Technology has bloomed in Arizona. With roots that stretch back decades, today’s emerging technology sectors are leading the nation. Arizona’s high-tech transformation is the focus of this month’s cover story, “Is Who We Are Shaping the Tech Industry?” The strength of our technology ecosystem lies in our collaborative approach and welcoming community. Importantly, Arizona’s … [More]
Lisa Urias, Arizona Office of Tourism
Tourism: A Critical Economic Driver
Arizona is seeing a population surge as people continue to choose our state as their home. But our popularity as a visitor destination is equally robust, with Maricopa County offering one of the strongest pipelines of new hotels and resorts in the country. The Arizona Office of Tourism and other Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) such as Visit Phoenix, Experience … [More]
Essen Otu, Salt River Project
Opportunities of Inclusion
We are living in an exciting time in history, both in Arizona and around the world, as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are being recognized as critical in the business world. DEI as a concept is about celebrating, harnessing and respecting individual differences and creating environments that maximize human potential in everyone. When this is done right, individuals and … [More]
Tom Grote, BannerlAetna
Healthy Collaborations
As healthcare evolves and medical technology advances, many organizations are recognizing the power of collaborative partnerships to improve the overall experience for the clients, patients, and members they serve. Throughout my three decades in healthcare, I’ve seen first-hand what is possible when companies partner, collaborate and truly align, and the impact it has on … [More]
Christine Mackay, City of Phoenix
Mix and Match
They have it all. The most exciting developments in Phoenix combine retail, restaurants and residential … and office, hotel, education, entertainment and community space — or at least several of these on the same parcel of land. And if you think these are all high-density vertical towers in the urban centers of our Valley … think again. Like the Phoenix that rose out of the … [More]
Kate Borders, Downtown Tempe Authority
Gone Shopping
Experiential. That’s the buzzword in business these days. And, for retail, that’s where brick-and-mortar really shines. Individual businesses call it customer service, destinations like shopping districts and malls build on that through events and, yes, their mix of merchants. The street-level experience in Downtown Tempe is ever evolving and we are constantly looking for … [More]
Chris Camacho, Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Greater Phoenix is an attractive destination for workers, expanding faster than any other U.S. market with an injection of nearly 100,000 new residents annually. Employment opportunities are growing just as fast. With the announcements of more than 10,000 jobs over the last year, it’s clear that momentum is building throughout the Valley. Massive growth in advanced industry … [More]
Neil G. Giuliano, Greater Phoenix Leadership
Every couple of years, our nation is embroiled in a debate about leadership: Who will be assigned to lead? What will they hope to accomplish? How will they be successful? We know that political leadership, governing our society, has deep and far-reaching impact. Yet business leadership has just as much influence and impact. You’re a leader of a business enterprise which powers … [More]
Christopher Collins, Common Ground Culinary
Classic or creative, the culinary scene in Greater Phoenix happily serves a population that continues to make eating out a favorite entertainment choice. The industry here in peppered with individual chef-driven restaurants and innovative organizations, all bringing to life their unique approach. I believe the culinary industry here in Arizona is so successful because of the … [More]
Kim Shepard, Cigna
Healthcare remains a top concern for employers and employees, but the elements involved continue to evolve as healthcare itself advances. The healthcare industry, for instance, is playing an increasingly immense role in working with the business community. The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of prioritizing both the physical and mental health of the nation’s … [More]
Mary Jane Rynd, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Every year, InMedia Company dedicates the September edition of In Business Magazine to celebrate women who are making a difference in our community. This year, the focus is women who demonstrate great business success and give back. I am honored to be this year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree and to lead this issue of In Business Magazine celebrating some of the Valley’s most … [More]
Joy E. Seitz, American Solar & Roofing
Is it business vs. Mother Nature? The better question is, “What are the new pathways to economic success?” Turns out, Mother Nature offers an abundance of opportunities for businesses innovative enough to recognize appropriate prospects. For example, as a national leader in solar power, Arizona has the potential to become one of the country’s largest exporters of clean, … [More]
Robert Miguel, Arizona Indian Gaming Association
Gaming and sporting events go together hand-in-glove, but each stands on its own and has a long history of success here in the Valley — as an entertainment draw and an economic driver. Indian Gaming, specifically, is essential to the economic well-being of not only Tribal Nations — providing employment, education, enhanced services and economic development opportunities — … [More]
Andy Abraham, Burch & Cracchiolo
The term “the new normal” has become ubiquitous in our lives, referring to how we perceive the world and how we act in it. As businesses struggle to navigate the new normal – whether social or regulatory – attorneys can serve as their anchor and guide. The pandemic raised numerous challenges for attorneys, especially to look for creative ways to allow our clients to serve … [More]
Paul Komadina, CBRE Arizona
It’s been an industrious season for the industrial sector of Phoenix’s commercial real estate — more than a year that includes record-setting activity and that also bodes well for Phoenix’s employment numbers. The Phoenix industrial market continues to surpass expectations, setting records for demand and construction only few markets can rival. Increased tenant demand is the … [More]
Richard J. Gray, M.D., Mayo Clinic
Bioscience may be redefining the economy in Phoenix — and even statewide. It spans sectors, connecting institutions from universities to hospital networks to private companies. In December, Mayo Clinic acquired 228 acres of land adjacent to our campus in North Phoenix, paving the way to develop a transformative biotech and life sciences corridor called Discovery Oasis. The … [More]
Mary Jane Rynd, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
This time of year, with the roll-up to Arizona Gives Day next month, there’s a tremendous focus on fundraising for nonprofits. Asa community, we need to recognize that this hardly defines nonprofits’ participation in our economy — as businesses that provide employment and generate revenue. We all know that nonprofits generate tremendous social good. However, many may not … [More]
Dr. Joel (JP) Martin, Positively Powerful™ Triad West, Inc.
DEI. And an additional initial: B. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are in the forefront of business operations these days — whether it’s because consumers are evidencing concern for supporting it through their spending habits, or because younger generations are making it a point of their choice of where to work, or because business leadership has decided it’s the … [More]
