October 28, 2003 (No. 17)

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The next edition of the news summary is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5.

UPFRONT:

Vanderbilt University School of Engineering announced the school and fuel-cell manufacturer Power Avenue, a unit linked to Swiss-based PowerTek International, have signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on hydrogen fuel-cell research. Engineering Dean Kenneth Galloway says the agreement will further strengthen VU efforts to establish a world-class research facility for fuel-cell research. VUSE Mechanical Engineering Prof. Alvin Strauss will lead the effort and he told NTC this morning that further important ramifications from his work lie ahead. VUSE Statement here. Nash. Bus. Journal item, Oct. 28, here.

Tenn. Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director David Jennings told NTC earlier today that TBI is preparing RFPs and/or requests for grants and other funding to strengthen TBI systems related to cell-phone tracking; wiretap and electronic surveillance (digital intercepts); sex-offender registration database; case file management system; further strengthening lab and criminal MIS systems, as well as all systems' interoperability with FBI and other technologies. Story on retirement of TBI Director Larry Wallace, Green Hills News, Oct. 23, p. 2, not on web.

TN Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul defends drafting Georgia Lottery's SVP/F&IS Andy Davis as Chief Technology Officer and other staff, The Tennessean, 1B, Oct. 28, here. The City Paper, Oct. 28, p. 1, here. Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 28, here. Tennessean, Oct. 25, 1B, here. Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 24, here. See description of Davis' tech domain while at Georgia, NTC news summary of Sept. 23, here. Few bidders on Lottery gaming operations, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 28, here.

New Economy Institute (NEI) says TVA, Oak Ridge NL, AEDC, other sites will experience massive tech brain drain, as post-Sputnik-era tech pros retire, The Associated Press, Oct. 27. NEI Director Greg Sedrick leads the Workforce Aging Management Program (WAMP), with U.S. Dept of Labor funding secured in part through efforts of Rep. Zach WAMP (R-3). Sedrick told NTC this morning that with the recovery of the stock market and, thus, the value of stock-supported retirement benefits, the retirement trend seems to be worsening. An OakRidge newspaper story (3/03) explained the overall strategy, here. NEI website should go active Saturday (11/1), here. Oak Ridge NL Deputy Director for Science and Technology Lee Riedinger told NTC (10/27) that while the retiring-workforce issue is a "challenge," it is manageable, thus far. He noted that ORNL, Marshall Space Flight Center and Arnold Engineering center are addressing challenges and opportunities as part of a "trilateral alliance." Oak Ridge NL strategy to recruit key talent: "Make this the most desirable national lab in which one could want to work," says Riedinger.

Cybera Inc. lands big VPN deal with Mapco for 248 retail outlets in seven states, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 24, p. 1, here. Also, Amanda C. Cauley has been named Cybera VP-Marketing. Cauley was previously with Help4Life and that firm's purchasor, EBM Solutions, itself now part of Healthgate (see Healthcare, below).

SCB Computer Technologyof Memphis is acquired by Colorado's CIBER, Oct. 27, here. NashvillePost.com story, Oct. 27, here. Commercial Appeal, Oct. 28, here.

NETWORK 2003 Business and Technology Showcase launches tomorrow evening with Tech/Business After Hours, followed by Thursday's keynote session and technology, management and sales/marketing educational offerings. The Technology Track features: CIO Leadership Challenges, with Paul Cleckner, Deloitte & Touche; John Doss, Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.; Tim Getsay, Vanderbilt University; Richard McKinney, Metro Nashville/Davidson County. Panel on Security includes Ray Wagner of Gartner; Thomas Lewis of Praemunio and Bradley Lide of The CyberAngel. The WiFi-Cellular panel features Dale Rosnowski of Cisco, David Kessler of Verizon Wireless. Customer Service Technologies features Joel Jensen of Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions and Doug Blumhardt of Gideons International. Thursday, also, Nashville Technology Council President David Condra convenes the first NTC Forum. Keynote speaker is Asurion CEO Bret Comolli -- all in Nashville Convention Center. Register now, visit here!

Inflow will host web and e-commerce and provide managed services for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, parent CBRL Group, Inc., and sister subsidiary, Logan's Roadhouse, Inc. Inflow release, Oct. 27, here.

