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Grand Canyon Saddle Maker Enjoying the Ride

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Across from the Xanterra South Rim is a mule barn sitting on an inconspicuous lot at the Grand Canyon Village. The historic building was a blacksmith’s shop.

Inside, the old wooden floors show their age, while the aroma of worked leather and mules give away its purpose. This is Joe Marshall’s territory: the Saddle Maker’s shop.

Neatly arranged are leather straps and scraps, saddles, tools, machinery, a bottle of soda and a bag of chips. Like a Western Santa in his workshop, Marshall joyfully makes and repairs saddles, chaps, holsters, britches and “anything leather,” for Xanterra’s mule operations.

Marshall has been a saddle maker for more than 50 years and claims, “I’m probably one of the luckiest people on this property here. I’m doing what I love to do.”

All the tools and equipment in his shop belong to him.

Growing up outside of Phoenix, Marshall has worked as an animal control officer, police officer, carpenter and cabinetmaker.

“I then started working on ranches all over Utah, California and Arizona,” he said.

In 1981, Marshall built a house in Cedar City, Utah. He also built a saddle shop behind his house. “When the economy went south and our daughter, Danica, graduated high school, this job opened up here at the Grand Canyon. I applied and was hired, back in 2008. I feel real fortunate to have this job.”

His wife lives at their Cedar City home. He travels back and forth. “I work a four-day, 10-hour schedule and go home about every month or so.”

“Having the best equipment here is vital for the safety of our guests, employees and our mules,” said Livery Manager John Berry. “Joe does an outstanding job in mastering his craftsmanship to assure this.”

Matt Joseph, Xanterra packer supervisor, likes to visit Marshall in the evenings after work. “Joe has a really good sense of humor, so he’s fun to hang out with. He’s a good teacher, too, and if he doesn’t know an answer, he’ll find out. His saddles are great; they fit the mules really well and they’re comfortable. It’s important to have a sense of craftsmanship and Joe obviously has that.”

Marshall puts his mark on every saddle. “When you have a job that enables you to do what you love, it gives you a sense of immortality,” he explained. “I’d like nothing better than 50 to 100 years from now know someone is saying, ‘Yeah, this is a Joe Marshall. He made this for the Canyon.”

What is your superpower?

“I am the leather guy. I’m a mere mortal.”

 

What advice would you give a young person interested in learning your craft?

“Don’t. There are too many of us now. Marry well. Do you know what the difference is between a saddle maker and a large pizza? A large pizza will feed a family of four, a saddle maker won’t.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

“Jameson Irish Whiskey.”

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

“My father said, if you’re gonna do something, do it right. Have a plan, implement the plan and stick to the plan. We’ll review later whether it’s a good plan or not.”

What’s your favorite time of the day?

“I like night. If you come by here late at night and you hear tapping and slow, sad country songs, I’m tooling leather and I’m in my element. There have been times I’ve looked up and it was 3:30 a.m. Just got lost in my tooling and forgot the time.” QCBN

Joe Marshall

Former Trial Lawyer Shares Gentle Side in ‘Birding Arizona’

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Charles Babbitt grew up in Flagstaff. “It was a very different city then,” he recalled, “about 15,000 people. We had a father who was interested in the outdoors, and he encouraged us to take a deeper look at the natural world. We spent a lot of time driving, hiking and exploring Northern Arizona.”

That deep appreciation and love for the natural world, scenic beauty and science have always been important to Charles as well. The grandson of C.J. Babbitt, one of the original Babbitt brothers who started a ranching empire in Northern Arizona in 1886, Charles is a third-generation Arizonan. Some of his earliest memories are watching Great Blue Herons at Lake Mary and feeding birds in the snowy Flagstaff winter. “I’ve always loved birds and their songs, like those of the Pinyon Jay and the Western Meadowlark.”

It is those songs and hundreds of others that Babbitt encourages beginning bird watchers to listen for. He knows at least 300 by heart. “I like to emphasize that birders learn bird songs. When I go on field trips, I really stress that with people. I tell them we’re going to stop along the way, we’re just going to spend time listening and learning songs and calls. Good birders do most of their birding by ear.”

