Member news: March 2023
Scottsdale forward: Innovation in business
The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce presents Scottsdale Forward: Innovation in Business, an economic development symposium geared towards business leaders in the Scottsdale community. The breakfast event will be held at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, April 19th from 7:30 AM to 9:15 AM. Registration is open through the Scottsdale Chamber’s website. The event features professionals from diverse industries who will share best practices on how to remain competitive through innovation. Read more >>
Tempe medical device firm raises $45M to expand technology to treat brain tumors
From working with a staffing agency to looking into programs that support STEM students, here are 15 answers to the question, “Can you share your most effective tips for sourcing a sustainable talent pipeline of software engineers, especially from underrepresented backgrounds in tech?” To start, collaborating with a leading technology staffing firm in your area will give your company a steady stream of qualified developer applicants. Look for a company in your area with relevant experience and a solid reputation in the industry. Any tech company worth its salt will use this method in its hiring strategy. Read more >>
Intel names Stuart Pann head of foundry business unit that is crucial to Arizona, company
Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) named a new head of a cornerstone business unit in CEO Pat Gelsinger’s revitalization plan for the company. The chipmaker on Tuesday tapped Stuart Pann as senior vice president and general manager for Intel Foundry Services, reporting to Gelsinger. Intel has been one of the largest employers in the Valley for decades, with more than 12,000 workers, but the company is in the midst of a $20 billion expansion in Chandler as it grows its presence with two new semiconductor chip factories. Read more >>
Quottly joins Parchment to transform student mobility with course and program sharing, transfer articulation and dual enrollment solutions
Today Parchment, the industry leader in academic credentials management, announced the acquisition of Quottly, the leading technology solution for course and program sharing, transfer articulation, and dual enrollment. This acquisition adds a new dimension to Parchment’s mission to turn credentials into opportunities by helping higher education give students access to more academic options, up-to-date transfer information, and guided pathways to ensure they stay on track and graduate on time. Read more >>
Boeing will be building dozens of Apache helicopters in Mesa
The Boeing Co. will be building 184 AH 64E Apache attack helicopters in Mesa under a $1.9 billion contract modification that brings the value of an existing deal with the U.S. Army to $2.1 billion. The modification, which was awarded on March 17, can still increase to more than $3.8 billion in the future, Boeing said. Boeing (NYSE: BA) was the sole applicant for the contract after bids were solicited via the internet, the Department of Defense said. Read more >>
The VB Cosmetics story in 2023
VB Cosmetics, Inc. (VBC) is a rapidly growing, vertically integrated cosmetics product innovation, marketing, sales and manufacturing company in Chandler, Arizona, which is looking for highly motivated colleagues who wish to roll up their sleeves, dig in and be part of a winning organization. Their vision is to create beauty products for all customers to achieve personal well-being and attainable luxury. They are passionate about the beauty industry. Read more >>
Banner Health to build $4o0M hospital campus in Scottsdale
After losing a state land auction to HonorHealth last November, the state’s largest health system plans to build a $400 million hospital campus down the street. Phoenix-based Banner Health plans to purchase 48 acres of land on the southwest corner of Hayden Road and Loop 101 in north Scottsdale — near a separate 48-acre parcel of state land where it had planned to build at the northeast corner of Hayden and Loop 101. Read more >>
University of Arizona Center for Innovation generates $35.3 million economic output
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation had an economic output of $35.3 million in 2021, according to a new analysis of the center’s impact. Part of Tech Parks Arizona, the UArizona Center for Innovation, or UACI, is a business incubator network that empowers science and technology startups in Southern Arizona and around the world to bring their ideas to market. Read more >>
Terkel guest blog: Top 12 tech skills employers look for in 2023
In its monthly guest blog submission, Council member company Terkel explore the top skills that employers are looking for in 2023. From UX Design to Cloud Computing, here are 12 of the answers Terkel received to the question, “What are the most important tech skills an employer should look for in candidates in 2023, and why?” Read more >>
Ideas Collide guest blog: The importance of marketing in a down economy
Expenses are tight during a recession. And in those circumstances, businesses are often forced to make some tough decisions — specifically with budgeting and ensuring the company stays viable long-term. While marketing is often the first thing to go, reducing your marketing investment may create even bigger problems down the line. So before cutting out marketing expenses, consider how a marketing team is uniquely positioned to help businesses survive and thrive in a strained economic environment. Read more >>
AI startup launches new technology at Scottsdale’s Smithsonian affiliate Western Spirit: Museum of the West
ListenUp, the months old local startup that has been making soundwaves throughout the valley is set to demonstrate their new audio technology at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West at the end of this month in connection with funding efforts. Scottsdale based founders, Irina and Igor Ilyinsky, are calling it the “Museum-to-Metropolis Experience”. As recently covered by Fox 10 News, the tech “allows anyone to hear stories throughout the museum, automatically and in any language, but instead of using borrowed headsets and radios, this post-covid technology lets you use your own device and earbuds”. Read more >>
