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NTGTS/CTC NEWS FLASH
DECEMBER 2008

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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

-                      Recap of North Dallas Chamber 2008 Telecoms Conference

-                      Leader Spotlight, Q&A with Jeremy Azif, President & Co-Founder, NTGTS/CTC

-                      Newest Corporate Member:  Spotlight on Fusion Solutions

-           January Program Focuses on Structured Cabling

-                      Membership Drive

-                      Audio conferencing/Webinar Services Needed

-           NTGTS on LinkedIn

-           Jobs, Resources, and More

-           Events Calendar

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Members:

First and foremost, as this is the final edition of 2008, I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and all the best for 2009!  I look forward to next year and all the great things to come and I hope you do too.

2008 was a rewarding year for the organization, which celebrated its 10^th anniversary.  We held a variety of programs, recruited new leaders and members and touched many professionals with all the good work we do.  It is important to be able to distinguish yourself and add value.  I believe our organization continues to be a leader in the industry and provides tremendous value.

You may be wondering what we have in store for 2009.  We will hold a strategic planning meeting in early January to review our goals for the coming year.  We are taking stock of our key accomplishments from 2008 which we will share with all of you once that document is finalized and ready for publication.  Our Programs team already is planning events for next year in Texas and Washington, D.C.  We will have a Monthly Program on January 22 in Texas.  Please see below for further details.  Besides events, we are working with a new web designer to update some of our existing web features and capabilities to better serve you. 

I also want to thank our core leadership team for making this another wonderful year.  Without your support and commitment, the organization would not be where it is today. 

Also, a personal thanks to all of those that have contributed to making NTGTS/CTC a success this past year.  We look forward to your continued support in 2009! 

Here’s to a prosperous new year.  I hope you enjoy reading this last News Flash of 2008. 

Jeremy L. Azif, President 

RECAP OF NORTH DALLAS CHAMBER 2008 TELECOMS CONFERENCE

NTGTS was again a proud sponsor of the North Dallas Chamber's (NDCC) 13th Annual Telecommunications Conference.  The Conference took place December 5 at the Westin Park Central Hotel in Dallas, Texas.  Special thanks to Sharon Walker of the NDCC and our own Daniel Chalker, Director, North Texas Programs for NTGTS as well as the entire planning team, for their continued leadership and organization of this important industry event.

The Conference was attended by more than 150 industry, government and other participants.  At the event, speakers discussed the future of telecommunications, including a presentation on "The Anywhere Revolution" from EDS Futurist Jeff Wacker and panel discussions on 4G technology and consumer responses to communications convergence. The panelists were speakers from a broad industry spectrum, including Carlyle, Nortel, Huawei, Fujitsu, Nokia, TI, Alcatel-Lucent, and AT&T.  Jackson Walker partner Pat Cowlishaw opened the Conference with a brief industry overview and served as master of ceremonies.

If you have not yet attended this annual conference, we encourage you to attend since it is an excellent place to learn and network.  For more information about the NDCC, see www.ndcc.org.

LEADER SPOTLIGHT, Q&A WITH JEREMY AZIF, PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER, NTGTS/CTC

Q: How did you get started in the telecoms and high tech industry?

A:  While a student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., I first became engaged in the telecommunications industry while interning at Nortel’s Government Relations Office.  I also interned for Comptel which is an industry association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners.  In addition to my internships, I also became involved with several non-profit industry organizations.

Q:  What advice do you have for others who are new to these fields?

A:  If individuals are new to the telecoms and high tech sectors, I would encourage you to get involved with organizations such as NTGTS/CTC which are excellent vehicles for learning, developing one’s industry knowledge, and contacts.  It is so important to build your industry expertise but at the same time build your relationships.  I would also suggest reading magazines, websites and other key industry related resources to keep abreast of the latest trends and industry developments.  I also think it is important to map out your goals on at least an annual basis and determine what kind of training and development courses you may need to take to further your expertise. 

Q:  What is your biggest challenge?

A:  My biggest challenge is to ensure my personal and professional goals are aligned as best possible.  I think it is important to check in with oneself on a daily basis to ensure your goals are on track and you are having the right balance in your life.  My other big challenge is to stay alert and upbeat while driving through the notoriously heavy Washington, D.C. area traffic.

Q:  How do you balance work and life?

A:  I strive to maintain as much balance as possible between my personal and professional lives.  I am a goal setter and love to set goals and follow through on them.  I also exercise regularly during the workday which has been an excellent and healthy way to stay mentally fit.  I am an avid cyclist which is one of my favorite ways to unwind and ensure I am getting the necessary balance in my life. 

Q:  Please describe an average day in your life.

A:  I wake up at the crack of dawn.  I prepare my meals for the day and aim to be on the road no later than 7:30 a.m.  My work day is comprised of meetings, calls and other projects that may arise that I have to tend to.  I try and read the newspapers and industry resources as much as possible to keep up on any news and other developments.

Q:  Value of NTGTS Membership.

A:  As Co-founder of the organization, I believe our organization is full of value in many respects such as the programs we produce, the networking opportunities that arise from our meetings and the knowledge that you gain from attending our meetings or other events that we support as a partner or co-sponsor.  Our organization has a proven track record for over 10 years and the amount of leads, jobs, experience and other benefits that our members have garnered from their involvement is impressive.  Finally, when we develop program agendas, partner on events and other activities plus create our annual strategies and goals, the organization’s leadership is consistently focused on value and how critical are these programs, topics, etc. to our mission and purpose.

Q:  What I do.

A:  I am a Senior Contract Manager at Verizon Business where I work in the Network and Technology Law group.  I support our Legal team on developing and negotiating enterprise and government contracts and deals. 

Q:  Technology I cannot live without.

