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WINTER 2016

tempe risingTempe transforms into a model American city

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

2025

AT NB|AZ, OUR GOAL IS SIMPLETO EARN YOUR TRUST BY PROVIDING YOU WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT YOU DESERVE We provide comprehensive financial solutions, innovative

technologies and award-winning service. Our dedicated team

makes banking more convenient and efficient by providing

the support you deserve so you can do what you love.

A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC

EAZ-0010 - 003 - Advertisements - v1.indd 2 1/7/16 10:18 AM

DEPARTMENTS

02 @NB|AZWhat’s happening at National Bank of Arizona

04 AZ nonprofitHope on WheelsPhoenix food truck serves more than just meals to the Valley’s homeless

06 Arts & CultureLost & Found Phoenix artist reimagines the city’s most iconic landmarks

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

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

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

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

30 Experience AZ A moment in Bisbee

NATIONAL BANK OF ARIZONA®

Corporate Center6001 N. 24th St.Phoenix, AZ 85016602-235-6000

PB+J CREATIVEcontent + photography + design602-821-9164pb-jcreative.com

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

PUBLISHER National Bank of Arizona

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Adams, cwadams@me.com

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

PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Lipczynski, mark@marklipczynski.com

ON THE COVER

From farm-fresh produce to artisanal wheat, Arizona's bounty is easily accessible thanks to Good Food Finder AZ. The statewide online resource connects the community with farmers and purveyors. Find out more on page 8.

Photo by Mark Lipczynski

in this issue16 Tempe Rising

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

22 Vision 2025 The Center for the

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

Barrio Cafe chef-owner

Silvana Salcido Esparza brings her signature flavors to

travelers at Sky Harbor Interna-tional Airport. More on page 12.

FEATURES

A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC

2

Open for Business

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

these days.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Waddell

New St. Johns branch meets the needs of a

growing community

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

Bob

Martinson

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UPCOMING

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

Proposals that benefit and support: Affordable Housing, Economic Development, Arts & Culture, Education, Community Services, Health & Human Services and Neighborhood Stabilization are due by Feb. 12. A qualified organization (NPO) is only eligible for one grant/award per calendar year. The total granting pool will be based on availability of funds per cycle.  

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

If your organization does not have a registered ACF profile, you will need to register for one. Visit azfoundation.org and select “Grantee Login” to sign up. Once you are registered, you may begin the application process by starting a new application. You may also edit organizational information once you have logged in and attached your organization to  your profile.

REVIEW AND EVALUATIONAll grants proposals will be reviewed through a competitive evaluation process. The reviewers will be reading the applicants’ online profiles on the ACF website to obtain information on the organization. Please be sure to update your organization’s profile before submitting your proposal.

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

THE 45TH ANNUAL NB |AZ Fiesta Bowl Parade kicked off at 11 a.m. (MST) on Jan. 2. First staged in 1972, “Arizona’s Got Game,” is a two-mile parade through central Phoenix featuring more than 100 floats, marching bands, local celebrities and entertainment.

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

perfect, Arizona winter day. NB |AZ Vice Chairman Deborah

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

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

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

By the Numbers: Winter Swing

124GOLFERS

PARTICIPATED

Valley CEOs played for their favorite

charity

18

CHARITIES BENEFITTED

18

$220,000RAISED

Grant Cycle Begins

SPONSORSHIP

4

FOR KRYSTEN ALDRIDGE of Mesa, what began five years ago as a philanthropic event to feed the homeless has blossomed into a full-time

mission of what she calls “spiritual archeology” to better understand the transformative power of giving back.

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

In January 2013, Aldridge of-

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

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

hope on wheels

Phoenix food truck serves

more than just meals to

the Valley’s homeless

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The lemonade is keeping us afloat,” she explains, “but it’s not as sustainable as I’d like it to be. Fundraising isn’t something I’ve done before.”

