>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON"ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON A DRIVE TO GET RID OF PARTISAN POLITICAL PRIMARIES AND OPEN THE PROCESS TO ALL VOTERS.

ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW STUDY AT HOW THE CHARISMA OF POLITICAL LEADERS IMPACTS COVID MITIGATION EFFORTS.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR MORE STEELED WORKERS AND IT CYBERSECURITY.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARI ZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FED TODAY LEFT INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED.

FED CHAIR JEROME POWELL WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> TODAY, WE DECIDED TO LEAVE OR POLICY INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED AND TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE SECURITY'S HOLDINGS.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING AND SUSTAINING A STANCE OF MONETARY MOLCY POLY TO BRING IT DOWN TO THE TWO% GOAL.

>> Ted: IT GIVES OFFICIALS MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT IF RATES HAVE BEEN RAISED ENOUGH OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF TO GET INFLATION UNDER CONTROL AND THE FED INTRODUCING ANOTHER RATE HIKE COULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

MORE PEOPLE ARE BUYING AND REFINANCING HOMES.

THEY SHOW THE MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS INCREASED MORE THAN FIVE% LAST WEEK AND WEEK.

KRIS MAYES SAYS DONATING CONCITY CONFLICT KATEED LAWS BE SOLD TO AUTHORIZE BUSINESSES AND IN RELEASING THE OPINION, SHE CALLED TO GET GUNS OFF THE STREET AND SUPPORT UKRAINE AS COMMENDABLE AND CRITICIZING AS OPPOSED TO PASSING GUN LEGISLATION.

>>> A NEW STUDY FINDS ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED PROCESSED FOODS COULD BE LINKED TO DEPRESSION IN WOMEN.

THEY LOOKED AT DIETS OF 32,000 MID-AGED WOMEN AND FOUND ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED WERE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RIVER OFRISKOF DEPRESSION.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT DEPRESSION AND EATING MORE JUNK OR COMFORT FOODS RESULTS IN A CYCLE OF MORE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.

>>> A LAUNCH THAT CALLS FOR VOTERS TO GET RID OF PARTISAN POLITICAL PRIMARIES AND THEY MAKE THIS IS A SINGLE BALLOT REGARDLESS OF THE PARTY AFFILIATION AND FOR MORE, WE WELCOME CHUCK COUGHLIN.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON QUITE AWHILE HERE.

>> YES.

MY COLLEAGUES WITH THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH I'M TREASURER OF, UNFORTUNATELY.

[ Laughter ] >> I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND WE SETTLED ON THIS IDEA WHICH WE THINK IS A FUNDAMENTAL REFORM WHICH WILL BE THE GREATEST CULTURAL CHANGE FOR POLITICS.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THE MAKE ELECTION'S FAIR ACT AND WHAT DOES IT CALL FOR?

>> IT ESSENTIALLY ASKS THAT ALL VOTERS AND ALL CANDIDATES BE TREATED EQUALLY.

THAT WE HAVE ONE PRIMARY TO BEGIN WITH THAT EVERYBODY HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THAT BALLOT AND THAT EVERY CANDIDATE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THAT BALLOT.

TODAY WE HAVE TO REQUEST A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC BALLOT, A MAJORITY UNAFFILIATED AND WHY CAN'T WE HAVE ONE BALLOT AND EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE IN THAT ELECTION AND CHOOSE WHO YOUR BEST CANDIDATE IS IN AND THEN EQUALIZE THE SIGNATURE GATHERING.

TODAY, FOR INSTANCE, FOR A LEG LATERLEGISLATOR TO RUNS A RUN, YOU HAVE TO COLLECT SIX TIMES AS MANY SIGNATURES.

YOU CAN'T EVEN APPEAR ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT AND PROHIBITED FROM APPEARING AND YOU GET THE RIGHT OF APPEARING ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MAKE.

