Better Together Arizona

Coffee and Tariffs: How Global Politics Impact Local Business | Better Together Arizona Podcast

In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by CEO of Brick Road Coffee [https://www.brickroadtempe.com/%20], Gabe Hagen, and VP of Business Development at Local First Arizona [https://localfirstaz.com/], Thomas Barr.  Thomas is a passionate advocate for independent businesses, and Gabe created Brick Road Coffee as a pillar of belonging and inclusivity. Together, they offer insight into the challenges facing local economies amid a tumultuous political climate.  This thought-provoking and caffeinated conversation emphasizes the vital role of local businesses as a “third space” – a location outside of home or work where people can feel safe and included, find community, and have courageous discussions.  Gabe breaks down how recent tariffs are directly impacting the cost of coffee and reveals the hidden fees that businesses like his are facing. Get the hard math behind coffee production and the ripple effect that global tariffs have on labor hours, pricing, and the ability to operate.  Key Takeaways:  🤗 The power of togetherness: Community and togetherness will be the core strengths needed to combat the current, divisive political climate.  🧘 The critical “third space”: Local, independent businesses like Brick Road Coffee serve as essential spaces where people find community, connect with neighbors, and engage in meaningful conversations.  ☕ Tariffs driving up costs: Because 99% of US coffee is imported, tariffs significantly increase the cost of brewing. Cost per unit for Brick Road was $5.80 before the tariffs; now it’s $6.75.  💸 Tariffs impacting profit: The impact of tariffs on a single medium vanilla latte at Brick Road added $0.05 to the production cost, so they were losing money trying to keep prices stable.  📈 Annual cost of tariffs: Brick Road Coffee projects their annual cost of tariffs to be $3,800 based on selling 215 cups daily.  🧑‍💼 Ripple effect on labor: To save enough money monthly to offset the annual cost of tariffs, Brick Road may have to cup 21 labor hours which equates to one part-time job. If that math is applied across the Phoenix Valley’s 1,800 coffee shops, that could mean the loss of 210 full-time jobs.  About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community [https://www.onecommunity.com/] and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio [https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting] in Midtown Phoenix.   #BetterTogetherAZ #BetterTogetherArizona #LGBTQPodcasts #CoffeeAndTariffs #TariffsAndCoffeePrices #LocalFirstArizona #LocalFirstAZ #BrickRoadCoffee #BrickRoadCoffeeCompany #BrickRoadCoffeeTempe #BuyLocal #ShopLocal #OpenAZ #LoveAZ

Monica Villalobos, CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | Better Together Arizona Podcast

In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce [https://www.azhcc.com/], Monica Villalobos.   Together, they explore the challenges of navigating a current political climate that seeks to divide diverse communities, and the difficulties of fighting narratives that are not rooted in fact and truth.   This conversation takes place during National Hispanic Heritage month, but Monica emphasizes the impact of the community year-round, pointing out the vast economic and civic influence.  Latinos in Arizona make up 30% of the state and contribute $72 billion to the state’s economy, according to Datos, an annual report outlining the state of Arizona’s Hispanic market.  The US Latino community is considered the fourth largest economy in the world, spending $4.1 trillion annually, forecasted to surpass Germany by 2027.  Key Takeaways:  🤑  Arizona’s Latino community has signifiant economic and demographic power. The present and future of Arizona is Hispanic.  🌱 America’s Latino population is young, skewing about 15 years younger than the general population–and they are consistently putting more into the economy than they are taking out.  📊 Sharing real data, like the Datos Report, is critical for owning your own narrative and dispelling myths.   ❤️ The Hispanic community makes contributions 365 days a year and should be recognized and celebrated year-round.  🌵 Arizona is considered “ground zero” for political and social battles surrounding the Hispanic community, making it a critical location for fighting for change.  National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15-October 15.  About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community [https://www.onecommunity.com/] and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio [https://www.fullswingstudios.com/] in Midtown Phoenix.   #BetterTogetherAZ #BetterTogetherArizona #LGBTQPodcasts #ArizonaHispanicChamberOfCommerce #DatosArizonaHispanicChamberOfCommerce #MonicaVillalobos #MonicaVillalobosArizona #HispanicHeritageMonth #NationalHispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritageMonth2025 #ArizonaHispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicAmericanHeritageMonth

Financial Resilience & Community Banking with Gateway Bank | Better Together Arizona Podcast

