February 2022

Cover Story

Workplace Progress: Who is stepping up diversity?

Interest in diversity, equity and inclusion is arguably a universal in business these days. But there is no universal one-size-fits-all DEI program.Businesses may be tempted to apply to their own operations programs they’ve seen be effective in … [More]

Features

Don’t Let Metrics Myopia Drive Away Your Talent

“Employee engagement” has been a boardroom buzzword for quite some time. We’ve long known engagement matters. Still, the unspoken “but” has always been that metrics — especially those of the performance and financial ilk — matter more. Now, with the … [More]

Seven Ways Social Media Can Revitalize Small Business Competition

Economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic could very well continue to play out over decades. Change is a forerunner to growth, and businesses across the nation were forced to pivot over the past two years. Perseverance was tested, resilience was … [More]

TruWest Credit Union’s TruDifference

Steeped in Arizona history, TruWest Credit Union was originally established in 1952 as Motorola Credit Union. With more than 93,000 members and eight Phoenix locations, the TruWest of today is focused on building upon the rich legacy on which they … [More]

The Business Case for Volunteering

Arizona enters the new year on a roll. The state’s economy posted one of the most robust recoveries in the nation in 2021, with record job growth and business investment and healthy funding conditions for startups. All of that has received ample … [More]

Roundtable

Maintain Company Morale in Times of Uncertainty

If the events of the past few years have proven anything, it is that companies’ success correlates with the morale of their employees. Studies … [More]

Economy

Non-Traditional Lending Enters where Rejection Reigned

Half of U.S. small-business owners report facing significant hurdles brought on by the current supply chain disruptions. Couple that with a record … [More]

Legal

Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions – Where to Next?

During 2021, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) proceeded at a torrid pace in the United States. This article examines what may lie ahead for domestic … [More]

From the Top

The Flower Shop Promotes Integrity in the Cannabis Industry

As a female attorney and executive of a multi-state license holder, I’ve overcome numerous hurdles and obstacles on my journey. When I first joined The Flower Shop, I was the only female in the … [More]

Startups

KeepWOL – Growth through Play and Reflection

KeepWOL — which stands for Keep Wondering Out Loud — creates learning and development technology that maximizes cultural intelligence in the workplace. Its SaaS talent development platform uses a … [More]

Form Paper Co. Goes Big and Bold with Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Form Paper Co. is an online company offering commercial-grade, peel-and-stick wallpaper designed “for those who aren’t afraid to go big or bold,” says founder Dala Al-Fuwaires. “All our patterns are … [More]

Nonprofit

Reinventing the Way We Work

The ongoing pandemic has created a wave of change of epic proportions that has led to the great employment “reset” that the country, and the world, is now experiencing. Workers across various business … [More]

CRE

2022 Interior Design Trends

It comes as no surprise that COVID-19, quarantines and lockdowns are still at the forefront of our minds. Experiences over the past two years has led society to seek commercial spaces that promote health, flexibility and the comfort of home in a … [More]

The Sustainable Valley Located in Buckeye, Arizona

We recently facilitated an accumulated $20 million deal in Buckeye, Arizona, with the purpose of driving sustainable energy, warranting the name Sustainable Valley for the syndicated 200-acre land deal. The real estate market alone makes up 49% … [More]

2021 Sees All-Time Records in Phoenix Industrial Market

Colliers in Arizona reports the Metro Phoenix industrial market set a series of records in 2021, making it the most active year in the area’s history. Net absorption in 2021 was 80% higher than 2020, construction levels hit a historic peak in fourth … [More]

Healthcare

A Safe and Healthy Workplace Return

As more and more people return to the workplace in the New Year after working from home for months, a lot of adjusting is going to take place: back to wearing business casual waist down, no more checking to see if mute is on or off during meetings, … [More]

Technology

Climate Fintech for the Agricultural Economy

In the face of a constantly changing climate, creating long-term business resilience has evolved from nice-to-have to a necessity. From uncertainty and increasing competitive pressures to the need to mitigate today’s climate and regulatory risks, … [More]

By the Numbers

Businesses Set Their Sights on Growth in 2022

Small and mid-sized U.S. business leaders remain confident in their companies and resourceful in their approaches to confronting macroeconomic … [More]

Briefs

Collaboration between Trade Partners Is Revolutionizing Construction Industry

Scottsdale-based Synergos Companies, a construction solutions organization for single-family and multifamily residential builders, recently announced the acquisition of Brewer Companies to complement its existing portfolio of construction firms … [More]

It’s a Wrap for Safer Policing

“Safer policing outcomes through innovative technology,” says the website of locally based WRAP®, a global public safety technology and services company organized in March 2016. The company recently released its BolaWrap 150, the latest development … [More]

Identifying an Ideal Employee Pool

At Consumer Cellular, we are fortunate to be growing and expanding our footprint across the country. During the last month of 2021, we announced the opening of two new customer service centers — one in Oklahoma City, which became up and running in … [More]