WE THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

WE THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND WE BELIEVE YOU'LL CREATE A MUCH BETTER ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE CANDIDATES AND IDEAS CAN BE EXPRESSED AND VOTERS CAN CHOOSE WHO THEIR BEST CANDIDATE IS.

>> Ted: THAT SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW IMBALANCED THAT IS.

>> WELL, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, TED, AND I'VE BEEN IN IN A LONG TIME.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE REALIZE IS HOW IMPORTANT THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS.

EIGHTY% OF LEGISLATORS AND 80% OF CONGRESSMEN GET ELECTED OUTRIGHT IN THE PRIMARY.

DONE, OVER, BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY WHY IS THAT?

BUT THEY ALL GET RUN IN SAFE DISTRICTS.

THE U.S. CONGRESS MAYBE HAS 20 SEATS THAT ARE COMPETITIVE AND OUR ARIZONA LEGISLATOR HAS FIVE COMPETITIVE.

SO OF THE 30 DISTRICTS, 25 OF THEM WIN A PRIMARY AND THEN HAVE A TOKEN, IF ANY, OPPOSITION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

IT'S A MANAGEMENT PROBLEM.

AS A CANDIDATE, YOU'RE ONLY CUSTOMER IS THAT PRIMARY SECTION OF THE ELECTORATE WHICH IS PROBABLY 15 IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR 20 IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN OF THAT ELECTORATE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE COMPETE FOR VOTES AND COMPETE FOR IDEAS AND HAVE A LEGITIMATE COMPETITION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> Ted: SO HOW WOULD THIS WORK?

WHO ADVANCES AND HOW FAR DO THEY ADVANCE AND IS IT A 50 PLUS ONE?

>> WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS JUST TO MAKE THE PRIMARY OUR FOCUS AND THE PRIMARY, AS I SAID, EVERYBODY EQUAL, EVERY CANDIDATE EQUAL AND EVERYBODY RUNS ON ONE BALLOT AND VOTERS GET ONE VOTE.

WE DID NOT WANT TO DICTATE HOW IT SHALL BE RUN.

IT WAS A BRIDGE TOO FAR SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS TO ASK THE -- INSIDE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE, TO ASK THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR TO ADOPT A LAW TO GOVERN THE GENERAL ELECTION WITH THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS.

THEY CAN FORWARD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT NO MORE THAN FIVE CANDIDATES, NO LESS THAN TWO.

THAT'S THE END.

SO THEY CAN CHOOSE TO MOVE TWO CANDIDATES FORWARD OR FIVE OR FOUR OR THREE.

IF IT'S THREE, THOUGH, OUR THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE, WE ASK THEM TO RANK THE BALLOT AND REQUIRE THEM TO RANK THE BALLOT BECAUSE WE WANT THAT GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE TO HAVE THE LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORATES.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU SAY "RANK THE BALLOT," ONCE THE VOTES ARE IN.

DON'T ASK ME, THE VOTER TO RANK MY CHOICES, CORRECT?

>> NO.

ASKING YOU TO RANK YOUR CHOICES.

>> Ted: REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE USED AT A LATER DATA.

>> DATE.

>> WE FIND IN OUR POLLING DATA THAT YOUNGER VOTERS ARE MUCH MORE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT A RANKED CHOICE BALLOT AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT IT IN THE CONSTITUTION.

WE WANT IT TO BE A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT AS ARIZONA EVOLVES, AS WE'VE EVOLVED NOW, THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION TO CHANGE THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TODAY, I WAS JUST TALKING TO THE FORMER GOVERNOR AND HE SAYS IT'S REMARKABLE BECAUSE IT CHANGES SO MUCH.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS MANY INDEPENDENTS.

WE WANT TO ALLOW THE DOCUMENT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND LET THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR DETERMINE THAT.

>> Ted: BUT CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH MONKEYING AROUND BY THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE'VE SET THE RULES FOR THEM, IN THE CONSTITUTION, THAT THEY NEED TO ABIDE BY AND THEY NEED TO ABIDE BY THE MATH THAT I JUST SAID.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FIVE AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF TWO AND IF IT'S THREE OR MORE, YOU HAVE TO RANK THE BALLOT.

