Member Spotlight: Scottsdale Charros

Integral to The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale’s mission is telling the stories behind the small businesses Scouted in each Volume. The story begins in print and continues online, after all. As you peruse Volume 2, we are thrilled to continue our story-telling mission with Member Spotlights. Here, Editorial Contributor Marci Symington chats with Active Member of The Scottsdale Charros.

Photographed by Brian Goddard.

After celebrating 60 years of charitable giving to the Valley and ahead of their signature annual fundraising initiative, it’s high time for a deep dive on The Scottsdale Charros. A beloved Scottsdale philanthropic institution, The Scottsdale Charros supports education through scholarships and educational programming, and promotes youth activities, sports, and cultural enrichment in our community. Each year, The Charros welcome baseball fans to the 2023 Spring Training season and, year after year, The Charro Lodge remains the best ticket in Spring Training.

Serendipitously, one recent sunny winter day found me sitting along the green banks of Scottsdale Stadium talking to Stuart Crawford, CEO of Bison Ventures and Active Member of The Scottsdale Charros. We chatted history, giving, and — of course — what it means to be a “gentleman rider.”

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Hi Stuart! Can you start off by telling us a little bit about the Scottsdale Charros and how they were founded?
Stuart Crawford: In a nutshell, the Scottsdale Charros are a volunteer philanthropic organization of community leaders and business owners who raise money for youth-related activities, mainly sports-related, but a lot of our monies go into supporting the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD). The short version of how the Charros were started is that back in 1961, a group of local business leaders wanted to promote Scottsdale and to attract tourism and business to the city and all it had to offer. Their idea was to help the community by promoting sports and sporting events that would draw tourists and entertain residents. And even though they were a small organization, there were some influential political figures who were Charros, like Herb Drinkwater, former mayor of Scottsdale after whom Drinkwater Boulevard is named.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: As a parent myself, I can see how education and youth are causes near and dear to many in the community. Tell me a little about your fundraising and who it benefits?
Stuart Crawford:We have three different arms of the organization. First there is the baseball arm and our association with spring training, which is our money driver. It is how we create and generate the dollars to be able to fund the charitable arm which is centered around education. To that end, we hold an annual education benefit, inviting the Teachers of the Year from every school in the SUSD, and we pass out awards, grants, and scholarships for Student of the Year. The third arm is our annual Charro trail ride.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: I realize we just have enough time to skim the surface here, but can you explain the Charros association with spring training?
Stuart Crawford: Every spring, for four weeks, the City of Scottsdale—who owns Scottsdale Stadium—hosts the San Francisco Giants for baseball’s spring training season, which amounts to 16 games. This year, spring training starts on February 25th. We sell ad space in the stadium in the form of banners, stadium signage, PA announcements, and scoreboard video ads that are seen by over 200,000 fans and on ESPN.

We are really excited because this is going to be our first normal baseball year in three years. And when I say normal, I mean, the season’s going to start when it is supposed to start (in other words no lockout battles) and people are excited to get out and gather again after COVID canceled the 2020 season. For more information on the games, check out our website at charros.com and springtraining.com.

Photographed by Brian Goddard.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Enjoying our beautiful spring weather while watching a major league baseball game sounds like so much fun! Tell me about the Charro trail ride, which sounds pretty amazing too! 
Stuart Crawford: It is amazing. The ride is part of the Charros’ tradition to keep the western heritage of Scottsdale alive. The purpose is to thank our sponsors who make our charitable giving happen and our significant others for all the time spent working on our mission. The first ride was in November 1962 and was a four-day trail ride into the McDowell Mountains. Now, around 200 men participate in the ride, half of whom are members (active and past actives, or ‘lifers’), and half are guests. The guests are bused to our camp on a Wednesday, and we trail ride Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Every year we ride in different areas of the state and our camp is based on a private ranch. We sleep under the stars, like old cowboy-style in sleeping bags, no tents allowed. It is very down to earth and authentic. You are out there with some incredible individuals but at the end of the day we are all just guys sleeping on cots. It's epic, no matter how you explain it to people, until they go on the ride, they just can't understand it.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: It sounds epic. Do the significant others meet you at the end of the ride?
Stuart Crawford: Yes! So, on that Friday, the girls/significant others come to the closest town to our camp, and they do a cowgirl night: they all stay at the hotel and have a big dinner and go to the bar and have fun. And then Saturday, which might be one of my favorite days of the whole year, is when all the significant others get bused from the hotels to the campsite where we are all lined up to eagerly greet them. We have a big party at the ranch for that day. And they get to watch us ride in a rodeo competition called gymkhana, where we do things like barrel racing and team penning. The whole point of it is for the guest experience to just be off the charts. You want the guys and their significant others to come off this trip and say, ‘Oh my god, we’ve got to do that again.

