Member Spotlight: PANDA

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.

Founders Robyn Debell and Penny Gunning. Photographed by Allison Tyler Jones.

Since its founding, The Phoenix Women’s Board of the Steele Children's Research Center (affectionately known as PANDA) has been rooted in the community. In fact, the inception of both Steele Children’s and PANDA can be traced to the power of connection between friends and neighbors.

The decades-long success of PANDA can also be attributed to the power of the community, from children to their grandparents. And PANDA has demonstrated a unique ability to include every generation in pursuit of a common goal: discovering treatments and cures for devastating childhood diseases. In over 24 years, PANDA has raised over $26 million directly supporting cutting-edge research and treatments that have saved countless young lives in Arizona and beyond.

In anticipation of one of our favorite events of the year, we chatted with PANDA about their roots, mission, and what to expect at this year’s Daydreamers & Believers Fashion Show & Luncheon.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: As always, we’re looking forward to this year’s Fashion Show & Luncheon. But before diving into the details on what has become one of the Valley’s favorite events, let’s chat about the beginnings of PANDA. Where does the story begin?
PANDA: The PANDA story begins in the 1980’s in Tucson, AZ. Louise Thomas, a neighbor and friend of PANDA Co-founder Robyn DeBell was a young mother with a 9 year old son, Michael. Michael was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and passed away –  despite state of the art medical treatments. Louise vowed to start a facility that would help find the cause and cure for terrible childhood diseases, including that which took her son. The Steele Children’s Research Center was built, and recruited world-renowned physicians and staff. But, because the Steele Children’s Research Center was unknown outside of Tucson, its reach was limited and its funding stretched. When, after moving to Phoenix and meeting Penny Gunning, the two started scheming on how to bring Steele Children’s to Phoenix.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What did Robyn and Penny come up with?
PANDA: The two brainstormed for years in an attempt to create a project that would involve several generations. It was Penny who presented the idea of a children’s fashion show. Thirty-five women served on the first board that chaired the first fashion show and, thus, Phoenix Women’s Board of the Steal Children’s Research Center and the fashion show were born.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Where did the name “PANDA” come from?
PANDA: It’s an affectionate nickname for Phoenix Women’s Board of the Steele Children’s Research Center that comes from the acronym for “People Acting Now Discover Answers.”

PANDA 2023 Board Chairs & President. Photographed by Allison Tyler Jones Photography L to R: Rachel Troyan, Chandra Petelin, Courtney Gaintner (President), Candace Bianco & Teri Bockting.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Can you put into perspective the impact PANDA has had on supporting discovery processes that lead to improved treatments and cures for devastating childhood diseases?
PANDA: To date, our annual children’s fashion show, year-round fundraising campaigns and community events have contributed over $26 million to Steele Children’s Research Center.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: While the funds PANDA has raised are staggeringly impressive, can you put this in non-financial terms?
PANDA: If Michael Thomas, the initial inspiration for both Steele Children’s and PANDA, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma today, the Steele Children’s Research Center could treat his disease, and quite possibly he would be alive and still with us today. This passion and determination is what drives our purpose and the PANDA story forward every day.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: PANDA works closely with the director of Steele Children’s Research Center. Tell us about Dr. Ghishan.
PANDA: Dr. Fayez Ghishan has been the director of Steele Children’s for over 25 years, and has led remarkable discoveries and work. Born in Jordan as the oldest of nine children, Dr. Ghishan credits his mother with instilling in him a desire to pursue medicine. When he was 16 years old, Dr. Ghishan left home with only $30 to his name and a grand ambition to become a doctor. From Dr. Ghishan’s early experiences, he realized most children in the world were dying of diarrheal diseases, which fueled him on his path to become a pediatric gastroenterologist. Dr. Ghishan has made it his life’s work to transform the lives of as many children as possible and put an end to childhood suffering. Today, he is internationally recognized for his research in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition and is a passionate advocate for children’s health. As a physician-researcher, he has received two MERIT awards from the National Institutes of Health,
 a distinction achieved by less than 1% of scientists in the U.S.

