2026 Executive Leadership Retreat + Golf Tournament

Join the Arizona Technology Council and Arizona Commerce Authority for the 19th annual Executive Leadership Retreat on
August 10-11 in historic Prescott, AZ.

This event offers a unique opportunity to step away from the daily grind, assess your achievements over the past year, and set new goals for the remainder of 2026 and beyond. Whether you hold the title of CEO, C-suite executive, president, business leader, or entrepreneur, this two-day retreat promises to connect you with fellow Arizona tech leaders, provide valuable insights from their journeys, and ignite the spark needed to position your organization for continued growth and prosperity.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Please note that accommodations are not included in the registration fee. The conference has a room block for Monday, August 10.

Conference Rates
Standard Rooms – $129
Suites – $169

To secure your accommodations, please call the Hassayampa Inn at (800) 322-1927 and ask to make a reservation for Arizona Technology Council. The deadline for booking at the AZTC rate is Sunday, July 26.

PLEASE NOTE: Any retreat registration cancellation must be made by Friday, July 17 at 12 noon. Attendees are responsible for hotel bookings which are subject the hotel’s cancellation policy.

About the historic Hassayampa Inn
Among Prescott hotels, the story of the historic Hassayampa Inn is truly unique. Even before it was constructed, the Inn helped to bring the people of Prescott together. During the “roaring twenties,” El Paso architect Henry Trost was challenged by a group of residents to design a grand hotel – a place where people could relax, chat and escape the grind of their hectic lives. Read more…

EVENT AGENDA (subject to change)

SUNDAY, August 9

3:00 PM | Hotel check-in at the Hassayampa Inn in downtown Prescott.
There are no activities planned, however, we encourage you to network with other attendees at the hotel. Many enjoy the happy hour on the lobby courtyard which features live music and light bites.

MONDAY, August 10 – Executive Leadership Retreat

8:00 AM | Breakfast/Networking/Registration at the Marina Ballroom, next to the hotel. (Registered Attendees Only)
9:00 AM | Opening Remarks + Sponsor Remarks

• Steven Zylstra, President + CEO, Arizona Technology Council
• Christine Boles, Founder, MC Consulting Services LLC, Board Chair, Arizona Technology Council
• The Honorable Lois Fruhwirth, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Prescott

9:20 AM | Spotlight Presentation | Startup & Investor Ecosystem Resources & Events Update

• Melissa Lamson, Executive Vice President of Venture Development and Innovation Strategy, Arizona Commerce Authority

9:30 AM | Keynote Presentation | Building the Human Era: Why Trust, Not Features, Will Decide Who Wins with AI

AI is racing ahead, but the leaders who win the next decade won’t be those with the latest feature sets. They will be the ones who deploy technology with the most trust. In this opening keynote, Eric Rodriguez reveals why human-centered leadership is the real advantage in the AI age. It also covers the five things that make an organization ready to build the Human Era.

• Eric J Rodriguez, Human-Centered Futurist | Innovation Strategist

10:15 AM | Session | Today’s Workforce: Boomers to Zoomers and everyone in between

• Harry Lakin, Founder and CEO, Hire Capacity

11:00 AM | Session | From Expertise to Influence: Communicating Effectively with AI

Your expertise enables you to make good decisions. Communication determines whether others understand, trust, and act on them. In this fast-paced, interactive session, you’ll learn how to use AI to communicate more effectively and efficiently. Sharpen your ideas. Reinforce your credibility and authenticity. Inspire action. Award-winning technology communicator Molly Castelazo will demonstrate how to combine proven communication principles with AI support. You’ll have the opportunity to apply the approach to your own communication – and leave with a repeatable framework and prompts you can use immediately.

• Molly Castelazo, CEO & Content Strategist, Castelazo Content

11:45 AM | Luncheon (Registered Attendees Only)

12:30 PM | Afternoon Keynote Presentation | Arizona’s Competitive Future: What Arizonans Want and Why Business Leaders Should Care

• Sybil Francis, Ph.D., Chair, President & CEO, Center for the Future of Arizona

1:15 PM | Session | How Leaders Can Drive Impact in a Today’s World

The characteristics of today’s world – big social challenges, declining public trust in traditional institutions, and a rapid rate of change – create high levels of uncertainty for leaders today and the team they lead. Author and entrepreneur Catherine Alonzo provides a framework and four powerful tools – Vision, Action, Values, and Conviction – leaders can use to power impact in today’s volatile world, enabling them to drive results and create hope for their teams and consumers.

• Catherine Alonzo, CEO, Javelina

2:00 PM | Afternoon Break/Refreshments

2:15 PM | Spotlight Presentation | Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, Northern Arizona University

• Dean Charles B. Chadwell, Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, Northern Arizona University

2:25 PM | Spotlight Presentation | Update from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Dr. Kenneth Witcher, Chancellor, Prescott Campus at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2:35 PM | Closing Keynote | Leading in Uncertain Times: How to Inspire Action, Build Resilience, and Drive Impact in 2026

Most people spend a significant portion of their lives at work—attending meetings, managing projects, and leading teams. Yet, these moments often fail to inspire. As we lead in these uncertain times, inspiration is more important than ever. Learn how to follow an innovative roadmap to turn everyday interactions into powerful, motivating moments that drive action.

• Julie Lancaster, President, Leadership Effectiveness Strategist, Coach & Trainer, Lancaster Leadership

3:20 PM | Closing Remarks

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Dinner on own

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Dessert Reception on the Marina Ballroom rooftop terrace (Guests Welcome)

TUESDAY, August 11

Golf Outing

8:00 AM | Registration
8:30 AM |  Tee Off

StoneRidge Golf Course
1601 N. Bluff Top Dr.
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

Networking Brunch

9:00 AM | Networking Brunch + Writing Workshop at the Marina Patio, next to the hotel. (Brunch on own)

If you’d like to attend, RSVP to [email protected].

10:00 AM to 12 noon | Find Your Voice: Writing with Clarity, Confidence, and Impact

AI can make anyone sound polished. It can also make everyone sound the same. Your voice is the combination of perspective, personality, and language that makes your writing sound recognizably like you. Whether you are writing an RFP response, a thought leadership article, a LinkedIn post, or simply an email – a distinctive voice helps your ideas earn attention, build trust, and inspire action.

Join Molly Castelazo and Eric Miller for a lively, hands-on breakfast workshop at the historic Hassayampa Inn. Through short writing exercises, conversation, and low-pressure sharing, you will learn to recognize your voice and practice bringing more clarity, personality, and conviction to the page.

You do not need to think of yourself as a writer. Come ready to join other Arizona technology leaders discovering practical techniques you can apply immediately. You will leave better equipped to strengthen your professional presence and communicate more persuasively by making your business writing more natural, engaging, and distinctly yours.

• Molly Castelazo, CEO & Content Strategist, Castelazo Content
• Eric Miller, Co-Owner, PADT, Inc.

Interested in sponsoring the 2026 Executive Leadership & Golf Retreat?
Contact [email protected] for information on the various sponsorship opportunities.