invisionAZ is creating, promoting, and leading the framework that allows tech, innovation, and investment to flourish in Arizona. To support a vibrant innovation ecosystem, invisionAZ provides the foundation for significant capital formation, creates an ecosystem to support innovation and growth, and develops a culture and regulatory environment that is attractive to entrepreneurs.
CYR3CON: CYR3CON uses artificial intelligence to predict what cybersecurity vulnerabilities hackers will attack. The SaaS-based platform, originally developed from Arizona State technology under DoD funding, enables large Fortune 500 clients to actively prevent emerging cyberattacks.
Upfront: Upfront is a behavioral operating system for the frontline workforce that maximizes revenue and retention by improving execution of critical sales, service and safety standards. Upfront elevates frontline workers, empowers frontline managers, protects consumers, and drives immediate profitable growth for business owners.
Dovly, Inc.: Dovly is the first fully automated credit repair platform, based on a sophisticated algorithm proven to increase consumer credit scores. With an advanced repair engine that tracks, manages, and fixes credit, Dovly help consumers as well as the credit-driven businesses that are trying to reach them.
YellowBird Holdings Inc.: YellowBird provides on-demand environmental, health, and safety professionals for companies who are unable to hire a full-time employee. The company matches the right people into companies on a gig basis helping businesses accelerate safety goal attainment.
Televëda Systems LLC: televëda is an online interactive platform where adults 65+ meet, engage and stay active by participating in virtual social and recreational activities. televëda’s classes support physical, cognitive, and social well-being at senior centers, senior living communities, and cities.
invisionAZ was created to close the gaps in Arizona’s vibrant tech ecosystem. At the First Annual AZ Tech Innovation Summit in March of 2017, leaders in the technology industry shared their insights on the strengths and weaknesses of Arizona’s innovative ecosystem. The blueprint of invisionAZ was developed based on this dialogue and the organization was formed to transform the Valley into an attractive environment for entrepreneurs.
A collaborative group of business, civic, political, and venture capital leaders have come together to assemble a solutions-based plan to address these gaps. invisionAZ will provide Arizona’s tech ecosystem with real solutions to further position the state as a leader in the new economy.
As an agent for progressive policy change and the driver for the important issues that impact innovation in Arizona, invisionAZ is committed to promoting policies and a legislative agenda that aligns with the growth of Arizona’s innovation ecosystem and continued economic development.
In March 2018, at the 2nd Annual AZ Tech Innovation Summit, Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation establishing Arizona’s FinTech Sandbox. The Sandbox offers visionary thinkers a platform to test unique, tech-based services and products without first obtaining full state licensure or other onerous authorization that would otherwise be required.
Startups, entrepreneurs and established companies can launch products on a limited, temporary scale to consumers to test innovative products, services and business models in the real market without incurring the regulatory costs and burdens that would otherwise be imposed.
At the 3rd Annual AZ Tech Innovation Summit, Governor Doug Ducey established the first-in-the-nation PropTech Sandbox. The PropTech Sandbox removes barriers to business entry, providing companies with a controlled testing environment without excessive regulatory burdens and costs.
Upon application approval, Arizona PropTech Sandbox participants are granted limited access to test in the Arizona market without first obtaining full state licensure or other authorization that would otherwise be required.
Positive Recovery Solutions – CEO
John J. Donahue is the CEO and co-owner of Positive Recovery Solutions Holdings, (PRS). PRS is the nation’s largest mobile medical manager of Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), caring for patients afflicted with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). He is deeply committed to opening treatment access for and supporting SUD patients to initiate and sustain their recovery.
Donahue has had an extensive career in healthcare spanning over 35 years and including senior leadership roles in Consumer Health (Gillette), Global Pharmaceutical/Biotech (European CFO for Rhone-Poulenc-Rorer/Sanofi Pasteur) and the Clinical Lab Industry (Corning Life Sciences/Quest Diagnostics). He founded and led National Imaging Associates, the country’s first Radiology Benefit Management company until it’s sale to Magellan Health. Donahue was also the CEO of Cogent Healthcare, a national leader in Hospitalist Physician staffing.
John serves on the board of Physician One Urgent Care, New England’s largest urgent care provider. He is the Chairman of A for Arizona, the non-profit K-12 educational advocacy foundation, driving innovation and enhancing educational opportunities for Arizona’s 1.2 million K-12 students. He is also active in local community boards and maritime commissions.
