Episode 19: Thomas Smelker, VP and GM of Microsystems for Mercury Systems

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, we meet Tom Smelker, VP and GM for Microsystems for Mercury Systems. With more than 22 years of experience designing high assurance microelectronics, Tom is responsible for programmatic and technical execution of the latest 2.5 and 3D microelectronics for rugged defense applications.

Mercury Systems is a global commercial technology company serving the aerospace and defense industry. The company delivers trusted, secure open architecture processing solutions powering a broad range of mission-critical applications in the most challenging and demanding environments. For more information visit: www.mrcy.com

Episode 18: Matthew Likens, CEO, GT Medical Technologies

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Matthew Likens, CEO at GT Medical Technologies, will talk about the breakthrough innovation, GammaTile Therapy, which allows patients to receive radiation treatment immediately starting at the time of surgery, and replaces the need for daily, ongoing radiation treatments, while minimizing radiation side effects, including hair loss.

For decades, clinicians have sought better treatment options for patients with brain tumors that would effectively target tumor cells while preserving eloquent tissue. Driven to overcome the limitations of current treatments and raise the standard of care, a group of brain tumor specialists joined forces to address this critical, unmet need. Together with medical device experts, they developed GammaTile Therapy, Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT) for recurrent intracranial neoplasms. For more information visit: www.gtmedtech.com

Episode 17: Jim Buie, President, Involta

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Jim Buie, President of Involta a hybrid IT, cloud, and data center company, shares his insight into the future of business technology and how companies can accelerate their digital transformation initiatives to help leaders navigate a complex, evolving landscape. Defining these advanced terms and technologies and what they mean across critical sectors in Arizona, such as healthcare, financial services and manufacturing, is essential to paving the path ahead.

Involta, an award-winning national IT service provider and consulting firm, orchestrates digital transformation journeys by using well-defined and rigorous processes to deliver hybrid cloud solutions, consulting, and data center services tailored to their customers’ business drivers. For more information visit: www.involta.com

Episode 16: Craig Jackman, President, Paragon IT Professionals

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Craig Jackman, President of Paragon IT Professionals discusses how service is the key to a successful company. Craig founded Paragon IT with his brother, Joel, in 1997.  With a strong foundation and a lot of hard work, the company established the Paragon Proven Process that businesses have come to rely on to find contract, contract-to-hire and full-time tech talent. 

With the knowledge gained from 23 years of listening to the challenges faced by IT executives, Paragon’s goal is to improve the IT capability of their clients by being the tech talent experts. For more information visit: www.paragonitpros.com

Episode 15: Karl Bickmore, Chief Executive Officer, Snap Tech IT

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Karl Bickmore, Chief Executive Office at Snap Tech IT, explains the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and offers insights for Aerospace and Manufacturing DoD subcontractors. He explains how the certification process works, understanding the ins and outs of securing certification and how Snap Tech IT can help with preparation and managed services to continue certification compliance.

Snap Tech IT provides IT management, cybersecurity, cloud services, professional services & data center services for small and medium-sized businesses nationwide using technology to solve business challenges, coupled with exceptional client experiences that enable businesses to focus on strategy & growth. Snap Tech IT has solved a multitude of technology challenges for clients, from minimizing cybersecurity risk & operational downtime to managing IT roadmaps tailored for client business needs. For more information visit: www.snaptechit.com.

Episode 14: Roger Wahman, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President, Apex Consulting Services

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Roger Wahman, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President at Apex Consulting Services, discusses the necessities of strategic assessments and how Apex applies these technology solutions to industry specific problems to set their clients up for success.

Apex Systems is a world class technology services business that incorporates industry insights and experience to deliver solutions that fulfill our clients’ digital visions. We provide a continuum of service from workforce mobilization and modern enterprise solutions to digital innovation to drive better results and bring more value to our clients. Apex transforms our customers with modern enterprise solutions tailored to the industries we serve. For more information visit: www.apexsystems.com.

Episode 13: Doug Stetson, Chief Executive Officer, FreeFall Aerospace

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Doug Stetson, Chief Executive Officer at FreeFall Aerospace, discusses the new innovative antennas that FreeFall Aerospace is developing and Stetson shares how they’re partnering with other Arizona tech companies to create these revolutionary antennas to offer Big Data from small spacecraft.

