In partnership with Michael Beach Consulting, TechFocus Member Spotlight Podcast highlights Arizona’s growing prominence as a world-class tech hub. Each podcast episode features innovative entrepreneurs, transformative leaders and tech titans who are reshaping the state’s evolving tech ecosystem in existing and emerging sectors. Moderated by Linda Drake, a seasoned Leadership Coach and Business Consultant with Michael Beach Consulting.
Broadcasted monthly, the goal of TechFocus is to have real leaders having real conversations about what’s happening in the technology sector in Arizona. Each episode is recorded, edited, produced and released as a podcast publication, accessible by streaming or download and shared on social media.
Interested in spotlighting your company or being a sponsor? Contact Jeff Sales: jsales@aztechcouncil.org.
The benefits of being a TechFocus guest expert:
Podcasts are unique to other types of interviews, and as a result, offer several unique advantages. Being a guest on a podcast in your industry offers a myriad of benefits, including:
- The ability to reach your target market with your unique message.
- Expert, influencer status as you share your expertise, industry knowledge and perspective.
- Calls to action. During your time on the podcast, you can tell listeners about what you can do to help and how they can contact you.
- Helping to improve your business, organization or industry by spreading the word about what you have to offer.
Be a featured guest on TechFocus | Learn more about sponsorship opportunities


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 phocos.com.


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 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 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 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 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.