Business

Business briefs for the week of Dec. 17.

The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce will begin the new year with a new board of directors with the election of Keith Kirkman, president and CEO of Orbitel Communications, Wells Fargo Bank branch manager Anthony Snider and Long Realty Alliance agent Bill Wasowicz.

Jason Baer is the founder of an award-winning interactive marketing agency, Mighty Interactive, and director of strategy, marketing and media for the marketing communications firm Off Madison Ave. He has worked with more than 700 companies around the country, and on Monday, he'll be adding Maricopa businesses to that list.

Taco del Mar could return to Maricopa after a series of events that led to the closure of the Mexican food restaurant and the Arizona Dave's restaurant that briefly replaced it at 21101 N. John Wayne Pkwy., Suite E105.

Local Allstate insurance agent Minerva Hendrix is hoping to put smiles on many faces during this season for giving.

Business Briefs for the week of Dec. 10.

For the second consecutive year, Desert Sun Performing Arts is hosting a holiday toy drive for needy children. Half the toys collected will be given to Against Abuse, a shelter for battered women, and half will be given to the Maricopa Fire Department for distribution.

Looking at a row of empty kennels at the Pinal County Animal Care and Control Center, Ruth Stalter says it's nice to see vacancies at the shelter, especially during the holidays.

Bashas' and CBS 5 have joined together to hold the Bashas' & CBS 5 Holiday Food Drive, a month-long drive to help ease the strain of the holiday demands on food banks in Arizona. The drive and benefits members the Association of Arizona Food Banks and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Raceway Bar & Grill, Table Top Bar & Grill and DVD Game Depot are featured in this week's Business Briefs.

Business briefs for the week of Nov. 19.

Entrees Made Easy is encouraging Maricopans to start a new family tradition this Thanksgiving: don't cook.

Nov. 17 marks the first anniversary of Tail Waggers Pet Sitting.

The city of Maricopa is launching this one-time event to assist in promoting local business awareness and economic growth. From Nov. 12 to Jan. 7 businesses will able to utilize additional signage, decorations and displays to promote holiday shopping.

A new City employee, a local fundraiser, a church relocation, an upcoming chamber event and a retro-style Halloween highlight this week's business briefs.

Desert Sun Performing Arts, Desert Star Gymnastics and the Maricopa MOMS Club staged the inaugural Oktoberfest for kids Saturday, raising more than $1,000 for homeless kids in the process.

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) has finalized its appointments for the 2008 fiscal year, and City of Maricopa Mayor Kelly Anderson was selected.

Jason Baer, founder of award-winning interactive agency Mighty Interactive, has been providing Internet consulting since the inception of the medium in 1994. On Nov. 27, he's going to do so for Maricopa businesses as keynote of a business seminar entitled "Internet Marketing that Works. Effective Tactics on a Reasonable Budget."

The Water Boy recently opened on West Honeycutt Road. Co-owner Sergio Hernandez spoke to inmaricopa.com about the business.

A gathering of local businesses to celebrate Halloween, a garden and landscape class, a second annual crafts fair and the opportunity to network among area businesses highlight this week's business briefs.

The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce board nominations are in as Executive Director Terri Kingery looks to welcome some new members. Chamber members will have until approximately the middle of December to make their selections.

A chance to hear an author read from one of her books at an area bookstore, a workshop to help local businesses, a gathering of local businesses to celebrate Halloween and the opportunity to network among area businesses highlight this week's business briefs.

Keeping people smiling is a good reason to open an orthodontics practice in any town. Premier Orthodontics set up shop in Maricopa and has been constructing happy smiles ever since. Operated by Dr. Coles and Dr. Glovsky, the practice started in December of 2005.

Maricopa residents look like they'll have a new bank to call home sometime next year.

Ever wanted to start a small business or learn how to keep one running?

A chance to catch some good food and some football, night classes for area working moms, fighting domestic violence and the opportunity to help homeless children in Maricopa are among the highlights in this week's business briefs.

Another business is hoping that Maricopa is the place to be as it grows the company. Poco Loco is owned by Darrel Templeton, Sonja Templeton and Dareece Rosales. The shop opened in Maricopa in 2006, previously having a business in Bisbee from 1992 to 2005.

Elections for new officers on the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are ongoing. Chamber members whose dues are current are eligible to run.

A day to help homeless children in Maricopa schools, assisting the cheerleaders in Maricopa and night classes for working moms highlight this week's business briefs.

Danielle Casey is a Management Assistant II in the city manager's office in Maricopa. inmaricopa.com recently spoke with her to learn more about her job, what a typical day is like for her, and where she sees the city going.