Guy Toyama, co-founder of TechConKona, Passed Away-But His Legacy Continues in 2.0

November 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

My TechConKona partner-in-crime, technology and sustainability, Guy Toyama, passed away on November 12, 2012. We are celebrating his life at a Memorial Service this Friday, November 30th. Guy, myself and Hazel Beck, SBDC met on November 5th to discuss TechConKona 2.0, over craft beer, his favorite.

Guy’s vision for the event was to focus on business technology solutions that could impact and improve a small business immediately. He wanted the “lean forward in your seat” kind of interest that he saw at the TechConKona event in August when the presenters were discussing tools and apps for business.

We talked about making TechConKona 2.0 a half day event to lower the price to allow more people access to the “must-have tech tools of today”.  We laughed and said the best part of the day was the “Pau Hana” reception where most of the networking took place and our exhibitors really had a chance to connect with the attendees.

Guy and I worked on TechConKona for over a year, met weekly and near the date of the event, almost daily, together. He taught me how to use Google Docs and Skype more efficiently to plan the conference with our two contributing friends from Hilo. Guy was my cheerleader when I was seeking sponsors and exhibitors. He tapped into all of his vast connections to help push attendance and support for this first time event. I miss him.

We did not know if we were going to to do TechConKona 2.0 until November 5th. Then we started talking excitedly about productivity applications, emerging technology for small businesses and possible speakers. Then we lost Guy. But we did not lose his spirit. He would want us to continue working on putting the conference together. But we can’t do it alone. Will you join us in memory of Guy or for the joy of getting a group of really smart and motivated folks together to contribute an amazing learning opportunity to Hawaii?

If so, email me at Julie@Ziemelis.com. I hope to see you at the Memorial. A hui hou, Guy.

 

 

 

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TechConKona Was A Tremendous Team Effort and it ROCKED!

August 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Thank you to the planning committee, the speakers, the sponsors/exhibitors and the attendees for all the time and energy spent to make TechConKona such a success! We have received wonderful and positive feedback about the event and have been encouraged to do it again. We were thrilled to have our event on the front page of West Hawaii Today, as well!

Thank you to the Organizing Committee of TechConKona- A year in the making!

Julie Ziemelis, Ziemelis Communications
Guy Toyama, Executive Director of Friends of NELHA
Tony Kent, Hawaii Island Rural Development Project, Hawaii Community College
Graceson Ghen, Sustainability Center Coordinator. Hawaii Community College
Hazel Beck, Senior Business Consultant, Hawaii Small Business Development Center
Hawaii County Department of Research and Development

We will write more soon, but we would be remiss if we did not thank our sponsors and exhibitors one more time for all the support they gave us financially to make the event happen. We hope we can count on them again for the future and anyone who missed it in 2012, can come here to the site and see when and where we do it again!

Thanks to Paul Hawken, Dustin Luther, Ramsay Taum, David Fisher, Jane Sawyer, Ryan Ozawa, Michelle Niccum, Honorable Mayor Kenoi, Dave Minkus and the other speakers and panelists that made the day a unique experience for all the attendees. People said they felt lifted after the day was done. We were blessed to have all these great minds in the same room!

Mahalo to the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa for providing the event space and reception pupu’s for TechConKona and for all your Aloha hospitality.

Special applause goes to Claudia and Cristine Hafner, Hafner Communications for all the work they did to develop and design our blogsite and marketing materials.

Cheers to Sapporo Beer for making sure everyone enjoyed an extraordinarily good time at our Pau Hana reception!

Here are a few pictures from the event. Feel free to share them and post comments. Mahalo!

 

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Ryan Ozawa Adds More Star Power Wattage To TechConKona!

July 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ryan Ozawa, a self-professed life-long geek, is lending his voice and energy to TechConKona as both the Master of Ceremonies AND as a presenter on social media tools. Ryan has a nice nurturing voice that you may have heard on  ”Bytemarks Café,” a weekly one-hour radio magazine that showcases the innovation and creativity in Hawaii’s tech community on Hawaii Public Radio. We invited Ryan, whose family has deep Big Island roots (Kapa’au) to join us due to his absolute passion for all things tech. Ryan has the Twitter handle of @Hawaii..what does that say about his early adoption of tech?

