SanTan Sun: 5-16-15; Business

Chamber honors the city’s best

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK

Some of Chandler’s outstanding businesses, educators and administrators will be honored and recognized at the 28th annual Chandler Chamber Community Awards Dinner set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

Terri Kimble, president and CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, noted that the event gives more than just recognition for businesses of the year.

“There is the Diversity Award, Educator of the Year Award and the Snedigar Public Service Award,” Kimble said.

“It is a conglomerate (of awards) and it shows the community coming together. What makes it unique is it is truly a community event.”

The awards recognize outstanding businesses of all sizes, as well as educators and administrators who demonstrate leadership and exemplify commitment.

Winners will be announced for the Chandler Cup, the Chamber Cup, the Community Cup, the Business of the Year Award, the Business Diversity Award, the Small Business of the Year Award, the Micro Business of the Year Award, the James R. Snedigar Public Service Award, Ambassador of the Year Award, Educator of the Year, Administrator of the Year AwardSchools, Support Staff of the Year Award-Schools and Chandler Chamber

Community Foundation Scholarships for students at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

Kimble said the Chamber honors and celebrates all segments of the community with these awards, each of them unique in its category.

“How can you compare awards for small and micro businesses, an outstanding volunteer or the mayor’s choice award?” Kimble asked. “They’re all really important to the community.”

Some awards give recognition to those workers who don’t expect or receive much recognition for what they do, Kimble said, such as the Support Staff of the Year Award, which went to a school custodian last year. The custodian was so touched receiving the award, that he broke down and wept, Kimble said.

Cocktails and registration begin at 5:30 p.m. The welcome, invitation and dinner begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers. They are available at chandlerchamber. com.

For more information, visit www. chandlerchamber.com/annualawards.

Ken Abramczyk is an associate editor at the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at ken@santansun.com.

Blogger brings her gift shop to life

BY SYDNEY BOWEN

Kim Stoegbauer, a party stylist and long-time blogger, brought her online company to life last October, when The TomKat Studio brickand-mortar store opened its doors. The shop offers various party supplies and gifts for anybody looking to throw a picture-perfect event.

Stoegbauer, a wife and mother of Tommy and Kate, launched her blog, The TomKat Studio, in 2008. The crash in the housing market led Stoegbauer to leave her real estate career and follow her creative and artistic passions.

After posting on the blog her daughter’s birthday party, which she planned and designed herself, Stoegbauer found a

demand for her creativity and started to sell her work online.

The TomKat Studio’s online presence grew, with a following on various social media sites, such as Pinterest and Instagram and is now nearing 60,000 followers on the latter.

After six years online, Stoegbauer decided to open a retail shop this past year with the help of Kristin Alber, an online friend for many years. Alber reached out to Stoegbauer to set up shop within her own shop, Chandler’s Found, an upscale furniture and home goods store.

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New health club and spa offers exercise, relaxation

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK

Rick Erdenberger is no stranger to the health club business, having worked in it for more than 40 years.

The general manager of the new Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa, which opened recently on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo roads, believes the Village Health Club & Spa has the right formula to attract members of all ages and families with programs and amenities that surpass those of traditional health clubs.

“I love the club environment,” Erdenberger said. “I have great friends, play tennis and squash in leagues and enjoy it here.”

too, as it offers two pools, a children’s splash pad, and a kid’s club and nursery. The kid’s club has a Wii system that only works if the child is exercising.

Health

The facility joins three Village Club facilities in Phoenix and Scottsdale. DMB, an Arizonabased real estate company, manages the facilities and also operates mixed-use developments and Arizona communities such as DC Ranch and Silverleaf in Scottsdale.

The 82,000-square-foot, $25 million facility offers members weight and functional training rooms, showers, sauna and locker rooms, but also adds many features and amenities that justify the club’s premium fees. For example, this club’s men’s locker room, which contains 600 lockers, is equipped with televisions and amenities for personal hygiene.

The club emphasizes family activities,

& Spa

“They can play (Wii) at home, but if they can exercise while they are doing it, that’s a better thing,” Erdenberger said. Athletes who want to work on their “game” and get those competitive juices flowing can enjoy an indoor basketball court, seven tennis courts, two racquetball and two squash courts. Erdenberger expects singles and doubles tennis leagues to begin at the facility. Turn any corner, and there is something new offered for the serious exercise buff. One studio is dedicated to Pilates. The Mind & Body Studio features yoga and meditation. Down another walkway the Hot Yoga Studio hits its participants with the promise of a tough workout with a temperature hovering near 106 degrees and humidity at 60 percent. On a recent Thursday morning, the Zumba class in another studio is busy with an instructor moving the group through a routine. Even a stroller class is offered inside on the walking track for moms to use if they don’t want to walk outside in the heat, Erdenberger said.

