IT Day 2009

Innovative Technology for Today's Business Environment

presented by
    

Not able to make IT Day? Click on the links below to view videos of the breakout sessions:

IT Day 2009 Opening Session

IT Day 2009 Luncheon Session

Driving Growth through Sales, Marketing & CRM Technologies

Growing in a Down Economy

Learn More about the Power of Virtualization

Social Networking 101

Using Social Networking to Communicate, Campaign and Connect

Backup, Disaster, Recovery Planning 
 
Web Analytics: Understanding Visitor Behavior

Leveling the Playing Field


Quick Links

About IT Day
Agenda
Keynote Speakers
Breakout Sessions
Roundtable Discussions
Tech Expo
Sponsors
Register to Attend!
Register to Exhibit

About IT Day
IT Day 2009 is designed to provide Business Leaders, IT and Marketing Professionals and others with information on how to best utilize technology in their businesses as well as showcase the latest technologies and trends emerging today.

Attendees Can Expect To...

  • Learn how to use technology to grow your business
  • See the latest and greatest products at a Tech Expo
  • Network with other professionals from your industry
  • Win great prizes!

Date // May 6, 2009

Location // Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront

Ticket Price //   
Members and Comcast Business-Class Customers $80 
Non-member $100

Lunch/Tech Expo Only: $40 

Agenda
7:30 – 8:15 a.m. Registration
8:15 – 9 a.m. Breakfast and Welcome
9:30 -10:30 a.m.  Breakout Session 1
10:40 -11:40 a.m.  Breakout Session 2
Noon – 1:30p.m. Luncheon w/ Robert Stephens
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Roundtable Discussions
2:15 p.m. Door prizes announced, must be present to win
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Breakout Session 3

***The Tech Expo will be open all day

Keynote Speakers

Breakfast Keynote - Samuel J. Levy, EdD, Vice President and CIO, University of St. Thomas
Sam Levy joined the University of St. Thomas community in August 2001.  He was previously executive director the University of Maine System’s statewide network for computing, telecommunications, and distance learning, and was director of The Institute for Learning and Technology at Northern Arizona University.  Dr. Levy has served on numerous boards , published and consulted in the field, and worked in higher education for more than 30 years.

Luncheon Keynote - Robert Stephens, Founder, The Geek Squad
A native of Chicago, Robert left a scholarship at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1990 to pursue a degree in computer science at the University of Minnesota.  In April 1994, after three years at the University, he formed The Geek Squad with $200.  In 2002, the Geek Squad was aquired by Best Buy and opened Geek Squad precinicts in all Best Buy US and Canadian stores.  With over 6,000 Agents, The Geek Squad is now North America's largest technology support company offering phone, in-store, and in-home support.
Breakout Sessions

Session 1

Growing in a Down Economy sponsored by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Speaker: Paul Evans, Director of Technical Services, PC Solutions

In a down economy, companies need to make the best use of their IT spending to get the best results. Paul will focus on the hardware and software investments that will provide a company with the best return on their money. Paul will focus on increasing customer reach, reducing costs in your company and providing better services to your customers.

Social Networking 101 sponsored by Minnesota High Tech Association
Speakers: Wendy Nemitz, Founding Principal, Ingenuity Marketing Group and Christine Nelson, Communications Consultant, Ingenuity Marketing
Group

Social networking is all the buzz...and perhaps overwhelming. Facebook,
LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, can they really support business? Practice some
old-fashioned networking with Ingenuity Marketing Group while learning about
social networking and the easy tips and techniques that support branding,
business development and recruitment.

Driving Growth through Sales, Marketing & CRM Technologies sponsored by Olsen Thielen Technologies, Inc.
Speaker: Gretchen Mann, CRM Practice Manager, Olsen Thielen Technologies, Inc.

Explore how technology-enabled sales and marketing strategies are allowing companies to sell the way customers want to buy.  Discuss the role of CRM in propelling your organization forward, and hear from special guest, Frank Preese, Senior Vice President of Product Development & CIO at AllRegs, how effective implementation of CRM and marketing automation technology is delivering revenue results in his organization!  

Session 2

Learn More about the Power of Virtualization sponsored by VISI
Speaker: Theresa Putzier, IT Practice Manager, Olsen Thielen Technologies, Inc.

