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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/

-           President’s Message

-           Leader Spotlight, Q&A with Jennifer Ullman, Co-Founder, NTGTS/CTC

-           JETRO Bizmatch @ CEATEC Japan 2009
-           Membership Drive

-           Audio Conferencing/Webinar Services Needed

-           NTGTS on LINKEDIN

-           Call for Speakers

-           Jobs, Resources, and More

-           Events Calendar

Dear Members:

I hope your summer 2009 is off to a wonderful start and that you have lots of outings planned with family and friends.  This past July 4 Holiday weekend was much fun in the Washington, D.C. area.  It is always a great time of year to be in D.C. to celebrate the July 4 Independence Day Holiday. 

It continues to be an exciting year in the telecommunications industry with many changes taking place with new leadership at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications Industry Association (NTIA), and the Department of State.  The new heads of the telecommunications areas at each of these government agencies has much to deal with over the next few years.  For example, rolling out a National Broadband Plan, awarding broadband stimulus funds to companies that want to provide broadband to rural areas and other communities around the U.S. as well as representing the U.S. abroad on international communications matters.

I know I am excited about all these changes taking place—and I hope you are too.  In keeping with the dynamism of our industry, the organization continues to evolve to better serve and provide value to our membership.  We are working on the implementation of our 2009 Strategic Plan.  We continue to develop quality programming and will have more programs on the horizon for the remainder of the year. 

In addition, the organization strives to be “green” and we try to ensure most of our registration, payments, newsletters are all electronic and can be done via our web portal.

I thank you again for your support and hope that we continue meeting your professional and personal needs.  Please contact me directly at president@ntgts.org with any questions or suggestions.

Jeremy L. Azif

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

After graduate school, I worked in management consulting focused on the telecommunications sector and I also worked for a large, global information services provider and news agency.  In addition, I worked for a start-up venture with emphasis on business information products for various vertical industries, including telecommunications.  I also volunteered my time with several non-profit industry organizations that afforded me the opportunity to learn more about the telecommunications industry and gain valuable exposure to different companies, issues, and contacts.

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

I think volunteering your time is an excellent way to learn more about the industry and/or related fields.  I think it is important to be strategic with your volunteering and involvements since time and resources can be slim some times.  It is important to outline your personal and professional goals and ensure your involvements whether volunteering or not are aligned with those goals. 

I believe reading industry publications and other relevant documents to educate yourself are vital.  In order to stay current on the key issues, there are many industry websites that one could go to in order to subscribe to free newsletters and other industry intelligence. 

I also think doing informational interviews and lots of networking are critical.  Talking to individuals who are doing what you may want to do, is smart and can lead to jobs and other opportunities.

What is your biggest challenge? 

My biggest challenge is finding enough time in a given day or week to do all the things that I want to do.  Time and project management are key.  I think making lists to achieve your goals is important. 

How do you balance work and life? 

I make it my business to factor in “fun” as much as possible.  I think one must have an idea of what type of activities he or she plans to do after work and/or on the weekends.  I also find time to ensure I stay connected to my family and friends wherever I am.  This helps give me perspective and enriches my life.

Please describe an average day in your life. 

I wake up, take my breakfast and lunch meals for the day, and ride the metro to downtown D.C.  I try and read the paper on the metro to keep up with the latest news and current events.  Sometimes during the day, I may take a break from the work routine and go for a walk or do an errand.  I may leave the office early evening and walk to various metro stations for extra exercise.  This may not be possible all the time since in the summer months D.C. weather can be very humid and hot.  In the evenings, I go to the gym, take walks, read, do some work for my various volunteer organizations in which I am involved, among other activities.  I almost forgot one important thing:  e-mail.  I normally check e-mail when I get home and might check some of the social networking sites in which I am part of.

Value of NTGTS Membership. 

NTGTS and CTC is a fantastic organization.  As co-founder of the organization, I can attest to the organization’s track record, credibility, and mainstay in the telecommunications industry.  From our inception in 1998, we have grown greatly and have an excellent network of global industry contacts and community of interest.

