Looking Back, Looking Forward
January 13th, 2011
By John Bishop
It's hard to believe that IT Martini is going to complete it's third year of service to the IT Community this year. It seems like only yesterday that Aladin and I started asking the question, 'Why don't IT Professionals do a better job of connecting with one another?'
The answers we've learned since then are varied and complex. Some IT Pros weren't given the right opportunity, others didn't understand how to make connections, and many never thought that participating in their IT Community would be rewarding.
Over the last year, I learned a lot about IT Professionals and their desire to engage: IT Martini hosted seven events in four cities, with thousands of attendees. This fascinating journey confirmed for me that IT Pros, just like everyone else, have an intrinsic ability to connect best with the people who are most like them - in this case, other IT Pros.
Thinking back to the connections made at that very first IT Martini event in the Summer of 2008, so much has changed. Social media has quickly risen to be the dominant force on the web, mobile & tablet computing devices are now commonplace, and 'agile' has become a household word.
It's fascinating to me that IT Pros are on the forefront of these changes, and helping to create an amazing 'future' for our communities with technology. And I'm a believer that more, better connections in this industry can make this amazing future happen.
Looking forward to 2011, my goal is to continue learning from the industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropic organizations who are helping to create this future. The team at IT Martini is rallying behind this idea - and plans are in the works for:
- Bigger, more beautiful events
- Greater partnerships with local conferences
- Better online resources, such as jobs postings and discussions
We're driving toward a community experience for IT Pros that's second to none, and your ideas are needed. Please help us answer the question, 'How can IT Martini do a better job of connecting IT Pros?
One final thought: we wouldn't be here today without the commitment from the team behind IT Martini. On behalf of Aladin and myself, a huge thank you applies to Jennifer Fisher (Event Director), Katie Greene (Marketing Manager), Holly Solomon (Community Development Director), Michelle Aro (Philanthropy Director), Dan Clark (Community Development Manager | Columbus), Daryle Johnson (Community Development Manager | Indianapolis), Kevin Hiser (Entrepreneurship Director), Staisja Brant (Event Planning & Communications Manager), Angela Gonzalez (Media Correspondent), Jeremy K. Smith (Community Development Manager | Cincinnati), and Raquel S. Marquez (Event Manager).
I'm excited about everything that 2011 has in store, and hope you are too. Stay tuned!
John Bishop
