Message From The Editor
This year transformed Arizona Ascent. We expanded our editorial team, welcomed new partners, reimagined our brand, and prepared to celebrate our two-year anniversary in 2026. From statewide founder stories to the launch of the Business Impact Awards and an editorial partnership with Silicon Oasis, our momentum is unmistakable. Arizona is rising—and so are the voices shaping its future.
-Jennifer N. Conrad, Editor-in-Chief
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Inside This Issue
The Year Arizona Found It’s Balance
By the time December arrived, something unmistakable had settled over the Valley. After five years of market extremes—rising prices, tightening supply, shifting interest rates, and…
The Art of Thoughtful Giving: Gifts That Don’t Create Clutter
The holidays are supposed to feel joyful, not overwhelming. But between sales, wrapping paper, and one-too-many “just in case” gifts, it’s easy for generosity to turn into clutter.
Pearl Nutrition: Blending Wellness and Community, One Smoothie at a Time
For many, health food stops are a quick in-and-out experience. You grab your smoothie, and maybe a protein bar, and you’re gone. But at Pearl Nutrition in Fountain Hills, Arizona, the…
Honoring the Entrepreneurs Who Build Arizona’s Future
Last year, we launched the inaugural Small Business Impact Awards to spotlight the founders whose work gives Arizona its heartbeat. We knew these entrepreneurs were shaping their communities —…
Building Arizona’s Underground Cinema
When Tucson filmmaker David Pike talks about storytelling, there’s a sense of lifelong passion in his voice. “I’ve always been a storyteller,” he says. “Growing up, I was always writing…
Arizona’s 2025 Tax Shakeup
2025 was one of the most eventful tax years in recent memory. Between new federal rules, evolving Arizona credits, and major reporting changes affecting everyday taxpayers, this year brought…
A Defining Year For Arizona Ascent
As we head into Arizona Ascent’s two-year anniversary this January, this past year stands out as the clearest turning point since launching the magazine. 2025 was the year everything came into…
