Member News January 2026 Archives - Arizona Technology Council

BizTucson Nextgen Leaders: Katie Schwertz – Senior Manager of Optical Assemblies and Technology, Edmund Optics

BizTucson Katie Schwertz’s award-winning advocacy and work in optics elevates an industry cluster that already attracts global notice for its innovation and excellence. As senior manager of optical assemblies and technology at Edmund Optics, Schwertz has amassed 15 years of applied industry experience in optical and optomechanical design. She has co-authored two books–the SPIE Field...

Avnet stock hits all-time high after earnings beat expectations for fourth straight quarter

Phoenix Business Journal Phoenix-based Avnet Inc. had one of its best days on Wall Street as investors pushed its share price to an all-time high Wednesday following an earnings report that beat analysts’ expectations. Avnet’s share price shot up 13.82% Jan. 28 in heavy trading to close at $59.96 — gaining $7.28 to set a new record high for the company’s stock (Nasdaq...

Japanese semiconductor supplier Shin-Etsu MicroSi plans Ahwatukee expansion

Phoenix Business Journal Semiconductor supplier Shin-Etsu MicroSi is planning to expand its operations in Ahwatukee. The company is going through the rezoning process to make way for a 17,182 square-foot industrial flex building near the northwest corner of Elliot Road and I-10. It already operates two other facilities in that business park, where the company is headquartered. The...

International Regenerative Medicine Hub Opens in Prominent Scottsdale Medical Campus

Mayo Clinic in Phoenix was Arizona’s top-ranked hospital in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Mayo Clinic inBusiness Phoenix A new chapter in regenerative medicine, biologics and advanced med device manufacturing has begun as Netherlands-based Hummingbird Biomedical, in partnership with DEMCON Life Sciences, officially opens its U.S. headquarters and advanc...

Honeywell Appoints Executive Team for Aerospace Spin-Off

Image: InBusiness Phoenix inBusiness Phoenix Honeywell announced key leadership roles for Honeywell Aerospace, which will become an independent, publicly traded company following its planned spin-off in the second half of 2026. The company will be headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “HONA.” Josh Jepsen will join Honeywell Aerospa...

U of A research expenditures exceed $1B, ranked among top 20 public universities

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships at the University of Arizona, joins an elite class of American inventors as a newly elected fellow in the National Academy of Inventors. Kris Hanning/Office of Research and Partnerships University of Arizona News Newly released data from the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research ...

ASU and SRP Partnership Offers Mentorship and $20K Pitch Opportunity for Arizona Firms

inBusiness PHX Salt River Project and Arizona State University are offering a Small Business Academy that provides mentorship, training and networking opportunities for small businesses interested in expanding capacity and learning how to compete for contracts with public agencies and private companies. The academy runs for six weeks and includes weekly sessions beginning Janua...

Comcast Business Guest Blog: Why GenAI is Transforming the Makeup of Enterprise Tech Teams

Image: Royalty Free, Comcast Business Comcast Business As disruptive technologies reshape the fabric of the modern enterprise, technology teams must evolve. In a world where AI and GenAI are increasingly integrated into business processes, the focus of tech teams is shifting from merely implementing and managing IT to ...

Nextage Announces Strategic Partnership With Hammers to Advance Turnkey Avionics Solutions

Jeff D’Agostino (left) and Andrew Carton (right), side-by-side with the NMC in Nextage’s facility. Photo Credit: Bob Vernot Rooted in the Mid-Atlantic, the Hammers Company, or “Hammers” earned a glowing reputation from over 35 years of continued success developing real-time flight software for guidance & navigation, C&DH and NASA’s core flight software (cFS). A...

Paragon IT Professionals Announces Leadership Transition to Support Long-Term Growth

Paragon IT Professionals, an IT staffing and project solutions firm approaching its 30th year in business, announced the promotion of Jessica Grant to president. Ms. Grant steps in for co-founder, Craig Jackman, who served as the company’s president for 29 years. “This decision came after years of observation, trust building, and leadership growth,” said founders Craig and J...