Grand jury subpoena probes State contracts with Technology Partners, Education Networks of America, The Tennessean, Oct. 24, B1, here. AP via Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 25, here. ENA summary of service in Tennessee, here.

HealthTrust signs McKesson to 3-year agreement, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 24, here. BusinessWire release, here, Oct. 24.

Spring Hill resident commutes to Huntsville for technology job at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Tennessean, Oct. 27, here.

BellSouth, AT&T merger talks face hurdles, Wall Street Journal, Oct. 27, (sub) here. Speculation resumes around prospect of BellSouth acquisition of AT&T, Wall Street Journal, Oct. 24, (sub), here. Related, Investors Business Daily, Oct. 27, here. Bloomberg via Tennessean, Oct. 25, page 2E, not on web. BellSouth analysts briefing set for Nov. 10, here. AT&T has global relationship with The Associated Press, AT&T release, Oct. 14, here.


HEALTHCARE:

Healthstream's 3rd quarter investor conference call tomorrow (10/29, 8 a.m. CST) will be live via the web, and posted thereafter; live and later,here.

Healthgate yesterday (10/27) essentially completed acquisition of EBM Solutions, release here.

Ingram Goup President David Jarrard told NTC (10/24) that Health Management Directions Inc.'s "Smart Hospital" unit has retained his firm for execution of a grassroots PR campaign supporting HMD's proposal to build hospital in Brentwood, and the campaign is underway. Coverage of the HMD hospital proposal: The City Paper, p. 17, Oct. 24, here.

Area hospitals' quality rankings widely available to consumers via Internet, Tennessean, Oct. 28, 1A & 1E.


WEST & EAST TENN:

FedEx Institute for Technnology at University of Memphis celebrates grand opening, Nov. 19, with FedEx CEO Frederick Smith and Senator Bill Frist among celebrants. Commercial Appeal, Oct. 24, here.

Verizon Communications cuts Enterprise Solutions Group in Memphis, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 23, here.

Memphis incubator hosts Lan One Inc. IP telephony/IT services provider, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 23, here.

Technology Resources Foundation, partner of TN Techology Development Corp., moves into FedEx Institute of Technology at U. of Memphis, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 24, here.

Memphis' "The Seam" trades 5-millionth cotton bale online, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 24, here.

DC court action reached Memphis Thursday, when the Justice Department moved to stop Concord EFS (Memphis) deal with First Data Corp., on concerns that PIN debit network competition will suffer, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 24, here.


VENTURE / ENTERPRISE:

Tennessean sees Venture capital investments seen escalating in 3rd Quarter '03, Tennessean, 3E, Oct. 28, here. Roundup cites DigiScript, Geriatrix, GTx, PerfectServe and others. Nationally, Washington Post reports slight drop-off in 3Q VC investments, WaPost, Oct. 28, here. Related, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 28, here.

Rush Capital LLC seeks to securitize intellectual property and patents (Rush Law Group), Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 24, p. 3, here.

Nashville Technology Council is identifying NTC Members who are creating proprietary software products that they own and re-sell, license, deliver via web, etc., with an eye toward creation of a special-interest group focusing on software development and marketing. Initially, the emphasis is on firms that create products for sale to other enterprises. If your firm meets these criteria, please write Milt Capps at mcapps@technologycouncil.com or call (615) 743-3168.

BulldogIT raises $1.4 million for growth, The City Paper, Oct. 24, p. 17, here. For earlier stories, here.

Frank Platt, a telephony veteran since 1970, recently joined Ideacom Networks, the Tim Meehan-driven franchise descendant of Executone Nashville (founded 1945), as vice president-business development. A longtime NTC volunteer leader, Platt's technology career began with South Central Bell (BellSouth). He was associated with JLC Corp (Teledata/Blackbox) from 1976 to 1983, a founding partner with the healthcare consulting firm of Hospital Communications Consultants and a partner in the IT Solutions firm Cottonwood (1990 til its acquisition in 2000). He was most recently a senior business consultant for Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions. Platt joins Ideacom as the PBX-oriented company evolves to meet increased emphasis on open systems, including IP telephony, converged networks, unified messaging and customer-management centers. Platt said Oct. 24 that Ideacom has more than 4,000 customers, nationwide; regionally, there are about 40 Ideacom employees and over 500 customers.

