September 2021 Issue of In Business Magazine

SEPT. 2021

Collaboration between Education and Industry Forges a Stronger Workforce

&

Leadership Achievement Honoring Our 2021 Women of Achievement

This Month’s Guest Editor

Linda S. Hunt

CEO of Dignity Health Southwest Division

‘CEO of the Day’ Engagement Success Veterans Strengthen the Labor Pool Impact of New

Telehealth Legislation $7.95 INBUSINESSPHX.COM

THIS ISSUE Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Arizona: Where innovators turn for what’s next.

2020

TOP 10

GOLD SHOVEL

AWARD WINNER

MOST COMPETITIVE STATE

azcommerce.com

Site Selection Magazine Prosperity Cup, 2021

Bold and exciting advancements are happening in the Grand Canyon state. Cutting-edge companies are launching, testing and scaling new technologies in Arizona.

Our culture of innovation, highly skilled talent, lean regulatory environment, and affordable operating costs provides an ideal platform for business growth and success. The state has announced investment from industry leaders including Intel, TSMC, Zoom Communications, ElectraMeccanica, Amazon, Align Technology and more. Ranked top two for fastest growing state, it’s clear why people are flocking here. Beyond being a place where you can achieve your professional goals, Arizona also provides an unmatched lifestyle that allows you to achieve your personal goals.

It’s this perfect balance that makes life better here.

SEPTEMBER 2021 COVER STORY

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Leadership & Achievement: Honoring Our 2021 Women of Achievement

In Business Magazine honors the talents of women business owners, managers and leaders who have achieved great success in and for our Greater Phoenix business community.

FEATURE

42 GUEST COLUMNISTS

50 Homie to the Rescue, Helping Arizona’s Homeless This month spotlighting real estate firm Homie, Tyler Butler’s series explores the myriad ways businesses give back and the positive ways their programs impact our community.

52 Sleep Your Way to a Thriving, Less Stressful Life Jen Butler continues her series on stress’s impact on health and business.

Labor Shortage? Could Be a Job for Our Military Veterans

As the economy continues to surge in a post-pandemic recovery, veterans are among those seeking opportunities for employment in a labor market desperate for experienced and dedicated workers.

49

Manage Digital Opposition to Real Estate Development

Land-use and zoning attorney Adam Baugh discusses ways that an early outreach game plan can mitigate zoning protests.

53

In Company Protocols, What about the 2.7 Billion Deskless Workers?

Joe Ross discusses how the pandemic was a wake-up call to businesses to modernize their employee-facing software.

Collaboration between Education and Industry Forges a Stronger Workforce

18

From the Top

Chad Arruda and Dylan Vicha take private security beyond the “mall cop” image with Windom Security.

20

Healthcare

“Non-Invasive Healing Combines Therapeutic Modalities and Yoga” and “Assisted Living Facilities Learned Lessons through COVID-19”

22

Technology

“The Power of TikTok Can Boost Business” and “Podcasts for Businesses”

43

Books

New releases give fresh insights on business thinking.

44

En Negocios

46

Beyond the Résumé

Aaron Elder discusses upskilling and reskilling to help businesses enhance their recruiting efforts

10

Guest Editor

Feedback

Sherri Collins, Rachel Frazier Johnson and Eileen Rogers respond to In Business Magazine’s burning business question of the month.

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Briefs

59

“MCCCD’s Free Education Concierge Service – Highnoon among Employers Opting In,” “Dailies Top Stories,” “Local Standouts Recognized for Achievements and Philanthropy,” “AVANA Companies Stepping In to Stand Out in FinTech” and “Infinity Sun Moves to Scottsdale to Enable Expansion”

Tempe Chamber of Commerce

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CRE

“Adaptive Reuse: Should Retrofitting Be the Future of Real Estate?” “Affordable Residential Breaks Ground in Central Phoenix,” “Attainable Housing Fills Gap between Affordable and Luxury,” “Not Yet in Phoenix,” “Large-Scale Logistics Center Planned near Phoenix-Goodyear Airport” and “Data Centers: Increasing Speed to Market”

55

Linda Hunt, chief executive officer of Dignity Health Southwest Division, introduces the “Women of Achievement” issue.

4

15

Collaboration also creates a welcome new talent pipeline, says Zac Dunn as he explores the issue in his article.

9

SEPT. 2021

Startups

“Spatial’s Virtual Soundscapes Redefine the Human Experience” and “Vetster: On-Demand Virtual Veterinary Appointments”

Feature article in Spanish and English: “Seis formas en que las pequeñas empresas pueden ayudar a salvar el planeta del cambio climático” / “Six Ways Small Businesses Can Help Save the Planet from Climate Change”

54

DEPARTMENTS

PARTNER SECTION

14

By the Numbers

A recent study from Appcast reveals the impact of social and COVID-19 crises on workers’ preferences and expectations.

Economy

Anthony Austin explains why the anticipated tsunami of commercial bankruptcies has not happened.

48

Legal

Attorney Marki Stewart discusses how and why new legislation makes telehealth more accessible and profitable for healthcare businesses.

56

Nonprofit

Critical partnerships between companies, their employees and the larger community are helping change corporations from the inside out.

57

Assets

2022 Range Rover Sport Plus: Budget interiorscapes and living plants can be capital expenditures.

58

Power Lunch

STK Steakhouse: Dishing in Style

66

Roundtable

Ville Houttu shares the success of his company’s “CEO of the day”

Job openings remain at record highs, with more than 9.2 million open positions in the U.S. Businesses cannot hire employees quickly enough. Adding more complexity to hiring, the U.S. is experiencing a record number of employees quitting their jobs.

According to ThinkWhy’s July 2021 LaborIQ Index, tracking 10 key performance indicators, Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale is the second-best-performing of U.S. labor markets (behind Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington, Texas). thinkwhy.com

Doctors Plan of Arizona: Your new health plan experience In collaboration with Banner Health Network, Doctors Plan of Arizona is designed to provide a better health care experience for you and your employees. With lower out-of-pocket costs1 and an integrated approach to care designed for better outcomes, this health plan helps your employees and their families access a broad network with over 4,200 providers2 to choose from — right where they live, work and play.

Learn more

Call your broker or visit uhc.com/dpaz

1

Savings based on lower premiums for Doctors Plan compared to standard Choice Plus plans at the same deductible and coinsurance level as of 7/1/2020. This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued.

For costs and complete details of the coverage, contact your broker or UnitedHealthcare sales representative.

2

UnitedHealth Network Access internal analysis, June 2020.

3

Additional copays, deductibles or coinsurance may apply when you receive other services — such as surgery and lab work.

Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided

by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Health Plan coverage provided by UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, Inc. B2B EI20236739.1 1/21 © 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20-189173-B

0 copays

$

for primary care provider visits, urgent care visits, online visits and convenience care visits3

Sept. 2021 In Business Magazine is a collaboration of many business organizations and entities throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area and Arizona. Our mission is to inform and energize business in this community by communicating content that will build business and enrich the economic picture for all of us vested in commerce.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS Kristen Merrifield, CEO Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits (602) 279-2966 www.arizonanonprofits.org

Powerful insights from proven leaders

Jess Roman, Chief Executive Officer Arizona Small Business Association Central Office (602) 306-4000 www.asba.com Steven G. Zylstra, President & CEO Arizona Technology Council One Renaissance Square (602) 343-8324 www.aztechcouncil.org

Two free, online events this fall.

The Economic Club of Phoenix (ECP) is a long-standing, Arizona-forged organization for local business leaders looking to tap into insights from the nation’s top business experts and executives. Our all-virtual format allows attendance and participation from wherever is convenient for you.

Doug Bruhnke, Founder & President Global Chamber® (480) 595-5000 www.globalchamber.org Jean Briese, President NAWBO Phoenix Metro Chapter (480) 289-5768 www.nawbophx.org Anne Gill, President & CEO Tempe Chamber of Commerce (480) 967-7891 www.tempechamber.org

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021

Joshua LaBaer, Executive director and professor, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University

Our Partner Organizations are vested business organizations focused on building and improving business in the Valley or throughout Arizona. As Partners, each will receive three insert publications each year to showcase all that they are doing for business and businesspeople within our community. We encourage you to join these and other organizations to better your business opportunities.

The members of these and other Associate Partner Organizations receive a subscription to In Business Magazine each month. For more information on becoming an Associate Partner, please contact our publisher at info@inbusinessmag.com.

ASSOCIATE PARTNERS

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021

Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce ahwatukeechamber.com

Spirit of Enterprise Award Rebecca Clyde, CEO and co-founder, Botco.ai

Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry azchamber.com Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce azhcc.com The Black Chamber of Arizona phoenixblackchamber.com Chandler Chamber of Commerce chandlerchamber.com Economic Club of Phoenix econclubphx.org Glendale Chamber of Commerce glendaleazchamber.org

To register, visit econclubphx.org or call 480-727-0596.

Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce phoenixchamber.com Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce gpglcc.org Mesa Chamber of Commerce mesachamber.org North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce northphoenixchamber.com Peoria Chamber of Commerce peoriachamber.com Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce phoenixmetrochamber.com Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce scottsdalechamber.com Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce surpriseregionalchamber.com WESTMARC westmarc.org

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SEPT. 2021

8/10/21 3:08 PM INBUSINESSPHX.COM

Leading through humankindness.

CEO of Dignity Health Southwest Division Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Linda Hunt, President and CEO of Dignity Health Southwest Division, has been named the 2021 Linda M. Herold Lifetime Achievement Honoree by In Business Magazine. Linda is a visionary leader whose impact has been felt throughout the health care and biosciences communities and the state of Arizona. While she is admired for shaping the future of health care through innovation and compassion, we appreciate her most for being humankindness personified.

Sept. 2021

Together we are…

Adaptive.

Through each challenge, remain flexible and strong.

When we are adaptive together, small business is Resilient.

Publisher Editor En Negocios Editor Graphic Design

Rick McCartney RaeAnne Marsh Edgar Rafael Olivo Benjamin Little

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Aust Anthony Austin Adam Baugh Jen Butler Tyler Butler Zac Dunn Aaron Elder Ville Houttu Mike Hunter Carla Vargas Jasa Christina Johnson Jamie Killin Mark Lawrence Sundip Patel Dave Pratt Dr. Pablo Prichard Brad Schenck Marki Stewart Rose Tring ADVERTISING

Let’s get together.

StearnsBank.com/Phoenix

VOL. 12, NO. 9

Follow us

| (480) 314-4200

Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender

Operations Louise Ferrari

Business Development Louise Ferrari Cami Shore

Events Amy Corben More: Visit your one-stop resource for everything business at inbusinessphx.com. For a full monthly calendar of business-related events, please visit our website.

Inform Us: Send press releases and your editorial ideas to editor@inbusinessphx.com

President & CEO Rick McCartney

Editorial Director RaeAnne Marsh

Financial Manager Tom Beyer

Office Manager Allie Schimmel

Accounting Manager Todd Juhl

Corporate Office InMedia Company

45 W. Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85003 T: (480) 588-9505

info@inmediacompany.com

www.inmediacompany.com Vol. 12, No. 9 In Business Magazine is published 12 times per year by InMedia Company. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to InMedia Company, 45 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. To subscribe to In Business Magazine, please send check or money order for one-year subscription of $24.95 to InMedia Company, 45 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 or visit inbusinessphx.com. We appreciate your editorial submissions, news and photos for review by our editorial staff. You may send to editor@inbusinessmag.com or mail to the address above. All letters sent to In Business Magazine will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication, copyright purposes and use in any publication, website or brochure. InMedia accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other artwork. Submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

InMedia Company, LLC reserves the right to refuse certain advertising and is not liable for advertisers’ claims and/or errors. The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of InMedia. InMedia Company considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, although reporting inaccuracies can occur; consequently, readers using this information do so at their own risk. Each business opportunity and/or investment inherently contains certain risks, and it is suggested that the prospective investors consult their attorney and/or financial professional. ©2021 InMedia Company, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission by any means without written permission by the publisher.

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LINDA S. HUNT, DIGNITY HEALTH SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Women of Achievement

Linda Hunt oversees Dignity Health’s Southwest Division, which is anchored by ten outstanding hospitals in Arizona and Nevada. Under Hunt’s leadership, Dignity Health’s Southwest Division has grown into a respected and comprehensive healthcare system, which also includes imaging centers, specialty hospitals, physician groups, freestanding emergency rooms, insurance providers, a medical school campus and other clinical partnerships.

Hunt has served on several state and national commissions that are working to shape the future of healthcare and has received local and national recognition for her leadership.

Coordinated with its annual event that shines a spotlight on women who are using their positions of leadership — whether in for-profit or nonprofit organizations — to make a difference in our community, this edition of In Business Magazine celebrates the 2021 Women of Achievement.

During my career in the Valley, I have witnessed how very open and welcoming the community is to women in leadership. Numerous businesses, large and small, have evolved to help women rise to the top of their organizations; and more women are being elected into public office here. This critical leadership transformation is positively changing the complexion of the boardroom and the culture within many industries. And most importantly, the influx of women leaders is helping our community to thrive and build a healthier society. Phoenix is a relatively young city that is unbound by convention — and that is reflected in the many leadership opportunities for women. This shift excites me and makes me tremendously proud. I’m honored to work alongside so many esteemed leaders who are contributing to this effort.

In this September edition’s cover story, In Business Magazine presents 2021’s Women of Achievement — 14 exceptional women who share their stories in biographical profiles — and my own honor of being named 2021 Linda M. Herold Lifetime Achievement honoree.

This edition also takes a hard look at an often under-the-radar segment of our business community – military veterans in the workforce and as entrepreneurs. Rose Tring examines the benefits and challenges as veterans enter the civilian workforce in the feature article “Labor Shortage? Could Be a Job for Our Military Veterans.”

A cluster of Focus articles address other workforce issues the pandemic has either created or exacerbated. Of the former, a communication function that common-area bulletin boards once served needs to be replaced in the work-from-home era, as Joe Ross discusses in “In Company Protocols, What about the 2.7 Billion Deskless Workers?” And of the latter, the talent gaps between an available employee pool and the jobs crying to be filled take the attention of Zac Dunn in “Collaboration between Education and Industry Forges a Stronger Workforce” and Aaron Elder’s “Beyond the Résumé” discussion of businesses’ need to provide upskilling and reskilling training.

Filling the jobs is only half the battle. Keeping the employees is the other half. Vincit USA CEO Ville Houttu, in his Roundtable article “Avoiding the Turnover Tsunami,” shares an innovative “CEO of the day” program that has promoted a lasting work culture in his company. Accepting that not every decision is a good one, the initiative not only empowers employees but highlights the fact that it’s okay to fail — and has proven success in creating a strong and successful company.

With the magazine’s usual mix of business-relevant information, this edition of In Business Magazine also presents articles on technology, healthcare, real estate trends, finance, new businesses in our community and more. I am pleased to help bring you this September edition of In Business Magazine. Enjoy the read.

EN NEGOCIOS Manténgase informado sobre temas empresariales en español a través de En Negocios, artículos para los lectores de habla hispana en el área metropolitana de Phoenix.

Visite inbusinessphx.com/ ennegocios para más información.

Stay informed on business topics in Spanish through En Negocios, articles for Spanish-speaking readers in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Visit inbusinessphx.com/ ennegocios for more information.

Sincerely,

Linda S. Hunt President and CEO Dignity Health Southwest Division

CONNECT WITH US: Story Ideas/PR: editor@ inbusinessphx.com

Achieve Meant

Photo courtesy of

Each year in September, we celebrate achievement of

I would also like to thank this year’s

top women leaders in the Valley. While achievement for all

Lifetime Achievement Honoree,

businesspeople is a true partner of success, we focus on women

Linda S. Hunt. Linda is the epitome of

who demonstrate achievement in multiple ways — business,

achievement and has dedicated her

personal and community. After a year like 2020, our honoree

career to achieving greatness for others in the healthcare field.

committee, led by Linda M. Herold, our inaugural Lifetime

Over this past 18 months, Linda has experienced a new level of

Honoree in 2017, also looked at leadership through the pandemic.

achievement and that is why she was unanimously chosen as the

We have an inspiring group of 15 women this year and are very

2021 honoree. Thank you, Linda. We are excited to celebrate you

excited to honor them in our in-person event on October 8th.

and continue learn from you.

DON’T MISS OUT!

Get a year of In Business Magazine Subscribe now at inbusinessphx.com

Business Events/ Connections: businessevents@ inbusinessphx.com Marketing/Exposure: advertise@ inbusinessphx.com Visit us online at www.inbusinessphx.com

—Rick McCartney, Publisher

Let us know what you think of this issue of In Business Magazine. Email our publisher at feedback@inbusinessmag.com.

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SPEAKING OUT As a former Women of Achievement honoree, you’ve been recognized for outstanding leadership.

What do you feel are the most important leadership qualities for the times we are in now?

SHERRI L. COLLINS, M.ED. RACHEL FRAZIER JOHNSON, ESQ.

Executive Director Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing Sector: Government

As the executive director of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, I believe it is more important now than ever to lead with empathy and grace. In the past 18 months, the world as we know it has changed. We are now in a new normal in which we must continue to be flexible and malleable to change. We have to understand as leaders, pivoting to this new normal will take its toll on our staff and our community. I have found this to be of the most utmost importance for the deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind community I serve.

We must lead with empathy and listen to what is being told to us and asked of us. Driving our decisions based on people will give us the grace we need to adapt to the daily current of change and to continue to build in our communities.

FEEDBACK QUESTION: Let us know what you want to know from the Valley’s top business leaders. editor@inbusinessphx.com

For all past Feedbacks go online to inbusinessphx.com and see what Valley executives think on various business topics.

SEPT. 2021

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The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing acdhh.org A nationally recognized advocate for the deaf and the hard of hearing, Sherri Collins is the executive director of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, a position she has held since May 1998, where she is the agency’s registered public lobbyist.

She advocates, strengthens and implements state policies affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their relationship to the public, industry, healthcare and educational opportunities.

Principal and Managing Editor Rachel Frazier Johnson Law Sector: Law I believe adaptability, creativity and compassion are the most important leadership qualities for the current times.

Adaptability because the world and the employment landscape are everchanging due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adaptability is an indispensable quality to ensure that your company can remain relevant and keep up with the notion that change is inevitable.

Creativity is an element of a highly effective leadership for the current times as global and local business have been impacted by the global pandemic.

An effective business leader will think and respond creatively and encourage their team to do the same to not only keep up with the evolution of business but accommodate the changes in the local, national and global marketplaces which bring new opportunities.

Compassion is the third critical leadership quality for effective leadership in the current times. The current global climate; awareness of social justice locally, nationally and globally; and the COVID-19 global health pandemic have brought many leadership lessons. One’s level of emotional intelligence must drive the unique needs of a business, its employees and customers.

Rachel Frazier Johnson Law rfjesq.com Rachel Frazier Johnson is an accomplished attorney, a formidable pro tem judge and a successful business owner. Prior to establishing her private law practice, Rachel Frazier Johnson Law, in 2013, she had served the State of Arizona as a senior attorney for the Securities Division of the Corporation Commission and as the managing attorney for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Civil Litigation and Advice Section of the Child and Family Division.

Sign up for the monthly In Business Magazine eNewsletter at www.inbusinessphx.com. Look for survey questions and other research on our business community.

EILEEN ROGERS Owner One Creative View Sector: Business Coaching Wanted: Courageous Leaders. Today, more than ever.

It is the courage to lead teams and organizations with transparency.

Being straightforward with challenges, consequences and, at the same time, being comfortable with not having all the answers. These same leaders have found that being vulnerable (defined as all the emotions associated with risk, uncertainty, and emotional exposure) is not a weakness; it is a strength. There is no courage without vulnerability.

Courageous leaders lean into, not away from, difficult conversations. They know being clear is being kind. They know what their core values are, and these values become the important boundaries they set, live into, and role model every day.

Courageous leaders trust and value their teams. They build psychologically safe environments where individuals are encouraged to challenge the status quo. These are the teams that are always curious, pivoting, innovating, adapting and thriving during these very challenging times. A courageous leader also knows that success isn’t possible without failure, so they encourage and grow resilient teams.

One Creative View onecreativeview.com Eileen Rogers is a business advisor, facilitator and executive coach. She is an accomplished and recognized entrepreneur and community leader who is fiercely passionate about supporting and growing more courageous leaders. She is leaning into her role as a courage and vulnerability leadership evangelist, spreading the gifts of selfawareness, joy and wholeheartedness. Rogers is a Certified Coach, Dare to Lead™ facilitator, and Integrative Enneagram practitioner.

QUICK AND TO THE POINT

DAILIES TOP STORIES

‘In Business Dailies’ Most Views Last 30 Days Here are the stories with the most views over the past 30 days (prior to press time) that were features in our In Business Dailies. The In Business Dailies hit email inboxes twice each weekday — at 9:30 a.m. and updated at 4:30 p.m. Sign up today at www.inbusinessphx.com/ dailies-signup Achievements | inbusinessphx.com | August 19 2021

In Business Magazine Celebrates 15 Valley Women of Achievement, Safe In-Person Event Held Oct. 8 Stories of Achievement revealed during in-person event at The Phoenician inbusinessPHX.com In Business Magazine is, once again, bringing together

MCCCD’s Free Education Concierge Service – Highnoon among Employers Opting In Statistics show that 93% of employees say using their employer’s tuition assistance program helped them develop the skills they needed to grow within their company, yet only 10% of employees utilize tuition assistance from their employer if it is offered. Many factors impact this underutilization, but for many it is lack of understanding of funding opportunities through employers, financial aid or scholarships.

The Maricopa County Community College District created its Concierge Service to remedy that, providing direct support through the Maricopa Community College’s advising team members, who are part of the Enrollment Management division within Student Affairs.

These individuals will be available to assist with admissions, tuition benefit and financial aid navigation, advising and success coaching for students attending any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.

Through this program, MCCCD and Highnoon recently launched an Education Concierge Partnership that will provide Highnoon, its clients and partners access to convenient, consolidated services to help their employees pursue a college education within the Maricopa Community Colleges system.

Highnoon is a Tempe-based marketing and public relations agency that serves a variety of clients such as SRP, Taylor Morrison, Valleywise Health and Arizona Federal Credit Union. As part of this partnership, all the organizations and companies the agency engages with will have access to a dedicated advising team to help their employees eliminate barriers many working professionals face when starting or returning to college.

As part of the Achieve60AZ initiative, the State of Arizona has set a lofty goal: By 2030, 60% of adults in the state aged 25 to 64 will hold a postsecondary credential or degree. In order to help reach this goal, the Maricopa community colleges are developing strategic partnerships like this with local employers like Highnoon dedicated to a quality, affordable education.

The Concierge service makes it simpler for local employers to further their employees’ ability to earn an associate degree, certificate and/or university transfer. This partnership was facilitated by Maricopa Corporate College, a division of the Workforce and Economic Development Office at Maricopa Community Colleges.

—Mike Hunter

top local women of achievement to share their stories and inspire Valley business leaders at the annual Women of Achievement event on Friday, October 8, 2021, in an inspiring in-person luncheon event. Fifteen Valley Women of Achievement are being celebrated for their achievements.

MORE: inbusinessphx.com/?p=167042 Marketing | Cover Story | August 2021

Coming Back: How Marketing Will Build (Back) Business after COVID What do business decision-makers need to know about expanding or jump-starting their businesses as we emerge from the pandemic?

by RaeAnne Marsh The term “new normal” is bandied about quite a bit these days. And, indeed, the consensus seems to be that consumers’ relationship with companies they turn to for goods, services and information has evolved in new directions from what was understood and accepted as recently as January of last year.

MORE: inbusinessphx.com/?p=166878 Positions | inbusinessphx.com | August 25 2021

Delta Dental of Arizona Announces Michael Jones as President and Chief Executive Officer Delta Dental of Arizona Delta Dental of Arizona is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Jones as president and chief executive officer, effective October 2021. He will also serve as the president of the charitable Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, which provides much-needed funding, education and dental supplies to those in need across the state.

