INTERVIEW - THE STEWARTS Q - The Heart of Cave Creek: You are a familiar face at
local events like the Cave Creek Rodeo; what inspired Stewart Mechanical to make local event sponsorships such a central part of your business's mission?
A - Honestly, it comes down to who we are as a company. At
BY TRACY WAGER
Dakota is our daughter but has an undeniable passion for horses and barrel racing. She is eager and willing to learn so she can take her and her horse Kallie to the next level. Dakota encourages and mentors’ other younger children to get involved with horses and barrel racing every chance she gets. Several people ask, “What does air conditioning have to do with barrel racing?” and I always tell them “Everything”. The Stewart family has a passion for both and as we all know in Arizona, everyone needs air conditioning. Our family is either out at the arena or working on an air conditioning unit.
Stewart Mechanical, we’ve always believed we’re more than just an air conditioning company, we’re part of this community. We see our customers as neighbors first. The same families we’re helping stay cool in the summer are the ones we Q - A Family Legacy: run into at rodeos, school With your own daughter events, and community competing as a young gatherings. Supporting barrel racer, how has those events is just watching her journey in another way of showing the sport deepened your up for them outside of family’s connection to the the job. It also reflects local horse community? how we’ve always ran our business. We’re not A - The Stewart family trying to be faceless in a has always been a part company; we want people of the horse community, to know who we are, trust but watching our daughter us and feel comfortable grow as a young barrel calling us when they need racer has added a whole help. Being present at new layer of meaning to local events helps build our involvement in the those relationships in horse community. What a genuine way, and it started as supporting her keeps us connected to interest has turned into a the community that keeps shared family experience our business going. We Dakota Stewart & Kallie Competing that keeps us grounded in the values that also proudly sponsor other rodeos define this lifestyle— hard work, resilience, such as the 406 Rodeo, which is and genuine connection. You spend long days at the arena, filled with the next generation of rodeo. We see it as investing in early mornings at the barn, and countless hours alongside other our community and our youth, the two most important things. Our families who quickly become more than just familiar faces; they family has lived here for five-generations, and we hope to keep this become part of your extended circle. We have made so many great sport alive in Cave Creek for many generations to come. relationships along the way and work closely with others in the equine community. Cortney Morris is an extremely decorated barrel Q - Empowering the Arena: You currently sponsor two talented racer and currently trains Dakota in the arena. Dakota strives to be barrel racers; what qualities do you look for in the athletes you everything Cortney is and looks up to her. support, and how does seeing them compete reflect the values of your company? Q - The Power of "Family Owned": As a five-generation HVAC family, how do your individual roles and personal bond help you A - When we choose someone to sponsor, character and heart provide a more "neighborly" level of air conditioning service to your come first. We want to see that passion for what they do and customers? the love for their horses that help them do it. We are proudly sponsoring two beautiful young women, Madisyn Desautelle and A - Being a five-generation HVAC family isn’t just something we Dakota Stewart. We presented both of these young women with say, it’s really how we operate day to day. Everyone has their role, beautiful custom Stewart Mechanical buckles made by Sheridan but because we are family and have been in the industry since our Buckle Co. great, great uncles Gust and Adam Goettl founded Goettl in 1939, Madisyn is everything we were looking for, plus some. She things just flow naturally. We communicate easily, step in for one carries herself with kindness, strength, and professionalism. another when needed, and there’s a built-in level of trust that makes Madisyn and her horse Winnie show up for every race and give it everything run smoother. That family connection definitely shows up their all.