Nashville Technology Council

NASHVILLE TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE

New website for business, academics, and students launched

Nashville, Tenn. (March 31, 2009)- The Nashville Technology Council (NTC) has announced the re-launch of its main website at technologycouncil.com and the launch of a new website for Turning the Tide of Technology (T3) at t3tech.org.  The T3 initiative is a joint effort of the academic and business communities for the purpose of collaborating on solutions around key challenges in the technology sector.

“The website is a major component of the new branding initiative launched in January of this year,” said J. Tod Fetherling, President/CEO, Nashville Technology Council.  “Our members, Board, and more than 25,000 local technology workers rely on technologycouncil.com to be the voice of technology in Nashville.”

The new website has added several new features:

•    Blog
The weblog will be used to continuously tell the Nashville Tech Story.  Today’s story focuses on Nashville’s role in the Stimulus Money.  In addition, visitors to the site will be able to contribute comments to company stories and market dynamics.

•    Community Wide Technology Calendar
The Nashville technology community is growing and there are activities for the technologist, geek, tech manager, or tech executive.  On the calendar, the visitor will find the NTC’s monthly roundtables and our major conferences.  In addition, we have listed events for Digital Nashville, Geek Breakfast, Geek Social, Social Media Mixers at centre{source}, and much more.   

•    Virtual Membership Services
A fully functional customer relationship management (CRM) system was built into the backend of the website.  The CRM will allow members to update their directory listing, obtain referral reports, and pay bills online.

•    Membership Directory
The new Membership Directory allows the entire community to quickly find technical services and contractors in the Middle Tennessee area through the use of keywords.

The website will continue to offers technology news, ways to connect, and highlight local company case studies.

Turning the Tide of Technology (T3)
The new T3tech.org website continues our mission to connect, collaborate, and communicate  with Middle Tennessee’s technology community.  The website’s navigation and content is focused on our three key stakeholders: Businesses, Academics, and Students.

•    Businesses: Technology companies or a IT/IS Departments can collaborate with academic leaders and technology students to help you find qualified employees, interns, and other opportunities to enrich the local technology workforce.

•    Academics: Academic leaders who teach or support technology can connect with Business Leaders to make sure students are kept up to date on the latest trends in technology.

•    Students: Technology students have an opportunity to communicate with business leaders and academic professionals to assist in networking and finding employment in the Nashville Technology Sector.  

About the Nashville Technology Council
The Nashville Technology Council, an affiliate of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is an exclusive, 501(c)(6) non-for-profit organization devoted to helping the Middle Tennessee technology community succeed. Membership is open to technology companies, technology employers, service providers, educational institutions, and non-profit companies interested in supporting the growth of technology business in Middle Tennessee.

Since its formation in 1999, the NTC’s membership has grown to more than 350+ organizations. New programs and events such as technology roundtables, educational initiatives, annual technology conferences, a technology job bank and other activities are designed to foster Nashville’s technology industry.

Is there a National Technology Agenda?

With one of the most technology savvy Presidents in office, you would think that Washington would be openly embracing the Technology Industry.  Unfortunately, the technology industry is not as experienced at lobbying as hospitals, physicians, farmers, and unions.  As a result, it is important that we first define our agenda as an industry and then second to spread the word by meeting with our local, state, and national representatives.

We were fortunate to participate in the TECNA FLY-In in in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009.  TECNA is the Technology Councils of North America.  Technology business leaders addressed some of the key issues facing the technology industry and brought the cause to legislators.

TECNA members were in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Technology business leaders addressed some of the key issues facing the technology industry and brought the cause to legislators.

Continue Reading →

Nashville Technology Council
Annual Dues Structure

Each member company designates individuals as contacts/attendees who may attend events and participate in committees. Membership lasts for 365 days from the date payment is received by the Technology Council.

Note: All fees for one year/365 days.

For further questions & information, please call 615-743-3161 or email Tod Fetherling.

Request for Proposals (RFPs)

The Trade and Export Division of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development (INTRD) has a requirement for professional consultancy services related to trade development work in the Southeastern United States (SEUS) for the period of April 14, 2009 – August 3, 2009.

