Elevate AZ | February 2016

National Bank of Arizona

The Center for the Future of Arizona sets its sights on the state’s long-term success

5 2 0 2 tempe rising

Tempe transforms into a model American city

WINTER 2016

AT NB|AZ, OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE TO EARN YOUR TRUST BY PROVIDING YOU WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT YOU DESERVE We provide comprehensive financial solutions, innovative technologies and award-winning service. Our dedicated team makes banking more convenient and efficient by providing the support you deserve so you can do what you love.

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in this issue

FEATURES

16 Tempe Rising Evolving from its heyday as a rowdy college town, Tempe transforms into a model American city

DEPARTMENTS 02 @NB | AZ What’s happening at National Bank of Arizona

04 AZ nonprofit Hope on Wheels

22 Vision 2025

Phoenix food truck serves more than just meals to the Valley’s homeless

The Center for the Future of Arizona sets its sights on the state’s long-term success

06 Arts & Culture Lost & Found hoenix artist reimagines the P city’s most iconic landmarks

08 Food & Drink Local Source of Plenty Online directory connects consumers with local food producers

10 trailblazers Saving the Night Tucson group is on a mission to bring back dark skies

12 AZ Works Food Flight Local restaurants ‘sweeten the pot’ for travelers at Sky Harbor International Airport

Barrio Cafe chef-owner Silvana Salcido Esparza brings her signature flavors to travelers at Sky Harbor International Airport.

More on page 12.

28 Az business today Driver’s Seat NB|AZ helps steer historic auto repair business to continued success

30 Experience AZ A moment in Bisbee

PUBLISHER National Bank of Arizona

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michelle Jacoby, michelle@pb-jcreative.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NB|AZ Nick Bradshaw, nick.bradshaw@nbarizona.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PB+J CREATIVE Pamela Norman, pnormandesigns@me.com

PROJECT EDITOR Rhonda Hoffman, rhonda.hoffman@nbarizona.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Adams, cwadams@me.com

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER Amy Was, amy.was@nbarizona.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sally J. Clasen, Bruce Farr, Leigh Farr, Debra Gelbart, Susie Steckner

INTERACTIVE MARKETING MANAGER Molly Scott, molly.scott@nbarizona.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Lipczynski, mark@marklipczynski.com

Elevate AZ magazine may contain trademarks or trade names owned by parties who are not affiliated with National Bank of Arizona, Zions Bancorporation, or its affiliates. Use of such marks does not imply any sponsorship by or affiliation with third parties, and National Bank of Arizona does not claim any ownership of or make representations about products and services offered under or associated with such marks. Articles are offered for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, financial or business advice. Please contact a professional about your specific needs and advice. © 2016 National Bank of Arizona. All rights reserved.

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NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA® Corporate Center 6001 N. 24th St. Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-235-6000

PB+J CREATIVE content + photography + design 602-821-9164 pb-jcreative.com

ON THE COVER

From farmfresh produce to artisanal wheat, Arizona's bounty is easily accessible thanks to Good Food Finder AZ. The statewide online resource connects the community with farmers and purveyors.

Find out more on page 8.

Photo by Mark Lipczynski

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Banker Lacy Davis assists a customer at the new NB|AZ St. Johns branch, which opened in November.

New St. Johns branch meets the needs of a growing community

Open for Business Vicki Anderson, branch manager for the new Apache County location, as well as the Round Valley branch in Eagar, says business has been “very, very busy,” with more than 100 new

Waddell

Bob Martinson

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AS THE ONLY bank in town, the newly opened, full-service St. Johns branch of NB|AZ is a pretty popular place these days.

accounts being opened since the bank’s debut last November at 860 W. Cleveland.

“We’ve had a lot of support on the consumer side and from the merchants,” says Anderson, an 18-year veteran of NB|AZ who’s more than a little familiar with this picturesque part of eastern Arizona—she grew up in Eager and her father hails from St. Johns. “The whole community is really excited about it.”

And with good reason.

With the closing of the town’s previous bank about two years ago, St. Johns’ residents who wanted to get change for their business or just simply cash a check have had to take an hour out of their day just to drive to the nearest bank 30 miles away, the Round Valley branch in the Eagar/Springerville area.

The local response to the new bank has been so positive, in fact, that there are already plans to expand the branch into the suite next door, says Anderson, who oversees a staff of three. She’s thrilled about that, as well as the opportunity to make customers’ lives a little easier.

“It’s a big thing to have a bank again,” she says. “We’re just happy to be in the community.” Gremlyn Bradley-

UPCOMING

P SPONSORSHI

Grant Cycle Begins NB|AZ Charities, a collaborative fund managed by Arizona Community Foundation. is now accepting applications for the first semi-annual grant cycle.

THE 45TH ANNUAL NB|AZ Fiesta Bowl Parade kicked off at 11 a.m.

(MST) on Jan. 2. First staged in 1972, “Arizona’s Got Game,” is a two-mile parade through central Phoenix featuring more than 100 floats, marching bands, local celebrities and entertainment.

This is the second year NB|AZ has been the title sponsor of the parade. It is estimated that more than 100,000 residents and tourists attended the parade on a picture-

perfect, Arizona winter day.

NB|AZ Vice Chairman Deborah Bateman was joined by Krysten Aldridge, an NB|AZ partner and co-founder of ONe TRUe LOVe, a Phoenix food truck that serves meals to the underserved and homeless.

In addition, Bateman had the honor of introducing former Arizona Diamondback pitcher Randy Johnson as the Grand Marshall of the National Bank of Arizona Fiesta Bowl Parade.

By the Numbers: Winter Swing On Dec. 7, Valley CEOs came together to hit the links while raising money for their favorite charities at NB|AZ’s annual Winter Swing. Joined by title sponsor Antigua Sportswear, NB|AZ hosted a day of fun, food, golf and philanthropy at the Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale. Here’s how the day scored:

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Valley CEOs played for their favorite charity

CHARITIES BENEFITTED

$220,000 RAISED

APPLY ONLINE If your organization has a profile with the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), go to the grants page on their website at azfoundation.org.

If your organization does not have a registered ACF profile, you will need to register for one.

