July 14, 2011 Meeting

The July 14 meeting featured a presentation by State of Michigan CIO David Behen

Did you know that we have one of the most advanced digital governments in the country, right here in our backyard? The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget has been recognized nationally for developing best practices in the use of information, communications and technology. In his presentation entitled “Moving IT Forward: Reinventing Michigan Through IT”, State of Michigan CIO David Behen provided an overview of Michigan's technology direction, including opportunities for shared services and public-private partnerships.

CAIT Speech Powerpoint

July Member Meeting with David Behen Article

May 19, 2011 Meeting

The May 19 meeting featured a presentation onUsability/User Experience issues. An expert panel which included Chris Bachelder, Interaction Designer with TechSmith Corporation and founding member of the local IXDA group; Sarah Swierenga, Director, Usability/Accessibility Research & Consulting for MSU; and Amy Montgomery, Usability Specialist for the State of Michigan's User Experience Team described how area businesses are leveraging usability principles to improve their products/services for increasing their competitive advantage, and how local companies can benefit from resources like the Usability and Accessibility Lab at Michigan State University and local chapter of the IXDA, a growing organization focused on the needs of the international interaction design community.

March 17, 2011 Meeting

The March 17 meeting featured a presentation on Mobile Application Development. Several leading local mobile application developers including Ryan Doom, President and CEO of Web Ascender; Jeff McWherter, Partner and Director of Development for Gravity Works Design & Development; Todd Ross, Partner and Director of Business Development for Digital Active; and Karen Stone, Business Analyst for Compuware Corporation spoke about the relevance of mobile development to existing technology companies, the impact it can have on clients' businesses, and best practices for a successful mobile application deployment.

Additionally, Tracy Padot and Macie Schriner from the Convention and Visitors Bureau talked about their new mobile app and discussed the CVB's decisions to invest in this technology and how they have realized the ROI.

March Meeting Powerpoint

January 20, 2011 Meeting

The January 20 meeting featured a presentation on broadband/fiber adoption. High-speed broadband has become as vital to many technology businesses as qualified staff. Broadband enables us to collaborate with each other, access tools, market ourselves and keep tabs on the competition. As more and more of our work migrates to the cloud and service-based offerings, the importance of high quality and scalable internet connections is growing. Fiber broadband represents the apex of reliable, scalable internet access, and it offers many advantages over other broadband technologies. In fact it's already a key enabler for many businesses in the Lansing region, including ISPs and other business which rely on next generation-broadband access.

Kevin Schoen from ACD.net and Jason Schreiber from Arialink—two leadeing providers of broadband/fiber--shared insight on trends related to this technology while leading a discussion on how fiber is enabling new business models in the Lansing region, and transforming existing business models. In addition, Douglas Horne from the Center for Business Innovation and Dan Eggleston from I.T. Right--two local companies that have made the switch to fiber—were on hand to talk about what it has meant for their respective businesses.

November 18, 2010 Meeting

The November 18 meeting featured a report on the tech scene on the east and west sides of the state. Amy Cell, Vice President of Talent Enhancement for Ann Arbor Spark and Mac Fowler, Marketing Co-Chair for AIM West provided brief overviews of their organizations, described the tech sectors in their respective areas, and talked about some of the programs/services they are providing to support these businesses.

IT Tech Scene Powerpoint

September 24, 2010 Meeting

The September 24 meeting was hosted out on the campus of MSU and featured a presentation on the NSCL (National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory) and FRIB (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams) project and the potential economic and intellectual impact it will have on the local manufacturing and information technology industries.

This was the second joint membership meeting coordinated with the Capital Area Manufacturing Council—in addition to the valuable networking opportunity, attendees enjoyed welcoming remarks from Steve Webster, Vice President, Office of Governmental Affairs, Michigan State University; an overview by FRIB Project Manager Thomas Glasmacher; information from the MSU contracts office about bidding on work related to the FRIB project; and tours of the FRIB coordinated by NSCL Outreach Coordinator Zach Constan.

See the Power Point Presentation here

July 15, 2010 Meeting

The July 15 meeting featured a CIO panel which included Brenda Laird, Delta Dental of Michigan; Arjay Patrick, MESSA; Barb Dawson, Two Men & A Truck; and Richard Znidarsic, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America.

The program was designed to showcase CIO's from larger "end user" organizations here in mid-Michigan who described plans for their IT operations over the next 3-5 years. The idea was to provide a forum for these CIO's/organizations to describe the current state of their IT operations, where they see things going over the next several years, and what technology, staff and partners they anticipate needing to make that vision a reality.

See the Power Point presentation here

May 20, 2010 Meeting

The May 20 meeting was held at the East Lansing Technology Innovation Center and featured an overview of the TIC and introduced the IT Council to some of its best kept secrets—the technology start-ups that call this business accelerator and innovative incubator space home! Attendees had the opportunity to tour the facility and there was plenty of time for networking. The IT Council also took advantage of this unique venue to announce its new “entrepreneur designation” which is available to tech start-up’s with 1-2 staff/in their first 2 years of operation.

March 18, 2010 Meeting

The March 18 meeting featured a presentation by Ken Heard, Director of IBM's new Michigan Application Services Delivery Center in East Lansing. The first IBM center of its kind to be established in the U.S., the Michigan AS Delivery Center represents IBM's commitment to serving its U.S. clients with highly skilled, local resources while at the same time generating job growth and aiding economic recovery in Michigan. Attendees were treated to an inside look at the center, learned about the partnerships being forged between IBM, MSU, CAMW! and other regional workforce development and education stakeholders, and most importantly, leant a hand in helping welcome IBM to the Capital Area as they join our growing IT community.

February 17, 2010 Meeting

The February 17 meeting featured an “entrepreneurial panel” to celebrate all of the activity happening in Lansing to foster entrepreneurship and to develop new business ventures. The Capital Area IT Council gathered brand new and experienced entrepreneurs alike to discuss their experience in starting, growing and maintaining a small business. The program proved to be an eye opening exploration of entrepreneurship with plenty of time for Q&A and insights from Chris Holman, publisher of the Greater Lansing Business Monthly.

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