Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Tech Predictions for the New Year

As we approach 2012, it wouldn't be a new year without sharing some predictions of where tech might be going.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about the future, and in the meantime, share some especially interesting predictions on Social Media from Jeffrey L. Cohen, the Managing Editor of SocialMediaB2B.com

12 B2B Social Media Predictions for 2012
By Jeffrey L. Cohen

Tue, Dec 20, 2011

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2012 is going to be a big year for adoption of social media for B2B companies. We expect that early adopter companies will move even further out in front by becoming social in many areas of their business, while more of the second wave adopters will begin to see value in social media and move forward with planning and execution. This means that there will be a greater spread of B2B social media activities than ever before. More resources are available for B2B marketers, as well as more experienced practitioners, both of which will make the previously steep learning curve more manageable.

The following predictions for 2012 reveal many of the ways B2B companies will leverage social media for their business success.

1. B2B Websites Become the Ultimate Social Destination
In the consumer world, many companies send their visitors directly to Facebook. This strategy seems to be based on the fact that people are already on Facebook and why should companies encourage them to leave the environment. B2B companies will understand this year that it is more productive to drive traffic to their owned property, their website. This is where they control the environment are not subject to the whims of others. Many B2B companies not only need to update their websites, but add social components like Facebook and LinkedIn shares to allow visitors to spread the word about a company’s solutions to industry issues.

2. Blogging Accepted as Hub of B2B Social Media Success
A blog goes hand in hand with the B2B website as a social destination. Companies that post valuable, educational content to their blogs at least once or twice a week will drive traffic to their blogs (and websites) through a combination of search and social media. Many B2B companies are challenged by the idea of creating content, but there are enough resources and examples of compelling content that marketers running blogs will publish posts that make a difference in their traffic.

3. Social Media Lead Generation Taken Seriously
Many B2B companies will launch dedicated programs to generate leads through social media, and they will succeed. As more B2B companies take this approach to adding real, measurable results to their social media efforts, the easier it is for C-Suite executive to take social media seriously. This doesn’t just need to apply for direct sales, but companies that have well-established processes for sharing leads in a variety of sales channels can also benefit from social media lead generation. Every stage of the buying process benefits from the kind of better educated customer that results from significant social media content efforts.

4. Email Grows Despite Its Reported Demise
As the platform that keeps getting called out for its continued expiration is stronger than ever. Email newsletter drive traffic and results and will do more of the same in 2012. Marketers who send email will get better results by sending email more frequently. Email is still a viable content sharing option with your colleagues. And inboxes support growing social networks with both a LinkedIn plug-in for Outlook and one for Gmail by Rapportive.

5. B2B Marketers Expand Social Media Followers
Traditionally B2B marketers kept their social media follower counts to a minimum, due to their limited customer base and prospect profiles. This coming year they will discover the benefits of building greater reach through their social profiles. Between the benefits of social search, a wider social graph and the necessity of a broader audience in adjacent industries will be apparent.

6. Social Media Treehuggers Lie Down in Front of Bulldozers
One sign that social media is maturing for B2B companies is that softer social media activities and metrics will no longer be tolerated. Brand awareness through social media is not a sustainable activity. The social media purists, or treehuggers, will lie down in front of the business bulldozers and try to insist on softer approaches to social media execution. Don’t listen to them. Conversation, engagement and sharing are great, but generating leads and sales are okay too. They allow a business to continue to stay in business.

7. Measurement of ROI Can No Longer Be Ignored
Just because it may be hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Measuring the ROI of social media requires you to adequately bucket the expenses required to drive the results. This also means you need to have results that can be measured in dollars. Leads, which is a proxy for sales, can be used for the return portion. These calculations can be different for every B2B company, and you need access to data that you may not have access to now, but in the end it will demonstrate the success of social media, in business terms, in 2012.

