Companies & Professionals

The admonition to “think local” might be a relatively new mantra, but locals have a variety of stellar professionals to choose from here in the Valley, no matter what their needs.

BY BECKY ANTIOCO 

BEST ADVERTISING AGENCY: BOUTIQUE 

>>J GROUP MEDIA

Graphic design, Web site creation, identity development, social media, media buying and event producers —J Group Media handles all of its client’s creative needs. Clients include Pita Jungle, Hot Air Expeditions and Ebbert Estates. Their aim is to increase brand recognition and awareness of businesses and products for their clients. jgroupmedia.com.

PHOTO BY JASON BLACK 

2014 WINNER

BEST RECORD STORE

>>STINKWEEDS

True music aficionados in the Valley know the best place to find, buy, trade and sell vinyl is at Stinkweeds. Countless music trends have come and gone in their 28 years of operation, but one thing hasn’t changed: everyone at Stinkweeds has a genuine love of music and a desire to help customers find the music they love. Thousands of labels from around the world are represented on vinyl, CD and cassette, and they can even special order. The shop also sells books, magazines and shirts, but the music is what keeps the customers coming back. stinkweeds.com.

2014 WINNER

BEST WEB DESIGN, PROGRAMMING OR MANAGEMENT FIRM

>>ZION & ZION

Zion & Zion is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in Tempe, and they know the importance of an amazing Web site. Focusing on several elements, which include user experience design, information architecture, advanced Web analytics, and interactive and responsive design, their goal is to build the right Website for their clients that will generate results and evolve along with the company. Zion & Zion’s people-driven culture operates under the philosophy “Where Business Meets Creative,” contributing to the agency’s place among best-places-to-work lists. zionandzion.com.

BEST REALTOR IN THE VALLEY

>>PAM EAGAN

As a member of the Realty Executive team based in Ahwatukee, Pam Eagan is a stickler for researching market and property values to effectively price her clients’ homes. And for those out-of- towners home shopping in Arizona, she has a fully furnished guest house available for use. She is one of the preeminent agents in the community and will do everything she can to attract potential buyers. pameagan.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: FASHION & BEAUTY

>>CHRISTOS SEWELL,

CHRISTOS SEWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Aspiring models looking for a photographer to help develop a stunning portfolio need not look further than Christos Sewell of Christos Sewell Photography. With a studio in Scottsdale and experience throughout the West, Sewell specializes in portfolio development, lookbooks and commercial and editorial fashion photography. imagebychristos.com. 

 

BEST MATCHMAKING SERVICE

>>KELLEHER INTERNATIONAL 

Kelleher International has set the gold standard in upscale, selective and personalized matchmaking. Armed with the largest private database of accomplished singles in the country, the boutique style of matchmaking assigns a matchmaker, client liaison and scout to the clients in order to provide a

truly unique service that has built Kelleher International's reputation as the most sought-after leader in exclusive dating for 28 years. Jean Marie Adams, managing partner and matchmaker, personally meets and hand-picks qualified candidates to work with and has been facilitating discreet introductions for successful, attractive and picky men and women for more than 23 years. kelleher-international.com.

PHOTO BY BIGGERPICTUREIMAGES.COM 

 

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: BOUDOIR

>>LE BOUDOIR STUDIO

When a woman feels beautiful, she has the confidence that she can achieve anything. Le Boudoir Studio has been in the Valley for five years. Their goal is to create a memorable and exciting experience, and for every woman to leave the studio saying that she felt amazing. The moment a client told owner Jodi Lynn, “You made me feel so beautiful,” she realized immediately that this was the line of work she was truly passionate about. leboudoirstudio.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST REALTOR: AHWATUKEE

>>BONNY HOLLAND

Bonny Holland has been a top producer in the East Valley for over 20 years. She specializes in luxury properties and prides herself on being extremely knowledgeable in her field and on excellent customer service. She formed her group Leading Luxury Experts in 2000, and together they service clients around the Valley. leadingluxuryexperts.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST REALTOR: GLENDALE

>>SUSAN RAMSEY

Susan Ramsey began her career in 1991 and soon found herself in the top one percent of all RE/MAX agents nationally, where she remained until moving her team to Keller Williams in 2012. Her team gets 86 percent of its business from referrals and repeat customers, a testimony to their professionalism and expertise. theramseyteam.com.

