Petal Perfect
Dani Christakos, founder of The Flower Garage, fosters creativity and community
By Kaylor Jones / Photo by Claudia Johnstone
If Dani Christakos’ unconventional journey to floristry taught her one thing, it’s that some dreams take time to fully blossom.
In 2017, after 17 years as a stay-at-home mom, her eldest left for college. Plunged into a new season of life, she promised herself she’d invest in one of her oldest passions.
“In many ways, flowers have always been part of my story,” Christakos says. “I was born in Brussels, Belgium, and my father was from Holland, so I grew up surrounded by the beauty of Dutch flowers. My daughters’ middle names are Rose and Violet.”
Over the years, she evolved from arranging flowers in her garage to running a flourishing boutique flower studio in Scottsdale. The aptly-named Flower Garage (www.the-flower-garage.com) offers public and private floral arrangement workshops for all skill levels, as well as special events and, as of recently, franchising opportunities.
“The Flower Garage was inspired by a simple idea – that flowers bring people together and make them feel something,” Christakos says. “Whether it’s a workshop or a corporate event, seeing people light up when they realize they can create something beautiful never gets old. It’s about more than flowers, it’s about confidence, community and connection.”
Having expanded with two mobile locations in Chandler and Gilbert, The Flower Garage team has its eyes on Nashville, Dallas and Florida for its next franchises. No matter the location, the heart will remain the same – creative entrepreneurship that emphasizes connection over perfection. It’s a chance to slow down, spend a meaningful moment being creative, and leave feeling accomplished and inspired.
Looking back, Christakos says starting her business at 42 gave her clarity and courage in the knowledge that she wasn’t just chasing trends, she was building something truly important to her. Her advice to women chasing their dreams later in life? “It’s never too late to start, pivot or dream bigger. Your experience is your superpower. Trust it, use it, and don’t wait for ‘perfect timing’ – it doesn’t exist. It’s never the right time, so just start and see what a beautiful journey that can be!”
Bonjour, Monsieur!
French native Jerome Arribas takes leadership role at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
By Alison Bailin Batz / Photo by Claudia Johnstone
It’s a stroke of luck that brought French-born Jerome Arribas to Scottsdale.
“It was technically a stroke of Lucky Luke,” says Arribas, referring to the popular European comic of a cowboy exploring the Old West. “As a child, I was more than mildly obsessed with the comic, and – as an extension – Arizona.”
While determined to make his way to the Sonoran Desert one day, Arribas took a winding road to Arizona.
“I first studied law, but I found that it got in the way of my social life,” says Arribas, who transitioned to a sales job that sent him on adventures across Europe and Africa.
Arribas then took a gap year to backpack across South America, where he fell in love with hotels and their hard-working teams.
“My adventure inspired me to go into hospitality at age 28. To get my foot in the door, I took a role in hotel purchasing with the Four Seasons,” Arribas says. “I worked during the day and studied accounting at night, which helped me move into hotel finance.”
Arribas also leaned into his wanderlust to climb the corporate ladder, volunteering for Four Seasons positions across the Bahamas, London, Paris, and even in Vail for his first taste of life in America.
“I had the opportunity to work at some of our most esteemed properties, notably the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and the Four Seasons in Boston before coming back to our Vail property to take on my first general manager role,” Arribas says. “It was a full-circle moment given Vail gave me my first taste of the American dream years prior.”
While Colorado is in the West, it’s not Arizona. So, when Arribas was told that the general manager position at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Troon North had come available in late 2025, he jumped at the opportunity to finally make the Valley his home.
“We have big plans for this true jewel in the desert,” Arribas says. “We’ve brought on award-winning chef Gregory James to reimagine our culinary program; we have plans in motion to transform our lobby bar into a true five-star Four Seasons experience; and there is even something big in mind for our pool complex.”
According to Arribas, that is just the beginning. “Expect all of this well before year’s end, and then moving forward, the sky is the limit,” he says.
Learn more at www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale.