|
*****************************
NTGTS/CTC NEWS FLASH
SEPTEMBER 2008 *****************************
The NTGTS/CTC News Flash is an electronic bulletin designed to help keep you informed of North Texas Global Telecommunications Society (NTGTS)-Texas and Communications and Technology Connections (CTC)-Washington, D.C. Chapter programs and activities. To view past issues, see
http://www.ntgts.org/content/category/1/1/2/
IN THIS NEWS FLASH
- President’s Message - October Program on Key Consumer and Technology Trends - Second Annual JETRO Japan Business Seminar - Leader Spotlight, Q&A with Daniel Chalker, Director of Programs, North Texas, NTGTS - Membership - Call for Audio conferencing/Webinar Sponsors - Jobs, Resources, and More - Events Calendar PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Members: I hope you are enjoying fall and/or some continued hints of summer depending on what part of the world you reside in. Thus far, it has been a very busy September and there are more events and activities to come before the end of the year. The Programs Task Force has been working hard to bring you quality programs in Texas. The upcoming October event is detailed in this newsletter, so read on to learn more about that exciting program. Also, we are working on several programs for the Washington, D.C. area. I also want to encourage your company and/or organization to learn more about the Second Annual JETRO Japan Seminar [see below for details]. The organization has approached a very big milestone—the organization is celebrating 10 years of existence. Be on the lookout for a separate press release on this topic. This is a wonderful celebration and we hope you can celebrate with us at future events. Congratulations are in order to all that have contributed to this organization over the years and made it what it has become today! The organization’s leadership also has been working hard on the 2008 Strategic Plan and ensuring all of our activities are being worked on and completed by the end of the year. In addition, the Membership Task Force has been doing a stellar job with outreach to members and other interested parties to ensure we continue to retain members and bring new ones into the organization. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your continued support! Jeremy L. Azif OCTOBER PROGRAM ON KEY CONSUMER AND TECHNOLOGY TRENDS Please join NTGTS for its Monthly Program on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at The University of Dallas, Frisco Campus, 7460 Warren Parkway, Frisco, TX. The program will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central. This month’s featured speaker with be Craig Cook, Director of Regulatory Affairs, John Staurulakis, Inc. (JSI) who will be presenting on “Key Consumer and Technology Trends”. The telecom, computing, and video entertainment industries hasten their convergence, and technology continues to outpace the regulatory parameters that can be applied to voice, data, and video. Thus, it is ever more important that service providers understand the needs of their customers and undertake a serious examination of the potential technological solutions that best fit their customer’s current and future needs. This presentation will discuss key consumer and technology trends with the goal of preparing companies to meet customer needs in an ever-increasing competitive environment. Craig currently serves as Director of Regulatory Affairs for John Staurulakis, Inc. (JSI). In this capacity, Craig manages a department responsible for the telecommunications management and regulatory compliance issues of JSI’s Southwest region clients respecting issues such as state and federal commission monitoring; comment filing; compliance reporting; state legislative monitoring; interconnection and compensation agreement development and negotiation; state policy development; technology assessment and new line of business planning. Prior to joining JSI, Craig worked for CapRock Communications in Dallas, Texas, serving as Director of Engineering Services. Craig directed the overall operations of the Engineering Services department in addition to performing due diligence and negotiation of interconnection agreements, managing E911 administration, NPA/NXX administration, collocation agreements, and directing the regulatory strategy and policy compliance of CapRock. Craig has also worked for GTE, managing vendor and contract compliance issues, as well as formulating negotiations policy and strategy while actively negotiating multi-million dollar interconnection and ancillary agreements with numerous ILECs, including Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, SBC and US West, on behalf of GTE. In addition, Craig has been a consultant to telecommunications clients on a variety of business management issues including strategic planning, regulatory compliance and policy matters, access issues including Carrier Access Billing (CABS), access tariff development and interpretation, switched and special access revenue requirements and rate development, interexchange carrier resell and wholesale opportunities and new line of business planning. Program Agenda: 6:00 p.m. Registration and Networking 6:45 p.m. Speaker Presentation 7:30 p.m. Q&A 7:45 p.m. Networking Continues 8:00 p.m. Adjourn COST Members are $5. Non-members are $10.00. Light food and refreshments will be provided. RSVP Members and