Arizona Technology Council Welcomes New Board Members with Expertise in IT Services and Workforce Solutions

PHOENIX - EntSun -- The Arizona Technology Council today announced it has appointed Neil Calfee, executive director of Economic Development + Innovation Zones for Arizona State University's Knowledge Enterprise, and Tom Sullivan, chief operating officer of Air₂O, to its board of directors. Both were unanimously elected to three-year terms at the Council's quarterly board meeting held on April 30.

"Neil and Tom each bring unique and highly relevant perspectives that reflect the continued evolution of Arizona's technology ecosystem," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Council and SciTech Institute. "From advancing innovation districts and public-private partnerships to scaling global manufacturing operations, their leadership will further strengthen our ability to support growth, workforce development and long-term competitiveness across the state."

The Council also extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing board members for their service and contributions: Dave Boleman, who is retiring from the University of Advancing Technology and has been named Provost Emeritus; Sarah Feemia of Alliance; and Grace O'Sullivan, who is transitioning into a new role at Arizona State University.

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 operations. The current board includes members representing a diverse range of sectors and organizations across Arizona's tech landscape.

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Neil Calfee, executive director, Economic Development + Innovation Zones, Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise

Neil Calfee is the executive director of Economic Development + Innovation Zones for the ASU Knowledge Enterprise, collaborating across ASU Enterprise, Greater Phoenix and Arizona to cultivate and strengthen industry and community relationships, as well as promote the ASU Innovation Zones.

For over two decades, Calfee has held a variety of professional roles spanning municipal government, higher education and the private sector. Most recently, Calfee was the principal of Calfee Development Advisors, a company specializing in strategic planning, public policy, and the creation and negotiation of public-private partnerships. He previously served ASU as the director of Real Estate Development to spearhead many high-profile initiatives, including building privately funded student housing at the Tempe, Polytechnic and West campuses, as well as attracting State Farm to the Novus Innovation Corridor.

Throughout his career, Calfee has served on numerous municipal boards and trade groups dealing with economic development, corporate real estate and affordable housing. Calfee is also a proud Sun Devil, holding a degree in urban planning and an MBA.

Tom Sullivan, chief operating officer, Air₂O

Tom Sullivan is a seasoned leader with a diverse background rooted in military service and later refined in the civilian sector.  His operational deployments, spanning both peace and wartime roles, equipped him with invaluable experience. Sullivan served as a pivotal military liaison to civilian weapons development contractors, specializing in diverse missile platforms, including ground-to-air and ground-to-ground systems.

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In 2014, Sullivan brought his wealth of experience to the fledgling startup Air₂O, joining the three-person company as the operations and project management lead. His role evolved, culminating in his appointment as chief operating officer in 2020. In this capacity, Sullivan has led a management team responsible for the development and implementation of foundational processes and routines, encompassing HR, recruitment, retention, IT management, health and safety, and vendor management.

Air₂O is a global leader in advanced thermal management for mission-critical facilities, offering sustainable, custom solutions and serving as Arizona's sole manufacturer of low dew point HVACD applications. Under Sullivan's operational guidance, Air₂O has witnessed substantial growth, expanding from a modest three-person team in 2014 to a multinational workforce of more than 100 employees across four countries today. His initiatives have included implementing modern quality management systems and project management techniques, culminating in the recent ISO 9001 company accreditation with zero non-conformances reported during external assessment.

Companies represented on the Arizona Technology Council board of directors include:

Arizona Commerce Authority; Air₂O; Alerion Capital Group; American Express; Aervon; Arizona Western College; ASU Knowledge Enterprise; Avnet; Benchmark; Buchalter; Concept2Scale; Edmund Optics; Ernst & Young; Grand Canyon University; Honeywell Aerospace; IBM; Immedia; Intel; Iron Mountain; KEO Marketing Inc.; Marcus Engineering; MC Consulting Services; MSS Business Transformation Advisory; Northern Arizona University; PADT, Inc.; Paragon IT Professionals; QTS Data Centers; Quarles & Brady; SRP; Tech Parks Arizona, The University of Arizona; Translational Genomics Research Institute; The Ele Group; University of Advancing Technology; and The University of Arizona.