Columnists

With the winter season in full force, Arizona Snowbowl employees are trading sandals for ski boots.

Every year, more than 500 Snowbowl employees come together to make the transition from summer to winter. With over 15 departments on the mountain, everyone has a unique role to be ready for thousands of skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes.

Throughout the summer, all of the departments work to plan and implement new features, policies and infrastructure for the next winter. After the aspen leaves fall and the Scenic Chairlift Ride comes to an end, the mountain transforms from a summer spot in which to cool off into a winter sport destination.

Mountain Operations

During the summer, the mountain operations departments are busy working on lift and machine maintenance, improving terrain, building new terrain park features and upgrading facilities.

However, once the end of summer draws near, the main focus is preparing for snowmaking.

With more than 20 state-of-the-art machines deployed across the mountain, the snowmaking staff is fully trained and making snow. Every night a team of snowmakers and terrain groomers work to make the slopes ready for skiers and boarders to enjoy the next day.

Food and Beverage

The Food and Beverage department used the summer season to make exciting new changes, taking Snowbowl’s dining experience to the next level.

These changes started in Hart Prairie Lodge, where new flooring, new wall furnishings and updated equipment were installed into the kitchen area.

The largest change came with the addition of Snowbowl’s new executive Chef, Lawrence T. Maio. Chef Maio joined the Snowbowl team after working as the executive chef at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana for four years, and as the head chef at Glacier National Park before that. Maio has extensive experience with preparing gourmet food for a large amount of people, quickly. His vision is to change Snowbowl’s dining experience from cafeteria style to café style. Everything will be made fresh and in front of the customer. Some new menu items include stir-fry bowls, street tacos and chicken parmesan sandwiches.

Food and Beverage Director Darren Phillips is excited to watch Chef Maio bring gourmet dining to Snowbowl. “Chef Maio is the perfect addition to our team,” Phillips said. “His creativity, cooking skills and ability to serve quality food in such a fast paced environment will lead to an even better dining experience for our guests.”

Ski and Ride School

Arizona Snowbowl’s Ski and Ride School does a lot of diligent preparation to make sure the instructors are ready to begin teaching.

First, the managers hire more than 200 employees for the season. Having a large staff allows them to make sure there will always be enough skiing and snowboarding instructors available on a daily basis. After the job fair, selected applicants are invited to participate in the Ski and Ride School’s Hiring College – a training where instructors learn everything they need to know to teach all ability levels productively and safely. Instructors are not officially hired until they complete this training.

Snowbowl also offers training to employees to become certified ski and snowboarding instructors through the Professional Ski Instructors of America – American Association of Snowboard Instructors organization.

Thanks to Snowbowl’s new rental fleet, kids will be able to ski more naturally and with greater flexibility. The Elan junior series uses exclusive U-Flex technology, which allows skis to be made 25 percent more flexible than standard designs, providing greater ease and forgiving performance that is perfect for initial on-snow experiences. QCBN

By Jason Stratton

Jason Stratton is the marketing director atArizona Snowbowl.

For more information about Arizona Snowbowl, visit www.arizonasnowbowl.com.

Ever notice that a successful sports manager or coach has a game plan prepared for each team to be played? That is the same strategy needed by a small business, but for a longer period of time. Just as important is that lending organizations are more frequently asking businesses to submit a detailed plan for their organization’s growth. A well-defined business plan can lead to a higher rate of loan approval and to more favorable loan rates.

A good business plan should contain the following:

• An executive summary outlining ownership, goals, financial projections and revenue and profit highlights.
• A summary of the history of the business, including key staff members, structures and equipment owned, and other success factors.
• A layout of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and risk management strategies.
• An analysis of the industry, customers and competition in the area.
• A marketing plan that addresses products and services, promotions, distribution, websites and customer management.
• A sales plan that highlights revenue, customer needs, products and services.
• An operations section outlining management team, board members and milestones.
• A financial plan that includes revenue and profit highlights projected overheads, cash flow analysis and marginal cash analysis.
• The appendix should include historical financial reports prepared by outside specialists.
• Finally, an action plan and strategy for improvement of the business.

