Strategy1 Aligns People, Plans, and Processes to Build the Optics Industry 

Strategy1 Aligns People, Plans, and Processes to Build the Optics Industry 

By John Dennis | President of Strategy1

Strategy1 was awarded a federal economic development contract to use our expertise to help build the optics industry in Arizona. Led by the UArizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences and Steward Observatory, Tucson is one of the world’s leading centers for research and innovation in optics, photonics, and astronomy. 

The federal contract, called the Arizona Optics Initiative (AOI), is in year four of a five-year program to bring the commercial industry to the standard of academic and research excellence set at the UArizona. The AOI program has three strategic thrusts: 

  • Help existing optics and photonics companies scale up and grow 
  • Facilitate the formation and development of entrepreneurial optics companies 
  • Enhance the visibility and community awareness of our optics and astronomy industry 

By aligning people, plans, and processes, we have helped grow the industry cluster from a handful of companies to nearly 100. We have developed new information hubs such as a monthly newsletter,  monthly technical presentations,  industry networking events, and are in the process of releasing a searchable resource directory of company capabilities. We just completed our 5th annual Arizona Photonics Days, our flagship three-day event that showcases Arizona’s optics technology and businesses to a global audience. Our current emphasis is working with companies to collaborate to win larger contracts. 

The focus in the entrepreneurial arena is to translate the UArizona inventions into commercial successes. We accomplish this through our direct coaching and mentoring of young companies. Our coaching is based on company assessments that give the small companies direct independent feedback about strengths and weaknesses and provide specific guidance for actions to take or overcome weaknesses. 

Finally, enhancing visibility and community awareness is all about reaching outside our industry and being part of the larger Arizona technology community. We do this through participation and sponsorship in community events such as TENWEST, IdeaFunding, and the Arizona Technology Council’s Tech + Business Expo. In addition, we annually host a public event for the International Day of Light to celebrate the invention of the laser. 

The AOI program is a successful demonstration of our capabilities to develop a strong economic engine for business and industry.  

About Strategy1 

Strategy1 is Southern Arizona’s leading strategic planning and business consultancy providing innovative and customized solutions that drive strategic alignment of people, plans, and processes. Successful client assignments range from entrepreneurial technology companies to major corporations and public institutions. Learn more at www.strategy1services.com.