MORE: https://inbusinessphx.com/?p=167079

Community College Education Concierge info.maricopacorporate.com/concierge

According to a recent study by Elements Global, roughly half (49%) of employees do not report issues to HR for fear of retaliation. elementsgs.com/top-hr-complaints-statistics

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LOOKING GOOD

Local Standouts Recognized for Achievements and Philanthropy ACHIEVEMENTS

Trevor Wilde Accepted into Forbes Finance Council Award-winning Wilde Wealth Management Group recently gained another honor when its CEO, Trevor Wilde, MBA, AIF®, was accepted into Forbes Finance Council, an invitation-only community for executives in accounting, financial planning, wealth and asset management, and investment firms.

Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. wildewealth.com

ZorroSign Keeps On Winning ZorroSign, Inc., a leader in digital signature technology, recently won two 2021 Fortress Cyber Security Awards: one for Blockchain (very small company 11 to 100 employees), and one for Authentication & Identity (very small company).

Fortress awards represent a global community of cyber security experts, technology developers and governments taking proactive steps to thwart attacks and take preventative measures to remain one-step ahead so responses can be quick and efficient. This was followed soon after with ZorroSign, Inc. being named “Blockchain SaaS Innovator of the Year 2021” for its ZorroSign DTM — a secure platform delivering digital signature and digital transaction management — at the UAE Business Awards 2021. zorrosign.com

Phoenix Children’s One of ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’ For the fifth time, Phoenix Children’s Hospital earned national rankings from U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” in 10 out of 10 ranked specialties. The health system is the only children’s hospital in Arizona ever to have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report and one of only 22 children’s hospitals in the United States to rank in every surveyed specialty for 2021-2022. phoenixchildrens.org

PHILANTHROPY

Gust Rosenfeld Gives 100 to Soldier’s Best Friend Continuing its celebration of its100th anniversary, fullservice law firm Gust Rosenfeld donated 120 backpacks, 102 collapsible bowls, 100 bags of treats and 100 collars to Soldier’s Best Friend.

SBF provides U.S. military veterans living with combatrelated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs, most of which are rescued from local shelters, at no cost to the veteran. The veteran and dog train together to build a trusting relationship that saves two lives at once and inspires countless others. gustlaw.com

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AVANA Companies Stepping In to Stand Out in FinTech AVANA Capital’s recently launched LendThrive™ is a next-generation lending platform designed to help small businesses thrive while stimulating local economies. It is aimed at underserved companies in industries such as hospitality and renewable energy that are often overlooked by financial markets.

We see industries like hospitality poised for a post-pandemic comeback, and LendThrive™ can help with expenses such as funding for FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment). Through AVANA Capital, we have lent $800 million in total for hospitality projects. However, we found we needed to take it a step further for smaller hospitality projects with a lending range of $25,000$150,000. So, we developed LendThrive™ with the intention to reward good-performing borrowers so they can save for everyday expenses and personal needs like college tuition and medical expenses.

Our unique Rate Reduction Rewards program provides a declining interest rate

over the term of the loan for customers who make on-time loan payments. For example, if a business owner starts with an interest rate of 2.50% per month and makes payments on time, their rate can reduce gradually to as low as 1.25%. This signature feature makes LendThrive™ stand out in the FinTech space.

I believe that by lending with social impact, we can invest in communities as well as the people they serve and employ. I, too, am a lifelong entrepreneur and have personally faced the same hardships as many other business owners. It was this experience that compelled me to develop a straight-forward platform that enables small companies to access capital in a transparent and fair manner.

By lending responsibly, we are able to support social objectives that boost local communities and protect the environment. —Sundip Patel, CEO of Glendale-based AVANA Companies (avanacompanies.com), which is comprised of AVANA Capital, LendThrive™, Extensia Financial, AVANA Fund and EqualSeat™

Infinity Sun Moves to Scottsdale to Enable Expansion Infinity Sun, known for its airbrush tanning systems, sunless tanning solutions and celebrity clientele, as well as being a leader in the beauty industry since 2005, has relocated to the Scottsdale Airpark in Scottsdale, Ariz., to continue its product expansion through the formation of Sunless Labs & CO., a new contract manufacturing company that creates private-label and custom formulations for the beauty industry. In addition to growing the Infinity Sun brand, Veronique Munro, founder and CEO of Infinity Sun, launched Sunless Lab Spray Tan Bar, a concept spray tan studio where the company will provide high-quality spray tans and launch new and innovative sunless tanning and skincare products.

“In Scottsdale, we can have all of our operations under one roof,” Munro says.

“Previously, corporate was in a high-end building in West Hollywood [in California] and our factory was in North Hollywood. In Scottsdale, we consolidated everything to bring the team together and have everything under one roof. This feels like more of a team environment where we are developing team

spirit and pride in the brand.” The new space includes R&D, manufacturing, pro training and logistics of a wide range of sunless tanning and beauty products, as well as a studio for spray tanning services.

Munro launched Infinity Sun in Los Angeles more than 15 years ago and built the brand to include spray systems, sunless tanning solutions, a growing line of high-end skincare products and a training center for professionals looking to start or grow a tanning and beauty business, as well as a nonprofit, Sprays for Strays, to help rescues across the U.S.A. pull dogs from the pounds and shelters and pay for spays, neuters, vaccinations, etc. to help get them into loving forever homes.

During her career, Munro has worked with celebrity clients such as Jessica Alba, Giuliana Rancic, Kaley Cuoco and Britney Spears, and has tanned stars on the set of hit shows such as “Entourage,” “Glee,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Sunset Tan,” “Millionaire Matchmaker” and “Dr. 90210.”

—Mike Hunter Infinity Sun infinitysun.com

The Connectivity @tlas recently released its report of the fastest internet speeds globally. The global average megabits per second, also known as MBPS, download speed is 98.67. Singapore’s average speed is 238.59 while Hong Kong’s is 231.7 and Thailand’s is 217.7.

The United States comes in at No. 12 with a speed of 180.84. hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/internet-speeds-around-the-world

METRICS & MEASUREMENTS

Corporate Social Responsibility Matters in Attracting Talent The pandemic has impacted workers’ work preferences and values

by Heather Salerno

To support global hiring efforts, Appcast recently announced findings from the 2021 “Decoding Global Talent” series.

Compiled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), The Network and Appcast, the report reveals the impact of social and COVID-19 crises on U.S. workers’ preferences and expectations. Nearly 209,000 workers in 190 countries — including more than 6,300 workers in the United States — participated in the study. Here are a few highlights of what we learned:

U.S. respondents 30 years and younger (72%) were most likely to agree with this statement compared to all U.S. respondents (63%) and all respondents globally (69%).

POST-PANDEMIC WORK PREFERENCES: FLEXIBILITY IS KEY

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ARE TOP PRIORITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS

The increased focus on social and racial injustice issues is impacting what job seekers expect from future employers.

Now, more than ever, job seekers want to work for companies that take a stand on important issues and whose values, mission and culture align with their own beliefs.

According to the report, more than half (51%) of U.S. respondents said they would exclude a company from their job search if its values and stance on diversity and inclusion (D&I) didn’t match their own beliefs. This number was even higher among respondents 30 years and younger (56%), providing insight into how younger generations will shape the future of work.

Overall, the report finds that D&I became more important over the last year across all age groups globally. Interestingly, What U.S. Workforce Participants Value Rank

United States 2020

United States 2018

1

Good work-life balance

Good relationship with superior

2

Job security

Financial stability of employer

3

Financial compensation

Good work-life balance

4

Financial stability of employer

Good relationship with colleagues

5

Good relationship with superior

Company values

6

Appreciation for your work

Financial compensation

7

Good relationship with colleagues

Job security

8

Company values

Appreciation for your work

9

Flexible schedules & workplaces

Interesting job content

10

Interesting job content

Learning & skills training

As a result of massive COVID-19 vaccination rollout efforts and a roaring economy, employers are now welcoming staff back to the workplace. However, the report finds an increased desire among U.S. workers for flexible work options moving forward. Post-pandemic, only 14% of U.S. employees would prefer to work completely on-site, and a whopping 50% would prefer a combination of both remote and on-site work arrangements. Further, the report finds that 35% of U.S. respondents would prefer to work completely remote, compared to 24% of respondents globally.

The pandemic-induced shift to remote work coupled with economic uncertainty also impacted the attitudes of U.S. job seekers over the last two years. When asked to rank top job preferences, “good work-life balance” now ranks first, followed by “job security” and “financial compensation” among U.S. workers. Globally, “good relationship with colleagues” topped the list, followed by “good relationship with superior” and “good work-life balance.”

The pandemic and increased focus on important issues like racial equity are reshaping how, where and by whom work gets done. Employers committed to diversity and inclusion and that offer flexible work arrangements are most likely to attract top talent and emerge stronger post-pandemic.

Impact of Social and Environmental Crisis on Job Preferences in the U.S. Comparing U.S.-specific findings to all respondents globally (which includes U.S.) U.S. Total U.S. Under 30 Global

Working Mode in the U.S. – before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic Completely remote

Combination remote/on-site

Completely on-site

Before pandemic

16%

20%

64%

At time of survey (end of 2020)

28%

23%

Stated preference

35%

50%

49% 14%

Issue of Environment Responsibility became more important over the last year

59%

65%

69.6%

Would exclude companies that don’t match applicant’s beliefs in Environment Responsibility

45%

49%

51.7%

Issue of Diversity & Inclusion became more important over the last year

63%

72%

68.7%

Would exclude companies that don’t match applicant’s beliefs in Diversity & Inclusion

51%

56%

51.4%

Source: Appcast’s “What U.S. Job Seekers Want in 2021: D&I and Remote Flexibility Among Work Preferences” report (https://info.appcast.io/whitepaper/what-u.s.-jobseekers-want-in-2021-website)

According to Appcast’s recent report, more than half (51%) of U.S. respondents said they would exclude a company from their job search if its values and stance on diversity and inclusion (D&I) didn’t match their own beliefs. This number was even higher among respondents 30 years and younger (56%), providing insight into how younger generations will shape the future of work.

METHODOLOGY The research for the 2021 “Decoding Global Talent” series was conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network between October and November 2020. Feedback was obtained from 208,807 workforce respondents in 190 countries. Data on U.S. workers was obtained by Appcast, The Network’s exclusive U.S. partner. info.appcast.io/whitepaper/ what-u.s.-job-seekerswant-in-2021-website appcast.io/workforcetrends-global-talent-survey/

Heather Salerno is senior vice president of marketing at Appcast, the global leader in programmatic recruitment advertising technology and services.

With advanced technology, unmatched market data and a team of the industry’s best recruitment marketers, Appcast’s technology and services manage more than half a billion dollars in job advertising annually on behalf of more than 1,500 clients. appcast.io Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities.

BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963, and continues to help clients with total transformation— inspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact. bcg.com/en-us

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BY RAEANNE MARSH

ENTREPRENEURS & INNOVATORS

Spatial’s Virtual Soundscapes Redefine the Human Experience Spatial has a number of design, technology and AV partners, including Scottsdale-based Theater X, which offers high-end audio, theater, lighting and automation solutions for residential, commercial and industrial projects in the Southwest. These partners help power Spatial’s software service and bring the magic of what Spatial creates to life.

In addition to backing from venture capital firms DBL Partners and BITKRAFT Ventures, Spatial gained The National Geographic Society as a strategic investor and partner helping the company illuminate the wonders of the world through sound.

Intending to break down traditional audio barriers, Scottsdaleheadquartered Spatial Inc. is redefining the human experience by creating virtual soundscapes in all spaces where people spend time. “Michael Plitkins and I co-founded Spatial with the goal of bringing a modern approach to real-time, interactive, deeply immersive experiences to the world,” says CEO Calin Pacurariu.

With technology that is flexible, powerful and scalable, Spatial is serving a range of customers, from corporations, retailers, theme parks, museums, hotels and wellness centers to residential estates. “We’re taking audio to a new level and allowing creators to unleash their creative soundscapes.”

Following an initial “quiet” launch in 2017, Spatial publicly announced itself earlier this year, in March. In between those dates were the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The commercial clients we largely cater to — retailers, hospitality, museums and theme parks — were forced to close their doors.

To overcome this business challenge, we refocused our efforts on bringing immersive audio experiences directly where people were working, staying and playing — all in one space,” Pacurariu shares. “Instead of letting the pandemic slow our workflow, we used it as fuel to enhance estate residences with immersive audio. After everyone was forced to shut their doors and stay inside, we knew we had a unique opportunity to bring immersive, lifelike experiences directly to the home. People

were missing playful experiences and the ability to travel and Spatial was able transport estate owners, their family and friends by building theme park experiences in their home.”

“It’s all about the team you build,” Pacurariu says. “I’ve been lucky to be able to work with some of the best CEOs in my career. Their deep and continuous focus building the perfect teams is the foundation of everything in business. That was a core lesson from Donna Dubinsky at Handspring, where we built the early smartphones to Steve Jobs at Apple, where we rebooted the company and built the foundation for today’s success. All great businesses start small and the team is the force multiplier, whether you have a team of ten, one hundred or thousands.”

Spatial Inc. spatialinc.com

In its first six months, Vetster attracted veterinarians in every state and province across North America to make care more accessible and available 24/7, with thousands of pet owners booking appointments to receive care, access online prescriptions where regionally permitted, and help improve their pet’s overall health.

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Vetster connects pet owners to thousands of licensed veterinary professionals ready to provide online pet care through video, chat and voice-enabled appointments 24/7. Founded in September last year and officially launched in November, Vetster is the largest veterinary telemedical marketplace in North America. “With veterinarians in all states and provinces across North America, Vetster makes it easy for pet owners to find, book and conduct a telemedical appointment with a trusted veterinarian — all from the convenience of their own home,” says CEO and co-founder Mark Bordo.

For veterinarians, the Vetster platform provides them a way to expand their services outside the clinic and clinic hours, reach new clients, and provide care in between appointments or for treatment where an in-clinic appointment may not be needed. For pet owners, Vetster offers an easy way to book appointments at times convenient to them, access care outside the clinic setting, and improve their pet’s overall health with proactive and regular care. Says Bordo, “Vetster aims to create a holistic and consistent approach to caring for pets.”

Bordo believes the growing acceptance and adoption of telemedical services for people and the dramatic increase in pet ownership spurred by the pandemic were key factors in

The pet care industry has grown to $100 billion in the last year as more people have added pets to their family.

the development of Vetster; he notes veterinarians saw a 50% rise in clients that challenged their ability to meet the needs of clients within their current practice.

“Building a platform that exceeded the needs of our customers and our veterinarians quickly has been no easy feat, particularly when we’re all working remotely and need to collaborate and be lock-step with one another,” Bordo shares.

“Our MVP [minimum viable product] needed to have a robust set of tools to support scheduling, great audio and video quality, it needed to be secure, and needed to offer key features like reporting, automated billing and payments. Accomplishing this within just a few months was a huge challenge and I’m so proud to say our team rose to the occasion.”

What Mark is describing there, is the first version of our app when we launch. It needed to have a great video and audio experience for both the veterinarian and as well as the customer.

The marketplace needed to make it easy to find a veterinarian, to book an appointment and pay online. For veterinarians, we needed to include note taking, prescriptions and other key functionality that would support a veterinary appointment.

Vetster vetster.com

Photos courtesy of Spatial Inc. (top), Vetster (bottom left)

Vetster: On-Demand Virtual Veterinary Appointments

PROPERTY, GROWTH AND LOCATION

Photos courtesy of Private Label International (left), Mesquite Terrace and Greenlight Communities(right, top to bottom)

Adaptive Reuse: Should Retrofitting Be the Future of Real Estate?

Adaptive reuse, or the process of reusing an existing building for a purpose other than that for which it was originally built or designed, is an important commercial real estate trend that our team predicts has long-term staying power. While new build construction has many benefits, adaptive reuse is moving on from being considered solely for historical buildings or revitalization. While it takes an experienced team and a targeted strategy to properly retrofit an asset, the benefits range from cost savings, sustainable construction, historical or cultural preservation to community building and repositioning properties left vacant from cultural or economic shifts.

As experienced in many industries, the events of the past year have caused a major shift. During any real estate upheaval, adaptive reuse becomes even more attractive.

During the recession of 2008, many condo buildings were undersold or entirely empty.

Across the U.S., adaptive reuse was used to convert condos to rental or hospitality properties. Forward thinking developers in Phoenix bought up decades-old, dilapidated apartment properties that still had good bones and repositioned them to provide affordable housing in prime urban areas of the Valley. Empty retail spaces were converted to offices and churches. While our market today is different, one commonality is the surplus of empty buildings due to cultural and economic shifts.

Two main factors are contributing to the low occupancy of existing office buildings: the urban to suburban migration and the rise in employee telecommuting. Current conditions have left landlords and companies scrambling to figure out what to do with buildings that are either now obsolete or in need of downsizing. And while we hope some of these buildings can be retained for their original use, the properties that can’t be make prime candidates for adaptive reuse projects. Converting office complexes into multifamily, mixed use or live/work properties is a direct response to the supply/demand issue that real estate is currently experiencing.

At Private Label, we are certainly not strangers to repositioning assets. From a design perspective, we like a good story and find inspiration in leaving a building better than we found it, thus affecting the community in a uniquely positive way. One project we are currently working on is converting three high-rise office buildings into live/work rental apartments. The lower levels of each building are being outfitted with state-ofthe-art super amenities, like a recording studio, fitness pods, a virtual reality lounge and duckpin bowling lanes, as well as conference rooms, teleconference rooms and an indoor/ outdoor amphitheater. The original office infrastructure lends itself well to providing the necessary building programming for multifamily units through necessary parking, existing restrooms and public to private square footage. On many projects, we’ve had the opportunity to uncover design features that deserve to be retained and not bulldozed.

Adaptive reuse, when done correctly, gives us an opportunity to stay true to a building’s innate character, and that can only enhance the final product. We hope to see more developers in the future continue to look for ways to reuse and adapt where possible.

—Christina Johnson, creative director of Phoenix- and San Francisco-based Private Label International (privatelabelintl.com), a full-service interior design studio that develops hospitality environments and lifestyle brand experiences for clients worldwide

GET REAL

by Mike Hunter

Affordable Housing Breaks Ground in Central Phoenix Construction on Mesquite Terrace, a multifamily affordable housing community in the Solano Neighborhood on 19th Avenue, one block north of Camelback Road near the light rail, broke ground earlier this summer.

When completed at the end of 2023, the three-building property on nearly four acres will offer 297 units: 129 one-bedroom, 78 two-bedroom and 90-three bedroom apartments ranging in size from 575 to 1,050 square feet. The first building is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

The project is being co-developed by Catholic Charities, through its Housing for Hope, Inc. affiliate, and Trinity Development, LLC. housingforhopeaz.org • catholiccharitiesaz.org

Attainable Housing Fills Gap between Affordable and Luxury Scottsdale-based Greenlight Communities plans to start construction this summer on a 250-unit development called Cabana Southern just west of the southwest corner of Crismon and Southern Avenues in Mesa, and expects to welcome its first residents in fall of next year.

Greenlight Communities is the first company to focus solely on building attainable housing to fill the void between affordable and luxury apartments, using its leading-edge business and development model to create a one-of-a-kind housing alternative for middle-class residents working in fields such as teaching, healthcare and public safety.

Greenlight Communities is currently leasing at its Cabana Hayden property in Scottsdale and has two projects underway in the city of Goodyear, one in Glendale and second in Mesa. Projects are also under construction and in the development pipeline in additional cities, including Phoenix and Tucson. livegreenlight.com

Not Yet in Phoenix Businesses’ workforce needs span from high-level (and high-paying) jobs to entry-level and menial jobs. Businesses need workers, and all income levels need housing. Creative ideas have been emerging to address the affordable housing crisis. Gensler, for instance, is involved in a project in Los Angeles that is using prefabricated modular construction, which it predicts will be a game-changer for the industry, potentially cutting production time in half and reducing costs by 20% compared to conventionally built projects. Real Estate company Repvblik, under CEO Richard Rubin, has been delivering apartments through adaptive reuse of malls and stores.

Private Label International has been named to Interior Design magazine’s 2021 Interior Design Rising Giants list. The prestigious list is made up of 100 top interior design firms nationwide and ranked by annual interior design fees.

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PROPERTY, GROWTH AND LOCATION

Large-Scale Logistics Center Planned near Phoenix-Goodyear Airport Phoenix-based alternative investment and real estate development firm Creation, in partnership with CrossHarbor Capital Partners, recently closed on 170.25 acres at the southeast corner of Yuma Road and Bullard Avenue, adjacent to the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, Ariz.

Plans call for a five-building, multi-phased 2.7 million square-foot logistics development called Airpark Logistics Center. The site is located on the northwest side of the 8,500-foot length runway — the third largest in Arizona — in a federally approved Foreign Trade Zone in Maricopa County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. Goodyear is centrally located within Phoenix’s West Valley, which has evolved into a primary manufacturing and logistics hub serving both the Phoenix Metro area and the entire Southwestern U.S. over the past decade.

The strong demand for logistics and warehouse space has been accelerated by the surge in e-commerce direct-to-consumer retail sales in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a resurgence of inventories back to the U.S. as companies reduce their supply chain dependence on China.

Construction of the first phase of Airpark Logistics Center, which will consist of three buildings totaling approximately 1.4 million square feet, will commence in September 2021. Phase two will total approximately 1.3 million square feet and construction is anticipated in early 2023. While phase two is presently being offered on a traditional build-to-suit basis, Creation has engaged in preliminary discussions about the potential to

facilitate future aviation logistics by way of “through the gate” access to Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.

CONCEPT RENDERING VIEW - NW CORNER - REAR LOAD BLDG ‘A’ Creation and CrossHarbor have hired Phoenix-based LGE Design Build for full design-build construction and architectural services.

Throughout the country, there are a limited number of industrial logistics developments adjacent to runways where air cargo fleets have direct access into hangars located on fee simple land.

—Mike Hunter

AIRPARK Logistics Center

Phoenix, Arizona 2021 . 04 . 15

This artist rendering is for conceptual design only and should not be referred to as a construction document.

THESE DRAWINGS ARE AN INSTRUMENT OF SERVICE AND THE PROPERTY OF LGE DESIGN GROUP AND LGE DESIGN BUILD AND SHALL REMAIN THEIR PROPERTY. THE USE OF THIS DRAWING SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO THE ORIGINAL SITE FOR WHICH IT WAS PREPARED AND PUBLICATION THEREOF IS EXPRESSLY LIMITED TO SUCH.

Creation creationequity.com CrossHarbor Capital Partners crossharborcapital.com

Construction teams across industries are faced with common challenges: shortened schedules, tight budgets and labor shortages — all while bringing facilities online faster to meet an uptick in demand, particularly in the mission critical sector. JE Dunn Construction has deployed creative solutions to increase speed to market for data centers at a time when the market needs them the most.

Modular construction: Modular construction involves prefabricating components — such as input and output switchboards, UPS modules and battery cabinets — in an off-site facility for quicker installation, either in modular containers or open skids. The modular containers and open skids contain all assembled equipment and are shipped directly to the site for installation of each component, as trade partners are ready for them.

This cuts the time in the schedule that would be required to build these components onsite for a traditional stick-built project. When the client orders premade skids and has them onsite, that makes construction faster and reduces the overall schedule. One of the biggest risks to a data center schedule is getting the equipment onsite when it’s needed. Having premade skids available eliminates that risk.

Advanced work packaging: Advanced work packaging takes design down to the utmost level of detail to eliminate mistakes, improve quality, enhance safety, save time and increase efficiency through repeatability.

