Check out these past meetings, now with Video!
As of September 16th, 2009 we now have videos of each Lunch & Learn event online at Vimeo.com. There is a lot of useful information from our events within the videos so please take some time and watch them!
* Update - Recording has stopped due to lack of a volunteer to record and produce the videos for us. If you're interested in doing this, please email us via meetings @ vtsda dot com.
Crowd Funding - A New Source of Funding for Small Businesses
Please join us at our April Lunch & Learn lead by Ken Merritt. Ken will review the history and rationale behind the changes to Crowd Funding, explain how it differs from the current regulatory structure, discuss the expected process for utilizing crowdfunding, and recommend steps that you can take to prepare your company for crowdfunding when it becomes available ...
Has the return of traditional weather got you down? Either way, it's time to get out of the house and join your peers for a cocktail reception this Wednesday evening, from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. at Pulcinella's. Chef Sam Palmisano is preparing a veritable feast of traditional anti pasta (the Italian word for appetizers) to help us celebrate the pending release of the next version of Tapping Tech!
Taxing Vermont's SaaS Companies
The State of Vermont's Department of Taxes (DOT) has been auditing software companies in Vermont and demanding that they pay back sales and use taxes for software delivered as a service ("SaaS"). They are calculating the interest and penalties for unpaid taxes as far back as 2006.
The DOT's position appears to be based on a controversial interpretation of tax laws in Vermont. The levy of this tax has surprised many software companies and there is a position that the DOT tried to extend its taxing authority beyond Legislative intent aimed more narrowly at recovering lost sales tax on software purchased and delivered over the internet, rather than taxing a new service.
Our January Lunch & Learn on the road at @ Dinse, Knapp and McAndrew will be focused on ...
It's that time of year again, when Burlington's very own Church Street is transformed into a sea of white lights and decorations, and many of us will be heading out to enjoy it while we look to purchase last minute gifts, get together with colleagues, or just to have a bit of fun.
So this got us thinking. If you're already going to be out downtown doing your thing, then why not add a stop to your adventures by joining us for an end-of-year cocktail and to discuss what's in store for 2012?
The Importance Of Good Software Design
For this month's Lunch & Learn we're turning our focus onto the benefits of creating a great end user experence and the various steps needed to get us there.
To lead this discussion, we've invited Kristen Ryan of Physician's Computer Company to come by and share her views on the design process and its importance in developing great software.
Sound interesting? If so, mark your calendars, RSVP on our website and we'll have a sandwich waiting for you.
Educating a Future Computer Scientist
Preparing any young person for the real world is hard enough ... preparing one that is pursuing a degree in today's 21st century software development industry is a whole other game entirely.
Our industry evolves so quickly these days, and software educators are often tasked with having to choose between staying current and offering coherent curriculums. This is certainly no easy task, and Vermont's largest college is not immune to the challenges either ...
Getting Vermont Connected
For this September's Lunch & Learn, the vtSDA was happy to have Deborah Shannon of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) come by to talk about the state of Vermont's broadband buildout.
Spirit Of Ethen Allen III
Around 100 set sail this go around and we again had great weather. If you keep missing this event, mark your calendars for next yeat now!
If you have pictures from this event, please send them along for posting!Continuing (Your) Education
While Summer is a chance to relax and weed your garden, soon enough Fall will be here and you know what that means ... It's time to register for classes that can improve your skill set! For this lunch & learn we presented a panel of educators and coaches that discussed the importance of growing your mind and describe their offerings ...
The vtSDA is at it again by taking our next Lunch & Learn "on the road" and giving you an opportunity to see how others are making good things happen in Vermont through software and technology.
For this road trip we've arranged access into the world of Dealer.com!May is Venture Capital Month at the vtSDA!
For this month's Lunch & Learn, we invited Somak Chattopadhyay, a Principal at GSA Venture Partners in New York City, to be our guest and expert on Venture Capital ...
[Meeting Details ...]Agile Management
You've heard of Agile Programming and the Agile Manifesto. See what happens when an entire company applies agile techniques to its day-to-day operations. The Physician's Computer Company (PCC) started using Agile Programming techniques in 2008 to manage the development of its Electronic Health Record (EHR).
Since that time, they have released 10 monthly updates each calendar year without any overtime or cancelled vacations ...
[Meeting Details ...]OK ... enough with the snow and all this learning stuff already! It's time for us to take a breather from the normal routine and have some fun for a change! 
To that end we're going to be hosting a social event this coming Wednesday at a great little restaurant in South Burlington called Pulcinella's!
