SSTI Digest

It isn't every conference you consider attending that offers so much content in such a dynamic and fun location - so much that this one warrants extending your stay in Baltimore to play over the weekend. Our conference site is strategically located at the center of the Baltimore's exciting Inner Harbor. The active waterfront is beautiful, offering dozens of options to satisfy all of your cravings — dining, tourist attractions, arts, nightlife, shopping and convenient walking tours. The Inner Harbor is just one of the reasons Baltimore is a perennial destination city. Don't just take our word for it, though. Check it out here:  http://www.ssticonference.org/Conf07/amenities.htm

A fun-filled evening of music, drinks and scrumptious hor d'oeurves awaits participants of SSTI's conference with the opening reception at the Marine Mammal Pavilion of the world-famous National Aquarium in Baltimore. This festive event is possible due to the generosity of Team Maryland, a group of 21 Maryland organizations supporting technology-based economic development in their state and region:

SSTI's annual conference is the field's most stimulating and rewarding professional development event of the year. We hope you are planning on joining us in Baltimore, Oct. 18-19. You can expect:

In addition to the 21-member Team Maryland, led by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and the University System of Maryland, SSTI's 11th annual conference is made possible by the support of its national partners. SSTI extends its appreciation and thanks to the generous support received by the following exemplary organizations:

You can bring the whole team to SSTI's 11th Annual conference in Baltimore, Oct. 18-19. Members receive a $100 discount on up to seven conference registrations. Multiple attendees from the same organization allow broader coverage of more of the 19 concurrent breakout sessions, greater networking opportunities with more of the field's top thinkers and practitioners, and super savings on registrations. We encourage you to check out the brochure or the conference website soon to see what we have in store for this year's exceptional conference: http://www.ssticonference.org

Linda Burger was named technology manager of the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

The Tech Council of Maryland/MdBio has appointed Dr. Richard Zakour to lead MdBio and the MdBio Foundation as executive director.

SSTI is wrapping up the conference brochure for our 11th annual conference, Transforming Regional Economies, a mailing that goes to more than 12,000 TBED practitioners. Your organization could be included if you become a conference partner by August 17. Contact Noelle Sheets, director of membership services, to discuss which partnership opportunity best fits your marketing strategy. SSTI’s annual conference provides the opportunity to place your organization at the center of the most dynamic and influential community of tech-based economic development professionals, reinforce your brand, and build relationships in 2007 and beyond. Your organization will enjoy outstanding exposure. In all the right company.

Sen. Patrick Hogan announced he would step down from the Maryland State Senate to become vice chancellor for government relations for the University System of Maryland.

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation has awarded more than $500,000 to seven start-up technology companies. The program, TEDCO’s Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF), is designed to help businesses transfer technology from Maryland universities and federal laboratories into the marketplace. The grants range between $70,000 and $75,000.   TEDCO reports that MTTF has provided funding to 71 companies. With a total investment of $4,078,793, these companies have gone on to receive downstream funding from angel and venture investors, federal awards and other resources exceeding $152.4 million.  

From federal, state and local governments to nonprofit organizations and private industry, nearly every sector has a stake in recruiting youth to the high-tech manufacturing jobs of the future in order to maintain a competitive advantage.   According to a 2005 Survey by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), 80 percent of U.S. manufacturers indicated they face a moderate-to-severe shortage of qualified workers. The survey finds that “this human capital performance gap threatens our nation’s ability to compete in today’s fast moving and increasingly demanding global economy.”   In addition, research shows a direct relationship between manufacturing’s negative image – which is tied to the old stereotype of the assembly line – and the decreasing number of young people pursing manufacturing careers, according to NAM. Several states have enacted programs and partnerships to address not only the shortage of qualified workers, but also the stigma of traditional manufacturing.  

SSTI is pleased to announce that Mr. Kevin Plank, chairman and chief executive officer of Under Armour Inc., will be a keynote speaker at SSTI's 11th Annual Conference on Oct. 18-19 in Baltimore.

As a former special teams captain for the University of Maryland, Kevin Plank began to foster the idea that is now Under Armour in 1995 during his time on the football field. Tired of repeatedly changing the cotton T-shirt under his jersey as it became wet and heavy during the course of a game, he set out to develop a next-generation shirt that would remain drier and lighter and consistently perform under the most extreme conditions. 

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, Mr. Plank has taken Under Armour from a small operation in his grandmother's basement to a company employing more than 1,000 people in just one decade.