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Arizona’s Hiring Woes May Be Here to Stay

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Experts offer tips for employers seeking workers.

As the national worker shortage is mirrored in Arizona, many employers are wondering how they can attract good people.

Charn McAllister, a management professor at Northern Arizona University’s Franke College of Business, says the pandemic delivered a one-two punch. “The losses suffered by most people reminded them of their own mortality and they had time on their hands to think about what mattered to them.”

McAllister sees more employees who want to work for organizations doing good in their communities and the world, a trend he says savvy leaders will integrate into their business practices to potentially aid in recruitment and retention.

Companies offering staffing help are especially busy this fall. In Arizona, employees of Express Employment Professionals talk to hundreds of would-be workers each week, looking for good candidates for the state’s prospering economy.

Daria Orozco, an owner of one of Arizona’s nine Express offices, says the high demand for employees comes at a time when people are taking themselves out of the workforce either temporarily or permanently.

“Employers need to listen to the call of what employees are wanting,” said Orozco. “For a lot of companies, that means reevaluating their compensation plans to attract new workers.”

The pandemic also has created additional remote work possibilities, a movement employers can embrace to become competitive, added Orozco.

Another primary piece of advice she offers is for businesses to increase the amount of training for employees. “There could be a candidate who has all the soft skills, but if the company doesn’t have a training program in place to help that person get the [additional] skills needed, the company is not hiring that candidate.”

Like Orozco, McAllister sees additional training options as pivotal, especially for people who have potential to succeed. “If those employees do excel, offer opportunities for them to grow as professionals, whether that be increased levels of responsibility or by earning external credentials,” said McAllister, who adds that companies committed to employees’ growth may be rewarded with greater loyalty.

Retaining employees is especially important in this competitive hiring environment.

“Organizations need to look at why employees are leaving, if they are leaving, and close that back door,” said Orozco. Offering leadership training to managers could be a key to keeping good people, she added.

The problem facing employers trying to recruit talent is not going away, Orozco predicts. “Employees want more from their jobs than they did before the pandemic, and employers who are listening are the ones who will continue to grow during this time.”

Ironically, Orozco’s company, Express Employment Professionals, is looking to expand in Prescott and Flagstaff, dependent on qualified, would-be franchisees.

Citing a robust economy, Baby Boomer retirements, and Arizona’s unprecedented business growth, Orozco sees her company and other staffing agencies continuing to thrive in the long term. QCBN

By Theresa Bierer, QCBN

Saying ‘I Do’ to Micro-Weddings

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With concerns about public health and travel, brides and grooms are choosing small, intimate celebrations

Event planners are busier than ever and, not surprisingly, smaller weddings have taken the lead, especially in Northern Arizona.

“We’ve had a lot of micro-weddings of 50 people or less since March this year,” said Prescott-based Luella House Weddings and soon-to-open historic Willow Creek Inn owner Nancy Bewley. “I think it’s because small weddings make sense to people right now. People can spread out and the couple can have those who are most dear and closest to them attend, plus the expense is lower and the event is more manageable.”

Rhonda Messal, of Fort Worth Texas, planned her micro-wedding at Moran Point at the Grand Canyon last May. A total of four guests attended.

“I thrive on simplicity. I chose to have a small wedding because I’m a simple girl who was raised in the mountains of Colorado and I prefer a more minimalist approach to things,” said Messal, a human resources executive. “Getting married on the rim of the Grand Canyon and taking in God’s beautiful creation was simply amazing, and keeping it small was so hassle-free.”

Choosing to have her wedding at the Grand Canyon in April, April Margulies, owner and founder of Trust Relations Agency in Williams, said, “With COVID, there was no telling when things would open up again and we didn’t really want to wait to find out. My parents would not have been comfortable traveling at the time, so asking anyone to attend seemed unfair. In the end, it was a great excuse to keep the moment intimate and just focus on each other rather than planning and executing some complicated event.”

According to Las Vegas-based Cactus Collective Weddings owner McKenzi Taylor, 2021 weddings have become much more intimate affairs and micro-weddings have gone from second-best to many couples’ first choice.

“Gone are the days of the 300 person guest list, the splashy banquet hall and multi-tiered wedding cakes, at least for most post-pandemic couples who are more conscious of the health of their guests as well as the health of their bank accounts.

Williams Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeem confirms the trend as well. “With COVID making many of our hopes, dreams and plans for the future come to a screeching halt, we have seen a definite increase in small, spontaneous courthouse weddings.”

In Flagstaff, Sutcliffe Floral Owner Kelly Tulloss says she has seen a lot of brides have their weddings at Airbnb’s, out in the woods, backyards and courthouse weddings. “I think Flagstaff provides the perfect setting for smaller, intimate outdoor weddings, and they are very popular here.”

Churches also are seeing the shift to smaller weddings. Flagstaff’s Mountain View Church Pastor Nathaniel Bradford is preparing to officiate a micro-wedding consisting of the bride, groom, maid of honor and best man.

