Technology First's Andy Hickey sat down with Phil Herzing of New York Life to discuss the IT industry in Dayton, as well as Technology First's role in IT and the trade company's contribution to the growth of the Dayton region.  

If you are interested in having your company featured in the Dayton Business Spotlight, contact Phil Herzing at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Contact: Gary Honnert, Marketing Communications Manager, Workforce Development & Corporate Services, Sinclair Community College, Phone: 937 512-2523 or Ann Gallaher, Technology First, 937 299.9072

Sinclair and Technology First Form Partnership for Regional IT Workforce Growth

Dayton, Ohio --  Technology First and the Workforce Development & Corporate Services (WFD&CS) group at Sinclair Community College have signed a memorandum of understanding to operate the Training Exchange at Sinclair.  The agreement was announced by Ann Gallaher, Technology First Chief Operating Officer, and Deborah Norris, VP WFD&CS at Sinclair Community College.
“The purpose of the agreement is to establish an effective partnership to provide a comprehensive, integrated, accessible delivery system of training to the members of Technology First and others within the service area of Sinclair Community College,” said Gallaher.

Sinclair will function as the operating agent of the Training Exchange.  Technology First will function as the primary marketing agent of the Training Exchange.  Both partners will work closely together to ensure the region’s IT training needs are being met with quality, low cost solutions.  The MOU signed by the two organizations addresses how Sinclair and Technology First will partner and interact during their involvement in the Training Exchange program.

“This partnership is designed to better serve the working population of our community,” said Sinclair’s Norris.  “We are fully committed to the goals and objectives of the Training Exchange and agree to commit our personnel and resources to its success.”
As operating agent of the Training Exchange, Sinclair will appoint a training manager and appropriate resources to develop the program course offerings, deliver the training, and manage training activities. It will also provide a website-accessible list of course offerings and online registration feature and market the training courses developed for the Training Exchange. Sinclair will work with Technology First’s Training Advisory Council (TAC) individuals to establish an appropriate set of training courses and purchase all equipment and software required for the training courses.

As the primary marketing agent of the Training Exchange, Technology First will actively market the training courses developed for the Training Exchange. It will also solicit its TAC and membership for ideas and suggestions regarding training needs.  Course listings can be found on the Training Exchange link at http://technologyfirst.org.

Technology First (formerly the Greater Dayton IT Alliance) is an industry-led, industry-driven trade association dedicated to providing technical leadership, increasing technology adoption, and developing professional competencies. Technology First members include a diverse and comprehensive collection of IT professionals.  It is comprised of a collection of successful companies that range from local organizations such as Lighthouse Technologies, PicsMatch, and Illumination Works to national corporations including IBM, Robert Half International, and Microsoft. Forty-percent of Technology First’s membership includes national and local IT suppliers The other 60-percent consists of national IT users like Premiere Health Partners and smaller.  

Sinclair’s WFD&CS is a community resource partnering with regional employers to build employee skills. After assessing client needs, WFD&CS’ professionals use the expertise of internal and external resources to provide “best solutions.” Capabilities include a wide range of assessments, consulting and support services, and training and development courses. Its facilities include the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Conference Center and the AIM – Advanced Integrated Manufacturing – Center on Sinclair’s downtown Dayton campus and The Learning Center on the Miami Valley Research Park campus in Kettering.

Dayton, OH – September 27th, Technology First (formerly the Greater Dayton IT Alliance) will host their Annual Meeting on October 15, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center.  

Technology First's 2009 Annual Meeting will feature five information technology companies, organizations or projects that you should know more about. These are companies, technologies, economic development projects that will affect the future on the Dayton community.  

Technology First's new strategic plan will also be presented. The cost is $30 for members, $35 for non-members.  Registration is required; call 937-229-9090 or visit www.technologyfirst.org and click “Events” for more details and to register.

For more information visit www.technologyfirst.org or call Andy Hickey at 937.229.9090.

Technology First is an industry-led, industry-driven trade association dedicated to increasing technology adoption, developing IT competencies, providing technical leadership, and advocating a strong regional IT agenda for economic growth.

Technology First connects the technology and training needs of technology users and suppliers.

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