AZBusiness July/August 2018 by AZ Big Media

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JULY // AUGUST 2018

THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE

ARIZONA SOCIETY OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

WESTMARC

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Table of Contents 6

Trendsetters

CEO Series

Accounting

Banking

22 Healthcare 28 Law 30

Marketing

Technology

40 Dining

42 Arizona Society of Human Resource Management 54 Most Influential Women in Arizona WESTMARC 89

38 On the cover: The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business were photographed by AZ Big Media’s Mike Mertes at Sneaky Big Studios in Scottsdale.

AB | July - August 2018

WE CAN CELEBRATE ARIZONA’S

WOMEN LEADERS

his is always one of my favorite issues of Az Business magazine because we celebrate the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business. When we first launched the Most Influential Women’s issue in 2012, we decided we would never let a woman make the list twice. Some asked if we were worried that we would run out of deserving women. The answer is a resounding, “No.” This year, we had more than 1,000 amazing women under consideration. Each year, it’s a struggle to decide which incredible and accomplished leaders to leave off the list because Arizona has such dynamic women leaders. But that’s not the case everywhere. Consider this: • After reaching an all-time high of 32 in 2017, the number of female Fortune 500 CEOs slid back down to 24 this year. That’s a one-year decline of 25 percent. • According to Law360’s 2018 Glass Ceiling Report, women represent just over one-third of all attorneys and just over 12 percent of law firm leaders, despite the fact that they have made up more than 40 percent of law school students for more than three decades. And sadly, men still account for four-fifths of the elusive equity partnership tier, showing a continuing dearth of women at the highest firm level. While Arizona is often criticized for education and a shortage of venture capital for start-ups, one look at this year’s list of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business shows the state is very progressive in promoting and championing women in leadership roles. The list of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business is packed with CEOs, partners, presidents and Olympians. While there is still a lot of work to do to even the playing field and the road for these amazing women has been bumpier than the road traveled by their male counterparts, this issue celebrates the strength, courage, leadership and brilliance of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business. Our daughters can all aspire to walk proudly in their footsteps.

Michael Gossie Editor in chief michael.gossie@azbigmedia.com

SHOUT-OUTS Healthcare Leadership Award winners are honored A celebratory crowd filled the ballroom at Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in May to honor the finalists and winners of Az Business magazine’s 2018 Healthcare Leadership Awards. Sponsors of the event included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, the Arizona Medical Association and Merestone. Here are the winners of the 2018 Healthcare Leadership Awards: • COMMUNITY IMPACT: Dr. Carie Barlow, volunteer physician at Mission of Mercy Arizona • OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE DESIGN: Orcutt | Winslow • OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT: Southwest Behavioral & Health Services

Jimmy Walker

• OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE INNOVATOR OR RESEARCHER: Dr. Michael Kruer, neurologist, Phoenix Children’s Hospital • OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE: Peggy Chase, president and CEO, Terros Health

• OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE FACILITY: Cigna Medical Group Phoenix Central MultiSpecialty Center

• OUTSTANDING PHYSICIAN: Dr. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu, founding director of the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic at District Medical Group and Maricopa Integrated Health System

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: Advinow Medical

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Jimmy Walker, founder of Celebrity Fight Night

A 40-YEAR LEGACY

When Mike Hummel succeeded Mark Bonsall as the general manager and CEO of the Salt River Project, it ended a run that started in 1977 for Bonsall and SRP. “I am honored to have been a part of the history of SRP for 40 years,” Bonsall said. “I’m so proud to have spent my career at SRP and have seen many of the wonderful accomplishments this organization has achieved during that time. We are recognized for our industry-leading power reliability, awarded for our use of technology and honored for our top-ranked customer service. The talented employees of SRP and their outstanding efforts have made this happen.” To put Bonsall’s impact in perspective, SRP served 268,891 customers when he started in 1977. When he passed the torch: 1,035,773 customers. That’s growth of 285 percent.

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President and CEO: Michael Atkinson Publisher: Cheryl Green Vice president of operations: Audrey Webb EDITORIAL Editor in chief: Michael Gossie Associate editors: Steve Burks | Jesse A. Millard Interns: Emily Gadberry | Noelle Schon Contributing writers: Sarah O’Keefe | Erin Thorburn | Alexi Venneri | Steven G. Zylstra ART Design director: Bruce Andersen Art director: Mike Mertes MARKETING/EVENTS Marketing & events manager: Cristal Rodriguez Marketing specialist: Gloria Del Grosso Marketing designer: Justie Lim OFFICE Special projects manager: Sara Fregapane Executive assistant: Mayra Rivera Database solutions manager: Amanda Bruno AZ BUSINESS MAGAZINE Senior account manager: David Harken Account managers: April Rice | Tom Patterson AZ BUSINESS ANGELS Director of sales: Cindy Kurtze AZ BUSINESS LEADERS Director of sales: Sheri Brown AZ HOME & DESIGN Director of sales: Kim Bailey AZRE | ARIZONA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Director of sales: Ann McSherry EXPERIENCE ARIZONA | PLAY BALL Director of sales: Donna Roberts RANKING ARIZONA Director of sales: Sheri King Az Business magazine is published bi-monthly by AZ BIG Media, 3101 N. Central Ave. Suite 1070, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, (602) 277-6045. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a SASE. Single copy price $4.95. Bulk rates available. Copyright 2017 by AZ BIG Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from AZ BIG Media.

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WOMEN TRENDSETTERS

VALLEY WRESTLING STARS PIN DOWN NEW VENTURE

The WWE’s Bella Twins, who graduated from Scottsdale’s Chaparral High School in 2002, have gone from wrestling opponents to tackling business. The twins, Brie and Nikki Bella, have opened the first-ever pop-up shop for Birdiebee, their signature line of apparel, intimates, activewear and accessories, at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Birdiebee is a brand focused on empowering women. Brie and Nikki hope to share their story through their fashion line to inspire young women to be independent and strong.

Janenne Lackey

“Be prepared to live longer than nearly any man in your life,” says Janenne Lackey, CFP, COO

and investment advisor representative for Wilde Wealth Management Group. “A monthly or weekly savings plan is important. Know what you would like to have in the bank each month during retirement and then work backwards. This will give you what you need to have at retirement, and then focus on getting to that number.” 6

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CAN THE GRASS BE GREENER FOR CANCER CARE? All but one of the 30 states with medical marijuana programs allow doctors to recommend it to cancer patients. While 80 percent of cancer doctors surveyed in a Elaine Burns study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology have discussed medical marijuana with patients, fewer than 30 percent feel they have sufficient knowledge to advise on its medicinal use. “Physicians can only recommend, not prescribe, medical cannabis,” says Dr. Elaine Burns, medical director at the Southwest Medical Marijuana Evaluation Center. “For that reason, I frequently speak at local hospitals to inform doctors about research and progress within the industry. They can then share that information with patients.” Burns says she regularly speaks at local Banner hospitals and the Barrow Neurological Institute, where she educates doctors about their patients’ options.

FINANCIAL PLANNING TIPS

for women

Statistically, women live longer than men. So it’s not surprising that in one Fidelity study, 60 percent of the women interviewed said they worry about outliving their money, despite how successful she might be. Here is some advice for women to consider when considering saving, investing and planning for one’s financial future:

“Investing is a science not an emotional game,” Lackey says. “The saying of ‘buying low and selling high’ is very strategic. Emotionally, we want to do the opposite ... Don’t let emotions get in the way.”

“Be a partner in the finances,” Lackey says. “So many times, we see someone come in and they have no idea where the assets are, what the budget was, how much is invested, basically blind to the financial side of life. Don’t be that person.”

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TRENDSETTERS

MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES IN ARIZONA To find Arizona’s most innovative companies, Owler, a pioneer in crowd-sourced information that’s building the world’s largest database of company and executive information, examined Arizona companies’ marketing, mission, as well as the strength of their brands. Here are the 15 most innovative companies in Arizona, according to Owler. 1

Import Genius

LEADER: Michael Kanko, co-founder and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Scottsdale

Magellan Health

LEADER: Barry M. Smith, chairman and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Scottsdale

Odysseyware

SiteLock

LEADER: Neill Feather, president HEADQUARTERS: Scottsdale

Global Water Resources

LEADER: Ron L. Fleming, president and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Phoenix

ZOG Digital

Global Patent Solutions Discount Tire FiREapps

LEADER: Wolfgang Koester, chairman and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Scottsdale

Microchip Technology

LEADER: Steve Sanghi, president and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Chandler

PHOENIX RANKS NO. 2 FOR BABY BOOMER ENTREPRENEURS 8

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140.1 million

LEADER: Michael Zuieback, CEO HEADQUARTERS: Scottsdale

4,130

direct, indirect and induced jobs; 1.08 indirect and induced jobs for every one person FFN employs in Tempe

Freshly

LEADER: David Odland, co-founder and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Scottsdale

Think a single company cannot have a Super Bowl-sized economic impact? Think again. Freedom Financial Network, which has offices in Tempe, will contribute $306.8 million to the Arizona economy in 2018, according to an independent economic impact study from the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU. To put that in perspective, this year’s Super Bowl in Minneapolis had an economic impact of $343 million. Results of the FNN study reveal:

$ total wages and salaries (including benefits) of FFN’s Tempe employees

LEADER: Jeffrey Herzog, chairman and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Phoenix

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Glynlyon

LEADER: Michael Wystrach, co-founder and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Phoenix

Realty Executives

LEADER: David C. Tedesco, CEO HEADQUARTERS: Phoenix

U-Haul

LEADER: Robert Campbell, founder HEADQUARTERS: Chandler

LEADER: Matthew Given, president and CEO HEADQUARTERS: Chandler

Circle K

LEADER: Jacob Schram, CEO HEADQUARTERS: Tempe

LEADER: Edward J. Shoen, CEO HEADQUARTERS: Phoenix

Tempe’s Super Bowl of

According to Thumbtack, the app and website that finds local professionals for any project, the best cities for Baby Boomer entrepreneurs — those innovative upstarts who are 55 and older — to start, operate and grow a small business. This year, Boston ranked first for the 55 and older crowds, while Phoenix came in at an impressive No. 2. Helping boost Phoenix’s ranking was the fact that more than 52.6 percent of the Baby Boomers running a small business say the local government was “very supportive” of their businesses.

74.2 million

total FFN purchases from Arizona-based vendors

242.2 million labor

income in total statewide impact

306.8 million in total

state GDP impact

Registry helps scientists battle Alzheimer’s

More than 300,000 people have signed up for the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry, which was established by Phoenix-based Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. “The registry is playing a crucial role to help overcome recruitment barriers to advance prevention research,” said Jessica Langbaum, Ph.D., the registry’s director. Since the registry’s launch, 60 studies have been supported in their recruitment efforts. Currently, 29 studies are actively recruiting and more volunteers are needed for surveys, studies and trials. For more information, visit the Registry at endalznow.org.

AB | July - August 2018 9

TRENDSETTERS

4 TIPS TO STAY COOL

Consider employee preference and comfort when creating any new guidelines.

WITHOUT BREAKING THE DRESS CODE

As the temperature continues to rise, many Arizonans may face challenges when attempting to stay cool in the summer heat while maintaining a professional appearance at work. Some businesses permit more casual dress during these hot months, but it remains important to uphold a dress code in the workplace. Insperity’s Manager of HR Services Mike Baize offers the following tips.

10 best places to raise a family in Arizona

To determine the places in Arizona that are most suitable for putting down roots, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 65 cities in the state based on 21 key metrics. WalletHub’s data set ranges from median family income to schoolsystem quality to housing affordability. Here are the Top 10 places to raise a family in Arizona:

Remind employees of the seasonal dress code policy in advance.

Establish an appropriate clothing policy, clearly outlining what not to wear such as shorts, tank tops or flip-flops.

Acknowledge the needs of the company. To maintain professionalism around clients, consider ditching the tie but keeping a dress shirt.

HOW DISTRACTED ARE PHOENIX DRIVERS? learn that It might not surprise you to tracted city dis ost Phoenix is the 11th-m to drivers, es com it en in the country wh t here are some according to Zendrive. Bu startle you : sobering facts that might use their • 60 percent of drivers ring the day. du phones at least once rcent of pe • At any given hour, 40 ones at ph ir the drivers are using least once. t 69 million • Zendrive estimates tha while drivers use their phones driving each day. AB | May - June 2018

6 JOB SEARCH 1. Gilbert 2. Scottsdale 3. Paradise Valley DEAL BREAKERS 4. Chandler Some tech pros may be getting multiple offers in today’s employment market, but that doesn’t mean they can breeze through the hiring 5. Sahuarita process. A recent survey of Phoenix CIOs from Robert Half Technology 6. Anthem shows there are several factors that can knock professionals out of the 7. Oro Valley running. Here’s the resume and interview mistakes that would cause 8. Catalina CIOs to remove a candidate from consideration: Foothills 9. Tanque Verde Top resume 10. Peoria deal breakers

1 Frequent job hopping: 19% 2 Bad formatting, sloppiness or typos: 17% 3 Overuse of technical jargon: 15%

Top interview deal breakers

4 Speaking negatively about a previous employer or manager: 24% 5 Poor body language: no eye contact or weak handshake: 17% 6 Ineffective explanation of career history: 22%

HAVE YOU BEEN

FOLLOWING OUR LEADERS? Available at azbigmedia.com

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CEO SERIES

MAKING THE GRADE

Edgenuity CEO has been a pioneer in education technology SARI FACTOR: “It’s important to have empathy for your customer,” says the CEO of Engenuity, who was raised by a mother who was a teacher. “Understanding what an educator goes through when they are faced with 30 students in a classroom is really important. We have to break down all those barriers so it’s an easy transition from a print product to a technology product.” PHOTO BY MIKE MERTES, AZ BIG MEDIA

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

hen it comes to grading CEOs, Sari Factor gets an A. The leader of Edgenuity, a Scottsdale-based education technology company, Factor was named one of the Valley’s Most Likable CEOs by Owler. Factor is also one of the most successful, helping her company get into business with 20 of the nation’s 25 biggest school districts. Az Business talked with the EdTech pioneer about the jump from education to technology.

come into the profession having used technology as a tool throughout their lives. Just as we use technology to streamline other aspects of our lives — like banking — the same thing is happening in education. The computer can grade quizzes and pinpoint what each student needs, so it’s a huge time saver for teachers.

