12/09/2025

S1E10 Ryan Blakeman: From Playbook to Purpose

On this episode of Lokahi Backstage, Jamie Ann Blakeman welcomes her husband, Ryan Blakeman—coach, mentor, and founder of Lokahi Teams—for a conversation about resilience, grit, and the courage to fight for what matters most. Ryan shares how a major setback shifted the course of his life and how it fueled his passion to help young athletes dig deep, rise to challenges, and pursue their goals with purpose.As Ryan puts it: “Life is short. We’ve all heard it—but when was the last time you really let it hit you? It’s not just a phrase, it’s an invitation. To say what you mean. To chase what you love. To stop waiting for someday. Life is short. Live like you know it.” Although Ryan’s life centers heavily on sports and coaching—this episode is about choosing to live fully, showing up with intention, and embracing the process that leads to real growth.

1h 7m

12/02/2025

S1E9 Susan Bitter Smith: Getting Things Done

Some people talk about making things happen. Susan Bitter Smith, President of Technical Solutions, actually makes things happen — by knowing how, and who, to connect. On this episode of Lokahi Backstage with Jamie Ann Blakeman, we dive into the art of building bridges, navigating politics, and why being called “The Convenient Woman from the West” says more about power than convenience. This episode is a smart, spirited conversation about influence, relationships, and the power of showing up with the right people at the right time. - Susan Bitter Smith, CAE is a Certified Association Executive, as designated by the American Society of Association Executives. She is a Past Chairman of the American Society of Association Executives, is the Past President of the Arizona Society of Association Executives, and received ASAE’s highest award, the Key Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001, and ASAE’s Community Service Award in 2011. Susan is a founding member of the Public Affairs Professionals of Arizona and is an Arizona registered lobbyist. She is the Past Chairman of the Walter Cronkite Foundation, the Past President of the ASU Alumni Association, and the Honorary Chairman of the ASU MBA Alumni Council. Susan chaired the Arizonans for Bush campaign in 1988 and 1992 and was Chairman of the Steve Forbes for President campaign in Arizona in 1996. She is a former Vice-Mayor and City Council member in the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, and was active as a Councilman in the areas of economic development, planning and zoning reform, and budgetary reform. She was a Republican candidate for Congress in Arizona's 5th District and is a past President of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors. Additionally, Susan is the former Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission. She currently serves as the President of the elected Maricopa Community College District Governing Board and is the President of Technical Solutions.

49 min

11/18/2025

S1E8 Walter Crutchfield: The Power of Starting Over

On this episode of Lokahi Backstage, Jamie Ann Blakeman talks with Walter Crutchfield, founder of Vintage Partners, about the moment his project landed on the cover of Autoweek—a dream come true at a young age. But instead of satisfaction, he was met with a haunting question: “That’s it? What’s the rest of my life going to be?” This episode dives into what came next—how that moment of disillusionment sparked a search for deeper purpose, community impact, and a more meaningful legacy, built on a foundation of faith. - Walter Crutchfield is a fourth generation Arizonan whose family has been developing land in Arizona since 1961. He has been a leading executive of numerous companies, including Master Sports Inc., Computer Decisions International Inc., Solaire, and Jonesport Sports Management. Prior to the formation of Vintage, he had been a principal in Crutchfield and Associates and C2 Commercial Properties, The Paladin Group, and Pentad Investments. Walter has led the acquisition through entitlement of a diverse portfolio of residential, resort, commercial, and industrial land holdings.

