The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc around the globe, leaving a trail of broken hopes and dreams in its path. Restaurants have been among the hardest hit industries. It’s estimated that 2.2 million restaurants worldwide will never reopen. This problem is especially severe in the U.S. where the Bureau of Labor Statistics just released data that points to a 3.4-million … [More]
How Mental Health Impacts the Workplace
A new year brings new hope as businesses continue to navigate the pandemic. As we head into 2021, we are facing what may be the most severe mental health crisis in recent American history. How business owners handle the next three to six months is pivotal to maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. The pandemic is taking a physical and mental toll on nearly everyone … [More]
Arizona Skills Gap in Trade Industries Is Everyone’s Problem
The skills gap is real, and now may be the perfect time to start fixing it. The “skills gap” is defined as a mismatch between the skills that employers rely upon in their employees and the skills that job seekers possess. This mismatch makes it difficult for individuals to find jobs and for employers to hire appropriately trained workers. Unfortunately for the HVAC … [More]
COVID-19 Accelerates the Demand for Digital Innovation
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on people’s lives and the global economy, impacting nearly every industry, including traditional and digitally native sectors. But the pandemic has not slowed innovation — in fact, it’s accelerating digital innovation to historic levels as organizations seek new ways to connect with and serve customers. The global disruption has required … [More]
Skills-based Volunteering: The Business Case
The last year has been marked by an unprecedented combination of challenges: a pandemic, economic downturn and devastating racial injustice, all of which have affected individuals as well as public and private-sector organizations. At the same time, pervasive social issues such as unequal access to healthcare, housing, food, education and workforce development remain. Making … [More]
Female Founders Succeed Despite Sexism
Historically, a lot of business has transpired in social settings, high on the list of which is the golf course and private men’s lounges. Hence the term “the old boys’ club.” Transactions may or may not be brought to agreement in such settings, but certainly connections are facilitated that ultimately lead to business agreements. This is not news, but it is the reason women … [More]
Workplace: Making a Safe Environment
In the midst of COVID-19, workers in all industries are being affected by societal tensions, unprecedented stress and pressures at home. Those stressors find their way to the workplace, creating dangerous environments that put both employees and customers at great risk. In this day and age, violence in the workplace is something we simply cannot ignore as business … [More]
Use OKRs to Maximize Productivity and Profitability
Google, Amazon, Spotify and LinkedIn are some of the most recognizable brands in the market today. These companies all have something in common, and it’s not just that they’re leaders of the technology industry. They all follow the same goal-setting system: OKR. What is an OKR? The acronym stands for “Objectives and Key Results.” OKRs are a highly flexible and effective … [More]
Banking Industry Positioned to Help Businesses Evolve to ‘New Normal’
"The [banking] industry’s goal is to help clients emerge stronger as they evolve their businesses from technology and workforces to product and service development." In the year 2020, the banking industry has had to be more nimble, forward-looking and customer-service-oriented than ever before. At Alliance Bank of Arizona, the cornerstone of our business has always been … [More]
Phoenix CRE Positioned to Come Back Strong
"Arizona continues to be one of the top commercial real estate markets in the country, and, as a business community, we need to celebrate this success …" At the start of this year, the commercial real estate market was in a really strong position. Although we initially experienced a small decrease in retail and office-space leases in the first quarter, we have since returned … [More]
Arizona Is Building on Its Growth Momentum
"Not only does our momentum remain strong, the projects we’re currently working represent more jobs than roughly the same number did a year ago — an indicator of the quality and size of companies looking to Arizona as a location for growth." Throughout the pandemic, the Arizona Commerce Authority has substantially increased our services and programs for small businesses, which … [More]
Asset-Based Lending a Lifeline for Small Business
"[As an asset-based lender … ] We will continue to prioritize our efforts to reach out to small and mid-sized businesses that are in need of capital and can’t wait months for credit approval." FSW Funding is an asset-based lender, and we base our credit lending decisions on the credit worthiness of our client’s customers. Since banks base their credit decisions on the … [More]
Expanding Value-based Care Is Transforming Industry
"As Albert Einstein once said, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity” — which has proven true for the healthcare industry throughout the pandemic." It’s no secret that healthcare has been at the center of COVID-19 disruptions. The pandemic has pushed the limits of the healthcare system in ways we could have never imagined. Provider revenue streams and staffing … [More]
Enabling Flexibility Is Part of Pandemic Response
In addition to these operational changes [for our customers], we shifted financial resources to support our community giving efforts, focusing on areas with the greatest need: foodbanks, seniors and frontline healthcare workers. CopperPoint operates within the Property and Casualty insurance market, offering workers’ compensation and small commercial insurance products. Our … [More]
Legal Needs Evolve in Economic Downturn
"As with any economic downturn, what clients need legal help with evolves. There is already an uptick in bankruptcy, workouts and divorces." Like many businesses, law has been affected by COVID. We were fortunate not to need to furlough or lay off employees, as many law firms did. There are some employees in the office, but most are working remotely. We learned that we could … [More]
PPE and Beyond: The Time Is Now to Reshore the Fashion Apparel Industry
"Many new and established brands that survived pivoted to PPE, and mask manufacturing became “the new black” in fashion." As environmental concerns demand disruption through transparency and accountability, the fashion industry, like many others, has recently had to adapt and adopt new sustainable models. Instead of over-producing overseas, many domestic, direct-to-consumer … [More]
Hospitality Seizes the Moment to ‘Change and Adapt’
"My team and I see new opportunities to bring people, passion and big ideas together. Whether it’s over food or a new restaurant experience, nothing means more to me than real connections." The entire restaurant industry had to adjust the business model almost overnight. “Change and adapt” became the north star and, during this public health crisis, we have redefined … [More]
Past the Chaos and Uncertainty Is an Ocean of Opportunity
"Our ability to celebrate the fact that we are thriving in the face of COVID-19 by paying it forward is the best part of our industry, community and, indeed, our country." As a group of digital natives, our sector has only become more creative since the onset of the pandemic. From using Zoom to communicate with film producers on lock down in L.A. and using drones to get closer … [More]
