L to R: 2011 Ceremony - Tempe Chamber President Mary Ann Miller, BWOY Recipient Vicki Kringen, Finalists Linda Kalaf and Kristine Kassel

The Business Woman of the Year Award was established to recognize an outstanding business woman who has positively affected the Tempe community and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.

Nominees should demonstrate:

• Achieved excellence in their chosen field

• Demonstrated leadership in the community

• Serve as a positive role model

• Be active in programs in the community and the Tempe Chamber

If you know a woman who meets those criteria, we’d love to know about her! Please nominate her by simply emailing her name, business, and contact phone or email to sachiyo@tempechamber.org and sean@tempechamber.org. We will handle the rest.  

The award will be presented at the May 23 Women in Business Conference and Trade Show held at the Buttes in Tempe.

Recent recipients are:

2011 Vicki Kringen, The Centers for Habilitation (TCH)
2010 Margaret Hunnicutt, Tempe Schools Credit Union
2009 Lorraine Bergman, Caliente Construction
2008 Angela Creedon, APS
2007 Kim Webb, Edward Jones
2006 Julie Jakubek, Allstate Insurance

With a slight dinging of the bell and the wind blowing as the sleek green and gray train cars zoom by, the METRO light rail is a common sight and a vital part of the Tempe community. The METRO light rail not only connects Tempe with the Valley, but it also can connect Tempe with the world.

Did you know that taking the METRO light rail from Tempe to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is an easy and affordable way to get to your destination? Travelers from across the country and globe have taken the METRO light rail to their destinations in downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa and vice versa. It is as simple as taking the train to the plane.

Travelers boarding in Tempe can ride the train to the 44^th Street and Washington stop. From there, they cross the street and hop on a free black and silver PHX Airport Shuttle that takes them to all of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s terminals. The shuttle schedule is consistent with the METRO light rail schedule, making it extremely easy to connect to the airport. And, the buses have space for luggage so it’s also easy to travel with your bags.

The process will be streamlined in early 2013 when the PHX Sky Train™ is complete. In its first stage, the PHX Sky Train will transport travelers for free from the 44^th Street and Washington Station to the East Economy parking areas and on to Terminal 4. The journey will take approximately five minutes after travelers ascend the escalator at the 44^th Street and Washington Station and hop on the driverless, electric train cars.

By early 2015, Stage 1A of the PHX Sky Train will be complete connecting travelers to Terminals 2 and 3 with the train running to Terminal 3, and from there, a short walkway will take travelers to Terminal 2. The PHX Sky Train connection to the Rental Car Center will be complete by 2020.

So the next time you need to travel, why not consider taking the train to the plane and utilizing the METRO light rail? The connection is easy, inexpensive (only the cost of the METRO light rail ticket), and using public transportation also helps the environment.  Even if you aren’t traveling anywhere, Tempe residents will find it easy to visit the airport to meet friends, dine or look at one of the many art exhibitions.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Cuba with a special offer through the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Explorations. Chamber Explorations has been issued a license by the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, which authorizes registered guests of this program to visit Cuba legally. There are no applications to complete, and your travel with us is fully authorized.

Cuban beaches are among the world’s best.

This nine-day trip starts on August 23, 2012 and will take you from Miami to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival at Jose Marti International Airport, we’ll meet our Cuban host, an experienced bilingual guide who will give us an orientation of Cuba’s capital city.

Some of the many sights you’ll see in Havana include the Cathedral de la Havana; the Museo Fine Arts; the beautiful Museo de la Revolucion that displays documents and artifacts telling the country’s history; La Marketa de Havana in Old Havana, a collective association of small craft workers where you will meet local merchants and artists; and much more.

During this trip, you will also enjoy Pinar Del Rio Vinales, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Suagr Mill Valley, Playa Giron/Bay of Pigs Museum, Hemingway’s Farm and so much more.

The Capitolio building in central Havana, built in 1929, was inspired by the United States Capitol building.

Price includes roundtrip airfare from Phoenix; Cuban travel visa; eight nights of first class hotel accommodations; 19 meals; and more.

For complete details click here

To register, contact Mary Ann Miller at (480) 967-7891 or maryann@tempechamber.org.

