The Inspiring Life of US Veteran and Builder Mike Christensen

Our guest today is Mike Christensen, founder of luxury home building company, Peak One Builders and a proud 20+ year veteran. In today’s episode, we will get to know Mike, how he’s been contributing to the luxury home market for nearly 25 years and his mission to help veterans recover and integrate after deployment through his program Freedom for Heroes. This is a truly inspiring episode as Mike will reflect on all the lessons in leadership, perseverance, community, integrity and service he’s learned throughout his life journey.    

Mike and Mark met for the first time earlier this year when they teamed up for a fundraising event for Mike’s Freedom for Heroes charity. Mark cooked his popular paella and Febal Casa hosted the well attended event.

https://peakonebuilders.com/

https://www.facebook.com/peakonebuilders/

https://freedomforheroes.org/about-us/

Closing Time with Nick El-Tawil: Carrying Arizona with Mark Candelaria

Our guest Mark Candelaria is one of the most notable luxury architects in Arizona, with over 4,000 homes designed across the world, many of which are in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Nick was expecting a real estate conversation, but Mark surprised us with insights on life, success, integrating business and personal, and much more.

Iconic Estates: Designing, Building, and Living the Dream in North Scottsdale

Host Renee Dee, publisher of ICONIC LIFE magazine hosts three experts in the luxury home market here in Scottsdale. Mark Candelaria, Founder of Candelaria Design, discusses the homebuilding and renovation process of ICONIC Arizona homes. David Friedman, Carefree Office Manager at Russ Lyon/Sotheby’s, shares his expert insights of North Scottsdale and its prestigious private communities and golf courses. Then, Jennifer Schumacher, Global Real Estate Advisor, shares how she prioritizes relationships with her clients while helping them find them their dream home in their dream location.

Crafting Arizona Wood into Timeless Decor with John & Julie Taber

In this episode, I have two wonderful people and artisans on the podcast, Julie & John Taber of Taber & Company. This husband and wife duo have been together in life and business for 30+  years and they are going to share their story with us. Taber & Company is located in Tucson and specializes in high-end custom furniture, doors, cabinetry and millwork that are individually designed and handcrafted in Arizona. John is a "Master of the Southwest" and has mastered the art of enhancing the natural beauty of the wood he uses with his proprietary blend of stains and waxes. 

We all met back in 2006 while working on a home in Paradise Valley, and we are currently working on two new homes that are about completed in PV and Arcadia. One special aspect about their company is how considerate they are about the wood they use and ensuring as little waste as possible in their local harvesting and milling of their wood. Listen to hear all the interesting stories, designs and lessons learned along the way and what makes this couple and company so incredible! 

Trick Out Your Garage in Garaza Style with Jon Summer

On this episode, Mark talks with Jon Summer, Founder of Garaza Design, and former founder of Cyber Group. After 20 years at Cyber Group, Jon retired to spend more time with family and on his hobbies, which eventually led him to jump back into business by founding a passion project designing cool, customized car garages. They talk about running a business, design, garages, playing music together, travel and why the garage is commonly the forgotten space in luxury homes, but how and why that is changing. 

Garaza Design has a state-of-the-art showroom in North Scottsdale, where we recently co-hosted a fun happy hour for our clients! Their services include Steel Cabinets, Garage Design/Renderings, Wall Paneling/slat walls, Lifts, Mezzanines, Lighting, Flooring Options, Car Photography. 

www.garazadesign.com/ www.instagram.com/garazadesignaz/

Bringing New Lives into the World with Dr. Lexi Hill

Our guest today is is Top Doctor, Lexi Hill, an MD licensed in over 20 states specializing in obstetrics, gynecology and pregnancy. She practices telemedicine full-time, offering concierge consultations and assisting underserved communities. She is extensively involved with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine as she is a passionate advocate for maternal health care. She has also spent time as an assistant professor and is published in numerous medical journals and textbooks.

