Scottsdale Airport Drill Will Feature Live Flames and Emergency Response

A simulated jet crash at Scottsdale Airport will take place at 8 a.m. this Saturday, April 28 as part of an emergency response drill that will evaluate a variety of first-response partners in action.

Firefighters and paramedics will battle real flames and treat an array of simulated medical casualties as part of the drill. The control tower and airport operations staff will be tested, along with the airport’s public information and media relations functions.

The simulated crash scene will be at the south end of the runway; the city requests onlookers stay clear of the area to allow safe conduct of the drill and evaluation of the response.

Flights in and out of the airport will be suspended during the drill, which is scheduled to conclude at 11:00 a.m.

For more information, contact the airport director at 480-312-7735.

Community Forum- Navigating Change In A New Economy - April 18th

Empowered leadership in a time of change is imperative in a strong community. As we continue to navigate an ever-changing economic climate, panelists will share their personal stories of success and shed light on what the future holds for employment and education in Scottsdale and Arizona.


Facilitated by: Jason Rose, Rose + Moser + Allyn Public Relations

Hear from panelists from different sectors in our community including:

Corporate Sector - Sherman A. Jennings, Mesa site leader for Human Resources, The Boeing Company and Chair, Governor’s Council on Workforce Policy How are the city’s largest conventional corporations hiring and recruiting? What are the current opportunities? What (if any) obstacles are they facing in hiring?

New Entrepreneurs - Susie Timm, Head Cheese, Girl Meets Fork Marketing and Media  – Many professionals are leaving (forced or by choice) their conventional jobs and making a career by applying their skills/experience as an out-source re-source.

Innovators - Derek Neighbors, Co-founder, Gangplank The next generation may look different and speak somewhat differently, but they are fearless in taking the business world by storm…their terms, their rules

Education Perspective - Len Jessup, Ph.D., Dean of University of Arizona Eller College of Management  Is there a change? How are they preparing students? What is different? Are they moving fast enough to respond to the changing demands?

Join the discussion at Scottsdale Leadership’s 8th annual Community Forum as we gain insight from our dynamic panel about workforce innovation, corporate change, the new entrepreneur and the state of education.

For More Information or to Register, CLICK HERE.

6th Annual International Languages Expo for Youth - April 14

International School of Arizona and ASU Preparatory Academy invite you to the 6th Annual International Languages Expo for Youth on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of the youth in our community who are taking on the challenge of learning a foreign language and preparing to become citizens of the world.

Click on the link below to register an individual performer or a student group and to view photos from past Expo events. 

Participants attending the story time sessions do not need to register.  If you have questions please contact Sharon Brown at 480-874-2326 or isa@isaz.org.

Register Now!

  

International School of Arizona

ASU Preparatory Academy

"Yelp & Your Business" is the Topic of Lunchtime University on April 27th

Yelp's Manager of Local Business Outreach, Darnell Holloway, hosts the Scottsdale Chamber's inaugural "Lunchtime University" focusing on Yelp & Your Business.

Word-of-mouth is moving online, and user generated content websites like Yelp.com are becoming increasingly powerful as consumer guides. How do you ensure your reputation is strong? No business is perfect -- how will you respond when you receive your first negative review? Learn everything you need to know from unlocking your free business tools to managing your online reputation at Lunchtime University!

EVENT DETAILS

When: Friday, April 27th, 2012

Where:  Scottsdale Chamber Boardroom, 4725 N. Scottsdale Rd., #210, Scottsdale 85251

(SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 40 APPLICANTS!)

Time: 11:30am to 1:00pm

Cost: FREE

Lunch courtesy of:

REGISTER HERE

Barrett-Jackson to build permanent $40 million facility in Scottsdale

The massive tent at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction is an impressive sight. Occupying 120,000 square feet and stretching a quarter mile, it sufficiently houses the hundreds of collector cars and thousands of visitors that pass through it every January. Even so, the tent needs to be rebuilt annually, and the auction company has been pushing for a permanent facility for more than a decade. Now it looks like their wish will be granted, as the Scottsdale, AZ city council has approved construction of a new building on the WestWorld grounds where the current event is held.

The new facility is estimated to cost around $40 million, but Barrett-Jackson says that it'll save money in the long run on temporary infrastructure costs. The building will also be designed to better accommodate the constant flow of cars driving up to the auction block as, well as have dedicated areas for SPEED's TV crews and food and vendor services. Barrett-Jackson says that it also plans to build a new headquarters and car museum on land adjacent to WestWorld.


CLICK HERE to see Official details on the plans for the new building and the press release from Barrett-Jackson.

