Q: In-office? Remote? Hybrid? What policy works best for your business and your workforce? Jodi Amendola President & Co-Founder Amendola, part of Supreme Group Sector: Public Relations Amendola has always been a largely virtual company since its founding 21 years ago. When the pandemic forced companies to go virtual, I embraced the shift, even selling our headquarters … [More]
Don Guerra’s Barrio Bagel & Slice: Engrained in Wholesome Simplicity
In today’s hospitality industry, convenience is a must, but sacrificing quality need not be. This spring, Don Guerra’s Barrio Bagel & Slice is set to open in Gilbert, Arizona, introducing the Southwest to a quick-casual concept featuring a menu based upon the already-popular artisan Barrio breads and bagels as well as pizza by the slice, all baked onsite with heritage … [More]
Gold for Robson Communities
Robson Resort Communities, a premier leader in luxury 55+ living, earned three Gold Awards at The Nationals, the prestigious New Home Sales and Marketing Awards presented by the National Association of Home Builders. This year, in addition to several Silver Awards reported last month, Robson Resort Communities distinguished itself with Gold Awards in the following … [More]
3 from UBS on Financial Planning Top 40 under 40
Three of UBS’s financial advisors in its Pacific Desert Market areas of Southern California and Arizona have been named to the Financial Planning Top 40 Brokers Under 40 listing for 2025: Scott MacDonald (Scottsdale), Stockton Schultz (Phoenix) and Bryan Thompson (San Diego). Nationwide, UBS held 12 of the 40 top spots. … [More]
LDV Winery Wins Prestigious Awards
LDV Winery, with its vineyard and estate in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona and its Tasting Room in Old Town Scottsdale, won awards from the prestigious 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for three of its popular wines: 2023 LDV Winery Rosé (Silver), 2017 LDV Winery Petite Sirah (Bronze) and 2022 LDV Winery Viognier (Bronze). The San Francisco … [More]
Gilbert Economic Development Director Honored
Gilbert Office of Economic Development Director Dan Henderson, CEcD, was recently honored by the International Economic Development Council as the recipient of the 2024 Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award in recognition of his exceptional leadership and dedication to economic development in his nearly two decades of advancing economic development efforts in … [More]
M Culinary Combats Food Waste
Following the recent WM Phoenix Open, M Culinary Concepts donated 30,764 pounds of unused food from the event — that would otherwise have rotted in landfills — to Waste Not, which distributed the food to more than 30 nonprofit organizations. Phoenix-based M Culinary, which provides the culinary experience at the WM Phoenix Open, is Arizona's largest catering and hospitality … [More]
Babbo Italian Funds Pancreatic Cancer Research
At its recent fourth annual Baseball for Babbo Day of Giving as part of its ongoing campaign, Babbo Italian Eatery raised $203,501 to support pancreatic cancer research — giving 100% of restaurant profits to the Seena Magowitz Foundation, benefiting groundbreaking research at HonorHealth Research Institute. The total includes a $50,000 match from the Pollack family, a … [More]
Looking Good 2025 – April Standouts
ACHIEVEMENTS Gold for Robson Communities 3 from UBS on Financial Planning Top 40 under 40 LDV Winery Wins Prestigious Awards Gilbert Economic Development Director Honored PHILANTHROPY M Culinary Combats Food Waste Babbo Italian Funds Pancreatic Cancer Research … [More]
Holtzman Vogel Expands Arizona’s Legal Landscape
As a leading national political, regulatory and litigation law firm, Holtzman Vogel is committed to counseling clients on the ever-changing complexities of election law, government compliance, commercial litigation and more. To meet the growing demand for legal expertise in these areas, we are expanding our Arizona practice and office. With Arizona increasingly viewed as a … [More]
Desert Financial Funds 1 Darn Cool School
For children facing lengthy hospital stays, health recovery involves more than medicine. Addressing this, Phoenix Children’s created 1 Darn Cool School, a program that provides educational sessions in person, virtually and at various Phoenix Children’s locations, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for all patients. The 1 Darn Cool School is fully funded by Desert … [More]
Arizona’s Build-to-Rent Boom
14,000 new homes underway statewide as Arizona holds second place nationwide
The build-to-rent (BTR) market is transforming housing across the U.S., with more than 110,700 single-family homes under construction, spread across more than 600 communities. As demand for rental homes increases, Arizona has emerged as a standout player, second only to Texas. With nearly 14,000 new single-family rentals underway, the state is reshaping its housing … [More]
V&P Nurseries Leadership Rooted in Legacy
How Demetrios and Niko Vlachos Overcame Obstacles to Cultivate Success
For nearly five decades, V&P Nurseries has been shaped by the vision, resilience and determination of Demetrios and Niko Vlachos. Their leadership is a reflection of their history — one defined by hard work, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to growth. The surname “Vlachos” translates to “humble peasant farmer,” a fitting representation of how they have built their … [More]
Merryman Funeral Home, Roosevelt Row Arts District, Undergoes Adaptive Reuse
Built in 1937, this building at 817 N. 1st Street served as the final location for Merryman Funeral Home, built and owned by a woman, Holland Merryman. The two-year adaptive reuse process created a space reborn as Sin Muerte restaurant and now with a new tenant concept to be announced soon, plus plans for a rooftop speakeasy that will further enrich the arts … [More]
BOH Building, Downtown Phoenix, Undergoes Adaptive Reuse
BOH Building (before) Built in the early 1950s, this 5,000-square-foot, all-metal, dilapidated, underutilized and blighted structure in an underserved community had seen better days. Through adaptive reuse, the building was transformed into a kosher catering kitchen for the largest caterer in the Southwest. This new life provides a much-needed resource for residents and … [More]
Adaptive Reuse – Creating Jobs and Saving History One Old Building at a Time
Heather Lennon sitting on a table made of the Phoenix Suns court from the 1990s) As an entrepreneur, niche general contractor and real estate developer, I have spent my 27-year career applying adaptive reuse not just as a design philosophy, but as an economic and cultural catalyst. Simply owning an old or historic building does not preserve it — its survival depends on … [More]
Addressing the Workforce Crisis in Construction
Timelines, safety and overall quality also at risk
The construction industry faces a significant workforce shortage, with projections indicating a need for 454,000 additional workers in 2025. As skilled laborers exit the field faster than they can be replaced, the shortage threatens project timelines, safety and overall quality. Addressing this challenge requires a multi-faceted approach that includes innovative workforce … [More]
Semiconductors, Data Centers and the Power Strain
Is Arizona ready for what’s next?
Arizona is at the center of two of the biggest technological transformations of the decade: the semiconductor boom and the rapid rise of AI-driven data centers. Together, they are reshaping the state’s economy, infrastructure and energy grid. Meta’s $1-billion data center in Mesa is one of the latest in a wave of large-scale facilities being built across the country to … [More]
