Honeywell Aerospace Vice President Robert Witwer Elected as Arizona Technology Council's Chairman of the Board

PHOENIX, Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing to lead its members through a world-class board of directors, the Arizona Technology Council today announced that Bob Witwer, vice president of Advanced Technology for Honeywell Aerospace has been elected as its Chairman of the Board and James Powers, chairman and CEO of Calibrus Call Center Services as its Vice Chairman. Both positions will be up for re-election in October, 2014 for one year terms. Roger Vogel, president, Metrios Management Consulting, now serves as Chairman Emeritus.

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Additional officers elected at the meeting for one year terms include Ray Harris, director, Fennemore Craig as Secretary and Kevin McHolland, partner, Ernst & Young as Treasurer. Steve Zylstra remains president and CEO.

The Council also elected Bob La Loggia, CEO, Appointment-Plus as a new director to serve a three year term. Fredric Bellamy, shareholder, Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite; Rich Hlavka, senior vice president, Lumension Security; and Clate Mask, CEO and co-founder, Infusionsoft, were re-elected as directors to serve additional three-year terms.  All changes were ratified in a unanimous vote during a regular session of the Council's Board of Directors' meeting on October 17, 2013.

"Each of our board members brings their unique and extensive leadership skills and experience in the technology industry to the dialogue," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. "We are thrilled to have Bob take the reins as chairman and welcome back James Powers in his role as vice chairman. Their guidance and insight will help us seize the greatest opportunities to connect and empower Arizona's technology community."

Witwer is responsible for defining the technology strategy and developing the advanced technology for all of Honeywell Aerospace's products; engines, auxiliary power units, air management systems, electric power systems, flight controls, avionics, and sensors. He has over 30 years of aerospace engineering experience with Honeywell, including leadership roles on the A320 Flight Management System, Boeing 777 Airplane Information Management System and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics system. Witwer is also a member of the Industrial Advisory Board for Arizona State University Polytechnic and serves as an officer on the Board of Directors for the Challenger Space Center in Arizona in Peoria, AZ.

"The Council's entire leadership is committed to helping members succeed through talent retention, business development, public policy initiatives and visibility," said Witwer. "Programs are designed to help technology companies at all stages of growth from emerging startups to established heavy hitters in the marketplace. I look forward to serving in a leadership role to create wealth and jobs in Arizona through innovation and technology."

Continuing as Vice Chairman, Powers is an entrepreneur and business operator; founding, growing and ultimately selling several successful companies in a variety of industries including technology and healthcare. He has been the CEO of both publicly-traded and private companies and most recently he served as Chariman, President & CEO of iLinc Communications, Inc (web/video collaboration software) until he sold iLinc to Broadsoft, Inc. in September 2011. He holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, a BS from the University of Memphis and a DDS from the University of Tennessee-Health Science Center.

The Arizona Technology Council's executive officers and board of directors serve in an advisory and fiduciary role by representing the interests of the state's technology industries in the Council's strategic planning and on-going operations. This translates into topnotch ideas and wisdom that turn into executable programs that benefit all Council members.

The Arizona Technology Council's current Board of Directors includes 38 members, six of which are officers. Companies represented include:

Alerion, American Express, Appointment Plus, Arizona State University Office of Knowledge and Enterprise Development, Avnet, Axosoft, Calibrus Call Center Services, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Clark Hill PLC, Cox Communications, Ernst & Young, Fennemore Craig, P.C., Greenberg Traurig LLP, Honeywell, Infusionsoft, Insight Enterprises, Intel Corporation, International Research Center, IO, KPMG, LaneTerralever, Lumension Security, Inc., Metrios Consulting, , MSS Technologies, On Top Corporation, OneNeck IT Services, Quarles & Brady LLP, Raytheon Company, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, Signature Technology Group, Telesphere, The Board Institute/SSA Executive Search International, Ltd., TGen, 360 Vantage, University of Arizona Tech Launch Arizona, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Western Alliance 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 Arizona Technology Council offers numerous events, educational forums and business conferences that bring together leaders, managers, employees and visionaries 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 http://www.aztechcouncil.org.  

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SOURCE Arizona Technology Council