With my first year as Executive Director behind me, I want to take this opportunity thank all of you who supported me and my advisory board in developing and executing our 2008 program. I also want to thank those who suggested ways to improve the organization and the events we sponsor. I have taken your suggestions (as well as some ideas of my own) and developed a plan for the future.
That plan focuses on evolving GETA as a non-profit membership organization, emphasizing our mission to help small businesses connect with government as a division of the National Small Business Council (NSBC). It also includes defining our interests in ‘emerging technologies’. In order to accomplish the goals set in that plan, I will begin restructuring the organization in 2009 by adding advisory councils to help ensure relevant and productive activities for our communities. While we will continue to hold some large conferences, we want to add smaller, more focused events that engage government and industry on a more rewarding level. It will take some time and effort to build this kind of program, but I believe you will find these activities very worthwhile.
If you think you would like to become an advisor (government or industry), please let me know. I hope to form advisory councils by mid-year and begin implementing their recommendations shortly thereafter.
Again, thank you for your support in 2008 and I look forward to your continued interest in the coming year!
Nancy Wheeler
Executive Director
Special thanks to those who supported our first annual Counter IED International Symposium!
This event brought together representatives from the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, State and Local Law Enforcement and International Activities to discuss some of the toughest issues we face as a global community in dealing with the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Presentations focused on a diversity of topics from sharing information with international, coalition, federal, state, and local partners to conducting joint operations across organizations and protecting critical infrastructure to advancing research and technology to prevent the use of IEDs.
I have taken comments gathered during the event and am addressing all recommendations for improving future events. Working with our partners in the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Defense and the U.S. Intelligence Community, the Government Emerging Technology Alliance (GETA) remains committed to evolving this event, to include holding classified sessions as appropriate.
I encourage any additional feedback that you may have to make this event grow stronger. With your support, we can make this event a critical forum in which government and industry can come together to discuss that latest threats, concepts and solutions pertaining to Improvised Explosive Devices.
Thank you again for your participation in this event!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who participated in the 2008 Synergy Conference and express my gratitude for taking the time to complete our survey. I hope that the following addresses most of your comments:
· Location/Timing: I know that many of you expressed concern about the location and timing of the event. My Executive Advisory Board and I are working to get ahead of contractual commitments to help preclude this from being an issue in the future. Additionally, we will be restructuring some aspects of the Synergy Series and hope to secure more permanent sponsorship for the series overall. We believe this will provide more stability in the Series and greater opportunity to select where and when the events will be held.
· Unclassified/Classified Sessions: More permanent sponsorship will also give us the ability to plan and execute classified sessions as part of the agenda. We discussed the possibility of holding classified sessions this year, but we could not plan and execute everything required for secure sessions in time. However, we are committed to providing such venues in the future should agendas warrant. We will also be able to better manage the security challenges and related costs.
· Theme/Substantive Agenda: Synergy will stay focused on the Ops/Intel theme, even through restructuring. However, we have heard your concerns and intend to pursue agendas and formats that provide more substantively engaging sessions. Part of this will be to provide both unclassified and classified venues. While I believe the speaker roster this year was excellent in spite of some fairly significant last minute changes, I encourage you to help shape the list for future events. Once we set the objective for the 09 Series, we will be asking for suggestions making this event more powerful and rewarding.
We’ve developed a new website to highlight our members and their achievements and host an interactive space for communication. Use the GETA Blog to engage yourself and your colleagues in open and honest dialogue. Contributors for the GETA Blog are you, government and industry professionals. Post items related to emerging IT technologies, reactions to our events, or your own research.
Let the community know what you think!
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