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A Legacy of Giving Back

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Learning that Jim and Linda Lee had been named the 2019 Philanthropists of the Year by the Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County was not a big surprise to those who have lived in the Quad Cities area for any length of time.

For decades, the Lees have been major contributors to a diverse number of groups, organizations and individuals who benefit the greater region and, in some cases, the state.
At the same time, the Lees have never sought honors or recognition for what they do as they quietly provide support to the performing arts, schools, health care and medical organizations, social agencies and many others. This has been their nature ever since they arrived in Prescott in 1977, and began developing real estate and commercial development projects. Among projects were the Ponderosa Mall, the Ranch at Prescott, Prescott Gateway Mall, the Walmart Super Center and Touchmark at the Ranch.
When they were announced as “Philanthropists of the Year” during a formal luncheon at the Prescott Resort, Aug. 9, the crowd responded with a standing ovation.

The 2018 Philanthropist of the Year, Mike Fann, founder-owner of Fann Contracting, introduced the Lees as “lovers of humanity and the community.”

Texas Natives Share Common Interests

Although they grew up only a few miles apart in Texas, Jim and Linda never knew each other until years later when they traveled almost 6,000 miles and were both working in Russia. Linda, who holds degrees in English and history from the University of Texas, was teaching in Russia. Jim, who received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy following his service near the end of World War II in China, had returned to Arizona and enrolled in Phoenix College. Later, he accepted a consulting position with People to People in Russia.
What brought them together in that far-away country was opera, classical music and the arts.

“We both love great music,” said Linda. “That’s how we met. We both so enjoyed it that we’ve traveled back to the Bolshoi Ballet many times. We’ve also been to the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg. In fact, we’ve probably been to every great music hall in Western Europe.”
Jim agreed. “And, we love Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Opera. We have this vision that Prescott can equal Santa Fe in being a nationally recognized center for music and the arts. Prescott and this area have so much talent.”

The couple cites the Prescott POPS Symphony Orchestra as just one talented homegrown organization. They especially praise the Prescott POPS for its sponsorship of the annual Music Memory project that brings third through fifth graders from throughout the county to hear classical music at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center.
They also are involved in supporting Dennis Houser, who directs the Prescott Chorale; they contribute to the Yavapai Symphony Association; they help the public schools and their music programs; they are longtime advocates for Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera; and the various musical and artistic programs offered through Yavapai College have their support.

Jim explained, “When we moved here in the late 1970s, we knew Prescott would be our home. We also knew it would grow and become a major cultural influence in Central Arizona. We made a conscious decision to support such aesthetic programs.”

Linda agreed. “It’s mind-boggling, the amount of talent that we enjoy. We want to encourage it as much as we can.”

Beyond the arts, they are vocal advocates for quality educational experiences as well, such as the Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium atop the STEM Building on the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) campus. They wanted to create awareness about ERAU throughout the rural areas of Central and Northern Arizona, so they proposed the construction of the 47-foot diameter domed planetarium.

“Planetarium enthusiasts often have young children. We wanted these youngsters in our part of the state to be able to experience a unique learning experience,” Jim said.

“In just the 20 months since the planetarium opened in January 2018, almost 35,000 people have participated in their programs. That’s not just local people,” said Linda. “Data show that visitors are from throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries.”

They both agree that Prescott has become a desirable cultural, artistic and educational hub that well deserves the reputation as one of the most livable communities in the United States.

What is your favorite pastime?

Jim: “Anything involving classical music and opera.”
Linda: “Especially if it is something by Verdi.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Jim: “I can’t recall who told me this many years ago, but it was, ‘Do not think too small.’ That’s my advice to people in this area. Prescott is in a period of transition and we cannot think too small.”

What makes you smile?

Linda: “Seeing these children from rural areas enjoy musical and artistic experiences like those provided by the Music Memory Program, which the Prescott POPS sponsors every February.”

You endowed a program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine several years ago. What was the reason behind that decision?

Linda: “We believe in quality healthcare programs, so we established the Jim and Linda Lee Memorial Endowment for Cardiovascular Disease there.”

Jim: “The Sarver Heart Center founded at the UofA Medical Center is now recognized as one of the world’s leading cardiovascular research institutions.”

Why did you choose Prescott as your home?

Jim: “When we first moved here from the Valley more than 40 years ago, we left evaporative coolers and oppressive heat. We told people we were moving to Prescott, for that’s where heaven was.”

Linda: “It still is.”

QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Flying High

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Leonardo Da Vinci was quoted as saying, “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skywards.” Holding one of the highest pilot certifications, Craig Sanderson spread his wings upward to serve as director of operations for Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines and mayor of the small but bustling town of Tusayan.

Sanderson acquired the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification at 28 years old. It is one of the most advanced certifications a pilot can obtain and necessary for any pilot wanting to fly commercial airliners, which was Sanderson’s intention. However, he had a change of plans.

“I learned early on that flying commercial airlines was not my cup of tea,” said Sanderson, who flew commercial airline flights for more than a year. “I’d rather fly over beautiful areas such as Lake Powell, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon.” So, that is what he did. “My first job was flying scenic flights for Skywest Airlines based out of Page. The sights are so amazing and I loved sharing that view with people.”

Sanderson spent the first three years of his life in Page, and that is where he met his wife, Sheila, and raised their three children. They currently have five grandchildren. They made their move to Tusayan in 2002 where he began working for Grand Canyon Airlines.