YOU HAVE TO ALLOW VOTERS TO CHOOSE ONE, TWO, THREE.

SO THE ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE OK, LET'S JUST MAKE UP A U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN THAT AN INDEPENDENT INCUMBENT IS RUNNING IN AND THAT A VERY POLARIZING REPUBLICAN FIGURE IS RUNNING IN AND A VERY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN IS RUNNING IN.

YOU WOULD THEN CHOOSE YOUR VOTE OF WHO YOUR TOP CANDIDATE IS.

A LOT OF HARD TOP REPUBLICANS WILL CHOOSE KARIL LAKE FIRST AND WOULD CHOOSE S KYRSTEN SINEMA OR NOBODY SECOND.

THE DEMOCRATIC CROWD WOULD PROBABLY CHOOSE R RUBIN GALLEGO.

>> Ted: THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT IT MAKES SENSE AFTER YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

LET'S TALK THE CRITICISM HERE.

AMONG THE CRITICS, I'M HEARING THIS IS JUST TOO CONFUSING AND ADDS TO VOTER CONFUSION.

>> YOU KNOW, COMPETITION AND DEMOCRACY IS A REWARD AND IT TAKES THINKING AND KNOWLEDGE.

OUR OUR PROPOSAL, YOU'LL HAVE MANY FOR CANDIDATES ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT AND HAVE TO DISCERN AND DO YOUR RESEARCH.

IF YOU JUST WANT TO VOTE FOR YOUR REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, I'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO THAT IS.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO DO MORE THINKING.

I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE CAN BE COMPLICATED SOMETIMES, PICKING OUT THE RIGHT DETERGENT.

>> Ted: BOTH PARTIES SAY THIS, THAT PARTIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN CANDIDATES AND NOT HAVE ALL OF THE OTHER FOLKS GETTING IN THE WAY.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> THEY CAN.

THEY CAN HAVE THEIR PRIVATE CONVENTION AND THEY CAN ENDORSE THEIR CANDIDATE AND THEY CAN CAMPAIGN AS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.

THEY ARE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.

WHY ARE WE ALLOWING A PRIVATE ENTITY TO CONTROL EVERYBODY'S VOTE WHEN A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORATE NOW IS UNAFFILIATED?

SO THEY CAN GO CAMPAIGN AS A PRIVATE ENTITY.

IF YOU WANT TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO RUN A CAMPAIGN, YOU HAVE TO LET EVERYBODY COMPETE AND EVERYBODY TO BE TREATED THE SAME.

>> Ted: BASICALLY, I'M HEARING THIS, AS WELL, THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT UNFAIR AND YOU CAN BASICALLY -- ANYONE CAN VOTE IN A PARTY PRIMARY.

YOU HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS AND THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER AS ANY UNAFFILIATED VOTER WILL TELL YOU.

BUT YOU CAN DO IT AND AVAILABLE NOW.

>> IT IS AVAILABLE AND ONLY YOU HAVE TO, AGAIN, CHOOSE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRATIC PLOT BALLOT.

AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE, I'M NOT PERMITTED TO BE ON THAT BALLOT AND YET, TAXPAYER DOLLARS PAY FOR THAT AND I HAVE TO CHOOSE THAT GUY'S BALLOT OR THAT GUY'S BALLOT.

LET ME DECIDE.

>> Ted: ONE MORE CRITICISM BEFORE WE LET YOU GO BECAUSE THERE ARE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS.

>> OH, THERE'S A FEW.

[ Laughter ] TED >> Ted: I HEARD ONE LAWMAKER SAYING THAT OPEN PRESIDENT PRIMARIES REDUCE DIVISION.

>> ONLY ALASKA AND ONLY WASHINGTON AND CALIFORNIA HAVE OPEN PRIMARIES.

