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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information contact:
Matt Landry
Topaz Partners
mlandry@topazpartners.com
781-388-7900, ext. 205
Carol Greenfield
Massachusetts Software & Internet Council
carol@msicouncil.org
617-437-0600, ext. 14
FINANCIAL, TECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT LEADERS ADDRESS ECONOMIC
CHALLEGES AT SOFTWARE & INTERNET COUNCIL MEETING
NYSE President & COO, Local Government and Technology Leaders
Offer Advice to Massachusetts Software and Internet Council Members
Newton, MA – May 5, 2003 – Top financial,
technology, and government leaders offered observations and advice
to businesses facing continued economic challenges at the Massachusetts
Software & Internet Council’s Spring Membership Meeting,
earlier this week. Catherine R. Kinney, president, Co-COO and Executive
Vice Chairman, NYSE; Barbara Berke, Director of Economic Development
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; George McMillan, president
& CEO of CMGI; and Howard Anderson, Senior Managing Director,
YankeeTek Ventures, shared examples and insights in their presentations
at the Council’s annual spring event.
In her message to the Massachusetts technology community, Kinney
highlighted the benefits of listing on the NYSE for companies of
all sizes, ranging from small-caps to the Fortune 500 due to their
effective deployment of technology to improve productivity and increase
efficiency, while maintaining their commitment to their auction-based
trading system. Berke discussed her new duties in the Romney administration
and the administration’s vision for the role of the technology
sector in the Commonwealth’s economic revival. McMillan described
the evolution of CMGI, and highlighted the steps taken over the
last 18 months to achieve a remarkable financial turnaround. Anderson
analyzed the changes in the software and telecommunications industries
over the past decade, stressing that companies today must execute
their business plans and focus on achieving their research and development,
operational and sales goals.
“The Council prides itself on bringing together industry
leaders that are relevant to Massachusetts businesses and providing
a forum for idea sharing and discussion. The observations and insights
of our guest speakers offered the Council’s members much to
think about as they focus on the challenges ahead.” said Deborah
Besemer, chairman of the Massachusetts Software & Internet Council.
The event also included the presentation of the Council’s
2003 Education Foundation Above and Beyond Awards, unique program
that recognizes and rewards outstanding math and science teachers
in grades 6-8. A dozen middle school math and science teachers from
across the state won $1,000 grants for classroom use. In addition,
one Cambridge Public School teacher also received the Education
Foundation’s top award, a $10,000 stipend to document, further
develop and package award winning teaching practices that can be
broadly disseminated and integrated into the curriculum.
About the Massachusetts Software & Internet Council
The Massachusetts Software & Internet Council was founded in 1985
to promote the Massachusetts software and Internet industry, to help
executives start, grow, and manage companies, and to help companies
compete successfully in global markets. Currently there are approximately
600 member companies. The Council organizes more than 50 meetings
a year on the business aspects of managing software and Internet companies;
it conducts research on the industry; represents the software and
Internet industry on technology-related public policy issues; creates
innovative programs to deal with the shortage of skilled workers;
and promotes Massachusetts globally as a center of technology leadership
and innovation. |
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