Visit azfoundation.org and select “Grantee Login” to sign up. Once you are registered, you may begin the application process by starting a new application.

You may also edit organizational information once you have logged in and attached your organization to your profile.

REVIEW AND EVALUATION All grants proposals will be reviewed through a competitive evaluation process. The reviewers will be reading the applicants’ online profiles on the ACF website to obtain information on the organization.

Please be sure to update your organization’s profile before submitting your proposal.

For assistance with technical questions regarding the online registration and application, please contact the Competitive Grants Management Team at grants@azfoundation. org or (602) 381-1400.

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

GOLFERS PARTICIPATED

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Proposals that benefit and support: Affordable Housing, Economic Development, Arts & Culture, Education, Community Services, Health & Human Services and Neighborhood Stabilization are due by Feb. 12.

A qualified organization (NPO) is only eligible for one grant/award per calendar year. The total granting pool will be based on availability of funds per cycle.

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Krysten Aldridge (left) oversees a food rescue event in downtown Phoenix. On the day after Thanksgiving, hundreds of meals were served from her food truck to Phoenix’s homeless and working poor.

hope on wheels

Phoenix food truck serves more than just meals to the Valley’s homeless

F

OR KRYSTEN ALDRIDGE of Mesa, what began five years ago as a philanthropic event to feed the homeless has blossomed into a full-time mission of what she calls “spiritual archeology” to better understand the transformative power of giving back.

In 2010, Aldridge and a team of 20 other volunteers distributed turkey sandwiches to more than 300 hungry people in downtown Phoenix on the Friday after Thanksgiving. That day, Aldridge experienced firsthand how true love can change someone’s life forever and realized that creating an organization focused on helping others was her calling.

In January 2013, Aldridge of-

ficially launched ONe TRUe LOVe (OTL), a nonprofit organization and food truck that provides prepared meals for those who typically can’t afford to dine at restaurants.

Aldridge, who has a background in restaurant management, sponsors two main activities each month in downtown Phoenix. One is a themed giveaway of food, pet food and hygiene items. In October, the themed event was a “Halloweenie” roast. With the support of local businesses, nearly 900 meals were served in three hours near the intersection of 12th Avenue and Madison Street. The other sponsored activity is a food rescue event that involves preparing perfectly good food items that are

approaching their “best by” or “use by” dates into a feature menu for the food truck. Aldridge collects the food items from local grocers and supermarkets.

The food rescue events “offer a dignified restaurant experience,” Aldridge says. About 130 meals are served from the food truck parked near places like Margaret T. Hance Park or the lawn of the Arizona State Capitol.

“People don’t always want free stuff,” says Aldridge, who continues to serve hundreds of turkey sandwiches every year on the day after Thanksgiving. “They’ll frequently offer us a dollar or two for the food they’re served.”

Aldridge, who is a National Bank of Arizona (NB|AZ) customer,

Hunger in Arizona writing workshop for nonprofit business owners like Aldridge, who says she greatly appreciates the staff at her NB|AZ branch in Mesa. They all know her and whenever they see her, they ask how her organization is doing.

“Krysten is an incredibly gifted young woman who has a heart that is unparalleled,” Bateman says. “Without a doubt, she is a source of light and inspiration.”

Through guidance from Bateman, Aldridge hopes to expand her organization in 2016 and beyond.

“I’d like to be Arizona-wide in 2016,” she says. “And the big dream is to eventually be in every city that has a need.” Debra Gelbart

Arizona’s hunger rates are higher than national averages: 17.8% of Arizonans are food insecure, compared to 15.9% nationally; and 28.2% of Arizona children face hunger, compared to 21.6% nationally.

Arizona ranks third in the country for high child food insecurity rates, with 456,760 children facing hunger on a daily basis.

2 million Arizonans are considered working poor, living at or below the Federal Poverty Guideline.

More than 40% of the households receiving emergency food assistance have at least one person who is working.

Source: St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

raises money for her organization’s activities by selling “the best organic lemonade you’ve ever had” at foodie events in Scottsdale, Ahwatukee and Gilbert.

“The lemonade is keeping us afloat,” she explains, “but it’s not as sustainable as I’d like it to be.

Fundraising isn’t something I’ve done before.”

Through a friend, she recently connected with NB|AZ Vice Chairman Deborah Bateman, who mentors emerging businesswomen throughout the valley.

“One of my biggest blessings is having people like Deborah in my life. She is helping me go beyond where we are with our operations,” Aldridge says.

NB|AZ also hosted a grant-

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lost & found Phoenix artist reimagines the city’s most iconic landmarks

Aaron Stouffer's love for mid-century modern design inspired him to create art that celebrates the bygone era of Phoenix. He shows one of his works in front of the historic Harkins Camelview 5 theater in Scottsdale, which closed in December 2015.

y s p ir e d b e d ib ly in r c in h s c a a “I w er of e c h a r ac t I was t h e r ic h ag in in g im . .. d o o h r y n e ig h b o n e r pa r t f o r a d in s .”

0 '5 e h a r r iv in g t t r a in a in S y b hosted

A

know what the end goal is, but I just like seeing it grow,” Stouffer says.

At his day job, Stouffer is still involved with floor plans as a project designer for the Tempe architectural firm Architekton. He is working toward becoming a licensed architect. At the same time, Stouffer is nurturing an artistic passion through his graphic prints. His interest was piqued by the project renderings he created while studying architecture at Kent State University. Then, a trip to Palm Springs—the country’s epicenter of mid-century modern architecture—cemented the direction of his work.

“I was incredibly inspired by the rich character of each neighborhood,” Stouffer says. “I could feel it emanating from every block and every square foot of landscaping, imagining I was arriving for a dinner party hosted by Sinatra in the ’50s.”

It’s easy to see and feel that inspiration in Stouffer’s prints. He creates private commissions for

homeowners using photos, memories and embellishments like leafy trees or a hot air balloon. His “Lost” and “Found” collections showcase landmarks like the beloved Legend City in Phoenix.

Stouffer sells his work online (postandbeamaz.com) and in local stores like Modern on Melrose in Phoenix, and For the People at the Biltmore Fashion Park.

