I must disagree with Mr. Ray. Not a bad economy, bad business leaders. Leaders who don’t see importance of 21st Century communications tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.

Leaders who want to hire inexperience in preference to experienced, often mature, workers (see Friday’s USA Today and today’s Chamber announcement of its new VP of Public Affairs – Chamber press release says, “FORMER ARIZONA DIRECTOR for National Federation of Independent Business. She had been with the NFIB for 10 years, and her last day was Friday. The small-business group is in the process of interviews for a replacement and hopes to have someone in place by the end of the month, a spokeswoman said.”

So she was the DIRECTOR of NFIB, yet the Career Builder ad listed at Indeed.com is for Outside Sales Representative for her replacement. You need to question the Chamber’s selection process. Again, a lack of leadership insight.).

Hence, the economy isn’t bad. It’s that Phoenix has lousy leaders. Which may be another reason the deadline has been extended.

I have a better idea for awards – how about leaders who made a PROFIT at their organizations last year instead of DISCRIMINATING with under 35?