In hospitality, we talk a lot about creating memorable experiences for our guests. But behind every great guest experience is something equally important: a team that feels valued, connected and invested in the place they choose to work. That has become increasingly challenging across our industry. Hospitality is a people business, yet retaining experienced employees and … [More]
Phoenix Has the Entrepreneurs. They Need Better Places to Grow
Phoenix does not have a shortage of entrepreneurial ambition. What it lacks is enough flexible, professional space for businesses that have outgrown where they started but are not yet ready for the cost and commitment of a traditional commercial lease. That is the gap FlexEtc was built to fill. FlexEtc is a flexible business infrastructure platform that gives entrepreneurs, … [More]
Phoenix Employers Need an AI Apprenticeship Scorecard
Greater Phoenix is building a technology economy that needs both automation and a deeper talent bench. In Business Magazine’s August issue puts young workers, AI accountability and the semiconductor workforce in the same conversation. Arizona is also expanding a registered-apprenticeship system that now reaches modern sectors, including semiconductors, cybersecurity, healthcare … [More]
Looking Good – October 2026
Local Standouts Recognized for Achievements and Philanthropy ACHIEVEMENTS Awake Makes Inc. 5000 on 50,604% Growth Phoenix Financial Team a Forbes Best Pinyon Named #1 Mediterranean Restaurant in U.S. Navi Nurses Reprises on Inc. 5000 Jennifer Kaplan Named for National Honor PHILANTHROPY Walmart Grant to Support Workforce Development Jersey Mikes … [More]
Awake Makes Inc. 5000 on 50,604% Growth
Awake Window & Door Co.’s 50,604% growth in four years earned it the No. 2,255 spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000. With its second-chance mission, Awake has built its growth with more than 60% of employees having a justice-involved background. … [More]
Phoenix Financial Team a Forbes Best
Phoenix-based UBS advisor team The Schultz Group has been named to the Barron’s Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams list for 2026, marking the second year that the team has been the only Phoenix-based team on the list. The Schultz Group was also named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list in 2026. … [More]
Pinyon Named #1 Mediterranean Restaurant in U.S.
Pinyon Coastal Mediterranean, the newest restaurant concept from Hi Noon Hospitality, has been named the No. 1 Mediterranean restaurant in the United States in Yelp Elites’ guide to the “Top 25 Mediterranean Restaurants Worth the Epic Journey,” earning the top spot among standout destinations across the country. Pinyon is the only Arizona restaurant included on the prestigious … [More]
Navi Nurses Reprises on Inc. 5000
Valley-based Navi Nurses, a private duty concierge nursing company, has ranked No. 699 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, marking its second consecutive year on the list with 492% revenue growth over the last three years, nearly four times the list's median of 130%. … [More]
Jennifer Kaplan Named for National Honor
Jennifer Kaplan, president and CEO of Evolve PR & Marketing, has been named a 2026 PRNEWS People of the Year honoree, marking her second consecutive year receiving the prestigious national recognition celebrating the most influential people in PR and communications. This year, Kaplan is honored in the PR Entrepreneurs & Founders category, which spotlights … [More]
Walmart Grant to Support Workforce Development
Over the next five years, Walmart and Walmart Foundation aim to help workers across select Phoenix communities move into and prepare for higher-quality career opportunities. As part of that effort in Phoenix, Walmart has provided an initial $250,000 grant to The Center for the Future of Arizona to expand workforce opportunities across the Greater Phoenix area. The Arizona … [More]
Jersey Mikes Supports Valleywise Health
Thanks to the generosity of Jersey Mike's customers throughout Arizona and the local Jersey Mike’s franchise company that developed the campaign, nearly $44,000 was raised during the restaurant's July Round Up campaign to support pediatric patients at Valleywise Health and the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center. … [More]
Looking Good 2026 – September Standouts
Achievements GCON CEO Named Entrepreneur of the Year Boycott Bar’s Audrey Corley Honored Avnet Twice Named a Best Company Mesa Entrepreneur Selected for Grant Philanthropy BOK Financial Aids Children Facing Hunger Hot Giving Summer for AZ Blue … [More]
GCON CEO Named Entrepreneur of the Year
Phoenix-based GCON Co-Founder and CEO Mike Godbehere was recently named an EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Pacific Southwest Award winner, selected among nearly 1,000 program participants across 17 regions competing for the title. Now in its 41st year, Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. In the case of … [More]
Boycott Bar’s Audrey Corley Honored
Audrey Corley and Boycott Bar were recently honored with the 2026 Community Partnership Award from the Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce for their lasting role in creating safe, visible and community-centered spaces across Greater Phoenix. … [More]
Avnet Twice Named a Best Company
Avnet was recently named one of TIME’s America’s Best Companies of 2026, ranking No. 481 among 1,000 companies nationwide based on employee satisfaction, financial performance and sustainability transparency. Avnet was also recently named a 2026–2027 Best Company to Work For by U.S. News & World Report. … [More]
Mesa Entrepreneur Selected for Grant
Angela Garmon, of Mesa-based ARG Coaching & Consulting Group, LLC, was recently selected to receive a 2026 BMO Celebrating Women grant — one of just 15 businesses nationwide selected to receive the grant, which were awarded based upon business strength, growth potential and demonstrated results in supporting the advancement of women. … [More]
BOK Financial Aids Children Facing Hunger
BOK Financial, through its employee-led “Guide the Giving” program, donated $10,000 to Feed My Starving Children — which will help provide approximately 34,482 meals (the equivalent of one meal a day for about 94 children for an entire year). Dewing Idemudia, a corporate banking relationship manager at BOK Financial and a board member of Feed My Starving Children, spearheaded … [More]
Hot Giving Summer for AZ Blue
Notable efforts of AZ Blue in Action: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) employees and their families, in partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way and The Foster Alliance, packed 1,300 backpacks full of school supplies for students and families in Southern Arizona. More than 200 AZ Blue employees volunteered to pack 1,000 JoyJars® for Arizona children fighting … [More]