Photographed by Brian Goddard.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale:  And your participation in the Parada del Sol is part of keeping the western tradition of Scottsdale alive too?
Stuart Crawford: Yes, the Charros host the Parada del Sol, or Parade of the Sun, every February in Old Town Scottsdale. It is a western-style celebration where the city of Scottsdale literally blocks off the streets in the middle of Old Town. And then we've got everything from the Sheriff's Posse to kids on horses to cheerleading groups to high school football teams. This year is February 4th, so mark your calendar. It's really cool.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Thank you for your time today! Tell us, how can our Scout Guide community help the Charros?
Stuart Crawford: For a $100 donation, you can become a Friend of the Charros, or you can sign up for larger sponsorship opportunities to get you and your company more exposure. Other than a financial gift, exposure is key. One of the things that always surprises me is that not many people are aware of us. When I first joined, I thought it was cool, but at the same time, it was not great for growing an organization. We finally have a social media presence and Instagram. It is just the more that people know about us, the better.

I almost forgot…if you are not into baseball, we do other events. This May will be our third annual charity golf tournament at Greyhawk Golf Club. It stands out because our golf tournament celebrates the American West..can you believe we were able to convince Greyhawk to let us ride horses onto the golf course?

Yes, I can. It seems that is why most people move out West…to dare to do what has not been done before. Salut to the Charros!

Learn more about The Charros, their work, and how to support them here.

Member Spotlight: Optimyze

Integral to The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale’s mission is telling the stories behind the small businesses Scouted in each Volume. The story begins in print and continues online, after all. As you peruse Volume 2, we are thrilled to continue our story-telling mission with Member Spotlights.

Photographed by Carrie Evans.

Before he became one of the Valley’s definitive wellness experts, Optimyze’s Michael Roviello was on his own journey to healing. Years of conducting helicopter search and rescue missions around the globe with the U.S. Navy left Roviello with chronic cervical spine and neurological issues. And, despite exploring every conventional medical intervention available -- including pain medication and spinal surgery -- Roviello’s pain persisted. 

That’s when his search led him to explore alternative practices, psychosomatic pain and medicine practices of the indigenous people of the Amazon jungle. There, he learned that his answers lay beyond Western medicine and was introduced to native practices designed to treat the whole person: mind, body, spirit, through natural, non-invasive methods that don't require pharmaceutical intervention.

Enter Roviello’s exploration of alternative healing, including the Wim Hof method, which started quite the local movement. Ultimately, this movement brought the two co-founders of Optimyze, Roviello and Jesse Morang, together in a common effort. And thus, Optimyze was born. 

Like Roviello, co-founder of Optimyze, Jesse Moreng is passionate about helping others utilize natural modalities to achieve health and happiness. A mixed martial artists and professional fighter, Moreng attributes his commitment to the health and wellness industry to witnessing the mental and physical suffering of family, friends, and community members. Jesse’s work is dedicated to his wonderful, late brother — and others — suffering from mental and physical conditions that the modern health care system fails.

Through Optimyze, Roviello and Moreng bring the powerful synergy of alternative practices – including cold water, breathwork, contrast therapy, light therapy, PEMF, and infrared sauna use, among other modalities – to the Valley. Their goal? To educate, provide access to these therapies, grow the wellness community, and, well, help people optimize their health. 

As we embrace the new year, we chatted with Roviello about health, wellness, and what exactly to expect from Optimyze. 

