Monday, Oct. 3, 2005 (No. 63)
Editor & Publisher 
Milt Capps
Milt Capps Communications
For previous issues or date of next issue, visit the
news archive.
 


 
NTC Tech Underwriter

Andy Flatt
In the Spotlight
 
____

Upfront

Spotlight

Venture Innovation Enterprise

Partnership & Recognition

Healthcare

Government

East/West Tenn.& Region

Research & Education

Resources

Scheduled Events


Nashville's Link2Gov will be bought by Metavante Corp.
(Milwaukee), Nash. Bus. Journal, Oct. 3. Release, Oct. 3.

Nashville Electric Service launches study of how to leverage its fiber-optic network, coincident with proposed Metro broadband task force, City Paper,
Oct. 3. Metro may develop municipal Internet, The City Paper, Aug. 29. Action tomorrow in Metro Council may advance Briley broadband task force resolution, Res 2005-927.

Richard McKinney steps down Oct. 7 after six years as chief of information services for Metro Nashville/Davidson County, and on Oct. 31 begins work as Microsoft regional liaison. McKinney will deal primarily with state and local-government CIOs, City Paper,
Sept. 28. Related Microsoft government-marketing page

Dell Inc. supplier APL Logistics leased 325,000 square feet in First Industrial Realty's Rockdale Distribution Center at Lebanon, Tennessean, Oct. 3. 

Phillip Suiter out as Pres/CEO at Stinger Medical (Murf.),  maker of mobile work stations and software for HIT, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Sept. 30.

Investment Scorecard buys Iowa's Advicon, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Sept. 30. Nashvillian Alan Kennebeck became CEO of Advicon Inc. earlier this year.

HCA, HealthStream extend e-learning agreement for one year, as discussion about longer-term possibilities continue, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Sept. 30. HealthStream release, Sept. 30

Griffin Technology (Franklin) introduces SmartDeck that enables cassette player
to control iPod, release Sept. 30. 

PayMaxx changes name to CompuPay today, following its acquisition, Tennessean, Sept. 20, scroll down
here.

Verizon Information Services plans print and Internet Yellow Pages for Nashville, release
Sept. 28

Thurs., Oct. 6 - NTC Tech Roundtable, "An HCA Story: How does a decentralized Fortune 100 company refresh its technology?" Lee Adams, HCA, VP-Service Management & Delivery for HCA IT&S. 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Members $15, Non-Members $25. Regis. here or via (615) 743-3160.

(Oct. 6) 2nd Annual TN Valley Conference on Science and Business of Nanotechnology, Caterpillar Financial Center, a project of VU Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt School of Engineering, Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, the National Science Foundation and
Nashville Technology Council. Agenda, free registration here 

(Nov. 10) Tech CXOs: Understanding Business Valuation, how to maximize valuation across growth stages. Speakers and panelists include CEOs from Investment Scorecard, Veran Medical, Plumgood Food, Dialogic Communications, and other presenters with Harpeth Capital, Bass Berry & Sims, ConduIT Corp., Clayton Assocs., Crowe Chizek & Co, Owen GSM Vanderbilt. Sponsored by Nashville Technology Council,
Nashville Capital Network, Owen Entrepreneurship Center.
Registration here.
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AIM Healthcare's Andy Flatt advances mission-critical technology 

Andy Flatt, the 43-year-old CIO of privately held AIM Healthcare Services, Inc. (Brentwood), made clear in recent interview that he and AIM Healthcare didn't choose Microsoft's SQL Server  over Oracle’s Database out of any desire for adventure, or to prove wrong those who said at the time that MS SQL Server couldn't accommodate more than one Terabyte of data.

Flatt explains that the choice was based on rigorous analyses of the technologies and of the requirements of a cost-conscious healthcare services company increasingly known for its pioneering approach to bringing together payers and providers in the healthcare sector. The same rigor characterized AIM Healthcare's implementation of what remains one of the state's largest operational VoIP telecommunications systems. 

Technology is critical for a company focused entirely on helping providers and payers rapidly resolve errant health and medical claims, using AIM Interactive and Express Claim (patent pending) technologies that create online micromarkets in which payers, providers and other participants use advanced discovery, analysis and reporting tools to coordinate benefits and  resolve conflicts. All this happens within the context of HIPAA compliance and, increasingly, within Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements, as AIM serves an increasing number of publicly traded companies.

