Nashville Technology Council

J. TOD FETHERLING
President/Chief Executive Officer
Nashville Technology Council

J. Tod Fetherling is the President/CEO of the Nashville Technology Council.  He has lead the Technology Council through a growth phase that includes a re-branding of the 10 year old organization and increased membership by 16% in his first year to more than 385 companies connecting 23,000 tech workers in Middle Tennessee and over 2.1 million employees worldwide.  He brings his entrepreneurial background to help local tech companies succeed.

Formerly Mr. Fetherling was the Chief Product Officer of ConnectivHealth.  ConnectivHealth acquired Relegent, where Mr. Fetherling served as the Chief Executive Officer.  He oversaw product development for the company.  ConnectivHealth has four main business lines: Discovery Hospital, a partnership with Discovery Health Channel; HealthTeacher, the leading K-12 Health Curriculum in Internet and Print; Healthcare BrandPrint, a comprehensive branding package for small to medium sized hospitals and VerusMed, clinical briefing for physicians.

Formerly, Mr. Fetherling was Vice President of Business Development at First Consulting Group (FCG), a healthcare technology consulting practice specializing in health delivery, health plans and life sciences.   FCG purchased UCR Solutions in June 2002, where Mr. Fetherling served as a Board Member.

Before FCG, Mr. Fetherling served as Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy.com, LLC, the first searchable Internet directory.  Galaxy.com was sold to Logika Corporation (Chicago) in June 2001.  Launched in January 1994, Galaxy was created as part of the EINET division at the MCC Research Consortium at the University of Texas, Austin.  Mr. Fetherling served as Senior Vice President of The Health Network from 1998 to 2000, overseeing the Interactive operations of one of the largest Cable/Internet Health companies.  In May 1999, Fox/News Corporation became co-owner of Galaxy and AHN.

AHN.COM set a record for attracting the most visitors ever to a single live broadcast event on the Internet by broadcasting the birth of a child – a significant first. On June 18, 1998 more than 1.4 million people accessed this videostream at AHN.COM, which made it the most-visited health Internet site and increased traffic to the site ten-fold. For his work with The Health Network, Mr. Fetherling was named the Trevor A. Fisk 1999 Young Marketer of the Year, a prestigious honor that recognizes the contributions of outstanding healthcare marketing professionals.

Prior to joining The Health Network, Mr. Fetherling served as Senior Manager, Interactive Marketing, at Brown-Forman Beverages Worldwide where he redesigned the ever popular Jack Daniels website (http://www.jackdaniels.com).

Mr. Fetherling served as Director of Interactive Marketing at Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, where he created the vision, strategy and implementation for www.columbia.net, one of the Internet’s first major health portals. Columbia’s site was profitable in 18 months and won numerous awards, including a Top Rating from Excite and recognition as a top healthcare site for Business-to-Business by AdAge.  U.S. News and World Report also selected the site as one of the best eight sites in 1995.  In addition to overseeing the Internet development at Columbia, Mr. Fetherling implemented an interactive kiosk network, placing kiosks offering access to www.columbia.net at hospitals and other public facilities nationwide. He also created the company’s Intranet (Koala) strategy.

Mr. Fetherling is the author of “Surveying Your Community” and “Columbia Internet Case Study,” published in the Journal of Healthcare Marketing, and contributed to 1997 Guide to Healthcare and the Internet and the book Net Income. He has been a featured speaker at Nebraska Hospital Association 2008; SHSMD 2007 in Washington DC; Push ‘97 in London; Wired World ’98 in Gauteng, South Africa; the University of Utah’s Interactive Marketing Course; Alliance for Healthcare Strategy and Marketing; NCTA Cable ‘98 and Knowledge Management ’97.

Board Positions:
•    Ex-Officio – Tennessee Biotechnology Association

•    Tennessee HIMSS

•    Catholic Business League of Nashville

•    Tennessee Respite Coalition

•    Petquarters (OTC-BB: PDEN) – a leading online and mail-order catalog company, featuring unique, user-friendly authoritative content, community and outstanding value in pet products.

•    Codigent Solutions Group, Inc. – a leading technology company that has assembled an extensive line of products and services for healthcare facilities and regional businesses.

•    Past President, Safe Haven Family Shelter – a local non-profit serving homeless families.

A native of Nashville, he is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church along with his wife, Mary and children Emma, Laura, Chase and Carolyn.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Tennessee.

Ride the Magic Bus in Nashville

Keeping with our feel the beat of technology campaign, the sound of the Who’s 1972 classic “Magic Bus” came to mind today when I heard we finally placed into service six new 60-foot, articulated hybrid buses.  These buses are a marvel, not only for their fuel economy, but for their comfort and design.

The buses operate with an alternate fuel system and possess the latest in passenger features, and should help to alleviate the standing-room only issue on some of MTA’s most popular routes.  Made by North American Bus Industries (NABI), the new technology is ideal for regular route and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) applications.

Other features of the new hybrid BRT buses include:

•    Ample seating for up to 62 passengers with room for additional standing passengers (total capacity: 100);
•    Alternate fuel system – diesel and electric hybrid;
•    More fuel-efficient and require less fill-ups;
•    Reduced exterior noise levels; and
•    Low-floor kneeling bus with no steps makes boarding and exiting easier and faster.

If you live along route 26 Gallatin Road, then you can experience the ride.  I think we should pick a day and promote it as a Tech Ride the Bus to Work Day. What do you think?  Want to ride the Magic Bus with us?

Emily Armstrong
Marketing Manager

Emily Armstrong is the Marketing Manager for the Nashville Technology Council.  She is responsible for marketing efforts including graphic design, website maintenance, e-mail marketing, social media, and event coordination.  Emily is a member Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce, where she serves as a graphic designer for the Marketing Committee.  Before joining the Nashville Technology Council, Emily worked as a Business Analyst in the Technology Infrastructure division of Citigroup, Inc.  She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages from Mississippi State University.