BEST REALTOR: SCOTTSDALE

>>CARMEN BRODEUR

Carmen Brodeur started her career as a real estate attorney before becoming one of the top realtors in Scottsdale. This gives her a unique background in helping negotiate contracts for her clients. She is in the top one percent of all realtors in Arizona in terms of sales volume and puts her experience to use at Trillium Properties. topscottsdalehomes.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST REALTOR: TEMPE 

>>THOMAS TOKOPH

Steeped in Downtown Tempe real estate, the city lifestyle is Tom Tokoph's specialty and his passion. As the designated broker for Urban Realty, a full-service residential and commercial brokerage, he's been showing clients the allure of Tempe since 1996. urbanrealty.com. 

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN

>>AVENUE 25 MARKETING, GRAPHIC & WEB DESIGN STUDIO

A boutique firm, Avenue 25 is a nimble team of creative thinkers who provide highly personalized attention. Full- service and international in terms of scope, this Phoenix-based agency has it covered: from branding and Web development to graphic design and strategic marketing. ave25.com.

BEST SOCIAL NETWORKING AND ONLINE MEDIA FIRM

>>DEEP SPACE MARKETING

Ready to enter the world of online marketing and blogging but don’t know where to start? Deep Space Marketing has been an expert at helping companies get noticed online, whether they’re large corporations like Dignity Health or a local coffee shop. Their experts work with communities and businesses to maximize social media impact and help business owners better connect with their customers. deepspacemarketing.com. 

BEST INVESTMENT FIRM

>>CAMARGO CAPITAL

Camargo Capital offers wealth- management services tailored to the individual needs of its many clients. Their experts can handle setting up and administering trusts, managing retirement plans, asset allocation, as well as legal and tax services. They can create a financial plan that will help provide for your family, fund endowments or meet your philanthropic goals for generations to come. camargocapital.com. 

BEST MORTGAGE LENDER

>>D&E FINANCING

D&E Financing uses its relationship with more than 100 national banks and lending institutions to help individuals purchase homes or refinance existing mortgages. Established in 1998, D&E is an originator of conventional, jumbo, sub-prime, commercial and government loans, and works with all types of clients, regardless of credit history, to find the best loan for their financial ability. dandefinancing.com. 

BEST BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM

>>JENNINGS, HAUG & CUNNINGHAM LLP

Jennings, Haug & Cunningham helps business clients develop creative solutions to bankruptcy issues. They’ve worked with multiple industries, including construction, retail, manufacturing and healthcare, on asset liquidation, loan and portfolio restructuring and Chapter 7, 12 and 13 bankruptcy cases. The firm was founded in 1937, and its attorneys are active in the community and in industry associations. jhc-law.com. 

BEST REAL E S T A T E L A W F I R M

>>RESNICK & LOUIS, PC

Mitchell Resnick and Lena Louis, the namesake founders of the practice, have more than 40 years of litigation experience between them. With offices throughout the Southwest, the firm has a team of professionals licensed in multiple jurisdictions and a breadth of knowledge in many areas of law. As real estate attorneys, they represent insurance policyholders in a variety of claims, including transactional work, bankruptcy, land use and other forms of litigation. rlattorneys.com.