Our substantive programs and events bring in top notch speakers discussing the latest trends and developments whether from a market, technical, or regulatory/policy perspective.

The organization is led by a dedicated group of volunteers around the United States.  There is much integrity behind the organization’s activities and mission.  I think if you are looking for a job, wanting to network and make new contacts or friends or just learn about the latest VoIP trends, this organization is for you.  I would encourage you to check out our web portals at www.ntgts.org or www.ctconnections.org for more information. 

What I do. 

Currently, I work in the International Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs group at Verizon Communications. 

Technology I cannot live without. 

E-mail and cell phone. 

Technology I can live without. 

Since I am hardly home to watch and/or record to re-watch programs, I would have to say I can live without the DVR or TIVO.

Favorite Restaurant anywhere in the world. 

This is a hard question to answer since I enjoy lots of different food and have traveled much to experience so many different and great restaurants.  Simply put, most pizza places in New York City and the surrounding area are appealing to me.  I enjoy Mediterranean, Asian and many other types of cuisines. 

We will continue to profile other leaders of the organization as well as members.  If you are interested in being profiled in future editions, please contact membership@ntgts.org.

If your company is interested in participating, please contact Mr. Keith Sanders, Assistant Director of Business Development at:  713-654-5258 or keith_sanders@jetro.go.jp.    

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.

We plan to become involved in other social networking sites so watch for these updates in future bulletins.

NTGTS/CTC is presently seeking additional speakers for the remainder of its 2009 Events Calendar. If you are interested in serving as a speaker or know of someone who would be interested, please contact programs@ntgts.org no later than Friday, July 17.

We are seeking speakers for our September - December 2009 programs.  If you have a suggested topic in mind, feel free to let us know and we will consider it. 

Please respond by filling in the Speaker Application On-line Form at http://www.ntgts.org/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=68 . Once your information is reviewed, we will review it and someone from the NTGTS/CTC Leadership team will contact you shortly. 

In advance, thanks for your interest.  We look forward to hearing from you. 

JOBS, RESOURCES AND MORE 

JOB FAIR

With tough economic times facing the entire country and a state unemployment rate of 7.1% (www.bls.gov/lau/), companies with available positions are striving to bring job fairs and career expos to the masses. From healthcare to engineering and technology, employers are seeking experienced professionals to recruit the best and brightest. In the current economic circumstances, they are finding the applicant pool to be larger than ever before.

With research showing that the worst of the recession may be over, some projections have shown that the Dallas region many not regain employment strength until 2010. Assisting in this recovery, Dallas, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Fort Worth, Irving, and Grand Prairie hosted multiple fairs in June and are working to host more throughout the summer months.  Upcoming fairs include multiple Workforce Solutions events and the Dallas Morning News Career Expo featuring engineering, technology, healthcare and professional positions.  If you would like more information on local job fairs, visit the Job Finder link at www.dallaschamber.org/workforce or Workforce Solutions for Greater Dallas Monthly Job Fair calendar.  For more information on the Chamber’s workforce initiatives, contact workforce@dallaschamber.org.

PACIFIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL 

Proposals are now being accepted for the 32^nd Annual Conference of the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PCT).  “PTC’10, Embracing the Cloud: Enabling Connectivity and Innovation” will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa in Honolulu, HI. January 17-20, 2010.  PTC’10 will highlight the impact of the rapid evolution of cloud computing for communications carriers, capacity providers, and providers of undersea cables and satellite services, application developers, media and content providers, and end users.   Proposals should be submitted online no later than July 6, 2009.  For more information see www.ptc.org

TWO FACES OF THE MOBILE ECOSYSTEM:  ECONOMY AND INNOVATION.

