TechTalk, an online community that serves as a gathering spot where technology managers can get unbiased advice and opinions from like-minded colleagues, will be hosting their second annual event at this year’s InfoComm. TechDecisions spoke with Marc LaVecchia and Steve Greenblatt, founders of TechTalk, about what attendees can expect from the event, and what members can expect from the community.
TD: For our readers that don’t know, what is TechTalk?
SG: TechTalk is a community that we’re building for technology managers to give them a place that they can congregate, learn, network, and interact, and also give them a voice. When they have a problem, a question, a need, they know that they can turn to TechTalk to be able to get a resolution. Additionally, TechTalk is meant to be a group that we can provide information to and learn from; it’s really a two-way street. As the community grows we will develop more mechanisms to be able to deliver content and information. It isn’t going to be something where they’re going to be pitched. They’re going to get good, unbiased information.
TD: Since your inaugural event at last year’s InfoComm you’ve launched a website and really gotten the ball rolling on TechTalk. How has the reception been?
ML: It’s really been an excellent location for us to bring people in with our own content that we’re developing with and for them. We’ve put up a number of podcasts, for example we’ll speak with an integrator that will explain the efforts they make internally to be able to work better with technology managers. Alternately, we speak with technology managers about their experiences with integrators. They’ve been pretty well received, I think. We’re seeing a good following right now, we’re seeing people follow us on Twitter, on Facebook, on LinkedIn, so we’ve got a good following. The content seems to be resonating, the challenge on our end is maintaining the content, so we’re preparing some new content for this year that we think will be especially beneficial.
TD: You’ll be holding your second annual TechTalk event at InfoComm in Orlando. What can people that attend expect from this event?
ML: We’ve got a nice event lining up right now. We’re in a different venue, in Orlando —
SG: Don’t go to the venue in Vegas.
ML: (laughter) Yeah, we won’t be there, we’ll be in Orlando this year at a restaurant called Maggiano’s. It will be the same format as last year, we’ll bring in folks from our world that will speak to technology managers during the course of cocktails, dinner, and desert. One of the topics we’re planning on discussing is about asset management, in terms of being able to help technology managers get their hands around using asset management software to better manage the equipment they have, and monitor the use of that equipment, so that they can better shift their resources from one place to another and saving their budget significant funds.
The second topic will be a run-off of a column I just had published in Commercial Integrator magazine. In a nutshell that article talks about the divide in our business between those integrators that can do the work and those that must do the work, which is the difference between those who are trained and ready to do the work for you versus those companies that just want to buy your job, and what that means to technology managers.
SG: One big discussion in the industry is the fact that AV systems are on the network, so one of the things we’ll talk about is how to handle that, what are the conversations you need to have, what are the things you need to do to have a successful project. We’ll also bring in a design engineer that will give a few tips about design best practices to round out the discussion. Another thing we’re doing for InfoComm that I think will pique a lot of interest is we’ve worked with manufacturers to set up VIP tours with technology managers. So the 10-15 people that sign up will meet with a few companies and have time to speak with the appropriate people and get a special type of audience experience. That’s something that’s new and exciting.
TD: Moving into the second year of TechTalk, what are your hopes and plans for the group going forward?
SG: The push for this year will be focused on gaining exposure and members, because it has to exist based on the fuel and the activity of the members. Our focus is on making sure that we can get the word out that this is a good thing for technology managers, and have them tell their friends and get them involved as well. We’ll introduce the idea of webinars and determine some subject matter that will be relevant and value. We’ll also look at InfoComm Connections, which is a trade show geared toward technology managers. We’d like to find ways to participate and support these events happening throughout the year.
ML: We’re also trying to glean more information on the kind of content. Bringing people content isn’t enough, we need to bring them content that they’re interested in. Speaking with technology managers has helped us target some of our content more specifically to them. Just because you build it doesn’t mean that everyone naturally comes. There’s such a heavy need to bring these types of things to technology managers.
TD: How can people sign up for the event, and how can they join the TechTalk community?
SG: They can get involved and get in touch at our website, on our events page for the InfoComm event, and we’ll be posting information about the TechTalk Technology Manager Tour. They can follow us on social media and get involved in the LinkedIn group all through the TechTalk website.
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