No one is good at everything. So, with the many hats a business owner must wear, some will be in the comfort zone and some in an area of actual expertise. All, however, require attention. Whether a business founder continues to actively handle all responsibilities personally or is able to delegate certain roles in the company’s organization, it remains important in any … [More]
Robert J. Blaney, U.S. Small Business Administration, Arizona District
Business in Arizona is in growth mode, from startups creating their space in the marketplace to established companies expanding their operations. It is also interesting to see new methodologies develop for raising capital to either start or grow a business. Crowdfunding was not part of the business lexicon a few years ago. The world of business, especially small business, … [More]
Got Tech? Got the Right Tech?
What exactly is productivity? In professional terms, productivity often means, well … more. But, more what? In a literal sense, productivity is the rate of output per a unit of input — essentially, the amount of work that can be completed given an amount of time or money. This makes sense in simplified scenarios; for example if one employee is able to send six emails per hour, … [More]
Keep Out of the Friend Zone
“Keep your work life and business life separate.” “Don’t get involved in your employees’ personal matters.” “There is no place for friendships in the office.” This is all age-old advice, but it is out of sync with what really happens in our workplaces. Friendships form in the workplace and it is, at times, impossible for employees to leave personal issues at home. As … [More]
Sweepstakes Offers: Legal Promotion or Illegal Gambling?
Many businesses look to hold sweepstakes, raffles, poker tournaments and other contests for marketing purposes. They don’t realize that these activities can amount to illegal gambling. “Gambling” generally means risking something of value for a chance to win a prize. With only limited exceptions, it is against the law for an Arizona business to benefit from gambling. … [More]
No More Fundraising Excuses
It is official. Philanthropic giving in the United States is not only on the rebound, it has fully recovered since the recession, marking the highest levels of giving in the country’s history. Yes, even despite weak and uneven economic recovery. According to the Giving USA 2015 report, charitable giving has risen 7.1 percent over the last year, totaling $358.38 billion. … [More]
Brian Cassidy: Developing Niche Market Expertise
As one of the principals of architecture firm CCBG Architects, Inc., Brian Cassidy stays busy working on a variety of different projects. A passion of his now is adaptive reuse of old structures in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, and the firm is a leader in the movement to take old buildings that are still architecturally sound and transform them to a new purpose into something … [More]
Middle Market Firms Are Becoming Economy’s Workhorses
They may lack the romantic narrative of small businesses, which are seen as the fruits of the American Dream. And they may lack the instant name recognition that comes with being a huge corporation. But middle market firms, defined as businesses generating between $10 million and $1 billion in revenues, are economic engines to be reckoned with despite what they may lack in … [More]
Technology Assesses Physical Fitness for the Job
A post-hiring physical involves a host of compliance issues, but technology is giving businesses a way to assess some applicants’ fitness for the job as a simple step in the interview process. “Cost Reduction Technologies came up with a way to test an individual’s strength and agility,” says Melissa Lykins, claims manager for Lovitt & Touché, an insurance and employee … [More]
Geolocation Is a Marketing Find
There are 6 billion smartphones in the world, and the number that have geolocation technology continues to grow. “It’s the largest growth rate ever seen in any technology,” says Andy Lombard, CEO and founder of Socialwhirled, a marketing and technology company based in Phoenix. The marketing landscape is shifting dramatically, and Lombard believes geolocation is important … [More]
Research Alliance
Taking aim at Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, Arizona State University and Banner Health have partnered to advance the diseases’ study, treatment and prevention. The research alliance will be led by Eric Reiman, M.D., executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and university professor of neuroscience at ASU, and Raymond N. DuBois, … [More]
Is There a Doctor in the Office?
The demand for healthcare management professionals is on the rise as more healthcare organizations prioritize managing costs and keeping up with legislation changes. An MBA Healthcare addresses this, designed for physicians who aspire to become future leaders in healthcare to ensure that a medical institution is run properly and profitably, while continuing to focus on improved … [More]
Good Data Saves Lives
One thousand people die every day due to medical error. This shocking revelation at a Senate hearing last year put medical error at the No. 3 position for cause of death in the United States. Electronic health records (EHRs) are seen as part of the solution to this problem but their implementation comes with its own set of problems. “It’s in its early stages and is not … [More]
Sight App Sites HQ in Scottsdale
Gobiquity Mobile Health provides a mobile vision diagnostic solution that works through technology in a smartphone’s pre-existing hardware. That makes it both easy to understand and intuitive to adopt — as well as, CEO Andrew Burns points out, “cost-effective, since little investment is required.” It’s a real-time measurement that uses a smartphone’s camera and flash. … [More]
Eating Spaces
A 12,000-square-foot, $5-million development will bring three or four restaurants to ASU’s SkySong, including a 4,500-square-foot farm-to-table restaurant. A unique feature to the development will be a 3,000-square-foot garden that will be professionally installed and curated. Partnering on the project are Wetta Ventures; Arizona State University Foundation; and SkySong, the … [More]
Grow and Own
LGE Design Build completed a 15,000-square-foot aerospace manufacturing machine shop last month for J.B.’s Precision Industries, a certified woman-owned, small manufacturing business. J.B.’s Precision Industries constructed the building, located at 2320 W. Parkside Lane in Phoenix, to grow its business after leasing for 21 years. The family-owned aerospace and defense … [More]
On the Corridor
A prime piece of Camelback Corridor commercial space will soon have a new look as Wetta Ventures redevelops an existing 12,130-square-foot, two-story building on the northwest corner of Camelback Road and 20th Street in Phoenix into retail and creative office space. Renovation is slated to begin in early September, with completion and tenant move-in by January 2016. The … [More]
For-Profit Partner for Special Education
Public schools regularly contract with for-profit companies for supplies and services, from text books to trash collection. Mark Claypool, president and CEO of Educational Services of America, which is currently expanding the capacity of its four Ombudsman charter schools in Arizona, believes for-profit companies also have a place in schools’ basic purpose: educating students. … [More]
