In the first grade, the future Ignite THP founder Spencer Tatum was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. He decided at that early age he would not allow his disabilities and bullying from his peers to define him but rather turned to his advantage his ability to persevere and adapt to changes around him to grow his business. It was sports, in fact, that taught him how to … [More]
SmartGurlz Sparks Passion in Computer Sci
Appearing on ABC’s “Shark Tank” earlier this year, SmartGurlz founder Sharmi Albrechtsen beat out 40,000 other entrepreneurs and negotiated with guest “shark” Richard Branson before closing a deal with Daymond John on her line of groundbreaking toys that use an award-winning robotics platform to teach basic coding skills to girls as young as six years old. “Many girls’ toys … [More]
Driving Arizona’s Startup Community from Behind the Generosity Flywheel
Five years ago, StartupAZ Foundation was nothing more than a shared vision among a group of entrepreneurs and community leaders who believed our ecosystem could be so much more. We wanted to create something that would empower local entrepreneurs to grow, give back and positively impact the state — and simultaneously begin to shift Arizona’s economy away from the volatile real … [More]
Why Wait?
For those who want to get started as an entrepreneur and take advantage of being young, Why Wait? shares Rob Berk’s journey, from his first year at Hamilton through graduation day. This rollercoaster ride started when he decided to #SayYes and began working with The New York Times best-selling author and serial entrepreneur Dave Kerpen as his executive assistant. In an effort … [More]
Planning an Exit in Volatile Times
Succession planning comes down to one question: “How do you want to exit?” The reality is all business owners will eventually exit their business. Whether they retire to the beach, sell their company and move on to another venture or for health reasons can no longer be a part of the day-to-day operations, they need a plan that financially prepares them for the next phase of … [More]
All About Elevating People
Nearly two decades ago, power duo Sherri and Charles Mitchell joined forces in business. As founders of All About People, they have brought a unique perspective to executive placement and recruiting. For the Mitchells and their team, All About People is more than just their company name, it is their core belief. This group has been meeting recruiting needs for corporations … [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]
2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé
With perfect symmetry of space and sportiness, the BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupé embodies elegance in every form. The heart of the 8 Series Gran Coupé is its TwinPower Turbo engine — particularly the very muscular V-8 found in the M850i xDrive model, which delivers up to 523 horsepower. When dynamics meet luxury, the result is something unique. Its design is aesthetics in its … [More]
Business Swag with a ‘Stay Healthy’ Message
The days of welcoming employees to the office with T-shirts, mugs and other swag may be over. In a sign of the new normal as businesses begin to reopen while the country continues to grapple with the pandemic, COVID-style “back-to-work kits” are enabling companies to bring their teams back into the fold with items like face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and antimicrobial … [More]
Pita Jungle: A New Vision and Mission
We believe Pita Jungle’s mission has never been more relevant: Placing every American within affordable reach of food that is healthful, freshly made and delicious. In addition to all mitigation efforts that reverberate around us — from the top pertinent authorities to whatever tall-tale prescription your Aunt Gertrude might have told you about — what is often omitted is the … [More]
Feedback: July 2020
Question: COVID-19 has brought to the fore a new concern about the future of office space. As stay-at-home mandates are lifted, how will your company approach its space needs? Clarence McAllister Founder and CEO Fortis Sector: Construction Before COVID-19, we were considering selling our building and moving to a smaller office. We have since accelerated those … [More]
Black- and Woman-Owned: Business in the Shadow of COVID-19
Building their businesses here in Phoenix, these two black women business owners had little in common — until the COVID-19 pandemic wrought disruption indiscriminately throughout the economy and put us all in the same boat. Retail is commonly acknowledged to be the hardest-hit sector. As a concessionaire with gift stores in airport terminals, Lachele Mangum’s retail … [More]
COVID-19 and the Workplace
Prepare to Implement Basic Infection Prevention MeasuresFor most employers, protecting workers will depend on emphasizing basic infection prevention measures. As appropriate, all employers should implement good hygiene and infection control practices, including:Promote frequent and thorough hand washing, including by providing workers, customers, and worksite visitors with a … [More]
Sources of Information & Assistance
The following are credible resources for information and assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Arizona Department of Health Services: daily COVID-19 updates The Arizona Poison Control System (now available to take COVID-19 calls from Arizona providers and the general public) 1-844-542-8201 Arizona Together: an initiative to help Arizona businesses, … [More]
Containing the Spread of COVID-19
As with anything new, we are still learning about how the virus spreads and the severity of illness it causes. The following information is from the CDC update June 16. COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person. Some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others … [More]
Valley Credit Union Supports Center of Excellence for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Desert Financial Credit Union is proud to help sponsor the Filene Research Institute in launching their new Center of Excellence for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). DEI is a five-year research project led by Dr. Quinetta Roberson of Villanova University to tackle challenges in access to both talent and products and services in the financial services industry. Dr. … [More]
31 Named to Foundation Public Policy Fellow Program
The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation has selected 31 civic leaders for its Flinn-Brown Fellowship seminar series that will focus on public policy development within the national, state and local political landscape to address Arizona’s pressing socio-economic issues. Four counties from across Arizona will be represented in the new cohort, … [More]
