Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 (No. 43)
Editor & Publisher 
Milt Capps
For previous issues or date of next issue, visit the news archive.



 

 

 

Ray Capp
Chairman and President
Panelist for Tech Roundtable

Eric Cromwell
Director of Technology
Tenn. E&CD
In the Spotlight





Upfront

Spotlight

Venture Innovation Enterprise

Partnership & Recognition

Healthcare

Government

East/West Tenn.& Region

Research & Education

Resources

Scheduled Events

(TODAY) NTC Tech Roundtable, with Ray Capp, President/CEO, ConduIT Corporation; Rich Smith, President, eDoc4U; Jeff McCormack, Exec. Vice President, Chief Knowledge Officer, DigiScript Inc. Focus on synergies in strategic partnerships. Details here and in Scheduled Events below.

Annual NTC Member Survey — NTC needs Members' opinions on ten questions. Please take the online survey right here. Thanks!
 
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation seems likely to accept an offer to test for one year, without contract or further commitment, SAIC's ContentAnalyst technology, which is used in analyzing the growing volume of news, information and related data flowing to TBI, according to a TBI spokesperson. 
 
(Oct. 28) Tech After Hours returns! with business networking, corporate exhibit tables, food, beverages and fun, at Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, beginning 4:30 p.m. Co-hosts are NTC and WilliamsonWorks, with TAH sponsor Oracle. Details and registration here.
 
Business Facilities' 11/04 issue will show Tennessee as a standout in Biotech, ranking 3rd (after Iowa, So. Carolina) in the ag-feedstock-chemicals category — and, tieing with Utah at 11th overall, when factoring biotech employment, output and consumption. Ed-in-Chief Karim Khan told us yesterday the rankings draw heavily upon an earlier Battelle Memorial-SSTI-BIO study here. BF issue will also feature section on TN, and pro-TN ads (ad info: Ben Nachsin; closes 10/15).
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TNECD's Tech Dir. Cromwell crafts Tech agenda for jobs, skills, IP
 
From his vantage within the Department of Economic and Community Development, Director of Technology Eric Cromwell sees that only 5 percent of Tennessee jobs qualify as the kind of "high tech" employment that will raise Tennesseans' future personal income.

When he addresses business, technology and academic audiences around the state, Cromwell, 30, conveys not only enthusiasm and deepening knowledge, but also a very real sense of urgency about improving that picture. That urgency was evident during last week's annual Governor's Economic Development conference, where Cromwell told an audience "Tennessee will rise or fall dramatically in the global economy, based on policies enacted now..."

ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber's appointment of Cromwell was announced Jan. 21, freeing the State's first tech director to begin an intensive process of inventorying the State's technology assets, points-of-leverage and tech infrastructure, manpower, educational and related gaps.

Since then, Cromwell has brought to fruition a series of grants for regional technology councils, including NTC, and has begun aligning State technology policy with analyses and with broader economic strategy.

While Cromwell cites numerous indicators of Tennessee's current less-than-adequate technology status, he also cites numerous tech assets throughout the state, ranging from the Memphis Biotech Foundation and Oak Ridge National Lab, to FedEx Institute of Technology, the UT and TBR systems and regional technology advocates, including Nashville Technology Council.

During the Governor's Conference last week, Cromwell's presentation made clear he, Kisber and others have begun to operationally define three parallel initiatives: strengthening the research community and the development of tech-supporting infrastructure statewide; supporting tech businesses and stimulating entrepreneurial growth; and fostering collaboration between large businesses and start-ups, and the academic sector, particularly faculty conducting research on university campuses. Cromwell also signals the time is near when Governor Phil Bredesen, ECD Commissioner Kisber and other Cabinet members will unveil specific initiatives -- possibly including policy remedies -- that will be designed to improve research, telecommunications, IT and other infrastructure; stepped-up education and training; and, programs to support creation of networks and communities of entrepreneurs.

To read more about ECD's emerging Tech strategy, possible expansion of Brother International R&D and the State's goals for intellectual property, please click here.

