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S2RC Named 2026 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber

has been named the 2026 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber as part of its 39th Annual Excellence in Business Awards.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Excellence in Business Awards recognize organizations and leaders that demonstrate outstanding business leadership, economic growth, community impact, social responsibility, and workplace excellence. The Chamber announced S2RC as the Small Business recipient among its 2026 Business of the Year honorees.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Excellence in Business Awards recognize companies that demonstrate excellence in economic growth and business leadership, community impact and social responsibility, and workplace and cultural excellence. S2RC was previously named one of three Small Business finalists, alongside Blue Signal Search and Echo Canyon Consulting, with the 2026 Business of the Year recipients announced during the Chamber’s Excellence in Business Awards Celebration on June 9, 2026.

“This is an incredible honor for our team,” said Rick Stone, Founder and CEO of S2RC. “S2RC was built in Phoenix, and to be recognized by the Greater Phoenix Chamber alongside so many respected businesses means a great deal to us. This award belongs to our team, our partners, and everyone who has trusted us to help solve complex problems with practical, user-centered solutions.”

S2RC is a human-centered systems company that improves how people perform and how systems operate in high-stakes environments. The company supports defense, industrial, and commercial clients through engineering, systems optimization, retention-driven training, technical services, and applied research.

Across its work, S2RC helps organizations turn operational challenges into practical, field-ready solutions that improve execution, readiness, and performance. Its approach combines technical expertise, real-world operational experience, and human-centered design to ensure systems, workflows, tools, and training are usable, effective, and built for the environments in which they operate.

S2RC is grateful to the Greater Phoenix Chamber for its continued support of Arizona businesses and the regional business community. This recognition reinforces S2RC’s commitment to growing in Arizona while continuing to serve customers whose missions demand reliable, technically grounded solutions.

ABOUT THE GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER

Representing businesses across the Greater Phoenix region since 1888, the Greater Phoenix Chamber catalyzes regional prosperity through forward-thinking public policy, intentional economic growth, and diverse, prepared talent. The Chamber collaborates with business, political, and community leaders to grow the regional talent pool, support economic development, and advance a pro-Arizona agenda.

About S2RC

At Stone Solutions + Research Collective (S2RC), our essence lies in pioneering innovation within emerging and disruptive technologies. As a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and 8(a) firm, we are dedicated to delivering bespoke, cutting-edge solutions that give our clients a competitive edge. Our elite team of Subject Matter Experts spearheads this mission, merging in-depth research, advanced engineering, and comprehensive training into a unified strategy. This approach equips our clients with the foresight and skills necessary to lead and thrive in an ever-evolving technological landscape. At S2RC, we don’t just adapt to the future; we shape it.

Anthony Lavazza

VP, Operations

Anthony Lavazza serves as Vice President of Operations at S2RC, bringing over 20 years of expertise in military safety, federal regulatory compliance, and industrial training. He leads S2RC’s operational strategy for its growing Industrial Solutions division, overseeing the delivery of risk-mitigating safety programs, deployment of digital training platforms, and implementation of compliance systems across critical infrastructure and manufacturing environments.

Before joining S2RC, Anthony founded National Safety Group, where he directed high-impact safety engagements for semiconductor and infrastructure clients. His public sector experience includes serving as a Compliance Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA), where he was responsible for the enforcement of federal safety regulations across construction, energy, and logistics sectors.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Anthony served more than a decade as a Ground Safety Manager and Bulk Fuel Specialist. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and OSHA Outreach Instructor. His academic background includes a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Eastern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Arizona State University.

Anthony’s appointment reinforces S2RC’s commitment to modernizing workplace safety systems through AI-enabled training platforms and ergonomic human-machine interface development. His leadership supports safer, smarter, and more efficient industrial operations across the logistics, manufacturing, and infrastructure domains

Rick Stone

CEO & Founder, S2RC

Rick Stone leads S2RC with over 22 years of experience across government, military, and aerospace sectors. A proven executive and human systems engineer, Rick shapes S2RC’s strategic vision, fosters leadership and team building, and drives innovation and growth.

In addition to his role at S2RC, Rick continues to serve as an Air Force Special Warfare Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). He has also held leadership roles as Vice President of Strategic Planning at Black Diamond Advanced Technology and Director of Business Development at Pison Technologies. Beyond these responsibilities, Rick sits on the boards of several startups, providing strategic guidance and leveraging his extensive operational experience.

Rick holds a Master of Science in Human Systems Engineering from Arizona State University, a BA in Psychology from American Military University, and an associate degree in information technology from the Community College of the Air Force. He maintains a TS/SCI Clearance, FAA Part 107 License, SAFe Agilist Certification, and is a native Spanish speaker. Reflecting his passion for service and community impact, Rick supports veterans’ and children’s charities.