April 2025

Cover Story

11 Arizona Healthcare Innovators: The Leaders and Their Companies Making Healthcare Great in Arizona

It is so important to honor leaders in healthcare who are truly making a difference in Arizona for Arizonans. These individuals must be working to improve healthcare for Arizonans through innovation and forward-thinking efforts that will not … [More]

Features

The Truth about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

When people talk about dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs, they often argue that these initiatives prioritize identity over merit. That’s the story we’ve been told: that DEI lowers the bar, forces hiring quotas, and takes … [More]

Phoenix Rising FC’s ‘Reading with Rising’ Program

Phoenix Rising FC is leaving a lasting mark both on and off the field with its signature community program, “Reading with Rising.” This innovative initiative inspires young readers and fosters a love for literacy while deepening the club’s ties to … [More]

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence: Key to Effective Leadership Success

“Leadership is not domination, but the art of persuading people to work toward a common goal.” —Daniel Goleman Emotional intelligence has become an essential component of effective leadership in today’s fast-paced and dynamic work environments. … [More]

Go Home, Go Home, Go Home – Now Let’s Make ‘Come Back’ Work

If this title feels like a lyric from a confusing song, that’s because the message has been just as mixed. For years, it was all “Go home, stay remote, stay safe” — a chorus sung on repeat. Now, the tune has flipped to “Come back, come back, come … [More]

The Importance of Balancing Creativity and Data in Marketing Efforts

In today’s fast-paced, competitive landscape, marketers often find themselves at the crossroads of creativity and data. On one hand, creativity is the cornerstone of a compelling brand story — fueling innovation, differentiation, and emotional … [More]

Roundtable

Four Reasons Why Investing in Your People Managers Is Paramount

People managers are the cornerstone of any successful organization, serving as the link that actively and agilely balances the changing needs of the … [More]

Economy

Private Equity Trends Business Owners Should Watch in 2025

For business owners considering a capital partner or an eventual exit, understanding the trends shaping the private equity (PE) market is crucial. … [More]

VCs Favor Startups with Media Coverage

Startup funding in January 2025 reached $10.1 billion, reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year increase but a 12.5% drop from the previous month — clear … [More]

Legal

The Landscape of Businesses’ Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Commitments

As the Trump administration takes aim at inclusion, equity and diversity (IE&D) initiatives, new research shows that most businesses are not yet … [More]

Nonprofit

Apathy’s Spillover into Fundraising

Donors and volunteers once filled with energy, enthusiasm or indignation for social causes have gone a bit silent. Their new mantra: Wait and see what … [More]

From the Top

V&P Nurseries Leadership Rooted in Legacy

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 … [More]

By the Numbers

Arizona’s Build-to-Rent Boom

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 … [More]

Startups

Kitchen Switchen: More than Retail

Kitchen Switchen was created to be a first-of-its-kind culinary content creators' community, says co-founder Brittney Valentine, who describes it as “a haven where you can discover the latest and … [More]

HomeLyfe Provides Roofing Solution

HomeLyfe is a home maintenance company that helps homeowners build, maintain and protect their equity, starting with their roof. “Ninety percent of asphalt shingle roofs do not need to be replaced — … [More]

Healthcare

DEI Under Fire: What the Backlash Could Mean for Rehab Therapy in Arizona

Over the past several months, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have encountered an undeniable plummet across multiple industries, including healthcare. With federal funding cuts and policy rollbacks taking hold, many organizations — including … [More]

Technology

Is Your Supply Chain Evolving?

The global positioning system revolutionized transportation for every person and every business. What once seemed impossible in terms of effortlessly navigating from point A to point B was now well within reach. Not surprisingly, the world took … [More]

Semi Insights

Semiconductors, Data Centers and the Power Strain

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 … [More]

What the President’s Speech Means for Arizona’s Semiconductor Future

The skyline of Arizona's semiconductor industry is changing — again. President Trump took to the stage before Congress, hailing the investment as a game-changer for American chipmaking. Although his speech had plenty of headline moments, one of the … [More]

CRE

Addressing the Workforce Crisis in Construction

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 … [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 … [More]

Briefs

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 … [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 … [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 … [More]