Wes McKeage is a big fan.

He discovered Stouffer’s work at Modern on Melrose, which featured a print of the retro bowling alley Christown Lanes in Phoenix.

McKeage has since purchased several pieces, and also commissioned a custom print of a 1972 Polynesian-inspired tract home as a gift for his mother. Whatever the subject, Stouffer brings out its true beauty, McKeage says.

“It’s obvious that his background in architecture and his unique vision as an artist have combined to make something really special,” he says. Susie Steckner

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

S A YOUNG BOY Aaron Stouffer whiled away the hours drawing floor plans on big tablets of paper, recreating the places running through his imagination.

Today, Stouffer is still imagining places. Instead of pulling from his Pennsylvania childhood, he is focused on the Valley’s mid-century modern gems of the past and present: Cine Capri, Helsing's Coffee Shop, First Federal Savings and Loan, and iconic homes throughout Phoenix neighborhoods.

Stouffer is reintroducing these treasures through colorful, stylized graphic prints that capture not only the structures, but also the environs that place them squarely in the Valley of the Sun. Whether real life or reimagined, Stouffer’s scenes show off the architecture of the day against a backdrop of mountains, palm trees and cacti.

The 28-year-old artist is juggling private commissions with his “Lost” and “Found” collections. “I don’t

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local source of plenty I

Online directory connects consumers with local food producers

F YOU’RE IN the market for healthy, locally grown food in Arizona, start your search on the Good Food Finder AZ. An online, statewide directory of local food producers, Good Food Finder was created by Natalie Morris in 2011 as part of a research project funded by a Borderlands Food and Water Security Fellowship grant overseen by renowned conservation scientist Gary Paul Nabhan, Ph.D., W.K. Kellogg Foundation chair and University of Arizona professor.

“It started out as a curiosity about how many small- and medium-scale farmers there were in Arizona,” says Morris.

What she discovered was that the Natalie local farming industry was plentiful, but Morris, needed a boost in recognition. So she founder of Good decided to create Good Food Finder as Food Finder AZ, samples a way to give local farmers some much Arizona's needed publicity and a centralized bounty at direct marketing source.

Singh Farms in “We all know we can produce food in Scottsdale.

Arizona, but much of it is exported. So by building a database, we were able to give the market promise in our state. At the time, nothing serviced small- and medium-sized businesses.”

Today, the Local First Arizona Foundation manages the Good Food Finder directory. The website gives consumers and institutional food buyers the opportunity to make socially responsible connections with procurers, farmers and restaurateurs, and learn about Arizona’s local food providers. More than a directory, the website provides complimentary local food resources, a blog and access to a bi-monthly newsletter, which helps shorten food supply chains; improve access to local,

healthy foods; and encourage communities to create a healthier, more sustainable food system in Arizona.

“Good Food Finder is a tool that encourages the community to purchase from one another and create a vibrant economy,” Morris says.

Morris turned over management to the Local First Arizona Foundation in 2014 and is happy to report the directory has expanded greatly under their leadership.

“When I created the Good Food Finder, it was a pretty basic site that was farmer- and producer- focused with a fairly simple search engine that allowed users to search by business name or food item,” says Morris, who also works for the foundation. “The site now provides robust search functionality which gives users the option to display results that are within a specific radius on a map, and locate farmers markets that accept public health and nutrition programs. Visitors can browse 26 business categories that all source from local food producers.”

In addition, the number of participating businesses in the directory has grown from 800 to 1,000, and categories now include everything from food aggregators and schools, to gardens and wineries. Any Arizona food industry business that meets the requirements can be listed in the free directory.

“There is wide array of people doing business in the local food industry,” says Morris, noting that more and more users and businesses are joining the local food directory. “Arizona has a lot going on in the food industry and we want customers to know farmers and businesses are out there.” Sally J. Clasen

WHY LOCAL FOODS?

10 reasons to eat, drink and grow local

1 2 3

Local food tastes better.

Local food is healthy.

Local food supports farmers and entrepreneurs.

4 5 6

Local food fosters robust economies.

Local food is safe.

Local food builds vibrant communities.

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Local food preserves green spaces.

8 9

Local food is accessible.

Local food is good for the environment.

10

Local food protects biodiversity.

Source: Good Food Finder AZ Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

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Tucson group is on a mission to bring back dark skies

saving the night

P

ICTURE A NIGHT sky filled with stars, sparkling across the darkness as far as the eye can see. Hard to imagine?

You’re not alone.

Artificial outdoor lights blanket communities around the globe, making it more challenging to experience truly dark places. This light pollution not only disrupts starry nights, it impacts wildlife habitats, energy consumption and more.

But communities around Arizona and the world are committed to changing that with help from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The Tucson-based nonprofit has been working for nearly 30 years to bring back dark skies and reduce the harmful effects of light pollution.

This year, the association is on track to designate a record-setting number of “dark sky places”—communities, parks and other places— that are committed to preserving dark skies. The association hit a record 14 places last year and has already approved 12 so far this year.

“The program rewards communities and parks for doing the right thing and encouraging them to protect night skies,” says Cheryl Ann Bishop, the association’s communications and public affairs director.

Flagstaff is the world’s first recognized dark sky place, receiving its designation in 2001.

The city, home to renowned observatories, has been a leader in helping educate the public about protecting dark skies. Sedona, also a longtime advocate, received dark-sky status in 2014.

The two communities have made major strides, from passing innovative ordinances that limit outdoor light, to persuading state transportation officials to use darksky compliant lighting along certain thoroughfares. The efforts are

reducing light pollution, conserving energy and protecting the nighttime environment for generations to come.

Arizona is also home to three other dark sky places. The remote Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument stretches over more than 1 million acres and boasts pristine night skies. Oracle State Park is just about 20 miles from Tucson, but “sky glow” from the city is blocked by the Santa Catalina Mountains, offering another authentic dark sky experience.

And just earning designation this year is the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation on the Arizona-Utah border, north of the Grand Canyon.

Arizona’s top tourist attraction and natural wonder could soon be joining the list of dark sky places.