In his book, “Birding Arizona: What to Know, Where to Go,” the author offers locations, descriptions, maps and observations, noting the seasons and migration patterns in a way that reads more like gentle essays from the field than a fact-filled guidebook. And actually, it is both.

“The book covers a lot of ground,” he said. “It was written to help people find, identify and appreciate the many species found in Arizona, now more than 550. Some of the birds I talk about are iconic birds of Northern Arizona forests, like Clark’s Nutcracker and Pinyon Jay. Much of the book is devoted to beautiful under-birded locations like the San Francisco Peaks, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Navajo and Hopi tribal lands.”

Babbitt masterfully describes remote oases, charming towns and “magnificent scenery” of Northeastern Arizona, “carved sandstone canyons, towering monuments, volcanic buttes and juniper-covered plateaus and mesas,” where rare migrant and vagrant birds – those that have strayed from their usual range – touch down.

He writes, “Ganado, Arizona, is a good starting place to explore the eastern tribal lands of the Navajo. On spring and fall birding trips to this area, we often arrive at Ganado Lake late at night, just in time to throw our sleeping bags on the ground under large willows along the shore. We fall asleep listening to the distant barking of Navajo dogs and the calls of America Wigeons out on the water.”

Babbitt, now retired, was a criminal defense and personal injury attorney who practiced law in Arizona for 40 years, mostly in the Phoenix area. His interest in the outdoors and birding, he admits, is the flip side of his personality as a trial lawyer. “Birding is a wonderful avocation, hobby or pastime to have if you have a very stressful occupation. It’s a wonderful contrast and a lovely escape.”

The 75-year-old says he was introduced to birding in a formal, systematic way, starting with Williamson’s Sapsucker, while practicing law in Tucson. “A fellow lawyer, who later became a judge, took me out birding on Mount Lemon. That’s when I got on that train and have never been able to get off!”

Babbitt enjoys helping others step into that journey of birdwatching, too, noting that Arizona is recognized as one of America’s foremost birding destinations, with almost half of all the birds of North America seen here.

He often leads field trips and bird walks for the Audubon Society and at science and education centers like The Arboretum at Flagstaff. “People who go on field trips are usually just very enthusiastic and good-natured. How could you not be in a good mood in these great areas and looking at birds?”

Regarded in the Audubon world as one of the most knowledgeable birders in the state, Babbitt is credited with the “first Arizona state record” (the state’s first documented and accepted record of a bird species) of a Yellow-billed Loon, which was discovered at Painted Rock Dam near Gila Bend and a Black-vented Shearwater at Lake Havasu. He is also recognized for a “second state record” for a Glaucous Gull. “I’ve found quite a few rare species through the years, including Red-throated Loon, Hudsonian Godwit and Mew Gull.”

Babbitt is the recipient of the prestigious 1999 George B. Fell Award from the Natural Areas Association for a lifetime of professional work and personal effort dedicated to the protection and stewardship of the natural areas of Arizona and the Colorado Plateau. Last month at Northern Arizona University, he was honored by the Arizona Field Ornithologists (AZFO) with an award that states, “In recognition of many years helping to further, through field work and the written word, knowledge and appreciation of birdlife in Arizona, and interesting hundreds of youth in birds and birding.”

As the past president of the Maricopa Audubon Society, a former member of the Arizona Bird Committee and a board member of many conservation organizations, Babbitt is not only interested in birds, he is active in environmental matters. He writes, “It’s clear that birds are sending us a powerful message about climate change, and we would do well to listen.”

From the Arctic to the Amazon, he says, birds are moving higher and higher and wintering further north. “Some nesting bird species are now arriving in Arizona earlier in the spring because it’s getting warmer. Many of these patterns of migratory behavior that have been around since the end of the last Ice Age are timed so birds arrive on breeding grounds when there is maximum food production. If they find that their food sources have already diminished or the insects [that are a food source for birds] have died, a lot of bird species will be in jeopardy.”