8. Mobile Strategies Catch Up to Reality
As each mobile device is released, it sells more than its predecessor. This will continue in 2012 and we will get closer and closer to the day the mobile web dominates B2B site traffic. B2B companies are on course to develop their mobile strategies so they can move forward with their customers. If every B2B marketer took their smart phone out of their pocket and suffered through their own website, this really would drive the creation of mobile-friendly sites.

9. It is the Beginning of the End for Twitter as a Social Network
The role of Twitter will change in 2012. This is the beginning of its reduction of importance for B2B companies and their customers and prospects. Partly driven by its limited adoption (8% of US Adults) and partly driven by its new focus as a discovery platform for new users, Twitter will become more a place to go for news and information and less a social network. It’s minimalistic approach and reluctance to add features will ultimately be its undoing.

10. Social Media Advertising Gets Results
All social platforms have advertising components that let B2B marketers expand their reach and get their content in front of their prospects and customers. As more B2B companies show success with these methods, these auction style bids will get more expensive. They will still be affordable in 2012, and will gain popularity.

11. Social Media Adoption No Longer Driven by Hobbyists
A funny thing happened on the way to social media adoption for B2B companies. Marketers who were passionate about social media and had fun keeping up with the latest platforms and over-shared with all the other early adopters have moved on. Many work for agencies, technology companies and startups. The irony is that those currently responsible for managing social media at many B2B companies are those who initially didn’t care about this communication revolution. They got left behind by those that did. And in 2012 these are people who will be most responsible for the broad support of social media in their businesses.

12. Social Media Supports Offline Activities
As social media becomes a key component in the marketing mix in 2012, it will become an important driver for offline activities like trade shows and direct mail. They will not be competing for the same budget resources, but will be part of a coordinated plan to improve results of these traditional tactics.

Let us know what you think of Jeffrey's predictions, and if you have any of your own. No matter what happens in 2012, it promises to be an awesome year for marketers who expand their use of technology and social media to provide business value.

Bill Kaufmann, CEO

Kaufmann Kreative E-commerce and Marketing

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

@ Tacoma Science Cafe

January Tacoma Science Café - 
"The Physics of Music: Using Light to Study Sound"

FREE for everyone.
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, at The Swiss Pub, 1904 Jefferson Ave.Tacoma

Featuring Rand Worland, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Physics Department, University of Puget Sound

From clarinets and violins, to drums and cymbals, vibrations create the complex sounds that we hear from musical instruments. At the January Tacoma Science Café, join the University of Puget Sound's Rand Worland, Ph.D., to discover how he uses lasers to produce images of these vibrations and how differences in vibrations alter how we perceive sounds.

Miranda Hayes | PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
Special Events Coordinator | P (206) 443-2937 | mhayes@pacsci.org

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

How Are You Decking the Halls With Tech This Year?

Here's an opportunity to get in the spirit with some fun 'Holiday Tech' exposure for Tacoma!

CNN wants to know: How is your business decking the halls with technology this holiday season? Have you wired up an amazing holiday village complete with model train? Made some social media themed ornaments to hang on the tree? Maybe you programmed an impressive "Angry Birds" light display? How about our own local "Tacoma Elf Storage" center?

CNN want to see whatever cool and creative ways you’ve incorporated technology into your holidays this year. Let's let them see we still are a wired city that gets technology!

Upload your best photos or videos to the CNN iReport page by clicking the blue button at this link on Mashable's website: http://mashable.com/2011/12/12/techy-holiday-decorations/ If you’re a Twitter, Instagram or PicPlz user, you can share them there as well with the hashtag #holidaytech.

Please submit your photos or videos by Friday, Dec. 16 at 12 p.m. ET. The best submissions could be featured on CNN and Mashable.

Shared with thanks by Mashable reporter Alex Fitzpatrick

Bill Kaufmann, CEO
Kaufmann Kreative E-Commerce and Marketing

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cyber Monday Linkup on E-Commerce

Bricks and Clicks:

The Cyber Monday
Linkup -
Exploring
E-Commerce
in Tacoma



A panel of experienced E-Commerce leaders led an engaging and educational discussion yesterday on e-commerce and how it fits into their local business today.