The business plan should be a long-term projection up to five years. As with the sports manager who has to make adjustments during the game for unexpected developments, the business owner needs to review and reevaluate the long-term plan regularly to determine if goals are being met or if a sudden event (such as economic fluctuation) changes the direction of the business. The key is still to develop a good plan and then execute it with the oversight to be able to make changes when circumstances change. A lender wants to be assured the business owner is prepared for the risks and opportunities, and the owner wants to have a set of goals to reach with a method of tracking those achievements.

In summary, a well-defined business plan shows that the business owner has a path to success that benefits his or her business and which proves attractive to a lending agency. It is project well worth the time and financial investment. QCBN

Tom Blake is a business coach with Action Coach Arizona and a former owner of multiple businesses. He can be reached at

928-379-3842 or at tomblake@actioncoachaz.com if you have any questions.

Judy’s Story

At 300 pounds, Judy Martin never thought she would live out her dream of being an athlete. In fact, her endurance was tested by just walking from the house to the car. Judy knew that deep inside her large body was a healthier person waiting to step out. Flagstaff Medical Center’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center gave Judy that chance. Since having weight loss surgery, Judy has lost more than 150 pounds. Recently, she completed two open-water swim events, but her competitive spirit isn’t stopping there. Judy trained to complete a triathlon, too.

Bariatric Surgery: The Requirements

To be considered for bariatric surgery, you must meet a few requirements. Most people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater are ideal candidates for bariatric surgery; however, good health and a lifestyle free of addictive behaviors such as smoking and drinking are important factors as well. People experiencing severe ailments due to weight issues also may be considered for surgery if their BMI is between 35 and 39. Additionally, physicians emphasize bariatric surgery is a last-resort option, not a “quick fix.” It is a tool to help you lose weight and must be paired with good diet and exercise habits for long-term success. If a person has tried numerous diet and exercise plans or prescription weight-loss drugs to no avail, weight loss surgery may be the best solution.

Bariatric candidates are required to go through an evaluation process, which includes dietary counseling and psychological tests to determine whether or not they are ready for bariatric surgery. This process ensures a complete understanding of the surgery and the lifelong changes required for success. It also helps determine which surgery option is best.

Adjusting to a New Life

Weight loss surgery can produce dramatic results; however, the benefits of losing weight are not automatic. The process requires permanent lifestyle changes, including eating small frequent meals and committing to good nutrition and exercise habits. It is common to feel happy or excited as the weight comes off; however, you may also feel overwhelmed or frustrated by changes in diet, activity and lifestyle. Family and friends should be prepared for these emotional changes as they offer support.

Surgery Close to Home

Through weight loss surgery, patients like Judy from throughout the region and neighboring states are achieving their dreams of healthier lives, and – in some cases – newfound athletic endeavors like surfing, hiking, hunting and competitive sports.

Flagstaff Medical Center’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center is the only bariatric surgical program in Northern Arizona. The comprehensive surgical program offers laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric banding, laparoscopic gastric sleeve procedures, and counseling and support groups.

In addition, the center offers robotic-assisted bariatric surgery with the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. The interdisciplinary team includes surgeons, physicians, nurses, dietitians and therapists who address the medical, physical and emotional needs of each patient.

To Learn More About Weight Loss Surgery

If you are considering weight loss surgery, FMC’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center invites you to attend a free information session. Information sessions are held the second Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 1175 W. Route 66 in Flagstaff. These sessions include a presentation on the causes and health complications of obesity, as well as the different types of bariatric surgeries. To register, call 928-214-3737. To learn more about FMC’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center, visit FMCBariatrics.com. QCBN

 By Gigi Sorenson

Gigi Sorenson, R.N., M.S.N., is the director of Flagstaff Medical Center’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center.