He warns, “…climate change resulting in warming winters and drought has the potential to seriously impact, if not extirpate, Arizona populations of Canada Jay, Pine Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak. A recent study links drought and extreme temperatures due to climate change to the continued decline of Arizona’s Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl population.”

Ultimately, Babbitt wants to share the joy of birding with others and let people know it does not take a lot of preparation or gear. “You don’t need much: a pair of binoculars and a bird identification book. There’s not a lot of cost involved, and with a little preparation, you can get started on a lifetime of sharpening and honing your birdwatching skills.”

Babbitt will be sharpening his own skills as he and his wife, Eleanor, travel the Pacific Coast this fall on a ship from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles to study migrating pelagic (ocean) birds. Eleanor is an artist who enhanced the book’s cover with her painting of a Grace’s Warbler.

Where haven’t you visited yet that you’d like to explore?

“I would like to visit and explore the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia, known for its great diversity of bird species including many endemic species.”

What are the quality characteristics you most appreciate in others?

“I enjoy people who are well-read, well-informed and who have an appreciation for science and the scientific method.”

What is your favorite restaurant?
“Virtually any Mexican restaurant.”

If you could have a conversation with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?

“I would like to have a conversation with Charles Darwin, one of history’s most astute observers of the natural world.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

For information about guided bird walks and book signings, visit the publisher’s (R. W. Morse Co.) website, www.rwmorse.com

Tusayan Hotelier Carrying on Family Tradition

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Cleaning hotel rooms, working at the front desk and serving as a hostess and cashier is not typical for most nine-year old girls, but for Ann Serna, it was a way of life and perhaps the boost that landed her in the role she has today as owner and general manager of the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel.

“My father, Franz Rutter, worked for Fred Harvey in Chicago and was responsible for turning six restaurants around so they were profitable,” said Serna. “They were impressed with his work and in 1968, asked him to come to the Grand Canyon to oversee the Fred Harvey restaurants here, Bright Angel, Maswik, El Tovar, Yavapai, Desert View and the Cameron operation.”

Serna was six when they moved to the Grand Canyon.

Serna’s father was later asked to oversee hotels in Tusayan, a small resort town about six miles from the Grand Canyon Village: the Squire Inn, Red Feather and, finally, Quality Inn (which is now Grand Canyon Plaza).

“We lived and went to school in the Grand Canyon Village and after school we would go to work sometimes until 10 at night at the hotel. My dad was German and worked hard. We worked seven days a week.”

Today, the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel has 232 rooms, three complexes, replete with spa, restaurant and saloon as well as a newly renovated atrium the size of a football field. “We’ve been renovating for the last seven years. Once we’re finished, we’ll start the process all over again,” said Serna.

As owner/operators of the hotel, Serna shares her position with her husband, Louie. “He does the outside grounds work and building maintenance and I oversee the inside – accounting, front desk and restaurant operations.”

Serna says the hotel has 110 staff members. “One of my employees has been with us for 43 years and most over 20 years.”

“She loves and adores her employees, and she takes care of us,” said Front Desk Manager Racheal Rivera. “She’s has been a public figure here at the Grand Canyon and she’s a strong supporter of the school and fire department.”

Front Desk Assistant Manager Jamie Hoekstra has worked for the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel on and off for 25 years. “I came here when I was 17 and I keep coming back. I grew up with them. They’re like family to me and I love it here.”

Along with her long hours on the job, Serna also strives to give to the community. “Ann was one of two main people here who have supported the Tusayan Fire Department. I cannot stress how appreciative we are to them,” said Tusayan Fire Chief Greg Brush. “Due to circumstances, our funding could be cut in 2020. The Sernas have offered to sponsor a Friday night fundraiser at their Wagon Wheel Salon once a month. For five hours, 100% of all food and drink revenue go to the Tusayan Fire Department. It’s unbelievable.”