Dr. Lexi Hill obtained her BS in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Spanish from Texas A&M University. After taking a year to volunteer abroad in Costa Rica, substitute teach, and work as a Medical Assistant, she attended medical school at Texas A&M followed by an OB/GYN residency in Phoenix, Arizona. You will learn a lot of great information on her profession and practice but her life path is even more intriguing and truly inspiring.

Mark and Dr. Lexi have some enlightening conversations about health & wellness, nutrition, pregnancy and modern-day medicine. Learn more at www.drlexihill.com

Willamette Valley Wine + Food Tour Reunion

In this episode Mark gets together with a handful of our past Willamette Valley Lifestyle Tour guests to relive the memories and continue the friendships that were made on this fabulous 5-night trip last August. This is our only tour we do within the country and it is an easy getaway that only takes a few hours to get to, but feels like you are miles away. We take guests to the heart of the Willamette Wine Valley in Central Oregon to explore one of Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Regions of the Year that is truly a hidden gem. This year we are taking 14 guests from June 12-17 - spots are still available! 

Everyday we visit incredible local wineries, tour some of the vineyards and an olive oil mill, learn about the process and of course enjoy food and wine pairings! Every evening we enjoy a multi-course dinner of local, often farm-to-table cuisine and meet the owners and chef. In between eating and drinking, we have leisurely mornings and nights at the lovely Setting Inn. You will wake up to views of the vineyards and lavender fields, and will have the opportunity to take a guided hike amongst 100-year old trees, visit the local boutiques or farmers market, and relax by the Inn's fire pit with a drink and cigar. While there is a daily itinerary of wine tastings and dinners, each day is also relaxing and full of beautiful scenery, fresh air and cool temperatures. 

There are still a few rooms remaining, so we'd love to have you join us! Visit candelariadesign.com/oregon-wine-tour for more info. 

First-Ever Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week with Trey Brennen & Mark Candelaria

Our joint podcast episode with Renee Dee's Iconic Hour features Scottsdale Art Week founder and owner of Brennen Fine Art ,Trey Brennen and strategic partner, Architect Mark Candelaria. These two share why you don’t want to miss this first-ever Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week, a four-day art fair showcasing over 100 national and global art galleries and cultural displays. 

A Fair of Art and Design curated for sophisticated contemporary lifestyles, this event brings together a dynamic combination of Contemporary Art and Design, the work of living Indigenous artists, and historical American art that speaks to the area’s heritage as the western outpost of America’s preeminent architect, Frank Lloyd Wright and the home to the wealth of the west.

The event runs from Thursday March 20 - Sunday March 23 at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Thursday night is the Opening Vernissage from 5:00 - 8:00 PM. Mark Candelaria will be the Emcee of this special kickoff evening and entry will include champagne, light bites, musical entertainment by Award Winning Opera Singer James Valenti, an indigenous-themed fashion show by Phoenix Fashion Week and a spectacular collection of art. 

Our firm is a proud sponsor of this first ever arts event, and Mark is a founding member of the planning committee and board. We personally invite you to purchase a ticket to join us at this exciting new international art fair right in our backyard!  https://scottsdaleartweek.com/ 

Our Story on Aging with an Angel - Anka Ille of Paradise Valley Senior Retreat

In today's podcast episode Isabel & I have a very personal conversation with Anka Ile, the founder of Paradise Valley Senior Retreat, the assisted living home where Isabel's dad is a resident. Anka is a wonderful “angel” as we call her for all she does for the residents in her care and has a very special life story, and it reflects in her dedication and kindness. 

Paradise Valley Senior Retreat offers long term care in Arizona for elderly, providing the utmost of quality eldercare services to our senior residents. Founders Florin and Anka Ile both have combined over a decade of experience in the Assisted Living Industry, specifically at a Directed Level of 24-hour care. Mark & Isabel highly recommend them and they actually have a few rooms available at the moment!

