Spring Offers Chance to Plant, Grow, Harvest Success
Posted on | March 5, 2010 | No Comments
- Sean Donovan
The March edition of The Business Advocate is available and features our Chamber Champions awards recipients, election endorsements, City Council recommendations, Tempe Leadership’s 25th anniversary and exclusive offers and opportunities for the business community.
Spring officially arrives on March 20, and with it comes some great chances to do grow your business and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Plant seeds for growth (and enjoy free breakfast): http://bit.ly/cXFmY
Form and nurture vital relationships: http://bit.ly/abKvln
Have a free MADCAP evening: http://bit.ly/a92QNO
Become a leader with Austin Vickers: http://bit.ly/9BOPFp
If you have any questions, would like to register, or just want to say hello, please visit www.tempechamber.org or drop us a line at info@tempechamber.org.
Tags: austin vickers > business > chamber champions > Hot Topics > madcap > mixer > Networking > spring > tempe chamber
Oasis in the Desert - Saying Thanks Has Never Been More Fun
Posted on | February 24, 2010 | No Comments
Join us for Oasis in the Desert this evening, Feb. 24, from 6-9 p.m. at the Waterfront in Tempe. This casual, fun, relaxed evening features delicious food and desserts served by local restaurants, soft drinks, a specialty coffee/espresso cart, music and dancing, silent auctions and a bar with the first drink on us.
Bring your spouse, friend, business partner or staff as a way of saying “Thanks!” to the special people in your life.
Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m
The Waterfront
5350 S. Lakeshore Dr.
Tickets are $40 and are available at http://bit.ly/tccoasis or by calling 480-967-7891. Walk in guests will be welcomed.
Sponsored by SRP, Desert Insurance Advisors and Alphagraphics. Special thanks to Four Peaks Brewing Company, Fry’s Food Stores, Tempe Schools Credit Union, Fred’s Flowers, Crazy Harry Photography, Themers, Ray the DJ and all of our gourmet caterers, including Heidi’s Events & Catering, Special Moments, El Penasco, California Pizza Kitchen, El Dhaba, Edible Arrangements and Rosetta Espresso.
“Yes” on Prop 400 to Benefit Tempe
Posted on | February 17, 2010 | No Comments
By Stephanie Nowack, President/CEO of the Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau
I have a deal for you. Give a dollar, and you’ll get $34 in return. Really.
For every dollar invested in Tempe tourism, $34 is generated in new spending for our community. That’s just one of the reasons why the Tempe hoteliers, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Tempe Community, residents and the City Council are rallying behind Proposition 400, which would increase the tax on hotel rooms by 2 percent. This increase is expected to generate more than $1.5 million per year which will be used to attract additional tourists and support tourism activities. These activities could include a Tempe CVB advertising campaign in key cold-weather markets or support of major events such as the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, the Thanksgiving Soccer Tournament and Ford Ironman Arizona. Read more
Tags: convention > prop 400 > tempe > tempe chamber > tempe cvb > tourism > visitors
Choosing Your Tax Practitioner
Posted on | February 16, 2010 | No Comments
Choosing Your Tax Practitioner
By Aaron Blau, E.A.
In any business, the circle of advisors you choose is of utmost importance. They are a library of knowledge for you to use as a resource and a clearinghouse for your ideas. Choosing the right partner can contribute to making, or breaking, your financial future. After all, you are legally responsible for every item on your own tax return, even if you pay someone else to do it.
Who is Qualified?
In the State of Arizona, there are no licensing requirements to prepare tax returns. This means that anybody can simply “hang a shingle” and call themselves a tax preparer. Lawyers, Certified Public Accountants and Enrolled Agents are professionals who are licensed either by the State or the US Treasury Department. These practitioners have continuing education requirements, must abide by a strict code of ethics, and have oversight in place in the case of violations. A license does not guarantee a perfect tax return, but it does give you recourse in the case of a bad preparer. Are there good unlicensed practitioners out there? Absolutely! That’s why you can’t rely on the credentials alone. Ask your friends and colleagues for referrals, and most importantly …. Read more
Territory of Love and the Love of Territory
Posted on | February 12, 2010 | 1 Comment
- Catherine Mayorga
February - the month of hearts and flowers; of poems and promises; of love to hate and hate to love! It’s also the month of our statehood.
I write with the memory of falling in love.
Let me recall this: It was new and full of promise! There was so much territory to cover. We could write our own script. There were adjustments to be made: compatibility issues, trust issues, how much were we each willing to invest in this new relationship? Were there superficial issues to address? Looks? Size? Intellect? Values? Baggage?
Over time we became too comfortable with the relationship. We took each other for granted. Wasn’t it always going to be there for us? Finally, chaos erupted. What I thought was a solid relationship is no longer. Read more
Free Business Solution Clinic Offered by Tempe Chamber
Posted on | February 12, 2010 | No Comments
- Sean Donovan
The Tempe Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business Solutions Clinic to provide complimentary business counseling sessions with industry experts. The half-day clinic takes place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Tempe Chamber offices.
