Meet Johann Warnholtz, founder of Exceptional Vibe, a Greater Phoenix–based events and marketing company creating experiences designed with the attendee in mind. Exceptional Vibe is behind events like Arizona Brunch Fest, Sunday Dinner, and the Superstition Beverage Festival, blending large-scale event production with strategic marketing and community connection.

‍
Learn more & support at www.exceptionalvibe.com

1. Where is your business based?
Greater Phoenix area, headquartered out of my house in Gilbert.

2. What does your business do, and who do you serve?
Exceptional Vibe is a marketing agency and event production company specializing in large-scale food and beverage experiences. We partner with brands to develop strategic marketing campaigns while also producing high-impact events—from signature festivals like Arizona Brunch Fest and Superstition Beverage Festival to curated dinner series and community-driven experiences.

At the core of what we do is connection: we create platforms that bring people together while spotlighting local restaurants, chefs, and beverage brands. Those experiences don’t just stand alone; they often evolve into long-term marketing partnerships with the businesses we support.

3. When did you launch your business?
October 2024

Your Entrepreneurial Journey

4. What’s the origin story of your business?
Exceptional Vibe is the result of an almost 15-year career in event production and marketing. I have always wanted to own my own business, so after building my network and my skillset, and launching several successful event brands with other companies, I finally took the dive in October of 2024 to follow my vision instead of executing on someone else’s.

5. What are you most proud of in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
I am incredibly proud of how far I’ve come in just over one year. To go from a concept to a business with two part-time employees, over a dozen events produced, and earning the State Forty Eight Foundation Grant, I couldn’t be more proud of my first year.

6. What has surprised you most about being an entrepreneur?
The last year has been the most gratifying and fulfilling year of my career. I am always surprised at how even the stress I feel when running my own business is somehow less detrimental to my mental and physical health than the stress I felt when working for others.

7. What has been the most challenging part of running your business—and what has it taught you?
The most challenging part of running my own business has been figuring out what it is I don’t know and then learning how to do it or manage it. As a creative, the hardest thing has been learning all the business administration skills like bookkeeping, payroll, hiring, etc.

State Forty Eight Foundation & What’s Next

8. What have you gained—or what do you hope to gain—from being part of the State Forty Eight Foundation community?
I’ve gained an invaluable group of supporters, cheerleaders, and colleagues that are learning alongside me, or are willing to share their knowledge and experience. I’ve gained partners and friends who I can support and are willing and happy to support me as well.

9. How are the grant funds supporting your business?
The grant funds have allowed me to purchase additional equipment to use for my events and business. This helps me be able to offer more than just the planning services. I can also provide equipment, audio, signage, and more.

10. Where do you hope to take your business next?
Last year was the year I built several event brands and made a name for Exceptional Vibe. This year, we are focused on repeating and improving our events while growing the marketing side of the business. We are signing clients, building partnerships, and growing a steadier revenue stream. The goal is to make my employees full-time and start building a true events and marketing agency.

11. What does it mean to you to be an Arizona business owner?
I grew up in Arizona and while I’ve traveled all over the U.S. and Europe, I love calling Arizona my home. I am passionate about Arizona’s environment, food and beverage scene, and supporting local businesses, and my business is specifically aimed at supporting all of that. Being able to combine that passion with my business efforts has been incredibly fulfilling.

‍