Over the past decade, with the diffusion of virtualization technology, the cloud computing industry has seen exponential growth. This trend continues as cloud services are able to offer more of the solutions that are important to business operations, while enterprise customers continue to discover and realize the incredible value in consuming their computing demands as a … [More]
‘Selling to the Federal Government’
The U.S. government is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world, awarding approximately $500 billion in contracts every year. Participating in the process to gain access to these federal contracts can be challenging and overwhelming for small-business owners. On the first Wednesday of every month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Arizona … [More]
2016 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
This tough and rugged edition of the Toyota 4Runner is all about a bold new look and an equally bold level of performance on and off road. A legendary SUV, this edition boasts a bold front grill, black badging and even black-bezel headlights and lightweight, 17-inch, matte black TRD alloy rims. 4Runner TRD Pro includes a powerful 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower, V6 engine that … [More]
Hillstone Restaurant: A Biltmore Classic
A timeless appeal is what one can expect from Hillstone on Camelback Road in the Biltmore area. This classic cuisine fused with many of the more popular concepts, like sushi and steakhouse, truly does have a bit of it all. In the heart of this business district, at lunch it is reservations only as the place is hopping with business meetings. The bar is open for dining as … [More]
Microsoft Audits – Why Be Prepared?
Businesses have to be accurate and diligent when it comes to accounting and tracking the revenue that flows through the organization, how it is used, assets purchased and profits made, for submittal to the IRS every year. If they don’t and the IRS decides to perform an audit, it can be expensive, painful and, in some cases, bring forth criminal challenges. Just like tracking … [More]
2016 Tesla X: P90D Performance All-Wheel Drive
The SUV market is changing, with fuel efficiency being the real driver. At Tesla, it is all about electricity and design. Useful and truly an innovation, the new Tesla X is an SUV entry that will likely be considered a turning point in design, efficiency and spaciousness. The Model X is touted as the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle ever made. It is … [More]
The Herb Box
Founded by catering guru Susan Smederovac-Wilcox in 1995 as a catering company, The Herb Box filled a niche in its original location in DC Ranch that quickly became all the rage. This eatery has evolved to include three locations. With innovative menus and now spirits and other libations, The Herb Box is known for a great neighborhood urban experience that is second to … [More]
Arizona-Mexico Trade Is Growing, and Creates Jobs on Both Sides of the Border
“While much attention is given to the rising volume of U.S. imports from México over the past decade, what is often overlooked is the fact that México has emerged as the second destination in the world for U.S. exports,” said Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix Roberto Rodríguez, referring to statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau highlights. “In 2015, U.S. companies exported USD … [More]
How to Know When to Litigate
Back in the day if a person was wronged, a business defamed or promise unfulfilled, the offended party could challenge his opponent to a duel, meet at high noon, step off his paces, and pray to God that neither his opponent’s aim nor his pistol were more accurate than his own. Historically, we’ve too often solved disputes with threats or violence (or at least by sending Luca … [More]
Rolling Out a Retail Healthcare Concept
SingleCare, an online retail marketplace for healthcare services, officially launched last month in the Arizona market following a beta rollout in April 2015. Using SingleCare’s website, patients can search for healthcare providers by specialty or location, comparing prices, booking appointments and tracking their healthcare spending. SingleCare pre-negotiates prices that … [More]
Office to Go
These gadgets add the flexibility of portability for the business company man or woman. Be Office Ready Readyaction Office is a chest harness for tablets that allows users to strap their tablets to their body. Sort of a hands-free, portable office, if you get my drift. It positions the tablet open at any angle for hands-free viewing and data input, and then conveniently locks … [More]
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho
It is not often that our lunch hour can be so tranquil. At ZuZu, the innovative American kitchen at Hotel Valley Ho, the setting makes the most of our great Arizona climate. Inside or out, this poolside retro locale is the ideal getaway for that important or well-deserved lunch. Inspired by the neighborhood grills of the 1950s, ZuZu offers up a variety of options for lunch … [More]
Sales: Embrace Being No. 2
In the 2008 Olympics, Michael Phelps won the Gold Medal in the Men’s 100-meter butterfly, beating out Milorad Čavić by a mere .01 second. Literally, in 1/30th of the time it takes to blink, Phelps’s dreams were realized and Čavić’s dreams were dashed. Over the course of a salesperson’s lifetime, it’s inevitable that you will face this same struggle. You will be told no, be … [More]
Financially Serving the Hispanic Market
There’s more to serving the Hispanic market than simply translating messaging into Spanish. Language is a component, “but you need cultural relevance,” explains Luis Soto, a driving force in Vantage West’s recent designation of “Juntos Avanzamos” (“Together We Advance”) from Texas’s Cornerstone Credit Union League. “Vantage West is the first credit union outside the … [More]
2016 Ferrari 488 Spider
The quintessential sports car is the Ferrari, and this model is the one everyone is talking about. Pricy, fast, highest quality and style to rival none is what is heard about this intensely tech’ed-out vehicle. With a 3902cc turbo-charged V8 engine with 661 horsepower and more than 560 lb.-ft. of torque, this rocket is impressive by all measures. Clocked at 0–62 mph in just 3.0 … [More]
Craft 64
Craft beer and modern Italian fare is a great way to not only describe this new Old Town Scottsdale hot spot, but a great way to entice patrons. Artisan wood-fired pizza is going to be the lunchtime crowd attraction, however. Quickly becoming known for offering more than 30 craft beers and a sommelier on staff offering up great wines, owners Josh Ivey (the resident sommelier), … [More]
Technology as Equalizer
Mega-retailers maintain websites with information on their extensive inventory, and keep that information up to date with new products and changes in product pricing and availability. It’s a data base that smaller retailers, even with a more limited or niche-focused inventory, do not generally have the manpower to create and maintain. Brother and sister entrepreneurs James Kane … [More]
Contracting Assistance Is ‘Win-Win’ for Small Biz & Government
The Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs administers a unique program designed to assist small businesses as they navigate government contracting. The Procurement Technical Assistance Program was created in 1985 to provide specialized training and assistance to small businesses to help increase their participation in government contracts at local, state … [More]