Ryan attended and met his wife at UH Hilo, and he considers himself  a Big Island guy at heart (with aspirations to return some day). “I have my day job (at Hawaii Information Service), but it’s what I do everywhere else that drives me. My HPR work, which is a volunteer gig, perhaps best illustrates what I love: learning about, and showcasing, all the great science and technology innovation and expertise we have right here in Hawaii,” Ryan stated.

Ryan has immersed himself in new technologies and online communities since the days before the web. From running a dial-up BBS in high school to exploring today’s dynamic world of “Web 2.0″ and social media, he has long embraced and evangelized the ways in which technology can bring people together.

He regularly speaks to and consults with professional and academic groups on technology, new media, and the social web. From leading workshops on online marketing and reputation management to media interviews exploring the latest tech innovations and their implications, he is passionate about educating and encouraging others.

His day job is handling communications and advancing web tools and social networking at local real estate data firm Hawaii Information Service. But his activities in the community are his passion.

Catch Ryan on ”Bytemarks Café,” at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays onHawaii Public Radio, KIPO 89.3FM. He is also a lecturer at the School of Communications at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, focusing on the web and social media.

Ryan also manages a number of websites devoted to the islands, including his blog, HawaiiWeblog.com, which is one of the top five blogs in the state. Other sites include HawaiiThreads.com (an online forum that has seen as many as 1 million pageviews  a month), HawaiiStories.com, HawaiiSocialMedia.com, HawaiiStar.com, and HawaiiGrinds.com.

Other projects include Zapatag.com, a site for reporting bad drivers that he built for SXSW Interactive 2009, serving as community manager for Wondermill Webworks‘ rapid polling site, Ask500People.com, and a technology contributor to Nonstop Honolulu.

Thank you Ryan for picking up hosting duties and we look forward to Thursday’s event with you!

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Speaker Agenda Finalized for TechConKona

July 26, 2012 By 4 Comments

 

 

 

We are only ONE week from TechConKona and we are really excited about how the speaker agenda worked out to give our attendees a fast paced and interesting day filled with 15 speakers that are going to rock their business worlds! Looking foward to seeing everyone at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort bright and early at 8:30 am next Thursday, August 2nd! We have coffee available for everyone! (And Sapporo beer at 4 pm!)

 

TechConKona Speaker Schedule

8:55-9:00 Conference Start and Welcoming by Ryan Ozawa, ByteMarks Café co-founder

9:00 Opening remarks by Mayor Billy Kenoi

Renewable Energy/Green Tech   (9:10-10:40)                              

9:10-9:50 Keynote: Paul Hawken, Author/Sustainability expert, CEO of OneSun. Inc

9:50-10:10 Ramsay Taum- Blue Continent Holdings

10:10-10:25 Derrick Sonoda-Hawaii Energy

10:25-10:40 Micheal Dodge-RevoluSun

Break                                      (10:40-10:55)

Start-Up – Entrepreneurship (10:55-11:55)

10:55-11:15 ”Locavesting/Hawaii Community Exchange”-David Fisher,

11:15-11:35  “SBA Support For 21st Century Entrepreneurs”-Jane Sawyer, SBA Director

11:35-11:55 Panel Presentation-”Sustainable Business Practices and the Green Business Infrastructure in Hawaii”- Michael Kramer-Managing Partner, Natural Investments

Lunch (11:55-12:30)

Digital Marketing (12:30-1:50)

12:30-1:00 “Social Media Optimization: How to cut through the noise and start generating business with your online activity””-Dustin Luther, Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp

1:00-1:20  “Tools and Tips To Get Your Business Social”-Ryan Ozawa, Hawaii Information Systems, “Bytemarks Cafe” co-founder

1:25-1:50  “Social As Part of Your Marketing Mix In Kona” – Local Business Owner Panel-

Nancy Sweatt-Dolphin Journeys

Michelle Niccum-Kona Concierge

Julie Ziemelis-Ziemelis Communications

Break (1:50-2:00)

Computer Technology (2:00-3:30)

2:00-2:20 ”Taking Your Business Into the Cloud”-Dave Minkus, IT Director, North Hawaii Community Hospital

