greater-maricopa-business-alliance

Welcoming New Board Members and Leadership Update

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:26:26 GMT

Welcome to 2026!

On behalf of the Greater Maricopa Business Alliance, I am pleased to share important updates to our Board of Directors and Executive Leadership as we continue to grow and evolve in service to our business community.

Please join me in welcoming Ari Gualajara of A&E Construction and Sally Headlee of Roof Geeks to our Board of Directors. We are excited to welcome their expertise, perspective, and commitment to strengthening our local business environment, and we look forward to the insight and leadership they will bring to GMBA.

At the same time, we extend our sincere gratitude to Shannon Kleinjans of Actually Social and Lindsay Harvey of LitTLE 6 Industries for their dedicated service. Their contributions have played a meaningful role in guiding the organization through a period of growth, transition, and positive change. We are thankful for the time, energy, and passion they invested in supporting our business community.

We are also proud to introduce our Executive Committee for the upcoming term:

Chairman: Leslie McCloskey, McCloskey Auto Glass
Vice Chair: Jim Behrens, Kramer Media
Secretary: Beth Huerta, Global Water
Treasurer: Stephanie Bores, Orbitel Communication

This leadership team represents a strong cross-section of industries and experience, and they are well-positioned to guide GMBA as we continue building business, impact, and opportunity across our region.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. We look forward to an exciting year ahead and to working together to advance the interests of our business community.

Warm regards,
Kelly Anderson
Executive Director
Greater Maricopa Business Alliance

P.S. 2026 Is off to a busy start!

Paws and Claws discounts are available until 1/15

Awards nominations will be out this week

Award tickets and sponsorships are now available

Shop Local This Month and Score These Deals

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:23:30 GMT

Local Deals for the Month of December

As we head into the holiday season, I want to take a moment to highlight the impact of shopping local.

When you choose to support our Maricopa businesses, you’re doing more than making a purchase—you’re strengthening our local economy, supporting jobs for our neighbors, and helping small businesses continue to thrive in one of the fastest-growing communities in Arizona.

Every dollar spent locally stays local, creating opportunities, expanding services, and building a vibrant, connected community. Our businesses show up for Maricopa every day; let’s show up for them, too.

Thank you for being part of a community that believes in supporting its own.

December Specials and Events from our Businesses and Organizations:

Non-Profits

GMBA

$35 booth at Copa Paws and Claws (reg. $50 for members)

Boys and Girls Club of the Sun Corridor

Dancing for our Stars Reveal coming in December! Tickets go on sale SOON!

bgsuncorridor.org

Be Awesome Youth Coalition

Be Awesome Bricks Launch

December 6 5-8 Merry Copa @ Copper Sky

www.beawesomebricks.com

Food & Entertainment

Nando's Mexican Cafe

Buy a $50 get card, get a $20 gift card, Wednesday, December 10th

nandosmexicancafe.com

Community Of Hope Church

Living Nativity

December 20th 5-8pm. 45295 W Honeycutt Ave

https://www.facebook.com/NativityMaricopa/

Desert Sun Performing Arts:

The Nutcracker

December 14th 12 & 4 MHS PAC

www.dspa.dance

Mandy's Wine Bar

Special Holiday Menu, Seasonal Cocktails, Take Home Family Lasagna Deal, Gift Card Special (12/9-12/24 instore only) Buy a $50 gift card get a $5 gift card, NYE Dinner Special with Live Music

www.mandyswinebar.com /

Arroyo Grille at Southern Dunes

Free app with purchase of 2 entrees

arroyogrille.com

Copa Farmer's Market

Last market at CAC 12/21-then the big move to Lowes!

copafarmersmarket.com

Thai Chili 2Go

10% catering for Chamber Members

tc2go.com

Maricopa Water & Ice

10% for military, veterans, first responders and teachers

maricopawaterandice.com

Ak Chin Southern Dunes

$199 Copa Card: discounts on merch, green fees, lessons, rentals and more!

