The CEOs and CFOs of Arizona’s most dynamic and innovative companies are coming together for the 2016 Industry Leaders of Arizona (ILoA) Awards, a night of networking and celebration.
Each year, Az Business magazine presents the Industry Leaders of Arizona Awards, which recognize the contributions and impact of Arizona‐based companies on both the economy of Arizona and in the communities they serve.
For 2016, companies were selected from these five key industries: Healthcare, hospitality, logistics/distribution, retail and staffing companies
The 27 finalists for this year’s Industry Leaders of Arizona Awards will be recognized at an awards dinner that will be held Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. For tickets to the event, where attendees can meet and mingle with the finalists and learn about their best practices, click here.
Sponsors of the events include Cresa, Arizona Central Credit Union, Clark Hill, Lovitt & Touché and RSM. Here are the finalists for the 2016 Industry Leaders of Arizona Awards;
Alliance Beverage Distributers
Leadership: Shawn Thurman, CEO; Joe Malina, CFO
What it does: Alliance is a leading alcoholic beverage distributor in the state of Arizona.
How it leads: Alliance’s people, training and brands make in the leading distributor in Arizona. Alliance’s top priority is recruiting and training its workforce and promoting from within, which has given the company an exceptional retention rate. Alliance employs more than 600 people, who generate revenue of $450 million annually, up from $200 million in 1998. Alliance credits its success to supplier partners who have been signed through acquisitions or mergers.
Leadership: Deb Weidenhamer, CEO
What it does: Multinational auction firm selling business overstock, assets and real estate for corporations, government and the private sector around the world.
How it leads: Weidenhamer founded American Auctions in 1995 and quickly grew the auction house from a local warehouse operation into a global, multi-million-dollar enterprise that generates revenue of $140 million annually. The company has grown organically and Weidenhamer’s strong entrepreneurial spirit has created an additional distribution and buying channel for businesses and consumers. American Auctions recently introduced iPai, the first wholly foreign-owned auction house in China.
Leadership: Richard Behr, chief operating officer; Larry Coltharp, CFO
What it does: Has developed, owned and managed luxury hotels and resort properties throughout the Western United States, including the Arizona Biltmore and Arizona Grand Resort & Spa.
How it leads: Classic Hotels & Resorts is an affiliate of Grossman Company Properties, one of the premier commercial and residential developers in the Western United States. During the past 50 years, GCP has built, developed and managed more than 14 million square feet of high-quality properties, including Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Biltmore Fashion Park and the Phoenix Spectrum Mall.
Concentric Healthcare Staffing
Leadership: Chris Bollinger, CEO; Kyle Silk, COO; Andy Jacobs, CFO
What it does: Healthcare recruitment staffing agency.
How it leads: Launched in 2003, Concentric has nearly quadrupled in size and is set to continue its phenomenal growth, fueled largely by the company’s nursing division. Concentric has earned a spot on placement on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies List. The healthcare staffing team only hires multi-disciplined recruiters and staffers who cross train to fill in for each other during our busiest times. This allows Concentric’s clients to seamlessly interact with all Concentric team members.
Leadership: Paul Boca, president and CEO; Joe DiGiovanni, executive vice president and CFO
What it does: Corporate Job Bank is the largest independently owned staffing agency in Arizona and has two divisions — temporary staffing and professional placement for the senior level talent.
How it leads: Corporate Job Bank is the largest locally owned staffing organization in Arizona. It has earned membership in Ranking Arizona’s Hall of Fame for being the state’s top-ranked staffing company for 10 years. Corporate Job Bank provides temporary staffing from light industrial to administrative, and also provides executive recruiting and professional placement for senior-level talent in finance, mortgage, human resources and healthcare.
Leadership: Ray Fidel, CEO; Kurt Wood, CFO
What it does: Largest used car dealer and financing company helping people with credit issues find and finance vehicles in the United States.
