JULY 2020 ISSUE

Commercial Real Estate in the Time of COVID-19

Real estate has always been a major part of our economy. And, as a lagging indicator whose thread weaves through businesses of every type, size and sector, it is also the perfect instrument with which to take the pulse of our economic health. Looking at how the pandemic is affecting the market, Jonathan Keyser of Keyser LLC says, “There’s a lot of impact that’s … [More]

The Next Normal: Change Your Game Plan or Become Irrelevant

Change and disruption are the next normal. C-suites and boards of directors must learn how to become agile, make decisions fast and get ahead of the change curve. They will need to think and act differently. There is a lot we don’t know about what the near-term future holds for us. However, there are two things that we know to be true: There will be more, not less, … [More]

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TOP STORIES

BREAKING: Ducey Announces New Actions to Contain COVID-19

Governor Doug Ducey today announced additional actions to contain the spread of COVID-19, including the signing of an Executive Order that requires restaurants with indoor seating to operate at less than 50 percent capacity. Today’s announcement to limit capacity at restaurants comes in addition to recent action taken by the Governor to prohibit large gatherings, … [More]

Collaboration Meant to Vastly Expand COVID-19 Testing Capacity in Arizona

A strategic collaboration with Sonora Quest Laboratories, the market share leader in diagnostics laboratory testing in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, to expand testing in Arizona. The collaboration helps catapult COVID-19 diagnostic testing … [More]

ADHS and ASU Announce Partnership to Increase COVID-19 Testing in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Arizona State University (ASU) announced a new partnership today that will increase COVID-19 diagnostic testing in Arizona. ASU will launch several testing sites that will provide free saliva diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in high-need underserved communities around the state. The testing will begin this Saturday, … [More]

DES Distributed more than $5.7 Billion in Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) announced today it has distributed more than $5.7 billion in state unemployment insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) since the week ending March 7, 2020. During that period, nearly 323,000 Arizonans received UI benefits and 557,000 Arizonans received PUA benefits. More than $722 million was issued … [More]

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FEATURED STORIES

First Statewide Initiative for Affordable Housing Projects, $100M Fund Planned

Home Matters®, a national movement redefining the American Dream and home, is launching Home Matters to Arizona to grow support for a new generation of affordable housing, connected communities and healthier individuals, families and economies. Phase one of the Arizona launch includes a planned $100 million Home Matters® Arizona Fund to finance community development … [More]

Tips for Keeping Mask Use From Hindering Communication

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in many parts of the country and health officials urging vigilant use of masks as protection, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is providing advice for people with and without hearing loss to help everyone communicate while their faces are covered. Masks can make communication difficult, especially for the … [More]

Online Sports Equipment Transactions Spike by more than 80% during Pandemic

Data gathered by Safebettingsites.com indicates that sports equipment e-commerce transaction volume had a change of 83.4% in the last week compared to the first week of January this year. The spike can be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic. eCommerce for essential goods industry grows during a pandemic According to the data, supermarkets had the … [More]

With Most Businesses Operating at a Reduced Capacity, Normalcy is a Ways Off, Survey Finds

Amidst an unprecedented global pandemic and disruptions to the economy, more than 1 in 2 business leaders (53%) expect their companies to return to normal in the next 12 months, according to JPMorgan Chase’s Business Leaders Outlook Pulse Survey released today. The majority of business leaders remain hopeful in the face of adversity: while most (83%) are running at a … [More]

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HOT TOPICS

Three ASU Women Leaders Selected for “Phoenix Herstories” to Celebrate 19th Amendment

Mi-Ai Parrish, the Sue Clark-Johnson Professor in Media Innovation and Leadership at the Cronkite School and former publisher of the Arizona Republic, is among three Arizona State University women selected to participate in “Phoenix Herstories,” a photography and video project that commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment by honoring prominent female … [More]

Chat Technology to Promote Workplace Safety and Respond to COVID-19

To help organizations safely reopen their offices and deliver a coordinated, effective employer response to COVID-19, STChealth and Botco.ai today announced a partnership in which Botco.ai’s chat functionality is now included in STChealth’s Strategic Action For Employers (SAFE) Return to Work Program. The program makes use of Botco.ai’s automated intelligent chat … [More]