“Craig has a passion for the Grand Canyon and does an outstanding job,” said GCSA President Jake Tomlin. “We’re so pleased to have him on our team, since tourism and hospitality runs in his family.”

Indeed, Sanderson’s love for sharing beautiful sights was inherited from his father, Bill Sanderson, who, along with his brothers, started one of the first river running companies in Page, Sanderson River Expeditions.

“The Bureau of Reclamation was looking to build three dams on the Colorado River and they asked my uncles to take them down the river. After the river trip, the Bureau of Reclamation gave a couple of Army surplus rafts to the family and the river running business started from there.” The company was sold in the 70s and is currently owned by Aramark, running as Wilderness River Expeditions.

“I never wanted to get into politics, never saw myself as a politician, but about six years ago, there was a recall election and the mayor at the time approached me and said, ‘Hey, you need to run for council.’ I said, ‘No way, you’re crazy, that’s not me.’ So, he told me about the town and why we need housing here and how people struggle.”

Sanderson served as council member, vice-mayor and, finally, mayor.

In 2016, Sanderson was Tusayan’s first directly elected mayor. His primary goal is to improve the quality of life for the people who live in Tusayan and to enhance the experience of the more than six million visitors who pass through the community to the Grand Canyon.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Mayor Craig Sanderson to advance and improve the Town Court in Tusayan,” said Judge Rob Krombeem, Justice of the Peace, Williams Justice Court. “Mayor Sanderson brings the type of forward-thinking, collaborative leadership that more communities need, particularly in these times of fiscal and other community challenges. He leads by example with a servant’s heart and I appreciate how he puts faith and family at the forefront of his priorities.”

If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

“Peacemaker: having the personality to diffuse volatile situations and to help others reach a middle-ground compromise.”

What’s your favorite thing to do when not working?

“Our family loves boating and swimming, especially at Lake Powell. At my job, I can’t call it work when I get to fly and experience the beauty and awesomeness of this amazing place I have the privilege to call home.”

Where do you like to travel?

Lake Powell and Grand Canyon are my top two.

What is the most rewarding part of your job at Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines?

“Over my long career, I’ve contributed to the success of about a thousand pilots who began their careers working with and for me. Most of these pilots are now flying with a major airline.”

What is the prettiest sight you’ve seen from an airplane? 

“Wow! With over 20,000 flight hours, mostly over the national parks, I see beautiful sights every day. The most incredible are the ones that only last a few minutes. Grand Canyon and Lake Powell are beautiful on any day, but the right combination of sunlight, thundershowers and/or clouds can turn incredible into unbelievable. FBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Going It Alone Together

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Artist and entrepreneur Melanie Banayat has emerged victorious time and again as unforeseen challenges disrupted her world and forced new beginnings on the canvas of her life.

Loss of family, scuttled dreams, depression and debilitating physical pain have left their mark, but her buoyancy has encouraged others fighting fear, isolation, loss, loneliness and pain.   

Banayat’s award-winning book, Stretch Your Brave, Hack Your Story, Break Through Chronic Disease with Storytelling, documents her journey with sudden-onset rheumatoid arthritis and inspires forging ahead despite despair.

Writing the book became an impetus to founding WingSpace Coworking, a collaborative professional environment for entrepreneurs. From mastering work/life balance to commanding fear of the unknown, Banayat readily shares her capacity for drawing hope and light.

“Fear doesn’t like anything exciting, new or resembling potential,” she advised. “Fear loves boring and predictable. It likes the way things have been done before. Fear says, ‘Don’t ever change.’ But since life is ever-changing, I like giving it direction.”

Banayat urges fellow professionals to field their own curve balls.

“This modern world in which we live is like walking through a minefield of triggers and distractions that knock us off course at the slightest move,” she said. “So, it’s important to develop awareness of how everything is interconnected and how we impact one another.

“WingSpace Coworking is for people who want to be part of a community of like-minded individuals. We’re a mix of freelancers, small business owners, micro-business owners, remote workers, thinkers, doers and idea makers. We are the misfits of the workforce who finally have a place to call our own in the Prescott area. And there is plenty of room for more.” 
The location offers private offices or open space where members and guests can use a desk, conduct business, attend workshops, teach seminars, reserve conference rooms, book events and mingle.

“We may have to work, but we don’t have to work alone,” Banayat contended. “We spend many hours of our life devoted to bringing home a paycheck, so we may as well set ourselves up to enjoy it as much as we can to keep our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health in good shape.”

Starting her own career as a freelance artist after studying graphic design and fine art in the mid-1980s, Banayat established a successful business.

A dozen years later, she sold the company and entered resort management with her husband. The couple bought a lake resort in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, which presented “a rare opportunity to dive into a lifestyle” she anticipated as ideal for raising her children.

“I laugh at myself for that decision because I didn’t even know how to fish, let alone sell fishing tackle,” she chuckled, drawing comparisons to actress Ava Gabor’s city slicker socialite moving to a pig farm in the 1970s TV comedy Green Acres.

“It was hard work and an incredibly beautiful life that I would never trade,” she said. “I jokingly tell my kids that I raised them like Mowgli [the Rudyard Kipling character raised in the jungle by wolves]: out in nature, covered in dirt, where every day was an adventure.”