The Linkup, hosted by the William Factory Small Business Incubator in Tacoma, included both large and small businesses in the South Sound area. Some were doing business both online and offline, others were pure online businesses only. One was literally started in a garage, while others started as extensions of an existing business. The panel also included a local e-commerce developer, consultant and college offering E-Commerce classes.

With online sales growing at record rates, nationally, local business leaders, including both the Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber and City of Tacoma, are concerned with how much of that business is happening locally.

Online shoppers in the United States spent $36.3 billion in the third quarter of 2011, up a huge 13.1% from the same period a year ago. This was the eighth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth for e-commerce spending, according to data released this month by ComScore Inc., a provider of global Internet information.

For over two hours, the panel discussed the state of local e-commerce, and brainstormed ideas on how to increase local e-business, e-jobs and e-educational resources in our area. The discussion was appropriately streamed online, and broadcast live by co-sponsor KLAY Talk/News Radio, drawing listeners from throughout the region. A live 'Remote Tweetcast' was also sponsored by the Business Examiner.

The panelists included a broad cross-section of local businesses:
- Retail: The Pacific Northwest Shop – Bill Evans, CEO
- Tools: Carbide Processors - Tom Walz, CEO
- Jewelry: ArtBeads.com – Devin Kimura, CEO
- Books: Thrift Recycling – Phil McMullin, CEO
- Non-profit:­­ World Vision - Kile Rury, E-Commerce Manager
- Software: Skoot / Business Internet Services - Janine Terrano, CEO
- Consulting: Kaufmann Kreative - Bill Kaufmann, CEO
- Education: DeVry University (e-Commerce MBA program) - Bob Bunge

Each participant was invited to discuss their online program today, how they started, challenges they’ve faced, and where they’re going (or hope to go) in the future. Conversation also included operational e-commerce topics such as the cloud, web platforms, development, security, staffing, international sales, online marketing, staffing and shipping challenges.

It was apparent that there are some exciting success stories in the area. Lakewood based Thrift Recycling sells over 5 million books online annually, with a staff of only 2 people locally. Tacoma’s Pacific Northwest Shop generates about 25% of its sales online. ArtBeads.com in Gig Harbor is 100% online, and sells over 27,000 different items – imported from all over the world.

Both challenges and opportunities remain. Tacoma’s Carbide Processors CEO Tom Walz was particularly concerned about the challenges of finding e-Commerce savvy employees locally, and recently recruited two people from out of the area to help manage his operations.

Although the UW Institute of Technology in Tacoma doesn’t offer any courses on e-Commerce, there are programs at PLU and DeVry that may help to start filling the gap. The recent opening of Amazon’s fulfillment center in Spanaway, and the e-Commerce training program at Tacoma Goodwill created by Bill Kaufmann may help provide staffing solutions also.

The growth of local e-Commerce may well be described as a chicken-or-egg dilemma. Without local e-commerce businesses, Tacoma isn’t attracting local e-commerce support. Yet without such “go local” support, e-commerce business in the Tacoma area lags behind the national growth trends.

An exciting go-local economic e-growth opportunity is waiting to happen here in America’s formerly Most Wired City.

Bill Kaufmann, CEO / E-Commerce and Marketing Director,
Kaufmann Kreative E-Commerce & Marketing



ISSA Spots Cybercrime

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Cyber Monday E-Commerce Linkup in Tacoma is just 1 week away! Admission is free, and a few lucky Exhibitor spots are still available.

Join us for an exciting, engaging and educational Forum where an experienced panel of South Puget Sound E-Commerce leaders will lead a discussion on e-commerce and where it fits in local business today.