“Pastor Nathaniel and I are honoring the couple and their wishes to have just their immediate family present,” said Bradford’s wife, Cindy, who is the wedding coordinator at MVC. “They decided to keep their wedding small and simple and believe their love for each other and their faith is more significant than any crowd.”

Weddings in Sedona owner and Senior Planner Susan Perry says small weddings have always been popular in the Red Rock Country and continue to be. “We have a healthy range, from small elopement, to micro, to large custom weddings. Because we are such a popular wedding market, couples come from around the world to get married here.”

Meanwhile, Viola’s Flower Garden Wedding Coordinator Jessie Bangle says smaller weddings are here to stay. “Since COVID, people are sticking to 50 people or less, mostly for regulations, but also because these weddings are more intimate and less expensive. Going forward to 2022, we’re not seeing big numbers and the trend is unique styles of decoration and scaled-down weddings where the bride and groom can spend more time visiting with their guests.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

School Bells Will be Ringing and Resources are All Around

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It’s important to remember, as the school year begins, that support is available to families that may need it.

The 2020-2021 school year presented a great many obstacles for administrators, teachers, students and families. As with most everything we all experienced over the last year, school looked quite different than any other time. But, as is always the case here in our beautiful community, everyone rose above the challenges to give our children the best in difficult times. I would like to personally extend a heartfelt thank you to Prescott’s teachers, administrators, staff, parents and students for their dedication and perseverance during the last school year.

Now, as we all begin to come out of the pandemic and move forward to better times, students will be returning to school this academic year with things looking a bit more normal. I’ve said time and again that the resiliency and togetherness of this community is something that I take great pride in and students having the opportunity to return to some normalcy feels like a wonderful reward for all they’ve had to endure in recent memory.

It’s important to remember, as the school year begins, that support is available to families that may need it. The Family Resource Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment, and provides school supplies, coats, shoes and more for those in need. They also provide resources for families suffering from homelessness, those enrolled in the Indian Education Program and supplies for teachers through the “Teachers Closet.” And organizations like the Launch Pad Teen Center provide a safe space for Prescott’s youth. The help and support that are available to our citizens is truly something to be proud of and a great reminder that even in dark corners there is light and help to be found.

In addition to resources for families and students, there are a multitude of local organizations that are available for those in the community that may need help in other areas. The Yavapai Justice and Mental Health Coalition has developed a website with a wealth of resources for members of the community that are in need of assistance. You can visit https://justicementalhealth.com/ to find a complete resource guide. Additionally, organizations like Prescott Area Shelter Services, Agape House of Prescott and the Coalition for Compassion and Justice provide resources and support for our citizens in need. Yavapai County and Prescott continue to do an incredible job of providing for the community and meet the needs of people experiencing a need for support.

As we put summer in the rear view and move into the fall months, we are all looking forward to the positive things to come. I wish all of our students and families a wonderful school year and am anxious to see what it holds for our community. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg Mengarelli is the mayor of Prescott.

Disinfecting in Hopes of Reopening the Navajo Nation

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As the delta variant spreads, two young men from Tennessee continue to fight the coronavirus with deep cleaning and deep caring.

As medical experts and scientists battle COVID-19 and its variants, some consider the newest battle to be coronavirus fatigue: a disinterest in wearing masks, social distancing, sanitizing and practicing other public safety measures following the many months of staying at home and avoiding public gatherings.

One business armed and fighting that war is Southern Solutions Environmental (SSE). Two cousins from Tennessee began this small decontamination startup in November 2019, just before the pandemic broke out globally. They moved their company to Window Rock on the Navajo Reservation last June, with no business contract in place and no expectations about being paid for their services.

Ike Hawkersmith, 27, and Collin Anderson, 26, are SSE’s field generals. They also are warriors on the front line in the battle to wipe out infectious germs in public parks, museums, jails, police buildings, government vehicles and anywhere people can’t work from home on the Navajo Nation. Their uniform is a HAZMAT suit. Their weapon is Deacon7, a disinfectant commonly used in the agriculture industry.

“It kills coronavirus in under 60 seconds,” said Anderson. “It’s safe for all forms of contact. After eight hours, it breaks down into water and evaporates.”

The chemical disinfectant is made by Sandia Labs operating out of Scottsdale.

‘Brothers’ on a Mission

Hawkersmith and Anderson grew up together. “We are like brothers,” said Anderson. “We went our separate ways in life and did our own thing, but life brought us back together just before the pandemic. We saw what was coming in reports out of Wuhan [China] in November 2019. “We decided it was time to launch and we refitted the business for the inevitability of what was about to happen.”

Hawkersmith’s dad was an environmental scientist who died suddenly in a bike accident two years ago. Ike inherited his environmental cleanup services company. Meanwhile, Anderson was in the army as an infantry soldier with the Tennessee National Guard. During his six years of service, he pursued his interest in medicine, becoming an EMT and nurse. Not long after earning his nursing license, COVID-19 hit.

The business partners were following the news about coronavirus hot spots in big metropolitan areas like New York City and Los Angeles. But the hot zone that really caught their attention was the one bubbling up in the middle of the desert. “The Navajo Nation was being disproportionately affected,” said Anderson.