Featuring four expert speakers on consecutive Fridays in late January and early February, the Charting Your Course – Your Compass to Personal and Professional Growth series aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to evolve into a  more valuable employee and a stronger, self-sufficient individual.

Complete course details for each session are below. The cost per session is $20 for members and $30 for the general public. Members can purchase a pass for the entire course for $60. Completing the entire course earns attendees personalized Charting Your Course certification.

See all the speakers here or read more below.

 Jan. 20, 2012
“Living With Peace, Joy and Gratitude”
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Four Points by Sheraton Tempe
1333 S. Rural Rd.

Using humor, healing principles and examples from her new book, “Native Heart: The Seven Keys to Peace and Gratitude in Your Life,” Denise Alley will share insights, stories and powerful techniques to strengthen the mind, body and spirit, with gentle reminders to love yourself, let go of judgment and focus on the positive at the start of a new year!    

Denise Alley (Cherokee, Shawnee, Oto, Delaware) from Oklahoma is a keynote speaker, workshop trainer, performer and author. She has more than 21 years of experience working with Native American tribes and has delighted audiences with her enthusiasm and genuine spirit. Alley provides workshops on customer service, team building, motivation, cultural awareness, spirituality and workplace wellness. She has been featured with Willie Nelson at Farm-Aid on television for PBS and cable networks and has been on “Native America Calling” radio.

Jan. 27, 2012
“Oceans of Possibility”
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Radisson Hotel Phoenix Airport
427 N. 44th St., Phoenix 

What happens when you cross the bay and see the ocean in front of you? The New Year is a little like that; filled with so much possibility, it can be overwhelming. In this session, you’ll explore and apply the ancient Celtic culture’s way to celebrate beauty, balance and the contradictions of the self. As you begin to chart your course for 2012, you’ll refresh your perspective and explore your style—your Personal JAZ^sm. This session is based upon Jan’s work as a presentation coach, author and motivator.   

Jan Whalen, MASL, is the founder and president of Personal JAZ^sm, a training and seminar company. She has created successful presentation and character building programs for young musicians, authors, executives and athletes. Whalen has a Master of Arts degree in servant leadership and a background in sales, public relations, education and community service. Her new book, “Rock Solid Confidence: Presenting Yourself with Assurance, Poise and Power,” takes readers from knowing what stands in their way of being confident through practical suggestions that prepare them for formal and informal presentations. Whalen has a unique talent for finding the “gold” in her clients, associates and friends.

Feb. 3, 2012
“Overcoming Adversity”
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Radisson Hotel Phoenix Airport
427 N. 44th St., Phoenix 

Having grown up in East Los Angeles, Calif., Dr. Erika Camacho understands many of the struggles that students must endure in striving to attain their academic and professional goals. Dr. Camacho will be sharing her life experiences and the challenges she had to overcome to help her achieve her personal and professional goals. She will share stories about the key individuals and decisions that contributed to her success and transformation. Camacho will also share her passion for social activism and continual drive to transform the world of academia and strengthen our communities.

Dr. Erika Camacho began mentoring students while attending Garfield High School, which was the subject of the movie “Stand and Deliver.” Camacho’s passion is to continue the work and legacy of her mentors, which include Jaime Escalante, to create opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities and make graduate education attainable to them through intensive research. She involves students in her own work, which is at the interface of mathematics and its applications to biology and sociology. Her leadership, scholarship and mentoring has won her national recognition from the Hispanic Women Corporation; Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; and the U.S. National Security Agency, with a citation for her work in mentoring and guiding undergraduates in research. Locally she has been recognized at Arizona State University as one of three recipients of the 2011 Faculty Women’s Association Outstanding Faculty Mentoring Award.

Feb. 10, 2012
“The Evolution of You”
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Radisson Hotel Phoenix Airport
427 N. 44th St., Phoenix 

Our life journey is so precious and swift, especially for working women that seem to have long “to do” lists and very little, if any, time for “celebrate you” lists! Join Dr. Jamise Liddell for a time of laughter and reflection as you contemplate the many changes, people and places in your life that continue to contribute to the fabulous creation that is “The Evolution of You.”

