Casey Kendal
This guest started his career as a copy machine salesman in downtown Los Angeles and eventually found himself in Gilbert where he founded Prosperity North Advisors in 2015. He holds an MBA from GCU and is a very proud husband and father to two boys. He is a bass guitar playing, fisherman, and family man. Welcome, Casey Kendel.
Episode Transcription
Guiding Growth. Conversations with Community Leaders. In this podcast, we'll explore the human journey of leaders, their stories of humility, triumph roadblocks and lessons learned. Come join us as we journey together and uncover the questions you've always wanted to know. This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce providing resources, connections and belonging for business professionals and rocket space, an event and meeting venue in the heart of the East Valley with a full service for person podcast studio, another guiding growth day and today we've got somebody amazing with us.
Why don't you tell me about him? Yes, This guest started his career as a copy machine salesman in downtown Los Angeles and eventually found himself here in Gilbert Arizona where he founded prosperity north advisors in 2015. He holds an M. B. A. From G. C. U. And is a very proud husband and father to two boys. He has a bass guitar playing fishermen and family man. Welcome Casey Kendall, thank you. There we go. And he's fresh down from the mountain today, I hear you're oh yeah, I was fishing this week, were you?
What kind of fishing do you do? That kind of swim? You know? Okay. Is it catch and release or I kept one. Um, I only like to keep what I'm going to eat. Is it the hand roll bigger than that and you keep it kind of thing. Um it's more about like whether you don't even have to answer. It's a silly question Minnesota guy, I know these things europe in Pinetop right? Where the fish are plenty, yep. We we fished solo then full hollow. Like yeah, awesome.
And you do this with your kids. Okay. Seven and five. And they are, they're boys. Yeah, we played in the mud this week. We went fishing, we did a lot of cool things. I love that. So we're gonna get going on our program here. And what we start with is what we call rapid fire round. Okay, so here, I'm gonna let you go first. Okay, here we go. Would you rather travel to the past or to the future? I'm gonna at this point I'm going to say future.
Okay, what is your hidden talent? Can play the bagpipes, hip hop or rock concert, rock. Have you ever lived abroad? Yes. What is your go to snack ice cream. What makes you hopeful? My kids? Are you a thinker or a dur dur if someone was to play you in a movie, who would you want it to be? I don't know his name, but he's from nine oh 21 oh and he was like steve in that. And then he was on the Sharknado, a series of movies and series.
Yeah, that's it would be fun. What is your favorite pastime or hobby fishing? I would have guessed that one and last question. Class. Half full or half empty? Half full. Welcome to the club. My friend Gilbert City lifestyles is a locally owned publication whose mission is to find and share great stories in our community and help build a stronger, more vibrant local experience, become a digital subscriber at city lifestyles dot com forward slash Gilbert. Okay, well let's get right into things. We know nothing about you, Do we this if we don't have so much to learn today.
Well, let's talk maybe about fishing. Where, where did that start? Have you always been a fisherman? Yeah, my dad and grandfather were really big fisherman. My grandfather had a 38 ft fishing boat at a long beach California. So I spent a lot of time on that. Um, I probably learned how to park It in a slip when I was 11 years old. Um, so we used to go to Catalina um, and do a lot of fishing there and done that in Mexico as well. Um even fished in Hawaii.
Um My dad was a big freshwater guy. Um, so that's where I get like the trout fishing. Um, and in that aspect of it. So we've kind of combined that my wife is not really a big fisherman, but she likes to hike. So we parked far away at the lake and then hike to it and there you go. What a blessing to have that time in those memories with your, your dad and your grandfather. Yeah. Yeah. Actually I lost my dad in in 97. I was 19 years old, but obviously made a big, big enough impact on me that I've carried it forward.
So you've been in the insurance industry for a while. Um tell us a little about how you got to that path. Yeah. So I think in the intro copier salesman um I I started selling copiers after getting laid off from construction and so my uncle who is my mentor said bow, you have a, you have a great personality. Uh, you should be a sales guy. And I thought, okay, well I've got laid off from construction and that's really hard to do. So, um, two weeks after uh that conversation I was working at Xerox knocking on doors, walking up and down the mean streets of Burbank and north Hollywood.
Mm hmm. From there with a company like Xerox either kind of go one of three ways. Either stay um go to the technology route or um go to the medical route. And at the time I didn't really have, I'd say the education or the desire for the medical route like going to pharmaceuticals or anything like that. So I went into technology um specifically tax and accounting technology. And um I found myself in international taxation, domestic taxation audits, everything that I never studied for. Um I was selling software and services.