 

AIM's SQL Server database has now passed the 8-Terabyte milestone (winner in Winter Corp. 2005 ranking, On-Line Transaction Processing category, and sixth among all database vendors, putting AIM Healthcare in the company of UPS, Elsevier, Verizon and the U.S. government). 

In Flatt's IT organization, approximately 50 professionals work on software research and development, while another 40 handle infrastructure and support for a 1,500-employee company.  Flatt projects his IT ranks will grow 10 percent or more, by January. He says he's certain that growing awareness of AIM Healthcare's technology achievements has helped him recruit top-flight IT professionals.  He cites as an example a recent hire for Quality Assurance projects who brings deep Intuit and HP experience.

F
latt has been honing his skills in the healthcare arena since virtually the day he received his B.S. in Computer Science from Lipscomb University, in 1984.  (He notes he then taught as a Lipscomb adjunct faculty member for nine years.) Almost immediately, he began a five-year stint with Dialysis Clinic, Inc., in Nashville, where he became immersed in development of medical-information, practice-management, clinical and remittance systems. Subsequently, after a few months detour with an accounting firm, he operated as an independent consultant for four years, during which he also established Aztec Software. 

Then, in 1989, he co-founded
MIQS, Inc. (since relocated to Boulder, Colo.), and for five years carried managing-partner, product development, sales and marketing and other head-office functions, before selling his stake and joining Baptist Health Care Affiliates, in 1994, as director-information systems. In 1998, he became regional director-information systems for Columbia-HCA Physician Services (Brentwood). In 2000, he joined AIM Healthcare.

 

Flatt is a member of the Nashville Technology Council Board of Directors and serves as chairman of the Board's committee for NTC events and programs. He is also a member of the CIO Council of Nashville; a member of the Board of TN HIMSS; and, an active member of such groups as HFMA, AHIMA and ISSA.  He and his wife, son and daughter reside in Nashville. He is active in Brentwood Hills Church of Christ and is current president of the Crieve Hall Neighborhood Association. He enjoys golfing and coaching youth athletics.
 
(##)
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With injection from Nashville Capital Network angels, the Enliven Partnership (Richardson, Quadland, et al) sets forth to enable hospitals and producers of branded products and services to share in new revenue streams, The City Paper, Sept. 16. Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 16

Pathfinder Therapeutics (Nashville) will present in Boston Oct. 10 to MedTech's "Invest in Innovation" conference,
here.

Solidus Company (Nashville) President Townes Duncan confirmed Solidus' acquisition of 
Medical News Inc., the Nashville-based publisher of six medical newspapers and online services serving markets in Tenn., Ala., Miss. and La.  Solidus is the largest investor in the J. Alexander's Corp. restaurant chain; and, owns statewide BusinessTN magazine and NashvillePost.com, the midstate online news service.  NashvillePost.com halted publishing Aug. 31, explaining resumption of operations would be contingent on the outcome of a review of operations, still underway.  The hiatus followed an announcement of the departure of Editor David Fox, who co-founded the publication in 1999.  Fox plans to rejoin Titan Advisors, a hedge-fund advisory firm. Duncan serves on the board of directors of American Learning Solutions (Nashville) and is president of the board of trustees of The Ensworth School. Prior to forming Solidus, Duncan served as a partner in Massey Burch Investment Group and in Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.  He was earlier chairman and CEO of Comptronix Corporation, a contract assembler of printed circuit boards and other products.

Nashville-based Digital Reasoning CEO Estes says Interceptor knowledge-discovery tool and services will target sectors beyond military intelligence; firm plans to seek round of VC investment, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Sept. 30. Estes says current procurement practices slow deployment of defense and military intelligence technologies to users in the field, and result in wasted federal expenditures on technology licensing, says PATTON intel-tech consortium can alleviate problem, DRS release Sept. 28. Related coverage, Federal Computer Week, Sept. 6. Tennessean, Jan. 11.

Bondware Inc. President Tim Choate told NONT Sept. 16 that he plans to take lessons learned from launching three online communities (Bondware,
Renderosity and Songramp) and their associated marketplaces. Now, he aims to license other developers' technologies for marketing via online portals Bondware Web Services will create. Less than three years after leading the spin-off of early Bondware technology from Edgenet Inc., Choate says his business model and core PHP technology have evolved rapidly, and the time is right for broader e-commerce objectives, including possible acquisition of one or more e-commerce companies that would be more competitive with Bondware e-comm technology.  Choate, a self-avowed "serial entrepreneur," was profiled Aug. 31, 2004.

