FEBRUARY 2023 ISSUE

Retail on Top: Why Brick-and-Mortar Businesses Are Booming
Commerce makes the world go ‘round, and retail is its end play. With all the shifting and challenges of recent years, In Business Magazine decided to take a look at retail’s brick-and-mortar component, where transactions are made with a human connection. Here’s the human voice of retail enterprises that span merchandise and service, from one-shop businesses to … [More]

Kate Borders, Downtown Tempe Authority
Experiential. That’s the buzzword in business these days. And, for retail, that’s where brick-and-mortar really shines. Individual businesses call it customer service, destinations like shopping districts and malls build on that through events and, yes, their mix of merchants. The street-level experience in Downtown Tempe is ever evolving and we are constantly … [More]
TOP STORIES

Mat Ishbia Assumes Controlling Ownership in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury
Following NBA Board of Governors approval, Mat Ishbia has completed the acquisition of the controlling ownership interest in the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) franchises, the operating entity for Footprint Center and affiliated entities. With the transaction, Mat becomes Governor of the Suns and Mercury while Justin Ishbia, CEO and Founder of Shore … [More]

Phoenix Children’s Announces Expansion at Thomas Campus
Phoenix Children's, one of the nation's fastest-growing pediatric health systems, announced a series of expansion projects at Phoenix Children's Hospital – Thomas Campus totaling 212,000 square feet to increase the amount of clinical space, inpatient beds and clinical exam rooms. The campus-wide expansion is part of the health system's long-range plans to meet the … [More]

Phoenix Children’s and Cigna Reach Tentative Agreement
Phoenix Children’s and Cigna announced the two organizations reached a tentative agreement as contract discussions continue. While the contract is being finalized, Phoenix Children’s remains an in-network provider for families with Cigna employer-sponsored health coverage. “Phoenix Children’s is steadfast in our commitment to provide the highest quality … [More]

Small Business Job Openings Back Up in January, Says Report
According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 57% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in January, up two points. Of those hiring or trying to hire, 91% of owners reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Twenty-seven percent of owners reported few qualified applicants for their open positions and 25% reported none. “The … [More]
FEATURED STORIES

Blueprint for Change Agents Opens New Possibilities for Workplace Success
“Transformational leadership” by definition means embarking on uncharted territory. It’s about curiosity, courage — and sometimes doing the impossible. In her new book, Cultivating Transformations: A Leader’s Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical, consultant and keynote speaker Jardena London extends a hand to those tasked with leading a company’s … [More]

Five Top Tips to Increase Your Productivity and Manage Your Mental Health
Productivity and mental health are closely linked. With depression, anxiety and burnout being the most common manifestations of poor mental health, the experts at Joy Organics have compiled a list of five tips to help manage your mental health and increase productivity both in and out of the workplace. Take a break It’s important to step away from your work … [More]

Leaders: Ready for a Bold Answer to Service Fatigue? 3 Ways to Avoid the Epidemic of Quiet Quitting
Everyone’s all heard of it by now: “quiet quitting” is the freshly coined phrase to describe the age-old behavior of not quite leaving one’s job entirely but rather opting to no longer go above and beyond. It’s Service Fatigue to the extreme, risking not just customer satisfaction but staff loyalty and your business’s bottom line, too. While the idea of “quiet … [More]
HOT TOPICS

Canyon Suites at The Phoenician Named a Top U.S. Hotel
U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Vacations, Best Cruise Lines and Best Travel Rewards Programs, today revealed its annual rankings of … [More]

Valley Leadership Selects 16 Arizonans for Explore Class 2
Explore is the second of VL’s reimagined leadership development programs that will take participants to explore the wide variety of Arizona’s … [More]

Homebuilder Closes on 65 Homesites and Breaks Ground on 681 New Homes in Goodyear
Landsea Homes, a publicly traded residential homebuilder, announced today it has closed on 65 homesites and construction will begin immediately on a … [More]

Traditional Venture Capital Model Turned on Its Head with Launch of New Scottsdale Firm
In Revenue Capital, the first operator-immersive capital firm focused on early-growth investing, today announces its official launch. Founded by … [More]

Pueblo Grande Museum Opens New Exhibit in Time for Super Bowl Weekend
Phoenix residents and visitors in town for Super Bowl are invited to … [More]

Spicy Vodka Cocktail Brand Partners with Local Distributor to Bring New Product to Arizona Market
KickStand Cocktails announced a multi-year distribution partnership with Hensley Beverage Company, a premier beverage wholesaler of alcoholic and … [More]
LIVE AND LEARN

MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene Opens at The Phoenix Art Museum
MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene celebrates the dynamic fashions of the late designer, renowned for revolutionizing American sportswear and for his trailblazing runway ballets. Featuring garments drawn from the institution’s Geoffrey Beene Archive, the exhibition showcases a wide array of jumpsuits, jackets, dresses, and more, along with materials and ephemera … [More]

Scottsdale Arts Opens Two New Exhibitions in February
In February, Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation will open two new exhibitions — “Unintended Consequences” (pictured above) and “con∙text” — examining human actions and how they affect the world and the people inhabiting it. “Unintended Consequences” features the combined talents of artists Carolyn Lavender, Monica Aissa Martinez and Mary Shindell. The … [More]

14th Annual Ikebana Exhibit at the Japanese Friendship Garden, Feb. 4 & 5
Ikebana - a world of beauty February 4th & 5th 9:00 am - 4:00 pm The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix invites you to our 14th Annual Ikebana Exhibit Ikebana – a World of Beauty. Presented by AZ Sonoran Desert Sogetsu Study Group (SDSSG). What is Ikebana? Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is a practice that brings joy … [More]
PHILANTHROPY

$1.5M Gift from Steele Foundation Launches Fellowship in Barrow Alzheimer’s and Memory Program
Barrow Neurological Foundation is proud to announce that the Steele Foundation has endowed the Dan Cracchiolo and Pam Grant Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship in … [More]

Kia America Donates $90,000 to Arizona Helping Hands
Arizona Helping Hands is pleased to announce that Kia America has donated $90,000 to the nonprofit’s programs for foster children and kinship families. “We are so appreciative … [More]

Barrett-Jackson Surpasses $150M Milestone in Total Dollars Raised for Charity to Date
Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, surpassed the $150 million milestone in total dollars raised for charity to date. With 100 percent of the hammer price … [More]
POSITIONS

Mat Ishbia Assumes Controlling Ownership in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury
Following NBA Board of Governors approval, Mat Ishbia has completed the acquisition of the controlling ownership interest in the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) … [More]

Maricopa Association of Governments Executive Director Announces Retirement
Calling it the “best job I have ever had the opportunity to hold,” Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), Executive Director Eric Anderson has announced he will be retiring … [More]

Arizona-Based Aviation Part Supplier Promotes Executive to President
AvAir is pleased to announce that Brandon Wesson has been promoted to President. Wesson joined AvAir in 2010 as Director of Sales. As a result of his leadership, he was … [More]
ACHIEVEMENTS

United Celebrates Historic First Graduating Class of Its Goodyear Flight Academy Pilots
United, the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, is celebrating the graduation of United Aviate Academy's inaugural class of pilots, an important step towards training … [More]
Scottsdale-Based Fleet Service Management Co. Snags ‘BIG Innovation’ Award
GPS Insight, a leading provider of SaaS-based fleet and field service management software solutions, announced it has been named a winner in the 2023 BIG Innovation Awards … [More]
GCU Honors Valley Leaders at Third Annual Colangelo Servant Leadership Awards
Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business (CCOB) will honor four business leaders who exemplify the ideal for which Jerry Colangelo is best known: servant leadership. … [More]