32 NOVEMBER 2025 “Booze and a Band,” the nonprofit’s signature fundraiser, returned this year in full spirit, honoring both its mission and its late founder. “The event was a huge success,” Event Co-Chair Jessica Hendricks said. “We had a great turnout, and the evening was fun for all who attended. Our community really showed up to celebrate the incredible work Two Pups continues to do, but also to remember and honor Nancy’s legacy, which we will continue to do for years to come.” Putting on the event without Nancy was an emotional challenge, but also a labor of love. “She was the queen of event planning – she had a magic touch and always made a party fun and festive,” Hendricks said. “As co-chair, I tried to fill her shoes and think about what she would’ve wanted. Almost daily, we looked at each other and said, ‘What would she have done?’” Everyone showed up in their cowboy boots and hats, dancing and enjoying themselves – and Hendricks said that would have made Nancy happy. “She’d still be in tears to see the outpouring of support,” she added. As for the future of the organization, Bob says the mission remains clear: “Nancy’s vision was that no dog or cat that finds itself in the animal welfare system is without medical treatment or assistance so they can get well enough to find their forever home,” he said. With growing interest from area shelters and the community, Two Pups hopes to expand its programs – especially Project Get Out – to serve more animals in need. Early estimates suggest the fundraiser surpassed its goals, ensuring that the legacy Nancy Silver started will continue to change lives – both human and animal. twopups.org By Michael P. Murphy Team 44 is a curious name for a personal training studio. Co-owner Tony Rice doesn’t even pause when asked where the inspiration came from. “The name comes from the fact that my father was in the best shape of his life at age 44,” he said. “He was an athlete and always very active, but later in life, he got more into strength training, so he started to train hard in our basement.” Those basement workouts made a big impression on young Tony when he began his own strength training at age 14. He looks back and realizes that 4 or 44 have been a constant presence in his life, especially since opening a personal training facility at 37 44 Indian School Road in 2012. A year later, Tony joined forces with former professional soccer player Neema Doroudian to build the community that is Team 44. “We do personal training and group training classes,” Neema said. “We offer to all ages and abilities, and we specialize in performance training, whatever that means for the client. Our mission is to empower every individual no matter where they are in their fitness journey. We’re community builders and connectors.” They do it through expert training and a culture rooted in inclusive support and genuine connection. Tony and Neema passionately believe that fitness should be welcoming and not intimidating. They feel they have created a space where everyone feels motivated to be a part of something big. “I think what sets us apart from our training program is we have a very experienced core of coaches, all highly educated and experienced,” Tony said. “We come together to create programs that are thoughtful and well-balanced. We’re not here to impress our clients on how hard we can work them out; instead, we want them to move better and feel better.” Back to that number 44. This is the year Tony celebrates his 44th, but he’s not one for birthdays. “I thought it might feel a little different, but it wasn’t as big a deal as I thought it would be,” he said. “I’m growing a young family, I’ve got an awesome business partner, a thriving business, and I’m connected in the community. My fitness level is high. I don’t have any injuries. I feel it’s not a turning point number but the next step for growth.” Team 44 is more than just a personal training facility. There’s a well-established community there, a place where people connect through shared goals, positive energy, and a commitment to collective growth. That philosophy reflects the two men who own and lead it. teamfortyfour.com By Mark Hays Two Pups Wellness Fund, a Valley nonprofit dedicated to helping critically ill and homeless animals, hosted its cherished “Booze and a Band” fundraiser in October – for the first time since the organization’s founder, Nancy Silver, passed away. Held at Handlebar J in Scottsdale, the event drew a lively crowd, coming together to celebrate Silver’s legacy and raise funds for animal rescue efforts across the state. Founded in 2017, the organization was born out of a heartbreaking moment at a veterinary clinic. “Years ago, Nancy was at the emergency veterinarian with one of her beloved dogs,” brother Bob Silver said. “While in the waiting room, she saw a family come in with an injured dog and leave without treatment after learning of the cost of treatment.” Feeling compelled into action, she founded Two Pups Wellness Fund, named in honor of her dogs, Mr. P and Miss Lacie. Since its founding, the organization has provided emergency and ongoing medical assistance to more than 16,000 animals. Within are four main programs: a medical- surgical fund for veterinary care, Project Get Out, which rescues dogs from overcrowded shelters, an emergency rescue relief fund, and a Return to Owner microchip program, which has microchipped over 10,000 lost dogs to date. “Two Pups provides vital financial aid and emergency support to animal welfare organizations throughout Arizona, empowering them to care for critically ill, injured, neglected, and homeless animals that deserve a second chance to find loving homes,” Bob explained. Two Pups continues to grow and honor founder’s legacy Where strength meets community Bob Silver, Christi Warner-Beyer, Jessica Hendricks, and Karin McFetters at the Two Pups Wellness Fund's Booze and a Band event. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB SILVER Tony Rice and Neema Doroudian. PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY RICE Our community really showed up to celebrate the incredible work Two Pups continues to do. 