So uh, it actually, that's the reason that I lived abroad. Um I uh security position with a dutch firm. And I lived in Amsterdam for six months. Um had a uh, well an apartment or a flat as they would call it, rode a rode a bike. Um lived with a french guy. My wife said don't start World War three. Um So it I have quite the stories from my time in Amsterdam. That sounds awesome. Those are those are character building opportunities to. I mean first of all selling copy machines in downtown L. A. And then Amsterdam.
I mean I can't imagine all the amazing life lessons you learned in those two phases in life. I've had I've had dogs chasing me. I've had the cops called on me, I had a law firm invite me in, come on in, we'll buy a copy right now pretty much. And then the Burbank pd escorted me out um in that industry it's expected because you are as as I would call it now, kissing a lot of frogs. You got to kiss a lot of frogs to to find those princesses or princes, whatever whatever you're doing.
Um And turning over a lot of rocks. I still do that today, that's what I do. Okay so let's go back a little bit mile. So your parents Going into construction, that kind of your first foray into the working world or was there something before that? No, I've I've worked since I was 16 years old. Okay. Okay. Okay so my, my mom and dad wrote me a check on my 16th birthday for 100 bucks. I thought I was, I thought I was the man 100 bucks. Oh my gosh and my mom said this is for you to start a bank account.
Um I still have that bank account started in 1994 which is um I'm very proud of that. Um So started that and she was a Lutheran school teacher and she taught kindergarten and one of her students parents owned a McDonald's and Three days after my 16th birthday I was frying burgers at McDonald's. Um But I learned a lot. Did you know if you burn your hand you can put mustard on it and it will soothe it. I feel like I just saw one of those obnoxious videos on social media about all of these life hacks right?
Sarah knows what to do if you get stung by a stingray to doesn't have anything with mustard also I've never been stung by a stingray. So no worries there. Okay so you're in there and you're working at Mcdonalds and that's that's actually you know it's a surprise because with my kids, I actually suggest that they work service industry first right away just to get some of the life experience because you get a lot of feedback don't you like good, bad and ugly, all that stuff happened. Absolutely, absolutely.
Um In fact I would say life lessons just from ah take care of yourself like don't smell um those types of things that I think and not that all boys would stink or anything but just just yeah I think it just establishes character and responsibility and you know, I waited tables like bus tables like bar tended everything that needed to get done. Okay. So you mentioned in the beginning before your dad passed that he had a huge influence in your life. Talk about that like I have a feeling.
I know, but tell me what that means to you, You know, it's one of those things I saw my dad um my dad worked for the state of California for 38 years. Um he when he passed away passed away pretty suddenly. Um Mhm. But he never took a vacation. I mean we would go here and there and and do different things at different times, but it was in short bursts. My parents there was, I've got like four brothers, so there was a lot of us and uh my parents had this rule that we would never go further than a tank of gas would take us.
So um when when we were growing up call it budget, call it whatever, we just didn't go a lot of places. I've I've I've corrected that in my life, you know, I just got back today from from the mountains. Um but the biggest influence was was working hard and and if you're sick go to work, yeah, you'll feel better. Um and that's really what what's been instilled, it's interesting then that you call, you refer to it as work ethic because I actually find myself actually fighting that urge on a regular basis.
I don't know, I'm saying like, you know, my parents same thing threw themselves into work were extremely dedicated at all costs. I think, you know, we, we spoke to wally do lucky and a previous podcast and he shared how I think he had taken like 56 days and 30 years or something like that. Um, and I'm fighting to not fall into that. Um, it's a, it's a battle to make sure that I do make time for myself and my family. I wonder if you, if you struggle with that or if you, I think, I think where I struggle with that is, is restless, restlessness meaning I can't just relax.
We, we got up to the mountains on sunday and by Tuesday I still filling out certificates of insurance for, for my clients. Um, but that's what needs to be done. And it's really because when you're on your own, when you're in that entrepreneurial role, nobody cares and somebody else will do it if you're not willing to do it. So you have to get it done. And that's just where I'm at. And that makes sense because you said in your profile at failure but not personal failure, it says failure to fully service my clients is one of your biggest fears and that totally resonates with that.
I get that now. Yeah, yeah. And I'm leaving here to go get signatures. So you said, we asked you some of your pivotal moments in life and you said in your business um life first cold call, first closing sale. My first day as my own boss and a trip to Hawaii in 2000. So first day of your own boss, I'm a little curious um how is that pivotal to you? And, and also I want to know the trip to Hawaii in 2000. Let's start with the trip to Hawaii 2000.
So we've actually already referenced that my uncle and I was laid off um from construction, didn't really know what I was going to do. Had a plan to go back to swinging a hammer, but I knew that I wasn't gonna last doing that. Um and my uncle who has had a very, very successful career on in the medical field selling devices and being in surgical operating rooms and stuff like that. Um pushed me on a retreat in Hawaii. Um Two two explore my own personality and to take care of myself by becoming a sales guy and kind of the rest is history, so to speak.
