Hi, my name is… Lara Vineyard.
I’ve lived in North Scottsdale for 24 years and I love it because… It’s been wonderful to see the city grow and to grow with it. I’ve run a digital marketing business for over 22 years working with many businesses and nonprofits, and raised my family here. It’s been such a privilege to call this city home.
A typical day in my life includes… Helping people select the right mobility devices to have the freedom to live their best lives. My husband purchased a Mobility Plus franchise last year and, since then, we’ve been dedicated to helping our community find better options to make their homes more accessible and to prevent falls. I pivot between meeting with clients, to attending classes, to training new franchisees, to exploring new products, to getting my daughter from school, to spending some creative time crafting marketing materials, and if I am lucky, doing a bit of photography, attending a yoga class, or knitting a few stitches before the end of the day.
My family… Consists of two kids, two dogs and a husband of 22 years with whom I’ve been blessed to share my life. My parents retired here about a decade and a half ago from Jamaica and we are fortunate to have them in our lives.
One thing I cannot live without is… My camera. I’ve always been passionate about photography and enjoy being able to capture those moments we only get a short period of time to experience.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. It has amazing story telling, cast, set design and artistry all around.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… An artist, a DJ, a photographer, a psychologist, and a paramedic. Although none of these turned out to be a professional career, they all contribute to what I have done.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… Redemption Song by Bob Marley.
The one person who motivates me is… My father, who is now suffering from late-stage Alzheimer’s. He lived every day to the fullest while he was healthy and did the very best to not put off for tomorrow what can be done today.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… Watching my dog trying to communicate that he wanted some water.
The perfect day would be… A Via Ferrata climb at Castle Hot Springs with some friends, or a hike on the West Fork Trail in Sedona, a picnic lunch, a good book, yoga, an afternoon nap, dinner at Pomo’s, and nighttime star gazing.
Some of my favorite local spots are… My favorite local business would be Castle Hot Springs, where I had the privilege to document the recent restoration and uncover the amazing treasures it holds for Arizona. My favorite local nonprofit is Maggie’s Place, where 21 years ago we had the chance to meet the five (just out of college) women who were starting on this dream to change the journey for homeless, pregnant women in Arizona, and it’s been amazing to see how their dream has evolved over the years. My favorite place to visit is Arizona State University since that’s what brought me to this state over 25 years ago. It was amazing back then, and even more amazing now! As our son has just started his studies there, I have a good excuse to visit.
My life… Is really busy but fulfilling at the moment. Starting a new family business focused around helping others find solutions has been a very memorable way to spend the past year.
The best gift I’ve ever received was… The gift of time. When I was 16, I graduated from high school too early to start university. So I was allowed to take two gap years and spent a year in Belgium and then six months with my grandparents in Canada. Both experiences have shaped so much of the person I have become and still strive to be.
My dream vacation would be to… Revisit my childhood home in Jamaica.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received… Whenever you can, leave it better than you found it.
