I have always been bullish on Phoenix, and from the unique vantage point I enjoyed for 17 years on the publisher’s platform of the Phoenix Business Journal, I saw plenty of evidence to back up the optimism. And now just a few weeks into a new journey, I am even more convinced than ever that this region has the right people with the right spirit and energy that, collectively, … [More]
Foreign Policy, in Phoenix?
Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations invites guest speakers from around the world to discuss important foreign policy issues. We hold evening dinners and lunches — including the annual “International State of the State” in October with global and local speakers discussing Arizona’s place in the world. We welcome Arizonans with an international background to attend and apply … [More]
Building Loyal Customers Across Borders
We’ve mapped business processes in more than 300 enterprises across six continents, deploying more than 25,000 processes and 750,000 process improvements worldwide. Building customer loyalty across town or across borders comes from understanding what customers want and then building a better Customer Value Package (CVP). Customer value comes through customers’ perception, not … [More]
Go South of the Border
Phoenix is yet another city divided by railroad tracks. I recommend that you cross the tracks into South Phoenix and visit Comedor Guadalajara, my wife’s and my favorite restaurant in Phoenix. The food is prepared by skilled Mexican chefs who put love and great care into every dish. It shows! Tasting the chicken enchiladas and Enchiladas de Camaron (green chile and tomatillo … [More]
Reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for More Exporting and Jobs
Congressional gridlock and partisanship is nothing new, but if Congress can’t find a way to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) before September 30 there will be serious implications for Arizona businesses — large and small. The Ex-Im Bank helps Arizona businesses expand their manufacturing capacity and exporting ability, which in turn creates jobs and grows our … [More]
Catch Global Fever
It’s sometimes hard to pick up on this because bad news sells newspapers and drives clicks, but every year the world is getting better. Don’t believe me? Visit www.gapminder.org and see how, over the past 200 years, peoples’ wealth and health has improved dramatically. Annually, 50-100 million global citizens come out of poverty and average life expectancy continues to … [More]
Arizona’s Turning Point
Arizona has the 14th largest state population, and, as the 12th-ranked state for tourism, we’re above average. Yet we’re below average in exporting (ranked 18th) and foreign direct investment (27th). Brookings reports that in 2012, Metro Phoenix had $2.2 billion of exports with 4.4 million people, while Metro Salt Lake had over 50 percent more exports with one-fourth the … [More]
If Not Now, When? Here’s How Resources to Grow Globally
Business executives can’t be waiting around for a government entity to change Arizona’s international success. It just doesn’t work that way. But government can hinder or help. For instance, Arizona legislators passing SB1070 and SB1062 damaged Arizona’s international standing. People from around the world — and not just Mexico — continue to ask, “Why do people in Arizona … [More]
A World of Opportunity with Mexico
Mexico is Arizona’s top trading partner, with $6.3 billion in Arizona exports to Mexico in 2012 (2.9 percent of the total U.S. exports to Mexico). Other facts: There are 24 million border crossing person-trips from Mexico into Arizona each year, which accounts for 19 percent of Arizona’s international total in tourism dollars. Mexican sources are responsible for more … [More]
Canada-Arizona by the (Growing) Numbers
$2.5 billion in exports from Arizona to Canada $6 billion in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) 1 million Canadians visiting Arizona per year 53% of international tourism dollars in Arizona come from Canadians 127 nonstop flights per week between Canada and Arizona 300+ Canadian companies operating in Arizona 17 years of Sister City relationship between Phoenix and … [More]
