New Technology Association of Georgia Mission Will Lead State-Wide Technology Initiatives.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2003

-- Association Aims to be the Preeminent "Voice" for the

Technology Community throughout Georgia

-- Non-profit Association Extends Invitation to Georgia Cities

and Tech Community to Work Together on Legislative Policy,

Education, Philanthropy and Capital Programs

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), has widened the scope of its organizational mission for the entire state. Entering its fifth year as the largest non-profit technology association in the State, TAG has created a new charter to benefit Georgia's technology companies, educational institutions, and students by facilitating legislative policy, education, capital and philanthropy throughout the state.

TAG will serve as the "voice" of technology for its membership in four critical areas of focus for the future of technology in Georgia, according to Tripp Rackley, chairman of TAG. These "areas of influence" are policy, education, philanthropy, and capital.

Founded in 1999 as the result of a merger/partnership of the Business & Technology Alliance (B&TA), the Southeastern Software Association (SSA) and Women In Technology (WIT), three Atlanta-based technology groups, TAG became the largest technology organization of its kind, and today offers more than 125 networking and educational events per year to support Georgia's technology industry.

"While acknowledging the contribution its nine Societies and 18 Special Interest Groups (SIGS) have made in the past, we must expand beyond the networking and event-based model to continue our growth and relevance to the state's technology community," said Rackley. Expected to continue similar activities in the future, these groups' events are the forums for networking and continuing education of Georgia's technology professionals.

"The heart of TAG is and always will be the Societies and SIGs of TAG, which are the grass-root foundation through which members can share knowledge and actively participate in the development of Georgia's technology community," said Emma W. Morris, interim president of TAG.

Through volunteer efforts and the support of TAG's Societies and SIGs, TAG will facilitate different public and private resources across the state, leveraging and aggregating them to speak with a single, unified voice.

"As the preeminent branded association of the community, we will use our influence to connect other organizations and facilitate their initiatives to a broader audience," said Morris, who created the new vision and mission based on many interviews with TAG's membership, and technology professionals throughout the State. "Only through a single powerful voice can we create the right environment by facilitating pro-active legislation in support of technology companies; attracting and retaining students throughout Georgia's education system; attracting and facilitating capital investment in entrepreneurial companies; and giving back to the community through technology sponsored philanthropic programs," she added.

TAG will soon announce its chairpersons for each of the areas of influence and recruiting efforts are under way with more than 150 people from TAG's membership who have already offered their services. Volunteers are always welcome. To volunteer, please send a note of interest to [e-mail].

About TAG

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is a non-profit organization that serves as the statewide voice of the technology community in policy, education, giving and capital for technology corporations, service providers, and individuals. With the goal of affecting long-term policy and educational change in Georgia, TAG is the largest technology association in the United States. TAG currently serves several thousand members representing more than 1,500 Georgia-based technology companies, and hosts more than 125 educational and business networking events throughout the year. For more information on TAG, visit www.tagonline.org or contact [phone].

TAG Societies include:

-- Business & Technology Alliance (B&TA)

-- Business, Education & Technology Alliance (Coastal BETA)

-- Central Georgia Technology Alliance (CGTA)

-- Healthcare Society

-- Information Security Society

-- Technology Marketing Association (TMA)

-- The Interactive Media Alliance (TIMA)

-- Southeastern Software Association (SSA)

-- Women In Technology (WIT)

More vertically focused are the SIGS, which are forums for the discussion of more targeted, specific segments within the technology industry. They include:

-- Atlanta .NET Users Group

-- Business Intelligence SIG

-- Content Management SIG

-- Customer Relationship Management SIG

-- Enterprise Portal SIG

-- Entrepreneurial Forum SIG

-- Finance & TAX SIG

-- Growth Capital SIG

-- Human Resources SIG

-- International SIG

-- Minorities in Technology SIG

-- Offshore Development & Support SIG

-- Outsourcing SIG

-- Product Management SIG

-- Product Marketing SIG

-- Public Company

-- Recruiting SIG

-- Technology in Entertainment SIG

-- Web Services Working Group