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

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

NB|AZ also hosted a grant-

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

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

Through guidance from Bate-man, Aldridge hopes to expand her organization in 2016 and beyond.

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

Gelbart

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

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

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

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

Source: St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance

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6

lost & foundPhoenix artist reimagines the city’s most iconic landmarks

Aaron Stouffer's love for mid-century

modern design inspired him to create art that celebrates the bygone

era of Phoenix. He shows one of his works in front of the historic Harkins Camelview 5 theater in

Scottsdale, which closed in December 2015.

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AS A YOUNG BOY Aaron

Stouffer whiled away the

hours drawing floor plans

on big tablets of paper,

recreating the places run-

ning through his imagination.

Today, Stouffer is still imagining

places. Instead of pulling from

his Pennsylvania childhood, he is

focused on the Valley’s mid-century

modern gems of the past and pres-

ent: Cine Capri, Helsing's Coffee

Shop, First Federal Savings and

Loan, and iconic homes throughout

Phoenix neighborhoods.

Stouffer is reintroducing these

treasures through colorful, stylized

graphic prints that capture not

only the structures, but also the

environs that place them squarely

in the Valley of the Sun. Whether

real life or reimagined, Stouffer’s

scenes show off the architecture

of the day against a backdrop of

mountains, palm trees and cacti.

The 28-year-old artist is juggling

private commissions with his “Lost”

and “Found” collections. “I don’t

know what the end goal is, but I just

like seeing it grow,” Stouffer says.

At his day job, Stouffer is still

involved with floor plans as a

project designer for the Tempe

architectural firm Architekton. He

is working toward becoming a

licensed architect. At the same

time, Stouffer is nurturing an ar-

tistic passion through his graphic

prints. His interest was piqued by

the project renderings he created

while studying architecture at

Kent State University. Then, a trip

to Palm Springs—the country’s

epicenter of mid-century modern

architecture—cemented the

direction of his work.

“I was incredibly inspired by the

rich character of each neighbor-

hood,” Stouffer says. “I could feel

it emanating from every block and

every square foot of landscaping,

imagining I was arriving for a dinner

party hosted by Sinatra in the ’50s.”

It’s easy to see and feel that

inspiration in Stouffer’s prints. He

creates private commissions for

homeowners using photos, memo-

ries and embellishments like leafy

trees or a hot air balloon. His “Lost”

and “Found” collections showcase

landmarks like the beloved Legend

City in Phoenix.

Stouffer sells his work online

(postandbeamaz.com) and in local

stores like Modern on Melrose in

Phoenix, and For the People at the

Biltmore Fashion Park.

Wes McKeage is a big fan.

He discovered Stouffer’s work

at Modern on Melrose, which

featured a print of the retro bowling

alley Christown Lanes in Phoenix.

McKeage has since purchased

several pieces, and also commis-

sioned a custom print of a 1972

Polynesian-inspired tract home as

a gift for his mother. Whatever the

subject, Stouffer brings out its true

beauty, McKeage says.

“It’s obvious that his background

in architecture and his unique

vision as an artist have combined

to make something really special,”

he says.   Susie Steckner

“I was incredibly inspired by

the rich character of each

neighborhood... imagining I was

arriving for a dinner party

hosted by Sinatra in the '50s.”

8

local source of plenty

IF YOU’RE IN the market for healthy, locally

grown food in Arizona, start your search on

the Good Food Finder AZ. An online, statewide

directory of local food producers, Good Food

Finder was created by Natalie Morris in 2011 as

part of a research project funded by a Border-

lands Food and Water Security Fellowship grant

overseen by renowned conservation scientist

Gary Paul Nabhan, Ph.D., W.K. Kellogg Founda-

tion chair and University of Arizona professor.

“It started out as a curiosity about how many

small- and medium-scale farmers there were in

Arizona,” says Morris.

