JW is often referred to as authentic, growth-oriented, and values-based. He is also a business owner, Financial Advisor, Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and board leader. In these roles JW has had the opportunity to effectively coach clients by helping them discover, acknowledge, and embrace their deepest drivers of success; in other words, their strengths.

JW is the founder and president of Rayhons Financial. It has been his life’s work to help others both embrace their current place in time and to proactively plan for their future happiness. Experience has confirmed that JW’s coaching and career expertise lends itself well to business owners, executives, professionals, community leaders, and other individuals looking for guidance and training in their pursuit of a values and strengths-based approach to their well-being.

Rayhons Financial is consistently ranked in the top 7% of investment firms within Cetera Financial, one of the largest investment advisor networks in the U.S. Gilbert, Arizona, is a community with over 260,000 residents. He has served as Chairman of the Board for three organizations and has enjoyed coaching basketball for over 450 young athletes.

JW’s ‘Gallup Top 5 Strengths’ are Achiever, Developer, Positivity, Responsibility, and Empathy.

“When you look for the good in someone; you’ll find it.”

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Professionally, Matt Dallas owns and operates three Stroll neighborhood newsletters in Gilbert. He and his team work with Agritopia, Seville, and Val Vista Lakes to help connect neighbors while introducing top local businesses and giving through partnerships with non-profits. Their mission is to make a positive difference in Gilbert through the work they do serving these communities. He is obsessed with constant improvement in his business, hates email, and loves the challenge of running and growing his business in an industry that some people said was dead before he even started 10 years ago.

Personally, Dallas lives his life with his faith as his top priority, followed by his marriage and daughters.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

For over 15 years, Deb has developed the talents and businesses of some of the top credentialed keynote and motivational speakers in the industry. In 2017, Deb created DEBx, a 90-day Speaker Development Experience designed to show emerging speakers how to use their voice as a powerful instrument of change. Through onstage appearances and professional recordings, DEBx has touched tens of thousands… and counting.

In 2020, leveraging the tools and learnings from DEBx, Deb founded the award-winning Amplify Voices, a nonprofit advocacy incubator, helping historically marginalized communities discover, develop, and amplify their voices to empower systemic change. Through stage events, speaker circles, and a compelling documentary, The Journey, Amplify Voices has become a space of empowerment and change for survivors of sex trafficking and assault, those formerly incarcerated, and women touched by breast cancer.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

James DeVary is a dedicated US Army veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). After a successful 17-year career on Wall Street, James transitioned to entrepreneurship, where he now leads Senior Helpers of Gilbert and Chandler, a thriving business with a team of 60-plus employees.

James was the 2024 GilbertChamber Emerging Business Leader Of The Year. A devoted husband and father of two, James enjoys taking on endurance challenges and races as a personal pursuit. In addition to professional and personal achievements, James serves as a passionate board member of veteran charity, reflecting a deep commitment to supporting fellow veterans and their communities.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Jonathan Buford is the CEO and founder of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company. He grew up in Ohio and moved to Arizona in 2002, when he drove his rusted-out 1988 Chevy Nova out West to explore the vast Arizona landscapes. He launched his first business, a window cleaning company, out of his garage in 2006. In 2010, while backpacking through the Arizona wilderness, Jonathan was inspired to take his interest in craft brewing to the next level to start his own brewpub. He orchestrated a successful Kickstarter campaign to obtain the necessary capital and opened the Arizona Wilderness Brewpub in Gilbert, Arizona, in 2013 as the very first brewery in Gilbert.

Starting with just nine employees, Arizona Wilderness found quick success, growing rapidly and securing rave reviews from the likes of Esquire Magazine, The Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine, Draft, Beer Advocate, and Sunset. Arizona Wilderness was even named “The Best New Brewery in the World” in 2013 by Ratebeer.com.

Today, Arizona Wilderness has more than 160 employees and operates the original Gilbert brewpub, a European-inspired beer garden in downtown Phoenix, and a warehouse production and barrel-aging facility. Arizona Wilderness continues to celebrate hand-crafted, artisanal beers that are inspired by the beautiful and diverse state of Arizona and is consistently rated the best brewery in Arizona and among the top 100 breweries worldwide (out of nearly 20,000 total breweries). Arizona Wilderness also receives regular acclaim for its food, including being recently named one of the top 100 restaurants in Phoenix by AZcentral.com.

In addition to providing world-class food and drink, Jonathan and his business partner, Patrick Ware, use their passion for the wilderness to continually drive improvements in Arizona Wilderness’ impact on its community. Jonathan and Patrick have driven initiatives to: (1) save huge amounts of water from the Verde River (more than 320 million gallons) by transitioning the brewery’s base malt to Sinagua Malt (which replaces heavy water use crops such as corn and alfalfa with barley in the Verde River Valley); (2) drastically reduce landfill usage by utilizing recyclable and compostable materials wherever possible; and (3) support local farmers and vendors by consistently seeking out local partners for all menu items, including exclusively offering 100% Arizona grass-raised and finished beef at the beer garden.

Jonathan is also pursuing a career in capturing Arizona landscape photography. He embarked on a project documenting all 90 Arizona Wilderness areas which will be published by Arizona Highways Magazine. He also frequently contributes to the magazine.

