An extensive study by The Brookings Institution underscores shortcomings of the traditional approach, highlights successful emerging strategies, and, effectively, shows how Greater Phoenix is positioned for growth The lackluster economy is delivering a humbling lesson about economic development: Top-line growth doesn’t ensure bottom-line prosperity. Yet, in too many … [More]
Christine Mackay, City of Phoenix
What does successful economic development look like for Arizona? The state’s early economy was built on the famous “5 C’s”: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate. In the post-5 C’s era, other vital industries have come to the fore, such as biomedicine and technology. Much of this is concentrated in the Greater Phoenix area. The region is moving into an innovation-based … [More]
Faces Matter
When a person is deciding whether or not to do business with your company, you might expect them to check all the key selling points. Price, benefits and features, brand reputation — these are all things that marketers anticipate customers will care about and, therefore, are the brand identifiers that receive the most attention when it comes to sales and marketing. However, … [More]
Social Media – Changing the World
“Imagine a world in which every person is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge.” That, Wikipedia co-creator Jimmy Wales told his audience at a BBVA Compass Bank event in Phoenix last month, was the genesis of a project that has become a worldwide resource accessed by 400 million visitors every month. But making it truly accessible everyone necessitates … [More]
New Overtime Rules to Impact Arizona Employers
Beginning December 1, 2016, the minimum salaries for most exempt jobs will more than double, to $47,476 from the existing $23,660 required. On May 18, the U.S. Department of Labor dealt its long-anticipated regulatory amendments for “white collar” overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which included increases to the mandatory base salary requirement. The … [More]
Overhead and the Nonprofit
Today’s nonprofits often find themselves looking over their shoulders. “They worry about the scrutiny or debate that may rage over their spending while, at the same time, understanding the critical need to invest in their enterprises in order to fulfill their missions,” says Robert Ashcraft, Ph.D., executive director of ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit … [More]
Heidi Jannenga: WebPT Niche Co-Creator
Heidi Jannenga co-founded WebPT, an electronic medical record (EMR) platform for physical therapists, with her soon-to-be husband in 2008. Before launching WebPT, she worked full-time as an athletic physical therapist managing three clinics. She describes the inception of WebPT as serendipitous. In 2007, she realized the largest expenses at her clinics were transcription and … [More]
Zika Virus and the Workplace: A Primer for Arizona Businesses
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus an international “public health emergency.” And while Arizonans have found themselves immune from many of the previously issued health alerts, Zika is striking closer to home. Currently, Zika is primarily concentrated in tropical and sub-tropical climates, and the concern is elevated in Arizona, especially among … [More]
New Facility for Behavioral Health
Copper Springs Behavioral Health Hospital opened last month in Avondale to treat those who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues. Providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, Copper Springs focuses on delivering innovative and evidence-based treatment in a professional and compassionate environment that creates a foundation for long-term healing … [More]
New Hospice Care
Beech Medical Group, an integrated health solutions company based in Mesa, is expanding with the opening of an outpatient hospice division. The division is part of a new healthcare concept that provides comprehensive care, better communication among care providers, and improved outcomes — while reducing costs by not duplicating services. “Healthcare models in the U.S. … [More]
Microsoft Audits – Why Be Prepared?
Businesses have to be accurate and diligent when it comes to accounting and tracking the revenue that flows through the organization, how it is used, assets purchased and profits made, for submittal to the IRS every year. If they don’t and the IRS decides to perform an audit, it can be expensive, painful and, in some cases, bring forth criminal challenges. Just like tracking … [More]
New Platform for CRE Listings
Debuted last month, Scottsdale-based CRE Index is a national commercial real estate listing service that allows brokers to list properties for lease or sale, for any size asset. The service offers listings that are free to discover and search. Founded by local entrepreneur Stephen H. Brennen III, the new site features the key information needed for commercial real estate … [More]
Interactive Video Quizzing
Adoption of video as a primary tool for instructional content is increasing fast. Reflecting the growing need for richer interactions inside of videos and tighter integration of the video experience with feedback and assessment, Kaltura recently integrated an Interactive Video Quizzing tool into its platform. This allows content creators with educational institutions, … [More]
Cloud Security – That Is the Question?
Impressions of cloud security remain mixed. Medium and large enterprises in the United States say cloud security is both the primary benefit and most prevalent challenge of cloud computing, according to a survey conducted by Clutch, a leading B2B research firm. Fear of the cloud arises from two main sources. First, extensive media coverage of data breaches at Target and … [More]
The True Cost of Online Loans
It’s a common situation. A business owner needed a loan to grow his business, and, since banks require a substantial amount of paperwork the borrower didn’t have time to produce, he went with an online quick loan provider. The loan application took only about 20 minutes, with minimal fuss and paperwork. The borrower wasn’t a fan of the automatic payments, but it reduced the … [More]
STEM on the Raceway
Getting into summer camps seemed an attractive business move for Octane Raceway, but General Manager JP Mullan says the company wanted to offer a program with quality educational value. Brought together with Engineering for Kids, in the East Valley, they partnered to “come up with a one-of-a-kind inspiring summer camp” that, says Mullan, they hoped would be equally attractive … [More]
Hygiene as Opportunity
“There are business opportunities up and down every street,” says Scott Sheldon, who recently purchased an Enviro-Master franchise that launched the hygiene company’s presence in Arizona. Restaurants, perhaps not surprisingly, are a big part of his business, but he points out, “Anybody who has a public restroom needs this service.” The distinction between a hygiene company … [More]
Workforce Training
GamEffective is a Workforce Gamification platform. It helps companies set and manage personalized benchmarks for performance, learning and development, driving employee performance, motivation and learning. Managers set goals, desired behaviors, benchmarks or learning sequences. They can also set next-best-action sequences for employees. Employees use the platform to track … [More]