The panelists include a broad cross-section of online businesses:

- Retail: The Pacific Northwest Shop – Bill Evans, CEO

- Tools: Carbide Processors - Tom Walz, CEO

- Jewelry: ArtBeads.com – Devin Kimura, CEO

- Books: Thrift Recycling – Phil McMullin, CEO

- Non-profit:­­ World Vision - Kile Rury, E-Commerce Manager

- Software: Skoot / Business Internet Services - Janine Terrano, CEO

- Consulting: Kaufmann Kreative - Bill Kaufmann, CEO

- Education: Tacoma Community College (Online Learning Program) - Dr. Timothy Stokes, and DeVry University (e-Commerce MBA program) - Brian Dunncliffe

The discussion will be streamed online and broadcast live by co-sponsor KLAY Talk/News Radio for listeners from throughout the region.

November 28, 2011 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
William Factory Business Incubator, Tacoma
1423 E 29th St,Tacoma, WA 98404

For more information contact organizer Bill Kaufmann at 253-572-5221 / Bill@KaufmannKreative.com or go to the Linkedin event page at: http://t.co/Gg30VBBk

Congressman Adam Smith's Technology Issues Update

News from Congressman Adam Smith
November 21, 2011
Technology Issues Update

USDA Announces Funding to Expand and Improve Broadband Services in Rural Areas of Washington State

Last week, the United State Department of Agriculture announced it will be providing funding for telephone utilities to build, expand and improve broadband service in rural areas. Much of these funds will be used for “last mile” Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) broadband systems. These projects are critical to connecting new subscribers to high speed broadband systems.

For example, the Toledo Telephone Co., Inc. will receive $18 million in load funds to install 292 miles of buried fiber optic cables for their FTTP system. This will enhance service for all Toledo, WA subscribers.

“Expanding broadband infrastructure is great news for Washington’s rural families. Enhanced services helps rural businesses and entrepreneurs create job opportunities for people who want to live, work and raise their families in rural communities,” Adam stated.
More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.
_________________________________________

Technology Funding in FY 2012 Appropriations Agreement


Last Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012, HR 2112. Even in the current economic climate, funding research and technology is important for growing the economy and creating jobs. Here are some of the highlights:

· National Science Foundation: Provides $7 billion for the National Science Foundation, an increase of $173 million above FY 2011. NSF’s core research program is increased by $155 million to enhance basic research critical to innovation and U.S. competitiveness.

· Patent and Trademark Office (PTO): Provides PTO with $2.7 billion – the requested level and 29% above last year. These funds assist in streamlining the patent review system and help inventors move from an idea to creating a product more quickly.

· National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): NIST is funded at $751 million, including an increase of $33.5 million above last year to support core NIST scientific research programs that help advance U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership to provide training and technical assistance to U.S. manufacturers is maintained at last year’s level of $128 million.

“Funding research and technology is crucial to our innovative and economic growth. Growth in the technology industry will increase our global competitiveness and foster a stable and growing economy,” Adam stated.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Linda Danforth, District Director, at: 253-593-6601 or via email at: linda.danforth@mail.house.gov

Interested in more information? Follow Adam online:
adamsmith.house.gov Facebook YouTube Twitter RSS

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Cyber Monday Linkup: Tacoma's E-Commerce Forum
http://linkd.in/tUUElz
An opportunity to Explore E-Commerce in Tacoma

Join us for an exciting, engaging and educational Forum where an experienced panel of South Puget Sound E-Commerce leaders will lead a discussion on e-commerce and where it fits in local business today.

Whether you have an existing business or are a budding entrepreneur, you'll gain invaluable insights on how these companies grew their e-Commerce business, the challenges they've faced, lessons they've learned, and where they're going in the future.

The Forum will also explore what can be done to help incubate more e-business, e-jobs and e-educational resources in the Tacoma and South Sound area.

Sponsors include the Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber, Click! Network, and KLAY AM Radio. KLAY AM News/Talk Radio will broadcast and stream the discussion live.

E-commerce exhibitor displays will also be available during the Forum to help companies or entrepreneurs interested in ecomm with questions on security, logistics, connectivity, education, development, etc. The cost is just $300 and includes a significant radio promotion package the week prior (Thanksgiving week, including Black Friday!).

