Thursday, May 13, 2004 (No. 34)
Editor Milt Capps
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Tech After Hours! Tues., May 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Franklin Marriott. Nashville Technology Council and Williamson Works. Co-sponsor: Cingular and ActiveWireless.com. Corp. exhib. tables available. See: NTC website or call (615) 743-3151.

Cool Springs Life Sciences Center for technology gets financing from Cumberland Bank, City Paper, May 12. Williamson County sees 600 jobs.

Vanderbilt Engineering Dean Kenneth Galloway testifies on need for federal funding of research in behalf of 60 universities in American Association of Universities, VU release May 10.

Tenn. Tech Talent (T3) -- 200 area execs are needed to judge Technology Student Assn. competition, Opryland Hotel, June 20-24. Details right here.

NTC Software Developers Roundtable hosts event for qualified firms, May 18. NTC release. Nash. Bus. Journal, April 28. For information, (615) 743-3151.

Nashville's rankings among cities vary wildly, depending on criteria and evaluator, Tennessean, May 13. Tennessee has good climate for business, but technology among lagging sectors, Nash. Bus. Journal, May 12. NashvillePost.com, May 12.

Bill Ezell became the State of Tennessee's Chief Information Officer, April 13, following the departure of former Deputy Commissioner of Finance & Administration Richard Rognehaugh. During Rognehaugh's term, Ezell served as OIR's executive director for systems development & support, fiscal, administrative, contracts and procurement matters.

Ezell told NTC recently that "TennCare is at the forefront" of his project list, followed by such priorities as a new title and registration system. A major request for proposals for ERP services should be out later this calendar year or early next year. Ezell will be selective in making changes. OIR's IS Committee IT team "serves the state very well," thus he sees no changes in that group's role and activities.

Ezell will, however, deal differently with vendors: "If they feel like they can help the State of Tennessee, and operate in a competitive procurement environment, then I'm willing to listen." (Vendors should call (615) 741-3700 with meeting requests.)

Discussing the need to balance OIR's twin missions of selling IT services and controlling IT resources statewide, Ezell stressed three points: The State's IT community must "trust one another to do the absolutely best job that we can do as public servants"; second, they must insist on integrity and create an atmosphere of openness; and, there must be mutual respect among IT professionals and their state customers. Over the years, Ezell and his teams developed the current RFP process and OIR's IT Methodology. Ezell earlier led the state's effort to be Year 2000-ready, with zero downtime during the rollover. Ezell-led teams have implemented more than 20 "large, mission-critical systems," many of multi-agency scope. Ezell has also chaired the IT Assessment and Budget Committee that annually reviews about 50 agencies' systems plans.

On May 25, Ezell, 66, will welcome dozens of his farflung state information-systems managers to the Government Technology Summit, at Hilton Suites Nashville Downtown. The summit will, among other things, expose Ezell's pro's to innovative solutions and new approaches to collaboration across agencies' boundaries.

Private Business weathers a tough quarter, Nash. Bus. Journal, May 13.

Area venture capitalists discuss second-generation transfers, other trends in local VC market, Nash. Bus. Journal, May 7. Related: Tennessee VC stats dropped in 2003, p. 27, Nash. Bus. Journal, May 7.

Kyzen, which markets precision-cleaning products for high-tech sector, announces quarter ends with revenues and earnings up, statement May 5. Nash. Bus. Journal, May 5.

Brentwood-based ICG Link releases SPAM111 proprietary spam/virus-removal technology, April 26 release, not on web.

(more) Power By Hand leaving Nashville, Nash. Bus. Journal and Triangle Business Journal, May 7. Tennessean, May 7.

Regional powerhouse Pomeroy IT will acquire Alternative Resources, May 12.

Knoxville-based IPIX's stock has been on a roller-coaster, up from year-earlier, but company will need to start selling product and making money, rather than relying on sales of shares, Knox. News Sentinel, May 10. IPIX will participate in May 17 AeA Microcap Financial Conference presentation, available via web.

Technology 2020 is accepting apps from VC-seeking companies for Tenn. Valley Venture Forum, Sept. 23-24, Chattanooga. App. deadline, June 11. Accepted companies present to 300 institutional, individual investors. Details www.tvvf.biz or via Tom Rogers (865) 220-2020. Related, Knox. News Sentinel, April 19.

Asurion CEO Bret Comolli is scheduled to appear in Sunday's (May 16) Tennessean Business-section interview about the cellphone insurer's next steps. Noted in Tennessean, p. E1, May 13.