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: We understand that your respective health journeys connected you and Morang. Can you speak to what motivated you to take the entrepreneurial leap together?
Michael Roviello: We both started teaching the Wim Hof Method in the Phoenix area which created a local movement of sorts. After connecting with so many amazing people, hearing their stories, and witnessing their transformation, we decided to collaborate and create a space where we could bring the powerful synergy of cold water, breathwork, contrast therapy, sauna use, and other dynamic therapies to even more people in the community.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Before diving into the particulars of Optimyze, can you explain the Wim Hoff method to the uninitiated?
Michael Roviello: In simple terms, the Wim Hof Method combines breathing, cold-therapy, and commitment to help you gain control over your mind, breath, and body. This, we’ve seen, allows you to be overall happier, stronger, and healthier. It can also unlock a multitude of benefits such as a stronger immune system, better sleep quality, reduced stress levels, and increased energy.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: How did this method inform Optimyze — and what differentiates Optimyze from other health or wellness centers?
Michael Roviello: Optimyze is a unique wellness experience providing coaching through a circuit of multiple therapies to offer a wide range of benefits for mind and body. These therapies combine cutting edge, data-driven technology and natural methods to help people heal their mental, physical, and emotional stress and pain so that they can achieve – and maintain – optimal health. That’s what separates us from other conventional health centers.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You mention a circuit of wellness therapies. Can you elaborate?
Michael Roviello: We have a wide array of therapies and services to choose from that are accompanied by guided support and coaching. In just one session, you can experience infrared sauna, compression therapy, meditation, restorative sleep technology, cold water and warm water hydrotherapy, red-light therapy, PEMF (pulsed electro-magentic field therapy), Biocharger therapy — just to name a few.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What are the benefits?
Michael Roviello: The proven benefits of these therapies are extensive. The modalities we employ are show to decrease pain and inflammation, boost energy and the immune system, improve cardiovascular health, accelerate workout recovery, improve metabolism, enhance athletic performance, and so much more…

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: That’s astounding. Consider our interest majorly piqued! Beyond the extensive offerings and associated benefits, what can a client expect?
Michael Roviello: Great music, a positive supportive community, professional and caring coaches, and a place to learn, practice, and disconnect from the hustle of everyday busy life. 

Photographed by Carrie Evans

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You’ve had life-changing benefits from alternative modalities, and we would expect clients to have similarly remarkable experiences. Are there any, in particular, that stand out?
Michael Roviello: Absolutely. And while we’re in the business of optimizing client’s health, there’s one in particular that comes to mind. After suffering from inflammatory issues, the client was sent to us by her doctor after months of trying specialists and medications. We offered her a program of cold water and red light therapy, as well as sauna. She worked with us every day and her doctor closely monitored her biomarkers. Soon, she was free from her autoimmune obstacles, inflammation, pain, swelling and had increased energy. We are so proud to say that she is thriving now!

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What a testament to the healing powers of Optimyze therapies! We understand that these therapies expose your body to stress. And while we typically think of stress with negative connotations, this client example proves otherwise. Can you elaborate?
Michael Roviello: It all comes down to the type of stress. Most people think we need less stress in life, but stress isn't going anywhere. You can't hide from it or avoid all stress in life, but what you can do is train your response. That’s what we do at Optimyze. How we react and adapt to stress makes all the difference.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Using the example of cold water therapy, how does this work in action?
Michael Roviello: We practice deliberate cold and heat exposure, because cold therapy and sauna trains our mind and body on how to react and adapt to stress. Humans are strong and resilient, but we have become too comfortable, which might just be the actual root cause of many of our issues.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What are the health benefits of going between hot and cold temperatures?
Michael Roviello: This kind of therapy is powerful for improving the vascular system, circulation, immune response, inflammation, pain, and mental health. Hot and cold therapy have been around since the dawn of time and used by our ancestors on every continent. For some odd reason, we got away from the basic fundamentals of health and put all of our trust in conventional medical practices. Now we are remembering who we are, and the best part is that science is catching up to what our ancestors already knew… This stuff works.

