Press Release
Contact: Robert Albright |
Phone: 919-549-7500 ext.123 |
InfoTech Conference Spotlights Market Trends
CED Launches New Program to “Engage” Entrepreneurial Community;
Research Triangle Software and Polyglot Systems Win “People's Choice” Demo Awards
October 27, 2003, Research Triangle Park, NC —The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) hosted its 13th annual InfoTech conference Monday with over 800 people participating. The conference, held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in the RTP, spotlighted the state's successful IT community and was presented in collaboration with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, MCNC and TiE-Carolinas. During the all-day event, CED also introduced its newest program series, Engage: Knowledge, Networks and Trends.
InfoTech 2003 featured nine panel discussions, 21 technology demos and an all-star cast of speakers. Matthew Szulik, Red Hat's president, chairman and CEO, together with A.B. “Buzzy” Krongard, executive director of the CIA, provided keynote remarks. Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks, spoke at CED's and TiE-Carolinas' joint closing reception.
During a filled-to-capacity luncheon at InfoTech 2003, Szulik said Red Hat and other technology companies needed to promote a work culture where creative employees have ownership in decision-making. Szulik said prospective employees are often drawn to the Research Triangle region's quality of life and commitment to entrepreneurship.
“We must continue following the example set by CED, its Board and its members in fostering entrepreneurship,” Szulik said. “To create a successful peer culture, companies should ensure that their vision is aligned, and they must constantly be willing to improve their talent base.”
Throughout the day's events, conference attendees placed votes on “People's Choice Awards” for the event's most promising technology demos. Research Triangle Software took first place honors, with Polyglot Systems receiving the second most votes.
CED Launches New Program Offering
Also during InfoTech, CED launched its new program offering, Engage. Attendees, ranging from sci-tech founders and high-growth company executives to those building innovative service companies or looking for the next great business opportunities, will come together for concurrent workshops, a well-known keynote speaker and high-value networking in a compressed time format. Transcending all high-growth industries and company stages, CED's Engage will kick off in January 2004 with a session on Finance.
Each Engage session will consist of three core components:
- Knowledge: Tap into expert-led, interactive sessions conveying insights for business success
- Networks: Discover next opportunity, partner, or mentor in a high-energy setting surrounded by trendsetters from all industries and company stages
- Trends: Expand understanding of “big picture” opportunities and obstacles
Beyond the program on Finance in January, other upcoming Engage sessions include Health Care in March 2004 and Marketing in May 2004.
About CED: The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Research Triangle region. CED provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs through annual conferences, seminars, workshops and monthly programs on entrepreneurial management and finance. CED is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 4,000 members representing 1,100 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms. www.cednc.org
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