RaeAnne Marsh, In Business Magazine

The commercial real estate truism of the boom days of single-family housing developments was “retail follows rooftops.” Today’s housing market is dominated by multifamily projects, and the hot trend now is to concentrate them near employment centers. So, although construction is no longer the key economic foundation of the heyday of Arizona’s famous “Five C’s,” commercial real estate is still a bellwether for our economy.

The question of whether it’s a driver of our economy is explored in this issue’s cover story, which looks in-depth at our local real estate market. I spoke with developers, economists, architects and other real estate professionals who helped me explore financing options, innovations in design, how developments impact the surrounding business community and what the particular strengths are today in commercial real estate.

I also had the pleasure of meeting with Sue Kay Kneifel, statewide coordinator for deaf and hard-of-hearing services with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and Michele Michaels, hard-of-hearing specialist with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. Committed advocates for that population, they shared an eye-opening view of this disability as a workforce issue. We present this in the Briefs section on page 11 as we recognize May as Better Hearing and Speech Month.

In another compelling feature article, Joseph Michelli offers an eye-opening assessment of common business practices, processes and priorities that may be actually driving customers away. Leon Silver shares a legal perspective on how to know when to litigate that may surprise business owners. In the “candid forum” of this issue’s Roundtable feature, Carlynne McDonnell offers her perspective on the hot-button workforce topic of equality for women. And John Hornick discusses changes businesses will likely be dealing with as 3-D printing continues to expand its applications.

Presenting the annual Commercial Real Estate special section as well, we offer you our In Business Magazine’s guide to the best in commercial real estate services. The guide will be available on www.inbusinessphx.com for a full year.

We strive, as always, to bring you relevant and timely articles directed to strengthening our business community. I trust you’ll find much that’s interesting and useful to you in your business in the varied topics that fill these following pages.

I am pleased to take the post of “Guest Editor” this month, as many have asked, “Why haven’t you joined the ranks of this group?” I am excited to present this (and every) issue of In Business Magazine to our dedicated subscribers.

Sincerely,

RaeAnne Marsh
Editor, In Business Magazine

RaeAnne Marsh has been editor of In Business Magazine since its inception in 2010. With a mission of informing the business community with relevant and timely information, she seeks out the latest in a variety of subjects and purposely avoids confining any monthly edition to a single theme. Marsh attributes the success of In Business Magazine to her and InMedia Company’s ability to connect with the Valley’s business community.

Marsh has been writing and editing for Valley — as well as national — publications and organizations for 18 years. She started her editorial career with Arizona Corridors in 1998.