Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Melissa Kalinowski, to the Southeast Valley Office.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.
Melissa has lived in Arizona since 1995. Prior to relocating to AZ, Melissa grew up in Cincinnati and spent several years in Southern California. Melissa began her career in real estate as a paralegal and has spent years developing her deep understanding of real estate transactions serving as a title officer, escrow officer, and real estate agent.
“I am beyond excited to be joining Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty! The brand name is synonymous with high-end real estate across the globe,” said Melissa Kalinowski. “Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty felt like a perfect fit for me, from the culture of the company, the management team, to the professionalism of its agents! Thrilled to begin this new journey”
Melissa’s zest for life and her incredible vast knowledge create an experience for her clients that is second to none. Melissa’s ability to communicate, pay attention to detail, and understand the client’s needs in helping them reach their goals has truly been her recipe for success. By following a process, Melissa prepares her clients to win in any market. Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is so proud to add her to our award-winning team.
We have a thriving Arizona youth sport during this Winter Olympic year that might be a surprise – Alpine Ski and Snowboard racing.
Alpine skiing has been one of the Winter Olympics’ signature competitions since 1936. This timeless sport consists of five events – downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and combined events.
The Flagstaff Alpine Ski & Snowboard Team was founded in 1967 and trains over 180 athletes from ages eight to eighteen at the Arizona Snowbowl. The team competes in the Rocky Mountain Division of US Ski and Snowboard. The Rocky Mountain Division consists of the following states: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Families commute from all over the state and from cities as far as Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson to have their juniors on this team. Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty’s CEO and co-owner, Todd Gillenwater and, his wife, Nancy Gillenwater, have twin 17-year-old daughters that have been on the team since the age of eight and are finishing their high school racing careers this winter.
This season they’ve raced downhill, super g, giant slalom, and slalom – all Olympic events. The races have been held in Loveland, Aspen, Purgatory, Colorado, and Flagstaff, Arizona. Their final season wraps up this March with Championship races in Taos, New Mexico.
When asked for takeaways from being an athlete on the Flagstaff Alpine Ski & Snowboard Team for almost all of their childhood, the Gillenwater twins said self-confidence, discipline, respect for the mountains, and how fortunate they feel to have been a part of the team and sport. These are the qualities that will define them forever.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Alana Bateman, to the Humphrey Office.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.
Alana Bateman was born and raised in Arizona, growing up in the desert landscape of Tucson to living in the beautiful forest of Flagstaff. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Alana has a dynamic professional background in sales and customer service. As a REALTOR®, her priority is to make her clients happy, finding and selling homes that provide the best outcome in every transaction. Her goal is to ensure a stress-free buying and selling experience for her clients.
Alana has proven to be an immediate dynamo in her real estate practice. Her super-positive energy and enthusiasm are one of the first things you learn about her. She is also an expert in the current state of the market and her marketing expertise is absolutely top-shelf. We are proud to welcome her to our family of real estate professionals
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Kimber Chisman, to the Southeast Valley Office.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.
As your professional real estate advisor, Kimber focuses on client satisfaction. Her business is about service and she is not happy until you are happy. Kimber’s years in the business have provided her the experience to assist with nearly every real estate need.
“Quality never goes out of style, and I am excellence defined. Results that move you,” said Kimber Chisman
Whether it’s finding a home, finding the best loan, or helping you get the most out of selling your home she is here to guide you.
Kimberly Chisman is such a bright beautiful soul. Her background in customer service and her attention to detail combined with a phenomenal work ethic and a true desire to serve others give her such an advantage when working with clients. Kimber has spent much of her work life in educating and training others to be the best they can be. It’s so exciting having someone of Kimber’s quality join our Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty family.
This masterpiece is equally tailor-made for those who love sports as well as those who love to entertain.
Have you ever dreamed of flying into town, taxing directly into your own private hangar, stepping into your home and shooting a game of hoops, or hitting a few balls in your own batting cage? While that may seem like a somewhat elaborate dream, it can actually now come to reality.
Star Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger can make that dream come true for you; Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Arizona’s leader in luxury real estate, is listing his “ultimate man cave” for sale at $3,999,000 with Agent Jennifer Bellinger, who when she’s not finding buyers for exquisite custom homes in Arizona also serves as Cody Bellinger’s mother.
This beautiful Forte custom home at 4390 W Beechcraft Place in Chandler measures in at 4,513 square feet on one level, with 3 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, but the numbers don’t do it justice when compared to the incredible amenities that it contains. The first and most prominent is the 3,762 square foot air-conditioned airplane hanger which taxis directly onto the Stellar runway. You can transit directly from a private plane right into your home.
