Celebrating A Milestone

After two decades of success as a key supporter of Arizona’s evolving technology ecosystem, the word “thriving” best captures the state of the Arizona Technology Council.

That is the reason “Thriving” has been selected as the theme of the Council’s Annual Report for 2022, which was the year the organization celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The Council was founded Aug. 28, 2002, when the Arizona High Tech Industry Cluster merged with the Arizona Software and Internet Association. Now counting more than 700 members, the Council has offices in Phoenix and Tucson.

In 2008, the Council added its office in Tucson after consolidating the Aerospace, Manufacturing and Information Technology clusters of Southern Arizona into the Council. In 2016, the Arizona Optics Industry Association merged with the Council to become the Optics Valley Committee.

A new set of milestones was achieved during 2022 and cited in the Annual Report. They include:

• The Council updated its purpose, mission and vision statements to emphasize social impact and put people first.
  • Purpose – Catalyzing technology innovators to accelerate Arizona’s global impact.
  • Mission – To empower innovators who drive impact that positively transforms the world.
  • Vision – Advance Arizona as a preferred technology ecosystem for purpose-driven innovators globally.
• The organization was recognized as the 2022 winner of the award for Innovation in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) by the Technology Councils of North America, which represents approximately 60 technology associations across the United States and Canada. The Council and its members have worked to create a technology ecosystem laser-focused on leveling the playing field through DEI initiatives. A dedication to DEI is exemplified through programs like the Tech Inclusion Forum and Women in the Workforce committees.
• A partnership with The University of Arizona Online was launched to offer tuition savings for upskilling/reskilling. Member company employees, as well as their spouses, domestic partners and dependents, can receive a 10% tuition savings on all bachelor’s and graduate programs. The tuition reduction also applies to programs offered by UArizona’s Eller College of Management.

The report is sent to Council constituents annually and available at aztechcouncil.org/annual-report/.