Wisdom in Wealth with Stephanie Fox

Stephanie sits down with Alex Taylor, founder and CEO of CommercializeIQ, a serial entrepreneur who has owned and operated commercial real estate and is a seasoned investor in deals nationwide.
Alex talks about the 90 days after he sold his last company, asking CRE professionals one question: what doesn't work for you today? The answers kept pointing to scattered, outdated data, a problem he knew firsthand as an investor having to log into multiple different portals simply to view PDFs. 
That became CommercializeIQ, an AI platform that brings leases, contracts, and relationships into one place, answers questions like "Can I bring a certain retailer into this center?" in seconds, and assigns the work that follows. He and Stephanie also cover why CRE is still in "batting practice" on AI, the security risk of putting leases into a $20 chatbot, and why companies that try to build it in-house tend to call back six months later.
Wisdom and Wealth is proudly sponsored by Landmark Title — Arizona's title and escrow experts. Learn more at LTAAG.com.
Learn more about CommercializeIQ at commercializeiq.com
Keep up with Alex on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandertaylor86/

What does it take to break a cycle you lived as a child?
Stephanie sits down with Dawn Marie, founder and executive director of HELP Now AZ, and Kristi Smith, Executive Vice President of Landmark Title of Arizona and President of HELP Now AZ's board.
Dawn Marie opens up about growing up homeless in Arizona from ages 5 to 15 — moving schools repeatedly, sleeping in parks and cars — and how as an adult, a homeless man's cardboard sign led her to found a nonprofit six months later with no experience and no plan, but a lot of faith. Fourteen years later, HELP Now AZ has multiple programs and serves 22 school districts and roughly 300 schools, delivering more than 18,000 handwritten-note snack bags a month to at-risk and homeless kids, runs an annual car-giveaway program, and is building toward a campus model with transitional dorms for youth aging out of the system.
Learn more or get involved at helpnowaz.org.
Wisdom in Wealth is proudly sponsored by Landmark Title — Arizona's title and escrow experts. Learn more at LTAAG.com.

Everyone in commercial real estate knows title insurance exists. Far fewer understand what it actually covers, and where the gaps are.
In this episode, Landmark Title's Stephanie Fox and Chris Maddox take the floor at the June Ladies in Land Phoenix Chapter Lunch & Learn for a candid, case-study-driven conversation about what title insurance actually does when a deal gets complicated.
Chris draws on 30 years of title and underwriting experience to walk through real situations: the California investor who skipped the survey and paid for it when an unrecorded Southwest Gas easement blocked his development plan, the desert site with CC&R conflicts that took months of creative underwriting to resolve, and the scenarios where a title claim actually results in a check versus a defense.
The conversation covers standard versus extended policies, off-record matters, mechanics lien exposure, zoning coverage limitations, utility easements that don't show up in public records, and how to think about title insurance as a risk transfer tool rather than a formality.
If you work in land acquisition, development, or commercial brokerage, this one is worth a listen before your next closing.
Wisdom in Wealth is proudly sponsored by Landmark Title — Arizona's title and escrow experts. Learn more at LTAAG.com.

Kurt Nishimura started his career on the accounting side of a family office, watching realtors outpace him on the income statement. When he made the switch, he brought something most agents don't have: the ability to underwrite across every asset class — land, industrial, office, retail, multifamily, hotels — because the market cycle doesn't move the same way in all of them at once.
In this conversation, Kurt and Stephanie cover what it actually takes to survive the first three years in real estate, how Kurt called the 2005 market peak and sold before the crash (and got yelled at for it), and why his background in construction and data gave his investor clients a different level of confidence.
Kurt also shares his work with AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America) and why closing the homeownership gap in Arizona's growing Asian American community comes down to one thing: education delivered before the moment of crisis, not during it.
Plus: how mentorship is already sending business back to Kurt from the people he's mentoring, what the TSMC ripple effect actually looks like on the ground in Arizona, and why workforce housing in places like Payson and Sedona may be one of the most underserved opportunities in the state right now.
Wisdom in Wealth is proudly sponsored by Landmark Title. Learn more about their title and escrow services at LTAAG.com.

