“Inspirational leadership is creating space for others to discover their potential, find their voice, create opportunities for them to thrive, and build something together that will last beyond them.” —Regina Nixon Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement reminds us that meaningful progress is rarely accomplished … [More]
Torrie A. Taj, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer, Child Crisis Arizona
“Inspirational leadership means helping people find their 'why,' then giving them the safety and support to boldly build their brightest future.” —Torrie A. Taj, CFRE Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement matters because recognition sets the standard for what our community believes is possible. When we celebrate … [More]
Jin Jia’s Korean Chinese Is Double the Pleasure
Elevated. Indeed, some — on entering Jin Jia’s dining room — might call it fine dining. But the owners “wanted to make the experience accessible,” according to Andrew Nam, director of operations for parent company HL Concepts. Simplicity of décor effects a striking elegance, with white and lustrous black set off by accents of red. Dim ambient lighting makes the room’s large … [More]
Employees Are Exploring AI Tools on Their Own
Half of small business workers use AI – most to boost productivity, not automate jobs
from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Half of all workers at small businesses already use AI at work — and the vast majority are using it to get more done, not to automate themselves out of a job. That is the central finding of the inaugural Main Street AI Monitor, released earlier this year by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with Ipsos. The survey — … [More]
Is the ‘Big Stay’ Finally Coming to an End? What Arizona Employers Should Know
After several years of uncertainty, today's workforce may finally be regaining the confidence to make career moves. New Robert Half research finds that 46% of U.S. professionals plan to look for a new job during the second half of 2026 — up from 38% earlier this year and just 27% one year ago. The findings suggest that many workers who previously stayed put are beginning to … [More]
Networking Now – Warm Connection or Cold Transaction?
A growing majority of Americans say networking feels more like a thinly veiled transaction rather than relationship‑building — and a recent survey by Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll shows just how pervasive that discomfort has become. According to the survey, 79% of U.S. hiring managers and 75% of job seekers say networking today feels more like a … [More]
Phoenix’s Growth in Advanced Manufacturing Attracts New Tech Center
Mazak, a leader in the design and manufacture of productive machine tool solutions, selected Phoenix for its newest Technical Center because Arizona has emerged as one of the nation’s fastest-growing advanced manufacturing regions. With hundreds of billions of dollars being invested across semiconductor, aerospace, defense, medical device and cybersecurity industries, the … [More]
Webinars Could Be a Business’s Growth Lever, but Its Workflow Is Holding It Back
Webinars have re-emerged as one of the most effective formats in B2B marketing. As buyers increasingly seek educational content they can consume on their own schedule, webinars have evolved beyond one-time presentations into long-term business assets. For business leaders, this changes how webinar success should be measured. Rather than serving only as live events, webinars … [More]
Echoes of the Boom: Arizona’s Fab Explosion Brings Suppliers in Tow
TSMC’s $265 billion commitment is accelerating the supplier network taking shape around Arizona’s semiconductor industry
Arizona’s semiconductor boom has long been measured by its biggest numbers. Billions in investment. New fabrication plants. Thousands of jobs. TSMC’s latest expansion pushes those numbers to another level, but some of the clearest signs of its impact are showing up in the smaller facilities and industry connections forming around those massive projects. In July, TSMC … [More]
Arizona’s Semiconductor Story Adds a Korean Chapter
Arizona’s international semiconductor work has focused largely on Taiwan and Japan. TSMC put the state’s connection to Taiwan at the center of its industry growth, and agreements signed earlier this year brought Arizona, Taiwan and Japan together around manufacturing, research and workforce development. State officials are now directing more attention to South Korea. The … [More]
AI in Arizona Commercial Real Estate
Substantial advantages also recognize AI makes human expertise more — not less — important
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept for commercial real estate. Across the industry, AI is moving from pilot programs and conference-room demonstrations into everyday workflows — helping brokers research properties, investors evaluate deals, owners manage buildings and property teams respond to tenants. Arizona offers a particularly interesting lens … [More]
Why Some Arizona Businesses Are Choosing Ownership Over Leasing
While headlines continue to focus on office vacancies and an uncertain commercial real estate market, another story is quietly unfolding across Arizona. Many small and midsize businesses are choosing to purchase commercial property rather than renew leases, investing in long-term stability while giving underutilized buildings a new purpose. These owner-users aren't … [More]
Smart Steps to Position a Business for Mergers & Acquisitions
Ensure that financial, legal and operational perspectives remain in focus
Mergers and acquisitions activity remains strong across industries. Many M&A opportunities stem from a combination of strategic repositioning and succession planning. Whether exploring current M&A activity as a buyer or a seller, working closely with a trusted team of professional partners as early as possible helps mitigate risk and ensure agreements will honor an … [More]
Are RTO Mandates Really about Collaboration and Productivity?
Survey reveals 1 in 2 workers believe return-to-office mandates are about corporate control and lack of trust
Workers have heard the pitch: Return to office to get that hard-to-define special feeling of vibrant communication and collaboration that post-COVID workplaces seem to lack. They're not persuaded, according to a survey we recently conducted among workers — fully in-office, fully remote and hybrid — about return-to-office mandates. When asked what RTO mandates are really … [More]
Inga Rose: Scaling a Science-First Startup in Oncology
Marrying scientific rigor with on-demand solutions
The pace of innovation in oncology has never been faster. Researchers are developing new diagnostics, identifying novel biomarkers and advancing precision medicine at an unprecedented rate. But even as scientific discovery accelerates, one challenge remains constant: streamlined access to high-quality biospecimens. As the founder and CEO of Phoenix-based oncology specimen … [More]
5 Employment Actions Phoenix Employers Should Take Before Growing
Workforce decisions made during rapid growth periods may create future exposure
Greater Phoenix ranked third nationally in percentage job growth during the first quarter of 2026, adding 15,500 nonfarm jobs even as national headwinds slowed hiring elsewhere. Corporate relocations also continue to surge, with the Northeast Valley dubbed "Headquarters Alley." As semiconductor, aerospace and logistics investments reshape the regional labor market, employment … [More]
Scaling Down to Scale Up: The Business Case for Boutique Senior Living
In Arizona’s senior housing market, scale has long been treated as a measure of success. Larger facilities, higher unit counts and operational efficiency have defined growth for decades. Now, that model is being challenged as smaller, boutique-style communities gain traction by prioritizing consistency, retention and resident experience over size alone. In Scottsdale, New … [More]
The AI Problem Valley Business Leaders Don’t Know They Have
With AI, there’s no ‘one and done’
For those leading an Arizona-based business today, chances are very high their employees are already using AI. They’re using it to draft emails, summarize meetings, analyze data, create presentations, write code, review résumés and solve countless everyday problems. Whether the organization has formally rolled out AI tools or not, AI has already found its way into day-to-day … [More]
