AZ TechCast

The New Aerospace Economy: Why Arizona Is Taking Off   Guests: Jonathan Roll - Program Manager, Biz Dev, & Research Analyst ASU NewSpace (also on Arizona Aerospace Summit planning committee) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanproll/ https://newspace.asu.edu/   Toni Drummond - Founder & Managing Director, Future Flight Global; Partner Prestige Air Group (also on Arizona Aerospace Summit pl...

Optics and photonics may not always be visible, but they are foundational to the technologies shaping our daily lives, from high-speed data centers and AI to healthcare breakthroughs, space exploration and national defense. In this episode of AZ TechCast, host Eric Miller is joined by three leading voices in Arizona’s optics ecosystem to explore how light-based technologies are quietly powering in...

In this episode of AZ TechCast, Arizona-based business leaders and experts come together to explore how organizations across the state can strengthen sales performance, refine marketing strategy and drive growth, even in a challenging economic climate. Featuring insights from Mark Sutter (Founder, Impact Sales Advisors), Jamie Munoz (Visionary, Catalyst Integrators) and Mark Yeager (President, Yea...

Arizona has quickly become one of the nation’s most important hubs for data center development. However, what does that growth really mean for our state, our communities and our future? In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller dive into the evolving role of data centers in Arizona with insights from Cepand Alizadeh (Arizona Technology Council), Tom Maples (DPR Constructi...

Connecting Arizona’s STEM Ecosystem: Inside the Work of SciTech Institute   Guests: Yvonnda Shelton, Workforce Development Specialist, SciTech Institute David Felix, Senior Representative, SRP & SciTech Institute Board Member Guest/co-host: Steve Zylstra, President & CEO, Arizona Technology Council & SciTech Institute Abstract: In this episode, we explore the powerful partnership betwe...

In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller sit down with some remarkable students recently named winners and honorable mentions in the Council’s 2025 Future Innovators of the Year awards. These students will be honored at the Council’s upcoming Governor’s Celebration of Innovation in November. These young STEM leaders— Shireen Arora, Elias Chang, Akshay Karthik Ananya Lakk...

Arizona is emerging as the U.S. headquarters for the semiconductor industry, and this October, Phoenix will host SEMICON West for the very first time. As the largest semiconductor event in North America, SEMICON West will bring together global leaders, innovators and policymakers to tackle the industry’s biggest challenges and celebrate its rapid growth. In this episode of AZ TechCast, your hosts...

In our July 2025 episode, we are joined by three outstanding guests who will share more about themselves shortly: Kate Lemke from Pipeline AZ, Jonathan Roll from ASU (and co-chair of the Council's Aerospace, Aviation, Space and Defense Committee), and Tom Wilson from SciTech Institute. Together, we’ll discuss the dynamic landscape of Arizona’s Aerospace, Aviation, Space, and Defense (AASD) sectors...

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic buzzword, it’s a game-changer across nearly every industry. In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Steve Zylstra of the Arizona Technology Council and Eric Miller of PADT, Inc. sit down with Karuana Gatimu (Microsoft), Minky Kernacs (Mercurio Analytics Inc.), Niranjan Krishnan (FPT Software), and Chris Lucero (Luminos Innovation) to explore how AI a...

In an unpredictable world, businesses must prepare for disruptions, whether from cyberattacks, natural disasters or unexpected outages. But what’s the difference between disaster recovery and business continuity? In this episode of AZ TechCast, we’ll discuss the critical strategies that ensure business resilience with expert insights from Steve Copeland of RYTHMz, Joseph Cook of The Arizona Group...

In this inspiring and first 2025 episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Eric Miller and Steve Zylstra welcome Kim McWaters, president & CEO of Fresh Start Women's Foundation, Abdu Dahr, vice president of strategic partnerships for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and seasoned HR executive, Scott Holman of HHR Consulting to explore how Fresh Start empowers women to achieve self-sufficiency and thrive. Lea...

Arizona is not just gazing at the stars—it’s building the future of space exploration. In this episode of AZ TechCast, industry trailblazers Jim Cantrell, founder of Phantom Space and a SpaceX founding team member, and Michael Mackowski, retired spacecraft engineer and space advocate, join us to explore Arizona’s dynamic role in the space industry. From pioneering satellites to shaping space polic...

In this October episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller sit down with three remarkable students recently named winners of the Council’s 2024 Future Innovators of the Year awards. These students will be honored at the Council’s upcoming Governor’s Celebration of Innovation in November. These young STEM leaders—Rishabh Sreepathy, Aditya Lakshminarasimhan and Brad Wu—will discuss...