After the loss of his sister Nancy, Bob Silver stepped in to lead Two Pups Wellness Fund, transforming grief into purpose. Founded by Nancy in 2017, the local nonprofit provides financial aid for life-saving medical care and treatments of ill, injured, neglected and abandoned animals. What began as a passion for helping animals who are overlooked and discarded has grown into a critical lifeline for animal rescues across Arizona, delivering fast funding and real impact when it’s needed most.
In this episode, Bob shares how simple, community-driven support can save lives, helping rescues act quickly, reduce risk and give dogs a second chance. It’s a powerful conversation about legacy, community impact and how small actions can make a meaningful difference.
Learn more about Two Pups Wellness Fund at twopups.org, and keep up with them on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twopupswellness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twopups.org/

Stephanie sits down with Shamsher “Vandal” Mann, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, former F-16 squadron commander and now founder in the aerospace defense industry.
From immigrating to the U.S. to leading combat missions and commanding at Luke Air Force Base, Vandal shares a powerful perspective on leadership shaped under pressure.
This episode dives into the gap between military and corporate leadership — why today’s workplace often values politeness over results, and how the best leaders find the balance between the two.
You’ll learn:
Why leadership and management are not the same
How to communicate with clarity and purpose
The value of military experience in business
What it takes to make faster, better decisions
If you’re looking to lead with more confidence, clarity, and impact, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Wisdom in Wealth, Stephanie sits down with Chris Camacho, Senior Vice President of Global Site Strategy at Axon and former CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Chris reflects on his role in helping drive over $26 billion in investment into Arizona, shares insights on the state’s rapid growth and evolving business climate, and opens up about his transition from public-facing economic development to leading global strategy for a multi-billion-dollar company. From navigating NIMBYism to scaling innovation worldwide, this conversation is packed with perspective on leadership, growth and embracing new challenges.

In this episode of Wisdom in Wealth, Stephanie sits down with Angela Gillespie, Managing Director at TMG, for a candid, thoughtful conversation on leadership, communication, and the lessons you only learn by living them.
Angela shares her unconventional career journey — from speech and debate and PR to healthcare leadership, executive coaching, and stepping into high-pressure CEO and consultant roles across industries. Stephanie and Angela unpack what it really means to lead through complexity, earn trust under pressure, and build strong, human-centered teams.
This conversation dives into the realities of career pivots, imposter syndrome, and why failure isn’t something to fear — but a critical part of growth. Angela offers practical wisdom for young professionals and seasoned leaders alike, emphasizing the power of curiosity, preparation, emotional intelligence, and genuine connection in building long-term success.
Keep up with Angela on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelagillespieaz/

Wisdom in Wealth host Stephanie Fogelson sits down with Tanner Ferrandi, first vice president at CBRE Phoenix, and rising talent in commercial real estate who has already made an impressive mark early in his career.
The conversation dives into the importance of mastering market data, learning from experienced brokers and staying curious in the early years of a career. Tanner also discusses why brokerage is fundamentally a service industry, the lessons he learned working in a highly competitive “eat what you kill” environment, and how becoming a new parent has shaped his perspective on work and life.
Whether you're new to brokerage, considering a career in commercial real estate or simply interested in how professionals build momentum early in their careers, Tanner’s story is a powerful reminder that success often starts with curiosity, discipline and a genuine love for the work.

In this episode of Wisdom in Wealth, Stephanie sits down with Chief Master Sergeant Nathan Chrestensen, 56th Fighter Wing Command Chief at Luke Air Force Base, for a powerful conversation on leadership, humility and service.
A self-described introvert who has spent his entire career in the United States Air Force, Chief Chrestensen shares what it means to lead from a place of availability rather than authority. He explains the mission of the 56th Fighter Wing — training the world’s greatest F-35 pilots — and offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a base operates as both a military training hub and a tight-knit community.
From the true meaning of valor, to building trust instead of chasing titles to the importance of presence at work and at home, this episode is filled with grounded wisdom that applies far beyond the military. Whether you know nothing about the armed forces or have deep ties to service, you’ll walk away inspired by a leader who proves you don’t have to be loud to make an extraordinary impact.