Call it taking the quantum lead. I’m referring to Arizona’s advancements in quantum computing. What’s that? To help, here’s a short course: Pretend your computer is a light switch. It’s either on or off. In computer speak, it uses bits that are either 0 or 1 to process information. By comparison, quantum computers are like switches featuring both dimmers for lights and … [More]
Why We Chose an ESOP for Our Growth, Succession and Legacy Options
Restaurant transitions a unique benefit for its employees
In October 2025, our family-owned restaurant announced we were doing something unique: After more than five decades, Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen transitioned 49% of company ownership to eligible employees in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Now as an ESOP, one out of three Spinato’s employees is an owner. An ESOP is an employee benefit plan that provides … [More]
Read Me
With the number of emails we all get, what makes us open some while skipping past others? And, more importantly, how can we put our own emails in that first category? High-performance email tactics was the topic of a well-attended master class presented by Jay Schwedelson at Thryv’s recent Grow 2025 Conference, where the founder of GURU Media Hub and SubjectLine.com, CEO of … [More]
2026 BMW i7
The 2026 BMW i7 plays to an executive audience that values quiet competence over theatrics. In Phoenix traffic, it remains unflaggingly calm, with isolation and body control that feel purpose-built for long days between Camelback meetings and late returns from Sky Harbor. Materials and switchgear are tactile rather than flashy, and the interface is orderly enough that the … [More]
The Generosity Commission
Group investigates declining volunteer and giving trends
The number of Americans who volunteer in civic organizations and who give to nonprofits has plummeted in recent years, with as many as 20 million households dropping out of giving between 2010 and 2016. While fewer donors are actually giving larger amounts — making up the financial gap in many organizations and increasing philanthropy overall — the more concerning trend is … [More]
Personal Guaranties: A Liability Every Arizona Business Owner Should Understand
You Signed What?!
Don and Dora are Arizona natives who’ve built a stable, comfortable life in their three decades of marriage. Dora works as a bookkeeper. Don spent 20 years growing his small business, Don’s Donuts, into a neighborhood favorite. They aren’t wealthy but they’re steady. They paid their bills, saved for the future and did everything they thought responsible business owners should … [More]
8 Important Sales Tax Trends for 2026
States continue to refine their laws to account for added types of taxable products and broadened definitions of sales tax nexus
In 2025, it is estimated that there were mor than 500 changes to sales tax rules and regulations throughout the country, more than in any single year ever before. In 2026, it is expected that an even greater number of changes will occur, as states continue to refine their laws to account for added types of taxable products and broadened definitions of sales tax nexus. As … [More]
Human Capital Investment Strategy: Six Steps to Cultivate Potential and Yield Competitive Advantage
For decades, CEOs have treated financial capital with rigor, discipline and foresight. But when it comes to human capital — the engine of innovation, execution and growth — most organizations still rely on legacy mindsets and guesswork. This blind spot is costing organizations their competitive edge. Written by Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, executive strategist on human … [More]
People. Culture. Structure. The Architecture of Execution
Strategy isn't the hard part. Execution is. Most companies don't fail because they lack vision. They fail because they never build the architecture to turn vision into reality. Execution isn't magic. It's not hustle. It's a system. That system has three parts: People — right humans, right roles, real ownership. Culture — behavior over slogans; truth flows; conflict … [More]
People and Culture: A Practical Guide for HR Professionals and Leaders
People and Culture is a strategic guide for CEOs, CHROs, HR leaders and senior executives who want to build high-performing organizations through a purpose-led, values-driven and people-centric approach. Written by leading culture and conflict management expert David Liddle, this book shows how to shift from isolated people or culture initiatives to a unified, enterprise-wide … [More]
AI Arms Ransomware Gangs for Historic 2025 Haul; 2026 Could Be Worse
With thousands of victims claimed by criminals throughout the year, 2025 was one of the most fruitful years for ransomware gangs yet. AI was a big help.
Artificial intelligence may not be orchestrating major cyberattacks on its own just yet. However, it’s making attacks easier to carry out and it’s putting smaller, less protected businesses at even greater risk. What the Data Is Telling Us Ransomware attacks are on the rise, and this can be seen with the naked eye. In 2024, RansomLooker, which relies on constant … [More]
How RESO-Aligned Data May Reshape Community Governance
For decades, real estate data has centered on listings such as price, square footage, location and transaction history. While essential, these attributes tell only part of the story, particularly for the more than 77 million Americans living in community associations who collectively pay approximately $100 billion in annual dues across properties representing more than $11 … [More]
Tech with a Human Touch: Bringing Business Efficiency and Empathy to the Dental Chair
In healthcare, and especially dentistry, technology is no longer optional. Today’s patients expect transparency, convenience and faster results. For small, patient-centered practices, integrating the right technology can mean the difference between surviving and truly thriving. At Alpers Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we’ve leaned into innovation to deliver a more personalized, … [More]
Under the Hard Hat: How Construction Businesses Can Turn Mental Health Awareness into Action
One third of a person’s life is spent at work — and in construction, that time is marked by long shifts, physical strain and constant pressure to perform. Those conditions take a toll on the mind, with real consequences for safety, productivity and retention. That reality has pushed more leaders to take mental health seriously. But in a culture where toughness is the norm, … [More]
Buyer Demand Is Quietly Reshaping Phoenix Industrial
Buildout expenses, improved financing and elevated vacancies are creating a prime scenario for those wanting to own their metro Phoenix industrial real estate. Phoenix developers are taking note of this trend as well, and it is quietly (or not so quietly) shaping 2026 strategies. While leasing offers advantages like speed-to-market and flexibility — factors that are critical … [More]
Retail Isn’t Back — It’s Evolved: Inside Commercial Development’s Weirdest, Smartest Year Yet
For years, commercial retail development lived under a single, exhausting headline: Is retail dead? In 2026, the answer is finally clear — and it’s neither yes nor no. Retail didn’t “come back.” It evolved. Nowhere is that evolution more visible than in Arizona, where population growth, climate realities and relentless suburban expansion have turned the state into a … [More]
Justin Steltenpohl: From Law to Leadership
P.B. Bell CEO traded an outcome-driven approach for people-driven one
Justin Steltenpohl’s innate drive led him to study law at The University of Toledo College of Law. Looking back on his time there, he cites what many law students do: that law school teaches you to think differently. It gives alums the ability to not only identify problems but to find unique, creative solutions. He went on to become a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, a … [More]
Clear Title Agency: A Top Company to Work For
Clear Title Agency of Arizona, a leader in commercial and residential title and escrow services, has been recognized for the 13th consecutive year as a Top Company to Work for in Arizona by Best Companies Group. … [More]