Later divorced, Banayat became a full-time artist, convincing high end galleries to carry her art. Soon, she “met a man, fell in love, and all was humming along fine until the economic downturn in 2008,” when stress-triggered rheumatoid arthritis toppled her dreams.

“I was no longer able to paint because the joints in my hands, arms and feet were swollen, painful, and I could no longer hold my tools,” she explained. “My fine art career came to sudden halt. I felt blindsided.”

Determined to fight the disease without medication, Banayat completed an 18-month holistic health coach certification, reversed her symptoms, and embraced another career.

“The health coach training really changed my whole perspective on life and work,” she said. “I learned how impactful stress is on humans and how it manifests in us in a multitude of ways mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. That whole experience led me to want to use my skill sets to help others, so I started a private practice out of my home working with clients one on one.”

Banayat “realized how isolated and lonely I felt working by myself every single day. I began looking for ways to collaborate with others because I just knew in my gut that others were experiencing similar problems working from home.”

Thus began the idea for WingSpace: “I have never regretted honoring my intuition or taking the road less traveled, but I take only calculated risks, looking at all sides of a venture to see if it matches up with my values, goals and the lifestyle I want. As long as I can maintain a sense of curiosity, creativity and elements of quirky fun in whatever I do, any hard work is worth doing.”

She derives great joy from “playing matchmaker” between someone who is working on a project and needs help with a logo, branding or coding a website. “I say, ‘Hey, there are a few members here that can help you with those things, let me introduce you.’ I want my members to feel like they are part of a community that cares about them, their work and their life beyond work.” QCBN

By Sue Marceau, QCBN

Making Later Life Easier

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With the number of people living to the age of 85 and beyond expected to double from more than 6.4 million today to 14.6 million by 2040, companies like Comfort Keepers are expecting the demand to continuously increase for those needing day-to-day assistance.

Comfort Keepers provides as much or as little help required to enable the elderly to live in their homes as long as possible. Services include providing meals, doing shopping, running errands, reminding about medication, performing light housekeeping and laundry, and also personal care.

Owner Cindy Harris says Comfort Keepers strives to get the client involved in life again.

“Like when they [the caregivers] are cooking a favorite meal, they ask the client to help them with the recipe. We try to make it interactive.”

Jim Ellis and his wife, who are in their 80s, have been clients of Comfort Keepers for the past eight years. “I don’t know what we would have done without them,” said the Flagstaff resident. “They have been a lifesaver for us. We started out three days a week and right now, we are having them seven days a week, twice a day. They are the first people here to help out whenever necessary.”

Ellis’s wife has Alzheimer’s, but with the company’s support, she has been able to stay at home. “That has been a real comfort to both me and her,” Ellis said.

Harris, who has been with the company since 2003, is the owner of Comfort Keepers in Prescott Valley, Flagstaff, Payson, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. She says she is very careful about who she hires. “I am proud of how we hire the caregivers here. There is a huge caregiver shortage and its going to get worse.”

Harris grew up with four stepbrothers and two half sisters. Born in New Mexico, her father’s engineering job took the family to numerous states. “Our last major venture was in Kayenta on the Navajo reservation. My father was the assistant superintendent for the Black Mesa Pipeline. We lived there for five years.

“The boys and girls were all friends who explored this vast area together,” she said. “We made our own fun playing baseball, swimming, riding motorcycles and exploring caves.”

She finished high school in Flagstaff.

Harris loves music, especially country and piano-based blues. “I love to dance and laugh.”

An animal lover, she has had as many as three dogs at one time. For fun, she enjoys time with friends, taking them exploring in her CanAm side-by-side, and having a good red wine with dinner.

“Lake Powell is my favorite place to revisit,” she said, but adds that her heart is with her clients and her business.

“I had always wanted a business of my own. I can go to work every day, but I wanted to do something that makes a difference. If I spend time with a client, it grounds me. It brings me back to life.”

Harris receives letters and thank-you cards from clients and their families. “That makes me realize why I am here.”

Steve Nunn, who lives in Phoenix, has Comfort Keepers watch over his 92-year-old father, Jimmie Nunn, who lives in Flagstaff. For the last five years, the staff has far exceeded his expectations. “Some of the caregivers are particularly good and proactive. They let me know if something might need attention in the house,” he said. “When I found I needed to make changes with what I would like to do for my father, they have been very accommodating.”

Caregivers receive training updates, especially for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. They learn how to handle different scenarios and help family members, who can sometimes become frustrated.

Harris also works with a company that helps veterans who didn’t know they qualify for free in-home care. QCBN

By Patty McCormac, QCBN

To learn more about Comfort Keepers, call 928-541-0888.

Women Wranglers Managing Mules, Rugged Terrain, Treacherous Weather  

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The bravado of the women wranglers at the Grand Canyon is a fascinating account of courage, strength and travails, sometimes under severe climatic conditions that can develop in the famous canyon.

Chelsea Plumb and Kricket Scheerer are two of the eight female wranglers employed by Xanterra Grand Canyon South Rim Mule Operations. “We get up around 3 a.m., head to the barn, clock in, load up the mules with panniers [bags] and pack supplies for Phantom Ranch,” said Plumb, who has worked at the Grand Canyon for two years. “Those supplies include toiletry items, groceries, hiker’s duffels and anything needed at the ranch.”

The women saddle up their mules around 4:30 a.m., depending on the season, for their 7.2-mile trek down the rugged South Kaibab Trail.