Grand Canyon officials are working on an application with help from the IDA. They are targeting a designation as part of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016, Bishop says.

Each new designation plays a critical role in raising awareness about the need to preserve dark skies.

“We’re losing our heritage of dark skies,” Bishop says. “I don’t think there’s any human on the planet, when they see a truly spectacular starry sky, who isn’t moved. It’s inspiring.” Susie Steckner

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

Arizona is home to five dark sky places including Flagstaff, Sedona, Grand Canyon-Parshant National Monument, Oracle State Park, and the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation.

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t h g i l f food the pot’ n te e e w ‘s ts n ra u ta Local res nal Airport o ti a rn te In r o rb a H at Sky

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ACK IN 2002, when Silvana Salcido Esparza and her partner, Wendy Gruber, founded their now iconic Barrio Café in Phoenix, the visionary duo earned an immediate and deserving reputation as culinary mavericks.

Gone were the flour tortillas, yellow cheese and red-sauced staples so typical of local Mexican restaurants. In their place, Esparza cooked up a lovingly crafted menu of regional Mexican dishes: chocolaty mole sauces; revelatory cochinita pibil tortas; freshly roasted chilis en Nogada; and creamy, made-from-scratch tableside guacamoles.

Esparza and Gruber weren’t sure how well their novel cuisine would be received, but in no time at all, throngs of diners lined up in front of the café waiting to snatch vacant tables.

Several years later, tapping that same maverick spirit, Esparza moved a branch of Barrio Café into Terminal Four at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for what would turn out to be another paradigm-shifting experiment: to turn on its head the idea that airport food must be an afterthought—something to endure more than enjoy.

Many of Esparza’s loyal patrons and local foodies thought the move was misguided, even crazy.

Now, some five years after the fact, Esparza’s airport gamble appears to have paid off in spades.

Barrio Café is an oasis of appetizing Mexican dishes that kick the quality quotient into the stratosphere miles above such typically blasé food court fare, and the 140-seat way station is often packed with hungry travelers.

“Business is fabulous,” Esparza says. “Since we opened it’s been one of the top restaurants at the airport.”

As it turns out, Esparza wasn’t flying solo in her Sky Harbor venture.

A year or so before she opened at the airport, she was contacted by HMSHost, the food service company that contracts with Sky Harbor to manage food and restaurants available to travelers. The company had a vision to improve its offerings by inviting independent, top-quality restaurateurs and chefs to open satellite eateries in bustling terminals. Among others, Esparza and Barrio Café were top of mind for their plans. At first, Esparza resisted their offer.

“When I was first approached, the idea sounded too much like ‘selling out’ for me and we said no,” she explains. “But they came back to

us and agreed to give me the liberty to go to the airport and oversee the operation—and, most importantly, oversee the food at the commissary.

Once we came to those terms, I realized that it was something that was attractive to me.”

Esparza’s conditions for the arrangement coalesced from two potentially deal-breaking requests she made of HMSHost.

“I told them I absolutely had to

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of the 10 busiest airports in the country.

On a typical day:

1,200 aircraft arrive and depart

Chef-owner Silvana Salcido Esparza takes a break at her Barrio Cafe restaurant at Sky Harbor airport.

100,000+ passengers arrive and depart

800+

tons of air cargo are handled

“We’re extremely proud of the outstanding range and quality of restaurants we’ve brought to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” says Steve Johnson, executive vice president of business development at HMSHost. “The participation from local restaurateurs and chefs has really helped transform this terminal into one of the most diverse airport dining venues in the country.” bruce farR

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MILLION

daily economic impact Source: City of Phoenix— Aviation Department.

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

have two things: a lot of tequila and a mural out front. We got both, which showed me they were serious about wanting to represent my brand.”

Esparza’s Barrio Café isn’t the only prime Phoenix-metro-area restaurant to set up shop at Sky Harbor. Terminal Four is now home to such local eateries as Sauce, La Grande Orange, Cowboy Ciao, Olive & Ivy, and many others.

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n 1984, a few outstanding individuals with an innovative spirit followed their vision and formed a community bank to support local businesses and help grow Arizona. Today, National Bank of Arizona is a thriving organization with 64 branches in 47 communities throughout the state. We remain dedicated to elevating Arizona by investing in local businesses – the driving force of our Arizona economy.

We believe in Arizona and her future. After all, it is one of the fastest growing states with a skilled workforce and a progressive low-cost business environment. More importantly, we believe in our clients. From locally owned businesses to large corporations headquartered in Arizona, they are the foundation of our communities.

With them we share a passion for Arizona and a vision for a vibrant and sustainable future. We are honored to provide financing for projects large and small, along with financial strategies and resources to help turn dreams into reality and achievement into long-term success.

LOCAL BUSINESS THE DRIVING FORCE OF OUR ARIZONA ECONOMY The State of Arizona Business GREAT BUSINESS CLIMATE Arizona provides businesses with 300+ DAYS OF SUN each year.

At National Bank of Arizona, we are proud of the reputation we’ve built in Arizona and the relationships we’ve formed. We have had the privilege of serving the financial needs of some of the best companies and the brightest people in the state and gladly share their stories of success. Please take a few moments to review why Arizona is a great place to do business and join me in saluting the local companies and the outstanding leaders that are propelling Arizona forward.

Mark R. Young President and Chief Executive Officer National Bank of Arizona For more information please visit the links below: • http://www.azcommerce.com • http://wpcarey.asu.edu/bluechip/ • http://www.bls.gov/ • http://www.gpec.org • http://www.fastcompany.com • http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/ • http://www.azcentral.com A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC

ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING STATES IN THE U.S. Arizona is strategically located in the southwest region of the United States, immediately ACCESSIBLE TO THREE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST ECONOMIES.

California (#8), Texas (#12) and Mexico (#15)

Skilled & Educated Workforce Arizona offers a vast pool of YOUNG DIVERSE TALENT.

Fueling the Future

Arizona State is RANKED #2 for global student entrepreneurs.

Arizona is ranked 1st in the nation for entrepreneurial activity.

Arizona is nationally known as a top state for workforce quality and availability, ranking #2 in the country and #1 in higher education degree opportunities.

