Ah, let’s take a moment to envision the mythical “table” we all refer to and the elusive “seat” that we are never invited to fill. Have you ever caught yourself saying, “Well, if we just had a seat at the table we could …”? Admittedly, I’ve said it often when thinking about the work we need to do to support the incredible work of nonprofits in Arizona. I’ve even joked with … [More]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 Impact on Charitable Giving
Arizona’s charitable community may lose approximately $170 million in giving due to the federal tax law changes. As business owners and professionals who engage with the nonprofit sector as board members, sponsors and donors, it is important to consider the impact this will have on nonprofits you support. It is also critical that we continue to make our much-needed financial … [More]
Arizona Gives Day 2018 Results Are In!
Arizona Gives Day is a grassroots, statewide day of giving that invited Arizonans to donate to their favorite causes during a 24-hour period on April 3, 2018. This year’s Gives Day raised more than $2.5 million for nonprofits across our state. This amount is likely to grow, as the total is still being tallied at the time of this writing, to include matching grants and other … [More]
On The Board and In The Spotlight: Rhett Baughman
Q: How long have you served on this board? A: One and half years What drew you to this organization? A: I was drawn to YNPN Phoenix because of their impact on young professionals’ lives and their desire to affect change in the social sector. Q: What would you say is one of the biggest challenges for a young professional serving on a nonprofit board? A: Lack of … [More]
Workforce Development through National Service Programs
An educated and skilled workforce is one of the top factors in determining business attraction and expansion decisions. We can think of the usual places to look for these candidates: college recruiting, job boards, career fairs. However, have you considered a VISTA alumnus to fill that next job? Let’s take a step back. First, what is a VISTA? VISTA (Volunteers in Service to … [More]
Building Better Boards – Leadership that Matters
The role of the nonprofit governing board is vital to the long-term success of any nonprofit organization. The board is the critical lynchpin in creating a successful partnership with the CEO/ED that works toward long-term organizational sustainability. According to BoardSource, an innovator in governance thought leadership, exceptional boards add significant value to their … [More]
Tips to Grow across Metros and Borders
Global Chamber® makes it easier for our members to connect to opportunities across metro areas and borders. In today’s busy world where everyone is running a mile a minute, you need something to stand out from the crowd to get noticed: an amazing technology, a world-class product and/or a little warmth. With one, two or three of these, you’ll more easily reach new clients, new … [More]
Global Trade Is Changing Phoenix Metro
With 85 percent of business growth happening outside of the U.S., and more than 99.7 percent of new business being created outside of Arizona, more and more companies and communities are accessing new global opportunities. That’s why we’re here — helping members of Global Chamber® access new opportunities. Last month, Jeanine Jerkovic, director of Economic Development for … [More]
It’s Time to Get Involved with Global Business
Most business opportunities are somewhere else, not in your town, state or even country! Metro Phoenix, for instance, represents less than 0.3 percent of global business activity. More than 85 percent of new business opportunities are outside the U.S. And yet fewer than 1 percent of companies are going after that 85 percent, because fewer than 1 percent of companies export and, … [More]
Selecting a Distributor in a Foreign Country
Going with the big, established distributor isn’t always the best strategy. Relationships matter, but not always like you think. Jokari, a U.S. manufacturer of kitchen and household gadgets along with storage and organization products, utilized a large, established distributor in Japan and enjoyed some success. When three key executives of the distributor decided to leave and … [More]
Connect to Global Career and Consulting Projects
At the Global Chamber®, we believe if you want to have a global career, you should have a global career — wherever you wish to live. And your company should have access to special global executives and professionals to lead growth. That’s why part of our daily goal is to connect members who want a global career to more companies that offer global jobs, and vice-versa. Browse … [More]
April 2018 President Message
When it comes to career opportunities, everyone deserves a chance. That’s the message a group of Arizona Technology Council members and I took to Washington, D.C., recently as we met with lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill as part of the annual CompTIA DC Fly-In. (More details on page 4 of this section.) In meetings throughout the day, we shared our concerns about … [More]
The Sporting Life
Say “Fiesta Bowl” and college football comes to mind. But when the organization that even has staged national championships wanted to enter the arena of competitive video games, its leaders sought help from a new part of the Arizona Technology Council: the eSports Subcommittee of the Game Industry Committee. Fiesta Bowl organizers were looking for help drawing awareness to … [More]
Science for All
The Chief Science Officers (CSO) program was launched to help sixth- through 12th-graders in Arizona and beyond ultimately develop technical and employability skills through STEM activities. However, this collaborative initiative of the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and Arizona Commerce Authority may be only scratching the surface to help develop the potential of … [More]
New Director at the Helm of SciTech Festival
For anyone who has even been to an event staged as part of the Arizona SciTech Festival, there’s a good chance that Marisa Ostos has been right there, too. “I think she’s done more, seen more events, gone to more events than anybody around,” says Jeremy Babendure, Arizona SciTech’s executive director. “She just has passion for it.” It’s fitting Ostos marks her sixth year … [More]
Tech Champion
Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, was named a 2018 Tech Champion by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the world’s leading technology association. Zylstra was recognized for his leadership in championing technology policy in Arizona and his commitment to the Council and its members, and his civic and community … [More]
Lawmakers Hear from Tech-Focused Constituents
A group of Arizona Technology Council members recently had the chance to let their voices be heard when they walked the halls of Congress to meet with members of the Arizona delegation and key staff members during the 2018 CompTIA DC Fly-In. The annual event brings together more than 100 solution providers, vendors and other IT professionals to discuss industry trends, … [More]
Arizona Science Bowl
Quickly: From the LEAST to the MOST, what are the three most abundant elements in a G-type star? If your answer was hydrogen, helium and carbon, move to the head of the class. That’s an example of one of the easier questions you might have faced as a contestant in the High School Division of the Arizona Science Bowl, the regional event of the National Science Bowl … [More]
