TAG Social Business presents Social Strategy for Business Performance

It’s not too late to figure out the answer the to this question and others: What’s your Business Social Savvy Quotient (BSSQ)?

Atlanta, GA - 10/31/2011 - When an executive is tasked by their board with developing business strategies to incorporate social strategy into business performance, where do they find the roadmap to take the company THERE? Every major company has a social business initiative today. Some companies have as many as 50 running concurrently across every aspect of their enterprise. Executive teams are struggling to manage the impact on the enterprise from:

• the shift in the way customers are buying
• the speed of information exchange
• the requirements for collaboration
• the amount of data being generated.

Join the TAG Social Business Society on November 2nd at the 5 Season Brewery for a discussion on how to approach your CEO or the board about the “business affect” of the “social effect.”

Executives who have already solved these puzzles have discovered that the real value of social and collaborative technologies is in the ability to make “relationship management” into a core competency of the business. Co-founders of the Social Executive Council, Judy Mod, president, principal of Social Gastronomy and Dan Webber, vice-president, CIO of Prime Holding BV will share what the leading companies are doing from their experiences in leading the Council. Then, it will be your turn to ask questions and discuss topics such as:

• ROI and Measurement from Social Business and Enterprise Communities – Is there a difference in approach in building hard and soft ROI?
• Strategic Alignment between Social Marketing and Social Architecture – Do your customers care where they engage? No, but you might.
• Strategic Marketing & Technology Requirements Planning – What are some of the best practices and “gotchas”?
• Cultural Impact on Customer facing and Internal Organizations – is there a difference?

Customer Experience and Transparency – Will what your customers know kill you or make you stronger?

Presenters:

• Judy Mod - President, Social Executive Council; Principal, Social Gastronomy, LLC.
• Dan Webber, Vice President, CIO of Prime Holding BV
• Martin Schmidler, Vice President of Information Technology for UniPro Foodservice

Event Date and Time: November 2, 2011, 5:30-7:30PM

Event Location: 5 Seasons Brewery—The Prado 5600 Roswell Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30342

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state that connecting it professionals, serving more than 14,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG's mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia's technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia's technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state's economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG's charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG's community technology center website at www.TAGthink.com.

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TechAmerica Georgia Extends Deadline for Nominations for the 2011 Spirit of Endeavor Awards

ATLANTA –TechAmerica Georgia has extended the deadline for nominations for the Spirit of Endeavor Awards to October 28th, 2011. The ninth annual awards, hosted by the Technology Association of Georgia and TechAmerica Georgia, recognize and celebrate innovative technology companies and individuals in Georgia that drive new ideas, invigorate the community and lead people through technology. To submit nominations for the Spirit of Endeavor Awards, complete the online nomination form located at http://www.tagonline.org/SOE-Nomination-form.php .

Award categories include:

• Outstanding Leadership -- presented to an individual who has demonstrated superior leadership in the technology community and serves as a “model” to inspire others to invent.
• Technology Entrepreneur – presented to an individual who has brought technology to the market and demonstrates entrepreneurial achievements to the technology industry.
• Emerging Business – presented to a young company that is recognized for its success in the marketplace and has significant revenue growth and/or success in the technology industry.
• Technology Innovation – presented to an individual that demonstrates leadership in innovation, inventing or repurposing technology and for the development of breakthrough technology.
• Cool Technology – presented to a company that has developed and/or introduced a new product (hardware, software or technology service product) within the last 18 months. Cool Technology will be determined by onsite text voting and presented to a company that has provided a “cutting edge, hip new idea” in the technology industry.
• Workforce Readiness – this new award will be presented to the 2011 TAG-Ed Student Internship Program mentor company that provided the best opportunity to prepare the company’s student intern for a career in technology. The company will receive a Frabel award and the student will receive a scholarship.

Winners of the 2011 Spirit of Endeavor Awards will be announced during a breakfast ceremony from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on December 9, 2011, at Twelve Hotel, Atlantic Station in Atlanta. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the TAG Education Collaborative.

The 2011 Spirit of Endeavor Awards are sponsored by Platinum sponsor Concurrent, Gold sponsor ASAP Solutions Group, and Silver sponsor Burnette Insurance, CresaPartners and Intel. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and can be purchased by going to www.123signup.com/event?id=vmmqy .

For additional information on sponsorship opportunities, nomination information, award criteria as well as event registration, please visit: www.tagonline.org/Spirit-of-Endeavor.php or contact Kate Kelsey at 404.920.2012 or Kate@tagonline.org .

About TechAmerica Georgia

TechAmerica is the largest and strongest voice and resource for technology in the United States and is the industry's leading trade association. TechAmerica Georgia, formerly TechAmerica Southeast, was created in late 2009 under a unique partnership between TechAmerica and the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), which provides operational management for the organization. TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 14,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. For more information visit the about TechAmerica Georgia and TAG, visit www.tagonline.org .

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How a community technology network can help entrepreneurs

TAG, or Technology Association of Georgia, is a leading community technology network which offers a dedicated industry association. We encourage the promotion of IT professional discussions. Also, we are involved in the economic welfare of the community technology center.

TAG provides leadership by connecting IT professionals with energetic societies. IT professional discussions are categorized in the areas of policy, capital, education and giving through a community technology network called societies. Each society has its own board of directors, hosts and sponsors. They plan their own events. The people in these societies connect on a daily basis to participate in relevant discussions. If you wish to join a particular society, you must complete an application.

The community technology network also brings the technology community together by connecting IT professionals through events, initiative programs and community technology center networking opportunities. At this time, members cannot start their own groups or blogs. However, the Facebook page and our website open forum are available for IT professional discussions. You can request to be added to the blog roll on the TAG Think website. If you add an event, it will have to be evaluated by the TAG administrator before it will be available for viewing.

