AZ Business Magazine

Arizona Business Magazine, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, is a monthly business magazine. Published by AZ Big Media, the magazine covers a wide range of topics focusing on the Arizona business scene and is aimed at high-level corporate executives and business owners.

History
Arizona Business Magazine began in 1985, when publisher Michael Atkinson purchased a 2-year-old publication called Arizona Office Guide to Phoenix, a quarterly controlled circulation magazine of 7,000 that focused solely on the Phoenix office market.

In 1986, the publication’s name was changed to Arizona Business & Development Magazine. It also broadened its commercial real estate focus and increased circulation to 20,000.

The publication's name was changed to Arizona Business Magazine in 1988. The publication expanded its readership to 25,000 as it started to cover the entire Arizona business industry. Additionally, Arizona Business Magazine switched to a bimonthly publication schedule.

Arizona Business Magazine also introduced special supplements. In partnership with area business organizations, Arizona Business Magazine publishes special sections within its pages on association groups, their work and their members. Arizona Business Magazine re-prints copies of the supplements with their own covers free of charge to each association.

Arizona Business Magazine today
In February 2008, Arizona Business Magazine became a monthly publication to increase its market share and distribution. Since becoming monthly, the magazine has featured stories on such Arizona-based companies as U.S. Airways, Shamrock Foods, Dial Corp. and AVNET. The magazine has also tackled major issues affecting the state economy, such as the sub-prime collapse, the credit crunch, international trade and sustainability. In addition, the magazine has examined the state’s immigration issue.

Of the Arizona business and community leaders profiled in the magazine, the list includes Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, former NBA Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, Bashas' Family of Stores Chairman Eddie Basha Jr., as well as Gov. Janet Napolitano and former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. Experts from Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business are quoted within the pages of Arizona Business Magazine.

Despite the changes, the supplements still remain an important part of Arizona Business Magazine. Organizations featured in the supplements include the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Valley Forward, East Valley Partnership, the Arizona Hospital & Healthcare Association, and the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The magazine later returned to a bimonthly publication schedule.

Leadership
The top leadership at AZ Big Media consists of:


 * Michael Atkinson, president and CEO
 * Audrey Webb, vice president of operations
 * Cheryl Green, publisher
 * Michael Gossie, editor-in-chief