New Model in Real Estate

by RaeAnne Marsh

A new model of real estate brokerage firm debuted in the Valley earlier this year. Local real estate entrepreneur John N. Vatistas created Launch Real Estate with, initially, a handful of personally selected top-producing real estate brokers. “While it is common among traditional real estate brokerages to house agents of varying skills sets and experiences, from novice to … [More]

Making Change through Innovation

by Mike Hunter

Changemaker Challenge is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from all four Arizona state university campuses to make a difference in local and global communities through innovation. Students can win up to $10,000 to make innovative project, prototype, venture or community partnership ideas happen. This year, more than $40,000 was handed to several … [More]

Top Temp Talent

by Mike Hunter

BlueCrew’s on-demand staffing platform automates the screening and matching of the most-qualified and -trusted candidates to the right jobs. Its algorithms empower employers to cut through the clutter of thousands of temporary job candidates to hire top temporary talent at the click of a button for positions that include movers, drivers, forklift operators, warehouse staff, … [More]

Global Payments

by Mike Hunter

Bitwage combines cloud, mobile and blockchain technology to make international payments faster and simpler. The average to pay employees, freelancers and contractors across borders is five days and 8 percent. With Bitwage — founded in 2014 by a team of former Oracle employees — wage payments can be as fast as same day and as low as 1 percent. Companies can use Bitwage to pay … [More]

Talent Captured

by Mike Hunter

Social apps have defined the way we communicate and form relationships, and HR leaders are beginning to adopt day-to-day technology to complement this 21st-century platform of communication. One area that has been slow to adopt to the changing times is recruitment. Addressing this is getTalent, a talent relationship management engine that helps HR teams build a strategic, … [More]

Entrepreneurial Lifestyle

by RaeAnne Marsh

SOHO Scottsdale, designed in collaboration by renowned architect Bing Hu of H&S International and Irene Clary of Catclar Investments, is a first- of-its-kind, mixed-use, live-work residential project designed for the professional or entrepreneur. These stylish, modern live-work units are uniquely dual-zoned; giving owners the ability to enjoy the lifestyle North Scottsdale … [More]

‘Millennial Mindset’

by Mike Hunter

Contour on Campbell Ave. represents a new typology in condominium communities, with amenities catering not to a particular age group but to the homebuyer looking for a specific urban lifestyle, and Liv URBN and design partners Gould Evans Associates keep locale-centric design and neighborhood integration at the fore of their decision-making on this project. “We think of our … [More]

Whiskey Row with Aggie Roots

by RaeAnne Marsh

Ground has broken on a new Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in downtown Gilbert that has been designed to connect with the town’s agricultural roots. “We were influenced by Gilbert’s agricultural roots and the feeling of a barn or trading post,” says Artie Vigil, architect and urban designer with AV3 Design Studio of Phoenix. The new restaurant will include patio, dance floor and … [More]

Contracting Assistance Is ‘Win-Win’ for Small Biz & Government

by Beth Reece

The Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs administers a unique program designed to assist small businesses as they navigate government contracting. The Procurement Technical Assistance Program was created in 1985 to provide specialized training and assistance to small businesses to help increase their participation in government contracts at local, state … [More]

Marketing: Live from Mesa Chamber

by RaeAnne Marsh

“Mesa Morning Live” is far from your typical chamber networking event, although it does include a mix-and-mingle, breakfast and a few table presenters. But the core of this successful program that the Mesa Chamber of Commerce puts together every month is informative entertainment that’s professionally produced and broadcast live (and archived on YouTube) for the benefit of … [More]