The green movement doesn't just apply to automobiles and aluminum cans, it also applies to the technology you use every day in your company. Many firms are utilizing virtualization technologies to realize the benefits of saving money by reducing energy consumption and hardware costs, improving and simplifying disaster recovery, utilizing cost effective test environments, and implementing zero down-time for mission critical applications. Attend this session to learn about the benefits of virtualization and hear a client success story from Joe Willie, Director of IT at The Doherty Employment Group.  

Beginner’s Guide to Technical Solutions sponsored by Swank AV
Speaker: Matt Price, Netrix IT

Computer hardware keeps getting faster, cheaper, and more portable.  Small-to-mid sized businesses may find it’s hard to figure out what all those systems, applications, and acronyms do, let alone decide which ones to purchase and how to successfully support them.   Learn what technology your business needs, how to implement it and how to make sure it works as hard as you do.

Web Analytics: Understanding Visitor Behavior sponsored by Partners and Hunt Creative Group


Speaker: Lisa Helminiak, Principal and Chief Strategist, Azul 7

Hits, page views, unique visits, conversions.  Web analytics provide a lot information about who is coming to your website and how they are interacting with it, but what does this information really mean? The web is a highly measurable tool, yet understanding what's important and what's not,  isn't always easy. In this session, we'll review the basics of web analytics and explore how you can use them to increase your marketing effectiveness.

Session 3

Backup, Disaster, Recovery Planning sponsored by GCI Systems
Speaker: Pat Kenevan, Mid-Market Territory Account Manager, Symantec Corporation

In today’s information-centric world, your data is the lifeblood of your business and protecting that data from loss is vital to your business’ survival.  Disasters do happen and they can come in many forms.  In this session, Symantec will discuss the key concepts of data backup, disaster recovery and business continuity and introduce technologies that will ensure that your data backup strategies meet your data recovery requirements regardless of the circumstances.

Leveling the Playing Field: Arming your Small Business to Deliver the Big Business Experience sponsored by Securian
Speaker: Chuck Eller, Comcast Business Services

Your business may be small, but your customers can perceive you like a Fortune 500 company. Learn how your responsiveness, creativity and ability to focus on important business cornerstones such as customer service and referral marketing can help you compete effectively against your competition.

Using Social Networking to Communicate, Campaign and Connect with your Customer sponsored by Saint Paul Pioneer Press
Speakers: Johnny Helmberger, Account Executive, Comcast Business Services; Shawn Gilbert, Support Supervisor, Comcast Business Services

As Social Media sites have grown in popularity, so has the complexity of figuring out which are right for your business. Are you confused about the difference between Twitter, Facebook, and Linked-In and what they might mean to your business? Learn how to choose the best avenues to reach people in a meaningful way, what makes these sites popular, and how you might utilize these unique tools to engage customers and help grow your business.

Roundtable Discussions
These facilitated discussions will allow attendees to share best practices and participate in informal discussions on a variety of topics including: 
  Technology Experts
  Healthcare and Technology
  Finance and Technology
  Technology for Marketing and Advertising
  Sustainable Technology
  Social Networking

Tech Expo
Click here for Vendor Information
A full range of vendors, including specialists in software, websites, hardware, peripherals, e-commerce, consulting and many other technology products and solutions are expected to participate in the Tech Expo.  The Tech Expo will be open throughout the day for attendees to participate in interactive demonstrations and speak with industry experts about best practices and business solutions.

Exhibitors Include:
Asset Recovery Corporation
Comcast Business Services
CRC-ASPEx
Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront
Deluxe Corporation / Partner Up
Easel Solutions
GCI Systems, Inc.
Implex
IV Desk
Keystone Computer Solutions
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Minnesota High Tech Association
Netrix IT
Nexus Information Systems
Olsen Thielen Technologies, Inc.
Partners & Hunt Creative Group
PC Solutions
Phoenix Alternatives / The Minnesota Governor's Council
Press Enter, LLP
Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce
Securian
Staples - Roseville
Swank AV
VISI
Voyage Technologies

Your Ticket to Great Prizes!
Attendees who complete the Technology Ticket by visiting all of our vendors will be entered into the drawing for exciting door prizes and other giveaways! 

Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor // Comcast Business Services

Premier Sponsors // Implex, Swank Audio Visuals

Corporate Sponsors // Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Partners & Hunt Creative Group, Saint Paul Pioneer Press

Contributing Sponsors // Olsen Thielen Technologies, Inc., Securian

Staff Liason
Stephanie Austin // 651.265.2786


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