Gilbert Sun News; August 2015 - Business

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Business

August 2015

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Two startups win $250K grants from Arizona Commerce Authority

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK

Two Gilbert software companies were among six Arizona startups that received $250,000 grants to get their companies off the ground.

CampusLogic, a company that creates software to assist with financial aid for higher education, and eVisit, a maker of telehealth software for online treatment, billing and patient analytics for providers, received the grants from the Arizona Commerce Authority in the Arizona Innovation Challenge.

These recipients represent earlystage Arizona companies that are creating innovative technological solutions with the potential for significant economic impact, according to the organization.

Judges evaluated 138 applications from companies in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin for the spring 2015 AIC round. Each company was assessed on technology potential, marketing strategy, quality of management team and economic impact. The companies represent highvalue industry sectors that include IT software, IT hardware, bio and life sciences, cleantech/renewable

energy, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense.

In June, 10 finalists were named in this round from which the winners were chosen.

Sandra Watson, president and CEO of Arizona Commerce Authority, congratulated the winners.

“As they commercialize their technology, these innovative companies will continue to create high-quality jobs that have a positive economic impact, and we’re thrilled to support them in that journey,” Watson said.

Including the most recent spring 2015 recipients, the ACA has awarded 50 AIC grants to Arizona’s entrepreneurs to help them accelerate their businesses and advance technologies.

Bret Larsen, CEO and co-founder of eVisit, said his company creates two-way video between doctor and patient. The telemedicine software enables patients who have colds, flu or allergies, or other less serious illnesses, to “visit” doctors through video sessions.

“The patients love it for the convenience,” Larsen said. “They don’t

have to make a 10- or 45-minute drive to the doctor’s office.”

With eVisit, relationships between doctors and patients are maintained.

Larsen said other telemedicine software connects patients with doctors they do not know. “Our goal is to maintain that (doctor-patient) relationship,” Larsen said.

Larsen said eVisit also is HIPAA compliant. “It exceeds the security baseline,” Larsen said, in terms of meeting security and privacy concerns of HIPAA. Larsen said other common video software applications do not meet HIPAA guidelines.

Larsen formed the company in September 2014 with Dr. Glen McCracken, a former emergency room doctor who serves as president, and Miles Romney, chief technology officer. Larsen began working full time on eVisit in November and the company started earning revenue in March.

“The grant will be used to accelerate our growth through our hiring plans and what we will need to do to scale effectively,” Larsen said. The funds will help the company add staff to assist with customer service.

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Larsen said he is excited about working with the Arizona Commerce Authority and receiving the grant.

“They are doing so much to help young fledgling companies. We’re excited about the grant and appreciative to them.”

CampusLogic creates “smart software” that improves the financial aid process and experience for students, staff and school.

“Our goal is to make financial aid simple and efficient for everyone involved, whether we are delivering a student self-service platform for FAFSA verification, reducing overborrowing through dynamic, digital award letters or alleviating the headache of reconciliation,” according to the company’s website.

It brings more than 75 years combined experience as directors of financial aid, compliance officers, quality assurance specialists, financial aid advisers and analysts.

Company officials could not be reached for comment.

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Clothing drive benefits Big Brother/Big Sister groups Each year, Lapels Dry Cleaning stores across the country host clothing drives to benefit Big Brother/Big Sister.

With seven states participating in this year’s drive, held May 2 to May 17, customers donated 437 pounds of clothes at three Arizona Lapels Dry Cleaning stores in Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale, and 11,565 nationwide. That has a value of $11,565 or a $1 per pound.

The clothes donated will be resold at thrift shops and second-hand clothing stores, helping to fund Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

“For several years in a row now, Lapels Dry Cleaning customers have been so generous with their donations,” said John Purtell, of Big Brother/Big Sister of Central Arizona. “We really can’t thank Lapels and its customers enough.”

“The simplest way to put it is our customers care,” added Kevin Dubois, CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning. “They care that their clothes are cleaned in an environmentally friendlier way and they care about their fellow citizens in the community.

Business

August 2015

Gilbert Chamber hosts series of events through August

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Throughout the year, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of luncheons and meetings for its members and the community.

Events are held throughout the town.

The Chamber office is at 119 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101. For more information about events or to register, call (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

Kevin Dubois, left, CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning, stands with Rich Delbou, manager of Lapels Dry Cleaning of Cohasset, Massachusetts, and Steve Beck, executive director Big Brother Big Sister Foundation.

Submitted photo

“What’s really impressive about our customers’ generosity is that these donations take place over a two-week period. That’s a lot of clothes in a very short period.”

Using the latest technology in equipment and cleaning solution, Lapels is one of the few dry cleaners with no hazardous waste in their process.

Chamber Chat—Morning 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5 Presented by Aire Serv of East Valley Heating and Cooling, the event allows Chamber members to meet for breakfast.