The most unique features reflect the occupation of its owner, however; this is a sports-lover’s paradise. It naturally contains a retractable batting cage as well as a basketball court, a bar, and a game room. The absolutely perfect destination for your sports fanatic friends to come to and let loose. If you want to make your friends envious, this has what you need.
Of course, the home won’t be purely for recreation, and to that end, this exquisite home features dual master bedrooms, a guest suite, and a formal office.
The open floor plan has 18′ ceilings with floating box beam ceiling treatments. Towering gas linear fireplace in the main room is the centerpiece of the living area. While you’re entertaining, it’s essential to create great meals, and this home’s kitchen is appointed with Subzero/Wolf appliances including a built-in espresso maker, dual Cove dishwashers, and the dining space has built-in Subzero Wine Fridge.
If you want to cook outside in the beautiful Arizona weather, it has an outdoor kitchen with a pizza over. And it also features a heated pool jacuzzi, and a fireplace, making it an ideal meeting spot for not just your sports enthusiast friends, but friends and family of all hobbies and stripes.
And you know the old adage about real estate; it’s all about location, location, location. This Chandler home speaks perfectly to that, as it is close to world-renowned shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and schools. It’s an ideal place to both entertain family and raises a family.
We invite you to take your own virtual tour of the property by watching this video, with both video and photo credit going to Anthony Giammarino at Airobird Drones Arizona.
We are confident that you’ll think that this gorgeous home is just as much of a home run as Cody Bellinger did when he purchased it.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Tatum Stathakis, to the Pinnacle Peak Office.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.
As a native of Scottsdale, She is thrilled to be sharing her knowledge and love for the city she has grown up in. With a long family history of being in the home and real estate business, she hopes to keep the tradition alive and have a lot of fun doing it.
Tatum is excited to be starting off her real estate career with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty.
Tatum has recently joined our Brokerage and I must say, I have been impressed with her enthusiasm for this business! I know Tatum will be an instant success!
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Vickie Mercer, to the Camelback Tower Office.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.
Vickie loves living and sharing the Scottsdale lifestyle. More particularly in her words an oasis in a ‘living’ desert. Vickie found waterfront living in Scottsdale mirroring the waterfront living she enjoyed in Kirkland Washington for many years to be amazing – trading 320 days of overcast for 320 days of Valley sun.
Vickie trusts you’ll find her engaging and highly capable of managing the complexities of selling your home or finding the perfect place to call home. She is also skilled in managing people and situations – even difficult situations. Not that she wants to attract it, but she has the experience and know-how. Affiliating with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty offers tremendous marketing leverage for her clients and standards unmatched in the industry.
Vickie’s real estate experience in Washington will only help guide her in the Arizona market. Kind and committed to her client base, Vickie will obtain continued success in her real estate endeavors.
We start and end each day in our bathroom, so why shouldn’t our bathrooms be luxurious sanctuaries for us to find peace and calm? We all look forward to a steaming shower or a soak in the tub to find a moment of zen. Indulge in an at-home spa treatment, skincare routine, or bubble bath. These luxurious spa bathrooms serve as a place of respite.
The primary bathroom is often the largest in a home and becomes the center for your personal spa. Spacious walk-in showers and oversized soaking tubs are often features of this space, along with a glamorous vanity area. Lighting is another key to a sanctuary bathroom, so be sure to have plenty of ambient and natural lighting.
Find your luxurious escape with a sanctuary spa bathroom in a beautiful home offered by Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty. A trusted expert from Russ Lyon is happy to help you find the relaxing atmosphere in one of their stunning estates.
Light a candle and put on your bathrobe for this edition of ICONIC Estates! ICONIC Estates!
If you are a proponent of pampering your pooch, you’ll love the unique architectural dog houses that are built each year for the annual Facings of America Design for Dogs competition. Local Phoenix-based architects, interior designers, builders, and industry partners compete head-to-head to design and build the best custom, one-of-a-kind dog house while fundraising for the Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA. At the Design for Dogs event—which was held in Scottsdale, Arizona—each dog house entry was on display for voters to rank, and a silent auction was held.
To bring the desert luxury spa resort experience back to earth, just add water and shift the standard paradigm of its location a bit out of the left field. This is exactly what film industry veteran Maria Lease had in mind when she looked to Coachella Valley as the prime location for her day spa resort, Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa Oasis.
And rather than looking to the obvious—the eternally bright and trendy downtown Palm Springs California or the oh-so-posh Palm Desert—she had her sights set on Desert Hot Springs, just a half-hour drive away from the two tourist draws. While the surroundings of Desert Hot Springs are a bit more low-key, it makes perfect sense for a spa resort when you consider that a relatively distraction-free space is the best place for self-care, with nature front and center.