To fulfill her dad’s dream of owning a winery, the Sernas purchased 143 acres outside of Williams and opened Wagon Wheel Winery. “Louie and I bought 1,000 plants from France and planted them, but the vines couldn’t grow at such a high altitude. So, we source our grapes from Arizona vineyards down south and crush, blend, ferment, bottle and label. I’m involved from start to finish.”

The couple lives in Flagstaff on weekends and on the way home, they stop at the winery to check on things. “I love both Tusayan and Flagstaff.”

Another fundraiser that Serna supports is Acts of Kindness in Flagstaff, run by her golfing partner Kathy Flores, owner of several Subways in Northern Arizona. Acts of Kindness assembles bags of gifts to give to people who have lost loved ones to suicide. They also make bags for first responders.

“Ann is one of the most giving people I know and so quiet and soft-spoken, but a very strong woman,” said Flores. “We are very grateful for her support.”

“Louie and I were both widows,” said Serna. “I’ve got three girls and he has two boys and a girl so it’s definitely a Brady Bunch,” said Serna.

“In order to do well, you need to love what you do,” she said. “My advice for women in business is to be diligent, believe in yourself, have faith in yourself and listen to your instincts. Also, whatever you want, go and get it. Don’t let anybody stop you.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

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

Grand Canyon Railway General Manager: A Man in Motion

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A sign posted on the wall of the Grand Canyon Railway locomotive shop states, “Expect movement on any tracks from any direction…at any time.”

Though a good reminder for engineers and mechanics working on the trains, the advice spells out sage wisdom for Bob Baker’s position as general manager of train operations as well.

With responsibilities ranging from maintenance of the trains to ticketing, Baker has a lot of motion in his job. “I oversee the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel maintenance, safety, security and sustainability and I’m responsible for all aspects of the trains,” he explained in his gentle, polished English accent.

Born in London, Baker has lived in the United States since December 24, 1989, and became a U.S. citizen in 2005. “I was a service brat and every time my dad was relocated, so was the family. I attended 11 schools growing up.”

His career in transportation began with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O Lines). He then graduated from college in the northeast of England in 1977 and headed out to the “wild blue yonder.” He has a son, Kieran, who works in New York City and a daughter, Kinzi, who serves as an animal handler at Bearizona.

“I started working for Fred Harvey Company [later, Amfac, and now, Xanterra] in 1991 as director of engineering at the Grand Canyon. During my time there, I managed three renovations of El Tovar, built the day care, recreation center and a number of employee apartments.”

In 2007, Baker transferred to run the Grand Canyon Railway train operations in Williams and later, became general manager.

A highlight of his life was during a hike from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim. “My wife, Sherry, was a mule wrangler and had taken a group to Phantom Ranch. It turned out she needed a water heater on her trailer, so I installed one for her. We were married at Yaki Point in 2002.” Sherry kept her “dream job” as a wrangler for 10 years.

“Bob and I have worked closely for 11 years developing a close friendship and dynamic business relationship,” said General Manager of Resort Operations Jeff D’Arpa. “We have collaborated on countless construction projects, business initiatives and the daily operation of running the hotel and train operations at Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel. I couldn’t have asked for a better business partner and person to take on the last decade of challenges and opportunities. “

According to Baker, in 2018, approximately 184,357 passengers rode the train to the Grand Canyon from Williams. This equates to 72,000 fewer cars on Highway 64, which can get busy during peak seasons.

The apex of the year for the Grand Canyon Railway is the Polar Express Train Ride where families arrive in matching pajamas with “smiling faces.”

“You cannot put a price on seeing the joy of the children and parents’ faces when they see the North Pole and Santa Claus,” said Baker. “Approximately 96,000 rode the Polar Express Train in 2018, which runs from November to early January.

May 10 marked the 30th anniversary of the re-inauguration of the Grand Canyon Railway. The day was commemorated with a double header using both steam engines (the other steam locomotive is #2960, built in 1923).  

What are the character qualities you appreciate most in business associates? 

“Honesty and integrity, what they do when no one is looking.  I will go to great lengths to help if you tell me the truth, but I cannot help you if I do not know what really happened.”

