|
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grace selected as Tech Exec of the Week for Louisiana!Tech Exec of the Week
President Louisiana Technology Council
"Joseph (Joe) Grace" and "Technology in Louisiana". Two words that blend together as easy natural as red beans and rice and as native as gumbo. In many ways, Joe Grace was and is technology in this city and state. For those very reasons he is identified with the successes and the challenges. Other technology councils and community organizations have modeled after the Louisiana Technology Council (formerly known as the New Orleans Technology Council) and have also achieved successes. It would be less than candid if I wrote about Joe Grace and not publicly acknowledge our past disagreements. But, there is no denying his tenacity. There is also no ignoring his ability to bring technology issues to the table when others would rather table the discussion. For these reasons and others it is Bayoubuzz's honor to select Joe Grace, as Tech Exec of the Week. How would you assess the New Orleans technology community's development in
the past 8 to 10 years, comparatively speaking? We worked diligently to put together databases and lists of companies that could provide excellent service to the region. Many of the companies were privately held and they were not that interested in anyone knowing what they did or how much money they made. Eventually, this obstacle was put aside and the companies began to look to each other, as well as to market themselves and their portfolio of skills to the region. As the Council developed, we became the point of contact for many of these companies and the "portal" for technology in the region. Companies that needed services called us to find out who might provide those services; companies that had services, made sure that we knew their line card and asked us to promote their services and find customers. The blend was the new Council. This resulted in a new community of the "techie" industry that started to gain momentum. This trend was well behind many other cities, but as is the case with many other aspects of technology - it is a rapid rise back into the fold. The initiatives that were created out at the University of New Orleans Research and Technology Park have been critical to the development of our technology community. With the formation of the Information Technology Center - some forty seven companies merging together on a common project, and the building of hundreds of thousands of square feet of filled space - the technology community received a tremendous shot in the arm. Our city is not at all at the top of the chart for technology and
infrastructure. In this area we are sorely lacking. We have not made the
investment to put our city services and access on line. This is again an area
that with the right infusion of capital we can rise to the top - but to date
that investment has not been made. We are poised for success - but we have not
taken the leap to make it a reality. Other cities that have more of a critical
mass are forced to make the investment to keep up with the business community.
Our community is still growing and trying to find its niche in this service
oriented market. Critical mass will certainly drive the city to catch up. We have been a state that has not taken advantage of technology to grow our economy. As a result, we are in catch up mode. We have a large rural population that has not been able to take advantage of many of the technologies that are available in the larger cities. Many of our companies do business with friends, family and out of state vendors. Many of the contracts from within Louisiana have been issued to companies outside of Louisiana. This has made growth of the industry difficult. The lack of standards that were widely accepted within the industry has also been a key impediment to our development. It is essential that we select standards - build to the standard - and encourage innovation within the state infrastructure. This will make doing business within the state much easier - it will not make the growth of the private sector assured, but it will give us the ability to communicate, bid, deliver and track metrics of performance that will certainly help us in the long run. Again, the technology community of Louisiana is poised to make some significant strides and implement some tremendous initiatives - this will hinge on the investment that is made - the commitment that is delivered and the cooperative efforts of the leaders. What roles do you believe the Louisiana Technology Council will be able to
fulfill over the next few years? We work closely with the Council of Regional Information Technology
Associations (CRITA) and I represent Louisiana and the LTC on the Executive
Committee of that organization. We are very much aware of the best practices and
strategies of other cities and states. To date, it has been difficult to build
consensus and bridge the gaps that exist within the regions - but we are hopeful
that we will be able to build these relationships into working models. Our maritime, port and shipbuilding technology potential is incredible. We need to find our niches and then invest to make them successful business opportunities. Who are some of the real local brightstars you see in the future (companies and/or individuals) The entire Research and Technology Park at UNO, the Gene Therapy initiative
with LSUMC and Tulane, St. Charles Pharmaceuticals, Pamlab, Axxon, TurboTrip,
Proxity Digital Networks and many more - these are some of the players that are
emerging. In order to really take New Orleans into the future, an investment has to be made into the Technology Sector. For the New Orleans region, there is no better group positioned to make that happen than the Louisiana Technology Council. Were funding provided at a significant level, many of the programs that we have put on hold - incubators, venture funds, accelerators, job postings, consortiums and more - could all become a reality. We are very well informed as to the lay of the land and it will only take some capital to make many more things come together. By working with MetroVision, the Jefferson Edge, the Chamber and the City - I am very confident that this city could really be turned into a significant player in the south for technology. Our schools, universities, businesses and neighborhoods would all profit from the investment. City services, systems, business processes, permitting, and many other aspects of government could be put on line to make this an easy place to do business. It is time to make the investment - we are ready to make New Orleans a true "plug and play" kind of town - we just need a Mayor that is committed to the vision. Other cities and states make very large commitments to the technology sector. We have not seen that commitment here in New Orleans, The time is now - the future is now - and it is our responsibility to make a difference. Article was published in BayouBuzz.com - a Stephen Sabludowsky publication.
For More Information Contact: |
|
Send mail to
info@graceandassociates.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
Joseph
Grace