*****************************

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

-           Leader Spotlight, Q&A with Vic Velevis, Advisory Board Member, NTGTS/CTC

-           Membership Drive

-           Audio Conferencing/Webinar Services Needed

-           NTGTS on LINKEDIN

-          Call for Speakers

-           Jobs, Resources, and More

-           Events Calendar 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

Dear NTGTS Members, 

I hope this note finds you doing well and that your last months of summer are enjoyable for you and your family.  I cannot believe that summer 2009 is almost coming to an end. 

Our organization has been busy with hosting programs, implementing projects outlined in our 2009 Strategic Plan, and planning programs for the end of the year.  We recently sent out a notice seeking new leaders into the organization.  If you have time, are motivated and committed to your personal and professional growth, we would welcome hearing from you and seeing how you can become an addition to our leadership team.  As you know, volunteer, non-profit organizations are challenging to sustain without membership dues and necessary volunteer support.  We appreciate all of our existing leadership and would encourage thinking about how you and/or a colleague could further assist the organization.  Please contact me at president@ntgts.org with any questions you may have about this initiative.  We have an on-line leadership application and it can be found at http://www.ntgts.org/component/option,com_facileforms/Itemid,61/   

At this time, I want to thank our newest intern, Deepak Lakshman, for jumping into the organization and moving forward with some critical projects that we needed help on.  Deepak’s impact has already been felt throughout the organization, particularly, what he has done to enhance the News Flash publication.   

We will continue to work to finish the year strong. 

We look forward to your continued involvement. Enjoy the rest of your summer. 

My very best,

Jeremy L. Azif

LEADER SPOTLIGHT, Q&A WITH VIC VELEVIS, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER, NTGTS/CTC

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

I was a manager with Schlumberger Technologies when a former Vice President that I had worked for there, recruited me into the technology staffing industry. Initially, I was involved in IT staffing and then while with an international staffing firm, Hudson, I managed the start-up of their North American Telecom Practice. I found the Telecom industry, especially with the evolution of wireless networks fascinating. Now, I’ve been with Fusion Solutions now over three years. Much of what we do involves designing, installing and maintaining wireless networks. 

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

Two basic ideas

• Stay on top of the business and technology trends.
• Always continue to build your personal network.

Knowing what’s going on in our industry is critical to always being valuable to your organization. Networking will keep you open to new possibilities.  

What is your biggest challenge? 

Our challenges are continuing to find good talent to add to our organization as we continue to grow.  Aggressive and hard working people are not easy to find, even in this time when more talent than usual is available on the market. 

How do you balance work and life? 

Our two children are grown and off on their own. Our son is a lawyer in Dallas and our daughter is a fiction writer living in California. With grown children, the balancing act is a lot easier. When my wife and I need to get away for a break, we like to go to the California Wine Country. 

Please describe an average day in your life. 

My office day is usually 8:30 a.m. to around 6:00 p.m.  As a business, we try not to have a lot of meetings but we do have lots of individual communications. I manage our sales team and also manage some accounts myself.  So, I talk with my personal clients, mentoring our Account Managers and going on some calls with them. 

Value of NTGTS Membership. 

NTGTS helps me with the two aspects of the advice that I gave above – staying up with the technology trends and networking. The presentations always add to my base of knowledge about our industry. Also, at the meetings, I’m continually meeting interesting, new people to network with. 

What I do. 

I’m the Vice President of Sales at Fusion Solutions.  We’re a contract staffing and search firm focused on Telecom, Network Communications and IT. We’ve been recognized for our growth for the last 2 years by Inc Magazine in their Inc500 list and By SMU in their “Dallas 100” list of fastest growing companies in Dallas. My efforts are all around growing our sales team and our client base. 

Technology I cannot live without. 

My Blackberry!!!  

Technology I can live without. 

I’m not much of a Twitterer! 

Favorite Restaurant anywhere in the world. 

The best restaurant I’ve ever been to is Mario Batali’s “Babbo” in Manhattan. A favorite of my wife and I the Napa Valley is “Mustards”. Locally, I’m a big fan of “La Duni”.  Their entrees are always great and the desserts are unbelievable. 

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. 

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. 

CALL FOR SPEAKERS

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 August 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 

PURC ENERGY ECONOMIST 

PURC will be hiring an energy economist to address the large volume of energy research opportunities that are coming in as a result of the current global interest in energy, among other reasons.  They have received so many requests for energy research collaborations from the University of Florida, other universities, and non-universities that they need to add this position to keep up with the demand. The deadline to apply will be September 9, 2009. (Those interested are advised to apply through the university’s GatorJobs(http://www.purc.ufl.edu) online applicant tracking system.)  

