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Posted by Ariel Killen

http://hrdindia.com/2009/06/meet-t-reed-gary-17-year-veteran-blue-chip-corporate-recruiting-consultant/
HR India

Reed is passionate about the art & business impact of Talent Acquisition. He has a track record of crafting recruiting strategies; candidate sourcing and candidate development; plus, pre-closing candidates & increasing offer acceptance rates. Reed’s experience includes 17 years in corporate Human Resources plus 14 years of Contract Recruiting with focus on: US Government / Public Sector; PhD, MS, & BS Engineers; subject matter experts in Information Technology; territory & large account Sales; and, market research; brand; analysts relations; SEO specialists in Marketing....

Six Degrees: Tell us about your broader involvement within the staffing industry:
Reed: As much as possible I attend meetings; events; and/or, stay on top of articles of interest by Technology Association of Georgia; ERE; RecruitingBlogs....

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Posted by Ariel Killen

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/atlantech/2009/06/accelereyes_bags_gratag_biz_launch_competition.html
Atlanta Business Chronicle

AccelerEyes has won the GRA/TAG Business Launch Competition — pocketing prestige and $300,000 in cash and services.

The Atlanta startup develops software tools to allow applications to run on graphics processing units. GPUs are ten times faster than CPUs and allow computers to process information faster and be more productive.

AccelerEyes CEO John Melonakos said he was “ecstatic” about winning.

The business competition was an opportunity to get “great feedback from seasoned VCs and entrepreneurs,” the 29-year-old entrepreneur said.

David Eckoff, a semi-finalist judge, said was impressed with AccelerEyes’ “strength of their management, value proposition and core technology IP.”

The publicity and interest generated from the win is also likely to help AccelerEyes raise the $500,000 in seed funding.

AccelerEyes competed with finalists Band Metrics and TalentSoup in the annual competition, organized by the Georgia Research Alliance and the Technology Association of Georgia.

This year’s GRA/TAG competition focused on Internet Technology, which includes companies developing products, online services or technologies that use or extend the reach, flexibility, and ease of the Internet.

Band Metrics, a TechCrunch50 2008 semi-finalist, helps bands, musicians and music industry professionals understand their popularity by aggregating online information about how many times their music has been played, purchased or shared. Read AtlanTech’s review here.

TalentSoup is an Internet service that provides a highly efficient matching engine to connect talent with advertising projects.

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Posted by Ariel Killen

By Allan Maurer

Knowing where a band’s fan base is located or where its music is played most often on the radio can help it focus both its marketing efforts and plan its tours. But the availability of solid analytics about bands that may be “under the radar” also helps producers in the television, radio and commercial industries find artists with breakout potential they can sign relatively inexpensively.

So says Duncan Freeman, founder and CEO of Band Metrics, one of three finalists in the Georgia Research Alliance/Technology Association of Georgia business launch competition wrapping up this week. “It’s my third start up,” Freeman notes.

The company, one of the brands developed by Indy Music Inc., was founded in 2006. Freeman initially self - funded the effort, but the company did a small Series A round under $1 million in 2008 in with Allen Graber and another investor providing the funds.

“We’re presently closing a Series B under $1 million that includes new investors,” Freeman says.

The two-employee company does data analytics that act as decision making support for professionals in the music industry. “We collect and aggregate massive amounts of data from the Internet relative to musicians,” he says. “We analyze it and provide key insights and trend information to music professionals such as booking agencies, band managers, music labels and others.”

Band Metrics tracks how many friends they have on social Web sites such as Facebook or Myspace, the number of comments, how many people click on “like” buttons related to their music, and other analytics. “It drives insight on how they can best market,” Freeman explains. “Should they focus their updates on a particular site?”

The company also pulls in radio plays from 1,000 different radio stations that tells its clients how many times songs were played in a market, giving artists an idea of where their music is being played most often. “It helps them capitalize on their fan base,” says Freeman. “If they know where most of their fans are located, they can concentrate their marketing in those areas and it helps with tour planning.”

