About Optics Valley
World Leaders
Arizona is home to world-class businesses and scientific and educational institutions with decades of innovation and leadership in optics, photonics and astronomy. Optics Valley is the industry cluster that helps its members thrive through business acceleration, workforce development, startup support, and connections to local and worldwide opportunities. Optics Valley is a committee of the Arizona Technology Council.
$4B Economic Impact
Optics, photonics, and astronomy have a $4 billion economic impact in our state. Read this White Paper about the advantages of starting, relocating or expanding your optics business in Arizona.
Optics Valley and Arizona Optics Initiative
The world’s first optics industry cluster formed in Tucson in 1992. In 2017, Optics Valley became the new generation of the industry cluster. In 2019, Strategy1 was awarded a Small Business Association (SBA) contract to grow the optics industry throughout Arizona. The Arizona Optics Initiative (AOI), led by Strategy1, is the working program that fulfills the SBA contract. AOI works with all optics companies in Arizona with the Optics Valley Committee as its primary communication channel. Download the program annual reports here:
Optics on the Map
Find interviews with Arizona leaders and other company resources on this custom Google Map. Click on the index icon in the upper left corner of the Google Map window to quickly jump to a company, recorded interview, and resources.
Subscribe to FOCUS
Optics Valley FOCUS is a monthly newsletter with business news and events for the optics, photonics and astronomy sectors in Arizona.
Committee Leadership
Optics Valley Chair: John Dennis, President, Strategy1
Throughout his career, John has fulfilled objectives to drive company growth and profitability. Since moving to Tucson in 2008, he has been engaged in economic development and organizational improvement in the technology and entrepreneurial communities. His consulting company, Strategy1, provides services to enhance the strategic alignment of people, plans and processes. Successful client assignments range from technology start-up companies to major corporations and educational institutions.
Optics Valley Co-chair: Jack Schumann
Jack’s passion is advancing opportunities worldwide for optics and photonics companies. In addition to Optics Valley, he is a co-coordinator of the Global Photonics Alliance. His experience includes building and managing international technology companies from start-up to IPO. As past co-owner and CEO of a manufacturer of laser-based optical metrology equipment, he understands the opportunities and challenges faced by Optics Valley members.