Photographed by Carrie Evans Photography.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Before talking about your main fundraising event, it’s important that we touch on the many projects PANDA spearheads throughout the year…
PANDA: It was important to our founders to develop a project that would involve multiple generations — from grandparents to children — and we’ve built upon this idea with the Fashion Show, but also Lemonade Stand Day and PANDA Prowl & Block Party. Both are informed by our tradition of “children helping children” and offer family-friendly ways to inspire the next generation of philanthropists and raise awareness and funds for Steele Children’s.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: PANDA and its projects are rather unique in their level of community support. For example, so many of your fellow members — from Garage Boutique & Concept Store to The Good Vibe Media — partner with and/or sponsor PANDA throughout the year.
PANDA: The strong and unique partnership between the PANDA members and the researchers and physicians at the Steele Children’s Research Center has made it possible for us to embody our name, People Acting Now Discovering Answers. Ultimately, it’s a testament to the powerful work Steele Children’s Research Center accomplishes.

Photographed by Carl Schultz.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What locally-owned businesses and creatives will be supporting this year’s fashion show?
PANDA: We are fortunate to have so many local long-term sponsors and partners. Our fellow Scouted member, Garage Boutique & Concept Store, is our long-term dedicated fashion partner and, as such, has dressed our models for many years. And Volume 2’s The Good Vibe Media will be providing video production. We are also so thrilled to include fellow members urbAna and Amy Atelier alongside 54 other PANDA Friends. We’re also looking forward to Allison Tyler Jones photographing our fashion show models and board chair, as she does every year!

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Let’s talk about the event. What is this year’s theme?
PANDA: The 2023 theme is Daydream Believers, inspired by a celebration of childhood and the magic that happens when our community comes together to give kids a healthy start in life.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What should attendees expect from the Daydream Believer’s Fashion Show & Luncheon?
PANDA: This year’s luncheon will be hosted at the Arizona Biltmore. We’ll start off with a silent auction and happy hour, enjoy lunch, and delight in the fashion show styled by Garage Boutique & Concept Store. Attendees should expect great styles and great raffle prizes, including a diamond tennis necklace, a year of shopping experiences at Amy Atelier MAN Atelier, Vegas Formula 1 tickets, Napa getaways, and more!

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What will this year’s Fashion Show & Luncheon fund?
PANDA: In addition to providing funding for specific technology that will advance Steele Children’s Research Center’s capabilities, we are focusing on our “First 1,000 Days Pediatric Project.” This initiative is two fold: translational research into pediatric nutrition and research to advance technology in congenital heart disease, which impacts nearly 1 in 100 babies. By funding translational research, we move basic science discoveries quickly and efficiently into practice.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: How can readers get involved and give back?
PANDA: While our event is sold out, we invite everyone to join us for our silent auction, which will be available online, and participate in our annual events. As science is always advancing, we graciously accept donations year-round.

Learn more about PANDA and how to support their mission at azpanda.org and follow along with them on Instagram for the latest updates.

Member Spotlight: The Good Vibe Media

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.

Photography by Fully Alive Photography.

After her first video production assignment at Arcadia High School, Carly Gilleland was hooked. Yet, the owner of not one but two local businesses never envisioned herself as an entrepreneur. Motivated to inject positivity — good vibes, if you will — into the digital landscape, Carly started The Good Vibe Media in 2016. It has quickly become Phoenix and Scottsdale’s go-to for high-quality video production. You’ll recognize their work in our Volume 2 Launch Party Recap and interviews with fellow Scouted Members! Fast forward to 2021, The Good Vibe Studios, a creative studio designed by creatives for creatives, opened its doors.

