Having been in business now for over 31 years, Pacific Office Automation now has sales locations in 5 different Western states with their headquarters in the state of  Oregon. POA has become the industry’s largest independent dealers for brands you know and trust such as Konica Minolta, Sharp, Toshiba, Canon, and Ricoh. You can buy or lease copiers that fit your needs in your office. They offer 3-in-1 copiers that will scan, fax, and copy with just a few touches. If you’re a small office with 1 or 2 employees and you only need a desktop printer, POA offers those too.

Looking to buy or lease copiers? Forget about those companies in which you have to make your order online or call it in and they’ll ship it. Pacific Office Automation houses their inventory and products locally so there’s no wait time. They also claim a 4 hour guarantee for customer service so when  your copy machine runs out of toner and you have that big project to print for a presentation or meeting, POA will have it to you right away!

If you’re in the market to buy or lease copiers and you’re not really familiar with the various functions of copy machines, scanners, and printers, POA will place equipment in your office for free with free delivery and set up for you to try the machine out. You like it? They’ll come pick up the demo machine and bring you out a new one.

Most would say a copy machine is a copy machine and that may be somewhat true. It’s the excellence in customer service that places POA above the rest.

Located in the Phoenix Metro Area and would like to discuss buying and leasing copy machines for your business needs? Contact Scott Flak at 602-707-1968 or email him at sflak@pacificoffice.com. Located in Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, or Utah? Contact 1-888-896-9029.

Lifetime Fitness is an upscale gym that began in Minnesota and has now expanded to more than 17 other states throughout the United States. Lifetime Fitness is a 24 hour facility that offers indoor/outdoor pools (in some locations), hundreds of different cardio circuit training machines, classes with instructors and trainers, daycare for ages 3 mos. to 11 yrs. of age, rock climbing and racquet ball courts and tennis courts, and so much more!

Lifetime Fitness offers 4 levels of membership so you can get what you need to fit within your budget. The facilities have everything you need including a spa, hair salon, a cafe, and more. The membership prices are affordable for what you get with it but the spa, hair salon, cafe and other ammenities are quite overpriced. The customer service definitely lacks, as the employees don’t know whether they are coming or going, what’s where, what’s open when, and what you can or can’t do so it isn’t what draws you in but the free lockers, towels, 24 hour convenience and daycare are enough for me to say it’s worth it.

Our experience at the Lifetime Fitness in Tempe, AZ has been fair. Almost down the middle. If we had to rate it, we would rate it at a 5 out of 10. The pros being the ones I just mentioned above and the cons being the worst customer service with their staff. An example of this was that it was our first day at the gym as a member and we wanted to get food by the outside pool. We knew there was this ammenity offered. When I asked the towel desk if it was open, they said no. I asked if I purchased food at the Life Cafe inside if I could bring it outside to the pool. They said no they didn’t think so. I went to the Life Cafe and asked and they said they weren’t “sure” and that was the extent. I had to actually ask the girl behind the counter to find out if she didn’t know. Who says they don’t know and are too lazy to find out the answer? Then I order a fountain drink (seeing the large fountain drink station behind them), they say they don’t have pop that dispenses from the fountain, only bottles. Then to top it all off, I go out to the pool to have lunch and guess what!!!!??? The outdoor cafe is OPEN! Truly amazing! Seems like the cafe, the pool, the rock climbing, and everything else has all different hours. Nothing is consistent there!

Needless to say, if it weren’t such a nice gym that offered us 24 hour convenience and a nice pool, we’d probably look elsewhere.

Ever wonder how cell phones actually work? Cell phones transmit through signals from cell phone towers. Cell tower antennas are regulated through the FCC. These cell towers then transmit the frequency to the cell phones and with today’s technology this has allowed phones to get much more technical.

Cell phone users can now transmit things other than just a phone call. Users can now send pictures, videos, view the internet, and probably most popular, send text messages and now carriers are providing the service to send a text message to a landline.

