AZ Big Media Spotlights GPEC + CEO Chris Camacho



High on praising the Greater Phoenix Economic Council first:
More companies moving in to capitalize on Arizona’s business-friendly environment
Business News | 1 hour ago | Michael Gossie 
". . . Experts say Metro Phoenix is fast-paced and possesses an unapologetic willingness to get things done, making it one of the top cities to do business. The region has a pioneering spirit and welcoming attitude – toward people and business — and that spirit is becoming contagious in the business world. “Arizona is one of the fastest growing places to cultivate a company for multiple reasons,” says Brett Johnson, a partner at Snell & Wilmer who represents businesses and individuals in government relations matters.
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Here are the top three qualities that are attracting businesses to Metro Phoenix, according to Johnson:

•  1. Arizona prides itself on hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Although still a competitive environment, there is a collective desire for everyone to succeed.

•  2. The friendly regulatory environment and cooperative government agencies make it easy to grow a business.

•  3. Due to Arizona’s higher education capabilities and quality of life, companies are able to attract top talent to Arizona.

Unifying force

Tying those elements together and marketing them to the world has been GPEC, which works with its 22 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 150 private investors to attract quality businesses and is credited with helping turn Metro Phoenix into one of the best tech relocation cities.

. . .

Experts say GPEC has been able to effectively market the region thanks to a favorable tax structure and legislative ease, especially compared with markets like California, where there is a lot of regulation, taxes are higher and there are more challenges to doing business.

“Arizona offers a pipeline of opportunities,” Vynalek says. “I’ve observed over the past two decades that the connectivity between Seattle and Phoenix, Silicon Valley and Phoenix and even New York and Phoenix offer pipeline opportunities. People are now seeing Phoenix as a destination for an opportunity and not just as a low-cost provider. What we don’t want to be is just a place where it’s cheap to live. Leaders in other markets are now seeing that Arizona is a great place to do business and there is real innovation happening there. That hasn’t always been the case.”

READ MORE > AZ Big Media

2018 In-Hindsight: Mesa Mayor John Giles, "Thought Leader-of-The-Year

Can't tell from the opening image what the inside joke is or the subject that made two guys smile, but three days ago Mesa Mayor John Giles was presented with the Dwight Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award by Denny Barney at the East Valley Partnership's 2018 Thought Leadership Forum on 06 December. Believe-it-or-not
Only in Mesa, Kids, only in Mesa !!

Hard-to-believe that Giles is
THE THOUGHT LEADER OF THE YEAR 2018
OK. Hmmm...John Giles A Thought Leader?

The Dwight Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award?

Who can list all of his accomplishments to date?

John Giles, who served on the Mesa City Council for four years 1996-2000, and then 14 years later somehow 'got a calling' to fill in the seat of the highest elected in the city (mayor) left empty when ex-mayor Scott Smith vacated his elected office for higher ambitions - a gambit he lost in 2014 to Governor Doug Ducey.

John Giles, with a gap of 14 years, was the chosen successor in that Good Ole' Boys Political Machine, served for about four months as the incumbent, got challenged by Danny Ray in his run-on-his-own-dime for his first term, then ran unopposed for his second term.
All the while he's been earning a taxpayer-paid salary + a generous benefits package as the only full-time member of the Mesa City Council, he's operated a private law practice as a personal injury/accident law attorney.  

Want to hear what Giles said accepting the award >

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Mesa Mayor John Giles received the Dwight Patterson Lifetime Achievement award.

East Valley Partnership honors Intel and John Giles with 2018 Excel Awards

Emily Richardson

3 weeks ago

"According to East Valley Partnership (EVP) – a nonpartisan coalition of civic, business, education and political leaders dedicated to the economic development and promotion of the East Valley (EV) – entrepreneurs in the EV have helped reinvent the business model.
“[The] East Valley is a major driver of economic development in metropolitan Phoenix,” Denny Barney, president and CEO, East Valley Partnership, said.
“People are seeing the greatness of the East Valley, they’re learning that this is a great place to live and to work and to play. To start a family, to build a business, to make a home.”
On Dec. 6, EVP held its annual Thought Leader Forum where it honored a business and individual with the Excel Award for the “lasting impact they have made on business and the quality of life in the community.”

