BUSINESS
Skin cancer myths & misinformation BY NEIL P SUPERFON DO FAAD, JAY METHA DO, MATTHEW LAMCA PA-C
Thirty participants were honored during Buckeye's first Business Builder Startup Academy, designed to give local small business owners the skills they need to succeed in Buckeye.
• A tan is proof of sun damage to your skin, it does not protect your skin from burning. • Sunscreen prevents skin cancer. It does NOT cause skin cancer. • Indoor tanning is especially dangerous and strongly linked to melanoma and other skin cancers. Misinformation Q&A Do I really need sun protection on a cloudy or cold day? Yes, you need sun protection every day. Up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can penetrate clouds. UV radiation is present year-round, and you can still get sun damage and sunburn on an overcast day. Does using sunscreen completely protect me from skin cancer? No, sunscreen alone does not protect you completely. Sunscreen is a key part of a protection strategy that also includes wearing protective clothing
and seeking shade, especially during peak sun hours. What you should do: • tay Sun Smart: Protect your skin every day, year-round. • Know Your Skin: Check it monthly for anything new, changing or unusual • Get Screened by a Dermatologist: At least once a year for a full body skin cancer screening.
The facts A
s skin cancer rates steadily rise, 1 in 5 people younger than 70 will develop skin cancer. Myths and misinformation are running
rampant online. Unsafe tan-maxxing trends, false sunscreen claims and misconceptions about skin cancer have no basis in science. Worse, they endanger public health. • Anyone at any age and with any skin tone can get skin cancer. Nobody is immune. • Skin cancer is serious; it can be disfiguring, emotionally damaging and deadly. • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and tanning beds is a proven carcinogen and the main cause of most skin cancers.
602-754-6075 865 S. Watson Road, Suite 212
EMPOWERING SMALL BUSINESS Buckeye Startup Academy graduates first class of entrepreneurs
SPONSORED CONTENT
BY DAVID KENNARD
T HIRTY ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE COMPLETED THE CITY OF BUCKEYE’S INAUGURAL BUSINESS Builder Startup Academy, a milestone city leaders say could help strengthen the local economy by creating new businesses, jobs and investment opportunities. “The success of this first cohort reflects the incredible entrepreneurial spirit we have in Buckeye,” said Maria Riebs, economic development coordinator for the City of Buckeye. “These participants committed 10 months to learning, growing and building their businesses, and it was inspiring to see their progress come to life on pitch night. We are so proud of each graduate and excited to continue supporting them as they move forward.”
veterans throughout the community. “The core of the Ivory Strong Foundation is a belief, more than a belief, it's an unwavering faith that with the right resources, every child has the potential to script their own future and better yet, their own destiny,” Ivory said City officials said the academy's first graduating class demonstrates growing entrepreneurial interest in Buckeye, a contrast to past efforts that have traditionally focused on attracting large employers, retailers and industrial projects. Programs such as the Startup Academy aim to ensure local residents also have access to the tools needed to build successful businesses within the community. Following the success of the inaugural cohort, city officials plan to launch a second Startup Academy class in January 2027. Applications are expected to open this fall. The Business Builder Startup Academy is one component of the city's larger Buckeye Business Builder program, marking the beginning of what city leaders hope will be a new generation of locally grown businesses contributing to the city's economic future.
BRENDA ANN BRUEHL GRI, ABR, SRS, CRPM REALTOR ® | PROPERTY MANAGER Why choose Brenda? • Lifelong West Valley resident
CULTUM FOR ERIC RE-ELECT
The program concluded with a graduation ceremony and business pitch competition attended by nearly 100 people, including Mayor Eric Orsborn, business mentors, community partners and graduates’ family members. Participants pitched business ideas before a live audience, showcasing ventures ranging from startup concepts to growing enterprises. One entrepreneur emerged as the evening's standout. Kevin Ivory, founder of the Ivory Strong Foundation, earned all three top honors awarded during the competition: Mayor's Choice, Audience Choice and Best Pitch. His presentation highlighted the organization's mission of supporting youth and military
The 10-month program, launched through the city's Buckeye Business Builder initiative, helps entrepreneurs move from business concepts to operational companies through training, mentorship and access to resources. Participants received instruction on topics critical to launching and sustaining a business, including business planning, marketing strat- egies, licensing requirements, taxes, insurance, financing, artificial intelligence applications, public speaking and investor pitching. Economic development officials view the academy as part of a broader effort to diversify Buckeye’s business community and support homegrown entrepreneurship alongside the city’s rapid population and commercial growth.
• 30+ years of real estate expertise • Local market insight you can trust • Residential, land sales & property management BuckeyeAZRealEstate.com Serving: • Goodyear • Buckeye • Avondale • Phoenix & West Valley
InBuckeye.com | July/August 2026
July/August 2026 | InBuckeye.com
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