Many employers are feeling overwhelmed by a flurry of new regulations governing their benefits packages, taxes and methods of compliance as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Fortunately, many organizations are aware of this and are gearing up to make 2013 the year of information. The new healthcare reform law includes a number of new taxes and fees … [More]
Survey: CFOs See Stability in U.S. Economy’s Near Future
Nearly 70 percent of chief financial officers of U.S. companies believe the U.S. economy will either improve or remain stable during the next six months, according to the recently released 2012 Fall CFO Survey from Grant Thornton LLP. The survey findings reveal that 39 percent of respondents believe the state of the U.S. economy will remain the same in the first half of 2013, … [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]
Election Lessons: No Mandate for Business?
Results are in and, after an exhaustive campaign season, it seems that this year’s election has no mandate for business and we may be in for more of the same from our government. The President is as he was, the House and Senate are as they were (at least leadership-wise), and local elections and propositions seemed to say little in giving business owners any further … [More]
Employers Anticipate Employee Pay Increase
Employers in Arizona reported they anticipate pay increases in 2013, says a study completed by Mountain States Employers Council released in early October. Arizona employers project the highest increase of the three states surveyed, with an anticipated 2.8 percent pay increase in 2013. Survey findings were collected from 580 organizations in Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming and … [More]
Leadership: Business Trumps Politics
A global leadership management group, The Korn/Ferry International, polled business executives and found 65 percent felt a business professional would do a better job leading this country than a politician. The survey noted that 43 percent agreed with the statement that “a corporate CEO is better skilled to serve as U.S. President,” while 34 percent disagreed. Of those … [More]
Minority Business Development Agency Breaks Records and Arizona Benefits
In fiscal year 2011, Minority Business Development Center helped Arizona minority-owned businesses obtain 42 contracts totaling $134,721,609 and $171,426,324 in capital through 12 financial transactions. For clients assisted by the agency with gross annual revenues of $500,000 or more, MBDA Business Centers completed 41 transactions totaling $305,566,289. For clients with … [More]
Pay at the Top: Executive Pay Cut Down to Size
Arizona is ranked 25th in the nation for highest executive pay, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, reported in May of 2011. That means we are middle of the road. The average pay for an Arizona chief executive is $172,279. That is $82.82 per hour. Delaware is first among the states in executive pay at $218,900 and $105.24 per hour while Montana is at the bottom … [More]
Arizona Receives ‘C’ for Manufacturing Industry Health
Manufacturing nationally enjoyed a robust year as growth in many sectors accelerated from the already strong manufacturing recovery of 2010-11, but the impact varies from state to state, says a report from Ball State University. The 2012 Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card, an in-depth analysis from Ball State’s Center for Business and Economic Research, grades all 50 … [More]
All Sectors Show Growth for 2012 & 2013
In case the latest numbers on employment (and/or unemployment) have not been clear — since multiple government agencies, research groups and even media outlets continue to quote and report weekly, monthly and every time there is a spike one way or another in the statistics — this latest report by the Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics gives real hope of … [More]