AB: Why is Arizona such a hotbed for EdTech companies? SF: Arizona has been an innovator in many ways in education. The University of Phoenix put the whole idea of online Az Business: You studied education, so learning on the map as a business. And what attracted you to technology? Sari Factor: In college, I also took computer since early on, Arizona has been a big choice state, giving parents and kids the classes. When I went to look for my first job opportunity to choose which schools after teaching, I found an EdTech company they attend. It’s that kind of change and — it was called “electronic publishing” innovation that allowed businesses to back then — that was developing software thrive here. We are also seeing a migration for schools. I thought, “Wow, what a neat of engineers coming from California combination.” That was 1980, but I saw the because it’s so expensive to live there, so opportunity of technology. the pool of talent here is good. AB: How have you seen the EdTech AB: Which students benefit most from EdTech? sector evolve? SF: EdTech first started to make an SF: The biggest change is that teachers impact on kids who weren’t successful in today grew up with technology, so they 12

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the traditional classroom. Think of the two ends of the spectrum: the very advanced kids who didn’t have an opportunity to take an advanced placement course and the lowlevel kids who failed a course and needed to repeat it. But as time went on, people said, “Wait, that curriculum can be used for other purposes.” Now, we are reaching and helping those mainstream students, too. AB: What qualities make you such an effective leader for Edgenuity? SF: I’m a learner. I’m a listener. I like to hear what’s going on across the company with our customers and with our employees. I believe in continuous learning, so being in a learning business and being someone who values learning, it’s a unique combination. AB: What gives you the most pride? SF: It’s this company. This is a capstone on my career. I taught. I did technology. I did publishing. Now, we’re putting it all together. We have the opportunity to change education and the way school is conducted because of technology. It’s only our imagination that’s holding us back. If we can’t think big enough, we won’t be able to achieve enough.

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PedegoScottsdale.com | 480.994.4447 6945 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (Old Town Scottsdale)AB | July - August 2018

S R E B M U N E M A G

ACCOUNTING OUTLOOK

lenges l a h c g ountin are on the c c a t Wha unities leaders? t r o p p s and o usines b r o f n horizo

AB | July - August 2018

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

here are accounting game-changers coming soon and most business leaders aren’t ready for them. A big change in lease accounting due in January of 2019 will affect every public and private company in Arizona, just like the tax changes and the new rules for recording revenue that took effect for most public companies in January. The problem is, most companies aren’t ready for the changes. According to LeaseAccelerator, only 13 percent of companies say they are working on implementing the new rules. So what other accounting changes and concerns are coming down the road that you should know about? Some of Arizona’s best accounting minds offer their views about what you need to know. WHAT ACCOUNTING ISSUE DOES EVERY BUSINESS LEADER NEED TO BE AWARE OF HEADING INTO 2019? RANDY G. BRAMMER, CPA, CCIFP, AUDIT PARTNER, WALLACE PLESE + DREHER: “The new Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Lease Accounting Standard eliminates operating leases over 12 months, forcing the net present value of payments to be capitalized as an asset with equal short and long-term liabilities on the balance sheet. Consult your lenders, creditors, and surety since this will impact working capital and net worth ratios.” LETIZIA BRENTANO, TAX SENIOR MANAGER, MOSS ADAMS: “Going forward, business leaders should keep in mind the new limitation on business interest expense deductions. In the past, business interest was generally allowed as a deduction. But under tax reform, there’s a limit on the amount of interest businesses can deduct. Leaders should consider that change when taking on new or more debt.” MICHELLE L. FLYNN, CPA, TAX PARTNER, WALLACE PLESE + DREHER: “The biggest change is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which is the most significant reform in tax law since 1986. Every business is impacted by tax rate changes and deduction phase outs. The deduction for entertainment-related expenses has been eliminated, including sporting event tickets and clubs organized for business or social purposes.”

CHUCK GOODMILLER, CPA, CO-MANAGING PARTNER, HENRY+HORNE: “I don’t think one can say what the most important is as every business has different issues. What is big to one is nothing to another. That said, Revenue Recognition is likely the most far-reaching issue of impact and concern. Companies that need to comply with GAAP must be aware of the new accounting standard and have their policies and procedures in place that will ensure they are properly recording revenues. Non-public companies have until January 2019 to adopt the new rules. The new standard was effective for public companies on January 1, 2018. The impact on companies will depend on the environment in which they operate, but it could be complex and significant. Implementation could be more difficult than what companies may be planning, so all business leaders should already be working with their advisors on implementation.” ALEX MARR, PHOENIX OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS: “The two biggest issues facing businesses right now are the lease accounting standard and tax reform. The lease standard will affect the make-up of the balance sheet in terms of more debt on the books and will change the income statement to reflect the depreciation and interest expense as opposed to rent expense. This may affect existing credit arrangements and financial covenants that have EBITDA and debt-to-equity metrics. From a tax reform perspective, companies operating across borders may see significant impact on their tax expense.” RICK SIGNS, MANAGER, RSM US: “The biggest accounting issue will be the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard (ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers). This is one of the most historic accounting changes in decades and will go into effect for most privately held businesses in 2019. For many companies, this accounting change could have a significant impact on recorded sales, financial statement disclosures, compensation plans, sales commissions, compliance with financial covenants, and other areas vital to the successful operations of the business.” AB | July - August 2018 15

ACCOUNTING OUTLOOK

Randy G. Brammer

Letizia Brentano

Michelle L. Flynn

Chuck Goodmiller

WHAT MONEY-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESS LEADERS HEADING INTO 2019? BRENTANO: “The new law allowing temporary 100 percent expensing for certain business assets presents a big savings opportunity for businesses. Prior to tax reform, bonus depreciation was set to phase down, but instead it’s gone up. The new law provides for significantly accelerated tax deductions over the next few years. To benefit from the opportunity, it could be a good time to invest in capital expenditure.” FLYNN: “Tax planning opportunities for most businesses to maximize the benefit of the new 20 percent deduction for qualified business income, as well as enhanced expensing of business capital assets. This analysis includes a detailed evaluation of wages, capital assets, and entity structure to create the largest tax savings.” GOODMILLER: “I believe your biggest opportunities come with awareness and knowledge. All business leaders should be working with their internal and external advisors to know how all the new changes are going to impact their business. From Revenue Recognition, to accounting for leases and contracts, to tax law changes, just to name a few, the only way to find opportunities is to know the impact and how the rules apply. For instance, an S-Corp may find vast money saving opportunities in converting to a C-Corp, while another may not. So, knowing the impacts of all the changes will lead to knowing the money saving opportunities.” MARR: “Two words: Tax planning. With the ever changing landscape affecting federal and state tax, effective tax planning can help minimize the impact tax reform may have on cash tax.” BRAMMER: “Passed in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows a potential deduction up to 20 percent of qualified business income from pass-through entities. The deduction could reduce income tax liability of business owners on their individual income tax returns for 2018-2025 tax years.”

Alex Marr

Rick Signs

Jacob Wilkinson

JACOB WILKINSON, PARTNER AND NATIONAL TEAM LEADER, RSM US: “Under the new tax law, the biggest opportunity across all businesses will likely be the expensing of capital expenditures. This change will allow an immediate deduction for the cost to acquire new or used property and will impact typical capital expenditures and the structure of business acquisitions.” WHAT ACCOUNTING ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS HEADING INTO 2019? FLYNN: “Value communication and proactively engage your outside advisors. Seek professionals that know your business and industry. Invest in experienced, internal accounting management and encourage them to build relationships with outside professionals. As laws, regulations, and business environments constantly change, business owners should surround themselves with professionals that anticipate the future.” GOODMILLER: “Work with your teams and advisors and find out what you don’t know. Too many business leaders discount the effects of new accounting standards. There are so many changes heading our way, that we need to utilize our resources in order to get ahead of and manage the impacts.” MARR: “Be proactive in your approach to both the lease accounting standard and tax reform. Don’t wait to have important conversations with your financial institutions and tax advisors. It will be critical to stay ahead of the curve as businesses navigate what’s on the horizon.” WILKINSON: “With significant changes to the tax law and accounting guidance, business leaders need to have the right teams in place. These changes can both positively and negatively impact a business’s bottom line, thus planning early and having the right partners to help navigate many of these complexities will be invaluable.” BRAMMER: “You get what you pay for. Invest in strong accounting and finance professionals within your business and outside advisors, and leverage them. Your accountants need to understand your business. Financial data should be used as a tool for operations and not to complete a tax return or audited financial statements.” BRENTANO: “Talk to a consultant. If your tax advisor hasn’t reached out to you to talk about tax reform’s impact on your business, set up a meeting and ask for that input. There are opportunities and pitfalls leaders should keep in mind.”

AB | July - August 2018

BANKING

VALUE

PROPOSITION Will rising home values and rising interest rates spark a flurry of home equity loans? By JESSE A. MILLARD

ome equity shrunk or disappeared in the wake of the Great Recession as home prices tumbled, resulting in the disappearance of things like home equity lines of credit. The disappearance of this financing product cut homeowners off from funds that are typically used to reinvest. But we’re finally far enough from the Great Recession to see rising home values return across the nation, which is helping home equity lines of credit make a comeback at financial institutions. About 10 million consumers are expected to take out a home equity line of credit between 2018 and 2022, which will more than double the amount of home equity lines of credit that were originated from 2012 to 2016, according to a study by the credit reporting agency TransUnion. Homeowners are expected to take out these home equity lines of credit as they gain more equity from rising home prices. These funds are often used to renovate homes, consolidate debt, put children through college, assist with the purchase of an additional home or even be a way to purchase a car. According to Zillow, home prices in Arizona have gone up 8.8 percent in the last year, raising the median home value to $238,330 as of April. Zillow is forecasting the median home price to reach $247,000 by March 2019. With more equity available in homes, Desert Financial Credit Union has seen such a boost in demand for home equity lines of credit that it’s been placed in the top five home equity lenders in the Valley on a regular basis, says Cathy Graham, chief marketing officer of Desert Financial Credit Union. Graham says this increase in demand started in the past two years after a long period where it made zero sense to even talk about home equity loans. With the value in people’s homes appreciating, they are taking advantage of home equity lines of credit because it’s a competitive option compared with a credit card or an unsecured personal loan, Graham says. There used to be a stigma around home equity lines of credit and how they’ve been used for the purchase of “adult toys” like RVs and frivolous expenses, Graham says. But that’s no longer the case. Now,

AB | July - August 2018

homeowners are seeing home equity lines of credit as a viable option that can be used to cost effectively help homeowners with major financial needs, she says. BETTER ALTERNATIVE, BETTER HOMES The Federal Reserve has raised the key interest rate to the highest level it’s ever been since 2008 and the Fed plans to raise rates three times this year. This is having an impact on consumers looking to refinance their mortgage. Many recent homebuyers got their mortgages or refinanced when mortgage interest rates were at 3.5 or 4 percent, says Greg Thorell, residential lending manager at Pinnacle Bank. This is compared with the current mortgage interest rates that are averaging at 4.55 percent nationally for a 30-year fixed-rate

Paris Davis

mortgage, according to Freddie Mac. When consumers were refinancing at 3.5 or 4 percent, they would pull the equity out of their homes with a new first mortgage, Thorell explains. “Now, with those rates going up, homeowners don’t want to give up that low rate they have on their first mortgage,” Thorell says. “So they’re turning to the home equity loan market to do the debt consolidation loans, or renovations, or whatever they might want to use it for instead of refinancing their house.” BUILDING THE DREAM HOME With the stronger economy and rising interest rates, people aren’t moving and are instead looking into home equity lines of credit and starting remodeling projects with those funds, says Paris Davis, senior vice president and Northwest Arizona Division Manager at Washington Federal. “We’re getting low in housing inventory and, generally, if you don’t have at least a six-month supply of inventory, that’s where you can see more of a driver for people wanting to stay in their homes,” she says. Instead of going out into the housing market to find their dream home, people will use renovations to turn their current home into a dream home, Davis says. With folks moving towards home equity lines of credit, financial institutions now have a better opportunity to deepen the relationship with clients, while also adding to the portfolio, Davis says. Financial institutions are looking for people with strong credit scores and for those who are looking into reinvesting the money into their home or a child’s education. Strong guidelines regulating who’s eligible for home equity lines of credit have been put in place since the Great Recession, Davis says. This has been helping consumers so they aren’t borrowing more than their home’s value, especially when

David E. Funkhouser

Cathy Graham

Greg Thorell

home values can fluctuate, she explains. Also, for those looking to stay in the home that is the collateral for the home equity line of credit and make that home a forever home, there are a lot of benefits. “Home equity lines of credit are a great product for those types of individuals,” Davis says of people who are living in their forever homes, “because they’re adding value and potential equity in their home. They are happy to not have to go out and purchase a new home and sell their current home.”

BE MINDFUL AS EQUITY RETURNS With homeowners earning more equity in their homes and the home equity line of credit coming back as an available avenue for a loan, lenders and borrowers need to be mindful of a few things, says David E. Funkhouser, partner at Quarles & Brady. • Borrowers need to remember the Great Recession. They should be cautious of not using up all of the equity in their homes as they seek a home equity line of credit, Funkhouser says. • Home equity line of credit lenders should also be aware that they’re in the second position behind the senior lender if the borrower stops paying, he says. • All of the collateral could get taken by the senior lender if the home equity line of credit lender isn’t the same institution, leaving the home equity line of credit lender with no collateral, Funkhouser says. • Keep an eye on the underlying value of the collateral because the economy could change quickly and the home could lose its value, he says. But, “If there’s enough to go around, everybody can be protected,” Funkhouser says.

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AB | July - August 2018

TH L 12 UA N AN

presents

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AB | July - August 2018 21

HEALTHCARE

AB | July - August 2018

Heart the

of healthcare

20 years after it was founded, Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital continues to be a pioneer and innovator in cardiac care By MICHAEL GOSSIE

brazo Arizona Heart Hospital was a center of innovation before anyone knew enough to use the trendy term. The hospital was founded in 1998 by Dr. Edward “Ted” Diethrich, the brilliant and innovative cardiac surgeon who gained acclaim by becoming the first doctor to perform openheart surgery on live television and also showing footage of thenU.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater’s beating heart after removing blockage from the political icon’s arteries. “Ted Diethrich has been looked upon nationally and internationally as a thought leader, as a pioneer and as an innovator,” says Dr. Timothy Byrne, market medical director of interventional cardiology at Abrazo Community Health Network and the man to whom Diethrich passed the torch at Arizona Heart Hospital. “The goal of the Heart Hospital will always be to be part of the type of environment that Ted Diethrich established.” AB | July - August 2018 23

HEALTHCARE

Diethrich died in 2017 at 81. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Arizona Heart Hospital has served as the area’s leading hospital for the diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular disease. The hospital has distinguished itself as one of the nation’s top 100 cardiovascular hospitals, recognized for surgical performance, clinical efficiencies, and better patient outcomes. The hospital was acquired by Abrazo Community Health Network (then a subsidiary of Vanguard Health Systems) in 2010. “While Dr. Diethrich faced some criticism early in his career because the things he was doing were so innovative and different from anything that had ever been done before, he became highly respected around the world,” Dr. Byrne says. “You cannot go anywhere — a hospital in London, a conference in Paris, a university in Asia — where Ted Diethrich isn’t thought about, discussed and praised for what he’s done for medicine.”