To understand just how Carly Gilleland took the entrepreneurial leap in a traditionally male-dominated industry — and how she’s stayed true to a mission to spread positivity — we chatted with The Good Vibe Media and The Good Vibe Studios founder.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Carly, before diving into the specifics about The Good Vibe Media and The Good Vibe Studios, tell us how you got started in the traditionally male-dominated industry that is video production.
Carly Gilleland: While at Arcadia High School, I was fortunate to have my first taste of media communications and video production where, after just my first video production assignment, I knew I wanted this to be my career. From there, I continued on to get my degree from California State University Long Beach in film and media studies with minors in marketing and journalism.
Once I graduated, I moved back home to Phoenix and started a family while also working on my dream of telling inspiring stories. I started The Good Vibes Studios in 2016, and from there, I slowly and organically built the business into what it is today. I never envisioned myself as an entrepreneur, but I have always been consistent in my passion for storytelling through video, which I think has been a large component of our success.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: If you never envisioned yourself as an entrepreneur, what inspired you to take the entrepreneurial leap?
Carly Gilleland: It became apparent to me how much time our society spends on screens and how crowded — polluted even — the digital landscape is. I wanted my work to have a motivating and inspiring impact. The Good Vibe Media is the product of that desire. At our foundation, The Good Vibe exists to tell stories that shed light on different perspectives in a positive way.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: How has that ethos informed The Good Vibe Media and its direction?
Carly Gilleland: We work hard to produce high-quality videos for our clients, emphasizing an authentic approach and overall experience. It's our goal to, well, have good vibes throughout the production process. 

Photography by Fully Alive Photography.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Fast forward a few years of good vibes and great work, The Good Vibe Studios came to life. What inspired this new entrepreneurial endeavor?
Carly Gilleland: The idea for the studio came in 2021 after years of experiencing the same pain point: finding an ideal location to film video content for the variety of clients we serve. The idea of the studio grew the more I discussed it with others. Everyone had the same response: “you have to build this space.”

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Can you walk us through that entrepreneurial journey?
Carly Gilleland: I had no business background or degree and zero exposure or experience in starting and operating a brick and mortar business. So, The Good Vibe Studios is a testament to how powerful and valuable community can be. When we launched the Kickstarter campaign, we raised over $100,000 in 60 days to start the build out. 

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: If we’re correct, that’s not where the story ends, however.
Carly Gilleland: Correct. It was a true labor of love from all parties. We could have never built this amazing space without the most incredible contractor, Don Buol, who just so happened to be the father of our Chief Operating Officer, Nicki. Don was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when we started the build, but that never slowed him down. And despite all the chemo treatments and uncertainty, he completely mastered the uniqueness of our creative studios. Unfortunately, he lost his battle with cancer in September 2022 a few months after we opened. 

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: We were so sorry to hear that Don passed, but what an incredible legacy he has left behind.
Carly Gilleland: Thank you. We are reminded of him every time we walk into our incredible studio.

Photography by Fully Alive Photography.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: As a client ourselves, we can attest that The Good Vibe Studios is indeed incredible. What has a year-plus of business for The Good Vibe Studios been like?
Carly Gilleland: The creative community has shown a lot of enthusiasm for our specialized environment, which includes rentals designed for podcasters, photographers, videographers, and content creators. Beyond that, we’ve focused on adapting and evolving to figure out the best way to serve our creative community.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: As a creative yourself, how do you stay inspired?
Carly Gilleland: Connecting with people — but not from behind a screen. I’m always most inspired after lunch with a friend, a networking event, or even a group fitness class. Human connection is so important to me, and I get so inspired when I connect with others and hear all about their passions, mission statements, and stories!

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: How appropriate then to be in the business of telling stories and creating a space for others to tell theirs!
Carly Gilleland: Exactly! The most fulfilling part of the work is being able to connect with and support fellow entrepreneurs. I love the opportunity to tell their stories authentically. 

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: And there seems to be quite the demand — how has the changing digital landscape affected your business?
Carly Gilleland: And it’s been really exciting to have an increased number of video requests — especially event video requests — for our high-quality production services for businesses and brands. In addition, we’ve recently produced video for almost a dozen digital e-courses, which our team loves.

Photography by Fully Alive Photography.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You work with so many fellow Valley creatives and entrepreneurs and have helped so many — including those of your fellow members — what takeaways do you have for entrepreneurship?
Carly Gilleland: As a business owner in the creative industry, I’ve found that we all can find more success if we lean into community and collaboration a little bit more. It certainly has worked wonders for me over the years.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: What else has inspired you as a business owner?
Carly Gilleland: Being a mother. My two children are the most important thing in my life, and I believe it’s important that people know being a mom has helped me become a better business owner and leader for my team. I want to leave a legacy for my kids and have them always remember how hard I worked to build these companies that started in my dreams. 