Collins:  Juris Inc. (Brentwood) has completed acquisition of its last authorized dealers. With nation's lawyers demanding more connectivity, Juris will pitch MyJuris time-keeping application for desktop and mobile devices, starting with Juris' 2,000-client base, all in partnership with NationLink, the Franklin-based marketer of Blackberry devices, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 2,
Sept. 23.

Beth Chase, a veteran of management and IT consulting,  launched C3 Consulting, LLC. (Chase Consulting Connections),
release Sept. 14. Chase is a member of the Nashville Technology Council Board of Directors, and chair of the board's Membership committee.

Local Biotech leaders, including Rolwing of TN Biotech. Assn. and Kasimi of CET, say Nashville biotech industry needs patient capital, possibly government support, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Sept. 30. Related: States are spending millions chasing biotech investment -- Mid-TN again cited as weak on indigenous investment capital, p. 1, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30. Also, Biotech may 'bring more prestige than payroll' and does not bring promise of increased productivity that is associated with IT, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 5., Sept. 30. Tennessee Biotechnology Association convenes at Oak Ridge, Oak Ridger, Sept. 26.

Kyzen Corp. Doyel and Forsythe indicate delisting from public capital market in 2004 didn't hurt, and relieved the firm of compliance burdens, p. 3, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Sept. 23. Related story, here.

Accurate Automation (Chatta.) puts neural-net systems to work in new drone watercraft; company seeks millions in investment capital, Times Free Press,
Oct. 2.

Passalong Networks launches OnTour file scanner guided by owner's library,
Release 9/19, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 19.

TN Valley Corridor may be gaining in stature as place for "technology-driven" investment, Chattanoogan.com,
Sept. 16. TN Valley Venture Forum advance coverage, Oak Ridger, Sept. 16. Several companies headed back to TVVF for second-round to fuel further success, Times Free Press via Black Enterprise.com, Sept. 17. Rogers:  Tech2020 efforts to facilitate venture-capital investment can help make TN Valley Corridor a tech hotspot, Oak Ridger, Sept. 20.
 
Atlanta Angels: An update on angel investing trends in Atlanta technology sector, Atlanta Bus. Chron.,
Sept. 16. Story says "pay-to-play" requirements and raids by VCs may be subsiding.

Tennessee Valley Venture Forum (Oct. 6-7) presenting companies include Accurate Automation Corp. (Chattanooga); EcoSMART Technologies (Franklin); Eonstreams (Knoxville); FileKeeper  (Knoxville); Garments Holding (Louisville); Multispectral Imaging (Oak Ridge); NuMarkets (Etowah); PlayMotion! (Alpharetta); ScanTech Holdings (Atlanta); SemiSouth Laboratories (Starkville); Smart Furniture (Chattanooga); Sunlight Direct (Oak Ridge); TapLogic (Murray); Telesensors (Knoxville); TicketsXchange (Oxford); TradeWind Technologies (Knoxville); Tricycle (Chattanooga).
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Nashville-based VitalCheck (Choicepoint) and Zierer Visa Services (CIBT) jointly launch OfficialTravelDocuments.com, partly in response to tightening security in travel industry, PRN release Sept. 27.

Private Business and Profit Strategies in co-marketing agreement targeting financial institutions, Tennessean,
Sept. 16. Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 16.

Asurion named Tom Gwydir CIO; Dave Bauer Chief Technology Officer, reporting to Gwydir and responsible for tech infrastructure (telecom, data centers, desktops, databases); and, Martin Carmichael was named CSO, reporting to Bauer. Nash. Bus. Journal, p.25, Sept. 16. Sean McKinless was named earlier to head Asurion's Technology & Logistics Center at Smyrna, release Aug. 31. Asurion adopts Witness Systems' Advance Quality Monitoring System for call center operations, releease Sept. 21.

Founder Jim Clayton of 8-year-old Infoworks says Linda Pannock joined the firm as Business Consultant. She previously was director-technology for Integrated Store Solutions (Franklin). Related item, Sept. 23, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 20.

Atiba Software, prompted by growing clientele and staffing, has taken larger offices at 1720 West End Ave., Suite 300 (37203).

