TechFetch.com and TAG Provide A Meeting Ground For Employers & Job Seekers

ATLANTA, GA (December 9, 2012) – TechFetch.com, a leading company in connecting qualified IT professionals to employers, is hosting a job fair in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 16, 2013 at the Perimeter-Dunwoody Holiday Inn from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will be co-sponsored by the Technology Association of Georgia.
With the continuing growth of the technology sector in metro Atlanta, TechFetch.com and TAG have partnered in order to promote Georgia’s technology employment opportunities to talented job seekers in the IT field.
“TAG is excited to collaborate with TechFetch to emphasize the workforce oppotunities in our state,” the said Tino Mantella, president and CEO of TAG. “There are currently over 4000 unfilled technology jobs in Georgia, and the TechFetch Job Fair will serve as a meeting ground for IT professionals and potential technology employers.”

This one-day event will not only connect technology recruiters with qualified job seekers, but will also advertise Georgia’s strength as an innovative IT leader to a broader, nationwide audience.

Contact Brian Inman brian@tagonline.org or 404-817-3333 for registration.
Candidates interested in meeting face to face with top tech companies and employers looking for IT talent should visit www.techfetch.com or www.tagonline.org/job-fairs.php for more information.



ABOUT TECHFETCH
TechFetch (www.techfetch.com) is one of the leading career sites for technology professionals, companies, and recruiters. Our proprietary Q-Fetch job matching engine uses artificial intelligence to replicate the human elements of job search and recruiting enabling employers to reach hard-to-find, experienced and qualified technology candidates.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 14,700 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit www.tagedonline.org/.

TechFetch.com and TAG Provide A Meeting Ground For Employers & Job Seekers

ATLANTA, GA (December 7, 2012) – TechFetch.com, a leading company in connecting qualified IT professionals to employers, is hosting a job fair in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 16, 2013 at the Perimeter-Dunwoody Holiday Inn from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will be co-sponsored by the Technology Association of Georgia.
With the continuing growth of the technology sector in metro Atlanta, TechFetch.com and TAG have partnered in order to promote Georgia’s technology employment opportunities to talented job seekers in the IT field.
“TAG is excited to collaborate with TechFetch to emphasize the workforce oppotunities in our state,” the said Tino Mantella, president and CEO of TAG. “There are currently over 4000 unfilled technology jobs in Georgia, and the TechFetch Job Fair will serve as a meeting ground for IT professionals and potential technology employers.”

This one-day event will not only connect technology recruiters with qualified job seekers, but will also advertise Georgia’s strength as an innovative IT leader to a broader, nationwide audience.

Contact Brian Inman brian@tagonline.org or 404-817-3333 for registration.
Candidates interested in meeting face to face with top tech companies and employers looking for IT talent should visit www.techfetch.com or www.tagonline.org/job-fairs.php for more information.

ABOUT TECHFETCH
TechFetch (www.techfetch.com) is one of the leading career sites for technology professionals, companies, and recruiters. Our proprietary Q-Fetch job matching engine uses artificial intelligence to replicate the human elements of job search and recruiting enabling employers to reach hard-to-find, experienced and qualified technology candidates.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 14,700 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit www.tagedonline.org/.

ATLANTA, November 8, 2012 – Four finalists have been named for the Intel Innovation Award, a part of the 2012 Health IT Leadership Summit (www.HealthITLeadershipSummit.org) that will take place on December 4, 2012. This is the second year for the award, which recognizes companies developing leading-edge technology and unique approaches to improving health, as well as healthcare delivery and processes.

The impact of innovation on healthcare is a cornerstone of the Summit, which will feature two panel discussions focusing specifically on the topic. “Innovation: Improving Cost and Quality” covers the application of technology, analytics and automation to improve the cost and quality of care; and “Innovative Approaches” looks at how landmark programs are leveraging innovative technology to improve access to quality care, particularly for rural areas most in need.

The winner of the second annual Intel Innovation Award will be announced at the Summit. The four finalists are:
AirWatch (www.air-watch.com)
CardioMEMS (www.cardiomems.com)
Cooleaf (www.cooleaf.com)
Monocle Health Data (www.monoclehealth.com)

“The companies that have been named finalists should be very proud. It’s a tremendous honor,” said David Hartnett, Vice President Economic Development, Bioscience-Health IT, Metro Atlanta Chamber. “This level of innovation is representative of the technologies and advancements being made here in Atlanta, the nation’s health IT capital.”