“We have 160 programs a week,” Erdenberger said.

A Spin Studio contains 50 high-tech

bikes that use magnets to adjust resistance. An HD monitor allows riders to experience and look at scenery, such as the Tour de France, while exercising.

In another room, Kinesis machines allow users to work on core muscles without weights. Using zero-impact exercises, members can improve balance, strength and flexibility, Erdenberger said. Exercise is combined with entertainment on machines, as users can either watch television or bring in a DVD to view while they workout.

The club, now up to 1,200 members in just three weeks, experiences “rush hours” with many members trying to squeeze in a workout before 10 a.m., then the traffic slows down, and a second rush enters at noon That is followed by a break in the afternoon. Late afternoon brings a rush of families and commuters in late afternoon. Families tend to gather there in the evening, late Saturday afternoon and Sundays, Erdenberger said.

Food is available from the Lakeview Cafe, which offers a full menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with snacks, water and coffee.

As the facility’s full title indicates, a fullservice spa is housed there. The spa offers massages, facials, body care treatments, microdermabrasions, peels and other medspa treatments. The salon provides hair and nail services.

Members were enjoying the facility on a recent Thursday.

Kathryn Russell, who was brushing up on her tennis game with a pro that day, likes the multiple classes that accommodate every taste. Her daughter, 16, plays basketball there.

Peixoto Coffee is a family affair

BY SYDNEY BOWEN

Julia Peixoto Peters had been looking for the perfect location in downtown Chandler for her eponymous coffee shop. She wanted to be part of the bustling hotspot filled with restaurants and shops.

“So when this spot became available, we just knew this space screamed ‘coffee shop’ to us,” she said.

three at least that we can track back,” Peixoto Peters said. The farm, Fazenda Sao José da Boa Vista, is located in the Alta Mogiana region of Brazil.

She expected to use the facility to practice and strengthen her tennis game, take yoga, Pilates and Barre exercises.

Elizabeth Pellatt likes the Barre and Pilates classes. “There are activities for kids here and fitness classes for all ages,” she said.

Erdenberger said members can enjoy a tea or a wine tasting with friends, or even just come in to enjoy a sauna and relax.

“It’s a club,” Erdenberger said. “We’re not in the fitness business, but it is one of the things we do. There’s a big social aspect here.”

“They have teen yoga and adult classes,” Russell said. “They have all different levels of classes, including strength and cardio classes.”

Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa is located at 4200 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler. For information on memberships or the facility, visit www.villageclubs.com or call (480) 656-0045.

Ken Abramczyk is an associate editor at the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at ken@santansun.com.

She co-founded Peixoto Coffee, which is nestled behind a bridal shop at 11 W. Boston St., Suite 6. She and her family opened the café’s doors in January.

With a crop-tocup philosophy, Peixoto Coffee is committed to crafting a great cup of coffee. Part of its commitment to providing quality coffee is its use of homeroasted beans.

The coffee that patrons enjoy daily is truly a family affair.

“My family grows coffee in Brazil, and has been growing it for many generations,

“Traditionally, in a coffee supply chain, you have so many middle men, and we are cutting back on that and we are just bringing the coffee straight from the crop to the cup,” Peixoto Peters said. The beans come straight to Chandler from Brazil. Following their travels from Brazil, the beans are then roasted inhouse in the coffee lounge. The roaster is visible to the patrons, and adds a modern touch with its industrialized look.

The coffee lounge is a comfortable and stylish space, with a bar, couches, and tables and chairs set up for those enjoying their beverages and pastries. The exposed brick and modern accents

“We have collaborated on projects together over the years and she reached out about the possibility of me opening a retail shop here,” said Stoegbauer. “The space here is huge and we even moved our shipping warehouse to the back of the building.”

Found is also the home to T. Madison, a boutique selling minimalistic style clothing and accessories.

Being a party stylist, Stoegbauer has any party supply you could need—printables, balloons, décor, cake stands and tableware are just a few of the party essentials she supplies, in a wide range of colors and styles.

The TomKat Studio happily supplies Chandler residents with not only products

for their parties, but different items that could be bought for oneself or as a gift.

