Working to develop technology leadership in North Texas

By Ed Riefenstahl - Fort Worth Business Press, 01/25/2010

Question: Should North Texas strive to be the “Technology Commercialization Center of the USA?” Answer: A resounding yes.

Economically-speaking, the local impact that stems from a continuing, developing technology base would be substantially more significant than even the “House of Jerry Jones.” Though  sports stadiums and sports teams, create – as the economists say – a positive multiplier effect, that economic effect can pale when compared to the benefits of an environment that nourishes investments in state-of-the-art technologies that improve the world. A rich, technologically innovative environment attracts and keeps creative, forward-thinking talent to North Texas. In turn, it is this “human capital” that produces an even more dramatic economic multiplier.

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dave Sanders, executive committee member of TechAmerica. TechAmerica is the nationally merged organization formed from the American Electronics Association and the Information Technology Association of America, of which Sanders was past chairman. At the global level, TechAmerica is one of 60 members of WITSA, the World Information Technology and Services Alliance.  

Though Dave sits on the national executive committee of TechAmerica, his heart and passion is to his Texas home. At the local level, Dave briefed me on TechAmerica Texas. TechAmerica Texas is lead by Executive Director Jeff Clark. TechAmerica Texas’ mission is focused on:

• Economic development in the state of Texas;

• Texas public policy (as it pertains to technology development and technology transfer); and

• Workforce development (of which key, local universities such as TCU, North Texas, UT-Dallas and UT-Arlington have a significant, local role to play.

Dave reminded me of the disparate technology-focused organizations in North Texas who still do not seem to coordinate in as meaningful and productive fashion as they could. We chatted about the role of the North Texas Commission that was formed in the 1970s to bring various chambers, community and business groups together to focus on the benefits to North Texas of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.  That reference helped me see how TechAmerica Texas was focused on bringing together groups from all over Texas in order to advance technology in our state.

Dave asked me for my recommendations of the key technology players in Fort Worth that he should get to know and introduce to his organization and its mission? Without hesitation, I told him TECH Fort Worth; and that Darlene Ryan, executive director, and Brent Sorrells, operations manager, have turned that institution around over the last three years. Like Dave, Darlene and Brent share the same vision of achieving their organizational mission charter, while seeking to fully collaborate on a North Texas, state and national level. Darlene was recently voted into board membership of the NBIA, or National Business Incubator Association.

Dave and Darlene did meet last week and Dave heard about the regional initiatives of TECH Fort Worth, in particular the Breakthrough Workshop – a series of interactive sessions to assist local university researchers with the development of their intellectual property to meet the needs of the market – and the second annual TECH Fort Worth IMPACT Awards.

The IMPACT Awards are scheduled for May 12 at TCU’s Brown-Lupton Student Center. The award showcase focuses on new companies with proprietary technologies who have the potential for greatest growth. Awards are made in three categories: Health, Environment and Community. The awards are intended to increase awareness in the North Texas community about new organizations that will diversify and strengthen the area’s economy – improving our local standard of living and quality of life while bettering the world in the years ahead.

TECH Fort Worth also has been a great area partner for local members of The Alternative Board (TAB). The first Wednesday of every month, TAB holds its Business Bites Lunch and Learn Speaker Series at TECH Fort Worth’s offices, located in the old Guinn School at the corner of Rosedale and Interstate 35 in Fort Worth. The series introduces to TAB business owner members, invited guests and to TECH Fort Worth Accelerator clients local business professionals who share practical “bites” or tips in all aspects of business: planning, marketing, human resources, operations, finance, legal, etc.

If you have an interest in seeing how you might get involved with some of the upcoming regional initiatives of TechAmerica, contact Tiffany Sefton at tiffany.sefton@techamerica.org. TechAmerica Texas is sponsoring, along with Scott & Scott, a “Techworking” event on Feb. 4 where it will be inviting all of the technology groups in North Texas to come together and share information on their groups and goals.  

And if you are a regional, new organization with some form of intellectual property – and would like the opportunity to gain exposure (and possible assistance) through submitting an application for the upcoming TECH Fort Worth’s IMPACT award – go to www.impactourworld.com or contact Brent Sorrels at brent@techfortworth.org.

Ed Riefenstahl is the Fort Worth area managing director of The Alternative Board. He also founded and leads Neeley & Associates Consultants at TCU's Neeley School of Business.