Projo Biz Blog

The Providence Journal/Mary Murphy
Jack Templin, left, co-founder of Providence Geeks and RI Nexus program director, listens to panelists Jim Lavoie, CEO of Rite Solutions, Annette Tonti, CEO of Mofuse, and Soren Ryherd, CEO of Working Planet, at the panel discussion on "Making it through the downturn and emerging stronger than ever" at the R.I. Economic Development Corporation this morning.

PROVIDENCE -- Do a better job putting your company in front of audiences that provide the best chances of a return; spend money only on things that are essential; and take advantage of all the smart employees at your company by giving them a voice in the company's direction.

This is some of the advice dispensed by executives of three Rhode Island-based information technology companies who gathered this morning for a panel discussion called "Making it through the Downturn and Emerging Stronger than Ever" at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.

Rhode Island's technology companies have seen bad times before. The survivors of the dot-com crash in the late 1990s had to adapt quickly to fast-changing business conditions.

So they are, perhaps, in a good position to offer advice about how to weather today's struggling economy, which has affected just about every business segment.
The discussion was hosted by RI Nexus, an initiative by the EDC to help connect the state's information-technology and digital-media companies. The sector employs more than 15,000 workers and accounts for more than $1 billion in wages, according to the EDC.

RI Nexus program director Jack Templin moderated the discussion.

 Tags  economic development EDC Mofuse Providence Geeks R.I. Economic Development Corporation RI Nexus Rite Solutions Working Planet

Comments

Robert Murray said:

Are you kidding? The advice that you have suggested should be done daily even in the best of economic times (good sound marketing strategies, JIT, and retention. You may want to read the following book used today by top level executives(or any capacity) as a guideline to good management and leadership practices:

Straight from the Gut-by Jack Welsh
(former CEO of General Electric)

Link | December 17, 2008 12:09 AM
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Jack Templin said:

Tim, thanks for the coverage.

Robert, thanks for your comment. I assure you that the conversation and advice was much more nuanced than what Tim is able to cover here in a short article for a general audience.

If you're interested in discussions like these - and especially as they apply to the info-tech & digital media sector - please check out www.RINexus.com. We'd love to have you in the mix.

On a related note, there's a Providence Geeks Dinner tonight that all are welcome at:
www.providencegeeks.com

Regards,
Jack Templin
RI Nexus & Providence Geeks

Link | December 17, 2008 9:05 AM
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