It combines planning, prefabrication and modular components at not only a higher level of detail but also to a much larger scale that creates smaller, repeatable packages for installation that are easy to track and execute.

By breaking project scopes into smaller packages, teams can reduce the amount of build-up of work-in-process, in turn decreasing the risk for project delays.

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Shift the schedule left: Another way to shorten the schedule and reduce the risk for delays is a shift to commissioning to the “left” in the schedule, or beginning activities earlier in the process. This frees up time on the back end (or right side) of the timeline. Teams create fully functional systems off site ahead of typical project schedules to eliminate potential misalignments and delays. By having an offsite location to test equipment before the building is complete, project teams can work out any bugs with the owner/engineer, agreeing to the final product in a controlled environment.

Changing the model: Each owner and project is unique, but, by changing the approach and execution model, owners get back time, predictability and peace of mind throughout the construction process.

—Brad Schenck, senior vice president and Southwest Division leader of JE Dunn Construction (www.jedunn.com), a domestic general building contractor in the United States founded in 1924, now with offices in 24 locations

According to Colliers’s Q2 Industrial report, construction of new projects in Greater Phoenix has hit a historic record with approximately 19.1 million square feet currently being built. Colliers in Arizona also reports that net absorption of industrial space has pushed vacancy rates to 5.9 percent, the lowest ever achieved in the market. corporate.colliers.com

Photo courtesy of CrossHarbor Capital Partners (top)

Data Centers: Increasing Speed to Market

Know Your Worth KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. POWER IS PERSONAL. Whether it’s a path to security, a gateway to your dreams or the road to being your own boss, we have the people and resources to empower you.

Learn more at UMB.com/WXW

empowered by

MINDING THEIR BUSINESS

Chad Arruda and Dylan Vicha Realize New Vision for Private Security Professionalism and relationships empower Windom Security’s credibility beyond the ‘mall cop’ image

By Jamie Killin

• Founded in 2018 • Basic training includes a minimum of 128 hours (State of Arizona only requires eight) • Each guard is equipped with a body camera • Pays guards 25% more than the industry average • Uses only marked company vehicles for patrol services to maintain professionalism and limit liability for the company and clients • Has one of the most advanced dispatch systems in the state, with faster response times for some incidents than law enforcement

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Chad Arruda

Dylan Vicha

Windom Security hosted the first-ever Pathway to Law Enforcement career fair, bringing together nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies for a one-of-a-kind job fair.

Now, the partnerships are going even further, with Windom Security working with the Phoenix Police Department to provide training space and Tempe Police Department hiring Windom Security to help patrol its downtown.

“Now we’ve done all these great things and police departments want to actually retain us,” says Vicha. “It’s been like a dream come true. It took three years, but we got there.”

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” echoes Arruda. “We always wanted to work with law enforcement and now we’ve built that trust and have taken things to a level we didn’t anticipate.”

The two now hope that other cities will join their efforts and strengthen the pipeline for law enforcement agencies to gain access to quality team members through Windom Security.

The company is also leading the way in recruiting and retaining talent by prioritizing hiring veterans and offering high wages and desirable benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, term life and disability insurance. “I wanted to create a company that was founded by veterans and for veterans to help them feel that camaraderie and self-worth they felt in the military again,” says Arruda. “A lot of military training is not transferrable to the civilian market, so we feel lost and like we don’t fit into society anymore, but in private security we’re able to utilize our leadership skills, integrity, courage and ability to work as a team.”

To ensure the best quality team for its clients and to better care for its staff, the company raised its starting pay to $19 an hour this year — 25% above the industry average. With this initiative, the company also increased all current guards’ and supervisors’ pay by $4 an hour. “We wanted to make a statement and raise the bar because of how important private security has become, and we believe that the men and women who do the work should be compensated as such,” says Vicha.

Windom Security Strategies Today windomsecurity.com

Windom Security Strategies Today has prioritized its relationship with law enforcement since it was founded. Now, the company has been hired by the City of Tempe to patrol the downtown area to make the city safer amidst concerns around rising crime and fewer police officers due to low recruitment.

Photo courtesy of Windom Security Strategies Today

SNAPSHOT: WINDOM SECURITY STRATEGIES TODAY

When United States Army combat veteran Chad Arruda had the idea to create a better kind of private security company, he envisioned a firm that empowered veterans and supported law enforcement.

“I wanted to get into public safety because I wanted to continue to serve my country and community,” says Arruda.

“However, after my military service and experience in critical infrastructure security for the Afghan government, I was alarmed by how unprofessional the private security industry was in Arizona.”

He imagined a private security company that went beyond observation and reporting to prevent crime from happening.

“I saw there was a niche for filling the void between the traditional mall cop and law enforcement without stepping on the toes of law enforcement,” he says. “Society is changing, and things are becoming more dangerous. There’s also a shortage in law enforcement officers who don’t have time to manage smaller issues security should take on anyway.”

After years of working overseas, Arruda was also ready for an opportunity to work in the United States where he could be close to his family. In 2017, he was introduced to local entrepreneur Dylan Vicha, who had previously co-founded a nonprofit for veterans.

When the opportunity arose to help Arruda realize his vision of a professional, well-operated security company, Vicha immediately got to work looking at other companies in the field — which helped the two define a vision for what would become Windom Security Strategies Today.

In one case, Vicha saw how the New York Police Department worked with local security companies to maximize security at high-profile events like New York Fashion Week.

In 2018, Windom Security was formed with Vicha as CEO and Arruda as chief development officer. The two met with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and received his support for their plans. “I told the governor that I thought there could be so much value in private security, but that the existing systems that were here in Arizona weren’t capitalizing on that to be force multiplier in public safety,” says Vicha. “The credibility in security here was very poor and law enforcement didn’t really have a reason to leverage or trust private security, with there being no communication between the two.”

Since then, Windom Security has made strides in creating a relationship with law enforcement. One of these initiatives is providing law enforcement with timely, vetted intelligence reporting to help prevent crime.

The company also aims to train future law enforcement officers by training their guards well and providing them opportunities to move forward in their careers. In April 2021,

We Believe in Equal Healthcare for All

I couldn’t be more proud of the work we’re doing with our partners to support women throughout our community.

Together, we’re building bridges to equal opportunities and providing access to quality care for all.

— Lisa Stevens Anderson Arizona Market President Equality Health

To learn more about Equality Health, visit equalityhealth.com

YOUR BENEFIT IN BUSINESS

WELL WELL WELL by Mike Hunter

Non-Invasive Healing Combines Therapeutic Modalities and Yoga Recently launched in Scottsdale, Quasar Quantum Healing offers cutting-edge, non-invasive, therapeutic modalities, teamed with yoga, grounding, meditation and nutritional guidance. An alternative to conventional methods, the facility is designed to transform the body, mind, and spirit at a cellular level to optimize mental, emotional and physical health.

Quasar Quantum Healing targets the underlying causes of issues that are interrupting the natural state of health and well-being, then employs customized treatments to restore overall wellness.

Using both advanced technology and time-tested holistic methods, the treatments are designed to rebalance the body by rewiring neural pathways, promoting healing, and allowing healthier behaviors and habits to arise naturally, without the use of pharmaceuticals, for lasting change.

“After witnessing the power of alternative healing practices during my daughter’s journey to wellness, I was inspired to make these therapies available to the public,” says founder Monica B. Samuels. “We cannot underestimate the importance of our mental and physical health. I believe that we are what we think. All that we are arises from our thoughts and with our thoughts, we make the world.”

The center is home to the only walk-in, group friendly Hyperbaric Chamber in Arizona. Among other cutting-edge modalities are the Theta Chamber, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Wellness IV Drips, and Salt Therapy within a one-of-a-kind Himalayan Salt Chamber.

Samuels used her years of personal experience in struggling to find non-chemical healing techniques, which ultimately saved real people close to her after conventional approaches had failed repeatedly. With deep gratitude for her successful navigation of this predicament, Samuels devoted her life to helping others facing the problem she was able to solve. Quasar Quantum Healing and Quasar Quantum Youth Fund arose as the fruit of her persistence through this very real, personal ordeal. Quasar Quantum Healing benefits those dealing with a variety of physical, mental, and emotional issues, including fatigue, joint pain, sports injuries, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries.

Quasar Quantum Healing quasarquantumhealing.com

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Assisted Living Facilities Learned Lessons through COVID-19 The past year has been difficult on healthcare workers, residents of assisted living facilities and their families. The challenges of COVID-19 affected assisted living communities across the country. Residents often had to be quarantined, facing solitude with only books, television, phone calls, video calls and the presence of the care providers to keep them company. The day-to-day community aspect of assisted living facilities changed due to COVID. Assisted living facilities were forced to make drastic changes during the height of the pandemic.

However, those changes taught us lessons that will be used to improve the health and safety and lifestyles of the residents, family members and care providers.

CONTINUE MONITORING RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES

When COVID first started, we began requiring temperature checks for all residents and employees. Employees with fever were required to return home and be tested for COVID-19.

Residents were quarantined in their rooms, with nurses providing healthcare and tending to their needs. While they were quarantined, we monitored residents’ symptoms and took them to the hospital if needed. We followed CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of residents and staff.

We still recommend monitoring residents’ temperatures and respiratory function despite the decrease in COVID-19 cases. By continuing this task, we can easily spot cold or flu symptoms and initiate treatment more effectively. By taking a proactive approach we can identify cold and flu symptoms before they become more severe.

CREATING VISITATION OPPORTUNITIES

Loneliness was a major issue during the pandemic. The inability of residents to see friends and family was a strain on their physical and mental health. At Oakmont, we provided our guests with sanitized iPads, so residents could take them to their rooms for privacy and talk to their family members. This stopgap solution allowed residents some contact with their families, but it was no substitute for in-person interaction.

As time went on, we began having open-door family meetings. Family members were allowed to come to the facility and stand outside the front door and communicate through an open window.

This allowed socially distanced visits for families to

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speak to their grandparent or parent, providing a sense of connection for our residents and helping fight depression.

At Oakmont, we have already implemented new socially distanced ways for family members to connect with our residents. Picnic tables have been set up in the yard at a socially distanced space in order for visits to take place in a safe manner. Each guest has their temperature taken before entering the home and being escorted to the visitation area.

After the visitation, the tables are sanitized and wiped down. By making this space, we can make sure our residents are receiving that much needed connection with family.

STAYING POSITIVE

During the height of COVID, it was difficult to keep a positive mindset. The strain of the pandemic made it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We kept our spirits bright by reminding ourselves that each passing day was one day closer to the end of the pandemic. We were able to learn more about where Arizona stood in the pandemic by reaching out to local organizations, and it helped us know we were heading in the right direction.

We also learned that people were willing to help if you asked for it. Working with community members willing to help let us know we weren’t in this situation alone and that people will always come together during a time of crisis. Staying positive was a key aspect in keeping the mood light and keeping spirits up even during the darkest part of the pandemic.

Assisted living facilities faced multiple challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many lessons were learned that can continue to be used to keep residents, employees and care providers safe if another pandemic occurs. —Mark Lawrence, the care home manager of Oakmont Assisted Living Home (www.oakmonthome.com), a luxury assisted living facility in Scottsdale

LIFE CAN CHANGE PRETTY QUICKLY. LET US HANDLE THE OTHER STUFF, SO YOU DON’T MISS WHAT MATTERS MOST.

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INNOVATIONS FOR BUSINESS

TECH NOTES

by Mike Hunter

The Power of TikTok Can Boost Business When many people think of TikTok, it’s likely they envision Gen Z kids creating goofy sketches or dance videos. While that may have been the case when the app initially launched, it’s evolved into a space where businesses and their content can flourish.

In the past, businesses primarily focused on Facebook and Instagram to reach new consumers, but over time the algorithms of these platforms changed and have now made it more difficult for businesses to reach the masses. TikTok’s “For You Page” is unique as it curates content for users based on their likes and videos they interact with.

As the platform has grown to experts in every field imaginable, this has carved out a space for entertaining and educational videos. I wanted to give TikTok a try in hopes of not only educating viewers but gaining new business along the way.

Since joining TikTok to share my expertise in plastic surgery at the beginning of the year, I’ve gained more than 94,000 followers and more than 2.2 million likes. While my team and I create a variety of videos, the content that performs best has been educational. One video, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ripple: Breast Implants,” shared the different types of implants and the pros and cons of each. The clip has amassed 5.4 million views and 2,220 comments, with many looking to learn more about the procedure.

TikTok has provided an outlet for me to reach out to a new audience and create credibility. As a result, we’ve seen a 10% increase in business and more inquiries for procedures. TikTok is no longer a place for only mindless videos; users want to be educated and enjoy learning from experts in their field. —Pablo Prichard, M.D., “Dr. Scottsdale,” (drscottsdale.com) founder and senior partner at Advanced Aesthetics Associates and former chief of plastic surgery at HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Hospital for 14 years, who specializes in both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures.

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Podcasts for Businesses Podcasts are the hottest business trend and increasing daily. Podcasts can be produced professionally in a pro studio with experienced staff, and pro podcasting can help a business tremendously but amateur podcasting can hurt a business more than help. It is important businesses represent themselves at a professional level in everything they do.

By utilizing podcasts, businesses can share valuable product and service insights plus gain community support. In the U.S., eMarketer estimates that the number of U.S. podcast listeners will increase by 16% year-over-year to about 107 million in 2021. With this podcast boom, more businesses and individuals are looking to grab a mic and join in on the action. Below are some tips on how a business can launch a successful podcast:

SPEAK YOUR MIND

Podcasts work best for strong speakers with a lot of content. The authoritative presence on podcasts allows the speaker to show enthusiasm and to connect with audience members through meaningful language and tone of voice. Having a business’s top thought leader as the host of the podcast will also allow listeners to ask questions and, in turn, receive insightful and timely responses from the best of the best in the chosen industry.

Guests also play a vital role in a podcast’s success. It’s important to make sure guests are excited and qualified to share their thoughts on the podcast’s topic through engaging experience and stories. The more that a speaker can utilize storytelling, the better the understanding will be for listeners.

Traits for a good host include charisma, adaptability and the willingness to receive feedback in order to grow from their performances. An exciting host with passion and preparedness will fuel a podcast and engage listeners to tune in beyond the pilot episode.

QUALITY VS. QUANTITY

Viewers and listeners want to hear solid, quality content. It is important to not skimp on quality, because the audience will notice. Everything from top content to punchy episode titles to the control of background noise are all things to think about when producing a podcast.

Before investing in expensive equipment like microphones, filters, stands, studio monitors, mixing headphones and multiple recorders, which can cost thousands of dollars, businesses should consider utilizing local resources to help

In the U.S., eMarketer estimates that the number of U.S. podcast listeners will increase by 16% year-over-year to about 107 million in 2021.

get the best bang for their buck. An alternative is to have a pro studio produce and distribute the podcast at the highest quality possible at an agreed-upon rate.

Having experienced pros on their side takes the guesswork out of podcasting and helps businesses avoid the awkward startup phase with cracking mics and guests who sounds like they are in a shoe box. Plus, it will save the first-time podcaster from aggravation. Why use duct tape and chewing game when a pro studio is available!

VODCASTS

Vodcasts are traditional podcasts with video elements added, making the experience more visually interactive. Star Worldwide Networks is the entertainment hub for Arizona’s first pro video podcast set, featuring four state-of-the-art robotic cameras and five modernized audio microphones.

This type of setup allows hosts to create professional, high-end video and audio products to launch their brand to success.

Dedicated studio directors should produce and supervise the entire process to ensure seamless delivery. Adding the video element can be tricky, so a trusted team can help businesses avoid the bumps of audio issues, picture inconsistency or lighting problems that can be seen only by experienced pros behind the camera.

With podcasts increasing business popularity and customer attraction, it is essential to follow these tips to be successful, credible and, of course, fun for both the company and the audience.

—Dave Pratt, Hall of Fame broadcaster, entertainer, multimedia expert and owner of Star Worldwide Networks & Agency (starworldwidenetworks.com), one of the nation’s fastest-growing digital media producers, distributors, and marketing agencies

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Leadership

Join us for the 2021 Women of Achievement In-Person Luncheon & Event on October 8, 2021, at The Phoenician Resort. Tickets at www.inbusinessevents.com

&

Achievement Honoring Our 2021 Women of Achievement

Leadership & Achievement: Honoring Our 2021 Women of Achievement Women are in more prominent leadership roles than ever before, with the first woman in the White House as an elected officer — Vice President of the United States. The strengths they bring to the business world are proven in studies of businesses’ success in all segments of the economy. With such women in our community often eschewing the spotlight for themselves to, rather, shine it on their team or their cause, we at In Business Magazine are pleased to turn that spotlight on them as we celebrate the success of women in business in our community.

This issue presents our 2021 Women of Achievement — 14 women who have each proven her involvement in our business community and her connection to doing good for our community while demonstrating leadership in achieving success in business. Bringing their diverse backgrounds and strengths, they help bind and support the greater community, attesting to the collective achievement of women in business.

To honor and celebrate these women, we present on the following pages profiles of our honorees, in which they share their stories in their own words so that we can get to know them. And they will share the spotlight at our Women of Achievement luncheon event on Oct. 8, when we will once again come together in person. We also honor Linda S. Hunt, this month’s Guest Editor, as this year’s recipient of the Linda M. Herold Lifetime Achievement Award.

Please meet our 2021 Women of Achievement. —RaeAnne Marsh, Editor and 2018 Women of Achievement recipient, In Business Magazine

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Lifetime Achievement Honoree

Linda Hunt

President and CEO, Dignity Health Southwest Division

Organization Name: Dignity Health Southwest Division Main Office Address: 3030 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (855) 475-4747 Website: dignityhealth.org

Linda Hunt oversees Dignity Health’s Southwest Division, which is anchored by ten outstanding hospitals in Arizona and Nevada: St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center, Arizona General Hospital – Laveen, Arizona General Hospital – Mesa, Yavapai Regional Medical Center and St. Rose Dominican Rose de Lima, San Martin and Siena hospitals. Under Hunt’s leadership, Dignity Health’s Southwest Division has grown into a respected and comprehensive healthcare system, which also includes imaging centers, specialty hospitals, physician groups, clinics, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent cares, insurance providers, an accountable care organization, a medical school campus and other clinical partnerships. During her previous role as president and CEO of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, the 571-bed facility became one of Arizona’s busiest hospitals and attracted patients from around the world to its Barrow Neurological Institute, Norton Thoracic Institute and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

Hunt has served on several state and national commissions that are working to shape the future of healthcare and medical education. She is a founding member of the Health System Alliance of Arizona and serves as a board member for Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance. She is the co-chair of Greater Phoenix Leadership’s Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee, and served as the chair of the Phoenix Forward Healthcare Leadership Council as well as a member of the Governor’s business leadership council, called Arizona Zanjeros. Additionally, she has served on the Governor’s Arizona Commerce Authority Board, Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Healthcare Leadership Council, Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems Administrative Board of the American Association of Medical Colleges, American Association of Medical Colleges Executive Council, Arizona Commission on Medical Education and Research, Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee and Greater Phoenix Leadership Bioscience Task Force. Hunt has also represented Dignity Health in several community organizations, including Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Carey College in Mississippi and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She graduated from the Johnson & Johnson Fellows Program in Management at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and was on the faculty at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Regis University in Denver. She recently received an Honorary Doctor of Nursing from Creighton University.

Hunt has received local and national recognition for her leadership in the healthcare field, including being named one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare

by Modern Healthcare magazine, a Top 25 Most Admired CEOs by the Phoenix Business Journal, and she was given the Transformational Leader award by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Among numerous other awards are Outstanding Business Leader of the Year from the YWCA, the inaugural Humanitarian Award from the Sage Foundation for Health, being named Bioscience Leader of the Year and being chosen a finalist for the prestigious Athena Award.

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Honoree

“I hope that my work will inspire the next generation of women leaders to be courageous in bridging divides to address the most important issues we face today, for a brighter future.”

Heather Carter

Executive Vice President, Greater Phoenix Leadership

Organization Name: Greater Phoenix Leadership Main Office Address: 400 E. Van Buren Street Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602) 252-5667 Website: gplinc.org

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Heather Carter, Ed.D., is executive vice president with Greater Phoenix Leadership, with a special focus on Arizona’s health and education sectors. Prior to this role, Dr. Carter served 10 years in the Arizona State Legislature, in both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Serving as House Health Committee Chairwoman, she worked relentlessly to make sure our Arizona healthcare system is innovative, efficient and effective.

She championed Medicaid restoration and expansion in 2013 and restoration of Arizona’s KidsCare in 2016, providing healthcare to hundreds of thousands of people in Arizona. She spearheaded comprehensive public policy for both the electronic medical records system and telehealth legislation in Arizona, setting Arizona up as a national leader in using technology to deliver and improve care. As a champion for patients, she created and chaired the Senior Caucus and a Diabetes Caucus, to bring together elected officials, stakeholders and constituents to address the needs of individuals facing multiple health challenges. She also sponsored key legislation to address the Arizona opioid epidemic, ongoing substance abuse issues for adolescents and increasing access to behavioral health services.

Dr. Carter is a well-respected educational leader in her community, having served as vice-chair of the House Education Committee and worked as a clinical associate professor at ASU, preparing teachers and leaders for Arizona schools. Her passion for public education is rooted in her experience as a 7th-grade teacher in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. She was an important voice during the legislative session to increase teacher salaries in Arizona by 20% by 2020 and helped shepherd the referral that ultimately became Proposition 123, bringing millions of dollars to the state’s K-12 education system. She continues her work to advance an equitable funding system for public schools, recognizing the unique challenges faced in the state.

Prior to joining GPL, she was a full-time assistant professor of practice in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and associate director of the Center for Rural Health, at the University of Arizona, Phoenix Campus. She spent a considerable amount of her faculty and administrative time focused on healthcare workforce shortages, tobacco-cessation policy and telehealth.

Dr. Carter graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in communication, completed a master’s degree in educational technology at ASU, and earned a doctorate degree in education leadership from NAU. She is a Cahn Public Service Fellow, completing the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education, Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, as well as an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow, member of the Public Leadership Class of 2013. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for several prominent organizations, including the American Heart Association National Advocacy Committee, Southwest Chapter of the American Cancer Society and the Institute for Mental Health Research; she is vice chair of the Flinn Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee and serves on the BIO5 Institute University of Arizona Business Advisory Group.

Dr. Carter; her husband of 27 years, Jay; and their daughter, Jacey, have lived in Phoenix for more than 30 years.

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Honoree

“This recognition is valuable because it lets younger women be inspired by those who have walked ahead of them. Once they become Women of Achievement, their experiences will be the impetus for women walking behind them.”

Lin Sue Cooney

Director of Community Engagement, Hospice of the Valley

Organization Name: Hospice of the Valley Main Office Address: 1510 E. Flower Street Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602 530-6900 Website: hov.org

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Lin Sue Cooney’s path has been irrevocably shaped by two things: her strong faith and her love of writing. As it turns out, that was a perfect combination. She was destined to find her life’s purpose in the extraordinary power of words — weaving stories that educate, inspire and help people in need.

The eldest of four children, raised by a strong single mom who championed education, Cooney graduated cum laude with a double major in English and Political Science from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and then pursued her MSJ degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She worked at several TV stations — including a 31-year stint at KPNX-12, where she won nine Emmy awards for excellence in reporting and anchoring.

Over the years, Cooney covered a lot of breaking news but sprinkled in plenty of lighter moments — determined to balance tragic stories with those of hope and kindness. In a series of touching reports from China, she took viewers along on a trip to adopt her youngest son.

Cooney considers motherhood one of life’s greatest blessings — and she’s grateful to have been generously blessed four times. All four astonish her with their talents, interests and giving hearts.

By example, she teaches them the joy of serving others, making community service a top priority. She volunteers time on behalf of countless charities, raising funds for worthy causes like cancer research, pediatric care, women’s shelters, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, pet rescue, veteran support and music and the arts.

