Congressman Adam Smith will open the 2011 South Sound Technology Conference as the morning keynote speaker, and Egils Milbergs, executive director of the Washington Economic Development Commission, will provide the lunch keynote address.
The annual South Sound Technology Conference, which is hosted by the Institute of Technology at the University of Washington Tacoma and slated for Friday, March 11, is the technology showcase for Tacoma and the South Puget Sound. Since 2000 it has brought together leaders from industry, education and government from around the state to discuss and demonstrate technological innovations and their ongoing applications.
This year the conference will highlight the Institute of Technology’s 10th year of service and education. Launched in 2001 through a combination of state and non-state investment, Gov. Gary Locke proposed the institute, which was championed by industry and approved by the Legislature, to address the growing demand for educated professionals for Washington’s high-tech economy.
Congressman Smith is a strong supporter of innovated technology advancement and education, especially as it relates to investments in alternative fuel sources and biofuel technology.
On his website, Smith notes, “Locally, the South Puget Sound region has attracted many new high-wage, high-tech jobs. … To this end, I’ve joined and initiated conferences in our area that bring together leaders in technology, education and community development to share ideas and craft strategies for educating our workforce, attracting new businesses and making the South Sound a center of technology.”
Egils Milbergs, a noted thought leader in competitiveness policy, champions the vital importance of U.S. technological, manufacturing and innovation leadership to long-term prosperity. He is advancing the concept and practice of regional innovation ecosystems in Washington.
Panel and keynote presentations — including networking opportunities — provide a venue to discuss, explore, understand and deploy technology as a solution, an opportunity and an advantage. Sessions planned for the South Sound Technology Conference include discussions on mobile application development, energy and sustainability, information technology as a driver of infrastructure in the South Sound and an open breakout forum designed to create a common calendar for technology related events and activities for the year ahead.
Panelists and speakers for the all-day conference include:
Matthew Tolentino, researcher, Intel Corp.
Beth Whitzel, lead developer at LESA (Law Enforcement Support Agency)
Brian Forth, CEO, Sitecrafting
Kevin Freitas, mobile applications developer, Sitecrafting
Angela Gow, senior webmaster, Multicare
Mark Brown, CEO, IdentityMine
Egils Milbergs, executive director, Washington Economic Development Commission Andy Wappler, vice president for corporate affairs, Puget Sound Energy
Graham Evans, senior vice president, EQ2
Erik Hanberg, executive director of City Club of Tacoma; and chair, Tacoma Reads
Darrel Bowman, CEO, mynetworkcompany
Gary Bracket, business and trade development manager, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Rick Shanaman, CEO, Optic Fusion
Jon Owen, director of information technology, DaVita
Linda Gerull, director of information technology, Pierce County
Andrew Fry, assistant director of industry partners and lecturer, Institute of Technology
Orlando Baiocchi, director, Institute of Technology, UW Tacoma
Throughout the day, graduate and undergraduate students from the Institute of Technology will showcase their work through poster sessions and demonstrations in the Gallery area.
The conference concludes at 2:15 p.m., followed by a mixer with conference participants and Institute of Technology alumni and faculty. For more information and to register, go to www.tacoma.washington.edu/conference/events/sst.