Detroit’s Status as a Tech Hub Draws National Conference

2044

More than 100 tech companies from across the country will fill the Detroit Marriott’s Renaissance Ballroom at the Renaissance Center Tuesday for the two-day Great Lakes Technology Showcase.

“Detroit is increasingly being recognized as one of the leading tech centers in the country,” says Scott Stevenson, spokesman for the conference. “The region ranks highly in IT start ups, has been selected by Google as one of seven ‘tech hubs’ in the U.S., and is home to both large and small tech innovators.”

The event is an annual joint conference — held by the Telecommunications Association of Michigan and the Ohio Telecom Association — that brings together tech innovators, IT specialists, and broadband providers. This is the first time the event is being held in Michigan.

“The combination of robust network investments and the entrepreneurial spirit of Detroit makes the entire state an important player in the tech industry,” Stevenson says. “The telecommunications and information technology industries are two of the driving forces in the state’s economy. Having a conference geared specifically for companies operating in these spaces helps to promote the region as a leading industry.”

The conference will kick off with a keynote address by Josh Linkner, CEO and managing partner of Detroit Venture Partners in downtown Detroit, and founder of ePrize in Pleasant Ridge. He will discuss how to manage a business like an entrepreneur. Breakout sessions cover such topics as corporate information security plans, medical tech opportunities, and home care smart-premise offerings. There will be numerous exhibits, as well.

Gerald Moore, district director of the U.S. Small Businesses Administration, will close the conference on Wednesday with an overview of the Affordable Care Act and the impact it will have on employers and employees.

Registration for the conference starts today with events and breakout sessions scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday. For more information, visit greatlakestechshow.com.