Trade development efforts will focus on SEUS region opportunities in advanced technology sectors including: aerospace and defense, ocean technologies and energy. Greater detail is outlined in the statement of work.

Here is the link… http://www.gpa.gov.nl.ca/gs/report/TenderGS.asp?conRFQ=SEUSRFP

Closing date is April 7, 2009; the work start date is April 12, 2009.

Please send us your RFP if you would Nashville Technology Council Member Companies to respond.

What Members are Saying About the Nashville Technology Council and how it benefits. . .

Tim Tyler, President, Dalcon Communications
“We have found the NTC to be an invaluable resource. As Nashville grows, so has NTC value to us as members. From the different events to the focus groups, the NTC has been a great channel to get involved and build our partnerships as well as an awareness of our company in the community.”

Beth R. Chase, President & CEO, C3 Consulting, LLC
“C3 joined the NTC to “stay connected” with the local technology community. We enjoy the informative events and networking. We have gained significant business relationships through formal and informal avenues with NTC roots. We also have volunteer opportunities to help the Council and local K-12 schools further their technology missions.”

Bill Brainerd, Regional Sales Manager, SabeRex Group Ltd
“We have been thrilled with our membership to the NTC. It has allowed us to gain visibility into the Nashville technology market and to reinvigorate our efforts to connect with companies that would benefit from our goods and services. The events have been informative and they have been pointed towards subjects that directly affect our company on a regular basis.”

Reena Gupta, President & CEO, Avankia
“The NTC is a great resource for any company who wants to be part of the technology community in middle TN. Avankia has been fortunate to be involved with NTC when it was being formed and be part of the growth process. We certainly acknowledge the visibility and networking opportunities provided by NTC newsletters and meetings and strongly recommend companies to join NTC.”

Is Infrastructure Sexy?

When you think about the need to have a solid core to build technology solutions on, infrastructure looks very sex.  In this segment, we will focus on data centers as part of our overall infrastructure story in Nashville.

I am excited to report that what was weakness in the Nashville market last year is now a strength for us.  Several of our existing data center providers have expanded their space and capacity.  Data Centers are the hub of technology growth.  With office space at premium, physical security concerns, and companies needing to squeeze every dime out of their budgets, server virtualization, the sourced data center becomes a viable option.

I spoke to a few of the local data center experts and received their take on how Nashville is positioned for future infrastructure needs. Continue Reading →

David Bullock

David Bullock, co-author of Barack 2.0, brings an engineer’s perspective to social media. His focus is helping businesses drive sales and his method is to view social media as tools in his kit – tools that can bring measurable results.
David’s work on Barack 2.0 had its origins in early 2008 when he and co-author Brent Leary observed that the web traffic for then-candidate Obama was twice that of his nearest rival. David and Brent began a blog that explored how Obama was using social media to drive traffic and identified the lessons his techniques offered for business people.

Barack 2.0 grew out of that blog and is the only book that takes a business perspective on Obama’s phenomenal success with social media.
David has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware and started his career with engineering positions at Mobil Oil and The DuPont Company, as well as Fanuc Robotics North America.  He learned about statistical control of manufacturing processes, and ultimately began to figure out how to put in place processes that work the first time, every time.

He next moved into sales, where he had an extremely successful run with Fanuc by applying an engineering mindset to running his territory. His sales were more than $100 million over seven years.
David then brought that same approach to his own business development firm, the White Bullock Group. Among his specialties is maximizing the efficiency of sales-oriented web pages, reducing costs while increasing sales and market response by up to 300%. Among his tools is the Taguchi Method, a process originally developed for manufacturing that allows David to rapidly test a wide variety of web page headlines, text and visuals to find the combination that will drive the most traffic and conversion to sales. David has the rare distinction of being certified as a TRIZ/Taguchi Ad Optimization Specialist.

And now David has brought his expertise and problem-solving approach to social media. He has become a nationally recognized speaker and trainer and provides coaching and consulting services to businesses.