CALIFORNIA IS A DEEPLY, DEEPLY BLUE STATE AND DEEP DEMOCRATIC STATE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS THAT DOMINATE THAT STATE AND THE AMOUNT OF WEALTH ACCUSTOMED TO THE COASTAL VIEWS.

WE HAVE MARICOPA COUNTY WHICH IS 64% AND DEMOCRATIC CENTER CITY AND REPUBLICAN CITY COUNCILS AND REPUBLICANS THAT REPRESENT MOST OF THE REST OF THE STAY IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

WE'RE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

IT'S PROPOSE APPROPRIATE TO GIVE SOMEBODY CHOICES.

I WOULD PUSH BACK ON ANYBODY SAYING IT'S WORKING FINE RIGHT NOW.

THE BASIC QUESTION, ALL THOSE THAT WE THINK ARIZONA OR THE COUNTRY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, RAISE YOUR HAN.

>> Ted: WHAT'S THE TIME TABLE HERE?

>> THIS IS DIFFICULT.

WE'LL NEED APPROXIMATELY 389,000 VALID SIGNATURES AND SOME MORE THAN THAT AND WE'RE SHOOTING FOR 500,000 SIGNATURES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT IN THE OFFICE, FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY JULY.

WE'LL BEGIN COLLECTING SIGNATURES AROUND THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.

THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCESS.

I'VE GOTTEN BIDS RIGHT NOW OF UPWARDS OF 6.5 MILLION TO $7 MILLION TO DO THAT.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS, YOU CAN GO TO MAKEELECTIONSFAIRAZ.COM.

>> Ted: CHUCK COUGHLIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, THE IMPACT ON CHARISMA GETTING SERIOUS HEALTH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC TO THE PUBLIC >> A NEW STUDY BY SPEECHES FOUND A POLITICIAN'S CHARISMA COULD SAVE LIVES BY CONVINCING PEOPLE TO STAY HOME TO REDUCE COMMUNITY SPREAD.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME URLICH JENSEN FROM THE ASU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHARISMA AS FAR AS POLITICAL LEADERS ARE CONCERNED AND WHAT, JUST GETTING IMPORTANT HEALTH MESSAGES OUT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE LOOKED AT GOVERNORS AS A KEY ACTOR IN THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET IT TO RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENCIES AND HOW TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY.

WE FOUND IT WAS WITH CHARISMA.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU DEFINE "CHARISMA"?

>> BACK IN THE DAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY HAVE THIS CONCEPTION THAT CHARISMA IS WITH SOME GOD-GIVEN ABILITY, SOME DIVINE INTERVENTION THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST EMERGE AS CHARISMATIC AND WE THINK IT'S THE CHARISMATIC FACTOR OR IMPACT.

WE FEEL GOOD, WE FEEL DRAWN TO THEM AND MAYBE COMMITTED TO THE MESSAGE.

WE CAN CRACK THE CODE ON WHAT CHARISMA IS AND THAT'S SIGNALING CHARISMA USING DIFFERENT KINDS OF RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES.

>> Ted: WHEN USED IN COVID MITIGATION, THEY SEEM TO WORK, HUH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

MAYBE EVEN TO US A LITTLE BIT AS RESEARCH ES,ERS, WE LOOKED AT WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S SAID AND WE DIDN'T SAY HOW CHARISMATIC IS DOUG DUCEY OR ANOTHER GOVERNOR.

WE LOOKED AT WHAT DO THEY SAY IN THEIR COVID-19 BRIEFING?

WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTH?

WE DEVELOPED A SOPHISTICATED ALGORITHM LOOKING FOR TECHNIQUES.

WERE THEY USE USING METAPHORS AND SO WE COULD SCORE, HOW CHARISMATIC WAS THE PARTICULAR GOVERNOR ON A PARTICULAR DAY.

WE COMBINED THAT ON PEOPLE'S TRACKING.

DID THEY MOVE OR NOT MOVE OR STAY AT HOME OR NOT?

WE FOUND THE MORE CHARISMATIC THE GOVERNOR WAS, THE MORE PEOPLE STAYED HOME.