A:  I cannot live without my Blackberry and laptop.  Since I have a long commute to work, I usually pass my time by listening to various podcasts and catching up on history and the humanities thanks to the vast resources of iTunes University.

Q: Technology I can live without.

A:  I can live without musical ringtones since I like my wireless phone to sound more like a traditional phone.

Q:  Favorite Restaurant anywhere in the world.

A:  My favorite casual restaurant is Cosi because I enjoy their Signature Salads.  For pizza, there is none better than Sal’s Pizza in Mamaroneck, New York.  For other kinds of dining, I enjoy all varieties of Mediterranean cuisine. 

We will continue to profile other Leaders of the organization as well as members.

NEWEST CORPORATE MEMBER:  SPOTLIGHT ON FUSION SOLUTIONS

Fusion Solutions Inc., a leading provider of staffing solutions for telecom companies, announced in September 2008 that it has become a key partner and member of NTGTS in an effort to assist NTGTS in growing its membership and services to the Dallas/Fort Worth Telecom industry.  For more information about Fusion Solutions, see www.fusionsolutionsinc.com. 

We also welcome Vic Velevis who is Vice President of Sales at Fusion Solutions to the NTGTS Advisory Board.  We look forward very much to Vic’s valuable inputs and involvement.

 According to Jeremy Azif, President, NTGTS, we are grateful for Fusion Solutions participation in our organization and we look forward to their partnership. 

JANUARY PROGRAM FOCUSES ON STRUCTURED CABLING

On Thursday, January 22, 2009, NTGTS will hold its first program of the new year at the University Dallas, Frisco Campus located at 7460 Warren Parkway in Frisco, TX.  The program will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central.  The program’s featured speakers are Don Peschka, Senior Account Manager, Black Box Network Services and Tracy Morrison, Senior IT Infrastructure Designer, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas.  The speakers will present on “Structured Low Voltage Cabling:  Your Foundation to Communicate with the World”. 

Members are $5 per person.  Non-members are $10 per person.  Light food and refreshments will be provided.   For more details about this program, see www.ntgts.org.  If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Chalker, Director, North Texas Programs at programs@ntgts.org.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Message from the Membership Task Force

Have we recently heard from you?  If you have let your NTGTS/CTC membership lapse, we want to retain 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 Roberto Fanini, Membership Director, at membership@ntgts.org. 

AUDIO CONFERENCING/WEBINAR SERVICES NEEDED

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, Live Meeting, or other such tools should contact Jeremy Azif at president@ntgts.org.

NTGTS ON LINKEDIN

If you would like to join or visit, follow this link to our Group Page:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=887307.  We look forward to your participation in this group and receiving any feedback you may have.

JOBS, RESOURCES AND MORE

RESEARCH-TELECOMMUNICATIONS POSITION

Paul Budde is a leading analyst and commentator within the telecommunications industry.  BuddeComm operates the largest, continually updated, telecommunications research service on the Net.  The company is seeking an experienced researcher to maintain and update a portfolio of reports relating to the telecommunications sector in Australia and New Zealand.  Applicants should be located in Sydney, Newcastle or NSW Central Coast, Australia.  Please mark your application to the attention of “Chris Lewis” and e-mail your CV/resume to pbc@budde.com.au.

FIERCETELECOM

FierceTelecom is the leading daily news source for telcos and other telecom industry insiders.  Sign up for free at www.fiercetelecom.com.  For more details, contact Dan O’Shea, Group Editor-in-Chief at 202-628-8778.

BALANCING ACT

If you are interested in the African telecoms market, you may be interested in subscribing to Balancing Act’s newsletter.  For more information, contact editorial@balancingact-africa.com.  This publication is produced in London, United Kingdom.

NEW ISSUE OF NORDIC AND BALTIC JOUIRNAL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

A new issue of this publication was published in November 2008.  This Journal is new and promotes debate on ICT developments among academics, analysts, professionals and practitioners.  For more information, see www.nbict.net.

EVENTS CALENDAR

NTGTS/CTC EVENTS

JANUARY 2009

What:       Monthly Program on Structured Low Voltage Cabling

When:      January 22, 2009

Where:     University of Dallas, Frisco Campus, Frisco, TX

Time:        6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Central time

Contact:    programs@ntgts.org  

URL:        www.ntgts.org

OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS

JANUARY 2009

What:       PTC 2009

When:      January 18-21, 2009

Where:     Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Honolulu, Hawaii

Time:        See website

Speakers:  Various

Contact:     info@ptc.org

URL:         www.ptc.org

What:       Metro Connect USA 2009

When:      January 27-28, 2009

Where:     Miami, Florida

Time:        See website

Speakers:  Various

Contact:     Kate Silsby, Marketing Coordinator, kate.silsby@capacitymedia.com

URL:         www.capacitymedia.com/conferences

What:       IPTV World Forum Latin America 2009

When:      January 27-28, 2009

Where:     Intercontinental Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Time:        See website

Speakers:  Various

Contact:     Janina Calil, Commercial Executive, Janina.calil@ibcbrasil.com.br

URL:         www.informagroup.com.br.

FEBRUARY 2009

What:       36th Annual PURC Conference:  Changes in Climate and Information Technologies: 

                Who’s Driving Utility Policy?

When:      February 4-5, 2009

Where:     Hilton UF Conference Center, Gainesville, Florida

Time:        See website

Speakers:  Various

URL:         www.cba.ufl.edu/purc/annualconf

What:       AHCIET Convergence 2009

When:      February 17-19, 2009

Where:      See website

Time:        See website

Speakers:  Various

URL:         www.ahciet.es

QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT

If you have questions about NTGTS/CTC, send them to membership@ntgts.org. 

For technical matters, contact Brenda Egeland at Brenda@redletterdesign.net.

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

·         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.