Factors making it hard to control the virus there, he said, included the lack of running water and electricity in many Navajo homes, as well as cultural traditions that favor large family gatherings and tight-knit communities. “We talked to the Navajo Area Indian Health Service incident commander at the time and he told us he needed people out there. They didn’t have any money, but if we could help, they needed it.”

SSE settled in the Chinle area for its base of operations and began doing a lot of volunteer work in June 2020. As the illness took off, Hawkersmith and Anderson began the challenging and potentially dangerous job of decontaminating spaces across the reservation with the goal of slowing of the spread. SSE was taking on other jobs in the Four Corners region to pay employees and cover costs. In the process, the company hired locally and at one time, had 112 employees.

Anderson says the need to help was bigger than the business. “We call it human-centered capitalism. The bottom line shifts. It’s more important for us as an organization to help people. Sometimes, that means cutting out profit and overhead. We’ve always had these values, but we were definitely influenced by the pandemic. People are really suffering and now is the defining moment to make sure people are taken care of.”

The CARES Act offered financial relief last fall. With money made available through the U.S. government economic stimulus bill, SSE was awarded a contract with the Navajo Nation that lasted until the end of the year. “It was very rewarding after months of volunteering with no thought of funding.”

Delta’s Arrival

Medical leaders say COVID cases are on the rise in all 50 states and the District of Columbia as the highly contagious delta variant rapidly spreads across the country and the world. The mutant strain, also known as B.1.617.2, originally surfaced in India and is now on the Navajo Nation. The first case was reported in late June.

“The case count has been picking back up over the past couple of weeks,” said Anderson. “It’s a shame to see. I believe it’s probably the influx of the delta variant. In June, 20% of cases in the U.S. were caused by the delta variant. Now, the majority of new cases are being attributed to the strain.”

Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has called it one of the most infectious respiratory diseases ever seen by scientists. According to recent data, those infected with the strain can carry up to 1,000 times more virus in their nasal passages than those infected with the original strain.

In Yavapai County, epidemiologists have received one notification of the delta variant so far; however, health officials say only a sampling of positive test results are submitted for genomic testing throughout the state.

Yavapai County Community Health Services Public Health Coordinator Terri Farneti says the symptoms are slightly different from the original virus. “It seems more like a bad cold. Many people could think it’s just a cold and may not seek testing for COVID, yet they are very contagious. With the easing of mitigation measures of physical distancing, mask wearing and the increase in large gatherings, many people are getting infected.”

With the resurgence, the SSE team is as determined as ever to continue to wage its attack on the deadly virus. The company’s workforce currently ranges from 15 to 20 people, ages 26 to 38. Anderson says they have been working impossibly long days, fumigating and flushing the disinfectant through ventilation systems to bombard every cubic inch of the buildings they visit.

“It seems like my day hasn’t ended for the past 17 months,” he said.

Many of the facilities they clean have not been significantly updated or built since the ‘80s, ‘90s or early 2000s. “They have diminished airflow quality. These are little hives where viruses like the coronavirus and hantavirus can live and not be expelled where they can disintegrate outside,” said Anderson. “At the end of the day, the viral load in these buildings is rising until someone goes in and cleans it out. Disinfecting these places is of utmost importance to lower the chance of exposure to free-floating particles of virus.”

New Map App

Currently, SSE is not under contract with the Navajo Nation; however, the team is working to refine its operations while training and preparing for a large decontamination push through this fall and winter. This summer, they have created a new tool to help them. The Coronavirus Decontamination Status App identifies every location they’ve disinfected, down to specific buildings.

“I would not be the first to say we do a lot of navigation by landmark on the reservation. There are not really addresses and named roads. Being able to know where each building that we’ve cleaned is located is a key function to preventing exposure events,” said Anderson. “We now have a big map and database of every facility we could find on the Navajo Nation from southern Utah to Alamo, New Mexico, southeast of Albuquerque. It is one of the most extensive maps of Navajo tribal facilities. We wanted to make sure we could provide this to the nation for use now and into the future.”

Besides their app invention and decontamination work, SSE has a significant wood-cutting and wood-hauling project along with a water and food delivery project. “This is all in the name of relief and recovery. We knew we still had resources, people and motivation to continue to help out,” said Anderson.

Today, Hawkersmith and Anderson live in Farmington, New Mexico. “This is a place we have set down roots. We are aiming to be here and help out any sort of underserved community,” said Anderson. “The pandemic brought us here. I don’t see us leaving the area any time soon.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

For the Love of Fiber

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Owner of Prescott’s only fiber arts store spins a creative course through the pandemic.

The names are colorful and exotic: Filatura di Crosa, Mountain Colors and Queensland Collection for yarns; Clover, Hiya Hiya and Karbonz for knitting needles and crochet hooks; Ashford, LeClerc and Schacht for weaving looms and spinning wheels; and Frabjous Fibers, Sweet Georgia and Louet for fibers.

These are just some of the tools of the trade for the passionate fiber artist. All these and more local, domestic and international products can be discovered at Fiber Creek, Prescott’s only fiber arts shop.