The same can be said for the hospital he founded. “Today, the spirit of innovation that Dr. Diethrich created is alive because we are a destination center for aortic disease thanks to people like Dr. Venkatesh Ramaiah, who is a thought leader, international speaker and an amazingly talented vascular surgeon who has advanced the space and taken the baton from Dr. Diethrich,” Dr. Byrne says. Dr. Ramaiah, the medical director of the Arizona Heart Hospital, specializes in endovascular and vascular surgery. He treats conditions such as complications with blood vessels and intervenes to prevent aneurysms and heart attacks. He also conducts endovascular research at the Arizona Heart Institute. “When I saw what they were doing here, I was blown away,” Dr. Ramaiah says. “Not only is Arizona Heart Institute involved in cutting-edge technology in terms of procedures, but also in terms of patient care and research. Everything here is centered around

HEART AND SOUL: Dr. Timothy Byrne is market medical director of interventional cardiology at Abrazo Community Health Network and its five hospitals in metropolitan Phoenix; and Tammy Querrey, RN, ACPN, is the director of Cardiovascular Centers and of Excellence at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital. PHOTO BY MIKE MERTES, AZ BIG MEDIA 24

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HEALTHCARE cardiovascular disease and I haven’t seen another ‘one-stop shop’ for cardiac care that’s so advanced.” Among the advancements that have helped Arizona Heart Hospital develop best-of-class methods for every area of cardiac care is the creation of six institutes specializing in the comprehensive treatment of heart disease: • Institute for Advanced Aortic Disease • Institute for Cardiac Arrhythmias • Institute for Congestive Heart Failure

GAME CHANGERS Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital is performing gamechanging, minimally invasive procedures that could help patients live longer and better. Among them are: • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure and a promising alternative to open-heart surgery for the estimated 1.5 million Americans with aortic stenosis. This is significantly less invasive than the traditional aortic valve surgery. Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital is one of 80 hospitals nationwide to participate in a national trial that ultimately has helped expand the procedure to more patients.

• Institute for Coronary Artery Disease • Institute for Peripheral Vascular Disease • Institute for Valvular Diseases On the structural heart side of the medical equation, Dr. Byrne says his team is playing to its innovative roots through cuttingedge clinical research. The hospital’s physicians are currently serving as principal or sub-investigators for more than two dozen national clinical trials on everything from complex heart valve replacements to aortic aneurysms to an irregular heartbeat and heart failure. “We want to be a destination center where we can take care of sick people in a forward-thinking, patient-centered approach, where we treat patients and their families in the best ways we can,” Dr. Byrne says. “That’s what makes us unique and special. At the end of the day, we don’t just take care of sick people, we take care of sick people and everyone who loves those sick people.” While the pioneering and innovative spirit still defines Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, it’s the addition of the human spirit that has taken the healthcare facility to a new level. “While we know it’s important to participate in innovation and to pioneer new clinical trials and new devices that we can bring to market,” Dr. Byrne says, “taking care of sick people in the right way is just as important.”

• CardioMEMS, an electronic sensor the size of a paperclip, that could help the nearly six million Americans with heart failure. The CardioMEMS device is implanted through a catheter in the pulmonary artery that carries blood from the heart to the lungs to detect small changes in the heart pressure. Once at home, the CardioMEMS patient uses a portable electronic unit and a special pillow containing an antenna to take daily sensor readings from the implanted device. Physicians review the readings and can make necessary modifications to the patient’s medications, allowing for personalized and proactive management to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization. • Transcarotid Arterial Revascularization, or TCAR, is designed to lower the risk of a stroke or heart attack for the estimated 300,000 people in the United States diagnosed with blockages or plaque in their carotid artery, which is the major blood vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the brain, neck and face. The minimally invasive procedure enables doctors to make a tiny incision at the precise spot of the neck where the blockage occurs using a thin, flexible wire and results in a lower risk for a stroke or heart attack and a quicker recovery. • Watchman, a stroke-preventing device for people with A-Fib (an irregular heartbeat). Watchman, which is about the size of a quarter, allows doctors to help patients with A-Fib get off of blood thinners and resume an active lifestyle. Abrazo was part of the Watchman clinical trial and the FDA approved the device in 2015.

AB | July - August 2018

GAME CHANGER: This is the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) that is used on low-risk patients as part of a national clinical trial at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ABRAZO, COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK

AB | July - August 2018 27

LAW

SHARE & SCARE

alike

Here’s how a divorcing spouse can use technology to destroy your case By EMILY GADBERRY

hen we think of family law and divorce, we may think of everything from bitter bickering over who gets the house to battles over child support. However, something we might not consider, but we need to, is the role technology could play in your case. “That’s the first thing I think of, that rising technology is leading to an increase in divorce,” says Kaine Fisher, director of family law at Rose Law Group. “You get the good with the technology, but then there’s this bad side of it when it comes to families.”

And when it comes to divorce, technology can cripple your case. Do you and your estranged spouse share an Apple ID or iCloud account? That could be major trouble. Sharing an iCloud account with your spouse gives him or her unfettered access to almost everything on your iPhone, including your location, photographs, contacts and incoming and outgoing text messages. So that sexy selfie you sent to your new love interest: chances are your soon-to-be-ex saw it, too. Not only can technology tear apart a divorce case, it can be a contributing factor as to why they’re filed in the first place. According to Fisher, everything from

Kaine Fisher

AB | July - August 2018

Marc Lamber

Cloud software to social media sites can contribute to divorce, leading to spousal infidelity and other sources of conflict. TECH BATTLES Attorney Marc Lamber, legal analyst with the Lamber Goodnow legal team at Fennemore Craig, says technology doesn’t only play a preemptive role in divorce, it comes into play most strongly when the litigation starts. “Our clients not only expect us to use and integrate technology, they demand it,” he says. “Their experience is not complete unless technology plays a vital role — just like it does in their lives.” While the Lamber Goodnow team focuses on matters of personal injury, technology is something from which all legal practices can benefit. But Lamber warns: “If you bring ‘toys’ to a trial, be careful. They can also be used against you. All lawyers need to carefully

think through how they are going to use any new technology.” Keeping this in mind, as one enters a family law-related case, it’s important to recognize what technology might be able to do. “Technology is now the best and easiest way to obtain incriminating information,” Fisher states, adding that anything from a spouse’s spending habits to their parental fitness can become fair game. “With recording and keystroke logging technology, you can get your spouse’s password and log into their emails to see what’s going on there,” he says. “I have been made aware of situations where, if the spouse leaves the phone on the nightstand while they take a shower, you can download software that enables you to hear their real-time conversations from your phone.” While this certainly makes it easier for legal teams to obtain discovery, it also leaves the door wide open to a whole host of problems for the investigated spouse.

When all is said and done, Lamber says, technology should be used to represent one’s clients in the best possible way, helping to bring about favorable outcomes while not harming the case and still being expedient. According to Fisher, both clients and lawyers should think twice before using technology in any way possible. He gives the example of a typical parenting-time exchange, without any extenuating circumstances. In this situation, he concludes, one parent recording the other on their cellphone to look for mistakes might do more harm than good, for both the case and the child’s welfare. “It’s kind of a cliche, but lawyers get bad people at their best and good people at their worst,” he concludes.

PROTECTING YOURSELF When Fisher meets with a client, he informs them right away about all of the potential tools that could be used against them. “I tell my clients, ‘You need to be changing your passwords and to not be using a shared computer anymore. You need to take your phone to Verizon or AT&T to get it checked out and take your car to the bodyshop and have them check underneath for a lo-jack device.’ I know it sounds crazy, but I wouldn’t be giving that advice if it hadn’t happened before.” Taking these steps, he adds, can save clients a large amount of confusion and frustration down the line. While there are times when utilizing technology in family law can be a real benefit, it’s worthwhile to consider your options first. According to Lamber, “Technology can at times create a trap in that people often believe that all technology represents the truth — and its use may give something a credibility that it does not deserve. Certain technologies may cost more than a case is worth, and certain technologies are more valid than others.”

of technology and those practitioners who resist the demand will become obsolete.” Lamber Goodnow is certainly eager to take advantage of this growing trend. Their recent cases have utilized a variety of technological tools, from Google Glass to 3-D printing, and that’s only the beginning. In the future, Lamber says, clients can expect everything from virtual reality to AI to be used in the courtroom. So what does that mean for family law? Fisher, too, is optimistic. “We as practitioners need to learn and stay up on these new technological advances”, he says. “I need to be available by text and by email and by instant messaging, at any time at night. I need to be versatile because that’s what my clients are doing.” So as technology marches into the future, family law and other practices will continue to do all they can to stay up-to-date and relevant for the clients they serve. “I think as technology evolves, the way we present evidence in court evolves, the different types of evidence that we’ll be able to obtain evolves and the way I practice has to evolve,” Fisher concludes.

THE FUTURE “It’s a very exciting time to be practicing law,” says Lamber. “Ultimately, the consumer market will demand a high level

AB | July - August 2018 29

MARKETING

WHAT’S

THE PLAN? With an increasing number of platforms available, experts offer advice on using media to build your brand

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

usiness leaders have never had more opportunities available for them to promote or advertise products and services. On the flip side, they have never had to market their products and services to an audience that has to deal with so many distractions. When devising a media or branding campaign, today’s marketing geniuses have a full tool box at their disposal: traditional methods, such as print advertising and direct marketing; email marketing; Web-based advertising; and multiple social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, as well as mobile marketing. So how do you juggle and weigh all the available options? “When determining what mix of media channels are best, the following variables determine our media recommendation and media mix for an effective media campaign,” says Betsey Griffin, media director for LAVIDGE. • Competitive analysis: Number of competitors, how much they spend and where they are advertising. • Target analysis: What is the target’s media usage and is there a secondary audience to consider? • Goals: Reach vs. frequency. Minimum recommended media levels. Should there be more emphasis on upper funnel or lower funnel tactics? • Geography • Seasonality. Concentrated time frame or continuity campaign? • Budget priorities “The most important elements of any media campaign are the questions you ask before you even start,” says Fraser Elliott, senior

AB | July - August 2018

vice president and media director at LaneTerralever. “What’s the problem we’re trying to solve? Not just the business challenge, but the behavioral change required to achieve the business result. What are the audience’s inflection points and influences at each stage of their journey to conversion? What’s the role of each channel at those different stages? What are the best messaging opportunities with every channel and stage? What are the key performance indicators and how will we measure them? When we answer these questions, we can design a plan that addresses the challenge at hand.” IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY With technology and constantly evolving social media platforms today, business leaders have amazing opportunities at their fingertips when it comes to their media campaign, according to Dawn Webley, senior director of media services at OH Partners. “We have all heard it: Attribution modeling,” Webley says. “It is not easy, but it is possible. Today, we have the ability to more clearly track the effectiveness of an all-encompassing media campaign across all media. With the information available, a media campaign can more clearly line up with the results the business leaders are looking for, whether it be sales, phone calls, web forms, clicks, or more.” The digital and social landscape also gives business leaders significant advantages in terms of targeting, efficiency, reporting, optimization and measurement, says Karen Rulapaugh, corporate media director for R&R Partners. “With search, Facebook and Instagram, businesses can reach a highly targeted audience on a neighborhood, city, regional or

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MARKETING national level, and optimize the campaign in flight to ensure overall campaign effectiveness,” Rulapaugh says. “A social or search campaign can be executed with minimal costs (as little as $5, depending on the overall audience and geography), which allows anyone to create an effective media campaign.” But Elliott says marketing in 2018 hasn’t gone completely to the techies. “There are two big opportunities: Machine and human,” Elliott says. “On the machine side, automation is driving better-thanever efficiencies in the pay-per-click and programmatic display spaces. If you’re still doing it all manually, you’re doing it wrong. Let the machines do the work while you supervise, strategize, and adjust. On the human side, we’re finding better and more authentic ways to build clients into content. Whether it’s tailoring or creating programming with media partners, or working with influencers and content creators, there are clear opportunities to build business that go well beyond advertising.” PLANNING AHEAD With all the options available — print, TV, radio, digital — how does a business leader know what will boost her or his business? “There is no magic formula for the perfect media plan, no silver bullet media channel,” Griffin says. “All mediums have their strengths and weaknesses and all work better with support of other media channels.” While well executed and on-target media are necessary, Griffin says business leaders must remember the importance of the message. Creative, clear communication of that message is vital. “Although humbling for media planners and buyers to admit,” Griffin says, “the creative message is a more critical factor than the media selection in a successful campaign.” Webley agrees. “Making sure that a message is in front of the right target, at the right time, for the right price is what planning a media campaign is all about,” she says. “With the research, technology and tracking abilities in 2018, this is possible more now than ever before.” But Elliott says that our modern obsession

with results often leads to focusing exclusively on things that are easy to measure – and the channels that produce them – but at the expense of options that aren’t as quantifiable, but may be just as critical to success. “‘Action’ metrics, like visits and conversions, tell us almost nothing about ‘Think’ metrics, like awareness, consideration and purchase intent,” Elliott says, “but these metrics eventually impact ‘Action’ success. The trouble is, measuring ‘Think’ metrics is harder and costlier. There’s a tendency to abandon their measurement and the channels that drive their success in favor of the bottom of the funnel.” Elliott says that’s a mistake in the long run. “Fertilizer’s effects are hard to measure, but if we stop investing in fertilizer to buy more harvesting equipment because the harvest is easy to measure,” Elliott says, “we’ll eventually learn that we don’t have good fruit to harvest anymore.”

Fraser Elliott

Betsey Griffin

Tricia Kashima

Kurt Krake

Karen Rulapaugh Dawn Webley

S K S I R G N TAKI

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AB | July - August 2018

AB | July - August 2018 33

AB | July - August 2018

Arizona’s

home for the

BEST

of Broadway Michael James Scott (Genie) & Ensemble. Photo by Deen van Meer. © Disney

asugammage.com

AB | July - August 2018 35

MARKETING

14 5 2 CREATE VALUABLE CONTENT, NOT ADS

PR strategies to help grow your business

very company has a story to tell, however, without a strong PR strategy, that story may never reach your audience. PR helps you authentically connect with your audience, increase your visibility and elevate your credibility, keeping your brand out of the advertising abyss. If you haven’t given any serious thought to your PR efforts, or you aren’t seeing any positive results from your current efforts, here are six PR strategies you can implement right now.

