Associate Broker
HomeSmart Elite Group Bobby Lieb
Bobby Lieb has been a realtor in the valley for over 25 years and sold more than 3,000 homes. When he first entered the field, he knew that to be successful, he needed to specialize in an area of the Valley. “I lived in the central Phoenix/Biltmore [area], so it was an easy choice. I also coached many of the kids in our area and must have done a decent job because their parents are hiring me to sell and buy homes and now those kids are buying from me,” declares Bobby. Bobby is also a court-appointed Realtor with Maricopa County family court and specializes in divorce home sales.
The Business Journal named Bobby the number one Realtor in Maricopa County the past two years, based on sales volume. He is the number one HomeSmart agent in the country the past six years, based on volume and homes sold. HomeSmart is the largest real estate company in the Phoenix area with 7,000 agents. HomeSmart has 11,000 agents in the United States.
Bobby founded the HomeSmart Elite Group six years ago. The Elite Group consists of the top agents with HomeSmart – totaling more than 800 agents. They hold monthly meetings with the Valley’s top real estate experts.
He averages 135 sales per year. “In 2016 I sold $79 million in home sales, ranging from a low sales price of $150,000 to six homes over $1.5 million. I work by myself and have a great assistant, Kathy Wright, who has tolerated me now for 17 years. I am the definition of a true workaholic, but I love what I do,” states Bobby.
The business has changed some over the years, but the bottom line is getting buyers and sellers the price they want. He explains, “I have sold some buyers over 10 homes, and some sellers have hired me to sell many of their homes over the years. I was hired to sell Senator and Cindy McCain’s north central home in 2006 – which was on 2 acres and was 14,000 square feet. I have now sold that home three times in the past 10 years.”
Bobby started a charity three years ago called HomeSmart We Care for Others. This charity helps HomeSmart’s real estate agents in times of need. “We have raised over $50k in four years and helped pay medical expenses, and even funerals for agents. It has been a special charity for me to help my peers,” says Bobby.
There is a continuing education class that Bobby teaches monthly on Agency Law/Marketing Essentials. This class is attended by over 100 agents every month.
“I enjoy working out every day and playing golf once a week (where I enjoy kicking my brother’s butt and taking his money),” jokes Bobby. He played college baseball at Arizona State University and Coastal Carolina located in South Carolina. In 1978, his team competed in the NAIA world series.
After a long day, which is every day because he normally has 45 listings at a time, Bobby says, “I enjoy coming home to feed my two dogs and then feed my wife of 30 years, MaryAnn. I have to feed the dogs first because they are much louder than my wife, and if they don’t eat first they will bite me!”
He also checks in with his children daily. His 27-year-old son Sean works locally with Cushman & Wakefield commercial real estate and his 25-year-old daughter Juliann works part time for Bobby and is working on getting her Sports Psychology certificate which should happen in the next year.
Bobby and MaryAnn took in another kid, Jesse Milleson, more than seven years ago and he is in New York with Orangetheory Fitness opening up five new studios there. “We are very proud of all three of our kids – who fortunately got all their great qualities from my wife. (Yes, I am a true suck-up!),” he confesses.
Bobby Lieb
Associate Broker, HomeSmart Elite Group
602-376-1341 • centralphx.com
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United Cerebral Palsy Board Member Michelle Margolies Tran
Michelle grew up in the Phoenix Jewish community. She is currently a trust and estates attorney with Clark Hill PLC. She participates on the Jewish Community Foundation’s Professional Advisory Committee and the JCF/ACF Tax & Legal Seminar committee. Most recently she has been appointed to the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona where she co-chairs the development committee. “I am very excited about this new opportunity to serve the community, especially in the area of children with special needs,” Michelle says.
“I joined the UCP board of directors because both of my children had complications when they were born,” Michelle explains. Fortunately, they outgrew most of their impairments by the time they were toddlers. “It is important to me that families with children with special needs are aware of the assistance available to them and that they receive high quality services. I continue to be amazed by the many ways UCP helps its families and its ongoing efforts to provide more services to more families,” she says.
At UCP of Central Arizona, compassionate expert staff help children and adults with cerebral palsy and a wide range of additional diagnoses including autism, sensory processing and genetic disorders, orthopedic disabilities, birth defects, Down syndrome, effects of in-utero substance exposure, traumatic brain injuries, developmental delays and many others.