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33 NOVEMBER 2025 By Michael P. Murphy If you’re a mystery writer who loves the city you live in, it’s only natural to use that city as the setting of a novel when you find a quiet place to write and let your imagination run wild. Why? Because writers write about what they know and what they love. Christina Estes is one such person. She loves Phoenix, her adopted hometown, and, as a former reporter for ABC 15 TV and KJZZ radio, she knows and loves local news. So … she writes what she knows and what she loves. Her new novel, The Story That Wouldn’t Die , is the second mystery to feature Phoenix TV reporter Jolene Garcia. Arizona-based readers can enjoy the many references to familiar street names and businesses, particularly Miracle Mile Deli, one of Christina’s favorite eateries. The story itself is intriguing, too. “When a small business owner dies, Jolene is not convinced it was an accident. He might have been asking too many questions of the wrong people. Jolene begins asking questions, too, like who keeps getting lucrative deals at City Hall? Powerful people don’t want her questions answered, but Jolene keeps digging. As the mystery deepens, some are about to kill the story. Maybe even kill her.” “My character keeps pushing, but she keeps getting pushed back by her manager, who doesn’t think the story is interesting enough, or that the death of a small business owner is worthwhile,” Christina said. “The book is a nod to her persistence, but it’s also about my own persistence as an author.” That persistence paid off in getting her first book, Off the Air , published after a 15-year effort. Before she began to write, she wondered where the setting for her story should be. Reading one of J.A. Jance’s Ali Reynolds mysteries gave her the inspiration she needed. “In the book, I saw a reference to I-17 and Northern,” she said. “I had never read a book that I connected with so closely. That book planted the seed for my writing.” When Christina moved to Phoenix 25 years ago to work for ABC 15, she figured she would move on after her three-year contract was up. She didn’t expect to fall in love with Phoenix, but she did. She is especially pleased with The Story That Wouldn’t Die. “I really love this book,” she said. “It’s local, but it also has national appeal because the story is about development and displacement. I love that people outside of Phoenix and Arizona are reading about the city I call home, a place I never expected to stay.” What an interesting twist: six months ago, Christina left her reporting job with the City of Phoenix, but she makes it clear that she had already written The Story That Wouldn’t Die before taking the position. Don’t be surprised if another Jolene Garcia mystery shows up on bookshelves sometime. “Writing is a passion, especially sharing the story of my character that is dear to my heart,” Christina said. “It’s exciting to see where she’s going.” christinaestes.com Phoenix’s own mystery maven Christina Estes Christina Estes is one such person. She loves Phoenix, her adopted hometown, and, as a former is a nod to her persistence, but it’s also about my own persistence as an author.” book, Before she began to write, she wondered where the setting for her story should be. Reading one H iring in 2025 has become disconnected from corporate realities. Companies are laying people off. Things are hard. And, frankly, they have been since 2020. Most job seekers look for and apply to jobs online. Applications and resumes are fed into what’s called an applicant tracking system or (ATS). Companies use that to track and put candidates through interview steps. I recently had the opportunity to take a behind the scenes peek inside of an ATS. What I saw was disappointing. When a candidate is rejected, the company selects a reason from a list. Included are things like “lives too far away,” “not qualified,” or “high salary expectations.” However, there’s another item on the rejection list: “job hopper.” That’s right. “Job hopper” is ranked along with not being qualified or being too expensive. Companies are still making decisions this way. I have heard of multiple CEOs who rejected qualified candidates for this reason. The other managers at the companies felt the candidates were valuable and qualified, but the CEOs overrode their recommendations. In one case, an HR recruiter asked the candidate for help explaining to the CEO why job hopping occurs – because all of the good candidates they received were job hoppers. Rarely does anyone want to change jobs. It’s painful and risky. Employees do not begin to actively look for a new job unless they believe there is nothing else they can do to salvage their relationship with their current company. Why do employees leave jobs? One issue is that an employee may be significantly underpaid. Salaries are more commonly posted online today. When an employee finds out they are paid 30 or 40 percent less than their peers, they may ask for a raise – but they’d be lucky to get six percent. The only option may be to change jobs, if they want to be compensated fairly. This is not the most common reason people leave jobs today. Companies make decisions differently now than they did 20 years ago. It is not unusual for a company to lay off hundreds or thousands of employees to help their bottom line, or to bump up their stock price. It’s common for companies to be bought and sold as part of private equity deals that may leave an entire workforce out of jobs. There are also cases where an employee specializes in a very specific role. These employees may have to consider changing companies if they want to continue to gain new skills and experience. Very rarely is any employee jumping from job to job carelessly. Employers need to rethink their perspective on this issue. Employees have been put through the ringer, by no fault of their own. These job hoppers are is resilient. They value a good company and a stable job. It’s time to adjust hiring practices to match today’s business environment. The most outdated hiring practice Career Corner Career expert and founder of Copeland Coaching. copelandcoaching.com BY ANGELA COPELAND