BellSouth selects Nortel Networks for packet voice tandem switches for core network, Nortel release May 13.

Bax Logistics, third-party logistics provider for Dell Inc., establishes large presence in Eastgate, Nash. Bus. Journal, May 7.

Nashville-based Avankia is providing onsite staffing for McGraw Hill Digital Learning, also located here, for full lifecycle development of Yearly Progress Pro. Avankia Founder Reena Gupta notes that First Lady Laura Bush referred to Yearly Progress Pro in March, here. Yearly Progress Pro supports attempts by K-12 educators to meet the federal No Child Left Behind mandate. Gupta tells NTC she expects 2004 Avankia revenue to be up 30% over 2003, to about $500K.

Union Planters (soon Regions) adopts CashStream technology for small business, May 12, Memphis Bus. Journal.

First Tennessee goes with VECTORsgi technology, release May 12. Vector joins financial-transactions consortium, May 10. Memphis Bus Journal, May 12.

Profile of legendary Nashville salesman "Big George" Armistead mentions Beacon Technologies as an Armistead business-development client, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 13, May 7.

Passport Health Communications offers Nashville jobs to United Wisconsin software developers, following acquisition, May 11, NashvillePost.com. Passport statement, April 1.

HealthStream Learning System adopted by Tenet Healthcare, courseware maintenance covered in second contract, release, May 10. Nash. Bus. Journal, May 10. Nashvillepost.com, May 10.

Brentwood-based Clinix Medical Information Services, which relocated here from Paducah recently, signs Diagnostic Support Services of Indiana for billing software, May 11, Nash. Bus. Journal. Other ClinixMIS news.

Health Management Directions vows to continue push for Brentwood "Smart Hospital," Tennessean, May 12. Related story, Brentwood community supporters vow to continue to seek approval, Tennessean Williamson AM, May 12. See also May 4 summary.

HealthTrio signs Rocky Mountain health group for internet-based health-management system, release May 11. Nash. Bus. Journal, May 11.

Healthcare Management Systems signs 24-bed Idaho hospital, Nash. Bus. Journal, May 5.

Memphis Baptist Memorial Hospital offical endorses Zoll Medical's CodeNet for cardiac event and resuscitation, release May 11.

Birmingham's debt-ridden Baptist Hospital system pulls the plug on Siemens IT upgrade, Birmingham Bus. Journal, April 30.

Resource: IT reduces healthcare errors, Healthcare Informatics magazine, May 2004.

Link to key in-state government bid-tracking resources, here. Also, see May 4 summary RFP highlights.

The region's Annual Economic Outlook Conference, sponsored by the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee University, will be Sept. 24, 2004. Details not yet available. Related: 2003 conference program here.

TN Lottery support of technical education could help offset manufacturing losses, AP via Knox. News Sentinel, May 10. Tech skills scholarships available as a result of Lottery proceeds, Chattanoogan.com, April 29.

Tennessee OIR and GovTech collaborate to produce the May 25 Tennessee Government Technology Summit, May 25, Hilton Suites Nashville Downtown. Topics: from security, network convergence, web content management and XML; to mobile computing, Linux, project management and the culture of the enterprise.

Study says U.S. should reopen some web sites, databases closed after 9/11, AP via Washington Post, May 11.

Congress takes aim at 'video voyeurism' among cell-phone users, AP via Washington Post, May 11.

Government need for complex computer systems spurs IT contracting, Washington Post, May 10.

Rising concern about e-voting, column by Cindy Webb, Washington Post, May 7.

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to address Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit, Knox. News Sentinel, May 8.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory wins "historic" 100-teraflop supercomputing contract for $25 million, Knox. News Sentinel, May 13. Related fact sheet, May 13. Related, AP via Knox News Sentinel, May 12. Related release from Cray Inc., May 12. Oak Ridge release, May 12.

Tennessee Valley Corridor economic development wins U.S. Commerce recognition, May 10, Times Free Press.

Nortel donates $250,000 Multimedia Communications Server 5100 to FedEx Institute, Commercial Appeal, May 6.Chattanooga business survey reveals inadequate skills in workforce, Times Free Press, May 10.

From Etowah, NuMarkets eBay reseller comments on franchise push, release May 10.

Chattanooga Voice & Data and Signal Voice and Data now one, Times Free Press, May 13.

Midstate manufacturing jobs rise after four-year lull, Tennessean, May 10.

