An ASU executive is tapped to lead the U.S. National Science Foundation, NASA awards PADT a $755,000 Phase II STTR research grant, HiMS joins Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative Program, GPS Insight acquires ServiceBridge LLC, eGreen IT Solutions selected as a 2020 e-Stewards disability program participant, Indecomm Digital has acquired Avantica Technologies, Cyxtera Technologies announces spin out of cybersecurity business, both Swiftpage and Ruda-Cardinal appoint new CEOs, and more. See the full update here.

AZTC supports APS’s commitment to affordable clean energy
The Council announced its support to Arizona Public Service and CEO Jeff Guldner for their commitment to a clean energy future in Arizona. The utility’s decision to increase its use of renewable energy is critical to the trajectory of developing technologies that will ensure reliable and affordable energy sources for our citizens and boost Arizona’s economy. Learn more how increased energy independence can drive economic development.

AZTC applauds STEM investments in Gov. Ducey’s executive budget
The Council applauds Gov. Ducey on his proposed FY 2021 executive budget, especially with its emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Council is advocating for STEM ecosystem investment and cultivation as one of its 2020 legislative priorities, and AZTC looks forward to working with the governor on making the vision a reality. Read about the STEM + tech-focused proposals from Gov. Ducey’s budget proposal.

ACA, Alliance Bank, KEO Marketing and MDSL execs elected to board
The Arizona Technology Council announced it has appointed Sandra Watson, president and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA); Austin D. Harris, vice president, Commercial Banking, Alliance Bank of Arizona; Sheila Kloefkorn, CEO, KEO Marketing Inc.; and Aaron Zeper, vice president, Customer Demand, MDSL, to its board of directors. The four executives were elected unanimously to serve three-year terms at the Council’s quarterly board meeting held on January 16. Read more about these dynamic leaders.

AZTC outlines legislative priorities in 2020 Public Policy Guide 
The top priorities for this year include providing new sources for risk capital to encourage entrepreneurship, extending the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit and Small Business Capital Investment Incentive program, supporting science and technology job creation and retention, and attracting the STEM talent required to compete in a global innovation economy. Read more about these key priorities that aim to accelerate growth.

Tucson after5 Tech Mixer: QuakeWrap Infrastructure Innovation Tour
February 12: QuakeWrap | 6840 S. Tucson Blvd. | Tucson, AZ 85756
At this special after5 event, QuakeWrap and its President/CEO, UA Professor Emeritus Mo Ehsani, PhD will be celebrating 25 years of infrastructure innovations. Attendees will see QuakeWrap innovations past and present, and get an exclusive tour of the QuakeWrap Innovation Center.

Speaker Series | STEM: Empowering students to become tech leaders
February 13: Galvanize | 515 E. Grant Street | Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Hear from a distinguished panel of educators and tech professionals as they discuss the importance of STEM education and how it’s driving Arizona’s tech-talent pipeline, best practices to empower students to innovate and succeed, as well as the potential obstacles the innovation ecosystem will need to address to help achieve the ideal future. Use promo code TECHNOLOGY for $10 off.

MarTech Series: Presented by KEO Marketing and Slake Consulting
February 20: Galvanize | 515 E. Grant Street | Phoenix, Arizona 85004
With the new year comes pressure to increase visibility, leads and sales for your B2B marketing and sales programs. Learn the key lessons these distinguished martech experts have taken from scaling large B2B marketing program so that you can shorten your time to success. Lunch is included.

after5 Tech Mixer; Hosted by IMNA Solutions 
February 20: Perimeter83 (UAT) | 2625 W Baseline Rd | Tempe, AZ 85283
Join Arizona Technology Council, members and non-members, IMNA Solutions staff and University of Advancing Technology faculty at this great event. Food and drinks are included in this special networking event.

2020 MedTech Conference
March 26: Venue8600 | 8600 E Anderson Drive | Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Attendees will hear from healthcare industry thought leaders who will discuss the use of augmented intelligence (AI) — the intersection of machine learning and advanced applications where clinical knowledge and medical data converge on a single platform — to enhance and streamline workflow by empowering them in their ecosystem, as well as help them to facilitate collaborative and intelligent decisions.

