Arizona Technology Council and Arizona Commerce Authority Announce 2026 GCOI Legislator Award Honorees

PHOENIX - Rezul -- The Arizona Technology Council, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, today announced the recipients of the 2026 Governor's Celebration of Innovation (GCOI) Outstanding Technology Representative of the Year, Outstanding Technology Senator of the Year and Tech Ten Champions awards. This year's honorees also include Rep. Jeff Weninger, who will receive the new legislative Legacy Award.

The honorees will be recognized at the 23rd annual GCOI, which brings together Arizona's technology and business leaders, educators and policymakers to celebrate achievements in innovation. The event will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, from 4:45 to 8:30 p.m. at Chateau Luxe, 1175 E. Lone Cactus Drive, Phoenix.

"Arizona's technology industry needs legislative partners who understand what it takes to turn new ideas into businesses and prepare people for the careers those businesses create," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Council and SciTech Institute. "This year's honorees reflect that commitment. We're also pleased to introduce the Legacy Award and recognize Jeff Weninger's longstanding contributions to Arizona's technology community."

"Arizona's legislators play a central role in advancing policies that strengthen Arizona's competitive advantage, attract record investment, and create an environment where companies and innovators thrive," said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "We are proud to recognize their contributions through this year's Governor's Celebration of Innovation awards and extend a special congratulations to Representative Weninger, whose leadership has been instrumental in positioning Arizona for industries shaping the future."

The 2026 GCOI legislator award recipients and their legislative districts are:

Legacy Award

• Rep. Jeff Weninger, District 13: Weninger has been a prominent advocate for technology initiatives that have helped make Arizona a leader in innovation and a place where technology companies can thrive. From sponsoring and supporting important economic development tools that have supported the companies here to the creation of innovation sandboxes that allow entrepreneurs to innovate and build without overly burdensome regulations, Weninger has been involved. He has chaired the House Commerce Committee for much of his tenure. In the past decade, he has helped make Arizona a technology hub and a state that is now a leader in advanced manufacturing. While his time at the Legislature has ended, the Council wants to ensure he knows his work had not gone unnoticed, and the state is better because of it.

Outstanding Technology Representative of the Year

• Rep. Justin Wilmeth, District 2: Wilmeth has been an advocate for technology and innovation throughout his tenure at the Legislature, including his chairmanship of the House Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Innovation. He sponsored the Council's priority legislation that created a State Seal of Computer Science Proficiency on high school diplomas to highlight students who meet this requirement and encourage schools to offer it. Computer proficiency is an essential skill all students need to prepare them for the jobs of today and the future. Additionally, Wilmeth in the 2026 session sponsored legislation on the Arizona Space Commission, nuclear energy and data centers.

Outstanding Technology Senator of the Year

• Sen. Frank Carroll, District 28: As Senate majority whip, Carroll is another longtime friend to and champion for the technology industry. He has long supported legislative efforts aimed at strengthening Arizona's workforce and economic competitiveness. Carroll recognizes the important role that technology and innovation play in driving economic development and creating high-quality jobs throughout the state. He has sponsored legislation addressing transportation infrastructure, updated solar energy statutes while working with industry and serves on the Aerospace States Association.

Tech Champions

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Arizona House of Representatives

