JANUARY 2025

Cover Story

Trending in 2025: Forecasting Strengths and Challenges in Our Key Economic Sectors

As we look to the new year ahead with the usual mixture of eagerness and trepidation, we recognize how interconnected we are. Business does not exist in silos, so we value insights from fields that touch our own, even if only peripherally. In … [More]

Feature

How AI Can Help Future-proof the Workforce

Businesses often leverage technology to gain or maintain a competitive advantage. This can come in many forms, from market expansion to new business models to new solutions for growth in order to capture additional or more profitable market share. … [More]

Arizona Lottery: Empowering Arizona through Philanthropy

The Arizona Lottery has been a transformative force for good since its establishment in 1981, creating far more than winners with its games of chance. Behind every Scratchers ticket and Powerball play is a mission to fund vital programs and … [More]

Roundtable

Future-Proofing Your Culture: Adapting to the generational shift in 2025 and beyond

For years technology companies have struggled with maintaining their culture as they grow and scale, but today’s challenge is even tricker because of … [More]

Economy

Banking the Industry: Questions Every Construction Company Should Ask

In any metropolitan area, one of the biggest indicators of growth is construction. Phoenix saw 10.7 million square feet of industrial projects this … [More]

Legal

Clickwrap Agreements Are Binding Contracts

We are all conditioned to click “agree” to terms and conditions when we get a new app, update our cell phone operating system, or purchase a product … [More]

Nonprofit

Using Social Media to Connect and Enhance Partnerships

In a time when people spend an average of 10% of their day on social media, organizations must recognize the vital role this medium plays in their … [More]

From the Top

From Intern to President: Chris Kirch’s Leadership Journey at Kitchell Contractors

Some of the best professional advice Chris Kirch ever received came early in his career as a newly minted intern at Kitchell. His lead superintendent advised: “Be a sponge.” “I’ve had a lot of … [More]

By The Numbers

E-Commerce Enables Real-Time Pricing Agility for Businesses

Dynamic pricing is reshaping the e-commerce landscape, offering businesses real-time adaptability while presenting unique opportunities and challenges for online shoppers. According to a new report … [More]

Startups

Ad Chariot Synthesizes Free Rides and Mobile Billboards

Ad Chariot is a mobile advertising company that transforms electric carts into eye-catching mobile billboards. “We offer free rides around Old Town Scottsdale while displaying ads for local and … [More]

My Doctor Brand Lets Physicians Own Their Visibility

My Doctor Brand is a product startup launched earlier this year by Ryan Caracciolo, a veteran sales professional and marketer with more than 15 years’ experience in the medical industry, that empowers … [More]

Healthcare

3 Healthcare Coverage Strategies That Give Employers a Competitive Edge and Better Cost Control

Healthcare spending is climbing every year. According to projections, businesses will pay an average of 9% more for their employees’ medical benefits in 2025, up from the 6.4% increase in 2024. Inflation plays a part in this trend, as does the … [More]

Technology

Tech’s Role in Benefits Literacy and Employee Satisfaction

In a survey conducted in November 2023, the disconnect between employee expectations and employers was pulled into sharp focus. Despite employers putting significant effort and budget into offering quality benefits, they continue to be underutilized, … [More]

Semi Insights

Semiconductors Drive Arizona’s Electric Vehicle Market

Famous for its snowbirds, the Grand Canyon and retirees on ATVs, Arizona is swiftly carving out a new and unexpected identity blending its historic identity as the "Copper State" with its expanding semiconductor ecosystem. This, coupled with … [More]

AI, Arizona Investments and the Uncertain Road Ahead

With 2024 coming to a close, the semiconductor industry has had a mixed year. Artificial intelligence was the key market driver, sending graphic processor units (GPUs) and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to record revenues. Mobile phones and AI PCs … [More]

CRE

Innovation in CRE: Taking Risks Is the Only Way to Win the Game

Eleven years ago, I ran a mid-level audio-visual company that relied on builders, architects and project managers to bring us business. We did amazing work, had a group of dedicated people, excellent technology and were profitable. We were following … [More]

Mixed-Use Neighborhood Designed Car-Free

Culdesac, located in Tempe, is the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the U.S. The design for Culdesac Tempe was non-conventional from the very start at both the community and building scales, and it has not changed a lot since its … [More]

Briefs

Collaborative Inspiration Creates Unique Coffee Bar Showroom

Two local entrepreneurs recognized a business opportunity and created an unusual collaboration: furniture showroom and coffee bar. “What began as coffee runs and breakfasts between local business owners has evolved into a welcoming space where … [More]

Co-working Kitchen Concept Welcomes Culinary Entrepreneurs

PREP®, a culinary co-working and shared commercial kitchen concept, has expanded its operations to Arizona, opening PREP Kitchens Scottsdale at Shea Boulevard and Scottsdale Road. Since its inception in 2014, PREP® has been on a mission to support … [More]

Looking Ahead: Arizona’s Cannabis Market in 2025

Arizona reached more than a billion dollars in cannabis sales in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with adult-use sales making up the bulk of each total. Although there was a 7.5% decrease in sales between 2023 and 2024, the state is expected to continue … [More]