What she discovered was that the

local farming industry was plentiful, but

needed a boost in recognition. So she

decided to create Good Food Finder as

a way to give local farmers some much

needed publicity and a centralized

direct marketing source.

“We all know we can produce food in

Arizona, but much of it is exported. So

by building a database, we were able

to give the market promise in our state. At the

time, nothing serviced small- and medium-sized

businesses.”

Today, the Local First Arizona Foundation

manages the Good Food Finder directory. The

website gives consumers and institutional

food buyers the opportunity to make socially

responsible connections with procurers,

farmers and restaurateurs, and learn about

Arizona’s local food providers. More than a

directory, the website provides complimentary

local food resources, a blog and access to a

bi-monthly newsletter, which helps shorten

food supply chains; improve access to local,

Online directory connects consumers with local food producers

healthy foods; and encourage communities

to create a healthier, more sustainable food

system in Arizona.

“Good Food Finder is a tool that encourages

the community to purchase from one another

and create a vibrant economy,” Morris says.

Morris turned over management to the Local

First Arizona Foundation in 2014 and is happy to

report the directory has expanded greatly under

their leadership.

“When I created the Good Food Finder, it

was a pretty basic site that was farmer- and

producer- focused with a fairly simple search

engine that allowed users to search by busi-

ness name or food item,” says Morris, who also

works for the foundation. “The site now provides

robust search functionality which gives users

the option to display results that are within a

specific radius on a map, and locate farmers

markets that accept public health and nutrition

programs. Visitors can browse 26 business

categories that all source from local food

producers.”

In addition, the number of participating

businesses in the directory has grown from 800

to 1,000, and categories now include everything

from food aggregators and schools, to gardens

and wineries. Any Arizona food industry busi-

ness that meets the requirements can be listed

in the free directory.

“There is wide array of people doing business

in the local food industry,” says Morris, noting

that more and more users and businesses are

joining the local food directory. “Arizona has a

lot going on in the food industry and we want

customers to know farmers and businesses are

out there.”   Sally J. Clasen

Natalie Morris,

founder of Good Food Finder AZ, samples Arizona's bounty at

Singh Farms in Scottsdale.

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WHY LOCAL FOODS? 10 reasons to eat, drink and grow local

1 Local food tastes better.

2 Local food is healthy.

3 Local food supports farmers

and entrepreneurs.

4 Local food fosters robust economies.

5 Local food is safe.

6 Local food builds vibrant

communities.

7 Local food preserves green

spaces.

8 Local food is accessible.

9 Local food is good for the

environment.

10 Local food protects

biodiversity.Source: Good Food Finder AZ

10

Tucson group is on a mission to bring back dark skiessaving

the night

But communities around Arizona

and the world are committed to

changing that with help from the

International Dark-Sky Association

(IDA). The Tucson-based nonprofit

has been working for nearly 30

years to bring back dark skies and

reduce the harmful effects of light

pollution.

This year, the association is on

track to designate a record-setting

number of “dark sky places”—com-

munities, parks and other places—

that are committed to preserving

dark skies. The association hit a

record 14 places last year and has

already approved 12 so far this year.

PICTURE A NIGHT sky filled with

stars, sparkling across the

darkness as far as the eye

can see. Hard to imagine?

You’re not alone.

Artificial outdoor lights blanket

communities around the globe,

making it more challenging to ex-

perience truly dark places. This light

pollution not only disrupts starry

nights, it impacts wildlife habitats,

energy consumption and more.

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

“The program rewards com-

munities and parks for doing the

right thing and encouraging them

to protect night skies,” says Cheryl

Ann Bishop, the association’s

communications and public affairs

director.

Flagstaff is the world’s first

recognized dark sky place,

receiving its designation in 2001.

The city, home to renowned

observatories, has been a leader in

helping educate the public about

protecting dark skies. Sedona,

also a longtime advocate, received

dark-sky status in 2014.