After three rewarding decades in television news, Cooney was ready for a new challenge and joined the leadership team at not-for-profit Hospice of the Valley.

Having experienced the agency’s care with friends and family, she felt drawn to the agency’s mission of comfort, dignity and compassion. In her role as director of community engagement, she oversees fund development, volunteers, business development and marketing.

In her marketing capacity, she draws upon her love of storytelling to dispel myths and educate our community about hospice care. Her leadership style is the same one she honed in her television career — teamwork all the way. Cooney believes collaboration maximizes each person’s gifts and talents to create something more powerful and impactful than is otherwise possible.

This award is an unexpected surprise — and a humbling one. To Cooney, being a Woman of Achievement means using all the gifts and blessings that have been given to her, sharing all of them, wasting none, and empowering everyone she encounters each and every day to do the same.

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Honoree

“Celebrating talented women inspires girls to be future community and business leaders, and shows us what’s possible when we support women in achieving their goals.”

Roopali Desai Partner, Coppersmith Brockelman, PLC

Organization Name: Coppersmith Brockelman, PLC Main Office Address: 2800 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602) 224-0999 Website: cblawyers.com

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Partner and head of Phoenix law firm Coppersmith Brockelman’s Election and Political Law practice, Roopali Desai is a leading election lawyer in Arizona.

She advises clients on all aspects of election law, including campaign finance compliance, disclosure and reporting requirements, and bringing and defending election challenges. She is especially known for her experience representing initiative, referendum and recall campaigns, and has served as legal counsel for numerous successful statewide and local measures.

Prevailing in 11 lawsuits related to Arizona’s 2020 general election, Desai worked tirelessly defending election challenges, ensuring compliance with campaign finance laws, and successfully representing Smart and Safe Arizona (Prop. 207) and Invest in Education (Prop. 208). Her efforts in drafting Prop. 207’s language and revising it after meeting with company executives, criminal justice advocates, first responders and others resulted in her being named one of Business Insider’s 11 power players shaping Arizona’s new, potentially multi-million-dollar recreational cannabis market, while her peers selected her for the recognition of Best Capitol/Political Lawyer in the Arizona Capitol Times 2021 Best of the Capitol Awards.

Meanwhile, Best Lawyers in America© selected Roopali as 2021 Phoenix Civil Rights Law “Lawyer of the Year,” and Chambers USA welcomed her into their ranks in the area of General Commercial Litigation. Additionally, she has earned recognition in Southwest Super Lawyers since 2014, and in Best Lawyers every year since 2016.

Yet, while achieving career highs during a banner year, Desai also received Valle del Sol’s 2021 Mom of the Year award for dedicating countless hours of service to the community and being an exemplary mother of three daughters. She serves on the boards of several high-profile nonprofit organizations, including the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest and Save Our Schools Arizona, and also commits a significant amount of time to pro bono legal work relating to children in Arizona’s foster system, issues of voting rights, and fairness and equality in public education.

Whether representing pro bono, political or business clients, Desai’s creative, strategic and dogged approach yields outstanding results. Her business clients rely on her extensive litigation experience when they need help resolving disputes in a variety of areas, including contracts, business and partnership disputes, trade secrets, and enforcement actions. Likewise, the many female ASU and University of Arizona law students, younger attorneys and peers she mentors find her sage counsel and seasoned suggestions invaluable in helping them realize their dreams.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and master’s degree in Public Health from University of Arizona, Desai helped develop service programs for abused and neglected children at the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center and for domestic violence survivors at Brewster Center. She came to realize the strength of the American legal system and went back to University of Arizona to obtain her law degree. While in law school, Desai co-founded a nonprofit, Saheli, which educated attorneys, judges and other legal professionals about cultural barriers affecting women in situations of family abuse and violence.

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Honoree

“It’s humbling to be recognized with so many creative, resourceful, tenacious women in our community. I’m grateful for the celebration of our work and our stories.”

Kristin Atwell Ford Director/Producer, Quantum Leap Productions

Organization Name: Quantum Leap Productions Main Office Address: 6910 E. 5th Avenue Scottsdale, Arizona Phone: (480) 862-4809

Photo courtesy of Harrison Hurwitz

Website: qlpnow.com

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Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker Kristin Atwell Ford has been trusted with our state’s most formative stories and tells them with the intent of making our community stronger.

Water is a subject that flows through Atwell’s work and touches all Arizonans. In 2010, the Salt River Project tapped Atwell to co-direct and write Theodore Roosevelt Dam: Arizona’s Living Legacy. The film celebrates the dam’s critical role in creating the water certainty needed to support our quality of life and the state’s $13.5 billion water economy. Narrated by actor Peter Coyote, the film won the Rocky Mountain Emmy® Award for best historical documentary.

Atwell had a front row seat to Arizona’s political history when she produced SRP’s The Arizona Centennial Series hosted by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The series aired on Arizona PBS and features John McCain, Jon Kyl, Janet Napolitano, Rose Mofford, Dennis DeConcini and Ed Pastor. Atwell wrote and co-produced the regional Emmy® Award-winning SRP Environmental Special hosted by Lin Sue Cooney, Protecting the Source, which traces the impact of catastrophic forest fire on our water supply in the desert.

Atwell’s most recent water story is about Castle Hot Springs, a fabled spring on the ancestral lands of the Yavapai People that gave rise to Arizona’s first resort.

Castle Hot Springs: Oasis of Time is the winner of the 2020 regional Emmy® Award. Atwell’s production partner is Quantum Leap Productions, a full-service script-to-screen video company that uses storytelling to make your brand noticed and remembered.

In perhaps her greatest community achievement to date, Atwell co-produced Arizona Opera’s triumphant world premiere of Riders of the Purple Sage, a new work by Craig Bohmler and Steven Mark Kohn based on Zane Grey’s dime novel masterpiece. A visionary driver of the project, Atwell expanded the world premiere to include fine art painter Ed Mell, Billie Jo and Judd Herberger, ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, National Park Service, and Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Atwell documented the artistic process in the film, Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera, which is nominated for four Emmy® Awards.

Atwell is currently directing a documentary about Liberty Wildlife, a local conservation engine dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and education. Supported by the Rob and Melani Walton Family Foundation, the film will showcase how Liberty Wildlife’s Non-Eagle Feather Repository benefits wildlife and the cultural identity of Native Americans.

Born in Arizona, Atwell is the daughter of Sherri Chessen. Phoenicians will remember “Miss Sherri” as the local host of the children’s television show “Romper Room.” For 20 years, Atwell volunteered with The Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation and documented how a small local charity raised more than $10 million to build a neighborhood, computer learning center and childcare facility in the impoverished border town of Agua Prieta, Mexico. Atwell sat on the boards of a KidsRead USA, a childhood literacy program, and Arizona Family Health Partnership.

She is the proud recipient of the 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards as Arizona’s Artist of the Year.

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Honoree

“Driving change and innovation is a challenge and a gift. There is no better place to lead than in the nonprofit sector.”

Arjelia Gomez

President and CEO, Open Hearts Family Wellness

Organization Name: Open Hearts Family Wellness Main Office Address: 4414 N. 19th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602) 285-5550 Website: openheartsaz.org

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Arjelia “Argie” Gomez is an experienced and well-respected leader in the nonprofit sector and a champion for people and organizations to work together to take action on behalf of youth and other at-risk populations. She is the president and chief executive officer of Open Hearts Family Wellness, a high-quality provider of mental healthcare since 1974. Prior to joining Open Hearts, Gomez served in the top three officer positions of Chicanos Por La Causa as the chief operating officer, chief economic development officer and chief financial officer. Her drive for innovation secured sustainable funding for the social services programs and brought diverse opportunities to the community.

Throughout her career, Gomez has been an advocate and a driver of change in multiple nonprofits. At her core is the passion to work collaboratively with individuals and families to promote and improve mental health. She is also comfortable directing outpatient care, community-based mental health services, substance abuse treatment and a wide variety of other services for medically diagnosed conditions.

Her core philosophy was forged over many years of steering organizations and working closely with partners in both the private and public sectors. She stands at the forefront of the nonprofit sector and believes that connecting families to communities is about generational help and giving people the tools they need to succeed today, tomorrow and to the future.

Her nomination for the Women’s Achievement Award is a testament to an individual dedicated to servant leadership. With the crisis of mental health at a tipping point, she understands the need for timely and compassionate intervention has never been greater. This is why she continues to confront and solve the mental health dilemma that is ravaging our families and communities.

Gomez has been recognized by The Arizona Republic as a top female leader in Arizona, “Who’s Who” in Business, the Phoenix Business Journal as a top female leader, and Women in Business. She is a former member of the multi-cultural business advisory board of ONE Community, served on the Grand Canyon University business advisory board, board of the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, board member for the National Latino Children’s Institute and is an Arizona Los Diamondbacks Ambassador. Currently, she serves on the board of ASU Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center strategy planning committee. Gomez has worked tirelessly for justice, inclusion, collaboration and integrity.

As a former probation officer, Gomez was influenced by the strength, values and culture of her family in Superior, Arizona. Her mother, Amparo “Ampy” Gomez, was a powerful leader and the first female judge in Superior, who influenced Gomez’s mindset of service, in addition to thousands of others whose lives were touched.

Gomez combines a strong background in program management with experience in community outreach, business development, budget management and team management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and political science from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from Grand Canyon University in addition to being a champion for diversity and inclusion.

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Honoree “Leaders need followers, so this honor acknowledges not only me, but also volunteers, partners and donors who provide nutritious food to over 10,000 seniors and veterans annually.”

Diana L. Gregory

President and CEO, Diana Gregory Outreach Services

Organization Name: Diana Gregory Outreach Service Main Office Address: 1934 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (480) 420-8344 Website: dianagregory.com

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No stranger to challenges, Diana Gregory was raised in the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects in St. Louis, Mo. Her parents taught her that it is not where you live but what lives in you that determines your destiny; that the purpose of life is a life of purpose; that education was her path to the future; and that she should live by an attitude of gratitude. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school, winning a scholarship to and graduating from Boston University.

Gregory started her career with Anheuser-Busch in 1978, when it was uncommon for women to have careers in the beer/alcohol industry. After a successful 30-year corporate marketing and sales career with them, Gregory placed her attitude of gratitude alongside her expertise to raise social awareness and bring long-term, meaningful change to needy lives in her community.

And she has done just that. An innovative and creative visionary, Gregory founded the Diana Gregory Outreach Services Foundation and Gregory’s Fresh Market, a 501(c)(3) division of the organization, in 2009, the year following her “retirement.”

GFM serves Greater Phoenix seniors as one of only a handful of companies to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables directly to senior independent- and affordable-living complexes, making it easy for seniors to receive free produce. GFM includes education to increase senior awareness about and understanding of healthy food choices.

GFM now serves more than 10,000 seniors and veterans at more than 60 facilities in the Greater Phoenix area. A volunteer organization, GFM fulfills its mission — and Gregory’s goal — to enrich lives for seniors and veterans in Arizona.

Among Gregory’s many guiding principles is persistence and never giving up on a dream.

When starting Diana Gregory Outreach Services and Gregory’s Fresh Market, Gregory needed a produce supplier. During her career with Anheuser-Busch, she had learned a great deal about making cold calls. Obtaining a list of produce suppliers in Phoenix, she visited six suppliers to present her mission and ask if they would support the organization with affordable pricing to bring a farmers’ market program to underserved seniors. Five out of the six companies passed on the opportunity. But on the sixth visit to Peddler’s Son Produce, the owner, Ted Palmisano, responded, “I want to be a part of this.” He was the first partner and, 12 years later, Peddler’s Son Produce remains a partner.

Throughout her corporate career and 18 years as a Phoenix resident, Gregory has served on boards that advocate for minority opportunities and women. Among her current commitments are Desert Botanical Garden Board of Trustees, member of International Women’s Forum Arizona, member of the African American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle, founding member of the Phoenix Metropolitan Chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., and member of Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Her tireless work for seniors and veterans has also been acknowledged by many awards. Besides her parents, Gregory was also inspired by her late uncle, the comedian and activist Dick Gregory, that the secret to being happy is doing things for other people. Gregory has certainly taken his inspiration to heart. Under her leadership, GFM continues to widen its circle of compassion and inclusion in the State of Arizona.

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Honoree “The Women of Achievement Award is inspiring because it recognizes the amazing women impacting Arizona and the meaningful work we do to shape our community and future.”

Heidi Jannenga PT, DPT, ATC Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer, WebPT

Organization Name: WebPT Main Office Address: 625 S. 5th Street Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (866) 221-1870 Website: webpt.com

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Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, is the co-founder and chief clinical officer of WebPT, the leading software solution for physical, occupational, and speech therapists. As a member of the board and senior management team, Dr. Jannenga advises on the company’s strategic direction, product innovation and internal operations, while also advocating for the rehab therapy profession on an international scale. Since the company’s launch in 2008, Dr. Jannenga has guided WebPT through several milestones, including three funding rounds — an angel round with Canal Partners, a venture capital round with Battery Ventures and a private equity round with Warburg Pincus — five acquisitions and numerous national corporate and industry awards.

Today, WebPT is the fastest-growing physical therapy software in the country, employing more than 600 people and serving more than 90,000 therapy professionals at more than 20,000 clinics. The company also touts nine consecutive appearances on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list and has ranked twice on the Inc. 500 list.

Dr. Jannenga has been recognized as one of Health Data Management’s Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT, was named a Most Admired Leader and, in 2018, was honored as the Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year at the Arizona Technology Council’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation. She is also a proud member of the YPO Scottsdale Chapter and recognized as an outstanding alumnus of the University of California, Davis.

Prior to co-founding WebPT, Dr. Jannenga practiced as a sports medicine and orthopedic physical therapist for more than 15 years. She quickly advanced into leadership roles that include clinic director of one of the largest sports medicine clinics in the United States. Today, she regularly speaks as a subject-matter expert at regional, national and international technology, entrepreneurship and leadership events, as well as at national and international PT industry and businessfocused conferences.

Dr. Jannenga’s latest venture is Rizing Tide, which provides scholarships to students in physical therapy and physical therapy assistant programs and physical therapy residents to advance diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce and inspire better — and more accessible — patient care.

Dr. Jannenga serves on the boards of numerous organizations: Arizona Science Center, FLINN Foundation, Institute for Private Practice Physical Therapy, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Arizona School for the Arts and Arizona Community Foundation. She also dedicates time to mentorship within WebPT through her employee empowerment group PropelUs, and in the broader community through her work with physical therapy students, entrepreneurs and women in business.

Additionally, she is a founding member of the Arizona chapter of Golden Seeds, an early-stage investment firm focusing on women founders and leaders who are creating lasting impact.

Being mother to her 10-year-old daughter, Ava, is Dr. Jannenga’s most cherished role. Having been a college basketball athlete at U.C. Davis, she also remains very active enjoying hot yoga, hiking, mountain biking and world travel.

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Honoree

“I am honored to stand as an example that, for young women, anything you aspire to is possible regardless of where you grew up or your economic background.”

Brenda LaTowsky M.D. Owner and Chief Medical Officer, Clear Dermatology and Aesthetics Center

Organization Name: Clear Dermatology and Aesthetics Center Main Office Address: 20201 N. Scottsdale Healthcare Drive Scottsdale, Arizona Phone: (480) 398-1550 Website: cleardermatology.net

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Brenda LaTowsky, M.D., grew up on a small family farm in Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska Medical College, graduating amongst the top in her class.

During that time, she was selected for the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Dr. LaTowsky completed her internship in internal medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. She then completed her dermatology residency in Houston at the world-renowned University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where her first-class training emphasized the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, as well as many other skin disorders. She was selected for an esteemed laser and cosmetic surgery fellowship at SkinCare Physicians in Boston, Mass. During that time, Dr. LaTowsky learned highly specialized techniques in cosmetic dermatology, including advanced Botox procedures, injectable fillers, liposuction, autologous fat transfer, hair transplantation, laser procedures, and cosmetic and skin cancer surgery.

Dr. LaTowsky is Board Certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Her professional memberships include the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society of Laser and Medicine, and Women’s Dermatologic Society.

Dr. LaTowsky has also served as a primary investigator for more than 50 research studies involving cutting-edge cosmetic technologies, including the latest innovations in cellulite and minimally invasive body contouring and has also developed her own research studies. She has written and lectured extensively on medical and cosmetic dermatology subjects, and her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals that include the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Archives of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Dr. LaTowsky has also authored chapters on such topics as photodynamic therapy and the prevention and treatment of scars.

She actively serves as a journal reviewer for Dermatologic Surgery, Archives of Dermatology and International Journal of Dermatology.

Because of her experience and expertise, she has served on many scientific advisory boards for companies that include Allergan, Endo Aesthetics, Sienna and Theravant. She also has served on the executive board of the Maricopa Medical Society. Because of her passion for medical education, she is a preceptor for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Campus, trains Mayo Clinic dermatology residents in cosmetics, and trains resident physicians in all aspects of dermatology through HonorHealth and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

As a nationally recognized cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. LaTowsky is known for her attention to detail and expert skill. She believes that smaller, earlier interventions allow her patients to maintain a more balanced, youthful appearance, while at the same time preventing or slowing the signs of aging. By using an innovative, comprehensive approach, Dr. LaTowsky creates personalized treatment plans so that her patients are able to achieve optimal results and desired outcomes.

Outside of her passion for dermatology, Dr. LaTowsky enjoys hiking, running, weightlifting, reading, cooking and community outreach. She loves spending time with her husband, Aaron, who serves the Arizona community as a urologist, and her three young children.

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Honoree

“I needed a career where my work mattered.

The word ‘home’ is powerful. It conjures unique images and emotions in all of us.

Matching people with the homes of their dreams that stir those magnificent images and feelings has been and continues to be a work of love for me every day.”

Cionne McCarthy Owner, Cionne McCarthy PC, Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty

Organization Name: Cionne McCarthy PC, Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty Main Office Address: 6900 E. Camelback Road Scottsdale, Arizona Phone: (602) 619-4550 Website: cionnemccarthy.com

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Cionne McCarthy is a consummate real estate professional, leader and humanitarian who has excelled within her community, her personal life and her industry.

Her achievements are too numerous to list. They represent a pattern of excellence over a 40-years-and-counting career capsulated most recently by her achievements in 2020, in the face of a global pandemic. McCarthy’s sales resulted in her reaching 16th out of all individual agents in Arizona and a hall of fame level placement among the “Russ Lyon’s Elite.” But 2020’s success is nothing new for McCarthy; with more than $1 billion in real estate sales, her perpetual career honors include being in the top 1% of all agents, “Top Producer” at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty for the past 39 years, listing in the “Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate,” and “Realtor of the Year” by Broker Agent Magazine.

McCarthy was one of the original founders of the Luxury Home Tour, which not only was one of the first networking opportunities that sought to bring together top luxury agents from different real estate firms for the first time, but also one of a small number of tours that give thousands of dollars every year to multiple, thoughtfully selected charities. McCarthy has served in virtually every leadership role since its founding, including president, CEO and a continuing board member.

Paralleling her long, successful career are her community achievements.

McCarthy is always willing to do the hands-on work; no job is too small or too challenging for this lady. McCarthy has been a dedicated American Heart Association Heart Ball volunteer for 13 years, having served as a chair and co-chair of numerous committees. She has also been a volunteer for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation; the Sojourner Center, whose efforts are to help victims overcome the impact of domestic violence; and the Child Crisis Nursery.

McCarthy has a compelling personal story worthy of the great American dream.

She is in every sense a truly self-made woman. Her origins as a Nebraska ranch girl include competing in rodeo events such as barrel racing and pole-bending. She worked her way through college, graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in psychology. After college, she built her remarkable career in the highly competitive, cyclical Real Estate industry, where there is no recurring revenue or safety net — certainly not a career for the faint of heart. Along the way, her competitive spirit continued as an amateur polo player, and throughout her career she has demonstrated great resilience, enthusiasm, humor, compassion and high energy in everything she does. She is loved by a multitude of great friends and family who fuel the passion that she demonstrates every day.

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Honoree

“Moments in time like this allow for a brief pause – celebrate successes, step back, and reflect on what our entire team has accomplished.”

Julia Meyerson

Founder & Executive Director, Vista College Preparatory

Organization Name: Vista College Preparatory Main Office Address: 812 S. 6th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602) 374-7159 Website: vistacollegeprep.org

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Julia Meyerson solidified her commitment to education as a Teach For America corps member in the South Bronx, where she taught first grade for two years.

Realizing the tremendous impact of state and local policy on transforming education, Meyerson went on to join the Democratic Governors Association in Washington, D.C., where she worked on both the political and finance teams and later served as the organization’s policy director. In this capacity, Meyerson had a unique opportunity to work with innovative governors, business leaders and policy experts on the pressing issues facing state and local government, including education reform.

Meyerson came back to her home state of Arizona to found Vista College Prep, following a year-long fellowship with Building Excellent Schools, a national organization that trains, mentors and supports individuals who seek to found, build, and lead urban public schools of uncompromising excellence. Starting in 2013 with just one campus and 63 students, Vista College Prep is now a network of three schools serving 1,200 students. Nearly 100% of those students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and more than 90% are students of color.

For the last four years, Vista College Prep has dramatically outperformed all schools where more than 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Vista College Prep is modeled after some of the highest-performing public schools across the country and committed to the idea that demographics do not determine destiny and that all students can succeed if they are able to have access to a high-quality education. With an incredible team, Vista College Prep is determined to redefine what is possible in urban education. In 2018, the first year the campus was eligible, Vista College Prep’s Hadley campus was one of five schools in the State of Arizona to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education.

Meyerson is a member of YPO, a graduate of Valley Leadership, and a 40 under 40 honoree. She earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in teaching at Pace University. Meyerson lives in Phoenix with her husband, Peter, and their two children, Greer (three years old) and William (six months old).

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Honoree "All women are working women and unfortunately not as privileged as I have been. Great female leaders, such as Linda M. Herold, have been standing beside me and behind me — pushing me forward.

They have prodded me when I didn’t think I could do it and they tempered me when I was far too boastful.

While I may be honored with the In Business Woman of Acheivement, it is all the women in my life who have truly achieved this recognition.”

Julia C. Patrick

Founder and CEO, American Nonprofit Academy

Organization Name: American Nonprofit Academy Main Office Address: 3104 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602) 603-9886 Website: americannonprofitacademy.com

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How it all began …

“I marvel at the spirit of philanthropy and the can-do attitude of nonprofits,” comments Julia C. Patrick. As the founder and CEO of the American Nonprofit Academy, Patrick sees the passion and dedication of service organizations daily.

A multi-generational philanthropist, board member and volunteer, Patrick has been involved with community service since she can remember. “From my parents’ and grandparents’ active community service to my own child’s volunteerism, the process of philanthropy has been a constant in our lives.” Patrick has served on cultural, social service and educational boards in addition to the more than 500 nonprofits she has worked with directly.

During her board work, for all the good will and commitment to supporting nonprofits, she realized there was something missing. “I quickly observed that when an organization lacks structure and the knowledge of best practices, their missions go unfulfilled.” This conclusion led Patrick to form the American Nonprofit Academy in 2014. “I continually met and worked with organizations who filled a definite need in their community,” Patrick explains. “Yet often, at the core of their structure, they were missing essential procedures and policies critical to effective governance.”

From localized beginnings in 2014, by 2016 the American Nonprofit Academy worked with more than 2,000 nonprofit leaders and staff. In 2017, the organization moved its live content to an online portal opening with 24/7 access to students. In 2018, the website added a robust nonprofit sector newsfeed and certificate programs targeting boards. By 2019, more than 100 courses were fully available through the American Nonprofit Academy’s innovative website portal.