Charlene Ridenour, an IT consultant and MS Great Plains specialist, and Vicki Bouchard, formerly of Ultimate Software Group, joined Axis Accounting Systems as consultants, release Sept. 30.

ISDN-Net announces Lynch sales engineer; and, sr. voice/data consultants Petricca, Blackburn and Smitherman, 5E, Tennessean, Oct. 2, scroll down here.

Comdata named Mark Wilson as vice president of ISO Merchant Services in its newly formed Comdata Processing Systems business unit. Wilson was executive vice president in ProfitPoint's sales division in Nashville, Tennessean,
Sept. 18. Also, p. 37, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30.

ClientLogic Corp. has appointed Dale Saville executive vice president of corporate services. He had been executive vice president for SITEL Corp. and prior to that held several executive roles with Sykes Enterprise. He is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute where he received a bachelor's of science degree in physics and mathematics. He also has a master's degree in computer science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an MBA from the McColl School of Business, Queens College. Tennessean, Sept. 18. Also, p.37, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30. ClientLogic and Visage Mobile sign strategic outsourced customer-care partnership, release Oct. 3.

Paramore/Redd named Joel Steidl Web developer, Tennessean, Sept. 25.

Southeastern Telecom named Lisa Hayes marketing manager, Tennessean, Sept. 25.

Religion and Media:  OnePlace.com (Salem Comms., Camarillo, Calif.), ministry program streamer, has added podcasting to its platform, release Sept. 20.

N
ashville-based Management Resource Operations, restaurant operator, adopts XFormity's Connected Franchise enhancements, BW release, Sept. 22.

Passalong Networks wins library agreement with distributor The Orchard. Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 22.

Supply chain RFID provider Fibergrations LLC (Gallatin) will market Acsis Inc. logistics products, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 21.

Nashville's Verus Financial Management, Inc., credit card and check processing company, announced Sept. 20 an agreement with Office Depot, Inc. to sell Verus' "TAKECHARGE" payment processing product in the retailer's 978 U.S. retail store locations. TAKECHARGE is a product venture between Verus Financial Management, Inc. and Cell Charge Processing, LLC. Release Sept. 20.

Auction Broadcasting's Od Hickory operation is raking-in online auction dollars with Ringman Internet technology from AMS, release Sept. 14.

(more) Dalcon Business Systems names Dunham first Chief Technology Officer, City Paper, Sept. 21.

Interactive Solutions Inc. has been selected to participate in the GBS Eagles program, an exclusive network of entrepreneurs, advisers and capital sources designed to promote successful business practices in the region. Tennessean, Sept. 18

Lattimore Black Morgan and Cain PCandLBMC Investment Advisors announced they had won the Practice Innovation Award from The Practical Accountant magazine for their LBMC Client Roadmap tool, Tennessean, Sept. 18.

At Mailnet Services, Bill Buzby is now senior Web developer. Tennessean, Sept. 18. 
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HCA Tech Refresh: The Oct. 6 NTC Tech Roundtable program: "How does a de-centralized Fortune 100 company refresh its technology? - an HCA story," presented by Lee Adams, VP-Service Management & Delivery for HCA IT&S. Registration here.

Inaugural meeting of American Health Information Community, mandated by President Bush, is Oct. 7. Charter here. HHS Scty. Leavitt announced initial Community members, Sept. 13. Notice of formation of ONCHIT appeared in Federal Register Aug. 19, here.

Nashville Health Care Council is supporting Federation of American Hospitals hospital-payment symposium here Nov. 9, 7:15 a.m., Hermitage Hotel. Related:  July 15 FAH hospital-payment symposium transcript here.

Greater Knoxville Area Hospital Study group shares clinical information, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 27.

Allegations fly between former CTI Molecular execs and now-parent Siemens, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 27.

Veterans of Quorum, HCA, Community Health, Crossroads and Compliance Partners launch new healthcare M&A consulting firm, Centre Health Partners, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 22

Clinix Medical Information Systems (Brentwood) inks deal with Diablo Medical Billing, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 22.

Attentus Health CAre named Troy Napier vice president CIO; he was CIO for Province Healthcare, Tennessean, Sept. 18.

First Tennessee Bank subsidiary First Horizon MSAver Resources Inc. now a Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN provider of online services for HSA account-holders, Memphis Bus Journal, Sept. 20.

