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 Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller are joined by Joe Stockunas, President of SEMI Americas; Martijn Pierik, Sr. Vice President & Partner at Kiterocket; and Vic Narusis, Executive Vice President of Industry Development at the Arizona Commerce Authority. Together, they’ll discuss with our hosts why Arizona has become the epicenter of U.S. semiconductor investment, what the move of SEMICON West to Phoenix means for the state and how themes like workforce development, AI, sustainability and supply chain resilience will shape the conversations at this year’s show.

Here are links to the organizations and events mentioned in this episode:

• SEMICON West: www.semiconwest.org
• SEMI: www.semi.org
• Kiterocket: www.kiterocket.com
• Arizona Commerce Authority: www.azcommerce.com

You can view a video version of this and all of our episodes on our YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@aztechcouncil

Learn more about the Arizona Technology Council and our upcoming events at:

www.aztechcouncil.org

Learn more about our sponsors, PADT, at:

www.padtinc.com

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 and how the growth in these industries has increased the demand for a skilled local workforce.

Our discussion focuses in on the collaborative efforts underway to build a future-ready AASD talent pipeline. From launching the AASD Industry Hub to developing innovative tools like skills maps and career pathways, these experts share how they’re bridging the gap between education and industry, and how employers can play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of Arizona’s high-tech workforce.

Here are some links to the people and organizations we spoke with:

• Pipeline AZ: pipelineaz.com/
• The SciTech Institute: scitechinstitute.org/
• ASU NewSpace: newspace.asu.edu/
• The AZ Tech Council AASD Committee: www.aztechcouncil.org/committees/aerospace-aviation-space-and-defense-committee/

You can view a video version of this and all of our episodes on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@aztechcouncil

Learn more about the Arizona Technology Council and our upcoming events at: www.aztechcouncil.org Learn more about our sponsors, PADT, at: www.padtinc.com

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 and machine learning are transforming real-world business operations. From manufacturing to financial services, discover where AI is driving innovation, what challenges still lie ahead, and how organizations can responsibly implement these powerful technologies.

You can view a video version of this and all of our episodes on our YouTube Channel.

Learn more about the Arizona Technology Council and our upcoming events at: www.aztechcouncil.org

Learn more about our sponsors, PADT, at: www.padtinc.com