“When we opened the retail shop, we expanded our product line to include gifts, stationery and art,” Stoegbauer said. “We want customers to come in on a regular basis to see what is new, not just when they are throwing a party. Whether it is to grab a birthday gift for a girlfriend or a perfect baby shower present, we want to offer them the newest, cutest products.”

These gifts include cell phone cases, prints from local artists, T-shirts, as well as products from Kate Spade and Ban.do. A very popular item this year is the “Best Mom Ever” T-shirt, designed by Stoegbauer herself.

The font and style of shirt are all

designed and selected by Stoegbauer, with The TomKat Studio logo printed on the inside. With Mother’s Day having just past, the tees sold quickly, which is gratifying to Stoegbauer being a new designer who plans on producing more original pieces soon.

In March, the TomKat Studio hosted its first craft class, where customers were treated with refreshments as they made an adorable bunny wall art, just in time for spring. Stoegbauer is looking forward to hosting more craft classes at her storefront.

In just six months since opening, Stoegbauer has seen her online success transfer to real life. With a growing staff and loyal customers, she was even able to take on a college intern. Her intern worked at

the store, while also helping with the social media accounts, marketing and helping to set up and design displays.

If you or somebody you know is looking to join The TomKat Studio team as an employee, or a college intern, you can contact Stoegbauer at kim@ thetomkatstudio.com or stop by the storefront located within Found at The Shoppes at Casa Paloma in Chandler.

Sydney Bowen is a student at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.

Real estate agent earns military relocation certification

Debbie Jennings, real estate agent with Realty One Group, has earned the nationally recognized military relocation professional certification.

The National Association of Realtors confers the MRP certification to Realtors who want to help military personnel and veterans find housing solution to best fit their needs and allow them take advantage of military benefits.

Realtors who earn this certification know to work with active duty military buyers and sellers, as well as veterans.

The certification provides NAR’s members with resources to accommodate current and former military service

members at any stage of their military career, and is an approved elective for NAR’s Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) designation. To earn the MRP certification, Realtors are required to be in good standing with NAR; complete a one-day MRP certification core course; complete pre-class readings to learn military background information; better understand acronyms and military culture, and complete two webinars. For more information about the MRP certification, visit www. militaryrelocationpro.org.

provide a homey and hipster feel.

“One of the best parts about this coffee shop is the shop itself,” said Tori Zamarippa. “Enjoying your coffee is better when you’re sitting in a place that feels comfortable.”

The interior is also a photographer’s dream. Chandler photographer Jennifer Jones discovered how great the space was after being suggested by a friend to try an iced mocha.

“As a business owner, I love supporting other locally owned businesses,” Jones

said. “The staff is friendly and were open to me having any potential photo shoots in the lounge.”

Customers are served beverages in Mason jars or glass cups, if they’re consuming on site. The use of glasses and cups help to reduce the amount of paper and plastic wasted.

The mission of Peixoto Coffee is simply to serve really good coffee.

“It’s as fresh as it gets, we don’t do many additives, we just complement the coffee,” said Peixoto Peters.

In a time flooded by fancy blended

drinks and coffee overloaded with too many flavors, it’s a welcome change to have a true espresso.

“The coffee at Peixoto is just plain good,” Zamarippa said. “I don’t need a triple quad, double chocolate coffee overload when I come here, a traditional latte is satisfying enough.”

With a successful opening and business off to a great start, Peixoto Coffee hopes to start selling and providing coffee to other local restaurants and shops.

The North American outline painted onto the shop’s wall clearly shows where

Peixoto’s cup and crop are located.

The map is an artful representation of where the coffee is coming from, and shows the potential reach that Peixoto Coffee could very well have in the future.

Sydney Bowen is a student at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.

Increase business by networking with Chandler chamber members

Throughout the year the Chandler Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of luncheons and meetings for its members and the community. Numerous lead groups are also offered to help business owners network with their community.

Events are held at the Chandler Chamber of Commerce office, 25 S. Arizona Pl., Suite 201, Chandler, unless otherwise noted.

To register, call (480) 963-4571, visit www.chandlerchamber.com or www. meetup.com/ChandlerChamber, or email info@chandlerchamber.com. No refunds are available within 72 hours of an event.

Chandler Chamber Monday Morning Leads Group

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Mondays

The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits. Brunchie’s, 17 E. Boston St., Chandler.

