Digest Newsletter | May 2021 |
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Dear TECNA Members,
TECNA’s U.S. Public Policy Committee is in the process of finalizing a U.S. public policy agenda with issues that will grow the technology ecosystem across the United States and ultimately across North America.
TECNA’s agenda advocates for policies that support the below important facets of a thriving tech ecosystem. TECNA will support policies that:
1. Promote innovation and company growth;
2. Foster developing, attracting, and retaining a diverse and highly qualified workforce; and
3. Provide for the appropriate infrastructure for the technology ecosystem to thrive.
Several issues such as taxation, K-20 STEM education, immigration reform for highly skilled workers, and broadband access fall into the above buckets.
The U.S. Public Policy Committee is chaired by Heather Maxfield, Vice President, Government Affairs & Statewide Economic Development at the Technology Association of Georgia and Vice Chaired by Alex Curtis, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at the Nashville Technology Council.
I encourage you to get involved with TECNA’s public policy efforts. You, representing your member companies, can make a difference in public policy that will make a positive difference to the technology ecosystem for your members. TECNA represents over 22,000 companies through our membership – that is a huge voice – and one that elected officials will listen to if we are all speaking to them with a united voice! I realize that due to tax status, some TECNA members are unable to participate in advocacy efforts, however, you are able to educate others, elected officials included, on the issues your members are facing and ways those issues could be remedied.
TECNA will be hosting our annual Fly-In this year virtually. The date has yet to be set - so stay tuned. If you are interested in participating in TECNA’s advocacy efforts, please let me, Heather or Alex know. You may not know the specifics of particular bills and the ins and outs of your state or the federal government, but you do know your members. The rest TECNA can help with!
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Jennifer G. Young
Chief Executive Officer
Technology Councils of North America
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Board of Directors
The Committee, chaired by Sara Fraim (MassTLC), is seeking nominations for the TECNA Board of Directors. Per TECNA by-laws, only two members of the board shall not be CEOs of an active member council. Currently, those positions are filled. In order to be nominated for this open position, you must be the CEO of a member in good standing to qualify for nomination.
Nominations are due by Monday, May 31.
To submit your nomination, please send your expression of interest with a biography or resume to: Alina Hardy at [email protected].
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TECNA 2021 Online Summer Conference
Wednesday-Friday, July 21-23, 2021
We're excited to announce registration is now OPEN for the 2021 Virtual TECNA Summer Conference!
This year’s conference offers a focused program on best practices of impactful solutions to serve your members as well as potential new revenue sources to help to grow your tech council -- all ways to increase your value to your members, partners and stakeholders!
New Team Rate
Because this is a virtual conference, we hope you will bring as many team members as possible! TECNA is offering a flat rate for Councils that bring 3 or more attendees!
The Early-Bird Discount for Members ends Wednesday, June 9th so Register Online ASAP!
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2021 TECNA Innovation Awards
Deadline Extended for the 3rd annual TECNA Innovation Awards to Monday, June 7, 2021. We hope you will use this extra time to thoughtfully consider celebrating the work of your team in 2020 by submitting one or more nominations.
The 2021 awards will recognize TECNA Member Council staff who have developed and implemented innovative and impactful work on behalf of their tech association or council in 2020.
Celebrate the work of your team in one (ore more) of our 2021 Innovation Award Categories:
- Innovative Member & Client Services
- Creative Marketing & Communications
- Talent Pipeline & Workforce
- Major Impact on Tech Community
- Public Policy/Advocacy
- Innovative Virtual Events
- Innovation in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Read award category details and submit nominations on our website - click here. New Nomination Deadline Monday, June 7th.
Finalists and winners will be recognized during the 2021 Online TECNA Summer Conference in July.
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Wisconsin Technology Council is leading the formation of The Wisconsin Fund Coalition, a group of people, companies and organizations formed to advance legislative discussion of a state budget proposal to invest $100 million in a privately matched, venture capital fund of funds. The Wisconsin Fund would be along the lines of what nearby states – Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois – have done to attract outside dollars and to grow young companies. Visit www.wisconsinfundcoalition.com to learn more.
TechPoint recognized 16 award winners and honorees for its 22nd annual Mira Awards from among a record-breaking 211 applications this year. A new award category—the Pandemic Pivot of the Year—recognized two tech employers who responded to the health and economic crisis in remarkable ways. Check out the winners and highlights.
Tech Collective announces the promotion of Creusa Michelazzo to the position of Executive Director of their Rhode Island technology hub - learn more.
ChaTech is hiring for an influential and energetic Executive Director (ED) who will drive value for current and prospective member companies and the Chattanooga community - learn more.
OhioX shares about the success of their April Tech Policy Summit - read more. And OhioX is hosting a 'Future of Cities' event on June 17 and you're invited - learn more.
Arizona Technology Council wins IMPACT Business of the Year and Exceptional Innovator Honors in 34th Annual Greater Phoenix Chamber IMPACT Awards - read more. American Express VP Matt Grant joins the AZTC Board of Directors enhancing its Board's expertise in FinTech and Banking - read more.
