Page 36 April 2012 By Jonathan Reid Arcadian Greg Hankerson already had a successful career building websites for businesses and as the CFO of his family’s investment fi rm, but that did not stop him from pursuing his true passion: design. After surviving a life-threatening brain tumor, Greg and his wife Sim decided to start a furniture company, Vintage Industrial. Within a year the couple have fashioned themselves a career by selling furniture to businesses such as Ralph Polo Lauren Home and Fox Restaurant Concepts. “All of these interior designers and companies are telling me that everybody they know has gone out of business,” Greg said. “To be growing like this in this economy, it makes me feel good.” Vintage Industrial makes all kinds of furniture such as conference tables, chairs, and shelving. The couple incorporates their favorite movements from the early 20 th century, particularly the French Industrial Era style. “It’s utilitarian,” Sim said. “It’s beautiful in its own simple way, yet it has this sophistication that is really understated. Continued on page 37 Illness leads designer to new career Gated in Hacienda Estates!! A free-standing single family home nestled behind a se- curity gate in prestigious hacienda estates in Arcadia!! These NEVER come up for sale, so don’t miss a chance to buy this 3 bedroom, 3 bath villa overlooking the com- munity pool. Two cozy gas ĺ replaces are featured in this ideal Ļ oor plan with soaring ceilings in a great room on the main level and ideal sized den off the gourmet kitchen. An expansive master suite upstairs includes the second ĺ replace and a huge balcony with double french doors. Walk to the park and LGO! A Rare Opportunity... 4545 N. 42nd Street, Unit #1, Phoenix, 85018 Anne Roberts (602) 803-1866 & Babbi Gabel (602) 741-7750 Off ered at $479,000 Step into Spring with a Brighter, Whiter Smile Exam & In-Office Whitening Over 20 years of caring • Family, Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry Dr. Stephen Conrad • Complete Dentistry • phoenixcaringdentist.com 4202 N. 32nd St., Ste E • 602-955-8760 $99 (Offer valid for new patients 18 and older. Not valid in the presence of periodontal disease. Expires 4/30/12.) • THRIFT STORE DONATION DROP-OFF, 10AM-5PM DAILY ADOPTIONS SAT 11AM-2PM, M-F BY APPOINTMENT Spring has sprung Spring has sprung and we’ve got lots of puppies! April is our one year anniversary at our new location! OPEN HOUSE FUNDRAISER April 14th • 12-1:30pm VISIT OUR WEBSITE,WWW.LUCKYPAWSAZ.ORGFOR PHOTOS AND INFO ABOUT ANIMALS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION 6423 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 • www.luckypawsaz.org • 480-941-4135 Thank you to all the volunteers that have helped me save even more lives this year! -Kelly

Page 37 April 2012 Designer Continued from page 36 “Also the durability, it holds up in a manufacturing setting.” Their signature material is metal, which they use as a “fabric” to build their furniture with various types of high quality wood. A year ago, the Hankersons expanded their business to a historic warehouse in downtown Phoenix -- the McGinnis Building, which was designed by Edward Varney, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Varney designed the Valley Ho and Sun Devil Stadium. The Hankersons and their 10 employees meet with clients and craft their furniture in the McGinnis Building. “It fi ts our style perfectly, and when clients come in, they really get a feel for what we do,” Greg said. “It’s industrial, it’s loud,” his wife said. “You know we’ll be using metal, putting things together or designing, so it’s always a process that’s moving and that’s what it feels like in our building.” Although design has always been a passion of Hankerson’s, he never considered it as a career until his wife needed a piece of furniture for their home. “Sim just needed a table for the outside patio,’’ he said. “ I didn’t feel like buying one, so I just made one out of scrap metal. I just kept trying to improve designs.” Greg approaches crafting furniture like an artist making a painting and said he will not pursue a project he is not truly passionate about. This is one of the many qualities his wife admires about him. “He can think all kinds of thoughts as far as your conventional wisdom,’’ she said. “But he also lives life day by day, because you never know. He doesn’t take it for granted. That’s what I see and that’s what I love about him.” The couple sees Vintage Industrial expanding beyond furniture. They have a vision of becoming a “lifestyle brand.” “We’ve got at least 30 different new products that we want to bring to life, and not just furniture,” Greg said. “Stuff for the whole house, we love what Ralph Lauren is coming out with, all these new products that are all over the place.” For more information, visit shop.retro. net or call 602-330-1234. 7624 E. Indian School Rd. Ste. 101 | Scottsdale, AZ 85251 NE corner of Indian School and Miller Rd., Scottsdale (Next to Fry’s Grocery Store) (480) 421-9442 | M-F: 10am-7pm, Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: Closed Follow us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Yelp Us! Join us for our weekly Group Rides & Group Runs Checkout the Multisport Training Center & TRI Kids Training 7624 E J Receive a FREE Drivetrain Clean with Bike Tune-Up Just bring in this Ad. FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS: Tribe Sponsored Ironman athlete, Jozsef Major F E A T U R E D B U I L D E R A R C A D I A H O M E Scott R. Jung, General Contractor LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED ROC# 163087 602-224-9899 • 3605 N. 44th St. www.SRJConstructionandDesign.com SRJbuildsit@cox.net “We build the best and remodel the rest!” Luxury Custom Home Coming Soon Free estimates on your project! Call Scott. NEW CONSTRUCTION STARTING... NEW CONSTRUCTION STARTING... • A Spanish Immersion preschool program for children ages 2 to 5 • High quality early childhood education with low student to teacher ratios • Center-based curriculum includes language, art, music, science, math and world culture. OPEN ENROLLMENT Learn more about Summer and Fall 2012 Registration Little Big Minds Spanish Immersion Preschool Phone: 602.910.4417 • 4601 N. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018 We are located on the Biltmore Preparatory Academy Campus www.littlebigmindspreschool.com Give your kids the gift of early childhood bilingualism