2017 Annual Report
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2017 Annual Report Phoenix 2800 North Central Avenue, Suite 1530, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 602.343.8324 Tucson c/o Global Advantage 9070 South Rita Road, Suite 1550, Tucson, Arizona 85747 520.382.3281 aztechcouncil.org [email protected] Table of Contents 02 About the Arizona Technology Council 04 Letter from the President + CEO 06 Introduction + Overview 08 Public Policy Advocacy 10 Signature Events 16 Marketing + Communications 18 Technology Employment 21 TechTerra Program 22 Business Essentials Program 26 Standing Committees 30 Functional Committees 32 Peer Groups 34 STEM Education Programs 38 In the Community 39 By the Numbers 40 Board of Directors 42 Staff Members 44 2017 Council Members 50 Sponsors ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL TECHNOLOGY ARIZONA 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 ANNUAL 1 About the Arizona Technology Council The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona’s premier trade association for science-and technology-driven companies. Recognized as having a diverse professional business community, the Council works towards furthering the advancement of technology in Arizona through leadership, education, advocacy, and social action. The Council offers numerous events, educational forums, and business conferences that bring together leaders, professionals, 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 Council, please visit www.aztechcouncil.org. Our Mission The Arizona Technology Council is the driving force behind making our state the fastest-growing technology hub in the nation, connecting and empowering Arizona’s technology community. ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL TECHNOLOGY ARIZONA 2 3 Letter from the President + CEO It’s not often that the technology story as job interviews and the first day of Digging deeper into the numbers, of the year comes when the calendar work. He also joined governors of 139,439 workers were estimated to has just turned, but Arizona definitely eight other western states to establish be in Arizona’s technology industry in grabbed the headlines in early 2017 an Intermountain West Electric 2016. Of that, 67,354, or 48.3 percent when autonomous cars headed this Vehicle Corridor to let electric vehicles of the total workers, were in actual way after our own Gov. Doug Ducey seamlessly drive across the signatory technology occupational jobs. That offered the state’s roads for testing states’ major transportation corridors. made Arizona ninth in tech industry self-driving vehicles when California’s employment nationally. sea of regulations created too many Beyond autonomous vehicles, Arizona barriers for this disruptive technology. had plenty of good technology Among members making their own news last year compared to the news in 2017, Intel announced to the Stepping up to play their respective rest of the nation as reflected in the world that it was to invest $7 billion roles were members of the Arizona 2017 Cyberstates report based on to complete Fab 42 in Chandler so Technology community. Waymo, CompTIA’s analysis of 2016 data from the company can produce the most formerly known as the Google the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the advanced computer chip in the world. self-driving car project, and Intel U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and Besides making the 7-nanometer began working together to perfect other sources. The state was in the: chip, the smallest, most powerful full autonomy for vehicles in city and efficient ever, the outcome also driving. Uber and GM were testing • Top 10 for the sector’s includes about 3,000 full-time Intel autonomous vehicles, with GM putting contribution to the state’s overall jobs, and more than 10,000 jobs in its self-driving Bolt EVs through their economy. Arizona to run and support the factory. paces on our streets. • Top 10 for actual technology occupational jobs among total In Tucson, World View Enterprises Meanwhile, Gov. Doug Ducey saw technology industry jobs. began testing high-altitude balloons additional opportunities and kept his • Top 20 for total technology to carry commercial payloads hands on the wheel. The Governor occupations across all other for government, commercial and gave a green light for Arizona to industries. education customers while its Voyager partner on an “Uber for Jobs” pilot • Top 20 for percentage that capsule will allow human travel to the program offering rides to former average technology wages stratosphere and back. inmates without transportation for exceed average state wages. verified employment events such • Top 20 in innovation. ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL TECHNOLOGY ARIZONA 4 And who says competitors can’t get extension of the 2008 Research and along? Members of our new Optics Development Tax Credit expansions. Valley Committee with the support of the Arizona Commerce Authority Adding to our ongoing roster of events, hosted companies in the USA Pavilion the Council hosted its first Smart City at the Laser World of Photonics in Summit to showcase advancements Munich, Germany. They also offer in transportation, security, education, support to one another by maintaining and the Internet of Things (IoT). Talk worldwide strategic relationships about being timely! Shortly after the with national and international optics event, the news broke that Microsoft clusters, as well as prestigious groups founder Bill Gates had invested nearly that include SPIE, the international $80 million for a tract west of the White Tank Mountains that is roughly the size society for optics and photonics; OSA, Steven G. Zylstra, Sc.D. (Hon.) the leading professional association in of Tempe for creation of a smart city optics and photonics; and the American where information and communication Precision Optics Manufacturers technology will tap into IoT. Association. I hope this snapshot of a memorable The Council also had its presence felt year has whet your appetite for what while helping shape public policy at you will find inside our 2017 Annual the Arizona Capitol as participants Report. It’s worth noting that none of in negotiations with legislators on the Council’s successes can happen amendments to Arizona SB1114 to without the ongoing support and protect Arizona’s famed “dark skies.” participation of our members. And that That measure was signed into law by goes for what lies ahead in 2018! the Governor in early May. The Council’s other successes at the REPORT 2017 ANNUAL Legislature included recapitalization of the Angel Investment Tax Credit Steven G. Zylstra, Sc.D. (Hon.) program and passage of a four-year President + CEO 5 INTRODUCTION + OVERVIEW The Arizona Technology Council is a private, not-for-profit With the support of our members, sponsors, and partners, trade organization that supports the development, growth, the Council fulfills several major goals related to moving and advancement of science-and technology-driven technology forward: companies in Arizona. Delivery quality Connect and content and strengthen events to educate Arizona’s those working in technology Arizona’s expanding industry and Accelerate the Promote state technology sector. community. innovation and and federal entrepreneurial policies that mindset already enhance Arizona’s present in our technology growing startup industry. ecosystem. With well over 800 members, the Council is Arizona’s only on products and services, and the creation of business- statewide organization serving the technology sector. focused legislation to grow the state’s economy, the Providing member companies with marketing and business Council is recognized as one of the most important trade development opportunities, educational events, discounts organizations in the state. ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL TECHNOLOGY ARIZONA 6 We exist to protect and empower all those who innovate. Technology moves all of us forward. Our History The Council was created in 2002 after the Arizona High Technology Industry Cluster merged with the Arizona Software and Internet Association. In 2008, the Council added an office in Tucson after consolidating the Aerospace, Manufacturing, and Information Technology clusters of Southern Arizona into the Council. In 2016, the Arizona Optics Industry Association merged with the Council to become the Optics Valley Committee. Our Leadership The Council is governed by a board of directors led by Chairman Michael Guggemos, chief information officer, Insight Enterprises. Steven G. Zylstra serves as president + CEO of the Council and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management. Zylstra also serves as Chairman Emeritus of TECNA (Technology Councils of North America). Our Network The Council supports technology companies at all stages growth and development – from startups to rapidly growing mid-sized companies and large global enterprises. We work to improve Arizona’s competitiveness and visibility by advancing the development of the state’s technology community. REPORT 2017 ANNUAL A PLACE TO CONNECT + GROW 7 PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY Legislative The year 2017 was very productive for the Arizona HB2492 but was ultimately driven by Sen. Frank Pratt’s Technology Council on legislative matters. Working with SB1416 that covered multiple different programs. The our lobbyist at Public Policy Partners (P3), the Council’s state’s enhanced R&D tax credit was to sunset in 2018 but Public Policy Committee was successful in helping get this bill extended the credit through the 2021 tax year. the