Flagstaff has a secret weapon in the extremely accomplished Alice Ferris. In the year 2000, Alice gave birth to her son, Matthew, and since staying at home full-time was not what she bargained for, with Matthew in tow, she created her own consulting firm. Passion is what she is all about. No matter what she does, and she does it all, she does it wholeheartedly. Alice is the creator of GoalBusters, LLC, a consulting firm established in 2001 (originally as Ferris Consulting) that provides … [Read more...] about Businesswoman Helping Non Profits Throughout State
Community Profile
Classic European Chef Integrating Local Foods
There is a good deal of buzz around the Southwest about Chef John Sharpe of the Turquoise Room Restaurant in Winslow. Located inside La Posada, the magnificent 1930 hacienda- style inn on a remote stretch of historic Route 66, the restaurant has been reborn by Chef Sharpe and his sumptuous holiday meals. For the past 10 years, Chef Sharpe has mixed the holiday traditions of the south- west with those of his home country of England. “Christmas Eve is like the evening in Santa Fe – we deck the … [Read more...] about Classic European Chef Integrating Local Foods
Businessman Paying Close Attention to Customer Service
Nearly 34 years ago, at the request of his father and with some borrowed tools in hand, Loren Vickers installed his first set of garage doors. “I think it took me two days and I made about 50 bucks for the two days of work,” said Loren. Shortly after that fateful experience, Loren says he realized there was a growing need for garage door installation in Northern Arizona. So in 1976, the locally-born Vickers set up his first shop in a 10-foot by 20-foot rental storage unit. … [Read more...] about Businessman Paying Close Attention to Customer Service
LaVelle Mccoy: Working to enhance the City He Loves
LaVelle McCoy would like to play more golf. And fish more. And fly airplanes. Though relaxing, all of those activities take a lot of time, and the president of McCoy Motors has prioritized something else instead: giving back to the community. Indeed, people describe McCoy as a “wonderful asset to the community,” a “good corporate citizen,” and, along with his wife, Jan, “so selfless in what they give back.” “LaVelle’s been really … [Read more...] about LaVelle Mccoy: Working to enhance the City He Loves
La Fonda: Staying True to its Roots
Tired of the daily grind and wanting to take charge of their lives, three brothers – Sylvester, Frank and Albert Garcia – and their father, Erminio, borrowed $6,000 (a hefty sum in 1957) to start a little restaurant tucked away in Flagstaff’s Sun-nyside neighborhood. The men named their restaurant La Fonda, homage to the Spanish term “fondita,” or the makeshift eateries that sprang up throughout the West to offer gold miners respite, sustenance and … [Read more...] about La Fonda: Staying True to its Roots
Flagstaff Couple Persevering in Business
Neither one of us had any background in owning our own retail store,” Kathie Knapp said one recent Saturday afternoon while juggling an interview and waiting on customers at The Lite Company. Kathie and her husband, Mike, have owned and operated The Lite Company lighting and furniture store, located on North 4th Street, for nearly six years. Mike Knapp, an engineer by training, was a 20-year veteran of W.L. Gore & Associates when he was approached by The Lite Company’s former … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Couple Persevering in Business
A Sedona Businessman Shares His Recipe For Success
Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen may be known for many things, but two frequently stand out, and they are both the ideas of restaurateur and owner Rick Freedman. One: In March of this year, all nine of the classic pizzerias – located in Flagstaff, Se- dona, throughout metropolitan Phoenix and now, Tucson – began using organic ingredients in everything. The word “organic” was also added to the restaurant’s name. “The scary part of going organic is the … [Read more...] about A Sedona Businessman Shares His Recipe For Success
Working in 40 States and Calling Flagstaff Home
The first thing out of Brian White’s mouth is a question: “Can this article also highlight the work of the Lumberjack Athletic Association, instead of just me?” “I don’t think I’m anything special,” he added, “I really don’t. I just think I work hard.” Indeed, in addition to having a wife, four boys between the ages of 14 and one-and-a- half, a career and additional volunteer commitments, White is the president of the board of … [Read more...] about Working in 40 States and Calling Flagstaff Home
Community Profile: Flagstaff’s Early Businessmen Built a Legacy
In 1887, Matt Riordan shook hands with Edward E. Ayer and purchased Ayer Lum- ber Co. for $145,000. Less than a month later, the mill burned to the ground. Rather than cut their losses and head back to Chicago, the Riordan brothers, Matt, Tim and Michael, used this opportunity to expand. Within two weeks, Tim had the mill up and running. Dur- ing rebuilding, they brought in another mill to continue cutting and used other smaller units in the forest to rough cut the timber. They paid off … [Read more...] about Community Profile: Flagstaff’s Early Businessmen Built a Legacy
Community Profile – Tom Ramsey
Tom Ramsey was a small-town Yuma boy who grew up working for his father’s lumber company when he received football scholarships to the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. He chose NAU and moved to Flagstaff in 1969 to study physical education and industrial arts. After playing professional football for the Kansas City Chiefs and then one year with the World Football League before the league fold- ed in 1975, Ramsey moved back to Flagstaff to work in the construction … [Read more...] about Community Profile – Tom Ramsey