Their destination is Phantom Ranch, a historic campsite that borders Bright Angel Creek. It is about a 20-minute walk from the Colorado River and is situated in the path of the rim-to-rim and other trails. 

The rustic cabins and family-style restaurant and store were built by the Fred Harvey Company in the 1920s and designed by Mary Coulter. These are the only accommodations in the Grand Canyon and a frequent stopover by river runners and hikers. Xanterra Travel Collection currently manages it and reservations are limited.

“One aspect I love about my job is the people I meet on the trail. They come from all around the world,” said Plumb. “I also love working with the mules. It’s cool to see what you can train them to do; they are so much fun.” Plumb works as a packer about 60 percent of the time. Thirty percent she spends as a mule guide and 10 percent of her job is trail work. An average day for her is 10 to 12 hours long and days can be unpredictable. 

Last monsoon season, a huge rainstorm developed as Plumb was packing out. “We had just passed the Saddle, which is below Cedar Ridge and a lighting bolt hit the Saddle. It was too close for comfort.”

Working as the only full-time female packer, Scheerer says she prefers mules to horses because of their intelligence, strength and character. “You want your mules to behave and stay in order, so you need to know the mules’ individual personalities for a good trip. Some are better in the back instead of the front. They have a pecking order and some just won’t tolerate another so they’ll bite or kick each other. The placement of each mule in the string considers the individual strengths and weaknesses.”

Sheerer has been packing at the Grand Canyon for only five weeks, but two years before moving she rode a mule from the South Rim to the North Rim. “I knew it would be exciting work so I came back and applied for a position.” Her favorite part of the day is riding back up the trail to the rim. “It’s a good feeling to know everything’s been delivered and I’ve had a successful day and can relax.”

“Chelsea and Kricket make a great team,” said Xanterra South Rim Mule Operations Livery Manager John Berry. “It’s a tough job, especially in heavy snow and windy conditions. It’s good to know your riding partner has your back and will get you out of a bad situation, if one should occur.”

What is your Super Power? 

Chelsea Plumb: “My easy-going or go-with-the-flow attitude.”

Kricket Scheerer: “My family has always said that I am a kicking horse; a determined wanderer in need of big landscapes and an open horizon.”

What is the most valuable advice you’ve ever received?

Chelsea Plumb: “When I was younger, I used to compare myself to everyone around me and I always felt down or like I didn’t measure up. Then one of my good friends told me, ‘nobody is perfect, everyone is having problems and when you compare yourself to others you are comparing your lows to their highs. How is that fair?’”

Kricket Scheerer: “Trust in the Lord, Proverbs 3:5.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chelsea Plumb: “Sweet Hawaiian Rolls.”

Kricket Scheerer: “Popcorn with real butter and Coke.” 

Where do you hope to travel someday?

Chelsea Plumb: “I would really love to see Ireland and old castles there.”

Kricket Scheerer: “I’d like to ride a motorcycle over the world’s most dangerous road in Peru. I’ve already ridden a Royal Enfield motorcycle over the world’s highest dirt road in the Himalayas at 17,500 feet.”

What’s your favorite meal at the El Tovar Lodge Dining Room?

Chelsea Plumb: “El Tovar’s chocolate tacos are amazing.”

Kricket Scheerer: “I’ve never been, but I hear that they have great chocolate tacos!” QCBN

  

Photo Caption: 

  

Kricket in snow: 

Kricket Scheerer was one of the first 100 women to spend a full year at the South Pole. She worked on fuel systems in Antarctica for nine years, solo hiked 500 miles in Colorado wilderness and was a wrangler at Keystone Ranch. She says she had no problem coming up South Kaibab Trail in what was the worst snowstorm of the season at the Grand Canyon. “The ride wasn’t too bad, just a little chilly for the last hour.” 

  Photos by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography 

  

 

World Traveler Builds Career Out of Sending Clients on Vacation

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Monika Leuenberger loves what she does and does what she loves. Her expansive world is all about travel. Having sojourned to more than 20 countries (she has lost count), this Switzerland-born wanderlust, travel advisor and co-owner of Avenues of the World Travel has tips and suggestions for situations you would not dream of happening and back-up support for when they do.  

“Several years ago, we traveled to New Zealand via Flagstaff to LA. On our flight back, we landed at the LA airport and our flight was cancelled back to Flagstaff,” said Bob Golub, a retired teacher and non-profit administrator. “Monika had been monitoring our return and saw the Flagstaff airport alert. She called us immediately with three options: schedule a flight back to Phoenix; rent a car and drive; or stay in Los Angeles and she would plan things for us to do.” 

Golub said he and his wife decided to drive back from Los Angeles. “Monika suggested she rent us a car equipped with GPS. We told her we didn’t need it, but she insisted. We realized that navigating the freeways there would have been impossible without the GPS! Monika is just fabulous. She has unbelievable experience, plus she’s creative, detailed and has extensive resources. She doesn’t just get you where you want to go but she helps you get the most out of the experience when you get there.” 

Golub has been using Leuenberger’s services for several years. His most memorable excursion was an African safari.

“Traveling gives you a better understanding of humanity and teaches tolerance,” said Leuenberger. “What always strikes me is that regardless of the differences in culture and religion, no matter where you live, we all have the same basic needs and everyone responds to a smile.”

To ensure that her clients have the best traveling experience, Leuenberger maintains contacts worldwide to assist with emergencies. “We have local connections in their time zones, plus we keep up-to-date on issues or changes going on and we have developed strong associations.”  