For this month we held a working Lunch & Learn session led by vtSDA President John Canning. The Vermont State Legislature had been in full swing. They were working on a number of topics of interest to our members, including deploying broadband, education (from pre-kindergarten through post college), and seed funding.
At the meeting we took a look at the Jobs Bill, NYSTAR, the state's plans for broadband, and organized ourselves to provide feedback to the Shumlin administration, the House and the Senate.
For our next Lunch & Learn we're mixing it up a bit and taking things on the road! Yep, that's right, for next Wednesday's meeting we'll be heading over to Williston to host things at TelJet Longhaul, one of the premiere fiber optic providers in Vermont and beyond.
What It Means To Employers
For our next Lunch & Learn we turn to the State of Vermont to explain the recent changes made to both the Workers Compensation Law and the Vermont Unemployment Law ...
Training Vermont's Technical Workforce
For this month's Lunch & Learn, we will turn our focus on to Vermont HITEC and how we can, as IT businesses, take advantage of the $2MM US/DOL earmark secured by US Senator Patrick Leahy to train our technical workforce ...
Update After the Bilski Case
Traditionally, software has received legal protection through copyright and trade secret laws. Over the past 20 years, it has become common to protect software-implemented inventions using patents as well.
A Supreme Court decision in the Bilski case earlier this year called into question whether certain methods previously considered to be patentable will be eligible for patent protection in the future ...
Spirit Of Ethen Allen III
Over 150 RSVP'd, 130+ set sail ... we again had great weather, a fun raffle, good food and lively chatter. Mark your calendars for next year!
If you have pictures from this event, please send them along for posting!Improving math and science education is a critical priority for Vermont technology businesses. On Wednesday we will join forces with the Vermont BioSciences Alliance and the Vermont Technology Council to learn about innovative science, technology, engineering and math education initiatives in Vermont schools from education professionals...
Building and sustaining high performance teams requires experience, the ability to lead and influence, and a balanced focus on people, process, and technology.
The May Lunch and Learn topic focuses primarily on the people considerations, and will provide an overview of a simple, yet effective, performance management process that helps guide and enable employers to build and sustain high performance teams, and will empower employees to be more effective in delivering business solutions, and more motivated to invest time in their own skills development.
[Meeting Details ...]Last month, we heard from area colleges about their efforts to prepare students for jobs and internships. This month, it's time to turn the tables and hear from *you* about what you'd like to see from recent college graduates and potential interns.
For our March Lunch & Learn we'll be turning our attention to college internships. We are very pleased to announce the following exceptional panel of representives from our local colleges, including:
Dr. Michael Battig
Saint Michael's College
Dr. Xindong Wu
University of Vermont
Dr. Ali Rafieymehr
Champlain College
Software Craftsmanship has been called the fifth agile value. But agile or not, the principles can be applied to improve many diverse software development environments...
Cancelled
For this month's Lunch & Learn, the vtSDA bought everyone lunch! Yes, that's right, free lunch! In return, we asked them to share their knowledge, experience, and ideas so we could gather information, anecdotes, and statistics to share with the Vermont State Legislature and other government officials ...
For this month's Lunch & Learn, Kaspersky Lab is loaning us Gary Mullen, an Internet security expert who will talk about what it's like to work on Internet security from the point of view of one of the largest security software developers in the world.
Chaos, Order, or Alive!
For this month's Lunch & Learn, Paul Dandurand, CEO of PIEmatrix will be presenting a business transformation platform solution. The event will start with an overview of the different maturity levels companies have with process --- Chaos, Order, and Alive ....
Financing Your Software Business
For this month's Lunch & Learn we will be turning our focus onto how to finance our software and technology businesses. We've pulled together a diverse panel of local financial specialists who will share in the changes and how they can benefit our companies moving forward.
Spirit Of Ethen Allen III
We set sail with friends aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III for our fourth annual sunset cruise on Lake Champlain. Fun was had by all.
Don't believe us?Here are some pics to prove it!
Entering the Healthcare Market
For our July Lunch & Learn we will turning our focus onto the growing and dynamic healthcare field. You will hear from companies with many years of experience in the field, and they will share their views of the opportunities and challenges facing software developers.
As a special guest, the Vice President of Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. will talk about his organization's efforts to bring electronic health records to the hospitals and doctors in Vermont.
Business Support Options from the State Of Vermont
For this month's Lunch & Learn, we will have several representatives from key State of Vermont Agencies such as Department of Labor and Department of Economic Development...
