“The state of manufacturing in America is resilient,” National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons said last Thursday at his annual State of Manufacturing address, which he delivered at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Williams Campus in Mesa.

Timmons’ speech touched on several key issues concerning the manufacturing industry, including the need to inspire the workforce of today and tomorrow as well as enacting sound public policy.

Each of the past nine months manufacturers across the country have had more than 800,000 open jobs, and manufacturers’ need to fill critical positions has only grown more acute according to Timmons. But, he said, manufacturers are not just looking for new employees.

“Manufacturers are saying more than ‘Help Wanted,’” he said. “We’re saying, ‘Creators Wanted.’”

In this search for creators, the National Association of Manufacturers has begun an ambitious mission to tackle the current workforce crisis through its Creators Wanted campaign. 

In the next few years, the campaign aims to reduce the skills gap by 600,000, increase the number of students enrolling in technical and vocational schools or reskilling programs by 25% and increase the positive perception of the industry among parents to 50% from 27%.

How do you protect and strengthen the workforce of a $2.6 trillion dollar industry? Timmons stressed the importance of enacting smart policy in areas like energy and taxation.

Timmons cited last year’s passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which he called “the biggest deal for tour infrastructure since the Eisenhower presidency.” 

Timmons also spoke about the importance of passing immigration reforms that allow the U.S. to continue to bring in talent to meet the country’s economic needs and avoid losing talent to other countries.

With more than 11,000 job openings in Arizona’s manufacturing industry in the first 45 days of 2022, workforce development will be a major factor driving the state’s manufacturing growth. 

Manufacturing has reached record levels of growth as new companies relocate to Arizona, while existing companies expand and hire additional workers. Between 2016 and 2020, Arizona ranked No. 2 in the nation for the rate of manufacturing job growth (EMSI). 

Timmons also cited the importance of pro-growth tax policy to manufacturers.

“Pivot Manufacturing in Phoenix is a great example. CEO Steve Macias says that the business was stagnating in 2017, but after tax reform, everything changed,” Timmons said. “The company was able to invest in advanced manufacturing equipment, which meant they could recruit a math- and tech-focused workforce, establish a new apprenticeship and mentorship model and set themselves on a strong growth trajectory.”

Timmons also discussed the importance of the American system of government and the country’s values that allow manufacturing to thrive. 

“Manufacturers believe in—and the NAM works to advance—four core values that have made America exceptional and that keep our industry strong: Free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity,” he said. “Underpinning those values, the foundation of it all, is our constitutional republic, our democratic system.”

NAM leadership, members and prominent guests are meeting this week in Scottsdale for the organization’s spring board meeting.

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Arizona’s hourly minimum wage on Jan. 1 increased $0.75, which puts it at $12.80 after accounting for the previous year’s cost-of-living increase.

The increase is in accordance with , which Arizona voters passed in 2016 and mandates the minimum rate that employers are allowed to pay in the state. Under the law, the minimum wage is adjusted on an annual basis in line with  “the percentage increase as of August of the immediately preceding year over the level as of August of the previous year of the consumer price index…with the amount of the minimum wage increase rounded to the nearest multiple of five cents.”

Individual Arizona cities and towns have also passed minimum laws. Tucson is set to push its minimum wage up to $15 per hour on January 1, 2025, with the multiyear phase-in beginning at $13 per hour as of April. Flagstaff voters in 2016 approved a city-level wage law that ensures the city’s hourly minimum wage will . The Flagstaff minimum wage for 2022 is $15.50. 

C.J. Boyd, organizer of the Tucson Fight for $15,, “We’re glad that in 2016, the statewide minimum wage that passed included an adjustment for cost of living, inflation but we know it’s going up that much because the inflation this year has been pretty historic. We haven’t seen this level of inflation since 1982.”

Joe Galli, the senior adviser for public policy at the Greater Flagstaff ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce, says his organization’s members have felt the pinch from the city wage law.