If you're interested in being an exhibitor, contact Bill Kaufmann at: Bill@KaufmannKreative.com or 253-572-5221

If you're interested in attending, please add a comment to this page or on Linkedin (see URL above) so we have a count.

Thanks, and we hope you can join us!


When: November 28, 2011 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: William Factory Business Incubator, Tacoma
1423 E 29th St,
Tacoma, WA 98404

Friday, November 4, 2011

Congressman Adam Smith's Small Business Forum

The Port of Seattle and I will be co-hosting a small business forum on Thursday, November 10, 2011 to give you the opportunity to hear from, and meet face-to-face with, experts from selected federal agencies, state agencies and industry associations to learn more about how to access capital today. There is a new reality in business lending and these speakers will offer advice on how to be successful in this new environment. There is no cost to participate. Some of the agencies attending include:


  • · US Small Business Administration
  • · Export Finance Assistance Center
  • · US Department of Commerce
  • · WA State Department of Financial Institutions
  • · Office of the Insurance Commissioner
  • · Enterprise Cascadia
  • · Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
  • · Washington Bankers Association
  • · Northwest Credit Union Association
  • · Region X Small Business Advocate
  • · Small Business Development Center
  • · Washington State Department of Commerce

Thursday, November 10, 2011

9:00am – 12:00 p.m.

The Conference Center

At

SeaTac International Airport

17801 International Boulevard, Seattle, WA 98158

Forum participants will have their parking validated.


Please RSVP to Roel van der Lugt, Director of Military Affairs, Business & Defense Programs at roel.vanderlugt@mail.house.gov.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Seattle Interactive Conference

Tacoma, Pierce County and the Chamber were all well represented this week at the Seattle Interactive Conference. http://www.seattleinteractive.com/. Hope you didn't miss it.

There were great speakers on technology, creativity, and emergent trends, including Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, T-Mobile, Yelp, RIM, AT&T, Google, and numerous other companies doing amazing things in the web, cloud, mobile, TV or social media space.

Hopefully some of the local attendees will see this and post some of the interesting things they learned here...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Congressman Adam Smith speaks at Rotary this week

Congressman Adam Smith, a long time supporter of technology and high tech jobs in our area, will be speaking in Tacoma at the Rotary 8 luncheon this Thursday, October 20th, at the Landmark Convention Center. His timely presentation will be on The Economy and the Federal Budget. If you're not a member and interested in attending, reservations are suggested. Contact the Rotary office at 253-473-7723. For more information, visit: http://www.rotary8.org/index.php

Internet Sales Tax.
Yesterday the US Congress introduced a law with bipartisan support allowing all states the ability to collect sales tax from large online sellers - regardless whether they have a nexus location in the state. This will be an issue to watch. Aside from the obvious state benefit, it could reduce sales - and jobs - for Washington-based companies who sell online around the country. What are your thoughts on this issue?
http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/10/13/new-take-national-web-sales-tax


Friday, October 14, 2011

SiteCrafting Honored

Puget Sound Business Journal announced that SiteCrafting was ranked among the 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies at an awards event at the Washington State Convention Center on Oct. 12.

The event, which drew nearly 500 people, announced and honored all 100 companies on the list and revealed each company’s ranking. The 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies are listed, with select companies profiled, in a special publication of the Business Journal on Oct. 14.

The Fastest-Growing Private Companies program was launched 17 years ago by the Puget Sound Business Journal to identify and recognize companies speeding to the top of their industries. To be eligible, companies must: be privately held and headquartered in Washington; have at least $500,000 in net revenue in 2008; show an overall growth from 2008 to 2010 fiscal years; and agree to have their CPA confirm their net
operating revenues with Puget Sound Business Journal.

"The companies that make this list are, by definition, among the most dynamic in our region," said Business Journal Publisher Gordon Prouty "Especially this year, they have beaten the odds imposed by the Great Recession, making membership on this elite list all the more impressive. These companies are showing all of us what qualities it takes to grow in challenging times."