akchinsoutherndunes.com

Home and Living

Alto Apartments

$99 move in, 2 months free rent, discounts on 2 & # bed units (select units and for a limited time)

liveatalto.com

The Maids in Maricopa

$50 off first deep clean for new customers

www.maids.com

Home @Maricopa

8 weeks free, waived app and admin fees for same day applications +$50 Amazon gift card at move in

homeatmaricopa.com

Adobe Blinds & More

10% off all custom trees (in stock only)

adobeblinds.com

911Air Repair

Up to $5,000 incentives on new A/C system

911-ac.com

Flatz520

4 months free rent with any new lease. Renewals get 2 months free

flatz520.com

Maricopa Cleaners

10% off one cleaning for new customers

maricopacleaners.com

Goods & Services

ACP Painting

0% interest for 90 days on all projects, 5% off all projects if contracted before 1/1/2026

www.acppaintingllc.com

Courtny Tyler State Farm

Celebrating 20 Years

www.MaricopaInsurance.com

Linear Scoops

First clean-up free for new clients. 10% off first regular service with code GMBAFIND

linearscoops.com

Karsten's Ace Hardware

Fabulous sales and discounts available instore and online

acehardware.com/store-details/17630

A&E Construction & Renovations, LLC

Free estimates in December

AEconaz.com

Kooline Plumbing Heating & Air

$79 water heater flush, $89 AC check up

Koolingplumbing.com

Glover Court Solutions

$200 off estate planning

glovercourtsolutions.com

Hands of Silk

2 opening Saturday, December 13 (3 & 5pm): pick 2: couples massage, sauna w/ red light therapy, commercial cold plunge, compression therapy

handsofsilk.com

Actually Social

50% off a social media audit, 10% a "Pick My Brain" session

actuallysocialmedia.com

Zach Webb; Edwards Jones

End of year retirement consults

www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/zachary-webb

Maricopa Jewelry & Pawn

25% off December 10-24

thepawnexperts.com/maricopa-pawn-shop

Maricopa Self Storage

First month move in special: $19.95

www.storage-solutions.org/storage/arizona/storage-units-maricopa/20125-n-john-wayne-parkway-po-box-1138-109/

AZ Quality Plumbing

$65 water heater flush (reg. $95) must mention the GMBA Chamber

azqualityplumbing.com

AAA Smart Security

15% off single system install, 25% off multi system install

docu.team/mtiodew/index.php?v=lp&store=165968

Orbitel Communications

5 year price lock, free WiFi, free install

orbitelcom.com https://www.facebook.com/OrbitelCommunications/

McCloskey Auto Glass

Pop-Up chip repair see website for details

mccloskeyautoglass.godaddysites.com/

AA Raymond Law

20% off Estate Planning for Veterans and Law Enforcement

aaraymondlaw.com

LG Bookkeeping

Affordable year end clean ups through January (limited spots available)

www.lgbookkeeping.biz

Chris Cahall Agency American Family Insurance

Free notary services for all policy holders

www.amfam.com/agents/arizona/maricopa/christopher-cahall

Ponderosa Broadband

Free WiFi install and 2 month free

ponderosa-broadband.com

Shot Kings Corn Hole

Merchandise discounts all month

shotkingscornhole.com

Impressive Imaging

10% off printing for Chamber Members. 20% off self inking stamps. 18x24 mounted foambard phot $29.99

impressiveimaging.net

Roof Geeks

Free roof inspection

roofgeeksaz.com

Blue Cactus Power Washing

$50 off for new customers, or $150 off a house wash

bluecactuspowerwashing.com

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Kelly Anderson
Executive Director
Greater Maricopa Business Alliance

Don't forget to stop by and hand your ornament on our Business is Blooming Holiday Tree!