TAG's community technology network serves as an umbrella framework for several special interest groups, or societies. For example, Women in Technology (WIT) is one of the groups connecting IT professionals under the TAG umbrella. We want the actual community to parallel with the virtual community. If you are interested in becoming involved with a special group, you must contact the chair for that society.

The TAG Education Collaborative, TAG’s charitable arm, is focused on connecting IT professionals through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Education initiatives thrive through the community technology center.

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TAGthink.com the Technology Community That Supports IT Professionals in Georgia

IT professionals often work in a vacuum. Scientists, engineers, and mathematicians can spend hours hunched in their cubicle or lab, with only a few colleagues for support. Luckily, our technology community at TAGthink, offers a virtual community technology center that is connecting IT professionals in the state of Georgia. You can get opinions, read the latest news, and network with others in your field, while building a profile that gives you a positive online presence and credibility as an IT leader.

Our site allows users to join societies for various interests within the technology community. Groups exist for a wide range of interests, including corporate development, diversity, marketing, and recruiting. We even have alumni societies for graduates or current students of Georgia colleges and universities. This allows even the most junior specialist to begin networking before they complete their education. Connecting IT professionals in a wide variety of specialties, allows for great career advancement, as well as making employees more valuable in their current roles.

The online community technology center also has a vast and varied forum. There, topics range from charitable fund-raising announcements to the results of recent business studies. A quick glance through the offerings each day, allows users to keep their fingers on the pulse of the technology community.

Should your business be in need of contractors, our Marketplace is easy to navigate. There, qualified individuals can view open positions and submit proposals. Whether the need is temporary or a long-term contract, our system tracks tax information, payroll, and payments for you. What's better is that it is free to get started.

Connecting IT professionals to one another is our primary goal. Visit our community technology center at TAGthink.com to network with the strong technology community in the state of Georgia. Begin making connections today!

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Learn about TAG think Latest Events in the Technology Community of Georgia

Interested in the state of technology and technological development in Georgia?

At TAG, we think we have the solution for you.

We are an association of IT professionals striving toward the advancement of technology in the state of Georgia. We are actively working toward this aim through our community technology center, our network of resources connecting IT professionals, and our TAG education.

Community Technology Center

TAG think is a hub connecting IT professionals throughout the state. As Georgia's premier community technology center, we offer focused conversation through our discussion forums, member profiles, social networking options, press releases, and community involvement initiatives.

TAG Societies Connecting IT Professionals

In one of our roles as Georgia's community technology center, we at TAG think serve as an umbrella for a plethora of smaller groups, known as "societies."

Examples of our diverse array of society offerings include: Women in Technology, TAG Diversity, TAG Entrepreneurs, TAG Government Technology, TAG Professional Development Programs, TAG International Business, TAG Health, and TAG Infrastructure. Again, this wide list is just a small sampling of the many networking opportunities available on our website.

Additionally, we at TAG believe in connecting IT professionals through regular events and community initiatives. We focus this connection through our leadership initiatives in the areas of charitable giving, capital, government policy, and education.

TAG Education

Education plays an important role in the advancement and promotion of technology. Advancing the knowledge of our members, TAG education offers a vast array of white papers shared by members, approved for the quality and veracity of the knowledge provided.

Furthermore, the TAG Education Collaborative assists in the advancement of STEM education; initiatives aimed toward developing science, technology, engineering, and math education.

To learn more about our community and upcoming events, visit us at http://TAGthink.com and become a member today.

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Finalists Named for the 2011 TAG Excalibur Awards

Companies were selected for demonstrating exemplary use of technology to enhance their businesses

ATLANTA (October 5, 2011) – The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), the state’s leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia’s technology industry, in collaboration with its Business and Technology Alliance society (B&TA), today announced the finalists for the 2011 TAG Excalibur Awards. The winning companies will be recognized in one of five categories: small companies, mid-sized companies, large companies, educational and creative.

The 2011 finalists include:

Small
Atlanta Music Project
PSP & Digital
The Savannah Bee Company

Mid-Sized
DIRTT Environmental Solutions
NASCO
Recall

Large
The Coca-Cola Company
InterContinental Hotels Group
Manheim

Educational
Georgia Gwinnett College
Georgia State University
Moultrie Technical College

Creative
The Coca-Cola Company
NCR
The Weather Channel

TAG’s Excalibur Awards 2011 recognize Georgia-based companies for their high-tech innovations based on the complexity of the problem that was solved technologically, the creativity of the solution, and the return on investment (ROI). Winners will be recognized at the Excalibur Awards 2011 on October 21, 2011, at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel.

“Every year our decision process to pick the companies and organizations demonstrating the best use of technology gets harder as the number and caliber of entries increases,” said Tino Mantella, president & CEO of TAG. “We are pleased to announce the finalists for this year’s Excalibur Awards and look forward to honoring the winners at our ceremony on October 21.”

For more information about TAG and the Excalibur Awards, visit http://www.tagonline.org/excalibur-awards.php.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state that connecting it professionals, serving more than 14,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG's mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia's technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia's technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state's economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG's charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG's community technology center website at www.tagthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.

About The Business and Technology Alliance of TAG

The Business and Technology Alliance of TAG is focused on addressing the challenges of today's fast paced marketplace by bringing together business leaders and technology innovators to address key business issues. Their mission is to foster business innovation through the exploration of technological advancements and the ways in which these technologies can help corporations in all industries to solve complex problems and be more competitive. For more information, visit http://www.tagonline.org/tag-business-technology-alliance.php.

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