In order to network with wholesalers and lenders the best way to go about it will be to attend the local REIA like The Greater Houston REIA and also joining the local investors facebook groups. 

I’m open to brokerage inquiries and excited to contribute my skills to the local market.What I'm Looking For:I'm actively seeking "live and flip" opportunities to kickstart my real estate portfolio in Arizona.

Start small with duplexes or triplexes, analyze deals carefully, and build a team of local experts.

Beyond trying to connect on this forum would recommend look in the BP Meet up section and checking out local DFW FB RE investor Facebook groups as well as Meetup.com and Eventbrite for local events. 

Go to local meetups, search these forums for people that have mentioned that they do private lending and attend other RE events.

As for meeting local wholesalers, networking at meetups or even online could help you connect with the right people. 

Could you please recommend any local real estate agents?

Once you have ran through about 3 months or so of this and penciled out 50-100 deals for fun, I would talk to a local agent and start the process of looking.

If you want to network or ask specific questions about your local market, go to your local real estate forum and connect with investors from your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/86-local-real-estate-networking5.

Stay disciplined and avoid rushing into deals without thorough due diligence.Resources for InvestorsIf you’re new to investing in distressed properties or looking to expand your portfolio, consider leveraging resources like:Local Realtors: Realtors specializing in distressed properties can assist in locating off-market deals and navigating complex transactions.Community Forums: Attend a local investor meetup or join online forums for the Phoenix market.Educational Tools: Search out webinars, workshops, or courses on investing in distressed properties.Final ThoughtsThe distressed property market in Phoenix is creating some excellent potential for the right investors willing to go the extra mile necessary to take on strategic risks associated with this category of real estate.