How to Create a Sustainable Revenue Stream by Productizing Your Services
Stan Eames - Former President / CEO, Synergy Software Technologies, Inc.This month's lunch and learn features an interactive panel discussion, with testimonials and on the spot expert consulting, on how to productize your IT related services to create a recurring and maintainable revenue stream ...
Peter Dodds - Assistant Professor, UVM
Joshua Bongard - Ph.D., University of Zurich
Judith Van Houten - George H. Perkins Professor of Biology
For this month's Lunch & Learn we have a presentation regarding the proposed study of social networking using games at The University of Vermont.
Peter, Josh and Judy believe that understanding how large social groups function is one of the most important goals of fundamental science, and that Web-based experiments provide a powerful instrument ...
Gordon E. R. Troy - Attorney At Law
Gordon introduce us to trademarks, how to select, secure and protect them in the United States and internationally.
1st Annual Meeting
The first official Vermont Software Developers' Alliance Board of Directors will be elected on this day. Also, John Canning, President of Physician's Computer Company will help us prepare for communicating the right message about our industry to our Vermont Legislature during our vtSDA Day coming up on January 28th, 2009.The Future of Software and Technology in Vermont
James Douglas - Vermont GovernorKevin Dorn - Secretary of Commerce and Community DevelopmentCome join Governor Douglas and Secretary Kevin Dorn as they mark the official opening of our new vtSDA offices.
Company For Sale: The Pitfalls and Triumphs of Selling a Software Firm
Stan Eames - Former President and CEO of Synergy Software Technologies
Stan will walk you through the process of selling a software firm, from initial marketing to post closure. From his first hand experience, Stan will identify important aspects of the process that will help you to prepare for acquisition, and maximize your position when the time is right to sell.
Sofware Development & Technology Job Creation in VT
Gaye Symington - Democratic candidate for Governor
Gaye will be joining us this month to discuss her views regarding the current state of Vermont job creation.
3rd Annual Summer Cruise - 6:30 to 9 pm, Spirit of Ethan Allen III
Set sail with vtSDA and friends aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III for our second annual sunset cruise. Enjoy spirits and hors d'oeuvres amid the spectacular setting of Lake Champlain. There are only 3 agenda items for this summer meeting: fun, fun, and fun. No pre-meeting work will be required. Bring your employees, friends, colleagues and clients for the fun--all are welcome.
Navigating the Government Marketplace
Joe Kuklis - President & CEO, GSP Consulting Corp.
Joe will discuss how government funding can provide an alternative stream of revenue for your organization.
Driving Business Growth with Strategic Management of Software Intellectual Property
Jed Cahill - ipCapital Group
Jed will share with us strategies for growing your business while leveraging your Intellectual Property assets.
Interesting Business Challenges
Our discussion will start during the networking luncheon where we will ask you to find the most interesting business challenge at your table.
After a period of time we will ask each table to use a table spokesperson and summarize the details surrounding the company faced with the biggest challenge to the rest of the group.
Any interested meeting attendee will then be given 60 seconds to Solve the World's Problems for that company in response to their challenge.
Quality Hiring for The Vermont Experience
Frank Sadowski - Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLPBrenda Bouchard - Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman RealtyFrank Sadowski and Brenda Bouchard will share with us the art of finding the right people for your organization and how to assist for relocations in the adjustment to life in Vermont.
[Meeting Details >>>]Get the People. Keep the People. Train the People.
John Young - VT Department of LaborElizabeth Rudolph - TEK Systems Inc.Come join us for a panel discussion about Employee compensation challenges with competing markets, available training Programs to aid in retention and tax strategies to maintain growth and opportunity to your staff.
Give your Employees, Partners, Associates, and Colleagues the information and tools needed to think like owners, and lead your organization toward successful growth and opportunity.
Steve Magowan - Steiker, Fisher, Edwards and Greenapple & SES Advisors, Inc.
Employee Ownership For Smaller Companies
As a follow up to last month's discussion of ownership succession which touched on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), this session will focus on employee ownership for smaller companies.
Paul Dandurand - PIEmatrix
What's Your Plan? From Start-up to Exit Strategy
Prepare your business to meet your goals. Whether you're a start-up, small growing business or a larger, rapidly growing business and looking for the perfect exit strategy, this panel discussion will guide you through the possible solutions available to get you there.
Merrill Chapman - Author, and Managing Editor and Publisher, Softletter
Software As A Service ... From 1999 to 2001, what was then called the ASP market, collapsed, bringing an abrupt halt to the growth of what was seen as a new and vibrant segment in the software industry.
By the end of 2001, the hosted model for delivering software services was considered as dead as OS/2. But times have changed and the ASP market, now called Software as a Service (SaaS) is back with a vengeance.