In 2020, driven by a desire to keep nonprofit leaders connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick created a national web series, “The Corona Chronicles.” By mid-2020, Patrick realized that her daily show was gaining global traction and she re-branded it to “The Nonprofit Show,” taking the audience past the crisis and into the future. Today, “The Nonprofit Show” can be seen live Monday through Friday as well as streaming. The innovative program also has its own The Nonprofit Show channel on both Roku and Amazon Fire TV. More than 375 episodes are available for viewing and shows are uploaded daily. Combined, these channels reach into 69 million homes in the United States.

Patrick continues to lead lectures, board retreats and keynote speeches. Her lively speaking style engages nonprofits and those who serve them. “I get to see the genius of nonprofit organizations daily,” she notes. With her Chalk Talk series, Julia delivers specific approaches, tools and best practices along with innovations that strengthen nonprofit communities and all they do. She travels around the globe virtually, spreading her messages of nonprofit success and advocacy with the mantra “When Nonprofits Succeed, We All Succeed.”

When asked about her place on the philanthropic landscape, Patrick reflects, “I guess I am a nonprofit architect of sorts. I love seeing NPOs build, grow and find solutions.”

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Honoree “I am honored to be recognized as one of this year’s Women of Achievement. This past year and a half has been challenging for us all, and I’m proud to contribute to and make a difference in the overall health of our state, alongside many of my Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona colleagues.”

Paige Rothermel

Chief Operating Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Organization Name: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Main Office Address: 8220 N. 23rd Avenue Phoenix, Arizona Phone: (602) 864-4400 Website: azblue.com

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As the chief operating officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Paige Rothermel oversees business performance and customer experience for the Individual, Medicare & Federal Employees, Commercial, and the newest BCBSAZ segment, Medicaid. Since her arrival in 2018, BCBSAZ has seen 11% organic membership growth while delivering consistent financial performance. Rothermel is responsible for igniting new business opportunities while transforming the customer experience to keep pace with customer and consumer expectations. With a keen understanding that, as consumers, we have high expectations for healthcare, Rothermel is driving a business strategy focused on personalized healthcare that is easy to access and understand.

Rothermel is committed to employee development and has modeled a leadership style that encourages communication, engagement and collaboration and has increased employee job satisfaction. In her unwavering commitment to serve our customers and our Arizona community, Rothermel is helping to drive the company’s mission to inspire health and make access to healthcare easy and affordable. With her people-centered focus as the cornerstone of both planning and action, Rothermel remains focused on creating products and processes that meet customers and the community where and when they need care. Her commitment to people both internally and externally is visible in many ways across the BCBSAZ organization. Rothermel introduced the current business segment structure, which organizes people and expertise around how customers interface with BCBSAZ. Understanding that individuals and business groups need different services and therefore different resources, Rothermel worked with segment leaders to create a customer needs-based culture. With this goal in mind, BCBSAZ employees work toward customer-specific objectives and customers receive a more personalized customer experience through the products and services BCBSAZ offers. This personalized service, bringing both service and clinical services together, is modeled in a Customer Advocacy approach that Rothermel introduced recently to BCBSAZ. Continuing to build on her established reputation as a change driver and strong customer relationship builder, Rothermel is an industry leader, delivering on her promise to develop and implement innovative solutions that are driving growth, account retention and financial performance. Her commitment to people extends into her family and community engagement. Balancing her leadership role with quality time with her family and committing time to serve the community has always been a priority. In addition to her role as chief operating officer, Rothermel chairs the subsidiary board for Blue Advantage, BCBSAZ’s Medicare subsidiary, and Health Choice of Arizona, BCBSAZ’s Medicaid subsidiary. She also serves on the board of directors of Trinnovate Ventures, a BCBSAZ healthcare venture capital firm; is an incoming board member of the American Heart Association; and actively supports many charitable organizations.

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Honoree

“This award is important to me because it reminds me how many amazing women have inspired and helped me along the way. I am eternally grateful to them.”

Trish Stark

Managing Partner, First Western Trust, Scottsdale

Organization Name: First Western Trust, Scottsdale Main Office Address: 7025 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, Arizona Phone: (480) 596-1800 Website: myfw.com

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Trish Stark is managing director for First Western Trust, Scottsdale, a boutique financial services company whose clients are high net worth, entrepreneurial and, in many cases, self-made. She is responsible for developing, building and strengthening new and existing investment management, trust, commercial and private banking clients for the bank. She was part of the founding team of financial professionals who established the Scottsdale office more than 13 years ago, and has been instrumental in growing it from scratch to one with more than $180 million in deposits, $96 million in loans and more than $400 million in investment assets under management. She has done so by orchestrating a diverse team of financial professionals to provide exceptional, holistic solutions to clients, their families and their businesses.

One area she focused on is assisting women to get comfortable understanding and overseeing their financial assets, developing a series of luncheons entitled “Women and Wealth” at which a unique, non-financial topic is presented to a small group of women on a semi-annual basis. These luncheons generated significant interest in learning more about a wide array of financial topics for the women as well as their spouses.

Prior to joining First Western, Stark served in several senior executive roles for Bank of America’s Treasury Management Division, starting out in a regional management role and moving into the position of National Treasury Management Sales Executive focusing on business banking clients. Her division generated more than $800 million in annual revenue for the bank. A core element of her ascent at Bank of America was her in-depth knowledge of the sales process, as, in addition to her “day job,” she trained the entire national/international division in value-based selling principles.

Stark has also been very actively involved in her community, starting out as an ASU Alumni Association Board member (and ultimately board chair) during her first year after graduation from ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business with a bachelor’s degree and MBA. Over the course of her career, she has served on several nonprofit and advisory boards, including the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Operating Board and Catholic Community Foundation Board. She served as chairman of the board for both organizations. During her tenure on the PCH Board, the hospital grew from a hospital within a hospital at then-Good Samaritan to a free-standing regional hospital with an outstanding national reputation in multiple specialties. She also served on the ASU Foundation Board/Board of Trustees for more than 10 years.

Stark currently is a member of the ASU Lodestar Center for Non-Profit Leadership Advisory Board, the Arizona Community Foundation Board (currently serving as chairman) and the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Board (currently serving as treasurer).

She was named a Phoenix Business Journal 2013 Dynamic Woman in Business Leaders and an Arizona Business Magazine 2016 Influential Women in Business.

She co-chaired the 2019 Crozier Gala, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Phoenix Catholic Diocese.

Stark is married to Greg, and has one adored son, Matt, age 24. She and her family love to travel, ski and play golf.

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Honoree

“Being recognized is truly an honor because it serves as an important reminder that women leaders can positively impact their communities and even the world.”

Kelly Zitlow

Owner, Kelly Zitlow Group, Cornerstone Home Lending

Organization Name: Kelly Zitlow Group, Cornerstone Home Lending Main Office Address: 14635 N. Kierland Boulevard Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: (480) 725-0150 Website: houseloan.com/ kelly-zitlow-mortgage-lender

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For more than 25 years, Kelly Zitlow has built her award-winning, highly respected career as a vice president and Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist® on earning the trust of her clients and partners by providing honest, well-communicated and knowledge-based lending experiences.

Zitlow’s unmatched level of personal service, commitment to education and clientcentered approach has led her to receive top-level production awards for the last 17 consecutive years. She is ranked as one of the top 1% of loan officers nationally in both Scotsman Guide and National Mortgage News Magazine. In 2020, Zitlow helped more than 496 families achieve their home ownership goals, for an annual production that exceeded $151 million. She has also received the Five-Star Mortgage Professional Award (voted on by consumers) for the last five years in a row and has more than 400 five-star reviews online. Her success is second to the pride she feels for helping individuals in her community realize the dream of homeownership.

A professional mortgage industry speaker who has appeared in mortgage industry events across the nation, Zitlow is also a certified instructor with the Arizona Department of Real Estate and previously served on their Special Education Committee. She feels very passionate about education. Therefore, to help further educate her community and the nation, she has created two educational YouTube channels aimed at providing both real estate agents and consumers important, relevant information about the home-lending process. This has led her to receive two Video Influencer Awards from BombBomb. In addition, this exposure has led her to TV appearances such as being featured on “Designing Spaces” on Lifetime TV and as the previous Arizona host for “The American Dream” TV show in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale Market airing on CBS Channel 5.

Zitlow recently launched the Real Estate Video Influencer Group, a community of real estate professionals who aim to educate, entertain and positively influence their communities through the use of video. It is her mission to make an impact on the lives of real estate professionals by helping them grow their digital influence.

After losing her mother to cancer, in 2020 Zitlow launched Sunshine Warrior in honor of her mother. Sunshine Warrior is a community that comes together to share stories, lift others up, inspire and give hope on both sunny days and in life’s storms. Being a Sunshine Warrior represents a beacon of light during a storm, one who brings peace, love, inspiration and strength to the world. In addition to giving back through Sunshine Warrior, Zitlow enjoys involvement with other charitable organizations. Two of her favorites are Andre House, which supports our homeless population, and Giving Sole, a unique charity for foster children started by a 10-yearold boy named Gavin.

Raised in Arizona, Zitlow graduated cum laude from Arizona State University (go Sun Devils!). When she’s not working, she cherishes time with her husband, Dan, and their two sons, Jack and Nicholas, as well as their two Labradoodles, Champ and Buddy.

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PEOPLE ARE KEY

HIRING OUR HEROES Hire Our Heroes is a 2021 initiative launched by international employment agency Express Employment Professionals to match employers with veterans seeking jobs.

The company has a long history of supporting veterans in the workplace because of the value veterans bring to the workplace.

Daria Orozco, owner of the South Phoenix Express Pros location, says the heart of the program is in the tagline, “You took care of us.

Now let Express take care of you.”

Express Pros offers jobs ranging from temporary, to part-time to full-time, which allows veterans the flexibility to transition at their own pace into a new career.

Among other services, its staffing consultants help veterans translate their unique military experience into skills employers need in the civilian workplace, as well as providing resources and tools to build new skills.

Orozco notes veterans have many characteristics that employers want in their employees, such as reliability, working well with a team and understanding strategic plans.

“We reach out to several veteran organizations within the Phoenix area to let them know about our job openings,” Orozco says. “We have multiple relationships with nonprofit organizations that help veterans.” expresspros.com/ Phoenix/Veterans

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Labor Shortage? Could Be a Job for Our Military Veterans Benefits and challenges as veterans enter the civilian workforce

by Rose Tring

As the economy continues to surge in a post-pandemic recovery, veterans are among those seeking opportunities for employment in a labor market desperate for experienced and dedicated workers.

Labor experts say it’s a job-seekers market now with more opportunities available than people to fill the positions.

Although the country is not at full employment, part of that is a result of a record number of employees leaving voluntarily from their jobs. It is unlike any other time in recent history, with extended unemployment benefits coming to an end in September and employers in all industries seeking qualified candidates, including veterans.

The most recent Bureau of Labor data shows that in June 2021, the veteran unemployment rate was 4.8%, up from 4.4% the previous month. The comparable non-veteran unemployment rate was 5.9% in June.

“It is critical that military personnel get the support they need as they transition out of the military,” says Paula Pedene, executive director of the nonprofit Honoring America’s Veterans. The Phoenix-based agency sponsors the annual Veterans Day Parade in Phoenix, and helps veterans access a variety of community resources.

“It’s so daunting to make that transition from a very structured environment in the military to having multiple options, such as choosing what to wear each day,” says Pedene, who served in the Navy as a Petty Officer First Class.

“Finding the right job fit helps them make that adjustment, and both the veterans and the community benefit.”

One of several challenges veterans face in their job searches is taking their military experience and explaining how that

translates to positions in a civilian workplace. An officer’s role may include leadership, management of people and resources, and overseeing large budgets. But a specialist title in the military doesn’t necessarily translate to skills posted for a specific job.

Other challenges for job seekers who are veterans may include culture differences between where they were stationed vs. their home in the U.S.; physical or mental injuries suffered during service; finding meaning in a new position after serving their country; competing with candidates with more direct experience; and not having the necessary training or education for some career options.

Specialists at Express Employment Professionals work with veterans to emphasize their skills and help match them to a fulfilling position. Express Pros also assists with translating military job skills onto a résumé that emphasizes their experience.

Daria Orozco, owner of the South Phoenix Express Pros location, says veterans are prized by employers for their work ethic, especially in the current labor climate. “Veterans are reliable. They show up and they do the job. They know how to stick to schedules, and they learn quickly,” she says. “These are exactly the skills that employers are looking for. These qualities are really important.”

Currently, employers nationwide are eager to find workers from all backgrounds to fill jobs ranging from management level to the mail room. Extra unemployment benefits awarded those who lost their positions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are phasing out nationwide, with Sept.6 marking the final date for those benefits.

The most recent Bureau of Labor data shows that in June 2021, the veteran unemployment rate was 4.8%, up from 4.4% the previous month. The comparable non-veteran unemployment rate was 5.9% in June.

STRATEGIES FOR WORKING REMOTELY Labor experts predict more people will likely begin seeking jobs as the extended benefits expire, making the market more competitive. Kimberly Stiener-Murphy, senior regional vice president for global talent solutions firm Robert Half, says it is nearly an unprecedented marketplace for job seekers for multiple reasons.

In April 2021, the national quit rate peaked at 3.1% — the highest rate since December 2000, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics started collecting the data. People quitting accounted for about 70% of total job losses in April, and the number has remained high in the months since.

“I have five jobs for every candidate that applies right now. And, we have the highest quit rates ever in America since we’ve been tracking that data.

Why is that?” asks Stiener-Murphy.

“Employers must ask themselves if it’s because they haven’t created a safe workspace.”

She says the work environment is particularly important for veterans newly entering the civilian job market and observes that when veterans leave military service, they leave behind close-knit connections. “The biggest thing that happens when you leave the service is that you feel a loss of brotherhood,” she says, recalling when she left the Air Force as a staff sergeant. “You’ve been in life-and-death situations together and that connection you have is very strong. When you come into a civilian workplace, it’s very different.”

Office politics are also difficult to navigate for someone who has been facing entirely different day-to-day challenges. Stiener-Murphy advises employers who want veterans in their companies to ensure they are made welcome immediately upon hire and made to feel part of the organization.

“Embracing that person and really making them feel part of the team from minute one is crucial for a successful transition,” she says.

Workplaces that embrace employee well-being are also important for veterans, who may bring with them mental health challenges. “Having a culture that supports selfcare and mental health is not just good for veterans, it’s good for the entire workforce.”

Pedene agrees with Orozco and Stiener-Murphy. She says that veterans bring with them the ability to be team players, and “stay the course” for a company’s success. “They’re not looking for a free ride,” she says. “They’re looking to be a part of a team, to help with the bigger picture. They want to work together for a common cause.”

Orozco says having a military background also gives veterans an edge in collaboration among increasingly diverse workplaces. “They have the ability to get along with a diverse workforce. A lot of employees have trouble working with people who are different from them,” Orozco says. “Veterans can relate to different people a little better than average workers.”

Express Pros is so committed to helping veterans secure employment that it established a program this year called Hiring Our Heroes geared specifically to meeting the needs of veterans. “Express Pros has always had a high level of recognition and a high level of desire to hire veterans,” says Orozco. “We’ve done incentives over the year. We really value veterans in all levels of our company.”

There is also help available for veteran job seekers at the federal level under a new retraining program (www.va.gov/education/otherva-education-benefits/veteran-rapid-retraining-assistance) that offers education and training for high-demand jobs.

Stiener-Murphy says another tool employers can use to encourage and retain veterans in their organizations is to pair them up with a mentor or peer who is also a veteran. “There’s just an instant bond when you meet someone else with a military background.”

Express Pro (Phoenix) Hire Our Heroes expresspros.com/Phoenix/Veterans

An Audience of One One-to-one marketing is the breakthrough strategy today’s top brands are using to generate meaningful conversations with customers on an individual basis, helping them grow their revenue while understanding and even anticipating consumer behavior. But with that enormous potential comes a common pitfall: alienating customers who value their privacy.

In An Audience of One, internationally recognized marketing experts Jamie Turner and Chuck Moxley reveal the secrets to implementing a strategy that allows companies to use important data while respecting consumers’ privacy concerns. Marketing professionals, C-level executives, entrepreneurs and leaders in any consumer-facing business, know that understanding one-to-one marketing — and learning how to use it properly — is critical to their brand’s success. An Audience of One will give readers the in-depth understanding they need and provide a hands-on, actionable roadmap to take their marketing to the next level.

An Audience of One: Drive Superior Results by Making the Radical Shift from Mass Marketing to One-to-One Marketing Jamie Turner and Chuck Moxley McGraw-Hill Education

$28 Available 9/28/2021

320 pages

Gorillas Can Dance Helping its readers achieve exceptional results with their organization’s next partnership for corporate innovation, in Gorillas Can Dance, distinguished international business strategy professor and expert Shameen Prashantham, Ph.D., delivers a proven roadmap for large corporations collaborating with startups. Drawing on more than a decade of international research, Dr. Prashantham explains the “why,” “how” and “where” of corporate-startup partnering.

Perfect for C-suite executives, managers, business unit heads and corporate innovation managers, Gorillas Can Dance is a must-have resource for business leaders seeking strategic guidance on partnering and collaborating with startups.

Gorillas Can Dance: Lessons from Microsoft and Other Corporations on Partnering with Startups Shameen Prashantham Wiley

$29.95 Available 9/28/2021

368 pages

Pick Up The Phone and Sell Unlock the power of a simple phone call to boost sales with guidance from a world-renowned expert. In Pick Up The Phone and Sell: How Proactive Calls To Customers and Prospects Can Double Your Sales, sales expert, consultant and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Alex Goldfayn delivers a comprehensive roadmap to one of the most important weapons in any salesperson’s arsenal: the phone. From the author of Selling Boldly and 5-Minute Selling, the book teaches techniques to supercharge sales by making the proactive call the tip of any salesperson’s selling spear. Perfect for new and experienced salespeople alike — who are more comfortable with email, videoconferencing, social media and text than they are with the telephone — Pick Up The Phone and Sell is an indispensable guide to one of the most important and lucrative tools in the selling profession.

Pick Up The Phone and Sell: How Proactive Calls to Customers and Prospects Can Double Your Sales Alex Goldfayn Wiley

In April 2021, the national quit rate peaked at 3.1% — the highest rate since December 2000, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics started collecting the data. People quitting accounted for about 70% of total job losses in April, and the number has remained high in the months since.

$25 Available 9/22/2021

336 pages

43 SEPT. 2021 INBUSINESSPHX.COM

En Negocios

Edgar R. Olivo es un educador empresarial bilingüe, asesor económico y colaborador de varios medios de comunicación. Es apasionado por la educación y comunidad.

Está certificado en finanzas y análisis de datos y posee un título en negocios de la Universidad Estatal de Arizona.

Edgar R. Olivo is a bilingual business educator, economic advisor and contributor for several media outlets.

He’s a nonprofit executive who is passionate about education. He is certified in finance and data analytics and holds a business degree from Arizona State University.

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ECONOMIA / ECONOMY

POR EDGAR R. OLIVO

Seis formas en que las pequeñas empresas pueden ayudar a salvar el planeta del cambio climático ¿Ha leído el nuevo informe publicado por el Panel Intergubernamental de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (IPCC por sus siglas en ingles) que salió esta semana?

La información compartida fue devastadora y sirvió como un recordatorio importante de que la crisis climática es real, y todos debemos hacer nuestra parte para ayudar. Cientos de importantes científicos confirmaron que el cambio climático es claramente causado por el hombre y es «inequívoco», y el informe hace pronósticos más precisos y cálidos para el siglo XXI que la última vez que se publicó, en 2013.

Los impactos de la crisis climática, desde el calor extremo hasta los incendios forestales, las lluvias intensas y las inundaciones, solo continuarán intensificándose a menos que elijamos otro camino para nuestro futuro. Los propietarios de pequeñas empresas están en condiciones de crear una acción real y pueden desempeñar un papel importante en la solución.

Bill Gates, en su último libro, Cómo evitar un desastre climático, describe seis formas significativas en que el propietario de una pequeña empresa puede desempeñar un papel más importante en la lucha contra la crisis climática.

1. Establezca un impuesto interno al carbono.

Algunas de las empresas más grandes de los EE. UU. ahora están imponiendo un impuesto al carbono en cada una de sus divisiones. Un impuesto interno al carbono asigna un valor monetario a las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, que las empresas pueden tener en cuenta en las decisiones de inversión y las operaciones comerciales. Los ingresos generados se utilizan luego para cubrir las primas ecológicas para el desarrollo de productos que se obtienen a partir de energía limpia.

2. Invertir en innovación para soluciones bajas en carbono. Muchas pequeñas empresas rara vez invierten en investigación y desarrollo para innovar una nueva forma de crear un producto porque a menudo dependen de su cadena de suministro para que lo haga por ellas. Las soluciones bajas en carbono son un área que se está volviendo cada vez más deseable para los inversores y las pequeñas empresas pueden liderar el camino comenzando con sus productos actuales.

3. Sea uno de los primeros en adoptar. Arizona se ha convertido en el estado fabricante de vehículos eléctricos

Según los expertos, el cambio climático tiene el potencial de costarle a EE.UU. hasta el 10.5% de su PIB en 2100. Las pequeñas empresas que representan el 99% de todos los negocios y una gran parte del sector de las energías renovables tendrán que desempeñar un rol sustancial en la transición de los Estados Unidos a una economía verde y la lucha contra el cambio climático.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION y las pequeñas empresas pueden comenzar a planificar comercializar sus flotas corporativas y comprar materiales con menos carbono. Al adoptar de forma temprana, los innovadores verán la demanda y sabrán que habrá un mercado listo para comprar sus productos.

4. Participar en el proceso de formulación de políticas. Hubo un momento en que las empresas se mantenían al margen de la política para evitar perder clientes. Pero ahora, la crisis climática requiere que todos se involucren y las pequeñas empresas no pueden tener miedo de trabajar con el gobierno, como tampoco el gobierno debería tener miedo de trabajar con pequeñas empresas. Las pequeñas empresas deben ser campeonas de un futuro libre de carbono y ayudar a respaldar la ciencia básica en las comunidades donde operan.

5. Conéctese con la investigación financiada por el gobierno. Los propietarios de pequeñas empresas tienen una perspectiva valiosa y pueden ayudar a orientar los proyectos financiados por el gobierno hacia mejores ideas.

Unirse a los consejos asesores de la industria y participar en los ejercicios de planificación de su ciudad son una forma rentable de informar al gobierno para una mejor investigación.

6. Ayude a los innovadores en etapa inicial a cruzar el valle de la muerte. Al igual que con cualquier empresa empresarial, los riesgos son siempre altos y las buenas ideas necesitarán ayuda para despegar.

Las pequeñas empresas pueden invertir su propio dinero, prestar espacio de trabajo para probar ideas y compartir mentores para guiar a los emprendedores ecológicos a través de las etapas de crecimiento. Cuando se trata de cambio climático, cualquier solución es mejor que ninguna.

Noticias como esta pueden resultar deprimentes, pero afrontar la realidad también nos acerca a nuevas oportunidades. A medida que se revelan nuevos conocimientos científicos, los propietarios de pequeñas empresas deben aprovechar su poder creativo y comprometerse a ser parte de la solución. Si se puede salvar el planeta dando un paso a la vez.

Tómese un momento para explorar el Programa Going Green and Going Smart para aprender cómo puede transformar su pequeña empresa uniéndose al movimiento #GreenBizAZ. Esta iniciativa tiene como objetivo educar a los propietarios de pequeñas empresas en prácticas comerciales sostenibles para un futuro más limpio y verde en Arizona.

BY EDGAR R. OLIVO

Six Ways Small Businesses Can Help Save the Planet from Climate Change Did you see the new climate change report released by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this week? The information shared was stark and an important reminder that the climate crisis is real, and we all need to do our part to help. Hundreds of top scientists confirmed climate change is clearly human-caused and “unequivocal,” and the report makes more precise and warmer forecasts for the 21st century than it did last time it was issued, in 2013.