non-members must register via the registration page at http://www.ntgts.org/zenCart/index.php. When on the shopping cart page, please select the Monthly Networking Event, Member or Non-Member option. On-site registration will also be available, however, we highly encourage you to register in advance to confirm your space. There will be a special discounted membership rate available at the event, which applies only to the individual basic membership tier. For more information on membership, see http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=75 or contact membership@ntgts.org DIRECTIONS Note: The University of Dallas, Frisco Campus, recently moved from its former Plano location. See directional notes below. We suggest you allow several additional minutes of travel time to the new venue. NTGTS will be meeting at the University of Dallas Frisco Campus, located at 7460 Warren Parkway, 1st Floor, Frisco, TX. The new campus is located just north of the Legacy corporate park, at the intersection of Warren Parkway and the Dallas Parkway. Volunteers will be on hand to direct you to the meeting room. For more information on the Frisco Campus, see: http://www.udallas.edu/gsm/maps.cfm. We look forward to seeing you on October 23. SECOND ANNUAL JETRO JAPAN BUSINESS SEMINAR We are happy to inform you that the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is currently in the process of planning the Second Annual JETRO Japan Business Seminar in cooperation with the Metroplex Technology Business Council to be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. NTGTS is once again serving as a cooperating organization for the event. The seminar will consist of three briefings on business opportunities and "secrets of success" in Japan's IT market, followed by a limited number of one-on-one business counseling meetings. The keynote speaker this year will be Mr. Tsunesaburo "Sunny" Sugaya, General Partner and CEO, Head of Business Development of JAFCO Ventures (Japanese Venture Capital), in Palo Alto, California. Mr. Sugaya, with twenty years of expertise in the IT Business Development industry, will offer practical advice and strategies to leverage the capabilities of Japanese partners to strengthen local companies and help establish a presence in Japan. Additional presentations will include a briefing on the latest developments in Japan’s SaaS market by Mr. Makoto Abe, CEO of Japan Business Solutions in San Jose, California. Based in Silicon Valley, Mr. Abe assists U.S. companies in forming technological alliances and other partnerships with Japanese companies and serves as Japan Technology Advisor to JETRO. Additional information may be found in the tentative agenda from the NTGTS website. The overall theme of the seminar will be on achieving success in Japan’s IT market with an emphasis on providing companies with the basic information and encouragement to do business in Japan. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback from an expert during one-on-one consultations confirmed in advance. NTGTS believes that participation in this seminar could potentially lead to increased global business opportunities for your company/organization in Japan and elsewhere. Please do not delay in getting involved in this excellent business development opportunity. For further information, please contact Mr. Keith Sanders, Assistant Director of Business Development, at keith_sanders@jetro.go.jp or calling 713-654-5258. LEADER SPOTLIGHT, Q&A WITH DANIEL CHALKER, DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS, NORTH TEXAS, NTGTS How did you get started in the telecoms and high tech industry? My father was a successful engineer and executive. I followed in his footsteps and was an electrical engineer in the electric utility industry prior to getting my law degree. Being an experienced engineer coupled with the telecom and high tech boom of the mid to late 1990’s naturally attracted me to intellectual property law. What advice do you have for others who are new to these fields? Embrace change because it is inevitable and provides opportunities to those that are open minded. Get out of your box (comfort zone by networking with others in order to keep abreast of current developments and be exposed to differing viewpoints. Determine who your client is (e.g., department head, customer, company division, etc.) and provide excellent customer service (e.g., beat deadlines, be courteous and responsive, keep them informed, exceed expectations, etc.). Treat your staff and subordinates with respect because they are part of your team and can make or break your career. What is your biggest challenge? Keeping everyone happy – clients, staff and family. It is impossible to get everything done in a given day, so it can be difficult to properly prioritize all the demands on my time. How do you balance work and life? I have been known as a workaholic, so it is always a constant juggling act. My first step was to leave the big law firm and start my own practice. Even then, it has been important to recognize that it is virtually impossible to be balanced every day. You have to be cognizant of the ebb and flow to make sure that you make time for everything and everyone that is important to you. In other words, you have to water the entire lawn to keep it green recognizing that some parts require more frequent watering that other parts. Please describe an average