In May, Mike Nealy was named executive director of the Fiesta Bowl. Prior to accepting this position, Nealy had spent eight years with the Phoenix Coyotes NHL franchise and Gila River Arena. As president and chief operating officer for the Phoenix Coyotes, Nealy helped the organization achieve record-breaking sales. Mike Nealy and the Fiesta Bowl Nealy oversees the … [More]
R. Craig Coppola: Focus on Developing Talent
Through his 38 years in commercial real estate, Lee & Associates Arizona founding principal R. Craig Coppola has discovered a very important key to success: maintaining a constant and consistent focus on building a great team. “I call myself a collector of unique abilities,” Coppola says. “Everyone has a unique ability, and on our team, each person has one that is different … [More]
Lisa Urias – It’s All About Team
Lisa Urias founded Urias Communications to address an underserved need for strategic marketing and PR with a multicultural focus. Now a local and national award-winning marketing, community and public relations agency, Urias Communications specializes in the multicultural markets of the U.S. Southwest, with concentration on the Hispanic market.Urias’ first challenge came after … [More]
Chas Roberts A/C & Plumbing: Changing and Adapting for 70-plus Years
In 1942, Chas and Alice Roberts founded Chas Roberts Air Conditioning Inc. in Phoenix. Sissie Roberts Shank, current president and CEO and granddaughter of the original owners, says her grandfather handled the repairs while her grandmother stayed in the office and answered the phones. “My grandfather was one of those men who could fix anything. Over time, they hired my uncle, … [More]
Jared Smith: Going the Extra Mile in Service
For Jared Smith, president of Bluemedia, the phrase “make it perfect” is much more than just his company’s motto. It’s a personal mantra he and his employees live and breathe 24/7/365. It’s this commitment to perfection and always going the extra mile for their clients that have helped make Bluemedia one of the top large-format signage companies in the nation. “This has been a … [More]
Dr. Audrey C. Menard: Keeping Command of Campus
As the new Head of School for Rancho Solano Preparatory School, Audrey C. Menard, Ed.D., credits delegating and collaborating as two keys to her success. She does this, she explains, by creating teams of employees with various strengths to handle different responsibilities. Also, by remembering that she runs a business — albeit one that emphasizes creating outstanding students … [More]
Ori Eisen: Sharing the Cure for Online Fraud
In ten years, Ori Eisen, founder of 41st Parameter, took his Internet-fraud-fighting company from zero revenue to $25 million with $80 million worth of backlog orders already in place and a sale to Experian, the global information services conglomerate, for $324 million. But the decision to go out on his own was not an easy one. As head of fraud detection at American … [More]
Walt Danley: Gaining an Edge by Taking to the Streets
Walt Danley, who first started working in real estate in July of 1977 at Coldwell Banker and is now president of Walt Danley Realty, says being a good listener has been the key to much of his success. From clients to co-workers and other Realtors, Danley has made it a point to really focus and listen carefully to what other people are telling him. “I have found that people … [More]
Mark Russell: Translating Training to Guest Experience
“Training. It’s all about training.” So says Mark Russell, CEO and founder of Oregano’s Pizza Bistro, when asked about how he stays ahead of the pack. His office is a wonderland of street signs, old marketing signs and wooden barrels, and he’s got a pinball machine behind his desk. It’s a décor not unlike that of his restaurants — hardly surprising, as he actually decorates … [More]
Carrie Martz: Learning from Challenges
As Carrie Martz, chief executive officer of Martz Parsons, has learned first-hand over the years, there is not one main ingredient to becoming successful in a highly competitive field. Instead, she notes, building up her full-service and integrated marketing, advertising and public relations agency to where it is today has required a combination of approaches, combined with a … [More]