Melissa DiGianfilippo Marketing

AB | July - August 2018

PR is not advertising in the traditional sense. Your PR strategy should focus on creating GIVE TRADITIONAL PRESS EXCLUSIVITY content that brings value to your audience, If you know one key outlet that absolutely instead of shoving your product or service MUST cover a story for you, go to them first in the face of your buyer. Create inspiring and offer them the exclusive. In doing this, content that converts your target audience you commit to not sending the idea to anyone into loyal followers. Invest in a strong creative else until that outlet either publishes the story, team to create the articles, stories and videos says “no” or doesn’t respond within the period that your audience wants and needs. Then, of time you’ve given them. Be sure to give the deliver that content through the right channels publication plenty of advance notice to cover a and publications that your audience regularly breaking story, and be clear on your timeline up consumes. This strategy will naturally help with front. For example, if you want the story to break your search engine optimization efforts, too with a weekly business publication, don’t expect to send them the story the day before you want it LEVERAGE VIDEO CONTENT THROUGH to run. Give them a week or so notice - embargo SOCIAL PLATFORMS the content if needed - so that they can plan the With proposed changes to Facebook’s timeline appropriate time and space for your story. Once algorithm currently underway, video content the story runs, you are free to pitch to all of your reigns supreme on social media. But you don’t other target media or distribute on the newswire. have to invest in costly, high-production videos in order to make a splash. Take advantage REPURPOSE PR WINS AND ENGAGE WITH of organic, live video tools on Facebook and YOUR AUDIENCE Instagram. Live videos allow you to engage The real power of PR is rarely in the moment directly with your audience increasing your a story runs. It’s really in how well you repurpose transparency and authenticity. and reshare that piece of third-party content with your target audience. This could be through CREATE A RELIABLE CRISIS MANAGEMENT your blog, social media, email marketing, and PLAN AND PROCESS more. Learning how to expertly disseminate your Every brand, from massive corporations content through several channels will increase to mom-and-pop shops, will encounter some your views and reach a broader audience, all kind of crisis sooner or later. A crisis can be with a single story. You can also continue to something as seemingly small as a negative revisit your favorite PR wins as often as you’d social media comment, or as major as a food like by reposting them. poisoning outbreak at your restaurant. What’s important is how you react, how you respond UNDERSTAND THE EVOLUTION OF and how you get the world to move on as quickly INFLUENCER MARKETING as possible. Preparing a strategy before the In the age of social media, influencer crisis hits is vital. When disaster strikes, no marketing can be your PR secret weapon. This matter what shape or form, you need to have tactic allows you to reach a large yet targeted a proven process in place that will keep you audience through an authentic personality that focused and help you bounce back quicker. your consumers already trusts. By partnering with an influencer, you can engage users In the end, remember that PR takes time, with creative content through various social media platforms. It’s worth spending the time patience, and persistence. It’s a heartto identify the right influencer - one whose wrenching, stressful process that is not for demographic and style align with those of your the weak. But if you are smart, have a plan, brand - and build a relationship with them. Keep and pursue it tirelessly, you will succeed. in mind that there is some crossover between PR and advertising with influencer marketing, as Melissa DiGianfilippo is the co-owner and many influencers require compensation or trade president of public relations at Serendipit Consulting, where she leads the firm’s clients’ of services.

6 3

public relations and communications efforts including traditional media relations, crisis communications, internal communications, community outreach and more.

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AB | July - August 2018 37

TECHNOLOGY

WHAT THE RISE OF AI MEANS FOR MARKETING

t its core, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that can process information that once required a human component. Visual perception, speech recognition, language translation and even some decision making can now be accomplished with the right computer code. With such advanced capabilities at their fingertips, marketers have been keen to leverage AI for key initiatives such as improving customer service ratings, increasing revenue and targeting key market segments. According to an analysis by CMO.com, 61 percent of marketing professionals reported that AI was their companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important data initiative for 2019, and more than 80 percent of CEOs reported they viewed AI as a viable, strategic opportunity. With such a broad interest in AI, marketers have taken a variety of approaches to use this technology including machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). Machine learning allows a computer system to learn information on its own without the assistance of a programmer. NLP involves the detection of speech patterns and language understanding. 38

AB | July - August 2018

A great example of machine learning is chatbot technology. Chatbots are an automated service with which customers can interact. For example, automotive dealerships can use chatbots to free up the valuable time of salespeople by capturing and qualifying leads, searching inventory, scheduling appointments and, if needed, routing leads to appropriate team members. Not only do chatbots make operations more efficient, but their 24-hour availability has been shown to improve customer satisfaction. Forbes recently reported that 75 percent of companies using AI have seen customer service ratings increase by an average of 10 percent. This increase in satisfaction can be the difference between closing a sale or losing a customer to a competitor. Simply placing the right chat feature on your website can increase website to lead conversions up to 40 percent! Chatbots also leverage machine learning by automatically gathering data on target audiences. This type of AI works by connecting their online spending habits to their offline behavior, and it can help marketers create more personalized buying experiences for potential customers. Chatbots also help businesses communicate more efficiently with customers on the customer’s desired channel including Facebook Messenger and via text message. On a national scale, Netflix is a perfect example of a company leading AI innovation. The streaming giant has developed a smart solution that uses machine learning to analyze billions of films to recommend the most relevant ones to viewers. While this technology isn’t unique to Netflix, its application is Alexi Venneri unique because it considers Technology the user’s viewing history and specific reactions to content. For example, if a viewer watched 10 minutes of a film, Netflix’s AI would weight that film differently than if the viewer completed the film. Although other companies have used AI to recommend movies and products to customers, Netflix is a leader in its use. The same technology used by Netflix can be applied to marketing through analyzation of product videos and commercials posted to a company site. By analyzing video that keeps

viewers engaged for longer periods of time, marketers can optimize content to hold the attention of its audience. Marketers find NLP to be incredibly useful for deriving insights from social media. With this type of AI, organizations can assess the sentiment of what people post about their companies online. NLPbased tools can gauge the frequency of positive words like “love,” “fast,” “friendly,” etc. against the frequency of negative words like “hate,” “slow,” “rude” and more. NLP allows marketers to receive instant feedback without having to sift through dozens of social media posts, and this feedback can be easily implemented to improve future marketing strategies. Even though AI is increasingly adopted by marketers, it’s important to note that developments in AI are not phasing out human marketers. AI is still in its infancy, and it has yet to become capable of several key functions marketers are responsible for, including creating quality editorial content, developing effective messaging, devising marketing strategies and more. AI technology can decrease production time, but human marketers remain vital to the success of an organization. AI has been influential in opening new doors to allow marketers to streamline operations, freeing up more resources to focus on other elements of the marketing mix. This technology has been successful in increasing customer satisfaction, gauging consumer behavior and measuring social media sentiment, among hundreds of other applications. Even though AI has secured its place in marketing, professionals are just scratching the surface of its full potential. Wondering what you’re missing without the help of AI? Get a free social media and online reputation intel for your business at digitalairstrike.com/get-intel. Alexi Venneri is co-founder and CEO of Digital Air Strike, a leading social media and digital engagement company. Alexi has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and is a pioneer in digital response, social marketing and online reputation management.

AB | July - August 2018 39

DINING

DREAMWEAVER

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen blends elements brilliantly to create a memorable dining destination

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

eft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen could not be more perfectly named. Warp and weft are terms for the two basic components used in weaving that turns thread or yarn into fabric. And what makes Weft & Warp so special is the way it perfectly weaves all the elements of a memorable dining experience — amazing ambience, fantastic food and sensational service — to give Valley foodies another must-try destination. Weft & Warp makes its home at the $75 million Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, which combines mid-century modern design with local art to create a unique Sonoran Desert atmosphere. That hip and cool feel carries over from the resort to Weft & Warp, where a glass box kitchen — which allows you to see your meal constructed right before your eyes — along with a chef’s table, beckons guests to become a part of the culinary experience. The dining room is open and airy with stylish chrome accents and floorto-ceiling windows that allow the natural light to pour through and serve up breathtaking views of nearby Camelback Mountain. But beyond the hipster-cool vibe, it’s Executive Chef Adam Sheff’s fusion of traditional and contemporary methods and his innovative use of plancha cooking techniques that elevate Weft & Warp from what could have been just another boring resort restaurant and turns it into a unique dining destination that will delight even the most discerning foodie. Weft & Warp’s “Bits and Bites” side of the menu is exactly as the title suggests — an array of deliciousness that ranges from single bites to small starters. But here’s what you cannot miss: • The Arizona Medjool dates ($1.50 apiece) are remarkable in their simplicity — covered with just a taste of fresh cream and crumbled 40

AB | July - August 2018

pistachios — but even more remarkable in their vibrant flavors. Order one for each person in your party, but you’ll likely be ordering more. • The blue cornbread ($6) is covered with a tomato-jalapeno jam that has to be tasted to be appreciated. • Other standouts to get you started are the mushroom soup ($10) and Crow’s Dairy goat cheese dumplings ($10). They had you at cheese dumplings, didn’t they? From the right side of the menu: • The Black Angus New York strip steak ($34) served brilliantly with a date and black garlic glaze might be the best main course on the menu. • The whole red river trout from the plancha ($24), served with grilled lemon, cauliflower and pecan romesco flows with flavors that will delight any palate. • Others standouts are the Hayden Mills Sonoran wheat berry risotto ($19) and whole roasted game hen ($26) with adobo mop sauce, avocado, lemon, pistachio and cilantro. Complementing the cuisine are cocktails handcrafted by Weft & Warp’s talented mixologists, each one inspired by local produce. What makes Weft & Warp great is that it cannot be categorized. It’s defining dining on it’s own terms and forging a path of its own. And the path you should take will lead you straight to Weft & Warp. Your inner foodie will thank you.

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen 6114 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com 480-368-1234 Hours: Open daily 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

DA Y! TO AT E IN M NO

THE 2019

Arizona Corporate Counsel Awards

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20 19

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AB | July - August 2018 41

ARIZONA SOCIETY OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

#YouToo? Arizona’s HR professionals face a myriad of issues that carry risks for the workplace

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

t’s been more than 50 years since the Civil Rights Act was created to protect employees from discrimination. But if we look at the past year or two, we see that employees need protection more than ever. The #MeToo movement put sexual harassment in the forefront and a charged-up political environment coupled with missteps at the highest level of corporate America have cast a spotlight on conduct that most people hoped was left in the past. “Human resources is working overtime to address accusations that practitioners have been on the wrong side of the #MeToo movement and to provide a safe environment for starting the conversation and voicing workplace harassment concerns,” says Jamie Seeker, founder and president of Seeker Solution. “The topic is now a mainstream conversation that is disrupting traditional workplace cultures and operational processes.” Human resources professionals have been forced to scramble and confront countless issues that carry real risks for the workplace and employers must remain aware of these challenges and know how to prepare for them, experts warn. A constantly evolving workforce, cybersecurity threats, the risk of workplace violence, a more demanding workforce, employee well-being and mental health are just some of the issues that employers must face in today’s unsettling climate.

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THE #METOO MOVEMENT Before the #MeToo movement, HR professionals had the responsibility to investigate and take appropriate corrective action whenever they became aware of an allegation of sexual harassment or discrimination, according to Laura Ingegneri, human resources director for the City of Peoria. “It was also important that appropriate training be provided to all employees in an attempt to stop such discrimination and harassment from occurring and ensure supervisors and managers knew their responsibilities relating to such actions in the workplace,” Ingegneri says. “These requirements certainly have not changed, but the number of complaints, the type and frequency of workforce training and the level of corrective action once misconduct has been determined has clearly been elevated.” Employers of every size and in virtually every field have had to do a wide-scale makeover of their company processes, policies and their professional image in the wake of revelations of widespread sexual harassment, Seeker says.

“The movement has given courage to victims, accountability to perpetrators and forced organizational leaders to assess their workplace culture and operational structure,” she says. “This has resulted in stepped-up compliance and awareness training efforts to show employees that the HR industry is on their side.” OTHER HR ISSUES Beyond #MeToo, there are a myriad of HR issues that carry challenges and potential changes for the workplace. “Hands down, the workforce talent shortage as the Millennial generation moves front and center and the Boomers age out will put the HR spotlight squarely on employer branding, talent acquisition and retention,” says Denise Gredler, founder and CEO of BestCompaniesAZ. “Although Boomers are transitioning out, many are electing to work past normal retirement age, with reduced and other alternative arrangements. HR needs to stay on top of this wealth of talent because of the experience and knowledge they have, and they must up their game and get creative introducing nontraditional strategies. Sharing employee stories will also be crucial in order to convince today’s diverse workforce to come work for them.” Ingegneri says the next generation of workers has different expectations, philosophies and work ethics that need to be addressed. “Organizations will need to adjust accordingly to recruit and retain the best of the best,” Ingegneri says. “Flexibility, ‘gig’ assignments, use of technology, more frequent and less formal performance evaluations, employee engagement and satisfaction will need to be top on the list of our priorities.”

But it’s not just workforce issues; there are legal issues facing HR professionals. “In its most significant employment law ruling in decades, the United States Supreme Court held that arbitration agreements in which employees also waive the right to pursue class or collective relief are enforceable,” says Jodi Bohr, a shareholder at Gallagher & Kennedy. “I have already received several calls inquiring about how employers can implement employment agreements in light of this ruling.” In 2019, Bohr predicts an uptick in the implementation of these agreements. “I also see plaintiff’s employment lawyers getting creative in challenging the procedural and substantive unconscionability of these agreements as another way to attack their enforceability,” Bohr says. “HR professionals who want to take advantage of this ruling need to hire counsel to review and potentially update their employment agreements.” WHAT’S NEXT? Adding to the human and legal issues facing HR professionals today is an economic factor: the historically low jobless rate. “A low unemployment rate means there are less individuals out actively looking for a new job, which creates more challenges in recruitment as well as retention of employees,” Ingegneri says. Seeker says the low unemployment rate has created a hiring supply and demand effect that is impacting employee salaries. “In order to recruit top talent and fill vacant positions, employers are paying more to new hires compared with their current employees’ salary earnings,” Seeker says. “This is driving wages up and lowering employee retention rates. As a result, company leaders have an urgent need to re-evaluate and restructure their business strategies to not only attract top talent, but retain. Hiring and retention tactics include implementation of value-added employee perks and incentive programs, transparent performance reviews and standardized measurements of team success.” The Society of Human Resource Management reported that a decade ago, companies divulged that their top future challenges were succession planning and providing leaders with the skills needed to be successful. “With the rise of major technological advances and people analytics, HR professionals now have the tools to track and improve productivity, employee satisfaction and professional development successes,” Bohr says. “With this information, the emphasis has become workplace culture, thereby changing the role of HR. HR professionals must now be more strategic AB | July - August 2018 43

AzSHRM in all areas, but especially in recruiting and retention. This entails working more collaboratively with employees to increase engagement, motivation and loyalty.” As for the HR profession, experts expect the role of the HR professional to continue to evolve over the coming decade. “Gone are the days where HR is the back-room function that processes paperwork and acts as a traffic cop,” Gredler says. “HR professionals need to provide people metrics routinely on par with what CFOs provide. HR must have excellent perspectives

in all areas of the business so they can build credible business cases for actions that need to be taken to help the business grow and thrive. This will require having data, monitoring trends and educating leadership about the impact of flawed people leadership to the bottom line. HR will have to have the capacity to mass customize benefits and HR programs to a diverse workforce, and they must be able to draw a direct link between the employee’s personal mission and the organization’s mission in order to be successful in improving engagement and retention.”

Jodi Bohr

Denise Gredler

Laura Ingegneri

JAMIE SEEKER: “The HR role has always been perceived as a ‘third-party department’ that is sheltered from the same set of rules that the rest of employees must live by,” says the founder and president of Seeker Solution. “It’s like internal affairs investigations in the police department: they are a necessary function for accountability, but no one really relates to them.” PROVIDED PHOTO

3 WAYS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT Did you know that the cost to replace a highly-trained employee can exceed 200 percent of their annual salary? Employee retention is a challenge for nearly every organization. Here are a few non-traditional strategies from Valley-based HR expert and business management consultant, Jamie Seeker of Seeker Solution, to help companies hire and retain their teams:

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WORKPLACE SERVICES: Offer value added services that make your employees lives easier or less stressful, such as a weekly dry cleaning service, free gym memberships, or weekly group fitness classes hosted at the office. Bringing local companies into your workplace that provide a convenient service to your employees increases loyalty, productivity, and positive office culture without negatively impacting your bottom line. WORK REMOTELY: Offer employment packages that allow your employees the option to work remotely on a regular basis. Studies show that more than 80 percent of employees consider telecommuting a job perk. Studies also show that telecommuting increases employee output and productivity, positively impacting your bottom line. DON’T BE A BAD BOSS: Bad management and poor leadership is one of the most common causes for employee turnover, so it is important to implement transparent policies and expectations, communication standards, and 360-degree review processes. Offering 360-degree transparency with opportunities for bonuses and employee incentives aids in securing motivated new hires and retaining top talent.

