September 2024

Cover Story

Leadership & Giving Back: Honoring Our 2024 Women of Achievement

“If I’m not for myself, who will be for me, if not now, when; but if I’m only for myself, what am I?” Taking a close look at the third part of this quote from Hillel, a noted Jewish philosopher who lived in the first century BC, we agree with … [More]

Features

It’s an Election Year for the Arizona Corporation Commission

This November, Arizona voters will have the opportunity to elect three of the five seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission — thereby determining the majority of officials controlling this powerful regulatory body. For those wondering, “What is … [More]

Leader Resilience – Core of Culture & Organizational Success

Chronic stress and burnout are not new to business or leadership. What is significantly different today is the increased levels of leadership chronic stress and their exponential ripple effects on organizations. This article helps leaders … [More]

Brewing Compassion: Echo Coffee’s Transformative Journey in Corporate Philanthropy

Echo Coffee, a beloved Scottsdale-based coffee shop, has become a beacon of community engagement and corporate philanthropy under the leadership of its compassionate owner, Rob Rigolfi Jr. Born with deep-rooted family values and a passion for helping … [More]

Moving from Feedback to ‘Feedforward’

We’re all familiar with the term and concept of feedback. Now, we are beginning to hear a new term applied to performance reviews: feedforward. From what I’ve read, this new term stems from younger employees challenging the status quo regarding … [More]

Roundtable

How to Align Business Success with Sustainable Development Goals

SDGs, or Sustainable Development Goals, are universal guidelines established by the UN that call on organizations to participate in a collaborative … [More]

Economy

Securing Your Funding Round: A Strategic Guide

Securing funding for a startup is a complex endeavor requiring meticulous planning, persuasive communication and a deep understanding of investor … [More]

Legal

Six Essential Employment Law Conversations for Growing Businesses

Responsible business growth in Arizona begins with a commitment to a fair and productive workplace. Understanding the impact of employment practices … [More]

Nonprofit

Election 2024: Employer Responsibility

Political polarization is at an all-time high, which might signal Arizona has its highest number of interested and invested voters this election year. … [More]

From the Top

Mike Nelson: Crafting Success in the Sandwich Scene

In 2019, Mike Nelson ate a sandwich from Mr. Pickle’s while on business in California. At the time, it was a cult brand with locations limited to a regional section of the Golden State owned since the … [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

Developer Develops Infrastructure Construction Service

Mangat Construction is dedicated to delivering specialized utility services to developers throughout Arizona, including providing comprehensive water systems, sewage facilities and other essential … [More]

Contractor Builds Up Roofing

United Contracting Group is a commercial and residential general contractor, specializing in roofing and restoration services. Founded in 2020, it has grown in these four years from three employees to … [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]

Technology

Cargo Theft Cripples Retail. AI to the Rescue?

Cargo thefts cost trucking companies and retailers between $15 billion and $30 billion annually, worsening supply chain disruptions and contributing to inflation. In the second quarter of 2023, schemes like misdirection and fictitious pickups surged … [More]

Semi Insights

The Perfect Storm: How Supply Chain Disruptions Are Impacting the Semiconductor Industry

The semiconductor industry, a cornerstone of modern technology, is facing unprecedented supply chain disruptions. These disruptions are not only affecting the availability of consumer electronics but also have far-reaching consequences for industries … [More]

Precision Cleaning: Strengthening Arizona’s Chip Future

While big names like Intel and TSMC often dominate the headlines, the latest news comes from a new company announcing its move to the Greater Phoenix area. KoMiCo, a leader in precision cleaning and advanced coatings for semiconductor equipment, has … [More]

CRE

Mixed-Use Development Breaks Ground in Gilbert

Okland Capital and San Tan Development Group recently broke ground on phase one of Northside at SanTan Village, a brand-new mixed-use development that will bring high-end retail, restaurant and hotel amenities to the SanTan Village submarket in … [More]

Converting Offices and Hotels into Multifamily Housing Is One Answer to the Valley’s Housing Crisis

As demand for housing alternatives continues to grow, Caliber is applying its expertise in multifamily development in creative ways to provide new solutions across the Valley. This spring, the firm completed funding for the first phase of our SP10 … [More]

The Evolution of Co-Working

One of the challenges in commercial real estate is to connect the spaces we create to the end user in a way that improves their quality of life. If we do that well, not only do we foster community, but that also means a healthy bottom line for the … [More]

Briefs

Rebranding a ‘Shark Tank’ Winner Targets New Markets

Now branded as “Slick Barrier,” this locally developed product that had a successful appearance on “Shark Tank” early last year is a patented revolutionary barrier system applied to a home’s or business’s exterior that stops crawling pests from … [More]

Are Managers More Invested in Their In-Person vs. Remote Employees’ Growth?

In the age of return-to-office mandates, business leaders seem to be increasingly prioritizing in-person work, citing easier collaboration, management and project efficiency. To better understand managers’ perceptions of in-person versus remote … [More]

Business Model Combines Leadership and Fundraising Strategy for Schools

Entrepreneurs looking for investment opportunities find few businesses that truly make a large community impact. Apex Leadership Company is one of those rare franchises designed to stand out. Simply put, it’s a fundraising powerhouse for K-8 schools. … [More]