FreeFall is developing revolutionary new antenna technology for ground, air, and space. Their innovative spherical antennas are drawing interest from a wide variety of commercial and government organizations, offering a wide field of view, electronic steering, and low mass to dramatically simplify and improve satellite communications. FreeFall was founded in Tucson as a spin-off from the University of Arizona and maintains a close connection with UA faculty and supporters. For more information visit: www.freefallaerospace.com.

Episode 12: Elizabeth Oviedo, Chief Executive Officer, Symmetry Software

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Elizabeth Oviedo, Chief Executive Officer at Symmetry Software, shares what it means to be named the company’s first female CEO and the second CEO ever in the over 37 years of business.  Oviedo discusses goals for the company, how things have gone during the pandemic and what the future of tech looks like in Arizona. 

Symmetry’s fully integrated suite of payroll tax APIs and software tools allows companies to ensure that employee and employer taxes are correctly calculated and managed. In other words, deliver “the right taxes the first time.” With payroll integrations that range from electronic withholding forms to federal, state and local tax lookup tools, we make our customer’s processes more regulatory compliant, automated, efficient, and error-free. For more information visit: www.symmetry.com.

Episode 11: Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President, University of Arizona Tech Parks Arizona

In this edition of the Tech Focus Member Spotlight, Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona, discusses the role and impact of the Tech Parks and recent progress made at the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) and The Bridges. In her role, Stewart leads the Tech Parks economic development initiatives focused and aligned with the specializations at the University.

Tech Parks Arizona creates interactive ground, which generates, attracts and supports technology companies and talent in alignment with the goals of the University of Arizona. For more information visit: www.techparks.arizona.edu.

Episode 10: Howard N. Stewart, President & CEO, AGM Container Controls

In this episode of TechFocus, Howard Stewart shares advice and expertise on how to protect your employees during uncertain times.  Stewart shares how AGM has coped with Covid and some of the steps it has taken to protect its employees while still working in a manufacturing environment. He also talks about AGM’s culture and some of the new directions and products AGM is working on. 

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, AGM Container Controls, Inc. (AGM) has been the leading designer and manufacturer of precision, long-term moisture and pressure regulation hardware to the aerospace & defense industry. Today, AGM sells to many major U.S. military suppliers, including the DoD itself, in addition to the automotive, space, logistics, and watercraft markets. For more information, please visit www.agmcontainer.com.

Episode 9: Joshua Kanter, Chief Marketing Officer, Encora

In this episode of TechFocus, Joshua Kanter shares new marketing perspectives on the path forward for businesses.  Kanter explains how businesses need to take advantage of modern technology to adapt to the evolving needs and requirements of their market to stay relative and competive in their industry.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Encora is an established leader in outsourced product development services that specializes in innovation acceleration for leading-edge technology companies. With over 4,000 associates in 20+ offices and innovation labs across U.S., Mexico, Central & South America, India, and Asia Pacific, Encora’s global talent pool, industry expertise and proprietary agile engineering capabilities enable clients to improve their speed to impact. For more information, please visit www.encora.com.

Episode 8: James Polcyn, Chief Executive Officer, Phocos

In this episode of TechFocus, listen to James Polcyn discuss how Phocos is creating a world class organization across multiple countries and cultures. Phocos’ mission is to make reliable energy access possible anywhere in the world, anytime, and for Any-Grid.  Listen to hear Polcyn explain how.

Phocos is a proven, global leader that holds itself to the highest standards of engineering and innovation in the solar and energy industries. Driven by their passion for off-grid solutions, Phocos was founded in 2000. They earned their strong reputation with high-quality energy solutions designed to provide reliable energy access for people without grid power. Phocos cares about the individuals and communities their products support because they know when people have access to reliable power, their lives are changed for the better. To learn more visit www.phocos.com.

Episode 7: Calline Sanchez, Vice President, IBM Worldwide Systems Lab Services & Technical Universities

In this episode of TechFocus, listen to Calline Sanchez discuss relevant points of today’s current technology scene.  IBM, in its 109 year of business, is still a fore runner with breakthroughs and advances in computing technology.  Listen to find out what’s in store IBM’s future in Cloud and AI.

International Business Machines Corp. is an information technology company, which provides integrated solutions that leverage information technology and knowledge of business processes. It operates through the following segments: Cloud & Cognitive Software, Global Business Services, Global Technology Services, Systems, and Global Financing. The company was founded by Charles Ranlett Flint and Thomas J. Watson Sr. on June 16, 1911 and is headquartered in Armonk, NY. To learn more visit www.ibm.com.