You may be in a technology business, but it's people that are going to drive your success. Join Flip Brown of Business Culture Consultants, a local corporate communication and culture expert, in an interactive discussion with the following objectives:
Participants are asked to bring examples and scenarios (names changed) so that we can use some real-life situations. It will be lively and fun!
Carolyn Paddock Moore - Functional Manager for Design Enablement, IBM
George Thompson - Integrated Supply Chain Manager, IBM
Jim Michael - Technology Development Manager, IBM
Chris Marcus - Software Development Manager, Vertek Corporation
One solution to Vermont's technical workforce challenge is leveraging a remote workforce. Come hear how your business can be successful working with virtual employees in a distributed environment. Potential challenges range from technology to personnel management.
2nd Annual Summer Cruise - 6:30 to 9 pm, Spirit of Ethan Allen III
Set sail with vtSDA and friends aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III for our second annual sunset cruise. Enjoy spirits and hors d'oeuvres amid the spectacular setting of Lake Champlain. There are only 3 agenda items for this summer meeting: fun, fun, and fun. No pre-meeting work will be required. Bring your employees, friends, colleagues and clients for the fun--all are welcome.
The cost of litigation to information and network technology companies has risen dramatically in recent years as a result of product and service disputes. More and more customers are willing to sue long established business partners for performance failure problems and the increases in the average size and length of contracts has risen the plaintiff's chances that a performance failure will be worth the fight and result in large jury awards.
Dealer.com provides internet marketing solutions to the automotive industry. The solutions include websites, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, and sales performance analytics.
This month's meeting brings together a panel of speakers who are experts in helping businesses to: reduce energy consumption, recycle computers, properly dispose of electronic waste, leverage greener transportation options, buying greener products, and more.
This month's panel will be comprised of employers who will discuss their experiences engaging and molding interns who eventually became employees within their organizations. After the panel discussion, a number of local colleges will outline their internship programs and what types of interns they offer. The end result will be a healthly conversation about the internship process and how both colleges and employers can take advantage of this invaluable workforce development tool.
Governor James Douglas will be making remarks about the Vermont Software Development sector and its role in Vermont's economic future. We've also been informed that he has plans to make a very special announcement regarding the vtSDA. Mike Quinn and Pat Moulton will follow the Governor's remarks with a presentation and Q&A period about the Vermont business environment, specifically relating to the software industry.
Bill Schubart and Pat Robins are two of Vermont's most prominent business leaders and are also high-tech pioneers in our state.
Bill and Pat will talk about their vision of the potential of the Software Industry in Vermont, their experiences growing their companies, the state of economic development in Vermont and what businesses are (and can be) doing to help themselves.
Michael Ancel - Career Services, University of Vermont
Craig Damon - Chair, IT & Software Engineering, Vermont Technical College
Melissa Hersh - Director, Workforce Development Center, Champlain College
Allan Rodgers - Executive Director, VT Workforce & Business Development Network
A panel discussion with representatives of Vermont colleges and universities. Learn what they're doing to prepare students for software related jobs, and what they're doing now to help employers connect with young talent.
In prior meetings we have heard numerous people describe the difficulty of finding new employees and/or contractors with the right skills and experience. This panel of experts has creative solutions and best practices to address this common problem.
Over the past few years UVM has made significant efforts to promote research and development of cutting edge technologies, fund it through grants and provide facilities for budding companies to do it within. This discussion explores the possibilities.
Tom Evslin - Software developer, entrepreneur, author
Tom Evslin's remarkable career has taken him from nerd to CEO to novelist and consultant with a brief stop as Transportation Secretary for the State of Vermont. He founded and ran a successful Vermont software company for a number of years, an experience which became a springboard to even bigger and better things.
Phil Daniels - President of TD Banknorth Vermont
Jim Keyes - President Citizens Financial Group
Cairn Cross - Fresh Tracks Capital
Don Baker - KeyBank
A panel discussion on how to position your company to get financing and capital investment.
1st Annual Summer Cruise - 6:30 to 9 pm, Spirit of Ethan Allen III
Set sail with vtSDA and friends aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III for our first annual sunset cruise. Enjoy spirits and hors d'oeuvres amid the spectacular setting of Lake Champlain. There are only 3 agenda items for this summer meeting: fun, fun, and fun. No pre-meeting work will be required. Bring your employees, friends, colleagues and clients for the fun--all are welcome.