“Flagstaff employers face the greatest labor cost disparity compared to their counterparts and competitors in the rest of the state,” Galli said. “The hardest hit are the industries with the smallest margins of profits, including restaurants, bars and tourism-related industries. 

“Our members tell us that they respond to higher mandated wages by streamlining, whether it’s automating, cutting employee hours, or reducing the overall number of employees. They pay the higher wage, but they pay it to fewer people and they pay it for fewer hours.”

The nationwide labor crunch is driving wage growth in early 2022, with entry-level wages in metro Phoenix and Tucson often exceeding the government-set wage floors. The government wage mandate could still prove troublesome for employers who are struggling, however, since the law puts upward pressure on labor costs without accounting for a business’ profitability or other economic conditions, nor does it account for an employee’s tenure or experience level.

According to the , the average hourly wage for all occupations in the Phoenix Metro area is $26.38. 

Garrick Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce & Industry, which opposed Proposition 206, Fox 10 that wage mandates could affect employers in metro areas differently than those in rural areas.

“Rural Arizona might be a different story because workers are harder to come by, and your margins are tighter there” Taylor said. “So we’re really looking at some tough decisions in rural Arizona.”

Twenty five states and the District of Columbia will see minimum wage increases in 2022.

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34 percent of parents reported childcare issues significantly impacted job changes in their household

The U.S. ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce Foundation this week released a new report examining the impact of childcare challenges on Arizona’s state economy. The report is part of a broader “Untapped Potential” study of five U.S. states that reveals the cost of childcare challenges and opportunities to unlock economic potential for states, employers, and working parents.

The study found that Arizona misses an estimated $1.77 billion annually for the state’s economy, including a $348 million annual loss in tax revenue, due to childcare issues. Additionally, 34% of respondents reported that they or someone in their household has left a job, not taken a job, or greatly changed jobs because of problems with childcare in the last 12 months.

The limited supply of childcare currently does not match high demand, an existing problem made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, working parents have work with childcare needs, faced with childcare options that are too far, too expensive, or that do not fit their needs. Meanwhile, childcare providers have fought to stay operational, and employers have dealt with uncertainty about how and when employees could return to work. All of these contributed to the $1.77 billion in lost revenue for Arizona’s economy and an increasing number of employees being forced to leave the workforce.

“In the midst of an increasingly tight labor market, the U.S. ���ϳԹ��� Foundation’s important research shines a light on another complicating factor for employers looking to recruit and retain talent,” Arizona ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “The pandemic has exacerbated childcare challenges that make it harder for parents to participate fully in the economy.” 

Key findings from the 2021 report include:

·         Childcare gaps result in massive economic losses for Arizona. Childcare issues result in a total estimated loss of $1.77 billion in Arizona, including an estimated $348 million lost annually in tax revenue.

·         Some Arizona parents are leaving their jobs due to childcare issues. Approximately 6 percent of parents surveyed voluntarily left a job due to childcare issues.

·         Childcare issues are significantly affecting parents’ job decisions. Of respondents surveyed, 34 percent reported that they or someone in their household has left a job, not taken a job, or greatly changed jobs because of problems with childcare in the last 12 months.

·         The greatest need is for infant and toddler care. Of parents who voluntarily leave their jobs, 55 percent do so when their child(ren) is two years old or younger. 

“While the impact is different in each of these states, these studies show the urgency needed in addressing childcare issues across the country,” said Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the U.S. ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce Foundation Center for Education and Workforce. “The challenges in the childcare system are complex, but solvable — and addressing them comprehensively, in ways that consider the needs of parents, businesses, and providers, will be central for the nation’s long-term economic success.”

In 2021, the “Untapped Potential” series is examining these childcare challenges and issues in five U.S. states—Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, and Texas—building on reports released in 2020 on Iowa, Idaho, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. To access the full reports and other resources, visit:

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More than 50 Arizona business groups are urging the state’s congressional delegation to reject several tax increases included in the budget bill being considered by the U.S. House. 

In a letter sent Tuesday to the delegation, the groups said, “The proposed tax increases that will pay for the massive $3.5 trillion reconciliation package will hurt Arizona businesses, employees, and consumers at a time when the state’s economy continues to grapple with the ongoing effects of the pandemic and acute workforce shortages.” 