The two communities have

made major strides, from passing

innovative ordinances that limit

outdoor light, to persuading state

transportation officials to use dark-

sky compliant lighting along certain

thoroughfares. The efforts are

reducing light pollution, conserving

energy and protecting the night-

time environment for generations

to come.

Arizona is also home to three

other dark sky places. The remote

Grand Canyon-Parashant National

Monument stretches over more

than 1 million acres and boasts

pristine night skies. Oracle State

Park is just about 20 miles from

Tucson, but “sky glow” from the city

is blocked by the Santa Cata-

lina Mountains, offering another

authentic dark sky experience.

And just earning designation this

year is the Kaibab Paiute Indian

Reservation on the Arizona-Utah

border, north of the Grand Canyon.

Arizona’s top tourist attraction

and natural wonder could soon be

joining the list of dark sky places.

Grand Canyon officials are work-

ing on an application with help

from the IDA. They are targeting a

designation as part of the National

Park Service’s 100th anniversary in

2016, Bishop says.

Each new designation plays a

critical role in raising awareness

about the need to preserve dark

skies.

“We’re losing our heritage of

dark skies,” Bishop says. “I don’t

think there’s any human on the

planet, when they see a truly

spectacular starry sky, who isn’t

moved. It’s inspiring.”   Susie

Steckner

12

food flightLocal restaurants ‘sweeten the pot’

at Sky Harbor International Airport

BACK IN 2002, when Silvana

Salcido Esparza and her

partner, Wendy Gruber,

founded their now iconic

Barrio Café in Phoenix, the

visionary duo earned an

immediate and deserving reputa-

tion as culinary mavericks.

Gone were the flour tortillas,

yellow cheese and red-sauced

staples so typical of local

Mexican restaurants. In their place,

Esparza cooked up a lovingly

crafted menu of regional Mexican

dishes: chocolaty mole sauces;

revelatory cochinita pibil tortas;

freshly roasted chilis en Nogada;

and creamy, made-from-scratch

tableside guacamoles.

Esparza and Gruber weren’t

sure how well their novel cuisine

would be received, but in no time

at all, throngs of diners lined up in

front of the café waiting to snatch

vacant tables.

Several years later, tapping

that same maverick spirit, Esparza

moved a branch of Barrio Café

into Terminal Four at Phoenix Sky

Harbor International Airport for

what would turn out to be another

paradigm-shifting experiment:

to turn on its head the idea

that airport food must be an

afterthought—something to endure

more than enjoy.

Many of Esparza’s loyal patrons

and local foodies thought the

move was misguided, even crazy.

Now, some five years after

the fact, Esparza’s airport gamble

appears to have paid off in spades.

Barrio Café is an oasis of appetizing

Mexican dishes that kick the quality

quotient into the stratosphere miles

above such typically blasé food court

fare, and the 140-seat way station is

often packed with hungry travelers.

“Business is fabulous,” Esparza

says. “Since we opened it’s been

one of the top restaurants at the

airport.”

As it turns out, Esparza wasn’t

flying solo in her Sky Harbor venture.

A year or so before she opened at

the airport, she was contacted by

HMSHost, the food service company

that contracts with Sky Harbor

to manage food and restaurants

available to travelers. The company

had a vision to improve its offerings

by inviting independent, top-quality

restaurateurs and chefs to open

satellite eateries in bustling

terminals. Among others, Esparza

and Barrio Café were top of mind for

their plans. At first, Esparza resisted

their offer.

“When I was first approached,

the idea sounded too much like

‘selling out’ for me and we said no,”

she explains. “But they came back to

us and agreed to give me the liberty

to go to the airport and oversee the

operation—and, most importantly,

oversee the food at the commissary.

Once we came to those terms, I

realized that it was something that

was attractive to me.”

Esparza’s conditions for the

arrangement coalesced from two

potentially deal-breaking requests

she made of HMSHost.

