Leadership: Strategic Initiatives Revisited

Author: Ann Gallaher

July 2009

In these uneasy economic times the Executive Committee of the Technology First Board of Trustees has been revising our strategic plan over the last several months.  Business development and member support are the overarching goals of the new plan with focus areas to include: business advancement, leadership engagement, and workforce development.

Business Advancement
The new plan emphasizes innovation and the need to investigate the spectrum of technology from leading edge to commodity tools.  New strategic relationships with researchers and national players will help us keep an eye on disruptive technologies then give us the opportunity to communicate what it could mean to local businesses.

The luxury of a new web-based tool provided by TDH Marketing and Communications will give CIO Council members the ability to share their technology infrastructure inventory with their peers while continuing to share best practices through their monthly meetings.  IT suppliers will have an improved technology profile to market their specialized products and services to companies searching for solutions.  The Taste of IT and other conferences will create an environment for learning about new technologies and business development.

Leadership Engagement
The new plan includes identifying and engaging the CEOs of Dayton-based technology companies of that are working to expand to markets outside the greater Dayton region.  Growing Dayton’s next generation of market leaders is important to job creation.

New energy will be given to promoting the gems of the local information technology industry and keeping the conversation about the industry alive.

Workforce Development
Of course, the staples of training, internships, and scholarships are critical to our mission.  Collaborations with local colleges and universities to produce our future workforce will continue.

This Means You
Though the community still feels the sting of the loss of NCR jobs, now is the time to get involved.  Technology First will be actively working to communicate your company’s job opportunities to those NCR professionals choosing to stay in Dayton.  

Organizationally, the success of the new plan will be determined by a new volunteer-driven structure of committees, chairs, and liaisons.  The new initiatives will increase the need for active participation of our membership.  Call us, get involved, and help the region come out of 2009 vibrant and stronger!