June 2024

Cover Story

Legal-Ease: Your Lawyer as Your Business Consultant

Attorneys can offer far more benefit to businesses than retroactively putting out fires from businesses’ missteps and other problems. With their expertise in specific practice areas, they can not only help businesses avoid problems but even … [More]

Features

Engagement and Belonging: Creating a Workplace Conducive to Success

“By focusing on culture, empowerment, benefits, communication, recognition, development, diversity, social responsibility, and fun, Warby Parker ensures its employees are engaged, motivated, and aligned with the company’s mission.” —Neil Blumenthal … [More]

Acquisition as Strategy for Growth

There are many strategies business owners may choose to grow their company. Growth via acquisition is one such strategy that can result in accelerated growth if executed properly. Whether a business is considering this strategy for itself or has been … [More]

Mesquite Fresh: Nourishing the Community with Compassion

Nestled in the heart of Arizona, Mesquite Fresh Street Mex isn't just a restaurant — it's a vibrant hub of community support and social responsibility. From its humble beginnings, Mesquite Fresh has embraced a mission to give back, forming meaningful … [More]

Retail Quandary: Returns

Retail growth has been on a roaring upswing since the dawn of e-commerce. The effect of which, as retail inventory experts know, is that each year e-commerce grows, the returns problem grows as well. We saw the best example of this throughout the … [More]

Roundtable

As the Next Seismic Social Media Shift Looms …

I remember the day millions of users — myself included — packed our former “Digital Town Square” bags and moved onto Threads. This exodus was largely … [More]

Economy

Tax Incentives for Small Businesses: Engine for Economic Growth

As an accounting professional and small business consultant working with locally owned businesses for more than 20 years, I always hear stories from … [More]

Legal

Why a Business Needs a Trademark

Every business starts with two things: an idea and a name. While entrepreneurs (rightfully) focus on executing on their ideas when launching or … [More]

Nonprofit

Honoring Differing Donor Mindsets amid Social Upheaval

With today’s myriad social issues — political polarization, protests, diversity concerns — nonprofits are bound to face conflicting viewpoints from … [More]

From the Top

Dillan Knudson: Amplifying Arizona’s Economy through Commercial Banking

It’s no secret the fast-paced world of banking is fraught with challenges. Whether it’s unwieldy interest rates today or a global health crisis tomorrow, each day brings a new obstacle to overcome — … [More]

By The Numbers

AI Gains and Gaps in the Workplace

Since the advent of ChatGPT, millions of Americans have experimented with, used, and implemented generative artificial intelligence (AI) into their workstreams. Generative and large-language model … [More]

Startups

PrismJet: Jet Owners’ One-Stop Solution

PrismJet offers dynamic aircraft management and charter services with the goal of providing concierge management services with a unique and proactive approach. “Think of PrismJet like a property … [More]

Max & Ollie: Baseball as a Lifestyle Brand

Max & Ollie began in 2020 with a book, Max & Ollie’s Guide to Baseball, which founder Stephanie Montgomery created to teach kids about our national pastime and share her own love for the game. … [More]

Healthcare

Digital Health Startups Need to Build a Research Flywheel

Those who are at a digital health startup face a challenge other types of software companies rarely face — they have to prove their software actually works. Other software may launch with a minimally viable product that sort of works, but those … [More]

Technology

The Secret to Captivating Your Audience? Nail That Short-Form Video

Let's face it, in today's digital whirlwind of endless content, a mediocre video won't just fade into obscurity — it'll get ruthlessly mocked by nearby TikTok-ers. But with a few pro tips up their sleeve, business owners can craft bite-sized video … [More]

Semi Insights

Unlocking the Potential: Arizona’s Journey to Semiconductor Innovation Hub

In the heart of the scorching Sonoran Desert, a new frontier of innovation is emerging — one that promises to redefine Arizona's economic landscape and propel it into the global spotlight as a semiconductor powerhouse. SEMI, an organization that … [More]

Integrating Futures

Strategic mergers and acquisitions often serve as milestones that reshape corporate market trajectories and define future capabilities. A recent example of such strategic foresight is the acquisition of Phoenix-based CollabraTech Solutions by Exyte, … [More]

CRE

Capitalizing on Greater Phoenix’s Evolution

In the dynamic world of construction, few regions embody the ebb and flow of the industry quite like Greater Phoenix. Historically known as a boom-and-bust city, Phoenix has experienced the cyclical dance of housing developments, driven by … [More]

Importance of Placemaking in Conversion Properties

One of the biggest buzz phrases in real estate development currently is office-to-residential conversions, and, with a pipeline growth of more than 350% nationwide since 2020, it’s easy to understand why. Based on a study done earlier this year by … [More]

Briefs

Businesses Have a Role in Water Conservation

Water conservation is more than just individual acts of responsibility; it’s an investment into the future of local businesses, families and a vibrant Arizona. Although most of the water use in Arizona is isolated to outdoor functions, including … [More]

Flour Power Cooking Studios Expands into Arizona

Flour Power Cooking Studios opened its first Arizona location at the beginning of March in the Mesa Grand Shopping Center. Flour Power, a North Carolina-based franchise that inspires connection and well-being through unique culinary experiences, is … [More]

Empowering Artisans: The Revolutionary Approach of Painted Tree Boutique

The opening of the second Painted Tree Boutique location is a great opportunity for many local small businesses and creators. Unlike traditional retail models, Painted Tree Boutiques stands out by providing artisans with a unique opportunity to … [More]