In this episode of AZ TechCast, we’re joined as always by Arizona Technology Council President and CEO Steve Zylstra. Our guests today are Tom Tenney from Legacy Wealth Management and Sheila Kloefkorn from KEO Marketing. Together, we’re going to explore the Arizona Technology Council's 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) program. We’ll discuss the advantages of MEPs for employers and employees, cu...

Connecting Communities: The Impact of BEAD Funding on Internet Access E52 In the latest episode of AZ Tech Cast, hosts Steve Zylstra and Karen Nowicki discuss the impact of BEAD funding on internet access in Arizona with experts Sandip Bhowmick, Ben Elkins, and Kelly LeBlanc. Steve and Karen introduce the Arizona Technology Council's role in […] The post Connecting Communities: The Impact of BEAD...

Cybersecurity: Its Importance & the Impact of AI E51 This episode of AZ TechCast explores cybersecurity's pivotal role and AI's transformative impact, hosted by Steve Zylstra and Karen Nowicki. Guests Mark Dallmeier, JR Garcia, and Helen Patton emphasize proactive cybersecurity strategies and the dual nature of AI in enhancing threat detection while posing governance challenges. […] The post C...

Tech & Government: Behind the Scenes with Local Business Leaders E50 In the 50th episode of Az TechCast, Karen Nowicki and Paisley Coxsey host a discussion on government contracting with Lisa Rehurek, Jenny Servo, and Sonia Vohnout, highlighting the nuances of state and local contracts, SBIR, and STTR programs. Lisa, Jenny, and Sonia stress the […] The post Tech & Government: Behind the Sc...

Empowering Tomorrow: Green Banks, Resiliency and the Energy Transition E49 In this episode of AZ TechCast, Karen Nowicki and Steve Zylstra explore Arizona's energy landscape with Earl Collins, Dre Thompson, and Maren Mahoney, highlighting collaborations between public and private sectors and tribal communities. They discuss the fusion of private investment and public funding to drive […] The post...

Workforce Development: From Education to International Innovation E48 In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Karen Nowicki and Leslie Marquez engage in a dynamic conversation with a panel of experts representing organizations like the PMI Phoenix Chapter, Proctorio Inc., Digitanity, and Pipeline AZ. Together, they dive into the intricacies of workforce development, exploring strategies to […] The p...

AI-Powered Marketing: Ethics, Efficiency, and Innovation E47 The latest episode of AZ TechCast hosted by Steve Zylstra and Karen Nowicki, explores AI's impact on marketing with guests Stephen Carradini from ASU, Renee Yeager from Yeager Marketing, and Spencer Lee from Intero Digital, emphasizing ethical considerations and regulatory challenges. Spencer and Stephen predict significant changes in […...

Navigating Leadership: Insights from Industry Pros E46 This dynamic podcast interview, hosted by Karen Nowicki and Steven Zylstra, featured esteemed guests Victor Assad from Strategic HR Consulting; Carol Stewart from Tech Parks Arizona and Art Taylor from PayPal. These leaders engaged in a comprehensive exploration of effective leadership in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The […] The post N...

Bytes and Borders: Navigating AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum Computing & Global Trade E45 In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Karen Nowicki and Steve Zylstra lead a dynamic discussion with guests Mayor Ciprian Ciucu of Bucharest, Cristian Bacanu from the Romanian Parliament, and Representative David Cook. The conversation spans AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and international trade, […] T...

Shining Bright in the Desert: Solar Energy in Arizona E44 With over 300 sunny days per year, it's no secret that Arizona has plenty of sunshine. Overall, Arizona ranks second in the nation in solar energy potential and ranks among the top five states in the nation in total solar-powered generating capacity from both utility- […] The post Shining Bright in the Desert: Solar Energy in Arizona E44 ap...

Connecting Worlds: Bridging the Digital Divide with Broadband E43 Arizona's Rural Broadband Initiative endeavors to expand broadband services in underserved rural areas across the state. The initiative envisions a future where every Arizonan, regardless of their location, is empowered by high-speed internet, breaking barriers and fostering a more inclusive and connected society. The October 2023 [...

Arizona: A Growing Leader in International Trade E42 No longer just a flyover state, Arizona is rapidly gaining more and more attention globally for its business-friendly environment and interest in international trade opportunities. The September 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council's AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Representative David Cook of the Arizona House of […] The...