Have you ever Googled your own business to see what listing websites generate your company profile? Have you ever seen your business in an online directory like Manta or Yelp, yet you don’t recall adding yourself to this online listing service? As a business owner, you focus so much on how your company is marketed and branded through print, television and radio advertising, but what may be the most important media outlet is found digitally. Why, you ask? Online directory listings are on the Internet 24/7 and if you haven’t claimed these listings, you may have the wrong information reaching potential customers, not enough information on the web, or find bad reviews or comments that could be affecting your productivity.

In most cases, online directories already have your business address listed. If that is the circumstance, all you need to do is claim your listing. The steps to claim your business listing vary from site to site. Regardless of the process, verifying your business listings allows you to provide a complete and accurate profile for your customers. Claiming your online listing will allow you to edit your company information, customize your profile, respond to reviews, reap the benefits of promotional offers and, best of all, increase your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). If you don’t have time to manage all of your directory listings, there are also digital marketing services that can claim and update all of your online business profiles on a continuing basis for a fee.

Sixty percent of consumers are on Google every month to help them find a quality business. Also, 70 percent of Internet search inquiries are for business products or services. There are hundreds of listing websites on the web. If you plan to claim your listings yourself, there are a few things to consider.

1) Create an outline of the content you will use for your listings. This includes company name, company description, address, website, logo, contact information, video links and social media links. Make the most of expanded listing offerings to provide as much information as customers could want to help them make the decision to choose your business.

2) Begin with the top 20 listing websites most commonly used by consumers.

Angie’s List, Bing, Bing Local, Citysearch, DexKnows, Foursquare, Google, Hotfrog, Kudzu,  Manta, Mapquest, Merchant Circle, The Business Journals, White Pages, Yahoo!, Yellow Pages, Yellowbook, YellowBot, Yelp

3) Claim your listings

Some listing websites allow you to click on a button that sends a verification code to your phone for immediate action. Others may send you information through the mail about how to claim your listing. Regardless of the process, it’s important to verify your business listings in order to provide an accurate profile for your customers.

4) Respond to reviews

With so much online competition, reviews play an important role with business purchases. Many online directory websites allow customers to submit reviews. If you’ve claimed your profile, you’ll have the opportunity to respond to online reviews. Responding to these reviews professionally may help you build stronger relationships with your customers. Also, thank customers for their positive feedback. Look at negative reviews as an opportunity to resolve any issues. Customers will appreciate your desire to achieve customer satisfaction, and your sales revenue may increase as a result.

5) Utilize promotional offers

Take advantage of promotional opportunities for your business. These promotions are usually by way of coupon offers. For example, a potential customer may have the chance to claim a 15 percent off their purchase if they visit your business within a window of time. A small cost is usually incorporated to participate, but promotional offers can increase conversions and get more customers through the door. You can also track your promotion so your business can modify the promotion or try something different.

Whether you are in a small town or located in the big city – realize the web reaches all consumers. It also applies to all businesses, and all industries. Steve Bracety, general manager of the Prescott Resort Conference Center, increases his annual revenues by his proactive marketing approach when managing his brand, reviews and promotions through online directories. “Managing your online reputation is mandatory in today’s market. Undesirable reviews could steer new business away from your service or product. Personalizing our responses to the customer’s experience in a timely fashion is critical, whether it be a positive or negative review.”

As a business owner, you should be aware of how your brand is represented online. Be proactive. If you are in control of your brand and image – you are more in control of your revenue. QCBN

By Donna Werking

Donna Werking has been the director of client services at Helken & Horn Advertising Agency since 2009. She is well recognized for her work in the community and her proficiency has made her an asset to all businesses under her guidance. Learn more about what you should be doing online for your business by contacting at Dwconsulting1@gmail.com.

We are happy to announce the opening of the Arizona Cardiac Sleep Facility (ACSF) in Prescott. It is the first cardiac-based sleep study facility in Yavapai County and is designed to provide services for residents throughout the county. Sleep studies at ACSF include an EKG and heart health test related to diabetes and obesity using the latest technologies, including industry-approved cardiac markers. Only a cardiac-based facility can offer sleep-based tests with cardiac markers as part of an apnea study.

