Tech Innovation in AZ

Sustaining profits: The environment and its challenges are driving business success

August 8, 2022

From an overabundance of sun to an underabundance of water, the natural environment has become the elephant in the room for the business community. But many see it as big opportunity. “Like many regions in the Southwest, Greater Phoenix is addressing environmental issues from water and drought to urban heat,” says Chris Camacho, president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Economic Council, following this dismal observation with the confident assessment, “However, proactive policies have given Greater Phoenix an advantageous position over cities like Reno, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

Phoenix greenhouse gas emissions decreased in 2020, study finds

August 8, 2022

The City of Phoenix’s 2020 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory shows both community-scale and government operations emissions decreased during that year. “Our investments in energy efficiency, transportation electrification, and renewable energy have demonstrated progress toward Phoenix’s Climate Action Plan goals,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “This work is crucial to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future, and we will continue to deliver results in city operations and across our community.”

Emerge is named to azcentral’s top workplaces for the second consecutive year

August 8, 2022

Emerge, the leading platform for freight procurement, has been named as one of azcentral’s Top Workplaces in 2022 ranking at number 15 in the mid-size business category. This is the second year that Emerge has been included in this impressive list, an initiative intended to help area businesses attract and retain the best and brightest employees. In its Scottsdale, Arizona headquarters, Emerge employs 200 professionals in sales, operations, finance, product development, and a wide range of other roles.

Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum merge

August 5, 2022

Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits Chief Executive Officer Kristen Merrifield will lead the combined organization, which will operate under the Alliance name for the immediate future. Arizona Grantmakers Forum President and CEO Laurie Liles will become Chief Public Policy Officer and Vice President of Arizona Grantmakers Forum as she shifts her focus to advocacy on behalf of the entire sector, while continuing to maintain relationships and provide support to the grantmaking members.

Career development platform becoming hub to connect job seekers with employment

August 5, 2022

Pipeline AZ, an Arizona career development and job skills exploration platform, is celebrating the milestone of surpassing 50,000 registered users. Pipeline AZ users have been able to use the platform’s skills mapping technology to help job seekers begin a new path, level-up in their existing careers, explore work or work-based learning opportunities, and discover new passions that change their career trajectory.

Most influential women: Karla Morales, Arizona Technology Council

August 4, 2022

Az Business and AZRE magazines announced the publications’ lists of the Most Influential Women in Arizona of 2022 including Karla Morales, vice president of the Arizona Technology Council. In celebration of the 11th anniversary of the Most Influential Women program, azbigmedia.com is profiling one of the Most Influential Women of 2022 each day leading up to the Most Influential Women of 2022 dinner and reception.

Our View: Corporate sector can lead the way in securing Arizona’s clean energy future

August 4, 2022

For several years, the corporate sector — with technology companies often leading the way — has set carbon emission goals and developed strategies to attain these. Most recently, this has moved from a differentiator to “the price of entry.” With increased public concern about climate change and Moody’s Analytics already providing tools to assess a company’s climate risk, the business community’s attention to lowering emissions is intensifying even further.

DocSolid expands executive leadership team, welcomes industry veteran, Joseph C. Scott, J.D., senior director of client engagement

August 4, 2022

DocSolid, the legal technology experts for enterprise scanning, workflow and paper reduction solutions, today welcomes industry veteran Joseph C. Scott, J.D., as the Senior Director of Client Engagement. Joseph is a recognized leader in legal technology and brings a wealth of experience and industry insight that will be of immense value to DocSolid clients as they prepare for the opportunities and challenges in a post-pandemic world. In his leadership role at DocSolid, Joseph will ensure DocSolid clients maximize the value they receive from the company’s new Airmail2 Digital Mailroom and Records Room software.

ACA now accepting applications for 2022 Arizona Innovation Challenge

August 4, 2022

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced today applications are being accepted for the 11th annual Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC). Applications are being accepted from August 1 to August 31. The Arizona Innovation Challenge, which is the largest state-sponsored business plan competition in the nation, advances innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by helping early-stage ventures to scale.

Nikola agrees to acquisition to bring battery pack engineering and production in-house

August 4, 2022

Nikola Corporation, and Romeo Power, Inc., announced they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Nikola, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, will acquire Romeo, an energy technology leader delivering advanced electrification solutions for complex commercial vehicle applications, in an all-stock transaction. The proposed exchange ratio implies a consideration of $0.74 per Romeo share and represents an approximately 34% premium to Romeo’s July 29, 2022 closing share price and values 100% of Romeo’s equity at approximately $144 million.

Tech Innovation in AZ

Register for the Council’s upcoming Phoenix and Tucson tech events and Optics Valley optics + photonics events.