Technology in the Piedmont Triad - The Year in Review and the Bottom Line

February 2001

BizLife Magazine

Article provided by Techcentricity and written by Chad Cheek

   Quite a lot has been said and written about technology this year. In fact, bizlife magazine published a series of technology-related articles on a range of topics this year including: 
A legal expert wrote about protecting intellectual property to assure competitive advantage. Bottom line: Take every precaution to make sure your trade secrets don't walk out the door.
A venture capital professional talked about raising money in the Triad. Bottom line: People invest in people with good ideas. If the management team is solid and the business plan is tight, there's money to fund it.
One article explored the topic of women and their use of the Internet. So, what do women really want? They want to be understood. They want to be talked to. They want a relationship to be established. And, they want their websites to be simple and easy to use because they don't have time to browse around the net aimlessly.
For those who thought that insurance and technology don't fit together, we explored the research that says that insurance carriers are savvy to the needs of new organizations -- even high-tech start-ups -- and offer affordable comprehensive premiums to address their specific needs.
In one of the most powerful articles written on technology this year, the Piedmont Triad Partnership discussed technology's influence on economic development and what it means to our region. Bottom line: The "new economy" is not emerging; it's already here, alive and well. "Technology is not simply a component of the business world - it is the business world." That rings true for our region now more than ever. It's all about speed, connectivity and innovation.
   So, considering the fact that so many traditional business professionals are paying close attention to the needs of new technology-based organizations, it's apparent that business life in the Triad is changing -- adapting to what just might be the new 21st Century industry.
   A lot of questions have been asked, as well. Why do we need all these technology organizations? Isn't it overkill? Who is truly responsible for developing a technology infrastructure in the Piedmont Triad?
To answer some of these questions, let's start with the mission of these organizations:

• The mission of Techcentricity [formerly the Piedmont Triad Internet Council] is to lead the growth and nurturing of a dynamic technology community in the Piedmont Triad by supporting and promoting intellectual and capital investment in technology research, business, education and implementation.
• PEN [Piedmont Entrepreneurial Network] states that their mission is to provide an interactive forum for entrepreneurs, investors, service professionals, academicians and policy makers. PEN creates a forum where energies can be combined to build and develop new businesses and a new business environment in the Triad.
• In Winston-Salem, the Technology Council addresses the needs of technology companies and creating a technology-based economy. The Council parents several organizations to accomplish this: the Education and Workforce Development Committee, the Networking Event Planning Committee, the Winston-Salem Entreprenuers Network and the Science & Technology Roundtable. Of course there's a Public Relations Committee to spread the word; This group was responsible for the 2001 Connectivity Expo.
• Action Greensboro's mission is to help create an inclusive dynamic and forward-looking community, through the efforts of citizens and organizations that provides economic opportunity and a quality of life for all. Essentially, they do collaboration building.

   While one might ask if it's necessary to have so many organizations actively working to build an infrastructure, examination of the mission and work of these organizations reveals that they are varied enough to have a different focus, yet similar enough to overlap in effort. For example, PEN's focus is entrepreneurs. Techcentricity promotes technology. There are quite a few entrepreneurs who get involved with Techcentricity initiatives and PEN has, on more than one occasion, been the driver of technology-based events.
   Overlap in effort is not a bad thing -- it proves that these organizations are being true to their respective missions. If they can partner with one another to work toward similar infrastructure-building goals, then something major has been accomplished. It's been truly heartening to see partnerships spring up recently that had not otherwise existed.
   For instance, for the first time Techcentricity partnered with the Greensboro Merchants Association in October to present the first annual Technology Summit, which coincided with GMA's annual Marketing Expo. Action Greensboro and the Winston-Salem Technology Council recently came together to form TEI, [Triad Entrepreneurial Initiative]. PEN and Techcentricity joined hands to work together on Entrefest. And the partnerships go on.
   As the need for more education and the desire for more events that focus on helping companies get more speed, connectivity and innovation increases, more partnerships will be created. Some organizations may fold into one another. Maybe not. Regardless, partnerships will flourish.
   Also prevalent across the Triad is that many individuals sit on multiple technology-related advisory boards. Peggy Low, Senior Vice President of Technology for the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, is very involved with a number of initiatives and is supportive of just about every technology-related happening -- not just in Winston-Salem but all over the Triad. Evans Wroten, President of NetUnlimited, serves on the Techcentricy board of directors, the Technology Roundtable and is instrumental in spearheading the efforts of the burgeoning TEI. Eric Button, President of Amplistar, sits on at least three boards -- PEN, Techcentricity and the Winston-Salem Technology Council. There are probably more.
   Is this overkill? Absolutely not. What's happening is a sort of high-tech cross pollination. So, are there too many people buzzing around the Triad with a Technology mission? No. The hard working people who sit on multiple boards believe in building a technology-based economy and want to support any organization that might get us there.
   When Peggy Low is seen at some after-hours technology-related social, is it fair to think that she's there because it's her responsibility with the Winston-Salem Chamber? No; it's important to her individually to show support for the growing new economy and represent any appropriate organization that's working to get us there. It's this type of support by this kind kind of people that makes the "turfism" argument seem trivial and unfounded.
   The bottom line about technology in the Piedmont Triad is this: Much has been said, done and written in the name of technology this year. Many organizations seem to be working hard toward building, educating, providing resources and even partying in the name of technology.
   "Thank goodness," I say. Let's get behind these efforts . . . efforts that community and economic development leaders say we must have to continue growing our economic base in the 21st Century.
I, for one, look forward to what will be said, done and built in the name of technology in the coming year. Here's to speed, connectivity and innovation!

Chad Cheek is the Director of Public Relations for Techcentricity and works for Stratapult/Inmar Technology Solutions as Business Development Manager. His email address is: chad.cheek@stratapult.com.

Courtesty of BizLife Magazine.