Podcasts about employers council

  AZ TRT 2.0 - AZ Tech Ecosystem: Making the World Better Thru Technology w/ Eric Miller of PADT, Inc. AZ TRT S07 EP13 (295) 8-23-2026   What We Learned This Week ·         A great product doesn't build a great company by itself. Founders eventually have to build the organization around the product—sales, marketing, finance, HR and people. The founder's job changes as the company scales. ·         The 80/20 rule applies to company building. Figure out what you are uniquely good at, keep strategic functions close, and bring in employees, fractional executives or outside specialists to fill the gaps. ·         You don't get the value of a technology community by joining—it comes from showing up. Eric's experience with the Arizona Technology Council, Venture madness & Arizona Commerce Authority demonstrates that relationships, customers, suppliers and friendships develop through repeated participation. ·         Arizona's technology economy is much bigger than semiconductors. Aerospace, photonics, medical devices, university research, startups and advanced manufacturing are all part of the ecosystem. Universities are particularly important because they help turn research into commercial companies. ·         Today's technology was somebody's science fiction yesterday. Eric's Star Trek story is a great reminder that technologies that once seemed impossible—3D printing, advanced lasers, handheld communications and artificial hearts—can eventually become real-world tools that change people's lives.   Guest: Eric Miller, Principal & Co-Founder PADT, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emillerphx/ https://www.padtinc.com/   Arizona Tech Council – Board Member, premiere org in tech community of AZ https://www.aztechcouncil.org/ Arizona Commerce Authority – Entrepreneur in Residence, building economy of AZ https://www.azcommerce.com/   Venture Café – Advisor for startups https://venturecafephoenix.org/ Venture Madness – Board Member for tech pitch competition https://venturemadness.com/       Bio: Business Owner - Engineer - Writer - ANSYS Fan Boy - 3D Printer - Speaker - Podcaster - Angel Investor At PADT "We Make Innovation Work" by helping companies that make physical products by providing them the engineering services and tools they need. Every day I get to work with smart employees, interesting customers, and fantastic vendors. Those are the basic facts, read on to learn more or follow my regular musings in the Phoenix Business Journal The official bio: Eric Miller is a co-owner of Tempe based PADT, Inc., where he is involved in providing tools and services to companies who design and manufacture physical products. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and has lived in Arizona since 1986. He started his career focusing on the application of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) to simulate turbine engine components. Over the years he became recognized as an expert user of the ANSYS software tool and in the development of custom software to automate the product simulation and design process. As a co-founder of PADT in 1994, Eric was able to also pursue his interests in IT, graphic design, additive manufacturing, database programming, and small business management. As both PADT and the use of advanced engineering tools grew, Eric became exposed to dozens of different industries and developed his broad understanding of the application of technology for product development and manufacturing. After over three decades in the industry, Eric is often called upon to write and speak on simulation, design, and 3D Printing as well as on startups and the high-tech sector. His involvement in the startup community includes angel investing as well as mentoring and serving on steering, screening, and advisory boards of a variety of technical organizations and institutions. His current and past "other" jobs are listed under Experience below. In his spare time, Eric enjoys traveling, history, cooking, running (slowly), and learning about new things.   PADT Inc. A New Company (1994) PADT's founders felt that the tools and skills they used as aerospace engineers to design, analyze, and prototype turbomachinery had applications in other industries. In the summer of 1994, they left their corporate jobs to form Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies, Inc., better known as PADT. The first office was a one-person executive suite in Tempe, Arizona, crammed with four people and three computers. From this tiny room, they started calling potential customers. Slowly but surely, work began to come in, and the company was off and running. With the purchase of a 3D Systems SLA250 3D printer at the end of 1994, PADT became the first independent Rapid Prototyping service provider in Arizona. 30 Years and Beyond Doing anything for 30 years is an achievement worth noting. When we approached our 30th anniversary, we were dealing with something we never thought of in 1994, employees were retiring from PADT.  Or 30th year started well with continued growth around simulation. As our long-term partner, Ansys, continues to grow and evolve, so does  PADT.  The same is true for Flownex, with its adoption across the US, backed by PADT's sales and support team. The team has also met the challenge of changes in the Additive Manufacturing space, upping our offerings around the medical and aerospace industries. Our 4th decade also so the launch of several products designed with customers by our Product Development team.  Since 1994, PADT has grown to become the most respected technology company in the region. By sticking to its core principles and growing its skill and technology base. The company has positioned itself to continue this by providing the best solutions to new and current customers. Nerdtoberfest - PADT's annual open house. 2026 Event – Wed. Oct. 28 from 4 - 8pm ASU Research Park / Tempe PADT open house Technology demonstrations Community networking Partnership with the Arizona Technology Council Previous event attracted approximately 700 registrants Technology ecosystems are built by people getting together—not just companies operating independently.   