North Carolina Technology Association

“Making Technology #1 in North Carolina and North Carolina #1 in Technology”

Welcome to NCTA!Brief Description • NCTA supports North Carolinians who create, support and consume technology with

the goal of advancing North Carolina as a local and global technology center of excellence.

Target Members• Businesses that design, develop & sell technology.• Technology service businesses; providers of technology solutions and technology-

based products & services.• Decision makers for businesses that use technology for their well-being & growth• Organizations that provide services to the technology industry (e.g. banks,

professional services)• Public Sector Leaders (e.g. public officials, universities, economic development orgs,

non-profits)Strategic Themes• Promote North Carolina’s technology industry • Foster a knowledge workforce to meet the needs of the industry • Advocate a forward thinking public policy agenda • Incent and enable economic development and job growth • Provide executive engagement

NCTA’s Three Focus Areas:

• Executive Engagement

• Knowledge Workforce

• Public Affairs

Executive Engagement• Annual Meeting Luncheon & Showcase (January)

– Annual gathering of Board of Directors, member companies and industry leaders to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous year and present the goals for the year ahead.

• A CEO Conversation (April)– The Southeast's leading executive forum for the technology

industry, bringing together senior corporate executives, innovators of leading technologies, business developers and world-class visionaries. This day-long event engages top leaders in discussion about the intersection of leadership and technology.

• NCTA Time Warner Cable Business Class Annual Open Championship (August)– Opportunity for business and technology leaders to gather for an

exciting day of golf, networking and business development. This event commences with the tournament, which closes with a luncheon, silent auction and awards ceremony.

Executive Engagement

• Leadership Conference (August)– Annual invitation and member-only event that brings together the

highest echelon of technology leaders to discuss industry trends, leadership, education and building a sustainable knowledge economy.  This smaller and more personal atmosphere provides unparalleled executive networking and discussion on cutting edge ideas. 

• 21 Awards (November)– The NCTA 21 Awards is North Carolina's most prestigious statewide

awards, recognizing companies and individuals who have characterized excellence, innovation and leadership in 21 categories.  Highly publicized, the event includes a reception and dinner followed by the awards ceremony.

Executive Engagement

• Charlotte Conference (June)– The Charlotte Conference will assemble top level executives

from technology companies, financial institutions and professional service firms.  This day-long summit will cover topics that impact the technology community including tools and processes that will help your community stay competitive and cutting edge. 

Knowledge Workforce• Emerging Technologies & Trends Breakfast Series:

The Emerging Tech & Trends Breakfast Series leverages our members as subject matter experts to tackle topics that impact the technology industry in North Carolina, such as emerging technologies and trends, improving business efficiency, identifying and retaining talent and virtual networking.  In 2009, the series will become 2 Series: RTP/Triad Series & Charlotte Series.– RTP & Triad Series

• Feb- Cost Savings Through Software Solutions• April- CIO Panel• July- Virtualization• August- Healthcare IT• October- Gaming & Learning Technologies

– Charlotte Series• March- Utilities & Infrastructure- Future of Smart Energy Systems• May- Financial Services• July- BioTech• October- Corporate (Retail, Automotive

Knowledge Workforce

• CIO Connection (Quarterly)

The CIO Connection is a forum for CIOs and executives responsible for IT infrastructure or applications to share best practices and collaborate.  The roundtable format fosters an open discussion between information executives on challenges and opportunities similar to their own.  NCTA will utilize member resources to connect CIOs in Charlotte and RTP so they can exchange best practices and ideas.

Knowledge Workforce

• Councils:– Knowledge Workforce Council

• The Knowledge Workforce Committee supports and promotes initiatives that focus on the utilization of technology as a tool in education from preschool through lifelong learning. The committee bridges the technology community within the state's major universities, community college system and K-12 education.  The committee promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives and advocates for a technology-literate 21st century student.  In the coming year, this committee has big plans to unveil a Knowledge Worker Bill of Rights, host a Knowledge Workforce Day at the State Legislature, and declare a NCTA Technology Tour/STEM Career Awareness Day.

– Women in Information Science and Engineering (WISE) Council• The WISE Council is a peer network of business leaders whose mission is to provide

opportunities for women to achieve their personal and professional goals.  The primary initiative is to feature women in the forefront of the technology industry through quarterly events and promote STEM careers.

– Government Affairs Council• The Government Affairs Committee assembles members interested in state legislative or

federal issues as they pertain to their company or the economic landscape in North Carolina.  Members serving on the Government Affairs Committee provide thought leadership around NCTA's annual Legislative Agenda, which incorporates an enterprise approach on issues that include tax and regulatory, education and connectivity, as well as jobs and economic development.  The committee also plans special events with public sector leaders and helps identify speakers for NCTA's National Leaders Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Knowledge Workforce

• Councils (cont’d):– Government Vendor Council (formerly known as “ITR” or “IT

Roundtable”)• The Government Vendor Council provides an open forum for

information sharing between vendors and state government representatives and is the primary source for vendor networking and information gathering. If your company sells to the state of North Carolina or would like to do business with state government, then you should attend the these meetings.

– Green Technologies Council (new)• Explore NCTA member companies’ green technologies and

new trends in the field.

Public Affairs

NCTA provides a voice for the technology industry!

• NCTA shapes policy to foster growth and opportunity with a public affairs program that is steered by three guiding principles:  build relationships, educate on issues, and craft and advocate forward-thinking policy.  For over a decade, NCTA has been the voice of technology, championing legislation that provides a favorable tax and regulatory environment, encouraging new ventures, and growing knowledge jobs and a knowledge workforce in North Carolina. 

• We provide opportunities for members to meet and work with state and federal legislators.  NCTA crafts an annual legislative agenda by engaging member companies of all sizes.  In recent years, our efforts have achieved tax credits of research and development for emerging technology companies, increases in government funding for educational technology, and funding for defense and security technology initiatives throughout North Carolina.

NCTA Education FoundationTechnology as a Tool in Education

NCTA and its member companies formed the NCTA Education Foundation, a 501(c)3, in

September 1998 to support and encourage the use of technology as a tool in education from

preschool through lifelong learning.  Since then, the Foundation has continued to focus attention on helping to address the technology needs of

North Carolina's schools, to better prepare students for the 21st century workforce, and to

encourage other schools and public policy leaders to see the advantages of using

technology as a tool in education.

Want to get involved?• NCTA has opportunities for sponsorship

available to place your company in the spotlight of 400+ corporate members’ C-Level executives.

• NCTA offers its members the opportunity to participate in member’s-only committees to affect change in the technology industry.

• NCTA offers multiple Events and Programs throughout the year that offer professional development, product showcase and networking opportunities.

• JOIN TODAY TO GET INVOLVED!ahodges@nctechnology.org or (919) 856-0393