$250 million uranium-storage fortress with unprecedented security to arise at Oak Ridge NL, Knox. News Sentinel, May 8.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center executive praises mid-South reliability in support of Space mission, advocates pressing on, Commercial Appeal, May 7.

Hamilton County 21st Century Academy, a magnet school with tech and global emphases, wins Beaumont Foundation technology grant, Chattanoogan.com, April 28.

Supply Chain -- Dr. Festus Olorunniwo, Tenn. State University chair of the department of business administration, told NTC yesterday that he'll soon make a proposal to the TSU grad council to make Supply Chain a concentration in the TSU MBA program. Related SC brochure. E-Biz here. Related IBM items 1 and 2.

NASA grant fuels establishment of Tenn. State University's Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy, release May 6. Nashville City Paper, p. 7, May 10, not on web.

Tenn. Board of Regents' online degree program profiled, Syllabus.

Update on two EPSCoR grants that may be available for Tennessee research universities, May 12.

VU Engineering professor Bridget R. Rogers has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers, early in their careers.

National IT education confab supported by Nashville's Center for IT Education, here in August, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 2, May 7.

Memphis headmaster will lead Peabody College educational leadership program funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Memphis Bus. Journal, May 11.

Antioch High School students win Dell Technology Leadership competition, Tennessean, p. 2B, May 13, scroll here.

Tennessee schools among Hewlett Packard Technology Grant Winners, May 11.

Vanderbilt School of Engineering announces School of Engineering Award for Excellence in Teaching to Cynthia Paschal in biomedical engineering; Edw. J. White Engineering Faculty Award for Excellence in Service to Knowles Overholser, senior associate dean; and, Philip Davis for the school's Award for Professionalism in Staff Service. Release May 11.

Tennessee scores low for higher education, Memphis Bus. Journal, May 12.

University of Tennessee research team in GM competition, May 11.

MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, recent publications.

During Tech After Hours, Tuesday, May 18, you could win free job postings & free resume access for a year from event co-sponsor ActiveWireless.com. Up to 10 job postings per month, valued at $7,500! Register for TAH here!

Speaker Bluestone at Tennessee State University describes threats and opportunities for Nashville in context of globalization, Tennessean, May 8. Related TSU release here.

Eastman Chemical Company sets up pro-innovation website, release, May 11. Related site.

Dell Inc.'s Next CEO Kevin Rollins calls for corporate transparency, higher standards in governance, May 5, here.

Cisco confident: Announces plans to hire 1,000, creating hiring boomlet in Silicon Valley, Washington Post, May 12. USA Today, May 11. San Jose Merc. News, May 12. Cisco reports shipment to Adobe Systems represents its 3-millionth Cisco Internet Protocol phone sale, release, May 12.

DCML coalition establishes working groups for data-center markup standards, networks and systems, applications and services, 3/04.

Open Source risk-mitigation website, here.

RSS gets boost from Reuters adoption of technology, CNET, May 11.

IBM takes aim at Microsoft with server software, NY Times, May 10.

Font of intelligence: New software pretty reliable at educated guessing at words blacked-out of documents to protect secrecy, partly because secrecy enforcers chose to update their typeface to one with variable letter-spacing, NY Times, May 10.

Education Arcade to offer 'seal of approval' for games that teach, Washington Post, May 10.

Tennessee Tech Talent (T3) -- 200 executives are needed to help judge Technology Student Association competition in June, at Opryland Hotel. Any time you or colleagues can contribute will be welcomed during the group's national event here in Music City, June 20-24. Technology background not required. Judges coordinator Dorothy Gribble says they'll work around your schedule. Interested? For more information write dgribble@cr4u.com. Judge-recruitment flyer here. Conference agenda here.

Microsoft adopts IronPort anti-spam whitelist, Washington Post, May 5.

MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, recent publications.

How North Carolina advances its high-tech economy, InformationWeek, May 10.

Vanderbilt School of Engineering technical lectures and presentations, schedule update, here.

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(May 13) AITP Nash., Starting Your IT Business, Bob Chaput -American Tech'y Grp, details here.

(May 13) Building Excellence in Healthcare Project Management, Nashville Healthcare Council.

(May 14) Econocom USA free briefing on Sarbanes-Oxley, with Matthew Heiter, chair, Securities Practice Group at Baker, Donelson; and, Michael Drake of Econocom on IT best practices for compliance. 8 a.m.-11 a.m., Hilton Suites. Register here, or phone (901) 507-2151.