Tess Loo’s luxe home decor is anything but ordinary, in fact, much of it is secondhand or DIY. As co-owner and Chief Fashion Officer of Eco-Chic Consignments—a collection of boutique resale stores including My Sister’s Closet, Well Suited, and My Sister’s Attic—Loo is all too familiar with the unique style and joy that preloved interior design can bring.
“I believe that in decorating, you can do high and low. You can buy a piece from Goodwill for $35, mix it with an antique you might have, and nobody knows and you don’t even have to tell them,” says Loo.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Rebekah Mayes, to the Camelback Tower Office.
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.
I am excited to utilize my skills in delivering an exceptional client experience in Arizona. I strive to create the perfect environment for her clients as they buy or sell their homes through consistency, credibility, and trustworthiness.
Rebekah Mayes
Rebekah Mayes joined Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in December 2021. She relocated from Chicago where she is also a licensed real estate agent with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty.
Rebekah deploys the skills she learned after a long career in the corporate environment within luxury beauty retail. She is excited to utilize her skills in delivering an exceptional client experience. She brings consistency, credibility, trustworthiness along with her great eye for design.
Rebeckah’s natural charm makes you instantly feel like you know her. Eager to help and extremely knowledgeable in her area of expertise, Rebekah was an easy choice to partner with in her real estate venture.
When the Summer Olympics head to France in 2024, one of the sports continuing to gain attention and momentum is mountain biking, especially here in the Grand Canyon state. After beginning in California in the 1970s, the sport’s popularity has grown among adults and especially teens looking to tackle Arizona’s dramatic landscape and rugged terrain.
One of those young mountain biking enthusiasts’ is 14-year-old Zane Thomas of Anthem.
“I love to jump and go fast downhill,” said Zane Thomas. “I would watch videos on social media of people going to bike parks and I knew it was something I wanted to try.”
Two years ago, while still in junior high school Zane came across a post about a Mountain Biking team allowing him to join the nearby Boulder Creek High School team and compete against older students. Zane, who always had a spark for adventure and lives a little on the side of danger, didn’t waste any time. As soon as he arrived at the first practice with a bike a helmet and he was ready to go.
“He was practicing three days a week during summer vacation waking before the sun is up to try and beat the heat. His new coaches were welcoming and so encouraging,” said Mom, Jennifer Thomas.
Unfortunately, that year the Arizona Cycling Association’s season was canceled due to COVID, but the coaches continued to hold practices all season for the teams and the following January the young mountain biker joined an additional MBAA series. This was Zane’s first taste with cross country enduro racing and he fell in love.
“I am so proud of him and so happy that he finally found his passion. I am always nervous when he is on the start line knowing he will give it his all out there. He has had several crashes, and has a few battle scars to show for it, but to see the excitement in his face when he breaks another goal is the best feeling,” said Thomas.
When his school year resumed Zane was back racing with the Boulder Creek team and he was so excited to race as a Freshman for his high school. In his first year, he had a great high school season breaking all of his personal goals and ending with the State Championship in Sierra Vista, Arizona. His teammate Gabe Harrelson won the State Championship that year. Zane has now started his second MBAA racing series in January and this time as a Junior Racer for Exhale Bikes Inc.
Even though he’s just 14-years-old he’s currently racing with 15-and-16-year-olds. With northern and southern divisions, his mom says she is still shocked how popular mountain biking has become in Arizona and how many high schools across the state have teams and races on the weekends.
“Race weekends are full of energy and so much fun. The families of the teammates gather in large pit areas as races commence all day,” said Jennifer Thomas. “The teammates support each other at the start and finish line. It is a great group of kids and the families have been so warm and welcoming.”
Zane Thomas loves watching his fellow team members and Red Bull’s professional riders. He hopes to ride like them all one day and his mom hopes he continues doing what he loves.
“It is not always about getting to the podium, but doing what makes you happy. If he is happy then we are happy. I know there are scholarships available and opportunities to travel with this sport. If this is something he decides to do, we are 100% behind him,” she said.
I am so proud of him and so happy that he finally found his passion. I am always nervous when he is on the start line knowing he will give it his all out there. He has had several crashes, and has a few battle scars to show for it, but to see the excitement in his face when he breaks another goal is the best feeling. It is not always about getting to the podium, but doing what makes you happy. If he is happy then we are happy.
Jennifer Thomas, MOM
Looking to get your young mountain biker into competing?
Check out the Arizona Cycling Association’s website for more information on the races and resources for Arizona Mountain Bikers arizonacycling.org or nationalmtb.org.
