football League. Listen in to follow along her amazing journey, breaking through barriers in a male-dominated sport and setting a path for other women to follow. Shannon, now a director of officials for the Canyon Athletic Association, wrote a book sharing the struggles and victories she had along the way to the NFL. Shannon’s story is an inspiration for both men and women alike.

Hosts: Don H. & Raul Z.

In November, Scottsdale voters will be asked to approve a Maintenance and Operations override measure for the Scottsdale Unified School District. Listen in as Libby Hart-Wells, governing board member, and Patty Beckman, co-chair of the Yes to Children’s Campaign, explain why it’s needed and how it will work. The measure supports the people and programs that have continued to make the district one of the best in Arizona.

Today & Tomorrow in Scottsdale has reached its 100th episode milestone. Over the past 2.5 years, we’ve interviewed 100 people and organizations that contribute to the unique fabric of our city. We invited a special group of them to join us in our centennial episode – a community stars’ reunion – as dozens more of our past guests watched in an event to celebrate all of their accomplishments. Our mission now carries forward as we look ahead to feature countless others in the coming year.

Few people have had a greater impact on our community than Sam Campana. From her role in helping to create Scottsdale Leadership to her stint on the city council and term as mayor to her support of the arts and our environment. Pick an important topic that’s been a boost for our community and it’s likely that Sam’s fingerprints are all over it! Listen in and learn a few new things about Sam, including what she is most proud of on her long list of achievements.

When you meet leaders like Jenna Kohl and Kris Cano you’ll understand why their group, the Women’s Collective, is such a positive force for our community. Both board members are passionate leaders and role models for the group’s mission to provide the support and funding to help more women advance to leadership positions in all professions. Another great example of leaders sharing their time and expertise in ways that make our city stronger.

From the potential of all that technology has to offer to the civility – or lack of it in today’s world – of how some people interact with each other, we share our hopes and aspirations of what it all means for our city. Kevin and Don go solo this week and sound off on those and other topics as they continue on their mission of shining a positive light on all that’s good about our community.

When it comes to Scottsdale’s commercial real estate scene, no one knows it better than Jon Rosenberg. Since cofounding his firm, LevRose Commercial Real Estate, 30 years ago, he has helped business people pursue their dreams throughout the city, especially downtown, where he’s been located all that time. Jon, a Scottsdale resident since 1978, has a professional and personal passion for working on ways to improve the city. Listen in for ideas on how you might do the same.