TechNet

Check back here to see who will be presenting in upcoming TechNets!

April 10, 2008: "Digital Media and the Smart Home: Current State and Future Predictions"

With all the changes that the digital age is bringing to music, video and communication technologies, consumers are being presented with lots of exciting but complex choices. Kurt Yeager is the owner and president of StreamLife, Inc., an early stage custom integrator of audio, video, home theater, automation and control systems for homes and businesses in the Greater Monterey Area. A 25-year veteran of the high tech industry, Kurt has worked in key domestic and international roles at market-leading companies--Triad Systems, Apple Computer, Silicon Graphics and Avaya Inc. As a consultant with Rohner & Associates in Los Gatos, he has advised over three dozen other companies in designing and building effective channels to serve market. His roles have spanned sales and marketing, product engineering and management, service and support, and, most recently, channel strategy and program development.

Check back here to see who will be presenting in upcoming TechNets!

March 13, 2008: With MacroNav Systems, the Future of GPS Is Now at the Marina Technology Cluster

March 13, 2008: MTC client and local home-grown entrepreneur Steve Tamagni and his company, MacroNav Systems, just won Best of Show at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for software he wrote for an onboard, fully-functioning PC for cars and trucks that has GPS capability and runs Windows Vista, Bluetooth and more. Steve also developed both the hardware and software for a rearview mirror that controls 4 cameras: three outside the car and a fourth that lets you see the kids in the back seat without having to turn around. Come find out what the crew at MacroNav can design for your application. Implications for Ag? You bet!

February 14, 2008: Romancing Funding in the Monterey Bay Area

February 14, 2008: MTC Advisor and WebLoq Founder and CEO George Sidman has raised $3.5 million dollars of private funding to finance WebLoq. He says he's learned tremendous lessons, and he's going to share them with us on Valentine's Day. Hey! It's also Alan Barich's birthday!! So come and wish him well!

January 10, 2008: Sarbanes-Oxley Considerations for IT Start-Ups

MTC TechNet Regular and CN2IT President Karl Tunnell-Braun discuses the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley act on Business IT. Find out how small entrepreneurial companies can leverage well-defined business processes to avoid major headaches when it is time to consider an IPO or acquisition.

Sarbanes Oxley applies to companies that are listed on U.S. stock exchanges. But if your exit strategy is to be purchased by a publicly traded U.S. company, you will want to have your Sarbanes-Oxley t's crossed and i's dotted before the purchase.

Karl is president and principal consultant of CN2IT ("seein' to it"), and has been involved with computers, programming, and general information technology for over 25 years. Karl has expertise in:

Process-based IT Operations

Network and Systems Operations

Enterprise and Network Management Systems (EMS/NMS) Projects

Application Service Provider (ASP) Operations

Most recently, Karl has leveraged his experience in process-based IT operations to advise clients on best practices; develop and implement IT change management policies; implement global IT incident management procedures; conduct research and make recommendations on EMS/NMS (Enterprise and Network Management) systems; and strategize on corporate IT development.

With a background in data network design and implementation, Karl has developed global network operations groups for Novell, Inc., LSI Logic Corp., and Aristasoft, Inc. These organizations relied heavily on Karl's ability to develop reliable, repeatable and auditable processes for daily IT infrastructure operations and service incident management.

At Aristasoft, a start-up application service provider located in San Jose, California., Karl oversaw all aspects of IT Operations including the 24x7 operations of virtual data centers for the ASP's twenty-two customers. As the company was responsible for the integration of finance, manufacturing, engineering, and sales applications, Karl's team was required to pass stringent SAS-70 auditing standards for companies handling 3rd party financial data.

November 8, 2007: A new model for generating and editing community-based newspapers

Marina Technology Cluster client and publisher of Walk About Maps, Alexander Demushkane, describes his new concept for a community-based publication, Locavox. Locavox is a social space on the Internet where the local community shares the excitement of local life, discusses important issues and together seek action to make a local community a better place. Locavox publications include the Walkabout Map & Guide, a semi-annual guide to a local area and Locavox Weekly, a local weekly printed paper.

October 11, 2007:Join the Marina Technology Cluster and The Monterey Peninsula Chamber for a Ribbon-Cutting TechNet

Breathe New Life into Your Small Business

Marina Technology Cluster (MTC) launches a free training and long-term business support program to income-qualified individuals who run or would like to run your own business. "In partnership with the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the program provides needed assistance to those income-qualified chamber clients with fewer than five employees," said MTC Director Susan Barich. The Small Business & Start-Up Program, funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of the State of California, provides tools, business-planning advice, professional resources and business coaching free of charge to targeted-income- group (TIG) individuals in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties who earn 80 percent or less of median income for their county. The MTC's CDBG program has provided training and services to approximately 100 regional TIG clients in the last 3 years, along side its program for innovative non-TIG, high-tech entrepreneurs. The MTC complements the work of local chambers of commerce, SCORE and Small Business Development Centers that provide support for existing businesses.

