AZ TechCast

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 […]

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. [&...

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 […]

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 [&#8230...

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 […]

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...

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 […]

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, [&#82...

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- […]

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 [...

How to Level Up Your Digital Marketing Strategy E41 From SEO to paid media to website design, refining your company’s digital marketing strategy can be overwhelming. But if created intentionally, it can be a critical step towards meeting key business goals. The August 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including […]

A Closer Look at Arizona’s Shifting IT Industry E40 Should we build out our internal IT department or work with a managed service provider? Should we onshore or offshore IT support? How can we attract qualified IT talent? The July 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Alex Cole, CEO […]

Ensuring Data Privacy When Using Generative AI E39 What should executives keep in mind when considering the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure their organization’s data privacy? The June 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Rebecca Clyde, co-founder and CEO of Botco.ai; Demetrius Dillard, senior director of [&#82...

Microelectronics: Tiny Technology With a Massive Impact E38 While small in size, microelectronic components are an increasingly important part of many industries, ranging from transportation to healthcare to aerospace and defense. The May 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Joe Cestari, executive director at Kiterocket; Travis Kelly,...

Developing a Future-Proof Arizona Workforce E37 From Flagstaff to Yuma, Arizona is home to numerous educational institutions that are evolving rapidly to keep pace with the state’s tremendous economic growth. Every day, they are rolling out new programs, adding new classes and upskilling their educators to train the manufacturers, engineers, scientists and inventors of tomorrow. […]

Optics Valley: The State of Arizona’s Optics Industry E36 Arizona is home to a global hub of world-class companies and institutions with decades of innovation and leadership in optics, photonics and astronomy. From medical imaging to remote sensing, semiconductors to astronomy and mobile phones to quantum information science, the applications of optics and photonics technologies […]

How Public-Private Partnerships Foster Innovation E35 Public-private partnerships play a pivotal role in Arizona’s economic development and positioning the state as an attractive place for technology companies to do business. So, what are some of the partnerships contributing to Arizona’s continued growth? The February 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featu...

Mission Critical: Closing the Cybersecurity Workforce Gap E34 Did you know that the global cybersecurity workforce gap is roughly 3.4 million people? This means that the supply of skilled cybersecurity workers needed to protect businesses from cyber threats has struggled to keep up with growing demand. The January 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s […]

The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33 From managing budgets to meeting deliverables in a timely manner, project managers play a critical role in helping organizations improve outcomes and maintain successful partnerships. So, how can tech companies leverage project management to reimagine how they produce deliverables for their clients? The December 2022 episode […]

Successfully Doing Business with the Public Sector E32 If you’ve ever considered doing business with state or federal government entities, you know that the procurement and government sales process can feel like a maze of rules and regulations. So, how can your company stand out from competitors when pursuing business opportunities with the public sector? […]

Historic Firsts: Arizona and the James Webb Telescope E31 On December 25, 2021, NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest and most complex space telescope ever built. Four days later, Webb’s massive sunshield deployed and within weeks, its primary mirror started unfurling. On August 12, 2022, Webb’s first images were released, and […]

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30 In a constantly changing world, businesses must stay adaptable by performing periodic strategic analyses. Through this process, company leaders can review historical data to not only inform their long-term strategy but identify the technology solutions to stay ahead of the curve. The September 2022 episode of the […]

Building the Pipeline of STEM Talent for Tomorrow’s Workforce Needs E29 It’s no secret that Arizona is an attractive place for technology companies to call home. But with more technology companies being founded locally and relocating to Arizona from out-of-state, how can we ensure we have enough qualified technology talent to fill highly technical positions? […]

Digital Transformation of Operational Workflows E28 In an increasingly digital world, it’s critical for business leaders to explore digital transformation, or the creation and modification of business processes, culture and customer experiences, to meet changing business and market demands. But where to start? The July 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featu...