The redIbis July 30, 2003, "Jobs & Procurement: Where is the tech work?" event at Baruch College accomplished the two principal goals of the redIbis Executive Commitee and its Partners:
- To produce a multi-ethnic technology industry event.
- To provide much-needed and compelling information.
There were about 200 attendees varying in ethnicities from African American, Chinese, Korean, to Jewish, Indian, Irish, Italian, Latino, West Indian, etc. etc. It was a true reflection of the diversity of New York City within the technology space.
The event would not have been possible without the brainpower and participation from our keynote speaker, NYC Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who inspite of last weeks tragic slaying of co-Councilmember James E. Davis, provided a wealth of invaluable information on the city's technology resources. Also, redIbis Vice President Franklin Madison proved equally compelling with his insight on access to capital and R&D support for small business owners.
A diverse panel rounded out the informational component of the evening. Panelists included Jino Ahn of Asian Diversity Inc., Dr. Andy Dai of Association of Chinese Computer Professionals, Vicki Dawson of the New York Software Industry Association, Emmanuel Hill formerly of Baruch College CAPS, Carlos Anton Khury of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Sean McCooe of McCooe & Associates, Seeley Oliver of Oliver Staffing Inc., and Jesus Maldonado Reyes of iHispano. Bob Ponce of Silicon Alley Station also managed to moderate and audio archive all the conversations with his usual dry wit.
Our raffle benefited HarlemLIVE and three prizes were given. One prize included a bottle of Fernandes Black Label Rum from Trinidad & Tobago and an NTT DoCoMo backpack (won by Mr. Gerry Barranda). The second drawing consisted of 1 1-year subscription to "Crain's New York Business," 2 Yankees tickets to an August game against the Baltimore Orioles, and 1 APC Kryptonite Laptop Lock (won by Ms. Dale Wolff). The grand prize included 1 1-year subscription to "Crain's New York Business," 2 Yankees tickets to an August game against the Chicago White Sox, 2 complimentary course seats to ITAC's Fastrac business educational session beginning in September, and a 3Com wireless router (won by Ms. Diane Beckford).
Event co-producers were Baruch College CAPS and redIbis partners the Association of Chinese Computer Professionals, the Black Data Processing Asociates, and Hispanics in Information Technology & Telecommunications. Event sponsors were 3Com Corp, "Crain's Business New York," GenesisArtline.com, NJ.com, and Pat's Exotic Beverages.
Additional support is provided by Asian American Business Development Center, Asian Women in Business, Black Tech Magazine, Bernardo's List, Craig's List NY, ComputerUser magazine, Crain's Business New York, CUNY Institute for Software Design & Development, Give N Take Network, Minority Professionals Network (NY), New York Software Industry Association, Smallbiztechnology.com, Silicon Alley Station, REGINE magazine, Techvenue.com, TekLatino magazine, The KIP Business Report, and the World Wide Web Artists Consortium.
Additional photos of this event are also viewable at The KIP Business Report website.
redIbis is a non-competitive organization that works to foster business, career networking, and educational opportunities among information technology (IT), technology, and telecommunications business owners and professional organizations of color. At present, three national organizations, the internationally influential Association of Chinese Computer Professionals (http://www.gnyccp.org), the nearly 30-year-old Black Data Processing Associates (http://www.bdpa.org) and the fast-growing Hispanics in Information Technology & Telecommunications (http://www.hittglobal.org), are our key strategic partners involved in planning, promoting and co-sponsoring multi-cultural and multi-ethnic redIbis events. Collectively, we share a vision that technology businesses by people of color must thrive in order to ensure a bright future for American as well as global economies. redIbis takes its name from the Scarlet Ibis, a bird indigenous to the tropical regions of the world including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, South and Central America.
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