Bob Parsons
One of Arizona’s economic strengths is its wealth of entrepreneurial activity. In fact, our state ranks among the highest in the nation for start-up enterprises. Businesses span the gamut from service to high-tech.
Entrepreneurs from all walks of life start and develop businesses, feeding our economic engine with the fuel it needs to grow. This entrepreneurial activity provides much-needed job creation and development activities within our communities, ensuring sustainability and continued growth.
As capital markets continue to open up and access to funding becomes more readily available, communities with strong entrepreneurial drive, such as the Greater Phoenix area, will further benefit from a surge in investments and innovation. However, no longer limited by geographical boundaries, business models must be creatively adapted and scaled to suit the ecosystem that best fits it.
As the title of this issue’s cover story, “Entrepreneurs & Innovators: How Franchise, Invention & Technology Propel Our Economy,” clearly implies, a big part of our economic development stands on the vision and energy of individuals taking the risk to follow their passion and start their own company. Don Rodriguez spoke with individuals in a variety of fields, some who are building their business around an idea of their own creation and some who are taking advantage of the experience of a franchise operator, as well as business leaders whose programs provide assistance or instruction to help these businesses succeed. From their input, the article looks at where this development activity may be taking our economy.
Other articles deal with such management and human resource issues, as distracted employees, and the advantages of a “coordinated adaptive action network” over the traditional team approach to projects; strategies for working with sales leads; and how social responsibility is increasingly a concern in corporate boardrooms.
Regular features include Trickle Up, which in this issue spotlights Mark Russell, the man behind the success of Valley restaurant Oregano’s; Nonprofits, who benefit from the support of our business community; and Power Lunch, for a well-rounded business day. And in a special section, “Meetings and Conventions,” this issue provides a resource for businesses planning their “next great event.”
I’m pleased to welcome you to the February issue of In Business Magazine.
Sincerely,
Bob Parsons
Founder & Executive Chairman of GoDaddy
Founder & CEO of YAM Worldwide
Bob Parsons founded GoDaddy in 1999, and currently holds the position of executive chairman. He is also CFO and founder of Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale, Spooky Fast Customs, Scottsdale National Golf Club and YAM Capital, among a number of other businesses.
Parsons’ first endeavor was Parsons Technology, a software company he started in his basement in 1984 and which sold to Intuit, Inc. in 1994 for $64 million.
Among his business awards is the 2013 Visionary Award in the Greater Phoenix Area. He is a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and a recipient of the Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Purple Heart Medal.
In 2012, Parsons and his wife founded The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which has awarded more than $30 million to charitable organizations.
