A healthy state economy is the common goal of our state’s leaders in politics and business — so Arizona will continue to be an attractive home for individuals and companies. Both forces earnestly and energetically pursue courses of action they believe will achieve the best results. That they don’t always see eye to eye on specifics is no surprise to anyone who reads the headlines, but that in no way lessens the importance of dialog and shared efforts between the two.
As a business owner, member of several boards — including a few government organizations — I was compelled to ask my staff for the Guest Editorship of this particular issue. I often hear that our legislature cannot get it right or get it together well enough for us to compete economically or on education. Both are areas in which sub-par performance is detrimental to the future of this state, and both the economy and how we support education in this state are where many believe the answers lie. It sickens me to think that our own leaders can be the reason we cannot become excellent.
I am encouraged by the possibilities as I feel that, for the first time in many years, we may truly be able to come together in the coming session to pass more pro-business legislation, truly understand that economic development includes companies already vested here in Arizona, and inch closer to prioritizing education in a way that heightens the awareness of this issue and broadens the discussion beyond simply budget. Arizona is a great state and Arizonans are a great people. It is no longer something for us to just talk about — it is time act. Time to lean on our legislators and get actively involved, ourselves, in making change through organizations like the new GPEC, Expect More Arizona and Local First Arizona — among many others — to become successful. Business owners and educators coming together is a recipe for economic development that can truly impact workforce, economic growth and opportunity.
Whether the efforts coming from the business community and those from our state’s legislative bodies augment each other to create stronger results or undermine — or even negate — advancement is the question explored in this issue’s cover story, “Business & Our Legislature: Is this Relationship Working?” Writer Don Harris gathered perspectives from leaders at the state capitol, in chambers of commerce and other business organizations, as well as from others vested in and knowledgeable about business here to answer this critical question.
In this issue’s “Legal” article, attorney R. Steven Reed shares his expertise in securities and finance with an article on mistakes businesses commonly make when raising capital, and how to be alert to potential legal and practical pitfalls. Professor Edward D. Hess’s “Leadership” feature makes the case for humility emerging as a desirable trait for leaders in today’s business environment, in contrast to the “big ego”-style of leadership that has been admired. And presenting interactive human conversation as an operating system, Brady G. Wilson in the “Roundtable” feature explains what’s behind this function and how it impacts productivity in the workplace.
With these and other timely and relevant articles on a wide range of topics, In Business Magazine works to be not only a valuable tool to help businesses succeed but a partner in the effort to build strong community. I know that by working together as a business community, our influence will make our state the place for businesses to flourish. I hope you enjoy this January issue. I’m pleased to help bring it to you as the publication’s publisher and this month’s Guest Editor.
Sincerely,
Rick McCartney
President and Chief Executive Officer • InMedia Company
Publisher • In Business Magazine
Rick McCartney has been publishing in Phoenix for the past 18 years. President and CEO of InMedia Company, he is responsible for producing many local, regional and national publications and media products, including In Business Magazine, the Vicinity magazines and numerous community publications and digital products.
A member of the Governor’s Workforce Arizona Council, McCartney chairs the marketing committee. Among the boards he serves on are the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, of which he is a former board chair; Local First Arizona; and Businesses United for Scottsdale Schools, of which he is vice president, working to connect business with educators to form strong career pathways and opportunity for K-12 students.
