Robert Blaney has served as the district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration for the State of Arizona since 1998. His varied experience includes work as a federal agent, police officer, vicepresident of an insurance brokerage and administrative assistant to the late Congressman Jack Kemp. He is a native of western New York and a graduate of the State University College of New York at Buffalo.
The pace of SBA-backed lending continues to rebound. SBA lending remains strong, providing capital to small businesses at a steady pre-recession pace. The first 11 weeks of FY 2013 (which began Oct. 1) saw more loans and more dollars loaned than the same period a year ago, a year in which SBA recorded the second-highest loan volume in the agency’s history. Overall, lending continues at a solid pre-recession pace, some weeks more, some weeks less. Last week nationally was the busiest of the current quarter.
FY 2012 was SBA’s second-biggest loan volume year ever, in dollar terms, second only to FY 2011, which got a huge boost in the first quarter from the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Loan approvals for FY 2012 reached $21.8 billion, compared with $24.48 billion in approvals for FY2011.
Overall, the pace of SBA loan-making is a healthy sign for the economy and the credit markets and is one of the foundations for ensuring the availability of financing to small businesses trying to establish themselves, grow and create new jobs for Americans.
Facing tough questions in tough times doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. Some of the most common issues that we, working with the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network or the SCORE Association, have helped businesses with are examining their business model, evaluating their business plan and knowing where to go for the help that they need.
Robert Blaney District Director • U.S. Small Business Administration, Arizona District
Rick Murray has a wide and varied background that includes entrepreneurial endeavors and nonprofit association executive experience. Murray has seen tremendous success by using the same formula he has always used: developing relationships with businesses for mutual success and surrounding himself with a team of people who believe in a common goal. Murray is also well-versed in HIPAA compliance issues and healthcarerelated businesses.
A Kauffman Foundation study released in May says that, overall in 2011, there was a downward dip in new business start-ups nationwide. But the study points to five states with the highest entrepreneurial activity and Arizona’s is highest.
If there is one thing good that has come out of the economic downturn it is that there are more small businesses per capita in Arizona than ever before. In fact, 97 percent of Arizona’s economy is generated through small business. Arizona is leading the country out of the recession, thanks to Arizona small businesses.
While sales and income are gradually increasing in small businesses in general, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to convince the buying public it’s safe to come out now. Some have referred to the Great Recession as a buyer’s revolution. No longer are the days when consumers are going to accept the status quo. Consumers are becoming much more educated and much more wary about parting with their money.
The market correction also gave birth to a buying correction. America has a “re-born” consumer who is more like our grandparents who went through the Great Depression, when stashing money in a mattress was preferable to investing. People are holding onto their vehicles longer before replacing them, remodeling their home instead of “going bigger,” and fixing broken and worn-out appliances rather than replacing them.
We have consumers who want us to prove it is worthwhile for them to spend their money. This is where small business makes the difference, connecting at the neighbor level to restore the confidence that will power the economy.
Recognizing the critical role small business plays as an economic engine of our community, In Business Magazine is to be commended for assembling in this guide the critical services that small businesses, in turn, rely on.
Rick Murray CEO • Arizona Small Business Association
and Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C.
CBIZ provides accounting, tax and business valuation and consulting services to real estate, wholesale, not-for-profit, retail and manufacturing entrepreneurial business in the Phoenix marketplace.
Top Executive: Carlos Wagner
Local Headquarters: 3101 N. Central Ave., Ste. 300, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 186 Phone: (602) 277-2371
Website: www.cbiz.com
Henry & Horne is Arizona’s largest locally owned accounting firm with a broad base of services to meet clients’ needs. The firm includes estate specialists, international tax experts and a multitude of experts with other areas of expertise.
Top Executive: Chuck Goodmiller
Local Headquarters: 2055 E. Warner Rd., Ste. 101, Tempe, AZ 85284
Offices (Local / National): 2 / 3
Phone: (480) 839-4900
Website: www.hhcpa.com
NUMBERSetc accounting and finance professionals bring an in-depth level of functional and industry experience in all areas of finance and accounting with real world experience. NUMBERSetc has been helping companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
Top Executive: Pamela Smith
Local Headquarters: 2152 S. Vineyard Ave., Ste. 120, Mesa, AZ 85210
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (480) 821-1897
Website: www.numbersetc.biz
Altima provides assistance in raising capital through its affiliations and network of influence in angel/venture, private equity, hedge funds, factoring, equipment leasing and merchant funding.
