AeANET : AeA Arizona Council

AeA is the largest high tech trade association in the United States, representing over 2,500 companies and more than 1.8 million technology professionals in major sectors of the high-technology industry including: aerospace, software, semiconductor, wireless, homeland defense technology, security, telecommunications, and medical devices.

AeA Arizona is one of 18 regional councils strategically located in technology centers that offer member companies local support and global outreach. AeA Arizona provides local C-level executives with access to resources to grow their business and networking opportunities to connect them with peers locally, nationally and internationally. AeA Arizona represents over 100 public and private high-tech companies including: Intel, Taser International, Radyne, MD Helicopters, BE Semiconductor Industries, Mobility Electronics, Freescale, MSS Technologies and others.

The AeA Arizona Council serves member companies in Arizona and New Mexico. We are proud to be the voice of the high-technology industry. The AeA Arizona Council provides high-tech companies access to AeA's innovative services, networking opportunities, and a broad array of products to help positively impact their bottom line, which is increasingly important in our competitive and changing marketplace.

AeA Arizona Council provides its members continuous information on the legislative and regulatory matters facing our industry through the AeA Arizona Legislative Alert Newsletter. According to our AeA Arizona lobbyist, Stan Barnes of Copper State Consulting Group, "As fiscal issues that affect the bottom lines of Arizona's high-tech community evolve AeA Arizona will be there to shape the debate." Stan works closely with AeA Arizona Acting Executive Director, Sandie Schmidt, and the AeA Arizona Executive Committee to ensure the views of our members companies are represented at the Arizona Legislature. These efforts along with open communication from our national policy team make certain the needs of the local technology community are met on both the state and national level.

We host events that are relevant and timely for our entire membership, small-to-medium-to- large size firms. These events serve as a participatory tool for our members that they might continue to engage in discussions and opportunities with their peers. We offer programs on topics ranging from supply chain management, federal and state procurement opportunities, access to capital, cyber security, privacy issues, and many more. To find out more information, please go to our Committee and Event pages.

AeA Arizona Council is ready to effectively impact your bottom line! If you would like more information about all AeA Arizona has to offer, please e-mail Sandie Schmidt at Sandie_Schmidt@aeanet.org or call 480.607.0233.

Our primary purpose is helping our members� top and bottom lines
by providing the following services:

Chairman William J. Hinz President & CEO BioCair

Sandie Schmidt Acting Executive Director AeA Arizona Council P: 480.607.0233 F: 480.607.1921	Sandie Schmidt is the Acting Executive Director for the Arizona Council. As Acting Executive Director, Sandie drives overall council operations, organizes local member events and meetings, and support council membership development efforts. Sandie�s career has spanned government, private industry and the non-profit sector. Sandie describes her career as amazing and has included coordinating a fleet of executive business trains for a Midwestern railroad, ground-breaking event planning and membership development for a national defense bar association, and coordination and management of association chapter relations. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Board of Governors Program of the Federal Careers College and Northeastern Illinois University. Sandie is a native Chicagoan in search of perfect ethnic dishes in Phoenix. She is an avid chef, cookbook collector, and reality TV aficionado. She lives in Scottsdale with the love of her life, her long-haired dachshund, Hansie.

Stan Barnes Contract Lobbyist Copper State Consulting Group P: 602.229.1010 F: 602.229.1202	Stan Barnes, a native Arizonan, is the founder and President of Copper State Consulting Group. For much of the past two decades, Barnes has been involved in virtually every facet of key political and media-related issues and is viewed as a seasoned veteran of both state and local public affairs battles in Arizona. Before establishing the firm, Barnes served six years in the Arizona Legislature - First in the State House of Representatives where he was elected in 1988 as the youngest member of the 39th Legislature. He quickly rose to positions of leadership, serving in such capacities as Chairman of the Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee, where he was appointed in only his second term in office. At an early stage of his legislative career, Barnes was identified as a leader on key policy issues and a political force who could build diverse coalitions to get things done at the capitol. Subsequent to serving in the State House, Barnes was elected to the Arizona Senate in 1994 where he served as Chairman of the Government Reform Committee. He was active on key legislative measures such as business tax reduction, streamlining environmental regulations and developing energy policy. During his service in the State Senate, Barnes was also appointed to the American Council of Young Political Leaders and led a delegation of elected officials from across the U.S. on a diplomatic tour of Australia. In addition to running his practice, Barnes is a highly regarded political commentator, regularly appearing on Arizona television and radio news programs, as well as frequent guest editorials in state and local newspapers. He serves as Editor-In-Chief of West Washington, a bi-weekly political newsletter on Arizona's elected officials and public policy debate. Barnes is a 4th generation Arizonan born and raised on a family farm in rural Pinal County. He received his B.S. degree from Arizona State University in 1983 and went on to work for several years in broadcast media including both television and radio. Barnes is currently serving a three-year term as a Governor-appointed member of the Governor's Regulatory Review Council. He is active in the community as a member of the East Valley Partnership and political committees of the Arizona and Phoenix Chambers of Commerce. Stan and his wife Lisa live in Mesa with their five children.

Ian Calkins Contract Lobbyist Copper State Consulting Group P: 602.229.1010 F: 602.229.1202	Ian Calkins is responsible for handling public affairs and media relations at Copper State Consulting Group. Calkins brings a broad depth of experience and ability to handle diverse political projects for our clients. His particular strength is a keen ability to land in un-chartered areas and set up shop for clients. Establishing a presence for clients has included gaining a vast network of allies in Yuma County, managing intense public forums in Pinal County, lobbying Supervisors in Cochise County, organizing editorial board meetings in Mohave County and running a statewide ballot measure campaign, among other missions. His work for clients has also gone beyond Arizona�s borders. Calkins worked on generating media attention in his home state of Colorado, worked to kill harmful legislation in New Mexico and dealt directly with the national media (including Wall Street Journal, New York Times, NPR and CNN) on various issues for clients. Calkins previously served four years as the chief lobbyist for the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for state and local political advocacy on general business issues, including tax and fiscal policy, regulatory reform and environmental law. He also ran the Chamber�s PAC, created a grassroots mobilization program and reported directly to the Board of Directors (APS, SRP, Qwest, Bank of America, Cox, etc.) on key political issues. Prior to moving to Arizona, he worked in Washington, D.C. in various public policy and government affairs roles. While in D.C., he served as Legislative Director of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) educating state legislators in all 50 states on tax and fiscal issues; Director of State Relations for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) lobbying on behalf of the automotive aftermarket industry in all 50 states; and, Program Director for Consumer Alert (a free-enterprise policy group) interacting with Congress, the Washington Press Corps and special interest groups/trade associations. Calkins holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Political Economy from Colorado College in Colorado Springs. He and his wife Nancy live in downtown Phoenix with their children Henry and Claire.

For more information on the many benefits, programs and services of the Arizona Council, contact Sandie Schmidt at 480.607.0233.