Leaders whose headquarters may be on the other side of the country or the planet sometimes have no choice but to rely on seat-of-the-pants reactions when called upon to make the hard local decisions that, in turn, may impact the entire organization. Help is here, thanks to the Arizona Technology Council. Formerly known as the Phoenix CEO Network, the Phoenix – Executive … [More]
Avnet, Job Trends and Best Buddies
Employment growth is strongest in sectors shaped by digital transformation and artificial intelligence. IT roles are expanding due to increased demand for cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development and data analytics. STEM positions are also rising as technical expertise becomes critical for innovation and automation. Sales roles now require proficiency with digital … [More]
New Products and Services With Bonuses Offered to Council Members
A new year brings new additions to the list of companies and organizations that provide products and services with discounts to Arizona Technology Council member companies and their employees. Oracle – NetSuite’s powerful cloud business software is offered through the NetSuite Associations and Buying Groups Program, with members receiving 40% off new subscriptions. NetSuite is … [More]
President and CEO Joins Binational Science and Innovation Organization’s Board
Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute, has been appointed to United States-Mexico Foundation for Science’s board of governors. The Foundation is more commonly known as FUMEC (Fundación México-Estados Unidos para la Ciencia), a binational, non-governmental organization created to promote cross-border collaboration in … [More]
3 Named to AZTC Board
Directors bring backgrounds in academia and law
Paul Lambertson, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at Grand Canyon University; Charles B. Chadwell, dean of the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering at Northern Arizona University; and Heather Buchta, partner and chair of the IT and Tech Transactions Team at Quarles & Brady, were elected unanimously recently to serve three-year terms on the Arizona Technology … [More]
STEM for All
Kits Expand Access to Hands-On Learning across State
Access to hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) has been uneven for many students across Arizona, particularly in rural and historically underserved communities. But a solution is now available through a program launched by SciTech Institute, a collaborative initiative of the Arizona Technology Council and Arizona Commerce Authority. STEM for … [More]
A Place to Call Home
Explosive growth of data triggers need for more Arizona-based centers
Arizona is playing a growing role in a global challenge: managing the enormous amount of data created every day. From smart devices to virtual meetings to online shopping, data is now at the heart of how businesses operate, as well as how people live and work. Behind all of it are data centers that store, process and move digital information around the clock. Several powerful … [More]
Powering Innovation
Council makes case for solar and battery systems to meet energy needs
It’s a straightforward equation: more businesses + more people = higher energy demand. This is what Arizona faces in communities both large and small across the state. And about the only thing to change in the calculation will be a multiplier that increases as the years pass and the commercial and resident populations grow. The Arizona Technology Council has embraced the … [More]
President’s Message
Call it taking the quantum lead. I’m referring to Arizona’s advancements in quantum computing. What’s that? To help, here’s a short course: Pretend your computer is a light switch. It’s either on or off. In computer speak, it uses bits that are either 0 or 1 to process information. By comparison, quantum computers are like switches featuring both dimmers for lights and … [More]
Why We Chose an ESOP for Our Growth, Succession and Legacy Options
Restaurant transitions a unique benefit for its employees
In October 2025, our family-owned restaurant announced we were doing something unique: After more than five decades, Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen transitioned 49% of company ownership to eligible employees in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Now as an ESOP, one out of three Spinato’s employees is an owner. An ESOP is an employee benefit plan that provides … [More]
Pinyon Serves Up a Culinary Mediterranean Adventure
Pinyon Coastal Mediterranean offers its guests an expansive view of the tree-studded grassy park within a circle of business and municipal buildings — the somewhat hidden gem of Scottsdale Civic Center mall. This relaxing setting was secured after a very deliberate search by Hi Noon Hospitality founding partner Adam Strecker to meet his desire to recreate the expansive … [More]
Read Me
With the number of emails we all get, what makes us open some while skipping past others? And, more importantly, how can we put our own emails in that first category? High-performance email tactics was the topic of a well-attended master class presented by Jay Schwedelson at Thryv’s recent Grow 2025 Conference, where the founder of GURU Media Hub and SubjectLine.com, CEO of … [More]
2026 BMW i7
The 2026 BMW i7 plays to an executive audience that values quiet competence over theatrics. In Phoenix traffic, it remains unflaggingly calm, with isolation and body control that feel purpose-built for long days between Camelback meetings and late returns from Sky Harbor. Materials and switchgear are tactile rather than flashy, and the interface is orderly enough that the … [More]
The Generosity Commission
Group investigates declining volunteer and giving trends
The number of Americans who volunteer in civic organizations and who give to nonprofits has plummeted in recent years, with as many as 20 million households dropping out of giving between 2010 and 2016. While fewer donors are actually giving larger amounts — making up the financial gap in many organizations and increasing philanthropy overall — the more concerning trend is … [More]
How the Tempe Diablos Turned Civic Pride into Lasting Impact: From the Ballpark to the Heart of Tempe
For more than half a century, the Tempe Diablos have demonstrated how civic pride, when paired with committed volunteer leadership, can evolve into lasting community impact. What began in the late 1960s as an effort to put Tempe on the map as a spring training destination has grown into one of the Valley’s most respected volunteer‑led philanthropic organizations, one that … [More]
Personal Guaranties: A Liability Every Arizona Business Owner Should Understand
You Signed What?!
Don and Dora are Arizona natives who’ve built a stable, comfortable life in their three decades of marriage. Dora works as a bookkeeper. Don spent 20 years growing his small business, Don’s Donuts, into a neighborhood favorite. They aren’t wealthy but they’re steady. They paid their bills, saved for the future and did everything they thought responsible business owners should … [More]
8 Important Sales Tax Trends for 2026
States continue to refine their laws to account for added types of taxable products and broadened definitions of sales tax nexus
In 2025, it is estimated that there were mor than 500 changes to sales tax rules and regulations throughout the country, more than in any single year ever before. In 2026, it is expected that an even greater number of changes will occur, as states continue to refine their laws to account for added types of taxable products and broadened definitions of sales tax nexus. As … [More]
Human Capital Investment Strategy: Six Steps to Cultivate Potential and Yield Competitive Advantage
For decades, CEOs have treated financial capital with rigor, discipline and foresight. But when it comes to human capital — the engine of innovation, execution and growth — most organizations still rely on legacy mindsets and guesswork. This blind spot is costing organizations their competitive edge. Written by Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, executive strategist on human … [More]