Proposals are now being accepted for September dossier of COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIES. COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIES is an international journal that aims to publish peer-reviewed papers focusing on the industry's key issues and offering a forum for the finest socio-economic analysis of the telecoms, IT and audiovisual sectors.  All papers submitted for publication will be reviewed using the "double blind" system by at least two referees, selected based on the subject matter of the paper, from the journal's panel of referees.  Shorter articles appearing in the "Features" section are refereed at the discretion of the Editor.  Please send proposals on 8 July 2009 at the latest, to: s.nigon@idate.orgGLOBAL

MOBILITY ROUNDTABLE The Global Mobility Roundtable (GMR) is an annual, international event that provides an opportunity to build and support sustainable international networks of researchers and practitioners working in the mobile communications and wireless data industry.  The GMR is seeking full length papers, research-in-progress papers and panels.  The best research papers from GMR2009 will be invited to be fast-tracked in regular as well as special issues in the following journals:  International Journal of E-Services and Mobile Applications (IJESMA), International Journal of Mobile Computing and Multimedia Communications (IJMCMC), Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC), International Journal of Mobile Information Systems (IJMIS).  Submissions of all types must be received by 15 July 2009 and should be sent to Radwa Morsy gmr2009@aucegypt.edu.  For further details see www.gmr2009.org.  
 

IMS:  OPERATOR STRATEGIES AND BUSINESS CASES 

The frantic buzz that surrounded IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) from 2004 to 2007 has died down, and it would be easy to think that it had fallen entirely by the wayside.  But in fact operators still see IMS as a crucial part of their future network architectures, although they are taking a very measured approach to rolling out its components, based on business cases and specific triggers.  In this research, outline of some of those business cases and triggers examine the state of IMS deployments in the market today.  For more information, see http://market-research-report.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=analysis&AFFIL=igigroup6666&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=050795 or contact partners@datamonitor.com 

SOCIAL NETWORKING & COMMUNITIES 

The second CMI conference discusses the demands and challenges set out to the market and the stakeholders; to the technology and the interaction between users and the technology; and the users and their demands to the mobile part of the web-based social networking.  CMI welcomes extended abstracts related to research on computer based social networking with particular focus on the following topics (but is in no way limited to):  • Mobility and social networks • Privacy and trust in social networks • User generated content and applications • User experience and acceptance of social network initiatives • New interaction mechanisms in social networks • New services and applications for mobile devices facilitating social networks • Business models for social networks • Standardization and regulation aspects of mobile social networks • Convergence in social networks • Professional social networks and organizational impacts  Deadline for abstracts is August 14.  For instructions for authors, please visit http://conf.cmi.aau.dk/. 

EVENTS CALENDAR 

JULY 

What:         CANTO 2009

When:        July 12-15, 2009

Where:       Hyatt Regency Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago

Time:         See Website

Speaker:     Various

URL:          http://www.canto.org/canto2009/

What:         WNG Seminar: Tough Talk for Hard Times

When:        July 22, 2009

Where:       Merrill Lynch Conference Center Washington, D.C., 20005

Time:         4:30 to 6:30 PM

Speaker:     Various

What:        Geek Meet July Happy Hour

When:        July 23, 2009

Where:       14930 Midway Road, Addison, TX 75001

Time:         6:00 - 9:00PM

Speaker:     Various

URL:          http://www.geekmeet.com/july-happy-hour.html?utm_source=Peashoot&utm_medium=social+media&utm_campaign=ndhitgh0-GM_-_July_HH

 NOVEMBER 

What:         8^th Global Mobility Roundtable (GRM 2009)

When:        November 1-3, 2009

Where:       Cairo Marriott Hotel

Time:         See website

Speaker:     See website

URL:          www.gmr2009.org 

What:   2^nd International Conference in Social Networking and Communities

When:        November 26-27, 2009

Where:       Ballerup, Denmark

Time:         See website

Speaker:     Various

URL:          http://conf.cmi.aau.dk/ 

QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT 

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

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

Editor:  Deepak Chitlur Lakshman, NTGTS Intern

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.

Copyright 2009 NTGTS and CTC.  Copying or distribution in whole or in part is welcome, so long as this notice is included in the distribution.