“I told them I absolutely had to

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

have two things: a lot of tequila

and a mural out front. We got both,

which showed me they were

serious about wanting to represent

my brand.”

Esparza’s Barrio Café isn’t the

only prime Phoenix-metro-area

restaurant to set up shop at Sky

Harbor. Terminal Four is now home

to such local eateries as Sauce, La

Grande Orange, Cowboy Ciao, Olive

& Ivy, and many others.

“We’re extremely proud of the

outstanding range and quality of

restaurants we’ve brought to

Phoenix Sky Harbor International

Airport,” says Steve Johnson,

executive vice president of business

development at HMSHost. “The

participation from local restaurateurs

and chefs has really helped

transform this terminal into one of the

most diverse airport dining venues in

the country.”   bruce farR

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of the 10 busiest

airports in the country. On a typical day:

1,200 aircraft arrive

and depart

100,000+

passengers arrive and depart

800+ tons of air cargo

are handled

79

MILLION daily economic

impact

Source: City of Phoenix—

Aviation Department.

LOCAL BUSINESSTHE DRIVING FORCE OF OUR ARIZONA ECONOMY

GREAT BUSINESS CLIMATEArizona provides businesses with300+ DAYS OF SUN each year.

ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE FASTESTGROWING STATES IN THE U.S.

In 1984, a few outstanding

individuals with an innovative spirit followed their vision and formed a community bank to support local businesses

and help grow Arizona. Today, National Bank of Arizona is a thriving organization with 64 branches in 47 communities throughout the state. We remain dedicated to elevating Arizona by investing in local businesses – the driving force of our Arizona economy.

We believe in Arizona and her future. After all, it is one of the fastest growing states with a skilled workforce and a progressive low-cost business environment. More importantly, we believe in our clients. From locally owned businesses to large corporations headquartered in Arizona, they are the foundation of our communities. With them we share a passion for Arizona and a vision for a vibrant and sustainable future. We are honored to provide fi nancing for projects large and small, along with fi nancial strategies and resources to help turn dreams into reality and achievement into long-term success.

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

Mark R. YoungPresident and Chief Executive O� cerNational Bank of Arizona

Arizona is strategically located in the southwest region of the United States, immediately ACCESSIBLE TO THREE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST ECONOMIES.

The State of Arizona Business

A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC

For more information please visit the links below:• http://www.azcommerce.com• http://wpcarey.asu.edu/bluechip/• http://www.bls.gov/• http://www.gpec.org• http://www.fastcompany.com• http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/• http://www.azcentral.com

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

EAZ-0010 - 003 - Advertisements - v1.indd 5 1/15/16 1:37 PM

Arizona is home to top

companiesin technology based industries.

Skilled & Educated Workforce

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Arizona is ranked 1st in the nation forentrepreneurial activity.

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

Arizona’s research and development activities make it one of the nations

top patenting states.

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

LOW TAXES &SMALL STATE GOVERNMENTArizona o� ers businesses low gas, property, and personal income taxes compared to the rest of the country.

NB|AZ is Fueling BusinessesWe remain dedicated to elevating Arizona by investing in local businesses – the driving force of our Arizona economy.”

2016ECONOMICFORECAST

IN 2015 NB|AZPROVIDED ARIZONA

BUSINESSES

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

5.2 percent growth in personal income

1.5 percent population growth

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

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

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16

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

[Tempe Rising]

story Bruce Farr

photography Mark Lipczynski

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levateAZ.com

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

Old meets newDrive across the Salt River on the Old Mill Avenue bridge, along Mill Avenue toward Arizona State University, and it’s striking how little is recognizable from that same drive 25 years ago. With a few exceptions—the old façade of the Hayden Flour Mill,

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

Last year, Livability.com rated Tempe among the top 100 U.S. cities to live in. And it’s no wonder. The current level of economic growth and development, along with the juggernaut that is ASU and other higher learning institu-tions, the city’s “live, work, play” quotient is sky-high.