SBA Disaster Relief for October 10-13 Storm Event Available

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:56:26 GMT

SBA Disaster Relief for Businesses and Homeowners

In addition to the flood event in Globe, AZ, the SBA and Arizona Governor’s Office have now formally declared a disaster from the tropical storm event of Oct. 10 – 13.

While most of the damage occurred in Tempe, homeowners, renters, and businesses in Pinal County may also have experienced impacts, and be in need of financial assistance.

Funding is available for repairs and continued business operations. The relevant press release and fact sheet are attached.

SBA’s customer service reps will be on site taking loan applications beginning November 18, 2025 at:

Tempe Public Library

3500 S. Rural Rd., 2nd Floor, Suite 201

Tempe, AZ 85282

HOURS: M-W 9-6 / TH-FRI 9-5

Those in need do not have to go on site to apply. They can phone: 800-659-2955 or go online at: www.sba.gov/disaster

Full press release from SBA is available here .

Expert Mentoring and Education from SCORE

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:04:07 GMT

Are you interested in free and low cost workshops and mentorship?

Free and low cost workshops to build your business are available through SCORE.

SCORE proudly celebrates 60 years of helping America’s small businesses launch, grow and thrive. Since 1964, more than 17 million entrepreneurs have received support from SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Today, SCORE has a nationwide network of more than 10,000 volunteers serving all 50 U.S. states and territories, guiding entrepreneurs on their path to success.

They offer business mentoring with real entrepreneurs and a variety of live and recorded info sessions to help you grow. Upcoming events include:

Starting a non-profit

Instagram Marketing 101

Digital Marketing Basics

Email Strategies for Revenue Growth

Visit www.score.org/greaterphoenix to learn more and register for upcoming webinars.

Join the Governement Affiars Committee - Help Shape Our Reigon's Future

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:11:48 GMT

Regional Growth Impacted by Local Business

The Greater Maricopa Business Alliance (GMBA) is bringing back our Government Affairs Committee , and we’re looking for passionate members who want to be a voice for local business — connecting policy, infrastructure, and workforce priorities that directly impact our community.

What We’ll Be Working On

The committee will engage in conversations about economic and legislative issues affecting business in our area and help guide and craft the positions of GMBA for economic prosperity. We will also build and host GMBA’s 2026 Economic Forum Series , featuring four key events designed to bring together business, government, and community leaders:

�� Legislative & Policy Forum (Feb–Mar 2026)
“Shaping Arizona’s Economic Future” — Explore how state and local policies influence growth, zoning, and workforce development.

�� Infrastructure & Growth Forum (June 2026)
“Building Western Pinal: Roads, Water, Power, and Connectivity” — Dive into critical transportation and infrastructure projects shaping our region.

�� Economic Development Forum (August 2026)
“Growing Our Regional Economy: From Vision to Reality” — Hear from city, county, and private sector leaders on investment and expansion.

��‍�� Workforce & Innovation Forum (October 2026)
“Building the Workforce of the Future” — Focused on education, apprenticeships, and connecting local talent with opportunity.

Why Join the Committee

As a committee member, you’ll have a front-row seat to the conversations driving our regional growth. You’ll help:

Shape the topics, panels, and partnerships for each forum
Build relationships with city, county, and state leaders
Represent the voice of business in local and regional policy discussions

This is your chance to be part of the solution — helping the GMBA advocate for smart growth, strong infrastructure, and a ready workforce across Maricopa, Hidden Valley, Stanfield, and the surrounding communities.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to make an impact, join me on the Government Affairs Committee . Please email kelly@maricopachamber.org if you are interested. Together, we’ll continue Building Business. Building Impact. Building Careers.

Kelly Anderson
Executive Director
Greater Maricopa Business Alliance

2026 New Member Guide Now Available

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:42:52 GMT

A ready reference for new members to the programs and events we offer

With changes to our brand and the offerings at GMBA, we have created a simple guide to give our new members an overview of the events and committees that support our mission. We invite you to check it out! Click here to view the guide.