B E S T C A T E R I N G

>>COPPER SQUARE KITCHEN

As the off-premise catering arm of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Copper Square Kitchen was revamped as its own entity nearly eight years ago. Today it’s a full-service catering company that offers crowd-pleasing favorites and dazzling ideas in diverse venues including the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, The Icehouse, Bentley Projects and The Croft. coppersquarekitchen.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM

>>GALLAGHER & KENNEDY

Gallagher & Kennedy’s clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and individuals. Their intellectual property attorneys can help make strategic decisions with regard to patents, trademarks, copyrights, Internet law, trade secrets and more. Their client roster includes Arizona Diamondbacks, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., and Arizona Cardinals. The firm also handles several other areas of law in its mission to help clients succeed. gknet.com. 

BEST FLORIST

>>ENCHANTED FLORIST

With a large inventory of fresh roses, lilies, tropical flowers, plants, European dish gardens and more, Enchanted Florist provides contemporary and traditional flower arrangements for any occasion. You can always expect the best and brightest blooms in their bouquets, with both seasonal and year-round flowers. Owner and lead designer Lana Ground grew up on a rose farm, and her experience with flowers has allowed her to create some of the most stunning arrangements for her customers, who the pros at Enchanted Florist treat like family. They offer same-day delivery locally, but can deliver anywhere in the United States. 777flowers.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST EVENT DESIGN & DECORATIONS

>>EVENT SERVICES OF AMERICA

Whether you want to “wow” clients at a corporate event, host a memorable conference, or plan the wedding of your dreams, Event Services of America can help with every detail: from stunning décor to world-class entertainment to exclusive venues like an airplane hangar, a private ranch or even Chase Field. They offer free consultations to plan an event that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. eventservicesofamerica.com. 

2014 WINNER

MOST PHILANTHROPIC COMPANY AND BEST NATIONAL VALLEY-BASED COMPANY

>>GODADDY

Born as an easy, affordable way to get their ideas online, GoDaddy is now a powerhouse in the Internet domain business, with more than 12 million customers globally. It is the world’s largest domain registrar, employs more than 4,000 people and still manages to be one of the most philanthropic companies in Arizona. Through its GoDaddy Cares initiative, the company has donated more than $12 million and encourages employee volunteerism. Organizations that have benefited from GoDaddy’s philanthropy include the Semper Fi Fund, Boys & Girls Clubs,The Score Foundation, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and more. godaddy.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: FAMILY & PORTRAITS

>>STELLA CROWL, STYLE IMAGES STUDIOS

Award-winning photographer Stella Crowl specializes in fashion, pageant and portrait photography and shoots for several local publications and events. She is the official photographer for Little Miss United States, Miss Arizona World United States and several others on the pageant circuit. mystyleimagestudios.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: EVENTS

>>JAY HAGUE, ELITE PHOTO PHOENIX

Jay Hague’s client roster reads like a who’s who list of the best companies and bands around: Maroon 5, Green Day, Nike, Red Bull, EA Sports, VANS, to name a few. But he will shoot your event with the same level of professionalism he uses with the VIPs. Elite Photo Phoenix has been based in the Valley since 2007, and Hague shoots parties, weddings, fundraisers and all of your event needs. elitephotophx.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: COMMERCIAL AND REAL ESTATE & INTERIORS

>>DAN RAUSTADT, BIGGER PICTURE IMAGES

Dan Raustadt is an upscale lifestyle photographer with decades of experience shooting unique portraits, beautiful fashion and models, exclusive homes and architecture, awesome getaways and interesting new products. He thrives on variety, providing crisp, clear images with expert lighting and creative angles that capture and maximize what the subject is all about. biggerpictureimages.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST REALTOR: CHANDLER

>>AMY JONES

Amy Jones Group of RE/MAX Infinity, under the leadership of their namesake realtor, has consistently been recognized as one of the top real estate teams in the country by RE/MAX International and ranked No. 1 in the East Valley. She has been a realtor in the Valley since relocating here from Wisconsin in 2001. Jones and her team are dedicated to going above and beyond for each of their clients. amyjonesgroup.com. 

