Developing a creative, supportive work atmosphere within a collective of single-shingle businesses requires humor, respect, and a scheduling board. The collaborative vibe of Studio 650 has lasted more than a decade, making it a case study in successful office dynamics. Photographers Balfour Walker, Chris Mooney, Martha Lockert, Britta Van Vranken, and graphic designer and production coordinator, Leslie Evans, are 650 Studio. And while the group takes their name from the street address of the nondescript block building they share, the synergy and camaraderie they’ve created is far from humdrum. For more, click download button above!

When Mario Gonzalez started cycling, he rode at night, peddling along The Loop on his clunker with thick tires. Topping 435 pounds, Gonzalez, an El Rio Community Health Center currier, didn’t want to hear anyone snicker about his weight, so he rode when nobody would see him.  He rode the fat-tired bulky bike because a fast road bike with skinny tires wouldn’t support him. But that was then. In 2013’s El Tour de Tucson, Gonzalez rode with the pack, finishing the 81-mile distance on a sleek Litespeed C3 with an all carbon fiber frame. For more, click download button above!

Eating gelato is a workday perk for Jeff Kaiserman and Stephen Ochoa, owners of Frost, a Gelato Shoppe. A well deserved one too, as they operate nine shops, including three stores in Tucson and franchise outlets in Phoenix, Chicago, and Albuquerque, as well as in the Middle East. Crunched for time already, rewarding themselves with one of Frost’s 38 gourmet flavors is about to become less frequent, as Kaiserman and Ochoa will open two more stores by the end of the year, including a second shop in Kuwait. For more, click download button above!