• Rep. Sarah Ligouri, District 5: Ligouri has proved to be a thoughtful legislator in her approach, focusing on analyzing the facts of legislation. She is a strong advocate for public education, knowing it is the foundation that gives every child the opportunity for a successful life. Ligouri fights to provide pathways for affordable housing in Arizona and understands the importance of providing clean air and quality water to secure a future that works for all Arizonans, including supporting transitions to clean energy. She has supported many initiatives that have helped Arizona's technology and innovation industries flourish.
• Rep. Stacey Travers, District 12: Travers has been a supporter of the technology industry during her tenure. She is a scientist and veteran who understands the importance of investing in and growing innovative opportunities that cultivate a strong, diverse, equitable and statewide workforce to build a strong Arizona economy. Travers sees the technology industry as a large driver of the state's economic success and works in a bipartisan manner to advance policies that continue Arizona's competitiveness and economic growth. She has supported ensuring Arizona's communities have the necessary public infrastructure and fought to ensure renewable energy has remained part of the tools the state has to meet its energy needs.
• Rep. Chris Lopez, District 16: Lopez proved to be a champion for economic development during his freshman term. He has established himself as a thoughtful and collaborative legislator who prioritizes economic development and expanding access to healthcare and opportunity in rural Arizona. As a small business owner, Lopez understands the importance of a skilled workforce and the need for policies that enable businesses and innovators to succeed, as well as strengthen Arizona's competitiveness. Among his efforts, he sponsored legislation that would have helped commercial, industrial and agricultural property owners access private, long-term financing for energy-efficiency improvements, water-conservation projects and structural resiliency upgrades.
• Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, District 21: Hamilton is a passionate advocate for the environment, with a mindset for sustainability, and has proven to be a defensive champion on clean energy and water conservation issues. In addition, she supports incentivizing industries to keep Arizona's economy vibrant, especially in fighting to keep the renewable energy incentives in place for FY 2026. Hamilton also is a big proponent of public education as she believes the best investment in Arizona's future is the education of children, including technical education programming to ensure students have the skills needed for Arizona's evolving technology-based economy.
• Rep. Michael Carbone, District 25: Carbone has proved to be an advocate for innovation and manufacturing during his tenure. He also has been a leading voice on energy policy by sponsoring legislation to strengthen Arizona's energy infrastructure and prepare for emerging technologies such as small modular nuclear reactors. Recognizing Arizona's rapid population and economic growth will place increasing demands on the state's infrastructure, Carbone sponsored legislation that has emphasized the need for long-term planning to ensure reliable, affordable energy for future generations. Additionally, he championed ensuring the data center incentives were not repealed and centers still could be built to support our growing manufacturing and technology industries.

Arizona Senate

• Sen. David Gowan, District 19: Gowan continuously has proved to be a champion for the business and technology communities during his tenure as a legislator. He always has been an advocate for the necessary programs that attract and retain both businesses and their needed workforce. Gowan  has been instrumental in extending key economic development tools essential to the growth of the technology industry, and supports reducing the tax burden on businesses and red tape that companies may face. He also has been a strong advocate supporting public education, from kindergarten through university, as well as technical training.
• Sen. Rosanna Gabaldón, District 21: Gabaldón has shown that she is a friend to the Council. She has supported several Council's priorities, including advocating computer science and economic development programs that help to bring high-quality jobs to her district. Gabaldón understands the importance of providing the necessary infrastructure to support the economy and puts programs that support economic development over partisan politics. Her legislative priorities include water sustainability and public education.
• Sen. Brian Fernandez, District 23: Fernandez has been a strong supporter of technology during his time at the Legislature. Having a technology background himself, he understands the industry is essential to Arizona's healthy and thriving economy, as well as the importance of innovation in all industries to help address some of Arizona's greatest needs, such as energy and water. Fernandez supports more funding for STEM education and community colleges as they offer pathways to addressing the workforce needs of Arizona's innovative companies. He sponsored legislation proposed to fund more STEM education and teachers. He fights to invest in safe, reliable infrastructure; sustainable water and energy; and access to healthcare for all Arizonans, especially in his district.
• Sen. Tim Dunn, District 25: Dunn understands the balance of rural and urban communities in the overall economic landscape and has relied on his background as a small business owner to support Arizona's growing business community. Passionate about economic development, he often has advocated sensible tax policy, as well as numerous initiatives supported by the state's technology industry. Dunn's focus on addressing Arizona's impending water crisis remains a top priority to ensure the state's economy can continue to grow and flourish while still protecting the rural way of life. He also fought for the continuation of the State Land Department and supported public education.
• Sen. Flavio Bravo, District 26: Bravo has been a friend to the technology industry and business community during his time serving his district. He is very supportive of STEM education and increasing the availability of affordable housing so qualified teachers are encouraged to stay and continue teaching in Arizona. Bravo supports finding policy solutions to grow employment  opportunities in technology through providing students after-school opportunities and companies the necessary workforce to help Arizona's economy prosper. He has advocated programs with proven economic results and worked to bring more economic opportunity to his district.

The legislators will be recognized on stage during the GCOI awards ceremony. The evening will include a networking reception and dinner, bringing together leaders from across Arizona's business and technology communities to celebrate this year's honorees.

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Tickets for the 2026 Governor's Celebration of Innovation are available at https://www.aztechcouncil.org/event/2026-governors-celebration-of-innovation-awards/.