Member News: September 2019
Join the AITA-Israel Trade Mission: Celebrate the opening of Arizona’s new trade office in Israel 
November 17-24, 2019
Experience Israel with the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance (AITA)! Join AITA, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Arizona Technology Council in November 2019 to celebrate the opening of Arizona’s new trade office in Israel. Israel is a place where opportunities abound. With a startup for every 1500 citizens, raising venture capital per capita at two-and-a-half times the rate of the United States and 30 times that of Europe, Arizona IS capitalizing on these factors. This trade mission will celebrate the milestone that Gov. Ducey enabled by signing into the state budget earlier this year. Join business leaders for this monumental trade mission that will be purpose-driven, educational and engaging. Space is limited!
Learn more here about this exciting opportunity and how to register.
Republic Services CEO named one of America’s most innovative leaders
An Arizona executive is one of the country’s most innovative leaders. Don Slager, CEO of Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc., was named to the exclusive list, compiled annually by Forbes. Slager ranked No. 43 out of 100. During his tenure as chief executive officer, Slager has focused the company on simple solutions, reliability and environmental responsibility. Republic’s safety program also reflects Slager’s commitment to safety for employees and customers. Forbes’ list measures four leadership qualities: media reputation for innovation, social connections and capital, track record for value creation and investor expectations of future value creation. Read more here from the Phoenix Business Journal or check out Forbes’ website for the complete list.
Tempe aerospace firm Qwaltec wins $20M NASA contract for satellite work
Qwaltec Inc., a Tempe-based aerospace services company, is set to start work on a new five-year, $20 million contract with NASA for operations and maintenance of communications satellites. Qwaltec will provide technical training and engineering expertise in support of flight operations and the development and maintenance of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s essential communications systems for near-Earth missions. The contract’s operations and maintenance services will be performed for ground systems at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Kennedy Space Center in Florida; White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico; and Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. Qwaltec, which has 110 employees, recently hired an additional 17 employees to work on the 27-person contract, with the work to be done at the two NASA sites in Virginia and New Mexico. In New Mexico, Qwaltec will handle mission readiness and training. Learn more about Qwaltec’s grounds system expertise into control centers and antenna sites.
Coding bootcamp announces scholarship program to make technology education more accessible
Promineo Tech, a technology vocational school specializing in software development, announced the launch of their new Perpetual Scholarship Program. The Perpetual Scholarship Program is a sustainable scholarship that enables qualifying students to attend Promineo Tech for no up-front cost and offers a pathway for individuals to change their lives through technology education they may not have otherwise had access to. Promineo Tech’s current, unique pricing model is what enables the Perpetual Scholarship Program to work. Students only have to pay 10% of their tuition to enroll and do not owe anything else until, and unless, they get a job in the industry. Because of this model, the funds in the Perpetual Scholarship Program will pay the 10% tuition deposits for qualifying students so that they can attend without any costs until they graduate and receive a job with the help of Promineo Tech’s career services. Once a student finds employment, Promineo Tech will put more money back into the scholarship than was originally used to enroll the student. Learn more about Promineo Tech’s self-sustaining scholarship program.
DesTechAZ:
Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit in Arizona tech and innovation
October 16-17, 2019 | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
In it’s third year, DesTechAZ is designed to showcase all the great things happening in Arizona and to help foster the collaborative spirit in making Arizona the next technology metropolis. This high-profile tech event will feature Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak, a NASA panel, the CEO of Hansen Robotics and more special surprises. Day 1 is Collaboration In Motion with round table sessions, a networking lunch, ACA’s Graduation Showcase and Pitch Competition ending with a Tech Innovation Reception with special Steve Wozniak. Arizona Technology Council members receive $500 off – use ATCDT19 promo code when inquiring. Email Merissa at [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/30dBdMR for more details.
Viasat hits the $1 billion milestone
For the first time in company history, Viasat’s Government Systems business moved past the $1 billion annual revenue mark. It’s a milestone that speaks volumes to the kind of innovative work the company is doing every day to bring game-changing technology capabilities to today’s warfighters. Rather than hinge their success on an acquisition model, Viasat made bold moves to find innovative ways to operate outside of traditional programs of record to quickly and affordably deliver new capabilities to warfighters today — when they’re needed most. Read more about Viasat’s track record of bringing first-to-market products forward.
BannerHealth to build $63M health center in Glendale
To be called Banner Health Center, the new facility will offer comprehensive clinical services, including family medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, general surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, internal medicine and OB/GYN, as well as lab, pharmacy and imaging services. Plans call for a three-story, 130,000-square-foot health center on a portion of the 17.5 acres BannerHealth owns within Cardon Development Group’s Aspera mixed-use development near Loop 101 and 75th Avenue. With more than 52,000 employees across six states, it also is among the largest health systems in the country. Read more about BannerHealth’s new healthcare facility.
Educational partnership creates STEM opportunities for rural Arizona students
A local educational partnership between Arizona State University, the Arizona Science Center and the Center of Science & Industry is creating positive change by bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) resources, experiences and programming to rural Arizonans by creating the Rural Activation and Innovation Network (RAIN). Part of RAIN’s goal is to create a mental paradigm shift in the way rural communities view STEM learning, helping rural and remote residents recognize that they can create programs within their own regions without forever relying on outside help. The four RAIN REGIONS are: Cochise County; Graham and Greenlee counties; Verde Valley of Yavapai County; and southern Navajo and Apache counties, in the White Mountains of northeastern Arizona. Read more how RAIN is improving awareness of STEM and demonstrating the value it brings to the lives of the public.