day in your life. I typically get to the office between 8 and 9am (I am not a morning person). I typically spend the morning: responding to e-mails and telephone calls; checking my patent and trademark docket; dealing with various firm financial/management matters; and working on non-billable or outside matters. In the afternoon, I try to get some actual work done (e.g., working on patent or trademark applications, license agreements, litigation strategy, etc.). Since both of my children are in college and my wife also works in the office part time, I routinely work until 7 or 8pm. In fact, my most productive work period is between 5 and 8pm because the phone is not ringing, the e-mails slow down, and the staff is not asking me about one thing or another. Value of NTGTS Membership. Although I deal with technology every day, NTGTS provides me with an excellent opportunity to meet new people, network and learn about new technology-oriented products and services. The membership and meeting topics are diverse, so I meet someone new and learn something new at every meeting. What I do. I am a patent attorney and founding partner of Chalker Flores, LLP. I provide intellectual property legal services (U.S. and foreign patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing and litigation) to businesses (all sizes), startups, individuals and universities. I routinely deal with patent applications involving bioinformatics, business methods, communications, computer hardware and software, electrical and electromechanical devices, electronics, image processing, integrated circuits, nanotechnology, payment processing, and semiconductors (design, processing and packaging). Technology I cannot live without. Computers and the Internet. Technology I can live without. E-mail to my mobile phone. Favorite Restaurant anywhere in the world. Kirala Restaurant in Berkeley, California (excellent Sushi and people watching). Going forward, we will be bringing you interviews with others from the NTGTS Leadership as well as from the general membership. If you are interested in being profiled, please contact membership@ntgts.org. MEMBERSHIP We haven’t heard from you. Your NTGTS/CTC Membership has lapsed. If you have let your NTGTS and CTC membership lapse, we would love to keep you as a member. If you meant to renew, you can renew your membership at http://www.ntgts.org/zenCart/index.php and sign up for the membership tier that best suits your needs at this time. Prompt payment of your dues will allow you to continue to enjoy all the benefits of your NTGTS/CTC membership without disruption. Note that the organization has not increased membership dues for several years and comparing our dues to other organizations locally, regionally and internationally, our organization’s dues are reasonable. Our dues allow the organization to keep pace with costs and improve our abilities to better serve the membership. For more details on membership categories, corporate membership, etc., see http://www.ntgts.org/content/blogsection/6/69/. If you have any questions, please contact us at membership@ntgts.org. Thank you for your ongoing support. The NTGTS/CTC Membership Task Force. CALL FOR AUDIO CONFERENCING/WEBINAR SPONSORS Audio Conferencing - The Leadership of NTGTS has discussed the possibility of providing an option for members to participate in meetings and programs remotely via a conference call bridge. At this time we are offering an opportunity for interested individuals or corporations to sponsor a new call bridge or donate a Conference Call Bridge number that may already exist within the respective company for the use of NTGTS Monthly meetings. Any interested party that would like to sponsor the Conference Bridge should contact Jeremy Azif at president@ntgts.org. Webinar Hosting - The Leadership of NTGTS has also considered hosting a Webinar twice a year on topics of community interest. The Webinar can be via WebEx or other tools currently available. Any interested party that would like to sponsor either a single or series of Webinars, including donating a currently owned license to WebEx or other such Tools should contact Jeremy Azif at president@ntgts.org. JOBS, RESOURCES AND MORE NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION FOUNDATION (ITIF) REPORT ITIF’s latest report, “Comparing the Candidates’ Innovation and Technology Policies”, finds that both Senators McCain and Obama have recognized the central role that science, technology, and innovation play in economic growth and have developed specific policy positions on these issues. To download a copy of the report, see www.itif.org. PYRAMID RESEARCH ANALYST INSIGHTS For the latest Analyst Insights, see www.pyramidresearch.com. For example, one of their latest insights deals with “Mobile Markets in the Caribbean”. CAPACITY EVENTS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER Are you involved with undersea cable systems? Do you care about international connectivity? Do you want to learn more about the voice and data traffic flows on worldwide routes? If so, you may be interested in the upcoming Capacity Conferences taking place in Russia, South Africa, Germany, Malaysia, and The Netherlands. For more information on these conferences, contact Maria Moutafov at maria.moutafov@capacitymedia.com. BAKER BOTTS DALLAS TECHNOLOGY CALENDAR Do you need to keep updated on the latest IT and telecoms developments and events in Texas? Baker Botts has calendars that run in Austin, Houston and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. If so, you may be interested in Baker Bott’s Technology Calendar at www.bakerbotts.com. EVENTS CALENDAR NTGTS/CTC EVENTS
