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October 2009

IT award winners recognized
ITCND recognized three of North Dakota’s IT leaders for outstanding achievements at the North Dakota IT Awards Program and annual meeting on Oct. 8 in Fargo.
 
“North Dakota possesses a large pool of highly qualified and innovative IT leaders, both individuals and businesses, that deserve recognition for their achievements,” says Gary Inman, ITCND president.
 
Inman, along with Steve Shark, ITCND board member and awards committee chair, presented awards in three categories to the following recipients:
 
·          Echelon Corporation of Fargo received the Premier IT Business award. Echelon Corporation was recognized for its outstanding success in developing and providing IT business solutions to its clients.
·          Utility Bill Pay, a service of National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) of Mandan, received the Technology Innovator award. Utility Bill Pay was recognized for its use of innovative technology to serve its primary customer.
·          Ray Hintz, North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education of Bismarck received the North Dakota IT Innovator award. Hintz was recognized for his dedication to advancing the use and development of information technology in the academic realm.
 
Congratulations to the 2009 IT award winners!
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Annual meeting held
ITCND held its 2009 annual meeting on Oct. 8 in Fargo with nearly 50 business, education and government representatives present.
 
Tony Grindberg, NDSU Research & Technology Park executive director and state legislator, provided the keynote address titled the “Power of Place.”  In his address, Grindberg discussed past economic development, entrepreneurship, education and workforce legislative initiatives as they relate to IT. He also provided information on the components of a “technology-based economy” and insight on how North Dakota can maintain a competitive edge into the future.
 
After Grindberg’s address, ITCND held its annual membership meeting. Highlighted were the accomplishments of the past year, including distribution of the 2009 State of the IT Industry Guide, development of the IT Career Awareness Program and implementation of the 2009 Legislative Agenda.
 
The following outgoing board members were recognized. Their terms will end Dec. 31.
•          Mike Eggl, Basin Electric Power Cooperative
•          Dale Jensen, Ntractive, LLC
•          Kevin Leier, Tao Interactive Inc.
•          Steve Shark, DakTech Computers
•          David Weiler, Precision Diagnostic Services, Inc.
 
The following board members were elected and/or appointed to two-year terms beginning Jan. 1.
•          Ron Gronneberg, City of Fargo
•          Eric Gjerdevig, Summit Group Software
•          Katie Hasbargen, Microsoft Fargo
•          Kalvin Kingsley, K2 Interactive
•          Tracy Koenig, Ulteig Engineers
•          Jeremy Neuharth, State Bank and Trust
•          Timothy O’Keefe, University of North Dakota
•          Carol Rogne, DFC Consultants
•          Mark Sjurseth, individual
•          Lori Willoughby, Minot State University
 
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Input requested on 2010 work plan
ITCND would appreciate your input on the 2010 DRAFT Work Plan. View the draft plan here and submit your comments and suggestions to ITCND by Friday, Oct. 30. Your input is valuable as ITCND sets its direction for the next year.
 
The work plan was developed based on the results of the 2009 ITCND membership survey conducted in July. The survey revealed that talent development, knowledge sharing and networking, and advocacy and lobbying were the highest priorities in terms of membership benefits. The final work plan will be approved by the ITCND board of directors at its next meeting in January 2010.
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Morton participates on panel
ITCND member Don Morton, Microsoft Fargo site leader, represented the IT industry on the “Industry Panel” at the 2009 Governor’s Workforce Summit on Oct. 8 in Fargo. Morton referred to “the lull before the storm” in regards to IT workforce needs. He explained that not enough students are pursuing technical careers, which will lead to a shortage once the economy recovers. Recruiting and providing real life experiences for students through programs such as the Department of Commerce’s Operation Intern were a few suggestions he made for IT companies to address their workforce needs.
 
ITCND is currently implementing its IT Career Awareness Program in 13 pilot schools across the state as a way to begin preparing for the storm that Morton referred to in his address. For more information on the program, click here.
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ITCND welcomes new members
ITCND is excited to welcome eight new members – Center for Technology & Business, IBM, InfoTech-MTC, Lake Region State College, North Dakota State College of Science, Provistas Inc., State Bank and Trust and Ulteig Engineers Inc.
 
“Each new membership makes our council stronger. We look forward to working with these new members to encourage the use, growth and development of information technology in North Dakota,” says Gary Inman, ITCND President.
 
For a complete listing of ITCND’s membership, visit ITCND’s online directory. If you know of a company or individual that would be interested in joining, send contact information to ITCND.
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Member Bits & Bytes
North Dakota Telephone Company – Devils Lake, ND
 
The North Dakota Telephone Company (NDTC) began operation in 1993 as a multi-faceted telecommunications company headquartered in Devils Lake. NDTC is owned by a consortium of three area telephone cooperatives – United Telephone Mutual Aid Cooperative of Langdon, Dakota Central Rural Telephone Cooperative of Carrington and Polar Communications of Park River – and employs 75 people. It provides telephone, Internet and television service to more than 16,000 customers in northeastern North Dakota.
 
NDTC is a member-owner of North Dakota Long Distance, which provides business and residential long distance, calling card services and cellular service. It is also a member-owner of Dakota Carrier Network, which provides carrier Ethernet, private line and broadband services to locations throughout North Dakota.
 
Future opportunities for North Dakota Telephone Company and the IT industry in the state: NDTC’s future opportunities exist in three primary areas: high-speed Internet and data, fiber to the home and IP-based video services.
 
Current challenges facing North Dakota Telephone Company and the IT industry in the state: Current challenges facing NDTC are the continuing need for additional bandwidth for its business and residential customers.
 
Learn more about NDTC here or contact Dave Dircks at 701-662-6435 for more information.

If you are interested in having your business featured in an upcoming "Member Bits & Bytes," email ITCND. Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.
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