Benchmark Electronics: Avoid these 5 common supply chain mistakes
In the midst of eroding margins and growing pressure to react rapidly to the competitive landscape, it is more important than ever for businesses that want to sustain current business—more importantly to grow—to get the basics of their supply chain management right. Tempe-based Benchmark Electronics redefines what’s possible with innovative product design, engineering, technology building blocks and advanced manufacturing matched by an obsessive attention to detail–from idea to realization. Learn how to avoid the common supply chain to differentiate your business and improve your bottom line.
Newborn care startup NeoLight scores $2.5 million from NFL Quarterback
With $2.5 million in funding from NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, NeoLight is one step closer to reaching its goal of ensuring that “every baby that’s jaundiced, all over the world, has access to a technology that can treat it and also identify it.” One thing CEO Vivek Kopparthi believes separates NeoLight from other treatment options is a holistic, empathy-driven approach. “Most of the technologies that are designed do not care about the experience that the patient is going through, that the mom is going through or that the baby is going through,” he says. Learn how NeoLight is addressing the pain points other therapies ignore.
University of Arizona rises 81 spots in college rankings
The University of Arizona has significantly increased its standing in yet another prestigious ranking of higher education institutions. The university placed 136th out of 801 U.S. colleges and universities in the fourth annual Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. The ranking is an 81-position increase from last year’s list and 36 spots higher than UA’s highest mark in these rankings in 2017. The UA also jumped 139 places in Money Magazine’s sixth annual Best Colleges for Your Money ranking in August, and posted a 46-spot increase in Forbes’ fourth annual Best Value Colleges list. Learn about the indicators that contributed to its rise in the overall rankings.
CyberSecurity Panel Discussion | October 10, 2019 | Grand Canyon University
Are you aware of cybersecurity best practices? Is your data safe? Is your business prepared for a cyber attack? AZ Business Magazine will host a panel of Arizona’s most innovative technology experts on October 10 at Grand Canyon University to discuss the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Moderated by Dr. David Bolman, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at University of Advancing Technology, these tech titans will discuss best practices for what to do if a breach does occur and offer advice on how to minimize your company’s risk of a cyber-attack, data breach or other digital interruption. Attendees will gain insight into what the future holds and where the industry is heading. Hear expert panelists from Trusona, Grand Canyon University, CellTrust Corporation, BDO Alliance USA and Arizona Technology Council. Moderated by Dr. David Bolman, provost and chief academic officer at the University of Advancing Technology. Join the discussion and be a part of the solution to all issues pertaining to cybersecurity…REGISTER TODAY!
Spirit Electronics is soaring high: Small Business Awards 2019 Medium winner
Congratulations to Spirit Electronics for receiving the Phoenix Business Journal 2019 Small Business Award for medium-sized businesses. This award-winning company is led by owner and CEO Marti McCurdy, a veteran not only of the semiconductor business but also of the United States Air Force. Serving the military and the space industry around the world throughout her career, McCurdy has worked on jamming radar systems for fighter jets to being a level three ultrasonic specialist performing ultrasonic inspections in more than 20 countries around the world. With new contracts in place with the company’s largest suppliers to make offerings more streamlined on deliveries and more affordable to clients, Spirit Electronics has more than doubled its employee staff and more than doubled revenue. In her role as CEO of Spirit Electronics, her focus is to serve the aerospace and defense industry for high reliability components. Learn more about McCurdy’s vision of the business in the next five years or read her profile in Forbes magazine.
ACRONIS SCS ribbon-cutting + SCS Vets Initiative launch
Join Gov. Doug Ducey and Senator Martha McSally in celebrating the official launch of Acronis SCS and the Acronis SCS Vets Initiative on Tuesday, October 8. Acronis SCS, an American company dedicated to providing edge data security & cyber protection solutions to the U.S. public sector, will be hosting its official ribbon-cutting as well as launching a new initiative aimed at decreasing veteran unemployment and strengthening the cyber workforce. Through the partnership of Acronis SCS, New Horizons of Phoenix and the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, this initiative will provide veterans, active duty military, and military spouses with the certificates, skills and resources needed to pursue and obtain careers in cyber security. Learn more or register to attend.
Imagery CEO: The future of driving is mapless + autonomous
The customary way to fully operate autonomous vehicles is to use HD mapping that requires a strong connection to satellite GPS and continuous effort to update the map. But can autonomous driving can be done without the need for this costly and time-consuming technology? The answer is, yes! It’s called mapless autonomous driving and Imagery founder and CEO Adham Ghazali shares how this new approach fundamentally transforms autonomous mobility from research to commercialization by pushing the limits of Computer Vision and AI. Listen to the interview to learn how Imagry’s autonomous vehicles can scale and commercialize more rapidly at less cost.
MST Solutions, a leading provider of CRM and marketing automation consulting, specializing in higher education, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and public-sector technology solutions, can help you take control of your business. They learn, listen and understand that your business is unique. Taking this time to create a highly-valued and trusted relationship with you allows MST Solutions to map a journey that ends in your success. So, whether it’s integration, enhancing an existing implementation or you need a guide throughout the entire process, they create innovative Salesforce solutions designed around your business needs, so you can be the hero.
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