The chief competition to the online service, Freeman says, are companies that use focus groups. The Band Metrics advantage, he points out, “is that we keep our data and can show how artists and songs are doing over time, and compare them to others. You can’t do that with a focus group.”

Although the service is still in beta testing, it already has about 4,000 users signed up, says Freeman.  Bands testing the service include The Beastie Boys, R.E.M., and Metric.

While it will eventually use a subscription model, it is currently free.
Freeman says the site can help music supervisors of popular TV shows or commercials find new talent at inexpensive prices. Music supervisors, a relatively new position at media companies, find the songs that play during shows such as “Gray’s Anatomy,” and “Smallville.”

If they sign a little-known group and end up with a hit song, everyone benefits, says Freeman.

The site helps music supervisors find tunes that appeal to just the right audience, he explains.

“Let’s say Nike is releasing a new type of shoe they want worn by a particular demographic, say the tween market. They want music supervisors to find a song the tween market is really liking so they can cement that demo to their product.”

Freeman says a lot of brands are looking at “sonic branding to help cement a demographic” to their product.

“In that sense, we’re a sales tool,” says Freeman.

He says that while the company’s technology is “agnostic toward any vertical” it is solely focused on the music industry right now. For one thing, Freeman says, it’s a space he knows. He paid his way through college with a cover band that toured the Southeast.

Eventually, however, he says the company will license the technology to others who might want to use the same system for wine or athletes or other areas.

“It’s called sentiment analysis,” says Freeman. It would be useful to marketers he suggest, “If you could gauge how people think about a particular athlete.”

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Posted by Ariel Killen

http://www.techlinks.net/community/articles/article/17692-technology-marketing-excellence-awards-earned-by-arketi-for-three-clients
TechLINKS

High tech business-to-business public relations and marketing firm Arketi Group, announced three of its clients earned TAMY Awards from TAG Marketing, a society of the Technology Association of Georgia. The awards, given at the 9th Annual Technology Marketing Excellence Awards (TAMY) ceremony, recognize Georgia-based companies that demonstrate significant and measurable accomplishments in technology marketing and PR.

Arketi’s work for the following clients helped earn them a 2009 TAMY Award: ERDAS, Reveille Software and Virtual Premise. For the fifth straight year, Arketi’s corporate positioning work swept the positioning categories.

“These technology companies really embrace the notion that effective and integrated marketing affects the bottom line,” said Rory Carlton, principal of Arketi Group. “By working hand-in-hand with these clients we were able to not only generate exciting PR and marketing programs, but were able to track the results of these efforts back to key business measurements.” ...

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Posted by Josh Lewis

From a tech news wrap up of last week and a preview of MicroSoft’s iPod Touch contender to be released this fall, to the top 10 emerging tech trends, CNET’s top 5 worst tech gifts to buy for Father’s Day and the Discover Channel spoof of antimatter, a new show is launched every week day on WebVisions: a TAG TV compilation of tech news and information clips from various popular Internet video sites.  Watch a show a day to conveniently grow you tech IQ!

Go to WebVisions Now!

Monday: Last Week’s News Wrap Up
Media Bytes reports on President Obama to appoint Cyber-Czar, Japanese university cyber-stalking students, Susan Boyle the Webs missed opportunity, and SingerExpress launches a new service.  2 minutes

Tuesday: A Preview of Microsoft’s Zune HD
At All Things Digital last week, CNET News’ Ina Fried got a hands-on preview of the touchscreen Zune HD with its striking organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display that Microsoft plans to ship and take on the iPod Touch this fall.  1 minute

Wednesday: Top 10 Emerging Tech Trends Debate
Watch as the industry’s leading visionaries rate and debate what technology trends will emerge during the year ahead at the recent Churchill Club event.  124 minutes

Thursday: CNETs Top 5 Worst Tech Gifts for Dad
Tom Merritt counts down the tech gadgets you should definitely not buy for dad this Fathers Day.  3 minutes

Friday: Discovery Networks Spoofs Antimatter
Now that antimatter is becoming a household word, Discovery Networks humorously shows why it is something better left to the experts. 2 minutes

Go to WebVisions Now!