Chandler Chamber Tuesday Morning Leads Group

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays

• Vehicle registration

• Title transfer

• Duplicate registration / title

• Replacement plate or TAB

• Permit 3 day, 30 day and 90 day

• Level one inspection: bond title, title inspection, abandoned title inspection

The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses.

Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits. BLD, 1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler. Chandler Chamber Wednesday Morning Leads Group

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays

The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.

Ocotillo Village Health Club and Spa, 4200 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler.

Chandler Chamber Wednesday Lunch Leads Group

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays

The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits. Stone and Vine Urban Italian, 1035 W. Queen Creek Rd., Suite 103, Chandler.

Chandler Chamber Thursday Morning Leads Group

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays

The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are

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given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits. Rudy’s West Country Store and Barbecue, 7300 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler.

Chandler Chamber Thursday Lunch Leads Group

11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays

The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.

Nabers Music Bar and Eats, 825 N. 54th St., Chandler.

Chandler Chamber Friday Morning Leads Group

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Fridays

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce Leads Groups have been created to help business members network and grow their businesses. Basically a leads group is a business referral network that helps businesses interact and network. Members of one of the chamber’s leads groups will have the opportunity to develop sources and contacts that can help generate sales. Allowed two free visits. Chompie’s Delicatessen Restaurant, 3481 W. Frye Rd., Chandler.

Chandler Chamber Lunch Club

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 18

The Chandler Chamber Lunch Club is for anyone who would like to attend and help support member businesses. The goal of the Chandler Chamber Lunch Club is to network and promote each business while having a great meal at one of Chandler’s

restaurants. Lunch and drink are $10; tip is included. Stone & Vine Urban Italian, 1035 W. Queen Creek Rd., Suite 103, Chandler. Women in Business

Tuesday, May 19

Lunch: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Women in Business luncheon features a different program each month. Relationship Building + Networking + Business Showcase Opportunities = Success!

Added value—workshops, 10:30 a.m. Knowledge is power! The Women in Business workshops are opportunities for participants to gain a powerful edge on their competition. They are held at 10:30 a.m. before the luncheon. Technology, marketing, sales, accounting, legal issues are just a few topics to be covered at these workshops.

Keynote speaker is Susan Brooks, “Life Solutions for Professional Women.” Carol Farabee with Farabee Publishing will also discuss “Managing Employees” in the experts’ lounge.

Price is $25 to $40 for the event at SoHo63, 63 E. Boston St., Chandler.

Ribbon Cutting at Park Tower

Apartments

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at the complex, 1283 W. Parklane Blvd., Chandler.

Business Golf

6:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesdays May 20 and June 3

Join the group the first and third Wednesdays of the month through Aug. 19 for the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Business Golf Outing. Members play nine holes on various chamber member golf courses, and enjoy breakfast and networking opportunities. Ocotillo Golf Course, 3751 S. Clubhouse Dr., Chandler.

Business after Business

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21

Join the chamber for its monthly evening mixer. Members $5; general public, $15. Redline Athletics, 6150 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler

Doing business

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Unique features: Eco-friendly cleaning process (salt, not glass beads or chemicals)

Address: P.O. Box 12946, Chandler, AZ 85248

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday Phone: (480) 747-5558

Email: info@pooltiledr.com Website: www.pooltiledr.com

Chamber 101

7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday, April 28

Bring business cards and brochures to share during this breakfast at the chamber office.

Ambassadors Committee Meeting

11:55 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, at the chamber

The ambassadors serve as hosts for chamber events. This select group of individuals is the liaison between the chamber and the business community. For information about participating, call (480) 963-4571.

Chandler Chamber Community Awards Dinner

5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 3

Honors business and individual excellence. Dinner and awards presentation. Formal dress is encouraged Tickets are $50 to $550. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler.

Technology Steering Committee

12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 4

Planning and organizing the Technology Lunch Series and other Chandler Chamber Technology programs and events for 2015. Coach and Willie’s Restaurant, 1 E. Boston St., Chandler.

The SanTan Sun News would like to welcome new area businesses or existing ones that may be new to our readers.

Submit information about your business for a “Doing Business” mini-business profile in an upcoming issue of our publication, which is distributed to 35,000 homes, racks and boxes on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Please include all of the following items: Name of business, name of owner(s), how long the business has existed, unique features, hours of operation, address, telephone number, website and email address. Also include an at least 300 dpi photo of the business owner or logo. Email this information to business@santansun.com or visit www.santansun. com and click on the “Doing Business” form to submit.