Website: http://www.pvseniorretreat.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pvseniorretreat/

Insights from Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor & Professor Ryan Warriner

This episode takes us into the New Year and discusses all things leadership, communication and personal development, as Mark chats with Executive trainer, Strategic Advisor, Professor of Communication and published author, Ryan J. Warriner.

Ryan always had a curiosity for how people learned and made decisions so he began his career as a teacher, later advanced to a professor of communication and recently received his Doctorate in Education. Throughout all this, Ryan always had a passion for helping people achieve their goals, and naturally transitioned from teaching young adults just starting their career path, to teaching high level executives. So today, Ryan splits his time between teaching in Toronto, Canada and coaching in person and online across Canada and the US. He specializes in helping organizations, teams, and individuals to overcome challenges and maximize success through innovative professional development, performance and communication strategies.

In this episode Ryan shares his personal story, how he gained the expertise to coach high-level executives and some of his lessons and tools people can implement in their daily routines to be better leaders and communicators. He later discusses the different service packages he offers for executive leadership, some of the most common themes he's seen as far as initial challenges and which ones are most effective for each individual or type of business. He also has multiple books published, two textbooks and one self-development book available on Amazon. The Effective Presenter – Business skills/self-help.

Watch their Zoom conversation

Connect with Ryan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanjwarriner

https://ryanjwarriner.com/

The Inspiring Life and Career of Our 2024 MVP: Pablo Moncayo

Our guest today is Pablo Moncayo, Project Manager here at Candelaria Design since 2018 and our current year’s MVP as voted by the entire Candelaria Design staff. Each year our team nominates and votes for our Most Valuable Player – someone who embodies teamwork, leadership, a willingness to learn and go the extra mile. We talk about what this means to Pablo, how his childhood lead him to architecture, his projects past and present, how he has seen the architectural landscape change here in Phoenix and his goals for the future. 
Pablo moved here from Chihuahua, Mexico in 2001 to live with his Aunt. Later in 2008 he went to undergrad at Taliesin-The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, now known as The School of Architecture and later earned his master’s degree in Architecture there. He has since remained a board member at the School of Architecture. He shares with us his passions, his sources of design inspiration, favorite travel destinations, and his inspiring personal story!

The School of Architecture formerly known as Taliesin-The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture: https://www.tsoa.edu/  

Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona: https://franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west/

Elrod House in Palm Springs, California: https://architectuul.com/architecture/the-elrod-house

Arango Mabrisa House in Acapulco, Mexico: https://archeyes.com/arango-marbrisa-house-john-lautner/

 Las Setas in Sevilla, Spain: https://www.setasdesevilla.com/en/

 La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain: https://sagradafamilia.org/en/

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia, Spain: https://cac.es/en/

Alternative Building Technology: KTAR "Rosie on the House" with special guest Mark Candelaria

“While the construction industry has historically been slow to change, new technologies have emerged. Our curiosity often drives us to investigate these new technologies and, for some, employ them. The pioneering process can take time and effort.

We talked with two people who stretched the status quo. Homeowner Ty Warbington and Architect Mark Candelaria each used unique new technology approaches to build a residence in the greater Phoenix area. Ty shares his story implementing a steel home kit that was assembled on-site and Mark shares his story of designing a concrete home built with a 3D printer! They share the goals, permitting, construction and end results of the process to construct both homes and all the lessons learned.

Exploring a New Approach to Residential Design and Construction with Keith Galbut of Advocate

Our guest today is Keith Galbut, Founder and President of ADVOCATE – Residential Construction Advisors. Keith and Mark have known each other for a number of years and recently worked together on a very contemporary-style new build for a family in Paradise Valley and we have several other projects in the works!

