Todd Bankofier Hired by Ensynch
Business Journal article

6/17/2005

By Adam Kress
akress@bizjournals.com

Arizona Technology Council President Todd Bankofier is leaving his post with the state’s largest tech trade group to work for one of the state’s fast-growing tech firms.
Bankofier, who’s been with the ATC for two-and-a-half years, will begin his new position in September leading the Arizona operations of Ensynch, a Tempe provider of information technology services.

Despite the often bumpy road Arizona tech companies have traveled in recent years, Ensynch has been a success story. The company of 225 employees expects revenue of $23 million this year and has major expansion plans in the works.

Bankofier, who helped to triple the number of ATC member companies during his tenure to about 475, came to the council at a time when it was reinventing itself.
The group, formerly know as the Arizona Software and Internet Professional’s Association, or AZSoft.net, decided to shift gears in the summer of 2002 with the goal of becoming a more unified voice for technology in Arizona. But shortly thereafter, the group’s leader, Ed Denison, passed away in the formative stages of the ATC. Bankofier, who previously worked for XO Communications and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, was brought in to carry on Denison’s vision.

“I’m most proud that we built a voice for technology companies in Arizona,” Bankofier said. “Up until then, technology did not have full representation at the public-policy table.”

While Bankofier can be credited with a sizable increase in membership and creating TechConnect, a statewide technology magazine, he also faced major challenges.
The council sometimes was viewed by state conservatives as tied a little too closely to Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano and the Arizona Department of Commerce. It’s impossible to draw any direct connection, but efforts at the state Legislature to pass tech-related bills failed in both the 2003 and 2004 legislative sessions. A November 2004 ballot proposition related to tech transfer also failed to pass a public vote.
But in this year’s legislative session, Bankofier helped to push through a bill that created a tax credit of up to 30 percent for investments of $25,000 to $250,000 made in qualified, early-stage (tech-related) companies. It was a piece of legislation that long was coveted by tech leaders. “I think we got stronger after the November tech transfer defeat,” Bankofier said. “It got the tech community more unified.”

Gene Holmquist, president of Ensynch, said he couldn’t be happier to have Bankofier joining the company. “I’ve known Todd for three years and served on the ATC’s board. I think this is a great opportunity for him to have a high impact on a growing Arizona technology company,” Holmquist said.

Bankofier said he wasn’t looking for a new position, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.“Ensynch is the leader in IT solutions in Arizona, and they have a great management team with great talent,” he said. Holmquist said the company has been in discussions with private equity firms and, when financing comes through, Ensynch tentatively is planning to open an Irvine, Calif., office. Holmquist said Ensynch does 85 percent of its business in Arizona, but plans to expand into 10 new markets in the next three years.

The Arizona Technology Council has retained executive recruiting firm DHR International to find Bankofier’s successor. Bankofier could become chairman of the ATC board when current chairman and former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson’s term expires in September. “I’d be honored to be the chairman, and I definitely want to stay involved with the council in the future,” Bankofier said. “But the decision is up to the board.”

Arizona Technology Council: www.aztechcouncil.org
Ensynch: www.ensynch.com

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