GSA Technology Council

Join us on Thursday at noon as we take live technology calls on the ETV Radio stations in South Carolina. Whether it’s digital photography, the iPhone 5, using wireless technology, or how to find a good home for your old laptop, you can give us a call.

Next Show:
Thursday July 11, 2013 at 12pm

A live call-in hour on the Internet and related technologies. Eric Rodgers hosts Phil Yanov, president of the GSA Technology Council, founder of Tech After Five and blogger at Thinkhammer. Listeners can call in via the tollfree number 888-539-8859 to ask questions about using the Internet, computers, new digital devices, and related topics.

The program is Your Day and it is carried across the ETV Radio Network. That’s 90.1 FM in the Upstate starting at Noon (or listen to the live web steam).

TUESDAY JUNE 18
5:30pm Tech After Five in Asheville
Tech After Five returns to Hickory Tavern for a 100% free tech professional networking event in Asheville.
Learn more: Tech After Five in Asheville

6:00pm GSP Developers Guild
The GSP Developers Guild hosts a discussion with web applications developer, Jonathan Peterson on ASP.NET SignalR for thier May meeting.
Learn more: GSP Developers Guild

7:00pm PC User Group
The Greenville PC User Group meets monthly to discuss PC problems, solutions, hardware, software, networking and security issues based on Windows operating systems.
Learn more: Upstate Carolina PC User Group

WEDNESDAY JUNE 19
5:30pm Tech After Five Greenville
Join Ta5 as they celebrate reaching 183 networking events for tech entrepreneurs and professionals at the Carolina Ale House in downtown Greenville.
Learn more: Tech After Five or RSVP Now

See more on the GSATC Tech Calendar

James Theodore “TJ” recently joined the KTM Solutions engineering staff as a mechanical engineer supporting all engineering product lines. However, TJ is not new to KTM Solutions.

“TJ began working with us almost six years ago as a high school student. As a participant in our formal Mechanical Design apprenticeship program, TJ is expected become our first to complete our four year program.” says Paul V. Kumler, President, KTM Solutions.

In May 2013, TJ earned his mechanical engineering degree at Clemson University and will receive his Mechanical Design apprenticeship certificate from KTM Solutions in June.

“This is what it’s all about, growing our own engineering talent right here in South Carolina.” Kumler continues.

KTM provides engineering services to the aerospace, automotive, and machine/automation industries. The company anticipates continued increases in all technical services.

via KTM Solutions

NCR Corporation, the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, announced today that the Greenville based Spinx Company will deploy NCR ConvenienceGo (C-Go) mobile shopping technology to make fueling and shopping at the chain of convenience stores easier. Spinx, which operates stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, will roll out C-Go to 57 of its stores.

C-Go is a mobile shopping app which allows shoppers to initiate a fuel transaction, select the amount of gas they want and pay with their smartphones. The mobile technology will be customized to match Spinx’s brand image, colors and unique guidelines. C-Go also eliminates the need for shoppers to carry a key-fob loyalty card as the C-Go app updates and stores each shopper’s loyalty information and passes that information to the fuel pump automatically. This allows shoppers to easily get any loyalty discounts or other benefits they are entitled to receive.

“Spinx is always looking for new and technologically advanced ways to make our customers’ lives easier,” says Steve Spinks, president and chief executive officer of The Spinx Co. “We’re looking forward to launching the new Spinx Xtras app which will provide our loyal customers with a more convenient method for redeeming gas discounts and paying for the purchase, all through the use of their mobile phones.”

“Mobile technology is the next frontier in convenience shopping and is enabling today’s consumers to get what they want quickly and easily,” said NCR Vice President and General Manager of Grocery and Convenience Stores Jimmy Frangis. “Spinx is at the forefront of mobile shopping with its innovative C-Go deployment. As shoppers embrace the technology, Spinx will be well positioned to reap the benefits of increased shopper loyalty and more repeat visits.”

Green Cloud Technologies (Green Cloud), a cloud technology solutions provider headquartered in Greenville, S.C., has expanded into five new markets with offices in Miami, Fla., Atlanta, Ga., New Orleans, La., Raleigh, N.C. and Charlotte, N.C.

These new office locations, along with Green Cloud’s existing locations in Greenville, S.C., Charleston, S.C., Nashville, Tenn., and Tampa, Fla., will market Green Cloud’s portfolio of cloud-based IT solutions to channel partners and small and medium-sized businesses.

In addition to opening five new offices, Green Cloud announced the hiring of five national channel managers. Each channel manager will focus on sales of the company’s Server Restoration and Recovery, Virtual Server and Virtual PBX solutions through recruiting and engaging sales partners in these new markets.

Trina Gray, hired as national channel manager, will be based out of the Atlanta, Ga. office. Prior to joining Green Cloud, Gray served as senior channel manager at Earthlink. She also served in district sales and channel management for Windstream (formerly NuVox Communications) where she was a seven-time President’s Club recipient. Gray holds a bachelor of science degree from St. Cloud State University.

Green Cloud also named Laura Cope as national channel manager serving Charlotte, N.C. and surrounding areas. Prior to joining Green Cloud, Cope served as district dealer manager for Windstream (formerly NuVox Communications) where she was responsible for recruiting and training dealers and partners. Cope was frequently recognized for her sales achievements including a President’s Club 2005 selection. She holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Shayne Davenport was hired as national channel manager for the Raleigh, N.C. region. Davenport previously served as senior business development manager at Cohesion Corporation and senior account manager at Birch Communications. Davenport holds a bachelor of art degree in communications from East Carolina University.