The Donahues have three adult children and four grandchildren. They reside in Scottsdale AZ and spend summers in Truro MA.
DLA Piper – Managing Partner
Steven Pidgeon is a senior partner at DLA Piper, one of the largest law firms in the world with over 4,900 lawyers located in 90 offices in more than 40 countries. Mr. Pidgeon concentrates his practice on public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and private equity investments. He also routinely counsels public companies on their disclosure and related obligations.
His corporate clients operate in a wide variety of industries, including technology, sports and entertainment, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, homebuilding, construction, and consumer goods.
He has led over $50 billion in transactions in his career.
Total Spectrum – Partner
Michael DiMaria is committed to providing his clients with focused and strategic counsel and effective plan implementation at the local, state, and federal levels using almost 30 years of experience in advocacy, research, communication, and political engagement. He is committed first to his client’s goals by finding the best path and resources to achieve his client’s outcomes.
Prior to joining Valadez & Associates, Michael was Southwest Regional Director and Vice President of Business Development for a multi-state consulting firm Total Spectrum. Michael supported his many clients in technology, education, business affairs, and taxation. Prior to Total Spectrum Michael spent over a decade as the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for Lumen Technologies in Arizona, formerly CenturyLink. During his tenure at Lumen, he was instrumental in lowering the company’s tax liability by over $500 million and assisting the organization in procuring two State of Arizona Telecommunications contracts worth close to $ 1 billion. Michael also worked as Director of Government Affairs for Cox Communications in Arizona, where he oversaw a multi-year negotiation with its municipal partners. Before his work in Arizona, Michael worked in public policy for numerous Fortune 500 companies in the midwestern and southeastern United States, including AT&T, and Comcast.
Michael is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Political Science. Michael currently serves as the Tax Policy Committee Chairman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a member of the Chamber’s Executive Committee which oversees the organization’s operations. Michael also serves as a Director on the Board for InvisionAZ, which helps businesses compete in the Arizona marketplace. In December 2020 Michael was appointed as a member of the State of Arizona Debt Oversight Commission. He is past Chairman of both the Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA) and the Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC), an organization of business and government supporting business expansion. Michael has also been honored as the West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the year and has also received the Outstanding Member award for the Arizona Tax Research Association.
APS – Chairman
Jeff Guldner leads Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS). The companies are headquartered in Phoenix.
APS employs more than 6,000 people and serves more than 1.3 million homes and businesses across Arizona. The company is among the nation’s top utilities for delivering clean and reliable energy to its customers and is working to fulfill its ambitious commitment to deliver 100% clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050. APS operates the Palo Verde Generating Station, the nation’s largest energy producer— all of it carbon free—and ranks among the top five investor-owned utilities for solar energy capacity.
Since becoming CEO in 2019, his vision has launched the company’s Clean Energy Commitment and a multi-year culture transformation while navigating through a worldwide pandemic. Guldner is a frequent speaker on the clean energy transition and energy policy, leading through change and veteran employment. He serves on the Board of Directors for Nuclear Energy Institute, Edison Electric Institute, the Smart Electric Power Alliance and the McCain Institute.
In addition to industry leadership, Guldner is dedicated to community involvement and actively serves on boards of directors for Greater Phoenix Leadership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Arizona State University’s Knowledge Exchange for Resilience. As a champion for Arizona’s arts and culture, Guldner volunteers his time with numerous performing arts organizations and as advocates for the role Arizona’s arts and culture play to a robust local economy.
Prior to APS, Guldner was a partner in the Phoenix office of Snell & Wilmer LLP, where he practiced public utility, telecommunications, and energy law. Guldner also served as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy and was an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Washington.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa and graduated magna cum laude from the Arizona State University College of Law.
Thiel Capital – Managing Director
John R. Selby (Jack) is a technology, finance and independent film entrepreneur. His primary role is as Managing Director at Peter Thiel’s family office, Thiel Capital, in Los Angeles, California. He is also Founder and Managing Partner at AZ-VC, the largest venture capital firm in Arizona.