Nearly a dozen business incubators and accelerators call Greater Phoenix home.

Arizona excels in the ability to attract federal funding to enhance:

Arizona has access to one of the largest concentrations of science and technology students in the U.S.

Arizona’s research and development activities make it one of the nations top patenting states.

• Commercialization for small businesses.

• Research and development for universities.

2016 ECONOMIC FORECAST

Arizona State University and University of Arizona are recognized among the 50 BEST colleges for entrepreneurs.

Low Cost of Doing Business

Economists at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University expect:

5.2 percent growth in personal income

Arizona provides a progressive low cost business environment. The national average of per-capita income going to taxes is 9.9 percent, in Arizona the number is only 8.4 percent.

Arizona is expected to be among the top 10 states for job creation.

Arizona offers businesses low gas, property, and personal income taxes compared to the rest of the country.

NB|AZ is Fueling Businesses

OVER

1.5 percent population growth 2.6 percent job growth, which would translate to about 68,000 additional jobs

LOW TAXES & SMALL STATE GOVERNMENT

IN 2015 NB|AZ PROVIDED ARIZONA BUSINESSES

Arizona is home to top companies in technology based industries.

We remain dedicated to elevating Arizona by investing in local businesses – the driving force of our Arizona economy.”

$1 BILLION IN NEW BUSINESS LOANS*

Visit your local branch to find out how NB|AZ can help with the financial needs of your business.

VISIT: NBAZ.COM/LOCATIONS *loans subject to credit approval. Some resrictions apply.

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[Tempe Rising] Evolving from its heyday as a rowdy college town, Tempe transforms into a model American city story Bruce Farr photography Mark Lipczynski

→

with its namesake in mind, Tempe was given a pretty tough act to follow. Describing the valley of Tempe in Greece, early 18th century classical scholar John Lempriere said of it, “The poets have described [Tempe] as the most delightful spot on the earth, with continual cooling shades and verdant walks, which the warbling of birds rendered more pleasant and romantic, and which the gods often honored with their presence.”

While we’re not certain about all of that, there is, in fact, much to be said and praised about the virtues of Tempe, especially over

the past few decades. In recent years, the city has risen to a vibrant and progressive calling, and taken its rightful place among some of the most culturally and economically attractive and diverse cities in the country.

Old meets new Drive across the Salt River on the Old Mill Avenue bridge, along Mill Avenue toward Arizona State University, and it’s striking how little is recognizable from that same drive 25 years ago.

With a few exceptions—the old façade of the Hayden Flour Mill,

the unchanging landmark of “A” Mountain and the constant stream of college students crisscrossing the road between classes, for instance—you’d hardly realize you were traversing the heart of “old” downtown Tempe. That much has changed.

Last year, Livability.com rated Tempe among the top 100 U.S. cities to live in. And it’s no wonder.

The current level of economic growth and development, along with the juggernaut that is ASU and other higher learning institutions, the city’s “live, work, play” quotient is sky-high.

The intersection of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado in the 1930s.

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

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.Build Out→

Here are just a few of the projects and developments contributing to Tempe’s resurgence:

a

a The Liberty Center

near Rio Salado and Priest, which is expected to add a million square feet of new office and light-industrial space.

b The Tempe Center

for the Arts on Tempe

Town Lake.

c The final office tower in the Hayden Ferry Lakeside development,

b c

adding to the two multistory office buildings and two condominium towers.

d Hundreds of new apartment units

being built near Tem pe Town Lake and throughout downtown.

e A sweeping renovation of the 75,000-seat Sun Devil Stadium.

As Tempe’s mayor, Mark Mitchell, commented recently, “The city has become a mecca for work, events, entertainment and technology.”

There are reasons why, over the past several years, Tempe has taken a willful path toward prosperity and become one of the most sought after destination cities in the southwest. Here are just a few.

Water feature Tempe has grown a lot through the decades, but its current spurt is unparalleled. Since 2000, the population has grown by 6.1 percent, and—since the obviously devastating economic downturn of 2007-09—the city has made some really exceptional strides, even beyond the expectations of the most optimistic business indicators.

It’s more than mere coincidence that tremendous growth

occurred simultaneously with the development of Tempe Town Lake. As of last year, according to city officials, about $1.5 billion worth of lakeside development has either been built or is slated to be in the near term. The economic impact of the lake development to the city was tallied at around $578 million, enabling Tempe to build structures like the Tempe Center for the Arts and other cultural magnets.

Kate Borders, director of the Downtown Tempe Authority, says that, along with the city’s transit system, the lake’s development was a key turning point in Tempe’s resurgence. “It’s a song that has been overplayed, so I won’t be dazzling anyone here. But the lake and the transit system are keys to our success,” she says. “Having a large body of water within your downtown that brings activities, events, beautiful office and hous-

ing options, character and pride to your city, this is one of those assets that can’t be overlooked.”

Borders believes that Tempe is today reaping the benefits of decades of great planning that took into account the city’s unique location.

“Really and truly, a city can only create the greatest infrastructure, one that allows for the marketplace to believe that this is the best place to make investments. Then the policy has to continue to streamline the growth as it’s happening,” she explains.

“Tempe had a great deal of foresight in creating a destination that essentially is landlocked, and therefore has a very manageable scale, located between transit corridors and on a beautiful body of water.”

Downtown Tempe has been a major area of concentration for development and improvement, Borders says.

“In fact, the city is laserfocused on its downtown, it’s ‘urban core’ where the powers that be are working individually and collectively to create a lasting public impact on the public open spaces and the streets that invite people downtown,” she notes.

And what people can do once they’re downtown is just as important. It goes well beyond shopping and dining.

d

“We want audience participation to become an indelible part of the downtown story,” says Borders. “Whether that’s a public art engagement or an impromptu a capella group performance, I see the future of a thriving downtown in the interactivity created between the players, performers and the audience.”

Arizona’s ‘beating heart’ Ty Largo, principal of Awe Collective, a Tempe-based public relations firm, has lived and worked in the city for 16 years. When his agency was selected for a year-long assignment to essentially rebrand the city and its downtown, Largo and his team went full steam ahead to create a comprehensive media, branding and design plan highlighting Tempe’s emergence as a top destination to live, work and play.