Textile art is one of the oldest forms of art in human existence, with the fashioning of clothing and blankets to provide warmth.

This ancient practice has reinvented itself through the ages, gaining new popularity since the 1920s, with original art developments in textiles.

Arizona native Carma Koester took her lifelong passion for all the fiber arts to a new level when she established Fiber Creek in 2008, with the goal of creating an environment for learning and sharing in the community.

”I have done handiwork of different disciplines since about the age of 5, from sewing, quilting, knitting and crochet,” said Koester, who will be 75 this month. “My grandmother and mother were the ones who guided me. I was such a tomboy. My grandmother thought I needed balance in my experiences.”

Koester located the current 1,950-square-foot space after purchasing “A Good Yarn” from Debra Dorrell, who now teaches classes at Fiber Creek.

“I knew we needed a bigger space and easier access for customers,” Koester explained. “Since I have been here, there have actually been about four fiber stores in this area. We are the only remaining fiber arts store.”

Early in 2020, the frightening march of COVID-19 across the land brought many new challenges, including the task of remaining in business.

“The pandemic has been very difficult for many businesses,” she said. “We are hanging in there through sheer will and determination. We have had many people from all over Arizona, as well as locally, telling us, ‘Please do not go out of business,’ but the climate is guarded because of everything that has happened in the last year and a half.”

Koester, who was born in Phoenix, calls herself “a worker bee” and routinely works six-day weeks, including weekend hours, repairing looms and spinning wheels. Her husband, Mark Koester, who is retired from the heating and cooling business, sometimes assists her with a variety of repair projects.

The couple lived in Prescott for 34 years before moving to Chino Valley three years ago. They have one living son who lives in Chino. “Our other son passed away 15 years ago,” she said.

The heart of Fiber Creek is the full schedule of classes, including weaving, taught by Koester, and beginning crochet, taught by Dorrell.

“My staff, Anna Sue, Gale, Katie, Kristin and Verla, are the greatest workers and team players, with hundreds of combined years of experience,” she said proudly. “Our success can be attributed to them.”

Koester has a philosophical take on creativity.

“I have found over the years, people who do tactile things learn to use their creative mind to accomplish tasks that can be mundane and boring because they allow their subconscious mind to get involved in what they’re doing.”

In some ways, the pandemic may have benefited the fiber arts.

“I think fiber arts are having a new resurgence because many who were home realized that they needed to be productive,” Koester noted. “Classes are now starting to pick up, but until the climate is right for some, they are still hesitant.”

Although some local fiber artists were working with yarn and inventory that they had in their homes, they did order supplies online. In the store today, sales include supplies and equipment for the fiber arts disciplines and occasionally some of the handcrafted items throughout the store.

Sandra Miner is one of the local artists using many of the services and materials the shop offers.

Miner said Fiber Creek “functions unofficially as a community center” for people with any of the fiber arts hobbies of knitting, crocheting, weaving and spinning.

“Carma and her well-qualified staff and instructors are welcoming to learners at any level. They offer classes, private instruction and free on-the-spot help with any project,” she said. “Personally, this is where I learned to knit when I retired and that has created a hobby as well as a group of friends. This business has provided a place to come to, especially for those of us who are aging. We are seeing the young generation developing their creative skills also.”

The town of Prescott has “many small business owners with compelling stories,” she continued, including Koester, who has sacrificed so much to keep her business afloat.

“Carma has subsidized it during the pandemic downturn with her own funds,” Miner said. “She views the shop as a business that also provides a community service.”

For Koester, being a “worker bee” includes exercising her boundless creative energy.

“I do everything: I carve in wood, I hand build ceramics, I paint,” she said. “I learned to carve wood when I was 9 or 10, and I’ve drawn my whole life. I’ve sewn from before I started school.”

However, her greatest love is weaving, which came later in life.

“I got into weaving by accident when my friend wanted me to be her substitute teacher at the college,” Koester said. “She told me I needed to learn one more thing and that was weaving. Spinning followed that.”

Fiber Creek also provides a place for “charity-minded people to do things for the local shelter,” such as creating comforting blankets. “When you accomplish something, you can get through the rough spots in life,” she said.

Recently, Koester has been experimenting with challenging media like dichroic and glass fusing.

“Well, I do it all because I like the challenge of learning new things. Age 75 is not too old to learn something. I think being productive is one of the best things. Accomplishment is the cherry on top of the sundae.” QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

Improving Your Mental Health

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Take some time and do a few small things in your daily routine that will increase your physical and mental health.

Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Let us all join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Let’s help to fight stigma, provide support, learn to take time for ourselves, seek professional help when needed and check in on family, friends and neighbors.

This past year presented so many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations we never even imagined, and a lot of us struggled with our mental health as a result. Throughout the pandemic, many people who had never experienced mental health challenges found themselves struggling for the first time.

It’s important to remember that working on your mental health and finding tools that help takes time. Changes don’t happen overnight. By focusing on small changes, you can move through the stressors of the past year and develop long-term strategies to support yourself on an ongoing basis. A great starting point for anyone who is ready to start prioritizing their mental health is to take a mental health screening. There are several online resources available, including one with West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, wygc.org.