How it leads: Over the past 14 years, DriveTime distanced itself from the status quo by changing its company culture to separate itself from its competition. DriveTime’s eighth-generation proprietary credit scoring model it to offer financing to individuals that are turned down elsewhere. DriveTime isn’t just a used car dealer. It is a bank and a 131 dealership-strong network. In the past three years, DriveTime has spun off three new companies that now operate under their own merit.
Leadership: John C. Bauermeister, CEO; William Olson, CFO
What it does: Family-owned and operated warehousing, transportation and distribution company.
How it leads: Freeport Logistics has been in Phoenix since 1971 and currently occupies roughly 500,000 square feet of modern secure space in Metro Phoenix. Roughly 30 percent of Freeport ’s employees have been with the company for more than 10 years and many more than 20 years. Freeport’s inventory management system is a real-time, Web-based system that is easily accessible to its customers via the Internet with a user name and password.
Leadership: Andrew Leto, CEO; Renee Krug, CFO
What it does: Phoenix-based logistics company specializing in high technology freight management services.
How it leads: GlobalTranz is a technology based, software and logistics company, that has created a one-stop-shop providing innovative solutions to more than 18,000 shippers. GlobalTranz specializes in LTL, FTL, supply chain logistics and warehousing. Customers nationwide engage in state-of-the-art technology, CarrierRate.com, which optimizes the flow and storage of merchandise as the goods move within, and throughout, the customers’ supply chain. GlobalTranz hwas named one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest-growing companies list.
Leadership: Todd Govig, president and CEO
What it does: Specializes in both executive search and consulting with expertise in healthcare, biopharmaceuticals, construction, tax, accounting/finance, and operations.
How it leads: In the 50-year history of Management Recruiters International, only two franchises of the more than 500 franchises in the network have exceeded $10 million in revenue. Govig & Associates is one of those two franchises. Govig’s methods help companies develop their own internal talent as they plan for growth and succession as well as creating a brand on the college campus to allow for continuous flow of the best and brightest new talent.
Leadership: Scott Mahosky, CEO; Don Borchert, CFO
What it does: Local hospice organization with more than 20 years of providing quality, compassionate end of life services in Maricopa County.
How it leads: As part of a nationwide network of hospice providers, Hospice of Arizona has the resources and expertise to remain sustainable in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Hospice of Arizona is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). Families served by Hospice of Arizona rate their experience as “excellent” in the majority of all cases based on a third-party survey administrator.
Leadership: Scott Lyon, CEO; Pete Corpstein, CFO
What it does: Trendy vintage hotel dating to the 1950s featuring midcentury-style rooms and suites with upscale furnishings.
How it leads: Located in the heart of Scottsdale’s Arts District, the Hotel Valley Ho was the backdrop for the Southwestern wedding of Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner in 1957 and Frankie Avalon, Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Janet Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, Roy Rogers, Ted Williams and Zsa Zsa Gabor have been guests as well. The “hip” meter rises even more thank to ZuZu Lounge, the hip OH Pool Bar + Cabanas and the VH Spa for Vitality + Health.
Leadership: Mary Ward, CEO
What it does: Offers customizable short- and long-term staffing solutions based on the company’s individual needs.
How it leads: IntuitiveHRO has been named an Inc. 5000 (No. 1,070) Fastest Growing Company in America 2015 and is a Certified Woman Owned Business. The company has grown from a home-based business with one employee to having more than 750 employees and 12 offices across the country in just five short years. This growth is a result of taking the time to get to know each client and understanding their company’s vision and staffing goals.
Jewish Children & Family Services
Leadership: Michael R. Zent, Ph.D., CEO; Javier R. Favela, CFO
What it does: Provides behavioral healthcare, family welfare, domestic violence, and older adult services to children, adults and families in Maricopa County.