Signers of the letter included the Arizona ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce & Industry and local chambers of commerce from across the state, as well as groups representing various industries such as real estate, trucking, construction, tourism and agribusiness. 

The enormous multi-trillion-dollar budget bill is a priority of Congress’ most progressive members, who are demanding its passage as part of a deal also to pass an infrastructure bill already passed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. 

A budget bill that is too large in size and scope, however, will face a difficult path in the Senate, where the Senate parliamentarian will determine how broad the bill’s policy provisions may be and where Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., have indicated their strong reticence to passing such a progressive bill. 

Sinema has already said she will not support a $3.5 trillion bill and on Monday Politico that she also opposes a Medicare prescription drug pricing scheme included in the bill. 

Arizona job creators are opposed to the bill’s many tax increases, including increases in the personal and corporate income tax rates, as well as tax increases on foreign earnings and on savings and investment and more. The bill also limits deductions taxpayers rely on to reduce their overall tax exposure. 

“This bill includes several policies that will harm small businesses,” said Chad Heinrich, Arizona state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “Whether it’s through the elimination of stepped-up basis, limiting the Small Business Deduction, or increasing taxes on small corporations, this legislation will weaken and damage small businesses in Arizona and throughout the country. By hitting small businesses at this vulnerable time, this legislation will result in fewer jobs and less work hours for employees and reduced investment in small businesses which will lead to less economic growth.”

Buckeye Valley ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce President and CEO Deanna Kupcik said the bill would result in higher costs to utility ratepayers. 

“As we said in our letter, because utility providers are regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission, they must pass along the increased costs resulting from the corporate rate increase directly to consumers,” Kupcik said. “That means more dollars off the bottom line of Arizona businesses large and small.” 

If and when a bill passes the House, it will head to the Senate, where it will be considered under that chamber’s reconciliation rules, which means only a simple majority of 51 is needed for passage, rather than the usual 60 votes required to end a filibuster.

“That (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer is hoping to jam this through the Senate using reconciliation tells you all you need to know about what’s included in this bill,” Arizona ���ϳԹ��� President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “A bill that affects so many aspects of the U.S. economy deserves bipartisan consideration and support, which this legislation is sorely lacking. We thank Sen. Sinema for making clear to the White House that this bill is seriously flawed.”  

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Arizona’s top public health official spoke with the business community last week about the Covid vaccine rollout in the state and recommendations for bringing workers back to the office. 

Vaccines are the key to getting back to normalcy, said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS), who spoke to employers last week at an event hosted by the Arizona ���ϳԹ��� of Commerce & Industry. 

Limited supplies are arriving weekly to the state, and CEOs, managers and team members should get vaccinated as soon as they are able and share their experiences with employees, Christ said.

“Talk confidently about the vaccine. Get the vaccine and share your experience,” said Christ, who added that few people experience side effects and the shot is less painful than a flu shot. “The vaccine is safe and effective. Encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they can.”  

At the virtual event, Christ talked about what businesses and other organizations can expect in the next few months. 

Among her key points:

Supply expected to meet demand by April 

Arizona has vaccinated more than 1.2 million people. Around 150,000 vaccine doses are arriving into the state weekly and the new Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine is expected to start arriving in small quantities in March. The vaccination is 87 percent effective, a higher rate than the flu vaccine, Christ said. 

Currently, all counties have moved into the second phase of six vaccination phases, Phase 1B. In Phase IB, people 65 and older may receive vaccinations. Essential employees and the general public will follow over the next two months. 

In Phase 1B, counties will be prioritizing populations based on risk. Teachers and childcare workers are among those who will be at the front of the line. Other essential workers like restaurants and food service will follow. 

Finally, the general public under 65 years old could see vaccines available as soon as next month. In April, the state should be able to meet all demand, Christ said. By June, everyone who is going to get a vaccine should be immunized.  

