Phoenix, AZ  -  

Twelve Valley companies have been accepted for the next APS Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority and Women-owned Enterprises (AAAME).

Launched by APS in 1997, the purpose of this program is to teach small-business owners the skills necessary for their companies to succeed. This is done through training in such areas as strategic planning, finance, management/operations and marketing. Students then are partnered with advisers from both the non-profit and private sector – including APS volunteers, business consultants and retired executives – who can lend lessons learned from their own experiences in the business world. The academy is free to those accepted.

The companies accepted for the next class:

	Capuzzo Construction Inc., Cave Creek		Controls West Inc., Tempe
	Diversified Diamond Products, Phoenix		Estudio Ray, Phoenix
	Excel Plating Technology Inc., Chandler		Fiber Force Communications Inc., Phoenix
	Morrison Group Inc., Phoenix		Nettie’s Gift Baskets, Tucson
	nFocus Software, Phoenix		One Way Electric Inc., Phoenix
	Royal Dental Lab, Mesa		Serenity Travel Group, Gilbert

The next session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday and will be held at the AAAME office, 502 S. 2^nd Ave. in Phoenix. Students meet once a week for two to three hours for an 11-week "boot camp," then are matched with an advisory council for up to two years. To qualify for AAAME, applicants should have established business operations in the Valley for at least one year and display a potential to grow.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 874,000 customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the largest subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).

Damon Gross
(602) 250-2269