How it leads: JFCS touches the lives of more than 37,000 individuals each year; 97 percent of whom live at or below the federal poverty level. Responding to an ever-changing healthcare environment, JFCS has lead the fight against child abuse, is a major provider of behavioral health services, and a leader in adopting new health information technology and promoting integrated health services.
Leadership: John Richards, CEO; Frank Joyce, CFO
What it does: Franchisor of chiropractic clinics.
How it leads: The Joint’s direct pay model is blazing the trail for others, including doctors in primary care and telemedicine. The Joint’s patients have access to doctors for a monthly fee. The model is gaining traction because consumers are better off paying for some routine healthcare services via a cash only, private pay model, instead of insurance premiums. For example, patients at The Joint save between $28 and $53 per visit by not using insurance because the average insurance policy requires a $50 to $75 co-pay, significantly more than the per-visit equivalent of The Joint’s membership model.
Leadership: Jamie Fletcher, CEO; Debbie Wilcox, CFO
What it does: Offers services in air and ocean freight, ground transportation, warehousing, consulting and U.S. Customs brokerage.
How it leads: Mach 1’s most recent industry recognized innovation is its Linehaul network, which was in development for more than five years and is a major contributing factor to Mach 1’s growth. By keeping a majority of its clients’ freight within its Mach 1 network, Mach 1 is delivering industry best key performance indicators while growing the Linehaul network substantially. The Mach 1 Linehaul allows the company to contain 75 percent of its ground service product.
Leadership: Mike Primorac, founder and president
What it does: Solely focused on the healthcare IT industry with a goal to continue as the pioneer of healthcare IT staffing.
How it leads: With today’s financial pressures and project budgets on the line, Mediant’s clients count on its services to hit the ground running. As a leader in the staffing industry, Mediant manages co-employment challenges and can give clients peace of mind in their utilization of a contingent workforce. Mediant prides itself on repeat business and the fact that its clients come back time and time again for its services.
Leadership: Rob Humphrey, president; Thomas Fischer, CFO
What it does: Provides overnight delivery at ground rates to more than 60 million consumers.
How it leads: Celebrating its 25th year in business in 2016, OnTrac has grown to become a top choice for e-commerce and companies looking to speed up delivery without the cost of express shipping. As the third-largest overnight company in the United States, OnTrac continues to innovate and provide shipping solutions. In 2014, OnTrac launched DirectPost and became the first regional carrier to offer a USPS package consolidation service. Through DirectPost, OnTrac is able to service 92 percent of its market areas with DDU injection from DirectPost.
Leadership: Robert Meyer, president and CEO; Craig McKnight, executive vice president, finance and CFO
What it does: Offers a comprehensive network of pediatric care that extends across the state.
How it leads: With a medical staff of more than 1,000 specialists, PCH provides the most comprehensive and complex pediatric care in Arizona with access to more than 70 subspecialties. For the fifth consecutive year, PCH was Arizona’s only hospital named a U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital. PCH’s six Centers of Excellence have grown in size and expertise to place them on par with some of the most prestigious of their kind in the U.S.
Leadership: Bassel Osmani, CEO; Jacki Eldredge, CFO
What it does: Offers healthful and natural cuisine crafted within the principles of the Mediterranean diet using fresh ingredients prepared daily from scratch.
How it leads: Pita Jungle’s leaders say the ability to transmit a vision and communicating with a group in a fashion that makes the group embrace the vision, create and produce beyond themselves is the hinge that actuates Pita Jungle’s entire operation. This notion of transmission establishes a positive social environment that is on brand and creates a culture that will engulf any person present in its stream, on both sides of the counter, workers and clients.
PRO EM Party and Event Rentals
Leadership: Amir Glogau, CEO; Michael Kasen, CFO
What it does: Creates a unique event experience through an offering of state-of-the-art rental equipment, staffing and experienced consultants.