Companies Join Forces to Install Solar Canopies and Rooftop Solar Arrays at Four Phoenix Area YMCA Branches

Join us for a special "Power Cord Cutting Ceremony"!

Please join us in supporting Chamber members and discover how Centrosolar is energizing the Valley of the Sun YMCA.

The Valley of the Sun YMCA, Scout Solar, LLC, Centrosolar America, APS and the City of Scottsdale cordially invite you to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the deployment of 66.55 kilowatts of solar power as part of a 1.1 MW, multi-facility Solar Program across 15 Arizona Y-Locations.

This power cord cutting ceremony will officially celebrate the YMCA’s commitment to its 15 local solar installations. Come join our Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane along with local business leaders to celebrate Arizona’s oldest non-profit organization’s new age energy transformation.

Friday, March 23, 2012
11:00 to 11:45

Scottsdale/Paradise Valley YMCA

www.scottsdaleymca.org

6869 E. Shea Blvd.

Scottsdale AZ 85254

480.951.9622

REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE 

Centrosolar America, a national solar energy manufacturing and services company, headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ and Scout Solar, LLC, a Tempe, Arizona-based solar installer, announce plans to activate solar PV projects at four ‘Valley of the Sun YMCA’ branches. The solar arrays will be installed at YMCA branches in the Tempe, Chris-Town, Ahwatukee, and Scottsdale/Paradise Valley communities.

With more than 1,500 Centrosolar America solar panels mounted on rooftops and shade canopies, the combined solar power systems at the four locations will generate more than 612,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually – an amount equal to the energy required to power 48 Arizona homes for one year.

“The YMCA’s commitment to sustainability includes finding more ways to promote the use of alternative energy. Utilizing the available space on our shaded canopies and rooftops for the installation of solar panels was an easy decision for us”, said George Scobas, President and CEO of the Valley of the Sun YMCA.

The Tempe branch will offset 21% of its energy costs with a 96.6 kWh shade canopy solar system.  The Chris-Town location will offset 24% of its costs with a 98.7 kWh rooftop system. The Ahwatukee branch will offset 19% of its energy costs with a 98.7 kWh shade canopy. And, the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley branch will offset 12.5% of its energy costs with a rooftop solar system. All four project installations are planned for completion by March 2012.

The systems are being installed and financed by Scout Solar, who will also own and operate the systems and hold the rebates that are generated through the Arizona state solar rebate program.

“There were no out-of-pocket costs for the Valley of the Sun YMCA for this installation, “said Scout Solar Project Administrator, Michael Norris. They will make a set monthly lease payment on the system, an amount far less than what their savings on electricity will be. And they are protected from future spikes in energy prices with this arrangement.”

Bringing together best-in-class project partners, Scout Solar teamed with Centrosolar to provide the solar equipment, Solar Energy Group for system design, Wang Electric on the electrical installation and Skyline Steel to construct the shade canopies and racking.

All the solar projects will be equipped with Centrosolar America E-Series modules.

“Our E-Series panels utilize polycrystalline high-efficiency silicon cells in an optimal configuration to generate higher power output per module. This PV module configuration also meets the highest industry standards for resisting intense heat as is typical in the Arizona climate,” said Centrosolar Director of Sales, Chris Wood. Centrosolar America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centrosolar Group AG in Munich, Germany, is one of the leading solar distributors nationally as well as in the Arizona market.

Nominations Still Being Accepted For SPJ Freedom of Information Awards

Arizona media professionals who produced informative news items for the public by making use of public records requests are invited to submit their stories for consideration in the 2012 Freedom of Information Awards contest, presented by the Valley of the Sun Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists. The deadline to enter has been extended to March 19, 2012.

           

Categories include:

• First Amendment Awards – honoring published or broadcast work in 2011 that involved significant reliance on public records and open meetings

• Sunshine Awards – honoring Arizonans (both journalists and non-journalists) whose actions helped foster greater openness in government in 2011 through improved access to public records or open meetings

• Order of the Silver Key Society – paying tribute to journalists from any medium with at least 25 years of experience in the state of Arizona (consecutive or cumulative) whose careers exemplify high standards and consistent, top-quality journalism

• The Lloyd Clark “How it Made Print” Award – honoring print journalists (all circulations) responsible for a published story, photograph or graphic design whose own story of how it became reality is exceptional. Unusually difficult circumstances, or unusual tenacity in pursing the story, will be the hallmark of the subject of the winning entry. Entries need not have been published in 2011.

There is no cost to enter the contest. Nominations can be from employers/supervisors as well as self-nominations. For more information or to download the contest brochure and the nomination forms, visit http://www.phoenixspj.org/.