Prison Health Services (Brentwood) secured a one-year agreement with CompuMed informatics to provide the Wyoming Department of Corrections with electrocardiogram (ECG) remote interpretation systems and services. Release Sept. 20.

In Hudson Valley, Taconic Health Information Network and Community may be the model for EMR for small practices, NY Times, Sept. 19.
 

HHS proposed rules for certain attachments to electronic health care claims under HIPAA, Government Computer News, Sept. 26. HHS IT Standards group named, GCN, Sept. 19. CMS releases initial EHR version for testing, GCN, Sept. 20.
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Link to key in-state government bid-tracking resources, here. Also, see previous issues, here

Uncertainty — The State's milestone TN Network Consulting Services RFP 317.03-129 attracted zero proposals, despite several firms indicating intent to bid, according to RFP coordinator Mitzi Hale. Hale said the situation is under review and a decision will be forthcoming regarding re-issuing the RFP. The purpose of the RFP is to establish guidelines for hardware and software, computer network access and usage, Internet and e-mail usage, telephony and security and privacy for Tennessee WAN.

State of Tennessee seeks IT industry comments on future of WAN and related infrastructure, foreshadowing future RFP for hardware and implementation; RFI 317.03-135, responses requested by Oct. 7.

Tennessean report says TEMA command-center communications upgrade is priority of Bredesen administration, Tennessean, p. 1, Oct. 2.  Katrina aftermath may see New Orleans and Gulf Coast rebuilt as super-connected communities, Wash. Post, Sept. 16. Katrina may spur further federal action on VoIP, CNet, Sept. 22. Related FCC, Wash. Post, Sept. 23.

NIC Inc. (formerly National Information Consortium, Olathe, KS) again wins State of Tennessee web portal contract, release Sept. 26.

iSecureTrac won TN Board of Probation and Parole contract for GPS monitoring, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 22, Sept. 16.

Citizens ethics report includes recommendation that legislative votes be published on Internet, Tennessean, Sept. 30. Ethics report pdf.

Instapundit's Glenn Reynolds helps launch Porkbusters blog to fight federal budgetary waste, fund hurricane relief, Times Free Press, Sept. 27.

City of Knoxville and RedFlex Traffic Systems will share revenue resulting for enforcement of traffic violations captured by cameras, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 2.

Low-res traffic-monitoring cameras help improve flow of cars through busy Nashville intersections, Tennessean, Sept. 30.

Metro Schools' new Call Center is overcoming launch pains, acquires software to measure, improve operation, Tennessean, Sept. 27. 

Metro Schools must back-up Chancery system with paper attendance documentation, because of inconsistent usage and cumbersome procedure, City Paper, Sept. 26.

Chattanooga's 311 public-services call center is deemed successful, Times Free Press, Sept. 25.

Metro Nashville RFP 05-87 for PeopleSoft Enterprise One application outsourcing services, proposals due Nov. 11.

Tenn. Bur. of Investigations solicits information by Oct. 14 from competitors to incumbent Identix, Inc., for state's electronic-fingerprinting services, RFI 348.00-115. Current contract ends in February.

State DoT RFP 403.85-002 for 511 Travel Information Service, bids due Oct. 26. Contract includes voice network system design, build, operate, maintain, enhance during three-year life of contract.

Draft congressional legislation for Telecom Rewrite carries major implications for Web access, tv-via-phone lines, Wash. Post, Sept. 16.
 
Phone, cable companies take lobbying local; they're reportedly united in resisting "government-owned or -operated wireless networks," Wash. Post, Sept. 29.

TN Human Services RFP 345-01.201 for Web-based On-line Vision Integration Program (VIP), is now due Oct. 20. 
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Nissan and Middle TN: A good fit, according to Tennessean report, Sept. 25.

Leaders hope to foster employment and technology in 21-county W. TN region, will study labor force using Commerce grant, Comm. Appeal, Oct. 1.

Advanced Transportation Technology Institute and UT Chattanooga to explore new transport technology, Times Free Press, Sept. 30.

Craiglist cranks up Knoxville site, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 18.

Undisclosed IT firm will get tax freeze in exchange for locating data center at Memphis, Comm. Appeal, Sept. 30.

Luminetx names Darty EVP; exec formerly was head of North American technology R&D for Brother International, release Sept. 30.

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) roll-up of companies creates Solutions unit at Knoxville, Knox. News Sentinel, Oct. 3.