This informal gathering is a fun way to share conversation with other professionals and learn more about businesses in the community. $8 in advance; $12 at the door.

Bold Roost Café, 1489 S. Higley Rd., Suite 103, Gilbert Chamber Chat—After Hours 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13 Meet up with other Chamber members at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. This informal gathering is a fun way to share conversation with other professionals

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and learn more about businesses in the community. $10 in advance; $15 at the door.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., 721 N. Arizona Ave., Suite 103, Gilbert.

Nonprofit Summit 7:50 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 Join the Chamber as it brings together representatives of Gilbert’s nonprofit organizations with local business leaders for a morning of collaborative conversation. Free.

Southeast Regional Library, Assembly Room, 775 N. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert.

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Business

August 2015

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SweetLeaf Stevia awarded highest global honor for taste

SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener, one of two award-winning brands from the Gilbertbased Wisdom Natural Brands, has been named a Top Wellness Company. It is the only stevia brand in the country to receive the honor.

Wisdom Natural Brands also produces Wisdom of the Ancients herbal teas.

SweetLeaf is a natural stevia sweetener with zero calories, zero carbohydrates, nonglycemic response and no artificial ingredients.

It has consistently won global awards for taste and innovation.

SweetLeaf is sold in boxes of 35 or 70 packets, as well as in SweetLeaf Stevia Shaker jars for easy home use, and SweetLeaf SteviaTabs, dissolvable tablets for on-the-go use. SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener is available in both natural and QAI certified organic. Offering consumers additional high-quality choices, SweetLeaf Organics are sold in 35 and 70 count packet boxes and shaker jars.

SugarLeaf, also by Wisdom, bonds SweetLeaf Stevia and cane sugar for a low-calorie sugar alternative that is perfect for baking and cooking. SugarLeaf has two-thirds fewer calories than sugar.

SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops add

flavor without calories or carbohydrates to favorite foods and beverages. Sweet Drops also have no artificial ingredients.

SweetLeaf Water Drops add delicious natural flavor to plain or sparkling water. For more information about SweetLeaf products, recipes, the new SweetLeaf cookbook, “Cooking with SweetLeaf Stevia,” and more, visit www.ShopSweetLeaf.com.

From energizing Yerba Maté Royale to calming Rooibos and Sympacho, Wisdom of the Ancients herbal teas are available in tea bags and come in a variety of refreshing flavors.

Select varieties are also available with a touch of calorie-free stevia sweetener.

Wisdom of the Ancients also produces Cream of Coco, a natural, sustainable bar soap derived from Mbocaya, an edible nut grown on the Paraguayan coco tree. Cream of Coco is great for all skin types and is ideal as a face and body wash. It’s even gentle enough for hand washing delicate fabrics.

SweetLeaf and Wisdom of the Ancients products can be purchased online at www.

ShopSweetLeaf.com or at grocery and health food stores throughout the United States and Canada.

Local businesses win big in President’s ‘E’ Awards Three Gilbert companies were recognized with the U.S. President’s “E” Award—the highest honor for companies with significant contributions to the expansion of U.S. exports.

The three “E” Award recipients are Rigid Industries, a world leader in forward-projecting LED lighting, Wisdom Natural Brands, a manufacturer of natural sweetener products made from the Stevia plant and other natural ingredients, and Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt, a manufacturer and international wholesaler of soft-serve mixes including Frozen Yogurt. Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt is located in Mesa but is moving its facility to the new Park Lucero development. Just 45 companies were recognized this year and, with three of the four Arizona companies being from Gilbert, Mayor John Lewis said this brings great exposure for the community.

“Gilbert is fortunate to have innovative firms like Rigid Industries, Wisdom Natural Brands, and Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt in our community, paving the way for Gilbert

internationally,” Lewis said.

The President’s “E” Award was created by Executive Order of the President to afford suitable recognition to persons, firms, or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports.

The President’s “E Star” Award, which was authorized by the Secretary of Commerce, affords continuing recognition of noteworthy export promotion efforts.

Winners of the “E” and “E Star” Award are authorized to fly the blue and white banner, to display the accompanying certificate of commendation which is signed by the secretary of commerce in the name and, by the authority of the president, to wear and issue to employees an “E” or “E Star” lapel pin, and to refer to the award in their advertising.

The application period for the 2016 Awards will open in November 2015. For more information, visit http://export.gov/ exportawards/.

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Doing Business

Precision Payroll of America

Owner: Tom Sodeika How long in business: 32 years Specialty: Payroll and tax administration; time and attendance; HR services and administrative services.

Unique Features: Precision Payroll of America delivers comprehensive and high-tech solutions with “old-fashioned” customer service. Sodeika said “working with us is like ‘watching Andy Griffith in high definition’—you get the best of

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both worlds.” Clients continually work directly with the same team. Direct lines and email allow customers to reach their team quickly. By providing these services at significant savings over other companies, Precision Payroll of America rounds out its service and value proposition.