“Given the number of quality nominations, it has been a difficult process for the judges,” said Wayne Myers, chairman for the 2012 Summit. “We saw very diverse examples of technology and marketplace innovation, each making a positive impact in regards to the challenges facing the health industry.”

The 2011 Health IT Leadership Summit brought together a sell-out crowd of more than 600 business leaders, healthcare providers, and public and private organizations. The Health IT Leadership Summit was created by three organizations, all dedicated to supporting the growth of the Health IT industry: the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and TAG Health, which is a society within the Technology Association of Georgia.

The Health IT Leadership Summit runs from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2012 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Additional information and registration: www.HealthITLeadershipSummit.org.

ATLANTA (November 1, 2012) –TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed), the charitable organization established by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) dedicated to preparing the next-generation workforce through better education and real-life job experiences, today announced the addition of Stephanie Street and Greg Gálvez to the TAG-Ed Board of Directors.

“Stephanie Street and Greg Gálvez bring unique backgrounds that will enhance our ability to reach more students and engage them in STEM education activities. These individuals share a passion for education, and we are excited to welcome both of these quality executives to our board,” said Chris Reinking, Founding Partner with Jabian Consulting and TAG Education Collaborative Board Chair.

Stephanie Y. Street is Senior Vice President, Human Resources at OFS Fitel LLC. Street has been instrumental in establishing OFS’ strong commitment to education and has led the way in placing almost a dozen students from TAG-Ed’s Summer Internship Program into positions that help the student grow professionally while adding value to the company.

Street is an accomplished human resource professional who began her career as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. In the Army, she held various leadership positions, including commanding a tactical signal company in Europe. Notably, she is also Airborne qualified. Her civilian career has included progressive levels of leadership responsibility with major companies across diverse business sectors. In her current role within OFS Fitel, she has established an internship program that has become the model of others to follow.

Stephanie is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). She also certified as a facilitator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and holds an Executive Certificate in Human Resources from the University of Southern California.

As an accomplished mentor and public speaker, Street devotes much of her time to the development of others, lending her talents to individuals and organizations dedicated to fostering positive human interactions. Street holds a B.A. degree in Speech Communication from Morgan State University, and an M.S. degree in Human Resource Development from Villanova University.

Greg Gálvez is an entrepreneur with a successful track record building brands around the world. He held leadership roles at American Hospital Supply, Baxter International and The Coca-Cola Company, where he led several business units and introduced multi-cultural sales & marketing capabilities. As founder and general manager of neXstep Beverages, LLC, he led a start-up dedicated to capturing niche opportunities with premium, imported beverages; leveraging Coke’s global trademarks, formulas and consumer insights.

Gálvez now owns and operates the PROSHRED Security franchise in Georgia. This system introduced secure mobile data destruction to protect companies from information privacy and intellectual property risks. He also runs The Gálvez Group, a private investment firm, which partners with brand-driven entrepreneurs.

A native of Chicago, Gálvez received a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago, and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He currently serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Georgia and as a volunteer in their financial literacy education program reaching middle and high school students.

“The addition of Stephanie and Greg to our board is instrumental to TAG-Ed’s mission. Their expertise will enhance our ability to attract students earlier to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” said Jim Denny, president of Navicure and board development chair for TAG-Ed.

“TAG-Ed has undertaken a strategy to expand our reach into middle schools, and Stephanie and Greg’s experience working with the education community will be very helpful in broadening our efforts to engage younger students in STEM education initiatives,” added Michael Robertson, executive director of TAG-Ed.

For more information on TAG Education Collaborative and the TAG-Ed board, visit www.tagedonline.org, or contact Michael Robertson, executive director of TAG Education Collaborative, at mrobertson@tagonline.org.

About TAG Education Collaborative
TAG Education Collaborative initiatives include an internship program for high school students interested in technology careers, two web-based team challenges for high school students interested in health IT and/or web design, and the Vine Event, a fundraiser launched in 2009 which has raised more than $160,000 to support STEM education. The TAG Education Collaborative provides programs to feed information to middle and high school students to generate interest in S.T.E.M. education and technology careers. Through partnerships with other programs providing hands-on activities, TAG-Ed fosters student and teacher interest in technology, and promotes the opportunities available in technology careers. For additional information, visit TAG Education Collaborative or contact Michael Robertson at (404) 920 – 2038 or mrobertson@tagonline.org.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 17,800 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 31 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, influence and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (S.T.E.M.) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit www.tagedonline.org/.
###

ATLANTA (October 26, 2012) – Winners of the 2012 Excalibur Awards were announced today during a special ceremony at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel that attracted an audience of more than 400 leaders from Georgia’s business community. The Excalibur Awards, presented by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) in collaboration with the Business and Technology Alliance of TAG (B&TA), recognize the Georgia companies and organizations demonstrating the best use of third-party technology to overcome challenges and improve processes in business and education.