Employers of essential employees can fill out vaccine request 

Essential frontline workers will be vaccinated in Phase 1B and 1C as vaccine availability increases statewide.

Employers with essential employees who have not done so may complete the

so counties can notify them as vaccines become available. 

Also, large employers may contact their respective counties to set up on-site vaccination programs when they become available, Christ said. 

Anyone may also register for an appointment on the state website and may get vaccinated at a location near them. Many health care providers and pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens are offering vaccinations as doses become available. 

Continue to take precautions, follow requirements for capacity

While Covid case numbers, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and ventilations are down, positivity rates are still not where they should be, Christ said. 

Current positivity rates in the state are at 6.9 percent, well below the peak of 24.4 percent in December. For the virus to be considered well under control, health officials recommend it stay below 5 percent for at least two weeks. 

For that reason, businesses are still required to take measures to protect the public. Certain industries like restaurants, gyms, theaters, and water parks are required to limit capacity. To see requirements and recommendations for specific businesses, visit: . 

For now, all employers are advised to continue to take all precautions to protect their employees and customers including wearing masks, sanitizing frequently and not coming to work when ill, Christ said. 

For employers considering moving remote workers back to the office, Christ said she would like to see “low-moderate or minimal spread” in the community with low positivity and hospitalization rates. 

“We know Covid is still circulating and want to make sure even if you are vaccinated or around other people vaccinated to still wear masks,” Christ said. 

Vaccinations are opening up in phases 

Vaccines are being administered in six phases:

Phase 1A – Healthcare workers and healthcare support occupations, emergency medical services workers, long-term care facility staff and residents

Priority Phase 1B – Education and childcare workers, protective services occupations, adults 65 and older and remaining 1A populations

Phase 1B – Essential services and critical industry workers, adults with high-risk conditions in congregate settings, and remaining 1A and prioritized 1B populations

Phase 1C – Adults of any age with high-risk medical conditions, adults living in congregate settings, and remaining 1A and 1B populations

Phase 2 – Additional high-risk and critical populations, general public and remaining phase 1 populations

Phase 3 – General public and remaining phase 1 and 2 populations

More vaccination appointments opening this month  

Currently, all appointments are filled right now but more openings are expected at the end of February and beginning of March, Christ said.

About 500 provider sites are administering vaccines and anyone wishing to get vaccinated can register on the state at the DHS interactive site at . If anyone does not have the technology to register or make an appointment online, they can call 1-844-542-8201 and receive assistance in English or Spanish. 

Many health care providers and doctors as well as pharmacies including Walgreens, CVS, Fry’s and Safeway are administering vaccines as they come in. 

Christ said the impressive rollout of vaccines could not have been possible without the  health care partners “who have really stepped up to provide vaccinations” and other services.

“This is a team effort. A week ago we were below 50 percent utilization. Now we’re at 80 percent,” she said. “We’re hoping where eventually everyone can find a vaccine in their normal location or with their normal health care provider.”

For frequently asked questions about where to get a vaccine, visit:

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

As Arizona progresses through the phased vaccination process, public health officials recommend everyone continue to:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• Check if your hand sanitizer has been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA maintains anof hand sanitizers that consumers should avoid due to possible toxic effects. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay at home when you are sick.
• Avoid close contact (within six feet) with others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) and immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wear masks in public settings if they can be safely managed.
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness, you should avoid attending congregate settings. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.

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Recreational marijuana is now legal in Arizona after voters approved Proposition 207, and that will pose some new challenges for employers, said Julie Pace, a Phoenix attorney who specializes in employment and cannabis law. 

There also is confusion about what the implications are for both employers and employees, said Pace, an attorney with Gammage & Burnham, who spoke with ���ϳԹ��� about what business owners need to know in moving forward. 

Employers will need to be more diligent 

The biggest challenge is that employers may no longer rely solely on a drug test to fire or discipline a worker, she said. In the past, a positive marijuana test was grounds for immediate action whether that meant termination, suspension or requiring an employee to undergo drug counseling. 