Um when it comes to is that when you decided to go back to school and get a and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. So, um, I was actually one of the very first graduating classes of online at N. A. U. Um, so I got my undergrad at any U. Um it's probably a joke on what my degree is in. Uh So I graduated um from N. A. U. With a degree in cultural diversity with the emphasis in ancient latin american history. Um Mostly because I didn't want to do math or accounting and that's why I spent 12 years in in accounting.
That's why I'm an art major. Exactly. Um But then went back and backed it up with with the uh the NBA. From from G. C. U. Um But it was at that moment in Hawaii that I thought um you can take care of yourself, you don't have to have to to swing a hammer anymore. You're just gonna and your uncle helped you to see this in yourself. Absolutely. I still bounce things off of him very very frequently. That's what I was going to dig into as well as your uncles played a role in that particular process.
So you're just sitting around Hawaii, you said you can't surf right? So that's where this kind of came up. I will tell you that I can serve but I can't believe you. Uh huh. Um No. Yeah it was it was kind of one of those um for lack of better words like come to jesus meetings of of you've got to get your stuff together here. Um If you if you want um I want a family and and and Mhm. One want anything beyond this. Not that there's anything wrong with construction.
It it absolutely has its place. It just wasn't for me. Yeah, I get it. I'm making an assumption here that your uncle kind of assumed the role of your father then. Absolutely, absolutely. I love that in our conversations and we've done enough now that I'm picking up on a trend that so many times we make the assumption that the parents in someone's life are the ones who are the most influential. And then time and again we hear these anecdotes of um stories where it's not always the parent, it's the uncle, it's the teacher, it's the neighbor.
And it just, it makes me even think like for your own sons who besides you is that person in their life that actually scares the crap. Um Yeah, it um it does I I have a really really good relationship with with my mom. I I talked to my mom on a regular basis probably two or three times a week whether it's via Facetime or or just a text message. So ah when I look at those types of relationships, I think that you lean on someone for different reasons and and and go to different places um for that support. Absolutely.
So let's circle it out to your, your entrepreneurial endeavors here, the starting of the business that takes a little bit of and everybody right? Like not everybody's cut out to do that. What was the motivation behind that? Was it through the schooling the NBA process or where did that come from? No, I actually um actually pursued the NBA to to get back into the Fortune 500. Fortune 100 type of world. In my previous tax and accounting world, I've actually advised 26 out of the 100 Fortune 100 in various ways primarily tax or international taxation.
Um So I wanted back into that world um I felt like my education, I needed to back it up a little bit. Um but when it came to um the entrepreneurial um I was working for a large firm um in phoenix selling insurance. It was my first experience in insurance and it was a great education um except I was a minnow in a pond of sharks and um I was chasing huge huge whales. Um and it was a very, very difficult lonely life. Um I anticipated at some point going out on my own because I knew that I had the experience, I had the wherewithal um the drive, the desire, everything that you need to have and that entrepreneurial role and then Covid hit and it was one of those happy pushes that allowed me to spread my wings and as devastating as as an event like a worldwide pandemic is um I used it to my advantage fully and still still am, I hear a lot of those stories and it gave us a lot of the window to breathe a little bit right because the stress of everything slowed down because we had to, we had to adjust.
So there you go starts this new new business, right? It's yes, and it takes a support system. It takes a lot of planning. Um, and I'll let you know when, when I can rest on it. Okay. Any influences in that process that come to mind when you think about doing this process? Was your uncle involved? Was anybody else involved is like, who would you kick this around with? Definitely, definitely My wife is heavily involved, I would say beyond the um, the financial aspect of her, um, supporting us throughout this time.
It's it's really, um, the emotional, um, support that she's offered. In fact, last week I was, I was making phone calls because that's what I do, make phone calls, knock on doors, um, going through my process. And I'd probably gotten about the fifth or sixth hang up and I was feeling a little distracted and she, you know, gave me that virtual pep pep talk and grabbed me by the caller type of thing and said, you're the, you're the best person I know at this and do it.
And, and you, so you're running a business, you're raising two boys, you have a wonderful wife who supports you and you also serve our community. And I would love to dig in a little bit on that and how you came to be, um, a commissioner within the town of Gilbert. And, and what you've learned through that process when, when I started Prosperity North, I knew that I needed to become active in the community, join the Chamber of Commerce. That was a no brainer. Um where I saw myself going is really what it was instilled with me at G. C. U, which is that servant leadership role.