This is critical because sleep apnea left undiagnosed and untreated increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes up to 300 percent and may reduce life expectancy up to 15 years. Our unique cardiac-based attribute ensures a more comprehensive medical evaluation of both potential apnea disorders and related heart health issues. It allows our patients to better understand their treatment and management options while achieving optimum wellness through aggressive preventive measures.

With sleep apnea, muscles that control the upper airway relax during sleep. When these muscles relax too much, the airway will narrow slightly and may become blocked, causing people with apnea to stop breathing for 10 seconds or more. Depending on the severity of sleep apnea, this pattern can be repeated over 100 times throughout the night, placing undue stress on your heart and brain. This condition is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

A second type of apnea is called Central Sleep Apnea. This apnea generally is silent. It does not involve snoring, but can be just as damaging to the cardiovascular and neurological systems.

People with apnea forfeit a good night’s sleep, causing extreme fatigue during the day. Apnea can affect both work and personal relationships and is responsible for a number of work-related and auto accidents. Annually, there are approximately 40,000 premature deaths related to sleep apnea, including accidents resulting from apnea-related fatigue.

Statistics suggest that one in three adults over the age of 55 have sleep apnea. Anyone can have apnea including children as young as two years of age. Data also demonstrates that 90 percent of women who have sleep apnea are undiagnosed, a major concern since heart disease is the number one killer for women. The majority of the 25 million people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed.

The most common treatment for OSA is CPAP therapy, forced breathing during sleep that keeps the airway open and all but eliminates episodes when a person stops breathing. However, many people cannot tolerate CPAP and similar therapies, especially people who are claustrophobic. For this reason, ACSF works with local dentist Dr. J.C. Goodwin, whose focus is dental sleep apnea therapy, to offer oral appliances as a potential option.

Our sleep rooms resemble a home-like environment to ensure a patient’s comfort, which reduces anxiety, resulting in improved test results and potentially eliminating the need for re-testing. Sleep studies can be scheduled nightly, including Sunday.

As the medical director of ACSF, I am a board certified sleep medicine and cardiovascular physician. This allows me to analyze test data in-house, which expedites the process and enables us to begin therapy sooner for those diagnosed with apnea. Also, our sleep technologists are certified and registered, bringing a higher level of care to our sleep study patients. QCBN

By Stephen Stuart, M.D.

Stephen Stuart, M.D. is board certified in Sleep & Cardiovascular Medicine and the medical director of the Arizona Cardiac Sleep Facility. ACSF cardiac-based sleep studies are covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans. For more information, please call our center at 928-441-1117 or visit our website, www.azcardiacsleep.com.

 Dementia and Alzheimer’s affect every aspect of life. Frankly, it’s not easy. And holiday events and observances can be particularly difficult. Joyous memories from before your loved one developed dementia may darken what usually is a bright and cheerful season. In addition, worries about what could happen may disrupt your family’s celebrations and upset the simple pleasure of being together.

Activities need to be greatly simplified and minimized to reduce this potential for stress. People who suffer from dementia can pick up on the moods of others. Keep the atmosphere serene and peaceful. If the person with dementia is placed in a situation with which he or she cannot cope, the result will be a behavior change or other symptoms of anxiety. Pick and choose traditions that are the most important to you. Use your loved one’s favorite decorations to spark memories and increase their ability to enjoy the festivities. Avoid flashing lights and loud noises. A tree with blinking lights and loud sporting events on TV can be disorienting. Engage your loved one with easy holiday tasks such as decorating cookies and putting tinsel on the tree. Holiday stories from long ago will draw your loved one in and keep them involved in the celebration. Take time to look at photo albums. Reminisce! Sing holiday songs! This will resurrect pleasant memories, which will create moments of joy.

