Committees

Additive Manufacturing Committee

Mission: This Committee will serve as a forum for local participants in the additive manufacturing (AM) community to educate, collaborate and promote the technology. Additionally, this Committee will serve as a rally point for large and small business to influence national certification and standards organizations, ensuring that pending regulation and legislation is appropriate, achievable, and promotes growth of AM technologies within Arizona.

Committee Co-Chairs: Justin Smart, additive manufacturing sales executive, Westwind and Krishna Muralidharan, associate professor, University of Arizona

Staff Liaison: Ron Schott, executive emeritus, Arizona Technology Council

For information about joining the Additive Manufacturing Committee, please email Ron Schott at rschott@aztechcouncil.org.

Ambassador Committee: Phoenix

Mission: To support new and prospective members, helping integrate them into Council benefits, activities and events; promoting faster interaction of new members.  

Committee Chair: Chelsea Scruggs, business development executive at Allata.

For information about joining the Ambassador Committee, please email membership@aztechcouncil.org.

Ambassador Committee: Tucson

Mission: To support new and prospective members in southern Arizona, helping integrate them into Council activities and improve likelihood of retention.

Committee Chair: Ana Greif, CEO, JobPath
Staff Liaison: Karla Morales, vice president of Southern Arizona Regional Office, Arizona Technology Council

For information about joining the Tucson Ambassador Committee, please email Karla Morales at kmorales@aztechcouncil.org. 

Cybersecurity Committee

Mission: To strengthen the cybersecurity of Arizona’s technology industry.

The AZTC Cybersecurity Committee serves as a platform for information security professionals to share best practices and for technology companies that lack their own chief information security officer to seek guidance on what is required to strengthen their digital defenses. By sharing knowledge and experience, we enhance the cybersecurity of Arizona’s technology companies. The Committee exists to help the members of the Arizona Technology Council learn about the threats and the appropriate responses. Add your expertise to ours and learn from our experts.

Committee Co-Chairs: Frank J. Grimmelmann, President & CEO of Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance, Inc. (ACTRA) and Dale Bohannon, attorney with Polsinelli PC.

For information about joining the Council’s Cybersecurity Committee, please email Membership Services Vice President Deborah Zack at dzack@aztechcouncil.org or Executive Emeritus Ron Schott at rschott@aztechcouncil.org.

IoT + Smart Cities Committee

Mission: To provide a platform for people to learn, collaborate, advocate, and disseminate information about how IoT and smart-cities strategies can help organizations create real-time business solutions in a sensor-enabled, analytics-driven world.

Committee Chair: Chris Lucero, director of Emerging Technologies IOTG, Intel Corporation

Staff Liaison: Deborah Zack, vice president of membership services, Arizona Technology Council

For information about joining the Internet of Things (IoT) Committee, please email Membership Services Vice President Deborah Zack at dzack@aztechcouncil.org.

Law & Technology Committee

Mission: To be of benefit to the members by providing and making available relevant and timely information about the laws that affect the members through the use of media and forums that are convenient and expedient. Also to be of benefit to the legal service providers who are members of the Council by creating and promoting forums for the legal service providers to market their services to members.

This committee provides advice in areas such as, but not limited to, capital formation, acquisitions, and disposition of assets or lines of business, protection of intellectual property, employee matters, contracts, exit strategies and liability exposure. This counsel can take the form of pro bono, discounted and/or fee-based advice.

The committee also provides seminars on legal matters in the technology industry.

Committee Chair: Fred Bellamy, partner at Dickinson Wright PLLC

Staff Liaison: Ron Schott, executive emeritus, Arizona Technology Council

For information about joining the Law and Technology Committee, please email Ron Schott at rschott@aztechcouncil.org.

MarTech Series

Mission: To help companies execute their marketing and business strategy and effectively with data-driven decision making. To help professionals make the most of their marketing technology. Organizations collect more data now than they ever have before.  Today, the companies that can manage and extract meaningful insights out of rapidly growing volumes of data, will outperform and exceed the demanding market expectations.

Currently, there are a plethora of business and marketing tools and technologies. These ranging from traditional CRM software, to sophisticated tools with AI and predictive analytics. Every company’s marketing tech stack differs. We will meet monthly with experts to share best practices and perspectives. Explore the latest trends that the market has to offer and get a leg up on your competition.

Committee Chair: Sheila Kloefkorn, CEO & President of KEO Marketing

Staff Liaison: Bianca Buliga, director, marketing + communications, Arizona Technology Council

To inquire about the MarTech Series events, please email marketing@aztechcouncil.org.