Real Estate Investment Firm Expands Foothold in Phoenix with Acquisition of McDowell Road Property

CapRock Partners, a leading private industrial investment and development firm based in Newport Beach, Calif., today announced it has acquired a newly constructed industrial building located at 4615 W. McDowell Rd. in Phoenix. This acquisition comes on the heels of CapRock’s purchase of 7200 W. Roosevelt St., a 216,880-square-foot Class A property located five miles … [More]

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LIVE AND LEARN

Virtual Event – July 10: Positively Powerful Success with Dr. Joel Martin

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Scenic Tours Flying Over the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines is ready for takeoff and is accepting reservations for Grand Canyon flights starting this Monday, June 22. In preparation for the grand reopening, new health and safety policies have been put in place, which include temperature checks, recommended social distancing, required face coverings, and extensive cleaning procedures. For guests … [More]

Scottsdale 4th of July Drive-Up Celebration

Sat. July 4, Gates open at 7pm…Fireworks start at approximately 9pm $25 a carload, Tickets at Scottsdale4th.com WHAT 7th Annual Scottsdale 4th of July, benefiting notMYkid, is a patriotic drive-up fireworks celebration. $25 a carload. [Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers canceled all Summer 2020 tour dates and will no longer perform at Scottsdale … [More]

Stay Cool Cruising the Phoenix Zoo this 4th of July

Join us Thursday, July 2 through Monday, July 6 to celebrate the 4th of July. We encourage you to decorate your car in red, white and blue or wear your favorite Arizona Coyotes apparel! Tag us in your photos on social @phoenixzoo. For the health and safety of the animals, some items may NOT be displayed or distributed (confetti, glitter, balloons, balls, Frisbees, or … [More]

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POSITIONS

Next Generation Leaders Named to Chamber Young Professionals Board

The Greater Phoenix Chamber (the Chamber) has appointed five new members to its Valley Young Professionals (VYP) Board of Directors. VYP, a program of the Greater Phoenix Chamber, is for Valley-area professionals ages 25-39 aimed at creating the next generation of Phoenix leaders by informing and educating its members on important issues facing the local … [More]

WebPT Bolsters Executive Team with Two Industry Veterans to Scale Operations

WebPT, the leading rehab therapy platform for enhancing patient care and fueling business growth, today announced the appointment of two prominent executives who will help drive the company’s continued year-over-year growth. Jason Heath joins as chief financial officer (CFO) and Ginger Miller as senior vice president (SVP) of revenue cycle management (RCM) … [More]

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PHILANTHROPY

Law Group donates $30,000 to Homeless Families

Rack Law Group, PLLC, is pleased to announce a charitable contribution in the amount of $30,000 to purchase laptops for kids to ensure that they can engage in remote learning and complete schoolwork during this time of crisis.  This commitment follows the law firm’s collaboration with The Infinite Bond Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that has worked closely with A New … [More]

WaFd Bank Arizona Donates $80,000 to Local Nonprofits Amid COVID-19

Through its WaFd Bank Foundation, WaFd Bank Arizona’s 31 branches were able to come together and donate $40,000 to Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), based in Phoenix, and the Primavera Foundation, based in Tucson, in recent weeks to help them continue their critical operations amid COVID-19. “Our purpose through the Foundation is to facilitate direct giving … [More]

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ACHIEVEMENTS

Local Law Firm Selected as Legal Counsel by World’s Largest Provider of Online Competitions

The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A., is proud to announce they have been selected as outside counsel for Crow Vote, LLC.  Crow Vote is the world’s leading provider of online competitions. “Burch & Cracchiolo is pleased to be chosen to work with this unique company in providing their legal services,” comments Firm president Andy Abraham. “I believe our … [More]

Sundt Completes Tempe Hotel and Announces Another of the Same Hilton Brand

Sundt Construction, Inc. recently completed construction on the now open Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown on East University Drive. "Our team has gone above and beyond completing this hotel," said Chandra Reilly, Sundt's project executive. "They have used innovative solutions on a tight urban site near a fully occupied campus and mixed-use developments. The hotel is … [More]

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