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“Learn to type. My father gave me a software program called SageSoft and with that program I learned to type. This was back in the 1980s when I was still at sea and got teased about being a secretary! This was invaluable advice as I moved from manual work to office work.”

What is your favorite dish? 

“I love Thai food, but I’m particularly partial to a good curry!”

What hobby would you like to pursue? 

“I love fixing things. I have rebuilt a number of cars – older British sports cars – over the years and enjoy that. I have a 1950 Chevy pickup in need of rebuilding. Hopefully, I will get to work on that one day.”

When the movie is made about your life, who will play you?

“Pretty sure no one would be silly enough to make a movie about me, but I would like to play me. God has brought me on an amazing journey, matched me to the most amazing woman in my wife, Sherry, and given me two great children, now 30 and 26 years old, and even carried me through some tough medical times, including cancer in 2013.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Locally Sourced; Regionally Recognized

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When all the other boys and girls wanted to grow up to be firefighters and police officers, John Panza wanted to be a chef.

“I always kind of gravitated to the kitchen as a kid. If there was a family gathering or party, I was in the kitchen helping out mom or dad, whoever was cooking.”

Panza’s parents are Italian and Lebanese, so he said celebrations were always centered around food.

Now, he is the owner of BiGA, a restaurant that focuses on modern and local food. He shops at the Prescott Farmers Market, supporting local growers and keeping money in the community. “We are out there every Saturday. Most of our customers shop there. You see our employees shopping there.”

Panza was invited to participate in the Devour Culinary Classic at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The Feb. 23 event was a local showcase of the state’s top chefs and restaurateurs, with demonstrations, competitions and tastings.

“I was super excited to represent Prescott,” he said.

There were between 50 and 60 vendors displaying their best dishes for the event.

“We served duck with a savory bread pudding, a local carrot puree, dried grape chutney and a pomegranate reduction.” Panza says it did his heart good when “someone came to the booth and said, ‘So this is the duck we have been hearing about all day!’ That was pretty neat.”

Panza first came to Prescott to open the Capital Canyon Club. He was with the restaurant for about two years before he decided to break out on his own. He built a following by offering pop-up dinners around town.

“They were a blast. People got acquainted with us,” he said.

The opportunity to buy BiGA came about two years ago. “It is not a huge place, only nine tables and a bar, but a person never has to wait more than 15 or 20 minutes for a table. We just get them through.”

Local favorites are the roasted chicken entrée, the mussels dish with tomato fennel broth and a burger featuring local beef.

The menu changes constantly depending on the season and what is available.

“We make all our own bread in house,” he said.

In fact, the demand for their bread and rolls by other restaurants is growing quickly.

BiGA, by the way, is an Italian bread starter with fermented flour and yeast.

Standing by his side is his wife, Cassandra Hankison, who is in charge of everything except food.

“You name it, I do it, from keeping the lights on to running out to the grocery store because we need something right now,” she said with a laugh.

Hankison trained to be a pastry chef and met John when she applied at the Canyon Club. They were not hiring a pastry chef at the moment, but they did hire her to head up food and beverage at the restaurant.

Today, their business is booming.

“Things are going great. It’s crazy right now, it’s awesome,” she said.

Panza said he always talked about having his own restaurant and being a chef.

After high school, he attended Arizona State University, then culinary school at Scottsdale Community College. He worked for a few places, including a Different Point of View at The Point in Phoenix, before moving to Prescott.

BiGA is at located at 623 Mill Valley Road. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 928-227-2543. QCBN

By Patty McCormac, QCBN

Hospitality from Kabul to the Grand Canyon

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Traveling almost 8,000 miles to fill his new position as food and beverage director for Xanterra at the Grand Canyon South Rim Lodges was an “easy” decision, says Todd Rodemyer, who left Kabul, Afghanistan, for the Grand Canyon. “It was the best move I’ve made yet and I really like it here.” 

While in Kabul, Rodemyer worked as a government contractor for the U.S. Embassy, managing the food service for the entire state department operation, which includes six dining facilities and catering from the ground up. “It was an amazing experience and I had a great relationship with the ambassador and state department commanders.” 