Other TAG TV Features: Tech Talk on TAG Radio
TAG President Tino Mantella interviews Atlanta’s top executives, with a new show launching every Tuesday afternoon. Click to listen to Tino’s latest interview!

Comments (0) Notables What’s New?

Posted by Kaylyn

To keep our members up-to-date regarding public policy matters effecting our community on a federal and state level, TAG will be issuing a monthly newsletter covering a variety of topics. We invite you to view our publications at:  http://www.tagonline.org/capitol-updates.php.

For questions regarding Capitol Updates, please contact Kaylyn Seawell at .

Comments (0) Legislative Issues

Posted by Kaylyn

In the upcoming weeks, Congress will consider language that will allow for the reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, set to expire on July 31, 2009. As an advocate for Georgia’s high-tech entrepreneurial community, TAG invites you to join us in urging your Senator and Congressman to provide their support for this highly successful and sorely needed program.

With the help of funds allocated through the SBIR program, 264 small Georgia-based companies have received awards totaling $244 million for the advancement of technology development. These companies have also received 638 patents on the technologies they developed — a great win for the companies, the state of Georgia and the federal government!

For 25 years, the SBIR program has helped to fulfill an important need for Georgia’s technology community. Companies funded by SBIR dollars have helped our nation to maintain its competitive edge in a fast-paced global marketplace by providing federal agencies access to emerging and novel technologies.

The House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology, chaired by Congressman Glenn Nye (D-VA), is scheduled to meet regarding SBIR reauthorization on Thursday, June 4.

Please take a moment to contact your Senator and Congressman today to voice your support for this important program!

Comments (0) Legislative Issues

Posted by Ariel Killen

http://theprofitablefreelancer.com/site/personaldevelopment/how-to-network-strategically-as-a-freelancer
The Profitable Freelancer

As a freelancer, networking can be one of your most powerful prospecting ingredients—if you do it properly. In fact, some of the most successful freelancers I know built their businesses entirely through networking. And for me, networking has been a big driver of new leads and great clients....

#1: Focus Your Efforts

First off, it’s essential to focus your efforts. Going to every networking breakfast and joining every “leads club” in town is counterproductive—and completely insane! You’ll be spreading yourself too thin.

Instead, stick to a couple of organizations and get involved as much as possible in each one. Begin your search by selecting no more than six organizations. Attend a few of their events and meetings, and see which ones you truly like. Focus on organizations that are loaded with potential prospects in your chosen specialty, if you have one.

At a minimum, concentrate on organizations whose members truly understand the value of your services and could potentially hire you. Once you have a really good feel for each of these organizations and the type of people who attend its meetings and events, narrow your list to no more than two or three (sometimes one organization is all you need) and become a member.

For me, getting involved in the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) has been a smart decision. Because my target market is software and technology, this is a prospect-rich audience. Plus, membership and involvement in TAG gives me exposure in my local market.

Now, I could (and should) pick another group to diversify my networking efforts. But I’m happy with my TAG involvement for now, which says a lot about the value of joining an organization for the quality of its members and not just the size of its membership.

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Posted by Josh Lewis

WebVisions… where your tech IQ grows.  From exploring the future of technology in entertainment with an academy award winning special effects designer and the opportunities for business in the virtual world to the business logic of implementing “green” processes and a Google executive’s predicts what’s next for media, a new show is launched every week day on WebVisions: a TAG TV compilation of tech news and information clips from various popular Internet video sites.  Watch a show a day to conveniently keep up with, and explore, a variety of tech topics! 

Go to WebVisions Now!

Tuesday: The Future of Technology in Entertainment
Academy Award-winning special effects designer John Gaeta (Matrix, Speed Racer) talks about the technology behind the forthcoming movie Ninja Assassin, plus the future of games, movies, interactive and “hybrid” entertainment.  6 minutes

Wednesday: Real Opportunities for Business in the Virtual World
At the 2009 Front End of Innovation Conference, Kara Francis, Business Development Analyst , Lockheed Martin speaks about the opportunities businesses and organizations can implement in the virtual world.  7 minutes

Thursday: The Business Logic of Implementing Green Processes
At his carpet company, Ray Anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional “take / make / waste” industrial system on its head. He shares a powerful vision for sustainable commerce.  16 minutes

Friday: Google Executive Predicts What’s Next for Media
Google’s President, Global Sales Operations and Business Development, Nikesh Arora speaks about media and what happens next during the May Media Trends Conference in Warsaw.  30 minutes

Go to WebVisions Now!