Photography by Fully Alive Photography.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: We would imagine that has inspired a significant aspect of your business, which is the philanthropic component. Can you speak to that?
Carly Gilleland: The Good Vibe Media has a GiveBack program where each quarter we produce a video for an individual or organization, who proves to have a positive impact in our community. This aligns with our mission to produce content that injects positivity to motivate and inspire others to do good.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Are you involved with any other organizations or non-profits in the Valley?
Carly Gilleland: I also have served on the committee for events like the Wishball and other nonprofits that serve sick children or families. I have also done lots of volunteer work for organizations that serve the special needs community as my little sister is disabled.

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: Beyond the local non-profits you support, how are you involved in Valley life? Do you have any local favorites?
Carly Gilleland: Of course! My quick go-to’s are: Gooder Goods for dining, Kaleidoscope for [healthy] drinks, Garage for littles, Lifestyled Co for home, hot yoga at radi8, and Waste Management Open for events!

TSG Phoenix & Scottsdale: You are clearly very connected to the Valley. What do you cherish most about living and working in Phoenix and Scottsdale?
Carly Gilleland: It is a very exciting time to be in the Valley, especially in the film industry! A bill was recently passed that will give filmmakers more incentive to produce their work in Arizona. I think so many other creative businesses will benefit and be born from the energy we will start to see in our state. Of course, I also love the sunshine we get majority of the year and how easy it is to get to the mountains or the beach for a little getaway.

The Good Vibe Media offers high-quality video production services for brands and businesses, and events of all scales, including weddings. The sister brand, The Good Vibe Studios, offers studio room rentals designed for podcasters, photographers, videographers, and content creators, to offer a specialized environment to meet creative needs. Follow along with them on Instagram and tap them for your video production needs, from brand stories to events and weddings. Just don’t forget to tell them Scout sent you! 

Member Spotlight: Squeeze

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.

Photography by Juliana Lay Photography.

After decades of climbing the corporate ladder, Sam Lewis and Andrew Nicoll knew that it was time for a change. Enter Squeeze, a much-needed re-imagination of massage experiences from founders of the beloved blowout brand (with several, locally owned locations, no less) DryBar. And while the pair never expected to go from finance to the fine art of massage, they jumped at the opportunity to bring the franchise to Scottsdale. 

At Squeeze, everything is simple and in-app. It’s the ideal indulgent atmosphere for offering guests complete control over all aspects of their experience, from pressure to payment.  

Recently, we chatted with one half of the entrepreneurial duo about the key to cultivating a great company culture, their fresh approach to massage therapy, and the curated experience guests can expect from Squeeze.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: Thanks for sitting down with us Sam! First things first, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to teaming up with Andrew as the owners of a Squeeze franchise in Scottsdale?
Sam Lewis: We actually met about ten years ago while working in the finance world when Andrew was interning for me. After becoming friends, and eventually neighbors, we recognized a shared dream of starting our own business. From there, we explored a multitude of options to make that dream a reality. Having never started our own company, we were attracted to the established business model and support that comes along with franchising. During our search, we heard Brittany Driscoll, Squeeze co-founder & CEO, on an episode of the Franchise Euphoria podcast and her passion for creating a positive company culture really caught our attention.

Being in the corporate world, we had seen our fair share of bad work cultures in which people felt stuck and didn't enjoy their work. Our goal was to create a work environment where employees felt like they were heard and treated well. When Brittany spoke about the brand’s values and culture, it really intrigued us. From that moment, it was “love at first listen," and the rest is history.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: That's quite the shift. What was it about entrepreneurship that appealed to you?
Sam Lewis: Andrew and I each have had our share of corporate experience and seen the highs and lows of different management styles. What really excited us about entrepreneurship, and Squeeze in particular, was the opportunity to be a part of something that was impacting lives for the better. Massage therapists have dedicated their careers to that notion, so it's important that they have a work environment that allows them to receive the same support in return. One of our core values is to "do what you love and let it love you back,” which is something we come back to on a daily basis.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: That’s amazing! Squeeze has a unique correlation with one of our other members, DryBar. Can you touch on the shared background?
Sam Lewis: Squeeze was started by the founders of DryBar, of which there are several locally-owned, very successful franchises in the Valley. While the two companies aren't affiliated, our leadership team took many of the things they learned while building DryBar and applied them to the beautiful experience we now have at Squeeze.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: What inspired the creation of Squeeze?
Sam Lewis: Like all good ideas, Squeeze was built out of personal necessity. Our founders always loved getting massages (who doesn't!?), but found themselves frustrated with the options out there — either mediocre discount establishments or overpriced spas. Not to mention hard-to-book appointments, awkward checkout counters, and massages that were never the right pressure. So, they built the brand and massage experience they longed for!

