Community Committment

Author: Ann Gallaher

November 2009

Technology First staff is predicting that the 3rd annual Taste of IT conference and professional development day 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 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 were 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. 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.

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 were needed to shape programs and ensure the organization remained relevant to today’s technology professionals. So far the request for participation has been overwhelming and the results are beginning to be realized. The Taste of IT committee booked over 150 volunteer hours to coordinate this year’s show. Please join us in thanking them for their community commitment! Taste of IT Committee members include:

Pat Langley, CoxOhio – Dayton Daily News
Jarrod Johnson, Mike-Sells
Rocky Bowermaster, SIS
Mike Gutman, Miller-Valentine Group
Bob Kretz, Community Volunteer
Anthony Poly, Shumsky
Bill Van Curen, NCR Corporation
Mary Jane Weir, Community Blood Center
Andy Hickey, Technology First