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COMING NEXT ISSUE

September/October 2018 • The Most Admired Companies in Arizona • What are the trends shaping the Hispanic market? • Women take control in healthcare industry • The 15 most profitable companies in Arizona • A look at how bioscience is driving Arizona’s economy

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AzSHRM

GAME PLAN

Arizona Society for Human Resource Management has an innovative new way for students to showcase their HR skills By MICHAEL GOSSIE

magine being able to see first-hand how potential employees react to stressful situations, their ability to lead and their decision-making skills before you even have the first interview with them. That’s exactly what the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management (AzSHRM) hopes to do with its new AZ HR Games. “This is unlike anything being done in the HR community, locally or nationally,” says Matt Wilson, a Chartered Financial Consultant with Scottsdale’s Gold & Associates and state council director for AzSHRM. “We’re combining HR education with the burgeoning industry of eSports to create an event that could change the industry.”

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AZ HR GAMES WHAT: College HR students will increase their visibility by showcasing their HR expertise along with their leadership and strategy strengths. WHEN: Late February or early March of 2019 WHERE: Galvanize, 515 E. Grant St., Phoenix INFORMATION: azhrgames.com

When the Society for Human Resource Management’s national organization decided it would no longer host the regional HR games, the Arizona council decided to take what has historically been a case-study competition and expand it into something much bigger, incorporating leadership components and eSports to take the competition to a whole new level. “We are giving college students who are studying human resources a capstone-type event that will give them an advantage when they enter the workforce,” Wilson says. “College HR students will increase their visibility by showcasing their HR expertise along with their leadership and strategic skills at the AZ HR Games.” IMPACT ON BUSINESS But not only will college students benefit from the experience, so will potential employers. “We’re hoping companies who want to hire graduating HR students will come and watch,” says Kevin Black, principal and founder of EDGE Challenges. “This will create an enhanced hiring process. Not only do you get to see the resume and experience, but you actually get to see the students under pressure, so that mitigates bad risk and shows compatibility. The Games will be a great resource for companies looking for new hires.” Historically, the employer relies on superficial information like a resume, how the candidate answers interview questions, how they dress, and how they speak. But none of that gives employers much depth into who the person is or how they will fit into an organization. The AZ HR Games will give employers much greater insight into leadership potential, behaviors and intangible qualities a candidate might possess. In essence, the AZ HR Games will offer companies an NFL combine-type look at potential HR hires. And those intangibles have never been more important for HR professionals than they are in today’s evolving and demanding business and political environment. “Everybody wins,” Wilson says. HOW THE GAMES WORK The AZ HR Games will utilize a military-themed, real-time strategy game, or RTS game. In a real-time strategy game, the participants position and maneuver units and structures under their control to secure areas of the map and/or destroy their opponents’ assets, according to Black, who used his military background to help develop and plan elements of the AZ HR Games. “The students will play as teams and there are four roles that mimic a military staff: the commander, the planner, the intelligence officer and operations,” says Black. “In order to win the game, students will have to show that they can win at the strategic level AB | July - August 2018 49

AzSHRM and think long-range. They will have to show they possess those qualities that are critical in leadership development: thinking, communication, planning and leading teams under pressure.” Black says the AZ HR Games will help students by forcing them to take a step back to look at the whole picture, while also helping companies identify those potential leaders who possess the discipline and skills needed to step back to see the whole picture. Prior to the AZ HR Games, Black says the teams will have three days of practice. “We will start very simple,” Black says. “We start with the Romans, then to the Revolutionary War and then to World War I. What that means is they will deal with one dimension — the ground — with the Romans; two dimensions — Navy and the Army — during the Revolutionary War; and three dimensions — Army, Navy, Air Force — during World War I.” Why is that important? “As each person becomes a commander, you will get to see their preference,” Black says. “Some people will thrive with the complexity of utilizing all three dimensions — the Army, Navy and Air Force. Some people will have a more simple strategy and put all their resources into building a strong Army. It illuminates how people process information and how they think.” LET THE GAMES BEGIN By utilizing the RTS in the AZ HR Games, observers and

GAME PLAYERS: Matt Wilson and Kevin Black are the creators and organizers of the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management’s new AZ HR Games. PHOTO BY MIKE MERTES, AZ BIG MEDIA

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players will get to see the risk tolerance of each person playing. “That’s why we chose this type of game,” Black says. “It’s a great opportunity for companies to see if the player’s values and their natural behaviors are compatible with their companies.” Organizers of the AZ HR Games say the competition will give much greater insight into the qualities that a candidate might have and how they will perform in a real-world setting. One of the missions of the Games is to help match the right people with the right jobs. It’s also to give the students an invaluable lesson. “When you take a look at the the skills that human resource professionals have historically possessed, a lot of those skills have been tactical,” Wilson says. “Their skill sets have included memorizing and returning information, but there’s a big push these days to thinking more strategically and pushing for more competency-based models of education.” Wilson says the AZ HR Games will be an opportunity to give the next generation of HR leaders a different skill set. “Our competition will still have the traditional case-study component, so there will be a human resource element to the Games,” Wilson says. “The students will have to analyze a case study of a company and be able to dissect that and talk about the impact on the organization. But in addition to that, we want them to be able to think strategically and demonstrate leadership components. We think that having this experience will give them a great head start when they go out there to hunt for a job and start their careers.”

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AzSHRM

VETERANS’ DAY

Society for Human Resource Management launches initiative to bring more former military members into the workplace

By JESSE A. MILLARD

illing staff roles with veterans is one of the smartest business decisions a company can make, experts say, because they bring a variety of unique skills that were developed in a high-pressure environment. It can be difficult to hire and retain veterans in the modern workforce, though, due to differences between office and military culture and employers not fully understanding how veterans operate. Something as simple as the military jargon can leave both veterans and potential employers unable to properly communicate. One of the keys to getting more veterans employed is teaching human resources employees how they can effectively reach out to veterans, experts say. The Society for Human Resource Management Foundation launched its Military Veterans Initiative, which committed $1 million nationwide to encourage the hiring and retention of military veterans in the workplace, says Marco Garcia, the workforce readiness director of the Arizona Society of Human Resource Management, or AzSHRM, and the senior manager of employer and community relations at Goodwill of Central Arizona. Both Garcia and the deputy director of workforce readiness at AzSHRM, Jezreel Ramirez, are responsible for supporting the SHRM Foundation’s veteran initiative by making sure AzSHRM is executing the initiative throughout Arizona. Since 2017, when the initiative was carried out, Ramirez says they’ve connected 1,500 Arizona veterans with jobs and served more than 2,000 veterans. Garcia and Ramirez expect to double the number of veterans served this year. The SHRM initiative consists of three pillars that aim to

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educate and inspire HR professionals to engage with veterans, develop a roadmap to have veterans become HR professionals and to measure the effectiveness of this veteran hiring initiative, explains Garcia. “We’re passionate about helping the veteran communities,” says Ramirez, who is also a veteran. “We want to make sure they’re well integrated.” EDUCATE AND INFORM The transition from active service to civilian life can be difficult, says Ramirez, who is the employer and community relations partner of veteran affairs at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona. Sometimes, employers don’t understand veterans and veterans don’t understand employers. During chapter meetings, AzSHRM hosts presentations and workshops to inform both veterans and hiring managers about one another. In March, AzSHRM hosed a military career expo alongside BestCompaniesAZ, which connected more than 150 veterans looking for work with more than 40 companies, Ramirez says. And in May, Ramirez and his team hosted a LinkedIn panel that invited employers from companies like USAA, Amazon, APS and other firms to explain to veterans how important it is to properly use social media and how they can find success on LinkedIn. Ramirez says they found the event to be a success. “It goes back to one of the pillars,” he says, “advancing veterans within the workforce involves partnering with firms in the workforce.” AzSHRM is also collaborating with the Arizona Coalition

for Military Families, which is an advocacy group that works to support veterans and their families. The group has an Arizona Roadmap to Veteran Employment. The statewide public and private plan, “connects veterans and their family members to employment opportunities, training and resources.” Thomas Winkel, director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, says his group has been able to connect with AzSHRM and help educate human resources professionals who have a variety of questions about how to attract and retain veterans. “We’re really excited and encouraged about what’s happening and how that’s developing with some of the individualized training, and a little bit more of the advanced training for some of the human resource managers,” Winkel says. “Human resource managers are key to this entire process,” of hiring and retaining veterans in the workplace. One group that understands veterans more than anybody is veterans. To support the Military Veterans Initiative, AzSHRM is encouraging organizations to create programs that will turn veteran staff members into HR practitioners, Garcia says. One local company has trained a helicopter mechanic to become a recruiter for its organization, Garcia mentions. THE TIME IS NOW Garcia says this initiative launched at a prime time. The labor market has been tight and employers have been struggling to

Marco Garcia

Jezreel Ramirez

Thomas Winkel

find talent to fill positions at their companies, Garcia explains. There just aren’t many job seekers out there in general, but there are still plenty of veterans who are looking for work or freshly joining civilian life as they retire from military service. Some companies haven’t been able to effectively reach out to veterans as employees, and so they now need the education and resources to better manage their veteran outreach. By hiring veterans, Garcia says, companies create a more diverse workforce. Some firms just need the resources to be able to connect with the veteran demographic, he says. But AzSHRM is there to ensure the local SHRM chapters in Yuma, Tucson, Casa Grande, Kingman, Flagstaff, Prescott and Phoenix are training members and working on the three pillars set out by the SHRM Foundation. Ramirez encourages HR professionals and employers to reach out to your local SHRM Chapter and the local employer team at Goodwill to find out more information about companies and veterans. Online, the SHRM Foundation has a resource page that guides HR professionals to a variety of resources about why they should hire veterans and how they can connect with veterans. The page can be found at shrm.org.

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Courage, innovation and excellence in leadership help females overcome challenges to become power players

By MICHAEL GOSSIE

ou wouldn’t know it by looking at Az Business magazine’s list of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2018, but women are underrepresented in business leadership positions. “I waited to run for mayor until I had served eight years on City Council,” says Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans. “I considered running sooner, but I worried that I didn’t have the knowledge and experience. I think women often underestimate ourselves.” Consider this: Women make up only about 5 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs. Previous research has suggested that beyond the “glass ceiling,” which makes moving up in a company more difficult for women, a “glass cliff” exists that represents increased challenges for women who attain leadership roles. But for the Most Influential Women in Arizona, a challenge is just another step along the way. “The smartest decision I made was to ignore pessimists who didn’t think I could succeed as president because I was a woman,” says Audrey Monell, president of Forrest Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. “They repeatedly told me family business succession rate is almost non-existent by the third generation. Instead, I accepted the challenge to make our family business a success.” To put even more pressure on women leaders, new research from the University of Missouri has found that businesses led by female CEOs are more likely to be targeted by activist investors, who buy shares of a company with the intent to direct management decisions. “Our results are quite disconcerting,” said Daniel Turban, a professor of management and the Emma S. Hibbs/ Harry Gunnison Brown Chair of Business and Economics at the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. “Shareholders who buy 5 percent or more of a publicly-traded firm with the intent of changing the direction of that firm must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission as activists, which makes activist investing a very public act. If gender bias is present in such public actions, we have to wonder what other challenges these women are facing that are less public.” For the Most Influential Women in Arizona, overcoming those challenges to

become a leader has been what defines them and helped them ascend to a leadership position. “I believe every leader should have passion for what they are doing,” says Lisa Reilly Payton, senior partner at Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold. “Passionate people take risks, step up to the occasion and help their team grow to the next level. All the knowledge in the world is not what makes someone a good leader. It’s the care for the work you are doing and the people that are involved that makes the difference.” But there is one word that can describe each of the women who made the list of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2018: And that word is “courage.” Without courage, they would not have been able to shatter the glass ceilings and leap from the glass cliffs to safety. “A leader must have the courage to try, the courage to succeed and the courage to fail and start over again,” says Amy Altshuler, partner at Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie. While their resumes, backstories and industries may differ, each woman on the Most Influential Women in Arizona list procured influence in their respective fields through hard-earned track records of professional excellence, leadership, innovation and community impact. The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business are changing the face of Arizona business.

“I believe every leader should have passion for what they are doing.” — Lisa Reilly Payton

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

CATHY CARLAT Mayor | City of Peoria

Background: Since taking office in 2005, Carlat has prioritized fiscal responsibility and government accountability. Elected as Peoria’s first female Mayor in 2015, she remains dedicated to leading Peoria into its finest future. Source of pride: “I’ve been able to create environments that bless and strengthen families: The Veteran’s Memorial, which provides space to honor the service of loved ones with everlasting inscriptions; and the preservation of Sunrise Mountain, a sanctuary that will forever be a place of beauty and refuge for Peoria residents.” Surprising fact: “I’m a history geek and I try to include historic locations in every vacation. Pompeii is one of my favorite sites.”

Amy Altshuler

Jennifer Carusetta

Background: Altshuler is a real estate attorney managing matters related to retail, commercial and industrial. She is also the practice group leader for the Business Transactions Practice Group at the firm.

Background: Carusetta has worked in public policy and legislative affairs in Arizona for nearly two decades. She joined the Health System Alliance of Arizona in 2015 as the organization’s first executive director.

Source of pride: “Successfully closing a half a billion dollar sale of a portfolio of industrial properties during the recession with the help of only my paralegal, while working adverse to a New York law firm with a team of a dozen lawyers and countless administrative staff.”

Best decision: “Once I made the decision to go into health care policy I never looked back.”

Partner Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie

Amy Altshuler

Jennifer Carusetta

Essence of leadership: “Courage. A leader must have the courage to try, the courage to succeed and the courage to fail and start over again.”

Executive director Health System Alliance of Arizona

Lesson learned: “One of the most important lessons I have learned over the years is that as a leader, you set the tone for your organization. So, if you are organized, positive and engaged, the people who follow you will mirror that same spirit in their interactions with you and one another.”

Peggy Chase

President and CEO | Terros Health Background: Chase oversees Terros, an integrated, whole healthcare company that has served Arizonans since 1969. She leads more than 1,000 employees with a compassionate leadership style that seeks to mentor, coach and grow new leaders. Peggy Chase

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Source of pride: “Having the honor of leading Terros Health and growing from a $32 million company to an $80 million company with an amazing team of employees; having the privilege to impact over 50,000 direct lives annually; and having people in the community share how Terros Health saved their life.” Surprising fact: “In 1989, I was severely bitten by a rattlesnake and fought for my life, then fought to save my right leg.”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

Jill Chasson

Victoria Coley

Amy Cotton Peterson

Background: Chasson represents businesses in employment law matters. She provides timely, practical advice regarding personnel matters and compliance with workplace laws. When disputes arise, Chasson represents employers before administrative agencies and in litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Background: Coley is a civic advisor and volunteer through Valley Leadership Class 37, as member of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Southwest Human Development’s Gatsby Sports and other charitable organizations.