OCTOBER What: Consumer and Technology Trends When: October 23, 2008 Where: University of Dallas, 7460 Warren Parkway, Frisco, TX Time: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Central time Speakers: Craig Cook, Director, Regulatory Affairs, John Staurulakis, Inc. (JSI) Contact: programs@ntgts.org URL: www.ntgts.org What: Monthly Happy Hour & Networking Event When: November 13, 2008 Where: Hyatt Regency North Dallas (formerly the Richardson Hotel), 701 E. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX Time: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Central time Contact: programs@ntgts.org URL: www.ntgts.org OTHER EVENTS SEPTEMBERWhat: 36th Research Conference on Communication, Information and Internet Policy –TPRC 2008 When: September 26-28, 2008 Where: The National Center for Technology & Law, George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, VA Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Laura Verinder at info@tprc.org URL: www.tprcweb.com OCTOBER What: 6th Caribbean Ministerial Strategic Seminar When: October 2-3, 2008 Where: Barbados, West Indies Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Bernadette Lewis at Bernadette.lewis@ctu.int or Harrison Grey at Harrison@iamericas.org URL: www.ctu.int or www.iamericas.org What: VI Ibero-American Forum AHCIET Mobile When: October 16-17, 2008 Where: Havana, Cuba Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Martin Grasso at martin.grasso@ahciet.es URL: www.ahciet.es What: LTE USA When: October 28-29, 2008 Where: Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Sofiane Guerni, Delegate Account Manager, Informa, sofiane.guerni@informa.com URL: www.informa.com What: Proskauer Rose LLP Conference on Global Privacy and Data Security Law When: October 29, 2008 Where: Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street, New York, NY Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: proskauer_seminars@proskaeur.com What: International Summit on Communication and Media When: October 30-31, 2008 Where: Columbia University, New York City Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Loy Phillips at sr2132@columbia.edu URL: www.citi.columbia.edu/events/summit2008 NOVEMBER What: CariCam 2008 – 7th Annual International Meeting When: November 17-20, 2008 Where: Cancun, Mexico Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Karin Mohr at telecom@ibcbrasil.com.br or Raquel Freitas at Raquel.freitas@ibcbrasil.com.br URL: www.ibcbrasil.com.br What: Management World Orlando When: November 16-20, 2008 Where: Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: Jason at Jason@fiercemarkets.com URL: www.fiercewireless.com What: 9th Annual ECTA Regulatory Conference 2008 When: November 26-28, 2008 Where: Management Centre Europe, Brussels, Belgium Time: See website Speakers: Various Contact: events@ectaportal.com URL: www.ectaportal.com QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT If you have questions about NTGTS and CTC, send them to membership@ntgts.org. For technical matters, contact Shelly Haffly at shelly.haffly@mavericksystemscorp.com. SUBSCRIBING AND UNSUBSCRIBING You are receiving this publication because you are a paid member of the organization or expressed interest in subscribing to this publication and/or are interested in receiving information and notices about NTGTS or CTC related events and activities. To subscribe, send a message to membership@ntgts.org with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. To unsubscribe, send a message to membership@ntgts.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. When sending us your information, please provide us your full contact details.
Note that unsubscription requests must be sent from exactly the same address as the one you used to subscribe. If you do not remember which address was used to subscribe, please send NTGTS all current e-mail aliases. EDITOR’S COMMENTS Co-Editors: Jeremy Azif, President & Co-Founder; and Jennifer Ullman, Vice President & Co-Founder
We hope that you enjoyed reading this News Flash! We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send them to membership@ntgts.org. Mission: NTGTS and CTC seek to stimulate friendships, professional cooperation, and respect in order to effectively promote cross-cultural developments and commerce. A further goal is to provide members with the information, resources, and tools that better enable them to take advantage of the developments occurring in the international communications and information technology areas. The organization fosters personal/professional development and the networking needs of its members by providing access to a global network of industry contacts and leaders. In addition, one of the organization's key goals is to continue expanding and developing into other markets.
News Flash is published by the North Texas Global Telecommunications Society (NTGTS) and Communications and Technology Connections (CTC). It is a member service and is distributed to the membership-at-large. Copyright 2008 NTGTS and CTC. Copying or distribution in whole or in part is welcome, so long as this notice is included in the distribution. |