Top Executive: Andre Wilson
Local Headquarters: 1820 E. Ray Rd., Chandler, AZ 85225
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 773-1488
Website: altimabusinesssolutions.com
FSW Funding is a privately owned and operated assetbased lending company specializing in the financing needs of small and medium-sized businesses.
Top Executive: Robyn Barrett
Local Headquarters: 4530 E. Shea Blvd., Ste. 142, Phoenix, AZ 85028
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 535-5984
Website: www.factors-southwest.com
PFG offers flexible financial solutions that can help smaller businesses expand, improving cash flow for small to medium-sized businesses and providing them an advantage in today’s competitive market at a time when there are so many challenges to obtaining more traditional bank financing.
Top Executive: Lou Wallace
Local Headquarters: 11022 N. 28th Dr., Ste. 160, Phoenix, AZ 85029
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 912-0200
Website: www.performancefunding.com
Alliance Bank of Arizona is a “super community” bank, delivering a broader product array and larger credit capacity than a traditional community bank. Their focus is relationship-based, personalized service, with the latest in technology and lending capabilities to meet the needs of virtually any Arizona business.
Top Executive: James H. Lundy
Local Headquarters: 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local / National): 9 / 17
Phone: (602) 629-1776
Website: www.alliancebankofarizona.com
BMO Harris Bank offers business banking products and services for small and medium-sized businesses: checking and savings accounts, loans and lines of credit, online banking, treasury management and more.
Top Executive: Stephen Johnson
Local Headquarters: 1 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85012
Offices (Local / National): 33 / 300+
Phone: (602) 241-6500
Website: www.mibank.com
National Bank of Arizona provides local expertise and focuses on delivering award-winning service. It is more than just a business bank; it’s expanded to a full-service financial institution offering a suite of products and services tailored to business.
Top Executive: Keith Maio
Local Headquarters: 6001 N. 24th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Offices (Local / National): 24 / 75
Phone: (602) 235-6000
Website: www.nbarizona.com
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company that provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. For the sixth consecutive year, it is the number one Small Business Administration 7(a) lender in Arizona in amount of dollars loaned.
Top Executive: Pamela Conboy
Local Headquarters: 100 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local / National): 167 / 6782
Phone: (602) 378-4644
Website: www.wellsfargo.com
West Valley National Bank is the West Valley’s first locally owned and operated community bank and recently expanded to Scottsdale. Founded by local business leaders, the bank is dedicated to looking after business owners and their financial needs.
Top Executive: Candace D. Wiest
Local Headquarters: 12725 W. Indian School Rd., Avondale, AZ 85392
Offices (Local): 3
Phone: (623) 536-9862
Website: www.wvnb.net
Infusionsoft provides small-business solutions built exclusively to help conquer the chaos through a Web-based system that combines intelligent automation with powerful CRM, e-mail marketing, e-commerce and social media tools.
Top Executive: Clate Mask
Local Headquarters: 2065 W. Obispo Ave., Ste. 103, Gilbert, AZ 85233
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (480) 807-0644
Website: www.infusionsoft.com
Fasturtle is a Web design firm that specializes in SEO marketing, website design, e-mail marketing and maximizing social media opportunities for companies of all sizes. It focuses on providing detailed planning and technological expertise to small business.
Top Executive: Eric Olsen
Local Headquarters: 7575 E. Redfield Rd., Ste. 213, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (480) 348-0467
Website: www.fasturtle.com
Terralever was founded with the goal of providing innovative digital marketing solutions that bring about quantifiable results. It brings insight and expertise to every project to help brands evolve with the changing online ecosystem.
Top Executive: Chris Johnson
Local Headquarters: 425 S. Mill Ave., Ste. 201, Tempe, AZ 85281
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 2
Phone: (480) 839-1080
Website: www.terralever.com
ASBA is the largest trade association in Arizona, representing 11,000+ member businesses and more
than half a million employees in all 15 counties. ASBA creates opportunities for Arizona small businesses to make money, save money and achieve results.
