Leadership. Vision. As president and CEO of National Bank of Arizona, Keith Maio knows strength in both areas is a desired combination for success in any business. But when it comes to making a state successful, those traits are critical. It’s about “developing that common vision almost like you would for a business and engaging leaders to move toward that vision.” He’s … [More]
Seeking Sales Tax Change that’s Good for Business, Good for Cities
Governor Brewer’s creation of the Transaction Privilege Tax Simplification Task Force last year addressed the long-simmering concern that Arizona’s sales tax system is complicated, with the individual municipalities having their own tax rates. In fact, “Arizona has the most complicated system in the nation,” says State Representative Debbie Lesko (R, Dist. 9), author of HB … [More]
Ian Wist Battles the Big-box Stores
As Ian Wist describes what he calls his “uh-oh” moment, the tension in his voice mounts. “You live with that moment,” he explains. He’s speaking of a crossroads during a tough period in the family business, Wist Office Products. “Those were some tough, scary times. And tough on us as a family,” Wist says. “It was during the Reagan recessions. We had bad cash flow, reps were … [More]
Data Center in Tucson Offers Off-site Security for Valley Businesses
“As the data center market grows in Phoenix, it’s a great opportunity to have a second site two hours away,” says Bruce Lehrman, CEO of Involta, a full-service data center company that opened a 38,000-square-foot facility in Tucson last month. Just as Phoenix has become a popular location for off-site data centers because of the state’s lack of natural disasters, Valley … [More]
Investment Call Center Expands in Chandler
The Chandler call center of Bank of America’s Merrill Edge investment service will be expanding the number of its investment advisors by about 50 percent over the course of 2013. The office, open since 2010 to serve the “mass affluent” segment (who invest $50,000 – $250,000), currently employs 197 investment professionals. According to Mike Nannini, the division sales … [More]
Distrito: Contemporary Mexican
Whether helping direct a corporation from the C-suites or doing it all as a small-business owner, every businessperson needs a respite from decision-making dawn to dusk (or longer). Well, Scottsdale is one of the premier tourist destinations in the country, and it can sometimes be refreshing and rejuvenating to get away from the responsibilities of business and enjoy a little … [More]
Off the Whine List
These wine bars give guests no reason to whine — vino selection is extensive and varied, and go-withs hit the mark whether ordered as a snack or a light lunch or a repast for later in the day. Salud! 5th and Wine The heart of downtown Scottsdale beats red – or white or rose, depending on what seems most palate-pleasing at the time. Plenty of by-the-glass choices make it … [More]
Scheduled Fitness to Move You
Spending a good part of the day sitting in an office chair is not part of any executive’s fitness regimen, so get up and out. Here are some of the latest devices that will encourage movement in a businessperson’s life, even when busy at work: Fitbit Track steps, distance and calories with the Zip or One wireless movement trackers, the Flex wristband tracker or the all-new … [More]
The New Porsche: Cayman S
All new for 2014 and termed the “third generation Boxter” or “rival to the 911,” this powerful and sporty edition by Porsche is getting noticed. Despite its obvious lower price and less powerful engine from that of the 911, the Cayman S is a stand-out for 2014 and may be a brilliant alternative to Porsche’s top-of-the-line machines. With new chassis technologies, more power … [More]
Piper Trust: Community Benefit Continues Legacy of Founder
The impact of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust on Maricopa County nonprofits goes beyond the $21–$22 million it grants every year. “We have tried not only to recognize the importance of the financial awards, but be partners [to nonprofits in the community],” says Judy Mohraz, president and CEO of the Trust. The Trust was established in 1995, when Virginia Galvin Piper, … [More]
Arizona Community Foundation: Helping Families Create a Legacy
Arizona Community Foundation President and CEO Steven Seleznow credits “the generosity of the people of this community and their thoughtfulness about what they want to give.” Empowering its donors’ philanthropic legacies, the foundation has more than $550 million in charitable assets under its management and expects to give $42 million in grants this year. Many grants are … [More]
Feedback: May 2013
Question: Our real estate market has gone through several cycles of highs and lows in the last few decades. The most recent high proved to be a bubble from whose bursting we are still recovering. What steps can we take to avoid building another bubble in the real estate market? Walt Danley President Walt Danley Realty Sector: Real Estate As the real estate recovery … [More]
Sports Means Business: Is It a Win for Our Economy?
When the Arizona Diamondbacks played its first game in Phoenix 15 years ago, it entered an already crowded National League West Division where many locals carried with them baseball traditions linked to other franchises, according to Derrick Hall, president and CEO. “In some markets, all they have to do to sell tickets is put out a pocket schedule and open up the gates,” says … [More]
Trucking: Moving Commerce
Once a semi gets up to speed on the open road, few things can stop its momentum unless it’s a car trying to edge past. Even then, it’s almost a sure bet who will keep moving if the maneuver is too close. “It’s not the smartest thing to cut off an 80,000-pound trailer,” says Tony Bradley, the new president and CEO at Arizona Trucking Association. And, despite the roadblocks a … [More]
Michael Kennedy, Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A.
Here in Arizona, we have the year-round privilege of being able to root for our home-town team, as Metro Phoenix is host to professional teams for baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Not to mention such major events as Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Super Bowl, MLB All-Star Game and NASCAR. But sports has value far beyond entertainment. As an industry, the business … [More]
Aaron Matos: Morphing a Job Board to Recruiting.com
As founder and chief executive officer of Jobing.com and, now, Recruiting.com, Aaron Matos is devoted to helping companies hire the best people in the most timely and cost-efficient ways possible. “I went into human resources early in my career, and found out that most people didn’t really enjoy what they were doing at work,” Matos says. Along the way, he found a passion for … [More]
Packaged Water Company Aims to Help Local Economy
The idea was ahead of its time when Liesl Harder Kielp, founder and president of AguaSAC, L.L.C., began talking with colleagues three years ago about packaging water in a pouch. “The film structures available were not conducive to water — they would taint the flavor,” explains Kielp, who is also founder of EnVision Flexible Packaging, referring to the material used for making … [More]
‘First to File’ Patent System Replaces ‘First to Invent’
The change in United States patent laws that went into effect on March 16 of this year is intended to better align the U.S. with all other industrialized countries, in that all countries now utilize a “first to file” standard as opposed to “first to invent” when determining who has priority to an invention. Previously, if a company could show it was, in fact, the first to … [More]