Notes: AZ Tech Roundtable — Eric Miller, PADT, Inc. Interview: August 2026 Guest / Company Overview Eric Miller & PADT Eric Miller is a principal and co-owner of PADT, Inc. Eric came from an aerospace engineering background and, with two partners, started PADT in 1994. PADT originally stood for Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies. The company was founded by engineers to serve mechanical engineers. PADT is broader than simply being a 3D-printing company. Its work includes engineering products, services, 3D printing, advanced manufacturing and technologies such as lasers. Eric's involvement in Arizona technology extends well beyond PADT: Arizona Technology Council board member Venture Cafe mentor Venture Madness board involvement Entrepreneur in Residence at the Arizona Commerce Authority Eric is also heavily involved in mentoring companies and giving back to the Arizona technology community. Segment 1 — What Founders Learn About Building a Company It's Not Just About Having a Great Product One of the biggest lessons Eric learned from starting a company is that a good idea and a good product aren't enough. You also have to build the organization around the product: Sales Marketing Finance/accounting HR Operations People The founder has to eventually stop thinking only like the person who created the product and start thinking like the person building the company. The 80/20 Rule for Founders Eric's advice is to identify the areas where you're strongest and weakest and then determine where your time is best spent. The founder doesn't have to personally do everything. Instead: Know what you need to control and know what you can delegate. That can mean hiring employees, outsourcing functions or bringing in fractional executives/advisors. What Should Stay In-House? Eric's basic rule: If something is strategic or integral to the business, you generally want to keep it in-house. For PADT, accounting is an example. Eric chose to keep accounting internally because the company's accounting requirements are very specific to the business. For another technology company, however, outsourcing finance and accounting might make perfect sense. Fractional Talent Eric highlighted the growth of fractional roles. A company can bring in an experienced person part-time to help with a critical function without taking on the cost of a full-time executive. This can give a growing company access to: Expertise Decision-making Strategic guidance Experience without requiring a full-time salary. Hire HR Earlier Than You Think Eric believes companies should bring in HR expertise relatively early. Even if HR is initially outsourced, somebody needs to be paying attention to: Hiring Onboarding Benefits Employee issues Culture People management People are your company's most important asset. Eric's own company uses Employers Council for HR support. Strategic Functions vs. Specialized Functions An interesting distinction from the conversation: Keep strategic knowledge and decision-making close to the company. Outsource specialized expertise when it makes sense. For example, PADT outsources patent work to patent attorneys who often have engineering backgrounds themselves. That gives both sides a common technical language. Segment 2 — Arizona's Technology Ecosystem PADT's History of Spinning Out Companies PADT itself has contributed to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Examples discussed: Salad and Go - Founded by a former PADT employee. Luminosity - An engineering/technology consulting company associated with ASU and founded by former PADT employee Tyler Smith. The larger lesson: Companies don't just create products. They can create people who go on to create other companies. PADT has therefore become part of the ecosystem's entrepreneurial "gene pool." Why Arizona's Tech Community Can Be Confusing The conversation broke down several organizations that play different roles in Arizona's technology ecosystem. Arizona Technology Council Eric described the Arizona Technology Council as one of the most important organizations in the state's technology ecosystem. Approximately 700 member companies Members span: Technology IT Manufacturing Aerospace Medical devices Eric serves on the board. The organization advocates at the state legislature. It works to promote business growth. It also provides business services, including programs involving areas such as 401(k)s and healthcare. Perhaps most importantly, it creates a community for companies and people to meet each other. The Real Value Is Showing Up One of Eric's strongest points: Joining an organization isn't enough. You have to actually attend the events. Eric has developed: Friendships Business relationships Customers Suppliers Partnerships -       through the Technology Council. He originally joined looking for suppliers and customers but discovered that the broader relationships became just as valuable. The lesson: You don't get the value of a business community by becoming a member. You get it by participating. Unexpected Business Relationships Eric gave the example of developing a partnership with Tom Sullivan of Air2O through his involvement with the Council. The broader point is that networking often produces opportunities you weren't specifically looking for. Technology Council Events Examples discussed: Manufacturing showcase with GCU Cybersecurity events Annual awards event in November Other technology/community networking events The manufacturing event is particularly interesting because Arizona has relatively few traditional manufacturing trade shows despite the state's rapidly expanding manufacturing base. Segment 3 — Venture Cafe, Venture Madness & the Startup Ecosystem Venture Cafe Venture Cafe provides an informal entry point into Arizona's startup and technology community. Thursday evenings Approximately 5–7 PM Phoenix Bioscience Core Rotating programming Topics can include: AI Food technology Aerospace Other emerging technologies Entrepreneurship The key idea: you don't need to already be deeply embedded in the startup ecosystem to show up and meet people. Eric also serves as a mentor. Other Startup Community Organizations The discussion also referenced Freeway, associated with Danielle Santangelo, as another part of the startup ecosystem. Venture Madness Venture Madness was described as Arizona's premier startup pitch event. Designed to connect startups with investors Similar in concept to Shark Tank Has been operating for more than 20 