SiteCrafting President Brian Forth said, “I have always been, and continue to be proud of this company. We have thrived during challenging economic times by focusing on our people and providing outstanding customer service.”

The 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies program is presented by the Puget Sound Business Journal and sponsored by Lane Powell, Robert Half International, BDO, Comcast Business Class and Sound Mental Health.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Cyber Monday Linkup: Exploring E-Commerce in Tacoma

A LinkedIn Event

Cyber Monday Linkup: Exploring E-Commerce in Tacoma
Mon, Nov 28 4pm-6pm
William Factory Business Incubator, Tacoma, WA, US

A panel of South Puget Sound E-Commerce leaders will discuss the critical components of e-commerce in business today, how they grew their own e-business, and what can be done to help both existing businesses and entrepreneurs incubate e-business, e-jobs and e-educational resources in the Tacoma area

Sponsors and supporters include the Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber, Click! Network, and KLAY AM Radio. KLAY will broadcast and stream the discussion live.

The following Monday, Dec. 5th, a One-Stop E-commerce Vendor Fair will enable companies or entrepreneurs interested in ecomm to easily meet one-on-one with a variety of local service providers to help them with questions on security, logistics, connectivity, education, development, etc. More information to follow as it becomes available.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

NW Startup DEMO Calls for Entries

NW Startup DEMO Fall 2011: Call for Entries Now Open
Deadline for submissions: October 28

Northwest Startup DEMO is back with its Fall 2011 edition! 

Some of the hottest start-ups have made their debut on previous NW Startup DEMO events. If your startup can DEMO its product or service in front of a live audience and panel of judges, they  want to hear from you, but be sure to read their submission tips and tricks first to provide the best application possible!

Based on your submissions, 10 to 12 companies will be selected to present to the screening committee on November 10. From there, the committee will select the finalists that will participate in the Northwest Startup DEMO – Fall 2011 event to be held at One Union Square Boardroom on December 1st.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

ISSA Meets Tonight

INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY ASSOCIATION
Rainier Chapter

University of Washington Tacoma
Tacoma Room (GWP 320)
Tuesday October 4, 2011
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

(Different guest speaker EVERY 1st Tuesday of each month)
FREE Open to all

Topic for Tuesday Oct. 4th, 2011
The 2012 Threat Landscape and Advanced Persistent Threats

Speakers provided by McAfee
Dan Wolff and Steve Peoppe
Bios:
Dan Wolff is on the McAfee Solutions Management team responsible for Endpoint Security and NAC products. He has fifteen years of engineering and product management experience in the areas of information security and web analytics. He was the product manager for Entercept (now McAfee HIPS) and the Desktop Firewall.

Steve Poeppe, CISSP, is on the McAfee Gov/Ed Solution Engineering team responsible for technical pre and post sales activities for the West. Steve hails from 12 year of public sector experience having been the Deputy CISO for State of Idaho and SSO for Superior Court Arizona. Steve’s private sector experience includes managing projects and software deployment for Server Access Control at Hewlett-Packard.

Friday, September 30, 2011

A Full Ride, Living Stipend and a Job in Information Assurance

How does a full ride scholarship, a living stipend (because the funding organization wants you to work on research and studies) and employment once you’ve earned your degree sound? That’s what the Information Assurance Scholarship for Service program does, and is doing for two graduate students currently at the Institute of Technology. And there is more to come in the next three years.

To create a powerful incentive for students to enter the Information Assurance field, the Department of Defense is offering the program described above. As they put it:

Nearly every day, the United States faces growing threats and attacks against our critical government systems. DoD’s mission is to address the Nation’s urgent security challenges and to proactively seek solutions to protect and defend our information and information systems. One of the key security challenges DoD faces daily is assuring that the Department's information, information systems, and information infrastructure are protected and available in order to support the Department's transformation to a secure net–centric environment.