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.

A Bumpy Road Webcast:  September 16

Going Green: Why, When, and How
Does your business have a plan to “go green”?  Should it?

There is a lot of discussion taking place today around the concept of “green IT”.  It’s not just about the greening of IT but also about “IT for Green” – applying IT to make the rest of the organization greener.  So who are the early adopters… wide-eyed idealists?  Not really.  A surprising number of hard nosed-pragmatists are aggressively pursuing green technologies because they can see the potential for substantial cost savings and operational improvements!

A well designed green strategy can reduce energy and other operational costs – and that’s just for starters.  The benefits extend to your brand image, the community, and the planet.

We invite you to learn more about where things stand, what’s on the horizon, and how you can leverage green IT to help your business operate more efficiently, cost effectively, and in an environmentally friendly manner!!

Register now for a free web seminar.
Wednesday, September 16, 11:00 AM ET

Topics to be covered:

• Overview: Green technology essential building blocks
• The business impact of green and beyond
• The IT impact of green and beyond
• Real world case studies
• Getting started

Who should attend:
>   Business decision-makers wanting to better understand today’s emerging technologies and their potential impact
>   IT decision-makers looking for insights into how, when, and where to consider deployment of green technologies

Speaker:
Vik Chandra
Strategist
Energy and Environment Software Solutions
IBM

The Bumpy Road Series is a free webcast which each month tackles – in an educational manner – a different business problem area.  The goal of these discussions is to offer business decision makers useful ideas for improving the application of technology to their business – all in the context of today’s difficult economy.

Click Here to Register Online

Sara “Beth” Cardwell Foreman
Consultant, Membership & Special Programs

Mrs. Foreman has five years teaching experience, but is not your typical teacher.  Based in Franklin, Tennessee, she taught courses ranging from Internet Safety to E-Commerce Marketing to K-8 students in Naples, Florida.  She was known as “The Teacher in the Box.”  In 2004 her family located to Florida and then less than a year later while under contract with The Village School of Naples relocated back to Tennessee.  Rather than leaving the school, she took the school with her continuing to teach utilizing videoconferencing and the latest in technology.  In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she was also the IT Administrator and Webmaster at both The Village School and North Naples United Methodist Church.

Prior to teaching, Mrs. Foreman was Executive Assistant to members of senior leadership at IASIS Healthcare, America’s Interactive Healthcare, Galaxy, and Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation.  She received her Master’s in Business Education from Middle Tennessee State University, a B.S. from The University of Tennessee at Martin and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Research interests include Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Distance Education, and Virtual High Schools.

FIRST-EVER NASHVILLE-BASED FIRM SELECTED AS ONE OF TOP IN THE NATION
Technology implementation provider awarded for redefining consulting marketplace

NASHVILLE, TN (April 5, 2008) – Cumberland Consulting Group, LLC, a
Nashville-based national firm has been named one of the industry’s leading
small-sized management consulting firms by Consulting Magazine. Each year,
the consulting industry’s flagship publication recognizes seven small consulting
firms across the country that have shaped and redefined the consulting
marketplace. Cumberland, a provider of technology consulting services for the
healthcare industry, was selected for its excellence in client service, firm culture,
talent and innovation. The national trade magazine gave Cumberland a coveted
“Small Jewel” award after considering hundreds of nominations from firms across
the country with fewer than 250 billable consultants.

“Small firms are no longer flying under the radar,” said Joe Kornik, Consulting
Magazine’s editor-in chief. “In fact, with their nimble and leaner operating
models, many of them are the success stories of this economy. Because they are
more equipped to navigate a tricky and uncertain economic landscape, these
firms are growing revenue and adding staff in a time when other firms are
recoiling. This really sets the Small Jewels apart.”

Cumberland is the first consulting firm in Nashville to have received this
distinction. The firm currently has more than 50 billable consultants in 14
different states serving clients that provide healthcare to patients across the
spectrum of ambulatory, acute, and post-acute care. Its consultants support
what are some of the country’s largest healthcare providers when implementing
new technology; helping clients solve some of their most challenging problems,
while staying focused on strategy and change.

“A great firm with high client satisfaction is created by cultivating a culture with
strong employee morale and retention,” said James D. Lewis, CEO and managing
partner. “Our biggest asset is our employees. All the firms say it; we really
believe it and it permeates everything we do.”

In the fall, Cumberland was named a 2008 Best Small Firm to Work For by
Consulting Magazine. Cumberland was ranked No. 5 based on more than 13,000
respondents from 205 firms. The firm earned one of the top spots by measuring
its employees’ work/life balance, compensation, career development, leadership
and firm culture.

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About Cumberland Consulting Group, LLC
Cumberland Consulting Group, LLC is a national technology implementation
and project management firm. The firm works with clients that provide
healthcare to patients across the spectrum of ambulatory, acute and post-acute
care. Helping clients to improve their quality of care and business performance
through the implementation of new technologies is fundamental to the firm.
Cumberland consultants deliver the kind of results expected from the world’s top
firms with the lower overhead and personal service that larger firms cannot
provide. For more information, visit www.cumberlandcg.com.

About Consulting Magazine
Consulting magazine is the only magazine to cover decision-makers at the
world’s most influential consulting firms. Published eight times a year by
Kennedy Information, the magazine is available online at
www.consultingmag.com. The magazine also sponsors a range of events
throughout the year, which are often based on the magazine’s exclusive data of
these firms.

SOURCE: Cumberland Consulting Group
Kelly Motley, 615.483.0365
kelly.motley@cumberlandcg.com