The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today launched its new Start Up section at AZCommerce.com as part of its ongoing efforts to align resources, connect partners and strengthen Arizona’s vibrant innovation ecosystem supporting the state’s entrepreneurs. The Start Up area was designed as a result of proactive engagement and strategic dialogue among leaders within Arizona’s … [More]
CNA National is Named a Finalist in the 2015 BBB Business Ethics Awards
Scottsdale-based CNA National Warranty Corporation (CNAN) has been selected as a finalist in the 2015 Better Business Bureau Business Ethics Awards, sponsored by the BBB of Central, Northern and Western Arizona. “We are honored to be a finalist for this distinguished award,” says Joe Becker, president and CEO. “Since its founding in 1982, CNA National has always practiced … [More]
Spring Training Charity Game Raises More Than $126,000 for Charity
More than $120,000 total was raised by the Peoria Diamond Club for various Peoria charities at Wednesday’s Spring Training Game, when the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres played each other on the opening day of Cactus League spring training. The game also had record attendance of 6027. While the two Major League Baseball teams squared off at the Peoria Sports … [More]
Blessings in a Backpack, Cigna Foundation and Cigna Provide Weekend Meals to Thew Elementary School Students
Starting March 6, 200 students at Thew Elementary in Tempe will receive backpacks filled with healthy food each weekend throughout the school year, made possible through a Cigna Foundation grant to Blessings in a Backpack. The national child hunger relief nonprofit will implement a three-year program at the school. To kick off the program, sponsored by Cigna, all 670 Thew … [More]
Salt River Project Wins International Award for Grid Modernization Efforts
It is recognition five years in the making. After years of research, development and real-world application, Salt River Project senior engineer Kyle Cormier and Joe Nowaczyk, former director of Electronic Systems, are being honored for their work, which focuses on enabling technologies to make grid modernization more reliable for SRP customers and the overall power industry … [More]
The Valley’s Retail Recovery: Vacancy Rate Falls to Single Digits for First Time Since 2008
Retail vacancy rates for Metropolitan Phoenix have fallen into the single-digit range for the first time since 2008, according to a recent retail study by CBRE’s Phoenix office. And while the retail market continues to improve at a more gradual pace than previously anticipated, retail real estate experts point to the 9.6 percent vacancy rate as an important milestone and a good … [More]
8 Local Companies Announced as IMPACT Award Recipients
The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) has selected eight deserving local companies as recipients of its 28th annual IMPACT Awards. The IMPACT Awards honor the accomplishments of small and large businesses and the impact they have on the Valley's business community and economy. This year — as in each of the past three years of the program — the GPCC recognizes two … [More]
Matrix Absence Management Names Marti Cardi Product Compliance Lead
Matrix Absence Management (Matrix) has named Marti Cardi, Esq. its vice president of Product Compliance, reporting directly to Matrix President Ken Cope. In her new role, Cardi is responsible for development, deployment and refinement of Matrix’s employer service offerings, including both core products (integrated disability management, FMLA/leave of absence, and workers’ … [More]
ADOSH Award to Honeywell Aerospace – Phoenix/Deer Valley Location with Voluntary Protection Program STAR Designation
The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) Consultation Department recently acknowledged Honeywell Aerospace - Phoenix/Deer Valley location as a “STAR Site” through the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Companies who are awarded the STAR designation demonstrate exemplary and comprehensive, safety and health management systems. VPP is the Occupational … [More]
Massage Envy Spa Ranks #16 on Franchise Times’ ‘Fast And Serious’ List
Massage Envy Spa, the pioneer and national leader of professional, convenient and affordable massage and spa services, has been named to the Franchise Times’ “Fast and Serious” list for the second consecutive year. This year, the brand was ranked No. 16 among 40 top-growing brands in the country. “We’re honored to be named among the ‘Fast and Serious’ companies for the … [More]
Two Amazon Fulfillment Managers to Receive Patriot Award for Their Support of Citizen Soldiers
On Wednesday, March 4, two Amazon managers from Phoenix-area fulfillment centers will be honored with the Patriot Award, a distinction given by Employment Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Employees who are active-duty in the National Guard or Reserve can nominate individual managers to be recognized for their commitment to supporting the needs of American service … [More]
GoDaddy Wins Top Honors in 2015 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service
GoDaddy, the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small business, was presented with a Gold Stevie® Award in the Online Sales Team of the Year category at the ninth annual awards gala on Feb. 27. Additionally, the company won a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Contact Center of the Year (Over 100 Seats) Technology Industries category in the ninth annual Stevie Awards for … [More]
Matthew Feeney Assumes Chairmanship of Snell & Wilmer
Matthew P. Feeney, a partner in the Phoenix office of Snell & Wilmer, has assumed the firm’s chairmanship. As announced in a press release on the impending change on October 21, 2014, Feeney takes over for John J. Bouma, who steps down from the position after leading the firm for more than 30 years. Bouma remains active in his practice and continues to serve on the firm’s … [More]
Dutch Bros. Coffee’s company-wide food drive
On Feb.14, Dutch Bros. Coffee's company-wide food drive collected 487,966 pounds of nonperishable items for food banks across seven states, a 109 percent increase over last year’s total. Dutch Bros. Arizona served as a drop site for cash donations and canned goods. For every dollar Dutch Bros. Arizona donated, five meals were provided. Surpassing its goal of raising enough … [More]
Incubating Business: Are Startups Accelerating Our Economy?
Apple and Intel may capture the headlines, but entrepreneurs are the drivers of the economy. A focused effort to foster an entrepreneurial culture in Arizona, which has generated a tremendous number of business incubators and accelerators, has been building in just the past several years. “State development folks realized we were overly dependent on defense, construction and … [More]
MaryAnn Guerra, BioAccel
Arizona has been recognized by Fast Company as the top state for entrepreneurial activity. And small business is a significant economic driver for our state, as it is for the country as a whole, powered in large part by technology. Technology development is moving at great speed, emanating from many diverse sources and a variety of fields of study. The problem is not in … [More]
Venturing in Today’s Age of the Entrepreneur
Now is the age of the entrepreneur, and today’s entrepreneur operates in a sphere where changes follow each other in rapid succession. In the coming years, the interests of the consumer will once again become a focal point in business. Entrepreneurs are advised to seek a personal relationship with their clients by taking account of their individual needs and desires. Social … [More]
Underestimating the Value of an MBA: The Latest Fad
Why go back to a university after all these years just to incur mounds of student debt? Why learn finance, marketing and leadership skills when there are numerous examples of successful entrepreneurs who founded businesses without getting advanced degrees? Why try to learn business content in a world where ever-changing technology creates dinosaurs faster than Steven … [More]
