Business Briefs (8/29)

Economic development lunch Sept. 2

Arizona Association for Economic Development will host its September Luncheon, "The Valley - West and East" on Sept. 2.

The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Phoenix Airport Marriott, 1101 N. 44th St. Cost is $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers and late registrants. Call AAED with questions at (602) 240-2233 or visit the AAED Web site, www.aaed.com.

Volunteerism nominations open

Nominations are now open for nominations in 10 categories for Volunteerism - The Heart of Business Awards. 

Categories include immediate need, green/sustainability, community stewardship, corporate volunteer program of the year, most outstanding company project, most outstanding partnership, volunteer spirit and volunteer executive of the year.

Winners will be announced at a celebratory awards reception Nov. 13 and will be recognized in a special publication to be included with the Nov. 14 edition of the Phoenix Business Journal.

Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 29. Nomination forms and complete instructions are available at phoenix.bizjournals.com.

Eye Priority open house

Eye Priority will celebrate the first year in its new location - and a total of 18 years serving Ahwatukee families - with an all-day open house on Sept. 4.

The public is invited to stop by the office at 15725 S. 46th St. between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.  The event will feature one-day-only discounts on all designer glasses and sunglasses, prize drawings and food. Traveling representatives will be on hand to show the latest collections from Ray-Ban, Kio Yamato, Klik and Fysh. For details, call (480) 893-2300.

Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber events

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings and events:

Sports Authority ribbon cutting will be held at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 16 at 4820 E. Ray Road. RSVP to Shirley at (480) 753-7676 or Shirley@ahwatukeechamber.com.

For details, visit www.ahwatukeechamber.com.

Massage specials run through end of month

ALW Massage is offering massage specials through Aug. 31.

The company will be doing a 30-minute Stress Buster (neck and shoulders) massage for $20, 30-minute Reflexology for $25, 60-minute Swedish/relaxation for $50, and a 60-minute Thai Yoga on-table session for $60.

Services cannot be combined with previous offers or discounts. ALW Massage is located inside of Signature's Salon, 1840 E. Warner Road, Tempe. For details, call (480) 221-8099 or visit www.ALWmassage.com.

Arts & Business Council announces winners

The Boeing Company of Mesa was named Large Business Partner of the Year, Ikea Tempe named Mid-Sized Business Partner and Element Design named Small Business Partner at the 18th annual Business in the Arts Awards Breakfast presented by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix.

Valley Youth Theatre was voted as Arts Organization of the Year, Zelda Faigen of Phoenix, Arts Advocate of the Year; and Lorna Pederson of Phoenix, Arts Board Member of the Year for her service with Valley Youth Theatre.

Renee Loge of Phoenix received the inaugural Special Business Volunteer Award. Loge, who has volunteered for Business Volunteers for the Arts since 1997, has completed projects for The Phoenix Symphony, Desert Foothills Musicfest, Phoenix Boys Choir, Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix, The Herberger Theatre Center and DuoWest.

For information about the Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix, visit www.artsbusinessphoenix.org or call (602) 234-4711.

Sheraton receives Pinnacle Award

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa is among the top 75 properties in the Western U.S., Canada and Mexico to receive the coveted Pinnacle Award for 2008 by readers of Successful Meetings magazine.

To view a complete list of award recipients, visit www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/tools/pinnacle_winners/2008_hotels.jsp.

For more information, call (602) 225-0100 or visit www.wildhorsepassresort.com.

Direct operating, farm ownership loan limits increase

Alan Nulliner, executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency, said today that the new farm bill is helping make the goal of farming a reality by raising the loan limits to $300,000 (up from $200,000) for direct farm ownership and operating loans.

Direct loans are a resource for farmers to obtain the credit they need to build and sustain family farms and ranches. Despite continual increases in farm input costs, FSA loan limits had remained unchanged since 1984. Some existing FSA borrowers who have already reached the previous limit of $200,000 will now be eligible to obtain additional credit.

For more information about these and other types of loans, visit the FSA's home page at www.fsa.usda.gov and click on "Farm Loan Programs."

Mayor's annual Multi-Chamber Mixer

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is holding his annual Multi-Chamber Mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. All members are welcome to attend.

For more information, visit www.ahwatukeechamber.com.

Small business ‘Webinars' start Sept. 15

Infusionsoft, a marketing automation software company for small businesses, has begun to offer a monthly Webinar series focused on helping businesses market and grow sales more effectively.

Upcoming marketing Webinars include:

Sept. 15: Convert and Flip Your Funnel

To register, visit http://infusionsoft.com/about-us/events.

TukeeFest - Rockin' in Park

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce says it's time for Tukee to party.

From 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, bring your family to this cozy night under the stars. The event will offer live bands, bouncy rides for the kids, a magician, food and more. Get out the lawn chairs and blankets and make a night of it!

The event will be held at the Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center, 4700 E. Warner Road. For more information, contact Julia@ahwatukeechamber.com

Ahwatukee Community Fair set for Oct. 18

Shop your local businesses Saturday, Oct. 18 at Mountain Pointe High School, 4201 E. Knox Road.

For booth information, contact Julia@ahwatukeechamber.com or call (480) 753-7676.

The E-Myth Solution: More of everything

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce Women in Business presents An E-Myth Solution Workshop on Thursday, Oct. 23

In order to create a successful business and get more out of life, you need to learn how to think and act like an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs see the business as the product rather than a place to go to work every day. If you started your business with the hope of more time, money and freedom and it hasn't quite happened that way, this seminar is for you. The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st St. Lunch will be served.

