ITCND is teaming with other North Dakota information technology industry stakeholders to launch an updated 2011 State of the IT Industry Guide.  We are currently in the research phase and need your input on the current issues facing North Dakota's IT industry.

Members that are IT businesses or companies with IT departments are encouraged to complete the survey by Friday, Aug. 20.  Information collected will be used to supplement industry data.

The full-color 2011 State of the IT Industry Guide will provide information about the opportunities within North Dakota's IT industry and demonstrate its impact on the state.  State policymakers will use it to develop strategies to capitalize on opportunities and overcome barriers that face the industry.  This guide, distributed by ITCND, the North Dakota Department of Commerce and local economic developers, will also be used as a tool for IT business and employee recruitment.  In addition, it will be distributed to students, parents and educators through ITCND's IT Career Awareness Program.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 701-355-4458 or email Alexis.

The 2011 legislative session is quickly approaching.  The ITCND board of directors approved the 2011 legislative agenda, and the public policy committee is currently monitoring interim committee work and potential legislation impacting the IT industry in the areas of workforce development, business development, connectivity, internet taxation, and K-12 and higher education.

If you have issues you would like ITCND to be aware of moving into the 2011 session, contact Deana Wiese at 701-355-4458 or one of the public policy committee members listed below:

2010-11 Public Policy Committee

Dale Niezwaag, Chair, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 701-223-0441

Kent Blickensderfer, Qwest, 701-222-7051

Katie Hasbargen, Microsoft Fargo, 701-281-6877

Gary Inman, State Bank and Trust, 701-371-1563

Jeremy Neuharth, State Bank and Trust, 1-800-450-8949

Doug Remboldt, NISC, 701-667-6700

Tom Seymour, Minot State University, 701-858-3307

Mark your calendar for Sen. Dorgan's Red River Valley Research Corridor: Milestones and Horizons II, which is scheduled for Oct. 11 in Fargo.  Watch for additional information here.

Great Plains Venture Capital will hold its second annual Venture Capital Fair in Fargo Sept. 28 in conjunction with Marketplace of Ideas and the I.D.E.A. Center.

Showcasing the most promising emerging growth companies from the Great Plains region, Great Plains Venture Capital Fair (GPVCF) will provide a venue for venture investors, CEO's, entrepreneurs and service professionals to network and learn firsthand about the venture funding and entrepreneurial opportunities that are blossoming throughout the region.

Companies interested in presenting at GPVCF should visit www.marketplaceofideas.org and complete the application posted online and email no later than Aug. 24.  

GPVCF will feature companies that range from seed stage through expansion capital and will encompass a wide range of industries.  Participation is based on a formal review and selection committee comprised of venture capitalists and service professionals from regional, national and international venues.

"Most economic development today occurs when entrepreneurs with good business plans are connected to people that have investment capital.  This funding fair will provide the premier regional opportunity for people looking for seed capital to meet those who have money to invest," said Niles Hushka, GPVCF director.  The GPVCF selection team is prepared to begin accepting and analyzing those companies that display the potential to become tomorrow's leaders and provide employment to residents throughout the region.

For more information, contact Molly at 701-202-0500.

Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Inc. (KL&J)

KL&J is a regional engineering, surveying, planning, and asset development firm comprised of a multi-disciplined team focused on building a healthy future for the communities in which we live and work.  We accomplish this by knowing and anticipating our clients' needs and responding with innovative solutions.  Our foundation is based on the principles of a living company: we continually update our business operations model to meet the demands of today's dynamic marketplace, which is built around technological advancements and human interactions models that rapidly change.

Future opportunities for KL&J and the IT industry in the state: 
Currently, KL&J's Telecommunications Group is aggressively creating infrastructures that integrate seamlessly with global networks and local back office and support systems across the state to expand broadband service in urban and extreme rural areas.

Current challenges facing KL&J and the IT industry in the state:
The challenge is not only keeping pace with the latest emerging technology, but determining how this technology fits into our corporate culture and how it impacts our competitive advantage.  From social networking, smartphones and access for the "always connected" employee, from IPv6 and bandwidth management, to new enterprise applications and working in the "cloud", utilizing these technologies timely and appropriately is vital to the fundamental success of our organization.

Learn more about KL&J by contacting Robert Valeu at 701-355-8400 for more information.

If you are interested in having your business featured in an upcoming "Member Bits & Bytes," email ITCND. Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.