Member news: September 2023
Embracing diversity in health care: Banner is unlocking the power of inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community
Dr. Varun Monga and Dr. Venkata Buddhavarapu, alongside other clinicians in the United States, have co-authored a transformative publication titled “Gender Inclusive Care Toolkit for Hospitals” in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. This toolkit paves the way for a new era in patient care, setting a gold standard for gender inclusivity in medical practice to address disparities in health care. Through a rigorous examination of care principles and practical applications, Drs. Monga and Buddhavarapu and the collaborative team provide insights and resources that can be adapted across various health care settings. Read more >>
ASU receives $39.8M federal grant to create microelectronics innovation hub
Arizona State University has landed a $39.8 million federal grant to create a regional network for microelectronics education, research and development in the Southwest. The U.S Department of Defense on Wednesday announced it awarded $238 million in CHIPS Act funding to eight recipients nationwide — including ASU — to establish regional innovation hubs through what’s known as the Microelectronics Commons program. Read more >>
EPS Global guest blog: Beating the supply chain crunch, a case study for open networking
In this episode of The Critical Lowdown, Alan Fagan, who manages Sales for North America at EPS Global, moderates a panel featuring Jeff Hummel, Technical Services Supervisor and Nathan Gerencser, Senior Network Engineer both from MetaLINK; and Vince Schuele, Senior Network Architect from IP ArchiTechs. Listen to the full podcast or read the transcript. Read more >>
DoorDash widens grocery delivery service in Phoenix
Third-party delivery service DoorDash Inc. (NYSE: DASH) announced Monday it has signed deals with eight new supermarket chains, including some in Arizona, to increase its on-demand grocery delivery offering. DoorDash is already a key delivery partner with Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (Nasdaq: SFM), Albertsons and Safeway and with Raley’s Cos., the parent company of Bashas’, Food City and AJ’s Fine Foods. Now the company and its team of independent contractors will be delivering groceries in the Phoenix area from El Super. Read more >>
Arizona Tech Investors to back dozens of companies as organization grows membership
One of the state’s most prominent angel investment groups is growing its membership and is poised to back dozens of companies in the coming year. Arizona Tech Investors, which is celebrating its 14th year in operation this month, will screen more than 100 startups and invite 15 to 20 of the most promising, investment-ready companies to pitch in front of its membership, according to the organization. The companies represent a variety of sectors, including software, health care technology, renewable energy and more. Read more >>
Intel sells $430M piece of subsidiary to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is selling a 10% stake in IMS Nanofabrication, its second big sale of a piece of the Austria-based supplier of advanced chip-manufacturing technology in the past three months. The agreement announced Sept. 12 is with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM: NYSE), the world’s largest semiconductor maker, at the same $4.3 billion valuation that was used in Bain Capital’s 20% purchase revealed in June. Both Intel and TSMC have substantial footprints in the Valley. Read more >>
Lyft launches Women+ Connect
While women make up nearly half of Lyft riders, they account for just 23% of drivers on the Lyft platform, based on a recent survey.* Introducing Women+ Connect, a new feature that matches women and nonbinary drivers with more women and nonbinary riders. This highly requested feature offers more control over the driving experience for women and nonbinary people, allowing them to feel that much more confident. And with fewer barriers to driving, more women can access flexible earning opportunities — whether they’re driving to build a business, support their family, or simply to enjoy earning good money while meeting great people. Read more >>
Tucson’s IRLabs announces new name and positions for growth
Infrared Laboratories, Inc., a Tucson-based optics and cryogenics company, is pleased to announce it has adopted its common nickname, IRLabs, as its new company name. This name change is representative of the company’s positioning for future growth with new leadership, new branding and a new website. Since 1967 the company has been well known in global astronomy and scientific research sectors as experts in solving the complex challenges of detecting ultra-low levels of infrared light and cooling for ground- and space-based telescopes. Read more >>
Parsons Foundation donates $300,000 to Junior Achievement of Arizona
A recent study found 8 out of 10 American workers live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. These issues are even more critical for low-income and ethnically diverse students, as they are least likely to learn financial and career readiness concepts at home or school. The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation grant of $300,000 over two years to Junior Achievement of Arizona will ensure financial literacy–including money management skills such as budgeting, saving and responsible use of credit–are taught to K-12 students throughout Maricopa County. Read more >>
Five startups selected for University of Arizona accelerator program
The University of Arizona has selected five startups, including two from the Valley, for the inaugural cohort of its Crucible at Forge accelerator program. The Crucible at Forge is an eight-week program intended to support growth of advanced startups by preparing them for investment. Startup founders in the cohort will receive rigorous professional development, mentorship, milestone evaluations, pitch practice sessions, investor introductions and opportunities to highlight their work. As a capstone to the program, startups will pitch their companies to investors for feedback and potential funding opportunities, according to the University of Arizona. Read more >>
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invests in entrepreneurial women with Wells Fargo’s help
Rachel Martinez is a researcher turned entrepreneur who initially found a career in libraries. She enjoys researching different topics and helping people from different backgrounds learn. The pandemic in 2020 rocked the field of higher education where she and her co-worker, Julie Allen, worked. That led to them creating Watch Me Learning Services in 2022. The instructional design agency provides online learning, training and professional development experiences for small- to medium-sized businesses. Martinez and Allen’s combined backgrounds and knowledge of training in academia and industry drive the experiences they create for their clients. Read more >>
Grand Canyon University expecting record enrollment
Grand Canyon University is expecting another record-breaking class of new students in 2023-24 despite the continued downward trajectory of college enrollments across the country. GCU is projecting a more than 14% increase in new students from last year, including a class of more than 11,000 incoming traditional-age (21 and under) students attending both the Phoenix campus and online. That will increase total projected enrollment to more than 118,000 – approximately 25,800 on the ground campus and more than 92,000 studying online. Read more >>
Phoenix Community Alliance celebrates 40 years in Downtown Phoenix
Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA), the business leadership and membership affiliate of Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI), has spent decades activating, advocating and building Greater Downtown Phoenix into what it is today, and now it’s time to celebrate 40 years of change-making and strategic growth. Since August 1983, the organization has played a significant role in the development of landmark institutions that have contributed to the resurgence of Downtown Phoenix. Read more >>
Tempe Chamber and Rio Salado College partner on Tempe Workforce Skills Accelerator, presented by Amazon
The Tempe Chamber of Commerce and Rio Salado College have partnered to create the Tempe Workforce Skills Accelerator, which will offer three microcredentials to Tempe businesses to upskill their workforce. Through a partnership with the Tempe Chamber Foundation and Amazon, there will also be 20 scholarships available to underwrite the costs for those employers that would experience financial hardship from enrolling their employees. Read more >>
Greater Phoenix Chamber announces 11 finalists for Athena Awards
The Greater Phoenix Chamber announced the 11 women chosen as finalists for its prestigious 36th Annual ATHENA Awards, continuing its strong tradition of recognizing outstanding Valley businesswomen. The ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year Award recognizes a woman in the public and private sectors and highlights an upcoming leader in the Valley as an ATHENA Young Professional. ATHENA finalists are chosen for their excellence in business and leadership, dedication to the community, and support and mentorship of others. Read more >>