The Arizona Technology Council today announced it has appointed Jonathan Talcott, attorney, Ballard Spahr; Debra Smith, CFO, BeyondTrust; and Rick Crutchley, vice president and general manager, Iron Mountain, to its board of directors. All three were elected unanimously to serve three-year terms at the Council’s quarterly board meeting held October 25.

“Jonathan, Debra and Rick are fantastic additions to our board, bringing decades of experience that will help us continue to serve our members’ needs,” said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO, Arizona Technology Council. “They are joining at a great time with record job creation, the lowest unemployment since the 1960s and a booming economy led by the technology sector. We look forward to their contributions as we work to keep the industry strong.”

In addition to the three first-term board of director appointees, the Council has appointed a number of executives to fill second and third terms as Directors.

Alex Iuorio, senior vice president, Sales and Supplier Management, Avnet; Tim McDaniel, Ph.D., senior vice president, Emerging Opportunities, TGen; Rick Nielsen, director of technology, CB Operations and Engineering, Cox Communications; Jerry Proctor, SES/Col (Ret.), president, JVP Strategic Consulting, LLC; Ray Schey, publisher, Phoenix Business Journal; Leland Sook, director, Rates & Rate Strategy, APS; and David Woody, senior vice president, Enterprise Technology Strategy and Transformation, American Express, have been reappointed to serve a second three-year term.

Michael Guggemos, CIO, Insight Enterprises; Michael Hawksworth, president and CEO, MSS Technologies; Chris Johnson, owner and president, LaneTerralever; and Jeff Unruh, managing director, Alerion Capital Group, have been reappointed to serve a third three-year term.

The board also appointed two individuals to its Executive Committee as At-Large members for a one-year term: Chad Fogg, global program manager, Regulatory Compliance, Uber, and Eric Miller, principal and co-founder, PADT.

The Council’s board of directors appointed seven new officers to a one-year term.

  • Robert Witwer, former vice president of Advanced Technology, Honeywell – chairman emeritus
  • Michael Guggemos, CIO, Insight Enterprises – chairman
  • Alex Iuorio, senior vice president of Sales and Supplier Management, Avnet – vice chairman
  • David Tuhy, general manager, Intel – vice chairman
  • Steven G. Zylstra, Arizona Technology Council – president and CEO
  • Eric Lewis, partner, EY – treasurer
  • Jaque Westling, attorney, Quarles & Brady LLP – secretary

The board of directors serves an advisory and fiduciary role by representing the interests of the state’s technology industries in the Council’s strategic planning and ongoing operations. The current board includes 41 members representing a diverse set of organizations.

Talcott, Smith and Crutchley each possess a unique technology background and skill set that will contribute to the continued growth of Arizona’s technology communities. Their respective biographies are:

Jonathan Talcott, attorney, Ballard Spahr

Talcott is an attorney who represents clients in a broad range of complex commercial disputes and transactions. He advises clients from startups to multinational corporations on business matters ranging from intellectual property to franchise rights. A former engineer, Talcott’s patent litigation experience has spanned a broad range of technologies and industries, including hardware, software, the Internet, medical devices, and sports equipment. His trademark practice includes advising clients on branding issues, securing trademark rights from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and defending and enforcing trademarks in court. He also has extensive copyright experience and advises clients in the areas of cybersecurity and privacy law.

Debra Smith, CFO, BeyondTrust

Smith is a senior corporate finance executive who has over 20 years of experience in building, leading, and growing corporations through acquisitions, complex restructurings, and international expansion. She is a strategic thought leader with a strong track record of improving financial performance, increasing productivity, and enhancing internal controls. Prior to joining BeyondTrust, Smith worked for JDA Software in a variety of roles, including senior director of Finance & Analysis Operations, and controller for the Americas. She led the development of a repeatable M&A playbook to ensure the achievement of post-acquisition synergy goals. Smith also has significant expertise in project management and internal audit in the form of post-grant or inter partes reviews in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Rick Crutchley, vice president and general manager, Iron Mountain

Crutchley serves as Iron Mountain’s vice president and general manager of North America and is responsible for providing global leadership to Iron Mountain’s operations and sales organizations and directs all aspects of those organizations’ operational policies, objectives, and initiatives. He is an 18-year data center industry veteran, focused on building global sales teams, optimizing the customer experience, and attaining annual sales and revenue targets. Crutchley previously served as the chief operating officer for IO Data Centers, vice president of Global Sales for Core Link Datacenters, and the chief operating officer for Cyber Trails, a national provider of IT services. He was also the general manager and director of Western Operations for Inflow, which was acquired by SunGard in 2005.

Companies represented on the Council’s board of directors include

AccountabilIT; Alerion Capital Group; Alliance Bank of Arizona; American Express; AppointmentPlus; APS; Aspect; ASU Knowledge Enterprise Development; Avnet; Ballard Spahr; Barrow Neurological Institute; BeyondTrust; CISCO; Cox Communications; EY; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Honeywell Aerospace; IBM; Indecomm Global Services; Insight Enterprises; Intel; Iron Mountain; JVP Strategic Consulting; LaneTerralever; MDSL; MSS Technologies; PADT; PayPal; Phoenix Art Museum; Phoenix Business Journal; Quarles & Brady LLP; Raytheon Missile Systems; Ryley Carlock & Applewhite; Securaplane Technologies; Solugenix; TGen; Office of Research, Discovery & Innovation at The University of Arizona; Uber Technologies; University of Advancing Technology; Vonage Business Solutions Group; and Wells Fargo Bank.

About the Arizona Technology Council

The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona’s premier trade association for science and technology companies. Recognized as having a diverse professional business community, Council members work towards furthering the advancement of technology in Arizona through leadership, education, legislation and social action. The Council offers numerous events, educational forums and business conferences that bring together leaders, visionaries and community members 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 Arizona Technology Council, please visit www.aztechcouncil.org.