55 min

11/11/2025

S1E7 Wendy Riddell: The Tenacity Behind a Dream Life

Wendy Riddell, founding and managing partner at Berry Riddell, shares how saying yes changed everything. From an aspiring architect to a powerhouse attorney with her name on the door, her journey is packed with lessons on grit, growth, and trusting your gut. You’ll hear how one bold decision led to night-after-night courtroom wins—and how the smallest “yes” can open doors you never imagined. If you're at a crossroads or waiting for a sign, this is it. From building a powerhouse law firm to leading with purpose, Wendy lives the advice she shares. Want to know her secret? Listen in, she's proof that trusting the process and doing the work pays off. - Wendy Riddell, founding and managing partner with the law firm of Berry Riddell, focuses on land use law and lobbying. She represents a multitude of development clients throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area from major national home-builders, Fortune 500 retailers, multi-family developers, resort, hospital, office, and industrial builders, advising and guiding such diverse and significant projects as Fiesta Mall and the Mesa Gateway Airport, the IDEA (Innovation, Discovery, Education & Arts) Campus at the Tempe Center for the Arts, the redevelopment of the old trotter track into the Innovation Centre (now known as 10 Goodyear) Honor Health campuses valley-wide, and campuses for the Diocese of Phoenix, including Xavier College Preparatory. Riddell has been vital in getting many of the high-rises that dot the Phoenix and Tempe skyline approved. In May 2015, she was awarded the Xavier College Preparatory Women of Achievement Award for Service to the School. Riddell, featured in the 2000 Phoenix Business Journal’s Top Guns Under 30, has continued her commitment to both career and community. As a member of the Scottsdale Leadership Class of XVII, she chaired Business Community Day. She worked on the City of Scottsdale District Advisory Task Force, advising the City Council on a districting system, and served as the Recorder for Arizona Town Hall. She also chaired the Maricopa County Board of Adjustment for two terms, working to promote positive development within the community. Riddell is a past chair of the Xavier Board of Trustees and past chair the Facilities Committee. She is a past Board President of Christ Church School, where she oversaw their expansion from a pre-school to an elementary school and advocated for a primary school curriculum that advances the development and education of young children, receiving the Christ Church School Outstanding Leadership Award. Riddell is a current Board member of Home Arizona, where she advocates with other top business leaders for much needed housing. Riddell was recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona by AZ Business Magazine in 2018 and 2024. Riddell was also listed as one of The Best Lawyers In America©, 2019-2024. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English and Fine Art from Colgate University, she earned a Juris Doctor as a Pedrick Scholar from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

47 min

11/04/2025

S1E6 Ben Graff: Law, Laughs and Leadership

Sometimes, the most powerful part of a conversation is what isn’t said. In this episode of the Lōkahi Backstage Podcast, Jamie Ann Blakeman sits down with Quarles zoning attorney Ben Graff for a conversation that’s equal parts thoughtful and unexpectedly moving. As they explore the art of intentional listening—hearing what’s inaudible, beyond the words—Ben shares a story so heartfelt, it brought Jamie to tears… over cookies. It’s a reminder that when we truly listen—with presence and heart—we uncover the stories that connect us all.-Ben Graff is an experienced Arizona land use and zoning attorney. One of the preeminent lawyers furthering creative downtown infill development, Ben has championed unique land-use cases, having vast experience zoning and entitling projects throughout Arizona, including luxury multi-family, senior living, affordable housing, single-family, industrial, office and mixed-use developments. As an Arizona native with deep roots in state and local politics and experience influencing strategic decisions related to land use policy, Ben’s clients benefit from his careful attention to their particular legal and business needs and his connections with the development community, planning staff, neighborhood leaders, appointed officials and elected officials in towns, cities and counties throughout Arizona. Ben has served on the Arizona Board of Regents and on the Central Arizona Water Conservation District board of directors.

55 min

10/28/2025

S1E5 Troy Peterson: Letting Go of the Label

In this episode of the Lokahi Backstage podcast, we sit down with Troy Peterson, Director of Construction at Arizona Cardinals Football Club, to dive deep into the concept of "letting go of the label" – why it's time to stop chasing the grade and embrace growth over perfection. Tune in for a refreshing perspective on success, leadership, and the power of letting go of outdated standards. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation! - Troy Peterson serves as the Director of Construction for the Arizona Cardinals Football Club, a position held since October 2018. Prior to this role, Troy was the Executive Vice President and Arizona Region Manager at Bowman Consulting from August 2009 to October 2018, bringing extensive knowledge in public works engineering, infrastructure design, mining, and land development consulting services. Earlier in Troy's career, from 1994 to 2008, the position of Principal was held at CMX. Troy holds an MBA in Business from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a dual degree (BS/BA) in Civil Engineering and Business Management from Utah State University.

