When Mike and Joan Smith started California Pools & Landscape at their kitchen table in 1988, they set out to build a company rooted in craftsmanship, fairness and genuine care. Thirty-eight years later, that company is Arizona's premier backyard builder, and the philosophy that guided it from the start — "What is best for the customer, is best for all of us" — has grown … [More]
The Multiplier Effect: How Positive Leaders Transform Teams
A positive leader manages energy, not just tasks
The way a leader shows up each day shapes far more than outcomes on a spreadsheet — it shapes the people around them and the culture they carry forward. In organizations where teams consistently outperform expectations, researchers and observers tend to find the same variable at the center: a leader who practices what behavioral scientists call positive leadership. It is not … [More]
AZ Blue: 8 Decades of Advancing Health and Strengthening Arizona Communities
Caring for well-being beyond providing coverage
For more than 85 years, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) has been woven into the fabric of the state, quietly, consistently and intentionally supporting the health of individuals, families and employers across all 15 counties. What began as a local nonprofit health insurer has evolved into a statewide force for community well-being, driven by the belief that health … [More]
Economic Security Is the New Language of Trade. Arizona Should Learn It
The core question is about trust
When American and Mexican negotiators closed their third round of USMCA review talks in Mexico City in late July, the agenda read the way these agendas always read. Steel and aluminum. Automobiles. Agriculture. Labor. Electronic payments. And one item that would not have appeared on a trade agenda ten years ago: economic security. I grew up on this border and worked it … [More]
Hospitality Is a Verb: Designing Experiences People Remember
The design industry has spent years talking about experience. Hotels, restaurants, workplaces and mixed-use developments all aspire to create memorable moments that keep people coming back. But there is a challenge: Memorable experiences cannot be manufactured. Amenities can be replicated and beautiful interiors can be copied. What separates one place from another is … [More]
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: A Community Legacy Baked into Every Slice
Strengthening community and building employee pride
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria may be famous for its coal-brick oven, Brooklyn-style pizza, but in Arizona it has also become synonymous with community. When the brand opened its first location outside New York in Old Town Scottsdale in 2003, it brought more than a beloved East Coast staple to the Valley. It brought a philosophy that a neighborhood restaurant should be part of the fabric … [More]
USA Pickleball: Building Community, One Court at a Time
Expansion is national in scale and deeply local in impact
Pickleball may be America’s fastest‑growing sport, but behind the surge is a national organization intent on ensuring that growth strengthens communities as much as it fills courts. USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport headquartered in Scottsdale, has come a long way since its founding in 1984. What began as a small, volunteer‑driven effort has evolved into … [More]
Change Leadership and Agility: The Defining Competency of the Modern Leader
Confidence includes acknowledging the human cost of transition
“We cannot become what we need by remaining what we are. Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” —John C. Maxwell In an era defined by rapid technological disruption, shifting market conditions and organizational transformation, change leadership has emerged as one of the most critical competencies a leader can possess. Those who thrive are not simply managers who adapt … [More]
Alpers Dentistry’s Purpose-Built Practice
How Alpers Dentistry hardwired impact into its business model
In a sector often defined by volume, speed and transactional care, Alpers Family and Cosmetic Dentistry has carved out a different path, one where purpose is not an accessory to the business but a structural pillar. Since acquiring the practice in 2018, Kristopher Alpers, D.D.S., has worked to build a model of dentistry that is personal, intentional and deeply rooted in … [More]
Arizona Is Already the Center. Act Like It.
I was 22 years old when I became mayor of Nogales, Arizona. Sitting at the edge of one of the busiest commercial land ports in the Western Hemisphere, I watched billions of dollars in trade cross the border every single day. I watched Mexico's manufacturers supply American industries with precision and reliability. And I watched Arizona look everywhere but south for its … [More]
TSMC’s People‑First Strategy Is Reshaping Arizona’s Talent Landscape
Robust programs build a strong, sustainable and varied talent pipeline
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s presence in Arizona is often described in terms of scale, the multibillion‑dollar fabs, the global supply chain, the advanced technologies that power everything from electric vehicles to aerospace systems. But behind the cranes and construction milestones is a quieter, more enduring story: the company’s deep investment in people. As … [More]
Ditch the Podcast Rooms: Coffee and Privacy Are What Tenants Really Want
In Phoenix, the race to outdo competitors with splashy amenities, like podcast rooms and golf simulators, has become the norm. They photograph well and tour even better, but are they solving for what tenants really need? Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey takes it back to basics: Employees value practical spaces that support wellness and productivity. What Tenants Value … [More]
OOROO Is Auto Care with Heart
How OOROO Auto built a culture of community impact
When OOROO Auto opened its first shop in 2014, it wasn’t simply entering the automotive repair market, it was challenging the norms of an industry long plagued by mistrust. Founder and CEO Jeff Artzi had spent years leading a 100store automotive repair business, gaining a clear view of what he calls “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of the field: the good being the opportunity … [More]
Restarting the Leadership Journey
Leadership is a journey of continuous growth
“Each day is an opportunity to lead with more purpose, more positivity, and more impact than the day before.” —Jon Gordon in The Power of Positive Leadership Leadership is often described as a climb — an upward trajectory marked by promotions, influence and expanding responsibility. Yet for many leaders, there comes a moment when progress stalls, enthusiasm fades or the weight … [More]
Data Centers in the Desert: W(h)ater You Worried About?
Water stewardship is increasingly important in evaluating projects long-term
As data center development expands across the Phoenix region, questions about water use have moved quickly from engineering discussions to the center of public conversation. For an industry built on reliability and efficiency, the challenge is clear: How can digital infrastructure scale responsibly in one of the most water-conscious regions in the United States? Few topics … [More]
The Hidden Distractions of Leadership: How Leaders Lose Focus and What It Costs
“One thing that keeps us from excellence is distractions.” —Malcom Lewis Leadership is often described as a role of vision, clarity and decisive action. Yet leaders face a constant stream of distractions that quietly erode their effectiveness. These distractions do not always look like interruptions; sometimes they appear as opportunities, competing priorities or … [More]
How Gameday Men’s Health Champions Community Giving
Fueling health, hope and humanity
When Cristi and Morgan Harris opened Gameday Men’s Health in North Scottsdale, they weren’t just bringing a new men’s wellness clinic to town, they were building a local force for good. What began as a personal health journey for Morgan has grown into a thriving business with heart, purpose and a deep commitment to community. “In 2020, Morgan started feeling off — brain fog, … [More]
The Hybrid Condition: Decision-Making and Adoption of Hybrid Strategies
Perception, power and the bottom line
Insight’s headquarters in Chandler, Arizona, exemplifies how a human-centered, evidence-based design approach can make hybrid work truly sustainable; the space balances flexibility with connection — creating an environment that evolves with people rather than prescribing how they work At the heigh of the COVID-19 pandemic, there appeared to be a dramatic shift in thinking … [More]