Now that recreational pot use is legal, employers will need to be more vigilant about documenting impairment beyond a drug test because marijuana can be detected in the body for up to 30 days or more after using it, Pace said.  

“Employers will need to pay attention to what they are doing to recognize impairment and to document or observe impairment including observations by individuals of the company who could be evidentiary witnesses if there’s a dispute about someone you fire or discipline for being impaired at work,” she said.   

Arizona 16th state to pass recreational use 

Under the new law, adults 21 and older may now possess, use and grow limited amounts of marijuana. Smoking in public, however, is prohibited. 

Arizona joins 15 states that have approved recreational use and 34 that allow medical marijuana.

Pace laid out what employers need to know moving forward:

Employers can still maintain drug- and alcohol-free workplaces 

The proposition still allows employers to maintain drug- and alcohol-free workplaces and prohibit pot use by employees. 

That means employers can ban the use of pot on the job site, in the parking lot, during lunchtime and in any capacity that would cause them to be high or impaired during working hours.  

The bottom line is that employees can still be fired or disciplined for being high at work, she said. 

“Proposition 207 does not give any rights of employment to anyone at work. You can’t use marijuana at work. You can’t be imparied at work,” she said. “And Arizona is an at-will employment state, so you can be let go or terminated if you use it at work, possess it at work or have it in a vehicle or use it in the parking lot.” 

Employers can still conduct pre-employment tests for marijuana 

Employees can still pre-test applicants for marijuana and decline anyone who tests positive unless they have a medical marijuana card. However, if a cardholder is observed to be impaired at work, they can be let go. 

Certain jobs prohibit any marijuana use

Job applicants with medical marijuana cards can still be turned down for jobs that have been designated “safety sensitive.” These are typically positions requiring driving or operating heavy equipment or machinery. This includes Commercial Drivers License (CDL) drivers. 

Federal agencies and federal contractors can also deny employment to cardholders because marijuana possession, distribution and use is still illegal under federal law. 

Arizona statute provides some liability protection 

In Arizona, employers already receive some liability protections under the Arizona Drug Testing of Employees Act. Under the statute, an employer who fires someone for being impaired from drugs or alcohol cannot be sued by that individual and the company does not have to pay unemployment insurance. 

To protect themselves further, employers should maintain a proper drug testing policy and drug testing program that complies with state statute. 

They should use a reputable lab for testing that has a Medical Review Officer (MRO) to review and evaluate lab results, Pace said. 

Employers also may want to consider using saliva testing that is proving to be more effective in detecting recent marjuana use, she said. 

Employees should be educated about what Prop. 207 means

Because of confusion over the new law, Pace recommends  employers educate their employees about what it means for them. 

Employees should be made aware that certain CBD products are causing some job applicants to test positive for THC, the active chemical in marijuana. 

Workers should also not assume that they can smoke a joint in the parking lot or during lunch hour without consequences, she said. 

“Proposition 207 just means that they’re not going to be arrested and handcuffed by a police officer. It just means they’re going to be let go and lose their job and that’s going to hurt them in the employment arena.”

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Marc Penterman left a 20-year career in the Air Force to land a job at Walmart in Phoenix. Now, he’s quickly moving up the ladder in his “encore” profession. 

Initially, he was hired as assistant manager overseeing Home Lines where he quickly adjusted to being in charge. Eight months later, he’s now responsible for a team that restocks the shelves at the store.  

“When I started working at Walmart less than a year ago, they gave me a veteran badge to wear and it made me very proud,” said Penterman, who was a security force officer in the Air Force. “The badge is like a medal of honor. When both customers and employees see it, they treat me with such warmth and thank me for my service.” 

Penterman is one of 265,000 veterans who have been hired by Walmart since it 

introduced its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in 2013, surpassing its goal to hire  250,000 new veteran associates by 2020. In Arizona, more than 6,400 have been hired

Hiring and promoting those who serve 

The Welcome Home program started as a mission to hire those who served their country and help them move up the career ladder, said Brynt Parmeter, senior director for Walmart Military Programs. 