Top Executive: Rick Murray
Local Headquarters: 4600 E. Washington St., Ste. 340, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Offices (Local): 2
Phone: (602) 306-4000
Website: www.asba.com
Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the State of Arizona.
Top Executive: Kimber Lanning
Local Headquarters: 12 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 956-0909
Website: www.localfirstaz.com
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration and has been mentoring small-business owners for more than forty years.
Top Executive: Chet Ross
Local Headquarters: 2828 N. Central Ave., Ste. 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local / National): 3 / 347
Phone: (602) 745-7250
Website: www.scorearizona.org
1-800-GOT-JUNK? offers full-service junk removal for home or business, and will work with offices, retail locations, constructions sites and more.
Local Headquarters: 1939 E. Primrose Path, Phoenix, AZ 85086
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 119
Phone: 800-Got-Junk
Website: 1800gotjunk.com
DataPreserve, Inc.
DataPreserve provides proven scalable data protection platforms for business continuity, using its enterpriselevel software, hardware and SAS-70 data center operations to protect business data whether it is on a single computer or part of a multi-office global enterprise operations network.
Top Executive: Charles Bowen
Local Headquarters: 15300 N. 90th St., Ste. 550, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (480) 422-1600
Website: www.datapreserve.com
Express Digital
Express Digital is a leader in data capture, document management and scanning systems, >>
specializing in integrating with existing software and services of businesses.
Top Executive: John Longobardo / John Principale
Local Headquarters: 8585 E. Bell Rd., Ste. 103, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 569-8600
Website: www.edsaz.com
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office established the Check Enforcement Program to assist victims. The primary responsibility of the program is to recover restitution for victims.
Top Executive: Bill Montgomery
Local Headquarters: 301 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 372-7300
Website: www.maricopacountyattorney.org
Reliable Background Screening has been providing clients a unique and thorough screening service for employers, business owners, franchisers and landlords by offering background checks on new employees, franchisee applicants and new residents and tenants.
Top Executive: Rudy Troisi
Local Headquarters: 8149 E. Evans Rd., Ste. C-9, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 870-7711
Website: www.reliablebackgroundscreening.com
Julie Stoney and Bob Wilson bring more that 60 years of business experience to the table. Their background in banking, finance and communications provides the foundation for advising businesses in need of banking and credit, cash management, strategic planning and sales management services.
Top Executive: Julie Stoney / Bob Wilson
Local Headquarters: 6501 E. Greenway Pkwy., Ste. 103583, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 370-1776
Website: www.stoneywilson.com
Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial is a full-service commercial real estate firm serving metropolitan Phoenix and secondary Arizona cities. A leader in the Phoenix market since 2003, it offers brokerage investment and advisory services in office, industrial, retail, multihousing and land as well as property management.
Top Executive: Bryon Carney
Local Headquarters: 2375 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. 300, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 60
Phone: (602) 954-9000
Website: www.cassidyturley.com
CBRE, Inc.
CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing, corporate services, property, facilities and project management, mortgage banking, appraisal and valuation, development services, investment management, and research and consulting.
Top Executive: Craig Henig
Local Headquarters: 2514 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 166
Phone: (602) 735-5555
Website: www.cbre.com/phoenix
GPE Companies
GPE Commercial Advisors and GPE Management Services are leading providers of commercial real estate sales, leasing, property management and consulting solutions for business, office, medical, dental, retail and industrial properties in the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Top Executive: David Genovese
Local Headquarters: 2777 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. 230, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Express Digital Solutions is Arizona’s leading provider of Electronic Document Management and Scanning Solutions. We provide a single source “one stop shop” service.
Find all your files instantly, effortlessly — No more searching for missing documents
Significantly improve office productivity saving time and $$$
Save $$$ on document storage both On- AND Off-site
Total Compliance with all regulations and laws—Disaster Recovery plan included
An Experienced Award-Winning Local Company Providing Exceptional On-Site Service
Fully HIPAA compliant Discount Document Scanning Service also available
Finally… A Paperless Solution Everyone Can Afford!
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: 480-994-8255
Website: www.gpe1.com
Focus Benefits Group
Focus Benefits Group is an independent group employee benefits consulting company that offers a variety of services to help clients receive the greatest amount of benefit coverage for the most cost-effective dollar. It helps clients by looking at ways to reduce healthcare costs, improving the overall benefits they can offer employees.