From implementing the use of trendy hashtags like #TempeRising, to redesigning the district’s website, to emphasizing the area’s endless recreational, residential and entertainment opportunities, Largo’s team demonstrated how a new look and feel can reestablish a place once primarily deemed a college town.

Largo sees major, positive forces moving Tempe’s development.

“There’s an infectious, adventurous spirit in Tempe,” he says.

“The city’s always had a rebellious

e

side. It’s always taken a different path than other cities have in their development. Now, postrecession, you can’t turn a corner without seeing a crane, new buildings or remodels. There’s so much cool development, energy and buzz in the downtown…it’s everywhere.”

Largo’s branding campaign tagline for Tempe captures the city’s vitality and diversity, he believes.

“It answers the question, where else can you kayak on a lake, or hike a mountain, or get a worldclass education or see a rock concert or have a glass of wine at a fine-dining restaurant, all within walkable distance of each other?”

In developing the campaign, Largo says his team took a step back and looked at where Tempe has been, what it is now and where it is going.

“We wanted to look at all of these things against the public perception of what Tempe has been in the past and where it wants to go. The very exciting thing about this whole project is that development here has been happening at such a rapid pace.

We had to match the branding to the pace of development, and make sure that it was branding that would stick.

“A fun rebellious spirit, it’s own identity, the cultural hub of the

Tempe's brand went through an overhaul this year. Created by Tempe-based Awe Collective, the new campaign captures the city's vitality and diversity.

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etro m x i n e for Pho e e c r a i l t p n “The e a very ripe eurship... area isss entreprenr in the busine a huge playe ASU is nity. urship commu Center for Entreprene r, ck, directo f Business, ASU Sidnee Pe lo o o h c S y re at W.P. Ca

Under the direction of Sidnee Peck (above), the Center for Entrepreneurship at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business enables students to start a business while in school.

entire state; it’s the cool beating heart of Arizona. It’s the youthful, aspirational spirit and vibe that’s alive and well here.”

want to get to the same place.”

Peck believes there’s a trickledown from ASU leadership, primarily ASU president Michael Crow, who, she says is growing the university in a significant way, one that creates a lot of community partnerships. The more activity that’s occurring around the university, the more beneficial it is to open a business in Tempe.

“We’re a relatively young place, and we’re just coming into our own, like a lot of other young, similarly entrepreneurial cities that are finding their way.

Technology has made it easier to start a business. A lot of things that were cost-prohibitive for people before, aren’t anymore,” she says. “It’s a really cool place to be right now.”

Photo courtesy of ASU

Entrepreneurial vitality A good measure of Tempe’s dynamic new identity is owing to a robust spirit of entrepreneurism that the city radiates. Everywhere, it seems, entrepreneurs young and old are taking chances on new ideas and opening businesses that are successful.

Sidnee Peck, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business, sees it firsthand, day-in and day-out. The Center was created a couple of years ago, she says, with a vision and mission to enable any student at ASU, regardless of

their area of interest or major, who wishes to start a business while they’re in school, to do so.

“The entire Phoenix metro area is a ripe place for business entrepreneurship,” Peck says.

“What we’re seeing is an extreme groundswell of entrepreneurial activity, support and collaboration—very significantly in the last year, but bubbling up over the past five years or so. ASU is a huge player in the community—so [the Center for Entrepreneurship] is a big part of this.

People in the community embrace us, and we collaborate a lot with community members.

There are a lot of aligned incentives. We all want to create great talent—new entrepreneurs who, in turn, can create new businesses and new jobs. We all

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the issues facing Arizona are primary topics of discussion and planning in the state legislature, the media, and in private and public arenas. the Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA), is looking ahead by creating a big-picture agenda that will tackle the critical problems in our state and aid Arizona in achieving long-term success.

r for the The Cente Arizona Future of ights on sets its s ’s longthe statecess term suc en ly J. Clas i story Sal Lipczynsk k r a M y h p a r g o phot

Issues facing Arizona

productivity and prosperity are declining compared to U.S. averages and those of many neighboring states; one in five Arizonans live in poverty and over the past two decades, our per capita income has slipped to just over 80 percent of the national average. Plus, civic participation rates are in the bottom quartile on most indicators tracked by the Civic Health Index, the nation’s leading gauge of how well Americans connect to one another and their communities.

While Arizona is not unique in dealing with tough state issues, Francis points out that those states that are successful in achieving objectives are ones that know exactly what they want to be.

“There is no panacea anywhere. Every state struggles, but what divides the successful from those who continue to struggle is they are able to look at where they are and see where they want to be, and then make a plan. We need to be better at describing what it is that we want Arizona to be,” she says. “No one knows what success looks like because it hasn’t been articulated.”

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

Chairman and CEO Lattie Coor, Ph.D., president emeritus of Arizona State University, founded the CFA in 2002 along with executive director Sybil Francis, Ph.D., a public policy architect whose background includes advancing the national science and technology enterprise. The nonpartisan, nonprofit resource was formed to explore the questions that challenge Arizona, focus on the big ideas, and create impartial analyses and collaborative leadership that is willing and able to identify long-term solutions to the most challenging issues of our time.

“We are a ‘do’ tank,” explains Francis of CFA’s mission. “We identify and take the results of our research and others and use that information to guide us in solving the issues Arizona faces.”

To get from point A to point B, it’s important to help Arizonans know who they are and how they stack up, according to Francis. Here are the facts: Almost two-thirds of Arizonans were born elsewhere, and are growing younger, older and more diverse. In addition, Arizona’s

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Citizen Goals According to the Center for the Future of Arizona, these are the eight issues that matter the most to Arizona.

1|

Education

2|

job creation

3|

Infrastructure

4|

Healthcare

5|

Water, forests and open spaces

6|

Community involvement

7|

Citizen engagement

Arizona high school students will graduate college and be career ready, as measured by national and international standards.

More job opportunities that offer higher wages with job training programs for all ages.

A modern infrastructure that supports the state’s economy and quality of life.