Of the veterans hired, more than 44,000 have been promoted to roles of greater responsibility within a Walmart or Sam’s Club.

First announced on Memorial Day 2013, the Welcome Home program’s initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018. Two years later, the company expanded that goal to 250,000 by the end of 2020.

On Veterans Day 2018, Walmart also broadened the scope of its commitment to provide  employment opportunities for spouses with its Military Spouses Career Connection. To date, the company has hired 19,045 associates and continues offering any military spouse hiring preference when applying for a job.

Stepping up its commitment to veterans  

Parmeter is now looking to step up Walmart’s commitment to veterans and the communities they serve. He said his team is focusing on efforts to help veterans and their family members in employment, entrepreneurship, learning, and health and wellness. 

“We’re proud of our achievements and the opportunities presented to the brave service members who’ve honorably defended our country,” Parmeter said. “Now, it’s our responsibility to continue preparing these men and women for meaningful futures full of economic opportunity and overall well-being.”

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have a long history of supporting veterans, service members and their families. 

Since 2011, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have invested more than $40 million in programs that support job training, education and public/private community-based initiatives.

About Walmart in Arizona 

In Arizona, Walmart has 126 retail units and 33,616 employees. Last fiscal year,  Walmart spent $1.6 billion with Arizona suppliers, supporting 32,767 Arizona supplier jobs. 

During that time, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $24.5 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Arizona. 

For more information about Walmart’s commitment to hire and promote veterans, service members and military families, visit:  .To see all of the programs that Walmart is involved in to help veterans in communities worldwide, go to:

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Intel employees and retirees in Arizona volunteered 100,000 hours at schools and nonprofits last year, refurbishing computers, coaching student robotics’ teams, reading stories about technology and science in the classroom, and more.

Now, a $10 match for every hour they volunteered is being given to those same schools and organizations to help Arizona students succeed. A total $1 million is being matched by the technology manufacturing giant’s nonprofit Intel Foundation. 

More than 300 schools and nonprofit organizations statewide are starting to receive the funding, said Linda Qian, communications manager for the that operates one of its largest global manufacturing sites in Chandler.  

Grants range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars, Qian said about the annual fundraising effort. This year, about a third of the company’s 12,000 Arizona employees participated. 

“Many nonprofits from around the state truly depend on the funding and the volunteering to support their efforts to help our students,” she said. 

Chandler schools, nonprofits among top recipients

Among the top recipients of the grants are the Chandler Unified School District, Chandler Service Club, Education Empowers, Joe Jackson Foundation, Si Se Puede Foundation, AZStRUT, and Arizona State University Foundation.   

Several recipients said they plan to use the grants for technology, equipment and other tools to help students succeed, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math. 

With many students working from home during the pandemic, there is greater need for technology, they said.   

Need for technology for schools and youth organizations  

Grant recipient AZStRUT, which refurbishes donated technology for public schools and other nonprofits, has seen a significant rise in requests, Executive Director Tom Mehlert said.

“This year, our efforts are focused on refurbishing laptops going to Title I schools and their families. These funds will be used to purchase replacement parts for these computers,” he said.

Another recipient, Education Empowers, which promotes STEM education for children through robotics and activities, is using the funding to purchase robotics equipment and parts, said Anna Prakash, a senior engineer at Intel who founded the organization. 

“We have programs at more than 50 locations, including free workshops for Girl Scouts, so students all across the Phoenix metro-area will benefit from this funding,” Prakash said. 

Dr. Camille Casteel, superintendent of the Chandler school district, said that the timing of the grants is particularly critical right now.  

“It takes the strength of the entire community to educate and empower our students. We are thrilled to have the support of many Intel employee and retiree volunteers, as well as this grant, to further our mission,” Casteel said. 

Forty years of innovation and economic impact 

Intel first established operations in Chandler 40 years ago. Today, Intel’s operations in Arizona are some of the company’s most diverse. The Ocotillo fabrication facility manufactures on 22nm, 14nm, and 10nm technology, some of the world’s most advanced manufacturing processes.