Phoenix Business Journal names Mignon Gould as associate editor
The Phoenix Business Journal is pleased to announce that Mignon Gould has been hired as associate editor, overseeing all editorial content related to events and special publications. A veteran journalist and longtime Phoenix-area resident, Gould will work closely with Managing Editor Erin Edgemon to shape editorial coverage for events such as Best Places to Work, 40 Under 40, Most Admired Leaders and more. Gould will also work with Photo Editor Jim Poulin and Events Director Alex McAlister to coordinate the photo shoots for special event coverage. Read more >>
Star wars: Raytheon wins contract to develop orbital hypersonic missile defense system
Raytheon Technologies has won a contract worth more than $250 million from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Space Development Agency to design and develop a satellite system to detect and track hypersonic missiles and other threats. The contract was awarded to the company’s Space and Intelligence division, but the project aligns with key hypersonic missile development projects being done at the Tucson-based Missiles & Defense division. Raytheon (NYSE: RTX) said recently that the two divisions would be combined, but how that will affect Arizona operations is unknown so far. Read more >>
Benchmark Technologies opens new plant in Mesa that will create 100 new jobs
Benchmark Electronics Inc., an engineering, design and manufacturing services provider, has opened a new precision technologies facility in Mesa that will create 100 new jobs. Benchmark Precision Technologies, a services group of Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE), on Friday celebrated the grand opening of its 64,000-square-foot facility at 730 E. Baseline Road. The company invested more than $20 million in the facility, which will manufacture products used for equipment that makes semiconductors. Read more >>
Phoenix Sky Harbor starts 2023 with record passenger numbers
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport started off 2023 and the Valley’s tourism season with more passengers than it has seen in recent years. In January, Sky Harbor recorded a total of 3,851,648 passengers going through its terminals, which was a 28.1% increase from January 2022 and it is just slightly higher – 13,331 passengers – from January 2020, according to data released by the Phoenix Aviation Department. The 3.85 million count appears to be the most passengers ever in Sky Harbor in the month of January. Read more >>
Spencer Fane law firm names Phoenix office managing partner
Spencer Fane LLP has announced a changing of the guard at its Phoenix law office, with David Funkhouser III named as the new office managing partner. Funkhouser replaced Andrew Federhar, effective March 1. Federhar, who had served in the role since the office’s 2017 opening, will return to full-time work as Of Counsel in the firm’s litigation practice group. Read more >>
Virgin Galactic’s Mesa facility coming along; company hopeful commercial space flights can resume in Q2
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) on Tuesday said its spacecraft manufacturing facility in Mesa is coming along and that it is on track to resume commercial service in the second quarter of this year. Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call that the company was “making progress” on the Mesa facility, which was first announced last summer as the place where its next-generation spaceships will be assembled. Read more >>
Paragon IT Pros guest post: How to navigate difficult conversations
A single conversation failure can cost an organization $7,500 and seven days of work. Having a difficult conversation is a leader’s least favorite part of their job because they are less prepared and less confident. Often the message being delivered is viewed as bad news and you’re unsure how the other person will react. Furthermore, you’ve likely never been given a roadmap for how to effectively navigate and prepare for this type of conversation. The good news? With some simple planning, the conversation can go smoothly. Read more >>
Pipeline AZ’s IT/Cyber Career Network offers valuable career resources
Like most of the country, and the world, the IT and cybersecurity industries are among the fastest-growing in Arizona. There’s never been a better time to pursue a career in these fields, as there are tens of thousands of open jobs projected in Arizona through 2024 alone. That’s why the Arizona Technology Council has partnered with Pipeline AZ to create a valuable IT and cybersecurity resource center for job seekers. Pipeline AZ’s IT/Cyber Career Network is the leading resource for people who want to enter these exciting career fields. Read more >>
Per Scholas Phoenix establishes advisory board
Per Scholas Phoenix today announces the establishment of its inaugural Advisory Board. Leaders from technology, government, private equity, and the nonprofit sector will contribute their time and talent to supporting Per Scholas Phoenix and its mission to transform America’s technology workforce through rigorous tech skills training. Read more >>
Local tech co. appoints president of Dutch Bros Coffee to board of directors
Qwick, the technology-enabled leader in staffing for hospitality businesses and freelancers, announces the appointment of Christine Barone to the company’s Board of Directors. Barone has more than a decade of experience in the foodservice industry and was recently appointed as President of Dutch Bros Coffee. She was previously CEO of True Food Kitchen, the high-growth hospitality brand with 42 restaurants across the U.S. Read more >>
February 2023 TechCast | How public-private partnerships foster innovation
The February 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Ryan Hendrix, general manager of the ASU Cloud Innovation Center; Shelbe Hunsaker, southwest region public policy manager at Amazon Web Services; and Vic Narusis, executive vice president of business development at the Arizona Commerce Authority. These leaders joined Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in discussing the collaborations between industry, government and education shaping Arizona’s future. Read more >>