Keith’s background is in business and law where he worked on hundreds of residential real estate disputes before turning that experience into a unique career as a Residential Construction Advisor. Their team offers extensive experience in all aspects of residential construction and renovation, and project management, so we can help you select the best-qualified team, clearly communicate your goals, interpret vendors' perspectives, ensure appropriate payments and lien waivers, and manage your project every step of the way. Keith currently serves as a Trustee on the Scottsdale Arts Board of Trustees, a Member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, and on the National Small Business Association Leadership Council.

Seamless Design to Construction with Kaitlyn Wolfe

The Joshua Tree home collaboration with Iconic, Temac & Candelaria Design

Dining Room Completed

Our guest on this episode is Kaitlyn Wolfe, incredible designer, general contractor and founder of Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe, an interior design firm with construction services based here in Scottsdale, AZ. Kaitlyn founded the company in 2016, and influences all the design and the practical construction components, planning every detail to ensure each project reflects her clients' unique personal styles. Her passion for travel and nature, combined with extensive experience in interior design and high-quality construction, enables her to design inspiring and artistic spaces. Kaitlyn holds a general contracting license and has earned numerous awards in the design and construction industry and recently launched her own product line, Ground Floor.

In this episode, we of course talk about the design process, but then we talk about travel, business and other topics which you will find intriguing. She is definitely dynamic and an inspiring go getter!

Website: https://iconicbykaitlynwolfe.com

Instagram: @kaitlynwolfe__ and @iconicbykaitlynwolfe

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/iconicbykaitlynwolfe/_created/

Catching Fire with Nick Hogan of Pyro Restaurant

Our guest today is Nick Hogan, Co-Owner and CEO of Flagship Restaurant Group, the team behind the popular new, award-winning restaurant Pyro in Arcadia, next to the Global Ambassador. In addition to Pyro, they have 16 other restaurant concepts spanning across Arizona to Chicago to Nashville! This team has defied the odds of successfully creating and managing multiple restaurant concepts simultaneously and talks about all the risks and luck in this journey.

In this episode we’ll hear about how this restaurant group founded over 20 years ago in Omaha, NE got started with a team of four friends who are still the same group of owners. Since, they have grown to multiple cities and states and over 40 locations and become a success here in Arizona. Just like architecture, this career is a mix of creativity and mathematics and takes a great team and leadership.

Nick will tell us about how Pyro came about and the design and menu creation. Also here in town, be sure to check out the beautifully designed Palma, Cham Pang Lanes and Ghost Donkey in downtown Phoenix and later this year two Blue Sushi Sake Grill locations are coming to Surprise and Tempe and a couple more in the works for 2026!

To learn more about Flagship Restaurant Group visit:

 www.flagshiprestaurantgroup.com 

Design+Build with Cammie Beckert of Cameron Custom

Our guest on this episode is Cammie Beckert, founder and owner of Cameron Custom, one of the few female-owned and operated custom homebuilders in Arizona. Cammie grew up in the home building industry, as her grandparents are the founders of Camelot Homes. She also has an extensive background in media, market research and real estate, and worked at Camelot Homes before launching this new design & build division.

Growing up here in the Phoenix area in the homebuilding industry, Cammie was perfectly positioned for the career she has created. Listen below to learn more about her trajectory, the industry and how Cameron Custom curates a plethora of local professionals and resources to design, build and decorate their clients’ homes, as well as acting as an Owner’s Rep through the process.

https://cameron-custom.com/

info@cameron-custom.com

https://www.instagram.com/cameroncustomaz/

10x-is-easier-than-2x: books.apple.com/us/audiobook/10x-is-easier-than-2x-unabridged

"Design Meets Life" Podcast with Guest Mark Candelaria

Mark was honored to be the guest on the "Design Meets Life" Podcast based in Barcelona, Spain! Co-hosted by designer Kelli Ellis, the Co-Host of our recent TV series, Extravagant Spaces on The Design Network and YouTube!