Photography by Juliana Lay Photography.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: And what about the name? It’s darling! Where did the idea for that come from?
Sam Lewis: If you look at other names in the industry, they're all so expected and similar to each other. We really wanted to come up with something different that would make people smile. Squeeze is a fun, lighthearted name that offers up tons of marketing opportunities and plays on words (e.g. Main Squeeze, Squeeze the Ones You Love, etc…)

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: Your tagline is “A Way Better Massage Experience.” How would you say Squeeze is different from other massage experiences?
Sam Lewis: Well first of all, booking is absolutely stress-free. Guests can book, pay, set personalized preferences, tip, rate, and review all on our app. So after your massage, you can just float on out. We also don’t charge for extras. Each massage includes the guests choice of deep tissue, heat therapy, percussion therapy, and aromatherapy at no additional cost. The app also allows our therapists to save your massage preferences to your profile so your therapist knows exactly what you want, each and every time.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: Relaxation from start to finish is what we’re hearing. Speaking of clients, you have a unique name for them at Squeeze. What is it, and why? 
Sam Lewis: Guests! We want that feeling of family that our employees share to permeate through our hallways and naturally extend to those entering our doors to enjoy our relaxing and rejuvenating services. Our verbiage influences our thoughts and actions. Our guests feel that difference every time they visit.

Photography by Juliana Lay Photography.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: Now let’s talk specifics. So what exactly do you offer clients?
Sam Lewis: Our service options are intentionally very simple. We offer two membership options based on time; our Mid Squeeze membership is a monthly 50-min massage and our Main Squeeze membership is a monthly 8-min massage. Our membership are month-to-month so you can pause or cancel at any time and come with many additional perks. Unused credits rollover and never expire and you can even gift them to friends or loved ones. Plus, for every membership sold Squeeze provides a day of canine support to a person with a disability through our partnership with Canine Companions.

Guests who aren't ready to become members can also "Pay-Per-Squeeze" for a Mid Squeeze (50-min massage) or Main Squeeze (80-min massage)

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: We know that customer experience is very important to Squeeze. What can a new customer expect from their first session?
Sam Lewis: Every part of our experience was built with the guest in mind. We know that getting out for a massage is likely the best part of someone's day, so we take that to heart and make sure we can live up to it. From the moment you walk through the door you're greeting by our Maitre D who will check you in and show you to our lounge where we have a beautiful space to relax, enjoy refreshments and choose an aromatherapy scent to accompany your massage. Once inside your massage suite your massage therapist will review your personalized preferences and show you how to choose from our 6 different playlists. Everything else is done within the app so after their massage, a guest can figuratively float out!

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: When a Guest leaves your spa, how do you want them to feel? 
Sam Lewis: A massage is a relaxing, stress-free experience. We want to make sure that they can stay in that zen for as long as possible which is why we removed all of the other clunkiness you find at other massage experiences. Since payment is saved in our app, they don't need to wait in line to check-out or be upsold on a membership. They can walk out and hold on to all of the amazing feel-good benefits that come along with a massage.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: It’s the small things that make the experience. What unique features do you implement at Squeeze to make the customer service experience all the more enjoyable?
Sam Lewis: One of our core values is "Little Things Are Big Things" so you are right! We have many of these little things throughout the experience but the main one is our app which allows guests to book, set personalized preference, pay, tip, rate and review all at their fingertips. This really puts the experience in the guests hands allows them to customize their massage to their liking. We save your personalized preferences to your accounts and review them before your massage so we know exactly what a guest wants, each and every time. Beyond the app, one of our most beloved and unique features in the shop is our "ready button." This is a small button at the bottom of the massage table that a guest can press once they're undressed, on the table and ready for their massage therapist to re-enter. The button turns on a light outside the massage suite letting the massage therapist know that the guest is ready. Goodbye awkward exchanges!