Episode 6: Grant Anderson, President and CEO, Co-Founder of Paragon Space Development Corporation

In this episode of TechFocus, listen to Grant Anderson talk about best practices in running a successful business and holding on to your top talent. As Paragon Space Development celebrates 26+ years of providing award-winning life support and thermal control solutions for extreme environments, they’ve recognized that it is their employees that keep their business thriving. Listen to hear how.

Paragon has committed to developing innovative new solutions to fill life support and thermal control technology gaps in the ever evolving space, defense, and commercial marketplaces. They work every day with the understanding that while the difficult takes time, the impossible takes just a little longer. Visit www.paragonsdc.com.

Episode 5: Matthew Lanfrankie, Director of Sales and Paul Soucek, System Sales Engineer for Delta Technology

In this episode of TechFocus, Delta Tech’s Director of Sales, Matthew Lanfrankie and System Sales Engineer, Paul Soucek, share with you the manufacturing advantages to implementing an automation solution and more...

Delta Technology is a fully integrated custom automation solutions provider using out-of-the-box solutions that are imaginatively designed to match their clients needs and process. Then they seamlessly integrate those solutions into an overall process solution by adding software, motion control, vision, and system design to create an optimum solution. Visit www.deltatech1.com.

Episode 4: Stephen Heitz, CIO of LAVIDGE

In this episode of TechFocus, LAVIDGE’s Chief Innovation Officer, Stephen Heitz, talks about retaining top talent, providing a good work culture, outcomes of COVID 19, and more...

LAVIDGE is an employee-owned advertising, public relations and digital marketing agency successfully producing results for clients in healthcare, real estate, education, hospitality, technology, sports marketing, retail services, finance, food service and government since 1982. Visit www.lavidge.com.

Episode 3: Alex Rodriguez, CEO of FreeFall 5G and Sergio Cardona, CTO of FreeFall 5G

In this episode of TechFocus, FreeFall Aerospace COO Alex Rodriguez and ED2 Corporation President/CEO Sergio Cardona give an inside look at how these two companies joined forces, backed by world-class experts in antenna design and modeling, electrical engineering and RF systems, to create FreeFall 5G.

FreeFall 5G is a disruptive technology development company that provides intelligent antenna systems for the global 5G market.  Their new “FreeStar5G Antenna System” promises to accelerate 5G connectivity.  To learn more about FreeFall 5G, visit www.freefall5g.com.

Episode 2: Dror Yahav, CEO of Universal Avionics

In this episode of TechFocus, Tucson-based Universal Avionics CEO Dror Yahav discusses the state of the commercial and business aviation industry, how the company and industry as a whole have been impacted by COVID-19 and the evolving economic downturn, and how Universal Avionics is responding internally and externally.

Universal Avionics is a leading manufacturer of innovative commercial avionics systems offered as retrofit and forward-fit solutions for the largest diversification of aircraft types in the industry. To learn more about Universal Avionics, visit www.uasc.com/company/about.

Episode 1: Steve Zylstra, CEO of the Arizona Technology Council

In this episode of TechFocus, Arizona Technology Council CEO Steve Zylstra shares the exciting things happening in Arizona’s expanding innovation ecosystem, what changes he expects to see in the coming year, the business climate for Arizona companies in the tech industry, opportunities for the state’s technology industry, and the advantages of being a part of Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector.

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona. A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay. Visit www.aztechcouncil.org to learn more.

Michael Beach Coaching & Consulting sharpens the leadership abilities of C-Suite Executives, leadership teams and emerging leaders. Certified professional business coaches with decades of business experience and seasoned leadership acumen, Michael Beach Coaching & Consulting equips your leaders and emerging leaders to leverage their strengths and to develop new leadership capabilities. They focus on leadership development, emotional intelligence, communications excellence, and other disciplines, including people management, marketing, sales management, and more. Their experienced coaches and consultants have founded companies and led teams in organizations big and small, from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. Fast-growth companies rely on Michael Beach Coaching & Consulting to help them maximize opportunities to grow business quickly and profitably, serving their customers in a game-changing way. To develop a strong team, corporate culture or better leadership team, visit www.michaelbeachcoach.com, email info@michaelbeachcoach.com or call 520-732-2266.