And how can I, how can I facilitate other people's success while making that my success. What was presented to me through an online ad was come and be a commissioner for the town of Gilbert for the heritage district. We have an opening. So I um applied, not thinking that I was going to even get a phone call or an email back. And the next thing that, that I knew I was sitting in front of the town council in an in an interview and uh, it happened very quickly.
Um they voted and I was placed um as the commissioner for the redevelopment committee and we do um the heritage district. So downtown Gilbert, it's an important role right now. It is, it is, there's a, there's a project that's, I believe it's 11 acres. Um The burger King Square Heritage North Heritage North. I also caught the burger King lot, but I've been told I should not, should not probably get my hands laughing. Right. Right. Yes. It's a fantastic project though. Yes, it is, yes, it is very, very exciting.
Um And I'm really, really happy to be part of, of the committee, or I'm sorry, the commission um I was ah I was originally placed in a one year temporary role. Um It wasn't necessarily like we don't trust this guy, it was more uh that term. Um and then I was reinstated for another four year term with Mayor Peterson. And what do you think it was the biggest surprise in that role? That's a really good question. Um I think the level of importance um and listening to the community, um there's beyond what's happening there, it impacts a lot of the people that are living directly in that area and then in the surrounding areas.
Um when I originally interviewed for that role, I looked at town council and said, have you ever just talk to them, Have you ever said, what do you, what what do you feel about this or how would you feel about this? Um And so I think that that engagement with the community is really what sealed my role. Um and and really what I try to focus on, not only with my clients, but then the community as well, I like that you say that because I think a lesson for that I've learned over the last two years is the significance of just um listening and and having people feel heard.
Um I think most people are reasonable to the extent that they know you aren't going to be able to solve it all and you have to find compromise, but they want to know that their voice was heard and it's so important. That's almost word for word what I've told council is, it doesn't really matter the issue. It doesn't matter the outcome. As long as somebody's heard most of the time that will satisfy what they're, what they're trying to do. And so many answers out there that when you, when you put everybody in a room together and just listen, something beautiful happens. Absolutely.
That's great. Sorry, Ben, did you want to say anything today? I had a question for you. Something probably more interesting what Sarah's talking about. So you've got, we're talking about guiding growth here and you have two little youngsters that you're guiding their growth. Talk to us about that, your influences in all this. What's it like every day when I drop off my boys for school um, I obviously tell them, hey, have a great day. I love you. The last thing that I tell them is be a good leader and being a good leader.
In fact, I had this lesson with both of my sons this week, we met some friends up there. They brought two sons actually have coached my two sons and her two sons on the soccer field. If you really want to learn patience, Coach, 3-5 year old soccer, that's so I, I do that. I have done that. Still do that. Um, So I've got a relationship with all those boys, they all wanted to be in the lead at the hike and I looked at my seven year old who um is beyond his years and said leading doesn't always mean you're the one in front and um, I think that resonated with him.
That's great. I like that. Okay. Talked about the future with this entrepreneurial business you've got going now where you see this going, tell us what you got in mind. Sky's the limit. Yeah. So prosperity North. Um boy, I've never had an original thought in my entire life and when I say that it's very tongue in cheek, it's, it's, it's more about what can I take all of my experiences in working with huge, huge companies. I've worked with amazon and Salesforce and chevron and comical phillips and apple and all of these huge huge companies.
Um just how can I apply that, How can I apply that to the small business owner in, in Gilbert or in Mesa or um, ah essentially anywhere. So my philosophy, I know a lot of my counterparts colleagues, competitors won't talk to you if you don't have X, Y. Z amount or if you're a new business, it's not worth it. I'll sell you a policy for 300 bucks. I'm gonna make $2. 50 per month for the next year. But I'm going to treat you the same way that I'm going to treat my my largest client and for me it's really about um again that servant leadership role and setting them up for success.
Um my my very very first client um I'm not sure if I can mention his business. Um My very first client uh is was a food truck and he started off as um selling pickles and jerky at farmers markets and um he came to me and and we met via facebook um and ended up essentially writing his business plan and he will be launching his third food truck here in the next two weeks. It's very evident to me that you find your success through the success of of others around you and I appreciate that about you.
Yeah, the money will come um but helping individuals uh that's that's a different story altogether. Casey. I've loved our time together today, I love learning more about you and just connecting with you and your journey. So thank you so much for being here with us. Thank you. This has been a fun one. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you sir. So if you like this show and you want to learn more, join our tribe, join our list and learn more about the show and all the things we have to offer.
Thanks for listening today for now. Goodbye sarah, bye. Ben guiding Growth conversations with community leaders. Cigna is proud to sponsor the guiding growth podcast series. Cigna believes when individuals and communities thrive businesses will too