Photographed by Carrie Evans

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You’ve been known to mention the “Benjamin Button” effect. Can you touch on that?
Michael Roviello: After embracing these alternative health practices, people started to express that, while I was getting older, I looked more and more youthful. They wanted to know my secret to, like the movie Benjamin Button, how I was aging backwards. When people started to notice that I was looking more youthful even though I was physically aging, they wanted to know what my secret was to “aging backwards.” It appeared that all of these practices had significantly lowered my biological age, and according to the in-depth testing I have done, I was right! Cellular testing through Viome concluded that while my physical age is 43, my biological age is 32. Read more details from Michael here…

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Say no more. Where do we sign up for a membership? But, in all seriousness, you and Morang have brought the Valley something truly incredible. What, aside from the many benefits of Optimyze therapies, are the keys to success in your partnership?
Michael Roviello: At the basis of our partnership, we have a shared belief in our mission to educate the community on the science behind brain and body health and change their perspective on what methods they can use to be more proactive. When it comes to the business aspect, knowing our strengths and capabilities play a huge role in helping us delegate appropriately. And  of course good communication and trust are essential.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What would you say to those who harbor reservations about their ability to embrace Optimyze modalities?
Michael Roviello: Jesse and I are just two random guys who decided to stop complaining about the health system and decided to do something about it. It’s had such a profound impact personally and at a community level — changing our perspectives, our lives, and, ultimately, the lives of others. Don’t miss this opportunity because of self-doubt!

Photographed by Carrie Evans

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: How would you describe the Valley’s reception to Optimyze?
Michael Roviello: There’s a great community of open-minded people. And I think, because of the Valley’s unique opportunities to connect with nature, Phoenix and Scottsdale are well-positioned to embrace our vision.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: In addition to Optimyze, we’d love to know a few of your favorite local spots and experiences so distinctive to the Valley!
Michael Roviello: My go-to restaurants are Chula Seafood, Persian Room, and Ingos Burgers. If I want to relax with a drink, I opt for kava at Kava bar  over cocktails. And when I’m not cold-plunging at Optimyze, you can probably find me hiking or training at Unfair Advantage Performance or Mountainside Fitness.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Community seems to be a recurring theme for you. What are some ways you are involved in the community and why are those causes important to you? 
Michael Roviello: We support Foster 360, which helps young people practice techniques to better manage and react to stress. We see that teens in the foster system who have the ability to manage stress and learn about their health by taking on new habits and routines will have future success in all areas of life.

Look out for Optimyze founders, Michael Roviello & Jesse Moreng, in Volume 2 of The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale. And if you’re interested in taking a deep dive into your health and connecting to your body at Optimyze, explore more on their website here!

Member Spotlight: Sahara Scottsdale

Integral to The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale’s mission is telling the stories behind the small businesses Scouted in each Volume. The story begins in print and continues online, after all. As you peruse Volume 2, we are thrilled to continue our story-telling mission with Member Spotlights.

On lush acres northeast of Scottsdale resides a living art that offers Scottsdale a global reputation. Both a connection to Scottsdale’s rich history and that of an internationally treasured species, Sahara Scottsdale cultivates an ambitious bid for the future: the perfect Arabian horse. 

Yet, Sahara Scottsdale’s singular aim is impossible to mistake for a mere Darwinian-esque experiment. Passion fuels every aspect of their work as a privately-owned Arabian breeding, training, and marketing center. As does over 150 years of collective experience and expertise.  

Established in 2015, Sahara Scottsdale quickly became a leader in the historic, highly-competitive industry of Arabian horses. And as they prepare to show at the world’s largest competition, The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, we sat down for a chat about the intricacies of the industry and, more importantly, the majesty of the Arabian horse. 