Susanne Powell, Director Corporate Communications
Emdeon

Susanne serves as Director of Corporate Communications for Emdeon, a leading provider of revenue and payment cycle solutions that connect payers, providers and patients in the U.S. healthcare system. She has over 20 years of healthcare marketing and communications experience, with a particular emphasis on healthcare policy. Most recently, Susanne served as Vice President and Management Supervisor for Trone, Inc., a large privately held marketing communications agency in North Carolina where her clients included a global healthcare IT firm, a physician specialty group, a top-ranked academic medical center and a state education and economic development initiative. Previously she directed communications for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Susanne received her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has traveled to 12 countries and has studied Spanish and Russian.

Roger Letalien
Vice President, IBM Global Business Services

Mr. Letalien leads IBM’s Global Business Services’ Application Innovation Services business unit in the Americas.  In his role, Mr. Letalien is responsible for IBM consulting teams across the geography specializing in strategy, thought leadership, business development, and execution of application design, development, and systems integration services.  Through the application of advanced technologies and techniques and globally integrated teams, IBM delivers world-class, differentiated business outcomes to IBM’s clients.  IBM is unique among firms for the global breadth and depth of its talent and resources, and the solutions that its teams can realize for business benefit.

Mr. Letalien has over twenty-five years of leadership in the areas of strategy, business and financial management, business development, organizational leadership, complex solution design and delivery, and engagement management, cutting across industries.

Ronald C. Marston, President and CEO of HCCA International

Mr. Marston has 30+ years in international healthcare and is known as an international authority on healthcare systems and trends worldwide.  Solid achievements in his leadership are demonstrated by the company’s growth and success during an almost three decades of economic and political change.  His belief is in the concept that each hospital is unique and the management team on site is the authority on the local market and mission of the facility.   Mr. Marston supports decentralized management while overseeing and advising the operation appropriately.  In essence he believes in the delegation of authority and accountability but not the abdication of the same.

Mr. Marston joined HCA International (now HCCA International), when the company international subsidiary of Hospital Corporation of America, in 1973 as Director of International Recruitment and relocated to London, England.  After establishing the office there he returned to Corporate Headquarters in 1974. He was promoted in January 1979 to Vice President, Finance and Administration and in July 1980 relocated again to London.   In late 1981, he was promoted to President, HCA International, Ltd. where he was responsible for all development and operations within Europe and the Middle East. In 1987, he assumed the duties as President and CEO of HCA International Company with responsibility for all development and operations internationally.  During this period of time, under Mr. Marston’s leadership, HCA International grew to include 10 hospitals and 7 nursing homes in the United Kingdom; 10 hospitals in Australia; Latin America included 5 hospitals and 55 clinics including Brazil’s largest HMO with 750,000 subscribers, a 150 bed private hospital in Panama; a management contract for the restructuring of the 1650 bed Singapore General Hospital; a commissioning and management contract for the King Fahad National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, (the first non-US Military hospital to be JCAH accredited outside the United States);  and the longest standing recruitment contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Hospital Corporation of America sold the international company to several buyers in 1989 after they elected to go private.

Mr. Marston’s previous experience was with Vanderbilt University and Medical Center where he was the Director of Employment and Recruitment and Deputy Director of Human Resources.

Prior to joining Vanderbilt, he was responsible for the training and administration of the 400 bed Twelfth Evacuation Hospital located in Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam.

Mr. Marston holds a Bachelors Degree from Tennessee Technological University; a Certificate in Healthcare Administration from the Academy of Health Service; and a Ph.D. in Management from California Western University. Mr. Marston is an Accredited Executive in Personnel; a member of the American Society for Personnel Administration, the Employment Management Assoc., the American Compensation Assoc., the American Management Assoc., the Institute of Directors, Omicron Delta Kappa Foundation, and the Society of International Business Fellows.  He has served as a Lecturer at the Academy of Health Sciences and the American College of Healthcare Executives.  Mr. Marston has served as a consultant for various organizations and the U.S. Government.