Taking time for yourself is another way to improve your mental health. Much like taking care of your physical health, we need to take care of our mental health. Self-care is proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels while increasing self-compassion. Here are a few tips for taking care of yourself:

Accept yourself as you are. Try your best to accept the person that you are and where you are in life right now.

Focus on the basics. Focus on steps to ensure you are living a healthy lifestyle. For example: showering, eating healthy foods, drinking water, moving your body, decreasing clutter in your life, keeping your living environment clean and orderly, getting good sleep, soaking up some sunshine (safely), taking five minutes to do some deep breathing and reaching out to have a conversation with a friend or family member.

Find what makes you happy. Find things you can do to make you feel accomplished and happy. For example: music, art, a good book, a walk outdoors, gardening, cooking or a little road trip.

Practice mindfulness. Take a few slow, deep breaths, focus on each of your senses and try to be fully present in whatever you are doing.

Make small goals. Be patient, focus on small daily tasks, set small goals that you want to accomplish for yourself.

Set boundaries. Sometimes the only way to increase self-care is to lessen the amount of time or energy that you are giving away to others.

Remember that you are not alone. Everyone struggles from time to time, try not to get down on yourself. Ask your friends or family to help when you need to take some time for your mental health.

Please remember that mental illnesses are real and recovery is possible. It is possible to find balance between life’s ups and downs and continue to cope with challenges brought on by life and the pandemic. Take some time and do a few small things in your daily routine that will increase your physical and mental health. QCBN

By Deanna Eder

Deanna Eder is the director of marketing and development at West Yavapai Guidance Clinic. For more information, visit wygc.org.

Pandemic Boosts Need for RV, Boat Storage

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Workshop identifies opportunities and resources for investors and developers in expanding industry.

Industry experts will be gathering for the Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop in San Francisco this summer to discuss the meteoric rise in boat and RV sales punctuated by the pandemic; the explosive and continued demand for large self-storage facilities; and how investors, developers and entrepreneurs can move forward wisely in this expanding industry.

Workshop host Toy Storage Nation, a new start-up within the Hayworth Group of companies, is rapidly becoming the voice of the RV, boat and toy self-storage industry. Chief Operating Officer Darren Choate says the executive leadership team has more than 100 years of combined experience in the self-storage and media industries. “Our immediate call-to-action is to share our knowledge and inform others about the resources available to realize current opportunities and anticipate future demands as Americans in large numbers have embraced the outdoors and invested in boating and RV-ing,” said Choate.

“The workshop is intended to introduce and guide potential RV and boat storage entrepreneurs to a panel of experts who have the most experience developing this brand new asset class in one place and at one time; not to mention, to give potential investors a chance to see the first and most successful RV and boat storage facility in this asset class built, with the opportunity to ask questions of those experts in a one-on-one setting,” said Toy Storage Nation CEO Robert “Bob” Hayworth, also the CEO, chairman and founder of Baja Construction Co., Inc.

Industry leaders cite lifestyle changes for the current recreational vehicle boom, elevated by the need to find ways to social distance and get outdoors. According to the RV Industry Association’s March 2021 survey of manufacturers, more RVs made their way to RV dealerships across North America in March than in any prior single month. The 54,291 wholesale RV units shipped is a more than 5% increase over the previous record set in March 2018.

Meanwhile, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports U.S. boat sales reached a 13-year high in 2020 and the trend is expected to continue through 2021. “2020 was an extraordinary year for new powerboat sales, as more Americans took to the water to escape pandemic stress and enjoy the outdoors safely,” said NMMA President Frank Hugelmeyer.

Thus, the Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop is designed to provide insight, information and consumer expectations about storage needs and the development of this new complete asset class. Choate says speakers will discuss how to operate large self-storage operations efficiently and profitably with amenities such as: RV and boat storage, computerized access gates, 24-hour surveillance, covered or enclosed storage, asphalt paving, charging outlets, water and sanitation stations, and restrooms with showers.

“A five-star facility would also include additional revenue-generating features such as ice, compressed air, propane sales, solar power, electricity, valet parking, vehicle cleaning and minor maintenance service,” said Choate.

Development Services President Jo Beth White, who has conducted feasibility studies on all facets of storage businesses for more than 20 years, has witnessed the maturing of the large-storage industry and need for such facilities across the country. “In the past, RVs and boats were stored in ancillary space at small self-storage facilities. But, that has drastically changed. In 2007, a facility with 1,000 large stalls in Chino Hills, California, filled up so fast it was frightening. That trend will continue, because the sale of RVs and boats is off the charts. Dealerships can’t keep up with demand. But, even in an economic downturn, if people sell these assets, those who buy them will still need a place to keep them,” she said. “The industry will carry its own momentum.”

White, a member of the Toy Storage Nation team, will be discussing the development feasibility of large storage businesses at the July workshop. “Additional speakers will provide details about the RV and boat storage market with strategic how-tos on every aspect of operating a business from inception to success,” said Choate. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

The Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop is scheduled for Friday, July 30, 2021. For more information, visit toystoragenation.com/product/executive-workshop/.