To continue to provide the growing number of trained personnel needed, DoD is working with universities across the country, known as, often referred to as CAEs, to develop and expand IA–related curricula and to offer programs of study for future IA professionals.


In order to provide the scholarships you have to qualify as an educational institution. So if you are interested, you need to attend one of the nation’s universities that have been designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. Then that university has to pass muster during an NSF (National Science Foundation) site visit to be vetted to provide that opportunity.

As it happens the University of Washington has qualified as one of the universities to offer it. Last June, led by Dr Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, the Director of Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity at the UW, the site visit by the NSF was conducted and included visits to the Institute of Technology at the University of Washington, Tacoma.

The visit was such a success that they asked that Barbara increase the budget in her proposal.

Three months later Barbara sent out the announcement:
The NSF has officially awarded us $2.1M to fully fund 18 graduate-level scholars over the next 4 years to fully immerse in information assurance (IA) studies! Further, we received an additional $ ½ M on top!! This truly launches us on the national scene as a significant IA presence in the Northwest and in the field at large!
There are only 30+ schools in the US who have had similar awards, our sister iSchool—Syracuse University—being one of them, along with CMU, Johns Hopkins and Purdue. There are only 200+ such scholars in the US at any one time—we’ll have 4 this year—we are in elite company!!


Once again I am reminded of the strengths we have in the South Puget Sound to help generate success in research and technology in the area of Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. With our partners in academia to the North, and in particular UW Seattle’s Information School, we can be part of future solutions to the challenges described on the CISC (Center of Information Assurance and Cybersecurity) site:

The challenges of information assurance are not going to be solved easily, quickly, or independently. Solutions will require new research, new capabilities, new products and services, a spectrum of broadly and specially educated professionals, a much more aware public, and much innovation and broad collaboration. Washington is a convergence of international commerce, military defense, and network-based software development. As such, it is both vulnerable to disruption, and is the home of a spectrum of professional talent and organizations that can be well served by the presence of a national center of excellence.


If you are interested in applying for the program, consider applying to the graduate program at the Institute of Technology at the UW Tacoma or the Information School at the UW Seattle.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

ISSA Tacoma Programming

The ISSA (Information Security Systems Assn.) puts on free monthly workshops featuring a guest speaker each month.

It is held on the first Tuesday of each month and they will start back up in September after a summer break.  The next is Tuesday, Sept. 6th in the Tacoma Room from 6 - 8 pm. Anyone can come that is interested.

Program Information:  Abstract:

Congratulations, your edge is secure and your users have Security and Privacy policies to guide their activities. So why is it that according to Carnegie Mellon more than 30% of electronic crime is committed by insiders and the ACFE estimates that 4% of total revenue is lost to fraud? That’s more than many company’s total IT budgets. What we are hearing from banks, hospitals, state and local government, etc is that their limited visibility to what credentialed users are actually doing limits their ability to proactively identify and investigate suspicious user activity.

What can be done about it? You will see the End User Behavior Tracking & Analysis technology that Gartner named “Cool Vendor – Security & Privacy”. Local ISSA leadership who has seen this technology has said “this could challenge how we think about monitoring."

The goal for the night is to use the demonstration as a jumping off point to discuss why the Internal Threat is so challenging for you to detect inappropriate activity as well as share successful strategies to address this risk. What effective strategies have you seen or implemented? Your Monitor, Fraud and Incident response colleagues will want to be here.

With NIST taking comments for better Internal Threat controls, FFIEC recently adding customer behavioral analysis and Healthcare Accounting of Disclosure rules in review this topic is getting lots of attention. As one organization stated “This can take us from playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey blind-folded to being Tom Cruise in Minority Report.”

Program Speakers: Mark Benoit & Tony Luque

Tony Luque, CISSP - Security Solutions Engineering Manager
Tony Luque has worked in the information security industry for more than 10 years. Most recently joining Attachmate from Symantec where he worked with large enterprise accounts across the risk spectrum of solutions. Today, his work is focused on Fraud Management, monitoring and investigations. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Washington. Luque's past speaking engagements have included Linux World, HP World, and Washington Technology Group across solutions such as DLP and secure communications.

