Member News: December 2019

NASA awards PADT a $755,000 Phase II STTR Research Grant
In a move that acknowledges its excellence and expertise in 3D printing, simulation, design and software development, PADT recently announced NASA has awarded a $755,000 2019 Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research grant for it to collaborate with Arizona State University and Kennesaw State University to enable the development of stronger and lighter structures for space exploration. The team will work to take bio-inspired lattice shapes and develop tools to incorporate those shapes into the design of structure used in spacecraft. We will also create tools to optimize the distribution of the lattice structure, produce material properties, and verify the simulation results with rigorous testing. Read more details in the press release here.

JDA expands into a new, state-of-the-art facility
JDA Software, the leading AI-driven supply chain management platform provider, announced the opening of a new, expanded facility capable of accommodating more than 1,300 associates. Spread over three floors, the new state-of-the-art facility is a tech-enhanced workspace that is more agile, resilient and responsive besides having abundant access to natural daylight, customized acoustic panels and themed collaboration areas. The facility is situated in Salarpuria Sattva Knowledge City, one of Asia’s largest and most futuristic IT complexes. Learn more how the growth of its Hyderabad facility reinforces JDA’s commitment to growing its Centers of Excellence in India.

Waymo marks one year of driverless vehicles with expanded service
It’s been one year that Waymo launched its public, self-driving Waymo One vehicle service in metro Phoenix, the first company in the world to do so. Mountain View, California-based Waymo LLC marked the day by expanding its commercial ride-hailing service to more East Valley riders through a new iOS app launch. Tripling the number of weekly riders since January 2019, Waymo’s new in-car features include music, dark mode to make screens dimmer at night, a zoom feature so riders can take a closer look on the screen at what the car is seeing, and a map view that allows riders to see where they are. Visit here to read this Phoenix Business Journal article in its entirety or to view a slideshow of Waymo’s self-driving ride experience.

Cyxtera Technologies announces spin out of cybersecurity business
Cyxtera Technologies announced its intention to spin out its cybersecurity business into a separate company to accelerate its efforts in the rapidly changing cybersecurity industry. The new business will operate as AppGate, Inc. AppGate brings together a set of differentiated cloud- and hybrid-ready security and analytics products and services that secure more than 1,000 organizations across 40 countries. The spin, which is expected to be complete in early first quarter 2020, will allow each organization to pursue the most appropriate business strategy to leverage its respective market opportunity. Learn more how Cyxtera and AppGate will work closely together as strategic partners.

APS names first female chief nuclear officer for Palo Verde Generating Station
Arizona Public Service Co. has named its first female chief nuclear officer at Palo Verde Generating Station, the nation’s largest energy producer. Maria Lacal becomes only the second woman in the U.S. to be named a chief nuclear officer, according to Phoenix-based APS, Palo Verde’s operator and the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. Lacal joined APS in 2007 as the director of strategic projects at Palo Verde. She was promoted to vice president of operations support in 2011, and then to her current role as senior vice president of regulatory and oversight in 2015. Read more here.

Indecomm Digital has acquired Avantica Technologies
Indecomm Digital Services, Inc. , a global leader in next-gen product engineering and digital experience services, has acquired Avantica Technologies, one of the leading Nearshore software engineering services specialists in Latin America. The acquisition fits well with the company’s Nearshore growth strategy to provide the advantages of geographical proximity, cultural affinity, and world-class software engineering talent to its North American clients in servicing their unique requirements of solution co-development. Learn how this acquisition positions Indecomm to be well-poised to deliver accelerated business outcomes to its customers.

Zovio partners with Masonicare to provide tuition benefits
Zovio, an education technology services company that partners with higher education institutions and employers to deliver educational programming and benefits, has joined forces with Masonicare, a leading provider of healthcare and retirement living communities in the Northeast, to provide enhanced educational opportunities to their employees. Masonicare’s tuition assistance benefits will enable eligible caregivers and other employees to pursue associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Learn how this partnership will better support caregivers and their families.

New ASU courses offer tools for engaging others in science
As researchers grow in their respective fields, so does their body of knowledge — knowledge that becomes increasingly inaccessible to others outside their own expertise. This is important not just for communicating science with the public, but also for communication among scientists who are engaged in interdisciplinary teams tackling complex problems. Engaging others in science allows researchers to leverage their collective knowledge to make progress on complex problems and engage the public in the excitement of making discoveries and solving problems. Read more how cross-disciplinary collaborations have become an increasingly important part of science.

Swiftpage names new CEO
Swiftpage Act LLC  announced industry veteran Steve Oriola as its new president and CEO. Oriola has served on Swiftpage’s board for more than a year with a lengthy history in the tech sector and served in the top position at three other companies. Oriola replaces H. John Oechsle, who has been with Swiftpage during the past seven years and will continue as a board member and shareholder. Swiftpage’s main product is Act, an online customer relationship management and marketing automation software platform for small to midsize businesses. Learn more how Swiftpage delivers innovative and useful digital marketing solutions. 

Barker Contracting, Inc. announces three key leadership appointments
Tucson-based Barker Contracting, Inc., an ENR Southwest Top Contractor, has announced three key leadership appointments effective immediately. The appointments, all new positions, are Megan Magee, chief operations officer; Riley Rasmussen, project director and Brian Lepker, project director ­ Travel Division. The company’s founder, Brian Barker, will continue in his role as president. The new key leadership appointments will ensure that as the company grows, the infrastructure is in place to keep the culture consistent with Barker’s founding vision and true to its mission. Read more here.