Other TAG TV Features: Tech Talk on TAG Radio
TAG President Tino Mantella interviews Atlanta’s top executives, with a new show launching every Tuesday afternoon. Click to listen to Tino’s latest interview!

Comments (0) Notables What’s New?

Posted by Ariel Killen

http://www.sramanamitra.com/2009/05/28/solohealth/
Srmana Mitra

Launched in 2007, SoloHealth offers self-service health screening. Their inaugural product, EyeSite™ is an interactive kiosk that provides vision health information and customized vision reports, and also directs consumers to an eye care professional nearby ...In April 2008, SoloHealth raised $1.8 million in seed funding from friends, family and members of the Atlanta Technology Angels (ATA). A $1 million Series A is in progress, led by Larry Gerdes, who is on the board of directors.

The EyeSite kiosk concept was conceived by Foster in 2004. Each kiosk is automated and entirely self-service, unlike similar eyesight screenings available in the market. The concept is driven by two growth trends Foster predicts will characterize heath care — consumer-directed health care and self-service technology. Quick and easy to use, the kiosks are placed in high-traffic areas. EyeSite kiosks allow consumers to assess their near and far vision, schedule an appointment with a local eye doctor and learn about general eye health conditions. SoloHealth’s aim is not to replace a doctor’s visit, but to emphasize the need to visit an eye doctor regularly.

The EyeSite kiosks collect information from users and utilize data such as user demographics and visual acuity to deliver customized, relevant content to customers. SoloHealth offers this service free. 

Including glasses, contact lenses, eye exams and services, the US vision care market is over $26 billion. It would be much larger if more people got regular eye exams more frequently. Since September 2008, the company has screened over 100,000 people in Atlanta. Of those screened, 26% had never had an eye exam, yet 26% failed the distance test and 30% the near vision test. Forty-eight percent reported having a family history of eye disease and over 3% of all users requested an appointment with an eye care professional. 

SoloHealth earns revenue from advertisers targeting the vision market as well as fees from referrals. In April-May this year, the company signed several corporate deals which earned them revenue of over $650,000. The company is not yet profitable, but Foster is confident of reaching profitability by early 2011. 

SoloHealth aims to set up kiosks within the optical departments of mass merchandisers like Wal-Mart, Target, ShopKo, Sam’s Club and Costco. Large optical retailers like Pearl Vision, LensCrafters and Sears Optical are also suitable places for the kiosks. The company has piloted with kiosks in Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Kroger all over Atlanta.

In 2008, SoloHealth was selected from a pool of 1,500 contestants to be one of the top five companies on Forbes.com’s ‘Boost Your Business’ entrepreneurial list. It was also selected as one of the 2008 ‘Top 40’ Innovative Technology companies in Georgia by the Technology Association of Georgia and has won other awards like ‘Best in Show’ at the Kiosk.Com Self-Service Expo.

In the future, SoloHealth expects an exit in the form of an acquisition by a self-service kiosk company, health care media company or one of the large optical retailers or manufacturers. Till then, the company will expand into other branches of health care such as blood pressure, BMI and health risk assessments. At present SoloHealth’s main aim is to increase the network of EyeSite kiosks across the country.

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Posted by Ariel Killen

http://www.techlinks.net/community/articles/article/17666-atdc-and-tag-s-annual-fundraising-program-now-accepting-applications-
TechLINKS

The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) have begun accepting applications for this year’s CapVenture Program.  CapVenture is a unique program that educates and equips CEOs and executives of early-stage companies for smarter and more productive capitalization of their businesses.  Now in its 3rd year, CapVenture has been incredibly successful; past participants include Solo-Health, FluxMedia and Global Crypto Systems who all credit CapVenture for their successful fundraising.

