In the inaugural edition of its annual report, the Arizona Technology Council recaps a year of strong results to help demonstrate why it has become the state’s voice for technology and the driving force behind the effort to make Arizona the fastest-growing tech hub in the nation. “This report crystalizes how strategic elements that we have honed for years contribute to a … [More]
March 2015 President’s Message
As president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, I often am asked to help shape public policy affecting the state’s tech industry. (If you want to know more about two measures that are part of our focus in this legislative session, see Page 3 in this section.) But it’s my work as chairman of Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) that takes me to Capitol Hill to … [More]
Common Ground
Arizona universities have experienced an increase in the number of degrees granted in high-demand fields, including those requiring emphases in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). According to the Arizona Board of Regents, credentials in the fields grew from 4 percent in the 2009-2010 academic year to 47 percent in 2013-2014 school year. An interest in STEM … [More]
ROI Worth Raves
As the Arizona Technology Council tries to get the Arizona Legislature in the 2015 session to recapitalize one tax credit program and expand another, two reports authored by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) show substantial return on both so far that make proposed changes worth pursuing. Included in the Council’s legislative priorities are recapitalization of the Angel … [More]
Business Essentials
Finding cost-effective ways to get the products and services needed to keep a business operating is a challenge for any company. When they also are essential to help retain quality employees, they can become mission critical. But when the competition is made up of goliaths with deep pockets, the challenge can seem even larger to small businesses, especially tech firms trying to … [More]
At the Top
Ron Thompson Jr. has been named the new chair of the Arizona Technology Council’s Phoenix CEO Network. In his regular career, Thompson is Senior Vice President – Western US at DataBank IMX, one of the largest enterprise document management solution companies in North America. “Ron is a genuine, down-to-earth business leader with a passion for helping organizations, employees … [More]
Welcome Aboard
Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy is senior vice president for research at The University of Arizona. As the university’s chief research officer and a member of the president’s senior executive team, Espy is charged with advancing transformative excellence in research across the campus toward achievement of the goals articulated in Never Settle, the … [More]
Giving Back
STEM Drive In partnership with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Arizona Technology Council’s Phoenix Ambassador Committee launched and promoted a STEM Drive leading up to the Jobing.com-presented After5 Networking Event/Tech the Hall Holiday Party. Council member companies were encouraged to donate STEM-related items for use in 1 Darn Cool School, the school … [More]
2015 Public Policy Guide
As the nation prepares to vote for new lawmakers at the state and federal levels, the Arizona Technology Council and its Public Policy Committee already have prepared a slate of public policy positions intended to make Arizona the best place for technology firms to do business. The 2015 Public Policy Guide offers key ideas, goals and legislative initiatives that: Improve … [More]
Steven G. Zylstra Message: Nov. 2014
As a business leader in Arizona, I’m passionate about making sure our state is building a competitive economy that creates jobs. As a parent, I’ve always tried to instill the value of a good education into my children’s core beliefs. It’s always been easy for me to see how the two issues are intrinsically intertwined. The world is rapidly changing, and if Arizona is going to … [More]
Colombia Connection
When the Arizona SciTech Festival was created, one of the ideas was to use science, technology, engineering and math as a way to draw the state together. Little did organizers realize it had the potential to bring the world closer together. Launched by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and Arizona State University in 2012, the festival’s success was to be partially … [More]
Setting the Pace
Eric S. Lewis, Partner, EY Lewis was appointed to a three-year board term in April. He also will serve as treasurer on the executive committee. At EY, he is an audit partner, serving SEC registrants, private-equity investees and venture-capital-funded private companies in the technology and life science industries. He has extensive experience serving semiconductor, … [More]
TechConnect
The Arizona Technology Council has partnered with the Arizona Commerce Authority to launch new blog and digital e-magazine formats of TechConnect: Arizona’s Technology Magazine. Arizona’s tech leaders have turned to TechConnect as a trusted source on what’s happening within the state’s innovation ecosystem since the Council launched it as a print publication in 2005. … [More]
Rodriguez named new VP for Southern Arizona office
Alex Rodriguez has been named vice president of the Arizona Technology Council’s Southern Arizona Regional Office in Tucson. The native Arizonan was promoted from his role as director of the office, which he joined in August 2012. “Alex has done a great job of supporting the numerous technology companies in southern Arizona as well as promoting the technology industry at … [More]
Tech Policy in Arizona
In the course of the second regular session of the 51st Legislature, which began Jan. 13 and ended April 24, Arizona policymakers delivered some victories as well as some defeats for the Arizona Technology Council and its members. Here, we recap the key technology- and other business-related bills introduced during this legislative session. 2014 Tech-Related Legislative … [More]
Return on Investment
Time and money are tight, so an investment in either one had better bring results. For visitors and collaborators of this year’s Arizona SciTech Festival, the numbers are in and they indicate each group gained the return it expected. The third annual SciTech Festival held Feb. 1 through March 29 was a statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering and math … [More]
Steven G. Zylstra Message: July 2014
This is the time of year that our thoughts typically focus on one thing: getting away from it all. At last, it’s time for the annual summer vacation. But if you’re a CEO, can you afford to get away? Any executive coach will tell you that getting out of the office to catch your breath and just think instead of react is necessary from time to time. And with an economic recovery … [More]
Middle School Science Bowl
Q: At the surface of the Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is g. At an elevation of twice the Earth’s radius, what best represents the acceleration due to gravity? Odds are, members of a team from BASIS Scottsdale would tell you the answer is “g/9.” And they were just one of the teams from the charter school that competed earlier this year in the annual Middle School … [More]
