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THE OUTLAW SPIRIT By Robert Sentinery BUZZ This month we celebrate the independent spirit of Phoenix, with stories on such diverse topics as filmmaking, the tech industry and a tribute to one of our city’s musical greats—Waylon Jennings. If Waylon were alive today, he would be celebrating his 79th birthday on June 15. He loved this place and left an indelible mark on it. Although he passed in 2002, his influence continues today—in the outlaw spirit that permeates not only our music scene but our creative climate as a whole. To honor his legacy, we feature Waylon tribute artist August Manley. Manley not only looks and dresses the part but seems to exude the spirit of Waylon during his heyday in the ’70s, both on and off stage. Besides performing with his local band, The Outlaw, Manley also tours the country as part of The Highwaymen Live tribute act, performing as Jennings, alongside others who do Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Manley talks about growing up with classic country on his grandpa’s ranch outside Tacoma, Washington, and how upon visiting the Valley he felt a kind of spiritual connection. A pilgrimage to Waylon’s gravesite in Mesa sealed the deal, and he relocated here about two years ago (see “The Outlaw: A Waylon Jennings Tribute with August Manley,” p. 8). Lawdan Shojaee, CEO of Scottsdale-based software company Axosoft, is changing the way tech companies do business in Arizona and beyond. Female CEOs are still fairly rare, and Shojaee brings a very different sensibility to the workplace for her employees. Large, open spaces with wide windows framing mountain views, a gym and climbing wall, yoga spaces, showers and a large lunchroom with a welcoming atmosphere are just some of the things that have earned Axosoft recognition for being one of the best companies to work for in Arizona. The #ItWasNeverADress campaign to encourage more women to enter the tech industry was conceived by Shojaee and Axosoft’s in-house artist/provocateur Tania Katan. The image, which co-opts the international symbol for woman, highlights the dress portion, showing it instead as a superhero cape, along with the catchphrase. Official versions of the #ItWasNeverADress symbol also feature an “(Em)powered by Axosoft” graphic (see “Lawdan Shojaee: Axosoft CEO and Cultural Harvester,” p. 12). Filmmaker JoAnn Lujan is a native Phoenician who grew up in the heart of the city. Her father was a mariachi musician, and all forms of creativity were encouraged in her household. Being an only child, Lujan learned to entertain herself by creating stories that played like filmstrips in her imagination. When it came to choosing a career, filmmaking seemed like a natural for her. Fiercely independent, Lujan completed seven solo backpacking trips through Europe by age 22. She then pursued her dream of living in New York City, supporting herself as holistic health practitioner while immersing herself in film culture. She has since returned to the Valley to help care for her aging parents and recently completed a degree in filmmaking from SCC. While in college she met hip hop artist Candyman, and they have been collaborating on a hip hop documentary for the last year and a half. With Candyman’s industry connections and Lujan’s can-do attitude, the team has been gathering footage and interviews with many of the hip hop greats (see “Filmmaker JoAnn Lujan,” p. 34).