"A former Metron North America employee, one of about 200 who lost their jobs when the company abruptly closed Sept. 16, has started a blog for fellow employees to vent and share information." Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 26.

Courthouse Retrieval System expands facilities of Knoxville headquarters, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 25.

Troubled Metro North America shutters doors with little notice, as consumer-electronics distribution contracts shrank, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 19.  Metron's closing said preventable, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 20.

Microelectronic mechanical devices (MEMS) are fast-growing part of MTS Nano Instruments business, more than 20 years after its first sale to Oak Ridge NL, Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 19.

Earth Biofuels, Inc. (Memphis) named Tommy Johnson CEO and added actor Morgan Freeman to its board. Memphis Bus. Journal, Sept. 26.

R
obertson County image-mapping supports 911 operations, Robertson County Times, Sept. 28.

Bank's offshoring creates pool of available IT professionals in Birmingham, Birm. Bus. Journal, Sept. 23.

Frito-Lay and Fred's donate laptop computers for inner-city students, Comm. Appeal, Sept. 29.

e-Pledging works for United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Times Free Press, Sept. 27.

Saratoga Technologies (Johnson City) announced opening office in Knoxville, release Sept. 15. Knox. News Sentinel, Sept. 20.

Facebook invades more high schools and colleges, including Chattanooga area, Times Free Press, Sept. 18.
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Nashville's ThinkLink Learning technology is helping shape magnet-school education in Chattanooga, Times Free Press, Sept. 19.

"
We can Build You," FedEx Institute of Technology symposium will explore the technical, ethical, and practical issues that surround extending, modeling, and even duplicating the human body and mind," Nov. 10-11. Othere events, here.  

Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), Tullahoma area, contributes more than half-billion per year in economic impact, as well as its scientific and engineering value, Shelbyville Times-Gazette,
Sept. 18.

Oak Ridge NL Cray XT3 used in work leading to inexhaustible fusion-energy reactor, release
Sept. 20.

Vanderbilt gains further in standing among National Science Foundation and other funders of faculty research, release
Sept. 27.

Vanderbilt IT:  Beginning today, Internet traffic from Gnutella, E-Donkey and DirectConnect will be blocked on campus, said Matt Hall, assistant vice chancellor for ITS. Hall says such traffic uses more than a third of VU bandwidth, he said, potentially hampering academic functions. Release
Sept. 29. Tennessean, Oct. 1. Supreme Court ruling on file-sharing has hurt downloading, Wash. Post, Oct. 1.

New CEO in resident program at FedEx Institute of Technology at U. Memphis is one result of FedEx's recent $5 Million gift, release
Sept. 16. Commercial Appeal, Sept. 22.

Chattanooga's Advanced Transportation Technology Institute was host for demo of hybrid electric water taxi, Fuel Cell Today,
Sept. 27. Related story, Chattanoogan.com, Sept. 25.

Dell releases results of its survey of teachers' and students' opinions re Dell TechKnow, release,
Sept. 28.

Parent-teacher E-mail use increases in Robertson County schools, Rob. County Tiimes,
Sept. 28.

UT Marketing and Logistics division adopts Steelwedge enterprise planning and performance measurement tool, release
Sept. 26.

UT College of Business Internet marketing contract goes to MethodSmart Media, Knox. News Sentinel,
Sept. 18.

Computer plays major role at Memphis College of Art, Comm. Appeal,
Oct. 3.

Knox County schools superintendent wants schools to be world-class, and they aren't there, yet, Knox. News Sentinel,
Sept. 21

Through-wall imaging and surveillance technology using wide-band radar advances at UT-Knoxville,
Daily Beacon, Sept. 20.

IBM launches "transition to teaching" program for IBMers nearing retirement,
release Sept. 16.

In Chattanooga, K-12 teachers are on lookout for students using personal-communications devices to cheat, Times Free Press, 1A,
Sept. 16.
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Recent Jobs Postings to NTC Careers page, here

Rankings:  WebMD, HCA top NBJ list:  Nashville-area largest IT employers, p. 36, Nash. Bus. Journal, not on web.

Dell renews computer-recycling efforts in mid-state, Tennessean, Sept. 21

Songwriters, online media companies spar over licensing, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 16. Nashville Songwriters Association Intl. Exec. Dir. Bart Herbison reportedly criticizes Digital Media Association (DiMA) as predatory. 

Book Reviews: The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, Thomas L. Friedman (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2005); review by F. Zakaria, NY Times, May 1, 2005. The glut of connectivity, diffusion of information, the dot.com bust and globalization's effects on society leave America in challenging position. Related, Blown to Bits, Philip Evans and Thomas Wurster, (Boston Consulting Group, Harvard Business School Press, 2000).

Hurricanes drive interest in online-backup services, CNET News, Sept. 1. Backup and recovery services were key to continuity for many New Orleans enterprises, Wash. Post, Sept. 21.

Intellectual Property:  Selling IP, rather than producing things becomes more important to corporate revenues; observers fear drag on innovation, particularly as collaboration among patent-holders increases, NY Times, Oct. 3.

ISS launches vulnerability-management services, NY Times Sept. 30.

Wise, ISDN-Net: Computer Network assessment crucial for small business, p. 33, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30.

Peg Duthie, Duthie Learning: Retaining valued employees can be enhanced by e-learning, Web-based training tools, column, pp. 24-25, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 23.

Lineberry, KraftCPAs: IT data security should be rigorously assessed, p. 18, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30.

Holland, CentreSource:  Search-engine optimization, pay-per-click primer for websites, p. 32, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30.

Coffey, USLEC, on importance of disaster-recovery planning, Nash. Bus. Journal, Sept. 30.

CIBER "Promise of IT" white paper on IT alignment with business, free registration required.

Former Pres. Carter and Frmr. Scty. Baker release proposals for election reform, including interoperable databases and paper backup for electronic voting, Sept. 05, pdf here.

e-Fundraising: WPLN Nashville Public Radio raised over $65K from 900 donors during its September e-Pledge Day.

MUSIC:  Country music ranks low on list of preferred downloads, according to iPod owners survey, Tennessean, Oct. 3. At least 5 online file-sharing services seek pact with major recording labels, NY Times, Sept. 20. MashBoxx, backed by Sony, is on acquisitions trail. Music is hottest topic at cellphone trade show, NY Times, Sept. 30.

Sun co-founder says future of Web is mobile devices, Sept.29, CNET.

Wikibooks take on the textbook industry, CNET, Sept. 28.

Consumer VoIP: Columns Sept. 12 and Sept. 26 by Brass, Knoxville News Sentinel.

MSNBC is leading news site, despite broadcast counterpart's lagging ratings; expert says MSNBC is savvier, NY Times, Sept. 19.

Comparing consumer technology purchases via ExactChoice.com.

Cingular, Cox and Verizon executives discuss quality-of-service issues, Wash. Post transcript, Sept. 20.

WSVM 4 Nashville makes conversion to digital newsroom, Broadcasting & Cable, Sept. 19.

Music City Future 50 - Tech companies among the 50 fastest-growing regional firms honored during the annual dinner: Altair Data Resources (Franklin); Avankia; Capital Confirmation (Brentwood); Cybera; Digital Connections; Emma; Essex Technology Group; eTransPlus; Freedom Communications (Dickson); Nashville Global Partners (Hermitage); Paramore/Redd Online Marketing; Sysgenix Resources (Franklin); Rehab Documentation Co.; Vaco; ZHealth Publishing. Related introductory article, Tennessean, Sept. 19. Music City Future 50 Tennessean News Coverage online. 
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For frequent updates, check the NTC home page and the NTC "Tech Links" and Calendar and Member Press Release pages. Visit Tennessee's technology councils' sites:
CALENDAR ( * indicates new or revised item) 

(Oct. 6) Nanotechnology conference, Co-sponsored by NTC and Vanderbilt, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Caterpillar Financial Auditorium. Details here.

(Oct. 6) NTC Tech Roundtable, "How does a de-centralized Fortune 100 company refresh its technology? -
an HCA story,"
presented by Lee Adams, VP-Service Management & Delivery for HCA IT&S.
Registration.

* (Oct. 6) Computer Graphics Special Interest Group of the Association for Computing Machinery, 7 p.m., UT Claxton Hall, Room 206. Alexandre Sorokine from Oak Ridge NL on "Parallel Visualization for Geographic Information Systems." Knox. News Sentinel,
Oct. 3.

* (Oct. 7) American Health Information Community inaugural meeting, details scroll down here.

(Oct. 6-7) Tennessee Valley Venture Forum, here.