Restaurants Feeling Relief

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Area establishments credit SBA funds and loyal customers for easing the economic impact of the pandemic.

Business is improving at restaurants in Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona as we emerge from the pandemic, which has hit restaurants especially hard.

In early May, Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran announced that the Small Business Administration’s $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund had begun accepting applications. Many restaurants in Central and Northern Arizona have either already received or applied for these funds.

Priority for the first 21 days was given to restaurants owned by women, veterans or groups that are socially or economically disadvantaged. Rep. O’Halleran issued a statement acknowledging that independent restaurants are important to their communities, but many are at risk of closing their doors because of the pandemic.

Restaurant owners can find information and apply to the Restaurant Revitalization program at sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund.

Lisa Dahl, CEO and chef at Dahl Restaurant Group, said it has been a challenging time for her five Sedona restaurants. “Because our core group is strong, we put our heads together to strategize each and every move. The large picture is complex and involves everything from forecasting, supply chain issues and seeking a qualified workforce,” she said.

The Dahl Restaurant Group operates Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano, Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, Pisa Lisa, Butterfly Burger and Cucina Rustica Tuscan Grill. Dahl said she’s never experienced anything like this, where one day they would be open and the next day they would be closed.

“After 25 years in the restaurant business, I have to say it is very different. The new normal is being hyper-focused on the health of our employees and guests,” she said. “The past workflow of preparing to welcome guests has changed. The emotions for everyone run deep. And we see guests crack and employees need a day off more than usual. Everyone has changed as a result of COVID. Normal is redefining itself before our eyes.”

The Dahl Restaurant Group was able to obtain funds from the SBA for restaurant revitalization. During the pandemic, Dahl said, they had to spend more money on signage, sanitation stations and supplies like masks and gloves. “In a few instances, we’ve added additional guest relations [services] so we can communicate effectively and help set guest expectations,” she said.

Her goals throughout the pandemic included keeping employees safe, well advised and realistic about expectations through changing circumstances. “Our guests during each stage were complimentary. And most appreciated our preventative measures which we took to safeguard their health and ours,” she said.

The new normal that is likely to continue may include smaller numbers of guests. “I’ve always been vigilant about quality control, consistency and cleanliness. Our staff has focused on these standards and I am very proud of them. We always had a strong culinary presence, but it has been a challenge with a reduced workforce. We will continue to improve through this process. Part of our early strategy was to build back stronger and be more efficient with better training,” she said.

Kelly Hanseth, owner of Lumberyard Tap Room and Grille, said it was a struggle during the pandemic because the establishment had to pivot every six months. “We’re almost getting back to normal. Social distancing and expanding our patio has really helped,” she said. “But we’re not at 100%. We have no bar seating and our country dancing is not back up to speed yet.”

Lumberyard Tap Room and Grille did not apply for the most recent round of SBA funds, as Hanseth says they are not needed at this time. Although, she says the Lumberyard had to spend more during the pandemic because of the need for plexiglass partitions, masks and gloves. Small pivots have large impacts. For example, she says it costs more to buy ketchup packets rather than ketchup bottles.

In the last year, the Lumberyard saw a lot of new customers as the regulars kept coming. The restaurant offered take-out through much of the pandemic. With the restaurant back to full service, customers were lining up again outside on a recent Saturday, waiting to get in. “We’re really happy with how patient our customers have been,” she said. “We still wear masks, gloves and practice social distancing.”

Goods from the Garden at the Gateway Mall in Prescott offers catering services, take out, dine-in service and a Sunday brunch. Co-owner Debbie Maranville said they lost most of their catering events during the pandemic. “We’re not normal yet, but we’re regrowing,” she said.

Goods from the Garden has received SBA grants to help the business through the pandemic, which, like other restaurants, required more spending for supplies and additional labor to serve fewer customers because of social distancing rules.

“Amazing” is how she describes her customers during the pandemic. “Customers were very supportive. They would get weekly meals from us. Some used social media to get the word out.” QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Rough Year for Pets, Too

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Pandemic has caused challenges for pets and owners.

It’s tricky enough to match up homeless pets with new owners, but the upheavals of 12 months of pandemic conditions have added to the challenges of animal adoption.

In some cases, it also has added new difficulties to the world of pet ownership.

Sudden changes for families facing unemployment and a loss of income because of the sweeping effects of COVID-19 have caused some to have to leave their homes because of evictions and foreclosures.

The unexpected and unwelcome chaos has left some pet owners to believe they have no other choice than to surrender their pets to animal shelters.

It is a heartbreaking way to have to part with one’s pets, said Jennifer Brehler, executive director of the Humane Society of Sedona (HSS). “Sadly, so far this year, 25% of the animals surrendered by their owners to HSS were the result of housing challenges.”

For the Humane Society of Sedona, the focus is on companion animals, dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and other small household companions such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters.