(May 17) Best Practices for Loss Prevention in the Age of Terrorism, Williamson Works, Nashville Healthcare Council, Nashville Bus. Journal, First Tenn. Bank. Details here.

(May 19) Chattanooga Technology Councilluncheon, details (423) 755-7481.

(May 19-21) Management skills for IT professionals, with Jay Ress, Tenn. Economic Development Center (BellSouth Tower). Details here.

(May 20) Infragard of Middle Tennessee, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Doug Riggin discusses Joint Terrorism Task Force, 2:30 p.m. Belmont Univ., details here.

(May 20) Chattanooga Technology Council luncheon presentation on Good Link Technologies, enabling remote users to access E-mail, calendar and applications on their own networks in a secure manner from the Palm and PocketPC phone devices using existing carriers.

(May 20) 41st Annual State of Metro Address by Mayor Bill Purcell, Mayor of Nashville, Convention Center, 7 a.m. registration and networking, 7:30 - 9 breakfast and program, info and registration here.

(May 25) GovTech Tennessee Government Technology Summit, details, here.

(May 25) CIO and CFO: Corporate IT and Finance Relationship, panelists Joe Degati, CIO, Progeny; Irv Lingo, CFO, Corrections Corp.; Kevin Trentham, VP-IT, Univ. Lighting; Steve Tisdell, Compliance Partners; Gary Meisner, La-Z Boy; moderator, Mark Schmadtke. 4:30-6:30 p.m., Details and registration here or write Colleen Grissom.

(May 27) Chattanooga Technology Council entrepreneur's breakfast, technology licensing presentation. For information, (423) 755-7481.

(June 2) Protecting proprietary information, seminar, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Fogelman Exec. Center, Univ. of Memphis. Speakers include NTC member Michael D. Moberly, president, Knowledge Protection Strategies; Craig Grossman, associate director of the FedEx Institute of Technology; Robert F. Wallace, CPA; and Kirk Baird, FBI supervisory special agent. Details.

(June 3) NTC Tech Roundtable - Loren Chumley, Commissioner - Revenue, State of Tennessee - The Streamlined Sales Tax Project, electronic commerce.

(June 4) Chamber Behind the Business, Robert Henry, CEO, American Endoscopy Services, details here.

(June 10) AITP Nashville - New Dawn of IT, Chris Young, CIO, St. Thomas Health, Sheraton Music City, details here.

(June 16) Chattanooga Technology Council luncheon, details (423) 755-7481.

(June 24) Chattanooga Technology Council luncheon, details (423) 755-7481.

(July 8) AITP Nashville - IT Strategies at Thomas Nelson, Rick Proctor, CIO, Sheraton Music City, 5:30 p.m., details here.

(Aug. 2-5) Synergy 2004: IT education-program reform conference in Nashville, led by Center for IT Education at Nashville State Community College, covering improvement of teaching and learning, and alignment of IT education with changing workforce and workplace demands. For more information, write David McNeel, director, CITE.

(Aug. 5) NTC Tech Roundtable, Tim Stafford, CIO, EdgeNet, University Club, Vanderbilt.

(Aug. 12) AITP Nashville - IT at Direct General Corporation, Suzanne Lattimore, CIO, Sheraton Music City, 5:30 p.m., details here.

(Aug. 24) 3rd Annual Nashville Technology Council - ISSA "Information Security Conference," Nashville Convention Center. Details here.

(Sept. 23-24) 8th Ann' Tenn. Venture Forum - hosts: Tech2020, City of Chattanooga. American Venture magazine touts success of Tennessee Venture Forum, page 11, Jan/Feb. 04, not on web.

(Sept. 24) Annual Economic Outlook Conference, sponsored by the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee University. Details not yet available.

(Sept. 28-30) 2004 Governor's Conference, Nashville Convention Center.

(Sept. 28) Music City Future 50 recognition at Franklin Marriott Cool Springs. Nominations open in June for this annual recognition, with nominations deadline of July 2. Event site, criteria here.

(Oct. 5-7) Memphis Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference, Memphis Biotech. Fdn, here.

(July 1) NTC Tech Roundtable - "Open Source" panel discussion, University Club, Vanderbilt.(May 31-June 2) TN Corridor Knoxville/Oak Ridge Summit, Tennessee Valley Corridor, here.(May 18) "NTC Tech After Hours," Marriott Franklin Cool Springs, 4:30 p.m., details here.