Published: July 25, 2006 09:34 pm      

Technology seminar set for this Friday in Beckley

Dave Fondale says most of today’s economy is technology-based.

“There are not many businesses out there that don’t use computers, Internet and Web sites, advanced telephone and communication products and a host of other new technologies,” the sales manager for Phillips Technologies said.

Fondale says he and some other Beckley area businesses interested in keeping dollars spent on technology in the local market decided to form a high-technology group.

“We started the Beckley Technology Group to keep dollars spent on technology in Beckley and Raleigh County from going to companies outside of the area, to give tech reps a networking tool to trade and service leads, and to work with local educators to better prepare the current and future workforce for better performance skills needed for careers in technology,” Fondale said.

Friday, the group is offering a day-long seminar, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Country Inns & Suites’ Fire Side Room, located at 2120 Harper Road in Beckley.

“This seminar is part of reaching out to the local community with good information,” Fondale said.

The seminar, titled “Using Technology to Grow Your Business,” features eight different mini-presentations on various aspects of technology. Presenters are members of the Beckley Technology Group, many of whom are business owners in Beckley. The cost to attend is $5.

David Hurst, of Vecellio & Grogan, will start the day off with “Data Strategies for Remote Offices Using Wide Area File System.” Fondale will follow with “Using the Internet as a Networking Tool for Your Business.”

Brandy Carnell and Kay Gwinn from Your Web Center will present “Making Your Web Site Work for YOU” and Randy Roe, Ntelos, will offer a presentation on the different types of Internet access — from cable to DSL, dedicated Internet and Metro Ethernet.

Lunch will be provided for participants, Fondale added.

The afternoon sessions begin at 1:15 p.m. when Mark Wray, Digital Beckley, will present an hour-long seminar called “Small Business Technology Needs and Web Site ‘Hype.’”

Other presenters in the afternoon include Rose Nieff and Danny Cole, WGCNET, who will speak on smart ways to back up your data; Mark Williamson, CISCO, who will present “Building the Self-Defending Network;” and a presentation by Region 1 WorkForce West Virginia.

Joe Guffy with the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce said the region’s future economic competitiveness depends upon keeping up with the impact of technology and technology industries on the state’s economy.

“West Virginia is becoming a high-technology state,” Guffy said. “The Beckley Technology Group wants to educate and share information about issues with technology in our region.”

The Beckley Technology Group is an informal group of individuals from computer and networking companies, Web design and marketing firms, telephone and communications companies, the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce and local educators. The group meets every other Thursday at the Pancake House on Harper Road.

“We want to provide information aimed at promoting a vibrant technology-based economy in Beckley, Raleigh County and all of southern West Virginia,” Fondale said.

For more information about the seminar, or to register to attend, contact Beckley Tech Group at 253-5481, or visit the Web site at www.beckleytechgroup.com.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com