In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by Market President and Chief Credit Officer of Gateway Bank [https://gcbaz.com/], Scott Morris and Josh Flake.   Together, they dive into critical financial strategies for consumers and businesses facing current economic uncertainties. With consumer confidence at lows not seen since the 90s, and significant drops in job creation across Arizona, this episode offers crucial advice on resilience, planning, and thriving financially–even during turbulent times.   Gateway Bank celebrates a unique culture built on authentic leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to inclusion. “If it’s not a great place for everyone, it’s not a great place for anyone.”  Under Scott and Josh’s leadership, Gateway Bank signed the ONE Community UNITY Pledge, sending the message that all area businesses are open to business for everyone. Providing equal access to banking relationships and capital, regardless of orientation or background, is core to the organization’s values.  Key Takeaways:  💪 When facing financial struggles, avoid tying self-worth to financial success. Focus on learning from adversity, being resourceful, and moving forward with resilience.  💰 It’s never too late to start looking at your finances, setting goals, and developing a consistent strategy, even if you’ve never done financial planning before.  🛟 The necessary size of a business emergency fund varies widely. Businesses with short operating cycles need smaller reserves, while those with long cycles need a substantial war chest of cash.  🌈 During uncertain times, having a network and true community to lean on is essential. About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community [https://www.onecommunity.com/] and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio [https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting] in Midtown Phoenix.

Devney Majerle on Community Growth & Inclusion in Downtown Phoenix | Better Together Arizona Podcast

In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by President and CEO of Downtown Phoenix Inc., (DPI) Devney Majerle.  Together, they discuss the remarkable transformation of Downtown Phoenix under the incredible female leadership of both Majerle and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and highlight the highly-collaborative efforts of women driving change.  "Downtown Phoenix is for everybody and we want it to always be for everyone no matter whether they want to live, work, play, or learn here," Majerle says.  Downtown Phoenix Inc. is a community building organization that champions the wisdom of community members by establishing constant feedback loops and engaging in continuous stakeholder meetings and prioritizing what’s best for Downtown. This ensures that a wide range of perspectives–from large employers to local businesses and residents–are integral to the vision for an inclusive and accessible urban hub.  Another initiative from DPI is advancing diverse and inclusive housing options. Downtown Phoenix possesses the highest concentration of affordable housing units in the city. Plans are in motion to develop hundreds of new affordable units.  Nearly 80% of the street-level bars and restaurants in Downtown Phoenix are locally-owned, which Majerle considers a “secret ingredient” to the area’s vibrancy.  Under Majerle’s leadership, both Downtown Phoenix Inc. and Phoenix Community Alliance have signed the ONE Community UNITY Pledge, sending the message that all area businesses are open to business for everyone.  Learn more about the UNITY Pledge and sign today as an individual or business: UNITYPledge.com.  About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio in Midtown Phoenix.   Learn more about ONE Community: https://www.onecommunity.com/ [https://www.onecommunity.com/]  Learn more about Full Swing Studios: https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting [https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting]  #BetterTogetherAZ #BetterTogetherArizona #LGBTQPodcasts #DowntownPhoenixInc #DevneyMajerle #DevneyPruessMajerle #DowntownPhoenix #DowntownPhoenixRestaurants

Navigating Financial Uncertainty with Catherine Scrivano | Better Together Arizona Podcast

In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by highly experienced financial planner, Catherine Scrivano.  In an era marked by "financial uncertainty for most American households" and a "sweeping anti-DEI push", this conversation couldn't be more timely. Angela and Catherine discuss the current landscape and offer advice for families navigating the complexities of finance to pursue their dreams. Key Takeaways:  * Learning from the past: Current financial uncertainty is not unprecedented; looking back at past economic downturns (1990s, 2008, COVID-19) provides valuable lessons and context. * Navigating Chaos: In times of "chaos" and "falsehoods," it's crucial to identify and focus on genuine information that requires action, rather than being paralyzed by distractions or noise. * Understanding Behavioral Finance: Emotional reactions significantly influence financial decisions. Having awareness of your own "tolerance for volatility" and how emotions impact investing is vital. * The Power of Values-Aligned Investing: Consumers are increasingly "voting with their wallets," leading to a rise in demand for "values-based investing." For businesses, aligning with core values and remaining steadfast, even in challenging times, is crucial for long-term sustainability. * Know What You Own: For those with investments in mutual funds, it's essential to understand the underlying holdings to ensure they align with personal goals, time horizon, and value screens, avoiding unintentional "overlap." With over 30 years of industry experience, Catherine is renowned for helping diverse clientele–from small businesses to families and individuals.  Catherine has been recognized through numerous awards and nominations including being named a 2016 finalist for the ATHENA award by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Outstanding Woman in Business by the Phoenix Business Journal, 2017 Dorothy Wiley Award, the highest recognition offered by the YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, the 2017 Most Influential Women in Arizona by Arizona Business Magazine. About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community [https://www.onecommunity.com/] and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio [https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting] in Midtown Phoenix.