Early-bird tickets until Aug. 31 is $99 for members, $125 for non-members. After Aug. 31, cost is $125 for members, $150 for non-members.

To purchase tickets online, visit www.ahwatukeechamber.com or call the chamber at (480) 753-7676.

Buttes offers summer deal through August

The Buttes is offering summer room rates valued at $89 per night.

With rooms starting at $139 per night, The Buttes also offers a $50 voucher per night good for food and beverage or spa treatments. The credit can be used at any of the resort's restaurants, lounges or room service. Restaurants include the Market Cafe, Thirsty Cactus and Top of the Rock.

The Buttes is located at 2000 Westcourt Way in Tempe. The summer package is available through Aug. 31.

For more information, call (888) 867-7492.

Foreclosures, regular sales almost equal

Realty Studies at the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness at Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus said the number of foreclosed and traditional sales were nearly split for June.

Of the 7,845 resale homes recorded sold in Maricopa County, the sales activity includes 3,275 recorded foreclosed home transactions and 4,565 traditional market transactions. The month before, the split was 2,895 foreclosed homes to 4,315 traditional transactions, while June 2007 recorded 575 home foreclosures and 4,570 traditional sales.

To date, there have been 21,060 traditional sales and 14,590 foreclosures.

For more information, visit www.poly.asu.edu/realty.

Wild Horse Pass appoints director

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa announced the appointment of Bill Hunter as director of group sales.

Most recently serving as associate director of sales at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, Hunter has spent the past 14 years honing his skills in various positions within the luxury hospitality industry.

Prior to his time at the Arizona Biltmore, Hunter worked as a conference services manager as well as a national sales manager at the Arizona Grande Resort. His duties as director of group sales include overseeing the resort's sales team, researching potential conventions, meeting clients, and leading the sales initiative to generate revenue for the resort and Phoenix's tourism industry. He replaced Paul Pelican, who was promoted to director of sales at the Sheraton Denver.

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is located on the Gila River Indian Community. For more information, visit www.wildhorsepassresort.com.

Business Academy launched

Salt River Project and Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business Center for Executive and Professional Development will join this fall to launch the Small Business Leadership Academy.

Each course will take place over a two-week period, with classes held one evening each week. Participants will graduate Nov. 20, earning a Certificate of Participation from SRP and the W. P. Carey School of Business, and four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from ASU.

For more information on scholarships and admission requirements, contact Art Oros at (602) 236-8773 or Art.Oros@srpnet.com.

Resort offers new casual cuisine

Arizona Grand Resort announced plans to add two new restaurants along with a bar and a new barista-style coffee bar.

The resort will introduce The Lobby Grill, a new American grill concept designed to become the heartbeat of the resort, and will re-concept the existing Phantom Horse Grill into an Italian restaurant. The resort will also add a lounge-like atmosphere with the introduction of the new The Lobby Bar, as well as add a barista-style coffee bar offering fresh pastries, take-and-go deli sandwiches and gelato.

Additionally, Latitude 30 Pacific Rim Cuisine officially closed for the summer in May and will re-open under a new name in the fall as a private dining facility available for catered events and group functions.

Aunt Chilada's and Rustler's Rooste will remain on property.

For more information, visit www.ArizonaGrandResort.com.

Web site to help students with loans

Former Ahwatukee Foothills resident Daniel Berke has launched a nonprofit Web site asking for donations to help students pay off their student loans.

The Web site, www.donate5bucks.org, asks that people put $5 toward helping students with outstanding student loans, rather than spending the money on their morning latte. Berke came up with the idea for the Web site when he realized presidential candidates can raise $5 million a month in donations. His goal is to raise $50,000 within two months.

Requirements are that individuals must have at least a bachelor's degree with a 2.75 GPA or higher, and they must be working in the field that their degree is in.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.donate5bucks.org.

Goodwill offers free pick-up services

Goodwill is offering Valley residents free pick-up services to donate their gently-used household and clothing items.

A uniformed team will come to residents' homes, pick up their items and leave them with a Goodwill tax receipt.

For more information or to schedule a donation pick-up, call (480) 663-0000 or visit www.emoneybay.com.

Local man opens copy, imaging business

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Michael Corey announced the opening of Imaging Technology Solutions in Tempe.

Imaging Technology Solutions offers a variety of copiers, printers and business equipment, and also services and repairs products of major brand names. The company's goal is to respond quickly and keep offices running smoothly, and most service calls are completed in the same day.

Online tool for home improvement projects

Arizona homeowners experience up to $25 million in annual losses in the remodeling industry due to contractor fraud, so Buildproof allows for every project, regardless of size, to be paid for, managed and tracked online. Project funds are held by an independent third-party financial institution to ensure safe handling and timely payment processing. There is no cost for homeowners to use the system and contractors are only required to pay a small percentage of the total project cost.

For more information, visit www.buildproof.com.

Dance studio makes changes

Desert Dance Club, located in the Fry's/Melting Pot shopping center, has been purchased by Michael and Sheila Jewell and named ExquisiDance Ballroom Studio.

Instructors Tony and Margaret Long are five-time British and International Ballroom champions, eight-time Open French champions and Open British Latin champions.

For details, call (480) 706-0171 or e-mail ExquisiDance@cox.net.

Send submissions to: (480) 898-7911 or ebehrendt@ahwatukee.com.