THE CIO SYMPOSIUM 

The TBC is seeking executives for the latest CIO Symposium, coming this fall.  This program provides chief technology executives with an invitation-only, peer-to-peer event featuring high-profile executives addressing issues impacting the industry. Invitations will be extended to CIOs, CTOs, VPs of IT, and high level of technology managers.  To request an invitation, please e-mail Kathryn McNeill at kmcneill@dallaschamber.org and include the following information:  name, company, title, email address, phone number and your responsibilities. For more information see http://www.dallastbc.org/programs/cio-symposium/index.html

BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce are soliciting experts to evaluate grant proposals for the $4.7 billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), an important part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  NTIA is accepting applications for its first round of BTOP grants from July 14, 2009 until August 14, 2009, and will conduct panel reviews through at least the end of September, 2009.  As a reviewer, your evaluations will be an important factor considered by NTIA in determining whether to award grant funding.  To be considered as a reviewer you must have significant expertise and experience in at least one of the following areas: 1) the design, funding, construction, and operation of broadband networks or public computer centers; 2) broadband-related outreach, training, or education; and 3) innovative programs to increase the demand for broadband services. I n addition you must agree to comply with Department of Commerce policies on conflict of interest and confidentiality.  For additional information, please see http://www.broadbandusa.gov/

TMG:  COMPREHENSIVE 3G LICENSING DATA SETS FOR 40 COUNTRIES 

Telecommunications Management Group, Inc. (TMG), www.tmgtelecom.com, is a premier consulting firm, based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, dedicated to advising clients on telecommunications and information technology matters.  TMG is pleased to announce the launch of a new product, 3G licensing around the World: Country Data Sets.  It is an important tool for understanding the operators, spectrum awarded and other conditions associated with third generation (3G) mobile licenses in the 1.9 GHz/2.1 GHz and 1.7 GHz/2.1 GHz spectrum bands.  TMG has compiled data from regulators and operators in order to present the most up-to-date information on 3G licenses in 40 countries.  3G licensing around the World presents detailed profiles for 150 current 3G licensees.  For more details, including ordering information, please see http://reports.tmgtelecom.com/3G. 

INFORMATION GATEKEEPERS:  NEW TELECOM WEBINAR BRIEFING SERIES 

Building on its Executive Telecom Briefing series, Information Gatekeepers Inc. (IGI) is launching a new series of Electronic Telecom Briefings.  Similar to the face-to-face Briefings, the webinar series will focus on market opportunities in HOT market areas such as Mobile Internet Data, Active Optical Cables, Smart Grids, IPv6, and Next Generation Networks, Bandwidth Needs in the Access Networks, and Telecom Regulation and Policy. Instructors will include world renowned experts with substantial backgrounds in each subject area.  For more information, please contact: Ian Smith ian@igigroup.com. 

LESSONS FROM THE CANADIAN AWS AUCTION

Industry Canada completed Canada’s advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum auction in July 2008.  A recent study that NERA conducted for the Canadian telecommunications company TELUS analyzed the auction, and found that it may have been distorted by the insertion of incompatible regulatory goals into the auction process.NERA’s analysis showed that while the auction generated higher revenues than expected, the most important reason for this was due to arbitrage opportunities in the auction design generated by the regulator’s decision to set-aside 44 percent of the available spectrum for “entrants” which, as defined, were as all qualified bidders except the three largest incumbent mobile operators.  As evidenced in the UK 3G and other 3G auctions in the early 2000s, the resulting inflated spectrum prices can negatively affect competition as investors tend to sell their holdings when earnings decrease and/or debt ratings drop.  In severe cases, it can lead to market exit or market consolidation, all of which has a direct effect on competition.  The report is available for free upon request at: www.nera.com.

MOBILE BROADBAND IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

The European and North American mobile broadband markets show continued growth fuelled by declining prices and improving performance.  Berg Insight estimates the total global number of shipped mobile broadband devices in 2008 to 37.2 million, with Europe and North America accounting for 18.2 million units and 3.7 million units respectively.  Get up to date with the latest developments in this 150 page report in Berg Insight's NGT Research Series.  Find out more here:  http://www.berginsight.com/ShowReport.aspx?m_m=3&id=83. 

