It’s no secret that corporations reap great dividends by conducting market research. They use facts and figures and focus-group results to develop products, explore new markets, test messaging and establish brand positioning. Nonprofits, however, haven’t typically been as quick to embrace market research, often relying instead on tradition, assumption, staff experience and … [More]
Mexx32 Tacos & Taquileria
From famed restaurateur Lenny Rosenberg comes Mexx32. This urban taco joint is chic and evolves the taco craze to new heights. Born out of the revered Revo Burrito concept and taken to the limit with a bar and expanded menu, this newest hot spot has just added lunch hours to follow its successful launch as a dinner destination in May of this year. The menu is a fresh take on … [More]
2015 MINI Cooper Countryman All4
Four is key in this four-door and all-wheel-drive MINI. The MINI Cooper Countryman All4 is equipped with a turbocharged, 16-valve alloy engine that promises enhanced performance while consuming less fuel. The engine outputs 181 horsepower with 177 lb-ft of torque. The speedy movement of this tech-savvy engine is called an engineering marvel as it packs a punch, taking with it … [More]
Middle Market Firms Are Becoming Economy’s Workhorses
They may lack the romantic narrative of small businesses, which are seen as the fruits of the American Dream. And they may lack the instant name recognition that comes with being a huge corporation. But middle market firms, defined as businesses generating between $10 million and $1 billion in revenues, are economic engines to be reckoned with despite what they may lack in … [More]
Technology Assesses Physical Fitness for the Job
A post-hiring physical involves a host of compliance issues, but technology is giving businesses a way to assess some applicants’ fitness for the job as a simple step in the interview process. “Cost Reduction Technologies came up with a way to test an individual’s strength and agility,” says Melissa Lykins, claims manager for Lovitt & Touché, an insurance and employee … [More]
Taking the Southern Rail
Nostalgic in so many ways, Southern Rail Restaurant is quickly becoming a local tradition and certainly an adventure in dining. The American South is the inspiration for this rustic and upscale casual gem located amongst the Changing Hands Bookstore and First Draft Book Bar at The Newton in Central Phoenix. Justin Beckett of Beckett’s Table is the master creator of the … [More]
2015 Lexus RC 350 F Sport
A true performance coupe, the all-new 2015 Lexus RC 350 F Sport is a sight to behold and an experience to be had. The sleek, low-stance design and sporty good looks are why this machine is getting so much attention and accolade by critics. Boasting a 3.5-liter V6 engine, this engine is designed to add performance and speed with the dual Variable Valve Timing with … [More]
Finance: Employee Wellness Benefit
Financial wellness is increasingly a concern of employers for their employees. “There’s almost universal awareness now that financial problems affect business,” says Mike Sullivan, director of education with Take Charge America, explaining that people do not attend to business as well as they would if they didn’t have financial problems on their mind. “So businesses need to … [More]
Experts Have the Answers
What is the difference between experts who have built a platform and brand around their expertise and experts who are great at their work but haven’t figured out how to launch that one big idea or build a truly successful platform? Conversations I have every day with authors about brand strategy around their books and conversations I engaged in earlier this year at one of this … [More]
Communication Control
Consumers “have little control over their messages thanks to autocorrecting tools and the lack of ability to easily fix errors leading to miscommunication,” says Kevin Wooten, reTXT Labs co-founder and CEO. His Tempe-based company’s recently launched app (patent pending) puts users in control of their text conversations by enabling them to edit previously sent messages and to … [More]
The Montauk
Inspired by the town of Montauk at the tip of Long Island, this open and airy eatery is already a favored hot spot for lunch. The beach-y look and the coastal-inspired menu make this a unique addition to the weekday lunch scene. Sandwiches, salads and light traditional dishes will make any diner feel like he or she is having a quick lunch seaside. Start with the Clam Chowder … [More]
2015 BMW Alpina B7 Sedan
“Exclusive” and “powerful” are two ways to describe the 2015 BMW Alpina B7 Sedan. It is a limited, hand-finished production vehicle that can be so customized that it truly becomes personal. The 540-horsepower, 4.4-liter, TwinPower Turbo V8 engine offers 538 lb-ft of torque and hits 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Customizing this powerful beauty is all about choices and bringing … [More]
CEI’s Maker Lab Advances Manufacturing Opportunity
The new maker lab at the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation is making 3-D printing available, enabling rapid — and affordable — prototyping to local entrepreneurs and startup companies. PADT StartUpLabs opened last month with five portable and six larger 3-D printers and SolidWorks computer-aided design (CAD) software, along with hand tools and light power tools to support … [More]
Cost Control by Audit
One way employers can keep healthcare costs down is to simply not overpay for the care given their employees. This requires that businesses know exactly what they are paying for, which often depends on specialized knowledge. This is the service niche Mike Dendy created Phoenix-based Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions, in 2004, to provide. Now also operating in the population … [More]
2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
The all-new Jeep Renegade Trailhawk edition is the sporty, borderline luxury four-wheel-drive vehicle that makes sense on both the road and tough terrain. This tech-savvy, all-terrain SUV is what Jeep has presented to attract a new driver and impress with strength, styling, capabilities and economies. This 2.4-liter Tigershark® I4 engine features advanced MultiAir® … [More]
Night & Day: Dakota for Lunch
The scene after 9 p.m. in the Old Town Scottsdale entertainment district is reminiscent of the Vegas Strip. However, in the daytime, these few blocks just off of Camelback east of Scottsdale Road is a quaint community of restaurants, architecture, the latest in design and a great place for lunch. Topping the charts in the area is Dakota, which opened at the tail end of last … [More]
The ‘Secret Formula’ of App Success
Applications for mobile devices are proliferating at an almost-exponential rate. Many existing businesses have more than one, and some businesses are created specifically around an app. A study recently released from ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business applies analytic research to replace the crystal ball, crossed fingers and specific-market research business owners and app … [More]
Medical Taxi Service
PostOp Concierge, a Phoenix-based business partnership between Karl Frindrich, M.D., and the driver service RubyRide, is the Valley’s first medical outpatient car concierge service for pre-op and post-op needs. Patients will be able to arrive to their procedure on time and have their driver available within 30 minutes of notification when they are ready for discharge. “I first … [More]