Kevin Ancelin named president of Adtec Digital, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 17 Achievers, Oct. 24, not on web. Earlier NBJ story, Oct. 2, here.


GOVERNMENT:

Knoxville/Knox County Audit shows needs for greater integration of data systems and related operations, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 27, here.

Tennessee's trade mission to Japan and Korea continues through Friday (10/31). Governor Bredesen, Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, TN Economic-Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber visiting Bridgestone, Toyota, Toshiba, Fuji Photo Film, others.

Metro Nashville IS using Accela Kiva DMS to connect six key Metro departments, by moving to enterprise land-information system, including modules for data-access for permit application and tracking, inspections, planning, zoning, licensing and code enforcement, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 27, here. Accela will exhibit during the December Congress of Cities in Nashville.

Friday, Oct. 31 is deadline for Metro RFP 03-139 for Business continuity, disaster recovery services. Metro says three prospective bidders attended the Oct. 14 pre-proposal conference.

GAO says competition among pay-tv providers in cable and direct-satellite sectors is good for consumers, Washington Post, Oct. 25, here. Bloomberg via The Tennessean, p. 2E, Oct. 25, not on web. Related, Cable economics and Comcast growth, New York Times, Oct. 20, here.

To urge consumer firewalls and other precautions, a Cybersecurity consumer ad campaign planned by Department of Homeland Security and National Cyber Security Alliance, Washington Post, Oct. 23, here.

State and local governments' IT outsourcing to grow from $10 billion to $23 billion per year in five years, according to Input report, via Washington Post, Oct. 23. To view report free with registration, visit here.

Tennessee opens Homeland Security Office in Madison County, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 27, here.

FedEx reportedly wants to block nomination of DOT official, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 25, here.


EDUCATION & PROF. DEVELOPMENT:

"Management Skills for IT Professionals," Nov. 5-7, inclusive, 24 PDUs from Project Management Institute, cosponsored by Nashville Technology Council with Jay Ress. For details, costs, registration, visit here.

Report: Tennessee universities only "marginally competitive" in winning National Science Foundation grants, but laggard status produces some advantage in set-aside grant program, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 24, here.

Mike Sisco's MDE Enterprises is partnering with Belmont University's Technology Learning Center (Director: Cynthia McLane) to deliver IT Management training.


Resources:

A majority of readers of this News Summary who responded to our recent Readership Survey indicated they hope we can continue to provide the Summary to all who are interested. If you are not already an NTC member, please know your membership would make a big difference in fulfilling NTC's mission. When you join and take full advantage of your NTC member benefits, membership pays for itself. Please join now or refer a non-member, today. (There's still time to be included in both print and online NTC Tech directories.) Just visit NTC Membership for the Membership menu. Thank you!

Software, hardware geeks create tech tools that find investors and markets, and they're key as Silicon Valley "reboots," New York Times, Oct. 26, here.

MIT Students' approach to file-sharing via campus cable system could make controversy moot, New York Times, Oct. 27, here.

Microsoft gives fuller look at Longhorn, Washington Post, Oct. 27, here. IBM and Microsoft views differ on future of the Internet, New York Times, Oct. 27, here.

Monitoring Metro and State Requests for Proposals and Bids

State of Tennessee:
Tennessee Lottery, here. Lottery procurement policies, here.
Capital Projects Management,here.
Purchasing Divison, invitations to bid.
OIR Current RFPs. OIR RFP Archive.
State proposals, bids page.
University of Tennessee:
University of Tennessee purchasing, here. UT contracts list, here.
TN Board of Regents IT Contracts, here.
Cities/Counties:
Metro Nashville/Davidson County, here.
City of Knoxville, here.
City of Memphis, here. Shelby County, here.
City of Chattanooga, here.


Scheduled Events: Asterisk ( * ) denotes new or revised item.

For more information, check the NTC home page and the NTC "Tech Links" page, found here. Also check business calendars of The Tennessean; The City Paper ; and Nashville Business Journal (see Community/Calendar).


(Oct. 28) "Wireless Technology": Trends & Solutions for Business, by Sumner County Technology Council, Forward Sumner and area Chambers. No charge, 4-6 p.m., Hendersonville High School, register (615) 822-9320 or rsvp@sumnertechnology.org

(Oct. 28) Women in Technology in Tennessee (WITT) program, details here. Business Continuity Planning: Corporate Pain or Corporate Gain? Panel: Gary Seay, CIO, Community Health Systems; Rick Henry, CTO/COO, Paymaxx; Belinda Watkins, IT VP and CISO, Federal Express; Mary Beth Wilson, Principal, Business Resilience and Continuity Services Consulting Practice.

(Oct. 28) PMI Nashville meeting with Herb Gabora on "No-Bull Project Management," details here.

(Oct. 29-30) NTC / Chamber - Annual "NETWORK Showcase of Business & Technology." Networking, exhibitors, educational tracks -- more than 100 exhibitors already signed, click.

(Oct. 30) Nashville Technology Council Forum, President David Condra, for details, registration, see item in Upfront section above or write here.

(Nov. 5) Professional-Technical Career Fair, Nashville State Community College, details, here. Current exhibitors, here.

(Nov. 5-7) Nashville Technology Council, "Management Skills for IT Professionals," Jay Ress of TMA Seminars, TN Economic Development Center, 8:30a-4:30p., click.

(Nov. 6) NTC Technology Round Table, "Sarbanes-Oxley: Risk Assessment and IT responsibility," Steve Tisdell, Principal, Nashville Management Group, register, here.

(Nov. 6) Annual Forum, Memphis Chapter of Society for Information Management, here.

(Nov. 10-11) Innovation Strategy: Identifying Barriers to Business, Owen GSM, Vanderbilt, here.

(Nov. 10-12) Healthcare Delivery Solutions Congress, co-sponsored by NTC, for details, click. Speakers announced, here.

(Nov. 12-15) American Society of Civil Engineers, national conference and expo, Nashville, here.

(Nov. 13) Bureau of Industry and Security Outreach and Educational Services Division,
"Essentials of Export Controls," BellSouth Tower, 7:30 a.m. registration, program 8:30a.m.-4:30 p.m., details here.

(Nov. 13) HIPAA Impact on IT, Ed Miller, CTO of Digichart, AITP Nashville, register, here.

(Nov. 13) Dr. Duncan T. Moore, Prof.-Optical Engng., Univ. Rochester, former Assoc. Director for Technology in The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, discusses "Establishing Federal Priorities in Science and Technology," Jacobs Audit., Featheringill Hall, VU School of Engineering.

(Nov. 17-19) TN Venture Forum, by TN Tech. Development Corp., Chattanooga, details, here.

(Nov. 19-20) ITEC, Memphis. TN OIR Deputy Commissioner Richard Rognehaugh and City of Memphis CIO Darryl Anderson are the keynote speakers, here.

(Dec. 3-5) Tennessee Education Technology Conference, details here. Related, here.

(Dec. 4) Seminar on Liability issues for engineers, Tennessee Engineering Center, Adventure Sci. Center, Don Friedman of Crow Friedman Group, presented by TN Society of Professional Engineers, et al, write ctoler@tnec.org for details or call (615) 242-2486

(Dec. 4) NTC Technology Round Table, "State of Tennessee IT: Strategic Planning, Project Management, & Cyber Security," Richard Rognehaugh, Deputy Commissioner - Office of Information Resources, State of Tennessee, reception and dinner. Related resources, here.

(Dec. 9) Nashville Technology Council "Holiday Business Mixer," Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Two Doors Down, Demonbreun Street, cash bar. Map, here.

(Dec. 11) AITP Nashville chapter meeting, Dr. Sonny Reynolds (humor). Register, here.

(Dec. 18) InfraGard mid-TN, chapter meeting, 2 p.m., presentation to be announced. Updates, here.

Nashville Technology Council
For information about Nashville Technology Council programs, services and sponsorships:
Milt Capps or Phone: (615) 743-3168
For previous editions of "News of Nashville Technology," click here.








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