Dr. Jamise Grace Liddell, a dynamic networker, has served as an exceptional and committed career strategist for more than a decade and is currently employed as Business Liaison and Workforce Development Specialist with Phoenix Workforce, Community and Economic Development for the City of Phoenix. A passionate and nationally recognized orator, Dr. Liddell is also an administrator and educator for three major universities. Liddell has worked in several career fields, including serving on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as a Congressional Fellow for a 17-term congresswoman, as a professor at Arizona State University, and as the Director of Career Services at Grand Canyon University. A strong believer in lifelong learning, she recently received a certificate from the New Media Academy at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

For more information and to register, please visit www.tempechamber.org or call (480) 967-7891.

Six degrees of separation from your weight loss program can start you on the road to failure and not get you closer to Kevin Bacon. 

We all know if you can stick to a diet it will work. What makes weight loss and dieting even tougher is when you do not see the results of your hard work translate to weight loss. Consider this, many times frustration with your weight loss progress is self-inflicted due to modifications we may unknowingly make to our eating plan. Altering diet & weight loss programs is a slippery slope that we usually slide down gradually, little by little until we become very dissatisfied and start thinking the diet does not work. When it may be our adjustments to a well put together plan that has caused our weight loss to stop.

Let’s look at an example: On the FIT Medical Weight Loss Protocol an example of a good lunch is grilled Tilapia & steamed vegetables.  It is a small change to think since the seasoning I used was on the diet, I can add a sauce to the fish or vegetables. The next thing you justify is adding a “small” side of potatoes taking a lunch that was around 250 calories and pushing it closer to 500 with just a few small changes. A 500 calorie lunch is not awful, but that meal becomes your new diet and the new norm, which will slow even your best weight loss efforts.

And next we rationalize a few other changes that we think just barely increase the calorie, carb, or sugar count. You now remember how good Steak and potatoes are and begin adding condiments to your potatoes, low fat sour cream and butter…  that diet conscious meal has given way to a meal that will challenge any weight loss program. This 3, 4 or 6 degrees of separation continues until you are essentially off your diet or weight loss program all together wondering why it is not working for you. Then you make the wrong conclusion:  “this diet just does not work for me, I haven’t lost any weight”.

When following a weight loss program it is important to establish baselines.  Set hard lines you do not cross and work to have alternatives you can eat rather than unhealthy options. Remember what you see is what you eat.

For more information, the author can be reached at Fitmedicalweightloss.com

Through the awards, the Tempe Chamber identifies companies whose practices in business growth, employee development, community involvement and customer service exemplify excellence. This year’s seven finalists admirably embody those characteristics and are being recognized for that distinction.

The recipients of the 2011 Business Excellence Awards will be announced and honored at the Breakfast for Chamber Champions on Feb. 21 at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center. Please call (480) 967-7891 or visit www.tempechamber.org for details or to register.

WHO ARE THE 2012 FINALISTS? Read more below…

AlphaGraphics at Kyrene and Elliot
Since its founding in 1997, this AlphaGraphics location has grown to become a successful communications and printing firm which, through its services, customer support, and dedication, is constantly adapting to the changing needs of their customers. The business has seen annual growth over the past 14 years and is expanding its services to include business solutions and marketing communications. www.us436.alphagraphics.com 

ASDD / TCH
Assured Security Document Destruction, a division of The Centers for Habilitation, offers support to individuals with disabilities, including behavioral or intellectual problems. TCH has been offering services including in-home service, day treatment and employment services to their customers since 1967. Employing disabled individuals, ASDD provides certified shredding and document destruction that has grown from 5,000 pounds in its first month of operation to 750,000 pounds monthly today. http://www.tch-az.com/

Children’s Dental Village
Children’s Dental Village has been providing dental and orthodontic services for children and teens since 1973. Starting out with only two dental chairs, one office manager, and one dental assistant when it was first established by Dr. Alan Longfellow, this business has grown more than quadruple its original office size and practice in order to more effectively serve the needs of a rising number of patients.
www.ChildrensDentalVillage.net

Four Peaks Brewing Company
Four Peaks’ mission is to provide consistent, high quality beer, food and service in a community based atmosphere. Founded in 1996, this regional brewery and brewpub is among the largest and most recognized and respected breweries in the state of Arizona. It brews over 72,000 kegs each year and owns and operates two restaurants in the Valley. In 2012, it will open a new brewery and tasting room in Tempe. http://www.fourpeaks.com  