“Our shelter is in a unique position that most of our animals come from other communities by way of being transported from other animal shelters, as we have a very low stray population in our immediate area of Sedona,” said Brehler, who began her career in animal sheltering and welfare 24 years ago at the Michigan Humane Society.

However, transporting animals of all kinds became more complicated and worrisome when the pandemic was unfolding.

“For the first few months of the pandemic, animal shelters across the country halted transporting animals to other communities, as there was so much unknown with how COVID may affect animals, as well as the risk to the people doing the transportation to other communities,” she recalled. “Once it was determined animals did not pose a significant risk and protective measures for people were put into place, we were able to begin transporting in animals to HSS.”

One bright spot during the pandemic is that pet adoption has become more popular, as people are spending so much time at home.

“Early on, we saw a significant increase in the number of people stepping up to foster and adopt shelter animals, with them having more time available and especially for individuals living alone, as they were looking for companionship,” she said. “A large majority also came forward to help homeless animals in general and to open up space at shelters for other animals in need.”

There is some concern, however, that there will be a significant increase in the number of animals becoming homeless as the eviction moratorium is lifted across states, said Brehler, who lectures regularly at national animal welfare conferences and is an active member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. “I’ve heard some shelters have experienced this already as tenants are choosing to move sooner rather than continue to collect charges that they will not be able to pay back as they have lost their jobs.”

Meanwhile, the Humane Society of Sedona has been operating on an appointment-only basis since the pandemic began. “It has significantly changed the level of guest services and increased the satisfaction and connection to our adopters and others we serve with our surrender, rehoming and lost and found programs. Visitors get a better experience, and the stress placed on staffing and animals has greatly decreased.”

Accommodations are still being made for walk-in traffic for various programs, including some adoptions.

For small animal and feline adoptions, adopters can visit in the animal rooms, but canine companion adoption meet-and-greet opportunities occur in the outdoor play yard and dog park.

“At times, people may be asked to come back a short time later for the next open appointment time,” she said. “We monitor traffic flow, require masks and maintain physical distancing throughout the facility.”

Many new procedures brought on during the pandemic may continue well beyond.

“At this time, we intend to continue with this model past the pandemic,” Brehler said. “It has allowed us to streamline our programs, given us the time to focus on community involvement to help keep people and pets together, and dedicate better, not just more, time to the animals in our care.”

Looking ahead, there will be additional challenges when pets have to adapt to a return to normalcy for their owners’ work and school responsibilities. Brehler says shelters, trainers and behaviorists are bracing for separation anxiety in animals, especially for dogs. “We have seen this happen in the past with a smaller percentage of dogs when families return to school and longer work days after summer vacation. Given the extended timeframe of the pandemic, there is reason to worry.”

For those interested in providing a home for an animal in need, there are four main animal shelters with adoption programming in the Verde Valley and Flagstaff areas:

Humane Society of Sedona, 2115 Shelby Drive, Sedona AZ, 86336. For more information, call 928-282-4679, email info@humanesocietyofsedona.org, or visit humanesocietyofsedona.org.

Verde Valley Humane Society, 1520 W Mingus Ave, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. For more information, call 928-634-7387, or visit verdevalleyhumanesociety.org.

High Country Humane, 11665 N. US-89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. For more information, call 928-526-0742, or visit highcountryhumane.org.

Coconino Humane Association, 3501 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. For more information, call 928-526-1076, or visit coconinohumane.org. QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

 

An Incredible Team Effort: Navajo-Hopi Relief Group Raises $18 Million in One Year

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I literally almost fell out of my chair when they called me and said, ‘We want to give you this large gift.’

When Ethel Branch first launched a modest GoFundMe last March to help Navajo and Hopi elders and families withstand the impacts of COVID-19, she had no idea how quickly it would grow.

One year later, the grassroots Navajo-Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund has received over 100,000 donations, gifts and grants totaling $18 million and has forged partnerships and mobilized hundreds of volunteers to deliver humanitarian relief to thousands in need.

“The success of our fundraising campaign was driven by the deep kindness and generosity of so many beautiful-hearted people across this country, and indeed the world, who care about the well-being of the Navajo and Hopi people, and recognize our unique vulnerability in the face of COVID,” said Branch.

In turn, it’s been a blessing to be able to have a significant impact during the pandemic by ensuring people have what they need to protect their families, including essential food, water and personal protective equipment, she said.

Over $7.2 million has been raised through the original GoFundMe, and an unexpected, unsolicited $10 million gift came in in December from MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

According to a Dec. 15 disclosure by Scott on medium.com, she donated $4.2 billion to 384 organizations in late 2020 that had worked in marginalized communities to alleviate suffering caused by the pandemic.

“We didn’t even know we were being considered,” said Branch. “I literally almost fell out of my chair when they called me and said, ‘We want to give you this large gift.’”

Scott’s team of advisors had specifically sought out relief groups like the NHFCRF with “strong leadership teams and results” serving in communities facing high levels of food insecurity, racial inequity, and low access to philanthropic capital.

The $10 million infusion from Scott came at a moment when the NHFCRF was facing an imminent funding shortfall and allowed the group to sustain services through the devastating winter COVID-19 surge.

