Bond, Scottsdale Bond

Our Pulsating Public Relations Report To End A Terrific 2019

As a new James Bond movie readies itself for movie theaters in 2020 it was a bond campaign of a different kind that kept us very busy in the latter part of 2019. That’s because Scottsdale voters had not authorized bonds for major community infrastructure upgrades for nearly 20 years. There were many reasons for the failure. We were determined to lead a campaign to interrupt the failures. We did. Thanks to incredible financial support from the likes of Barrett-Jackson, The Scottsdale Charros, Bob Parsons, The Thunderbirds, Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale Firefighter’s Association and many, many others the campaign, augmented by an incredible Steering Committee, had the resources and reach to win. By landslides. Each of the three measures on the ballot totaling $319 million passed with at least 67% of the vote, an unheard of margin thanks to a compelling, comprehensive campaign we count among our finest, and most enjoyable. Mayor Jim Lane and the Scottsdale City Council did a superb job of crafting a sensible package that even Daniel Craig couldn’t have blown up. Congratulations to so many on a job well done. It really was #ScottsdaleAtItsBest. Special shout outs go to Rose+Allyn’s own Mary Turner, Mike Sunnucks and Mike Scerbo for tireless, terrific work to help get the job done. Click here to read the full story.

BEAUTIFUL EVENT IF NOT BEAUTIFUL TIMING

Just three days before the Scottsdale bond election day came the incomparable Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort. If the timing wasn’t ideal the day was as America’s most attended polo event lived up to its unique reputation. We can’t wait for next year. It’s hard to believe it will be the 10th Anniversary of an event we created and still produce. To honor our decade of delighting guests we have some incredible new twists in store. Stay tuned to ThePoloParty.com for details, as well as how to get involved. Here’s a link to pre-coverage from the event that once again exceeded our expectations.

FITZ GLITZ

Football is a slightly more popular sport than polo and there is no one more popular playing it than Larry Fitzgerald. We are honored to represent his charitable and some of his corporate endeavors thanks to firm partner Jennifer Moser. She, along with help from our RMA team, spearheaded the most successful Fitz’s Supper Club yet in August for the future Hall of Famer at Dominick’s Steakhouse. Click here to see the highlights.

SIP & STROLL

Celebrating the achievements above wasn’t the reason we helped Vestar Development Co. craft and pass legislation to help its Desert Ridge Marketplace and Tempe Marketplace become the first retail properties in the state to be able to drink cocktails while shopping. But we are still happy we did. As are shoppers around the Valley who have expressed a lot of enthusiasm about the innovative change that reminds us why Vestar is so good at what it does, staying ahead of the retail curve and delivering great experiences to shoppers. Check it out for yourself here.

NOTHING BUT NET

Getting anything through Scottsdale these days can be a challenge. But we have been around the city awhile and know its political rhythm well. This insight allowed us to help terrific team efforts that led to unanimous City Council approvals for two landmark projects in the latter part of 2019: Gentry on the Green and Museum Square. Both took a more creative, involved and innovative path toward entitlement requests, achieving consensus and enthusiasm along the way. Read the full stories here and here

SEXY BEAST

There will be no cooler or celebrated Arizona project when it opens next year than the new Ritz-Carlton and Residences in Paradise Valley. We were thrilled to be re-engaged by the project on new matters and look forward to communicating more, as necessary, to help it achieve additional objectives. Click here to read the full story.

GOOD DUDE. GOODWILL.

A shopping center magnate of a different kind, Michael Pollack, again displayed his well-known generosity late in 2019, this time with a $110,000 donation to Goodwill. We have been fortunate to represent the one and only Pollack for more than a decade. Firm Communications Director Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon always does a stellar job when the big man calls, and we appreciate that he has for so long.

BEST IN CLASS

Mountain Shadows. Silverleaf. Desert Mountain. Paradise Ridge. Cholla Heights on Camelback Mountain. The Valley’s best custom home builder, Cullum Homes, sure likes the best properties to build on. And we helped them announce another: Ironwood Golf Villas, which is just off Scottsdale Road along Camelback Country Club in Paradise Valley. And they have an even bigger announcement coming soon. Stay tuned. 