Technology companies selected for this year’s CapVenture will be guided through extensive workshops on fundraising preparation, an elevator pitch exercise and review, executive summary review, investor communications and practice investor pitches.  Participants will also receive weekly mentoring from Atlanta investors and entrepreneurs. CapVenture’s series of presentations and workshops prepare executives for the opportunity to meet angel and venture investors and culminates with an Investor Forum and Celebration.  After the final event, the top-rated CapVenture companies will also have an opportunity to present at the 2nd annual Venture Atlanta conference, Georgia’s largest venture capital conference (http://www.ventureatlanta.org

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Posted by Ariel Killen

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2345680/
Trading Markets

(Close-Up Media via COMTEX)—SRVS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating—Venture Atlanta, a Georgia technology event, announced that it is seeking presenters for its annual investor showcase this fall.
Up to 20 tech firms will be selected to speak at Venture Atlanta 2009, held Oct. 13-14 at the W Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. Presenters will have the opportunity to pitch their companies to more than 100 private-equity investors from Atlanta and other areas of the country, including Silicon Valley and the Northeast. Last year, out-of-state venture capitalists--representing Chrysalis Ventures, Edison Venture Fund, Novak Biddle Venture Partners, Sierra Ventures and others--participated in the event.

“Venture Atlanta has earned a reputation as one of the best events in the Southeast for developing relationships between entrepreneurs, investors and service providers,” said John Glushik of Durham, N.C.-based Intersouth Partners, a VC firm that has invested in Purewire, a company who secures business and social interactions on the web, and several other Atlanta area companies. “In spite of the current economy, I’ll make the trip again this year because we are still looking for quality deals. Venture Atlanta has a proven track record of providing those opportunities.”

Venture Atlanta is co-hosted by three business organizations in Georgia: Atlanta CEO Council, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).

“Venture Atlanta was created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs with the purpose of connecting Georgia’s best companies to tier one investors,” said Ashish Mistry, Venture Atlanta co-founder and Atlanta CEO Council president. “Presenters have always found this conference to be a valuable opportunity from a marketplace visibility aspect as well as for the small things we do, like not charging application or presenter fees.”

In addition to company presentations and quality networking opportunities, Venture Atlanta 2009 will feature a still to-be-announced headline speaker. 

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Posted by Ariel Killen

PR Newswire http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-26-2009/0005032388&EDATE= &
Modern Materials Handling http://www.mmh.com/article/CA6660934.html &
Stockhouse http://www.stockhouse.com/News/USReleasesDetail.aspx?n=7328433

Karin Bursa, vice president of marketing at Logility, named “Technology Marketing Executive of the Year” by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)

ATLANTA, May 26 /PRNewswire/—Logility, Inc. (Nasdaq: LGTY), a leading supplier of collaborative solutions to optimize the supply chain, announced today that Karin Bursa, vice president, marketing, Logility, has been named the 2009 “Technology Marketing Executive of the Year” by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).

The TAG “Technology Marketing Executive of the Year” award honors one technology executive each year that has clearly demonstrated outstanding leadership and positive contributions to not only their company’s success but also to the advancement of technology marketing as a whole. The award is based on peer nominations and the winner is chosen by a selection committee comprised of individuals from the technology marketing community.

Bursa has been vice president of marketing for Logility since 1999 where she oversees the company’s market positioning, strategy development and marketing programs. She is known for her strategic vision and market knowledge as well as her experience in the development, support and marketing of software solutions to improve and automate enterprise-wide operations. During her tenure leading Logility’s marketing initiatives, Logility has continued to deliver outstanding growth and performance with annual revenues steadily increasing and a record number of customers added across the globe. In addition, Bursa is an active member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the Atlanta APICS Board of Directors, GlobalEXECWomen, and the Technology Association of Georgia.

“Karin’s industry knowledge and marketing expertise have been instrumental in effectively positioning Logility as a recognized leader in the supply chain software market,” said Mike Edenfield, president and CEO Logility. “It is an honor for her to be recognized by her peers for such an outstanding contribution to technology marketing and Logility congratulates Karin on this significant recognition.”