Jeffrey Carr - Economic & Policy Resources (EPR)
Jeff Carr is the Corporate VP and Economist at EPR, www.epreconomics.com, a Williston company with a national audience. Jeff has 22 years of experience as an economist with particular expertise in macroeconomics, economic forecasting, forensic economics, economic impact analysis, and fiscal policy analysis for federal, state, and local governments.
Mark Blanchard - Vermont Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Mark is the Technology & Commercialization Advisor for VT SBDC. This statewide position was created in 2003 to focus on technology companies. Mark has significant experience in the private sector including success with the federal SBIR Program.
Thom Robbins - Microsoft New England
Software development is changing at light speed. Gone are the days of single person development. Team based development with faster cycle times and quality code are becoming a driving force in the industry.
Rich Tarrant
In 1969, at age 26, Rich Tarrant and his partner co-founded Burlington Data Processing, now IDX Corporation. In 1995, IDX went public, trading on the Nasdaq, with revenues of $128 million and 1,095 employees. At the end of 2005, IDX had approximately 2,400 employees, and revenues of over $500 million. On January 4 of this year, GE acquired IDX.
Kevin Dorn - Secretary of the Agency of Commerce & Community Development
A discussion will be held regarding Government policies and fostering a favorable business climate for the software industry.
Jo Bradley - CEO, VT Economic Development Authority
VEDA is Vermont's economic development finance authority, a quasi-governmental agency with assets of approximately $125 million. While VEDA is similar to a bank in its ability to offer loans to businesses, it is usually able to offer below-market rates.
Open Membership Discussion - How can VTSDA Move Forward and Benefit the Membership?
VTSDA has been around since late 2004. Since this time we have had many monthly meetings, but what else has VTSDA accomplished? What do we currently have in the works? What else should we be thinking about? Who would like to get more involved to help us move forward?
Come to this meeting to have a voice in the future of VTSDA.
Don Cummings & Frank Driscoll - Decision Support, Inc.
Ensuring Success through Implementation: Frank Driscoll has developed a unique project management model designed to optimize implementation of software products. We will discuss applications of this model and compare to other project management processes.
Gary Savard - www.champlain.edu
How is a shift in technical education impacting the marketplace? For jobs? For new business opportunities in technology? And just how will it impact new grads and their careers? along with companies looking to hire? Gary Savard, Director of the Software Engineering Program at Champlain College, will provide his insights on industry standards and trends.
David Chioffi - www.technologytelesales.com/
We all know how hard it is to sell ourselves -- particularly on the phone. David Chioffi of Technology Telesales, Inc. will share the benefit of his expertise acquired over 25 years of selling IT services and products.
Jeffrey McMahan - www.dinse.com
A discussion of the legal and business matters that companies should make sure they have reviewed and put in order before they invite the scrutiny of lenders, investors or acquirers. Specific topics included governance and financial control practices, intellectual property ownership and protection, employment matters, contract review and corporate record-keeping.
Revenue recognition for software developers, R & D tax credits and recognition of support revenue are some of the toughest business issues facing product developers. Recognition of service revenue in general can also a problem our businesses struggle with. Join tax experts from Gallagher, Flynn & Co. with experience in these areas to learn how to address these complex problems.
Rocki Lee DeWitt - Ph.D., Dean of UVM School of Business Administration
Software developers frequently create business process solutions for their clients. These engagements can provide an opportunity to reflect on your own business practices. Which ones you choose to adopt and which you discard should depend upon your strategy. We'll discuss different strategies and the processes associated with making those strategies work.
A panel discussion is planned to answer your questions about providing benefits to your employees and other important issues regarding being a great employer.
Do you want to know how you can break into doing business with the government? Join us at our March meeting! A panel of industry experts will be shedding light on winning business in the public sector.
Business Development & Sales Discussion
At this meeting, we held a roundtable discussion on Business Development & Sales. Many great questions were posed, and we had a dynamic discussion on business development and sales issues. We heard stories of success and failure, and all learned from everyone else's experiences. By sharing our expertise in these areas, we were able to all head back to the office with a new technique to try.
Peter Kunin, Esq. - Intellectual Property specialist at Downs Rachlin Martin
Topic - Software Contracts and Key Legal and Business Issues That Vendors Should Address in Their Software License Agreements and Software Services Agreements
Peter Kunin, Esq., Intellectual Property specialist at Downs Rachlin Martin gave a fantastic presentation in layman's terms about what we should include and also watch out for when contracting to write software for our clients.
Stan Eames - President and CEO of Synergy Software
Stan will give a presentation on how his rapidly growing software development firm is providing eldercare client case management systems to social service agencies nationwide.
The Vermont Software Developers' Alliance held its first official meeting today.
