Briefs

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

Community College Education Concierge info.maricopacorporate.com/concierge 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 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

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

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