 

AFM FAVE

BEST TRIAL LAWYER

>>DENNIS WILENCHIK, WILENCHIK & BARTNESS

Dennis Wilenchik began practicing as a Deputy Maricopa County Attorney and later became a senior partner with the firm Squire, Patton Boggs, before forming Wilenchik & Bartness in 1991. He is rated by Martindale-Hubbell AV- Preeminent, is a 2015 “Super Lawyer,” and has more than 37 years’ experience in criminal and commercial litigation. He has been chairman of the State Bar Trial Practice Section and a nationally certified civil trial advocate for more than 25 years with the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. wb-law.com.

PHOTO BY JASON BLACK 

2014 WINNER

BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS OR MARKETING FIRM: BOUTIQUE

>>PITCH PR

Under the leadership of founder, CEO and president Ann Noder, Pitch Public Relations has generated coverage in nearly every major media outlet in the country, including The Today Show, CNN, People Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Leveraging an unmatched roster of media contacts, Pitch PR’s professionals get editorial coverage for both big-name clients and those who are just getting started. pitchpublicrelations.com.

BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS OR MARKETING FIRM: LARGE

>>MARTZ PARSONS

Carrie Martz—who just recently announced her retirement—has been an icon in the Arizona advertising and public relations world for more than 35 years. When GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons acquired Martz Agency, Martz Parsons, an unmatched advertising and PR agency, was born. They implement fearless strategies and unexpected thinking across all platforms to achieve results for their clients. Martz Parsons has earned 16 Phoenix Addy Awards, 13 PRSA Copper Quills, 10 Tellies, and countless other honors. martzparsons.com.

BEST TATTOO ARTIST

>>JASON ANTHONY, GOLDEN RULE TATTOO

Jason Anthony tries not to pigeonhole himself by sticking to a particular style. His colorful creations range from the realistic to the fantastical, always with an eye on pleasing customers with his artistry. As the owner of Golden Rule Tattoo, he knows that clients leave his shop forever changed, and he takes care that they will be completely satisfied with the transformation. goldenruletattoo.com 

BEST CEO

>>ANDREW LETO, GLOBALTRANZ

Twelve years ago, Andrew Leto started GlobalTranz out of his home with an unemployment check as his only investment. Today, his company, specializing in freight management services, is the third fastest- growing company and the 12th largest private company in Arizona. He has more than 13 years in the transportation industry and uses his experience to teach other entrepreneurs how to leverage their resources to start a company of their own. globaltranz.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST ESTATE PLANNING & TRUST ADMINISTRATION

>>THE FRUTKIN LAW FIRM, PLC 

Founded by Jonathan Frutkin in 2007, The Frutkin Law Firm aimed to provide exceptional representation to Arizona clients in business and corporate law, and related areas. Today, they are the leaders in estate planning, helping individuals and families plan wills, trusts, business succession planning, healthcare directives and more. The firm also provides trust and probate administration services for their clients. frutkinlaw.com. 

 

AFM FAVE

BEST REALTOR

>>WALT DANLEY

After moving from Portland, Walt Danley began his real estate career in Arizona in 1977. Not only was he named “Rookie of the Year” his first year in the business, but ever since then, Danley has consistently ranked among the top-selling realtors in Arizona. What’s more, Danley sold the first home in the Phoenix metropolitan with a price exceeding $10 million. waltdanley.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST JOB SEARCH WEB SITE

>>JOBING.COM

Started in 2000 as one of the first local job boards online, Jobing.com has helped countless job-seekers and employers come together to make a perfect match. More than just online classifieds, Jobing.com offers recruiting tools like candidate relationship management software and a network of local, regional and niche job boards. jobing.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST AUCTIONEER

>>LETITIA FRYE, LLC

Letitia Frye, LLC has been in business for 11 years. It is often said that what sets Frye apart from the rest is her uncanny ability to memorize content, allowing her to work freely through the room without notes or a script and engage her audience. She embraces each of the nonprofits she works for by either volunteering for them or trailing the services they offer. This gives her an insider's view of how to best represent their mission on the stage, and ultimately raise more money. Her passion, fashion and personality are all as unique as her auction style, and give way to an engaging and memorable experience for each charity and every audience who experiences her brand of "auctiontainment." letitiafrye.com.

