REGISTER NOW for what we think will be the most gratifying open discussion about broadband you’ve ever imaged, and much more. Here’s a description of the four sessions that make up the Tech Track. Remember, this is just one of five tracks! Others focus on Education, Entrepreneurship, Quality of Place and Diversity. Check out the schedule here. IMAGINE.
West Virginia could make headlines as the most connected state in the nation, ingeniously and yes, affordably, connecting the biggest Internet pipeline to residential and commercial customers. How could we pull this off in the face of record high poverty rates, rugged terrain, growing unemployment, and rising costs of healthcare, energy, and housing? First, let go of that notion that nothing will change here. Replace it with understanding available and emerging technology; second, examine REAL obstacles and resources; third, understand the opportunities beyond your wildest imagination; and lastly, meet innovators who are changing the way we all do things, right here in Dubvee. Non technical folks with great ideas are encouraged to join a very interesting collection of developers, hackers, designers, entrepreneurs, startups, politicians, students and small business owners.
Session 1 Affordable Broadband Options NOW, and Why Your Community Can’t Connect
Facilitator: Brian Proffit, Sr. Director of Strategic Business Development, CTC Technology & Energy
Invited: A knock-out diverse group of telecom providers, politicians, and hungry start-ups, some of them disruptive technology entrepreneurs
You’ve heard rumors about why your community doesn’t have the broadband connectivity you want or need, but are they true? Stop speculating at home and join an all-star panel of pros who will tell us why things are the way they are, and how they could be. Expect enlightening discussion around best available technologies, the business basics of big and small telecom, the politics of broadband, and learn about get-er-done solutions that just might work to make WV the most connected state in the nation. Guests invited include Senator Chris Walters, District 8; Kathy Cosco & Kevin Wallick, Frontier Communications; Jim Martin, CityNet; Charlie Dennie, Alpha Technologies; Senator Capito’s broadband peeps.
Session 2 Thom’s New Economy Main Street Shopping Experience, Featuring Telepresence Robots and Other New Fangled Things Facilitator: Thom Worlledge, Architect, Technologist, Inventor First there was the store sign, then the Website, Amazon, and social media. What could
possibly be next in the quest to attract customers to your store? How can rural shops compete? Inroducing Smalmart. Learn how Thom’s Smalmart initiative could affordably revolutionize shopping for any size store, in any location. See first-hand how telepresence robotics and good old-fashioned customer service can encourage shoppers to shop or visit your store. Some of the same concepts are applicable to tourism, telemedicine, distance education, manufacturing and other industry sectors.
Session 3 Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure: YOU Write the Middle-Mile Playbook Facilitator: Brian Proffit, Sr. Director of Strategic Business Development, CTC Technology & Energy Empower your communities to develop the infrastructure needed to serve as a building block for economic development, improved education and state of the art healthcare. This workshop forum focuses on moving talk from big ideas to action planning and implementation with Middle-Mile partnership as the first component. Learn about creative financing and engagement models and ways for communities to leverage funding sources from Rural Utilities Services, Healthcare Connect, Connected America Fund, Appalachian Regional Technologies grants and E-Rate.
Session 4 Speed Pitch Tech Fantasy Meet-Up: Where People with Great Ideas Meet People Who Can Make Them Happen Pitch Team: agileAg and friends with funding
Come to the conference ready to make a 2 minute pitch–are you looking for funding, technical help, advice? Your pitch may lead to all three! Welcome to a “speed pitch” session where people with ideas for solving all kinds of problems talk directly to techies and funders who can make things happen. You don’t have to know how to code to have a great idea for a mobile app, gadget, game or hack. Explain what you’re thinking (or need) in a speedy pitch and you may just leave this session with a team and a funding plan to make it happen. Business folks, social entrepreneurs, techies of all stripes, funders, and big idea people welcome.