About Logility

With more than 1,250 customers worldwide, Logility is a leading provider of collaborative, best-of-breed supply chain solutions that help small, medium, large and Fortune 1000 companies realize substantial bottom-line results in record time. Logility Voyager Solutions is a complete supply chain management solution that features performance monitoring capabilities in a single Internet-based framework and provides supply chain visibility; demand, inventory and replenishment planning; Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP); inventory and supply optimization; manufacturing planning and scheduling; transportation planning and management; and warehouse management. Demand Solutions provide forecasting, demand planning and point-of-sale analysis for maximizing profits in manufacturing, distribution and retail operations. Logility customers include Avery Dennison Corporation, BP (British Petroleum), McCain Foods, Pernod Ricard, Remington Products Company, Sigma Aldrich and VF Corporation. Logility is a majority owned subsidiary of American Software (Nasdaq: AMSWA). For more information about Logility, call 1-800-762-5207 or visit http://www.logility.com.

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Posted by Ariel Killen

http://www.techviewatlanta.com/archive_026.html
Tech View Atlanta

More and more, advertisers seek real people to help them sell a variety of products, from soap to nuts. So, back in 2006, Rad Harrell began developing Talent Soup within his six and a half year old media production company, Stir, as a Web marketplace and matching engine to help ad agencies, photographers, and producers find the exact faces they want.

“Advertisers have known for 75 years that faces sell products,” says Harrell. “We sell the faces advertisers want to sell products,” Harrell says.
Harrell, president and founder of Talent Soup, spun out the company from Stir in January and it is one of three firms in the Georgia Research Alliance/Technology Association of Georgia (GRA/TAG) launch competition this year. “This contest woke me up to what a rich technology environment we have in Atlanta,” Harrell says. “I’ve already seen the fruits of the process regardless of the outcome.”

Harrell funded the company with revenue from Stir. Since creating its software matching engine to help production people match faces to their projects, Talent Soup has generated $240,000 in revenue and already has Fortune 500 clients, Harrell says.

Harrell says the company may seek an institutional round of funding in the future, but he sees “multiple ways to build the business,” adding, “You have to crawl before you can run.”

The company has one fulltime employee and seven contract people. “We may be hiring shortly,” Harrell says. “We’re looking to build a team, so management is on the radar.”

Harrell says he created the company as a separate entity because of the increasing shift toward using real people and ad budgets to support acquiring them in the industry. “There has been a shift toward using non-models in major ad campaigns. I just turned 40, I’m balding, wear glasses and I’m not pretty and I’ve been in an ad,” he says. “For me to be in an ad says a lot about the power of using regular people.”

Also, he notes, “There is a lot of media being produced in Atlanta. There are a lot of Fortune 100 to Fortune 500 companies here and they’re shooting more here.”

Talent Soup clients include marquee names such as Delta Airlines, Home Depot, UPS, and more.

Talent Soup’s searchable, city-based matching engine includes both professional models and real people. “It’s a mix of match.com and Amazon,” says Harrell. “It has all the transactional benefits of an online marketplace with a great depth and breadth of talent.”

As new media channels emerge, Harrell says, “We’re moving into a visual economy. In social networking, mobile media, video and interactive channels, there is going to be a great need for new images, new faces, and new people.”

At present the company primarily provides faces for print ads but has also helped Turner Broadcasting find talent.

Talent Soup has about 7,000 people in its system now, with something like 2,900 within 150 miles of Atlanta. “All our growth until now has been viral,” says Harrell. “We planted it here and word spread in Atlanta and from there. We’ve only done some low budget search and Facebook ads.”

Talent Soup has had mixed results with those, but “Driving talent to our community is not difficult,” Harrell says. “We treat people differently than is standard in the industry. We’re very transparent and we don’t take any money from the talent. We try to treat people the way they want to be treated.”

That results in a large selection that users love, while the talent loves the opportunity to be picked for projects, Harrell says.