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: For the uninitiated, can you speak to the history of the Arabian horse in Scottsdale?
Ally Nelson: When it comes to Arabian horses, Scottsdale has a rich history. While locals will be familiar with names like McCormick, Gainey and Chauncey? –all well-known residential communities – they might be unaware that the names hearken to the area’s largest Arabian horse farms of the 1940s. Gainey Ranch, McCormick Ranch, and even the famous Biltmore Hotel are built on what was once home to Arabian horses.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Tell us more…
Ally Nelson: It all began when Anne and Fowler McCormick purchased land in the early 1900s to raise Arabians. Many followed their example, and Scottsdale quickly became a mecca for the Arabian horse. And, in 1955, Scottsdale hosted the first Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What does the Arabian horse industry look like in Scottsdale today?
Ally Nelson: The Arabian horse community is as strong as ever. In fact, Cactus Road and Arabian Park Drive are often referred to as the Rodeo Drives of Arabian horse farms. Both are home to some of the most famous farms in the world, including Royal Arabians, Midwest Station II, Orrion Farms, PCF Arabians, and of course, Sahara Scottsdale. And the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, which first took place in 1955, is now the largest, most well-attended Arabian horse show worldwide!

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You hinted at the importance of Scottsdale to the Arabian horse industry on a global scale. Can you speak to the international influence of Sahara Scottsdale?
Ally Nelson: Walk through the barn at Sahara Scottsdale and you will meet horses hailing from Brazil, Poland, Spain, South Africa, Israel, Dubai, and beyond. Each boasts highly individualized, highly-desirable traits that our breeding program hopes to cultivate in service of its overarching goal: to breed the perfect Arabian horse.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: That’s an ambitious endeavor. What exactly does that entail?
Ally Nelson: When studying and purchasing horses, our goal is twofold: to identify competitive show horses that are also compatible with our breeding program. We travel to all corners of the world – from the World Championships in Paris to South America, the Middle East to North America – to procure the highest quality of exotic Arabian horses. Each spring, we welcome foals. The foals grow up in the lush pastures of our breeding farm, Sahara West, living a beautiful life. Once of age, they enter our training farm to be trained, sold, shown, or retained for the future generations of our breeding program.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: That seems like a highly selective process, and rightfully so. Sahara Scottsdale doesn’t just raise horses, Sahara Scottsdale raises Arabians. But there's so many breeds... why Arabians? What makes them so unique?
Ally Nelson: Our owners and staff have over 150 years of collective experience with Arabians and other horse breeds. And all of us are unanimous in our opinion that the Arabian horse is the most rewarding breed to work with and produce. Arabians bond closely – more so than other breeds – with their handlers. And their history is just incredible. Did you know that all equine breeds trace back to the Arabian?

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: That’s fascinating! But, it's just one of the fascinating aspects of your industry. Let’s talk about another: showing, which we understand plays an important role. Can you touch on the competition side of Sahara Scottsdale?
Ally Nelson: While our primary focus is breeding the next generation of Arabians, showing is very enjoyable and exciting for us. We compete throughout the year. Our biggest show – and the biggest in the world – is  The Scottsdale Arabian Show, which draws 2,000 - 2500 horses each year. Other important shows for us include the U.S. Nationals, Arabian National Breeder Finals, Regional Championships, and the Arabian Breeders World Cup.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You speak of Arabians with such reverence. How does the breed influence the lives of those who work with them at Sahara Scottsdale?
Ally Nelson: We view these horses as living art. Arabians are the Michelangelos and Van Goghs of the equestrian world. But, beyond their beauty, we love them as a part of our family. Arabians have this unique ability to bond with humans. It’s an honor to work with such special creatures. And it’s because of this magical connection that our every decision – personal or professional – revolves around the well-being and success of our Arabians.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: It sounds like Arabians must be experienced in person to be fully appreciated.  Is Sahara Scottsdale open to the public?
Ally Nelson: Absolutely! Sahara Scottsdale welcomes everyone. We delight in sharing the magic of these beautiful creatures. Arabians horses move our souls, and we’re sure they’ll move yours, too.

If you are interested please contact Sahara Scottsdale on Instagram @Sahara_Scottsdale, email info@saharascottsdale or call (480)980-9826.

Sahara Scottsdale is world-renowned for producing the highest-quality champion Arabian horses. To learn more, you can visit their website here and follow them on social media here to stay up to date on events and happenings! Don’t forget to tell them Scout sent you!