George Frasher: 27 Years of Restaurants, Baseball & Scottsdale History
Scottsdale Vibes
his week on the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast, we chat with Scottsdale restaurant legend George Frasher, the founder of Frasher’s Tavern, as he takes us behind the scenes of Scottsdale’s evolving restaurant scene and shares the stories behind nearly three decades in the business. George has been part of Scottsdale’s restaurant community since 1999, giving him a unique perspective on how the city’s dining scene has changed, grown and evolved. Alicia Haygood and George talk about the rise of steakhouses in Scottsdale, the importance of locally owned restaurants, the challenges of staying...
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Scottsdale Parks and Rec Announces Fall Event Lineup
Scottsdale Vibes
Scottsdale knows how to throw a party, and the City's Special Events team is taking that to a whole new level with three events celebrating music, nostalgia, community, and fall fun. Today, we're getting a behind-the-scenes look at what's coming up, from a trip through Scottsdale's history to a pop-punk throwback and a bigger-than-ever Fall Festival. Alicia chats with Taylor DeAlba, a Recreation Leader with the City of Scottsdale's Special Events team. Taylor works behind the scenes on everything from vendor contracts and marketing to social media and creating the creative, immersive designs...
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What’s Next for WestWorld? Inside Scottsdale’s Premier Event Destination with Cassie Johnson
Scottsdale Vibes
WestWorld is one of Scottsdale’s biggest event destinations, hosting everything from Barrett-Jackson and equestrian competitions to major entertainment and community events. On this episode of Scottsdale Vibes, Alicia Haygood sits down with Cassie Johnson, Interim General Manager of WestWorld, to talk about the facility’s history, its role in Scottsdale, and what’s ahead as the city continues to invest in and reimagine the 400-acre property. Cassie shares her unique journey with the City of Scottsdale, from starting as an intern with the Scottsdale Police Department to returning to...
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George Frasher: 27 Years of Restaurants, Baseball & Scottsdale History
Scottsdale Vibes
This week on the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast, we chat with Scottsdale restaurant legend George Frasher, the founder of Frasher’s Tavern, as he takes us behind the scenes of Scottsdale’s evolving restaurant scene and shares the stories behind nearly three decades in the business. George has been part of Scottsdale’s restaurant community since 1999, giving him a unique perspective on how the city’s dining scene has changed, grown and evolved. Alicia Haygood and George talk about the rise of steakhouses in Scottsdale, the importance of locally owned restaurants, the challenges of staying...
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Scottsdale Unified School District: What’s Next for Our Schools? | Part 2 with Dr. Scott Menzel
Scottsdale Vibes
The conversation continues as Alicia Haygood sits down with Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel for Part 2 of their conversation about the future of SUSD. In this episode, Alicia and Dr. Menzel continue their discussion about what comes next following the district’s school closure discussions. Dr. Menzel explains what Phase Three could look like, the district’s plans to develop growth strategies for each learning community, and the goal of creating thriving schools that attract families back to Scottsdale Unified. They also take a closer look at the proposed...
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Small Business Saturday: Scottsdale Plastic Surgeons with Dr. Paul Holden
Scottsdale Vibes
Welcome to a special Small Business Saturday episode of the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast! Scottsdale has become a destination for health, wellness, innovation, and aesthetics, and in this episode, we’re talking with one of the experts helping shape that reputation. Host Alicia Haygood sits down with Dr. Paul Holden of Scottsdale Plastic Surgeons, a double board certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes exclusively in the face, nose, and neck. Dr. Holden is nationally recognized for his expertise in rhinoplasty, complex revision surgery, and innovative facial rejuvenation techniques...
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Back to School with SUSD Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel (Part 1 of 2)
Scottsdale Vibes
As another school year begins, Scottsdale Vibes sits down with Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel for the first of a special two-part conversation about the future of education in Scottsdale. In Part 1, host Alicia Haygood and Dr. Menzel discuss what families can expect this school year, including school safety, academic achievement, district priorities, enrollment, teacher recruitment and retention, school funding, and how SUSD is preparing students for future success. They also answer some of the biggest questions parents have as students head back to the...
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Sponsor My Athlete: A New Way to Fund Youth Sports
Scottsdale Vibes
Youth sports can build confidence, teamwork, and lifelong memories, but they can also come with a hefty price tag. What if there was a way to help offset those costs while teaching young athletes valuable life skills at the same time? In this episode of Scottsdale Vibes, we sit down with Scottsdale native Mandy Holmes, founder of Sponsor My Athlete, to discuss how families can turn their athlete's story into meaningful sponsorship opportunities. After successfully securing sponsorships for her own son, Mandy created a step-by-step system that helps parents build authentic partnerships with...
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Turning Leftovers into Lifelines with Musically Fed
Scottsdale Vibes
Music has the power to bring people together, but what happens after the final encore? In this episode of the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast, Alicia Haygood sits down with Maria Brunner, Arizona Chapter Director for Musically Fed, to discuss how the nonprofit rescues surplus food from concerts, sporting events, and entertainment venues to feed local families experiencing food insecurity. One of the most inspiring parts of Musically Fed's work is the incredible support they receive from the entertainment industry. Many touring artists specifically request that any untouched backstage catering...
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Scottsdale City Council Candidate Series: Solange Whitehead
Scottsdale Vibes
The Scottsdale City Council election is approaching, and Scottsdale Vibes is helping voters get to know the candidates before ballots arrive. In this special election series, host Alicia Haygood sits down with the individuals seeking to help shape Scottsdale’s future. In this fourth episode, Alicia sits down with candidate Solange Whitehead. The conversation covers the issues Scottsdale residents are talking about most, including growth and development, traffic, public safety, water resources, fiscal responsibility, neighborhood preservation, and maintaining Scottsdale’s unique...
info_outlineFrom April 28, 2025:
Veronica Aguilar, an Arizona native and first-generation college student who holds a business degree and an MBA from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business. She is the Vice President of Recruitment at Teach For America (TFA) and the founder and chair of Young & Empowered Women (Y&E), a nonprofit uplifting diverse female leaders across Arizona. Veronica’s personal commitment to TFA’s mission to ensure all children receive an excellent education began 13 years ago as a corps member teaching 4th grade. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Veronica launched Young & Empowered Women, which has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving over 200 members—67% women of color and 60% first-generation college graduates. Her leadership has earned honors including Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and the 2022 ATHENA Young Professional Award. Veronica is here to talk about how education can really empower women to achieve their full potential.