Although he was in a war zone, he says he always felt safe at the compound in Kabul, because it was guarded by Gurkha Guard Force. “They are some of the greatest and most dedicated soldiers I’ve ever been around.” 

He adds that it was intense at times. “I was there when … a military hospital [was attacked] a few blocks down from the embassy. Another time, a bomb exploded in front of the German embassy.”    

It would seem that Kabul would be quite different from the Grand Canyon, but Rodemyer says there are some similarities. “We lived on the compound near the embassy, much like here at the Grand Canyon Village where we work and live nearby and have a close relationship with work associates.”  

Rodemyer’s management style has remained similar, focused on communicating with the team and leading by example. “I was an infantry platoon leader so I think it’s applicable in food and beverage to lead from the front. At the end of the day, a manager needs to be on the floor leading the team.” 

“Todd brings a diverse background in food and beverage including high volume operations that leave him undaunted with his task here at the South Rim,” said Xanterra Grand Canyon South Rim Lodges General Manager Mia Bell. “His leadership and commitment to high levels of customer service will be a major contribution to our food and beverage outlets. We’re very excited to have him join our team.” 

Along with the administration of the food and beverage at the legendary El Tovar Restaurant, Rodemyer will also be in charge of the Harvey House at the Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Cafeteria and the Arizona Steakhouse (formally named the Arizona Room). He will also oversee the food service trucks and food carts, which will be stationed at the Grand Canyon Visitors Center and along the rim. 

Rodemyer was born in Chicago but attended high school in Pittsburgh, which he considers his home. “This is my first time living in the West and first time working at a National Park. It’s a new adventure and I look forward to exploring the Western United States.”   

Though Rodemyer has not had a chance to hike the Grand Canyon yet, he says he is looking forward to it. 

   

What is your favorite activity on your days off?   

“Skiing and spending time with my girlfriend, Cara, and my rescue dogs.” 

 

If you could change one component of your job, what would it be?  

“Honestly, more hours in the day and I would clone myself.”  

 

What is the greatest feat you’ve ever tackled? 

“Taking over the food and beverage in Afghanistan. We were running 8,000 meals per day in a war zone.” 

 

What makes you smile?   

“My rescue dogs. They are very near and dear to my heart. I wish I could do more, as there are so many dogs that need a home. I own three, a pit-bull mix, Labrador mix and a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix.” 

  

What animal would you compare yourself to and why?  

“The horse. According to an online quiz, the horse-type personality is a bit of a busy body, can’t sit still for long, travels a lot with plans all over the place, considers family a top priority and a great person but sometimes needs to slow down. Yep, that would be me.” QCBN 

 

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN 

 

Melissa Cripps Composing a Life of Business, Service, Music 

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Managing a rewarding career is as much how a person approaches living as what transpires during business hours. That reality was poignantly reinforced in 2018 for Flagstaff’s Melissa Collins Cripps, agent/owner of Melissa Cripps Insurance Agency, Inc.

“My life changed last year when both my parents died within 12 days of each other,” Cripps said. “My mother died of leukemia and my father died of a broken heart 12 days later.”  

Characterizing her “world as a very different place now,” Cripps relishes blessings that have enriched her life and given new meaning to goals and relationships. Every day, she takes to heart her mother’s last words: to avoid judging others.

“I have received many blessings, not the least of which is a closer relationship with my older sister,” Cripps explained. “I have a different perspective on what is important. I don’t have room in my heart for hate or jealousy or resentment.”

For Cripps, the most rewarding aspects of her career always have been interacting with people and forging ahead with an impact. Her solid work ethic and desire to help people led to opening her own State Farm Insurance Agency Sept. 1, 1989. During this, the agency’s 30th year of operation, she mused about how her life all came together.

In 1968, at age 10, Cripps moved with her family to Flagstaff. She later relocated to Tempe to attend Arizona State University (ASU). Working for a family friend, she managed an insurance agency for a consumer lending service. She quickly learned the business, grew to appreciate the industry, and obtained her state insurance license. 