The impacts of the climate crisis, from extreme heat to wildfires to intense rainfall and flooding, will only continue to intensify unless we choose another path for our future. Small-business owners are in a position to create real action and can play a significant role in the solution.

Bill Gates in his latest book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, outlines six meaningful ways a small business owner can play a bigger role in combatting the climate crisis.

1. Set up an internal carbon tax. Some of the largest companies in the U.S. are now imposing a carbon tax on each of their divisions. An internal carbon tax places a monetary value on greenhouse gas emissions, which businesses can then factor into investment decisions and business operations. The revenue generated is then used to cover green premiums for product development that are made from clean energy.

2. Invest in innovation for low-carbon solutions. Many small businesses rarely invest in research and development to innovate a new way of creating a product because they often rely on their supply chain to do that for them. Low-carbon solutions is an area that is becoming increasingly desirable for investors, and small businesses can lead the way by starting with their current products 3. Be an early adopter. Arizona has become the electric vehicle maker state and small businesses can begin planning to trade in their corporate fleets and buy lower-carbon materials. By adopting early, innovators will see the demand and know there will be a market ready to buy their products.

4. Engage in the policy-making process. There was a time when businesses would stay out of politics to avoid losing customers. But now, the climate crisis requires everyone to get involved, and small businesses cannot be afraid of working with the government any more than the government should be afraid of working with small businesses. Small businesses should be champions of a carbon-free future and help support basic science in communities where they operate.

5. Connect with government-funded research. Small-business owners have a valuable perspective and can help guide government-funded projects toward better ideas. Joining industry advisory boards and taking part in your city’s planning exercises are a cost-effective way to inform the government for better research.

6. Help early-stage innovators get across the valley of death. As with any entrepreneurial venture, the risks are always high and good ideas will need help to get off the ground. Small businesses can invest their own money, lend workspace to test ideas, and share mentors to guide green entrepreneurs through the stages of growth. When it comes to climate change, any solution is better than none.

News like this can be depressing, but facing reality also brings us closer to new opportunities. As new science is revealed, small-business owners should harness their creative power and commit to be a part of the solution. Save the planet by taking it one step at a time.

Take a moment to explore the Going Green and Going Smart Program to learn how you can transform your small business by joining the #GreenBizAZ movement. This initiative aims to educate small-business owners in sustainable business practices for a cleaner, greener future in Arizona.

According to experts, climate change has the potential to cost the U.S. up to 10.5% of its GDP by 2100.

With small firms making up 99% of all businesses and a large portion of the renewable energy sector, they will play a substantial role in America’s transition to a green economy and the fight against climate change.

45 SEPT. 2021 INBUSINESSPHX.COM

Economy

DEVELOPING & GROWING BUSINESS DYNAMICS

The Anticipated Tsunami of Commercial Bankruptcies Has Not Happened – Here’s Why Creditors look to creative strategies

by Anthony Austin

Anthony Austin, a director in Fennemore’s Phoenix office, is a prominent attorney in the firm’s financial restructuring, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice group, where he works on matters that include collection and judgement work, breach of contract, partnership disputes and receiverships. He represents financial institutions, debtors, creditors, and trustees in all phases of complex litigation and restructuring transactions, including trials and appeals. As an experienced bankruptcy attorney, Austin has a wide range of commercial litigation experience involving foreclosures, receiverships and guarantor litigation. fennemorelaw.com

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Since March 2020, there has been a great deal of hand wringing over how businesses would weather the economic storm created by COVID-19. As the lockdowns dragged on longer than anyone expected, many speculated that the resulting economic chaos would produce a swath of defaults and bankruptcy filings. Now, more than a year removed from the initial lockdowns, are those predictions of chaos accurate or is the room for optimism?

Despite the lingering effects of 2020, there seems to be a feeling of optimism from businesses and consumers in 2021.

The United States Census has found in July 2021 that 30% of surveyed Arizona businesses reported that the pandemic had little to no effect on business. During the same period in 2020, only 16% of surveyed businesses reported little to no impact while more than 35% reported a large impact. In contrast, only 21% of surveyed businesses reported a large impact in July 2021.

Further, there is evidence that consumer demand is climbing over the remaining months of 2021. A recent study found that fewer than 15% of consumers remain pessimistic about the U.S. economy. More importantly, that same survey found that consumer discretionary spending was showing growth in 2021 and more than 50% of consumers expect to spend extra and splurge on themselves. This uptick in demand is logical given that consumers in large part drastically reduced their spending in 2020. With pandemic fatigue setting in and the nature of a consumer-based economy, there is evidence that consumers are once again ready to spend on at pre-pandemic levels.

Where is the optimism coming from in Arizona and other states around the nation? Much has to be credited to the large injections of capital by the federal government through the various relief acts passed in the last 18 months. By some estimates, the various facets of the federal government have committed or disbursed approximately $5.335 trillion in total COVID-19 relief funds. Nearly $1 trillion was directed to support for small businesses, with another $876 billion in economic stimulus payments. This flow of liquidity to consumers and businesses has done much to band-aid the economic harm created by the shutdown.

This optimism is also playing out in the lack of bankruptcy filings seen in 2021. For the District of Arizona, total filings in 2021 have fallen by more than 25% in year-overyear numbers. The drop-off is even more significant for reorganization filings, which saw a 40% drop-off from the previous year. This would suggest that companies and consumers are optimistic about their ability to operate without the aid of bankruptcy or are actually working through the economic fallout with their creditors.

There is no guaranty this optimism will result in actual positive economic results. There are numerous factors that may cause this progress to be halted or eliminated entirely, including the expiration of the eviction moratoriums and the imposition of new restrictions as COVID-19 variants take hold.

Accordingly, creditors must be prepared should the wave of bankruptcies land at their shores.

Perhaps one of the biggest risks for a creditor of a struggling business is the Small Business Reorganization Act, which implemented “Subchapter V” bankruptcies. These bankruptcies are a subset of the traditional chapter 11 process and are limited to businesses with debts less than $7.5 million until March 2022 and approximately $2.7 million after that time. These bankruptcies are a powerful tool in a potential debtor’s arsenal and, with the increased debt cap, are available to thousands of businesses. Subchapter V bankruptcies greatly streamline and ease the burden on a debtor under chapter 11 by removing many of the protections creditors have relied on in traditional bankruptcy filings. Notably, the debtor does not need the affirmative vote of its creditors to confirm a reorganization plan and has to pay only its “disposable income” for three to five years. These provisions can quickly sideline creditors, who must effectively sit and watch as their claims are reduced to pennies of the total amount.

More generally, facing potentially unfavorable bankruptcy outcomes, any effort to collect on unpaid sums must be done strategically to ensure repayment while providing an opportunity for the potential debtor to emerge from behind the COVID-induced harm. Regardless of the industry or specific situation, a cautious and thoughtful approach is now required to ensure repayment of past-due monies. Brute force collection tactics like those used pre-COVID are likely to be ineffective and face the substantial risk of triggering a bankruptcy filing that may substantially impair the creditor’s ability to be repaid.

Long-term and creative workout strategies are likely a creditor’s best route to full repayment. This is especially true given that 41% of Arizona small businesses do not expect to return to pre-COVID operations for some time. Accordingly, some lenders are granting deferments for missed payments in exchange for additional collateral or guarantees to secure the missed payments.

For the District of Arizona, total bankruptcy filings in 2021 have fallen by more than 25% in year-over-year numbers. The drop-off is even more significant for reorganization filings, which saw a 40% drop-off from the previous year.

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©2020 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved.

LAW MATTERS TO BUSINESS

Legislation Changes ‘Telehealth’ Application New legislation makes telehealth more accessible and profitable for healthcare businesses

by Marki Stewart

A partner at Coppersmith Brockelman in Phoenix, Marki Stewart assists hospitals, physician groups, telemedicine providers, laboratories and other healthcare organizations in a variety of business and regulatory issues. She has a special focus and interest in telemedicine, including licensing, reimbursement, credentialing and security issues. cblawyers.com

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Governor Ducey recently signed House Bill 2454, a sweeping telehealth bill intended to expand access to telehealth in Arizona. The bill makes significant strides toward making telehealth more available, convenient and affordable for Arizona patients, but also benefits businesses, including the requirement that insurers pay for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person services.

Patients and providers alike benefit from the bill’s change in terminology, replacing “telemedicine” with “telehealth.”

Telemedicine was previously defined to include only interactive audio, video or data communications, but telehealth includes asynchronous store-and-forward technologies, remote patient monitoring and the use of an audio-only telephone if an audio-visual telehealth encounter is not reasonably available.

However, telehealth does not include the use of a fax machine, instant message, voicemail or email.

Providers and related businesses also benefit in four other ways: Broader scope includes more types of health care providers. The bill also amends the definition of “health care providers” to include additional types of professionals who can practice telehealth, including chiropractors, dispensing opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory care givers, acupuncturists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, nursing care institution administrators and assisted living facility managers, midwives, hearing aid dispensers, audiologists, and speech language pathologists, as well as healthcare institutions licensed by Arizona Department of Health Services.

Removal of out-of-state licensing requirements provides flexibility in hiring. All Arizona healthcare provider regulatory boards are now required to adopt a new registration for out-of-state providers who wish to provide telehealth services to Arizona patients. This means that a telehealth provider licensed in another state need not obtain full licensure in Arizona prior to treating Arizona patients via telehealth; rather, they need only complete a simple registration with the appropriate regulatory board. Arizonabased practices can therefore hire a physician from out of state to provide telehealth services to Arizona patients without the need to meet burdensome licensure requirements.

Reviewing and complying with guidelines avoids severe consequences. Significantly, the bill establishes a

telehealth advisory committee on telehealth best practices, consisting of representatives from a variety of healthcare professions and agencies appointed by the Governor. The committee is charged with reviewing national standards and peer review literature for telehealth best practices and conducting public meetings regarding the efficacy of various telehealth services. The committee is required to adopt telehealth best practice guidelines by June 30, 2022.

Healthcare providers must then abide by those guidelines and recommendations when providing care to Arizona patients.

Consequences for failure to comply could range from not receiving reimbursement for those services to becoming the subject of a licensing board disciplinary action, not to mention the risk of a malpractice claim.

Reimbursement matches in-person services.

Finally, the bill includes comprehensive terms regarding reimbursement for telehealth services provided in Arizona.

Insurers may apply only the same limits or exclusions on a healthcare service provided through telehealth that are applicable to an in-person encounter for the same healthcare service, except for procedures or services that are not appropriate to be provided through telehealth. Insurers must reimburse providers at the same level of payment for equivalent in-person services provided through telehealth using an audio-visual format and must reimburse providers at the same level of payment for equivalent in-person behavioral health and substance use disorder services if provided through an audio-only format. Insurers must also cover services provided through an audio-only telephone encounter if that service is covered by Medicare or AHCCCS when provided through audio-only telephone; however, beginning in 2022, insurers must cover audio-only services if the telehealth advisory committee recommends that the service may appropriately be provided through an audio-only encounter. Telehealth providers should become familiar with these payment rules to maximize reimbursement for telehealth encounters.

In addition to making telehealth more accessible in Arizona — particularly important considering the significant increase in telehealth encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic — the new bill creates a variety of opportunities for healthcare providers. Those familiar with the bill will be positioned to flourish as telehealth continues to grow.

In a national study of a commercially insured population, growth in telemedicine use offset roughly two-thirds of the decline in in-person healthcare visit volume during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the weeks of January 1 to June 10, 2020, the rates for telemedicine visits increased from 0.8 to 17.8 visits per 1000 enrollees, a 2013% change.

LAW MATTERS TO BUSINESS

Manage Digital Opposition to Real Estate Development An early outreach game plan can mitigate zoning protests

by Adam Baugh

In my line of work with real estate and land-use entitlements, it’s not uncommon to engage with upset neighbors opposed to development. Whether it’s called NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) or CAVErs (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), changing the status quo can certainly elicit strong emotions and intense anti-development sentiment.

In days past, those opposing a zoning case might circulate a petition, wear matching shirts or buttons or bring signs to protest at city hall. Today’s opposition is much different and includes social media postings, digital meetups, activist websites, online trolling and harassment, e-petitions, video production and more. In a recent instance, I saw one individual create personal websites attacking local city councilmembers to shame them for a vote they had yet to take, for a case that had yet to even be filed. Essentially, it was a proverbial shot across the bow, warning that if they took such action, they would risk public ridicule, shame and scorn.

Nobody is immune to what an online vigilante might post about them or their project. There is simply no accountability for them and if their aim is to stir up opposition, it’s frankly very easy to do. Thus, in a digital world, how might one manage and respond to digital opposition to new development? Here are some tips that have worked well in other situations.

First, community outreach and proper messaging are key. Rather than letting the opposition overtake the story, it’s important the applicant frames the issue and highlights true facts. This is best handled by thorough community outreach that involves engagement with nearby owners and affected neighbors. Working one-on-one with nearby homeowner associations, adjacent neighbors and local organizations can help the applicant address concerns, correct misinformation and identify advocates for the project.

I saw this firsthand with a case in South Phoenix that found some initial opposition in an online neighbor app called Nextdoor. However, once we were able to implement an outreach plan that included the adjacent HOA, next door neighbors, and local community leaders, we were able to identify support that outweighed any opposition. Through the course of the zoning case, we were able to call on that support to balance against the opposition and tell our story.

The second step is to create an equally active online support campaign through a project website, social media posting and targeted outreach. This means focusing on the advantages of the proposal and how the community will benefit from its construction, and not giving oxygen to wild accusations that will surface. People will love to debate the issue, not because they want to be informed but rather to show their online “friends” how courageous they are fighting from behind a keyboard.

A good rule of thumb is to not waste energy engaging in online debates. There will always be detractors who, in most instances, are driven more by emotion than facts. An online agitator is rarely willing to consider a developer’s reasoning and justification. As the Bernard Shaw phrase goes, “Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and, besides, the pig likes it.”

It’s important to focus on the strengths of the case. Does staff support it? Does the councilmember like it?

Does it bring new jobs, housing, improve blight, address a longstanding vacancy, etc.? The most effective approach is to frame the project by the benefits it provides and highlight its strengths above all else.

Citizen involvement is a staple of our community, is mandated by state statute, and encouraged by local ordinances. Adapting to the digital world offers developers a new opportunity to tell their story.

According to a study published by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at U.C. Berkeley, political opposition to housing development was found to predict higher housing prices, longer project delays and a lower likelihood of zoning reform. In a time of intense housing demand, neighbor opposition to new development leads to skyrocketing rents and unattainable value increases since new housing inventory is roadblocked and delayed.

An experienced problemsolver with a talent for removing obstacles that impede development, Adam Baugh is a land use and zoning attorney and partner at Withey Morris, PLC. While his skillsets include obtaining zoning and land use entitlements for the full scope of development clients and substantive work in liquor licensing, Baugh has developed unique experience working with infill development projects across the Valley. His success has helped clients obtain rezone approvals, stipulation changes, variances, use permits, site plan approvals, plats, and more. witheymorris.com

49 SEPT. 2021 INBUSINESSPHX.COM

Social Impact

BUSINESS GIVES BACK

Homie to the Rescue, Helping Arizona’s Homeless The company lives its mantra, ‘We got your back’

by Tyler Butler Homie’s contributions in July have gone toward Valley of the Sun United Way’s Mighty Change 2026 Impact Area of Housing and Homeless, one of the four pillars in the nonprofit’s five-year plan. The plan aims to help Arizonans get through the continual impact of COVID-19, as well as the mighty goal of decreasing homelessness in Maricopa County by 50%.

“We’re beyond grateful for Homie’s contributions to our COVID-19 Response Fund and continued support,” says Carla Vargas Jasa, president and CEO of VSUW. “Homie’s compassion and commitment to keeping local families in their homes is unmatched, and the contributions will once again make a significant impact.” vsuw.org/what-we-do/ mighty-change-for-families

Tyler Butler is the head of Corporate Responsibility for Aventiv Technologies, where she leads programs that positively impact society. She is also founder and principal of 11Eleven Consulting and is often cited as a subjectmatter expert by Forbes, SHRM, Entrepreneur, U.S. News and World Report and more.

11elevenconsulting.com

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Newly released U.S. Census statistics have shown that Phoenix is indeed the fastest-growing city in the country. The housing market here is more chaotic than ever before and companies that are providing a less traditional approach are finding a niche. Homie is one such group, as its focus on the technology side of real estate is changing the way these assets are bought and sold by eliminating high fees and commissions.

Founder Mike Peregrina recognized the need for an alternative in the real estate industry six years ago when he lost all his properties. Following the recession, Peregrina learned firsthand what can happen to property value when the market takes a turn for the worse. It was this experience that led him to start Homie — he wanted to provide a resource and a solution.

Homie’s “We got your back” mantra is more than a slogan; it is the way the company does business. This organization is focused on having the backs of its agents, its clients and the communities it services. The Homie solution simplified an outdated and overcomplicated process through a combination of technology and experienced full-service real estate agent support. Originally launched in Utah, it is not only the No. 1 listing brokerage office in that state, but now also has offices in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Idaho, with plans to grow across the nation. With real estate and home loans, the Homie tech family is making every aspect of buying and selling a home simple and enjoyable.

Homie was founded on the principles of giving back.

Through its corporate charity arm, the Homie Helps Program, it aims to give back to the community with outreach, volunteer and donation efforts as an extension of the company’s goals.

Homie’s community efforts are localized for every community it serves. Across its markets, it works with local partners that include nonprofit organizations and government agencies to support housing initiatives. This includes promoting downpayment assistance programs, supporting rental and mortgage emergency assistance funds, and providing marketing and technology support to its partners.

Homie also recognizes the value of volunteerism.

Homies, as its employees are called, are encouraged to band together and volunteer with nonprofit and community partners, including food banking, community cleanups, home rehabilitation and more. Homie provides team members a list of community events and communication tools to help empower its 400-plus people to volunteer and serve their community throughout the year.

The organization recognizes it is fighting a lot of forces that are out of its control, but its leadership believes that serving as a resource for education about the issue they are facilitating is an important first step. Homie has provided support to many organizations, but one campaign has significant importance as

In honor of Valley of the Sun United Way’s 95th anniversary, Homie Helps stepped up and pledged to donate $95 for every home bought or sold in July 2021.

it is addressing both a real-time issue we are seeing because of the pandemic while also supporting an important Valley cause and its long-standing support of Phoenix.

When Homie Helps launched in 2020 in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first partnership Homie forged was with the Valley of the Sun United Way and VSUW’s beneficiary organizations. Homie Helps created a relief fund and donated $100,000 to VSUW to help people stay in their homes by helping them pay for their rent, mortgage and utility bills.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting our community, we wanted to do something impactful to give back to those who needed urgent support,” says Joshua Miller, general manager at Homie Arizona. “It was a challenging time for many people facing the possibility of losing their security net, and we wanted to alleviate some of that uncertainty for our fellow Phoenicians. We are so grateful to our Homie clients, who are really the ones to thank for making this possible.”

In honor of Valley of the Sun United Way’s 95th anniversary, Homie Helps stepped up and pledged to donate $95 for every home bought or sold in July 2021.

This is but one campaign led by Homie’s philanthropic spirit.

The company has also supported The Love Up Foundation in helping it keep homeless pets off the streets. It has aided the Girl Scouts with the pivot they’ve had to make for their traditional door-to-door cookie sales. And it convened a coalition of city officials, community and business leaders, and even a professional athlete to find solutions to the Black homeownership gap in Las Vegas. With so many philanthropic plans on the horizon, Homie is establishing itself as not only a good corporate citizen but as a leader doing business in an innovative way during difficult times.

Homie homie.com Photo courtesy of Homie

MIGHTY CHANGE

OUR SUBJECT IN-DEPTH

Sleep Your Way to a Thriving, Less Stressful Life Side effects of sleep deprivation drastically reduce C-suite execs’ effectiveness in their position

by Jen Butler SIDE-EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION Lack of sleep increases the signs we associate with stress, some of which are: • Irritability • Anger • Feeling overwhelmed • Lack of patience • Decrease in interest • Reduced empathy • Inability to concentrate • Tendency to exercise less and eat more

Jen Butler, CEO of JB Partners, is the creator of Get SMaRT – Stress Management and Resilience Training for the workplace. Their SMaRT Club learning platform is the leading self-guided, tool for all companies looking to reduce stress and increase profits. Jen also travels throughout the United States to provide business leaders with one-on-one, onsite guidance in managing stress, turning around their business, and achieving real, longlasting results. jbpartners.com

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An upset stomach, an uncomfortable position, a startling noise, a too-active or too-inactive day, too much heat or too much cold— these minor stressors interfere with our sleep from infancy onward.

Unfortunately, as adults we encounter more reasons for poor sleep and at the same time we become more adept at ignoring the problem. Our world becomes more complicated and stressful, and so does our relationship with sleep.

We can reduce that stress and improve our sleep, resulting in a maximized work day with energy left over for family and friends.

THE TRUTH ABOUT SLEEP

Our body needs sleep to bolster our immune system, heart health and ability to absorb or retain information, all of which require a period of downtime. Studies have shown that sleeping less than seven hours also reduces sex hormone levels (up to 15%), increases weight and the likelihood of adult onset diabetes, and leads to car accidents.

The Harvard Medical School and National Sleep Foundation have discovered a direct correlation between sleep and stress.

An unstressed adult who sleeps less than eight hours a night wakes up feeling stressed, and lack of sleep escalates stress for the 78% of adults who are already highly stressed. Lack of sleep increases the signs we associate with stress, some of which are listed at the side.

Depression, worry and anxiety make falling asleep and staying asleep difficult, no matter how warranted by circumstances. Too little sleep over a long period leads to depression in 27% of adults.

EXECUTIVES AND SLEEP

Side effects — a condensed list of which is shown on this page — drastically reduce C-suite execs’ effectiveness in their position. It’s immaterial which came first, the lack of sleep or stress; both are so intertwined that when one happens the other is sure to follow.

11 EASY WAYS TO INCREASE SLEEP DURATION

1. Wear socks. The National Sleep Foundation recommends warming the feet before bedtime to signal sleep readiness to the brain.

2. Breathe a little lavender. Aromatherapy with lavender can help induce a deeper and longer sleep.

3. Roll over. Sleeping on the side or stomach will help to breathe easier and reduce the effects of sleep apnea; sleeping on the left side will reduce heartburn and reflux; and sleeping on the back may help lower back pain.

Our body needs sleep to bolster our immune system, heart health and ability to absorb or retain information, all of which require a period of downtime.

4. Establish a routine. We can get our body used to going to bed at a definite time. Those who are natural night owls can acclimate their body by moving their bedtime 15 minutes earlier every three days, until they fall asleep at a time that allows them at least seven hours of sleep.

5. Replace the mattress and pillows. A mattress should be replaced every five to eight years, whenever it starts to sag, and if the person using it finds it is less comfortable to sleep on it than on other beds. Pillows should be replaced every one to two years. A good test is to fold a pillow in half and put a walking shoe on it — it should be able to fling off the shoe; if it doesn’t, it needs replacement.

6. Banish electronic devices. Electronic screens emit blue light, which interferes with production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Plus a dose of TV news, an argument over social media, or a difficult search for information will all operate against our ability to relax.

7. Opt for white noise and total blackout. Investing in earplugs, a white noise machine and black-out window coverings will pay off in better sleep.

8. Get up and relax. Soothing music, a bath, focused breathing or progressive muscle relaxation — these or anything similarly calming are options to break the cycle if sleep has still not come in 15 minutes.

9. Snack right. Nutritionists recommend chamomile or passion flower tea before bed, as they contain apigenin to promote sleepiness. A handful of almonds may help, as they contain magnesium. A couple tablespoons of unsweetened tart cherry juice contains high levels of melatonin and tryptophan, which is also the sleep-inducing ingredient in warm milk.