Every person that comes to UCP is provided with the best care because they believe in the dignity and value of each individual they serve. Whether it is through therapy, respite care in the home, after-school socialization, early childhood intervention or adult programming, UCP’s highly trained team of therapists and professionals join with the family to form a strong support team dedicated to helping people with disabilities live a life without limits.
You can help UCP with a donation of up to $800 at no cost to you. Learn more about the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit today, visit ucpofcentralaz.org/tax-credit/
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
1802 W. Parkside Lane, Phoenix
602-943-5472
ucpofcentralaz.org
info@ucpofcentralaz.org
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Valley Medical Supplies
president and owner Tim Rutti
Tim Rutti is the president and owner of Valley Medical Supplies. He is an Arizona native with a background in medical sales and marketing. “Having moved to California to work for major medical companies, I had the desire to move my family back to Arizona and start my own business, providing me with the opportunity to give back to my hometown,” says Tim.
As president and owner, Tim admits, “Every day is different and presents new opportunities. From servicing the equipment that we sell at our store, delivering products and rentals to resorts around the valley, or spending a day in the store meeting my customers face-to-face, I am always entrenched in what is going on in our community.”
Valley Medical Supplies opened in June 2016, and they are already expanding their showroom an extra 1,200 square feet in early April. Their current showroom is 3,600 square feet and is filled with the latest products and technology. “We have a large selection of lift chairs, scooters and powerchairs on our floor – to showcase all the options for customers to come and try out, or purchase. I also conduct free home evaluations to assess mobility solutions, ramps and bathroom safety,” explains Tim. “Knowing that I offer ways to keep people living in their homes, safely, is what drives me to keep going the extra mile. To get the ‘thank you’ from the customers, their families and caretakers provides incredible job satisfaction.”
They offer a large selection of wound care, incontinence and urological products that many customers had difficulty finding. Valley Medical Supplies also carries oxygen concentrators and CPAP machines for rent or purchase, as well other medical equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs and patient lifts.
Medical insurance is covering less durable medical equipment today than ever before. That being the case, Tim has decided to provide his customers with an option in the products they need at an affordable price.
Valley Medical Supplies also participates in community and senior events throughout the Valley. “We attend educational seminars, programs and training to keep current with all the latest technology and offerings available,” says Tim.
Valley Medical Supplies, LLC
4030 E. Bell Road #105, Phoenix
602-900-4260
valleymedicalsupplies.com
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Ranch Realty partner
Leo Andrew Berg
Leo Andrew Berg is a partner with Ranch Realty in Scottsdale. A family-owned and operated company, Ranch Realty has been at the same location in the McCormick Ranch area of Scottsdale for 43 years. They are the experts in the McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch and Scottsdale Ranch areas.
Ranch Realty has 30 licensed real estate agents and a fully-staffed property management division. The management team has over 40 years of experience, and their property managers are licensed Arizona real estate agents. They specialize in sales, leasing and management of single family homes, condos and townhouses in Scottsdale. Ranch Realty also offers year-round availability of furnished and unfurnished rentals and investment properties. The agents have earned the trust of competing real estate companies and agents throughout the Valley; many of whom refer their investment property management clients to Ranch Realty.
“Ranch Realty is a five-year sponsor of Holiday Magic on McCormick Ranch, an event that celebrates neighbors, neighborhood spirit and the holiday season. We also sponsor local high school athletics,” says Leo.
Leo moved to the McCormick Ranch area in 1974, while he was in grade school. His first job was delivering the Arizona Republic and the Scottsdale Progress newspapers in his neighborhood. “We all watched McCormick Ranch grow into what it is today. The best master planned community in the state of Arizona,” he says proudly.
Ranch Realty strives to provide the highest quality of service to all their clients while making each transaction as profitable, professional, successful and stress-free as possible. They understand the importance of professional ethics, integrity and continued education.
Ranch Realty
7353 N. Via Paseo Del Sur #470, Scottsdale
480-991-4000
ranchrealty.com
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Valley of the Sun Jewish Community
Center CEO Jay J. Jacobs
Jay J. Jacobs is the new CEO serving the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA (he’s a die-hard Steelers fan) and has been involved in Jewish communal work for 38 years. For more than 16 years he has served in the capacity as CEO with his expertise being building and opening new facilities, as well as facilitating change in current facilities. Over the course of his career, he has worked in the cities of Columbus, Cleveland, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Richmond.
