Jason Wesley Phillips is the Owner, The Toy Barn and Wesley Development, Inc DBA. Jason and his father started The Toy Barn together, a business that offers a high-end, luxury storage space where you can store your “toys” – boats, hot rods, classic cars, RV’s and more. Read more about Jason Phillips…
Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
First job: Stock Boy for a locally owned furniture store in Ohio that was owned by a friend of the family. At that point in my life, my main motivation was buying a cool car.
Favorite AZ restaurant: Steak 44 for not only the food, but also the ambiance. Aside from the obvious perks like people watching from a lux bar seat to the Beignet tree, the uber fresh seafood bar and the in-house cut steaks, I really appreciate the interior design finishes. Some of my favorite aspects of the dining areas are the parquet wood floors, the crowned molding ceilings and accent walls and the living edge wood bar. Whenever we host out of town guests, we make a point to enjoy dinner with them at Steak 44.
Person who has impacted your life the most: I would have to say my parents. As most people would attest, my mother is my biggest fan. She has always been in my corner, no matter what. She is the glue that keeps me grounded to my upbringing in Ohio and my grandparents. She is also my biggest cheerleader and delights in my successes and listens to me in moments when I am seeking advice and clarity. My dad has been my business partner for the better part of my adult life. We have been working side by side for 22 years in one capacity of another, both in Arizona and back home. Working with family can be a challenge, but the rewards are also great! We may not always see eye to eye, but at the end of the day, we are both stronger and wiser for having each other in our lives both personally and professionally. I value my dad’s grit. There have been times when nobody believed in our projects but my dad would not give up and today one of those projects is our most successful to date.
Your biggest accomplishment in your eyes: Marrying my wife, Stephanie. Both of us were what she likes to call, “late bloomers.” We knew each other and ultimately became friends for almost five years before we formally got together. Neither of us have been married and I guess at some point, both of us had given up on the idea. Being mature adults and having lived on our own terms for much of our adult lives made both of us strong and independent people. I would like to think that we bring out one another’s best potential in life. Because of Stephanie’s encouragement and support, I have my private pilot’s license. I also feel like I have a sense of purpose and a greater focus on my company and our shared goals for the future. We got married at our favorite happy place in Colorado at 10,500 feet and even the skies haven’t limited us since.
The biggest obstacle you have overcome: In a nut shell, growing up. Adulting is hard and I put it off for as long as possible. At 40+ years, I still haven’t figured it all out, but I’m getting the hang of it.
Someone who inspires you: The late great Arnold Palmer. He is one of the most impactful and iconic golfers in history. But beyond his achievements on the grass, he was a formidable business entrepreneur, a professional pilot with over 20,000 hours of flight time and a passionate philanthropist. I would consider him a true sports man and an exceptional human being.
Favorite quote: “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force: never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”-Winston Churchill
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Get a strong mentor you respect and admire early on in your career. Find someone who does what you aspire to do and learn from them.
What you think makes someone fabulous: People who walk their own talk and do what they say they are going to do.