“We are truly pleased to honor the recipients of the 2012 Excalibur Awards,” said Tino Mantella, president & CEO of TAG. “Technology innovation is occurring across companies and organizations of all sizes throughout the state of Georgia. We believe celebrating these tech-enabled companies and organizations strengthens our message of Georgia’s emerging position as a national leader in technology.”

The 2012 winners are:

Small: JodyJazz, Inc.
Jody Espina has created unique, high quality saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces to meet the needs of discerning professionals and students alike. As a noted Jazz Educator, Jody has seen firsthand what the right mouthpiece can do for a student’s sound, improvising and overall self confidence. The transformation is often amazing. “A Mouthpiece for Every Player” - Offering six completely distinct models in many facings enables JodyJazz to satisfy players at all levels. The goal of JodyJazz was to manufacture in house the award winning DV series mouthpieces which were being made in a machine shop out of state, allowing them to both increase quality and production capacity and also importantly to facilitate the more effective design and prototyping of new models.

Mid-Sized: Hi-Rez Studios
Not long ago, slow networks and servers were restricting gamers’ ability to enjoy fast-paced multi-player games online. To meet their business and customer requirements, Hi-Rez implemented a “bare metal cloud” hosting solution offered by Atlanta-based IT infrastructure provider Internap. With Internap’s bare metal cloud solution, Hi-Rez is achieving higher economic efficiencies—and the superior performance that its customers demand—with the high levels of flexibility and scalability that conventional cloud services offer.

Large: Home Depot
The Home Depot and other retailers continue to face continuous and arbitrary increases in the interchange fees charged by the traditional retail credit card companies, much of which has continued due to a lack of competition in the card industry. Additionally, PayPal has long been known for its leadership in the online payments sector, but developing a solution for the brick and mortar environment was a completely new space with numerous challenges, one of the greatest being the need to develop a solution that would be relatively easy and efficient for retailers to deploy across large networks. The Home Depot implemented PayPal for customers to use in a variety of ways, from their PayPal card, to mobile devices, to “hands free” transactions. The end result is a payments technology that provides unique convenience, speed and security for shoppers, while meeting the unique needs of brick and mortar retailers.

Educational and Creative: Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC)
The Solomon Project is a new way to teach students the knowledge and skills traditionally taught in freshman college composition and research classes. It deeply engages students in the learning process while ensuring their mastery of educational outcomes related to critical reading and thinking, problem-solving, research, collaboration, and effective oral and written communication. By turning the courses into immersive mystery/adventure games in which the students are characters and active agents, the project directly addresses the problems of low student interest and limited academic success in traditional “gatekeeper” classes required in the post-secondary core curriculum. Students in Solomon Project classes find themselves in a narrative that unfolds in real-time, in the classroom, across campus, over their phones, and especially online.

The Solomon Project leverages a wide range of easily available technologies to maximize student engagement and performance on multiple levels and in a variety of ways. Ultimately, the project will help revolutionize hybrid education and the ways academia approaches learning in common core-curriculum classes.

For more information about TAG and the Excalibur Awards, visit: www.tagonline.org/excalibur-awards.php.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 17,800 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 31 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, influence and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit www.tagedonline.org/.

About The Business and Technology Alliance of TAG
The Business and Technology Alliance of TAG is focused on addressing the challenges of today's fast paced marketplace by bringing together business leaders and technology innovators to address key business issues. Their mission is to foster business innovation through the exploration of technological advancements and the ways in which these technologies can help corporations in all industries to solve complex problems and be more competitive. For more information, visit www.tagonline.org/tag-business-technology-alliance.php.

ATLANTA, OCTOBER 25, 2012-- Today, TECNA, the Technology Councils of North America, in partnership with the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), unveiled a national survey finding that two-thirds (66 percent) of top technology and business executives prefer that government have some role in promoting innovation and growth in the tech sector. As we head into the 2012 election, six in 10 (58 percent) of top executives say the government should be doing more to expand access to capital for start-up and high-growth companies.

"With federal, state and local elections on the horizon, it is critical that all the candidates sit up and take notice: businesses want our government to take a modest but constructive role, such as opening the door to new sources of capital, so that private tech firms can innovate and succeed. Lawmakers should also note that, although many executives feel confident in their own businesses ability to succeed, they are quite concerned about the state of the economy overall," said TECNA President and Technology Association of Georgia CEO Tino Mantella.

Key national findings:

• Education and workforce development are key policy issues: Nearly half (49 percent) of the senior executives listed STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education at the K-12 level to be a top policy priority, while 42 percent hope to expand their pool of trained tech workers by placing career, technical and vocational education on par with traditional degree programs.

• More than half of businesses are planning to increase investments: Our survey found 59 percent of respondents are looking to expand technical staffing levels; 58 percent are looking to expand investment in new products or business lines; 55 percent are planning on expanding marketing/advertising expenditures and 52 percent are planning on expanding technology expenditures.

• Business sentiment is expected to improve, although there is concern for the overall economy: Nearly three quarters (72.1 percent) of the top executives we spoke to expect their businesses to improve over the next six months, while just over half (53percent) expressed concerns about the economy’s stalled recovery.

Key regional findings:

"This survey also shows us that if a state provides the right business environment, startups and other businesses will flourish," Mantella explained. “It’s not surprising that executives who feel the economy is improving took a moderate view on government involved in business while those who take a negative view of our economic climate favor a low level of government involvement.”

“It is critical that the voice of the tech community be heard on Capitol Hill, and in statehouses across the country,” said CompTIA President and CEO Todd Thibodeaux. “By working with TECNA to poll its members, we can provide a more complete picture about how different states and regions perceive the ingredients needed to make the tech industry grow. This in turn helps to better educate members of Congress and state lawmakers on the issues that matter most to the technology and business community.”

• More executives in the Northeast want the government to take some role in increasing access to capital: Two thirds (66percent) of executives in the Northeast support a government role in expanding access to capital for startups or high-growth companies, compared to 58 percent in the Midwest; 58 percent in the Southeast; and 51 percent in the West.

• The Midwest leads in placing a priority on a simplified and corporate tax structure, including closing corporate tax loopholes: More than half (57 percent) of the executives we spoke to in the Midwest rated a simplified tax structure as a high priority, compared to 45 percent in the Northeast, 46 percent in the Southeast and 48 percent in the West.

• All regions agree their state and local governments are representing them well or “just okay”: The Northeast leads with 39 percent of top execs say their state and local governments represent them well, while 44 percent of execs in the Southeast said their local lawmakers were “just okay.” Executives in the Midwest were the most unhappy with their lawmakers – 33 percent said that their state and local governments were doing a poor job representing the tech sector.

About the Survey
The data for this quantitative study was collected via an online survey conducted during October 2012. A total of 926 senior (C-level) US IT and business executives belonging to one of the regional technology associations affiliated with the Technology Councils of North America participated in the survey. The margin of sampling error at the 95 percent level for the results is +/-3.3 percentage points. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data.

About TECNA
The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) represents almost 50 IT and Technology trade organizations who, in turn, represent more than 16,000 technology-related companies in North America.
TECNA serves its members and the industry through its strong peer-to-peer network and its regional initiatives to raise the visibility and viability of the technology industry.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. Visit www.comptia.org/home.aspx or follow CompTIA at www.facebook.com/CompTIA and twitter.com/comptia.

About TechVoice
TechVoice is a newly-formed partnership of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), and participating regional technology associations. Collectively, we represent thousands of technology companies across the country employing millions of workers. We are dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the grassroots tech community to impact legislative and regulatory issues important to growth, innovation and job creation.

Happy Friday. In case you missed them, here are a few TAG-related news items this week.

Patch.com covers the story of a Georgia Tech Grad that won the Start Up Atlanta contest: midtown.patch.com/articles/ga-tech-grads...ur-video-competition

Patch.com also covered the story of the winner of the TAG mobile application contest: marietta.patch.com/articles/marietta-mob...-top-performer-award

And if you haven't read it yet, check out our new online magazine: bit.ly/HUBMagazine

More soon!

ATLANTA – October 15, 2012 — TAG Marketing, a society of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and Georgia’s premier organization for technology marketing events, announced today finalists for the third annual Tech Marketing Awards. Open to all Georgia-based technology marketers, the Tech Marketing Awards recognize Georgia’s most innovative marketing leaders.