In our ongoing efforts to ensure that you have the tools and training necessary to succeed and grow, we have secured the services of a panel of experts who will provide individual mentoring sessions for pre-registered participants.
Topics of instruction are: Accounting, Marketing/PR, Sales, Legal, Workers Compensation & Insurance, and Finance & Banking.
In addition, a SCORE representative will be present to answer general questions for all attendees.
Refreshments will be provided by Marketside at Rural and Elliot. Read more
Tags: Accounting > and Finance & Banking > business clinic > counselling > Legal > Marketing/PR > sales > tempe chamber > Workers Compensation & Insurance
Tax Tips
Posted on | February 11, 2010 | No Comments
By Laura Opstad, CPA
www.llocpa.com
A few tips regarding 2009 business taxes.
If you want to do a contribution to a pension plan, you still have time. Most contributions are deductible.
IRS requires substantiation for travel, meals and entertainment. In order to deduct the expense you must have the following information written down:
- Amount of expense
- Time and place of the expense
- The business purpose - relationship of persons entertained, etc.
In a 2009 tax court case a taxpayer was disallowed a section 179 depreciation expense deduction because he did not have a mileage log to substantiate the use of a business vehicle. Read more
Business Incentives Often Misunderstood
Posted on | February 9, 2010 | 1 Comment
- Mary Ann Miller
Sale! Coupons! Rebates!
As consumers we’re always on the lookout for these. We check the newspapers and sign up for e-mail notices. If something particularly good comes by, we might even share it with friends. From Black Friday to Cash for Clunkers to a free Grand Slam Breakfast, we’re interested in and react to getting a good deal on things we want and things we need.
But shhhh! Don’t tell anyone.
These are “incentives!”
Yes, those same dreaded tools the Tempe Chamber supports to lure jobs and businesses to the state.
Why do businesses send us these coupons? We’d buy their products anyway, right?
What? You’d buy from the competitor if it was cheaper? You check out the grocery ads to see if you’d save more money at Fry’s or Safeway or Bashas?
Thank God businesses don’t act that way. They don’t pay attention to how much it will cost to operate in a particular location. They don’t comparison shop for where they’ll invest their money and bring their jobs. They don’t need incentives and they don’t respond to incentives.
Just like you don’t.
Make the Most of Your Lunch Break
Posted on | February 9, 2010 | No Comments
- Sean Donovan
With the new year now in full swing, what are you doing to boost your business? If you’re like many, finding extra time to network might seem nearly impossible. That’s why the Tempe Chamber of Commerce hosts Networking @ Noon, providing a way to use your lunch break as a time to meet potential clients and business contacts.
This month’s Networking at Noon luncheon will take place at Heidi’s Events & Catering on Feb. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. To enable the most effective networking opportunities for attendees, we’ll begin the event at 11:50 sharp. Afterwards, an open-seating lunch will be served from 12:40 to 1 p.m., which will give you a chance to relax while you enjoy a great lunch and even better company.
A second way to incorporate networking and business growth into your day is by attending our Hot Topics and Lunch event. On Thursday, Feb. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., we welcome Dr. Jay Butler, associate professor of real estate at ASU, as he examines the real estate market of the past year and provides an outlook for 2010. This informative event will be held at Monti’s La Casa Vieja, 100 S. Mill Ave. in Tempe.
The cost to attend either event is $25 for Tempe Chamber members in advance, $30 for members on the day of and $35 for the general public. RSVP to the Tempe Chamber at (480) 967-7891 or online at www.tempechamber.org.
Tags: business > Hot Topics > jay butler > luncheon > Networking > tempe chamber
Valentine’s Day History Impacts Today’s Market
Posted on | January 29, 2010 | No Comments
Valentine’s Day
There are many different legends of how Valentine’s Day originated and the true creation is still a mystery. ..
My favorite legend is not that of St. Valentine, but of the story of mating birds. It is said that in the Middle Ages, birds began to look for a mate on February 14th, which over time marked this day as a day for love and romance. Lovers began celebrating this day with the exchanging of gifts such as love notes and flowers.
Valentine’s Day today is still celebrated by showering that special someone with gifts of chocolate, greeting cards or flowers to let them know just how much we care for them. It’s a day to stop your busy schedule and take time to spend with the person that you love and adore. Read more
Tags: edible arrangements > sandra lembke > tempe > tempe chamber > valentine's day
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- MemberTip#16 - Celebrate your grand opening with a ribbon cutting courtesy of the Tempe Chamber.
- What's a little rain and wind when it comes to your right to vote? Tempe residents have until 7 p.m. to vote and make your voice heard.
- Tempe votes Mar.9 on local issues. We endorse YES on 400, school district overrides & Ellis, Shekerjian, Arredondo for Council.
