The many cities and towns that make up the Valley of the Sun may be diverse in their geography and population size, but they do share one goal in common: growing and supporting their small businesses. The Phoenix metropolitan area is a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity and without a doubt contributed to Arizona’s recent ranking by the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity … [More]
Greg Stanton, City of Phoenix Mayor
Arizona, and particularly the Valley, is an incredible place to start or build a small business. People want to be here. Despite the past years of a downturned economy, we have succeeded in many ways to foster small business growth and put the Phoenix metropolitan area in the spotlight as one of the top places to be in business. As mayor of Phoenix, I know small business is … [More]
Social Networking — Off-limits in Employment Decisions?
In the last several weeks, a minor firestorm has developed over private employers’ use of social networking sites, such as Facebook, to inform their employment decisions. Though the controversy about social networking sites was not exactly news to employers — many of whom have been monitoring employees’ Facebook, myspace, and similar pages for years — recent reports that some … [More]
Priced for Business: Starting a Consumer Enterprise
It’s common sense but often overlooked: To start a business, you must plan a strategy to decide what part of the potential marketplace you are going to attack. First, obtain the relevant facts about your competitors and the importance of your chosen marketplace and its potential for growth. From this, assess what you can aim to achieve and how you can be different from what … [More]
Creating a Corporate Dynasty
Winning businesses follow the championship formula: People + Personality + Process + Purpose = Dynasty. People, naturally, are the first element needed to be in place in order to build a business with sustainable success. It is the people at the top — plus their personality traits along with processes and their purpose in life — who provide a more complete answer to identifying … [More]
Social Strategizing with LinkedIn
LinkedIn was founded by Reid Hoffman in 2002 as a business-oriented social network. It differs from Twitter and Facebook because its primary use is professional networking, job searching and recruiting. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members, and more than 2 million companies have developed LinkedIn Company Pages. With more than 150 million users in more … [More]
Ron Lynch: Success or Bust
Restaurant dining can be as much about the entertainment value as it is about breaking bread. This is where Ron Lynch put the emphasis as he developed the Tempe-based Tilted Kilt Operating Franchise, LLC, of which he is president. The Tilted Kilt is a Celtic-themed sports bar and restaurant chain known for its scantily-clad female servers in kilts — all against a backdrop of a … [More]
Bytes: July 2012
Home-grown Alphastripe.com This global online network is exclusively for members of the military, their families, humanitarian organizations and civilians to share their war-time stories and connect in one place from around the globe. ASU students and co-founders Eli Chmouni and Pete Chinnici created this social network that has launched its beta site. … [More]
Bicycle as Commuter Transportation Means Business
Located in the Tempe Transportation Center close to a light rail station, The Bicycle Cellar serves not just recreational cyclists but those who make bicycles part of their commute-to-work transportation. Bicycling enthusiasts Joseph Perez and John Romero came together as business partners and opened the store eight months after the light rail opened, providing showers, … [More]
Marketing and Packaging Partner into a New Company
PRfect Retail was created as the perfect fit between a national packaging and display company — California-based Heritage Pioneer Corporate Group — and a marketing and advertising agency — Phoenix-based PRfect Media International. The two companies came together to create a new model for the retail packaging and POP display industry, what PRfect Media CEO John Hernandez calls … [More]
Discovery Triangle Vibrant with Entrepreneurial Activity
With about $2 million invested in active projects this year alone, the Discovery Triangle — an area of amorphous shape that takes in Downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Papago Park, one of the country’s largest urban parks, which sits on both cities’ boundary — is seeing a wave of entrepreneurial activity. In a year when the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity ranks Arizona the … [More]
Explosive Growth for Software Company Sends It to Chandler’s Price Corridor
Growth mode for Infusionsoft is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Chandler. The company, creator of all-in-one sales and marketing software for small businesses, is far surpassing its goals for this year, says co-founder and CEO Clate Mask. Having added 100 employees in the past 12 months, it expects to grow to 300 by the end of 2012 — with projected growth supporting employee … [More]
All Sectors Show Growth for 2012 & 2013
In case the latest numbers on employment (and/or unemployment) have not been clear — since multiple government agencies, research groups and even media outlets continue to quote and report weekly, monthly and every time there is a spike one way or another in the statistics — this latest report by the Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics gives real hope of … [More]
Mediterranean Hideaway: Make it T. Cook’s for Lunch
Nestled within the exclusive Royal Palms Resort, T. Cook’s shares a rich history of culinary delight in Phoenix. It is known for its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, and most think of T. Cook’s as a romantic getaway for dinner and drinks. For lunch, this hideaway offers award-winning seasonal creations made with skill and a dedication to authentic ingredients. Dishes range … [More]
T.G.I.F.: Friday Afternoon Getaways
It’s been a long week, and working hard has paid off, so why not celebrate in style with friends and colleagues? Here is a listing of some of the Valley’s great Friday (late) afternoon hot spots: Cork — Chandler Wines, beers and specialty drinks (and great food) are what come to mind when heading to Cork. On its Euro-style patio, which is cool and generally packed with … [More]
2013 Ferrari California
Leave it to the new “commercial-minded” Ferrari to further incorporate the California lifestyle into the namesake 2013 Ferrari California. Weighing less and reconfigured to maximize its muscle, this folding-hardtop sports coupe is living up to the hardcore Ferrari enthusiast’s expectations with better handling and more power. Meant to be the “every driver’s Ferrari,” the … [More]
Taking Time to Recharge
Building business is the name of the game, but, as in any competition, it is important to stay fit and recharge for peak performance. So get away to relax and enjoy, whether in town or at a travel destination. Here are some summer packages that are available last minute: On-the-town Urban — San Francisco The Fairmont Heritage Place is the residential-style hotel … [More]
Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know
Management guru Jill Geisler provides a practical, step-by-step guide — based on real-world experience and respected research — and lessons that will transform managers and their teams. It’s a workshop-in-a-book, designed to produce positive, immediate and lasting results. Geisler offers concrete steps for improving each element of management, including collaboration, … [More]