The Northern Virginia Tech Council hosted its third annual NVTC Impact AI Summit on May 10 – 13. Click here to listen to recordings of the presentations.` Plus - the second event in NVTC’s Data Science Speaker Series sponsored by Virginia Tech will feature Taka Ariga, Chief Data Scientist, U.S. Government Accountability Office. Everyone is welcome to attend this complimentary event on May 25 - more info here.
The Tech Titans Innovation Collider will host a virtual Reverse Pitch event featuring representatives from AT&T, CBRE, Cisco, Ericsson, and State Farm. They will share tips and advice about what their companies are looking for from innovators and entrepreneurs to help them develop new ideas, products, and partnerships - Event is Free to Register - Learn More.
PACT in Philadelphia is seeking a Director of Member Success to contribute to their mission of being a go-to resource for fast growing companies, a driver of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Philadelphia region, and a leader in creating access and equity for underrepresented founders - learn more.
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Best Practices Databank
We're gathering Member Documents and Best Practices to add to TECNA's databank of resources available to all TECNA Members.
Documents available to all TECNA Member Staff on the Resources tab when you login to tecna.org/login include Job Descriptions, Governance Docs, Event Best Practices, Membership Structures and more.
If you have files you're willing to share with the TECNA membership, please send them to Alina at [email protected]
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CEO Happy Hour
Third Thursday Each Month at 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET via Zoom
All TECNA Member CEOs and Executive Directors are invited to this informal Zoom gathering each month. Come if you can and stay as short or as long as you can! Some months we will have discussion topics and if so, they will be circulated ahead of time. Contact Jennifer Young at [email protected].
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TECNA Public Policy Advocacy |
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Visit our website for the full U.S. Public Policy Agenda - click here.
U.S. and Canadian Public Policy Committees will be gathering as part of the Virtual Summer Conference in July.
Register online to be added to the US or Canadian Public Policy Committees mailing lists - click here. |
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TECNA Communities of Interest |
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TECNA Communities of Interest (COI) are peer-to-peer collaborations and information-sharing groups exclusively for members: communications, events, membership, public policy and workforce.
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Upcoming COI Webinars Planned for July 2021 as part of the TECNA Summer Conference.
Missed a Recent Webinar?
Past COI webinar recordings and slide decks are available for download in the members-only portal on the TECNA website. Login at tecna.org/login and click on the Resources tab to view.
Requests or ideas for Community of Interest webinar topics, contact the COI Chairs:
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TechGirlz Partnership Opportunities
TECNA and TechGirlz are partnering in 2021 to offer member tech councils the opportunity to host a workshop.
The TechGirlz program works to make learning technology both thrilling and inviting for middle school girls, through their free extra curricular workshops (or TechShopz as their coined them!). From programming to robotics, web/app design, genetics and beyond, there is so much for the TechGirlz to experience. Their vision is to create a world where girls have a lifelong passion and confidence in their use of technology throughout their careers.
TECNA member councils interested in organizing a TechGirlz workshop please contact Alina Hardy, [email protected].
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TECNA Discount for Premier Virtual
We are very pleased to announce TECNA has partnered with Premier Virtual to offer a 2021 TECNA Discount for their platform which offers virtual career fairs and virtual hiring events:
- First Individual Event with Premier Virtual - TECNA Member Cost $3,500
- Additional Individual Events - TECNA Member Cost $4,000
- Yearly License - TECNA Member Cost $15,300 (30% discount)
We are thrilled to offer this TECNA discount! We encourage you to reach out to Jamie Varraso at Premier Virtual directly with any questions about this software that bridges the gap between technology and human interaction.
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TECNA 401k Program Offering
TECNA is partnered with 401(k) Tech Collective to offer the TECNA National 401(k) Program. This is a national retirement program built by the WTIA, one of our member associations. This program has been constructed specifically for technology organizations.
This partnership enables you to offer this exclusive program to your own member companies, providing additional value to their membership and helping them attract and retain talent in this competitive time. It also opens the door to a new revenue opportunity for your association.
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TECNA Health Insurance Benefit
TECNA offers a health insurance benefit for members, as well your members. TECNA is committed to helping member councils provide additional value to you, your staff and your members. Insurance is one area where TECNA may be able to offer immediate savings on items for which you and your members are currently paying. Your council must be a member of TECNA in good standing to qualify for this benefit. Please click here to see an overview of TECNA’s Health Insurance Benefit.
Coming Soon: Member General Liability, Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) Cyber Liability, Property & Workers Compensation Insurance.
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Join TECNA's community on Slack exclusively for TECNA Member Council staff. Slack Channels include membership, events, talent/workforce, policy and private channel for CEOs. |
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TECNA Members Only
You can group chat, private message, share files and search the discussion archive for help and best practices shared by other members.
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Subscribe to TECNA Calendars |
Click a link below and follow the prompts to synchronize with the default calendar on your system (if available). To synchronize with a different calendar, copy and paste the desired URL into your calendar software in the location where feeds are accepted, often identified with "Subscribe", "Add Calendar", etc.
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Thank You to TECNA's Strategic Sponsors |
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Keep Us Informed
We are always looking to provide valuable content to TECNA members. If you have any suggestions for content in the TECNA Digest, please email: [email protected]. |
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