Building Buzz Podcast

50 years of keeping business moving forward.

 From starting as an entry-level assistant to taking full ownership as CEO, Monica May-Dunn has spent over three decades navigating the evolving landscape of Arizona commercial real estate and business transactions. In this episode of Building Buzz, Monica sits down with us to celebrate a major milestone anniversary for Arizona Escrow & Financial Corporation.

She shares her journey through four decades of market cycles, the secret to remaining focused as a niche escrow provider, and how she’s modernizing operations while preserving the human connection behind every high-stakes transaction, from commercial real estate deals to high-value holding accounts.

Building a city within a city.

From securing 2,400 acres next to TSMC to executing a $7 billion, 15-year master plan, Halo Vista represents one of the most ambitious mega-developments in the nation. Chris Janson, President of Halo Vista, and Craig Henig, Managing Director at Mack Real Estate Group, sit down with Building Buzz to break down what it takes to build a thriving, progressive innovation hub from the ground up.

In this episode, Chris and Craig discuss the joint effort between Mack Real Estate Group and McCourt Partners, the 40-year legacy of the Mack family in Arizona, the massive infrastructure required to support the TSMC supply chain, and why long-term community transparency is essential when shaping the future of the North Valley.

This episode is sponsored by Willmeng Construction and De Rito Partners.

The art of Valley zoning.

Navigating land use in Metro Phoenix isn't just a legal hurdle, it's a high-stakes marathon powered by public sentiment, political timing, and local relationships. Adam Baugh, Partner at Withey Morris Baugh, PLC, sits down with Building Buzz to break down what it really takes to get complex real estate projects across the finish line in one of the fastest-growing markets in the nation.

In this episode, Adam pulls back the curtain on the "four headless horsemen" of development opposition, how online platforms and social media have transformed neighborhood pushback, and why building early coalitions with neighbors is the ultimate strategy for success.

Doing right by the dirt.

True success in commercial real estate isn’t just measured by the scale of a portfolio, but by the strength of the teams built along the way. Keith Earnest, Executive Vice President of VanTrust Real Estate, sits down with Building Buzz to pull back the curtain on what it takes to deliver monumental, multi-million-square-foot projects while keeping human relationships at the center of the business.

Dive into his journey of watching Phoenix transform into a dense, thriving metropolis, the critical differences between fast capital and legacy investing, and why he believes the ultimate test of a project is how well it serves the local community.

Scaling a $2.9B portfolio from the ground up.

From the 2008 downturn to leading a vertically integrated powerhouse, Chris Loeffler, CEO of Caliber, has redefined real estate investment. He joins Building Buzz to discuss managing a massive Southwest portfolio while staying ahead of market shifts.

This conversation explores the "securities" mindset driving the future of property, the vision behind the world’s largest indoor pickleball facility, and how Caliber creates long-term investor value.

From 125 apprentices to more than 1,550. Debra Margraf, Executive Director of the Arizona Chapter of NECA, and Stephanie Roldan, Senior Vice President of People at Rosendin, join Building Buzz to discuss the growth and transformation of Arizona’s electrical workforce.

In this episode, we break down how the NECA/IBEW partnership is meeting the specialized demands of the Valley’s data center boom, the "earn while you learn" apprenticeship model, and why there has never been a better time for women to create their own destiny in the trades.

This episode is sponsored by Powering Arizona.

Thirty years in Metro Phoenix real estate. Identifying high-value opportunities early, navigating economic cycles, and delivering functional industrial assets that follow the rooftops. 

Dale Cavan, President & Founder of Cavan Commercial, joins Building Buzz to break down the “Neighborhood Flex” strategy—his repeatable blueprint for developing specialized, small-bay business parks designed to keep the local workforce close to home.

This episode is sponsored by Commercial Properties, Inc.

From the London real estate market to the Arizona desert. Jackob Andersen brought over 12 years of international experience to the Southwest to help reshape the local economy through high-impact development.

As President and CEO of Saint Holdings, LLC, Jackob joins Building Buzz to discuss the massive industrial expansion in Pinal County, the complexities of infrastructure-first development, and the strategy behind anchoring global giants like Lucid Motors and Tractor Supply Company.

Wendy Cohen is leading a 75-year-old construction company through one of the industry's most pivotal moments.

This episode of Building Buzz is live with Wendy, President & CEO of Kitchell Corporation. She discusses navigating critical workforce shortages, mega project challenges, what comes after the data center boom, and why diversification matters now more than ever.

"We should be looking beyond data centers. I think there's a second and a third iteration that come after that."

From 760 members in 2011 to over 1,200 today, ULI Arizona has become a driving force in shaping Arizona's built environment.

Episode 58 of Building Buzz is live with Deb Sydenham, Executive Director of ULI Arizona. She discusses how ULI operates as a non-lobbying neutral convener, the Technical Assistance Panels helping communities from Bisbee to Buckeye solve land use challenges, and why redevelopment of mall sites has become one of the hottest topics in the Phoenix market.