“Very early in my career, I realized how the Js made a difference in the lives of families and children,” says Jay. “The fact that we gave them experiences they could not get anywhere else, and for those who cannot afford it, we provided financial assistance. For children and the community to have those experiences, sold me on my career.”
The J is a multi-faceted facility providing programs and services for people of all faiths and all ages in the areas of early childhood, camp, youth and family, childcare, sports and fitness, seniors, cultural and community events.
Jay notes that one of the biggest changes in the industry over the years has been the level of quality expected, “To attract and keep members we must have a level of excellence that meets and exceeds expectations. We need to be the competition, not be trying to keep up with it.”
Jay’s goal is to make The J a leader in customer service and in quality of program and services. He goes on to explain, “The community needs to know that while we have a Jewish identity, we are here for the entire community and that everyone is welcome.”
Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center
12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-481-1794
vosjcc.org
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Jewish Tuition Organization
Executive Director Linda Zell
Linda is from Cape Town, South Africa and spent part of her childhood in Israel before coming to the United States. Linda was the principal of a Jewish community religious school in Rhode Island for 20 years before moving to the Valley 20 years ago. In her current position as executive director of the Jewish Tuition Organization, Linda is driven by the fact that she knows without the JTO about 65 percent of the students in the JTO affiliated Jewish day schools would not be able to attend.
The JTO’s mission is to ensure that every child has access to a Jewish day school education, regardless of their family’s financial ability to pay for it. The JTO raises funds for need-based scholarships from both individuals and corporations through the dollar-for-dollar Arizona private school tuition tax credit. Without the JTO scholarships, these children would not be able to attend Jewish day schools. As the executive director of the JTO, Linda is responsible for all aspects of the organization. Under her leadership the organization raised more than $4 million dollars last year to provide need-based scholarships for children in the community to attend Jewish day schools. The six schools served by the JTO are Desert Jewish Academy in Chandler, Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale and Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Shearim High School for Girls, Torah Day School of Phoenix and Yeshiva High School of Arizona, all in Phoenix.
What sets the JTO apart is that it focuses on Jewish day schools, directs more than 90 percent of the funds raised toward scholarships and that ALL scholarships are need-based. The JTO uses a third-party to access and ensure need. The JTO does not accept support directed by the contributor toward specific children, because the scholarships are need-based.
For 2016, individuals can donate up to $1,087 and married couples filing jointly can donate up to $2,173. Taxpayers can still make donations to the organization up until April 18, or when they file their taxes, whichever comes first. For 2017, the amounts are $1,089 for individuals and $2,177 for married couples filing jointly.
The Arizona private school tuition tax credit is also available to corporations, please call the JTO office for information. JTO is a 501(c)(3) and can accept non-tax credit charitable donations. All support is appreciated and will support Jewish day school education.
Jewish Tuition Organization
12701 N. Scottsdale Road #100M, Scottsdale
480-634-4926
jtophoenix.org
info@jtophoenix.org
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Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
Executive Director Marty Haberer
Marty Haberer has been a Jewish Communal Professional for the past 31 years. His journey began as a teen director at the Riverdale YM-YWHA in the Bronx, NY. He then began a Jewish Federation career in fundraising, at the UJA-Federation of New York. His career has taken him from New York where he was born, raised and educated, to New Jersey, Cincinnati, Detroit, Sarasota and for the past two years, to Phoenix.
Marty has just recently been named executive director for the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. The Federation is a fundraising organization that uses the dollars raised to provide social serves for Jewish people in need and to build vibrant Jewish communities in the Valley, In Israel and 70 other countries worldwide.
There are 151 Jewish Federations in North America under the umbrella of the Jewish Federations of North America. The Federation provides opportunities for members to engage with the community as volunteers, sponsors and donors. In Phoenix, the Federation campaign is in its 76th year of existence.
As times change, like in any business, the Federation has had to adapt with the times as well. In 2017, the key buzz words for Federation are “strategic philanthropy.” The current emphasis is on funding that may include:
Engaging the next generation: Birthright Phoenix buses and overnight camp scholarships.
Enriching Senior lives: senior socialization and a senior rides program.
Supporting Israel and Jewish communities worldwide: Israel to Phoenix projects, funding for programs provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Joint Distribution Committee.
