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APRIL 2011 ISSUE
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Corporate Sponsors
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Greetings!
I want to say thank you for the early registrations for our 10th annual Awards Night. We are anticipating an evening to remember as we celebrate this special occasion together. You can also reserve a table for your company at a cost savings over purchasing individual tickets. Many companies bring guests with them, which is an excellent way to introduce others to our growing technology community. I want to also encourage you to please consider nominating someone for one of our four award categories: Educator of the Year, Technology Company of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year.
Our spring calendar is looking full with Wired Wednesday, Jr. FIRST LEGO Tournament and Awards Night but there's one more event that we are planning. Please mark your calendars for June 1. We are working on a half-day event that will introduce you to several agencies that can be of tremendous benefit to your business. We plan to cover topics such as angel and gap financing, government contracting, business planning, and operations optimization. There will be break out sessions following the presentations that will offer companies one-on-one time with our business partners. More details to come.
Lastly, I would like to welcome Hampton R&D and TBL Networks as the newest members to our technology community. I look forward to seeing you at our next event, Wired Wednesday on April 27.
Jonathan Whitt, Executive Director
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| AWARDS NIGHT: RESERVE YOUR SEATS and SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS | |
We hope you've marked your calendar for our region's biggest technology event of the year. Awards Night will be here before you know it; have you reserved your seats and submitted your nominations? This year we are celebrating ten years of regional technology as we reflect on all that we've accomplished since the Technology Council was founded. We also will be looking ahead and focusing on technology entrepreneurship with our featured speaker, author, businessman and widely renowned entrepreneur Cameron Johnson.
At only 25, Cameron Johnson is recognized as one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in the world and in 2008 was recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Virginians. Starting at the age of nine, he's founded more than a dozen successful businesses. Johnson consults with Fortune 500 companies, garners extensive media coverage from CNN, The New York Times, CNBC and hundreds of other outlets. His keynote talk is entitled: "Entrepreneurial Values and Thinking Differently". Don't miss this inspiring evening! Awards Night Event Information >>> |
| WIRED WEDNESDAY: MOBILE COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS & EDUCATION | APRIL 27 | |
For our upcoming Wired Wednesday luncheon we're excited to bring you, "Mobile Computing For Business and Education", as we explore the use of mobile computing technologies for the workplace and classroom.
We'll be looking at handheld devices, smart phones,tablet PCs and what these new options in computing may mean for your organization. There will be demonstrations, audience participation and Lynchburg City Schools will be sharing on how they are integrating mobile technologies into the school system.
Our presentation will include:
- Pros & Cons of handheld devices/phones...Android vs. iPhone vs. Blackberry.
- The rising use of tablet PCs.
- How tablet PCs can integrate into your IT plan/work environment.
- A look at the various players in the tablet PCs market.
- Hands-on demonstration of tablet PCs in a work environment.
Where: City of Lynchburg Information Technology Center | 3150 Young Place Lynchburg, VA 24501 (NOTE: different location)
When: April 27, 2011, noon until 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 for Tech Council Members, $15 for non-members.
View and download the event flyer to share in your office (PDF).
Register Now >>>
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| REGION 2000 JUNIOR FIRST LEGO EXPO | APRIL 30 | |
The Region 2000 Junior FIRST LEGO Expo is coming up April 30, 2011 in Lynchburg, Virginia and will be featuring 25 teams of 6-9 year old children who will present their projects on the theme "Body Forward" for judging and will participate in a number of hands-on science and technology activities.
This year's sponsors include Verizon, Wells Fargo Wachovia, Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, and AREVA. Details: Location: Timberlake Christian Schools Date: April 30, 2011 Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. We still need volunteers. If you are interested please contact Janet Walton.
Read More >>> |
| MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: TEK SYSTEMS & VIRTUAL IT | |
Our Member Spotlight for April is a doubleheader as we interview Cameron Martin, Lynchburg Account Manager for TEKsystems and Becky Gibbs, Senior Vice President of Virtual IT, Inc. Highlights: R2KTC: What do you see trending in your industry? Virtual IT: "Cloud computing for business and the Pay-As-You-Go model for IT solutions. There is an increased focus on cloud computing and virtualization right now as well as analytics." TEKsystems: "IT employment is going down so companies need to be more competitive. 85% of IT professionals are passively looking for new opportunities and 64% are actively looking. The jobs most in demand include: software developers, network architects, systems/network administrators, project managers and business analysts." Read More >>> |
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| Bob Stolle to Head CIT Regional Growth Programs | |
The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced today the appointment of former Virginia Secretary of Commerce Bob Stolle as the new Vice President for Regional Growth Programs, where he will be responsible for the establishment and operation of strategic programs designed to maximize the growth of Virginia's regional technology industries.
In his role at CIT, Stolle will design and oversee the development of a statewide technology roadmap and growth programs specific to regional technology priorities, including expanding existing CIT programs to underserved areas. CIT's Roadmap Project will serve as the foundation for research and company formation programs funded by the Commonwealth.
Read More >>>
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| Virginia Lawmakers Dedicate Additional Funding for TBED, Higher Ed | |
Lawmakers recently approved many of Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposals aimed at growing Virginia's technology and life sciences industries by dedicating about half of the funding requested by the governor to support R&D, commercialization, SBIR matching grants, and funding for early stage equity investments.
To help reach a goal of adding 100,000 college graduates to the state over the next 15 years, lawmakers also passed the Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011, providing enrollment-based funding to increase access to higher education and enhancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields of study.
Read More >>>
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| Bedford County Schools Introduces STEM Robotics Course, Seeks Instructor | |
STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, math) education
is a growing focus within American schools. This year Bedford County high schools are joining the movement. The Robotics course at Bedford Science and Technology Center (BSTC) is the first of a two-year course sequence encouraging student interest in the real world application of science and technology and related careers.
As a part of this new STEM course offering Bedford County Schools is seeking a qualified 'High School - Robotics/Engineering Instructor' who will be directing student instruction for the Robotics/Engineering program.
Read More >>>
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