Health insurance that is publicly available with payment assistance for those who need it.

Water management plans for all regions of Arizona; policies that balance growth with preserving open spaces.

More “neighborliness” and a deeper sense of connection to our communities and to one another.

More citizen participation; leaders who understand complex issues and work across party lines.

8|

Young talent

Quality jobs, places to gather, protection for the environment, openness and opportunity for all.

Matters that matter most

In fact, to deeply understand and express what matters most to Arizonans, the CFA, in partnership with Gallup, conducted the Gallup Arizona Poll between 2008 and 2009. The most comprehensive research of its kind, the poll described eight “Citizen Goals” firmly grounded in the beliefs and opinions of Arizonans that are the building blocks of prosperity and quality of life: education, job creation, infrastructure, healthcare, water and land management, community involvement, citizen engagement and young talent.

The issues that have plagued Arizona for years continue to be at the forefront of concern. Education, in particular, is a primary focus of CFA due to its link to all citizen goals.

“Education correlates to everything measured by an ability to be prosperous and earn a decent income, have an improved quality of life, and health and well-being,” says Francis. “If you look at the statistics, high levels of educational attainment are always connected to higher levels of prosperity. Any goals we set and the ability to meet objectives are tied to education.”

Through an over-arching initiative called The Arizona We Want, CFA is leading a charge to shape a state that Arizonans envision. The broad-based, statewide effort aims to connect Arizona citizens, leaders and organizations, and provide a shared framework for working toward an agenda that is based on the eight citizen goals.

“We want to galvanize attention on important issues to our state and cause collaborations and work toward common goals,” adds Francis.

Coming of age

To put a fine point on exactly how to shape a future that is representative of what Arizonans imagine, CFA just released its most comprehensive report,

“Vision 2025: Arizona Comes of Age.” Vision 2025 is a roadmap for a decade of action for individuals and organizations to create a vital Arizona and achieve opportunities for all citizens.

“It’s the first time we’ve made the focus on education more clear and raised it up with a matter of emphasis,” explains Francis. “We haven’t brought it all together before, but Vision 2025 is a blending and linking of the Arizona we want.”

Rather than address immediate answers to problems in Arizona, the 10-year blueprint identifies the prevalent issues and sets a specific path of accomplishment for the long haul, according to Francis.

“We tend to get myriad ideas in everyday debate, but it’s important to backtrack on those goals and see where we need to go and figure out how to get there. It lays down a marker for that.”

While the report indicates Arizonans love their state, a lack of community connection, poor voter turnout, and failing grades in the percentage of students who don’t meet basic math and English proficiency standards in school are some of the major obstacles that prevent Arizona from building a lasting, vibrant future.

Clear vision

Yet Vision 2025 affirms that Arizonans have a clear view of how to achieve the goals that define success. And CFA’s role is to work for a collective, increased responsiveness to attain those goals through the availability of young talent, and engaging citizens, partnerships, government and leadership statewide, according to Francis.

“We’re here to create a drumbeat. We’re a soup-to-nuts organization. We help do everything from initiate public policy to put feet on the ground—and everything in between.”

That includes encouraging innovative approaches to education that improve graduation rates, help close the achieve-

we’ve made e im t t s ir f e h t “It’s e clear and r o m n io t a c u d sis...we a h p the focus on e m e f o r e t t h a ma fore, but e b raised it up wit r e h t e g o t l t it al haven’t brough ending and linking of the bl Vision 2025 is a CFA Sybil Francis, .” t n a w e w Arizona

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

Sybil Francis, executive director, Center for the Future of Arizona

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26 ment gap and prepare a highly skilled workforce; Arizona ranks 43rd in the nation for the state’s four-year high school graduation rate of 75.1 percent. Furthermore, 225 of Arizona’s 448 public high schools send 10 or fewer students to any postsecondary education institution after graduation.

“We’ve accomplished a lot in education in Arizona, but we need to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach that is based on the old, industrial model where one teacher is in front of 30 kids and move toward a more

education

30

Arizona’s national rank for adults age 25 or older with a Bachelor's degree or more. Source: U.S. Census,

Released in October, the Center for the Future of Arizona’s “Vision 2025” report is designed to “set forth a call to action that challenges both citizens and leaders to focus on the long-term future of Arizona.” Here is just a glimpse of where Arizona stands today:

employment

PERCENT

Source: Gallup Arizona Poll

Source: Gallup Analytics, U.S. Daily Tracking, 2014

Consistently, since statehood, almost two-thirds of Arizonans were born elsewhere.

Arizona born Northeast South Midwest West Outside the U.S. Source: U.S. Census, University of Minnesota Population Center, N.Y. Times, August 2013-2014

10% Source: Gallup Arizona Poll

of arizonans believe their elected officals represent their interests.

of Arizonans are employed full-time by an employer compared to 44% nationwide.

population

believe the next generation of Arizonans will have a better standard of living than we have today.

politics

Source: Arizona Board of Regents

FORTY

Source: U.S. Census, American Community Survey

24%

of arizona's university graduates find jobs in arizona immediately after graduation. 20 years later, only 35.6% are still working in arizona.

2014 American Community Survey

Latinos represent 30.3% of Arizona's total population and 43% of all K-12 Students.

standard of living

66.2%

The Facts

personalized one,” says Francis.

As part of its collaborative mindset, the CFA also recently launched The Arizona We Want Exchange to empower individual efforts and create a collective voice for all citizen goals.

Through the online platform, members can identify and reach collaborators, find local data, give or get advice, and promote or find events.

“Based on the results of our Gallup Poll, citizens feel there is great hope in Arizona,” says Francis. “Now we have to translate that positive viewpoint into reality.”

1900

1950

2012

25% 38%

38%

31% 7%

15%

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driver’s seat

NB|AZ helps steer historic auto repair business to continued success

Wilhelm Automotive owner Thom Gyder (center) stands by the support he receives from NB|AZ bankers Catherine Arvizu (left) and Mary Holman (right).

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two certified hybrid-vehicle repair shops in Arizona that serve as a dealer alternative.

“While history and tradition are a big part of the Wilhelm brand, it’s also important to keep up with the latest technology,” Gyder says.

