TIGAR Showcase Recap

The first annual TIGAR – Technology Industry Gurus of the Appalachian Region – Showcase was a huge success! The Showcase co-produced by the IT Alliance of Appalachian Ohio (ITAAO), and the Center for Information Technology Education (CITE) at Ohio University sought to attract IT businesses from the south central and south east region of Ohio, and the newly graduating IT students from the regions colleges, and it did just that. “We wanted to create a business to business atmosphere and also introduce the business community to the region’s newly graduating IT professions”, said Gary Little, president of ITAAO.

Fifteen companies and organizations registered for the first TIGAR Showcase. Three more companies joined the Showcase the day of the event and numerous companies toured the Showcase to meet the region’s IT sector. “We made some good business contacts today”, said Galen Kelch, Operations Manager of OhioHills.com, a region-wide internet service provider headquartered in Logan. And Michael Haller, Project Manager with IT Toolworks of Marietta, said they made a business contact with one of the other Showcase exhibitors. IT Toolworks also provided on-line survey kiosks for Showcase viewers and participants to complete.

The Showcase was held on April 24, at Baker Center on the Ohio University campus in Athens. This location provided optimal exposure to the adjacent business community and the students at Ohio University. IT students at the regions other colleges and universities were also invited to the Showcase. Michael Kornmiller with Functional Media, a web site developer in the Athens business incubator, the Innovation Center, said, “one student said he was surprised to find so many IT companies in the region”.

Special guests at this year’s Showcase were the Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, Jennifer Simon, and Congressman Ted Strickland’s Field Representative, Christi Lynch.

“Nearly all the exhibitors have said they will return next year, and we are already hearing from others that want to be in the TIGAR Showcase for 2003”, said Little.

Email: cindyp@itaao.net
Phone: 877.850.6367