Last month, the 2012 Census of Agriculture mailed forms to farmers and ranchers nationwide asking them questions relating to all areas of farming and ranching operations, including production expenses, market value of products and operator characteristics. In 2007, Arizona was seen as a major agricultural state, ranking third in the nation for total value of vegetables, melons … [More]
Elliott Pollack: Master of Figures
Prominent Valley economist Elliott Pollack, CEO of economic analysis firm Elliott D. Pollack and Company, is a no-nonsense kind of guy, his passion for his profession evident in every word of his rapid-fire delivery. Yet he’s not a strictly by-the-numbers sort; he has a philosophical streak. Just ask, for example, how he got his start. “Life,” he says, “is how you react to a … [More]
Diamond Wholesaler Creates New Supply and Demand
Businesses are built on the idea of supply and demand. But what if there is not a supply? In Jana Hadany’s case, even the demand was not assured when she conceptualized Avilan Storied Diamonds to be a sustainable diamond business. The business concept was sparked by conversations in 2010 Hadany heard between her husband, Avi Hadany, and his partner, Ilan Wexsler, about … [More]
Arizona On Track for Full Recovery
According to many of the nation’s top indicators, local university research teams and various economic scholars, Arizona is moving toward a full recovery. After the recent 49th Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon organized by ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, where an assembly of experts was gathered, it seemed to be good news — Arizona is on a fast track to recover. “As … [More]
Bytes: January 2013
LeadGen from Social Media Nimble, a pioneer of social relationship management, now integrates with HootSuite, makers of a market-leading social media management system. Now users can connect social media best practices to Social CRM capabilities, such as identifying, connecting and nurturing prospects; businesses can finally “close the loop” on social selling and customer … [More]
Christopher’s Restaurant
Known worldwide for his culinary creations and restaurant concepts, Christopher Gross offers up an eventful meal in an urban contemporary atmosphere that will please anyone looking to enjoy the perfect lunch. Located in the Biltmore Fashion Park at 24th Street and Camelback, this upscale/casual daytime eatery (also open for dinner and late-night noshing) is a culinary … [More]
Last Year’s Best Business Lunch Spots
Reminiscing on top business lunch spots, here are our reminders of some of the best lunch spots that opened in 2012. Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails Described as a contemporary American gastro-lounge, this “off the lobby” eatery at the Palomar Hotel is a downtown urban delight with a creative and flavorful menu. Go back after the day and enjoy the hand-crafted … [More]
Luxury SUV: Infiniti QX56
Not like your father’s sports utility vehicle, the Infiniti QX56 was designed to impress visually and mechanically and emphasizes comfort to an extent not seen before in this class. The engine is a 5.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline V8 with 32 valves and a sophisticated valve control that slightly enhances fuel economy. Going from zero to 60 mph in nearly seven seconds, its … [More]
The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change
Ours is a time of revolutionary change that has no precedent in history. With the same passion he brought to the challenge of climate change, and with his decades of experience on the front lines of global policy, Al Gore surveys our planet’s beclouded horizon and offers a sober, learned and, ultimately, hopeful forecast in the visionary tradition of Alvin Toffler’s Future … [More]
What’s the Future of Business: Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences
What’s the Future of Business? will galvanize a new movement that aligns the tenets of user experience with the vision of innovative leadership to improve business performance, engagement and relationships for a new generation of consumerism. It provides an overview of real-world experiences versus “user” experiences in relation to products, services, mobile, social media and … [More]
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation: High Fashion for Self-sufficiency
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation brings Phoenix some of the glamour and excitement of New York’s Fashion Week with its annual Fashion Gala fundraiser, this year’s event on February 2 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa with Pamella Roland the featured designer. Roland will premiere her spring collection that she’ll be showing in New York. The gala’s attendees “see designers … [More]
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Making Friendships to Make a Difference
Save the Date: Returning this year to its earlier fundraising model, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona will host a community breakfast on April 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. “It’s a great way to talk to individuals and share with them what we do and how they can help,” says Laura Capello, president and CEO. The morning’s … [More]
Feedback: January 2013
Question: As a leader working with our business community, what do you see as the priority for local municipalities in working with the Arizona State Legislature in 2013 to build business and strengthen our local economy? Marie Lopez Rogers Mayor, City of Avondale President, National League of Cities Sector: Government Over the past year, beneath the headlines about … [More]
Member Test Post
Cassidy Turley, a leading commercial real estate services provider in the U.S., today released research examining the impending “fiscal cliff’s” impact on commercial real estate markets across the country. The fiscal cliff refers to the combination of tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect in January 2013, assuming no change to the current law. Economists’ … [More]
Top 10: Wealth Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Trish Stark, senior vice president and director of client relations at First Western Trust in Scottsdale, notes that with the complicated nature of wealth planning, certain factors often get overlooked. She shares ten tips to help individuals avoid making common mistakes. 1. Not understanding the rules To avoid accidentally adding the wrong assets to a trust and … [More]
Deborah Bateman, National Bank of Arizona
Now, perhaps more than ever, business owners must manage their wealth in ways that help ensure security while positioning them to take advantage of opportunities in both the near or long term. Whether they are growing their businesses or simply preparing themselves and their employees for the future, the current environment requires that wealth management be as much a part of … [More]
Entertainment Districts: The Business Behind the Fun
It’s far from fun and games when it comes to developing entertainment districts in the Valley. Filled with movie theaters and arcades — part of a category called “amusements” by tax collectors — as well as restaurants and bars, the districts contributed a growing share of the nearly $551.7 million that the Arizona Department of Revenue collected from these categories in the … [More]
Standardized People Won’t Win America’s Future
Ever since the No Child Left Behind Act amped up standardized testing throughout the nation in 2002, critics say results have been negative. The bottom line is, there is no clear correlation between standardized testing and the knowledge and skills kids will need to prosper in the 21st-century world of work. It seems we’re more interested in creating a homogenized work force … [More]