None of these services would be possible without the placement of cell towers across the country and throughout the world. So even though you don’t think about it, you’ve likely heard your cell phone carrier advertising they “have more bars”  or  are expanding their network.  Recently I remember all of the commercials I’d hear about how AT&T was expanding their network within Arizona. I would assume that all cell phone companies like Sprint, T Mobile, Verizon and others are constantly continuing to broaden their network and coverage area by leasing cell tower sites in more areas to provide more coverage to more people.

Now you see why a company who offers cell tower leases would be a very profitable market. The need for cell phones has rapidly increased and is not slowing down any time soon. The companies listed above (Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) and more have to continue to lease cell phone towers to stay competitive.

I don’t have specific companies to recommend or write about within this industry of cell towers but I thought it was interesting information and it gives the opportunitites for those in the business to leave comments and provide more insight and information to those who are looking for more info.

Have you ever searched for a company that offers laser engraving services and laser cutting for things like awards, signs, personalizing, etc. If you’re looking to get into the engraving and personalization service or perhaps you are already and looking for cutting edge new technology, you may want to find a company who specializes in this buisness who is willing to do the laser engraving or cutting or find a company who actually sells laser cutting machines.

If you’re looking for a Starter Kit that can get you and your business up and running, you’ll want to find companies that sell the equipment and/or programs. A company who offers laser engraving and cutting can be quite profitable. By searching for terms like “laser engraving” or “laser cutting”, you are sure to come across what you’re looking for like industry news, product information, possibly a how-to video, request more information or read up on the advantages and the benefits of the various systems and much more.

Lately, I’ve been hearing a buzz about people who are personalizing electronics like their Ipods and laptops. Instead of using skins or pouches, you can have a more permanent effect and make it your own with laser engraving. If you want to see more about this you can visit social media sites that promotes videos and see how that works.

From being a student at ASU to growing up and moving on, I have lived in Arizona for quite some time now and I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of Arizona. Whether it’s here in Phoenix, down south in Tucson in the desert area or up north there’s much more to do than most realize in Arizona. From the desert landscape to the peaceful mountain area up north.

My wife and I like to visit Show Low, Arizona when we want a nice weekend getaway where it’s cool. It is a quite and peaceful town with all of the ammenitites you need. It’s a nice getaway from the busy city. We have recently been in contact with White Mountain Heritage Realty as we are looking at vacation homes for sale in the area they specialize in.

With the real estate market and economy as bad as it is right now, it was a concern of ours to partner with a reputable real estate agency so we knew we weren’t going to be fed what we wanted to hear just for the agent to make their sale. We have found that White Mountain Heritage Realty has friendly agents and offers good sound advice even if it means it takes away from a potential sale. We feel they have our best interest at heart and not their pockets.

The real estate agents at White Mountain Heritage Realty can provide you with the area information along with the houses for sale in the Show Low Bluff community. You’ll see for yourself there is golf, hiking trails for a nice morning hike, and parks for the kids to play ball in. Just minutes away from the Show Low Bluff community you will also have lake access to have a nice family day out on the lake and soak up the sun while enjoying comfortable weather.  

My wife and I would recommend White Mountain Heritage Realty to friends and family should they be in the market for a home in the Show Low area. You can visit them online as well as contacting them directly toll free at 1-888-752-5833.

I recently had the chance to meet Art Deden of Vista Practice Management. Vista Practice Management is a dental practice management consulting firm located in Mesa, AZ but serving dentists throughout Arizona including Phoenix, Tuscon and everything in between and around.

I learned in speaking with Art the services he provides and the value of the service to dentists in Arizona. I also learned that if it’s one thing dentists aren’t great at - making their business grow and taking their business and profits to the next level. Art and his company offers dentists in Arizona practice management skills that enables dentists to do so. Vista provides dentists to find solutions that “work”.

Vista Practice Management offers 3 different levels of service to dentists in Arizona. The Power Start level is for new dentists opening a new practice who wish to do so successfully. The next level offered is Breakthrough. This level is for the “seasoned” practices that feel they’ve exhausted their efforts and have not achieved their goals. The final level they offer is called Recare. This is for practices who are looking to go to the next level but do not feel they need or are ready for the Breakthrough services.