Background: Peterson is Quarles & Brady’s Health & Life Sciences Practice Group National Chair, a member of American Health Lawyers Association, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Healthcare Innovation Council and a Board member for Chrysalis, a nonprofit entity with a mission to prevent domestic abuse.

Market vice president, desert states Humana

Partner Coppersmith Brockelman

Source of pride: “Winning my first jury trial remains meaningful, 16 years later. In addition to securing a verdict for the client, the trial was important for my professional development. It forced me to be confident in thinking on my feet and provided valuable insight into jurors’ thought processes.”

National chair, Health Law Practice Group Quarles & Brady

Best decision: “Seeking strong mentors and learning to trust their advice has been key to my professional career. I’ve always sought out mentors with strengths different than my own who can brainstorm on difficult decisions. Those mentors pushed me in directions that I might not have gone on my own.”

Surprising fact: “I love Latin music and it’s Surprising fact: “I was a member of the 1992 probably 80 percent of my playlist.” U.S. Olympic swimming team that competed in Barcelona, Spain.”

LISA DAHL

Executive chef and owner | Dahl Restaurant Group

Background: Dahl is one of the country’s leading female chefs and restaurateurs who has pioneered the culinary scene in Sedona, for the past 20 years. Best decision: “I think the smartest professional decision I have made was buying out my partner, who emotionally, mentally and physically held me back from being autonomous. It started off with small things like not being able to feature a special dish on the menu to restraining the expansion of my business. That’s why the symbol of the butterfly at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill is so important to me. It represents transition, freedom and the ability to not have to ask permission.”

Jill Chasson

Victoria Coley

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Lisa Dahl

Source of pride: “Closing a transaction. There is so much work by so many people that goes into getting a large transaction to closing. Getting the deal closed to allow the companies to move forward and improve healthcare is very exciting.” Surprising fact: “I am currently training for my first full-distance Ironman triathlon.”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

LISA DAVEY

Helen R. Davis

Background: Davey is vice president and northeast Arizona retail division manager for Washington Federal and also oversees the bank’s “Save at School” and “Washington Federal Financial Scholars” programs statewide.

Background: Davis has been practicing family law for more than 20 years and focuses on complex divorce and custody litigation. Davis is the President and Chair of the Firm and also is an Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

Lesson learned: “I love onions, every single layer. But when it comes to people, I had to learn the hard way to peel back their onion-like layers before making any business decision about them. Some of my first hires, as a result, didn’t work. Now I’ve completely re-imagined how I evaluate talent.”

Source of pride: “I take the most pride from the fact that I started out as a secretary in the mid-1980s and am now the managing partner. I am constantly humbled by the way in which those lawyers I worked for and with accepted my changing role and encouraged my growth.”

Vice president Washington Federal

President and chair of the board The Cavanagh Law Firm

Surprising fact: “Don’t let the blond hair and business suit fool you. I love tent camping, riding quads and even shooting guns.”

JANE DOBBS

President and CEO Canyon State Credit Union Background: Dobbs has more than 30 years of financial services leadership. Best decision: “In order to broaden my bandwidth of skills and knowledge, I made a conscious decision mid-career to move laterally within a large organization. Doing so, gave me the additional experience and exposure I needed to move into a senior level position.” Essence of leadership: “Humility. I believe having humility allows a leader to say ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘I made a mistake’ or ‘I don’t know’ and retain the respect of the team and peers.” Surprising fact: “I am a master gardener and love to grow vegetables in the desert.”

Jane Dobbs

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Helen R. Davis

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

Coral Evans Mayor City of Flagstaff

Kristina Draper Chief technology officer Wells Fargo

Background: Draper was named by the National Diversity Council to its 2018 Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology list. Best decision: “The smartest decision I have made is to hire top talent. I am not threatened by people that are smarter than me. Quite the opposite actually, I am inspired by them, learn from them. I value dialogue, healthy debate, collaboration and credible challenge. I wholeheartedly believe that surrounding myself with people who are smarter than me will help me to reach my full potential and also raises the overall potential of the team.”

Background: Evans is a social nonprofit and public policy entrepreneur who believes in the concept of thrive-ability as it relates to individuals, neighborhoods and communities. She served two terms (eight years) as a council member prior to her election as mayor of the City of Flagstaff in 2016. Essence of leadership: “Curiosity. Always be curious about people and places and their stories. I have made the best connections (both professionally and personally) by taking time to stop, ask questions, learn and listen and gain understanding of a person or a place.” Surprising fact: “In addition to being mayor, I also DJ at a local bar on the weekend.”

Stephanie Fierro Partner Jaburg Wilk

Background: Fierro is a business law and estate planning partner. She’s an active community member and serves on the board of Dress for Success Phoenix. Source of pride: “I’m very proud to be a partner in a mid-sized law firm in one of the largest cities in the country. It was hard work getting here. While I was putting myself through school, I kept my professional goals in mind. It’s thrilling to have achieved those goals.” Surprising fact: “I sat for the Arizona Bar Exam, eight months pregnant. I passed, which I believe proves that ‘two heads are better than one.’”

LISA DURAN

Kristina Draper

Member | Dickinson Wright Background: Duran practices exclusively in the area of immigration law, primarily assisting corporations, schools, foreign investors and entrepreneurs in connection with their business immigration needs. Source of pride: “I am most proud of the fact that through my law practice, I change lives for the better every day.”

Coral Evans

Essence of leadership: “Every leader should possess empathy. It is only through empathy that a leader can understand the people she is leading.”

Stephanie Fierro

Surprising fact: “I lived in Latin America for almost a decade and taught English as a second language at universities there prior to deciding to become a lawyer.”

Lisa Duran

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

Wendy Forsythe

Kris Gaw

Marianne Guenther

Background: Forsythe has leveraged her passion for real estate, operations and branding to help build successful real estate networks in Canada and the United States.

Background: Gaw is spearheading transformational change at MIHS, which historically has operated like a government run hospital. Gaw was selected by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2016 and 2017 as one of 130 Women Hospital and Health Care Leaders to Know because of her 30-year history of strong leadership in healthcare.

Background: Guenther leads two sister companies under Bob Parsons’ YAM Worldwide. She leads both the full-service marketing agency and production studio, applying strong leadership and a relentless passion for her staff and businesses.

COO HomeSmart International

Best decision: “In 2007, I moved from Canada to the U.S. for a career opportunity. It was challenging and scary to leave home, but the results have been achieving professional levels way beyond my dreams as a kid from a small town in Canada.” Surprising fact: “In 2017, I became an Ironman by completing a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run … I learned a lot about myself during the training and race.”

COO Maricopa Integrated Health System

Community impact: Gaw is a member of the executive leadership team of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign to end heart disease and stroke among women. She also serves on the board of Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care, Maricopa County’s public behavioral health care system for persons challenged by serious mental illness.

Wendy Forsythe

CEO BIG YAM and SNEAKY BIG Studios

Best decision: “Taking a leap from the medical field where I practiced as a pulmonary physician assistant into marketing. This change took my investigative and customer/ patient skills into the business world, which helped me solve problems there and took me out of my comfort zone. As a result, I expanded my skills.” Surprising fact: “My husband is trying to make me into a coffee addict.”

Marianne Guenther

Kris Gaw

NICOLE M. GOODWIN Managing shareholder | Greenberg Traurig

Background: Goodwin is a business litigator and managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Phoenix office. She is also an adjunct professor at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law. Source of pride: “Being asked to lead the Phoenix office of Greenberg Traurig was an immense honor and responsibility. I’m proud to stand alongside my fellow shareholders and work with them to position our office for the next 20 years of achievement and growth.” Nicole M. Goodwin

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Lesson learned: “I once assumed our family’s two pet bunnies were both male. A couple of months later, I learned never to assume such things.”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

MISTY HYMAN

Olympic gold medalist and co-creator | FitPHX Background: Recognized as a pioneer in swimming, the Stanford graduate earned a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics, was a 28-time All-American, won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles and was named 1998 NCAA Swimmer of the Year. As an inspirational speaker, she helps athletes, students and corporations alike set and reach seemingly unattainable goals. Best decision: “I finished grad school just as the economy was crashing. My original plans were no longer feasible. I stayed open and followed my passions. The opportunities that presented themselves led me to a place I didn’t expect and turned out to be better.”

Cammie Hancock Beckert Co-owner and managing director Camelot Homes

Background: Hancock Beckert is the third generation of the Hancock family to assume management of the company. Her background is in sales management and marketing. Cammie Hancock Beckert

Best decision: “Prior to college graduation, I made a decision to seek employment outside of the family business, Camelot Homes. I started with an internship at a news station, which turned into my first job. A decade later, my dad asked me to join Camelot. The experiences outside the family business gave me confidence, perspective and appreciation for where I’m at today.” Surprising fact: “My claim to fame is I did an Ironman.”

Mary Holman Mary Holman

Executive vice president and private banking director National Bank of Arizona Background: Holman is responsible for strategically growing the Private Bank through enhanced services and credit solutions for high net-worth clients. She has more than 30 years of banking experience and is an active member of the bank’s executive committee. Best decision: “Smartest professional decision I made was to move to San Diego with a job offer from Bank of America. I was a very green banker and wanted to move into commercial lending … The decision to work in commercial lending opened a variety of doors for me and has proven to be a very successful career move.”

Pamela Higdon Senior vice president Northern Trust

Background: Higdon is senior vice president, director of the Arizona operating center and global head of alternatives operations for Northern Trust. Pamela Higdon

Misty Hyman 72

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Best decision: “I pushed myself to take on roles and projects that others were unwilling to do. While the work was challenging, I developed additional skills very quickly in addition to showing others that I was able to deliver. The more I delivered, the more my career evolved.” Essence of leadership: “I believe every leader should be approachable. Often times, we can shy away from the more challenging dialogs and only focus on the positives. Leaders should celebrate the positives and learn from the challenges.”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

Susanne E. Ingold

Michelle Just

Pam Kehaly

Background: Ingold joined Burch & Cracchiolo in 1998 and practices in employment law and litigation and regularly advises clients regarding issues of workplace discrimination, employer policies, employee discipline and termination.

Background: With 18 years of experience, Just is a leading voice and nationally recognized expert in the field of aging services.

Background: Kehaly is responsible for the strategic direction and financial health of the 1,500 employee company. With more than 30 years in the health insurance industry, she is committed to supporting BCBSAZ’s mission by helping residents across the state achieve optimal health.

Shareholder Burch & Cracchiolo

Source of pride: “Putting in the hard work and taking the risks necessary to become a talented and trusted litigator and trial attorney.” Surprising fact: “I deferred law school for a year to be a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines. It was my version of a ‘gap year.’ I had a blast flying all over the country and working with terrific people at a great company. It was such a fun and exciting time.”

President and CEO Beatitudes Campus

CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Best decision: “Choosing to quit my job at a for-profit nursing home in Denver and moving to Phoenix. I had been soured by that experience and considered leaving the field. The move led me to Beatitudes Campus, set my career in aging services on a trajectory, and I fell in love with the nonprofit culture.” Surprising fact: “I grew up in a small east Texas town of approximately 800 people and I only had 35 people in my graduating class.”

Best decision: “Leaving my role as director of operations for the sales department. There was no immediate need for me to leave — I was doing well and learning new things. But I learned pushing yourself purposefully out of your comfort zone is good personally, and professionally it almost always opens doors to new opportunities you did not even know existed.”

Pam Kehaly

Susie Ingold

Michelle Just

NORMA IZZO

Member | Jennings, Strouss & Salmon Background: Izzo is vice-chair of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Department. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Maricopa County Bar Association.

Norma Izzo

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Essence of leadership: “Leaders must be positive. As a family law attorney, I often see people at their worst. My goal is to help them devote energy to the positives so they can move forward rather than focus on the negatives, which do not produce results. I also utilize positive behaviors to motivate my team, and mentor them on channeling positivity in their practices as well. We get better results when we focus on the positives to resolve an issue.”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

AUDREY MONELL

President | Forrest Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Background: Monell breaks boundaries in her male-dominated industry, where she has grown the company and implemented new efficiencies, while enforcing strict ethical standards recognized by the Better Business Bureau. Essence of leadership: “Every good leader needs humility. Knowing when I am wrong, admitting my mistakes and learning from them is the key to growth. I would not be successful if not for everyone around me, so I make sure they know how much I’ve learned from them and appreciate them.” Surprising fact: “When I was 16, I became the women’s world champion of cowboy mounted shooting.”

Drena Kusari

General manager, Southwest and Hawaii Lyft Background: As the first female general manager for Lyft, Kusari oversees growth strategy, marketing and operations. Under her leadership, Lyft had an economic impact of $59 million in Phoenix in 2017. Best decision: “Receiving my MBA. My MBA from Harvard has opened countless doors to unique opportunities, provided me with a wide and diverse support network, taught me a wide set of skills, exposed me to unmatched leadership experiences and often times provided credibility in interviewing for leadership roles.” Surprising fact: “I grew up playing tennis and my dream growing up was to become a professional tennis player. Tennis still continues to be one of my greatest passions.”

Drena Kusari

Karen C. McConnell Partner Ballard Spahr

Audrey Monell

Background: McConnell leads Ballard Spahr’s Private Equity Group and is a member of its Mergers and Acquisitions Group. She has closed more than 400 transactions for buyers and sellers in her career. Source of pride: “The relationships I have developed with my clients. Many have expanded decades, and I am lucky to work for such wonderful people.” Surprising fact: “I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in the Arizona foster care system, and for the past three plus years I have been working with a very special girl, trying to get her into a stable placement with a view to adoption.”

Nina Mullins

Senior director of land and Papago Park Center Salt River Project

Karen C. McConnell

Nina Mullins

Background: Mullins is a senior leader at SRP, the third-largest public, nonprofit power utility in the country. SRP’s Land Department provides real estate services to ensure the delivery of reliable, low-cost water and power. Best decision: “After earning my bachelor’s degree, I wanted a new career that would push me to the limits. I applied for a relay technician apprenticeship, which is a male-dominated arena that took me out of my comfort zone. I became the first female relay tech in SRP history and even graduated as ‘Apprentice of the Year.’”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

JENNY POON Founder and CEO | CO+HOOTS

Background: Poon is an entrepreneur, founder of CO+HOOTS and chair of CO+HOOTS Foundation. An award-winning designer and strategist, she works tirelessly to develop local equity and innovation through co-working. Lesson learned: “One of the biggest mistakes I made for far too long was not valuing my worth. I spent years not realizing the value I bring to the table. Once I began speaking up and demanding fair treatment, I realized life progressively became easier.” Surprising fact: “I am an extreme introvert — and I can pair any food with ranch.”