As a “PayPal Mafia” member, Jack co-founded, along with Peter, Clarium Capital Management, a macro hedge fund after selling PayPal to eBay in October 2002. At PayPal, Jack joined as an original employee and later served as a Corporate Officer/Senior Vice President, overseeing the company’s international and corporate operations.
As an active technology investor and advisor, Jack is involved with notable companies such as SpaceX, Palantir, Vox Media, Affirm, Myeloid Therapeutics, Kisbee Therapeutics, Resonance Medicine, Paradox, Q Bio and many more.
As an independent producer, Jack’s film credits include Memory (Jessica Chastain), His Three Daughters (Natasha Lyonne), Windfall (Lily Collins), Silk Road (Jason Clarke), Freeheld (Julianne Moore), Bernie (Matthew McConaughey), Act of Valor (active Navy SEALs) as well documentaries Fastball (Kevin Costner) and Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope (Morgan Spurlock)
Jack received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Hamilton College and currently serves as a Charter Trustee. He is an Ambassador to the Navy SEALs Foundation, member of the Advisory Council to the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, member of the Board of Directors at the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority (AZSTA), member of the Board of Directors at the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), member of the Board of Directors at the Grand Teton Music Festival in addition to other non-profit pursuits.
InvisionAZ – Chief Executive Officer
John Ragan is a Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of invisionAZ, a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to create a framework whereby technology entrepreneurs have optimal access to growth capital in Arizona.
John is a Founding Member and Managing Director of Healthcare Futures, LLC and Innovative Healthcare Connections, LLC, two revenue cycle businesses in the healthcare sector which provides executive planning and strategic growth capital to hospitals, provider groups, and technology based healthcare companies. Previously, John served as owner and President of 80/20 Healthcare Solutions which was a third party liability business serving hospitals and physician groups around the country.
John served the Arizona Chamber of Commerce as it’s Chief Operating officer for over five years where he, among other duties, created (under the management eye of the Chamber) the Health System Alliance of Arizona, an Alliance between Banner Health, Honor Health, Dignity Health (now Common Spirit), and Abrazo Healthcare.
Prior to the Chamber, John held the position of Vice President of Business Development, Government Affairs, and Communications for TPI Composites (publicly traded on NASDAQ), one of the world’s largest manufacturer of composite wind blades and military vehicle applications. Prior to TPI, John held similar positions at First Solar (also publicly traded on NASDAQ), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of photovoltaic panels.
John was one of the Founding Partners of The Symington Group, an executive consulting group for businesses in the healthcare, energy, and finance sectors. He was also one of the Founders and Principals of Symington Private Equity Group which focused on providing early stage capital to unique Arizona business models.
John spent several years of his early career working on Capitol Hill. He worked for United States Senator Jon Kyl as a member of his policy staff. He also served U.S. Representative Matt Salmon as his Chief of Staff.
John is committed to giving back to the communities of Arizona. He has served on numerous Boards over the years including but not limited to, Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Thomas the Apostle school, Desert Mission Foundation, and Xavier College Prep.
Arizona Commerce Authority – President & CEO
Sandra Watson is an economic development professional with over 30 years of leadership experience in business attraction and expansion, innovation, entrepreneurship, economic policy and workforce development. She and her teams have worked with more than 1,180 companies that have committed to creating more than 267,500 quality jobs and investing more than $113 billion in capital in the state.
Currently, Ms. Watson is the President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), a public-private partnership that leads statewide economic development. The unique structure of the ACA brings together leaders from private industry, academia and all three branches of state government. She also oversees the Workforce Arizona Council and Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, a data-driven team focused on economic and labor market analysis.
Ms. Watson is a member of the U.S. Investment Advisory Council, advising the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on policies to attract foreign direct investment. She is also a founding member and the Chair of the State Economic Development Executives Network Board of Directors, a founding partner on the Institute for Automated Mobility Board of Directors, and serves on the boards of the National State Science and Technology Institute and the Make-A-Wish Arizona Foundation.
Carvana – Founder and CEO
Ernie Garcia co-founded Carvana and has served as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer since Carvana’s inception in 2012. Ernie is also Chairman of the Carvana Co. Board. Prior to founding Carvana, Ernie held various roles at the DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc. from January 2007 to January 2013. Prior to DriveTime, Ernie was an associate in the Principal Transactions Group at RBS Greenwich Capital from 2005 to 2006, where he focused on consumer credit based investments. In 2016, Garcia was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the Mountain Desert region for the consumer technology category. Ernie holds a B.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.