Friendship Village
Friendship Village is a life care and retirement community located in Tempe. Since 1980, it has created a safe and friendly environment for seniors, and has provided them with the services and amenities that they need for their overall well-being and happiness in the community. Their mission is to become a leader in senior lifestyle, and they continue to refine what their concept of “life care and worry-free retirement living” is. www.friendshipvillageaz.com

Michael Pollack Real Estate Investments
In 1973, Michael Pollack started off in real estate in his teens by building single family homes. Today, the company has 100 employees and has become one of Arizona’s largest privately held shopping center owner and operator. In addition, it owns a movie theater which often sees its guest count reach upwards of 4,000 on the weekends. http://www.pollackinvestments.com  

Santa Barbara Catering Company
The full-service catering company offers services for weddings, gala dinners and other large or small events. In 1992, Pat Christofolo began the business with only three employees. Success came very quickly, and now the business has 150 employees along with multiple venues and family restaurants which promote local farmers and seasonally inspired menus. www.santabarbaracatering.com  

Last year’s recipients of the award were Honey Moon Sweets and The Morrison Vein Institute. 

Tom Donohue

Enterpriship is the process of building enterprises with sustainable advantage. Enterpriship is both an art and a science. Art is an occupation that requires both knowledge and skills; science is method for systematizing knowledge. Through both knowledge and skills, enterpriship provides a systematized approach to building sustainable enterprises within a framework of three related disciplines: entrepreneurship, leadership, and management.

Sustainable means being able to continue over time, either by developing, enhancing, or maintaining the current state, or by changing it. Advantage means favorable, superior, and beneficial.

Entrepreneurship is a competency for starting, developing, and assuming risk for an enterprise. Leadership is a competency for aspiring, inspiring, and motivating others. Management is a competency for directing and controlling events and activities – management as a “team” has the authority and responsibility for the enterprise.

The entrepreneurial role is about transforming innovating ideas into value. The leadership role is about setting direction that others will follow through influence to get results. The managerial role is about applying resources to activities to achieve results.

The word “enterprise” means “undertake for a prize or cause.” One could argue that a society is a metaenterprise, representing the social relationships of all people in a community, and their wants, needs, and causes. Therefore, the enterpriship disciplines are also applicable to building societies.

A manifesto is a public declaration of intentions – the “Enterpriship Manifesto” is a declaration of intentions to build both enterprises and societies based upon seven guiding principles:

• Equality – treating everybody in the same way
• Education – enabling everybody to reach their full potential academically, professionally, and vocationally so as to act responsibly
• Environment – striving for sustainability for both current and future generations with clean air, water, and soil
• Energy – searching for sources that do not waste or pollute resources
• Economy – striving for the development, enhancement, and maintenance of opportunities for production and distribution of goods and services that meet or exceed the needs, wants, and causes of constituents
• Employment – participating in the process of production and distribution of goods and services for others as a basis for providing for oneself and dependents
• Effectiveness – acting efficiently and productively to earn results with quality

The enterpriship disciplines rely upon the competencies of individuals and the capabilities of people, processes, and products and services to deliver results; and the utilization of natural, human, financial, and intellectual capital to produce income and create opportunity and wealth for all constituents.

…and to assess your individual competencies in thirty minutes or less, claim your opportunity for instant access when you go to http://www.individualcompetencies.com

Mary Ann Miller

  by Mary Ann Miller, President/CEO, Tempe Chamber of Commerce

 As we near the end of the year, let’s be grateful for family and friends and what we have.  And let’s look for ways to help those not as fortunate as ourselves.

If you pay Arizona income tax and itemize your deductions, you may be able to take advantage of these Arizona tax credit programs.  It’s a dollar-for-dollar credit against your tax bill, so you can donate now and get your money back next year! 

Help the families of Arizona service members currently deployed, or who have been injured or killed while fighting the Global War on Terror by donating to the Military Family Relief Fund.  A $200 per person tax credit is available until the fund has collected $1 million, So let’s see if we can get 5,000 folks to donate at http://dvs.az.gov/benefits/relief_fund.aspx.

Think it’s important for kids to be able to choose between football, theater and band?  Donate up to $200 to a public school for extracurricular activities.  Pick the school in your neighborhood or one near your favorite vacation spot; they’ll be grateful.

