TechTalk eNews: April 2025
- Gateway Community College: Civil Air Patrol’s Sky Harbor Squadron Cadets Take Top Honors in Cybersecurity Competition
- Amazon HR exec weighs in on hiring, DEI and unionization in Arizona warehouses
- Arizona Commerce Authority Names Winners of 2025 Venture Madness
- Everest group identifies Chetu as a leading data and AI services provider for mid-market enterprises in its ‘Peak Matrix® Assessment 2025’
- ASU has billions in construction projects underway around the Valley
- Cybersecurity Readiness Advisors Guest Blog Post: The Cyber Insurance Gap: Why Businesses Are Underestimating Modern Cyber Threats
- Lucid to Acquire Select Facilities and Assets of Nikola
- Sustainable HVAC Co. XNRGY Opens Manufacturing Facility, Boosting Data Center Cooling Solutions
- TSMC, Intel to enter joint venture to make microchips? What we know
- Comcast Business: The Role of IoT in Powering Retail Insights & Experiences
- FPT Guest Blog Post: Pioneering AI Innovation for a Smarter Future
- Salt River Project starts 6th project to bring electricity to remote parts of Navajo reservation
- Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and ASU launch new learning innovation center focused on AI
- Chetu Guest Blog Post: Revolutionizing Websites and Businesses with AI-Powered Chatbots
- FPT Guest Blog: IoT Innovation in Arizona: FPT and Cardinal Peak’s Collaborative Approach to Connected Product Design
- City of Hope Cancer Care Scottsdale Opens at One Scottsdale Medical
- Cybersecurity Readiness Advisors Guest Blog Post: Breaking Barriers: Women in Cybersecurity, Mentorship and the Power of Allyship
- Chetu Guest Blog Post: Migrate from Dynamics GP to Maximize ROI
- Prism Global Marketing Guest Blog: How Technology Companies Can Leverage Inbound Marketing for Growth
- Leader of University of Arizona Tech Parks, Carol Stewart, Appointed to The Global Advisory Board for University-Industry Innovation Network
- Air2o: New Partnership to Enhance Solutions for Data Center AI Performance
- Coro Hires Joe Sykora as General Manager (GM) of The Americas
- Intero Digital Guest Blog Post: 3 Free SEO Tools You Need to Try Today – AZ Technology Council
- Phantom Space and Ubotica Team Up to Bring AI to Orbit
- Comcast Business Guest Blog: “Big Wows” and “Little Wows”: Striking a New CX Balance
- Gov. Hobbs signs bill that paves way for Axon HQ campus
- Phoenix Union High School District and Junior Achievement of Arizona Partner to Launch 3DE Schools
- TSMC to Scale Up to a GIGAFAB Cluster in Arizona
Join Us in Two Weeks! 2025 Cybersecurity Summit
The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority, and ACTRA invite you to the Cybersecurity Summit on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. This must-attend event brings together government and business leaders to explore the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and solutions in data security and privacy. Don’t miss expert panels, a keynote speaker, and networking with top cybersecurity professionals. Register >>
May after5 Tech Mixer: Hosted by Immedia
Get ready to ease into a cool summer! The Arizona Technology Council, in collaboration with our amazing hosts at Immedia, proudly presents the May after5 Tech Mixer on Wednesday, May 28 in the stylish tech ambiance of NextSpace. This is your chance to connect with the brightest minds in tech, both members and non-members of the Arizona Technology Council, while indulging in mouth-watering food, and refreshing beverages. Register >>
Coming in June: 3rd Annual E-Mobility + Clean Energy Summit
Get ready to be part of the electrifying energy revolution in Arizona! Our state is on the fast track to becoming a tech powerhouse in e-mobility and clean energy. Join us at our 3rd annual summit as we dive into the future of this booming industry. Register >>
Join Us in Tucson in July for the13th Annual Aerospace, Aviation, Defense and Manufacturing (AADM) Conference!
Join the Council and the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Arizona at the13th Annual AADM Conference at the PCC Aviation Tech Center in Tucson. Hear from regional experts as they discuss the aerospace ecosystem and manufacturing innovations and explore cutting-edge intersections with thought leaders on the latest industry trends, challenges and forecasts. Register >>
Save the Date! 2025 CEO Leadership Retreat
Join the Council and Arizona Commerce Authority for the 18th annual CEO Leadership Retreat August 4-5 in historic Prescott, AZ. This event offers a unique opportunity to step away from the daily grind, assess your achievements over the past year, and set new goals for the remainder of 2025 and beyond. Whether you hold the title of CEO, C-suite executive, president, business leader, or entrepreneur, this two-day retreat is for you – join us! Register >>
Families Invited! Join Optics Valley to Celebrate the International Day of Light
The International Day of Light is a UNESCO global initiative to celebrate light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development and in fields as diverse as medicine, astronomy, communications, and clean energy.