(Oct. 10) Chatta. Engineers and IEEE Computer Soc., 11:00 a.m., "Digitizing IPIX Photography for Security Systems," Vistascape Security Systems, University Center. For information, Judy Driggans at (423) 751-7616.

* (Oct. 12) East TN Tech Council and Kauffman Foundation Listening to your Business Workshop, details
here.

Oct. 13) "Time and Event-based system software construction," presentation by Dr. Chris Gill of Washington Univ., Featheringill Hall, Vanderbilt Engineering, discussing his efforts to develop a suite of techniques and tools for software development.

(Oct. 17-18) Healthcare M&A conference in Nashville, details here

*
(Oct. 18) PMI Nashville luncheon program with Jay Ress, on "Building an assertive management style." Details here.

* (Oct. 19-20) Knoxville CyberSecurity Summit. UT-FBI-TVA cosponsors. UT Convention Center. Details here.

* (Oct. 19) Memphis Technology Council and The Toad mixer, 5:30 p.m., details here.

(Oct. 19) Memphis Technology Council mixer, with speaker Michael Schmidt, director of Center for Multimedia Arts, FedEx Institute of Technology, U. Memphis. Details here

(Oct. 20) Vanderbilt Engineering Featheringill Audit., Dr. Mike Wagner, M.D., U. of Pittsburgh, use of AI in disease surveillance of populations and environment.

* (Oct. 21) NE TN Tech Council TechStar Awards Luncheon, Kingsport.
Details here.

* (Oct. 22) Dell Recycling event, Vanderbilt, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., parking lot 74, near VU athletic track. Background on Dell recycling.

*
 (Oct. 25) Women in Technology Tennessee (WiTT) offers program on technology's role in response to Katrina, with executives from HCA, Caterpillar Financial, Dialogic Comms. Corp., 4:30 p.m., Caterpillar Financial. Details here.

* (Oct. 26) E. TN Tech. Council monthly meeting.

(Nov. 3) NTC Tech Roundtable, presentation by Debbie Gordon, CEO, Snappy Auctions. 

(Nov. 3) Regional Business After Hours
, Gaylord Entertainment Center, 5 p.m. -8 p.m. For info, write
here

* (Nov. 9) Nashville Health Care Council and Federation of American Hospitals hospital-payment symposium, 7:15 a.m., Hermitage Hotel. Details.

* (Nov. 9) East TN Tech Council Navigator Awards banquet, Knoxville Convention Center. 11:30 a.m. For details write here. Barry Shuler, SVP-IT and CTO Marriott Intl. is keynote. Details here.

(Nov. 10) "Understanding Business Valuation" seminar, cosponsored by Nashville Technology Council and Owen Entrepreneurship Center, focusing on how to maximize business valuation across growth stages.  Topics include a Valuation primer; pre-Seed Money valuation; Early/Seed enterprise valuation; Growth company valuation; and, a CEO panel discussion. Confirmed speakers, registration fees to be announced. Venue: Curb Center, Belmont University. For further information, call (615) 743-3160 or write info1@technologycouncil.com 

(Nov. 14-17) Oak Ridge: International Energy Agency's Ad Hoc Group on Science and Energy
Technologies Workshop for the Development of an International Strategic Plan for energy resources, at Oak Ridge NL. The seminal strategic planning workshop will guide future activities on AHGSET and international cooperation in basic research for energy. Aug. 1 release here.

* (Dec. 1) NTC Tech Roundtable "Meaningful Metrics in IT," with Ryan Staggs, director, service level and availability management HCA Information Technology & Services; Larry McCoy, CIO, Caterpillar Financial; Kathy Harris, Vice President and Research Analyst, Gartner, Inc.; and Moderator Tom Dugger, Healthstream, VP-Systems, HealthStream. Details TBA. For information, write here.
  
2006

* (March 2006) Major Software Engineering process conference will convene in Nashville in March 2006, with push from Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute
  
(March 2006) Manufacturing Excellence Conference at MTSU, March 16, 2006. For info, write here. 

(May 31-June 1)
Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit, Convention Center, Chattanooga.

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Nashville Technology Council
Editor & Publisher Milt Capps, Milt Capps Communications
211 Commerce Street, Suite 100,  Nashville, TN 37201
p: 615-743-3160  |  f: 615-256-0393  |  e: 
info1@technologycouncil.com
www.technologycouncil.com