Though the holiday season is hectic, don’t forget to exercise – both of you! Go for a walk together. Put on a video and do gentle yoga class in the privacy of your living room. Play Wii bowling or golf. Exercise increases endorphins in the blood, causing a reduction in stress. Consider your needs, as well, and don’t take on too much. Ask others to provide side dishes for holiday meals. If friends and family members offer to help, let them! Skip sending out cards if it’s going to send you over the edge. No one will love you less. At Highgate, we take great pride and joy in being experts in dementia care. We provide professional, compassionate, personalized care in a safe, loving, homelike environment. If you’d like a break from full- time caregiving during the holiday season, you might consider a Respite Stay for your loved one in our Memory Care community, The Cottage. It may even turn out to be an excellent long-term solution to a difficult and challenging living situation. For more information about Highgate Senior Living and all the ways we help our Memory Care residents live each day to the fullest, please contact the community nearest you. QCBN

By Monika Einsporn

For more information about Highgate Senior Living and all the ways we help our residents enjoy the highest quality of life possible, please contact the Prescott Highgate Senior Living Community: www.highgateseniorliving.com 1600 Petroglyph Point Dr., Prescott, AZ 928- 227-1592. Monika Einsporn, the community relations coordinator at Highgate at Prescott, can be reached at 928-541-1400.

If you have obtained a mortgage or other real estate loan in the past several years, chances are that you had to get an appraisal of your property. You may have wondered how the appraiser came up with the value. It can be helpful to understand a little about the appraisal process and how appraisers determine a value so you know what to expect when you get an appraisal in conjunction with a loan.

Appraisals must be performed by a state licensed appraiser with the appropriate certification for the job being performed and using certain standards regulated by the appraisal industry and by U. S. laws such as the “Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice” (USPAP), the Financial Institutions Reforms, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act).

Appraisers generally use up to three methods of estimating the value of a property to arrive at a final estimate of value. They are:

• Cost Approach – This approach is based on the proposition that the informed purchaser would pay no more than the cost of producing a substitute property with the same utility as the subject property. It is particularly applicable when the property being appraised involves relatively new improvements and for which there exists no comparable properties on the market. The older the improvements (buildings, etc.) to a property, the less value this approach is because the appraiser must use a subjective figure, known as depreciation, to compare the current costs to build a house to the age (wear and tear) of the existing house.

• Sales Comparison Approach – This is an appraisal procedure in which the market value estimate is predicated upon prices paid in actual market transactions. It is a process of analyzing sales of similar recently sold properties in order to derive an indication of the most probable sales price of the property being appraised. The reliability of this technique is dependent upon: (a) the availability of comparable sales data, (b) the verification of sales data, (c) the degree of comparability or extent of adjustment necessary for time differences, and (d) the absence of non-typical conditions affecting the sales price. This is sometimes called “substitution” or what did comparable houses sell for in the current market.

• Income Capitalization Approach – This procedure is an analysis, which converts anticipated benefits (dollar income or amenities) to be derived from the ownership of property into a value estimate. The income approach is widely applied in appraising income-producing properties. The appraiser uses actual income vs. expense figures and standard USPAP formulas to arrive at an estimated value. If actual income/expense figures are not available for a property, the appraiser will use actual cost/expense figures from similar properties to make his estimates. This approach is not typically used for an owner-occupied residential property.

In essence, all approaches to value (particularly when the purpose of the appraisal is to establish market value) are market data approaches since the data inputs are presumed to be market derived. All three approaches may be used to determine the final estimated value of the subject.

In the current real estate market, the sales comparison approach usually carries the most weight for residential real estate properties. The other two approaches may be used to support the final estimated value.

An appraisal is an estimate or opinion of value as of a specified date based on analysis of factual data. Appraising is not an exact science. It is sometimes referred to as an art, but you will do well to remember that it is an opinion of value that is good for that day only and any two appraisers are likely to derive different values – similar, but possibly different – due to the criteria they used. The true value of a property is an unemotional, objective price at which a seller would sell and a willing buyer would purchase, with neither party under abnormal pressure to act.

Appraisals continue to be the best tool available to support the borrower (purchaser), seller and lender in estimating a market value of real property.

