April 2025 – Arizona Ascent

Communities

Peoria, Arizona: The City of Opportunity and Lifestyle

Peoria, Arizona, was once a quiet suburban retreat, but today, it’s a city on the rise. With its population growing by 5.2% since 2020, Peoria has transformed into one of the Valley’s most desirable places to live and work. In 2025, Peoria boasts a growing community of approximately 201,000 residents, all drawn by the city’s booming economy, top-notch schools, affordable living, and rich quality of life. It’s no wonder that Peoria is not just growing—it’s flourishing.

Communities

The Phoenix Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Independent Filmmaking

When most people think of the film industry, Hollywood is the first place that comes to mind. However, our state of Arizona is shifting that view. From March 27th to April 6th, I had the privilege of attending the iconic Phoenix Film Festival for the third time. The Phoenix Film Festival turned 25 this year, which made this year’s festival all the more exciting.

Business Spotlight

From Heartbreak to Hope: How Brenda Muriera and TrialNAV Are Revolutionizing Cancer Care in Arizona

In Chandler, Arizona, under the bright desert sky, a quiet revolution is taking place—one rooted in loss, driven by empathy, and powered by innovation. Brenda Muriera, RN, BSN, CCRP, isn’t just another clinical research executive. She’s a woman on a mission to make sure that no cancer patient slips through the cracks of a system that too often misses the chance to offer hope.

Real Estate

Greater Phoenix Real Estate: What the Market’s Shifting Trends Really Mean

Spring 2025 has arrived in Greater Phoenix, and the housing market is showing signs of cooling off. For the first time in a while, buyers are starting to gain the upper hand—but not everywhere, and not in the same way. Underneath the headlines and average prices lies a much more complex and revealing story, shaped by neighborhood dynamics and the way we interpret the numbers.

Communities

Scottsdale’s Big Bet: Axon’s $1 Billion Project Sparks Hope and Controversy

Near Hayden Road and Loop 101, the future of Scottsdale is under construction — at least in theory — and with it, one of the most hotly contested debates the city has faced in years. On April 18, 2025, Governor Katie Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1543 into law, a move that cleared the path for Axon Enterprise Inc.’s $1 billion mixed-use development and, at the same time, overruled a local referendum drive that aimed to stop the project before the first shovel hit the dirt.

Real Estate

More Than a Sale: How Karen DeGeorge Became One of Arizona’s Top Listing Agents

Every home tells its own story — and behind each of those stories is Karen DeGeorge, a trusted guide who turns real estate dreams into reality. It’s no surprise, then, that for the first quarter of 2025, Karen has been recognized among the Top 5% of Listing Agents in the Phoenix Metro Area by the ListerPros Elite Agent Program..

The Curve Unbound: Arizona’s Road to a New Dawn

The Broadway Curve, one of Arizona’s most heavily traveled freeway corridors, has entered a new phase. What was once a high-congestion zone on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tempe is now a more streamlined, efficient system thanks to strategic infrastructure enhancements completed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). On February 12, 2025, new general-purpose lanes opened from I-17 near Sky Harbor Airport to Baseline Road eastbound, and from US 60 to 32nd Street westbound. These additions significantly reduced bottlenecks and improved flow across the corridor. Then, on April 10, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes opened between I-17 and US 60, offering carpoolers and transit users greater efficiency. Additionally, a new flyover bridge now directs westbound I-10 traffic to northbound SR 143, and southbound SR 143 to eastbound I-10—minimizing lane-changing conflicts and improving ramp access.

Economic Growth

Electrifying the Future: How Lucid Motors Is Sparking a New Chapter for Arizona

It began as a whisper across the industrial corridors of Coolidge and Phoenix—talk of transformation, opportunity, something monumental. In Arizona, where innovation and ambition converge beneath vast desert skies, that whisper has become a resounding declaration. Lucid Motors, the pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer renowned for redefining luxury EVs, has announced a significant expansion. And it’s not happening across the country or the globe; it’s unfolding right here, in Arizona’s own backyard. Lucid is acquiring Nikola Corporation's former manufacturing and development facilities in Coolidge and Phoenix, pending court approval. This strategic move adds more than 884,000 square feet to Lucid's Arizona footprint—space soon to be alive with innovation, energy, and boundless possibility. But this story isn’t just about buildings or square footage. It’s about people. It’s about momentum. It’s about what happens when vision meets action in a state poised to ascend.

Podcast Interviews

More Than a Headquarters: The Future of Startups in AZ

What’s at stake when a billion-dollar startup considers leaving Arizona? Mat Sherman, Phoenix native and founder of Seedscout, is raising the alarm—and the community’s attention—as Axon, one of Arizona’s most successful tech companies, faces political pushback on plans to expand its Scottsdale headquarters. In this episode, we go Inside the Ascent to unpack what this moment really means for Arizona’s future as a hub for innovation.

Podcast Interviews

From Chaos to Clarity: How Missy Feldman is Transforming Spaces and Lives

What does it take to turn a natural talent into a successful business? Missy Feldman, founder of No Mess With Missy, transformed her love for organizing into a thriving professional service that helps Arizonans reclaim their spaces. In this episode, we dive into Missy’s journey—from her background in media and film to becoming a sought-after professional organizer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.