Grimaldi’s Pizzeria may be famous for its coal-brick oven, Brooklyn-style pizza, but in Arizona it has also become synonymous with community. When the brand opened its first location outside New York in Old Town Scottsdale in 2003, it brought more than a beloved East Coast staple to the Valley. It brought a philosophy that a neighborhood restaurant should be part of the fabric … [More]
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: A Community Legacy Baked into Every Slice
Strengthening community and building employee pride
Smarter Summer Savings
How SRP’s BYOT for Business rewards performance during peak demand
Summer is the season when many Valley business owners brace themselves for rising air-conditioning costs. This year, companies have a new way to save, with SRP’s Bring Your Own Thermostat Program (BYOT) for Business. This easy, automated program offers energy-saving smart thermostat rebates and puts business owners firmly in control. Simple, Automated Savings One of the … [More]
The Yoga of Marketing: Finding Balance in a Noisy Business World
In today’s fast-paced digital world, marketing often feels like a race — louder messages, faster campaigns and constant visibility. Yet, many businesses are discovering that relentless motion does not always yield meaningful results. Instead, a more intentional, balanced approach — what I call “the yoga of marketing” — is emerging as a powerful philosophy. Rooted in alignment, … [More]
The Hidden Shipping-Cost Crisis
How AI can help small businesses protect profit margins
When UPS and FedEx announced their latest round of rate increases, most small business owners did what they always do: They braced for a single number. This year, that number was again close to 6%, and many owners adjusted their budgets accordingly and moved on. That instinct is exactly what is quietly draining profit from small and medium-sized businesses across the … [More]
Southwest Gas Supports Central Arizona Shelter Services
More than 100 Southwest Gas employee volunteers and their family members came together with Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) recently to assemble 2,000 personal care kits for unhoused individuals, launching the Southwest Gas Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Month of Giving. It was the first of six volunteer projects taking place across Arizona, Nevada, and California … [More]
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Program Raises $26K for Local Nonprofits
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino guests donated more than $26,000 to local area nonprofits through the property’s Caesars Makes Change NRT kiosk donations during Q1 2026. The NRT kiosk machines provide an opportunity for guests to give back in a meaningful way by donating their $0.99 or less change when cashing out their slot machine voucher. … [More]
Adler PR Founder Wins Gold Stevie Award
Jennifer Adler, founder and CEO of Adler Public Relations, was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award for “PR Exec of the Year” in The 24th Annual American Business Awards®. … [More]
Desert Highlands Golf Course Earns Top Honors
Desert Highlands in north Scottsdale was honored with a first place for its golf course in the private category of Golf, Inc. Magazine’s prestigious Best Renovation of the Year awards for 2026. … [More]
Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shops on Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers
Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, a franchise that has grown to more than 60 locations across Arizona and California, has risen to No. 65 on Fast Casual’s 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers in the United States. … [More]
Thai Chili 2go on Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers
Thai Chili 2go was named No. 94 on the 2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list. Thai Chili 2go began with one East Valley location and has since grown to include 19 restaurants around the Valley, with many more in the planning stages. … [More]
Lifestyle Homes Named on Builder 100 List
Lifestyle Homes, a leading general contractor headquartered in Scottsdale specializing in high-density build-to-rent communities across Arizona, earned a coveted spot on the 2026 Builder 100 List by BUILDER Magazine for the second year in a row. … [More]
Looking Good 2026 – July Standouts
Local Standouts Recognized for Achievements and Philanthropy ACHIEVEMENTS Lifestyle Homes Named on Builder 100 List Thai Chili 2go on Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shops on Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers Desert Highlands Golf Course Earns Top Honors Adler PR Founder Wins Gold Stevie Award PHILANTHROPY Harrah’s Ak-Chin … [More]
Phoenix Looks to Turn Its Chip Base into a Quantum Edge
Quantum has been talked about as the next breakthrough for years. Now the conversation is changing. Industry leaders are starting to talk about the quantum age as already underway, not something far off in the future. That makes Phoenix’s new quantum push interesting. Quantum systems are still difficult to build, expensive to scale and sensitive in ways traditional computing … [More]
The Backbone of America: Small Business and U.S. Manufacturing
Small businesses have long been the backbone of the American economy, driving innovation, creating jobs and strengthening communities in every corner of our nation. Here in Arizona, small businesses are not only fueling economic growth in our cities and towns, but they are also helping lead the resurgence of American manufacturing. Recently, I was asked what makes small … [More]
July 2026 – President’s Message
Whether they are called myths or urban legends, I’ve heard a variety of them when it comes to data centers. In this section earlier this year, one of our stories addressed a few, such as claims they are overloading the electric grid and claiming endless amounts of drinking water. (Negative on both counts.) But with so many of the myths still making the rounds, allow me to put … [More]
Sky’s the Limit
Arizona Aerospace Summit to focus on making state a global aerospace hub
Separate roads, same destination. That was the challenge when the Arizona Technology Council was looking for a way to help accelerate collaboration and innovation throughout Arizona’s growing aerospace economy while highlighting the state’s expanding leadership in aerospace, aviation, space and defense. The solution debuts July 15 at the 2026 Arizona Aerospace Summit … [More]
Wow!
Worlds of Work creates pathways for high school students to find career fit
Dream or nightmare. Either can come true when it comes to finding a career that fits. And if it’s the less desirable outcome, “If only I knew” often is the resulting response. A surprise is the last thing anyone needs while career planning, especially when the journey begins at a young age. That’s where Worlds of Work comes in. Worlds of Work — WOW for short — is a program in … [More]
Reaching Out
Specialist makes Council’s case for projects throughout Arizona
For those who have attended meetings where decisions were made about a proposed data center, energy project or the like in Arizona, odds are one of the speakers addressing decision makers was Cepand Alizadeh, the Arizona Technology Council’s government relations specialist. In fact, odds are very good since he logged more than 6,500 miles in his car over the past year to get to … [More]