As with all government regulations, there are many more issues involved that cannot be enumerated in this article. If you are dealing with a qualified lending professional, they will be able to explain current appraisal regulations and how they affect you. QCBN

By Tim Naylor

Country Bank is a full service community bank serving Yavapai County with offices in Prescott, Prescott Valley and Cottonwood. Tim Naylor, NMLS #478313, is a vice president of Country Bank specializing in commercial lending and residential construction lending. Please visit www.countrybankaz.com or call 928-759-8600 for more information.

To create a healthy environment, it’s a good idea that everyone in the house is happy to be there and enjoying the space. Many times, it has nothing to do with the space itself but the company you keep.

In many cases, turning your home into a healthy home brings you to some very cool products. Below are some of the most interesting products I have found.

• If you suffer with a partner who snores, you know what I am talking about (cue my wife cheering in the background). Here is a cool product to try: The Obus Forme Anti-Snore Pillow available from Grogan’s Health Care for $64.95. The claim to fame is the ability to keep your head positioned so your airways stay clear and free to breathe.
• Are you into composting? Here is the coolest tool for those of you who don’t compost on the large commercial scale: a countertop composter. I know you are thinking, “This is going to get smelly.” Au contraire,mon frère. Check out this cool item: The Norpro Ceramic Compost Keeper in a four-quart jar available from Target for $28. This composter has a charcoal liner that keeps the food smells at bay and allows you to compost on a small scale. I know. It’s way too cool.
• Now for you germ-fighting champions, there is an item for your computer keyboard that is self-disinfecting 24 hours a day. If you have watched someone working on a keyboard and the many things they do with their hands while typing, it will make any germ fighter pull out a disinfectant wipe and go crazy. But now there is: The Copper Keyboard from Operator Interface Keyboards, the first self-disinfecting keyboard. Check it out at copperkeyboard.com.

As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at chussey@theflooringshack.com. QCBN

By Chris Hussey

Chris Hussey is the Principal of Chris N Nate’s Flooring Shack at 9234 E. Valley Road in Prescott Valley. He can be also be contacted at 928-515-2450

When Donald Trump wrote “The Art of the Deal,” he became an industry authority for claiming to know how to make deals.

Has anything changed since Trump wrote his 1988 bestseller? Yes, much has changed in the world of commercial real estate deal making, although the fundamentals have not.

Making commercial real estate transaction work (“the deal”) requires what I call “shaping” the transaction, whether an acquisition, divestiture or a new lease. The biggest difference between securing signatures (making the deal) and creating long-term performance for a client (shaping the deal) is economic compromise and parity.

Negotiating Breakfast with My Daughter

Almost every day, we are all negotiating something. I recall doing so with my then nine-year-old daughter. We negotiated breakfast. She wanted chocolate donuts – not one, but two! Once we formulated the premise for the sign-off, i.e., what each side wanted, we then had the core of the deal.

My position was clear. “You cannot have donuts for breakfast.” Her position was, “Donuts are the only way to make this deal work.” Yes, this sounds a lot like commercial estate sales and leasing, doesn’t it? As with all transactions, each side has an initial position and posture as the dance begins.

My daughter knows the limits when pushing dad around. We have long ago established the negotiating framework. She opened the shaping phase of the negotiations with “So, Dad, You said no donuts for breakfast and that means I can have one if we don’t call it ‘breakfast’ so, let’s call it dessert from last night’s dinner.”

Suddenly, I was reminded of the power of “shaping” the deal, rather than simply “making” the deal.

The negotiations were shaped and the deal finalized after a healthy breakfast of fruit, one scrambled egg and toast and no fat milk. On her side, she got half a donut placed in her lunch box. She got some of what she wanted, but not entirely the way she would have preferred and I got some of what I wanted.

Shaping Deals with Adults who Fight Back

There is a big difference between negotiating and shaping a deal with a kid over whom you have parental rights and squaring off with adult negotiators who fight back and refuse to be shaped.

