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High tech CEOs given a chance to share concerns By Steve Burns, Capital News contributor Earlier this month I attended a private networking reception at the Landmark Technology Centre for CEOs, presidents and founders of Okanagan technology companies. The reception was hosted by the AceTech Academy for Technology (www.ace-tech.org), and was an exclusive opportunity for technology CEOs to build their network, meet their peers in an informal environment and learn more about the AceTech Symposium taking place on June 1 and 2 at Manteo Resort in Kelowna. I had the opportunity to speak with many of the CEOs that attended. Tom O'Flaherty, an AceTech Board member, was his usual humble self. Tom has an impeccable track record of not only co-founding technology ventures but in being an experienced, strong mentor to technology CEOs. He co-founded Bedford Software, bringing the world famous accounting program, Simply Accounting to the market. After this was sold to Computer Associates, he started Richmond Technologies, bringing Maximizer, one of the world's premier contact management softwares, to market. He has held many roles since and simply loves helping technology CEOs. “The purpose of the AceTech Symposium in the Okanagan is to assist the leaders of technology companies by providing them with knowledge they can't learn in books and by exposing them to the ideas of CEOs who have successfully built larger companies,” he says. Craig Harte, CEO of BuildIt Systems, is the local chair of the AceTech Okanagan Symposium. In introducing the program to the other CEOs, he said “a key theme from last year's Acetech forum was that technology CEOs were being brutally honest with each other. “Being a CEO of a technology company can be a very lonely place to be. “You make many decisions in a day, some great and some not so great. It is useful to have fellow technology CEOs to bounce ideas off of, share war story experiences and ask their opinion.” Darcy Detlor, CEO of MicroSurvey Software, added that “last year's AceTech conference was outstanding. “Sometimes as a technology CEO you just need to get away from your office environment and take time to look at the big picture with other like-minded CEOs that live and breathe your same business issues. “As a technology CEO, you need to be there. It is only a day and a half of your time. You can't beat the experience and the value.” The conference is taking place from June 1 to June 2 and is $350 plus GST, which includes the networking reception on Tuesday, June 1, all presentations, conference materials, breakfast and lunch on Wednesday, June 2. To register, you need to be a technology CEO, president or founder. You can register online at www.acetech.org/acetech homepage.asp. “There are a lot of good events in the Okanagan, but AceTech Okanagan is unique,” remarked Al Hildebrandt, CEO of QHR Software. “The attendees are all CEOs, presidents or founders. They are just like me and we can all relate closely and easily as we discuss our challenges with each other. To me, this is a must attend event.” See you at the AceTech Symposium on June 1 and 2! Steve Burns, CA, CMC, CFP, is the president and CEO of the Burns Innovation Group Inc. Contact Steve at 763-4716 or e-mail at:
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