In the future, Jonathan looks forward to continuing to grow Arizona Wilderness to ensure a tangible, long-term, positive effect on Arizona.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Raised in Gilbert, AZ, Andi Ott has established herself as a dynamic business leader, blending her experience in both the healthcare and restaurant industries. With studies in Nursing at Grand Canyon University, nearly a decade of experience in healthcare, and early career experience managing restaurants, Andi has consistently demonstrated a strategic mindset and strong organizational skills. In 2019, she co-founded a Dog Haus Biergarten franchise with her husband, Damon, and quickly expanded their business across multiple locations in Arizona. Her leadership has been recognized with awards such as the Frank Zeolla Operator of the Year (2023) and Business Leader of the Year by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce (2024).

As she prepares to launch her new senior home care agency, The Next Chapter, this fall, Andi is excited to bring together her passion for business and her commitment to caring for others. Drawing on her diverse background, she is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to seniors in their homes, while continuing to empower and lead her teams toward excellence. Beyond her professional endeavors, Andi is actively involved in her community, serving on the Board of the Elite Business Alliance and enjoying outdoor activities with her family.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Dr Melody Medawar Rodarte is a double board-certified internist and obesity medicine specialist in Arizona. She was named one of Phoenix's Top Doctors in Obesity Medicine in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. She obtained her doctorate of osteopathic medicine from Midwestern University in 2002. She is also Certified in hyperbaric medicine, wound care and medical aesthetics, as well as bioidentical hormone replacement.

She absolutely loves personalized medicine and equipping her patients with tools to stay healthy as well as getting to the root causes of their illnesses.

She has been married to her husband Tony for 26 years, and they have 21-year-old twins. They love to travel the world and serve both their community and internationally. They formed a nonprofit called The Compassion Alliance to help support first responders.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Fran is the appointed President of For Our Town Gilbert, an organization that brings together the leaders of government, education, faiths, businesses, charities and more to focus on the community social uplifting needs like domestic violence elimination, mental health awareness-improvement, hunger, shelter, and many more. While this organization existed before she was asked to lead, it rarely had an impact on the town. During the first year of service the group grew For Our Town quarterly breakfast to over 100 participants, a food drive that has collected over 500K lbs of food; and thousands of school supplies.

She and her sweetheart of 36 years have 4 children (1 girl and 3 boys) and she has taught them the value of service and giving. She has one grandson with a granddaughter on the the way.

Before leading For Our Town, Fran helped to bring the JustServe initiative to Arizona. JustServe is a website that connects volunteers with non-profits to bring help to the heroes that lead these charities. www.JustServe.com She focused on Gilbert, the east valley of Phoenix to start. The initiative and website had zero volunteers and zero non-profits, and this was one of the first 5 cities to implement JustServe. She plowed the ground for future success and when she handed over the reins of the website/app it had thousands of volunteers and almost every charity in the area using it as their default volunteer connection site. You can now find JustServe in almost every city in the USA and in many other countries.

You’d think she didn’t have time for anything else, but she also is the co-Director of the Arizona Light the World GIVING MACHINES with her husband Steve. What is a Giving Machine? Well, they are vending machines that allow you to give to those in need by buying items for charities that are loaded in the machines. She manages the city leaders for seven cities in Arizona (Glendale, Gilbert, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Gila Valley, and Snowflake). Each city has a committee of around 20 to 30 volunteers. The machines support 30 charities this past year and raised $1.5 million for the charities and ALL the donations (yes, 100% went to the charity). She’s co-led this work for 7 years and raised over $6M dollars total.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Lorraine Bergman is President and CEO of Caliente Construction, an award-winning, woman-owned company, continually recognized for its dedication to safety, exceptional construction services, and building strong relationships with clients. Under her leadership, Caliente has grown into Arizona’s 28th largest commercial building contractor and its 5th largest woman-owned company. AZ Big Media ranked Caliente #1 in the General Contractor category five out of six years between 2017 and 2023. Lorraine’s passion is serving her industry and her community.

Among Lorraine’s notable accomplishments are serving as the past President of the Arizona Builders Alliance, State Director for the Association of General Contractors, President of the Arizona Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence, and co-founder of Gilbert Leadership, Positive Paths, and Arizona State University’s Advancing Women in Construction. She is a two-time Athena Award nominee and winner of the ACE Most Admired CEO award, the ASU Spirit of Enterprise award, and the Construction Financial

Management Association’s Construction Executive of the Year award. Lorraine is currently a member of CEOs Against Cancer, AZ Builders Alliance Life Director, Northern Arizona University’s Women Taking Charge Initiative, Women Business Enterprise National Council, and TGEN Ambassadors. Lorraine has two children, and she is a devoted grandmother of five.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy

Originally hailing from San Diego, Cortnie's career in the hospitality industry began with a remarkable 12-year tenure at Starbucks Coffee Company. It was here that she developed a profound passion for creating an incredible company culture. Leveraging this passion and knowledge, she embarked on a new venture in San Francisco, managing the only Nespresso flagship location on the West Coast.

Her journey then led her deeper into the world of hospitality, managing one of San Francisco's most iconic and historic bars. In 2020, she relocated to Phoenix to take on the role of Director of Operations for Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality, an award-winning company renowned for its innovative approach.

During her tenure with Barter & Shake, the team has achieved significant accolades, including winning Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail in 2023 and being listed as one of the Top 50 Bars in North America for two consecutive years. Cortnie's career is driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a dedication to fostering exceptional experiences in the hospitality industry.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

Join our hosts, Sarah Watts and Ben Kalkman, as we explore the human journey of leaders - their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned - as they reflect on how they became who they are today and share stories of inspiration and hope with listeners. We'll take away the title, just for a moment, and enjoy a connection with the soul.

Be sure to subscribe to our show for more interviews with community leaders.

This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Modern Moments. Learn more about our show at https://guidinggrowth.co. View our Privacy Policy at https://modernmoments.com/privacy