Food + Beverage

The Master Craftsman's Pour

James Lewis's Passion for Community and Artisanry Shapes Both Business and Pleasure Article by Beth Del Ville | Photography by Stephanie Slezak Gates and bourbon. It might seem like an unlikely pairing, but for James Lewis, owner of Renovate Your Gate, they're both expressions of his passion for craftsmanship and excellence. He creates custom gates by day, and by night, explores the rich world of fine bourbon. His collection, largely amassed mostly in the first of his four years collecting...

May 2025

Life + Culture

Still Calling Plays

Donovan McNabb’s Legacy, Leadership, and Life After Football Article by Megan Ewing | Photography by Provided There’s a calm confidence in the way Donovan McNabb carries himself — the kind that doesn’t ask for attention but earns respect. A former NFL quarterback with a storied career, McNabb is someone who lets his day-to-day actions speak louder than his achievements. “I’ve always just kept my head down and worked,” he says. “I didn’t get caught up in the noise. I knew what I wanted to...

May 2025

Life + Culture

The Men of Chandler 2025

Meet This Year's Honorees! Photography by Lindsay Borg and Brittany Jean For the second month in a row, I wish our magazine could be 100 pages! Nominations for our Men of Chandler feature were solicited through the magazine, social media, and word-of-mouth because we wanted to feature men our readers would find special. The nominating criteria remained loose because we were looking for men from a broad cross-section of our community, and our Editorial Committee once again had a difficult task...

May 2025

Life + Culture

Amada Senior Care

The Franchise, Which Strives to Allow Seniors to Age in Place in Their Homes, Celebrates its 10th Anniversary Article by Alison Stanton | Photography by Lindsay Borg Longtime friends Kimberly Akers and Kris Patmos have always been driven by a desire to enrich the lives of others. “Through extensive research and discovery, we realized that opening an Amada Senior Care franchise would allow us to enrich the lives of seniors and their families while also providing much-needed employment in our...

April 2025

Life + Culture

Inspiring Women

Meet the 2025 Women of Chandler! Photography by Lindsay Borg Selecting a small number of women to grace our cover and magazine for this year’s Women of Chandler is no easy task. And I’ll be honest, every year those who know me well hear me say it will be the last. Our Selection Committee (and me!) confess to lots of angst and even sleepless nights.  But May is the month we celebrate some of the amazing women in our community, so here we are again.  I am grateful to learn I’m not even close to...

April 2025

Health + Wellness

The Tox Technique

The Franchise, Which Recently Opened in Chandler, Offers Body Work Services That Help to Detoxify the Body and Mind Article by Alison Stanton | Photography by Lindsay Borg On Jan. 25, The Tox Technique celebrated its grand opening in Chandler. As franchise owner Sara Pourian notes, The Tox Technique, which is located at 4955 S. Alma School Road, Ste.17, helps to “bridge the gap between wellness and beauty” through a unique approach that merges lymphatic and digestive work with body sculpting...

April 2025

Food + Beverage

Style Meets Service

New Restaurant & Market Arrives in Downtown Chandler Article by Gretchen Pahia | Photography by Grace Stufkosky/Courtesy George & Gather The heart of Downtown Chandler is getting more local love and attention as there's an all-new, all-day destination featuring gourmet, from-scratch dining options. George & Gather Bar & Market, located at 336 S. Washington St., is housed in a restored former commercial space. Named after President George Washington, as well as the neighborhood it recenty...

March 2025

Life + Culture

Investing in People Pays Positive Dividends

Solari Crisis & Human Services Has an Employee-First Work Culture Article by Alison Stanton | Photography by Christine Johnson Solari Crisis & Human Services, a (501c3) nonprofit that provides community-based crisis intervention services and a wide range of mental health services, opened its doors in 2007 with one key mission in mind: Inspiring hope. As Manager of Marketing Laboraex Abeita notes, the East Valley nonprofit, which also answers all calls made in Arizona to 988, the National...

March 2025

Finance + Legal Services

More Than Just a Lawyer

How Bernard J. Johnsen is Making a Difference Article by Gretchen Pahia | Photography by Jett Arredondo Friendly, community-driven, and deeply passionate about his work, Bernard J. Johnsen isn’t just another attorney—he’s a trusted advocate for families and businesses navigating complex legal matters. As the founder and managing attorney of Praesidium Law, PLLC, Johnsen specializes in probate, trust, and business law. With years of experience as a litigator and estate planner, he’s licensed...

March 2025

Education

Investing in Community

The Compadres Early Learning & Resource Center Opens at San Marcos Elementary School Photography by Courtesy Chandler Chamber For years, the Chandler Compadres, AZCEND, and the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) have been working together to make the Compadres Early Learning & Resource Center a reality. In late January, it officially opened at San Marcos Elementary School. As an extension of AZCEND, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations, it will enhance family...

March 2025