TSMC may build several new fabs in Arizona as part of proposed US-Taiwan trade deal

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plans to install chipmaking equipment in its second Arizona plant next summer as it prepares for mass production at the fab a year earlier than projected, according to a Nikkei Asia report. Jim Poulin | Phoenix Business Journal Phoenix Business Journal The White House is reportedly nearing a trade deal with Taiwan that would call for Taiwan S...

AZTC Board Member Tomás Díaz de la Rubia named National Academy of Inventors fellow

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships at the University of Arizona, joins an elite class of American inventors as a newly elected fellow in the National Academy of Inventors. Kris Hanning/Office of Research and Partnerships The University of Arizona News The University...

Arizona lands AI venture studio backed by LG Electronics’ investment arm

Phoenix Business Journal The investment arm of LG Electronics is partnering with the Arizona Commerce Authority to launch an AI-focused venture studio in the state. Silicon Valley-based NovaWave Capital and the ACA on Wednesday unveiled plans for the WaveX AI venture studio, which will support startups in the health care, energy, sports and media sectors. The announcement coincid...

Chetu Guest Blog: Strategic Pillars for Modernizing Enterprise AI and Machine Learning Data Pipelines

By Rick Heicksen Director of Sales at Chetu Key Insights Enterprise Data Alignment: AI performance improves when data strategy is designed for enterprise scale, not isolated teams. Built, In Accountability: Governance must be embedded into AI operations to manage risk, trust, and compliance. Operationalized Intelligence: Automation transforms AI from experimentation into a repeatable busin...

Cybersecurity Readiness Advisors Guest Blog: January 2026 Cyber Risk Brief: What Insurers Are Watching Closely

Cybersecurity Readiness Advisors By Dara Gibson, CEO Cybersecurity Readiness Advisors As we enter 2026, cyber insurers are tracking a clear escalation in both the sophistication and speed of attacks. January’s top cybersecurity developments reinforce why underwriters are shifting from checkbox security to validated controls and resilience focused risk management. AI-Powered Deepfakes ...

Phoenix Tech AV Blog Post: Start the New Year With a Bang: Elevate Your Next Event in 2026

Image: Phoenix Technology Audio Visual As the year comes to a close, many organizations find themselves reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and—most importantly—how they want to show up in the year ahead. Whether you’re a nonprofit planning a fundraising gala, a corporation hosting a kickoff meeting, or a sales team gearing up for a summit, the start of the new year presents ...

Crating Technology Guest Blog: Best Custom Crating in Phoenix, Arizona: What to Know Before You Ship

When it comes to shipping high-value or sensitive equipment, not all crates are created equal. For companies in aerospace, defense, medical, and manufacturing industries, a basic wood box won’t cut it. That’s why more Phoenix-based businesses are turning to engineered custom crating , not just to protect assets, but to move them efficiently, safely, and in compliance with global ship...

Comcast Business Guest Blog: A New Era in Cybersecurity

Image: Royalty Free, Comcast Business Comcast Business For a long time, companies viewed cybersecurity through the prism of prevention—building higher walls and wider moats around their corporate networks in hopes of fending off potential intrusions. When the network perimeter was clearly defined and confined, that s...

Lucid to begin Arizona production of robotaxis with Uber and Nuro later this year

Lucid Group Inc. plans to begin production later this year in Arizona of its robotaxis developed with Uber Technologies and Nuro, the California-based electric vehicle company announced Monday. Christel Robleto Phoenix Business Journal Lucid Group Inc. plans to begin production in Arizona later this year of its robotaxis being developed with Uber Technologies and Nuro,...

Boeing’s Mesa operation lands $2.7B Army contract for Apache helicopter support services

The Boeing Co. will be building 184 AH 64E Apache attack helicopters in Mesa. Michael Goettings Phoenix Business Journal The old year was already a big one for the Mesa operation of The Boeing Co., but the last day of 2025 made it roughly $2.7 billion bigger with a new contract from the U.S. Army — its second multibillion order in as many months. Under the deal announced Dec. 31, Boei...

$1B Research Milestone Pushes ASU Into Top Tier of U.S. Universities

Image: inBusiness PHX inBusiness PHX Arizona State University has exceeded $1 billion in annual research expenditures for the first time, placing the university among the top 4% of research institutions nationwide. The milestone underscores ASU’s rapid rise as a major research university and its focus on translating scientific discovery into public benefit – from improving health ca...