We talked about several design and travel topics, including one that is very pertinent in today’s world. In this world of hurry, hurry, hurry and now with our homes soon being created by AI it is my belief that the next shift will be in creating homes that feed our soul and resonate with our souls and allows us to live our life in connection with the creator! You can feel the difference between a home created quickly by CAD and a home created with the collaboration of souls - the soul of my client in collaboration with the souls of the architect and designer and celebrating this journey of creation that then results in a home that is a vessel for enhancing and inspiring our souls and the way we live every day!

Creating Gastronomic Masterpieces with ArchiChef Cory Oppold

Click above to watch our cooking class with Chef Corey

Pan seared scallops with cornbread pudding, zucchini, fennel soubise, and tomato coulis.

Our guest is award-winning Chef Cory Oppold, former winner of Food Network’s Chopped, and owner of Course, a fine dining restaurant in Scottsdale that just won “Emerging Restaurant of the Year”. At Course, “Chef Cory Oppold and his culinary team take you on a food exploration through an explosion of both your taste and visual senses, using seasonality of products and a progression of flavor.”

Cory’s prior positions include teaching at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Executive Chef at Tarbell's restaurant in Phoenix and Executive Chef at Atlas Bistro. His childhood was spent on an dairy farm in a small town in Illinois. It wasn't until he came to Arizona to study architecture that Cory first encountered fine dining and the experience led him to enroll at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute where he graduated with honors in 2002.

Today, Corey was able to transition his upscale catering and event dining company Course into a full-service restaurant in early 2023. Cory’s innovative spirit makes his dishes not only creative delights, but also accessible in many different dining experiences. “I believe a menu is everything a chef wants to say at that time and moment and it’s hard for us to tell our story with one dish. That is why every guest gets multiple courses while experiencing my cuisine,” says Chef Cory.

Open Tuesday - Saturday for dinner and Sundays for brunch.

Follow Cory here:

https://courserestaurantaz.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-oppold-a56704113

https://www.instagram.com/chefcoryoppold/

Creating True Impact is a Lifetime of Work

In this episode, three power players, Michelin Star Chef Gilles Épie, award-winning Architect Mark Candelaria, and CEO of Execute to Win, Lee Benson discuss their work, the valuable lessons they’ve learned and how to create positive, lasting impact.

The “Building Scale” podcast interviews successful Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) business leaders to learn how they employ people, processes, and technology to scale their businesses. In this episode, the three leaders in their fields delve into culture implementation, employee inspiration, and the significance of mentorship. The conversation also covers mindset evolution, value creation, overcoming victim mentality, and the maxim "Do less better".

Making a Difference with Habitat For Humanity with Jason Barlow and Rosie Romero

Our guests today are two huge difference makers in housing for Greater Phoenix, Arizona residents: Jason Barlow, CEO & President of Central AZ’s Habitat for Humanity and KTAR’s Rosie on the House Arizona’s most trusted source of home-improvement advice and know-how.

I have known Rosie Romero for nearly 40 years now and his show has been a weekly fixture on KTAR radio since the 1988. Rosie doles out easy-to-understand, common-sense advice to do-it-yourselfers about all kinds of projects around the home. 

I have had the pleasure of working with and cooking with Jason Barlow as a Habitat for Humanity Board member for a number of years. Habitat for Humanity has built over 1,200 homes, completed more than 3,800 repairs, and improved living conditions for more than 5,000 Arizona families since 1985.

Today's episode covers all things building and housing related. Rosie tells us about the huge KBIS industry show in Las Vegas  he just returned from and we discuss new products, processes and industry and housing trends he learned about at the show.

We talk about some Habitat past projects we have each been involved with, such as the first ever 3D printed house we designed for a family and a new project with Habitat called the Rosie Habitat Build Challenge.

Jason shares with us their new Construction Training Program for people wanting to learn those valuable skills and invites listeners to attend their  semi-annual event March 23 Blueprints and Blue Jeans.  We will be auctioning off an authentic Cajun dinner prepared and hosted by Rosie & Mark!