“As the son of an immigrant who moved to the United States at the age of 9 from Germany, along with his brother and parents, to flee Nazi persecution, I am deeply in touch with my Jewish roots and always have been,” says Marty. “As my family had to begin with nothing in America in the Inwood section of Washington Heights, NY, I was always aware that my parents and my brother and I were recipients of support from anonymous Jewish donors who helped us get our education, go to summer camp and to synagogue. Early on I decided that I would spend my career ‘paying forward’ to others what was done for my family and me.”
Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-634-4900
jewishphoenix.org
info@jewishphoenix.org
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Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association
President Monique Mendel, Vice President Leeann Wieser and Vice President and Generations After Chair
Sheryl Bronkesh
Monique Mendel (president), Leeann Wieser (vice president) and Sheryl Bronkesh (vice president and chair of Generations After) have been on the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association Board of Directors for many years and in the current leadership roles for the last several. Leeann, whose husband is a Holocaust scholar, is a longtime friend of the survivor community. Sheryl and Monique were also members of the leadership team which formed Generations After in 2013.
PHSA was founded in 1982 by a group of survivors and their descendants. Monique and Sheryl are daughters of Holocaust survivors, known as “second generation” or 2Gs.
PHSA’s purpose is to remember the Holocaust through education and commemoration.
They have an active speakers’ bureau that presents at schools, churches and community groups. Funding donated by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany supports monthly luncheons to provide a social gathering for survivors, their families and friends. Annually, a community-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration is held to honor those lost in the Shoah.
In the last 10 years, PHSA started to partner with other organizations, such as AJHS, GPJFF, BJE, USHMM, ADL, synagogues, Martin-Springer Institute and Scottsdale Community College to co-sponsor events that educate the community about the Holocaust. Another change is partnering with various social service agencies to provide for the physical needs of survivors.
GA schedules events that embrace their legacy as descendants, continue Holocaust education in the community, support each other and contribute to tikkun olam, the repair of the world.
Both of these organizations are the only ones of their kind in the greater Phoenix area. They are known nationally and internationally as the voice of survivors in Phoenix.
Everyone is invited to the annual Community-Wide Yom HaShoah on April 23rd, from 3-4:30 pm at Temple Chai to commemorate those lost in the Shoah.
These organizations have no paid staff, all are volunteers. Receive notifications of upcoming programs by joining the mailing list at phx2g3g@gmail.com.
Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association
12701 N. Scottsdale Road #122, Scottsdale
602-788-7003
phoenixhsa.org
contact@phoenixhsa.org
Generations After – Descendants of Holocaust
Survivors in Greater Phoenix
480-792-6736
phoenixhsa.org
phx2g3g@gmail.com
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The Orchard, Phoenix
Events Coordinator Linda Schnitzer
In the heart of Central Phoenix, The Orchard, already a local hot spot, offers a magical and unique events venue. With catering out of Pomelo Restaurant and outstanding service from our on-staff events coordinator, Linda Schnitzer, we can create memorable events including birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, wedding receptions, mixers, life events, corporate events, bar and bat mitzvahs and much more. We warmly welcome you to come see our beautiful property and we look forward to hosting your next event!
For a more intimate party, consider dining in at Pomelo, built around a 1920s adobe house. Here you will find delicious, straightforward American food and drinks, with an Arizona twist. Open daily for lunch, dinner or drinks in the lounge. Savor dinner in the intimate dining room or on the patio, which overlooks The Orchard Phoenix lawn. At Pomelo, you’ll be welcomed, comfortable and at home. Also located at The Orchard is Luci’s at the Orchard. It is just like the Luci’s you know and love (Luci’s Healthy Marketplace at 16th St. & Bethany Home Road), in a revitalized historic setting. Luci’s offers a unique marketplace, cafe, coffee and juice bar, and Splurge, a vintage ice cream shop in a casual and welcoming environment.
Luci’s is a place to nurture community, local businesses, and where you want to be on a Saturday afternoon. The cafe area is lined with windows overlooking the citrus orchard, patio and splash pad. Our citrus trees inspire many of our dishes, and juices, while creating a shady oasis in the desert.
The Orchard Phoenix
Pomelo/Luci’s at the Orchard/Splurge
7100 N. 12th St., Phoenix
pomelophx.com
lucisorchard.com
splurgephx.com