>> Ted: DID YOU NOT ALSO FOUND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY WAS CRUCIAL AND MAYBE POLITICAL CONSERVATIVES MORE OPEN TO RECEIVING THESE MESSAGES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TO I THINK ONESO I THINK ONE THINK TO REMEMBER, IN THE PANDEMIC, THE NATION WAS POLARIZED AND SUPPORT FOR DIFFERENT POLICY MECHANISMS WERE POLARIZED.

WE SAW THAT MORE POLITICAL LIBERAL ORIENTED INDIVIDUALS WERE ALREADY VERY SUPPORTIVE OF STAYING AT HOME OR ENGAGING IN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SOME PEOPLE WERE RECEPTIVE BECAUSE THEY NEEDED MORE PERSUASION.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

>> WHAT WE FOUND WAS CHARISMA WAS A PART OF THAT TRIGGERING ELEMENT THAT GOVERNORS COULD USE TO MAKE THEIR MESSAGE AS NOT ONLY MORE COMPELLING BUT PER PERVASIVE.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE, YES, DO THIS, YOU WOULD BE MORE RECEPTIVE PAW NOBODY WANTS TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.

IS THAT A FACTOR?

>> IT COULD BE, ESPECIALLY THE ONE WE STUDIED IN OUR PARTICULAR RESEARCH STUDY WHICH WAS DO PEOPLE STAY AT HOME OR LEAVE?

THIS IS PROBABLY FAIRLY CONTROVERSIAL.

>> Ted: YES.

>> RELATIVELY TO STATUS QUO AND IT WAS HOW BIG THE EFFECT IS.

IF A GOVERNOR, WHAT WE WOULD CALL ONE STANDARD DEVIATION AS TO FIND IN OUR TRAINING STUDIES TO DO IN A TRAINING PROGRAM EASILY, THAT COULD HAVE SAVED FIVE THOUSAND LIVES AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC BY REDUCING THE GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BIG NUMBER BUT IT'S MASSIVE.

>> Ted: IT DOES MAKE SENSE AND SAVES LIVES.

URLICH JENSEN, VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION REGARDING CHARISMA, MESSAGING AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANKS FOR SHARING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ASU'S NEXT PROGRAM IS WORKING TO DEVELOP IT'S, CYBERSECURITY AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

IT FOCUSES ON INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR AZ NEXT AND GOOD TO YOU HAVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF AZ NEXT.

>> WE'RE A LABOR FUNDED PROGRAM AND OPERATE OUT OF THE WP CARY PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A TRAINING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FIELDS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CYBERSECURITY AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

THE WAY WE DO THAT, WE WORK WITH OVER 60 INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND GO TO THEM AND SAY WHAT SKILLS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN YOUR WORKFORCE AND NEED?

WE THEN USE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE HERE AT ASU TO PUT TOGETHER TRAINING COURSES TO SUPPLY THOSE SKILLS FOR THOSE COMPANIES.

WE THEN WORK WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO GO INTO THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

WE THEN MANAGE THEM THROUGH THE TRAINING PROGRAMS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE TRAINING PROGRAMS, WE THEN WORK WITH THEM TO GET A GOOD PAYING JOB IN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HIGH TECH FIELDS THAT ARE GROW LIKE CRAZY HERE IN THE STATE.

>> Ted: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAMS NOW.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE BOOT CAMPS AND SIMULATED PROGRAMS.

DESCRIBE THESE FOR US.

>> THE TRAINING PROGRAMS CAN RUN FROM A TWO-DAY BOOT CAMP TO TWO-YEAR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP AND COVER FIELDS -- TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE OUR INTRO DUCKION TO CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM AND WE DO AN INTRODUCTION TO TO ROBOTICS IN MICROELECTRONICS AND ONE I'M PROUD IS OF OUR BUSY READINESS FOR VETERANS.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS DESIGNED BY VETERANS SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS AND THE IDEA IS TO TAKE THE TRAINING THAT THEY'VE LEARNED WHILE THEY WERE IN THE SERVICE AND TO TRANSLATE THAT INTO HIGH TECH BUSINESS SKILLS.