Lisa Ordóñez

Vice dean Eller College of Management Background: Ordóñez has been a professor in the Eller College at The University of Arizona since 1994 and has served as vice dean since 2015.

Lisa Ordóñez

Michelle Olson

Sources of pride: “I am most proud of earning my doctorate, especially given that my parents didn’t complete high school. It has allowed me to pursue an incredibly interesting and rewarding career in academia.” Lesson learned: “I used to listen to the voice inside my head that says that I can’t do something. I have learned to replace those negative words with positive and encouraging words. Still, occasionally a few negative words sneak through … but now I ignore them.”

Michelle Olson Head of Scottsdale office Fingerpaint

Background: Olson is a career public relations practitioner, having spent most of her 32 years in the industry in a consulting environment, ranging from midsize firms to large, integrated advertising agencies in the Midwest and Phoenix. Lesson learned: “Not taking enough risks early enough in my entrepreneurial journey and waiting for confirmation from others that I was on the right path. It taught me to trust my gut. And, that when it appears there’s no one to follow, it might just be because you’re in the lead.” Surprising fact: “I love anything on wheels and can talk endlessly about bikes.”

Jessica L. Post Director Fennemore Craig

Background: Post practices in the areas of labor and employment, and complex business litigation. Source of pride: “I was recently named the Labor and Employment Practice Group chair. It was a great honor to be recognized in this manner by the lawyers who I see and work with every day.” Jessica L. Post

Jenny Poon 80

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Surprising fact: “I have three boys (seven and under) and each night I say a little prayer that at least one of them will be passionate about soccer. I played soccer in college and hope that at least one of my boys will share my love for soccer.”

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

LIZ SHABAKER CEO | Versant Capital Management

Background: Shabaker manages Versant’s strategic direction, delivering the firm’s mission of helping individuals and families reach their financial goals, as well as cultivating and building Versant’s talent for continued growth into the future. Best decision: “I hired an executive coach, who taught me to play to my strengths and develop emotional intelligence. The experience heightened my self-awareness, provided me with a flexible mindset, improved my leadership abilities, and helped me realize a higher level of empathy.” Surprising fact: “My first name was Mollie. At age 8, I decided Elizabeth better suited me, and later had it legally changed.”

Kim Post

CEO of the hospital division and chief clinical officer HonorHealth Background: With both clinical and business expertise, Post fosters a sense of collaboration among the healthcare team in an environment focused on empathy, clinical quality, safety and an exceptional patient experience. Surprising fact: “I have worked in the same organization for almost 28 years. I started as a bedside nurse on night shift and have worked my way up to my dream job as senior vice president, CEO of the hospital division and chief clinical officer of HonorHealth. I remember the days as a bedside nurse and try to make sure those great memories influence my decision-making in my current role.”

Kim Post

Lisa Reilly Payton

Senior partner Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold

Background: Reilly Payton focuses her practice on tax controversy, tax planning and estate planning. She also assists business owners in business formation, succession planning and tax planning. She earned both her B.A. and J.D. degrees from ASU. Source of pride: “I am most proud of becoming an equity partner at my firm at the age of 36. As a female lawyer, I am very proud of this accomplishment. I recently read a statistic that only 18 percent of law firm equity partners are women. I hope to show other young, female attorneys that they can be leaders as well.”

Lisa Reilly Payton

Kim Shepard

Market president Cigna

Background: Shepard is Cigna’s market president for Arizona. She has been in the industry for 35 years and with Cigna for 15 of those years. Best decision: “I applied for a leadership position I thought I was qualified for and didn’t get it. Rather than be discouraged, I sought feedback as to what skills or knowledge I was lacking and found an opportunity to close that gap which allowed me to be successful the next time the role opened.” Surprising fact: “In my down time I am happy to settle down with a good book or logic puzzle.” Liz Shabaker 82

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Kim Shepard

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN ARIZONA BUSINESS

Holly Shill, MD

Director Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute

Robyn Young

Background: After a career managing multimillion-dollar architectural restoration projects, her infertility experience, and a profound desire to help women conceive, Thomas founded the world’s first commercial donor egg bank and started a whole new industry, without any business models to emulate.

Background: Young has 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic positioning for successful companies in banking and real estate. Prior to joining Western Alliance in 2014, Young was executive vice president of marketing and communications for RED Development.

Founder and CEO The World Egg Bank

Background: Dr. Shill’s expertise includes the diagnosis and treatment of involuntary movements, essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, and ataxia. Her research studies include risk factors for the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease and innovative treatments for Parkinson’s. She also studies pathogenesis of essential tremor. Source of pride: “It is our hope that anyone who comes to the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center will not only receive the same great level of care that Muhammad Ali received, but that each person will have the opportunity to qualify for and participate in a revolutionary trial or study.”

Diana Thomas

Executive vice president and chief marketing officer Western Alliance Bancorporation

Source of pride: “I am proud of being able to educate infertile women to expand their reproductive options and challenging traditional beliefs and misconceptions around family building through egg donation. Also educating fertile women to embrace social egg freezing as a way to secure their future fertility.”

Best decision: “Taking risks and making moves at the right moments in my career have allowed me to challenge myself and grow as a professional. I have made deliberate decisions with uncertain outcomes — moving from real estate to banking, for instance — that have propelled me to the next level.”

Holly Shill, MD

Robyn Young Diana Thomas

CHRISTINE WILKINSON Senior vice president and secretary | Arizona State University

Background: Wilkinson is the senior vice president and secretary of ASU, president and CEO of the ASU Alumni Association and managing director for the Trustees of ASU. She has served as vice president of student affairs and ASU’s interim athletic director on three occasions. She was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame as the first Living Legacy in education.

Christine Wilkinson

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Source of pride: “Helping the university to advance its mission of access and excellence and in doing so preparing the next generation of leaders.” Essence of leadership: “Integrity. The synonyms describe the qualities of valued leaders – honest, ethical, fair, trustworthy and sincere.”

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Score a home run for

WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESSES F

Sarah O’Keefe Small business

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ifty years ago, women were fighting for equal employment opportunities. Today, women-owned businesses are cementing a powerful role in the fabric of the U.S. economy. Women-owned businesses now account for 39 percent of all U.S. firms, and if you add the number that are equally owned by men and women, that percentage rises to 47 percent. Unfortunately, women-owned businesses only employ 8 percent of the total private sector workforce and contribute 4.2 percent of total business revenues. Clearly, work is still needed. If you’re like most women-owned small businesses (WOSB), you’re no stranger to the disparity that exists between women and their male counterparts. To this day, women are underrepresented in many industries. The federal government provides resources to equalize the playing field and reduce hurdles that hinder the entrepreneurial efforts of many WOSBs.

CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD According to section 8(a) of the Small Business Administration Act, the Federal government is required to award five percent of its prime and subcontract dollars to women-owned small businesses. These contracts are called “set-asides” and are designated solely for small businesses. A subset of these set-asides is designated for WOSB and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSB). However, you must meet specific criteria to qualify. 3 KEYS TO DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY There are three main factors that contribute to eligibility. Ask yourself the following questions. 1. Is my business small? Determining whether or not your business meets the U.S Small Business Association’s size standards is the first basic requirement. While size standards are generally dictated by the number of employees along with annual receipts (your gross income plus the cost of goods sold), it’s important to note that size standards vary by industry. There is a wealth of information about small business size regulations, and it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with the nuanced terminology to make an accurate determination of your business size. 2. Is my business women-owned? You’ll need to ensure that your business framework is compliant with the federal government’s definition of women-owned. Specifically, a WOSB qualifies as a small business (as determined by SBA standards): • If it is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. • If it is managed by women who oversee day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions about the business model and its practices. • If it has a NAICS code that qualifies for the women’s contracting program. Additionally, a woman must occupy the most senior leadership role, such as CEO, president, or managing partner and be working on site during business hours. The physical location of your WOSB must be in the United States, and you’ll need to provide supporting documentation to prove that your WOSB meets the established guidelines. 3. Is my business economically disadvantaged? EDWOSB requirements include all of the WOSB parameters with additional criteria centered on personal net worth, adjusted gross income, and fair market value of all assets. To be deemed economically disadvantaged, a woman must furnish documentation showing that diminished capital and credit

opportunities impair her ability to compete. To qualify for benefits allocated to EDWOSB, you must: • Meet all the requirements of the women’s contracting program. • Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with a personal net worth less than $750,000, • Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each whose average adjusted gross income for three years is $350,000 or less. • Have $6 million or less in business assets. Consider seeking legal advice regarding what information should be disclosed when applying for the programs and be sure to inform your attorney if you believe you have other assets that might affect your net worth because the application process can be lengthy. SCORE A HOME RUN FOR YOUR WOSB Despite the considerable business advantages that government set-asides provide, many of the programs are grossly underutilized. Securing the necessary documentation and navigating the stringent processes may seem daunting, but those who qualify and capitalize on the benefits, have an opportunity for increased growth and success. Even if you don’t qualify as an EDWOSB, you may still qualify as a WOSB. It’s worth looking into it. If the government is working to level the playing field, maybe it’s time for every WOSB to score a home run. Sarah O’Keefe is an associate at Burch & Cracchiolo, where she practices in all aspects of employment law and litigation and advises clients regarding issues of workplace discrimination, employer policies, employee discipline and termination, and compliance with state and federal labor and employment laws.

Women-owned businesses now account for 39 percent of all U.S. firms

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TECHNOLOGY

A smart start for

Arizona girls in STEM D

espite extensive data that shows women are graduating college at a higher rate than men, there’s still an underwhelming representation of women in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields in the United States. According to the U.S. Economics & Statistics Administration, women hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs, and this has held true for the past decade. One of the primary causes for the lack of women in STEM fields is implicit bias that can be traced back to girls as young as age 6. A Princeton University study revealed children are quick to label their intellectual abilities, even in early childhood. The study results also indicated children associate qualities like brilliance and natural intelligence with men. This can cause girls to eliminate the possibility of a STEM career early on, even though there’s no hard evidence to suggest girls are worse at math or science than boys. Because of this pervasive bias that can deter women from pursuing STEM careers, we need to be diligent about encouraging young girls to consider STEM as a viable and attractive career option. Thankfully, a plethora of incredible organizations in Arizona have emerged to combat this issue. Girls in Tech, for example, is an international organization focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of women and girls in technology. A Phoenix chapter was relaunched in 2016 and is led by a group of remarkable women who are leaders in the local technology and

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business landscape. This organization’s members hold monthly coding boot camps for girls ages 10 to 16 in partnership with Microsoft, visit schools to speak to girls about careers in tech and provide opportunities for mentorship. Paradise Valley Women in Technology is also leading efforts to encourage girls to consider careers in technology. This organization possesses a computer station to work with children on computational thinking and helps young girls understand what it means to be a woman in technology. The Chief Science Officers program, a collaborative effort by the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, is fast becoming one of the top programs in the nation dedicated to creating a pipeline of diverse STEM leaders. The program currently consists of more than 300 students—more than half of whom are girls. The program has been so successful that it has expanded to three additional states and two countries. The Foundation also collaborates with numerous partners on a statewide Arizona SciTech Festival that can also introduce girls to STEM. Through a series of more than 2,000 expos, workshops, conversations, exhibitions and tours held in diverse neighborhoods throughout the state, the Arizona SciTech Festival excites and informs Arizonans from ages 3 to 103. The 2018 SciTech Festival saw more than 500,000 attendees throughout 80 Arizona

Steven G. Zylstra Technology cities and towns. It’s also equally important to recognize the incredible female leaders who make up the Phoenix technology community. They include Calline Sanchez, vice president, IBM Enterprise Storage, and Leah Sweet, vice president of global design delivery and operations at PayPal. Both women also are influential members of the Council’s board of directors. Other women leading the technology sector in Phoenix include Rebecca Clyde, co-founder of Botco.ai, Ideas Collide and the Phoenix chapter of Girls in Tech; Heidi Jannenga, co-founder and president of WebPT; Brenda Schmidt, founder and CEO of Solera Health; and Alexi Venneri, cofounder and CEO of Digital Air Strike. Even though the STEM environment for women has improved in the last few years, it’s critical that we continue striving to foster equality and representation for women in STEM. By encouraging girls to consider STEM careers at an early age, we can instill a passion that will follow them through adulthood. Steven G. Zylstra is president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.

2018

WESTMARC

RECIPE FOR

SUCCESS

The West Valley is filled with sugar, spice and everything to entice economic growth and opportunity

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By ERIN THORBURN

arrin Taylor Robson may have summed it up best at the annual WESTMARC Economic Development Summit. The founder and president of Arizona Strategies says there are a few essential ingredients needed to create the perfect recipe for great communities: transportation and infrastructure, education, healthcare, quality of life and a robust, competitive workforce. Guess what community has all these ingredients — and all the proverbial perfect seasoning? It’s the West Valley, where the average household income ranges between $64,634 to $100,000, outdoor recreational hot spots span 3,000 square miles, more than 20 schools (and growing) offer programming to local students and businesses, a skilled labor pool of roughly 1 million residents reside along the I-10 and Loop 303 and a bustling, expanding entertainment mecca boosts an already burgeoning economy. NOT TOO MANY COOKS IN THIS KITCHEN Many other prominent voices of the West Valley echo and elaborate upon Robson’s community recipe analogy. And it’s more than fitting for the fastest-growing region in Maricopa County. “Over the next 25 years, 49.5 percent of the growth in Maricopa County will occur in the West Valley,” says Sintra Hoffman, WESTMARC president and CEO. That’s proof alone, that whatever is baking in the West Valley not only has the right ingredients, but also the opportune alignment in leadership in the kitchen, which the West Valley most certainly possesses. The collaborative efforts of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and sister West Valley cities have made the entire region a competitive force in attracting skilled labor, new business and unique entertainment opportunities. “Places like Mesa and Phoenix aren’t competition for the West Valley.” Robson says, “Austin, Seattle, and Denver are who we compete with now.”

BY THE

NUMBERS 1.6 MILLION

Number of people who live in the West Valley.

40%

Percentage of Phoenix residents who live west of Interstate 17. Phoenix, the state’s largest city, has a population of 1.5 million.

$62,775

Average annual income for households in the West Valley.

John Halikowski

62%

Percentage of the West Valley population that is workforce age.

69%

Percentage of the West Valley workforce that commutes outside of the region to work in other parts of Maricopa County.

28% Sintra Hoffman

Percentage of the manufacturing workers in Maricopa County who live in the West Valley, yet only 16% of the jobs are located in the West Valley.

37%

Percentage of the healthcare workers in Maricopa County live in the West Valley, yet only 21% of the jobs are located in the West Valley.

