My attending two recent biz-centric events in recent weeks brought about an interesting observation in this writer's head...
Both were technology-themed meetings: the first being our friends at the Center for Economic Growth's annual Technology Awards Luncheon, held again this year at the Desmond. The nice folks at Austin & Company were good enought to invite me to join them at their corporate table and I am glad they did. Together we watched this year's worthy award winners get their just due and offer their observations to the large crowd. Especially entertaining was watching 1st Payable Productions' CEO Tobi Saulnier expand upon the business - friendly advantages and attractions of downtown Troy while Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings looked on from just a few feet away. But hey, this is all about REGIONAL growth, right?
Then, this week I stopped by to the small gathering put on by our allies at the local chapter of the Alliance of Technology & Women, convened at the Envy Lounge on Pearl Street. Yes, Pearl Street: why this nice new NYC-style joint is consistently listed as being located at 99 Pine Street is a head scratcher. Regardless, it was good to meet up with the ATW people, who were welcoming in their new leadership while thanking the outgoing leadership for jobs well done.
What hit me about both of these gigs was this fact: even thought both of them were staged with that aforementioned "technology " theme, very few actual techies / technologists were seen at either gathering. Doing a best-I-can recollection of the thirty-five so individuals I had any sort of conversation with at both sessions, I would loosely guess that a grand total of about five of them would fit into a strict definition of being a 'technology worker.' Somewhat interesting, I think...
The pessimist would conclude that maybe there really aren't a whole lot of these people running around these parts after all, despite the hype. The optimist would argue that, more than likely, members of these so-called high tech professions are too busy putting their noses to the grindstone and actually getting some work done while the rest of us are sneaking out for long lunches and checking out the fine wine selections around town.
Let's hope it's the latter.
.
Both were technology-themed meetings: the first being our friends at the Center for Economic Growth's annual Technology Awards Luncheon, held again this year at the Desmond. The nice folks at Austin & Company were good enought to invite me to join them at their corporate table and I am glad they did. Together we watched this year's worthy award winners get their just due and offer their observations to the large crowd. Especially entertaining was watching 1st Payable Productions' CEO Tobi Saulnier expand upon the business - friendly advantages and attractions of downtown Troy while Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings looked on from just a few feet away. But hey, this is all about REGIONAL growth, right?
Then, this week I stopped by to the small gathering put on by our allies at the local chapter of the Alliance of Technology & Women, convened at the Envy Lounge on Pearl Street. Yes, Pearl Street: why this nice new NYC-style joint is consistently listed as being located at 99 Pine Street is a head scratcher. Regardless, it was good to meet up with the ATW people, who were welcoming in their new leadership while thanking the outgoing leadership for jobs well done.
What hit me about both of these gigs was this fact: even thought both of them were staged with that aforementioned "technology " theme, very few actual techies / technologists were seen at either gathering. Doing a best-I-can recollection of the thirty-five so individuals I had any sort of conversation with at both sessions, I would loosely guess that a grand total of about five of them would fit into a strict definition of being a 'technology worker.' Somewhat interesting, I think...
The pessimist would conclude that maybe there really aren't a whole lot of these people running around these parts after all, despite the hype. The optimist would argue that, more than likely, members of these so-called high tech professions are too busy putting their noses to the grindstone and actually getting some work done while the rest of us are sneaking out for long lunches and checking out the fine wine selections around town.
Let's hope it's the latter.
.
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