Restaurants, grocery stores and food service companies account for nearly 40% of all food waste in the U.S., and, despite industry innovation, the volume of discarded edible food keeps climbing. Food waste is not just an environmental issue. It is a business problem that hits companies across the commercial food sector, from restaurants to grocery stores and large food-service … [More]
Chase Lane: Carrying a Legacy Forward at LT.agency
What it takes to bring a six-decade business into its next chapter
In 2025, Chase Lane and his wife Kelsi made the decision to become partners in LT.agency, a Phoenix-based marketing agency founded by his grandfather Ed Lane more than 60 years ago. Taking the reins as a third-generation CEO, Chase builds on the legacy carried forward by his father Beau Lane and his longtime business partner Chris Johnson, who have guided the company’s growth … [More]
Arizona’s Q1 2026 Jobs Report: Reading the Numbers in Context
Arizona is positioning itself for a new phase of economic growth
Arizona’s labor market showed positive signs of improvement during the first quarter of 2026, with total nonfarm employment increasing by 15,500 jobs, ranking Arizona third nationally in percentage job growth. These first-quarter job gains demonstrated resiliency, cutting into and shrinking year-over-year job losses through March 2026, even as national economic headwinds … [More]
FOAK Facilities Are the Bet You Can’t Hedge
It may be the toughest challenge in deep tech – or maybe one to skip
What should business leaders know about a FOAK? It might be the toughest thing they’ll ever do. But it also might be something they never have to do. Before explaining why, it’s best to define what a FOAK is, and why leaders consider it. FOAK stands for first-of-a-kind production facility. It’s a physical asset that produces something in a way that has never been done … [More]
Arizona Is Already the Center. Act Like It.
I was 22 years old when I became mayor of Nogales, Arizona. Sitting at the edge of one of the busiest commercial land ports in the Western Hemisphere, I watched billions of dollars in trade cross the border every single day. I watched Mexico's manufacturers supply American industries with precision and reliability. And I watched Arizona look everywhere but south for its … [More]
Farm Losses Mount as Natural Disasters Impact Key Regions
A new study on behalf of Trace One has identified the U.S. counties and states with the largest agricultural losses due to natural disasters. High grocery prices have been a defining economic story in recent years, driven by a combination of factors including pandemic-related supply chain breakdowns and labor shortages. However, an increasingly critical driver of food price … [More]
Protecting the Company while Supporting Employees
A smarter approach to retirement plans
For many business owners, offering a 401(k) or 403(b) plan is part of the benefits package — a necessary tool to attract and retain talent. What often gets overlooked is that sponsoring a retirement plan comes with significant fiduciary and regulatory responsibility. In today’s environment, that responsibility carries real risk. But it can also be an opportunity. Dedicated … [More]
Rethinking the Storefront: Beauty and Personal Care Real Estate
Across Arizona's beauty and personal care landscape, entrepreneurs are trading traditional storefronts for more creative operating environments, and, in doing so, they are redefining what it means to build a business around client experience. From boutique skincare operating within a multi-tenant building in Old Town Scottsdale to barbershops finding creative homes alongside … [More]
Greater Phoenix Housing Market Gains Ground in March
Greater Phoenix home sales posted a notable increase in March, signaling continued market resilience, even as broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty persisted. Phoenix REALTORS data shows closed sales rose 10% month over month and 4.6% year to date compared to 2025. “The March data reflects a market where buyers and sellers are still finding ways to get deals done,” … [More]
Small Business Optimism Dips in March
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3.0 points in March to 95.8, leaving it below its 52-year average of 98.0. The last time the Optimism Index fell below its historical average was April 2025. The Uncertainty Index rose 4 points from February to 92, well above its historical average of 68. “The 20% Small Business Deduction and other supportive small business tax … [More]
Why Arizona Companies Are Turning to ESOPs
Employee stock ownership plans transform business transitions from endpoints into evolutions
Across Arizona, closely held companies are rethinking how — and to whom — they will eventually sell. Common M&A paths don’t always align with the complex goals of founders, families and management teams, especially when legacy, culture and continuity are chief concerns. In response, more local businesses are embracing employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) as transition … [More]
Arizona Leads Nation in Foreign Investment as Global Partnerships Expand
Amid record international investment and trade, Arizona welcomed leaders from around the world for the 21st Annual International State of the State on March 26. Highlighting Arizona’s strong international partnerships and central role in the global economy, Governor Hobbs delivered a keynote address to over 300 attendees, including dignitaries from more than 40 … [More]
Housing Market Moves toward Equilibrium as Inventory Rises
Cotality, a global property information, analytics, and data-enabled solutions provider, released its latest list on the 10 things to know about the property market for March 2026. The U.S. housing market is finding its equilibrium. Home price growth has stabilized. Unsold inventory is growing. Rental price growth is decelerating. However, there are still distinct regional … [More]
Middle Market Outlook: Strategy, Investment and Talent
As we enter 2026, U.S. middle market companies are doing more than turning the page on last year—they are repositioning for growth. According to the National Center for the Middle Market’s Q4 2025 Middle Market Indicator, the sector closed the year with renewed momentum, posting year-over-year revenue growth of 11.7% and seeing 85% of companies report higher revenues for the … [More]
Phoenix Emerges as Top Market for Women Entrepreneurs
Greater Phoenix is gaining national recognition as one of America’s best metros for women entrepreneurs. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metropolitan area has earned the 19th spot among large U.S. metros in a new study published by CoworkingCafe in honor of International Women's Month. The study analyzed more than 200 metropolitan areas across three key pillars — Women's … [More]
Business Growth Slows Across Southwest as Focus Turns to Execution
BMO released its BMO Business Outlook for the Southwest, showing companies across Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah shifting from rapid post‑pandemic expansion to a more measured, execution‑focused phase as growth normalizes and planning visibility improves. Across the Southwest, business leaders are emphasizing disciplined capital allocation, margin protection and … [More]
Phoenix Housing Affordability Rises as Inventory Expands
More families are finding homes in their price range, as the Greater Phoenix housing affordability index increased from 71 to 77 in February, and the number of homes in inventory rose 8.3%. This means that 77% of households with an income equal to the region’s median can afford the median-priced home, according to home sales data from Phoenix REALTORS. “March until May are … [More]
What SMBs Tell Us About the Economy That Wall Street Can’t
New research from GoDaddy and UCLA Anderson Forecast finds that small business data offers earlier and stronger indication of upcoming U.S. economic performance than traditional measures such as the stock market. Last quarter's data captures digital business activity rising year-over-year. By bringing digital small businesses into the picture for the first time, the research … [More]
