Member News

Small Business Awards: Micro-Sized Company winner — The PMO Squad

September 26, 2022

After Joe Pusz struggled to find outside consultants willing to work in project management for a bigger company, he started The PMO Squad, a boutique project management consulting firm, in 2013. As the firm approaches its 10-year anniversary, its growth and evolution keeps Pusz, the company’s president, confident about its potential. “It feels like we’ve been validated, that there’s a need for what we provide in the industry,” he said.

Raytheon, Northrop Grumman awarded hypersonic missile contract worth nearly $1B

September 26, 2022

A partnership between Raytheon’s Missiles & Defense division and Northrop Grumman has been awarded a nearly $1 billion contract to develop the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) for the U.S. Air Force. The air-launched HACM will be the first of its kind, and the $985.34 million contract calls for the two companies to design, develop and deliver the missile by March 2027. The project is part of a joint initiative between the U.S. and Australia called the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment, or SCIFiRE.

Business technology leader Moruga Inc. names new chief operating officer

September 26, 2022

Business technology leader Moruga Inc. has named Kelly Brake as Chief Operating Officer. Previously serving as Moruga Inc.’s Vice President of Operations, Brake brings more than two decades of senior management experience to the role, also serving in senior executive roles at Venicom and NetFusion Services. Brake was the co-founder and vice president of a highly successful network consulting firm, InLynx, where she forged its strategic vision and operational goals, managed IT procurement, and maintained critical vendor relationships.

Member news: September 2022

September 22, 2022

Fast growing Q&A platform, Terkel, closes $1M seed round; Tucson-based Universal Avionics gets $33M contract to help supply head-worn vision systems for pilots; Chandler tech company MST Solutions acquired by India-based Mastek; Insight cuts ribbon on new global headquarters in Chandler; ZorroSign lauded as one of most innovative fintech solution providers in 2022; MicroAge expands its cybersecurity and infrastructure expertise with acquisition of cStor; Blue Yonder names new CEO ahead of plans for public company spinoff; PADT launches Flownex SE user forum and subsite; UA Center for Innovation awarded inBIA Soft Landings Designee of the Year; CSIA names Vertech 2022 Integrator of the Year; Intel’s biggest fab will be in Ohio and Arizona is the blueprint; KORE Power announces hirings for senior team at Buckeye gigafactory; Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates 75 years of excellence; Greater Phoenix Chamber names new board members, further promoting prosperity; GitKraken prepares for GitKon 2022, TikTok-style technology conference in October; Steward Observatory research, testing and demonstration operations expand at UA Tech Park; Carvana named #2 automotive brand on Forbes 2022 most customer-centric companies list; and Accenture North America CEO is all in on the metaverse.

Arizona Small Business Association announces partnership to help small businesses in Arizona mitigate cyber risk

September 22, 2022

CyberCatch jointly announced with the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA), a strategic partnership to enable Arizona’s small businesses to quickly and easily implement necessary cyber security controls for digital success. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are more than 590,000 small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) in Arizona, and these businesses employ nearly 43.5% of the state’s private workforce.

Phoenix Sky Harbor is a sustainability leader among U.S. airports, gets top rating

September 22, 2022

Being America’s Friendliest Airport® means more than making sure our passengers have an exceptional experience at our airport. It is also ensuring that as a business we are protecting the environment and the resources of Arizona for future generations. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s commitment to being future friendly and an industry leader in sustainability was recently recognized by the Airport Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program (ACA). Phoenix Sky Harbor received the Level 4 “Transformation” rating for reporting year 2021. Phoenix Sky Harbor is currently the only airport in the U.S. to have achieved the Transformation certification, and only one of three airports in the U.S to have achieved the Level 4/4+ rating tier.

TechConnect Magazine: Talent | Fall 2022: Publisher’s letter: Talent is at home in Arizona

September 22, 2022

If you hear something again and again, does that make it true? And if it’s not something you want to hear, could it lead to becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy? In my role at the Arizona Technology Council, I regularly meet with people in the science and technology communities to hear about the issues they face. Over the years, more than once the topic of talent has come up.

TechConnect Magazine: Talent | Fall 2022: A workforce that works

September 22, 2022

Some know when they are children which career path to follow. Some figure out as adults where they really want to go. No matter when it happens, more Arizonans are deciding that a career in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is best for them. That is a prime reason the Arizona Technology Council focuses on efforts and partnerships that can help people connect the dots for productive careers that ultimately fuel the Arizona economy.

TechConnect Magazine: Talent | Fall 2022: Best in class

September 22, 2022

Sunshine isn’t all that’s plentiful in Arizona. The state’s unmatched and robust talent pool has attracted companies from around the world. With a workforce exceeding 3.6 million and a population of more than 7 million, Arizona promises to continue setting the national standard for workforce excellence. Key to developing Arizona’s deep talent pool are the state’s high-quality community colleges. Gov. Doug Ducey has called them the “secret sauce” that helps drive Arizona’s
economic momentum.

TechConnect Magazine: Talent | Fall 2022: Efforts in diversity

September 22, 2022

The workplace of the future will increasingly focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs in the life sciences, physical and Earth sciences, engineering and architecture, computer science and math as well as healthcare. But students from underrepresented minority (URM) populations in STEM disciplines often encounter systemic racism, discrimination and bias, which disrupts their pathways to earning higher degrees. Even as the demand for educated workers in STEM fields grows—and with it, earnings potential—experts believe there is little indication that diversity in STEM-related programs will shift any time soon unless major efforts are made to encourage URM students to enroll in these programs and earn degrees at all levels.

Member News

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