2026 Board Members Announcement

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:19:26 GMT

Open director positions have been filled

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank two dedicated leaders whose board terms are concluding in December.

Shannon Klienjans (Actually Social) completed her three-year term, serving in key roles as Vice President and President.

Lindsay Harvey (Little 6 Industries) served her term after being promoted from Alternate, holding the positions of Secretary and Vice President.

Both Shannon and Lindsay were active across multiple committees and played an instrumental role in advancing the mission and reach of GMBA. We are deeply grateful for their service and leadership. They will continue their service through 2025.

Following our call for nominations, we received two candidates who will officially join the GMBA Board of Directors on January 1, 2026 :

Ari Gualajara, A&E Construction Building and Renovations, LLC

Sally Headlee, Roof Geeks

Please join us in welcoming Ari and Sally to the board. We look forward to their contributions as we continue building impact together in 2026.

2026 Strategic Direction

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:39:03 GMT

Take a peek at our strategic direction and how GMBA plans to work better for you

Since late last year a lot of thought has gone into the strategic direction of "The Chamber". We are excited about the new name and new look, and we are thrilled to share with you the strategic direction of GMBA.

A ton of time, work, planning, meetings and energy have gone into refining and defining the scope of the organization and we hope this short presentation helps you understand where we are going, and how we are working harder for you.

If you are interested in learning more about how strategic planning can impact your business, or if you have any questions about what you saw in the presentation, give us a call or stop in. We are happy to help!

If you missed it, check your email from 8/28/2025 to review the whole plan.

Kelly's Corner (Get ready for the most exciting mini-golf event of the year! )

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:40:25 GMT

The Fairway to Success Traveling Putt-Putt Tournament

Get ready for the most exciting mini-golf event of the year! The Fairway to Success Traveling Putt-Putt Tournament takes you on a 10-hole adventure across Maricopa’s favorite restaurants and hotspots. Gather your foursome, grab your putters, and compete for epic prizes while enjoying great food, drinks, and local hospitality at every stop!

��️ What’s Included?
✅ 10 Unique Holes – Each hosted at a different local restaurant or business
✅ Hole-in-One Competition – Test your skills for a free AC from 911 Air Repair!
✅ Prize Raffle – Win amazing giveaways from local businesses
✅ After Party – Celebrate your round with food, drinks, and fun!

�� $150 per foursome – Spots are limited. Registration opens in March.

Play Local. Shop Local. Grow Local. ⛳��️��

Who will take home the championship? And who will have the best team spirit?

**Interested sponsors, raffle donors and hole participants, please contact info@maricopachamber.org**

Kelly's Corner

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 19:31:57 GMT

Let the fun commence at the "Fairway to Success Traveling Putt-Putt Tournament" May 3rd

✨ Join the Greater Maricopa Business Alliance, for the first of it's kind "Fairway to success Traveling Putt-Putt Tournament", around the City of Maricopa ✨

This first of its kind event turns businesses around the community into a fun and engaging putt-putt course, with an after party and awards ceremony at Ak Chin Southern Dunes Golf Course.

We can't wait to see you there! ��

City of Maricopa eNews

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:39:46 GMT

ADOT Seeks Public Input on 5-Year Plan – Share Your Thoughts on SR 347

Maricopa, Arizona, March 13, 2025 The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is currently accepting public comments on its 5-Year Transportation Plan, which outlines key infrastructure projects across the state. Despite ongoing discussions and efforts to advance the widening of State Route 347, the project is not currently included in the plan.

The City of Maricopa recognizes the importance of SR 347 to our residents and continues to explore innovative ways to help move this project forward. While the roadway is managed by the state, the city has been working to identify potential funding solutions to help bridge the existing funding gap. However, rising construction costs continue to be a factor, so securing state support remains an important part of the conversation.

ADOT’s public comment period is an opportunity for residents to provide input on transportation priorities, including SR 347. Community feedback helps shape future transportation decisions and ensures that state leaders understand the needs of growing communities like Maricopa.

