Business Briefs (6/25)

Toy store offers free summer festivities

Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 4929 E. Chandler Blvd., has begun hosting free activities to serve as inexpensive outings for parents and kids.

The toy store will hold Friday game nights, story book hours, baby sign language story time, yo-yo classes and morning social times for moms and dads.

Friday game night runs every Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Aug. 1. Mommy/daddy mornings run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon through July 31. Baby sign language story time will take place July 19 from 12:30 to 1 p.m., and the yo-yo class will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. June 28.

For more information, call Janet Hoo at (480) 785-8697.

Local company participates in massage week

The Back Rub Company has teamed up with the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals to participate in July's EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week.

From July 20 to 26, The Back Rub Company will donate 10 percent of its profits from each massage scheduled to the 100 Club of Arizona, which provides assistance to the surviving families of public safety officers and firefighters killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

The firm will also create community awareness, donate to charity and provide special gifts with each massage. The Back Rub Company has teamed up with Souvia Tea to provide gift certificates for a free pot of tea and a complimentary half-pound jar of all-natural hand-made bath salts from Strawberry Hedgehog.

The Back Rub Company has four Valley locations, including 303 E. Baseline Road. For more information or to schedule a massage, call (480) 330-2066 or visit www.thebackrubcompany.com.

Multihousing Association names president

Tom Simplot has been named president of the Arizona Multihousing Association.

Simplot is responsible for the operations and general management of all association activities, including government affairs, education, public relations, communication, finance, membership, community relations and director of the 13-person professional team.

The statewide trade group for the apartment and rental housing industry represents more than 215,000 units in almost 1,100 properties.

Romp n' Roll now open

Ahwatukee Foothills residents Jim and Lisa Cook have opened Romp n' Roll play center, which focuses on "nurturing the genius, unleashing the goofball" in children ages 3 months to 6 years.

The brightly colored facility has ramps, bridges, slides, tulles, a trapeze, balance beam and monkey bars.

Romp n' Roll is located at 4825 E. Warner Road. For more information, call (480) 961-7655 or visit www.rompnroll.com.

Marriage and money seminar June 26

Primerica is teaching a marriage and money seminar at 7:15 p.m. June 26, featuring the five keys to keeping the "Money-moon" alive.

Refreshments will be provided and free chair massages will be offered from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Primerica office is located at 1625 W. University Drive, Tempe. For more information, call Lynn Lowey at (480) 363-9483.

Local starts Web site to help students

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.

According to the College Board, the current cost of average annual tuition and fees for a four-year college ranges from $13,000 to $27,600. For four years of school, this adds up to roughly $58,800 to $125,000 due to tuition increases.

Requirements for those receiving the student loan help is that they 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.

The Buttes offers summer package

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.

Goodwill appoints Teter new CEO

Goodwill of Central Arizona's Board of Directors has appointed the organization's new president and chief executive officer last week.

James Teter, previously the chief operating officer at Calence, LLC in Tempe, brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience to Goodwill.

For more information, visit www.goodwillaz.org.

The BAR Fitness

Ahwatukee Foothills fitness center The BAR Fitness begins its summer program this week to engage young athletes in sport-specific training.

Participants of the BAR School of Athletic Performance will be spending up to four days each week in the weight room building strength, power and speed, as well as confidence, leadership, teamwork and service.

Goodwill offers free pick-up services

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

Having partnered with eMoneyBay.com, a professional, uniformed team will come to residents' homes, pick up their items and leave them with a Goodwill tax receipt.

At customers' requests, eMoneyBay.com is also able to sell via consignment and additional high-quality new or used items for the customer on the Internet. The company can price and sell items ranging from cars and furniture to small electronics and jewelry.

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.

Corey and CFO Don Adkins sold their previous company, Unicopy Digital Business Systems, to Tempe-based Sharp Electronics in the fourth quarter of 2007. Corey and Adkins were able to spearhead Unicopy to $10 million in revenue in three years.

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

The first online, secure payment and project management system that protects Arizona homeowners and contractors from remodeling risks launched this week.

Arizona homeowners experience up to $25 million in annual losses in the remodeling industry due to contractor fraud, so Scottsdale-based 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 ebehrendt@ahwatukee.com.