BEST FAMILY LAW

>>GLORIA CALES

Gloria Cales has been in practice for nearly 30 years, practicing exclusively in the area of family law which includes issues related to divorce, children and support. She has been on the State Bar of Arizona Family Law Executive Council for nearly 20 years and has held every office, including Chair, at one time or another for that organization. She is currently a Judge ProTempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court, volunteering her time for settlement conferences. 480.889.3600.

COVER MODEL

BEST MODELING AGENCY

>>THE AGENCY ARIZONA

The Agency Arizona is a boutique agency with a fresh approach to model and actor management: all look, no attitude. Focusing on one- on-one relationships with their talent and their clients, they aim to bring innovative thinking to the Arizona modeling world. The agency’s roster includes Kelly Mittendorf, Natalie Westling and Aqua Parios, with their most recent breakout star, Ko Grimmer, booking a Prada exclusive last season. The Agency represents kids, teens and adults for acting and modeling on television, film, runway and print. theagencyaz.com.

2014 WINNER

BEST PRIVATE BANKING

>>NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA

National Bank of Arizona is a full- service financial institution with branches in more than 50 Arizona communities. NB|AZ provides local expertise and personalized service, backed by the resources of Zions Bancorp, one of the 40 largest banking companies in the United States. After more than 25 years, their approach to providing excellent service by building local relationships hasn’t changed. nbarizona.com.

BEST ALTERATIONS/DRY CLEANING/LAUNDRY

>>ORGANICARE

Alternative organic, non-toxic dry cleaning systems are just one way that OrganiCare keeps garments looking great and lasting longer. They also focus on high-quality pressing and finishing, and will clean more than just your wardrobe. Pillows, handbags, blinds, comforters, leather, suede, fire-, water- and mold-restoration— anything goes. OrganiCare offers same-day service before 9 a.m. on weekdays, and free complimentary pickup and delivery. organicare.com.

2014 WINNER

BEST DATA CENTER

>>PHOENIX NAP

Phoenix NAP is a global IT services provider offering progressive Infrastructure-as-a-Service solutions from locations worldwide. Its bare-metal server, cloud, hardware leasing and colocation options are built to meet the evolving technology demands businesses require without sacrificing performance. phoenixnap.com. 

 

AFM FAVE

BEST MODELING AGENCY

>>FORD/ROBERT BLACK AGENCY

Based in the Southwest, the FORD/Robert Black Agency is a full-service modeling and talent agency which currently represents models and actors for runway, fashion and commercial print, TV, film, commercials, voice-overs and promotions. Notable past and present clients include Garrett Hedlund, Kellan Lutz, Max Adler and Gena Lee Nolin. fordrba.com. 

AFM FAVE

BEST EVENT DESIGN & DECORATIONS

>>KOOL. PARTY RENTALS

kool. Party Rentals provides high-end event furniture and illuminated décor for social, corporate and nonprofit events—at the rate of more than 1,000 events per year. Happy customers include Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Valley’s top charity organizations and countless celebrity, social and corporate clients. koolpartyrentals.com. 

2014 WINNER

BEST REALTOR: PARADISE VALLEY AND PHOENIX

>>DINESH WILSON

As one of the most recognized and respected realtors in Arizona, Dinesh Wilson serves a distinguished clientele— including CEO's, doctors, attorneys and captains of industry—with excellent market knowledge, unsurpassed negotiating skills and outstanding personal service. He has been continuously ranked as one of the top three realtors in Arizona by various publications. dineshwilson.com.