51 min

10/21/2025

S1E4 Alicia Goforth: Leaving Law to Leading Mesa

Sometimes the most powerful move you can make is walking away. On this episode of Lokahi Backstage with Jamie Ann Blakeman, Mesa Councilmember Alicia Goforth shares how saying no to the wrong opportunity opened the door to the right one. She shares the moment her father told her, “Don’t take it—you can do better.” It’s a powerful reminder not to settle for the first thing that’s handed to you. Tune in to hear how that advice led Alicia to a life of purpose. - Elected to the Mesa City Council in August of 2022, Councilmember Alicia Goforth began her first term representing District 5 in January of 2023. Her term on the Council runs until January of 2027. Alicia has lived in Mesa for 15 years with her husband and three children. Prior to moving to Arizona, Alicia practiced law at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, an international law firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a member of the Corporate, Finance & Banking division and participated as outside general corporate counsel for several multinational clients, providing advice on various corporate matters. After taking a leave of absence to live in New Zealand and Australia with her husband, Alicia joined Cerner Corporation (Oracle Cerner), as in-house corporate counsel where she oversaw the negotiation and management of the company’s third-party software license agreements. Alicia is admitted to practice law in Arizona, Missouri and Kansas. While living in Arizona and raising her three children, Alicia made volunteering in their schools a priority, assisting the teachers and administration. She championed several in-school and after-school programs to promote intercultural understanding and respect, facilitated partnerships with local cultural organizations and assisted with the development of program curriculum. Currently, she spends time as a Volunteer Liaison for AFS Intercultural Programs, providing support and resources to international exchange students and their host families. For the past seven years, Alicia has been involved in her local community of Las Sendas. She served on multiple committees, acted as Chair of the Community Planning Advisory Group and was elected to the Board of Directors, where she served three years as Secretary and Vice President, helping to create a long-term vision for the community.

48 min

10/14/2025

S1E3 Chris Bridges: Navigating Risk, Relationships & Roads

Chris Bridges, Executive Director of ACEC-AZ, talks aboutthe importance of stepping into opportunity—even when it’s unexpected or uncertain. In this episode of Lōkahi Backstage, he shares how embracing new challenges has shapedhis leadership journey and opened doors for growth and connection. Chris Bridges’ journey is one of confidence, steady growth, and bold decisions. From starting out in urban planning to leading statewide advocacy for Arizona’s engineering industry, his story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out to take the next step—and that sometimes, the biggest opportunities come when youleast expect them. He opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped his path—stepping into leadership without formal experience, takinga career leap during a recession, and moving his family across the state in the middle of a pandemic. Along the way, he shares what those experiences taught him about trust, risk, and the kind of leader he strives to be. Whether you’re facing uncertainty, weighing a big decision, or figuring out how to lead with integrity, Chris’s story will remind you that it’s okay not to have the full plan—you just have to be willing to say yes to the opportunity in front of you. - Chris Bridges is Executive Director for ACEC of Arizona. He brings over 26 years of industry experience from practitioner, government management, and executive director roles. Chris was born in Dayton Ohio before relocating to and being raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. Chris attended both the Northern Arizona University and Capella University and currently holds both a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Chris began his professional career as an Urban Planner for Yavapai County, eventually moving over to Yavapai County Engineering to be the county’s Transportation PlanningManager before being appointed the Executive Director of the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO), a regional transportation planning agency in Prescott, Arizona. In 2020, Chris and his Wife Wendy and son Alec relocated from Prescott to the Phoenix metro region where he most recently served as the Deputy Director of Engineering for the City of Goodyear. Chris has a proud background of building collaborative relationships with ACEC members; state and federal agencies; local governments, regional agencies, elected boards, mayors, city councils, and staff at all levels; including working with industry partners. He has a strategic understanding of how to advance initiatives, managemulti-million-dollar budgets, and deliver results. Chris has been a long-time advocate for promoting the safe and efficient movement of people, goods, and services throughout Arizona and brings that same passion to the Executive Director role for ACEC.