Offerpad – Founder
Jerry Coleman is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for developing and growing companies on a national scale. A talented leader with over 25 years experience in real estate, Jerry has founded and led several successful real estate ventures throughout the U.S. As a co-founder of Invitation Homes, Jerry was one of the pioneers in the institutional single family rental industry, partnering with the private equity firm Blackstone Group to form Invitation Homes, bringing in more than $10 billion dollars in investment to the largest single-family home rental portfolio in U.S. history.
Jerry also founded Offerpad, a premium online platform that revolutionizes how people sell their homes by eliminating the hassle and uncertainty of the traditional home selling process. Jerry is also co-founder of Alliance Investment Group, which has acquired and managed over 10,000 acres of land in Southwest. Jerry co-founded Elevation Solar, offering residential energy solutions to individuals and institutional real estate owners. Through each of these ventures, Jerry finds fulfilment in providing job creation and economic development for the many local economies where these businesses have operated. Jerry also sits on several for profit and non-profit boards and is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
Mayo Clinic – Chief Financial Officer
Dennis E. Dahlen, CPA, MBA serves as Chief Financial Officer of Mayo Clinic, a $16 billion enterprise that includes clinical practice, research, and medical education operations. Prior to Mayo Clinic, he held the same position at Banner Health, an $8 billion integrated health care delivery system in Phoenix, after serving in several other executive positions there since its inception in 1999.
Dennis earned an MBA in finance from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Dennis has served or is currently serving on the boards of Healthcare Financial Management Association (National Chair), Greater MSP, Think Bank, InvisionAZ, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix, and Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center. Dennis and his wife, Mary, have three grown daughters, five grandchildren, and reside in Rochester, Minnesota.
GPEC – President & CEO
Chris Camacho serves as president & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), one of the longest-standing public-private partnerships for economic development across the country. As chief executive, Chris leads the development and execution of the region’s strategic economic strategy, oversees domestic and international business development, and ensures the market position remains competitive through coordination with partner organizations, private sector leaders, and municipal and state leadership.
GPEC has attracted more than 540 companies during his tenure, creating more than 100,000 jobs and $56.8 billion in capital investment. Some notable projects include TSMC, Apple, LG Energy Solutions, Microsoft, GoDaddy, Amazon, Garmin, General Motors, HelloFresh, KORE Power, Williams-Sonoma and headquarters including Benchmark Electronics, Carlisle Companies, Rogers Corporation and EMD Electronics. In October 2021, Chris led GPEC to being recognized as the top economic development organization globally by the International Economic Development Council a year after being named the top EDO in the U.S. in 2020.
Trinity Capital Inc – Chairman & CEO
Steve Brown is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer at Trinity Capital, a leading provider of venture debt and equipment financing to institutionally backed growth-stage companies. He recently took the company public through the NASDAQ exchange with the ticker symbol “TRIN”.
Mr. Brown sets the strategic direction of the company, promoting a people and relationship-first culture, which ultimately drives long-term shareholder value. He has been a part of the venture ecosystem for over 30 years and is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and the venture capital firms that back them. Under his leadership, Trinity continues to build and grow the team and the portfolio, becoming a recognized leader in the market they serve.
Before founding Trinity, Mr. Brown served as a general partner at Point Financial Capital Partners, a venture leasing fund, and prior to that he helped start, and worked as a partner at, Cornerstone Equity Partners, a venture fund based in Phoenix. Mr. Brown resides on the Board of Directors for invisionAZ, which has a mission of accelerating the growth of Arizona’s vibrant tech ecosystem. He also serves on the Investment Committee for invisionAZ’s Arizona-based Venture Fund.
Steve earned a B.S. in business administration and marketing from McNeese State University.
Keap – Co-Founder & CEO
Clate Mask, the entrepreneur’s guide, is the CEO and co-founder of Keap, the leading provider of small business automation software. His passion is helping small businesses grow using the Six Keys to Success. When Clate isn’t serving entrepreneurs and building Keap, he loves to spend time with his wife, Charisse, their six kids, and their grandkids. He is intimately familiar with the balancing act of entrepreneurs, which is what drove him to discover and teach the Six Keys. Because success as an entrepreneur means having a great business and a great life.
