Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Absolutely Awesome! Totally Organic! Whoa! Here in DTMesa

Last Thursday with little fanfare except for friendly buzzes, the Organic Bean Café had a 'soft opening' at 40 N MacDonald Street here in the New Urban Downtown Mesa.
After the monthly meeting of the City of Mesa Economic Development Board, your MesaZona blogger needed a dose of fresh air and time-away from discussion of big deals in commercial/industrial real estate taking place on tech corridors and employment opportunity zones. . .
It was time to take a walk-around downtown zig-zagging west onto Pepper Place from Center/First Street to a pleasant NWC at the intersection across the street from the AZ Museum of Natural History.
If you don't know some of the 'small wonders' off-Main Street, here's a map to find OBC and - surprisingly quite a number of other small businesses, all small-scale all in one building: Jerry's Barber Salon is in the front of the very-retro front to the left of an open entryway to an open atrium.
Also located here are Zuzu's Petals, 87 Bikes, Taffy Salon & Brow Bar, and Serendipity Cinematography - all have been on-premises for quite some time growing beyond the stage of incubation or start-ups.
It was a pleasure to say hello to OBC new business owner Rachael Boontjer, who already knows the coffee business very well after working for five years with major franchise Starbuck's and opening two stores - now she's taking on the risk and the entrepreneurial leap into her own small enterprise going totally organic here in downtown Mesa, with help from her mother who together have invested about $7,000 opening the new small business. Four months after signing the lease it's ready and open-for-business
It's all 'the right stuff' in one place if you like your hot and cold brew organic. She even gets the Organic Fair Trade Coffee beans from a local roaster in Gilbert, grinding them to-order for every single 16 or 24-ounce cup [make that re-cyclable cup, please].
Here's an image taken yesterday of the natural sunlight open-air atrium to help you find the entrance


Tomorrow there's a GRAND OPENING - Check it out
 

Look Who's Talking About Diversity & Inclusion

Cubic’s Chief Diversity Officer to Highlight the Importance of Diversity & Inclusion at the Second Annual OPM Research Summit
Cubic to be the sole defense industry representative to provide insights into diversity in the workplace
SAN DIEGO – June 7, 2017Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced the participation of Darryl S. Albertson Ph.D., vice president, chief human resources and diversity officer, as a panelist to discuss the challenges and value of diversity and inclusion (D&I) at the Second Annual U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Research Summit in Washington, D.C. on June 7. Co-hosted by the School of Public Affairs at American University and the OPM with the theme, “Transforming Human Capital Management Policy through Research, Innovation and Analytics,” the annual event brings together academic researchers, federal practitioners and industry partners to exchange, collaborate and participate in critical conversations about pressing policy issues.
Albertson will be the only private industry representative on the panel titled, “The Simple Complications of Enhancing Diversity & Inclusion,” to speak on the importance and difficulties of D&I initiatives in the workplace. The panelist will address the issues of D&I practices in the workplace as well as the challenges in executing and fulfilling the D&I needs of a federal organization.

“An organization’s diversity is much more than race, nationality, gender or ability; it can also be a set of skills, experience and lifestyle that each individual brings to their work environment,” said Albertson. “There is a need for sharing best practices and strategies to create and maintain a diverse, inclusive workforce to achieve optimal performance at any organization. I look forward to highlighting some of Cubic’s efforts in cultivating culture and diversity with my fellow practitioners at this event.”      
 “For the second year in a row, OPM is bringing together industry, government and academia to share research, findings and best practices in the spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement,” added panel moderator Jill Rogers, president and CEO of JRogers Consulting. “As a coach and a change agent, I’m thrilled to be part of the conversation that shares innovative approaches and sparks transformation in the area of diversity and inclusion and grateful to OPM for their commitment in providing these forums.”
Albertson will participate in the following panel:
  • The Simple Complications of Enhancing Diversity & Inclusion
    Wednesday, June 7, 10:35 a.m. (local time); American University School of Public Affairs Ward Circle Building; 4400 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C.
    Panel participants: Dr. Mary C. Byers, deputy director, Academy of Defense Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency; Chris Armstrong, senior executive and culture lead, Defense Intelligence Agency;
    Moderator: Jill Rogers, president and CEO of JRogers Consulting, LLC
     
This event is not the first time for Cubic to work cooperatively with OPM.
Cubic was awarded a Notice-to-Proceed on a $5.75 billion Multiple Award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (MA-IDIQ) task order contract from the General Services Administration (GSA) in partnership with OPM for Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS) in October 2016. Under this contract, Cubic is providing customized training and employee development, human capital strategy and organizational performance improvement services across the federal government at all levels.
Follow Cubic Corporation at @CubicCorp on Twitter or hashtag #OPMResearchSummit to join the conversation on social media.
 
About Cubic CorporationCubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

Media Contact
Laura Chon
Corporate Communications
Cubic Corporation
PH:
+1 858-505-2181
laura.chon@cubic.com
 

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

MORE EXCITED THAN USUAL > It's Make Your Mind Up Time!

Great to see some excitement over elections somewhere. Huh?
Published on Jun 5, 2017
Views: 109,761
Pie is more excited than usual over this years election.

Mesa City Council Study Session Mon 05 June 2017


 Published June 5, 2017
Views: 11
Big items, but mayor starts off talking about water hydration campaign

Special Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 05 June 2017


Published on Jun 5, 2017
Views: 11 views
Duration: 16:09

Mesa CIty Council Meeting Mon 05 June 2017


Published on Jun 5, 2017
Views: 42
Duration: 18:43
Awards from Bill Jabjiniak, head of Mesa Office for Economic Development to 2 winners from LaunchPoint > Graphic and Clean Router [continue to watch]

Arizona Ranked #19 Private Equity Investment

Arizona listed as a top state for private equity investment
05
The study was done with data from PitchBook, which collects information on private equity investment from public sources, surveys, and primary research.
“It’s absolutely a positive. The main takeaway from this report is that it highlights that private equity has a presence throughout the entire country,” said James Maloney, vice president of public affairs at the American Investment Council.
In regard to Arizona’s ranking as nineteenth in the United States for private equity investment, Maloney said, “Private equity may not be known to people in the district but to be ranked in the top twenty means that there’s a strong investment climate in the Phoenix area.”
The largest private equity deal in 2016 was with JDA Software Group (NASDAQ: JDAS), which received $575 million in equity investment from private equity firms Blackstone and New Mountain Capital.
Small businesses in Phoenix benefit from private equity because it is “focused on long term growth strategies,” said Maloney. “There’s a significant focus on long term growth and strength of operations for companies in the Phoenix area.”
“From my perspective as an investor I couldn’t care less about the ranking. I’m more interested in the opportunities,” said James Goulka, managing director of AZ Tech Investors, a group of accredited investors that invest in high-potential early stage tech companies in Arizona and surrounding areas.
“People like to hang out with winners,” said Goulka. “The more winners we have the more it will attract the people who want to work with those companies.”
One particular industry that is growing is information technology.
According to the AIC study, 36 percent of private equity investment went into the information technology industry, which doesn’t come as a surprise to Goulka
 
 
                                 
                                                            
 

Zelensky Calls for a European Army as He Slams EU Leaders’ Response

      Jan 23, 2026 During the EU Summit yesterday, the EU leaders ...