Atlanta Tech Leaders Step Up to Support Technology for Georgia Nonprofits
Area CIOs Take Key Leadership Roles To Support The 2006 TechBridge Digital Ball^®

TechLINKS Community Announcements - October 26, 2006
What's Up - Atlanta Daybook - October 26, 2006

Atlanta– October 25, 2005.  Atlanta’s tech community is committing time and talent to support technology initiatives for Georgia nonprofits.  TechBridge, a nonprofit supporting Georgia nonprofits with technology solutions, announced today that Becky Blalock, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Southern Company and John Seral, Chief Information Officer of GE Energy, will serve as co-chairs for the 2006 TechBridge Digital Ball, which will take place Saturday, May 6, 2006 at the Georgia World Congress Center. 

The TechBridge Digital Ball, which will be presented in 2006 by Accenture, is the signature gala fund raising event for Atlanta’s technology community.  Funds raised from the Digital Ball will support technology initiatives that TechBridge provides throughout the year to Georgia nonprofits. 

“The Digital Ball is our best opportunity to raise awareness in the business community of the ongoing need for affordable technology in the nonprofit sector,” said Blalock.  “As IT professionals dedicated to bringing value to our own companies through technology, we are proud to be working with TechBridge to extend that same value to nonprofits.”

“Community involvement is key to business success and TechBridge has become a focal point for community service activities for technology professionals,” said Seral.  “It is an honor to be heading up this effort and I call upon all of Atlanta’s technology leaders to join us in ensuring that the Digital Ball continues its track record of success.”

As co-chairs of the 2006 Digital Ball, Blalock and Seral will act as primary spokespersons for the event.  They will also provide strategic counsel to TechBridge staff and volunteer teams who implement the ball’s program development, marketing campaign and sponsorship drive.  Their primary goal will be to expand support for TechBridge from among the region’s business and technology leadership.

Other Atlanta tech leaders who will serve on the 2006 Digital Ball Committees include Sandy Hofmann, Chief Information Officer-in-Residence at the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC); Helen Berg, Chief Information Officer of Internet Security Systems; Guido Sacchi, Chief Information Officer of CompuCredit; and Marci McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Executive Alliance, who will serve as co-chairs of the ball’s Host Committee.  The group will engage area tech leadership to serve as Digital Ball hosts who greet guests, educate them about TechBridge and facilitate access to organizations and individuals who want to become involved in the organization.  In addition, Tom Stockmeyer, Senior Vice President Government & Commercial Solutions, Integreo and Reid Downey, Southeast District Sales Manager, Microsoft will serve as chairs of the ball’s Sponsorship Committee; Scott Garrett, Principal, Garrett Group as chair of the Marketing Committee; and Rita Breen, Customer Satisfaction Manager, Georgia Power Company as chair of the Logistics Committee.

Atlanta technology leaders made a strong showing at the 2005 Digital Ball last May, with over 50 CIOs and CTOs from leading Georgia companies serving as hosts and judges for the Technology Innovation Award.  Thanks to their support, the event enjoyed more than 1,130 attendees and raised more than $1 million in cash and in-kind donations to fund TechBridge operations and nonprofit technology programs.

“The support we’ve received from the Atlanta technology community has been phenomenal,” said Jack McMillan, CEO of TechBridge. “This group of leaders has been our strongest advocates in the business community and has become one of TechBridge’s most valuable strategic assets.”

About TechBridge
TechBridge is a nonprofit supporting nonprofits with technology solutions. TechBridge is part of the national NPower affiliate network and provides professional, affordable technology consulting services, innovative technology solutions and access to the financial, technical and human resources that nonprofits need to be successful. TechBridge provides a high-impact opportunity to leverage philanthropic dollars across many nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, TechBridge has facilitated the donation of more than $2 million in free Microsoft software. In 2005 alone, it completed over 120 technology projects for more than 85 nonprofit clients to enhance their operational efficiencies and improve the delivery of essential services. For more information visit www.techbridge.org.

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