Year after year, the corporation is ranked at or near the top as the largest semiconductor vendor in the world. In Arizona, Intel delivers an annual economic impact of $8.3 billion.

As part of its stated purpose, the corporation supports global education and sustainability. For more information, go to: . 

Intel by the numbers in Arizona  

• 12,000 employees

• $8.3 billion annual economic impact

• $23 billion in capital investments

• $4.5 billion annual spend with Arizona-based organizations

• 690 million gallons of water to be restored annually through

community-based projects

• $33.8 million in donations to Arizona schools and nonprofits since 2015

• More than 700,000 employee volunteer hours at schools and nonprofits since 2015

(Source: ASU, W.P. Carey School of Business, Seidman Research Institute, 2019)

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AcronisSCSVets, a nonprofit created last year to provide free cyber IT training and internationally-recognized certifications for veterans, has set a goal to put 50,000 veterans into the industry over the next five years. 

This month, the Scottsdale-based group graduated its first cohort of 14 top performers. Ten already have secured cybersecurity/IT jobs. 

Before COVID-19 hit, there was an enormous workforce shortage in the industry. Now the need is even more urgent, said John Zanni, the founder of AcronisSCSVets and CEO of Acronis SCS, a leader in edge data security and cyber protection in the U.S. public sector.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has seen nearly a 70 percent increase in cyberattacks,” Zanni said during the virtual commencement ceremony for the new grads. “The current fear and confusion present an opening for bad actors to capitalize on this and send malicious emails pretending they are the World Health Organization or the CDC to try to get to your systems.

“Once open, however, these attachments and links introduce ransomware and other attacks that can spread throughout the system, presenting particular challenges for public sector organizations trying to keep critical constituent services up and running while practicing social distancing.”

Companies of all sizes also are at risk, as hundreds of thousands of cybersecurity jobs go unfilled, Zanni said. 

Unfilled cybersecurity jobs to reach almost 3.5 million next year 

By 2022, the number of unfilled positions is expected to reach 1.8 million in the U.S., according to a from the Center for Cyber Safety and Education. 

Globally, there are expected to be 3.5 million job vacancies by 2021, to Cyber Security Ventures that has been tracking the jobs data for the past eight years.  

Of those applying for cybersecurity jobs, fewer than one in four are qualified, according to a 2018 in MIT Technology Review.

Placing “underemployed” veterans in salaried jobs

In creating AcronisSCSVets, Zanni also wanted to help underemployed veterans. 

Though veterans overall have higher employment rates than non-veterans, they are underemployed in larger numbers, meaning they are not getting enough paid work or not doing work that makes full use of their skills and abilities. 

In fact, veterans are 37 percent more likely to be underemployed than nonveterans, shows a recent by LinkedIn. 

Veterans like Shaun Johnson. After twenty years in the U.S. Navy, Johnson found himself earning an hourly wage in the produce section of a local grocery store. Then, he heard about the AcronisSCSVets program. He applied and the rest is history. 

Johnson now holds a salaried supervisory IT role in Arizona at a major name brand company.

“With this knowledge and tools that (the program) gave me, I was not only able to apply for a level 1 help desk job, I was able to secure a supervisory position, and a couple of weeks later, I was offered the opportunity to become a tech systems delivery manager.” 

Nine of the other graduates in the first cohort also have secured jobs in the field. Three others are seeking higher education or certifications. One is seeking employment. 

Goal to provide free training to 3,000 veterans in Arizona, 50,000 in U.S. 

Acronis SCSVets plans to train 50,000 veterans, service members, and military spouses nationwide over the next five years. 

In Arizona, it plans to train 3,000 during that time. Currently, there are nearly 13,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the state, according to .  

Ultimately, the organization would like to train more if it can secure appropriate funding from donations or grants, Zanni said.

Zero cost to veterans seeking cyber careers

At zero cost to qualified veterans, the program arms participants with credentials, skills, and resources necessary to secure entry level jobs in IT and cybersecurity. There’s also social services support and career services built in to ensure success. 

