Guest Editor

Chairman Robert Miguel advanced his career in various roles within the Ak-Chin Indian Community, including working as a photojournalist for the Ak-Chin O’odham Runner for more than 20 years before being elected by his people to serve on its Tribal Council. Miguel serves as chairman for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and Arizona Indian Gaming Association, in addition to being on the Native American Rights Fund board of directors, the first vice president of the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, and as a member of the Maricopa Economic Development Association. azindiangaming.org

Gaming and sporting events go together hand-in-glove, but each stands on its own and has a long history of success here in the Valley — as an entertainment draw and an economic driver.

Indian Gaming, specifically, is essential to the economic well-being of not only Tribal Nations — providing employment, education, enhanced services and economic development opportunities — but to all of Arizona. Overall, shared revenue contributions from Tribal Gaming have supported the Arizona Benefits Fund with $1.82 billion since 2003. These funds support education, emergency services and trauma care, tourism, and wildlife conservation, as well as funding to Arizona’s cities, towns and counties. As the chairman of the Arizona Gaming Indian Association, I understand how critical Tribal gaming is to the economy and am dedicated to promoting and protecting the welfare of our state by supporting Tribal gaming enterprises on Arizona Indian lands.

Overall, the entertainment value of gaming venues and sports events — from the local teams that inspire fan loyalty to the major events that draw fans nationally — is a popular focus. But the economic benefits they bring to the community are impressive. In Business Magazine gets an inside look at what’s new now as well as what the future holds for these organizations.

Also in this issue, cyberattacks and ransomware are high on people’s radar, but there’s another threat that may sneak in more subtly and can devastate businesses: domain hijackers. In his feature article “Domain Hijackers Prey on Business Websites,” Mario Vasta offers tips to help businesses protect themselves from fraudsters looking to hijack their clients.

Businesses can also protect themselves through succession planning. In his article on the subject, Jeff Friesen discusses how a strategic succession plan can help business owners prepare for the expected — and unexpected. And Rory Carder asks us to imagine a new workplace ecosystem that puts the focus on what’s best for individuals and teams based on how they do their best work, in her article, “The Future of Work: Dynamic Environments.”

In this edition, you’ll also find the “50 Top Small Business Resources Guide,” In Business Magazine’s annual top picks for services and products that businesses can’t do without. In Business Magazine recognizes these as the superstars who do so much for small business.

From the opening Briefs pages filled with local business news to the final Roundtable feature on making brainstorming sessions effectively creative, with pages devoted to healthcare, technology and other pillars of business, this July edition of In Business Magazine provide relevant information to help strengthen our business community. I am pleased to help bring this to you. Sincerely,

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Chair Arizona Indian Gaming Association

There are many draws that have quickly made Arizona a destination for business, but our love of gaming and sporting events — and their success — is a clear indication that we are a playing ground with more and more potential. Gaming has brough a pastime to our tribal communities that has offered an economic impact which is making a social change and funding programs that are changing life here. Sporting events like the WM Phoenix Open and NASCAR are making life here more attractive and are helping to enrich our economic development efforts in so many ways.

We want to thank Robert for leading this issue and for all that he has done over the years to empower Maricopa Country and the tribal communities. His years of service are serving us all well as he leads us into a new era of economic development through gaming and passing along the benefits to better Arizona. —Rick McCartney, Publisher

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