Staying in touch with members whose operations stretch across the state has been critical to the Arizona Technology Council since its start. Through a series of communication methods, including April’s release of the annual report, members and others have been informed about developments not only of the Council but issues affecting the state’s technology industry as a whole. … [More]
Yes, Some Good News
At the end of a year seemingly filled with bad news from various sectors, there was some good news to report in the fourth quarter of 2020 by Arizona’s technology ecosystem. Data in the latest quarterly Arizona Technology Industry Impact Report from the Arizona Technology Council revealed a 29% jump in STEM job postings in December 2020 vs. December 2019 and a 4.3% growth in … [More]
A Message from Jean Briese, President
I just returned from my first business trip since our world was shattered by the pandemic. It was, in many ways, just another business trip. But in other ways, it was so much more. I was meeting with a small group of international leaders. The goal: to inspire these leaders to break barriers. The pandemic has created so many new barriers. We began our time together with a … [More]
Why I Should Have Known the Name of My Banker
It was a great idea. But then … the Great Recession. Houses and neighborhoods popped up everywhere. Freeways lengthened; highways expanded. Pharmacies, grocery stores and hospitals burst into existence. Demands arose for more schools, fire departments and roads. In the early 2000s, a record influx of families swelled the East Valley. The economy boomed as business owners … [More]
4 Marketing Pillars to Grow Your Online Sales in 2021
Nearly 150 million people shopped online for the first time in the pandemic, according to an eMarketer report last year from “Insider Intelligence” (emarketer.com/content/global-ecommerce-2020), and it is predicted that the number of ecommerce buyers will only continue to rise. So much so that some industry insiders are dubbing 2021 as “The Year of Add To Cart.” With all … [More]
7 Things to Do in the Post-Pandemic World to Grow Your Business
We are still in the midst of challenging and fast-evolving times. Over the past months, we’ve all learned how to survive and thrive amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty. As a woman business owner and former corporate executive, I’ve lived through several volatile eras and a massive influx in technology-based changes. Although the pandemic is radically … [More]
3 Dangerous Mistakes Women Make that Lead to Burnout
Women from all over the world contact me sharing the struggles of their daily lives. Inevitably, they use these three words to describe how they feel about their life: stress, overwhelm and burnout. After years of working with female professionals and talking to tens of thousands of women about what specifically stresses them out, I’ve identified the three dangerous mistakes … [More]
Tempe Chamber Announces 2021 Leadership Speaker Series
The Tempe Chamber’s Women in Business Council, in partnership with presenting sponsor BD Becton Dickinson, is pleased to announce the 2021 Speaker Series: Lessons for Life & Leadership. The four live sessions will take place weekly through an online platform starting Friday, January 22nd at 9 a.m., with the final program on February 12th. This series consists of four … [More]
A Letter from the CEO
2020 was truly an unforeseen year for business and the health and safety of our community. Many of us have been through different kinds of natural disasters, but the depth of what a global pandemic can do was unlike anything we had ever experienced. As the year has ended, it is essential to reflect on its impact on our community, and the outlook for 2021. Looking Back on … [More]
EVCCA Lifestyle Healthcare Program Update for Businesses
The Tempe Chamber in partnership with the East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance is proud to offer Lifestyle Health Plans, an affinity health plan designed to help East Valley employers save money on healthcare premiums while providing a robust wellness plan and quality care to employees. NEW in 2021, Lifestyle Health Plans now offers pricing on two value-based network … [More]
Tempe Chamber Virtual Event Success
In 2020, the pandemic was a challenge in many ways, and early in the process the Tempe Chamber moved all its signature events to a virtual format. While following all CDC guidelines, the team at Video West helped the Tempe Chamber produce six live broadcast events seen by record numbers of registrants. With focus on the content and the ability to provide important messages from … [More]
Committee Highlights
Military Affairs Committee (MAC) The Tempe Chamber Military Affairs Committee had a busy fall this year with several programs that furthered its mission to serve as a proactive voice supporting military personnel in the Greater Phoenix area. On November 13th, the Tempe Chamber MAC went to Goldwater Air National Guard base for the 2020 Copper 5 Honors event that was a live … [More]
Don’t Put Charitable Giving on Your New Year’s Resolution List
Gasp! Did I really just tell you to not put giving on your list of resolutions? Yes, indeed I did. But why? New Year’s resolutions are a great way to inspire — nay, force — yourself to do something good to improve yourself or those around you. Lose ten pounds. Complain less. Read a book a month. Save more ... give more. And yet, many of us find ourselves back to our same … [More]
Big Brothers Big Sisters Finds Solutions to Coordinate Virtual Mentorship
Social distancing can be difficult for many reasons, including feelings of isolation, a lack of routine, and not being able to visit with friends. Adults and youth are facing stress-related anxiety due to the lack of regular daily activities and personal interaction. During these difficult times, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona has made an effort to fill the gap of … [More]
Keeping Food on the Table
At Midwest Food Bank Arizona on the Mesa-Gilbert border, the COVID-19 pandemic took an already busy year and sent it spiraling into crisis mode. As community aid agencies dedicated to feeding those in need experienced a massive spike in requests for assistance and usually reliable supply chains broken down under the stress of the coronavirus, MFB Arizona needed to pivot on a … [More]
Giving Ecards Make Philanthropy Easy
In an age when instant gratification is more the norm than giving back and philanthropy, the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits is hoping to make it easier to change some of this behavior with its new Arizona Gives Giving eCard in 2021. Giving eCards can be purchased on AZGives.org/eCards at any dollar amount, for any occasion, and at any time of the year. Purchasers … [More]
Taking an Intentional Approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Nonprofits have long supported underserved communities and done great things for communities in need. And while that work continues, there is a change that needs to be made. Nonprofits need to hold up a mirror to themselves and take action around diversity, equity and inclusion in their own organizations. DEI is no longer just a nice-to-have. Research has confirmed there is an … [More]
Continued Advocacy needed for Nonprofit Sector
Charitable nonprofit organizations, while nonpartisan organizations by nature and law, are impacted by elections just like other sectors of the economy. Oftentimes, government turns to its private-sector nonprofit partners to help solve issues in their communities, no matter who is in charge. That makes continued advocacy and engagement by the nonprofit community … [More]