Top Executive: Bill Weaver
Local Headquarters: 4120 N. 20th St., Ste. B, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 381-9900
Website: www.focusbenefits.com
Holmes Murphy is a premier independent riskmanagement and insurance brokerage firm. While today’s insurance market sees consolidations and mergers resulting in conglomerates more concerned about the bottom line, Holmes Murphy remains focused on clients’ needs and is committed to accelerating business success.
Top Executive: Daniel Keough
Local Headquarters: 14850 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 280, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 11
Phone: (480) 951-1776
Website: www.holmesmurphy.com
H. A. Mackey helps employers offer the most competitive and cost-effective benefit programs to retain and recruit valuable employees. Areas of expertise include medical, life, dental, vision, disability and long-term care. Personalized services and carefree relationship are just some of the benefits employers can rely upon.
Top Executive: Henry A. Mackey
Local Headquarters: 5114 N. 33rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85018
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 595-4476
Website: www.hamackey.com
BCBSAZ offers various health plans for individuals, families and small and large businesses. BCBSAZ also offers Medicare supplement plans to individuals over age 65.
Top Executive: Rich Boals
Local Headquarters: 8220 N. 23rd Ave., Bldg 2, Phoenix, AZ 85021
Offices (Local): n/a
Phone: (602) 864-4899
Website: www.azblue.com
Delta Dental is passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families. It works to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals.
Top Executive: Allan Allford
Local Headquarters: 5656 W. Talavi Blvd., Glendale, AZ 85306
Offices (Local): n/a
Phone: (602) 938-3131
Website: www.deltadental.com
United Healthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies.
Top Executive: Jeri Jones
Local Headquarters: 1 E. Washington St., Ste. 1700, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local): n/a
Phone: (800) 985-2356
Website: www.uhc.com
DHR is the fifth-largest retained executive search firm in the United States. DHR conducts search assignments at the levels of board director, C-suite and functional vice president. Its consultants are experienced professionals who are retained by Fortune 1000 as well as prominent venture firms and early-stage companies.
Top Executive: David Bruno
Local Headquarters: 11811 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste. 3076, Phoenix, AZ 85028
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 51
Phone: (602) 992-7810
Website: dhrinternational.com
For nearly 30 years, HR Choice has been providing professional human resource programs, training and services to small and medium-sized businesses. It offers outsourced employer solutions and work collaboratively with its clients to support their tactical and strategic human resource management needs.
Top Executive: Susan Williams
Local Headquarters: 14175 W. Indian School Rd., Ste. B4, Goodyear, AZ 85395
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 2
Phone: (623) 935-7759
Website: www.hrchoice.com
Maricopa Workforce Connections collaborates with state and community partners to continually identify and develop local talent to meet the needs of local businesses. Services include employee recruitment and training to fill job vacancies by a diverse and broad range of qualified workers at no charge to business owners.
Top Executive: Patrick Burkhart
Local Headquarters: 234 N. Central Ave., 3rd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local): 3
Phone: (602) 506-4888
Website: www.maricopaworkforceconnection.com
Information Technology
BestIT’s services include a complete catalog of technology support services, comprehensive professional practices, innovative security solutions and cost-effective business strategies, resulting in maximized uptime, predictable IT budgets and quick response times. BestIT provides robust, leading-edge IT business and technology solutions.
Top Executive: Harry Curtin
Local Headquarters: 3724 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85012
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 2
Phone: (602) 772-3556
Website: www.bestit.com
CMIT Solutions offers a broad menu of technical support and IT services that all point toward one goal: helping small businesses run smoothly and be prepared for anything.
Top Executive: Bruce Newman
Local Headquarters: 14988 N. 78th Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 135
Phone: (480) 419-3931
Website: www.cmitsolutions.com/ phoenix-northeast-valley
OneNeck is a leading hosted application management and managed services provider that offers a broad scope of services at mid-market prices which provide customers with tailored and flexible IT solutions.
Top Executive: Charles Vermillion
Local Headquarters: 5301 N. Pima Rd., Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 11
Phone: (480) 315-3000
Website: www.oneneck.com
The law firm of Donald W. Hudspeth guides the smallbusiness owner through the complicated and often tricky legal problems related to the formation of their small business. The firm provides both practical and legal advice based on a knowledge and experience in business law.