PHX Ventures – Founder & Managing Partner
Gregg Scoresby is the Founder and Managing Partner of PHX Ventures, the most active early-stage software investor in Arizona over the last 4 years. Prior to PHX Ventures, Gregg founded CampusLogic, which became one of the fastest-growing software companies in Arizona.
CampusLogic transformed the student financial aid experience in higher education and raised nearly $200 million from leading venture capital and private equity investors. Before being acquired in April 2022 by Ellucian, a portfolio company of Blackstone and Vista Equity, CampusLogic’s award-winning products were used by over 4 million students at 800 colleges and universities.
Paradox – Founder & CEO
Aaron founded Paradox because he saw an opportunity to transform the recruiting experience for organizations and talent by freeing up people’s time from mundane tasks through the power of assistive intelligence. He is an experienced entrepreneur and recognized technology leader. Aaron’s passion for recruitment has driven him to start several successful companies in the talent acquisition technology market; which have served tens of thousands of clients and millions of job seekers. Under Aaron’s leadership as the former founder/former CEO of Jobing.com and Recruiting.com, his companies achieved industry-leading growth and 3 consecutive Inc. 500 awards. Prior to becoming a tech executive, Aaron spent over 8 years as an HR professional.
AVC – President & CEO
Andy Lombard is the President and CEO of Arizona Venture Development Corporation (AVC), a venture
capital firm, where he continues a more than decade-long passion for energizing tech startups and
entrepreneurial communities across the state.
Before becoming a VC, Andy was a prolific tech founder, building and exiting four VC-backed startups in
B2B SaaS, Medical Device, Cyber Security, and Wireless Broadband. Andy’s many awards and highlights
include being named an E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist and selected as a US Presidential Tech
CEO Forum member.
Prior to becoming a tech founder, Andy spent 14 years at Motorola, most notably leading Motorola Asia,
and then became an investor at Motorola Ventures with over $750M under management, 32 JVs, and
31 boards in 13 countries. Andy was Co-founder of the Arizona Innovation Challenge, one of the largest
business plan competitions in the US. He is also the founder of Venture Ready Accelerator, a world-class
tech accelerator at ACA.
Andy serves on several boards, including The Journey Venture Studio; PHX Ventures, LP Advisory
Committee (LPAC); AZ-VC, Investment Committee; Pangaea Ventures, LP Advisory Committee (LPAC);
Board Member, Schola, Inc.; Member, Technology Advisor Board – Tech Launch Arizona, the tech
transfer arm of the University of Arizona.
Arizona Chamber of Commerce – President & CEO
Glenn Hamer is President and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which over his decade-plus of leadership has become the state’s most powerful advocate for job creators.
He serves as chair of the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100, sits on its Public Affairs Committee, and serves on the U.S. Chamber’s Board. He also serves on the board of the Arizona Mexico Commission, serves as Chair of the Arizona Charter Schools Association, is on the Arizona Council of Economic Education Board, and is a member of the National Association of Manufacturers’ advisory committee on the modernization of NAFTA.
Cox – Senior Vice President
John Wolfe is Senior Vice President & Region Manager of Cox Communications’ Southwest Region, responsible for the company’s overall operations in Arizona and Nevada. A 28-year Cox veteran, John joined the company’s Southwest Region in Phoenix in September 2014 after two years as Cox’s senior vice president and general manager of the Northeast Region. Before moving into operations, John was Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for Cox’s Northeast region, responsible for the development of government, public affairs and communications strategies for the company.
Prior to joining Cox, John was New England Director of Public Affairs for Times Mirror Cable Television. John joined Times Mirror in 1991 from the National Cable Television Association where he was Director of Public Information and served as the Association’s press spokesperson on public policy issues. Prior to joining NCTA, he was Managing Editor and Washington Bureau Chief for CableVision Magazine and Managing Editor for Arlen Communications, a Washington, D.C.-based telecommunications publishing and consulting company.
John serves on the boards of Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. He is the current President of the Southwest Cable Communications Association board of directors, and is a 2018 inductee into that organization’s Pioneer Hall of Fame. In 2015, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey appointed John to the Arizona Zanjeros, a statewide business advocacy group.
John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and English from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He and his wife, Kristen, live in the Cave Creek area.