September 13, 2007:
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Unmanned Deep Ocean Research Vehicles

Jim Bellilngham, Chief Technologist for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), will talk with us about the latest advancements in underwater robotic vehicles at MBARI.

August 9, 2007: NPS Ad Hoc Wireless Networks for Katrina

Alex Bordetsky of the Naval Postgraduate School will describe how he set up ad hoc, wireless communication networks during the Katrina recovery effort using unmanned, aerial vehicles. Think "bugs," and imagine applications for agriculture!

July 12, 2007: The Promise of Artificial Vision from NPS

Mathias Kolsch of the Naval Postgraduate School tells us that the promise of artificial vision is just around the corner at last! Mathias will highlight past and current research efforts at NPS and illustrate the potential as well as the limitations of "seeing and understanding" with a computer.

Thursday June 14, 2007
Knowledge is Power: Learn How to Finance Your Renewable Energy Project

Financing a renewable energy system has gotten a lot easier thanks to federal and state incentives. If you are considering renewable energy for your business, facility or home, in particular solar photovoltaic electricity, but still wondering how to overcome the financial hurdles that stand between you and reliable energy independence, join us Thursday, June 14, when Blueline Power and Solar Power Partners share with us the ins and outs of how to finance your renewable energy project. Learn how to reduce your electricity bills and gain a source of energy that is redundant and reliable.

With the right financing package, you purchase clean, solar power from panels placed on-site without the costs of purchasing and maintaining the equipment.

Solar power benefits include:

• Energy independence
• Zero capital investment
• Environmental and social responsibility
• Great PR & marketing
• Reduced, predictable energy bills
• Jealous neighbors

Thursday April 12, 2007: Passion for the Future

Join MTC resident Rob Franklin, dynamic founder of Family Thrive, and TeenThrive, as he gets us hyped over providing kids and families with cool ways to do good stuff for their futures and the future of the planet.

Thursday, May 10, 2007: NPS Ad Hoc Wireless Networks for Katrina

Alex Bordetsky of the Naval Postgraduate School describes how he set up ad hoc, wireless communication networks during the Katrina recovery effort using unmanned, aerial vehicles. Think "bugs," and imagine applications for agriculture!

Thursday, March 8, 2007: Boma Systems Capitalizes on VoIP

You can find a profile of our March speaker, Carmel resident and entrepreneur Ken Tam, in the Holiday '06 issue of Carmel Magazine. Ken has 20 years of executive experience building and managing fast- growth companies and start-ups.

Boma Systems, has developed "Push 5" technology for your cell phone that enables you to instantly and simultaneously, with one touch, reach multiple people for help.

November 9, 2006: Using Carbon Credits to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

Santa Cruz entrepreneur John Regan will discuss how he is positioning Environmental Credit Corp. (ECC) to be a leading supplier of high quality environmental credits to emerging global financial markets.

From land fills to growers to dairies, your bottom line can be affected by carbon credits. By creating economic value from environmental benefits, ECC demonstrates its commitment to a sustainable balance between profitability and environmental stewardship for the world.

October 12, 2006: GIS Software That's Easy to Use!

MTC entrepreneur Eduardo Munoz will show us how his GeoRaster geographic information system (GIS) software helps realtors, city and county governments and engineering firms do their jobs more easily and efficiently. Eduardo has done all the work, so the software is easy for you to access on the internet and retrieve the history of a land parcel in moments.

Sept. 14, 2006: The State of Technology at CSUMB and Its Connection to Global Business

Dr. Eric Tao, director of the School of Information Technology and Communication Design (ITCD) at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), will describe the technology opportunities in the near future for CSUMB, its graduates and local technology business.

August 13, 2006: VestaCare Lowers Health Insurance Processing Costs by 40%.

Santa Cruz entrepreneur Tom Brekka started VestaCare in 1999 to automate the processing of medical claims for health insurance payors.

This process improves medical cost control and claim payment reliability, and shortens claim turn-around time. The result is lower overall processing costs by an average of 40%.

July 13, 2006: Locaban Introduces the Next Generation of Internet Advertising Tools for Local Businesses

MTC entrepreneur Alex Demushkane has successfully published Walkabout Maps in the Monterey region for 8 years. Alex has taken his much-loved, artistic, dimensional maps to the internet, and now has devised a new business model for advertising using the web.

Come hear how Locabon is poised to become a $100M company that provides the country's premier guide to local restaurants, shops, attractions, activities, and events to consumers nationwide and delivers the best value in internet- based advertising to local businesses nationwide.