10. Adopt healthy habits. Late-night caffeine, alcohol and nicotine prevent our body from falling into a restful, restorative sleep; caffeine taken in the afternoon will affect our body for the next six to eight hours. It’s best to avoid eating or drinking anything substantial for at least two hours before bedtime.

11. Chill out. Our bodies rest most comfortably with a nighttime temperature of 60–67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6–19.4 degrees Centigrade).

OUR SUBJECT IN-DEPTH

In Company Protocols, What about the 2.7 Billion Deskless Workers?

The pandemic was a wake-up call to businesses to modernize their employeefacing technology

by Joe Ross

So much has changed in the last year, and the way businesses operate is no exception. The pandemic accelerated the pace of change for many companies as they were forced to abandon old ways of communicating with their workforces, especially the 2.7 billion deskless workers. Corporations had no choice but to say goodbye to notices on bulletin boards hanging by the time clock and fliers in the breakroom to share important need-to-know information. Many deskless employees, who were left with no access to company intranet systems and no company-issued laptops while they were on lockdown, connected with their personal smartphones to nonsanctioned social platforms like WhatsApp to get the latest news on factory and shop closings, reopenings and health protocols. While this was not ideal for many large corporations, it was their wake-up call. Ready or not, the race to modernize their employee-facing technology was underway.

Now, finally, the deskless workers — who make up nearly 80% of today’s global workforce — would get their share of the technology investment, which up to this point was only a meager 1% of the total enterprise software spend. While many companies had long been investing in their supply chains, warehouses and new point-of-purchase systems, the technology that deskless workers desperately needed was not a priority. Their scheduling and time capture was being done on paper and with punch cards, last-minute callouts left teams understaffed and frustrated, overtime pay was often manually overwritten, employees suffered from burnout and fatigue, and the necessary trainings were intermittently delivered. How did this happen? How did some of the most important HR-based systems that hold the data on which an employee’s pay is based – their time and attendance – become obsolete and get left behind in the era of digital transformation?

Some of the disparity was the result of IT and management teams’ resistance to “bring your own device,” or BYOD. Worries about adoption for access to personal devices for business purposes are becoming non-issues for the generation of digitally native employees that now comprise about 73% of this working group. Not embracing this change neglects the robust and transformational opportunities that a realtime mobile application would have to enrich the daily work experience of hourly workers. This investment disparity

stemmed from a lack of understanding of the deskless worker experience and underestimating the incredible impact they have on the business. But the pandemic changed this; many businesses are now working to determine how they can capitalize on the immediate positive and transformative impact that mobile-based applications in the hands of employees can have on the bottom line.

When modern technology finds its way into the hands of deskless workers, moments at work are simpler, fairer, even more transparent, with the added benefit of giving hourly employees the flexibility they need to balance their job with their lives outside of work. For example, the ability to quickly change schedules when there is a callout and connecting to replacement workers based on compliance rules keeps scheduling fair and in line with the regional, union and collective bargaining agreements that may exist. The technology also quickly improves employee satisfaction by reducing burnout and mitigating fatigue by delivering instant app-based check-ins between managers and employees who may be working excessive overtime, asking them how they are feeling about the added shifts. These answers can vary wildly, from someone not wanting more overtime and needing more time at home with family, to someone else who really could use the extra shifts to cover costs at home. It’s the moments at work that add up for employees to determine their overall satisfaction with an employer, and today’s technology allows employees to easily be heard in-the-moment while it also enables managers to engage in consistent and meaningful ways with their employees.

The pandemic has certainly been hard on all of us, and we owe it to our essential deskless workers to invest in their daily work experience and provide them mobile technology to make their work easier. With modern technology, deskless workers are supported in the moments that matter to them while at work. This continued engagement between employers and employees leads to less turnover, greater productivity and an improved bottom line. In fact, many corporations that invest in modern time and attendance platforms have seen a total ROI of greater than 300%. But most importantly, this modern technology truly connects employees and allows them to be heard and seen as important and valued contributors to the success of the business.

Many deskless employees, who were left with no access to company intranet systems and no company-issued laptops while they were on lockdown, connected with their personal smartphones to non-sanctioned social platforms like WhatsApp to get the latest news on factory and shop closings, reopenings and health protocols.

Joe Ross is chief product officer at WorkForce Software, a leading global provider of cloud-based workforce management solutions.

The company’s WorkForce Suite adapts to each organization’s needs, delivering a breakthrough employee experience — no matter how unique the organization’s pay rules, labor regulations, schedules and employee self-service needs are.

Enterprise grade and future-ready, WorkForce Software removes the noise from a managers’ busy day, protects the organization from compliance risks, provides leadership with strategic business insights, and delivers real employee engagement at the time and place work happens. workforcesoftware.com

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OUR SUBJECT IN-DEPTH

Collaboration between Education and Industry Forges a Stronger Workforce And creates a welcome new talent pipeline

by Zac Dunn

Zac Dunn is a freelance writer based in Phoenix.

As the founder of New Summit Communications, he uses his eye for narrative and character to tell the unique stories of organizations that are committed to improving their community, with work ranging from local nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies.

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While Arizona’s fourth-place ranking for GDP growth per year in the U.S. has attracted an influx of industries looking for a home in the Valley, it also highlights the lack of a “talentready pipeline for Arizona’s growing economy,” according to the Education Leadership Group, a collective of more than 50 education leaders from across the state.

That gap can only be filled by the collaboration of education and industry.

Financial services, for example, offers stability, competitive starting pay and plenty of chances for advancement. As industry giants continue to invest in Phoenix, opportunities abound for fruitful careers in the sector.

Yet filling those positions has proved challenging.

“Two years ago, I was approached by one of our employer partners who was having a really hard time getting people within their organization to successfully complete the SIE exam,” says Melanie Burm, director of external affairs, workforce development and community partnerships at Scottsdale Community College.

The Securities Industries Essentials (SIE) exam is, in most cases, a non-negotiable requirement for entering the financial sector. It is administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and passing the exam establishes that an applicant has a firm understanding of the fundamental principles required to work in financial services. Failure to pass equates to a firm headshake from the bouncer and a stern finger point to the door.

“They had a very strict policy in place where they would hire someone as a consultant; they would give that consultant six months to pass the exam; if the consultant didn’t pass the exam at the end of the six months, then they had to let them go,” says Burm. “Employment was contingent entirely on passing that SIE exam.”

Burm connected that employer with Maricopa Corporate College to develop a non-credit exam prep course, and soon those employees were passing the exam with ease and were eligible for hiring.

The success of that pilot course led the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation to facilitate a wider collaboration between its Financial Services Workforce Collaborative and Maricopa Corporate College, which turned to SCC to create a for-credit course to prepare other candidates for the rigorous exam.

SCC’s unique positioning allowed it to create and implement the curriculum in the span of a few months. Compare this to the typical 18-month course development time for a major university, and it becomes clear why the institutional agility of a school like Scottsdale Community College was attractive when the financial industry was searching for educational partners.

Industry partners in the Collaborative convened by the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation include Charles Schwab,

Merrill Edge, Nationwide, U.S. Bank, Vanguard and Wells Fargo, all of which benefit from this new talent pipeline that allows them to quickly recruit these qualified course completers, trading the six-month consultant window for an intensive four-week SIE crash-course that currently boasts a 100% exam pass rate.

The industrial boom isn’t something on the horizon — it’s here, and employers need these jobs filled now. The Collaborative designed the program to rapidly advance students into open positions. In less than two months, students can complete the course, pass the SIE exam, interview and be hired.

By passing the SIE exam, entry-level candidates can earn between $41,000 and $44,000 annually, with salaries increasing as additional industry-related credentials are achieved. Due to the for-credit nature of the course, students can build on the fundamentals as they pursue further licensing and accreditation, opening up new opportunities for advancement.

“Once someone gets into the job using this foundational skill set, the possibilities are endless. After six months to a year, they may be eligible for significant promotions because of their work,” says Burm.

The implications of this kind of collaboration between industry and education cannot be overstated. Partnership between the two to create a more streamlined and effective training and employment pipeline produces candidates who are better prepared for the specific skills they will need to succeed. When employers have a voice in academia, they can influence curriculum to better align with the unique needs of their industry, thereby producing candidates who are better prepared and require less on-the-job training.

The Education Leadership Group found as much in their “Dear Arizona: A Call from Educators” report, concluding that “ultimately, the education system, regardless of its quality, cannot sufficiently train students for careers without an active partnership with industry.”

“This is now the prototype for other industries,” says Burm of the SIE prep course. “It will serve as the model as we emerge from COVID with a renewed focus on the value of education in the workplace.”

More than a quarter of all workers are predicted to search for a new job once the pandemic threat eases, according to Prudential Financial. The looming “war for talent” will give employees the pick of the litter when selecting a new job or career.

OUR SUBJECT IN-DEPTH

Beyond the Résumé

Enhance recruiting efforts through upskilling and reskilling to build the workforce of the future

by Aaron Elder

With the equivalent of 305 million full-time jobs being lost globally since COVID-19 hit, the future of the workforce is a complex topic these days as it has changed so quickly over the past 12-plus months. Now, as the world reopens, there are still 7.4 million job openings to be filled across industries, and experts continue to predict an increase in Americans moving on from their current or pre-pandemic jobs. This is a trend largely now known as the “Great Resignation” that differentiates those who lost their jobs because of COVID from those who are switching jobs now that businesses are rehiring.

On top of the workforce movement, as 2020 ended, one-third of U.S. employers said the skills gap had increased compared to 2019, and at least 80% stated they had difficulty filling openings because of skills gaps, according to PricewaterhouseCooper chief technology officer Joe Atkinson in an article for Fast Company earlier this year. So, how can employers put people back to work and fill employment holes in their team while also ensuring they’re making the right match? Many employers are enlisting the help of staffing and talent professionals, as well as focusing more on the internal function of HR managers and outsourced recruiters to help manage the impact the pandemic has had on the job market.

Here are a couple of strategies companies can incorporate into their hiring approach to ensure they are choosing the most qualified candidates:

THE IDEA OF “TRANSFERABLE VELOCITY”

To meet the ever-changing landscape of the job market today, most employers will not have the luxury of just hiring anybody to do the job. Rather, employers will better meet their needs by evolving their hiring strategy and corporate environment and considering transferable velocity when evaluating candidates to bridge the staffing gap and tap into unexplored talent.

The concept of transferable velocity is a forward-thinking approach to bridging the talent and skills gap and refers to an employer’s understanding of both the obvious and not-soobvious career trajectory of a candidate. This concept will allow employers to look beyond a candidate’s resume and consider a person’s entire story while also identifying key areas of already garnered skills and potential areas candidates have the skills to grow in. But also, reviewing a person’s transferable velocity actively provides better insight into their aspirations and future career goals. It’s time to look beyond where a candidate has been and ask where they are going.

WAYS TO INSTITUTE RESKILLING AND UPSKILLING IN A COMPANY

First, companies should cast a wider net in their hiring funnel. We are not recommending hiring any candidate who walks through the door, banking on the idea that they’re

trainable. But it is important to be open-minded when evaluating candidates against the current job description and being more deliberate about the core abilities they need rather than direct experience.

For example, a company is interviewing a candidate who has a range of technical skills and has worked in the industry before, understands all the jargon and nuances of the sector, but doesn’t have experience with a particular software for the new role. Or someone may not have been a salesperson but may have been in roles that required a lot of stick-toitiveness and interpersonal skills. Both may have the basic competencies needed for the job to be filled and exhibit potential transferable velocity; they just need the training to succeed at the role.

Next, when it’s practical, companies should get their new employees doing real-world work quickly. Real-world is important because if there is only a hypothetical risk when failure occurs, newly acquired skills will quickly be lost. The employer should provide opportunities for people to work with others who may have more experience or skills in a particular role to show there is a culture of support within the company for those who are adamant about moving to that next level of success within the organization.

Lastly, when the right talent is identified, it’s important to recognize and promote from within if the candidate exhibits the acquired skills to enter the next big role. It will show to employees an investment in their growth path to success and it increases the likelihood of greater employee retention.

When a right match is identified, upskilling and reskilling can help push a candidate to fully develop in his or her current position and beyond. With so many jobs left in limbo, there is a new intensity that needs to be brought to recruiting given the dynamics, with a new level of commitment to upskilling and reskilling. Through these new strategies, companies will not only widen the talent pool but make it more likely for them to find quality candidates that reflect today’s evolving workforce.

As 2020 ended, one-third of U.S. employers said the skills gap had increased compared to 2019, and at least 80% stated they had difficulty filling openings because of skills gaps. fastcompany.com/90640487/why-upskilling-is-more-than-just-a-cool-perk-in-the-hybrid-world

Aaron Elder is the CEO and co-founder of Crelate, where he brings more than 25 years of experience in product development and technology consulting, and was a lead architect in building Microsoft Dynamics CRM, one of the largest CRM platforms in the world. Elder has spent most of his career hiring and growing developers, in both the enterprise and startup world, with much of that time in niche technology fields. crelate.com

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INVESTING IN COMMUNITY

Internal and External Stakeholders at the Core of Successful CSR Strategies

Critical partnerships between companies, their employees and the larger community are helping change corporations from the inside out

by Carla Vargas Jasa

THE DELOITTE GLOBAL 2021 MILLENNIAL AND GEN Z SURVEY PROVIDES INSIGHTS TO A COLLECTIVE WORLDVIEW Learn more about how Millennials and Gen Z’s are channeling their energies into holding themselves and others accountable in The Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey. This year’s report delves deeply into how 2020 affected these generations’ day-to-day lives, their mental health and their collective worldview. bit.ly/2021-deloitteglobal-millennial-survey

Carla Vargas Jasa is the president and chief executive officer of Valley of the Sun United Way in Phoenix, which serves the more than 4.3 million people of Maricopa County and is among the largest United Way in the nation. vsuw.org

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As the global pandemic continues, many companies are rethinking how they do business in a world that expects more than yesterday’s “doing well by doing good” Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns. In every community, the local economic, health and social impacts are in flux and no matter the corporation’s size or location; a company is a part of that community.

Expressing this sentiment, former Unilever CEO Paul Polman has said, “We can no longer pretend that business is immune from the rising tide of environmental or social challenges or that companies can create value in isolation from the communities of which they are a part.”

Many companies are reevaluating their CSR strategies, keeping internal and external stakeholders in mind: customers, employees and society overall. The following are some examples that illustrate the need for effective CSR efforts and what some companies are doing to address this need.

CSR AND CONSUMERS

In today’s climate, CSR is not just another company policy or trite statement on a website. Customers are demanding authenticity and transparency from companies, as well as desiring ethical alignment to their values. Research shows that consumers are looking for proof of specific actions a company is taking to make the world a better place.

For example, the Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey reports, “The number of millennials who believe that business has a positive impact on society was 47%, marking the first time that figure has dipped below 50%. It was 76% in 2017. Like millennials, fewer than half of Gen Z’s see business as a force for good in society. Still, the underlying data suggests that negative feelings toward business may be turning a corner.”

Fortune 500 companies, like JPMorgan Chase & CO, are rising to the challenge. In October 2020, JPMorgan Chase announced a new long-term commitment to advance racial equity to the tune of $30 billion. Over the next five years, the company will “provide economic opportunity to underserved communities, especially the Black and Latinx communities.”

CSR AND EMPLOYEES:

The current health crisis, political strife and social unrest have forced many companies to take a public stand for what guiding principles and fundamental beliefs they may hold.

The ongoing pandemic has provided an opportunity for corporations to actively engage with their employees in the areas that personally affect them, such as workplace safety, physical and mental health and diversity issues.

Regarding diversity and inclusion, the Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey highlighted that “People’s

ethnicity or race are the most common cited causes for discrimination, but there are multiple reasons that also include socioeconomic status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, and sex. Among those who identify as ethnic minorities, 36% of millennials and 39% of Gen Z’s said they are discriminated against ‘all the time’ or frequently in the workplace. Roughly three in 10 who identify as homosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual concur.”

One company focused on inclusion and diversity at all levels of business is Campbell’s, which offers 10 employee resources groups that are open to all employees companywide. In June, during Pride Month, the company’s OPEN (Our Pride Employee Network) chose three non-profits to make an impact in the places where employees live and work. The Campbell Soup Foundation matched all employee donations to the OPEN Social Justice Fund.

CSR AND THE COMMUNITY:

This past year highlighted healthcare disparities, increased food insecurity, record-level unemployment and racial equity injustice. To address these challenges, the critical partnerships between companies, their employees and the larger community are helping to change corporations from the inside out.

For Ben & Jerry’s, silence was not an option to the George Floyd tragedy in May 2020. In early June, the Vermont-based ice cream company released an impassioned public statement in response. According to Muck Rack’s “8 brands making a difference with corporate social responsibility efforts” article, after releasing the statement, “Ben & Jerry’s sales surged well ahead of its competitors in the ice cream category.

Other companies publicly declared solidarity with the Black community, but Ben & Jerry’s message resonated with consumers because it already had credibility as a brand that stands for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.”

The core of a successful CSR strategy today is to put stakeholders — both internal and external — at the center of these efforts regardless of changes in the business environment. Research shows that socially responsible companies instinctively know they must interact with all stakeholders because the importance of these interactions becomes apparent, especially during challenging times.

QuikTrip is one of the ongoing partners in Valley of the Sun United Way’s Loaned Executive program, a unique learning experience in which an individual executive is paired with a United Way staff member for 16 weeks to learn new skills, support employee fundraising and create a positive impact in the community.

WE VALUE WHAT WE OWN

BY MIKE HUNTER

2022 Range Rover Sport With sportier design cues and a powerful, muscular stance, the Range Rover Sport is designed to make an impression.

Cleaner and more dynamic, this SUV has a contemporary feel everywhere — from the distinctive grille and hood vents to the refined yet sporty wheel options.

From sheer driving pleasure to fuel economy and refinement, each Range Rover Sport engine has been optimized for specific attributes. Ingenium technology underpins the 6-cylinder engine, and the powerful 5.0-liter Supercharged V8 gas engine provides outstanding performance and driver engagement.

The Touch Pro™ Duo in-car infotainment system beautifully integrates two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens. The Touch Pro Duo can be used along with the full-color Head-up Display and Interactive Driver Display to enable the driver to simultaneously view and interact with multiple features at once.

Muscular and perfectly proportioned, the Range Rover Sport is designed to command attention wherever it goes. The presence of the Range Rover Sport is more formidable than ever. With its distinctive silhouette, rearward-sloping roof and continuous waistline, Range Rover DNA is unmistakable throughout. Every aspect of the Range Rover Sport has been designed with precision to create a clean and streamlined exterior. Wraparound LED lights enhance the vehicle’s sleek look. Standard Premium LED headlights with signature Daytime Running Lights and optional Auto High Beam Assist attest to the vehicle’s contemporary appearance.

Luxurious, supremely comfortable and exceptionally functional, the Range Rover Sport is a driver’s vehicle through and through. The signature cockpit has been extensively reimagined — with every element meticulously designed and beautifully executed. Intuitive design features include SportShift Selector; hidden-until-lit, touch-sensitive switches; and a dynamic steering wheel with optional paddle shift. Ensuring the driver is always informed, the 12-inch high-definition Interactive Driver Display delivers entertainment data and driving information. The Head-Up Display allows the driver to keep a focus on the road by presenting key vehicle data — such as speed, gear position and directions — on the windshield.

2022 RANGE ROVER SPORT MSRP: $87,500 City: 19 mpg Hwy: 22 mpg Transmission: 8-speed automatic 0-60 MPH: 6.2 sec.

Range Rover landroverusa.com

Interiorscapes as Capital Expenditure Businesses can incorporate greenery such as plants and moss walls for their worksites

Capital expenditure budget is a formal

as capital expenditures. Admitting it’s

plan that states the amounts and timing of

unconventional, Plant Solutions founding

fixed asset purchases by an organization.

principal Joe Zazzera says, “The use of the

The wide array of expenditures that

budgeting tool is a great way to integrate

qualify include upgrades to existing assets,

plants and their benefits into an office

the construction of new facilities, and

the category of construction projects,

environment as we all look for ways to make

equipment required for new hires and

and facility operators can capture the

our employees happy, feel safe and healthy.”

business expansion or contraction – among

ability to save money on construction

Zazzera’s Scottsdale-based company has

which, Zazzera points out, the services of

projects before they start by providing

been providing design and installation

plant solutions fit.

pre-construction services as well as capital

services, ongoing horticultural service, MossWallArt™, plant rentals and living plant

Photos courtesy of

walls to Valley businesses since 1981.

The implementation of large-scale interiorscapes and living plants falls into

expenditure, budgeting strategies.

DON’T MISS OUT!

Get a year of In Business Magazine Subscribe now at inbusinessphx.com

plantsolutions.com

R-DYNAMIC BY LAND ROVER The R-Dynamic package is all about styling — a lot like M Sport for BMW or S-Line for Audi — inside and out, adding different wheels, upgrades to seat leather, aluminum trim pieces and, on some models, an upgrade to the sound system. R-Dynamic adds around $6,000 to the price of each trim/engine level.

57 SEPT. 2021 INBUSINESSPHX.COM

MEALS THAT MATTER

STK Steakhouse: Dishing in Style Good vibrations and libations

by RaeAnne Marsh

$26

SURF & TURF 6-oz steak filet and lobster tail $79

MAPLE RUBBED SALMON Atlantic salmon, piquillo broccolini, pickled cherry tomatoes and olive dressing $45

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at the table when served. Sides are ordered as individual accompaniments to the entrée, but the portions are generous enough to share among two or three people. Corn pudding is arguably a star among these accompaniments, taking sweet, creamed corn to a much higher level. Mildly flavored Maple Rubbed Salmon is served over a puddle of black olive dressing that works as well with the salmon as with the broccolini that is the entrée’s dish-mate.

STK Steakhouse needed a more extensive kitchen than what had previously served this site, and its remodel required also beefing up the building’s foundation. And that’s just the kitchen for the current restaurant space. Chef Seifi says they will be opening a third floor, which will be served by its own kitchen.

STK Steakhouse 7134 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale (480) 581-5171 stksteakhouse.com

Fall 2021 Arizona Restaurant Week takes place Friday, September 17, through Sunday, September 26. The Arizona Restaurant Association has partnered with HonorHealth to use the funds raised that week to support HonorHealth’s Desert Mission Food Bank and other programs that serve the Greater Phoenix metro area. arizonarestaurantweek.com

Photos courtesy of STK Steakhouse

TUNA TARTARE Ahi tuna chunks and Hass avocado held in a soyhoney emulsion, served with taro chips

The term “power lunch” implies grand impression. STK Steakhouse lives up to that.

At the corner on a bridge overlooking the Scottsdale waterfront, the restaurant has a commanding presence and offers a wonderful view of the canal from seating on its wide-open patio (weather permitting). The almost Victorian-garden exterior décor transitions to an interior that is sleek and modern, with reminders of the floral motif as accent arrangements.

Diffused lighting enhances the atmosphere, which manages to be at once both casual and refined. The service matches that atmosphere, with wait staff that is personable, knowledgeable about the menu and attentive without hovering. The restaurant’s restful day-time atmosphere punches up at night with a live DJ. STK Steakhouse — which dubs itself “not your daddy’s steakhouse” — is known for customizing each restaurant’s menu to include regionally inspired dishes influenced by the local culture and cuisine in addition to the core menu that is consistent across all locations (key markets in the U.S. and internationally). Chef Sia Seifi — a former Iron Chef — plans to develop dishes that reflect his background with Italian and Japanese cuisine and his own Middle Eastern roots. “Japanese is known for integrity of the ingredients, and I’ll translate that into Italian, making it easier to approach,” he explains. Also to come is a pasta program.

