Southern Arizona Tech Leaders Awarded at the 2019 Tech + Business Expo
Southern Arizona Recognizes Local Companies for Excellence in Technology
The Arizona Technology Council, along with the Arizona Commerce Authority, celebrated the seventh annual Southern Arizona Tech + Business Expo on October 30th with over 80 exhibitors and 450+ attendees. The AZTC annually recognizes member organizations that stand out in each of the following categories:
- Arizona Technology Council’s Distinguished Service Award
- Southern Arizona Technology Council Member Organization of the Year
- Innovation Leader of the Year
- Manufacturer of the Year
Strategy 1 was recognized with the Council’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award. Since 2011, Strategy 1 has been actively involved in the Tech Council. Its president, John Dennis, is an Ambassador and serves as chairman of the Optics Valley Committee. During his chairmanship, the Optics Valley Committee has grown to include over 75 company members. Recently, Strategy 1 was awarded a federal contract to implement the Arizona Optics Initiative which will help existing optics companies scale-up, support the development of new entrepreneurial optics start-ups, and increase the visibility and awareness of optics companies statewide.
The University of Arizona was honored as the 2019 Southern Arizona Technology Council Member Organization of the Year. This distinction is in recognition of the University’s new strategic plan which encourages a more outward facing, community engagement approach. This includes a concerted effort to provide industry greater access to the assets and technologies on campus.
Innovation Leader of the Year is awarded to a company that’s designing new technology for satellites in orbit and enhancing communications on earth. FreeFall Aerospace’s founding technology is based on a revolutionary idea licensed from the University of Arizona. FreeFall has developed patented products that will dramatically increase the amount of data satellites in low earth orbit can send to terrestrial receive sites as well as products designed to speed 5G communications on earth.
The Manufacturer of the Year is a company that has grown over the years to be a premier provider of electronics and circuit boards. Yarbrough Electronics Sales is a family-owned company with an international customer base that demands high-reliability products for health care, human safety, defense and other mission-critical applications. For over 30 years Yarbrough has earned its reputation for high quality, flexibility and responsiveness to its customers.
About the Arizona Technology Council
The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona’s premier trade association for science and technology companies. Recognized as having a diverse professional business community, Council members work towards furthering the advancement of technology in Arizona through leadership, education, legislation and social action. The Council offers numerous events, educational forums and business conferences that bring together leaders, managers, employees and visionaries to make an impact on the technology industry. These interactions contribute to the Council’s culture of growing member businesses and transforming technology in Arizona. To become a member or to learn more about the Arizona Technology Council, please visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org Opens in New Window.
About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com Opens in New Window.
Contacts
Media contact:
Nancy Roth
Blue Canoe Marketing
[email protected]
(520) 979-3465
Organization contact:
Jeff Sales
Arizona Technology Council
[email protected]
(520) 388-5762