years Originally called Invest Southwest Has evolved/pivoted over time to remain relevant to investors and founders Eric serves on the board The core purpose: Connect capital with companies that are looking for funding. Arizona Commerce Authority Public-Private Economic Development The Arizona Commerce Authority plays a different role from the Technology Council and startup organizations. Eric described it as a public-private partnership focused on economic development. Its mission includes: Recruiting companies to Arizona Helping companies expand in Arizona Growing the state's economy Supporting founders and funders Eric serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence. One major example discussed was the tremendous manufacturing growth in the West Valley, including the arrival and expansion of TSMC. Arizona Tech Week The conversation highlighted the first Arizona Tech Week in spring 2026. It generated more than 400 events, demonstrating the appetite for technology-related engagement across the state. Arizona's Manufacturing Boom Aerospace + Semiconductors = Economic Engines One of the strongest themes in the interview was the transformation of Arizona's economy through technology-driven manufacturing. Eric identified two especially important sectors: Semiconductors Arizona's semiconductor story has deep roots. The discussion referenced: Motorola Freescale ON Semiconductor Intel Amkor TSMC The state's semiconductor ecosystem now extends across manufacturing, packaging and supporting technologies. TSMC The enormous TSMC investment in the West Valley represents one of the most significant developments in Arizona manufacturing. Aerospace Arizona also has a major aerospace ecosystem involving companies such as: Northrop Grumman Honeywell Aerospace Viasat Iridium Orbital Sciences The state also has missile and aerospace-related activity in Tucson. Eric's broader point was that aerospace and semiconductors are becoming major economic engines for Arizona. Segment 4 — Universities as Technology Economic Engines A major insight from the interview: The strongest technology ecosystems tend to be built around universities. Eric compared Arizona with other major technology centers: Silicon Valley Boston Austin The common thread is the presence of major universities and research institutions. Arizona's Three Major Research Universities University of Arizona Tucson Strong in optics/photonics Medical research Technology commercialization Eric's memorable description of Tucson's optics/photonics ecosystem: "It's all light." This can encompass: Cameras Lenses Satellite imaging Photonics Advanced optical technologies Arizona State University Phoenix/Tempe Major research and technology commercialization engine SkySong serves as an important technology/community hub Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Third major research university contributing to Arizona's technology ecosystem Turning University Research Into Companies The universities don't just conduct research. They can help commercialize research and turn it into businesses. Examples discussed: Tech Launch Arizona Associated with the University of Arizona and focused on moving university technology toward commercialization. SkySong ASU's technology/business ecosystem in Scottsdale. These types of organizations help turn: Research → Technology → Commercial Product → Company Areas mentioned include: Medical devices Cryptography Photonics Advanced technologies Eric noted that this university-to-company pipeline is one of the characteristics shared by successful technology ecosystems around the country. Technology as a Force for Economic Growth One of the broader ideas running through the interview: Technology can be an economic engine for an entire region. Arizona's combination of: Universities Research Manufacturing Aerospace Semiconductors Medical devices Startup capital Entrepreneurial communities creates an ecosystem rather than isolated technology companies. Examples discussed include: GE Ultrasound in Tempe Medical technology in Tucson Artificial-heart technology developed by a Tucson company Semiconductor manufacturing Aerospace and space technologies Photonics Eric also referenced the Arizona company involved in retrieving a sample from an asteroid as another example of the extraordinary technology being developed in the state. The Human Side of Technology Star Trek as Inspiration One of the best personal stories from the interview came at the end. Eric's original inspiration for technology came from Star Trek. As a kid, he saw technology portrayed as something that could make the world better. Today, he gets to work with technologies that once seemed like science fiction: 3D printing Advanced lasers Handheld communication Advanced imaging Other emerging technologies The larger idea: The future we imagined as kids eventually becomes the technology we build as adults. Eric's work at PADT allows him to experience some of that firsthand. Bonus Conversation — Star Trek & Branding There was also an interesting side discussion about Star Trek's visual branding. The uniforms used color coding to communicate roles: Yellow — command Red — engineering Blue — science Matt connected this to branding and organizational communication. The lesson: Good branding reduces confusion. When people can immediately understand what something represents, the organization becomes easier to navigate. This applies not just to logos and colors but to: Roles Products Services Organizational structures Messaging       Tech Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Tech-Startup-VC-Cybersecurity-Energy-Science  Best of Tech: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=best+of+tech   'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT      Thanks for Listening. Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.     AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.  AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.  Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…    AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/ 'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here Podcast on Google: Click Here Podcast on Spotify: Click Here                    More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/ KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/  

