Atilus Internet Marketing & Web Development

Contact: Skye K. Robinson, Communications Chair, 239-410-1418
Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership (SWFRTP)

Technology Professionals Networking Opportunity

Fort Myers, FL  June 6, 2008 — The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership (SWFRTP) is holding a “Networking After Work” event on Thursday, June 12 from 5:00 until 7:00 at the Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant located inside Bass Pro Shops at Gulf Coast Town Center.  The purpose of the event is to allow technology professionals to meet, exchange ideas and foster working relationships. The event is open to everyone who has an interest in technology; whether they are a provider of technical products and services, or whether they embrace technology in their normal business practice.

The event will include a business card drawing in which 2 winners will receive a “WCI Experience Card”. The card entitles the raffle winner and 3 guests to play any one of WCI’s 13 championship golf courses for only $50.00 per person; a substantial savings.

SWFRTP is a non-profit organization that recently formed to promote and encourage technical growth in this region. Their mission is to catalyze, cultivate and connect high-tech business throughout Southwest Florida. The organization encompasses both technology firms that deliver technical solutions as their core business such as Internet Office, Inc. and Surround Technologies, and technology enabled companies such as WilsonMiller and WCI Communities. Interest groups such as Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Collier County Economic Development Council and other’s who have a closely aligned interest are also represented.

For more information about the “Networking After Work” event, or to learn more about the group’s objectives and initiatives please visit http://www.swfrtp.org/ or call Kevin Barnhill at 239-280-7327.

06 Jun | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under Networking, SWFRTP.

Looking to get that job you’ve always wanted? Or maybe you want to get accepted to one of the toughest schools in the country. Personal Branding (Marketing) may get you there…

Okay, I’m beginning to sound like the infomercials I wake up to at 3 in the morning. Usually I just smash the front of the tv with my half dead hand. Sometimes I think I’m lucky enough to have the remote curled under my arm so I can conveniently shut the TV off. But, usually it doesn’t work and I throw it at the wall and visually and physically assault the TV in an effort to get the real estate opportunities off the screen.

The truth is, people don’t establish relationships with companies, they establish relationships with people. And, no matter what your role is at the company you work for (or want to work for), or the school you currently attend (or want to attend), it is a powerful and beneficial thing to brand or market yourself (assuming you KNOW what you want to market or brand yourself for).

After unsuccessfully trying to gather information online on a potential hire and colleague (I was looking for a portfolio or writings) I realized how important personal branding is. I wanted to see their real world work, study the code and design that went into a site they had created or maybe read an article or response they had written on a blog… something.

But, I couldn’t find anything!

At that moment I realized how important and powerful personal branding is. I tell people (after they ask) that I am a web designer. Some people remember the name of my company and my web address, but more often than not, people remember me, people remember my name.

Although many times designers (web, print, etc.) are hired by firms and so don’t have a whole lot to their names, they need to establish themselves through personal branding. Web designers in particular are involved in a medium that uniquely demands personal branding.

Search and search engines have become the tool for quickly studying a person and their qualifications. If you are a web designer, you need to show case it. Your name needs to bring up articles, documents, sites, etc. that you have authored or contributed to.

And the issue of ego is a small one. As long as you are truly knowledgeable and passionate, you are merely participating in the same type of activities and conversations you should be to better yourself in your craft and help others.

Other industries and persons (not in web or web related fields) can also benefit from this. Imagine the sales potential if you are a business consultant who specializes in consulting with large construction firms and you happen to meet a large developer one night at dinner. The developer searches your name later that night and finds articles you’ve authored related to construction and consulting. A powerful thing!

Likewise, if you are a student trying to get into pharmaceutical school, possibly at Nova, or Miami imagine the benefits when an admissions officer looks up your name online and finds you have authored some posts about chemistry, biology or your desire to become a pharmacist.

So, get out there, start participating in the communities and discussions your peers (or elders) are creating. In no time you will be shocked by the benefits and opportunities it opens.

08 Apr | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under Blogging, Internet Marketing, Networking.

Last night, February 21st, 2008 Scott and I had the opportunity of attending the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track hosted networking event. The event was special in that it combined the Fort Myers and Bonita Springs chambers for a larger than normal turnout and networking opportunity.

We met a lot of new great people with some amazing companies and had a lot of phone. I bought a few tickets to try and win an autographed 2007 World Series Baseball, but unfortunately I didn’t win.

At the end of the night Pat Hillegass came up to me with a copy of her Success magazine. Pat publishes the local magazine resource that features all of the networking events in the Southwest Florida area. I had personally been searching for such a resource and was incredibly happy to make the connection. Pat informed me that her website is under development, but in just a few weeks if you visit: Successync.com you’ll be able to find a comprehensive list of local networking events.

Thank you to all of those involved in throwing the event, thank you to the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track for hosting, and although I’ll be sending out individual emails to those I met, it was nice meeting everyone!

22 Feb | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under Community, Networking.