One thing that helps is that the state of Georgia has done a good job of bringing in more high level film productions, Harrell notes. “More and more, producers in LA and elsewhere see Atlanta as a four season place to shoot. It has good support and good infrastructure and you can shoot here year round. If you’re doing a spring ad, you can’t do that in December in New York. So we’re seeing a lot of new business coming out of New York and LA.”

He points out that while everyone thinks the south is hot, “In August, New York is hot.”

Talent Soup typically interfaces directly with a creator, such as a photographer or producer. “When they’re assembling talent, we get a call to submit folks,” Harrell says. “We have a good deal of return customers. On the client side, we’ve grown virally as well.”

Talent Soup plans a larger ad campaign later this year and is currently building its next generation platform, which will be in beta by the end of June. “Right now we’re focused on the self-service for the talent side. Talent can sign up, fill out forms and upload images, but filling galleries for a project requires a human administrator,” Harrell says.

“The new system allows for a great deal of self-service on the clients side. That includes features that will allow marketing, ad firm execs, photographers and producers to collaborate inside online project folders to review and rank talent, do the booking and everything else within the system.”

The secret sauce of the system is to “Use the power of the technology to streamline the process and create efficiencies and cut out the middlemen,” says Harrell.

The company has lots of room to grow, he adds. “We haven’t even really touched broadcast yet and we can step out to completely different verticals. Locations and crews are ripe for this sort of thing.”

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Posted by Ariel Killen

Newsblaze http://newsblaze.com/story/2009052204302200002.bw/topstory.html &
CityBizList (Baltimore) http://www.citybizlist.com/yourcitybiznews/detail.aspx?id=49173 &
TechLINKS http://www.techlinks.net/community/articles/article/17665-tag-marketing-announces-2009-tamy-award-winners &
Ad-Ops http://www.adoperationsonline.com/2009/05/29/tag-marketing-announces-2009-tamy-award-winners/

ATLANTA - (BUSINESS WIRE) - TAG Marketing, a society of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), today announced the winners of the 2009 TAMY Awards during its awards ceremony held yesterday at Maggiano’s Little Italy, Cumberland Mall. Winners were recognized for demonstrating significant and measurable accomplishments in specific award categories.

The winners of the 2009 TAMY Awards are:
Reveille Software
Corporate Repositioning Award - Large Company
ERDAS
Marketing Tactic Award - Emerging Company
Virtual Premise
Marketing Tactic Award - Large Company
Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
Marketing to the C-Level Award - Large Company
Manhattan Associates

Karin Bursa, Vice President of Marketing at Logility, Inc., was also honored with TAG’s prestigious 2009 Technology Marketing Executive Award.

“We’re extremely pleased with the quality of the submissions in this year’s competition,” said Stein Soelberg, TAMY Awards Co-Chair, TAG Marketing. “In each case, these winners have differentiated themselves as marketing professionals and, importantly, in a competitive marketplace during one of the worst economies in the modern era. So, we extend sincere congratulations to all.”

The winners were selected from a qualified group of applications. Each applicant had to be currently active in technology in Georgia, and the marketing program entered must have been managed entirely from Georgia. In addition, the programs/tactics submitted must have been carried out primarily during calendar year 2008. All applications were reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of:

Dr. Goutam Challagalla - College of Management, Georgia Tech
Mr. Daryl Evans - AT&T
Ms. Mary Ford - Cbeyond, Inc.
Mr. Dudley Larus - Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories
Mr. Ian Oxman - Oxman Consulting, Inc.
The TAMY Awards were sponsored by Arketi Group, TAG Marketing’s 2009 gold sponsor and CBeyond and Denmark {The Agency} as bronze sponsors along with TechLINKS and Business Wire, the event’s media sponsors.

Penny McIntyre, The Coca-Cola Company senior vice president and general manager, Water, Tea and Coffee Divisions, was the event’s keynote speaker for the TAG Awards Breakfast. In her keynote, entitled “The New Rules of Brand Management - Leveraging New Media in the New Economy,” McIntyre shared the challenges and benefits of applying Web-based communications to reach buyers directly in the era of social media.

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