Some of Leuenberger’s popular trips include hiking in the Swiss Alps or on the Inca Trail, or an African safari. She highly suggests multi-generational trips. “This is a fantastic way to create family memories.” 

Some emerging destinations are Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Borneo and travelers, she says, are raving about the Antarctic. “They all offer some very unique experiences.”

She adds that traveling opportunities and choices are more abundant than ever before. “Working with a travel advisor helps avoid missing out on a lot benefits,” explained Leuenberger. “We have special terms with over a thousand hotels worldwide, so we get special rates and upgrades, food and beverage credits and freebies such as breakfast, Wi-Fi, early check-in and check-out and sometimes even spa credits.” 

“I’ve been working for Monika for almost 10 years and it’s been the most fun,” said Daniela Harrison, a travel advisor with Avenues of the World Travel. “Monika is very supportive and an amazing role model and inspiration. She’s an active member of several non-profits and is always eager to help out in the community. If we’re having a stressful week, she’ll make sure we don’t forget about self-care and take a break or go home early to enjoy a sunny hike.”

According to Harrison, the most fun part of her job is touching base with clients after their vacation. “We hug, laugh, share pictures and funny tales. This is when we know our hard work has paid off.” QCBN

By Veronica Tierney, QCBN

Footsteps and Tire Tracks – On the Moon? 

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Calling it “…the biggest challenge I ever had was when I was asked if we could build a Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) to be used by astronauts,” Bill Tinnin and his colleagues said, ”Sure, why not?” At the time, he was a mechanic at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) office in Flagstaff 

That was 62 years ago. It was a small piece of the now world-famous Project Apollo that put the first man on the moon.  

It all started when then-President John F. Kennedy told Congress in May 1960 that the U.S. should commit itself to “…landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.” That started the Apollo missions, which lasted from 1960 to 1973.  

Nine years later, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong uttered those now famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” on June 20, 1969. 

Armstrong did not realize, of course, that he was indirectly praising a hardcore team of scientists, geologists, astrophysicists and “in the trenches” staff at the Flagstaff USGS. They collaborated and cooperated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) personnel to make Apollo the pride of space exploration. 

A little known but key player among the 411,000 across the nation who worked for NASA and its contractors who made moon exploration possible – Tinnin. 

Tinnin, now in his 80s, retired in Prescott Valley after a lengthy and distinguished career with USGS in Flagstaff. He grins broadly, “That was one helluva job, something I’ll never forget as long as I live.”  

Tinnin, born in Jerome, graduated from Flagstaff High School. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he later worked for the Navajo Army Depot before joining USGS. 

He said designing and building a vehicle that could safely travel in extreme rocky washes and gullies and lava-flow filled ravines and craters on Earth was challenge enough for scientists, engineers and mechanics. “To think of putting such a vehicle on a chunk of rock some 250,000 miles away in gravity one-sixth that of Earth – mind-blowing.”  

Tinnin grants that building the LRV prototype was not nearly as technologically challenging or glamorous as was designing and building of rockets, spacecraft, space suits and other equipment necessary to transport astronauts across the void of space to the moon. Even so, Tinnin praised his USGS boss Eugene “Gene” Shoemaker, a distinguished geologist, with having the vision to realize that astronauts would need far more than foot power to move over a landscape tattooed by eons of space debris impacting its surface. Shoemaker is also credited with persuading NASA officials that the area surrounding Flagstaff was geologically similar to the moon’s terrain, with its volcanic craters, lava fields and Meteor Crater, a huge impact crater formed 50,000 years ago when a meteorite struck the earth. 

Tinnin explained, “Gene and his colleagues knew astronauts needed to train in an area as similar to the moon as possible. He also knew to survey the moon’s surface, they needed to travel great distances and transport equipment, to collect rock samples and to haul all the scientific equipment and cameras and other stuff. That’s why, in 1965, he told us to use design concepts suggested by General Motors and Boeing. We did, and built what became the prototypes for the Lunar Rover that we’ve all seen on TV and in photographs.”  

By “us,” Tinnin meant Rutledge “Putty” Mills, Dick Wiser, Walt Fahey and Tinnin. All collaborated building the first training vehicles ever used by astronauts in their preparing for lunar explorations.  

In 1967, the USGS team began hand-crafting Explorer and other LRVs in a rented machine shop on the east side of Flagstaff. Those hand-built four-wheel drive vehicles featured electric motors and manual steering – either forward or backward – and controls at either end for a driver in a space suit. Because the moon has no oxygen, combustion engines were simply not feasible.  

But the pride of the construction team was Grover (the nickname for a Gravity Rover). Boeing proposed the concept for the field simulator Grover that Tinnin and his colleagues built. Tinnin explained, “We used their plans and built it – using a frame of steel tubing and other surplus stuff we scrounged.” 

The cost for the USGS version of the LRV was about $2,000, Tinnin said with a laugh. “We built it for that, but NASA multiplied the cost by about 10 and said it cost $20,000. And when the one used on the moon was built by Boeing, it cost more than a million. Go figure.” 

He cites one example. “NASA told us we needed to have an antenna on Grover. None existed that we knew of, so I took an old umbrella, stripped it, covered with a metal mesh, and it worked. Cost? A few dollars.”  