BEST IN CLASS 2 

Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is a first with no equals when it comes to sales in the Valley luxury home market. That’s what the numbers say. And the press we did for the company and its impressive agents throughout 2019, did too.

COMMUNICATING ALONG THE COLORADO

What a year it has been for our firm with the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Running a successful election for the tribe to gain support among members for important water leasing agreements. Providing communications support for the Tribe’s role in Arizona’s landmark Drought Contingency Plan passed by Governor Ducey and the Arizona State Legislature. And, thanks to company Swiss knife Mike Scerbo, serving as their public information officer. 

CLEANING UP

Phoenix is a metropolitan area with relatively few major corporate headquarters. But Republic Services is one of them and a Fortune 300 Company. What a pleasure they are to work with. In the past few months we have helped the company achieve key successes in Phoenix and Apache Junction, and are helping them gain additional achievements in several other cities too.  

NOBLE CAUSE

Jen Moser amd RMA team help many with event and PR work. Two months ago that included the important and impressive “Driving Out Domestic Violence” weekend for Chrysalis and Mark and Laura Teahan. Click here to see all the highlights. 

NOBLE CAUSE 2

We love doing work for the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center. We have called their founder the Mother Theresa of Arizona animals. Her facility and organization is incredible. And besides their angelic work rehabilitating the most vulnerable Southwest Wildlife may be another with big news in 2020 too. Here’s a link to the full story.

SHAPE UP

That’s what Mountainside Fitness helps so many do. What a homegrown success story it is. And it keeps expanding while we try to keep up with all the press announcements for them!

WHAT A NIGHT

What do you get when you combine the greatest rock concert promoter in Arizona history with the greatest left hander in the history of baseball, an Olympic gold medal swimmer and an inspiring hip hop artists who is mute? One incredible night to raise money for the Scottsdale Firefighter’s Association. As we all enter a new decade we are very grateful that we are about to enter our second decade with this terrific organization and event.

COOL COUPLE. 

Not people but two new issues we are excited to assist with. First, for Greenlight Communities as one of the Valley’s most successful condominium and multi-family developers pivots into the “attainable” housing space. You will be hearing more, very shortly. And then there is the visionary that is Shawn Yari, who has presided over the rebirth of the Galleria Corporate Center in Old Town Scottsdale as well as the area’s “Entertainment District.” Now seeking to mature the area further we are excited to assist his emerging, arts-oriented redevelopment plans.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

Our own Queen of Hearts Jennifer Moser is no longer Chair-Elect of the prestigious Phoenix Heart Ball. She is Chairwoman of the 61st Annual 

scheduled for November, 2020. Congratulations Jen! 

POTPOURRI

A special welcome Leslie Owen, our new Director of Event Logistics, who joined the team this past November. Among other items she will be assisting is the return of Arizona’s Best Kentucky Derby Party, the Bulleit Bourbon Derby Dayclub at Turf Paradise on Saturday, May 2nd. It’s a sister event of the Scottsdale Polo Party and the only Kentucky Derby event in Arizona with live horse racing, gambling and the fun and look of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. We are also strongly considering an early June “World’s Most Beautiful Polo Event” in Sedona.

SHOW TIME

We started our year-end report by talking about the new James Bond movie. But for us, early 2020 will be marked by the World Premiere of Americano! The Musical. Being produced by firm partner Jason Rose and the RMA team it will help anchor The Phoenix Theatre Company’s 100th Anniversary. Americano! is an extraordinary work that will be among the finest artistic endeavors Phoenix has ever created. We hope all will take a moment to check it out at AmericanoTheMusical.com and go see it from January 29th-February 23rd. The music by Carrie Rodriguez and Sergio Mendoza is so good that a concept album is being released by Time Life Warner before the debut of the show!

THANK YOU FOR READING OUR LATEST. ALL OF US ARE WISHING YOU A PROSPEROUS 2020!