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: It sounds like you have thought of everything at Squeeze! And of course you have a fabulous team as a part of the equation. How do you hire and train your massage therapists? 
Sam Lewis: Andrew and I aren’t massage therapists ourselves, and we would never kid ourselves that we have the expertise to train our therapists on the technical side of things. Squeeze has an extensive training program built by massage therapists, and our Scottsdale location has two amazing Lead Therapists with decades of experience who support our team on a daily basis and conduct interviews. We strongly believe that there is no single way to give a massage. We see our therapists as the experts and allow them the freedom to make each massage their own, and we offer in-house education and CE stipends to encourage everyone on our team to keep learning and finding new inspiration in their massage practice.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: Before we slightly switch gears, what aspect of owning the Squeeze in Scottsdale do you find most fulfilling? 
Sam Lewis: Since opening our doors, we're continually hearing from guests that Squeeze is "so much better than where I used to get a massage" and that is what keeps us going. We truly believe that Squeeze is a way better massage experience and it is beyond fulfilling to know that that is resonating with the community.

We're also excited about the environment that we've been able to create for our team members. During our hiring process we love the reactions we get from candidates when we explain all of the amazing benefits that Squeeze offers. The fact that we don't charge extra for amenities like deep tissue and aromatherapy means that our Massage Therapists aren't required to upsell or meet any quotas which they're always so pleased to hear. Knowing that we're doing something different for both our guests and team members is a really special experience to be a part of.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: It is clear that community is important to you. Are you involved in any local organizations that give back to the community?
Sam Lewis: At Squeeze we've partnered with Canine Companions, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs at no charge to the recipient.  For every membership sold at Squeeze we donate a day of canine support to a person with a disability.

Photography by Juliana Lay Photography.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: That must make what you do all the more meaningful. And as for Scottsdale, what do you love most about living in the Valley?
Sam Lewis: I absolutely love food and golf and I can’t think of a better place to enjoy both! I can literally go from golfing at Papago Golf Club to eating at Cibo Pizzeria  in a matter of minutes. Also as a father of three, I can say this is an amazing place to raise a family.

The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale: Finally, we’d love to know a few of your favorite local spots and experiences  distinctive to the Valley:
Sam Lewis: When it comes to food, FnB is by far my favorite. Some of the best meals of my life have been at FNB. And when it comes to shopping, I have to mention Old Town Candy & Toys. My kids are always begging me to take them there! And when I’m not at Squeeze or spending time with my family, you can most likely find me golfing on any of the amazing courses we have in the area. But if I had to choose a local event that I look forward to, it would be Devour Phoenix. It’s the best place to see and try the amazing restaurants here in town.

Oh and I can’t forget to mention Cutino Hot Sauce. It's an incredible local brand and I always recommend any of the flavors for gifting. And of course it’s absolutely delicious!

Look out for Sam Lewis and Andrew Nicoll of Squeeze in Volume 3 of The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale. And if you’re interested in discovering the many benefits of massage, download the Squeeze app or head to their website to explore the many possibilities for rest and relaxation at Squeeze! And when you book, don’t forget to tell them Scout sent you!

Patterns That Pop: 48 Pieces to Add to Your Spring Wardrobe

Originally published by THE SCOUT GUIDE on March 14th, 2023.

From a flirty floral blouse to eye-catching geometrics worn from head-to-toe, this season is all about pattern. This selection of pretty pieces from Scouted boutiques across the country will have you ready to shed those drab winter duds and embrace the playfulness of pattern. To find a scouted women’s boutique near you, browse The Scout Guide Directory.

Jasmine Wide Leg Pants
Available for purchase online from Amy Atelier in Scottsdale, Arizona.