“I had never been in insurance before and had majored in music at university,” she said. “I liked solving problems and fitting the pieces together. It was very hard work in the beginning. I wondered at times if I was going to make it. Now, I look back on 30 years, which seem to have gone by very quickly.” 

Deciding after four years that she wanted to make money for herself rather than an employer, Cripps contacted major insurance companies about how to start her own agency. She chose to join State Farm because she appreciated the company and its contract for agents.

“However, they would not appoint me as an agent until I had my college degree,” she explained, noting that she had fewer than 20 credit hours remaining. “I was in Tempe at the time and wanted to get back to Flagstaff, so I wrote 22 letters to agencies in Flagstaff to get a job while I finished my degree at Northern Arizona University in night classes.”

State Farm Agent Bill Trent hired her for the two years until graduation and the State Farm approval to open her own agency.    

“I have worthwhile work where I can help people in so many different ways, not just through selling products, but by helping [clients] plan for the unexpected,” she explained. “I love working with people and helping them.”

Cripps attributes her business success to a strong focus on “doing a good job, doing the right thing and developing relationships, not only with clients and potential clients, but also with members of the community.”  

Some of that civic involvement indeed is music to others’ ears. Cripps began playing cello at age 12, ultimately participating in regional and state festivals and attending music camp at NAU. After leaving music for a while after high school, she successfully auditioned for the Flagstaff Symphony and played there for 20 years.

“Ten years ago, my husband and I, along with some brave souls, started Orchestra Northern Arizona,” she recalled, adding that her husband, David Cripps, is the artistic director and conductor. “This orchestra is comprised of mostly amateur players who love playing and have no other opportunities. Our tenth anniversary concert and celebration is in May.”  

That same month, she will complete her Masters of Music in Cello Performance at NAU, where she has studied with Mary Ann Ramos, Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). “I started this journey after being inspired by attending the Baltimore Symphony Academy in 2014. The culmination of that academy was to play side-by-side with the professional musicians of the Baltimore Symphony.” 

No matter the situation, Cripps has composed her own path to success, filling life’s pages with notes high and low. Her son, Robert Collins, attends ASU and works at Gateway Community College. As a wife, mother, daughter, businesswoman, mentor and musician, Cripps has authored the sheet music for achieving her goals. 

“I was the first woman [insurance] agent in Flagstaff, and in fact, one of a very few throughout our region,” she said about her initial foray into the industry. “It was challenging to find my voice and stand in my strength, and to be accepted as professional and knowledgeable.”   

She built her business early on by networking through volunteerism. “I simply said ‘yes’ every time someone invited me to be on a committee or board of directors.” When she jumped back into volunteering several years after becoming a mother, she “made a conscious decision to only participate in organizations that fit my mission and passion.”

Cripps since has served on the Flagstaff Arts Council for six years, including two years as president, and regularly contributes to Girls on the Run and “just about anything to do with young people’s development.” A KNAU sponsor, she also is a major contributor to the arts through the Arboretum, Dark Skies, the Viola Awards and Orchestra Northern Arizona.

“My mission is helping to empower women, young and old, and my passion is the arts,” she explained, adding that she’s compiling a long list of “when I graduate” volunteer opportunities, including more involvement in Orchestra Northern Arizona. 

This year, she again plans to sponsor Movies on the Square and will host a refreshment table at the American Cancer Society Climb the Mountain to Conquer Cancer on Aug. 17. 

Having been honored with the Athena Award for leadership from the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce in 1995 and the Flagstaff Arts Council’s Viola Award in 2017, Cripps encourages others navigating the world of life and business to “just do the best job you can.”

She said, “Don’t try to find shortcuts or easy streets. It takes a lot less effort to simply do your job well and with integrity. Never measure success by the amount of money made or the size of the business. Success is knowing you did your best.” QCBN

By Sue Marceau   

  

Photo caption: 

Music has been a life-long love for State Farm agent Melissa Cripps. 

