Johann Warnholtz doesn’t just throw parties. He builds experiences, brings strangers together, and occasionally shows up in lederhosen. All in a day’s work for the founder and CEO of Exceptional Vibe, the Phoenix-based events and marketing company turning good food, great company, and a little organized chaos into something worth celebrating.
And while his events may revolve around eating, drinking, and having a ridiculously good time, Warnholtz is after something bigger: genuine human connection.
From Running Shoes to Running the Show
Warnholtz earned a degree in exercise and wellness from Arizona State University, but his career took a decidedly less sweaty turn toward events and marketing.
“I did the marketing for my mom’s coaching business, so by the time I earned my Bachelor’s degree, I had all this experience and found that I enjoyed the events and marketing work the most,” Warnholtz explains.
After working with various media outlets and publications, he decided to bet on himself. Having helped develop major events, including Phoenix magazine’s Dish Fest, Best Fest, and the Arizona Craft Beer Awards Festival, he had the experience, connections, and confidence to build something of his own.
In 2024, Exceptional Vibe was born. Since then, Warnholtz has cooked up an impressive lineup of experiences, including Soup Fest, a Sunday Dinner series, Flavors of Mesa, Flavors of Chandler, Oktoberfest — yes, complete with traditional lederhosen, beer stein and Tyrolean hat — and the sold-out Arizona Brunch Fest.Apparently, the man doesn’t believe in taking weekends off.
The best advice Warnholtz ever received? Build relationships, not transactions. “I think that’s what has helped me get to where I’m at because I’ve been lucky to build a great network of amazing people that have helped and contributed to the work I do,” Warnholtz says.
It’s a philosophy that extends well beyond business cards and LinkedIn connections. Warnholtz genuinely enjoys bringing people together, whether they’re longtime friends, first-time festivalgoers, or local entrepreneurs looking for their next big break.
When Arizona Brunch Fest debuted in December 2025, it delivered the expected essentials: plenty of food, drinks, and enthusiastic brunch lovers. But Warnholtz noticed something beyond the bottomless-mimosa mentality. The second annual Arizona Brunch Fest returns Sunday, Dec. 6, to Scottsdale Stadium, with expanded event space, more room for vendors, and greater guest capacity.
The Delicious $2,000 Plot Twist
For Warnholtz, the biggest payoff isn’t necessarily a sold-out stadium. Sometimes, it’s an opportunity to give someone else a leg up. In 2025, he received a small-business grant from the State Forty Eight Foundation, an experience that left a lasting impression.
“Receiving that grant was so validating because total strangers believed that my business was worth awarding,” he says, and now he’s returning the favor.
The State Forty Eight Foundation, nonprofit partner of Arizona Brunch Fest for the second consecutive year, is directing its festival donation back into the small-business community.
The plan? Award grants of $2,000 to at least three participating restaurants and food vendors.
The idea came from Warnholtz, who understands firsthand how meaningful financial support — and a little outside validation — can be for an entrepreneur. Instead of simply inviting small businesses to help make his festival successful, he’s creating an opportunity for the festival to help make them successful.
These days, he’s not running for screen time. He’s creating reasons for people to put their screens down.
Insider Takeaways
- From Miles to Microphones: Warnholtz went from running miles for video game privileges to hyping crowds of 20,000. Talk about leveling up.
- Good Vibes Are Big Business: Founded in 2024, Exceptional Vibe has turned food, festivals, and human connection into a growing Arizona events empire.
- Relationships Rule: Warnholtz’s business philosophy is refreshingly simple: Build genuine connections, not transactional ones. The networking can wait.
- Brunch Is Getting Bigger: Arizona Brunch Fest returns Dec. 6 to Scottsdale Stadium with more space, more vendors, and more reasons to abandon the usual Sunday routine.
- A $2,000 Side of Generosity: After receiving a small-business grant himself, Warnholtz is paying it forward with plans to award at least three participating food vendors $2,000 each. Now that’s something worth toasting.
Visit exceptionalvibe.com for Arizona Brunch Fest tickets and full list of events.