National Bank of Arizona has been helping Gyder and his company with their financial needs since 2009. He estimates that by refinancing several loans with NB|AZ, he has saved about $180,000 in interest charges.

“I’m impressed with Thom because of his passion to run his business not only from an economic standpoint, but from a personal perspective, as well,” says Mary Holman, a National Bank of Arizona senior vice president who manages the bank’s Credit Solutions Group. “He looks at the big picture and then guides his team of professionals to achieve the results together, which makes the entire company successful.”

Holman also credits Gyder’s collaboration with other NB|AZ bankers, including Mike Hasenkamp, Sue Quaintance and Dawn Eckert.

“Thom is a very savvy businessman,” says Catherine Arvizu, a vice president and business banker at NB|AZ. “He runs his business based on excellent customer service and he cares about both his customers and his employees.”

“The philosophy that Joe Wilhelm established early on was very simple: Perform quality service, do everything you can to accommodate your customers and always give back to your community,” Gyder says. “It’s a philosophy that has stayed true to the current day.” Debra Gelbart

Resources For Your Business Arizona Business Today Arizona Business Today celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of business owners by telling their stories and providing you with insights into owning and operating a successful business in the state of Arizona.

ArizonaBusinessToday.com

Arizona Business Resource Center The NB|AZ Business Resource Center was created for Arizona business owners and contains the latest business news, insights and tools about sales and marketing, taxes and accounting, cash flow management and customer service. ArizonaBusinessResource.com

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

ILHELM AUTOMOTIVE has been a family-owned business since before most people had ever seen a car.

It began as a blacksmith shop that opened in 1889 in what is now the city of Peoria.

Nearly a century later, the company’s third owners, Joe and Mary Margaret Wilhelm, sold what had become a thriving auto-repair business to Charley and Mary Jane Gyder, a West Valley couple looking for a business to own and operate.

Today their son, Thom Gyder, is the CEO of the company. Still headquartered in Peoria, Wilhelm has expanded to seven locations—five in the West Valley and two in Phoenix. And the successful business has long emphasized the importance of giving back to the community.

All of the company’s employees are encouraged to participate in a food drive each year during the holidays and many participate in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

They participate in and volunteer at fundraising events sponsored by a philanthropic organization called the Mavericks. Wilhelm president Chris Garman is an active member of the Mavericks, and he and other members raised $100,000 last year for various charities in the West Valley.

In addition, the employees at each Wilhelm location often participate in fundraising events in their own communities. The Goodyear location, for example, joins the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life every October at the City of Goodyear Ballpark.

Gyder and his family have always been supportive of the theater arts and they were instrumental in helping raise funds for the Peoria Performing Arts Center, a 20,000-square-foot theater complex that opened in 2006. Gyder personally donated $120,000 in a 2003 fundraising campaign held in memory of his mother.

“Philanthropy is something I was raised with by watching my parents,” Gyder say, “and there was an expectation that wherever you live and whatever you do, it’s important to give back to the community to make it a better place. It fits perfectly with our company, as our emphasis is on taking care of people.”

Gyder also understands the value of embracing new technology in his business. In early 2014, Wilhelm Automotive began partnering with the Hybrid Shop to become one of only

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Bisbee, AZ

Once considered a rowdy copper mining town, the Bisbee of today is known more for its vibrant art scene, thriving entertainment, and creative culture. The burgeoning southern Arizona town has been recognized as a go-to destination by such national media as the Huffington Post and Fodor’s Travel.

The next issue of Elevate AZ will feature this artistic community.

PHOTO Mark Lipczynski

Winter 2016 | ElevateAZ.com

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Building Community

Now in its 13th year, the McDowell Mountain Music Festival is one of the premier events in the Valley.

W

an ideal venue to house the thriving event.

Today, having relocated to the newly renovated Hance Park in downtown Phoenix, M3F is a well-established destination event that has raised more than $1 million for local charities. This year, all of the proceeds from the 100 percent nonprofit festival will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital and UMOM New Day Centers.

This year’s lineup, hand-picked

by Largay and his sons, Nate and RJ, features well-known headliners Beck, The Avett Brothers, Goldfish, and Animal Collective, plus a diverse program of indie, electronic and jam roots artists. In recent years, the organizers have added after-hour shows at nearby hotels and watering holes beginning at midnight and running until 3 a.m.

With 100 Wespac employees committed to donating their time and effort, the event is more successful than ever.

“The company is really the manpower behind what makes the festival work,” says Largay.

And they get plenty of help from

corporations in the community. One of the event’s biggest supporters, National Bank of Arizona, provides everything from signage to beach balls for the audience.

“NB|AZ has been awesome to us, whether it’s a consulting or marketing platform or giving us feedback on design. It’s been an awesome partnership,” says Largay.

Every year, donations of supplies and services pour in from Wespac’s subcontractors and partners who contribute money, ticket packages, fencing, portable restrooms, waste management services and power equipment.

“The local construction community has kind of taken it under their wing [saying,] ‘This is our premier event, as well as our charity effort to donate back to the local youth,” Largay says. leigh farR The McDowell Mountain Music Festival will be held March 11-13 at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. For more information, visit mmmf.com.

McDowell Mountain Music Festival

HEN THE McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F) debuted 13 years ago, it began as a homespun event to raise funds for local charities. Today, the three-day rock ’n’ roll gathering has evolved into a premier destination event, attracting locals and visitors from all over the country.

“At first, it was really about the music and people coming together and having a great time,” says Nate Largay, PR/Communications Coordinator at Wespac Construction, the company that manages the festival. “Now we’re one of the marquee festivals in the state of Arizona.”

When Wespac owner John Largay founded the festival from scratch, his goal was to give back to the community by offering a unique cultural experience while raising money to benefit youth in need. Fueled by his passion for music, Largay first launched M3F at WestWorld of Scottsdale. As the festival gathered momentum, he opened the Compound Grill, a north Phoenix eatery that offered

Construction company gives back with annual rock ’n’ roll charity festival

March 11-13, 2016

Hance Park, Phoenix, AZ • MMMF.com • #M3F

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