34% Bobbi Magdaleno

Katherine Pappas

Karrin Taylor Robson

Dale Larsen

Percentage of the professional finance and insurance workers in Maricopa County live in the West Valley, yet only 12% of the jobs are located in the West Valley. AB | July - August 2018 91

WESTMARC And once again, the eyes of the world will be on the West Valley when it hosts its third Super Bowl in 2023. To show the value of bringing back the big game, Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 generated $719 million in total economic impact for Greater Phoenix, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport experienced record days. That’s a lot of potential new residents and new business owners getting to see the value of the West Valley up close and personal. ADDING SPICE TO AN ALREADY FLAVORFUL WORKFORCE Did you know that 28 percent of manufacturing laborers, 34 percent of professional finance and insurance workers and 37 percent of healthcare employees reside in the West Valley? While the 69 percent of the West Valley’s workforce currently commutes to other parts of Maricopa County, this is about to change. The addition of Chewey.com adds 700 new positions in Goodyear and BALL Corporation another 130. Avondale is adding King Koil and 50 new jobs and IAC another 30. And Buckeye attracted a 500-acre, one-million-square-foot facility that will represent $1 billion in capital investment from the Nikola Motor Company. This facility is slated to bring 2,000 jobs to Buckeye and will manufacture Nikola Motor Company’s hydrogen-electric semitrucks. While nationally recognized organizations are already calling the West Valley home, WESTMARC and partners have recently implemented the West Valley Pipeline initiative. This five-year plan represents 15 West Valley communities and their 1.6 million residents in an effort to reinforce a prospering talent pool of highdemand and higher-wage occupations. “The West Valley Pipeline is a unique strategy for the West Valley,” says WESTMARC Chair Bobbi Magdaleno, Arizona State University’s executive director of government and community engagement. “It mirrors WESTMARC’s membership of business, education and government all working together toward a common goal.” And how exactly will this pipeline flow? Largely through the continuation of connections and collaboration of local businesses and educators. “The West Valley Pipeline highlights the region as a strong competitor for a powerful skilled workforce by articulating its strengths, filling our gaps and sending consistent messaging,” Magdaleno says. “ASU and all post-secondary education are vital to the pipeline.” EQUAL PARTS EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND PARTNERSHIPS Similar to the success of a culinary endeavor, the prosperity of any community-driven goal depends upon the appropriate measure of influence and collaborative mix. “Our No. 1 job at ASU is to produce individuals capable of learning anything,” Magdaleno says. “With a large percentage of future jobs yet to be invented, we teach students at ASU how to learn in order for them to be able to adapt and grow with changing work dynamics and technologies.” “ASU, West-MEC and the West Valley community colleges are united in bridging the education gap,” says Dale Larsen, ASU director of community relations and professor of practice at the College Of Public Service & Community Solutions. “Not all students jump into a four-year college, and 50 percent of our students are first-generation graduates.” 92

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TOP WEST VALLEY

EMPLOYERS Banner Health 6,683 Luke Air Force Base 5,072 Amazon.com 4,538 American Express 3,240 APS/Palo Verde 2,624 PetSmart Inc. 2,061 Abrazo Healthcare 1,726 Swift Transportation Co. 1,324 FedEx 1,308 Shamrock Foods Company 1,204 JBS Packerland Tolleson 1,200 Arizona State University 1,187 HonorHealth 1,145 JPMorgan Chase Bank 945 Humana Inc. 940 Grand Canyon University 903 Source: MAG Employer Database 2015

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WESTMARC Part of effectively closing the gap for which Larsen refers is the “two-plus-two” initiative in which West-MEC and West Valley community colleges work to put students through their schools for the first two years of college and then help them successfully transition to ASU for the remainder of their four-year education. On the businesses side of cultivating education-to-workforce pathways, the West Valley Pipeline works with students, members of the military and other individuals seeking new employment or a change or transition in career. “We’ve created a local solution to help job-seekers make better and informed decisions to promote sustainability and growth in the West Valley’s skilled workforce,” explains Katherine Pappas. “This includes military personnel with an average of 22 days of transition from military to civilian jobs.” “Skilled, educated professionals who are separating from Luke Air Force Base total 400-450 people annually,” Magdaleno says. “This offers the West Valley a unique opportunity to capture these people and make them permanent residents.” QUALITY OF LIFE IS ICING ON THE CAKE Entertainment, dining, recreation and infrastructure offer an enticing and diverse quality of life for West Valley residents, making it no surprise that it’s one of the fastest-growing communities in the entire region.

An example is Buckeye, which saw the fifth-fastest growth rate in the U.S. last year among cities with more than 50,000 residents, according to the Census Bureau. Buckeye added more than 3,800 people, a 5.9 percent growth rate that brought its estimated total population to 68,453. “Like all of what we do in the West Valley, creating an attractive, sustainable quality of life is a collaborative effort,” Hoffman says. “From the Cardinals being a huge draw to the changes taking place along the Loop 101, the opening of Top Golf in the fall, Desert Diamond Casino coming in off Northern Parkway and the Loop 101, the West Valley is in a truly transformative state.” “With I-10 and I-17 designated as Key Commerce Corridors for Arizona, Loop 303 and other freeway improvements in the West Valley allow for this uniquely positioned community to prosper economically,” adds John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. “The proposed I-11 and State Route 30 corridors will continue to foster mobility and economic development for a growing region.” And as transportation and infrastructure solidify, the West Valley’s recipe for success is expected to include more and more retailers, restaurants and entertainment experiences. If you’re looking for a seat at the table, come and get it — WESTMARC and the West Valley are ready to serve.

University of Phoenix Stadium

About WESTMARC MISSION: WESTMARC, a public/private partnership of 15 communities, the business and education sectors, provides opportunities for members to interact and communicate on issues vital to moving the West Valley forward. WESTMARC is committed to its members’ success and its mission of enhancing economic development and quality of life in the West Valley. INFORMATION: westmarc.org

Verrado Main Street

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WESTMARC

MONEY TALKS There is no mystery when it comes to the power of consumer spending in the West Valley By ERIN THORBURN

he average sale price of a singlefamily home in the West Valley is $265,000 and the average household income is about $65,000 per year. What does this have to do with targeting unique dining and shopping experiences? Two words: consumer power. Last year’s comprehensive and prolific workforce development study by WESTMARC illuminated clear and concise clues as to the consumer power and behaviors of West Valley residents. COLONEL MUSTARD IN SCOTTSDALE SPENDING HIGH DOLLARS To the tune of the classic game of Clue, attempting to prove quality of life metrics in the West Valley was somewhat of a mystery. Of course, it had long been suspected that West Valley residents historically commuted to Scottsdale and other historically affluent areas of the Valley for fine dining due to a lack of

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local, unique, independent and grassroots establishments in the West Valley. Thanks to the extensive workforce development research of the West Valley, a theory has now become fact. With vetted data solidifying that West Valley residents indeed have a steadily increasing household income, valuable information has been unearthed. The time and desire for high-end, unique dining experiences in the West Valley is now. “The perception in the past has been that there is a lack of large buying power in the West Valley,” says WESTMARC member Cheryl Covert, who is an employment and business development specialist for the City of Avondale. “The analytics we have been able to prove thus far through our workforce process has helped us to demonstrate that the West Valley has a day- and night-time population to support high-end restaurants.” With evidence of West Valley consumer

power in hand, Covert has been instrumental in pitching a restaurant strategy to WESTMARC’s Quality of Life Committee. “Part of the site selection process is thinking about where employees will go to be entertained and where they will go for dining options,” Covert says. “We are at a place where the quality of life demands more high-level needs, including unique dining experiences.” MISS SCARLETT DINING AT LOLA IN THE WEST VALLEY The intention of WESTMARC’s Quality of Life Committee will begin by targeting existing independent and unique restaurant operators like those who championed popular Valley hot spots like Postino and Joyride Tacos. Eventually, the committee intends to cast an even wider net by approaching out-of-market entities. “The strategy is being created as we

G I D N I Looking for a reason, location, or insight into where to dine in the West Valley? Cities like Avondale, Goodyear, Glendale and Buckeye are open (or soon to be open) to new restaurant experiences. AVONDALE Carolina’s 8-Bit Brewery Main Event

COMING SOON: The Trailhead,

GOODYEAR

a mixed-use project planned for the northeast corner of 83rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road in Peoria, will feature 15-plus specialty retail and restaurant tenants.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Lakeside Bar and Grill GLENDALE

PROVIDED RENDERING

Cheryl Covert speak,” Covert explains, “but the initial approach is to offer a demo day in the Central Phoenix area and do an invitationonly event to pitch ideas of what we have available to restaurateurs and entrepreneurs city-by-city. There needs to be a full understanding of what’s available. One restaurant will ultimately find success by partnering with another.” As the plot unfolds to attract new, dynamic dining opportunities to the West Valley, there is already evidence of growth in this facet of consumerism. “We are seeing unique and higher-end options emerge, like Lola opening at Westgate,” says Jeff Teetsel, principal at Teetsel Properties. “West Valley residents don’t want to have to continuously drive to the East Valley for a unique meal and atmosphere. The business owners that recognize and capitalize on that built-in, pent-up demand will be rewarded.”

Sintra Hoffman

Jeff Teetsel

PROFESSOR PLUMB LIKES INDIVIDUALITY AND A SIDE OF RUM While high-end is definitely a consideration in the widening of dining options in the West Valley, so are community-oriented, dynamic dining experiences. “People are looking for more than delicious, high-quality food,” says Sintra Hoffman, WESTMARC’s president and CEO. “They’re seeking a gathering place and they don’t necessarily want chains. They want individualized dining experiences.” And, individualized dining experiences they will find — some are already available now and others in the not too distant future, such as Tempo Urban Bistro in Buckeye, Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in Peoria and Amuse Bouche in Surprise. The mystery of fine and independent dining options in the West Valley: Solved.

The LoLa (Scratch kitchen concept at Westgate) Salt (Westgate) Fat Tuesday Manna Korean Mi Vegana Madre Nomadic Ice Cream Rolls PEORIA Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers North 40 (Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant Parkway) Nektar BUCKEYE The Vic Bar + Kitchen Tempo Urban Bistro EL MIRAGE Rio El Mirage SURPRISE State 48 Brewery Saigon Kitchen Amuse Bouche

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WESTMARC

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT West Valley has become a hot spot for fun and recreational activities

By ERIN THORBURN

he dictionary by Merriam-Webster’s definition of entertainment: Amusement or diversion provided especially by performers to provide entertainment. The West Valley’s definition of entertainment: Gila River Arena, P83, ISM Raceway, Westgate Entertainment District, Desert Diamond Casino, University of Phoenix Stadium, Cactus League Spring Training and a new 320-mile Maricopa Trail system. West Valley residents who are looking to be entertained need to look no further than their own back yard. Visitors now have more options than ever before to keep their interest longer and spending even more generous. If you’re a new or expanding business looking for the perfect landing spot to entice and satisfy the entertainment and recreation whims of employees, look at the West Valley. It’s a done deal. WHICH CAME FIRST, RESIDENTS OR ENTERTAINMENT? There’s no denying it — the West Valley is rapidly becoming a beacon of entertainment prosperity and possibility. While residents and visitors are pleased with the addition of new entertainment options, entertainment entities are likewise attracted to a region where household income is high, consumer power is strong and the population is swiftly rising. “Now that we have the people, we have the retail, the workforce, and now we’re starting to see more entertainment come in,” says Sintra Hoffman, WESTMARC’s president and CEO. In addition to entertainment-focussed businesses, the West Valley has been host to the NCAA Final 4, the College Football

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Playoff National Championship game, the 2015 Super Bowl, the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament, UFC, Katy Perry, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, and countless other sports and concert venues. And in 2023, the West Valley will host its third Super Bowl. “Businesses crave both the brand exposure and revenue spikes from these events,” says Jeff Teetsel, principal at Teetsel Properties, LLC. “Only a select few markets in the country get to experience and benefit from these mega events.” THE DOMINO EFFECT The added value of big sporting events and concerts, combined with increasing dining and entertainment options in the West Valley is akin to a supercharged magnet. One big pull attracts dollars and literally spreads the wealth to surrounding entertainment sources — and visitors are sticking around longer and returning to the West Valley more and more. “We consistently draw in revenue with big-name events at Gila River Arena, benefitting the surrounding hotels and businesses,” says Dale Adams, general manager of Gila River Arena and vice president of event development of AEG Facilities. “But our major advantage is the ability to create invaluable exposure for the West Valley, while creating unique memories.” Unique experiences are something for which West Valley purveyors of entertainment excel, as they constantly seek ways to capitalize on already abundant offerings and prime locations. “From regular live music to car shows, bike nights, summer series geared toward younger children and families, charity

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WESTMARC

Dale Adams

Sintra Hoffman

Kevin Phelps

runs, a seasonal ice rink and more,” says Teetsel of the Westgate Entertainment District, “we activate the property with over 400 different events on about 250 days a year to drive repeat traffic and consumer enjoyment to supplement the great events in the arena and stadium.” While staples like Westgate, P83, Desert Diamond Casino, Gila River Arena and ISM Raceway capture attention from within and outside of the West Valley, nonprofits and recreational outlets are doing more than their share as well. “West Valley nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences contributed $23 million in direct economic activity and more than $2.5 million in local and state government revenues,” says Bernadette Carroll, executive director, West Valley Arts Council. The recent renovations at Estrella Mountain Regional Park and White Tank Mountain Regional Park renovation enhanced and improved trails and campsites and are primed to attract more more visitors and residents. COMING ATTRACTIONS ISM Raceway, which has entertained auto racing fans in the West Valley since 1964, has reinvented and reinvigorated itself thanks to a $178 million renovation project that will create a one-of-a-kind experience for race fans. When the project is complete in November, there will be WiFi in every seat, allowing fans access to social media, live news reports and their favorite apps during races. And the infield will be transformed into an interactive experience where fans can access garages and see teams, cars and drivers prepare for the race from up close. But it’s not only race fans that will benefit from the new stateof-the-art ISM Raceway. “We hope to bring in more non-racing events in the future,” says Jennifer Staton, senior director of partnership sales and

Jennifer Staton

Jeff Teetsel

marketing for ISM Raceway. “By adding concerts and other events, we are trying to transform ourselves from a strictly motorsports venue into an entertainment venue.” ISM Raceway has successfully hosted 5K runs, a Tough Mudder and hopes to bring concerts or a music festival to the new facility. “We are always going to be a motorsports facility first,” says Keane Horner, manager of partnership sales at ISM Raceway, “but we are trying to change that so we are a true entertainment destination.” Also coming this fall to the West Valley is the third Arizona location for Topgolf, which will be located at the northwest corner of Bethany Home Road and the 101 near Westgate in Glendale. “Topgolf and this vibrant, dynamic area are a perfect match and would offer residents and visitors alike fun entertainment options,” says Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps. “This signature opportunity would go a long way in furthering the type of quality growth Glendale is attracting to this thriving district.” The three-level Glendale location – which will be open year-round – includes up to 3,000 square feet of private event space and climatecontrolled hitting bays that can host up to six players at one time. Officials estimate that Topgolf Glendale will serve approximately 450,000 visitors in its first year of operation. Approximately half of all Topgolf guests describe themselves as “non-golfers.” Those who seek outdoor entertainment can look forward to the officially dedicated Maricopa Trail, a 320-mile trail system connecting dozens of West Valley communities. It is also set to debut this fall. As for the future of West Valley entertainment? Expect even more to come. “The majority of future Valley housing growth will occur in the West Valley, bringing increased population density and income to the region and amplifying the demand for entertainment options proximate to where people live,” Teetsel says.

ISM Raceway

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