October 2024

Cover Story

Strategies for Businesses and Their Healthcare

“With more and more Arizonans looking to their employers to help them manage their health, employers feel the mounting pressure — because the landscape is changing,” observes Pam Kehaly, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. In … [More]

Features

Using Famous Artwork: Perils in the Public Domain

Earlier this year, Steamboat Willie, the original version of Mickey Mouse from 1928, officially lost its copyright protection held by Disney and moved into the “public domain.” Only one day later, Variety reported that Steven LaMorte is set to direct … [More]

The Power of Feedback and Communication in Fostering a High-Performing Culture

Effective communication is the No. 1 ingredient to build and sustain an effective workplace culture. However, according to our recent survey, just 26% of knowledge workers strongly agree their leaders are good at it. So, what does it take for … [More]

Rafi Law Group: Commitment Beyond the Courtroom

In 2015, Brandon B. Rafi founded Rafi Law Group with a singular mission: to provide every client with care, confidence and comprehensive service that extends beyond legal representation. "Our mission at Rafi Law Group is not only to provide legal … [More]

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships: Key to Sustainable Success

“The best partnerships aren’t dependent on a more common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion.” —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author In today’s competitive business environment, success is not … [More]

Roundtable

Innovative Bars Are Revolutionizing Dining Experiences

In an era when dining out is as much about the experience as the food, innovative bars are stepping up to deliver unforgettable moments. Consumers … [More]

Economy

ESOPs Are on the Rise. Are They Right for Your Business?

It’s likely that most Phoenix business owners have encountered a company that offers an employee stock ownership program (ESOP) in the past few years. … [More]

Legal

A Short Guide to Navigating a Business Breakup

Business co-ownership can end for many reasons — disputes, divorce, death, liability, sickness, retirement or even criminal activity. These breakups … [More]

Nonprofit

Identifying Up-and-Coming Board and Committee Talent

CEOs sitting on nonprofit boards who are tasked with recruiting new members might, at first, wonder, “Where will I find these leaders — especially … [More]

From the Top

Michael Erath Scales Up with Next Level Growth

My career started when I joined my family’s manufacturing business, Erath Veneer, eventually working my way up to president and CEO. I led the company’s revenue growth from $8 million to $45 million … [More]

By The Numbers

AI-Enabled PDF Tools

Significant challenges as well as opportunities in document workflow processes exist across organizations. These were the findings of the recent study “Revolutionizing Document Workflows with AI” from … [More]

Startups

Now Pools Innovates On-Demand Pools and Spas

Now Pools is the first “on demand” pool and spa company. As co-owner Ross Novotny explains, “Our clients get a pool or spa when they want it, and get their yard back for the rest of the year.” When … [More]

Surprise Home Improvement Aims to Raise the Bar

Surprise Home Improvement was established to meet the growing demand for professional handyman and property management maintenance services in the West Valley area. Taking his decade-plus experience … [More]

Healthcare

Optimizing Mental Wellness for High Performers

High-performing individuals are those who often exceed expectations and go above and beyond to achieve tasks and goals. In the professional setting, these individuals are often executives, athletes, physicians, entrepreneurs, attorneys and small … [More]

Cannabis Trends and Storage Solution

Recognition of marijuana’s medical use has come out of shadows and whispers in recent years. And this past May, a proposition by U.S. Justice Department signaled a policy shift by the federal government regarding the drug: Under a new rule, marijuana … [More]

Technology

AI – Approach with Caution

AI adoption is happening with or without the acknowledgment or approval of company leadership. According to a recent Microsoft report, “Use of generative AI has nearly doubled in the last six months, with 75% of global knowledge workers using it.” … [More]

Semi Insights

Arizona’s Semiconductor Boom Sparks Environmental Concerns

As Arizona’s semiconductor industry grows, so do environmental concerns. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Intel, two of the largest chip manufacturers in the state, are both building massive facilities as part of the U.S. government’s CHIPS … [More]

Hyperion Technologies Looks to Make Peoria Home

The latest company to invest in Arizona's growing semiconductor industry is Hyperion Technologies, a leader in manufacturing high-density interconnect IC substrates (HDI-IC substrates). Although Hyperion may not yet be a household name, its recent … [More]

CRE

If You Build It: Private Industrial Developers Boost Phoenix Infrastructure

Behind the Phoenix area’s industrial boom in recent years is a web of infrastructure supporting it — some of it visible, some not, but all crucial to the region’s future. These private infrastructure improvements, though requiring significant … [More]

Mesa Data Center to Use Waterless Cooling Technology

Haydon, a leading full-service general contractor with over 30 years of experience in the Southwest, officially broke ground on a highly advanced data center for Edged Energy, a fast-growing sustainable infrastructure provider. Due for completion by … [More]

The Missing Middle: An Innovative Approach for Affordable Housing

“Attainable” housing is the most in-demand housing type, yet it rarely grabs headlines — or gets built. According to the commercial real estate research firms Yardi Matrix and CoStar, more than 90% of the rental units being built in the Phoenix … [More]