Board of Advisors:

Larry Aldrich, General Partner
Valley Ventures
Valley Ventures is an institutionally funded venture capital partnership with $70 million under management. The general partner is a team of experienced venture capitalists and managers dedicated to the achievement of superior investment returns by investing in and assisting emerging growth companies in the greater Southwest. In addition to providing capital to growing companies, Valley Ventures assists management in strategic planning, management development, accessing key industry experts and advising on capital formation events.

Tom Anyos, Ph. D., Director
Technology Ventures Corporation
Technology Ventures Corporation has been an important contributor to the formation of new businesses built on leading-edge technologies developed at Department of Energy / National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories and in the expansion of existing businesses. Technology Ventures Corporation provides services to assist client companies in positioning themselves to obtain investor interest and funding.

Todd Bankofier, President
AZ Technology Council
The largest regional technology association in Arizona, the Arizona Technology Council is a meaningful, member-driven association of technology firms, business support firms, education institutions and economic development groups that collectively form Arizona’s technology community. The AZ Technology Council drives partnerships, policies and programs that advance the business climate for Arizona's technology community.

Kendall Bert, Director
Office of Economic Development, City of Tucson
The City of Tucson Office of Economic Development (OED) delivers a variety of services designed to stimulate business and community development within Tucson. OED’s mission is to diversify and stabilize the local economy by providing services designed to expand local business opportunities, which assist to create and retain jobs, enhance the local tax base, and revitalize distressed portions of the City.

Eugene Cochran, Ph. D.
Research Corporation Technologies
Research Corporation Technologies is an independent technology development company working with start-up companies, universities and research institutions to commercialize their early-stage technologies. Commercialization vehicles include venture investment, management, partnerships and special licensing programs.

Mike DeConcini, Senior Vice President
Unisource Energy Corp.
UniSource Energy Corporation is the parent company of Tucson Electric Power Company, a regulated electric utility, and Millennium Energy Holdings, Inc., parent of UniSource Energy®'s unregulated energy businesses. UniSource Energy Services operates electric systems serving 77,500 customers and gas systems serving 126,000 customers in northern and southern Arizona. At UES, the company is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves

Steven Fell, President
Bank One
Headquartered in Chicago, Bank One Corporation holds more than 50 million issued credit cards, nearly 7 million retail households, and approximately 20,000 middle market customers. The company manages more than $185 billion of client investment assets and is the nation's sixth-largest bank holding company, with assets of $326 billion. Thinking globally but acting locally, Bank One supports nonprofit organizations and programs that address local needs and opportunities.

Robert Fortuno
Robert A. Fortuno, PC
A Tucson-based lawyer with a private practice, Mr. Fortuno specializes in the areas of business and real estate transactions, specifically corporations, parternships and LLCs; acquisitions and sales of private companies; and venture capital and private equity investments. Mr. Fortuno has been practicing law since 1979 and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He is a director of two Arizona software companies: NetPro Computing Inc. of Phoenix and Knowledge Computing Corp. of Tucson.

Harry George
Solstice Capital
Solstice Capital seeks superior venture capital returns for its limited partners through investments in seed- and early-stage companies in the industry areas of alternative energy, education, the environment, life sciences and information technology. From its inception, Solstice has demonstrated its commitment to provide both capital and expert guidance to assist portfolio companies as they deal with the challenges and opportunities of growth.

Bob Hagen, President
Southern Arizona Technology Council
The Southern Arizona Tech Council is a non-profit organization formed in August 2000 whose mission is to promote and implement high-tech industry economic development and competitiveness in Tucson and Southern Arizona. SATC has adopted numerous goals in support of its mission, including undertaking projects, programs and partnerships that provide direct economic benefit to the high-tech industry clusters operating in southern Arizona.

Patrick L. Jones Ph.D., Director
Office of Technology Transfer, The University of Arizona
The mission of the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) is to assist the faculty in matters related to intellectual property, including interactions with commercial partners, and to bring the inventions and discoveries developed within the University to market for the public good.

Gary Libecap Ph.D., Director
McGuire Entrepreneurship Program, The University of Arizona
The mission of the Karl Eller Center is to promote and provide entrepreneurship education and business research within the Eller College of Management.

Bob Morrison
Desert Angels
Desert Angels is a non-profit organization serving as a forum to its membership, consisting of accredited investors experienced in business and finance, who seek opportunities to invest in startup or early stage no tech, low tech and high tech companies.

A.J. Moss, Associate
Squire, Sanders and Dempsey LLP
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. is a multi-jurisdictional law firm with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Squire Sanders is organized around four major practice areas: advocacy, business, capital markets and regulated industries, including a specialization in intellectual property.

Charlie O'Dowd, Southern Arizona Chapter Director
Arizona Small Business Association
ASBA's mission is to exceed its members' expectations in providing access to resources and benefits that aid in the development, growth and success of their businesses and to deliver these services with a sense of warmth, professionalism, individual pride, and organizational spirit.

Richard Powell, Ph. D., Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development
The University of Arizona
As the President's designee, enhances, expands, and encourages the research mission of The University of Arizona through the facilitation of research and creative activities carried out by faculty, staff, & students and through the Graduate College and Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDP's). The Office of Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development also assist in the development and application of new technologies to benefit the University and the state.

Nancy Russell, Director
Pima Community College Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a business resource center dedicated to helping businesses in Pima, Santa Cruz and Gila Counties to succeed. We work with businesses ranging from 1 to 200 employees in all industries and in all business disciplines.

Bo Statham, President and CEO
POWERTRUSION International, Inc.
Powertrusion International, Inc., a composite technologies company, designs, develops and manufactures high-tech lightweight composite products that effectively maximize weight, strength and quality ratios, while conducting its business in an environmentally responsible manner.

Jim Strickland, General Partner
Coronado Venture Funds
Coronado invests in emerging companies whose products or services are based on diverse technologies from both the physical and the life sciences. Coronado is regionally focused on Arizona and nearby states.

Sandra Watson, Director
Office of Innovation and Technology, Arizona Department of Commerce
The Arizona Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Technology is dedicated to providing assistance and resources to accelerate the growth of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship throughout Arizona. Ms. Watson is responsible for ensuring that the needs of the emerging technology industries in the state are met.

Quinn Williams Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
For more than three decades, Greenberg Traurig has challenged traditional approaches and worked to provide practical business-focused solutions for emerging companies and Fortune 500 Corporations. Mr. Williams has an extensive background in representing emerging and public entrepreneurial companies primarily in software, financial services, semiconductor, hardware and related technology industries. Additionally, he has a vast amount of experience in dealing with venture capital, private and public financings, strategic and acquisition transactions.

James C. Wyant Ph.D., Director
Optical Sciences Center, The University of Arizona
The Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona is the world’s premier optical institute, with outstanding faculty members, an international student body, and a challenging curriculum that is pioneering research programs and close relationships with the optics industry.