The public can provide comments on the tentative Five-Year Program in the following ways:

Attend the May 16 public hearing of the State Transportation Board at 9 a.m. Meeting information can be found at aztransportationboard.gov
Complete an online comment form at: azdot.gov/5yearcomments
Email: fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov
Call the bilingual phone line at: 1.855.712.8530
Mail ADOT at: Attn: Nancy Becerra, c/o ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson, Room 179, MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

To review the plan and learn more, visit https://azdot.gov/planning/transportation-programming/tentative-five-year-program .

The 5 Biggest Business Trends For 2025 Everyone Must Be Ready For Now

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 20:22:42 GMT

Discover the five pivotal business trends of 2025

that every professional must prepare for

Forbes.com Bernard Marr

2025 marks the halfway point of a decade that’s already brought profound upheaval and transformation across technology, politics, and society.

As we approach the second half of the decade, I see little reason to expect the pace of this disruption to slow down. For those wanting to survive and thrive in today’s business environment, it’s critical to understand the trends driving this dynamic convergence of innovation, threats, and opportunities.

This is why each year I highlight what I believe will be the most impactful trends for the year ahead. Understanding these is vital for anyone aiming to leverage them for growth and competitive edge. So, here’s my overview of the key trends shaping business in the coming year.

Getting Strategic With Generative AI

We’ve spent the last couple of years being wowed by the potential of generative AI and hearing about how it’s going to change the world. But 2025 is the year I believe we will start to see organizations move beyond the hype and start integrating generative AI into business strategy.

What does this mean? Well, during the previous wave of AI transformation we saw businesses like Google, Amazon and Netflix rethink their strategy from the ground up to center around deep learning. By doing this they transformed existing business models such as online advertising, retail and media streaming.

This hasn’t happened yet with generative AI, as mostly what we’ve seen has involved businesses adding generative functionality to existing services. Interesting, but not truly transformational.

Learn More...

Mayor Smith's Development Activity Update

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:19:19 GMT

In case you missed it - January Breakfast featuring Mayor Nancy Smith

Thank you to Mayor Nancy Smith for presenting the Development Activity Update at our January Monthly Breakfast. We appreciate all you do!

Kelly's Corner

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:08:46 GMT

Our Executive Team is getting involved!

In January, Chamber leadership attended various events regarding our community.

Greater Phoenix Chamber Legislative Kick Off Event:

Chamber leaders from around the state gathered to hear from local legislators as Arizona kicked off its 56th legislative session. Governor Katie Hobbs and Senate President Warren Petersen were on hand to discuss plans to ensure Arizona thrives in the new year. The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce Board President and I were in attendance to hear comments and network with other Chamber leaders.

ADOT Breakfast and Transportation Board Meeting:
The President of the Board and I were invited to attend these important meetings relating to transportation in and around Maricopa. We both spoke to the transportation board about the important social and economic impacts and expressed our shared desire to prioritize the completion of SR 347.

Maricopa Community Coalition:

The Vice President of the Board and I participated in a meeting with community leaders. In 2023 the Coalition began to tackle both youth and senior programs in the City of Maricopa. This first meeting of the year was an introduction and recap of 2023, and discussion on what important topics need to be addressed in 2024.

Your Chamber Leadership is committed to being a part of the growth of this community and an advocate for local business!

ADOT Update - October 2023

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 20:14:17 GMT

Jennifer Toth, Director ADOT and Steve Bochen, Assistant Director for Infrastructure Delivery and Operations ADOT

Thanks to Jennifer Toth, Director ADOT and Steve Bochen, Assistant Director for Infrastructure Delivery and Operations ADOT.

Ms. Toth and Mr. Bochen shared an outline of projects around Arizona that have been identified, studied, planned, and started. Presentation below.

For more information about the 347 projects click the links below :

J ohn Wayne Parkway Improvements

SR 347 Corridor Projects