If neither a lender nor borrower be... well one of two ain't bad: the provincial government intends to borrow $700 million more than originally put forward in this year's budget. A look at the duress of debt with the executive director of the Employers Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. (Anthony Germain with Jaclyn Sullivan)

Friday Sept 16th - Employers Council Of NL ED Jaclyn Sullivan by VOCM

The gender wage gap is a persistent concern in the United States. Women make about 82% of what men make for comparable work and the numbers in Utah are more extreme, where a woman earns approximately 71 cents for each dollar a man earns. In fact, Utah is consistently near the bottom of national rankings in terms of gender pay equity. This episode features highlights from an August 2020 online Women's Leadership Forum with Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project; Katie Hudman, Attorney with Employers Council; Senator Luz Escamilla, Utah Legislature and Vice President for Zions Bank in the Community Development Group; Carrie Mayne, Associate Commissioner for Workforce and Institutional Research; and Erin Jemison, Manager at the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI).The panel discusses some of the most important contributing factors, digs deeper into how the gap varies by race and other demographics, and evaluates major efforts to reduce the wage gap, including both private and public initiatives. *This episode was recorded on August 18, 2020.Support the show (https://www.usu.edu/uwlp/get-involved/donate)

“Time to Act” Campaign - Employers’ Council’s Executive Director Richard Alexander by VOCM

In this episode we talk with Ryan D. Nelson, Director of Business Development and Sales at Employers Council. The Employers Council is made up of more than 200 legal and HR professionals with experience and expertise in every facet of human resources and employment law. They serve employers of all sizes by responding to requests for assistance with timely, considered advice and providing all the tools necessary to attract, hire, train, and retain the best possible workforce.

Paula Gale speaks with tourism operator Deborah Bourden, and Jaclyn Sullivan from the Employers Council

Classifying a truck driver as either an employee or an independent contractor is one of the hottest topics in the trucking industry. If you are considering hiring a driver, this is an important episode. To help us out with this topic, we've brought in the big guns. Ryan Nelson, president of the Utah chapter of Employers Council, has lots of experience and expertise in the trucking industry and joins us to help shed some light on this complicated topic. Employers Council is a nonprofit that provides employment law resources to employers. You can learn more about them at EmployersCouncil.org. What To Expect From Episode 50 You may have heard the saying that words have meaning, well, this is an example where the words have a lot of meaning. If you aren't familiar with that phrase, I use a military example to explain it in the first few minutes of the episode. Too often trucking companies use these two words as nothing more than labels, which has gotten a lot of trucking companies into serious trouble. How drivers are classified is a big decision that has significant consequences. The federal government and each state has their own test to determine if someone who does work for you can be classified as an independent contractor. We focus on the 11 factor test that the federal government uses. The 11 questions are listed below. Ryan uses a great analogy of the old sliding scales, remember them from gym class or the doctor's office? If not, check out a picture of one, and the rest of the show notes including the 11 questions, at haulinassetsllc.com.

Miriah WhitehurstPresident At All Things Advertising Website Address: AllThingsAdvertising.comWHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR COMPANY PROVIDE?Creative, Social Media, SEO, Marketing Strategy, Search Engine Marketing / Pay Per ClickABOUT ALL THINGS ADVERTISING:Miriah Whitehurst award-winning business owner, Founder of All Things Advertising, andCat-Mom of one. Works with business owners who are no longer able to do it on their own.Her skilled talent allows her to help her clients grow both on and offline.She gives back to the entrepreneurial community by serving on the board and planningeducational events for Employers Council of Iowa. She also serves as the Vice President ofMarketing and Communications for United to Serve; to help individuals find their purpose. ​HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?Success to me is defined by happiness. As Zig Ziglar would say “Success and happiness are not matters of chance but choice.”WHAT PERCENT OF YOUR ADVERTISING SERVICE OFFERINGS DOES MEDIA BUYING MAKE UP?25%WHAT MAKES YOUR COMPANY UNIQUE?We don’t just collaborate with you – we partner. We want to build lasting relationships with our clients, based on trust, backed by quality and strengthened by great results. This is where your ideas can flourish.WHO IN THE INDUSTRY INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?Simon Sinek and Ted Talks are where I go for motivation and inspiration.WHAT IS A TIP FOR SUCCESS THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE SOMEONE IN YOUR SAME INDUSTRY?Stay consistent and be yourself.We strongly believe that every product, brand or service has a personality. Embrace your individuality to its fullest extent.

