There’s a buzz of activity from those who arrive early. They grab a quick cup of coffee, make their way to a table, and survey the room.
Partners spot guests or newcomers and make them feel at ease. Introductions are made. The clinking of water glasses and silverware becomes more audible. A handful of panelists and the moderator make their way to the dais.
Welcome to the monthly Valley Partnership Friday Morning Breakfast.
Networking. Topics crucial to development. An entertaining recap of the year in Arizona business and politics. All are elements that have made this event a trademark and highlight of Valley Partnership.
Since it was founded 31 years ago, Valley Partnership has been hosting a gathering of partners and their guests the last Friday morning of each month. A panel of industry experts — with a moderator controlling the tempo and pace — discuss a specific topic and offer insight.
“It’s hard to remember not attending the Friday Morning Breakfast,” recalls Heidi Kimball of Sunbelt Holdings, who has been attending for more than 20 years. “The breakfast always has had a strong program and great content. I think it’s become tighter and more professional over time. And of course, the panels have become more diverse – but we still have a way to go in that regard.”
For years the Marriott Phoenix Airport was home to the Friday Morning Breakfast. It moved to the Phoenix Country Club, went back to the Marriott, and is now hosted permanently at Phoenix CC.
“The breakfasts have always been a good indicator of what’s important in our industry, and Valley Partnership has been a premier organization in bringing experts and partners together,” says Terry Martin-Denning with NAI Horizon. “Over time, the breakfasts have expanded to include more diverse topics which appeal to a broader audience, attracting more attendees.”
The monthly breakfast is also an ideal occasion for networking. Numerous business relationships have been forged over the years.
“It’s a great place to meet someone for the first time or be assured you can touch base with a key leader or network contact,” says Chuck Reynolds of Terracon, a relatively new attendee. “If you are a newcomer it is a fabulous place to start building a network.
“The diversity of people and timely topics are the heart of the Friday Morning Breakfasts. It’s a nice combination of industry veterans mixed with a fantastic group of young energetic newcomers,” Reynolds says.
Sponsorships have also played a key role in the success of the Friday Morning Breakfast. After years of offering sponsorship opportunities to various partner companies, APS was tabbed the signature FMB sponsor.
“Through its Friday Morning Breakfasts, which APS is proud to sponsor, Valley Partnership has the perfect forum for highlighting its advocacy, discussing relevant topics led by expert panelists, and giving its partners a great opportunity to network,” says Mike Martin, director of Economic Development for APS and a Valley Partnership board member.
In recent years the Friday Morning Breakfast has taken on more of a political stance as local, state, and federal politicians have addressed the audience. The one “must-attend FMB” is the December event. Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods gets top billing — and hardly ever disappoints. His language is colorful and no one is spared. And he hardly disappoints.
Woods has been the December speaker for a dozen years or so, he recalls. He says he has plenty of fodder each year.
“I debated some goof on immigration at a previous meeting and since we got that resolved they invited me back,” he says. “It just took off from there. Valley Partnership is really my kind of crowd, so I guess that’s why it’s been such a success.
“They are common sense leaders in our community and they appreciate straight talk and funny stories,” he says. “Mainly we have fun because Arizona is such a target-rich environment for politicians behaving strangely.”
A few years ago, Woods was introduced by Sen. John McCain, “thinking that would calm me down. I felt the pressure since he is a hero and mentor of mine. But I still cracked on him with a Depends joke and, as I thought, he laughed harder than anyone.”
How do partners describe the evolution of the Friday Morning Breakfasts from the time they began attending them to the present?
“They have certainly got larger as our industry has grown, but they have also drilled down on more issues that are timely and relevant to our current market,” says Curt Johnson of Coe & Van Loo Consultants, who has attended the breakfasts for more than 20 years.
“The breakfasts have come a long way,” says Doug Singer of Sprayfoam Southwest Roofing/Roofing Southwest. He has been attending for more than 10 years. “The topics are more nuanced and relevant to what is happening in the market.
“The audience has grown substantially. For a number of years, we were under 100 attendees and now we are pretty consistent around the 200-plus mark. There are more committees to choose from and participate in depending on who you want to get in front of,” Singer says.
Cathy Teeter of CBRE has attended the Friday Morning Breakfast for 15 years. She says the depth of industry knowledge panelists and guest speakers possess is always impressive.
“The monthly breakfasts serve as a crash course on current trends that the commercial real estate and development communities are talking about,” Teeter says. “Valley Partnership has historically brought together community leaders and market experts. Under Cheryl Lombard’s leadership, the subject matter features current, relevant topics and panels of experts that provide insightful and entertaining commentary.”
The Friday Morning Breakfast is 7 a.m. worthy
AZRE Magazine asked a handful of Valley Partnership members to describe the popular Friday Morning Breakfast in one word. Here are some of our favorites:
• 7 a.m. worthy (They begin at 7 a.m.)
• Informative
• Reunion
• Insightful
• Enlightening
• Awesome networking
• Intriguing
• Early (They begin at 7 a.m.)
