Small business is thriving in our state, and in Metro Phoenix specifically. Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University have programs focused on fostering entrepreneurialism; many of the Maricopa County community colleges are also active in this space with specialized programs, notably GateWay Community College‘s incubator, Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation; and … [More]
Don Smith, CopperPoint Insurance Companies
Small business is widely recognized nationally as the foundational building block of our economy. In Arizona, especially, this segment is healthy and thriving; our state has been named one of the best for entrepreneurialism. CopperPoint Insurance Companies, renamed and reorganized from the former SCF Arizona, was the state’s dedicated workers’ compensation insurance … [More]
No Time for Teamwork?
“Culture?” The half-formed question hung in the air between the puzzled speaker and a room full of students. We were hosting Larry, a founder of three successful energy startups, as a guest lecturer in our seminar on corporate culture at the University of Pennsylvania. We had just asked the veteran entrepreneur what we thought was a simple warm-up question: How do you create … [More]
Yes, Responsible Companies Perform Better
Study after study shows that companies known for sticking to their values perform better on financial metrics. While this may be a surprise to some, it actually makes total sense that socially responsible investments do better. Several factors increase the likelihood that conscious companies perform well: Clean-hands companies don’t have to pay expensive lawsuit … [More]
Navigating Commercial Leasing to Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Growing and selling marijuana may be the most controversial business in America, but, due to changing public opinion and the current political climate, it shows no signs of slowing down. Unless the Federal government decriminalizes the manufacture, sale and use of marijuana, it remains a very risky business, not just for the business owners but also for the landlords who lease … [More]
The Good News Continues
Charitable giving by American individuals, estates, foundations and corporations increased 12.2 percent over two years in 2014 and 2015 (the largest two-year increase since 2003-2005). Today’s Americans, in fact, give one billion dollars per day in their efforts to assist others, accounting for $373.25 billion in 2015. According to the Giving USA 2016 report, total … [More]
Jim Reavey: Melding Two Companies into a New Vixxo Brand
As Vixxo, the data-driven facilities management company is only a few months old. But launching the new brand was a very purposeful strategy, says CEO Jim Reavey. The former president of FM Facility Maintenance — with which First Service Networks integrated to form the new entity — explains that the goal was to have a brand and culture that would be created from the bottom up, … [More]
Care and Cost-Saving in Healthcare App
Scottsdale-based HealthiestYou offfers an innovative health and wellness technology platform designed to help cut costs for consumers, employers and insurance companies by directing users to the most efficient, affordable and convenient route of care. Directing medical claims out of traditional insurance plans, HealthiestYou serves as a complement to primary care that can be an … [More]
Cloud-Based Efficiency for Drug Dispensing
Innovating the management of dispensing pharmaceuticals in healthcare-related business, Phoenix-based Cubex has created a cloud-based program that CEO Anton Visser likens to “a smart vending machine.” Cubex’s proprietary myQLink software helps customers automate the manual processes associated with supply and pharmacy management. Rather than relying on hardwire-dependent … [More]
Concierge Health Insurance
Oscar, a New York-based health insurance company, has announced an operational expansion to Tempe. The company’s new facility will house the Oscar Concierge team. Founded in 2012, Oscar uses a high-tech, data-driven approach, easy-to-understand language and a unique set of benefits to make health insurance simple and transparent, and to deliver what CEO Mario Schlosser says is … [More]
Healthcare Manufacturer Chooses Mesa
Dexcom, Inc., a leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for patients with diabetes, will construct a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mesa for the company’s growing CGM business. This new, 180,000-square-foot facility will support the company’s global manufacturing operations and is projected to create more than 500 jobs over the next several years. The … [More]
Hybrid Cloud: A Good Business Choice?
Over the past decade, with the diffusion of virtualization technology, the cloud computing industry has seen exponential growth. This trend continues as cloud services are able to offer more of the solutions that are important to business operations, while enterprise customers continue to discover and realize the incredible value in consuming their computing demands as a … [More]
Rising Concern over Ransomware
There is a growing volume of ransomware victims despite increased efforts to prevent it, according to a recent survey by KnowBe4, a popular security awareness training and integrated phishing platform. The study, which surveyed 1,138 companies across a variety of industries, compares levels of concern over ransomware from 2014 to 2016. There was a huge jump in companies hit … [More]
Phoenix Is More Expansive than Expensive
Data released recently by BuildZoom, the data-driven marketplace for remodeling and construction services, shows that Metro Phoenix’s rate of expansion increased 57.8 percent since 1970, compared to a 15.3 percent decrease for the nation — making it the seventh-fastest-expanding metropolitan area in the United States during this period. BuildZoom’s analysis reveals that, … [More]
Women Break Ground in Commercial Development
Lynne King Smith’s development in Gilbert, Building 313, has evolved into an opportunity to raise the profile on women as business leaders. The 15,602-square-foot, three-story, mixed-use, owner-occupied project that broke ground last month was initiated when King Smith, looking for office space she could purchase for her businesses TicketForce, a ticketing service for venues of … [More]
Tech Advances Printing
The largest commercial printer in the Southwest calls Phoenix home. Prisma — on the brink of closing when Robert Anderson took it over 16 years ago — expects to do about $36 million in sales this year. Anderson describes the business as “all-computerized and super-high-tech.” And the 75-ton printing press Anderson recently installed will help Prisma do more, faster. The new … [More]
‘Selling to the Federal Government’
The U.S. government is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world, awarding approximately $500 billion in contracts every year. Participating in the process to gain access to these federal contracts can be challenging and overwhelming for small-business owners. On the first Wednesday of every month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Arizona … [More]
NAPA Revamps for Retail
NAPA, which, for more than 90 years, has built its name on being a wholesale auto parts distributor serving largely auto repair businesses and fleets, is looking to grow its retail side. It is rolling out the program in 20 markets around the country, and, here in the Valley, the Gilbert store is one of the first to get the makeover. In addition to new signage, furniture, … [More]