_______________________________________________________________________________"I am the luckiest guy that any of you guys know,” Giles said.

“I get to work for Mesa, Arizona, which is such a wonderful opportunity.
It’s a group of talented, motivated, dedicated people that make me look really, really good and as of a result of that I get to come and pick up awards.
So, I can’t thank them enough for making this possible.”

“He is truly one of a kind,” Barney said of Giles.

 “It’s not often that you don’t see him with a smile on his face. Even in difficult challenges and challenging times, he’s optimistic and upbeat. He’s a dynamic leader that served in office, stepped away, and then chose to come back. That’s a power representation of what’s really part of his DNA. I’m certainly grateful to him and his leadership.”
“Our region and our cities deserve disruptive leaders,”
Giles said.

"They deserve people who are willing to take chances and stick their neck out and take consequences for the greater good of our [home]. I inspire to be one of those and I hope that you will join me. Let’s go back to our communities and our cities and let’s cause some trouble and let’s be disruptive and let’s make things happen because that’s what the people we work for deserve.” 

Source: http://chamberbusinessnews.com/2018/12/10/east-valley-partnership-honors-intel-and-john-giles-with-2018-excel-awards/ 
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In this streaming video for State-of-the-City 2015 - his first term elected to mayor -  Giles admits publicly he needs help to get ideas:

State of the City 2015

Published on Feb 3, 2015

Views: 419

Mesa Arizona, State of the City Breakfast with Mayor John Giles.

Presented by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
"The right mayor at the right time" . . . he was actually interim mayor for four-and-a-half months to serve out the seat left empty when Scott Smith left for an unsuccessful bid losing to Governor Doug Ducey.
This streaming video is public testimony

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Official Bio

Born and raised in Mesa, Mayor Giles earned degrees from Brigham Young University in Political Science and Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and has managed his own law firm in downtown Mesa for more than 20 years. 
Mayor Giles is an active marathoner and triathlete who has completed two full Ironman competitions, 20 marathons and four Boston Marathons. Mayor Giles and his wife Dawn have been married for more than thirty years. They have five children and eight grandchildren.
https://www.mesaaz.gov/city-hall/mayor-council/mayor-john-giles


How Does Banksy Make Money?

Fortunes made in the commodification of artworks. How does 'a non-traditional artist' deal with it all?

Published on Dec 31, 2018

Views: 207,667+
How does Banksy actually make money? Is Banksy the graffiti artist rich or is Banksy poor?

The street artist known as Banksy belongs to what is sometimes called the “Bristol Scene,” which includes creatives from different genres, notably music. You’ve probably heard of some of the artists that are or were part of this scene, including Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky. Graffiti was also a big part of the scene, and while there were many artists around, the one you’ve all heard of is Banksy. His stenciling style is known all over the world, as are his attacks on the establishment and what he sees as human rights abuses. It’s said he was expelled from school as a kid, and took to the streets to paint on walls. No one is certain who he really is as he keeps his identity secret, although there is lots of speculation as to his real identity. But how does a disestablishment hero like Banksy actually earn a living? Welcome to this episode of the Infographics Show, How does Banksy make money?

SUBSCRIBE TO US -► http://bit.ly/TheInfographicsShow

US Strategic Command apologizes for 'poor taste' tweet

FOOK That: "Poor Taste"

Published on Dec 31, 2018

Views: 109,487+

The US Strategic Command apologized after a New Year's tweet was criticized for being in poor taste. The tweet was later deleted two hours after it was originally posted. CNN's Brianna Keilar discusses with The Situation Room panel. #CNN #News

THE ARMY’S MYSTERIOUS NEW 6.8MM CARTRIDGE || WARTHOG 2018

A history of the small-arms Munitions purchases that some might find informative.

Published on Dec 31, 2018

Views: 3,527

This video is made under fair use policy, also this material is made from public published domain for people with hearing and seeing disability
Soldiers will get a new rifle and round, but the Army’s small-arms acquisition record is hit and miss
BY DAVID E. PETZALhttps://www.fieldandstream.com/armys-...

Jonathan Pie On How The Rest Of The World Views America: Jonathan Pie's ...