Address: 1176 E. Warner Rd., Suite 102, Gilbert, 85296 Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: (480) 892-2933

Send in your business profile for ‘Doing Business’ The Gilbert Sun News would like to welcome new area businesses or existing ones that may be new to our readers.

Submit information about your business for a “Doing Business” mini-business profile in an upcoming issue of our publication, which is distributed to 25,000 homes, racks and boxes the fifth of each month.

Please include all of the following items: Name of business, name of owner(s), how long the business has existed, unique features, hours of operation, address, telephone number, website and email address. Also include an at least 300 dpi photo of the business owner or logo.

Email this information to info@gilbertsunnews.com or visit www. gilbertsunnews.com and click on the “Doing Business” form at the top of the page to submit.

August 2015

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Caliber Collision food drive aids St. Mary’s Food Bank Local contributions to Caliber Collision’s fourth annual Rhythm Restoration Food Drive in Phoenix contributed to a recordbreaking 2.3 million meals nationwide to help feed at-risk children this summer.

Local efforts from Caliber’s four locations in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Tempe and Chandler, resulted in $8,613 in cash and 1,464 pounds of food for a combined total of 70,899 meals to benefit St Mary’s Food Bank.

Contributions came from the Caliber teammates, customers and business partners.

Caliber’s annual Rhythm Restoration Food Drive is a grassroots, employeedriven labor of love in which Caliber teammates nationwide host food and fundraising drives in local communities, challenging each other to beat the previous year’s results.

This year’s nationwide food drive more than doubled last year’s total of 1 million meals.

“Caliber Collision’s annual Rhythm Restoration Food Drive is a wonderful opportunity for all of our teammates and business partners to get involved in

our local communities as we go above and beyond to help kids in need,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision CEO. “Our highest purpose is to restore our customers to the rhythm of their lives.

Both the customers who walk through our doors and the greater communities that we serve around each of our centers.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 15.8 million children younger than age 18 in the United States live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life. Caliber Collision’s annual Rhythm Restoration Food Drive helps at-risk children especially during the summer months when many do not have access to school lunch programs.

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August 2015

Diamondback Air: Keeping clients comfortable since 1999

BY ALISON STANTON

As owner of Diamondback Air, a fullservice air conditioning and heating company located in Mesa, John Herman knows he and his team are helping their customers stay comfortable—even after hours.

Clients who have issues with their A/C unit after the office has closed are able to speak to a service technician who is concerned about the home’s residents. Those with medical conditions and elderly folks require Diamondback Air to fix the unit immediately.

“They are trained to ask, ‘Do you have more than one system in your home?’ or ‘Do your kids have asthma?’” said Herman, who has 40 years’ experience in the HVAC industry.

Diamondback Air is not a 24-hour emergency service company, but staff will take care of existing customers after hours who have health or other issues.

Tyler Stettler, operations manager for Diamondback Air, said the company focuses on residential and commercial air conditioning and serves customers

Business

throughout the Valley.

“Anything related to air conditioning needs we can satisfy and take care of,” Stettler said.

In addition to installing, maintaining and repairing A/C and heating systems, Diamondback Air also offers air duct cleaning, whole house air balancing and other related services.

Herman said about 35 percent of his business is from referrals. He chalked it up to Diamondback Air’s “personal” service.

“We offer good old-fashioned, family-owned personal service.

People are not just a number here, and we handle all of our service calls personally,” Herman said.

However, to avoid service calls, Stettler said homeowners should change the filters regularly.

Homeowners with a lot of pets, kids and/or dust should change their filters more frequently.

“I always say that people should keep their filter in for a maximum of one month,” Stettler said.

“Preventative maintenance is always the cheapest route, and changing the

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filters regularly just helps the unit to breathe.

Air flow is everything in our industry.”

Herman also wants people to know that older A/C units with R22 Freon are slated to be phased out by 2018, and as of Jan. 1, 2015, 13 SEER units is involved in the community. are no longer being manufactured.

“We help with organizations like The minimum SEER is now 14 with a Angels on Patrol and Habitat for refrigerant R410A Freon, he said.

Humanity, so we do like to pay it “We can still find R22 Freon, but it’s “The bitter taste of a poor quality ins forward,” he said. like liquid gold. Now is the time for Diamondback Air’s main office is far longer than the initial sweetness people to get their systems switched located at 6239 E. Brown Rd., Building 2, out, because if they do not do it soon, Suite 116 in Mesa.

For more information, they will be in jeopardy of getting call (602) 977-0800 or visit www. sticker shock when it’s no longer diamondbackair.com. available. We are already seeing a shortage of the equipment,” Herman said.

In addition to stellar customer service, Herman said Diamondback Air

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