“By providing customers with the level of service and support they deserve, this team has built strong long-term relationships with channel partners in the region,” says Dan Sterling, president of Green Cloud Technologies. “They have earned the reputation of being leaders in the industry and are a great addition to the Green Cloud team.”

via Green Cloud Technologies

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About Tech After Five

This is a 100% networking event designed to exclusively connect tech entrepreneurs and professionals. RSVP Online and bring a business card with you and the first beer is on us. This is about networking and getting to know your fellow tech professionals.

Join us on Thursday at noon as we take live technology calls on the ETV Radio stations in South Carolina. Whether it’s digital photography, the iPhone 5, using wireless technology, or how to find a good home for your old laptop, you can give us a call.

Next Show:
Thursday June 13, 2013 at 12pm

A live call-in hour on the Internet and related technologies. Eric Rodgers hosts Phil Yanov, president of the GSA Technology Council, founder of Tech After Five and blogger at Thinkhammer. Listeners can call in via the tollfree number 888-539-8859 to ask questions about using the Internet, computers, new digital devices, and related topics.

The program is Your Day and it is carried across the ETV Radio Network. That’s 90.1 FM in the Upstate starting at Noon (or listen to the live web steam).

Mark Crall currently acts as the senior channel account manager for StorageCraft. From running his own successful IT Services company to managing the business development and channel community programs for a large SaaS company, Mark is a veteran IT executive with 13 years of experience in the computer, software and services industry.

Mark was recognized as one of the top 150 most influential people in IT SMB by SMBNation, and honored as one of CRN Magazine’s Channel Chiefs. He has served on advisory boards, executive counsels and subject matter expert teams for companies like GFI, Microsoft and CompTIA. He has also been tapped as both an expert panelist and keynote speaker at scores of live and broadcast industry events.

Mark Crall speaks before the GSA Technology Council Learning Lunch August 14, 2013.

MONDAY JUNE 10
6:30pm Greenville Mac Users Group
Greenville MUG meets once a month to share tips, discuss the latest news and enjoy the company of other Macintosh Users.
Learn more: Greenville Mac Users Group

TUESDAY JUNE 11
6:30pm Upstate Linux Users Group
UCLUG gathers every second Tuesday to talk about Linux and other Unix-based operating systems, and free and open source software.
Learn more: Upstate Carolina Linux Users Group

WEDNESDAY JUNE 12
11:30am GSATC Learning Lunch
Join us for our next Learning Lunch with guest speaker MChad Hardaway, Technology Commercialization Consultant with the SCSBDC, as he presents, “How to Get $1 Million in Government Funding for Your Tech Startup.”
Learn more: GSATC Learning Lunch

THURSDAY JUNE 13
12:00pm Radio: Your Day
Listen to us live on the radio on any of the NPR stations in South Carolina or streaming live at the Your Day website

6:30pm Greenville Java Users Group
Java enthusiasts and developers meet monthly on the second Thursdays.
Learn more: Greenville Java Users Group

See more on the GSATC Tech Calendar

The final steps were taken to pass the High Growth Small Business Access to Capital Act (H.3505) on Wednesday evening by a vote 94-10 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. The legislation has been sent to the Governor’s Office, and is awaiting signature.

Greenville Chamber and Upstate Chamber Coalition lobbyists, together with NEXT entrepreneurs and allies, have been advocating this bill since its introduction as the Bill Wylie Entrepreneurship Act in 2011 in efforts to attract and retain both investors and entrepreneurial talent here in South Carolina. According to Greenville Chamber Executive Vice President and head of NEXT John Moore, “Early-stage, high-growth companies are major drivers of quality job growth and wealth in our state. By providing tax credits to those who invest in these new ventures, South Carolina is enabling its most promising young businesses to compete more effectively with companies in other states for capital necessary to grow and become significant employers for the state.”

“The passage of this legislation marks an important day for the economic future of South Carolina.“

Matt Dunbar, Managing Director of the Upstate Carolina Angel Network, notes that, “The passage of this legislation marks an important day for the economic future of South Carolina. Entrepreneurs and startup companies create all the net job growth in our state and nation, yet in South Carolina they face a daunting challenge in finding access to early stage capital. Today, less than half a percent of the state’s residents eligible to invest in high-growth startup companies are allocating capital to support these firms. This legislation will encourage potential angel investors to provide our entrepreneurs with the capital they need to create jobs, grow companies and fuel the economic future of our state.”

Approximately 25 other states have passed similar legislation, including Georgia and North Carolina, and have provided data to demonstrate that these programs are effective in attracting capital, growing jobs, and ultimately creating economic growth and revenue for the state. Dunbar notes, “South Carolina’s version of the legislation is unique in that the state will recover the value of the tax credit when an investor realizes a capital gain from an investment, so it’s truly a win-win-win for entrepreneurs, the state, and the communities where these startup firms will have the chance to grow and prosper.”

A top priority of the Greenville Chamber’s Legislative Agenda is to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive statewide economic development plan that focuses on creating jobs of the future, business retention, and incentives for high-growth companies. According to Greenville Chamber and Upstate Chamber Coalition lead lobbyist Mark Cothran, “This bill is ultimately about entrepreneurs – helping them find access to extremely scarce capital so they can build successful businesses – creating jobs, wealth and long-term benefits for all South Carolinians. This week, our state legislature took a huge step in leveling the playing field. We look forward to continuing to work with our elected officials to ensure the continued development of a highly competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

via Greenville Chamber