NASA and USGS wanted the area where astronauts used LVRs to be as similar as possible to the moon’s surface as possible. USGS took maps prepared by Patricia Bridges, a USGS cartographic artist, and used them as a template. On a large, flat cinder field northeast of Flagstaff – the Bonita Lava Flow – they used tons of dynamite to create more than 200 craters that replicated the landing site of Apollo 11 on the lunar surface. They later created yet another crater field near Cottonwood that was used by Alan Shepard and Apollo 14.  

Tinnin grows sentimental about his experience. “I’m proud to say that all the astronauts – 20 of them – who went to the moon trained on the vehicles we built for the crater fields USGS created. I was privileged to know and work with them, and I have patches from every Apollo mission. I have them mounted and framed in my home office with all my other memorabilia.”  

 

What’s the best advice you ever received?  

“Gordon Swann, a lead USGS biologist who trained all the astronauts about the geology of the moon, told me that no matter what, make those LVRs safe. Lives depend on that. Swann’s wife, Jody, was Shoemaker’s administrative aide. ” 

 

Of all your experiences, what was your favorite? 

“Traveling and working all those years, all over the nation, with some of the most dedicated scientists, technicians and astronauts who believed wholeheartedly in the Apollo missions.” 

 

Where do you now like to travel? 

My wife, Pam, and I thoroughly enjoy getting into our RV and heading to places like Wyoming and Montana. We really loved our RVing adventures in Alaska.  

 

What’s your favorite kind of music? 

I really like country and western. In fact, that’s how I met Pam – at a country-western dance in Flagstaff. 

 

What’s something most people don’t know about you? 

“Well, years ago, I was in some pretty good western movies – Broken Arrow in 1950 and Pony Solider in 1952. Both of them were filmed in Sedona.“ QCBN 

 By Ray Newton 

Those interested in seeing Grover or other exhibits related to Apollo moon missions should visit the USGS Shoemaker Astrogeology Science Center located in Building 6, 2255 N. Gemini Drive, Flagstaff. 

Photo Caption:

Bill Tinnin is proud to show off the tee shirt he received which commemorates the upcoming 50th anniversary of astronauts landing on the moon. (Photo by Ray Newton) 

 

 

 

 

Building Bridges for Business, Customers

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Wendy Bridges is creating and fostering a climate of opportunities for businesses and for customers. Bridges is the economic development coordinator for the City of Prescott.

Bridges views the challenge of creating such a climate as similar to that facing other Arizona communities. She uses, as an example, the need for a skilled and ready workforce. “Employers across the country are being challenged by a low unemployment rate, which leads to fewer job seekers. But in Prescott, because of our educational and workforce partners, we’re able to address that challenge.”

Proof of meeting that challenge was perhaps best documented when Bridges was named “Economic Developer of the Year – Small Community” in late May by the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED).

She was recognized for her efforts in helping Prescott business, RESAWear, expand its footprint and generate an additional estimated 150 well-paying jobs in the greater community, all in just the past few months.

RESAWear is an orthotic footwear company that has a unique process for creating custom-made orthotics through the use of a 3D printer and spools of heavy plastic thread.

Glen Hinshaw, founder and CEO of RESAWear, had nothing but accolades for Bridges.  “She and her colleagues with the City of Prescott helped me build bridges to community partners that have propelled this company into national and international prominence and success.”

City of Prescott Community Outreach Manager John Heiney is her immediate supervisor. “I think we have an exceptionally strong team here in the City of Prescott. Wendy is an integral member of that team. Beyond her daily duties with the city, she represents Prescott comprehensively with organizations such as Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), and many others.”

Among others are the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board, the Prescott Area Leadership Board of Directors and the Prescott Area Young Professional Board of Directors. She also is involved with key industry leaders such as the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), where she earned her CEcD candidacy, and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)

Bridges has not always been involved in economic development. Though a native of Chicago, she has lived in Arizona for most of her life. She once worked in the Yavapai County Clerk’s office. She has also served as a licensed real estate salesperson, which she says helped her gain perspective of what people look for when they come to a community.

She earned an associate degree from Yavapai College and has certification from the University of Arizona in economic development. She soon will complete a bachelor’s degree at Northern Arizona University.

Bridges is married to Chris Bridges, executive director of the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO). She smiles when she talks about economic expansion projects in the Quad Cities, in which they are both involved.

“For the past 11 years, I’ve worked for the City of Prescott. Any time we see companies or businesses adding positions, and any time we hear about people who get a good job and buy a car and a home and can care for and support their families, we’re happy,” she said. “We want to continue creating an environment for economic opportunities.”

 

What is the best advice you’ve received?

“’Don’t take yourself too seriously.’ John Heiney told me that not long ago, and you know what? He’s right.”

What’s your favorite meal?

“My husband, Chris, would tell you the way to my heart is with veggie tacos. But also true is that any meal shared with good friends is a favorite.”

City of Prescott Economic Development Coordinator Wendy Bridges admires the Japanese culture and has original Japanese artwork hanging in one of the City Hall conference rooms.  Photo by Ray Newton

What would be your favorite vacation?

“When I was in a Chicago elementary school, we studied a different culture each year. The one I remember is Japanese. Ever since, I’ve wanted to visit Japan. I hope to make that trip someday.”

If you had a million dollars to give away, where would it go? 

“Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, right here in Prescott, has a special place in my heart. It provides shelter and protection for animals that otherwise would be gone.”

What’s your favorite hobby?