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Tennessee Board of Regents' Joe Giampapa is attorney at center of TBR-supported start-ups, technology commercializations, licensing, scroll down here.
 
MDS Inc. and Wood Holdings acquire healthcare-technology solutions company Evolved Digital Systems, release Oct. 1. NashvillePost.com, Oct. 1.

Jefferies and Company healthcare analyst David Frances, who followed HealthStream, WebMD, McKesson and other HIT-oriented firms, reportedly retired from the firm, and Jefferies then reportedly suspended coverage of some HIT firms, NashvillePost.com, Oct. 4.

Former Cap Gemini Ernst & Young execs form Cumberland Consulting Group, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 4.

Two years after launching (MBJ, 10/02) "crusade for biotech," MB Venture Partners seems to have made progress.

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Nashville's International Academy of Design and Technology appointed Brian Flategraff director of IT, Tennessean, 5E, Oct. 3.

WildCard Systems Partners with AmSouth to Offer Prepaid Visa Payroll Cards, release Oct. 5.

Dialogic Communications Corp.'s emergency-notification product combined with COOP's continuity-planning software, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 29. Release Sept. 22.

At Pilot Travel Centers in Knoxville, Ken Parent succeeds Jeff Cornish as CIO, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 5. Related KNS story, Oct. 2.

Christian Music Trade Assn. and Nielsen Music sign long-term data and IS agreement, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 20, Oct. 1, not on web. Christian Post, Sept. 21 here.

Healthcare Management Systems hired Lorenzo Suter for training for clinical applications implementation; Jim Lunceford, interface developer and installer; Robert Paynter, tech support analyst; Tennessean, 5E, Oct. 3.

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Vanderbilt Center for Better Health and a regional informatics program represent attempts to put TennCare on leading edge for IT, p. 11, BusinessTN magazine (free regis., Oct. 04). State and stakeholders seeking $15 million in state/federal funding.

Healthcare IT standards: HHS' long-awaited Request for Information (RFI) and comment from healthcare and IT sectors regarding healthcare IT standards is likely to get a green light next Tuesday, Oct. 12, when Dr. David Brailer and his staff meet at HHS for what all hope will be final review of the long-circulating draft RFI. Brailer is National Health Information Technology Coordinator.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN CEO Vicky Gregg named to Health Care IT standards group by Sen. Frist, Commercial Appeal, Oct.2. Times Free Press, Oct. 2.

William Stead, M.D., assoc. vice chancellor for health affairs, director VUMC Informatics Center, elected to Board of Regents, National Library of Medicine (NIH). Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 21, Oct. 1. Vanderbilt release, Sept. 10. Stead informatics presentation to NLM. NLM strategic plan and IT, here.

WebMD announces launch of Intergy Electronic Health Record, release Oct. 4.

HealthStream Inc.'s 2003 annual report online, here.

Healthcare Management Systems' annual user conference, Oct. 13-15.

Ardent Health announces $12 million choice of First Consulting Group services, release Oct. 5. Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 5.

Agilent Technologies' donation of DNA microarrays will help VU Medical Center with education in genomics, informatics. Release, Oct. 6.

LetterLogic gains print/mail contract with EDI-focused SSI Group of Mobile, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 7, Oct. 1, not on web.

(further) HealthSpring adding Verilet authentication, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 1.

Various National Institutes of Health institutes invite applications for specialized centers and national computational infrastructure for biomedical computing. Up to $14 million in FY 2005 funding is expected to be available for three new centers. Eligibles include public or private universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and others, as well as units of state/local government. Applications due Jan. 24. More information here.

Resource: Healthcare Technology (Montgomery Research).

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Link to key in-state government bid-tracking resources, here. Also, see news-summary archive, here
 
NEW: State Parole agency seeks GPS services for parolee monitoring, RFP 324-02.406 requires Nov. 3 submission.

NEW: State Department of Education's RFP 331-04.001 for online assessment includes web, tech-support components, proposals due Nov. 3.

