JANUARY 2026

Cover Story

Trading on Tariffs: The Cost Impact of Doing Business across Border

Most people understand that tariffs are not simply a cost tacked onto the final price of a product but permeate every step in the network of transactions that ultimately result in its reaching the market. As businesses throughout the supply … [More]

Features

The Hidden Costs of Choosing the Wrong Software for Your Business

For organizations from small businesses to large companies, integrating new software is a major decision. Several things can go wrong, leading to software that doesn’t help or even makes things worse. Time and time again, a company will invest … [More]

How CX (Customer Experience) Can Combat Customer Churn

In today’s hyper-competitive market, customer loyalty can’t be taken for granted. Even long-standing customers are quick to move on if their experience falls short of expectations. That reality makes customer experience (CX) one of the most powerful … [More]

The Hidden Distractions of Leadership: How Leaders Lose Focus and What It Costs

“One thing that keeps us from excellence is distractions.” —Malcom Lewis Leadership is often described as a role of vision, clarity and decisive action. Yet leaders face a constant stream of distractions that quietly erode their … [More]

CornerStone Staffing: Building Stronger Communities, One Connection at a Time

When CornerStone Staffing opened its doors in 1991, it was a modest, family‑run staffing agency in Fort Worth with a simple belief: Strong businesses are built on strong people. More than three decades later, that belief has grown into a companywide … [More]

New Year, New Energy Savings

A new year marks a time for many to re-evaluate and establish new goals and businesses are no different. Often, companies make cost savings and increased profitability No. 1 on their list of resolutions. Knowing this, the SRP Business Solutions … [More]

Roundtable

The Business Case for Investing in Under-Resourced Youth

When we talk about “investing in the future,” it’s easy to think about hot-button topics like technology, infrastructure or renewable energy. These … [More]

Economy

Business Exit Planning: How to Prepare ahead of a Sale

Selling a business is a significant milestone, both personally and financially — but it also takes a deliberate plan to maximize the sale proceeds and … [More]

Nonprofit

Social Impact as a Business Strategy

Social impact is no longer an optional add-on for brands — it is the determining factor behind reputation, recruitment and employee retention. In … [More]

By The Numbers

An Economy in the Chips

Thanks to a purposeful focus and our vaunted collaborative environment among economic development organizations that include Arizona Commerce … [More]

From the Top

Jennifer Kaplan on Building a Business through Curiosity, Clarity and Trust

When Jennifer Kaplan talks about building a business, she rarely starts with revenue graphs or milestone moments. Instead, she goes back to the thing that has always driven her: a deep instinct to … [More]

Legal

Why Legal Structures Matter

Starting a business is exciting but it is also a legal commitment. One of the most overlooked decisions entrepreneurs make is choosing the right business entity when starting their company. That … [More]

Startups

SorbiForce Battery: Breakthrough Concept in Energy Systems, Inspired by Freedom

SorbiForce has developed the world’s first non-metal, biochar-based, water-electrolyte battery architecture — replacing mined materials with renewable ones like carbon derived from agricultural waste, … [More]

Strategic Impact Partners Aligns Clients’ Brands with Heart

Strategic Impact Partners is a national visibility firm that helps businesses and executives align their external presence with their internal values. “Through on-demand photography, executive … [More]

Healthcare

The Rise of Eyelid Surgery and Its Impact on Arizona’s Healthcare Economy

The rise of high-definition video and longer working lives has brought new attention to the face we show the world, especially the eyes. That shift has helped fuel a nationwide surge in upper eyelid surgery, with CO₂ laser blepharoplasty emerging as … [More]

Technology

Human Expertise Improves AI Decision Quality

AI tools are valuable brainstorming partners, but sound decision analysis still requires a “human in the loop.” According to a peer-reviewed study in a recent issue of INFORMS journal Decision Analysis, generative AI can help define viable objectives … [More]

Semi Insights

NXP’s Chandler Exit Highlights Shifts in the 5G Market

NXP Semiconductors’ decision to exit the radio power market and close its Chandler gallium nitride facility by 2027 raised questions about 5G, compound semiconductors and Arizona’s role in the global chip industry. The Dutch semiconductor company … [More]

As Data Centers Expand, Arizona Debates Power, Water and Local Control

Data centers are becoming one of the most visible and contested pieces of Arizona’s technology growth. As demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence accelerates, communities across the state are weighing the benefits of large-scale … [More]

CRE

One Camelback’s Comeback Finds Its Unlikely Savior

For nearly five years, the tower at Central Avenue and Camelback Road stood as one of Phoenix’s most puzzling real estate stories. Commuters admired its angles and shimmering glass. But for all its promise, One Camelback remained frozen, an … [More]

Short-Term Rentals: A Growing Investment Opportunity in Arizona

Over the past decade, the short-term rental (STR) market has evolved from a niche concept into a thriving sector of the real estate industry. Investors and property owners alike are increasingly drawn to this model, recognizing its ability to … [More]

Briefs

Waymo Launches New Feature for Businesses

Waymo recently launched Waymo for Business. It offers organizations a powerful blend of safe, sustainable transportation and enterprise-grade management tools, making it a strategic solution for employee, student and guest mobility. From an … [More]

BeeStop Innovates Protection against Home Invasion

When local entrepreneur Mitchell Cooper saw a shocking video of a home invasion, he was inspired to help homeowners feel safe and empowered in their own homes. Cooper, a dentist with an engineering background, began developing his idea for the … [More]

Millennials and Gen Z Redefine Prenups as Smart Business Strategy

Once viewed as a taboo topic, prenuptial agreements are now gaining ground as a symbol of financial transparency and partnership. A recent study shows that nearly half of engaged or married millennials, and 41% of Gen Z, now have prenups in place. … [More]