At a sold-out State of the City address at the Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods highlighted a year marked by public safety gains, rapid disaster recovery and continued economic growth. Woods pointed to a notable decline in violent crime, crediting strengthened community policing, targeted safety initiatives and close collaboration between law enforcement and … [More]
Honoring Service, Strengthening Community: Tempe’s Red, White & Blue Awards
The Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s annual Red, White & Blue Awards, presented by the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee (MAC), stood as a powerful tribute to the men, women and organizations whose service strengthens both community and country. Held in a spirit of gratitude, the ceremony brought together business leaders, public safety professionals, active-duty and reserve … [More]
Tempe Chamber Presented Senator Ruben Gallego for a Federal Briefing at Rio Salado Conference Center
The Federal Briefing, hosted at the Rio Salado College Conference Center, brought together business and community leaders to discuss the 2026 federal outlook and its potential impact on workforce development, healthcare, small businesses and veterans across Arizona. U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego addressed the economic pressures facing younger Americans, particularly the challenge of … [More]
Tempe Chamber NextGen Student Fellowship
The Tempe Chamber welcomed its first cohort of the NextGen Student Fellowship — a semester-long professional development program connecting Arizona college students with the Tempe business community. The program was set up to be a strategic advantage for college students — particularly in a university city like Tempe, where business, innovation and civic leadership are … [More]
Robin Arredondo-Savage Honored with the Howard Pyle Vocational Service Award
Robin Arredondo-Savage, president and CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, was presented with the Howard Pyle Vocational Service Award during the Tempe South Rotary’s annual charter night. The award is annually presented to an individual or couple who has, through his or her vocation, exemplified the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” as well as providing meritorious … [More]
Health Issues Are Starting Earlier in the Workforce. Here’s How Employers Can Respond
Employer health benefits costs are rising faster than inflation and wage growth, putting continued pressure on employersponsored plans. According to KFF’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, peremployee benefit costs increased 6% in 2025, with another 6.5% increase projected for 2026, according to the 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey by KFF. New research from the Health … [More]
Guest Editor: Steve Purves, Valleywise Health
Healthcare in the Crosshairs
Affordability is today’s trending topic, and where it intersects with healthcare, it becomes a concern employers are addressing for their employees. Affordability and access are not new challenges in healthcare, but they are becoming more visible and more urgent for employers and employees alike. For many organizations, healthcare costs are now one of the fastest-growing line … [More]
The Business Case for Slowing Down: How Intentional Pauses Strengthen Strategy and Growth
From capital allocation to AI adoption, thoughtful leaders are finding that measured decisions outperform reactive ones. In business, speed signals confidence. Leaders respond to emails within minutes, approve deals in real time and implement new technology before competitors schedule a demo. Fast action projects authority. But in 2026, as Arizona companies navigate AI … [More]
Healthcare: Reimagining Affordability and Access for Arizona’s Business Community
“Healthcare has moved beyond being a perk and is now a foundational part of an employee’s financial security,” observes Casey Strunk, president of Strunk Insurance Group. While employers may frame it as a recruiting and retention tool, he finds employees experience it as protection against catastrophic financial risk when a serious medical event occurs. In fact, … [More]
OOROO Is Auto Care with Heart
How OOROO Auto built a culture of community impact
When OOROO Auto opened its first shop in 2014, it wasn’t simply entering the automotive repair market, it was challenging the norms of an industry long plagued by mistrust. Founder and CEO Jeff Artzi had spent years leading a 100store automotive repair business, gaining a clear view of what he calls “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of the field: the good being the opportunity … [More]
Restarting the Leadership Journey
Leadership is a journey of continuous growth
“Each day is an opportunity to lead with more purpose, more positivity, and more impact than the day before.” —Jon Gordon in The Power of Positive Leadership Leadership is often described as a climb — an upward trajectory marked by promotions, influence and expanding responsibility. Yet for many leaders, there comes a moment when progress stalls, enthusiasm fades or the weight … [More]
Data Centers in the Desert: W(h)ater You Worried About?
Water stewardship is increasingly important in evaluating projects long-term
As data center development expands across the Phoenix region, questions about water use have moved quickly from engineering discussions to the center of public conversation. For an industry built on reliability and efficiency, the challenge is clear: How can digital infrastructure scale responsibly in one of the most water-conscious regions in the United States? Few topics … [More]
Strategies to Help Your Workforce Maximize Their Healthcare Benefits in 2026
Start with understanding the employee population
As a new year begins, employers have an opportunity to empower their workforce to live healthier lives and to make more informed healthcare decisions. Data shows 1 in 4 employees reported knowing little to nothing about their employer-sponsored benefits, a gap that can lead to higher costs and worse health outcomes for both employees and organizations. Understanding the … [More]
Beyond the Bottom Line: Navigating the Future of Pharmacy Benefits
Across the U.S., rising rates of chronic illness, obesity and mental health concerns have made it clear that our healthcare system must evolve. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, currently 42% of adults are obese, 60% live with at least one chronic condition and 40% live with two or more. Life expectancy now lags behind other developed nations by six … [More]
Jetstream Venture Fund Founded with Access in Mind
An investment fund recently launched in Scottsdale lowers the barriers to VC-style investing while also fueling the Valley's burgeoning med-tech industry. The Jetstream Venture Fund offers something rare: a way for professionals to access private company equity through a regulated, integrity-driven investment structure. The fund is founded by the team at Xcellerant Ventures in … [More]
AIAEC Opens Regulatory Bottleneck in Land-Use Development
AIAEC builds technology for the people who “design, develop and build the world,” says founder and CEO Ali Fakih. Founded in Arizona, the company helps architects, engineers, developers, construction teams and real estate professionals get clear zoning and regulatory answers faster, reducing time spent on manual research and avoiding costly delays early in development across … [More]
Artificial Intelligence Is Powerful – But It Cannot Replace a Lawyer’s Judgment
What happens at the intersection of law, strategy, risk management and human dynamics?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the practice of law. From drafting contracts to analyzing discovery, AI tools can complete in minutes what once took hours. For businesses under pressure to move quickly and control costs, the appeal is obvious. But as powerful as these tools are, they cannot replace one essential component of legal representation: professional … [More]
Joseph Crivello and Jet OUT Redefine Private Aviation
Founder and CEO, Crivello built his model around familiarity, continuity and accountability
Before Joseph Crivello built a private aviation company, he built the case for one. Managing flight operations for a rapidly growing commercial real estate firm gave him a front-row seat to what private aviation could deliver, and where it fell short. In 2011, Crivello joined Phoenix Investors, which at the time held a small portfolio of retail commercial real estate. Working … [More]
