Technology group hopes to take I-20 by storm
Matthew Cameron saw a need for collaboration in North Louisiana among IT professionals and businesses, so he has encouraged a group to form that has a goal of spurring economic development through education, collaboration and networking.
The group is TECH by 20, taking its name from the interstate highway that unites the northern tier of the state, and is comprised of businesses and individuals who are interested in staying ahead of the trends in technology, education and economic developments.
“There are a lot of organizations like this in South Louisiana that I’ve been members of in the past,” Cameron said. Those organizations mainly center on the Baton Rouge and New Orleans metropolitan areas. “So we’re saying let’s come together and offer the same resources that people can get in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette area here in North Louisiana,” he said.
TECH by 20 is currently focused in Shreveport, Arcadia, Ruston and Monroe and is working with existing business and technology groups to grow into an economic force for the area. It started as a technology organization for professionals and enthusiasts, Cameron said. As more people found out about the group, he said they realized there was a need to educated local businesspeople about how technology has become intricately entwined with economic development.
“It’s for people who are interested in technology, who are interested in starting a business, to come together to find the resources they need through networking, through collaboration. We’re there to say if you need assistance, coaching, mentoring, advice, financing, we’re bringing the people together that can offer that,” Cameron said.
TECH by 20 is also for people who don’t realize they are interested in technology, he said. “I pointed out to a mayor recently if you have people who work in the wood pulp industry or the construction industry, you have people who are technology-based. They’re bringing in new technologies to refine those businesses. If you’re a start-up, you have needs that reach into the technology realm,” he said.
Cameron pointed out that businesses that were low-tech have found themselves being forced into the technology age. “All new construction equipment today runs off GPS and computers so when you’re out leveling land, which used to be considered manual work with big equipment. Somebody is using GPS and computers to verify the levelness and the area where you should stop. Suddenly, that’s a technology-oriented job,” he said.
Cameron said the group began to realize that many businesses along the Interstate 20 corridor might not recognize the need for technology fluency, so TECH by 20 is working to identify those potential members and partner with existing economic development groups to share information and even funding.
He said businesses can share an idea and get instant feedback from peers and small business experts.
They conduct “pitch contests,” where ideas are floated, and then the group votes on the most viable ones offered.
Prize money is sometimes available to help turn those ideas into a working concept.
The group meets quarterly, and Cameron encourages all businesses to see what they have to share. “Let’s not limit our scope. Let’s reach out to people who would benefit by knowing the people who are in our organization.
If we get them in meetings and begin to talk about opportunities, they begin to say, I want to hear about this new technology,” he said.
The meetings are free to attend right now, Cameron said, although the size of the group and the logistics of expanding might change that in the future. Attendees hear about the programs available to students in the area, as well as programs for businesses to increase productivity.
Topics vary for the meetings, Cameron said, because people don’t want to hear about the same subjects every meeting.
“Every quarterly event will have a different theme and different speakers. We’re asking people to add value, not just to show up and leave.
We want them to leave and ask how we can continue to carry this message on in our local area. We’re hoping to build that collaboration, that networking.
We don’t want it to be all about us. We want to build a force of people who are helping build this across I-20,” he said.
The group has a Facebook page that can be located by searching “Techx20” in a browser.
Cameron said, “All of us are working on certain aspects of economic development, technology or growth on their own. We’re trying to bring those together to have a stronger corridor and a stronger north Louisiana.”
–Joe Todaro
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