“Hiking – at all skill levels. And we’re so blessed in Prescott to have what has been called the ‘best trail system in Arizona.’ I get to take advantage of all those great trails.” QCBN

 

By Ray Newton

 

 

‘Thanks for All You Do’

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Thrusting his hand out in warm handshake, he smiles broadly. “Hi, I’m Harold Viehweg. Thanks for all you do for the community.”

That is a pretty typical greeting most people get when they meet Viehweg in his tightly-organized, uncluttered ground-floor office in the Prescott Chamber of Commerce building on Goodwin Street.

Not everyone who enters the Prescott C of C sees Viehweg, for his office is at the rear of the tall skinny two-story building. However, Viehweg has been a chamber official more than one-fourth of the 80 years the C of C has served members, visitors and the community. He joined the organization in 1992, when he took a job there as an accountant.

Originally from South Dakota, where he earned his degree in business administration at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, Viehweg and his wife, Dottie, and their two daughters moved to Phoenix in 1965. He has worked almost his entire career as an accountant, financial manager or business coordinator. In 1992, when he and his wife moved to Prescott to own and operate the Victorian-style bed and breakfast known as The Mark’s House, he applied for and was accepted a position at the chamber.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with business and financial matters,” he said matter-of-factly. “Hard to believe I’ve survived all the way from pencil and paper accounting through IBM punch cards into sophisticated computerized technological wizardry.”

Viehweg accounts for more than half a million dollars that come through the chamber each year. Beyond that, he handles the bookkeeping for the Chamber of Commerce Foundation, too, which requires a distinctly different accounting process.

But Viehweg’s involvements go far beyond keeping track of numbers. He helps coordinate the annual Christmas Parade, which requires months of detailed planning and plotting. Equally challenging is annual fund-gathering for the traditional Christmas Courthouse Lighting. He works with the annual Bluegrass Festival, which brings thousands to Prescott for a unique music experience.

“We’ve so many activities where we work with the greater community that I really have to keep a careful list of everything – Labor Day, the Territorial Festival in June, Memorial Day and Fall Festival in October. And morning and evening monthly mixers, ribbon cuttings, arts and crafts shows and often special seasonal projects – all take time,” he explained.

He says he’s regularly surprised at how efficiently the chamber functions with only four full-time staff members and several part-time personnel. He credits much of the chamber’s success to “an exceptionally dedicated team of volunteers who give freely and willingly of their time and talent.”

Viehweg reports directly to Sheri Heiney, CEO and president of the 850-member organization. “What gratifies me is that despite the diverse activities and programs we’re always involved in, we rarely have problems or conflicts. We, at the chamber, owe thanks to a lot of people,” he said.

One of Viehweg’s colleagues is Visitor Information Center Manager Robert Coombs. Coombs interacts with up to 30,000 visitors annually, many of whom are out of state or international guests. “I’ve worked closely with Harold for more than 12 years,” said Coombs. “He’s one of the most dedicated, committed and friendly people I can think of, especially about community matters. He’s involved in so many activities and programs. He’s really a team player, too, and works well with everyone.”

Viehweg’s is a passionate supporter of performing and fine arts throughout the community, including the Yavapai Symphony Association and the Central Arizona Concert Band support group.

For years, too, he has been an active member of the Prescott POPS Symphony Orchestra School Grants Committee. Through funds raised from contributions and gate receipts from POPS concerts, Viehweg and other committee members annually distribute grants to Quad Cities schools, which have instrumental music programs. That process requires considerable time in solicitation and consequent review of applications to determine grant amounts and recipients.

Since he first moved to Prescott from Phoenix in 1992, Viehweg has been involved in one way or another in the Prescott United Methodist Church. “Harold has been volunteering at our church for years,” said PUMC minister, The Rev. Dan Hurlbert. “He sings in the Chancel Choir, rings bells in the bell choir, and is a part of the financial leadership team. He spends part of every week signing checks and auditing the cash flow to the church. He’s often overlooked because he’s so quiet. But believe me, his efforts are important and appreciated.”

Hurlbert’s praise is echoed by PUMC music director Jacob Gilbert. He especially lauded Viehweg’s faithfulness at every rehearsal and performance in the various groups with which he performs. “Harold is one of the most dependable persons I know,” Gilbert said.

 

What the best advice you’ve ever received?

“When I was just a kid, my dad told me, ‘Always tell the truth.’ That advice stuck, and I follow it daily.”

If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

“I’d love to go to London and the United Kingdom. I’ve never been there, but I’m fascinated by the history, tradition and culture. I’d really like to visit my granddaughter who lives in London.”

What character trait do you most admire in colleagues and associates?

“No hesitation there. Honesty and integrity.”

What really annoys you?

“Seriously? Being interrupted when I am really busy at some intense task.”

What actor is going to play your role when they make a TV show or movie about you?

“I hope it could be Steve Carrell, who seems like a really nice guy who never offends anybody.”

 

By Ray Newton, QCBN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teller Continues Looking Up

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As a youngster, Arlando Teller stood in the yard of his Chinle home on the Navajo Reservation and looked up at an azure sky pebbled with popcorn clouds and jet contrails. He wondered where those white streaks crisscrossing the wild blue yonder were headed.

When he graduated from Chinle High School in 1991, his continuing curiosity prompted him to find out. He wanted to become a part of that high-flying adventure. He enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – home of the Eagles – in Prescott and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration in 1995.