Please join Optics Valley on June 1 from 1-5 PM at Flandrau Planetarium for this free, family-friendly STEM event to celebrate IDL. Last year, over 250 people attended this event, the majority of which were families with K-12 students.
Sponsorships are also available! Please contact [email protected] to support this community outreach event. Learn more here >>
Women in the Workforce Committee
The WIW Committee is busy finalizing plans for their next event, tentatively planned for June. Stay tuned for more details on the date, venue and speakers for the event that will focus on women balancing business and health advocacy.
Learn more about the Women in the Workforce Committee >>
My View: Mining offers a key solution at a critical time for Arizona
Mineral shortages could affect proposed Arizona battery factories. Fortunately, there are solutions in the works here in Arizona that are part of an effort to diversify the U.S. critical mineral supply chain so these companies and more won’t rely on other nations to stay in business. An idea born yesterday could solve challenges of today and tomorrow. Arizona mining projects in the works can provide lasting solutions. Read more >>
Technology boom in PHX East Valley: The future of innovation
The East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area is quickly solidifying its reputation as one of the nation’s most dynamic technology hubs. Encompassing Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe and Scottsdale, this region has become a powerhouse for investment in semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, data centers and advanced industrial solutions. Read More >>
Paragon IT Professionals’ Craig Jackman Appointed to Council Board of Directors
“Craig’s expertise in IT talent development and his commitment to workforce training are vital assets for Arizona’s fast-growing technology ecosystem.,” said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Council. Read more >>
Council Welcomes Cepand Alizadeh to the Team!
The Council is excited to welcome Cepand to the team! As the Council’s new government relations specialist, Cepand will be responsible for connecting with policymakers, community leaders and industry stakeholders to advance policy solutions that support clean and renewable energy technologies. Learn More >>
Listen to the Council’s Latest AZ TechCast Episode
In a world where disruptions, from cyberattacks to natural disasters, can strike at any time, how prepared is your business? In the latest episode of AZ TechCast, industry experts from RYTHMz, The Arizona Group and Iron Mountain unpack the differences between disaster recovery and business continuity—and why both are critical to long-term resilience. Tune in to learn about AI-driven outage prediction, colocation data centers, and the tools every organization should consider to minimize downtime. Listen now >>
Own a Small Business?
The Council can be your ONE-STOP-SHOP for comprehensive healthcare and retirement benefits
From our comprehensive health insurance product bundle managed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and DiMartino & Associates to the flexible and low-maintenance 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan offered by Empower and Legacy Wealth Management, the Council can be your one-stop shop for comprehensive employee benefits. Read More >>
The Arizona tech community is vibrant and filled with opportunities to learn and grown. If you’d like to see what our member companies have to offer, check out the Council’s Community Tech Events calendar! New events are added weekly and the calendar is a great spot for member companies to showcase their events – from open houses and ribbon cuttings to webinars and trainings, there’s a ton available.
If you’re an AZTC member company and would like to have your tech event featured, simply complete the event submission form at the bottom of the Community Tech Events page!
The Council’s success is made possible by the support of our incredible annual sponsors! This month, we’re highlighting Platinum Sponsor Comcast Business.
Check out some of Comcast Business’ latest guest blog posts:
- “Big Wows” and “Little Wows”: Striking a New CX Balance
- The Role of IoT in Powering Retail Insights & Experiences
The Council’s Political Action Committee advocates for tech companies at the local, state and federal level, vets political candidates and endorses those with track records in supporting pro-tech legislation. Support the PAC to take a stand for technology and bolstering Arizona’s economic recovery.
Preview: 2025 DC Fly-In
The Council’s Steve Zylstra, Karla Morales and Leslie Marquez were joined by Council members Sonia Vohnout,
Hugh Barnaby and Nadra Mamou for a quick yet productive two days in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 DC Fly-In — and what an incredible experience it was! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more from our trip as we share about our networking with fellow Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) members and our meetings with nearly all of Arizona’s congressional offices.
CLICK HERE to learn more about benefits and opportunities available through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
State IRA/IIJA Factsheets
The Climate Program Portal now has state factsheets that detail IIJA and IRA funding that has been awarded to each state. These include:
- Total investment and total number of projects
- A full list of projects that have been funded, what agency funded, what bill the money came from, how much each project is
- Notes as of the end of March on whether there have been attempts to eliminate the funding
- A map showing where the projects are and noting the relative size of the investment.
These are great to use for education and outreach to decision-makers, sharing with media, and arming clean energy and clean tech champions. View Report >>
Request for Federal Funding Stories
The Arizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency (OOR) is seeking stories of Arizonans who have been positively impacted federal grant funding programs made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The OOR invites you to share the stories of individuals, families, or businesses that have positively been impacted by federal grant funding below. Submit Your Story >>
2025 PLATINUM SPONSORS
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2025 VISIONARY & CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS
Keap Pima Community College Sun Corridor Inc.Tech Parks Arizona | VB Cosmetics | Viavi