In the commercial real estate arena, the principles of shaping the deal are the same and here they are for you master negotiators:

• Seek to Understand both sides of the financial framework; all sides. Clint Eastwood once said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
• Create Concessions where you give the other side something they want. If you cannot surrender a point today, when might you and how might you.
• Engage in Trade-offs that are tangible and represent real concessions. People are not stupid, so being honest and avoid smoke and mirror tactics is important.
• Remind Yourself the chance to shape the deal today is in front of you and might not return.

Admittedly, some transactions cannot be shaped. When the deal points do not work, they simply do not work, period. You cannot force a $30-per-square-foot lease into a $15 market. Even if you succeed, market forces may kill the lease when the tenant can’t pay the rent.

Shaping the purchase or the lease often means finding ways to create transitional value in the down market so that over time, the parties reach their desired end point.

Instead of coming out of port like a fully loaded battleship, try replacing “No” with “Okay, let’s look at this to see how we can make it work.” This is the powerful first step in becoming a shaper of the deal.

It’s the Economy, Stupid

Today, there are not many quick-close deals in the market. The transactions that will be completed take longer. The economy has created a climate and a set of economic fears where tenants and owners value hesitation and where a methodical approach to buying, selling or leasing is preferred.

Shaping is the new normal. This skill-set is required and is not easily maintained. The bar has been raised and shaping commercial transactions is a powerful and necessary skill.

Pass the donuts! QCBN

By Donald Teel

The author, Donald Teel, is a Principal Partner with JT Purvis at Commercial Properties Northern Arizona (CPNA). CPNA is a full service commercial firm located at 140 N. Montezuma, Suite 300, Prescott, Arizona 86301. 928-445-7000. Emails can be directed to reCP-NA.com. Website: www.CP-NA.com.

The holidays are considered to be the most wonderful time of the year. While the festivities and extra family time can be fun and rewarding, all of the planning, shopping, cooking and everything in between can often cause a large amount of stress, anxiety and tension. In the midst of all the chaos, it is important to take care of your body and mind during these extremely busy times to make the most of the holiday season.

Planning a successful holiday gathering can be exhausting. You may have traditions that your family follows every year, recipes that take weeks to perfect, decorations to put on display and the endless amount of gifts and cards to send to friends and family. It can become extremely stressful to suddenly have your to-do list double and it often leads to feelings of anxiety. Taking precautions to ensure that you minimize stress is critical to making your holiday season more enjoyable. Since stress takes a toll on your body, getting a massage can be beneficial and help relieve the physical impact of the season.

Stress can affect your body just as much as it can affect your mind. Whether you are feeling fatigue, tension in your muscles, headaches or all of the above, these symptoms are driven by stress and can be harmful if ignored. On top of the physical tension that is caused by stress, the increased physical activity during the holidays can cause ailments as well. Being on your feet all day searching for the perfect gifts, cooking your favorite holiday recipes or putting up holiday decorations can cause tension all over your body. It is important to take note of the physical pain you are feeling and take measures to alleviate it. Massage therapy is an ideal way to ease any physical tensions you may be feeling, while getting away from the chaos at home to a serene environment.

A well-deserved massage is the perfect gift to ease the emotional and physical stress than can occur in the weeks leading up to the holidays. Not only does massage therapy help reduce stress, it also encourages relaxation. Long after your massage is over, you will still feel the calming and de-stressing impacts it can have.

Massage Envy Spa offers an array of different types of massages and techniques to help you on your journey to relaxation. From the soothing and light-pressured Swedish massage to the pain relieving deep tissue massage, you are sure to find the right type of massage therapy to suit your needs at Massage Envy Spa. QCBN

For additional information or to schedule an appointment with a massage therapist, visit massageenvy.com, call 928-526-ENVY (3689), or visit one of Arizona’s 35 Massage Envy Spa locations including the new Massage Envy Spa in Prescott. The Flagstaff location is at 1235 S. Plaza Way in the University Plaza Shopping Center off Milton Road next to Ross and Safeway.

By Mark Love

Mark Love is co-owner of Massage Envy Spa. For more information on the benefits of massage, visit MassageEnvy.com.