You can donate up to $500 to a school tuition organization for tuition to a private school.  I designate my donation to my alma mater, which is now an inner city school.

And donate up $200 to charities that help the working poor.  Think food banks, shelters, community action programs.  Contact your favorite charity –they’ll let you know if they qualify.

Of course, there are some rules to follow so you should always check with your tax professional.  But it’s well worth your time to check it out.

We hope you have a lovely holiday, and wish you the best for the new year.



When students attend an educational institution to prepare them to enter the job market, they naturally look to that institution to provide them with an adequate enough education so they will be fit to compete with others in acquiring a position. The challenge to the institutions is to develop a standard of education that will sufficiently prepare their students to become a competitive, valuable, and hirable future workforce.

Should they look to businesses in order to develop this standard? Should businesses even be concerned with how institutions develop that standard of education?

Each year the Tempe Chamber of Commerce presents the State of the Schools Address to answer those questions and provide an opportunity for the business community to meet with a panel of educators to learn the condition of our educational institutions and determine how businesses can assist them in achieving their goals. The specific focus for this year’s event will be on higher education and the development of the future workforce.

The event will feature the president of Rio Salado College Chris Bustamante, Vice President of Public Affairs at Arizona State University Virgil Renzulli, and the Phoenix Area Ground Campus Director at the University of Phoenix David Fitzgerald. They will discuss how they are preparing their students to become a more competitive future workforce. The event will also be moderated by Sybil Francis, the Executive Director of the Center of the Future of Arizona. 

State of the Schools

Developing an adequate standard of education for their students and strategizing about how to prepare them to become competitive and valuable as a future workforce for businesses are important steps for educational institutions to take in order to create successful programs.

Dr. Bustamante, President of Rio Salado College, said, “Since 1978, Rio has been dedicated to eliminating barriers to education for non-traditional students – pioneering and continually innovating to provide flexible, affordable, high-quality educational offerings. Rio maintains over 50 employer partnerships where students receive education and training that is job related. 

“In a large number of these partnerships, Rio Salado incorporates a technical component from the partner organization with an academic component from the college into what is often a customized program.  Rio and the employer-partners develop applied learning experiences for students collaboratively, working with instructors who are working in the field to ensure students are learning skills that are current in the workplace.” 

Achieving the goals that educational institutions have in mind when they set up a system of education is not only beneficial for the institutions themselves, but also benefits businesses and students as well.  Dr. Bustamante calls this situation a triple win scenario saying, “Measurable outcomes are attained for both colleges and employers, while students, ultimately, receive the greatest benefit by completing certificates and degrees in fields projected to offer employment and career advancement.  The relationships fostered by businesses and schools promote students’ transitions from education to employment to careers.  This has ‘added value’ for the community as economic stability for both businesses and workers is increased.

“With the challenges of the current economy, businesses are realizing that it is advantageous to partner with schools for workforce development and to establish a talent pipeline to meet future hiring needs.  Due to limited funding in both the private and public sectors, both businesses and schools can benefit by partnering and leveraging resources.”

Accordingly, since maintaining a thriving and competitive business requires skilled and competitive workers who are suitable and valuable assets to their companies, businesses should be concerned with how schools are preparing the future workforce. If universities and colleges are challenging their students and requiring them to meet a higher standard, businesses can use those institutions as a resource for finding those valuable, talented, and skilled future employees that they need.

In return, businesses are also used as an important resource for educational institutions. They provide universities and colleges with information to help them plan programs that best prepare students for their future careers. Dr. Bustamante noted, “At Rio, businesses often provide counsel as a means of aligning curriculum, competencies, and assessments. Businesses are both a valuable partner and a resource for the critical workforce data and information required for Rio to develop high-quality, effective workforce education programs.” 

Businesses and higher-education institutions have a mutually beneficial relationship because both are able to use each other as a valuable resource.  However, the needs of businesses and the skills schools require their students to learn are dynamic, which is why the State of the Schools Address provides a valuable opportunity to discuss what schools are doing to help their students develop skills and how businesses can help them do so.

The State of the Schools Address takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 14 2011 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. RSVP to 480-967-7891 or online here.