“Our students are prepared to excel in public and private sector organizations of all sizes, though our program is particularly beneficial for small- and medium-sized businesses, which are in critical need of qualified cyber talent, account for the majority of open U.S. jobs, and often lack veteran-specific hiring programs,” Zanni said.   

What AcronisSCSVets offers

• Cyber Certifications The curriculum prepares participants to obtain stacked cyber certificates, including internationally-recognized CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Windows 10, and Acronis SCS credentials.

• Career skills workshops and social services support Participants have access to quarterly, in-person, civilian-led career skills workshops, covering everything from social media

engagement to resumé building and mock interviews, and ongoing life skills resources and social services support.

• Career pipelines After obtaining the right certificates, participants are connected with cyber and tech employers from a diverse and growing pool of industry partners.

For more information, to apply for the program or to give a donation, visit: .

About Acronis SCS

Acronis SCS is an American cyber protection and edge data security company dedicated to serving the unique backup, anti-ransomware, disaster recovery, and enterprise file sync and share needs of the US public sector. Acronis SCS products are built and supported in the United States by US citizens.

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A year ago, students of construction trades at Coconino Community College worked in cramped outdated quarters. Labor-strapped construction companies snatched them up upon graduation, or before.   

Like much of the state, northern Arizona is seeing a construction industry on the rise. But qualified workers have long been in short supply. 

“It’s challenging with our students trying to fit a schedule,” said Jeff Jones, dean of career and technical education (CTE) at the college. “Many are in evening classes so they can work at entry level during day and increase their skills at night.” 

Now, there’s a beacon of hope with the completion of a newly expanded state-of-the art facility for the college’s Construction Technology Management program. It will allow the program to triple its student count. 

Premier training laboratory for all trades 

The renovation was made possible, thanks to a $1 million grant from the Del E. Webb Foundation last year. 

Del Webb’s grant allowed the college to expand current offerings and offer new in-demand programs like Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACr) Technology, Welding Technology, Electrical Technology, Solar and Wind Technology, and Electronic Drafting.

Situated in the heart of , the newly renovated 5,000-square-foot facility is a showcase for the latest technology with new virtual reality welding, electrical and HVACr simulators. 

“It’s what it should be to really get our students ready to walk in (to a job). We try to use the same tools, the same exact meters, the same code,” said Jones, who added that students at the college were the first in the country to pass the International Building Code 2018. 

Homegrown labor for the region 

With the expansion, the program gained the capacity to triple the number of students graduating with certificates and degrees from 30 to 94.

It couldn’t be soon enough, said Steve Hanson, the owner of Flagstaff Comfort Systems and a member of the Northern Arizona Building Association (NABA) board of directors.

“We’re very excited about it because the college is trying to groom the kids that are here and want to stay here instead of trying to import people who have no support system here, like mom and dad who can help pay the bills,” he said.  

Annual minimum wage hikes mandated by the state and the city of Flagstaff are making hiring even more challenging, Hanson said. 

“The basics of it is, if you can get paid $15 an hour to cook burgers instead of dig a ditch for a construction company, what are you going to do?”  

Hanson, who donates used furnaces to the program so students can learn how to work on “old stuff” that isn’t necessarily in modern textbooks, said NABA has been working to promote and assist the development of much-needed CTE programs for students.   

Demand for skilled workers to continue   

Contractors and subcontractors have been knocking on the college’s door for years. Northern Arizona University’s Construction Management graduates also are in high demand. 

The need is not expected to slow, Jones said, citing a number of proposed projects in the region including new development around the Navajo Nation’s gambling casinos. 

Dual enrollment program to attract high school students 

With the expansion complete, there is talk of a dual enrollment program to pull in local high school students. There are scant options for teenagers interested in construction trades, Jones said. One high school offers a welding program.

“Being able to offer a dual environment to really get high school students passionate about trades is one of the add-ins to this,” he said. “Young kids really like the look and feel of new stuff, the technology. So we really want to use that to attract the younger crowd.”

For more information about the college’s construction technology management and other programs, go to .

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