MedTech Committee

Mission: To bring together medical device, medical software and telehealth companies’ executive leadership to share best practices, and physician and investor networks; and promote peer-to-peer group discussion with the intent to help each other accelerate growth.

MedTech Committee Chair: Ellen Owens-Karcsay, owner and principal of Karcsay Consulting Group, LLC

To inquire about participating in this committee, please email membership@aztechcouncil.org.

Optics Valley AZ

Optics Valley leadership conducts monthly meetings composed of optics CEOs, representatives from universities and community colleges, plus key stakeholders involved in the optics, photonics, and astronomy sectors throughout the state of Arizona.  The meetings are action-oriented and designed for planning future events, addressing key issues within the optics sector, and serving as an opportunity for business networking.

For information about joining Optics Valley, please email: info@opticsvalleyaz.org

Background: Since 1992, the Arizona optics community was represented by the Arizona Optics industry Association (AOIA).  At the end of December 2016, AOIA was dissolved as an independent organization and Optics Valley was formed within the Arizona Technology Council.

Optics Valley Mission: The mission of Optics Valley is to catalyze, convene and connect optics, photonics, astronomy, and supporting business interests throughout Arizona.

The Optics Valley Committee annually hosts Arizona Photonics Days. This event is designed to bring together Arizona optics companies and our partners from the Global Photonics Alliance for two days of technical discussions and business-to-business meetings.

Committee Co-Chairs: John Dennis, president and co-founder at Strategy1, and Jack Schumann, retired, Business Centre.

Staff Liaison: Jamie Neilson, director of operations, Arizona Technology Council Southern Arizona Regional Office: jneilson@aztechcouncil.org. 

Public Policy Committee

Mission: To ensure Arizona’s competitiveness to accelerate technology related policy and legislation, thus affecting positively the growth and development of a vibrant technology state.

This committee focuses on issues and initiatives that accelerate technology-related public policy and legislation in Arizona affecting the growth and development of the technology industry. The targeted initiatives focused on four areas encompass the work of this committee: technology commercialization and development; workforce development; supply-chain development; and capital formation. This committee, along with Council professionals, work with legislators, elected officials and policy makers at all levels of government, to educate them on the value and promise of the technology industry.

Committee Chair: Jason Bagley, senior director of state government relations, Intel Corporation

Staff Liaison: Ron Schott, executive emeritus, Arizona Technology Council

This committee is also supported by Dianne McCallister, partner at Public Policy Partners (P3). 

For information on joining the Public Policy Committee, please email Ron Schott at rschott@aztechcouncil.org.

Tech Inclusion Forum: Phoenix

The Tech Inclusion Forum IDEA quarterly series focuses on highlighting the inclusion, diversity, equity and awareness (IDEA) challenges facing women and minorities in STEM fields today and showcasing the many extraordinary and accomplished people in Arizona’s tech ecosystem. Less of a committee and more of an event series focused on inclusion, diversity, equity and awareness, the Tech Inclusion Forum plans and executes a quarterly event with rotating guest speakers.

The Tech Inclusion Forum IDEA series is intended for everyone involved in today’s tech workplace – hiring managers, top executives, HR leaders, experienced and aspiring STEM professionals. Please plan to join us at each quarterly event as the series drills down into the inclusion, diversity, equity and awareness (IDEA) challenges currently facing the tech industry.

Committee Chair: Diane Smigel, president and CEO, Palladium IT Advisors

Staff Liaison: Deborah Zack, vice president of membership services, Arizona Technology Council

Want to get involved or interested in sponsoring an event? Email Deborah Zack at dzack@aztechcouncil.org.

Women in the Workforce: Tucson

The go-to group that provides educational and networking events for women in the technology industry. Less of a committee and more of a female-focused event series, the Women in the Workforce group has quarterly events with rotating guest speakers.

Staff Liaison: Jamie Neilson, director of operations at Southern Arizona Regional Office, Arizona Technology Council

Want to get involved or interested in sponsoring an event? Email Jamie Neilson at jneilson@aztechcouncil.org.

Workforce Development & Education Committee

Mission: The Workforce Development and Education Committee is committed to having Arizona known as a source of high quality technology talent and leadership. To ensure an adequate supply of technology talent to meet the needs of Arizona-based employers, by:

• Encouraging the growth of traditional education, job training and other appropriate organizations in order to attract new companies
• Promoting incentives for existing companies to stay and grow in Arizona
• Assisting engagement and experimentation among key constituencies so that Arizona is seen as a leader in innovative workforce development

Committee Chair: Cathleen Barton, retired, Intel

Staff Liaison: Steven G. Zylstra, president + CEO, Arizona Technology Council

For information about joining the Workforce Development and Education Committee, email Ron Schott at rschott@aztechcouncil.org.