→ with its namesake in mind, Tempe was given a pretty

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

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

The intersection of Mill Avenue

and Rio Salado in the 1930s.

18

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

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

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

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

“Really and truly, a city can only create the greatest infra-structure, one that allows for the marketplace to believe that this is the best place to make invest-ments. Then the policy has to continue to streamline the growth as it’s happening,” she explains. “Tempe had a great deal of foresight in creating a destination that essentially is landlocked, and therefore has a very manageable scale, located between transit corridors and on a beautiful body of water.”

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

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

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

.Build Out→ Here are just a few of the projects

and developments contributing to Tempe’s resurgence:

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

b The Tempe Center for the Arts on Tempe Town Lake.

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

adding to the two multi- story office buildings and two condominium towers.

d Hundreds of new apartment units being built near Tem pe Town Lake and throughout downtown.

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

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

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

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

It’s more than mere coinci-dence that tremendous growth

a bc

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

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

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

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

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

“There’s an infectious, adven-turous spirit in Tempe,” he says. “The city’s always had a rebellious

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

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

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

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

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

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

de

20

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

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

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

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

“The entire Phoenix metro area is a ripe place for business entrepreneurship,” Peck says. “What we’re seeing is an extreme groundswell of entrepreneurial activity, support and collabora-tion—very significantly in the last year, but bubbling up over the past five years or so. ASU is a huge player in the community—so [the Center for Entrepreneurship] is a big part of this.

People in the community embrace us, and we collaborate a lot with community members. There are a lot of aligned incentives. We all want to create great talent—new entrepreneurs who, in turn, can create new businesses and new jobs. We all

want to get to the same place.”Peck believes there’s a trickle-

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

“We’re a relatively young place, and we’re just coming into our own, like a lot of other young, similarly entrepreneurial cities that are finding their way. Technology has made it easier to start a business. A lot of things that were cost-prohibitive for people before, aren’t anymore,” she says. “It’s a really cool place to be right now.”  

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

“The entire Phoenix metro

area is a very ripe place for

business entrepreneurship...

ASU is a huge player in the

community.

Sidnee Peck, director, Center for Entrepreneurship

at W.P. Carey School of Business, ASU

Photo courtesy of AS

U

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the issues facing Arizona are primary topics of

discussion and planning in the state legislature,

the media, and in private and public arenas. the

Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA), is looking

ahead by creating a big-picture agenda that will

tackle the critical problems in our state and aid

Arizona in achieving long-term success.

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The Center for the

Future of Arizona

sets its sights on

the state’s long-

term success

story Sally J. Clasen

photography Mark Lipczynski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1| EducationArizona high school

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

2| job creationMore job opportunities

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

3| InfrastructureA modern

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

4| HealthcareHealth insurance

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

5| Water, forests and open spaces

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

6| Community involvement

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

7| Citizen engagement

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

8| Young talentQuality jobs, places

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

24

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“It’s the first time we’ve made

the focus on education more clear and

raised it up with a matter of emphasis...we

haven’t brought it all together before, but

Vision 2025 is a blending and linking of the

Arizona we want.” Sybil Francis, CFA

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

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

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

66.2

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

1900

25%

31%

1950

38%

7%

2012

38%

15%

Arizona bornNortheastSouthMidwestWestOutside the U.S.

Source: U.S. Census, University of Minnesota Population Center, N.Y. Times, August 2013-2014

population

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

FORTYPERCENT

of Arizonans are employed full-time by an employer compared to 44% nationwide.Source: Gallup Analytics, U.S. Daily Tracking, 2014

empl

oym

ent

30Arizona’s national rank for adults age 25 or older with a Bachelor's degree or more. Source: U.S. Census, 2014 American Community Survey

education

personalized one,” says Francis.As part of its collaborative mindset, the CFA

also recently launched The Arizona We Want Exchange to empower individual efforts and create a collective voice for all citizen goals. Through the online platform, members can identify and reach collaborators, find local data, give or get advice, and promote or find events.