Courtesy photo  

 

El Gato Azul Owner Committed to Community Service, Philanthropy

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If you ask Barry Barbe, popular Prescott philanthropist and restaurant owner, he will tell you the best way to raise money for a charitable cause is to go dancing.

That is what Barbe is planning to do on April 13, when local celebrities team up with professional dance instructors for a night of “Dancing for the Stars” to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona.

Barbe says the singular purpose for what has become a popular community event is to generate income to support life-altering programs for youth in the Quad Cities area. “I want to do my part to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona provide a safe and positive environment for six- to 18-year-old children all through the year.”

Barbe said he and his professional dance partner, Carie Hughes, will join nine other couples in dancing.

Last year, Dancing for the Stars raised about $220,000 for the charitable organization. Barbe hopes this year will result in even more.

Barbe, who owns and often serves as chef in the acclaimed El Gato Azul restaurant at 316 W. Goodwin in downtown Prescott, is widely known as one of the most generous and community-oriented people in Prescott.

Named “Community Philanthropist of the Year” in 2014 by the local affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), Barbe has been acknowledged by Carol Chamberlain, local ACF administrator, as an exceptionally generous community member.

That is evidenced by Barbe’s membership on many of the non-profit boards where he has served or is serving, including the ACF, Prescott Habitat for Humanity, the Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ), the Sunrise Lion’s Club and others.

Barbe is described by many of his close associates as always smiling and positive in his outlook about the community. “We who are lucky enough to live in the Prescott area are blessed to have a genuinely caring community surrounding us. The spirit I find throughout the area is inspiring to me,” he said.

Barbe says he wishes he could do more. “I take a look at what some of the non-profit organizations and their leaders do – people like Jessie Hans at CCJ, Brad Newman with Yavapai Exceptional Industries, Diane Iverson and Fritzi Mevis at People Who Care and others. Look how Mike Fann, through his in-house charity FEMAD at Fann Contracting, and Becky Ruffner and all she does – and Courtney Osterfelt and Teen Launch Pad. I wish I could do as much as they do. My wife and I are inspired by people who make a positive difference.”

Years ago, the Barbes founded “Gato Gives,” an internal account where employees can contribute funds for various community charities. The Barbes match, dollar for dollar, the money staff members give. Every six months, they and employees sit down to decide what local groups warrant financial support. They then divvy up what they have collected. In 2018, “Gato Gives” distributed more than $11,000.

“I grew up in a small town in Ohio,” said Barbe. “The attitude was that we all needed to care for our neighbors. It became a part of me, that we are responsible for each other. If we’re a bit more fortunate than some, we need to share what we have.”

Barbe met Lori in 1992 when they were working at a hotel in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He said they both agreed, even then, that when possible they would give a portion of whatever they had to help others.

“We’ve kept that pledge and we’ve been married 25 years.”

A graduate of the highly-acclaimed culinary program at Johnson & Wales University (Providence, Rhode Island), Barbe is genuinely pleased at the support El Gato Azul receives from the public. “We hope when our customers come through the doors, they realize we want to be friendly and provide excellent meals in a pleasant environment. Our niche – emphasis on tapas [light snacks or appetizers] – is intended to create an atmosphere of sharing, caring and communal-style dining. It’s an extension of what Lori and I believe, that we need to look out for others and care and share.”

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

“That’s easy. My wife and I would start a foundation to support early childhood education.” Lori is the director of the pre-school education program at American Lutheran Church.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom?

“I am inspired by people who lead by example and volunteer to help others. Just observing others who do that is, in a sense, a form of positive advice.”

What characteristic do you admire most in other people? 

“Absolute honesty – in others, and in myself.”

What’s your favorite kind of music? 

Here’s one for you – the Goodwin Street Gang. I’m in a five-piece group, and we perform jazz, standards and contemporary. I also sing tenor.

What’s the best thing about being in Prescott?

“We’re so lucky here to still have locally owned and operated stores and businesses. That helps us sustain the hometown atmosphere that Prescott is so famous for.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN