>> Ted: WATER DELIVERY RETURNS TO RIO VERDE FOOTHILLS AND THERE'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.

AND LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS MAY BE AT RISK AND A REIMAGINED FLOWERBED.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTED THE SO-CALLED INDEPENDENT STATE LEGISLATURE THEORY WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN STATE LAWMAKERS THE POWER TO SET RULES FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND THE DRAWING OF CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

THE COURTS, QUOTE, DON'T HAVE FREE REIGN AND SUBJECT TO OVERSIGHT WITH FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

THE HIGH COURT'S VOTE WAS 6-3 WITH THOMAS AND ALITO AND GOR SUTCH AND HIS SUPPORTS.

>>> HOBBS WAS FOCUSED ON LGBTQ ARIZONANS AND THIS HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2017 AND THIS STOPS STATE INVOLVEMENT WITH CONVERSION AND THIS IS A CHANGE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SHE WOULD, QUOTE, DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO FIGHT FOR FULL EQUALITY AND THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED 13 EXECUTIVE ORDERS SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

>>> THE PIN AL COUNTY LECTOR RESIGNED AFTER IN OFFICE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THEY CLAIMED THE ELECTION'S DEPARTMENT WAS POLITICIZED AND HE CALLED THIS A FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND CLAIMED SHE WAS A TARGET OF, QUOTE, RIDICULE, DISRESPECT, INTIMIDATION AND ATTACKS ON ETHICS AND THE COUNTY STOOD BY AND DID NOTHING WHILE SHE WAS ATTACKED AND QUOTE, WITH NO REGRETS, I QUIT.

>>> SOUTHEASTERN PARTS OF ARIZONA ARE UNDER AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING AS PART OF A HEATWAVE AND MORE THAN 55 MILLION PEOPLE FROM ARIZONA TO FLORIDA ARE UNDER HEAT ALERTS AND THE HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE CAUSED BY A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CALLED A HEAT DOME TRAPPING AIR AND MORE THAN 90 TEMPERATURE RECORDS COULD BE BROKEN THIS WEEK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>>> AND IF YOU'VE INJURED YOURSELF PLAYING PICKLEBALL, YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

IT'S CAUSING MILLIONS IN HEALTH BILLS.

PICKLEBALL ACCOUNTS FOR 5% TO 10% OF MEDICAL COSTS IN THE U.S. COSTING $400 MILLION A YEAR.

ONE FACTOR IS A SPORT'S POPULARITY FOR SENIORS WHO ARE THE MOST FOR ER VISITS AND COMMON INJURIES INCLUDING SPRAINS, STRAINS AND FRACTURES.

>>> WATER DELIVERY RETURNED TO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF RIO VERDE FOOTHILLS AFTER THEY PROVIDE WATER TO RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT SOME ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS JUST A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.

JOINING US NOW IS MARICOPA COUNTY, THOMAS GALVIN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: DO THEY HAVE WATER NOW?

>> NOT YET.

I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AND CONVOLUTED STORY AND A STORY AND THIS IS A SIMPLE STORY AND ABOUT CUTTING OFF WATER TO FOLKS IN ARIZONA IS A REGRETTABLE DECISION AND THINGS HAPPEN AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND I WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR OF LEGISLATION FOR ADDRESSING THIS.

>> Ted: ONCE IT ROLLS, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?

>> THIS WILL BE A THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER AND PRIVATE WATER COMPANY CALLED EPP CORE AND THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT THE CITY WAS DELIVERING TO FOLKS WHO WERE NOT SCOTTSDALE RESIDENTS.

THESE FOLKS REACHED OUT WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THERE WAS A DEADLINE FOR CUTTING OFF WATER.

WHAT I DID WHAT I THINK WAS THE HARDER PART TO FIND A LONG-TERM.ER AND PROVIDER.

THEY FILED TO BE THE LONG-TERM.ER.

INPROVIDER.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHEN THINGS FELL OFF THE TRACKS AND WHAT GENERATED NATIONAL HEADLINES.

>> Ted: FELL OFF THE TRACKS AND SCOTTSDALE FOR THE TIME-BEING WILL PROVIDE WATER.

>> SCOTTSDALE HAS INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS A SAND PIPE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET HAULED WATER.

SO EITHER TRUCKS COME UP AND THE GET WATER FROM THE PIPES AND DELIVER IT TO PEOPLE HOMES OR PEOPLE COME UP AND GET THE WATER THEMSELVES.

WITH THIS NEW BILL THAT HAS BEEN PASSED IS THAT THE SCOTTSDALE'S CURRENT PIPE WOULD FACILITATE UNTIL THERE'S ONE IN TWO TO THREE YEARS.

>> Ted: TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT SCOTTSDALE'S WATER?

>> NO, AND I NEVER ADVOCATED FOR ANY PLAN FORWARD THAT.

>> Ted: SO IT SOUNDS LIKE MORE BUREAUCRACY HERE AND CAN'T BE HAPPY THERE OR ARE THEY?

>> I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, EITHER.

AS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, I'M LOOKING FOR WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS WITH THE LEAST UNTIL OF BUREAUCRACY.

WHAT I POPE PROPOSE THAT THE CITY TO ALLOW THROUGH THE PIPE AND ALLOW TO THESE FOLKS.

THE MAYOR OF SCOTTSDALE WAS NOT ON BOARD WITH THAT PROPOSAL THAT I MADE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE.

THE LEGISLATURE GOT INVOLVED AND GOVERNOR HOBBS WAS INVOLVED.

IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS AND THAT'S THE SOLUTION AND I RESPECT IT.

>> Ted: SO THE WATER GOES THROUGH THE STAND PIPE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL ON THIS DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL THEY REGULATE?

>> A FEW HUNDRED HOMES, 500, 750 HOMES AND THEY DO CAP THE NUMBER OF FOLKS GETTING IT AND YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE JOHNNY-COME-LATELY AND MEANT FOR THE PEOPLE CUT OFF SINCE JANUARY 1 AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE WITHOUT RELIABLE SERVICE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND IT'S ADDRESSED TO HELP THE FOLKS IN NEED.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST TO THE FOLKS IN NEED?

>> THEY WERE PAYING A RATE THAT WAS SET BY THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND THE PLAN IS THAT IT WOULD COST NO MORE THAN THAT OR AT MOST 10% ABOVE THAT.

RELATIVELY THE SAME AMOUNT.

>> Ted: THE PREVIOUS SCOTTSDALE PLAN, I KNOW SCOTTSDALE HAD IT OWN IDEAS AND I THINK YOU DESCRIBE THIS AS IMPRACTICAL AND OVERLY BURDENSOME.

AND I THINK WHAT CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION IS THAT THIS IS AN UNINCORPORATED AREA AND DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT ON THEIR BACKS AND YET, THEY RAN OUT OF WATER AND SAYING SCOTTSDALE, YOU OWE US?

>> NOT EXACTLY.

SO YES, I WANT TO POINT OUT THERE'S ABOUT 350,000 PEOPLE IN MARICOPA COUNTY THAT LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND THIS IS THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE AREA AFTER PHOENIX AND MESA.

THERE'S A LOT THAT LIVE THERE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

WHAT THEY TOLD SCOTTSDALE WAS THAT WE HAVE FOUND ANOTHER PROVIDER AND WE DON'T WAP WANT A DROP OF YOUR WATER AND WE WANT TO FACILITATE THE DELIVERY OF WATER AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS GET TECHNICAL HERE.

>> Ted: WHY DID SCOTTSDALE SAY NO AND WHAT WERE THE REASONS?

>> I THINK THE MAYOR OF SCOTTSDALE TRIED TO MAKE THIS A POLITICAL REASON TO PROTECT SCOTTSDALE'S WATER AND I THINK THIS WAS DISINGENUOUS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNTY CRITICALCOUNCIL HAS BEEN GOOD TO WORK WITH AND IT TOOK A BIPARTISAN EFFORT ON DIFFERENT LEVELS TO ACHIEVE THIS SEEMINGLY SIMPLE RESULT.

>> Ted: THE STAND PIPE IS SCOTTSDALE AND WILL EPCORE HAS ITS OWN STAND PIPE?

>> EPCORE FILED AND THAT HAS BEEN MOVING ON FOR A YEAR NOW AND THAT'S THE BIGGER QUESTION, THE LONG-TERM PROVIDER AND I EXPECT THIS WILL HAVE A FINAL DECISION IN LATE SUMMER.

ONCE THAT'S APPROVED, THEY CAN BUILD A NEW STAND PIPELINE PEOPLE CAN MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THIS, BECAUSE.

VERY CONFUSINGTHIS ISVERY CONFUSING, THIS IDEA OF UNINCORPORATED AREAS, WHAT KIND OF REGULATIONS OR CONTROL DO YOUSDO YOUAS A SUPERVISOR, HOW DO YOU THIS?

>> THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD ADDRESS THIS FOR UNINCORPORATED AREAS.

HOWEVER, WE DON'T HAVE PROVISIONS OF WATER AND NO WATER UTILITY AND WATER RIGHTS AND THE COUNTY IS A SUBDIVISION OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND SO THAT'S WHERE THESE THINGS FALL BETWEEN THE CRACK.

>> Ted: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AND WHY WATER?

WHY IS IT DIFFERENT WITH WATER?

>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE SETS REGULATIONS ON WATER AND WHO PROVIDES WATER.

SO DIFFERENT CITIES PROVIDE WATER AND CITY OF PHOENIX HAS WATER UTILITY AND OWN ELECTRIC UTILITY.

15 COUNTIES HERE IN ARIZONA AND NONE HAVE WATER UTILITIES.

>> Ted: THE IDEA OF LOT SPLITTING, DOING THINGS AND BRINGING MORE PEOPLE AND THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY THERE AND TIME TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE THE DAY I'VE BEEN APPOINTED AND NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE REAL ESTATE AND HOPEFULLY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET MEANINGFUL REFORMS.

>> Ted: WATER COMES WHAT, IN A FEW YEARS?

>> YES.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A STATE REPORT SHOWS LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS IN ARIZONA MAY BE AT RISK OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

A REASON REPORT BY THE AUDITOR GENERAL FINDS HEALTH AND SAFETY OF LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS MAY BE AT RISK.

IT FOLLOWS PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS THAT FOUND ISSUES WITH HOW THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HANDLES ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND WE WELCOME LINDSEY A. PERRY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: WHAT EXACTLY -- AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE AUDITOR GENERAL HAS LOOKED INTO THIS AND THIS LATEST REPORT, WHAT DID YOU LOOK AT?

>> SIMILAR TO OUR PRIOR REPORTED, WE ISSUED OUR INITIAL REPORT IN 2019 AND WE LOOKED AT THE DEPARTMENT'S RESIDENTS FOR HANDLING LONG-TERM CARE COMPLAINTS.

SO LONG-TERM CARE NURSING FACILITIES, LIKE NURSING HOMES AND SO WE LOOKED INTO REALLY, ARE THEY INVESTIGATING THOSE, HOW IS THAT GOING, IS IT TIMELY AND HOW ARE THEY PRIORITIZING THESE COMPLAINTS?

>> Ted: IN PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS, THE TIMELINESS WAS A FACTOR.

STILL A FACTOR?

>> IT STILL IS, UNFORTUNATELY.

IN 201, WE 2019, WE FOUND THEY WERE NOT INVESTIGATING SOME AND NOT TIMELY.

WE HAD A FOLLOW-UP IN MAY OF 2022 AND FOUND MORE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES.

WE FOUND THAT THEY WERE -- THE DEPARTMENT WAS DOWNGRADING COMPLAINTS AND THESE HIGH PRIORITY, HIGH RISK, SEXUAL ASSAULT, PHYSICAL ABUSE, YOU KNOW, QUALITY OF CARE CONCERNS WERE BEING DOWNGRADED INTO LOWER PRIORITIES WHICH ALLOWED, THEN, THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE MORE TIME TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THEY WERE CLOSING COMPLAINTS ABOUT AN ON SITE INVESTIGATION.

>> Ted: WHAT WAS THE REASONING?

>> THE WHY.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO THE WHY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW AND I KNOW THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE LEVEL MANAGEMENT CHANGES.

PLUS THERE WERE ZERO CHANGES AND WHY THIS WAS SYSTEMATICALLY HAPPENING.

>> Ted: IT'S ONE THING TO NOT HAVE THE CAUSE, BUT DID THEY GIVE A REASON THEMSELVES?

>> SELF-REASONS CITED FOR CLOSING, A COMPLAINT THAT IN DEATH.

YOU KNOW, WE HEARD ANTIDOTAL STORIES ABOUT HOW FAMILY MEMBERS TEND TO OVERSENSATIONALLIZE THOSE TYPES OF REPORTS BECAUSE THEY'RE SAD THEIR FAMILY MEMBER PASSED AWAY.

THERE WAS A CULTURAL ISSUE AND I THINK THE RECENT REPORT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR SHOWED PROGRESS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS MAKING IN CHANGING THAT CULTURE AND TRYING TO IMPLEMENT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> Ted: CHANGING THAT CULTURE AND THEY'RE DOING ON SITE INVESTIGATIONS AND HOW PLEASANTLY SURPRISING THAT IS.

THEY WEREN'T DOING THIS BEFORE?

>> IT WAS SORT OF MIXED BAG.

CERTAINLY, WE FOUND THEY WEREN'T INVESTIGATING CERTAIN ONES AND WEREN'T TIMELY INVESTIGATING THOSE THAT WERE OPEN.

WE FOUND THAT SOME OF THEM TOOK UP TO 900 PLUS DAYS TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE.

SO THE DEPARTMENT CERTAINLY NEEDS TO GET ON TOP OF INVESTIGATING, TIMELY INVESTIGATING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF RISKS.

>> Ted: YOU REFERRED TO THIS BUT PRIORITIZATION AND THE PRIORITY SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT SKEWED HERE.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE CONTINUE TO FIND IN OUR FOLLOW-UP REPORT, IS THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE PRIORITIZED TO LOWER PRIORITY LEVELS ALLOWING TO INVESTIGATE UP TO A YEAR VERSUS TEN DAYS.

SOME OF THE ONES WE LOOKED AT, WE QUESTIONED AND THOSE WERE HIGH PRIORITY AND THE DEPARTMENT AGREED WITH US ON SOME OF THOSE AND SO NOT INVESTIGATING THOSE WITHIN THOSE PERIODS OF TIMES AND IT CERTAINLY JEOPARDIZES INVESTIGATIONS AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBSTANTIATE CLAIMS THAT MAY BE SUBSTANTIATABLE.

AND SO, WE FOUND REAL DIFFICULTIES IN THAT PRIORITIZATION PROCESS STILL.

>> Ted: NO KIDDING.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT THERE AND YOU'VE GONE BACK THROUGH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND STATE HEALTH DIRECTORS.

IS THAT A PROBLEM AND ARE WE HAVING DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND ONE DIRECTOR LOOKING AT IT WARM UPIT ONEWAY AND ANOTHER A DIFFERENT WAY?

>> THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC AS.

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT, THEY COULD VALUE BY MANAGEMENT REPORTS.

AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT BUREAU IS DOING, HOW MANY INVESTIGATIONS ARE THEY TAKING IN AND WHEN ARE THEY PRIORITIZING THOSE AND HOW QUICKLY TO INVESTIGATE THOSE AND HOW AND WHEN ARE THEY RESOLVING THOSE.

REPORTING LIKE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SORT OF SETTING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT BUREAU AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS MOVING FORWARD IN AND SOMETHING THAT WE REPORTED ON, THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO IMPLEMENT.

>> Ted: BUT I IMAGINE THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PREVIOUS REPORTS, AS WELL.

WERE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOWED?

>> WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR FOLLOW-UP REPORT IS THAT ZERO HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

WHEN WE CONDUCTED OR RECENT FOLLOW-UP REPORT, WE HAD FOUR FROM OUR INITIAL REPORT AND FIVE FROM THE FOLLOW-UP REPORT SO A TOTAL OF NINE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE FOUND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING SIX OUT OF THE NINE, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS AND THEY HAVE NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

>> Ted: IT SUGGESTS THEY'RE NOT MAYBE TAKING THIS AS SERIOUS AS THEY SHOULD, FRANKLY.

>> I THINK THAT THEY ARE MOVING TOWARDS THAT.

CERTAINLY AT 36 MONTHS, I WOULD EXPECT OUR AGENCIES TO HAVE IMPLEMENTED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT CERTAINLY, THIS NEW EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS TOM SALO, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND OVERSEES THIS BUREAU, HAS GIVEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO MOVING FORWARD AND IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH IS STAFF TURNOVER AND BURNOUT PLAYING A PART IN THIS?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE CAUSES OF THE DEPARTMENT SITES IS NOT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF AND IT TAKES TIME TO TRAIN THOSE STAFF ON THE APPROPRIATE PRIORITIZATION AND INVESTIGATIONS AND WHATNOT.

SO CERTAINLY, THAT IS A PART OF THE CAUSE OF WHAT WE SAW, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

NOT CERTAINLY, THE CLOSING OF INVESTIGATIONS, THE DOWNGRADING OF INVESTIGATIONS, THAT IS -- THE CAUSE IS NOT A STAFFING ISSUE AND THAT IS MORE OF AN UNDERLYING DEEP ISSUE IN CULTURE.

>> Ted: THE BOTTOM LINE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH LONG-TERM CARE FOLKS AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEED CARE AND NEED ATTENTION AND WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, YOU CAN'T BE SITTING AROUND, WAITING ON THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

THAT'S GOT TO CHANGE.

>> EXACTLY.

THESE ARE VULNERABLE ADULTS.

AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IMPORTANT, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE TRIED TO CONVEY IN OUR REPORTS, THAT THESE AREN'T JUST REPORTS BUT PEOPLE AND NOT TREATING THEM LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE ARE OUR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THESE ARE OUR LOVED ONES AND NOT REPORTS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST AN ALLEGATION BUT SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY IN THEIR PROACTIVE, AND ASSURING QUALITY CARE.

>> Ted: A PERFECT WAY TO END OUR CONVERSATION.

PUTLINDSAY PERRY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> Ted: A 17-YEAR-OLD PHOENIX ENTREPRENEUR IS THE BRAINS BEHIND STEMISTRY, A FLOWER BAR WHERE CUSTOMERS ARRANGE THEIR OWN FLOWERS AND DOUG DUCEY DYLAN CAPSHAW JOINS US NOW AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NOW?

>> STEMISTRY IS A FLOWER BAR, COFFEE LAB AND A FUN STAFF.

>> Ted: SO A FLOWER BAR AND COFFEE LAB AND, AGAIN, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> SO I GOT CREATIVE AND MY TERMINOLOGY.

WE HAVE THIS BUILD YOUR OWN BOUQUET BAR WITH GUESTS COMING IN TO CREATE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS AND THEN WE HAVE UNIQUE COFFEE DRINKS WITH THE FLOWERS AND A 24 KARAT GOLD LATTE.

>> Ted: I LIKE ROSES AND IN A ROSES FRAME OF MIND, I CAN PICK A BOUQUET OF ROSES AND HAVE A ROSE COFFEE.

>> ROSE LATTE AND ESPRESSO AND MILK AND ROSE PETALS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR GRAB-AND-GO AND YOU CAN BUY ONE ROSE OR A BOUQUET OF ROSES AND WHATEVER YOU LIKE.

>> Ted: I CAN WALK IN AND I WANT THAT AND YOU CAN MAKE THAT FOR ME?

>> YES.

MOST DON'T HAVE THAT SYSTEM.