Art has been offering his services in dental practice management for over 14 years. Art is a highly skilled at what he does and is a professional individual that can offer your dental practice exactly what it needs to move up and move on to the next level.

If your dental practice is located in Arizona and are looking for a practice management firm, inquire here or visit www.vistapracticemanagement.com.

Ronan & Firestone, PLC is an Arizona law firm that specializes in corporate, complex commercial litigation, appellate, transactional, estate planning and computer services law services to companies in a variety of industries.

Their website offers a resources section with articles in the areas of law they practice. In addition, they have a links page to the main areas of law assistance as well as federal, state and local government agencies. After visiting their office in Scottsdale, there was no doubt in my mind their representation would be of the highest quality.

I happen to personally know one of their attorneys, Veronica Manolio. She is of great integrity and would do an outstanding job for you and/or your business. I am always impressed by her knowledge in the areas of her expertise. Veronica specifically focuses on commercial litigation, civil litigation, criminal defense, personal injury and alternative dispute resolution and was recently featured in the Scottsdale Airpark magazine.

For more information on Ronan & Firestone, visit their website at www.ronan-firestone.com

Design Diva Fabrics is an online fabric store that offers discount upholstery fabrics and discount designer fabrics for interior decoration.

Christopher Edwards is a 25 year old entreprenuer who began Design Diva Fabrics online after he successfully started the business on Ebay about 5 years ago. After a major success on Ebay he opened up Design Diva Fabrics online.

Recently, Chris started a “vote up count down” social media widget that gets his visitors and buyers actively involved in a way that gets his users to want to continue to return to his site to “vote up” their favorite fabric in hopes that it becomes the “most popular” fabric and if and when it does, the price starts to reduce by the second. You must be a registered user to “vote up” your favorite fabric. To do so, you must be a current customer of Design Diva Fabrics. How to become a customer? Just make a purchase of any amount of any products.

Design Diva Fabrics carries designer fabrics like Cowtan and Towt, Scalamandre, and Brunschwig and Fils, Beacon Hill and more. Prices for the upholstery and interior designer fabrics are so low and of such great quality you won’t need to shop anywhere else.

Christopher Edwards was recently interviewed for Entreprenuer.com and an article may be published in an upcoming edition. Learn more about Christopher Edwards and his designer fabric business by visiting www.designdivafabrics.com.

A great lunch spot I found in North Scottsdale is Pasta Pomodoro.  My colleagues and I frequent this restaurant for lunch and I can tell you there is no better value on your lunch hour for the quality Italian food they serve.

Pasta Pomodoro offers $5 lunch specials in that can’t be beat in Scottsdale.  I personally tried every one of their lunch entrees and while all are very good, I will always get the baked rigatoni.  This dish along with the bread and pesto sauce is a must try.

They are located on the southwest corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and Scottsdale Road.  You can visit their website www.pastapomodoro.com for a menu and list of locations.

This Scottsdale, AZ based company is a premier supplier of iced and hot teas in the food and beverage industry.  The two founders of the company started the business out of a garage in 1982.  Today, they are a leader of fine teas in the beverage business.

China Mist specializes in unflavored and flavored black iced teas,  iced green teas, decaffeinated iced teas as well as organic iced teas.  Being a Scottsdale resident, I stopped in to China Mist and was warmly greeted by their company.  They were kind enough to let me try their teas and needless to say, I was impressed.  I have personally tried their passion fruit and mango flavored iced teas and I wouldn’t buy any other brand.

If you are a tea lover, their website offers a tea encyclopedia so that you can become more educated on teas.  The company offers a guarantee that if you are not satisfied with their product they will replace your purchase or return your money.  From the quality employees to the quality teas, this is a must try.  They couldn’t make it easier as they have an online store to purchase their products.

I highly encourage you to visit them online at www.chinamist.com