Mark Benoit – Security Specialist
Over the last 15+ years Mark has worked for global providers of network, managed and professional services. Most recently prior to Attachmate, Mark worked at Verizon Business - CyberTrust Security supporting the 6th largest US bank. Mark is currently an Attachmate Security Specialist working primarily with Banks, Healthcare and Government across the country focusing on Fraud and Privacy initiatives. He received a BA from Washington State University and completed The Management Program at the University of Washington.

For more information, contact Betty Perry, UW Tacoma Conference Services at 253-692-4676 or via this website.


Friday, July 8, 2011

Congressman Adam Smith's Technology Issue Update

Smith Active in Patent Reform


Congressman Adam Smith continues to stay actively involved in patent reform, co-signing a letter in support of the legislation and joining a bi-partisan group of his colleagues in voting for H.R. 1249, the America Invests Act. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on June 23 by a vote of 304-117, moves the patent system from a “first to invent” to a “first inventor to file” system, a decision that received wide support from industry groups, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and the National Academy of Sciences, and will provide needed stability and predictability to the patent process. The bill also ensures that prior users can continue to utilize methods patented by others, provides a one-year grace period to protect innovators’ rights to their invention from the date of first disclosure, and modifies post grant review proceedings. Finally, H.R. 1249 provides for structural changes to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, modifying its authority to set fees, while implementing additional measures for proper oversight.


The House and Senate have both passed versions of the bill. The two versions will now move to a Conference Committee with the aim of resolving differences between the bills.

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Smith Supports Satellite Export Reform

Earlier this year during debate over the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Adam voiced his support for H.Amdt 331, an amendment to reform satellite export policy. Speaking in support of the amendment, Adam challenged the notion that inaction was the safest policy, noting “the risk of excessive restrictions on U.S.companies' ability to export technology.”


By reforming satellite export policy, the amendment would help American companies that manufacture satellite components remain competitive and on the forefront of satellite technology. The amendment, which keeps safeguards to ensure that satellite technology stays in the right hands, is also a national security issue, helping to maintain American technological superiority.


The amendment, introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, was withdrawn at the request of the chair, Rep. Buck McKeon. Adam’s comments can be viewed in full here.

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Smith Advocates Rebalancing Trade Relationship with China

Recently, Adam joined a number of his colleagues in asking the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science and Related Agencies to increase funding for the office of United States Trade Representative (USTR) to address industrial practices by China that violate World Trade Center (WTO) rules. While the USTR has made considerable progress in pursuing these unfair trade practices, funding for the office has not been sufficient to properly carry out its mission. The letter, which acknowledges the current financial constraints of the federal budget, reinforces the importance of the USTR’s mission, and the notion that the “American people expect Congress to defend U.S. manufacturing and service companies, workers, and farmers”, a mission made more difficult with resources that Trade Representative Ron Kirk described as “woefully short.”

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Smith Supports Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms

Earlier this year, Adam joined a number of his colleagues in asking the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science and Related Agencies to support the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) for Fiscal Year 2012. TAAF provides vital assistance to businesses negatively impacted by foreign competition, helping companies develop strategies to find new markets, improve external communication, and address internal inefficiencies. The assistance, delivered through federally funded Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers, is estimated to have helped retain or create more than 50,000 jobs in the past five years.

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Grants and Procurement Opportunities

National Science Foundation


Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF): Core Programs
Funding for research and education projects that develop new knowledge in three core programs: The Algorithmic Foundations program; The Communications and Information Foundations program; and The Software and Hardware Foundations program. For more details on this program, click here


Computer and Network Systems (CNS): Core Programs

Funding through Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS) supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in two core programs:
Computer Systems Research (CSR) program; and Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS) program. For more details on this program, click here


For more information on grant opportunities that may benefit your organization, please visit www.grants.gov.