We meet the woman behind C2 Interiors, who went from a career in pharmaceutical sales to interior design. Connie Lamoreaux's love of design started young—as a kid, she'd rearrange furniture with her mom at home, in college, she started designing her friends' dorm rooms, and as a professional, they call her "The Material Muse." Connie has a degree in industrial organizational psychology.  We talk about how this unique degree served her well many times over. Plus, we get some advice on simple ways to elevate our homes. C2 Interiors | Connie Lamoreaux | Scottsdale Interior Designer (c2interiordesign.com)

In this episode of Jaime's Local Love: The Podcast, we meet the man behind Crust Restaurant Group. It serves up authentic New York Style Pizza with generous portions at a really good price. The owner, Michael Merendino, says he wants to keep his customers coming in two or three times a week, and not just when they're celebrating. Merendino came to the Valley from New York after September 11th and worked in restaurants before going out on his own. Now 17 years later, he has three Italian restaurants, two pizzerias, two cocktail bars and more coming soon. www.crustpizzaplace.com

Two Valley teachers loved working together so much they often created projects to combine their math and science classes. Now Lindsay and Emily are tackling their passion project together: Leaving teaching behind to create a neighborhood wine bar on Roosevelt Row called Genuwine Arizona. It was inspired by a self-serve wine machine they discovered in Europe and the two call themselves business soulmates. We talk Arizona wines—March is Arizona wine month after all—locally-curated snacks, cheese boards, and what these two teachers learned about building a business from scratch. https://genuwinearizona.com/

You've likely seen Chris Powell on his frequent appearances on Good Morning Arizona talking about healthy food and fitness. Powell's been a regular on GMAZ for some 20 years and tells us how he garnered that coveted spot and keeps getting booked today. He has a passion for helping others invest in their fitness journey and made a promise to himself to help 1 million people and even tattooed that number on his body during one of his lowest points.  Chris shares his story of vulnerability, strength, passion, and promises, and he gives us the family discount on his new fitness app. Plus, we got his good buddy, Scott Pasmore, to join in the conversation to spill the tea on both some funny stories and meaningful friendship.  

"If we don't make it, we don't serve it." That's the motto at Persepshen in Phoenix. The restaurant's owners Katherine and Jason Dwight met in culinary school at Scottsdale Community College. Now Katherine creates the pastries and Jason is on meats and veggies at their restaurant off Central and Highland. They started at the farmer's markets with a focus on local ingredients and  everything is really special to the Dwights at Persepshen, from the branch chandelier Jason cut down himself to the silverware their family polished for their wedding. Https://www.Persepshenarizona.Com/

Word of Mouth Grill began with the concept of bringing people together with food. The family-owned and operated barbeque restaurant in Tempe boasts shredded pork like you've never had, a wing flight that takes your taste buds through a myriad of flavors, and heat and elevated collaborative dinners. Hear the incredible story of how the owner Demetrious Makel was left with his brother to raise themselves as teenagers, how he met the love of his life at a Halloween party, and how a mentor helped steer his life toward entrepreneurship.

Stephanie Vasquez is a proud Arizona native. She grew up Maryvale, went to ASU and was a middle school teacher in the West Valley. She loved it! Then she went on vacation to Costa Rica and learned how tough the coffee industry can be on the people it employs and on Mother Earth herself.  She had to do something.  Vasquez opened Fair Trade Coffee in 2007 on Roosevelt Row-- carefully sourcing fair trade coffee and creating a space for community.  In her new role as an entrepreneur, she was still very much a teacher-- often mentoring others coming up in business.  To help lift up small business owners, Vasquez opened Amor Collective in August of 2023 featuring Latina business owners. Hear more about Vasquez's journey from teacher to business owner and why she loves Arizona so much. 

We meet Joey Lucidi of Westside Concepts. He grew up in the restaurant business and loves creating a welcoming dining experience, a neighborhood place where you can come to hang. Lucidi started with the original Haymaker restaurant in 2013 and now has nine locations, with more coming this year. Joey tells us what it takes to be an restauranteur with multiple locations and concepts. https://westsideconcepts.us/

A husband-and-wife team with three kids and two businesses. That's what you'll find behind the brand of Naked Rebellion. Owners Jessica Wenger McPhaul and Jay McPhaul started the clothing brand after Jessica was fired from her costume job in L.A. because she couldn't find inclusive bras. So she and Jay started their own underwear line and now the two want to help other people—and other couples—start their own businesses too. https://nakedrebellion.com/

In this week's Jaime's Local Love, we mixed it up a little. Instead of interviewing a local business owner, we invited Ian Schwartz on, calling him the Arizona Insider. It's a name he gave himself around the Super Bowl last year as he highlighted events happening around the big game. Ian grew up in Mesa, and when not working at Arizona's Family, he's often exploring new attractions. Ian tells us where to have fun in the Valley in 2024.