MOBILE BANKING AND PAYMENTS 

What role will mobile handsets play in future payment and banking systems?  The worldwide number of users of mobile banking and related services is forecasted to grow from 20 million users in 2008 at a compound annual growth rate of 89.0 percent to reach 913 million users in 2014.  Get up to date with the latest information about vendors, products and markets in this 120 pages report from Berg Insight.  Find out more here: http://www.berginsight.com/ShowReport.aspx?m_m=3&id=81 

MOBILE INTERNET 2010 

These are exciting times:  the mobile web is coming of age, patterns and preferences in user behaviors are emerging and it is possible to start discerning market trends and with greater detail predict coming developments.  Find out about the latest trends and initiatives in usage and applications of mobile Internet today and tomorrow in this Berg Insight report that takes on where Mobile Internet 2.0 ended. Find out more here: http://www.berginsight.com/ShowReport.aspx?m_m=3&id=78. 

MOBILE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING - 2ND EDITION 

How to transform the mobile handset into an advertising platform?  As the global numbers of mobile subscribers approach 4 billion, there is no question regarding the potential reach of the mobile medium.  Yet advertisers, agencies and telecom industry players are still searching for the winning formula that will unlock the market.  Learn more in the second edition of this 100 page report in Berg Insight's VAS Research Series.  Find out more here: http://www.berginsight.com/ShowReport.aspx?m_m=3&id=76. 

TM FORUM MANAGEMENT WORLD CONFERENCES FOR 2010:  MANAGEMENT WORLD ASIA, MANAGEMENT WORLD AFRICA AND MANAGEMENT WORLD MIDDLE EAST 

These three Management Worlds are the leading conferences in these regions, focusing on the creation, delivery, management and monetization of new communications services.  All three conferences will examine regional markets and their economic outlook; going beyond survival and looking to economic recovery.  The conferences will also focus on reducing costs through operational excellence, reducing churn through higher-quality customer experience, and unlocking new revenues through new business models.  They will identify how to make new business models a reality and deliver new services quickly and efficiently in order to grow revenues.  Finally it will examine the digital value chain, the changing roles of its participants and how they can all make money.  Please submit your proposals here: http://www.tmforum.org/CallforSpeakersSubmission/7434/home.html?ctr=24508612.

GLOBAL 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 August 15, 2009 and should be sent to Radwa Morsy gmr2009@aucegypt.edu.  For further details, see www.gmr2009.org.  

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PLANNING – A SURVIVAL TOPIC IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The recent announcement of Alcatel-Lucent  in appointing a top-level executive to oversee transformation across all of their divisions, emphasizes the need for attention to transformation. To help meet that need for attention, Information Gatekeepers Inc. (IGI) is proud to present its brand new series of reports on the subject of telecommunications business transformation and the next-generation network.  

To aid its clients, IGI is currently offering two promotions on the Telecom Business Transformation Series:

·         Purchase any one report in the series and receive a second of equal or lesser value FREE.

·         Purchase the complete Telecom Business Transformation Series (All 4 reports) at a 60% discount.

For more information on these reports, please visit igigroup.com 

EVENTS CALENDAR 

AUGUST 

What:        Small Business Roundtable - Secrets of Customer Service

When:      August 20, 2009

Where:      Richardson, TX

Time:         7:30 to 8:30 AM

Speaker:        Various

URL:     http://events.richardsonchamber.com/sbaweb/events/events.asp?&id=7767&wpid=-101&cale_id=305&details=true&newsession=TRUE&sid=707467158

What:        WTCI:  A Taste of Business in Cuba

When:      August 20, 2009

Where:      Baltimore, MD

Time:         5:00 to 7:00 PM

Speaker:        Various

URL:          https://www.wtci.org/events/Tasteof/tasteofcuba/flyer.html 

What:        GeekMeet Happy Hour

When:      August 27, 2009

Where:      Capitol Pub, Dallas, TX

Time:         6:00 to 900 PM

URL:         http://www.geekmeet.com   

SEPTEMBER 

What:        WITI Dallas Annual Luncheon Presented by Wells Fargo

When:      September 1, 2009

Where:      Richardson, TX

Time:         11:00 AM

Speaker:        Various

URL:         http://www.witi.com/dallas/meeting.php?id=2311  

What:        China and Maryland:  A Mid-Year Review of Business & Trade Relations

When:      September 10, 2009

Where:      Vienna, VA

Time:         5:30 - 7:30 PM

Speaker:        Various

URL:         https://web.memberclicks.com/ mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=ccgmu&formId=54673 

What:        NVTC: Premier Titans Series - Steve Forbes

When:      September 15, 2009

Where:      Leesburg, VA

Time:         7:45 to 9:15 AM

Speaker:        Steve Forbes

URL:          http://www.nvtc.org/events/geteventinfo.php?event=TITANS-28  

What:       Catwalk09

When:      September 16-17, 2009

Where:      Karlskrona, Sweden

Time:         All day

Speaker:        Various

URL:         www.telecomcity.org 

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

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.