How it leads: PRO EM is the combined talent and assets of the former Arizona Tents and Events, Gorilla Companies, Distinctive Tents in Denver and Party Concepts in Tucson. Its team has produced more than 25,000 events and maintains Arizona’s largest tent and structure inventory. PRO EM achieved a 99 percent diversion rate at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the largest attended golf tournament in the world.
Leadership: Christian Dewald, president
What it does: Provides cost-efficient diagnostic imaging while improving patient care.
How it leads: SDI provides the highest level of patient care through subspecialty radiologists. SDI’s ability to provide the most advanced imaging services is not only made possible through the use of leading-edge technology but also through relationships with leaders in the healthcare industry, such as Banner Health, HonorHealth and Iasis Healthcare. In addition, SDI’s peer review activities fully support diagnostic quality assessment and improvement, which has a positive effect on patient care, improves quality of care and patient outcomes.
Leadership: Ginger Ward, CEO; Bill McClung, CFO
What it does: Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development.
How it leads: Southwest Human Development was founded in 1981 with a $150,000 budget serving just 175 children and families. Today, Southwest Human Development serves 135,000 children and their families with a $62 million budget and more than 850 staff. The agency operates more than 40 programs and services in five core areas: child development and mental health, Easter Seals disabilities services, early literacy and Head Start, child welfare, and professional development and training for early childhood professionals.
Leadership: Carson Holmquist, CEO and co-founder; Chad Patton, president and co-founder
What it does: Boutique transportation brokerage firm that specializes in freight management services complemented by highly individualized and consistent customer service.
How it leads: With a strong belief in quality over quantity, Stream Logistics has quickly become the standard for logistics providers. Stream Logistics’ boutique style approach derives from Patton’s passion to give each client the upmost attention and superior communication throughout the entire shipment lifecycle. This niche in the industry is what has made the company stand out to clients and among competitors.
Leadership: Scott Nelson, CEO; Steven Westberg, CFO
What it does: Helps companies drastically improve the quality and accuracy of their underlying supply chain data at its source.
How it leads: Trax is a leader in unearthing and extracting the vast amounts of untapped value trapped deep inside global logistics data. Trax finds and fixes complex underlying data issues. Trax creates clarity that helps stop previously unrecognized expense and revenue leaks from negatively affecting bottom line earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Trax’s client roster includes six of the Top 10 life science companies and two of the Top 5 tech companies.
Leadership: Lauren Bailey, co-CEO; Craig DeMarco, co-CEO
What it does: Restaurants include multiple Postino WineCafe and Joyride Taco House locations, plus Windsor, Churn and Federal Pizza.
How it leads: At Upward Projects, the first key is finding the right location, such as a historically relevant or architecturally unique building begging for a rehab, and located in an underserved neighborhood that’s craving a casual, locally-focused restaurant. Upward, which has shown a three-year growth rate of 199 percent, is also dedicated to creating a company-wide culture where employee needs are first, so they can then take great care of our customers.
Leadership: Vince Dorazio, co-founder and president of operations; Ben Howard, co-founder and president of sales
What it does: Provides finance, accounting and IT workforce solutions on a project consulting, direct-hire and interim staffing basis.
How it leads: Unlike many national competitors, Vincent Benjamin is structured as a local service provider with offices across the West Coast and Rocky Mountain region. While VB has the ability to recruit talent throughout the U.S., the concentration of its candidate pool aligns with the physical location of its offices. This allows for in-person interviews of candidates prior to representation and creates a valuable referral network within the local area.
Leadership: Ian Wist, owner and general manager; Peter Drozdowicz, CFO
What it does: Wist has delivered office supplies to Arizona businesses since 1955 and offers a range of more than 50,000 products — from furniture to janitorial supplies.
How it leads: Wist Office Products has been recognized by its peers as a leader in the office supplies industry. Wist experienced growth throughout the recession; something big box competition cannot claim. Wist looks to continue expansion and success into the future due to a combination of long-tenured staff and a leadership team focused on implementing progressive practices. This is what drives Wist’s higher class of service.