NEW: State Treasurer (retirement system) seeks database and death-match searching and reporting services, RFP 309-01-083 has Nov. 8 submission deadline.

RFP 316.20-105 Sect. 8 Contract Administration Software System, due Nov. 29.

State vital records document ordering system would be supported via RFP 343.20-002, proposals due Oct. 13.
 
State RFP 331.01-002 for teacher recruitment includes subordinate requirements for database and web applications, proposals due Monday, Oct. 11.
 
Computer operations hamper scheduling of AccessRide lifts for disabled, Tennessean, Oct. 3.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Middle District of Tennessee now requires electronic filing, Tennessean, Oct. 5.

A
ffiliated Computer Services (Dallas) wins Metro traffic system contract, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30. NashvillePost.com, Sept. 30. Release here.

State of Tennessee execs talk of hopes to make contracting easier for vendors, Business Tennessee, p. 22, Oct. 04, not on web.

Tennessee's voting technology varies county by county, Times Free Press, Oct. 3.

GM competitive bidding for IT contracts will spark contracting war among EDS, IBM, HP, says AP via NY Times, Oct. 4. EDS contract renewal clarified, InformationWeek, Oct. 4.

Conservative politico-econ gadfly Bill Hobbs' blog refocused, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct.1.

Tennessee Tourism's travel-planning website named best in category by Web Marketing Association. Mentioned in Tennessean interview Oct. 3 with Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker.

State launches career website for teens, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 29. Memphis Bus. Journal, Sept. 29. Release, Sept. 29.

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EmergeMemphis incubator director heads for showers after "home run," Commercial Appeal, Sept. 30.

Memphis' corporate-headquarters profile changed rapidly past two years, Memphis Bus. Journal, Sept. 27.

IPIX and Homestore to Expand the Adoption of Virtual Tours in U.S. Real Estate, release Oct. 5.

Delegation trying to save Tullahoma scramjet project funding, Times Free Press, Oct. 1.

Nuvox expands to Memphis, Memphis Bus. Journal, Sept. 30.

Chattanooga fuel-cell projects gets more federal funding, Times Free Press, Oct. 1.

CoStar and Xceligent continue battle for real-estate research data services in Nashville, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 1, Oct. 1.

Tri-Cities granted World Trade Center option, Kingsport Times News, Oct. 4.

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TN Impact?  E-rate on hold, NY Times, Oct. 4. E-rate scrutinized during congressional hearing, NY Times, Oct. 6. E-rate administrator suspended issuing funding-commitment letters last summer, here. Latest: Transcript of FCC Chairman Powell's remarks during ed-broadband conference yesterday (Oct. 6), underscoring temporary nature of E-rate suspension, should now be posted via FCC homepage. TN Department of Education spokesperson Kim Karesh said yesterday, "...it appears there won't be any impact on the actual services or the flow of services. Also yesterday, Education Networks of America (ENA) President David Pierce said in part, "Tennessee has already experienced grave delays over the past 2 years in Federal E-Rate funding, and this additional delay further exacerbates the problem. [However, telecommunications] companies and ENA have provided the buffer to address these funding delays without interruption of Internet service to Tennessee's schools." Pierce's e-mail also reflected ENA's understanding that the FCC intends the E-rate suspension to end, relatively soon.
 
Education key in improving Tennessee economy, The City paper, Oct. 1.

U. Tennessee, U. Memphis collaborate on intellectual property issues, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 1.

Vanderbilt University joins Oak Ridge National Laboratory consortium, release Sept. 30.

U. Memphis and E. TN State Univ. vie for College of Public Health; current biomedical-engineering collaboration of two schools noted. Memphis Bus. Journal, Oct. 1.

Nashville State Community College E-learning progresses, Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 1.

Technology key factor in U. Memphis music-industry career program, Commercial Appeal, Sept. 30.

U. Memphis to add new technology concentration in engineering in January, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 1.