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

10%of arizonans

believe their elect-ed officals represent

their interests.Source: Gallup

Arizona Poll

politics

Latinos represent 30.3% of Arizona's total population and 43% of all K-12 Students.Source: U.S. Census, American Community Survey

standard of living

24%believe the next generation of Arizonans will have a better standard of living than we have today. Source: Gallup Arizona Poll

26

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

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28

driver’s seat NB|AZ helps steer

historic auto repair business to continued success

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

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levateAZ.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gelbart

WILHELM AUTOMOTIVE has been a family-owned business since before most people had ever seen a car. It began as a blacksmith shop that opened in 1889 in what is now the

city of Peoria. Nearly a century later, the company’s third

owners, Joe and Mary Margaret Wilhelm, sold what had become a thriving auto-repair business to Charley and Mary Jane Gyder, a West Valley couple looking for a business to own and operate.

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

All of the company’s employees are encour-aged to participate in a food drive each year during the holidays and many participate in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. They participate in and volunteer at fundrais-ing events sponsored by a philanthropic organization called the Mavericks. Wilhelm president Chris Garman is an active member of the Mavericks, and he and other members raised $100,000 last year for various charities in the West Valley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

30

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

PHOTO Mark Lipczynski

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32

Building Community

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

WHEN THE McDowell

Mountain Music Festival

(M3F) debuted 13 years

ago, it began as a

homespun event to raise

funds for local charities. Today, the

three-day rock ’n’ roll gathering has

evolved into a premier destination

event, attracting locals and visitors

from all over the country.

“At first, it was really about the

music and people coming together

and having a great time,” says

Nate Largay, PR/Communications

Coordinator at Wespac Construc-

tion, the company that manages

the festival. “Now we’re one of the

marquee festivals in the state of

Arizona.”

When Wespac owner John

Largay founded the festival from

scratch, his goal was to give back

to the community by offering a

unique cultural experience while

raising money to benefit youth in

need. Fueled by his passion for

music, Largay first launched M3F

at WestWorld of Scottsdale. As

the festival gathered momentum,

he opened the Compound Grill, a

north Phoenix eatery that offered

an ideal venue to house the

thriving event.

Today, having relocated to

the newly renovated Hance Park

in downtown Phoenix, M3F is a

well-established destination event

that has raised more than $1 million

for local charities. This year, all of

the proceeds from the 100 percent

nonprofit festival will benefit

Phoenix Children’s Hospital and

UMOM New Day Centers.

This year’s lineup, hand-picked

by Largay and his sons, Nate and

RJ, features well-known headliners

Beck, The Avett Brothers, Goldfish,

and Animal Collective, plus a

diverse program of indie, electronic

and jam roots artists. In recent

years, the organizers have added

after-hour shows at nearby hotels

and watering holes beginning at

midnight and running until 3 a.m.

With 100 Wespac employees

committed to donating their time

and effort, the event is more

successful than ever.

“The company is really the

manpower behind what makes the

festival work,” says Largay.

And they get plenty of help from

corporations in the community. One

of the event’s biggest supporters,

National Bank of Arizona, provides

everything from signage to beach

balls for the audience.

“NB|AZ has been awesome

to us, whether it’s a consulting

or marketing platform or giving

us feedback on design. It’s been

an awesome partnership,” says

Largay.

Every year, donations of

supplies and services pour in from

Wespac’s subcontractors and

partners who contribute money,

ticket packages, fencing, portable

restrooms, waste management

services and power equipment.

“The local construction commu-

nity has kind of taken it under their

wing [saying,] ‘This is our premier

event, as well as our charity effort

to donate back to the local youth,”

Largay says.   leigh farR

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival will be held March 11-13 at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. For more information, visit mmmf.com.

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

McD

owell M

ountain Music Festival

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