Dayton, OH – October 28, 2009, – On November 12th, Technology First (formerly the Greater Dayton IT Alliance) will host its Taste of IT professional development conference and trade show. 

Technology First staff is predicting that the 3rd annual Taste of IT conference will have a strong attendance this year despite a down economy -- in part due to the leadership of the coordinating committee.  
Technology First’s Taste of IT presentations were organized based on topics of interest submitted by the 52-member greater Dayton CIO Council and exhibiting companies.  A volunteer committee led by Pat Langley, CIO for CoxOhio and Jarrod Johnson, IT Director for Mike-Sells worked with presenters to ensure pertinent topics will be covered by subject matter experts. The 21 interactive presentation sessions have been designed to address popular technology trends and major initiatives and innovations in IT.

“With assistance and interest from the CIO Council we have been able to engage national suppliers and their local business partners such as IBM, VMware, Citrix, Microsoft, Dell and Symantec – who don’t usually exhibit in markets the size of Dayton, said Ann Gallaher, Chief Operating Officer for Technology First.  As a result, Southwest Ohio’s premier information technology professional development conference and trade show will feature a 30% increase in the number of exhibitors from last year.
“Virtualization and collaborations tools such as Sharepoint were highly requested topics this year,” stated Andy Hickey, director for Technology First.  “But the conference will still offer a wide variety of technology topics and access to local experts in their field,” he said.

The show which is scheduled for November 12th at the Ponitz Center on the campus of Sinclair Community College ¬— is low cost at $85.  Registration is available on-line at www.technologyfirst.org or at the door the day of the event.
Volunteer leadership and a more active general membership are key components to the organization’s newly revised strategic plan.  “With budget cuts from state funding sources and the reduction in full-time Technology First staff, the board leadership was resolute that more working committees needed to shape programs and ensure the organization remained relevant to today’s technology professionals,” said Ann Gallaher.  “So far the request for participation has been overwhelming and the results are beginning to be realized.”

Committee members include:
Pat Langley, CoxOhio – Dayton Daily News
Jarrod Johnson, Mike-Sells
Anthony Poly, Shumsky  
Rocky Bowermaster, SIS
Mike Gutman, Miller-Valentine Group
Mary Jane Weir, Community Blood Center
Bob Kretz, community volunteer
Andy Hickey, Technology First