`Georgia Technology Celebration' Launches TAG's Statewide Partner Program; TechTeams Travel the State to Gain Communities' Involvement in Fall Event.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2003

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), one of the nation's largest state technology associations, announced today the launch of a "TechTeams" initiative to ensure a high level of involvement of communities outside Atlanta in the Georgia Technology Celebration.

TechTeams is a volunteer driven outreach program designed to gain greater statewide participation in the Celebration and the ongoing planning for the future of Georgia's technology industry. Diane Lewis, manager of the Advanced Technology Development Center in Savannah is the chair of the Celebration's TechTeams committee.

"No celebration of technology advancements in Georgia is complete if it doesn't involve every community that has helped make our state one of the top 10 technology regions in the country," said John Yates, chairman of the Celebration and leader of law firm Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP's technology group. "That's why the Celebration and TAG are launching the TechTeam programs, to ensure we honor everyone's contribution to the growth of technology in Georgia."

The Georgia Technology Celebration, scheduled for October 21 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, is aimed toward celebrating the success of the technology industry, as well as galvanizing public and private sector organizations to work collectively for continued growth. "Our goal is to make Georgia one of the top five technology regions in the country," Yates said.

The TechTeams initiative has been in operation for several months and will participate in sessions in the following communities over the next several weeks: Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, LaGrange, Macon, Rome and Savannah. Others are likely to be scheduled as well.

"In these technology hubs outside Atlanta, we'll be meeting with technology leaders as well as city officials, Chambers of Commerce, investors, research organizations, university representatives and leaders of bricks and mortar companies that rely on technology for their success," said Diane Lewis TechTeams chair. "Our goal is to include everyone who has played a role in making that community one that nurtures technological growth and advancement."

Lewis said the Celebration is an event not-to-be-missed for anyone with a vested interest in the welfare of the technology industry in Georgia.

"How do we ensure Georgia continues to be a state where technology professionals want to live and work? How do we attract more investment? How do we attract more talent, more innovative ideas, more companies and more jobs? How can we align the valued resources of all our communities to focus on continued technological growth?" Lewis continued, "These are some of the questions we'll be exploring at the Celebration, and we're excited about the opportunity. We're also pleased at the response we're receiving to the TechTeams initiative so far."

Lewis also added that people told her team that they not only want to attend the Celebration, but they want to learn more about how they can work with TAG to make it successful.

Steve Jeffery, president of TAG, said the TechTeams initiative will continue beyond the Celebration to help TAG broaden its reach. "As statewide interest grows in the Celebration, we anticipate this event will actually kick-off a renewed vitality in the technology industry throughout Georgia," Jeffery said. "Our plan is to leverage that vitality for the continued growth of our organization and our efforts to bring the community together to help drive initiatives that will advance the technology industry in our state."

The Georgia Technology Celebration promises to be the largest gathering of technology executives in the state, with the goal of uniting everyone in Georgia - public and private sector alike - with a vested interest in the technology industry. Honored guests include Sonny Perdue, Governor of Georgia, who will deliver the keynote address at noon on October 21; Cathy Cox, Secretary of State; Garry Betty, CEO, EarthLink; and Dave Dorman, CEO, AT&T.

If your community is interested in participating in the Georgia Technology Celebration, contact Diane Lewis at 912.596.6921, or [e-mail]. Or visit the Celebration web site at www.techcelebration.org.

Georgia Technology Celebration Sponsors

Sponsors for the Georgia Technology Celebration, Investor Showcase and TAG Cyber Cafe include: AGL Resources; Atlanta Business Chronicle; Atlanta CEO High-Tech Council; Char Baxter Communications; CheckFree; Computer Associates; Covente (formerly EDSI); ExactTarget; Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism's Office of Science and Technology (GDITT); ICAPP(R); Interland; Manhattan Associates; Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP; NetBank; Procuri, Inc.; Silicon Valley Bank; Silverpop and STI Knowledge.

About TAG

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is a non-profit organization that serves the technology community in Georgia. TAG is dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of the state's technology industry and provides leadership in driving initiatives in the areas of policy, capital, education and giving. TAG helps to bring the technology community together through events, initiative programs and networking opportunities. Founded in 1999 through the merger of the Business & Technology Alliance (B&TA), the Southeastern Software Association (SSA) and Women in Technology (WIT); TAG is one of the largest state technology associations in the nation. TAG is made up of several thousand members representing technology leaders from over 1500 Georgia-based companies, affiliated technology and business organizations. For more information on TAG, visit www.tagonline.org, email [e-mail] or call [phone].