In the meantime, there is plenty to appreciate on STK Steakhouse’s core menu. The Tuna Tartare appetizer is presented as a tower of Ahi tuna chunks molded over avocado and served with taro chips — great for dipping, with a mouthfeel much like heavy potato chips but with an extra zing of flavor. Steaks are offered with a choice of special seasoning enhancements such as truffle butter — which is torched

TEMPE CHAMBER

ADVANTAGE Summer 2O21 • tempechamber.org

Tempe Chamber of Commerce CEO to Retire Anne Gill, IOM, President & CEO, Tempe Chamber of Commerce The Tempe Chamber of Commerce announced on July 15, 2021, that Anne Gill, president and CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, will retire after five years of service to the organization.

Under Anne’s leadership, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce experienced significant growth, with an increase to the organization’s net revenue by more than 350% during her tenure. Most notably, she helped implement the Career Ready Tempe youth workforce program, a collaborative partnership with the Tempe Chamber Foundation, and the City of Tempe’s Economic Development and Human Services Departments. The program seeks to strengthen Tempe’s future workforce, and the Chamber is better positioned because of the partnerships built with the broader business and education communities.

“I have been blessed to work with Anne over the last several years,” said Raveen Arora, Tempe Chamber Board Chair. “She has been the bedrock and face of the Chamber. A steward with vision, humility, patience and insight. A real leader who, with her team, helped the Chamber navigate the turbulence of COVID-19 and the minefields of the pandemic. Anne leaves behind a void that will be hard to fill. Her leadership and legacy are enshrined in her team. The board of directors considers her a superstar. Stars always shine in the darkness. She has been our brightest light.”

Anne’s vision helped refocus the Chamber’s mission to serve as the voice for business, a catalyst for economic growth and a champion for a strong community. From the launch of the Business Academy to the introduction of the annual Sustainability Summit, her work will leave a lasting impact on Tempe’s business community.

“Looking back on the past five years, I am proud of the work we have done with the Tempe business community,” said Anne Gill. “I have been fortunate to have worked with outstanding business and community leaders, as well as an exceptional Chamber team. I’ll miss the people I work with every day, but I know that with our strong board and support from the community, the Tempe Chamber will continue to innovate and meet the changing needs of the businesses it serves.”

Anne plans to return to her home state of Michigan, where she will enjoy time with her family and plan for her upcoming nuptials to her childhood sweetheart.

The Tempe Chamber Board of Directors has launched a search for Anne’s successor.

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Anne Gill, IOM, President & CEO, Tempe Chamber of Commerce

“Most notably, she helped implement the Career Ready Tempe youth workforce program, a collaborative partnership with the Tempe Chamber Foundation, and the City of Tempe’s Economic Development and Human Services Departments.”

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Tempe Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Team Members Denise Hart, Vice President of Marketing & Programs In July, Denise Hart was welcomed as the new Vice President of Marketing & Events.

The Vice President of Marketing & Programs functions as the Chamber’s events and programs developer and producer, coordinating and supporting Chamber programs through effective planning, marketing, vendor procurement, volunteer coordination, budget projecting and reporting. The VPMP also directs Chamber communications, website, publicity and social media. This position will work with Valley businesses to assess the informational needs of the community to determine appropriate content for events and programming.

Denise’s connections to Tempe are strong, as she is a Tempe Leadership graduate, past chair of the Tempe Tourism Board of Directors, and the 2016 Businesswoman of the Year.

Chris Morley, Business Development Specialist Chris Morley joined the Tempe Chamber in June as the Business Development Specialist.

This position’s duties include selling Chamber membership investments to prospective non-member businesses and organizations through communicating the benefits of the Chamber, providing detailed information on various programs offered and orienting the members to the Chamber. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Business Development.

A lifelong resident of Tempe and an ASU grad, Chris is passionate about service to the community.

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The City of Tempe and the Tempe Chamber Foundation want to help build our community’s workforce through a proven program that partners highly talented, lower income students with an internship that will show them career pathway opportunities to be successful professionals. Career Ready Tempe (CRT) provides students soft skills training throughout the program and covers their compensation.

Train your workforce now. Host a student intern this fall at no cost to you. Find out how you can build your future workforce at tempe.gov/CareerReadyTempe.

Business Applications close – 8/13/2021 Student Application closes – 8/31/2021

“Our participation in the Career Ready Tempe program was mutually beneficial to our student intern and Landings Credit Union. It was so successful that, after the completion of the summer internship, our student continued as a part-time intern with Landings. We would recommend the Career Ready Tempe program to other local companies looking for a way to develop our future workforce.”

—Cecilia Ashe, COO, Landings Credit Union

“What an amazing partnership between the City of Tempe, Tempe Chamber of Commerce and Wilson Electric to be able to have a direct impact on our future leaders. It was a pleasure and honor to work with Cesar, our intern, and leave a lasting impression with experiences that can be carried with him as he grows and prepares for the working world.”

—Tricia O’Neill, Human Resources Specialist Wilson Electric

Tempe Job Monsoon On July 21 and 28, more than 100 businesses participated in the Tempe Job Monsoon, which brought together job seekers and businesses to “make it rain” for everyone. The Tempe Chamber of Commerce was proud to partner with the City of Tempe, Downtown Tempe Authority and the Tempe Tourism Office to help support our businesses with job hiring challenges, which has become even more difficult this year.

Businesses across Tempe put out green balloons and Job Monsoon signs showing they are hiring. Job seekers were able to walk into any of those businesses, fill out a resume, likely get an interview — and for some, get a job — on the spot.

Tempe Business Academy

The Tempe Chamber Business Academy is a curriculum developed by the Chamber’s Business Innovation and Strategy Council designed to give businesses and business leaders the knowledge they need to grow their companies and strengthen our community.

The six-month Business Academy will begin its next session in October 2021. If you would like to learn more about becoming a part of the academy, contact us at the Chamber.

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Tempe Chamber Signature Events 2021 State of the District Each year, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce presents the State of the District, a federal update with Arizona’s 9th District U.S. Representative.

This year’s event was an interactive live broadcast with Congressman Greg Stanton, who provided a comprehensive update on federal issues affecting our district, state and country.

This year’s program was sponsored by FOX and was held on Thursday, March 11th, at 9:00 a.m. In addition to Congressman Stanton’s address, the program included questions from different sectors of the chamber’s business community.

2021 Sustainability Summit On April 2, 2021, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce held its annual Sustainability Forum.

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Sustainability Summit, part of the Emerging Issues series sponsored by SRP, was an hour packed with informative and influential speakers who discussed emerging sustainability issues and solutions for Tempe businesses.

The first part of the summit was an interview with Chuck Chaitovitz, the vice president for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Jen Coyne, CEO and co-founder of the organizational development firm The PEAK Fleet and co-chair of the Tempe Chamber of Sustainability Committee,

spoke with Chaitovitz about the Biden Administration’s focus on climate and infrastructure. They also discussed key policies that can help the business community in building resilience and how clean energy can impact employment challenges.

The second part of the summit was a panel led by Braden Kay, Ph.D., director of Sustainability for the City of Tempe, which expounded on the importance of partnerships and collaboration. Dr. Kay spoke with Tracee Sutton, U.S. Congressman Stanton’s legislative director and deputy chief of staff; Emma Viera, executive director of Unlimited Potential, a local nonprofit that works to strengthen the South Phoenix community through literacy, education and self-empowerment; and Lauren

Withycombe-Keeler, an Arizona State University professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Each panelist brought a specific point of view to help businesses better understand potential partnerships and opportunities for sustainable development.

For more information on the Tempe Chamber’s sustainability program, visit https:// tempe.pledge.green/.

2021 Leadership Conference & Virtual Expo On May 14, 2021, nearly 250 business professionals and community leaders participated in a live broadcast of the 26th Annual Leadership Conference & Virtual Expo, presented by Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital in partnership with the Women in Business Council. This year’s theme is “Leading by Example” and the conference was held as a live studio broadcast. The program included a progressive trivia contest, an online silent auction and the announcement of the 2021 Businesswoman of the Year recipient.

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce named Aneesah Nadir, Ph.D., as the 2021 Businesswoman of the Year. Dr. Nadir has lived, worked and worshipped in Tempe for more than 30 years. She is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Department of Social Work, where she taught for 17 years. Dr. Nadir is co-founder, and president of the Islamic Social Services Association–USA, a national nonprofit organization engaged in mental health advocacy and education headquartered in Arizona.

She is the CEO of Dr. Aneesah Nadir & Associates, LLC, which provides diversity and inclusion education and training, as well as family life and premarital education programs. Two additional finalists recognized this year were Suzy Greenwood of Arizona Tax Advisors and Rosa Inchausti with the City of Tempe.

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This year’s keynote was ASU Gammage Executive Director Coleen Jennings-Roggensack, who shared her path to leadership and how others can learn from how she leads by example in her organization.

In addition, a moderated panel discussed how to build a diverse workforce, implement programs for those diverse groups and build a culture of inclusivity.

The 2021 Mentoring Program graduation rounded out this morning of leadership, conversation, and celebration. If you are interested in participating in this year’s Women in Business Council, contact us through the Chamber.

2021 Red, White & Blue Awards The Tempe Chamber Military Affairs Committee hosted its third Annual Red, White & Blue Awards Ceremony on April 14, 2021. The live broadcast event recognized stellar members of our local military through scholarships and special recognition awards.

Awards Included: • Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Jimenez – Kyle Brayer Veteran in Public Safety Award • SMSgt. James Smith – 944th Fighter Wing “Graydon Williams Award” • CM2 (SCW) Joseph Edward Flores – Navy Operational Support “BUC Joel E. Baldwin Memorial Award” • Captain Cody Bown – 63rd Fighter Squadron “Trip Grace Memorial Award”

Scholarships Included: • Gil Ruiz, U.S. Marine Veteran/ASU Student – The Merle Fister Veteran Scholarship • Cadet Laura O’Donnell – ASU ROTC Scholarship – Army • MIDN Christopher Turcott – ASU ROTC Scholarship – Navy • Cadet Stephen Epp – ASU ROTC Scholarship – Air Force For more information about our Military Affairs Committee, visit https://tempechamber.org/committees.

2021 Annual State of the Chamber & Annual Awards On June 25, 2021, the Annual State of the Chamber was presented by Southwest Airlines. Celebrating 113 years, this year’s State of the Chamber was an interactive, live broadcast celebrating the Tempe Chamber’s dedication to the community, recognition of its volunteer leadership, and plans for the continued road to recovery.

We introduced the incoming board chair, Raveen Arora; the new board of directors, who include Nick Bastian, Mike Bradley, Laura Briscoe and Lisa Cavazos; and committee chairs while honoring those who are moving on from their terms of service. We had many milestone members to celebrate during this ceremony as well including 50-year members Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital, State Farm Insurance Companies and Lumen.

Congratulations to our 2021 award recipients: • Becton Dickinson, Business Excellence Award – Large Business Category • TerrainHopper, Business Excellence Award – Small Business Category • Bobby Zavala, Volunteer of the Year Raveen Arora, Spirit of Tempe

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Upcoming Signature Events Each program is designed to deliver relevant, impactful content to attendees.

If you are interested in learning more about attending or the benefits of sponsoring an event, contact the Tempe Chamber office.

Stars and Strikes Bowling Fundraiser Wednesday, September 15, 2021 • 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. • Alamo Drafthouse Tempe The Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee is proud to host this year’s “Stars and Strikes Bowling Fundraiser” event.

A portion of proceeds from this evening’s event will go back to the Military Affairs Committee to assist in its mission: “To serve as a proactive voice supporting military personnel in the greater Phoenix area.”

Emerging Issues – Protecting Your Business: Improve Profitability through Safer Workspaces, Reduced Losses & Asset Recovery Friday, September 17, 2021 • 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Sponsored by SRP, this program series provides a forum for speakers to address important issues relating to business and the community. We bring in experts to present on important topics that are designed to help the audience learn, grow and succeed.

Many times, unlawful activities are a threat to businesses. Most recently, internal theft and fraud, workplace hostility by customers and active shooter events have become most concerning to business owners and their employees.

Alan Saquella, corporate security director of investigations and multidisciplined leader with deep expertise in security of people, property, information and brand protection, will lead us in a discussion on how to protect your business through safer workspaces, reduced losses and asset recovery.

Reserve your seat today at tempechamber.org.

Business After Hours Wednesday, September 22, 2021 • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. • Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown Members of the business community come together to enjoy a night of food, drinks, conversation and network development during this casual mixer. These mixers are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

The event is free to Tempe Chamber members or $10 for the general public at the door. If you are not a member of the Tempe Chamber and would like to attend one complimentary mixer, please contact us at the Chamber office.

Business After Hours is sponsored by Cox Business. Register today at tempechamber.org/.

2021 State of the City Address November 2021 The Tempe Chamber’s annual State of the City is the premier forum that brings together Tempe’s business, civic and community leaders. The 2021 State of the City address, delivered by Mayor Corey Woods, will highlight key business development initiatives, provide strategic municipal progress updates, address challenges and opportunities, and provide a glimpse into the City’s future.

Keep an eye out for more information at tempechamber.org/.

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Board of Directors Board Chair: Raveen Arora Incoming Chair: Megan Martin Treasurer: Suzy Greenwood Vice-Chairs: Mark Holthaus, Julie Rodriguez Immediate Past Chair: Chad Akin Directors: Nick Bastian, John Bauer, CPA, MBA, Tom Binge, Mike Bradley, Laura Briscoe, Ashley Bunch, Lisa Cavasos, Sarah Clifford, Brent Cope,

Tempe Chamber Staff Anne Gill, IOM, President & CEO president@tempechamber.org

Chris Morley Business Development Specialist chris@tempechamber.org Paulette Pacioni Member Engagement Specialist paulette@tempechamber.org

Denise Hart Vice President of Marketing & Programs denise@tempechamber.org Erika Acorn Vice President of Business Development erika@tempechamber.org David John Key Marketing and Programs Manager david@tempechamber.org

Julie Flanigan, CPA Director of Finance julieflanigan@tempechamber.org Tempe Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 28500 • Tempe, AZ 85285 (480) 967-7891 www.tempechamber.org

Jayashree Ganesan Ex-Officios: Kate Borders, Jessica Brice, Andrew Ching, Kristin Irwin Committee Chairs: Jim Hall, Brian Stinson, Felicity Blackwater, Curran Walia, Ashley Bunch, Kevin O’Brien, Eddie Fredericks, Dawn Hocking, Roxy Helman The Tempe Chamber of Commerce strengthens the local economy though networking, advocacy, professional development and influence. It regularly advocates for a favorable business climate through interactive public policy engagement and provides ongoing representation in government at local, state and federal levels.

CONNECT WITH THE TEMPE CHAMBER! JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /tempecc WATCH OUR VIDEOS /tempechamber

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @tempechamber

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FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN /company/tempe-chamber-of-commerce Visit our website at www.tempechamber.org!

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Arruda, Chad, 18

Gomez, Arjelia, 32

Moxley, Chuck, 43

Rothermel, Paige, 39

Austin, Anthony, 46

Gregory, Diana, 33

Munro, Veronique, 12

Salerno, Heather, 13

Baugh, Adam, 49

Hart, Denise, 60

Nadir, Aneesah, 62

Samuels, Monica B., 20

Bordo, Mark, 14

Houttu, Ville, 66

Orozco, Daria, 42

Schenck, Brad, 16

Burm, Melanie, 54

Hunt, Linda S., 9, 25, 27

Pacurariu, Calin, 14

Stark, Tricia, 40

Butler, Jen, 52

Jannenga, Heidi, 34

Patel, Sundip, 11

Stewart, Marki, 48

Butler, Tyler, 50

Jasa, Carla Vargas, 56

Patrick, Julia, 38

Stiener-Murphy, Kimberly, 42

Carter, Heather, 28

Johnson, Christina, 15

Pedene, Paula, 42

Trevor Wilde, 12

Collins, Sherri L., 10

Johnson, Rachel Frazier, 10

Peregrina, Mike, 50

Turner, Jamie, 43

Cooney, Lin Sue, 29

LaTowsky, Brenda, 35

Plitkins, Michael, 14

Vicha, Dylan, 18

Desai, Roopali, 30

Lawrence, Mark, 20

Prashantham, Shameen, 43

Zazzera, Joe, 57

Elder, Aaron, 55

McCarthy, Cionne, 36

Pratt, Dave, 22

Zitlow, Kelly, 41

Ford, Kristin Atwell, 31

Meyerson, Julia, 37

Prichard, Pablo, 22

Gill, Anne, 59

Miller, Joshua, 50

Rogers, Ellen, 10

Goldfayn, Alex, 43

Morley, Chris, 60

Ross, Joe, 53

11Eleven Consulting, 50

First Western Trust, 40

Range Rover, 57

UnitedHealthcare, 5

Advanced Aesthetics Associates, 22

Gensler, 15

Repvblik, 15

Valley of the Sun United Way, 56

American Nonprofit Academy, 38

Greater Phoenix Leadership, 28

Rizing Tide Foundation, 34

Vetster, 14

Appcast, 13

Greenlight Communities, 15

Robert Half, 42

Vincit USA, 66

Arizona Commerce Authority, 2, 3, 68

Gust Rosenfeld, 12

Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, 36

Vista College Prep, 37

Highnoon, 11

Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, 10

Homie, 50

Arizona Community Foundation, 51 Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 68 Arizona State University, 6, 23 AVANA Companies, 12 Aventiv Technologies, 50 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, 21, 39

Hospice of the Valley, 29 Infinity Sun, 12 Islamic Social Services Association – USA, 62

Scottsdale Community College, 54 Spatial, 14 Star Worldwide Networks & Agency, 22 Stearns Bank, 8 STK Steakhouse, 58

JB Partners, 52

Tempe Chamber of Commerce, 59

JE Dunn Construction, 16

UMB Bank, 17

Clear Dermatology and Aesthetics Center, 35

WebPT, 34 Wilde Wealth Management Group, 12 Windom Security Strategies Today, 18 Withey Morris, PLC, 49 Workforce Software, 53 ZorroSign, 12

Jive, 8 Kiterocket, 67

CHECK US OUT

Maricopa County Community College District, 11

Catholic Charities, 15

W. P. Carey School of Business, 6

New Summit Communications, 54

Coppersmith Brockelman PLC, 30, 48

Oakmont Luxury, 20

Cornerstone Home Lending, 41

One Creative View, 10

Creation, 16

Open Hearts Family Wellness, 32

Crelate, 55

Optum Care, 47

CrossHarbor Capital Partners, 16

Phoenix Children’s Hospital, 12

Diana Gregory Outreach Services, 33

Plant Solutions, 57

Dignity Health, 7, 9, 27

Private Label International, 15

Dr. Aneesah Nadir & Associates, LLC, 62

Prologis, 23

Equality Health, 19

Quantum Leap Productions, 31

Express Pro, 42

Quasar Quantum Healing, 20

Fennemore, 46

Rachel Frazier Johnson Law, 10

In each issue of In Business Magazine, we list both companies and indivuduals for quick reference. See the stories for links to more.

/inbusinessphx

Bold listings are advertisers supporting this issue of In Business Magazine.

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Avoiding the Turnover Tsunami One company’s ‘CEO of the Day’ program promotes a lasting work culture

by Ville Houttu

Ville Houttu is CEO of Vincit USA, a leading software development and design company with offices in Phoenix, Ariz., and Orange County, Calif.

Nationally acclaimed for its progressive work culture, Vincit was honored as a Best Workplace for Innovators in 2020 by Fast Company, a 2021 Human Resources Tech Winner by TalentCulture and twice featured on Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplace list. vincit.com

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Employee turnover is always a looming concern for businesses. But, as the pandemic slows down and the world begins to recover, employee turnover has started to emerge as one of the most pressing issues in the workforce; in fact, many experts are warning of a “turnover tsunami.”

According to a recent report, more than half of employees surveyed in North America plan to look for a new job in 2021, while separate research shows that 26% of workers plan to quit their jobs outright as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. The reasons for this are many, ranging from employee burnout to changing workplaces to the end of workers “sticking it out” thorough global uncertainty. But the fact remains that most Americans will be looking for a new job in the coming months — meaning the benefits and workplace culture companies offer will become more important than ever before.

Fostering a safe, understanding and supportive workplace culture is one of the easiest ways to help keep employees happy — and happy employees equal happy customers.

That’s why Vincit USA, a leading international software development and design company that is nationally acclaimed for its progressive work culture, has made employee happiness its top KPI. In addition to traditional benefits, like full medical coverage, gym access and 401K matching, Vincit has a variety of unique culture-focused initiatives to empower its employees. One of its most popular initiatives: the CEO of the Day program.

This program gives one employee per month the ability to make one lasting decision for all Vincit employees. The CEO has an unlimited budget, no restrictions and zero oversight.

The lone requirement is that the decision must improve the working experience of Vincit employees.

Although each CEO will implement one decision, not all of them will be successful or beneficial to the company — and that is OK. In fact, failure is encouraged. This exercise is meant to demonstrate Vincit’s unwavering trust in its employees, encourage autonomy and provide an opportunity for employees to experience the complexities in selecting and executing a company-wide decision. And where there is

trust, there is success. According to a 2019 Salesforce report, employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.

The CEO of the Day program also gives employees the chance to better the workplace in a way they feel is valuable — often unveiling valuable insight for Vincit USA’s full-time CEO as well. The decisions made during the CEO of the Day program have spanned from implementing new training tools to “Fun Friday” bonding events to a company-wide Uber account to ensure safe rides following post-work happy hours. And though some of them may seem small in the grand scheme of running a business, those small changes make a lasting impression on employees — and small changes can make the difference in employees loving or leaving a company.

Vincit first implemented the CEO of the Day program in its Irvine, Calif., office in 2018, and it’s been so successful that it has expanded to every Vincit USA location since. We have seen the program increase participation and ownership from Vincit employees and help new employees feel welcomed. When Vincit expanded to Arizona and acquired Scottsdale-based Vuria a few months ago, I noticed the CEO of the Day initiative encouraged the employees to thoughtfully interact with and trust their new co-workers, assisting in successfully merging the two workforces together.

And, perhaps most importantly, the program makes employees happy. Vincit has earned an array of awards for its workplace culture, including Best Workplace for Innovators

by Fast Company, Best Workplace by Inc. Magazine, Best Tech Culture by OC Timmy Awards, and Orange County Business Journal’s Best Places to Work three times. In an extremely competitive tech industry, Vincit has drawn and retained some of the industry’s brightest talent.

Fostering a transparent workplace culture that empowers employees to be the best versions of themselves should be the goal of every organization. Not only does it encourage better work, but it also builds a tangible, lasting workplace community, giving companies the ability to ride the ever-changing waves of the workplace. And yes, that includes even tsunamis.

The average tenure for an employee is around four years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. For tech companies, the average employee tenure is even lower, estimated at about three years.

“Arizona MEP was very creative, looked at the individual opportunities and challenges, and supported what we needed to tackle the challenge and grow.

They do it in a personal, creative, and helpful way.”

Sherri Barry, Co-Founder, FABRIC

With decades of leadership, manufacturing and business expertise, the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Arizona MEP) helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers achieve their goals. This past year, Arizona MEP provided critical expertise to FABRIC in response to the impacts of COVID-19. The program enabled Tempe-based FABRIC to set up four socially distanced production lines, recruit more than 60 team members and pivot operations to produce more than 200,000 FDA-approved, reusable hospital gowns statewide.

Arizona’s manufacturers can leverage Arizona MEP’s programs to continue recovering. From responding to workforce and supply chain disruptions to making operational shifts to support the manufacturing of PPE and critical supplies, the Arizona MEP Emergency Assistance Program provides subsidized services to help manufacturers return stronger for the future. Applications for this one-time, CARES Act-supported program are open until late Spring 2021 and offered on a first come, first served basis.

Learn more about Arizona MEP and the Emergency Assistance Program azcommerce.com/programs/arizona-mep | 602-845-1256