Fountainhead College of Technology celebrating 20th year, Times Free Press, Oct. 6.
 
Technology boosts instruction at Dayton City Schools, Times Free Press, Oct. 3.

Hamilton County’s Virtual High School completes year online, first in TN, Times Free Press, Oct. 3.

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(NEW)  Nashville Technology Council launches its Leadership Series of one-day seminars, encompassing proactive communication, assertive management, conflict resolution, and project management. The "performance-oriented," PMI Body of Knowledge-backed Leadership Series is led by Jay Ress of Technology Management Assocs, an NTC professional-development partner. Each sessions earns seven (7) professional development units (PDUs) from PMI. Sessions: Proactive Communication Skills and Methods (Nov. 9); Assertive Management (Dec. 13); Project Leadership (Jan. 11); Conflict Resolution (Feb. 8). Cost is $425 per session ($350 per session for NTC members – or reserve spots in all four sessions for $1,200). Space is limited. Site: BellSouth Tower downtown. For more information, write info1@technologycouncil.com or phone (615) 743-3160.

Homeland Security taps Andy Purdy, Yoran's former deputy, as interim cybersecurity chief, Washington Post, Oct. 7.  Amit Yoran resigns as Homeland Security's cybersecurity chief, CNN, Oct. 1. Washington Post, Oct. 2. AP via Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 4. Earlier story on Yoran appointment, CNet-news, Dec. 1, 2003. Report suggests disarray in solving Homeland Security and other agencies' intelligence computer-storage problems, aggregating Terror Watch list, etc., NY Times, Oct. 2, 2004.

Vanderbilt Engineering alumnus launches San Francisco-based iCanvas.com webtool for "progressive" political change via grassroots, blending social networking with "MoveOn"-type activism, release Oct. 7.

Supply Chain research: UTenn. Professor isolates connectedness with suppliers as key variable and projects top supply-chain priorities (CRM, others), sponsored by Capgemini and Microsoft, release, Oct. 6.

Computer-controlled systems vulnerable to cyberterrorism, USA Today, Oct. 6.

Music-industry lawyers launch new attack on file-sharers via U.S. Senate, NY Times, Sept. 30. Suing music downlaoders may not be good business, Law.com, Sept. 29.

Tom Jarrett, president, National Association of State Information Officers, offers opinions about links between state and federal IT procurement, role of States' CIOs in homeland security, privacy concerns, etc. Transcript of Sept. 30 webchat via Washington Post here.

Technology Review Names Scott Heiferman, Co-Founder and CEO of Meetup.com, as 2004 Innovator of the Year, Oct. 1. Meetup.com stands alone, NY Times, Oct. 4.

Meg Whitman, eBay CEO, named most powerful woman in business by Fortune, Oct. 4.
Resource:  VOIP - How stuff works.

Counter-IT: "Nonesuch" label (EmmyLou, Wilco, et al) produces profitable CDs in an online/download era by attending to "sensibilities" of key demographics, NY Times Magazine, Oct. 3.

2005 Nashville Technology Directory: Preparations are underway for publishing the 2005 Nashville Technology Directory. For more information on rates, space options, etc., please write info1@technologycouncil.com .

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For frequent updates, check the NTC home page and the NTC "Tech Links" page, found here. Check business calendars of The Tennessean; The City Paper ; and Nashville Business Journal. And, visit Tennessee's technology councils' sites:
CALENDAR ( * indicates new or revised item)
 
(Oct. 7) NTC Tech Roundtable, with speakers Ray Capp, President/CEO, ConduIT Corporation; Rich Smith, President, eDoc4U; Jeff McCormack, Exec. Vice President, Chief Knowledge Officer, DigiScript Inc. Focus on synergies in strategic partnerships. 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Wildhorse Saloon, 120 2nd Ave. N. Members $15 each, non-Members $25. Advance registration required online via technologycouncil.com or via (615) 743-3160.
 
* (Oct. 7) The (Memphis) Toad's technology speaker Joseph Qualls of RenderMax video software, Commercial Appeal, Oct. 5.

