Richard L. Hazelwood, Founder, Hazelwood Enterprises

Although Rich Hazelwood now owns and presides over a group of successful companies, his business life is the epitome of the “American Dream” and “self-made man” stories. Having left home at 16 years old, Rich worked to support himself through high school and then spent 2 years in the US Army as a paratrooper. After his service to his country, he went to work in retail for Sears and developed a dream for starting his own company. In 1975 he took on the management of a hotel gift shop, and founded Hazelwood Enterprises in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. From this small start, Rich built a string of 75 retail gift shops in hotels across the country. As an adjunct, Hazelwood Enterprises also included a screen-printing business which became one of the largest in the entire Southwestern USA region. Recognition of his success came in 1990 when Rich was named the “Arizona Retail Entrepreneur of the Year”. The following year he was awarded the Phoenix Rising Star award.
 

Continuing his entrepreneurial success, Hazelwood purchased the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona, USA and revitalized it to its former glory. Rich later added Hazelwood’s First Place Sports Grille to his varied holdings and it has become one of Phoenix’s most successful neighborhood establishments. Recently, Rich saw an opportunity to introduce a sensational new product to the USA and created PHX Smokeless Cigarettes. This company now imports the latest generation of electronic cigarettes, supplies and accessories and distributes them internationally. In addition to his business interests, Rich has been a major contributor to the Phoenix area community over the years. He has served as Chairman of the Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau and also as Chairman of Boys Ranch. He also makes magnanimous donations to scholarships for the Creighton School District and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.