Top Executive: Donald Hudspeth
Local Headquarters: 3030 N. Central Ave., Ste. 604, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 265-7997
Website: www.azbuslaw.com
Polsinelli Shughart offers clients the full array of business law services with a local presence and tremendous national and international reach.
Top Executive: Ed Novak
Local Headquarters: 1 E. Washington St., Ste. 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 16
Phone: (602) 650-2000
Website: www.polsinelli.com
Ryley Carlock & Applewhite provides legal support to clients in real estate, resort and hospitality, gaming, software and information technology, publishing, accounting, architecture, management consulting, engineering and other professional services, construction management, retail sales, Internet, telecommunications and manufacturing.
Top Executive: Rodolfo Parga
Local Headquarters: 1 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 6
Phone: (602) 258-7701
Website: www.rcalaw.com
Copenhagen is focused on helping clients improve productivity by designing for them the perfect work environment, from executive suites to functional home offices.
Top Executive: Erik Hansen
Local Headquarters: 1701 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Offices (Local / National): 4 / 3
Phone: (602) 266-8060
Website: www.copenhagenliving.com
Goodmans represents millions of quality products from manufactures that include Herman Miller, Geiger, Davis, Nemschoff, Nucraft, Fixtures, Global, Hon, National, La-Z-Boy and more than 400 others. Services include planning through installation.
Top Executive: Adam Goodman
Local Headquarters: 1400 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014
Offices (Local / National): 4 / 1
Phone: (602) 263-1110
Website: www.goodmansinc.com
Creating capable spaces for the workplaces in all fields, Target Commercial Interiors services include shopping for products, financing, project management, planning and installation. Ongoing services are asset management, warehousing and more.
Top Executive: Steve Thomas
Local Headquarters: 8530 S. Priest Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85284
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 6
Phone: (480) 533-8326
Website: www.targetcommercialinteriors.com
A partner to small business, Human Capital Strategies is a comprehensive firm that is all about driving business profits through their services, which include payroll, human resources, employee benefits and risk management.
Top Executive: Jason Knight
Local Headquarters: 2152 S. Vineyard Ave., Bldg. 6, Ste. 117, Mesa, AZ 85210
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (480) 962-1580
Website: www.hcscando.com
Paychex is a recognized leader in the payroll, human resource and benefits outsourcing industry.
Top Executive: n/a
Local Headquarters: 16404 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Ste. 240, Phoenix, AZ 85053
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 101
Phone: (602) 266-3660
Website: www.paychex.com
Pay-Tech has been family-owned and -operated since 1979, with professionals who are trained and certified to bring clients customized payroll, accounting and HR solutions.
Top Executive: Rene Brofft
Local Headquarters: 640 E. Purdue, Ste. 102, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Offices (Local): 1
Phone: (602) 788-1317
Website: www.pay-tech.com
Telecommunications / Mobile
AT&T Small Business Services offers a comprehensive portfolio of innovative wireless solutions, from e-mail and messaging to industry-specific business applications.
Top Executive: n/a
Local Headquarters: 20830 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 86050
Offices (Local / National): n/a
Phone: (480) 515-7000
Website: smallbiz.att.com
Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 275,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers; K-12 and higher education; financial institutions; and federal, state and local government organizations.
Top Executive: Steve Rizley
Local Headquarters: 20401 N 29th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 95027
Offices (Local / National): n/a
Phone: (623) 594-1000
Website: www.coxbusinessaz.com
Telesphere is the leading pure-play provider of unified cloud communications, delivering carrier-grade performance and support for wireline and mobile devices to businesses over its private IP MPLS network, which is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
Top Executive: Clark Peterson
Local Headquarters: 9237 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Offices (Local / National): 1 / 4
Phone: (480) 385-7000
Website: www.telesphere.com
The Business Institute [BI] is an extension campus of Scottsdale Community College, which specializes in:
• ACCELERATED
• ACCREDITED
• APPLIED CREDIT & NON-CREDIT learning for adults.
Short-term credit classes [2- to 8-weeks] and non-credit workshops are offered online and at our convenient Scottsdale Airpark campus.
New day or evening classes start weekly throughout the semester offering maximum flexibility.