* (Nov. 4) NTC Tech Roundtable, panel on Spam, details to be announced. 4 p.m., Wildhorse Saloon.

(Oct. 8) Business Leadership Speaker Series, speaker Jim Beard, president of Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, recipient of 2003 Malcomb Baldrige National Quality Award. Allen Arena, Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny White Pike, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. No charge, but reservations required. R.S.V.P. by Oct. 4 via (615) 386-7653 or blc@lipscomb.edu .

* (Oct. 11-13) Growing Your Business through SBIR/STTR Grants & Government Contracts, UT Center for Industrial Services workshop in Knoxville. For more info visit here

* (Oct. 13) Business Development Strategies for High-Tech Professionals & Companies, 8:30 a.m., Technology2020, details via (865) 220-2020 or marlow@tech2020.org.

* (Oct. 13-16) "Ethics of Electronic Information in the 21st Century," U. of Memphis. Details here or write Tom Mendina.

* (Oct. 14) AITP Nashville Topic: Open Source. Speaker: Bob Miller, CIO - Vice President, Technology, magazines.com. Venue change: Prime Hotel-Nashville. Details and registration via msimpson@genesco.com

(Oct. 14) Nashville Technology Council Network Managers Roundtable. Speaker Tom Hickerson, Executive Director - Network Operations and Infrastructure, Office of Information Resources, Department of Finance & Administration, State of Tennessee. 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. See NMRT site. For details write kcooksey@technologycouncil.com .
 
(Oct. 14-16) AITP Region 7 STUCON student IT professionals event, details here.
http://www.aitpnashville.org/stucon16.htm
 
(Oct. 19) Nashville Technology Council Software Developers Roundtable meeting. Panel on developing successful software business. For details, write kcooksey@technologycouncil.com .
 
* (Oct. 20) InfraGard Middle TN, Mike Cira, AirFortress, wireless security threats. Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Details here.

(Oct. 22) NE TN Tech Council TechStar Awards Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., MeadowView Conf. Ctr. Program with Anne Pope, Alex Fischer, Eric Cromwell, others. Info: vcrymble@netntech.org or calling 423.279.9000

* (Oct. 26) "The Off-Shoring Debate," Memphis Soc. for Information Mgmt. (SIM) daylong conference, Hilton Memphis, details here.
 
(Oct. 28) Nashville Technology Council, Tech After Hours, details.
 
(Nov. 4) NTC Tech Roundtable, speaker to be announced.
 
(Nov. 4) Bioimaging conference, Memphis. Details here.
 
(Nov. 4-5) TN Valley Corridor Fall Summit, Somerset, KY. Linking homeland security and homeland prosperity.Related story, Knox News Sentinel,  Sept. 13.
 
* (Nov. 4) Women in Technology Tennessee "Breaking the glass ceiling," panel, 4:30 p.m., Caterpillar Fin., details here.
 
(Nov. 9) Justice Department holds technology-export security town hall meeting at BellSouth Tower. Register here. Related NashvillePost.com story, Sept. 1.
 
* (Nov. 18) InfraGard Mid-TN, video surveillance integration, 1:30 p.m., Belmont University, details here.
 
(Dec. 1-3) Tennessee Education Technology Conference, link here.
 
(Dec. 2) NTC Tech Roundtable, details to be announced.
 
2005
 
* Feb. 15 – Technology! Nashville 2005.
 
March 17– MTSU Emerging Technologies event. Details TBA. Contact: Dr. Charles Perry, Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence, Inst. Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
 
Aug. 24 – NTC's InfoSec Nashville 2005 information-security conference will be Wednesday August 24, with CSI information-security training Aug. 22, 23, 25, 26. For further information, write info1@technologycouncil.com
 
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Nashville Technology Council
211 Commerce Street, Suite 100,  Nashville, TN 37201
p: 615-743-3160  |  f: 615-256-0393  |  e:  info1@technologycouncil.com
www.technologycouncil.com