>> Ted: WOMEN, VETERANS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THERE'S A FOCUS THERE, ISN'T THERE?

>> YES.

THIS IS TOIVE THE TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN INCLUDING ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT.

WE FOCUS ON TRYING TO BRING IN THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T ENVIRONMENT RESOURCES TO GET A FULL FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE OR THE MOTIVATION TO DO IT.

AND TO GET THEM INTO THESE PROGRAMS AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT HIGH-TECH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE HIGH-TECH COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE COMING TO THE STATE.

>> Ted: WHAT IS INDUSTRY TELLING YOU?

WHAT IS INDUSTRY SAYING WE NEED MORE OF THIS AND MORE OF THAT?

>> IT RUNS THE GAMUT.

QUITE HONESTLY, THERE'S A LOT, ESPECIALLY IN THE IT WORLD LOOKING FOR APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT TYPE PROGRAMS.

SO BEING ABLE TO MODIFY A PROGRAM LIKE SALES FORCE OR ANA PLAN AND LOOKING BECAUSE OF COMPANIES LIKE PSMC AND INTELL COMING INTO THE VALLEY, SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNICIANS IS YOU'VE RIGHT NOW.

HUGE RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I WOULD IMAGINE, IN RECRUITING PEOPLE.

>> THAT AND THE FACT THEY'RE FREE.

ANYBODY SEVEN 17 YEARS AGE OR OLDER CAN APPLY.

THIS IS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

>> Ted: HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN AROUND?

>> OUR PROGRAM, WE WERE AWARDED OUR FIRST GRANT IN 2020 AND WE HAVE A SECOND ONE IN 2021 AND RUNNING THROUGH 2025.

>> Ted: WHAT RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN BECAUSE 2020 WAS GROUND ZERO FOR COVID AND AS FAR AS RESULTS, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AND SEEING?

>> OUR GOAL IS TO GET TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE THROUGH THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND ADDITIONAL 400 APPRENTICES THROUGH AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

RIGHT NOW A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE ENROLLED AND SITTING AT 460 ACTIVE APPRENTICES AT THIS POINT.

AND THE GOAL IS TO GET 80% OF THOSE THROUGH THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND ABOUT 60% OF THOSE INTO A GOOD PAYING JOB.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THEM AND INDUSTRY?

>> AS FAR AS FEEDBACK FROM THE INDUSTRY, THEY LOVE IT!

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A GREAT COST SAVINGS FOR THEM AND THEY REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE QUALITY OF THE TRAINING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THROUGH ASU.

AS FAR AS OUR PARTICIPANTS, THEY LOVE IT.

I MEAN, WE TRY TO BUILD THESE PROGRAMS WITH WORKING PEOPLE IN MIND SO, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO MAKE THEM AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE AND MOST ARE ONLINE OR HAVE AN ONLINE WITH MAYBE A ONCE-A-WEEK MEETING THEY WOULD HAVE GO TO AND SO IT'S EASY AND IT'S EFFECTIVE.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION BECAUSE TOMORROW WE'LL GO MUCH DEEPER INTO HIGH TECH, THE SILICON DESERT AND THINGS GROWING OUT HERE.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT, AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A COLLEAGUE OF MINE HAS COINED THIS TERM, "SILICON VALLEY 2.0".

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY, THESE INDUSTRIES ARE GROWING SO FAST AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THOUSANDS OF WORKERS.

>> Ted: YOU'RE GETTING BY FROM THE INDUSTRIES, AREN'T YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS A PERM PROGRAM AT ASU AND WE NEED THAT INDUSTRY SUPPORT.

>> Ted: HOW LONG IS THAT GRANT PERIOD?

>> IT'S A FOUR-YEAR GRANT THROUGH 2025.

>> Ted: THE AZ NEXT PROGRAM AND CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR SHARING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US DO THIS.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!