>> Ted: COFFEES INFUSED BY FLOWERS AND HOW DOES A ROSE LATTE WORK?

>> I CAME UP WITH THIS MENU IN CLASS.

BUT WE TAKE FLORAL EXTRACTS INTO OUR DRINKS AND BASIC LAT LATTE AND TASTES LIKE IT SMELLS BUT IT'S INTERESTING.

>> Ted: WHERE DID YOU GET IN IDEA?

>> I STARTED AN ONLINE FLORAL SHOP WHEN I WENT BACK FROM SCHOOL IN 2020 AND JUST SHIPPING OUT FLOWERS I CUT FROM MY BACKYARD AND SELLING THEM AND MY BACKYARD WAS CUT DRY.

I COMBINED THE TWO AND THOUGHT OF CREATIVE LITTLE AREAS IN THE SHOP.

>> Ted: YOU'RE 17 YEARS OLD AND MOST ARE THINKING WHAT TO DO ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR?

>> YES, AS FAR AS BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, STARTING LITTLE BUSINESSES AND WHAT I ENJOYED DOING.

>> Ted: IS THIS MAKING MONEY?

>> IT IS.

>> Ted: WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING FROM FOLKS WHO WANDER IN?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

WHEN I WAS 15.

I SIGNED THE LEASE AT 16 AND DAVID ORTEGA JOINED US AND IT WAS FUN MEETING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SUPPORT FROM MY COMMUNITY AND GROWING AND LEARN EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO RUNNING A BRICK AND MORTAR.

>> Ted: A LOT TO LEARN AND WHAT WERE THE EARLY LESSONS?

>> IT WAS HARD HIRING EMPLOYEES AND KEEPING EMPLOYEES.

A LOT WALKED IN AND SAW A 15-YEAR-OLD INTERVIEWING THEM AND TURNED AROUND AND WALKED FOR THE DOOR.

BUT THEN IT WASN'T TOO DIFFICULT.

TED I >> Ted: AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE PRIVATE CLASSES?

>> YES, CORPORATE EVENTS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND KEEP CAN RENT IT OUT AND WE'LL HAVE A FLORIST ON STAFF AND BREAKFAST, LUNCH, FOOD.

>> Ted: WHEN PEOPLE COME TO WORK, ARE THEY INTERESTED IN DESIGNING THE FLOWERS OR THE FOOD AND DRINK?

>> IT'S DIFFERENT.

I TAKE ON A LOT OF BAR BARISTAS.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS FOOD, I THINK I MENTIONED FOOD, THERE IS FOOD, RIGHT.

>> BREAKFAST, LUNCH, PASTRIES.

>> Ted: WAS THERE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT GOT YOU INVOLVED?

>> I LOOKED UP TO A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS WHO STARTED REALLY YOUNG AND DIDN'T LET ANYTHING HOLD THEM BACK AND HAVE GROWN EMPIRES IN THEIR 40s OR 50s.

>> Ted: FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING?

>> MY PARENTS WERE CONCERNED WHEN I CAME TO THEM WITH A POWER POINT AND THIS IS WHAT I MADE AND WANT TO OPEN UP A STORE.

AT 15, I COULDN'T FIND THE LEASE AND THEM TAKING THE RESIDENT BUT IRESPONSIBILITY.

I HAD REVENUE ON ONLINE SALES AND I CONTINUED AND KIND OF BACKED THEM INTO A CORNER AND WAS ABLE TO OPEN UP.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE TWO STORES?

>> OUR SECOND STORE IN MARCH IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE OPENING NEW STEMISTRY STORES.

I'VE HIT A FUN CONCEPT AND THE ONLINE MODEL AS WELL AS IN-PERSON AND I WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND THEM THROUGHOUT ARIZONA.

LONG TERM, I WOULD LOVE TO GO COULD COLLEGE AFTER MY SENIOR YEAR OR MAYBE GET INTO POLITICS ONE DAY.

>> Ted: WELL, YOU'LL BE BACK ON THE SHOW IF YOU DO THAT.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: CONGRATULATIONSES ONCONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!