High School/High Tech Program Tours VT KnowledgeWorks

On Tuesday, November 20th, students of the High School/High Tech Program (HS/HT) program toured some of the technology-based enterprises at VT KnowledgeWorks, a business incubator in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg. The students met top managers from Kronos, TORC Technologies, Schultz-Creehan, GenTek and Click and Pledge. Designed for high school students with disabilities within the Montgomery County and Prince George's County school districts, the High School/High Tech Program encourages students to pursue higher education degrees founded on mathematics and science. It also provides an opportunity to explore and interact with cutting-edge technology-based businesses.

Jim Gray and John Booker from Kronos kicked-off the event by presenting some of the exciting ways their human capital management software can empower companies. 

At TORC Technologies, the students viewed several robotic devices and exciting video of Odin, a Ford Escape hybrid that drives itself and its successful third place finish in the DARPA Urban Challenge, a head-to-head competition among dozens of autonomous vehicles from all over the country.

Next-door at Schultz-Creehan, Nanci Hardwick talked about solutions to complicated product development challenges made possible by creative use of advanced engineering, highly developed machinery, and refined processes.

Doug Juanarena, owner of GenTek, captured the student’s attention with the latest technological advances in eradicating nail infection with ultra-violet light rays.  

The tour concluded with an inspirational discussion on creativity and invention led by Dr. Kami Razvan of Click and Pledge.  Dr. Razvan emphasized the rewards of thinking innovatively, the power of asking questions, and the importance of pursuing higher education, as a gateway to the endless opportunities available within the exciting realm of technology.

VT KnowledgeWorks Hosts 2007 Technology Showcase

Blacksburg, Virginia (November 9, 2007) – Nearly 150 enthusiastic attendees gathered for the second annual VT KnowledgeWorks Technology Showcase at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. The high-tech “village market” featured 25 exhibitors whose booths and posters presented their various cutting-edge products and services to a diverse audience of business professionals, researchers, investors, scientists, and students. 

Jim Flowers, VT KnowledgeWorks director, pointed to the Showcase as one of the key differentiators that make the Corporate Research Center an especially attractive place to launch and grow a high-energy technology-based company. “This sort of economic development is unusually sustainable,” said Flowers. “Ten entrepreneurial companies with 50 employees each are much better for the region than a single factory or call center lured in from some other town.”

Keynote speaker and CarMax originator, Ron Moore, captivated the audience with strategies for identifying opportunities and then capturing and profiting from them. As President of Fidia Advisors, he emphasized the importance of identifying trends and patterns, and carefully analyzing the market, competitors and consumer needs in order to zero in on a serious business opportunity. “Only when the opportunity is well understood,” Moore cautioned, “is it appropriate to develop strategies for going to market.”

”Ron hit the nail on the head,” said Flowers. “Clear definition of the real opportunity is vital. Far too often a budding entrepreneur jumps into business based on narrowly understood pre-conceptions only to find out later that those notions led down the wrong path.”

Following Moore’s talk, the LeClairRyan law firm put an exclamation point at the end of a productive day by hosting a “Technology Tailgate” social; looking ahead to Virginia Tech’s game with Florida State the following afternoon. 

The 2007 Technology Showcase provided a valuable networking opportunity for both the exhibitors and the attendees. Many have already expressed interest in next year’s event.
VT KnowledgeWorks assists in the planning, launch and growth of technology-based enterprises at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Va. It provides a comprehensive mix of services carefully designed to reduce risk in a systematic manner by nurturing core business competencies within each Member company, by helping them maintain strategic focus, minimizing their administrative overhead, and supporting their executive leadership.