The success Teller had because of following his childhood ambition resulted in his being honored as one of two ERAU Chancellor’s Alumni Hall of Fame recipients during Homecoming activities on Oct. 6.

Teller is the first Navajo to graduate from the nation’s No. 1 rated aerospace and aviation university.

“I was blessed by the community of Chinle, the Navajo Nation and ERAU,” he said. “They worked together and provided me with scholarships so I could attend the university. I had opportunities from several other universities like Dartmouth and the University of Rochester. But the admissions counselor from ERAU persuaded me that it could give me the education I needed to pursue the career I wanted. She was right.”

Teller’s career indeed has been high-flying. Though not a pilot, he has years of experience working with airport and transportation management. He began in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was Native American liaison and Transportation Planner for the California Department of Transportation.

He later returned to Arizona, where he worked with airport planning for Sky Harbor Airport, City of Phoenix; and Falcon Field, City of Mesa.

Since September 2009, Teller has worked for the Navajo Nation Department of Transportation. Initially, he administered for four years the seven airstrips on the reservation with the Department of Airport Management. “I have been dedicated to improving the airport system in all aspects on the Navajo Nation,” he said.

He is now the deputy division director for the Navajo Department of Transportation. In that role, he works with a budget of $60 million to $65 million annually and is tasked with maintaining service, maintenance, safety and planning for all aspects of transportation with the Navajo Nation in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties in Arizona, and with adjacent counties in Utah and New Mexico.

His office is in Window Rock, but his work routinely takes him throughout Central and Northern Arizona and into other nearby states.

Last February, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Teller to be one of the seven-member State Transportation Board, where he represents all of Northern Arizona and its rural communities.

 

Teller Retains His Traditional Navajo Cultural and Spiritual Values
Teller was raised by his single mother, Clara Tah-Nunn, in the remote northeastern community of Chinle. In Navajo, the world Chinle means “water flowing out,” in this case, into scenic Canyon de Chelly.

“Mine was a traditional youth,” Teller explained. “My grandfather was a World War II veteran, one of the fabled Code Talkers. One of my roles as a youngster was to help take care of him as he aged. He learned to trust me. He told me stories of being a Code Talker and what he did. But he pledged me to secrecy. I will never reveal what he said. He also taught me the time-honored values that Navajos have had for centuries. I still honor those.”

Teller smiled as he explained the spiritual symbolism of the Eagle, which happens to be the mascot for ERAU. “In Navajo, the eagle is a sacred bird, along with the hummingbird and the blue bird – and sometimes the crow and owl. So, to have attended Embry-Riddle and to be called an ‘Eagle’ – that’s a very special thing for me.”

Teller said he is encouraging other Navajo students to consider attending ERAU. To support that ambition, he initiated a partnership with ERAU, the Navajo Nation and Armstrong Consultants. Through that program, select students from the Navajo Nation, usually two to four annually –are sponsored to attend ERAU summer camps to learn more about aviation, aerospace and other aeronautical-related opportunities that have exceptional career potential.

“I am passionate about introducing Navajo students to these opportunities,” Teller said. He cited one example of a Navajo high school student, Shannon Spencer, who participated in an ERAU Helicopter Exploration camp and logged time practicing flying, hovering and landing.

All the while, he also was taking academic classes.

Teller is urging Native American students to apply for the ERAU summer camp. “If they will contact me at ateller@navajodot.org., I’ll provide all the details they need,” he said.

In sum, Teller hopes to see more Eagles in the Arizona sky.

 

  1. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“After I graduated from Embry-Riddle, I was working for CALTRANS in the Bay Area of Northern California. I received a call from my grandmother – just before she passed.   She asked me to come home – to return to Navajo land – and to bring my basket filled with all the good things I had learned, things like knowledge and experience and wisdom that I could bring home to share with Navajos on the reservation. She said I needed to pack up, bring all the good that I had gained home in that basket and then turn the basket upside down and share it with my people – the Dineh. I did – in 2009. I have no regrets.”

  1. Where’s your favorite place to travel for vacation?

“No hesitation, Spain and Italy. I love the people, the culture, the food, the history, the architecture. I’ve been there five times – extended trips – and I am going back again.”

  1. What’s your favorite food?

“Anything that’s home-cooked. And anything that’s with family. Because I’m gone so much, I really value sitting down at the table with fresh-cooked veggies and potatoes and gravy and beef or mutton or lamb, and homemade dessert that didn’t come out of a box or plastic bag.”

  1. If you had a million dollars to give away, where would it go?

“I struggle with this, for I see so many needs among my people on the Navajo Reservation. But first, I would give money to schools so they create advanced programs for the youngsters, give them life skills and genuine job training. Second, I dedicate money to fund programs for the elderly – things like providing better transportation, improved health care and facilities, and enhanced educational opportunities that fit their interests and needs.”

  1. What’s your favorite family tradition?

“My real favorite, when I was a kid, was Easter. We’d have Easter egg hunts, and then family get-togethers where we would tell stories and enjoy huge family meals and laugh a lot. But other favorites were Christmas and Thanksgiving, where we’d eat too much and then play board games and card games. But I also have to include the Navajo ceremonials like the Beauty Way, where we are taught never to harm another human being. Or the Blessing Way, where we try to restore equilibrium to the universe. Those are an important part of my internal spiritual beliefs.”

Photo by Ray Newton