It's a movie. Pie a la Mode

Published on Dec 30, 2018

Views: 10,288

It’s the US midterm elections and spoof news reporter, Jonathan Pie, is sent across the pond on the campaign trail.

Jonathan Pie's Trump Twitter Roast
Views: 250,000+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A18debjXXXw

Experiencing The Worse Pollution In Years

  

  It's just not the ozone we really need TO DO something about - There's Particulate Matter
Keep in mind, the federal health standard for PM_2.5 is the 24-hour average cannot reach or exceed 35.5 micrograms per cubic meter.
These are the forecast values for PM 2.5 for this first week of the New Year 2019

Air Quality PM 2.5 Particulate Matter

Monday 12/31/2018  102

Tuesday 1/1/2019     139

Wednesday1/2/2019   68

Thursday 1/3/2019      68

Friday 1/4/2019           69

 

Tuesday Forecast:

Alert: PM_2.5 High Pollution Advisory in effect for Tuesday

Ozone 42 AQI
Max 8-hr Avg: 45 ppb

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PM₁₀ 72 AQI
24-hr Avg: 97 µg/m3

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PM_2.5 139 AQI
24-hr Avg: 50.8 µg/m³

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Yesterday, the last day of the old year was another High Pollution Advisory. 

PRESS RELEASE | Maricopa County High Pollution Advisory & Health Watch

December 2018

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) effective December 31, 2018 in Maricopa County.

PM-2.5 is made up of small particles (soot) found in smoke. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

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Contact

Public Information Officer | 602-771-2215 (office) | 602-540-8072 (cell) | E- mail > 

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Air Quality Monitoring Locations & Cameras

• ADEQ Statewide Monitors | View > 
• Maricopa County Monitors | View >
• Current Visibility in Phoenix Metro via ADEQ Webcams | View >

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Sign Up to Receive Air Quality Forecasts

Receive ADEQ air quality forecast notifications by email or text | Subscribe >
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Background

High Pollution Advisory (HPA): Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to exceed the federal health standard.

Also issued on: 

• December 23, 2018 for PM-2.5
• December 24, 2018 for PM-2.5
• December 25, 2018 for PM-2.5

Health Watch: Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to approach the federal health standard.

Issued on:

• December 22, 2018 for PM-2.5

 

IN A RECORD-SETTING YEAR since 2012 
In August 2018 there were already 49 days here in Maricopa County that violated federal health standards 

PARTICULATE MATTER (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5)

The term “particulate matter” (PM) includes extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets that circulate in the air.

Commonly called dust, particles 10 micrometers in diameter or less (PM₁₀) can be inhaled and accumulate in the respiratory system.

Commonly called soot, particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less (PM_2.5) are responsible for visibility degradations such as the “Valley Brown Cloud."

High levels of PM occur when the air is especially stagnant or windy.

Sources: 

All types of combustion (motor vehicles, industry, wood burning, etc.) and some industrial processes cause fine PM (less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter).

Crushing or grinding operations and dust from paved or unpaved roads cause coarse PM (between 2.5 and 10 micrometers in diameter).

Potential health impacts: PM can increase susceptibility to respiratory infections and can aggravate existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Units of measurement: Micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3)

Averaging interval: 24 hours (midnight to midnight)

Reduction tips: WTF???
Stabilize loose soils,
Slow down on dirt roads,
Carpool 
Use public transit.
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Go after sources of emissions
> Reduce Industrial emission sources
> Impose fines for violations
> Reduce Toxic emissions from cars with internal combustion engines burning fossil fuels
>

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Maricopa County Experiencing Worst Ozone Pollution In Years

By Will Stone   

Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 - 6:52pm

Updated: Thursday, August 23, 2018 - 11:06am

http://kjzz.org/content/689613/maricopa-county-experiencing-worst-ozone-pollution-years 

 

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) provides hourly forecasts for air quality in certain areas of the state and issues HPAs or Health Watches when the appropriate conditions exist.

View Website > 

 

Observed Pollution Report Archives

Revised on: January 16, 2018 - 2:14pm

LINK > https://azdeq.gov/node/2204   

2017 

Phoenix 

• Ozone | View >
• PM₁₀  | View >
• PM_2.5 | View >

2016  

Phoenix 

• Ozone | View >
• PM₁₀  | View >
• PM_2.5 | View >