58 min

10/07/2025

S1E2 Cathy Teeter: From Teen Mom to Trailblazer

Cathy Teeter, Managing Director of Advisory and TransactionServices at CBRE, shares powerful advice in this episode of Lōkahi Backstage: take more risks and believe in yourself. She reflects on how fears are real but often irrational—encouraging us to stay calm, trust ourselves, and realize that we’re going to be fine. Her journey from being called "The Ice Princess" to embracing her leadership style is a testament to the power of growth and self-belief. - Cathy Teeter serves as Managing Director of Advisory & Transaction Services and Designated Broker for CBRE’s Arizona offices. She oversees the day-to-day business development for the advisory practice, producer recruitment, professional development of the brokerage and debt teams, and financial performance for the Phoenix office, including P&L oversight and AZDRE regulatory compliance. Cathy joined CBRE as Director of Operations for the Southwest Region in 2014, where she was responsible for theimplementation and oversight of the firm’s new functional operations structure. In 2015, she was promoted to Senior Director, Sales Management, where she was responsible for the development of CBRE’s occupier business and sales professionals in the Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque markets. Prior to joining CBRE, Teeter held various leadership positions over a 27-year career withCushman & Wakefield. Cathy is a board member of Valley Partnership, a board member and Governance Committee chair for New Pathways for Youth, board member of Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Co-Chair of GPEC Next Committee, associate member and Partnership Forum Mentor for ULI, member of NAIOP Arizona and AZCREW, and Pacific Southwest Regional Advisor for CBRE Women’s Networking Group.

39 min

09/30/2025

S1E1 The Crew: The Launch, Laughs, and Learning Curve

We had no idea what we were doing—but we knew we had something worth building. This first episode is where it all begins. Join Jamie Ann Blakeman and the crew behind Lokahi Backstage as we share how the podcast came to life—through learning curves and a whole lot of laughter. You’ll meet Cameron, Savoi, and Feliciano, the behind-the-scenes team that helped bring this vision into the world. We recorded this one last, after wrapping a season filled with incredible guests and unforgettable conversations—and we can honestly say, we loved every minute of it. Our hope is that you’ll take something meaningful from each episode too. So here it is: a little chaos, a lot of heart, and a look at how it all began. Welcome to our very first episode. We’re so glad you’re here. E Komo Mai!

28 min

09/13/2025

Lokahi Backstage - Season 1 - Sparks in the Desert

Lokahi Backstage with Jamie Ann Blakeman kicks off with Season One: Sparks in the Desert—a series of conversations with the bold voices shaping Arizona’s professional landscape. From politicians to entrepreneurs, these storiesexplore pivotal moments, risks, and the courage to lead with purpose. It all started with one question: How do you do what you do? Season One is about the people behind the impact—and the spark that reminds you to be bold,different, and fully yourself.

1 min

Lokahi Backstage

Episodes

S1E10 Ryan Blakeman: From Playbook to Purpose

S1E9 Susan Bitter Smith: Getting Things Done

S1E8 Walter Crutchfield: The Power of Starting Over

S1E7 Wendy Riddell: The Tenacity Behind a Dream Life

S1E6 Ben Graff: Law, Laughs and Leadership

S1E5 Troy Peterson: Letting Go of the Label

S1E4 Alicia Goforth: Leaving Law to Leading Mesa

S1E3 Chris Bridges: Navigating Risk, Relationships & Roads

S1E2 Cathy Teeter: From Teen Mom to Trailblazer

S1E1 The Crew: The Launch, Laughs, and Learning Curve

Lokahi Backstage - Season 1 - Sparks in the Desert

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