June 1, 2006: WebLOQ Technology Secures Internet Communications

George Sidman, MTC Advisory Board Member and Founder of WebLOQ talks about how WebLOQ makes Internet communications safe enough for HIPAA, SOX and GLB compliance. Hear how WebLOQ's patented technology provides private and safe email and eliminates SPAM and phishing. "Communications are private from keyboard to keyboard," says Sidman.

WebLOQ's mission is to take the Internet private through Virtual Private Communities (VPCs) that operate on protected email addresses and multi-level encryption.

May 4, 2006: Bridging the Gap Between the Corporation and Public Education

Hear Michelle Tummino describe how her company, Wise Connection, offers financial stability to schools by creating a continuous revenue stream of corporate funds. Wise Connections bridges the funding gap between corporations and communities by providing companies with a new marketing channel -- a network of school districts where corporations can achieve their marketing goals while supporting education. Focused on, but not limited to, the math and sciences, Wise Connection is a for-profit social venture corporation that builds and manages these types of partnerships.

April 6, 2006: Creative New Bank Financing for Start-Ups

The Bridge Bank is the fastest growing commercial bank in the United States, and they're getting there by focusing on entrepreneurs at the seed stage.

Sr. Vice President Steve Schreier discussed the creative products Bridge Bank uses to help start-ups with early-stage financing. Creative New Bank Financing for Start-Ups.

March 2, 2006: What's New in Disneyland

This month's featured speaker was MTC client entrepreneur Steve Tamagni who spent last summer applying technology to Disneyland rides to enhance the user experience. Steve discussed the public domain elements of the project, the technology and future uses of it.

February 2, 2006: The Path to Cash: Managing the Company's Life Blood

This month's featured speaker is Alan Barich, Principal of Barich Business Services, LLC. Alan will share with us the secrets of his favorite subject -- cash management. And he'll talk about the essentials of preparing your company for investment -- either equity or debt.

"Cash is the life blood of the company," said Barich. "It's essential to understand the timing of your cash flow as the company's pulse."

January 12, 2006: Media Galleries Entertainment -- Ethnic Marketing and New Technology for Video Delivery

This month's featured speaker is Arthur Mrozowski, founder and CEO of Media Galleries Entertainment or MGE, Inc. Mrozowski pioneered the development of the first multimedia projects for Sony. He also produced the first full feature film using QuickTime. In 1997, he established one of the first DVD authoring studios in America and produced over 2000 DVDs for Hollywood and various clients.

December 1, 2005: The Power of Your Unfair Advantage

This month's featured speaker is engineer, Carmel resident and Cornell University professor John Nesheim. Leading- edge start- up innovators dominate by using their unfair advantage. A difficult concept to explain to the first-timer, Nesheim has written a book to explain it.

In his new book The Power of Unfair Advantage: How to Create It, Build It, Use It to Maximum Effect, Nesheim will provide a framework to discover YOUR unfair advantage, build it into your marketing and business strategies and provide techniques to apply unfair advantage inside both established corporations and new enterprises.

November 3, 2005: RFID Implementation

This month's featured presenter is Stefan van der Bijl of Tanimura and Antle. Van der Bijl will describe how T&A is using RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to track produce through the chain of custody, from the field to the end user, and how it benefits both the company and its customers in increased efficiency, food safety, and quality.

October 6, 2005

This month's featured presenter is Composer of Scott's Valley. Composer Software is the result of a merger of two leading interactive Web development companies. The first focused on the entertainment market, creating movie trailers and other Web content, the second on corporate presentations for sales, marketing and education. d very different paths, they arrived at the same destination in 2000. Both had clients expressing the need for effective visual communications that could be created quickly, at a reasonable cost, and could be maintained and deployed locally and in real-time. The merger launched a new company dedicated to creating software applications that allow every-day people to create design-studio presentations that can be immediately deployed to the Web, downloaded onto computers, burned onto CDs or distributed via email.

September 8, 2005

This month's featured presenter is SHOP.COM of Monterey. SHOP.COM is an online marketplace designed to help consumers more efficiently shop on the Web by aggregating and organizing millions of products from hundreds of merchants in a single location.

August 4, 2005

This month regional entrepreneur Andy Holliday presents his new company, Kompolt Motors, and their plan for on-line auto auctions. With clients such as eBay, NBC, Mercendes-Benz, Intel, UNICEF and the City of Hope, Kompolt has a 3-year track record of helping clients conduct on-line auto auctions.

June 30, 2005

This month serial entrepreneur and Marina Technology Cluster advisor George Sidman presents his new company, WebLOQ, and their unique technology for Internet security. WebLOQ has recently secured initial investment from Finis Conner, the founder of Seagate, and Conner Peripherials, where the first 3 1/2-inch, high-capacity disk drive was developed.