Jenny Morse, PhD is the President and CEO of Appendance. In addition, Jenny teaches Business Writing at Colorado State University and offers writing seminars through Employers Council in Denver. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Bowdoin College in Maine, her Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Colorado—Boulder, and her PhD in English at the University of Illinois—Chicago. As a freelance writer and editor, she has written website copy, award speeches, and frequently ghostwrites for a CEO, publishing articles in Forbes, Inc., and Wired. Find more from Jenny at: Appendance.com

Rod Arquette Show Daily Rundown - Tuesday, December 4, 20184:20 pm: Senator Evan Vickers, the Senate sponsor of the Prop 2 replacement bill, joins the show to discuss why lawmakers believe a replacement bill is better for Utah than the original ballot proposition4:35 pm: Ryan Nelson, President of the Utah chapter of the Employers Council, joins the show to discuss how Utah’s new medical marijuana law will affect the workplace6:05 pm: Steven Camarota, Director of Research for the Center for Immigration Studies, joins the show to discuss the results of a new study that shows 63% of non-citizens in the United States are collecting welfare6:20 pm: Newly elected Utah County Clerk Amelia Powers joins the show to discuss how she plans to improve elections in the county after a difficult midterm for voters in the county6:35 pm: Philip Klein of the Washington Examiner joins Rod to discuss how President George H.W. Bush’s broken pledge for “no new taxes” changed America

Lynn Nichols Federal Tax Update Podcast March 26, 2018, edition   Listen as Lynn Nichols provides commentary on 5 Items pertaining to current developments in U.S. tax law. This week’s topics include: Plastic Surgeon’s Fraud, Tax Evasion Conviction Affirmed   A divided Third Circuit upheld a plastic surgeon’s conviction for fraud and tax evasion stemming from his participation in a tax fraud scheme, finding that the district court didn’t abuse its discretion by excluding evidence that he paid his taxes after discovering he was being investigated or by allowing allegedly unfair comments by the government. [Evdokimow, David v. United States; CA 3; No. 15-3876; 3/19/2018]   IRS Says Vasectomy Decision Could Be Reversible The IRS could revisit its recent decision that male sterilization doesn’t qualify as preventive care under some health plans, but first the agency needs a workable standard for determining what is preventive. (Speech at Employers Council on Flexible Compensation) [Tax Notes Today; 3/20/2018]      Tax Court Determines Tax Home, Denies Travel Expense Deductions The Tax Court, in a summary opinion, sustained the IRS’s disallowance of a couple’s unreimbursed employee business expense deductions for the husband’s travel expenses in the 2013 tax year, finding that his tax home was in Oklahoma where he had been working since 2010 and not in California. [Jahangirian, Hamid et ux. v. Commissioner; No. 25916-16S; T.C. Summ. Op. 2018-14, 3/20/2018]       IRS Urges Tax Professionals to Protect Taxpayer Data The IRS, state tax agencies, and the tax industry have advised tax professionals to beware of taxpayer data theft as the April 17 return filing deadline approaches, urging them to enhance their data safeguards and alerting them to a spear phishing scheme in the form of a new client email scam that has recently reemerged. [IR-2018-68; 3/22/2018]        Tax Court Upholds Levy to Collect LLC’s Late-Filing Penalties The Tax Court held that the IRS didn’t abuse its discretion by sustaining a levy to collect penalties assessed against a limited liability company for the late filing of partnership returns; the court found that the LLC had represented itself as a partnership on returns and rejected its claim that it was not a partnership but a single-member LLC. [ Argosy Technologies LLC v. Commissioner; No. 29856-14L; T.C. Memo. 2018-35; 3/22/2018] 

What is PTO and are you getting the most out of this work benefit?  Are you providing a competitive vacation package to your employees for your industry standards?  The Utah President of the Employers Council, MSEC.org, Monica Whalen has the data from a new survey about Paid Time Off policies across the Intermountain West. Do all full-time employees get the same amount of flexibility when in negotiations for a new job?  Can you swap out extra days off for increased salary.... and should you?  Does having unlimited time off at a job really give you peace of mind?   And what about part-time employees... what type of benefits can they expect in the workforce? And what are the top 3-things employees are looking for from their employer.  https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingSense/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.