|
|
|
Group wants to boost technological jobs
here
By Russ Kent
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- When it comes to technological upgrades, repairs, solutions
and ideas, local companies usually pay for help outside north central
Ohio.
"We're going to spend (millions) on technology in the next several
years," said Dave Bishop, information technology manager for MedCentral
Health Systems. "Most of that money is going outside this area."
Members of the North Central IT Alliance hope to change that equation.
The group had its first meeting Thursday at Braintree Center for
Business Innovation. About 20 participants agreed that a priority for
this area is making the kind of technology needed by companies like
MedCentral available locally.
"That's money that someday could be spent right here," said Dave Baldwin
of Aquarian Technology Systems in Lexington. "That's the type of thing
we can work to change."
Unfortunately, the types of systems, maintenance and software required
to help MedCentral isn't available here. If they are, no one knows they
are offered.
Ohio has a network of regional IT alliances funded by Ohio's IT
Alliance, a state program that encourages growth of IT businesses and
infrastructure.
"This group can be an important voice," said Evan Scurti of Ashland
Economic Development. "We have a large group of small manufacturers in
Ashland County and in Richland County that are always talking about
developing Web sites and getting more access to this type of technology.
But they don't know how to go about doing those things."
Bill Summer, who operates Fake-Plastic (www.fake-plastic.com), is a
free-lance graphic artist and Web designer.
"We have a lot of capabilities right here," he said. "It's tough to get
the word out about what we do. We have to do a better job of selling
ourselves."
That's one goal of the North Central IT Alliance.
"We need to complete an online directory of IT Services," said Bob
Cohen, executive director of Braintree. "If it has to do with
technology, we want to list it and make that list available to anyone
who might need it."
The group isn't limiting itself to those directly involved in IT
businesses.
"Anything that can be a facilitator in increasing the number of
technology-related businesses should be involved," Cohen said. "That
includes accountants, attorneys, consulting people, real estate
professionals. If there's a need, who do we know and what can we do to
meet that need locally?
"The bottom line is that we need to promote these kinds of businesses.
And we need to get the businesses in this area to support other
businesses in this area."
Another goal is to change the perception north central Ohioans have of
themselves.
"We can't continue to bemoan the loss of manufacturing," Baldwin said.
"And there is the knowledge industry. That's something we can build
upon. We can make this an identifiable market in the world market. With
technology available today, there should be no limits. We don't have to
be talking about Mansfield and Bellville, or Mansfield and Ashland. We
can start talking about Mansfield and Taiwan and Tucson."
IT events
The IT Alliance has scheduled three upcoming events:
The IMPACT Technology Summit is set for Sept. 16 at OSU-Mansfield and
North Central State College.
The next meeting of the North Central IT Alliance will be Oct. 6 at
Braintree.
A Tech Thursday evening, patterned after area Business After Hour
programs, is slated Oct. 27 at Braintree.
Anyone interested in joining the alliance should contact Cohen at (419)
525-1614 or bcohen@braintreepartners.org or Baldwin at (419) 884-6110 or
dbaldwin@aquariansys.com.
Originally published August 20, 2005 |
|
|
|