Winners will be announced at the 2012 Tech Marketing Awards Gala on Thursday, November 15 at the Defoor Centre, a unique art gallery event venue in Atlanta’s Westside. Mr. Richard Warner will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Mr. Warner is well-known in Georgia’s marketing and technology communities. Richard Warner is founder and CEO of What's Up Interactive and is frequently a business commentator on Fox5 WAGA. He spent 30 years as a host and managing editor interviewing CEOs on "Georgia's Business" on the state's PBS network, as well as 20 years as a commentator on Atlanta's WXIA and WAGA TV.

“We are excited to have Richard join us once again to host the third annual TAG Tech Marketing Awards. These awards highlight the incredible marketing talent our community has to offer, and it’s an honor to recognize their achievements,” said Adam Harrell, TAG Marketing Board Chair and President of Nebo Agency.”

Representing Georgia’s “best of the best” in the fusion of marketing and technology, the 2012 Tech Marketing Awards honor individual excellence and achievements in eight categories. The following are the finalists in each category for this year’s awards:

2012 Tech Marketing Awards Finalists

B2C CMO/Marketing Executive of the Year:
•Cristina Miller, SVP Marketing, Turner
•Jim Smith, CMO, Atlanta Falcons
B2
•Phil Dolan, Navicure
•Chris Watson, Brightree
•John Wolf, Knowlagent

Integrated Marketer of the Year:
•Lisa Calhoun, Write2Market
•Rob Chen, First Data
•Marci Mccarthy, Tech Exec Network
Mobile Marketer of the Year
•Andrew Ibbotson, Digital Assent
•Darrin Won, IHG

Up & Coming Marketer of Year
•Omri Levin, Razorfish
•Carla Paschke, Engage
•Stacy Shelley, Dell
•Matthew Sweezey, Pardot
•Jennifer Vickery, Nebo

Search Engine Marketer of the Year
•Nick Guastella, Qiigo
•Kimm Lincoln, Nebo
•Stacy William, Prominent Placement

Analytics Marketer of the Year
•Dave Kelly, Analytics-IQ
•Clarissa Morris-Hunter, LBi
•Jennifer Robertson, Navicure

Social Media Marketer of the Year
•Ginny Hornby, Qiigo
•Ryan McFerrin, Atlanta Braves

For more information on the Tech Marketing Awards Gala event on November 15, please visit www.techmarketingawards.com.
Sponsorships are still available! For more information on sponsoring the 2012 Tech Marketing Awards, please contact Katherine Watson, katherine@tagonline.org.

About TAG Marketing
TAG Marketing is a society within the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). TAG Marketing helps technology pioneers and business leaders grow their companies and achieve greater financial success through marketing. In addition to networking and learning opportunities, TAG Marketing provides almost 4,000 members with firsthand exposure to marketing tools, programs, resources and the people who lead our technology-driven economy. For more information on TAG Marketing, visit www.tagonline.org/tag-marketing.php. Follow us on Twitter: @TAG_MKTG.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 17,800 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 31 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, influence and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit www.tagedonline.org/.

ATLANTA (October 10, 2012) – The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), the state’s leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia’s technology industry, announced its support for the Charter School Amendment. The TAG Board of Directors unanimously approved this decision through a vote at their September 25 meeting. The amendment will be before voters on the November ballot.

“It is critical that we support this amendment if want to increase student education opportunities and choices for parents,” said Tino Mantella, TAG President and Chief Executive Officer. “We need an education system that allows for individualized learning opportunities. By creating a state charter school commission we can create schools that are specifically designed to offer a more customized curriculum and to provide students with the skills they need to compete in a 21st century workforce.”

The Charter School Amendment creates a state charter school commission that has the ability to approve charter schools that are denied at the local level. Charter schools approved by the commission will receive state funding for the students that enroll.

“The technology industry requires unique skill sets from their employees that are not common in other industries. They often prefer students who have skills and experience beyond the core classes, such as software development, coding and networking,” said Mantella. “With over 4,000 jobs currently open in Georgia’s tech sector and an estimated 211,000 science, technology, engineering and math-related jobs that will need to be filled by 2018, it is vital for our economy that we prepare students with the necessary knowledge to be hired."

TAG will continue to work with industry partners and organizations to seek the passage of the Charter School Amendment. For more information on the Charter School Amendment, visit: www.tagonline.org/charter-school.php.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 17,800 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 31 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com.