Find the right plan for your company and get the healthcare you deserve.
Arizona Technology Council understands the challenges many startups and small businesses face. That is exactly the reason why the Council’s new association health plan (AHP) with Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona targets member employers with fewer than 100 employees. When multiple small businesses join together as one association, they can take advantage of affordable health plans that can help attract and retain top talent. Request a quote today! For more information, visit www.aztechcouncil.org/ahp or contact [email protected].

2020 SciTech Festival: 2,300+ events offer something for everyone 
Meet a robot. Solve real-life challenges facing wildlife. See a 3D printer in action. Watch a rocket launch. View the stars through powerful telescopes. Arizonans of all ages will be able to do all of this and much more at the 2020 SciTech Festival which runs through April 30, 2020. Now in its ninth year, the Arizona SciTech Festival isn’t a single-day event. It is the country’s third-largest science festival with more than 800 partnering organizations. View the full list of events here: http://scitechinstitute.org/scitech-festival.

A helluva time with our legislators
Public policy—the process and the players—are critical components of the Council’s mission to support Arizona’s technology community. It’s about investing in people who care about the same things that we care about, like supporting policies that contribute to making Arizona one of the nation’s tech hubs and supporting our P-20 education system. That means working together on legislation that can benefit the entire state. This is noteworthy in this era when party lines seem to be a determining factor in political action. Read the January 2020 blog from Arizona Technology Council CEO Steven G. Zylstra.

Honeywell’s West Valley facility to make parts for NASA missions 
Lockheed Martin has awarded a contract to Honeywell to support production of NASA’s Orion spacecraft fleet. The fleet will be part of the upcoming Artemis missions, which will bring humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended in 1972. As part of the contract, Honeywell will provide 14 product types for Artemis missions III through V, including both hardware and software through 2030. Learn more here.

TechTHiNQ acquired by Brodeur Partners 
TechTHiNQ, a Scottsdale-based content marketing, public relations and communications strategy firm with a focus on tech clients, was acquired by Brodeur Partners. The acquisition by the Boston communications firm has special meaning for TechTHiNQ founder Linda Capcara, who worked for Brodeur from 1998 to 2005 after serving as media relations manager at Motorola for seven years. Read how TechTHiNQ’s expertise in tech is a perfect synergy with Brodeur Partners.

JDA expands into a new, state-of-the-art facility 
The leading AI-driven supply chain management platform provider, JDA Software, announced the opening of a new, expanded facility capable of accommodating more than 1,300 associates. The new facility is a tech-enhanced workspace that is more agile, resilient and responsive besides having abundant access to natural daylight, customized acoustic panels and themed collaboration areas. The facility is situated in Salarpuria Sattva Knowledge City, one of Asia’s largest and most futuristic IT complexes. Read more here.

Galvanize acquired in $165 million deal 
Galvanize, the technology education program and coworking space, has signed a deal to be acquired for $165 million. Virginia-based K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), a for-profit education company, acquired Galvanize and its eight U.S. campuses in an all-cash transaction. Visit here to learn more about this acquisition.

APS aims to run on carbon-free energy by 2050 
Arizona Public Service Co. is laying out what officials are calling an ambitious goal to provide carbon-free energy within the next 30 years. Reaching this clean-energy goal by 2050 will require not just a redeployment of resources from coal and natural gas to renewables, but it will require aggressive increases in technology. Read more about APS’s move towards renewables and carbon-free technologies.

Support renewable energy: ACC REST Stakeholder Meeting & Workshop
Make your voice heard at the Arizona Corporation Commission Stakeholder Meeting & Workshop on March 10-11, 2020. Council members can provide testimony at the workshop and submit written comments to the docket before and/or immediately following the workshop. Learn more about the upcoming ACC Stakeholder Meeting and Workshop and how to participate.

January 2020 Preferred Business Partner: UBS
As a member of the Council, you have greater access to UBS Institutional Consulting Group, a valued partner and leader in wealth management you can trust to help with customized solutions to address the realities of the global economy and their sophisticated needs. UBS is on the front lines of the new retirement, and they stand ready to help you and your participants meet the challenges of today’s world. See what’s possible by visiting UBS online:  https://financialservicesinc.ubs.com/team/southwest.

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