“We were so worried about how we were going to continue to provide protection to our community members at that time,” said NHFCRF Deputy Director Cassandra Begay.

Begay believes the timing and magnitude of Scott’s generosity spoke to divine intervention and the power of women supporting women in doing impactful work.

“What’s really important to know about the MacKenzie Scott gift is they found us and they sought us out,” said Begay. “They vetted us through their very strict process.

“Oftentimes we’re invisible, so to be on the radar of this multi-billionaire recognizing our work, that doesn’t really happen,” she said. “In many ways her heart and her spirit aligned with ours.”

Branch said all of the support from Scott and all of the other donors brought a huge feeling of relief and gratitude.

“It’s been so heartwarming,” said Branch. “To see so many people care and step forward and want to help protect our people and preserve our language and culture has been amazing.”

Empowering self-reliance

Now, with over 300 volunteers, 32 staffers, 30 distribution teams and a fleet of transport vehicles, the NHFCRF has served over 367,000 Navajo and Hopi with humanitarian aid.

The relief group distributes between 10,000 to 20,000 care packages (valued at $100 each) at 10 to 20 locations weekly plus about five distributions of 6,000 PPE kits every week (valued at $18 each).

The NHFCRF also launched a culturally relevant public health education campaign designed to equip Navajo and Hopi community members with the knowledge they need to protect their families from the spread of COVID-19.

“We’ve done our best to create a protective shield for the Navajo and Hopi communities to help close the gap of social inequality and perpetual genocide evident in our poor economy, the health crisis, and the lack of basic humane infrastructure,” said Begay.

Branch said despite the recent reduction in COVID-19 cases, there is still a high demand and a strong need for services in the communities they serve.

“We just don’t know what’s going to happen with the virus,” said Begay. “As matriarchs, our hope is to continue providing protection and to keep moving forward to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Branch, a Harvard Law School graduate and former Navajo Nation attorney general, credits her own mother, Ellen Billie Branch, for her work ethic and tenacity.

“My mom is so inspiring and hard-working and really captures that essence of what it means to be a Navajo woman and setting your mind to something and making it happen,” said Branch.

Ellen Billie Branch was also the inspiration for Branch to start the GoFundMe last March to protect elders and immuno-compromised individuals from COVID-19 by helping them with supplies that allowed them to stay home and stay safe.

Looking back, Branch said the mobilization of the now multi-million dollar NHFCRF effort has been an incredible team effort that has demonstrated that volunteers, local governments, foundations and other relief and aid groups can unify to take care of communities.

“On Navajo you’re faced with so much red tape and so many reasons not to do something, and we just knew with lives on the line, this has to happen, we have to make this happen,” said Branch.

T’áá hwó’ ají t’éego, or empowering self-determination and self-reliance, has been the driving force behind the NHFCRF effort, she said.

“It’s one of our founding principles,” said Branch. “We’ve been very adaptive, really focused on the goal of getting as many resources to our community as possible. It’s been really great to fulfill those principles of t’áá hwó’ ají t’éego and remind our people it’s possible – we can make a difference.”

‘Pandemic proof’

As they look to the future, Branch said she wants to make sure Navajo and Hopi communities are “pandemic proof.”

“Our next phase of operations will focus on strengthening the resiliency of our communities so we are never caught off guard like this again,” said Branch.

“We really want to go after those underlying issues like the lack of running water, electricity, overcrowded housing and overall poverty in our community,” she said.

Especially with the slowdown in the economy due to COVID-19, Branch believes there needs to be a focus on economic development and innovation, which has remained stagnant on the Nation for decades, largely due to lack of resources and infrastructure.

“There’s really no reason why we have to be in this state of economic paralysis that we’ve had for so long,” she said. “You can empower local governance all you want but if you don’t provide the tools, economic development is not going to come to that community.”

Branch is optimistic that the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration will make strides in helping Indian Country work toward parity with off-reservation communities.

“I’m really hopeful with this administration and Deb Haaland being so knowledgeable about infrastructure that there will be some attention paid to that,” she said.

Haaland’s appointment to secretary of the Department of the Interior was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. She is the first Native American to hold the position, which is being celebrated across Indian Country.

Branch said the NHFCRF will also be working toward ensuring long-term food security for Navajo and Hopi, including revitalizing farming at the local level with community gardens and focusing on healthy eating.

The two nations are often referred to as food deserts with only 13 full-scale grocery stores on their combined 29,945-square-mile territory.

“Local sustainability at the household level will be very important,” said Branch. “We have so many heirloom fruits and vegetables that are designed to grow in this climate and we have a long legacy of farming and providing for our own families.”

Ongoing public health education and language and cultural preservation are also a big part of the organization’s mission as they pursue their long-term goals.

Begay believes the COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call for the world, which has inspired her to make choices not just for today, but for seven generations from now.

“It feels like we are coming from a place of strength and power through an alignment that is much greater than ourselves,” said Begay.

“I would say it was predestined for our group to come together,” she said. “I would say it was predestined by the Holy People to form a shield to help protect our people.”

By Rima Krisst