2:20-2:30 “Top 10 Business Apps for Mobile”-Dustin Luther-Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp

2:30-2:50 Mobile Payments-Options and Costs-Michelle Niccum, Kona Concierge

2:50-3:10 VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) for the Masses-Island Style-Jeff Gray-NETCOM Enterprises

3:10-3:30 The Amazing Ways an iPad Can Help You and Your Business-Jason Takaki, Kona MacNet

Break (3:30-3:40)

3:40-4:05 Open Forum and Questions for the Speakers

4:00-5:00 Pau Hana Reception sponsored by the Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa and Sapporo Beer

 


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Mahalo to HELCO and MacNet For Supporting TechConKona!

July 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thanks to our most recent sponsors to help make TechConKona ROCK IT in 8 days!

For more than 100 years, Hawaiian Electric Company (HELCO) has provided the energy that has fueled the islands’ development from a Hawaiian kingdom to a modern state. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO), and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO), and Maui Electric Company, Ltd. (MECO), serve 95% of the state’s 1.2 million residents on the islands of O`ahu, Hawai`i Island, Maui, Lana`i, and Moloka`i.

The Hawaiian Electric companies pledge to lead the Hawaiian Islands to increase the use of local, renewable energy. In the past, it was efficient and made sense for Hawaii to import crude oil, refine it into the gasoline, jet and marine fuel we need and use the residue to generate electricity. Today, concern about Hawaii’s energy security, our island economy and the world’s environment are requiring us to act differently.

Now, our preferred energy future must be based on using innovation and changing our lifestyles to use energy wisely and to reduce our dependence on imported oil by replacing oil with local, clean, renewable resources.

With a large selection of Apple products, Apple certified techs and friendly staff, Kona MacNet, is one of the best places in Kona to find your next Apple product. The store hosts classes and welcomes trade ins. Also, they rent projectors and screens. Macnet is located next to Starbucks on Henry Street near downtown Kona.

 

Come visit both HELCO and MacNet at their exhibitor booths at TechConKona. Exhibitors will be available during registration starting at 8:30 am and be available all day AND during the pau hana networking reception.

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Global Environmental and Social Justice Celebrity Keynotes TechConKona

July 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s not every day you get to listen to a presentation in Kona from a man who worked along side Martin Luther King’s staff during the march on Selma, or meet the founder of one of the first natural food stores in America. But most importantly, having Paul Hawken,an environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author speak at TechConKona is his ability to move a crowd with his experience and wisdom for business owners.

Paul’s work includes starting ecological businesses, writing about the impact of commerce on living systems, and consulting with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy.

Paul has founded several companies including some of the first natural food companies in the U.S. that relied solely on sustainable agricultural methods. He presently heads OneSun, Inc., an energy company focused on ultra low-cost solar based on green chemistry and biomimicry.

Paul is founder of the Natural Capital Institute (www.naturalcapital.org), a research organization located in Sausalito, California. The Natural Capital Institute created Wiser Earth (www.WiserEarth.org), an open source networking platform that links NGOs, foundations, business, government, social entrepreneurs, students, organizers, academics, activists, scientists, and citizens concerned about the environment and social justice.

Mr. Hawken created Smith & Hawken, a $100 million catalog and retail company, specializing in garden and horticultural products. It began as a non-profit offshoot of Ecology Action, specializing in hand tools used specifically in French-intensive/biodynamic gardening, and later branched off into several other horticultural areas. It is credited with changing the “landscape” of gardening in America by introducing European tools, techniques, varieties, and literature.

Paul has not presented to the public in Hawaii prior to this engagement at TechConKona. Get your tickets today and hear from Paul AND meet him at the Pau Hana networking reception after the conference!

Use the NELHA discount promo code for all of our environmental friends! http://techconkona.eventbrite.com/

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Jane Sawyer, U.S. Small Business Admin Joins TechConKona

July 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

We are proud to announce that Jane A. Sawyer, the District Director of the Hawaii District office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be presenting at TechConKona.  The SBA is an independent federal agency created to aid, counsel and assist small businesses and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the nation. Ms. Sawyer was selected for this leadership position in 2009.

Sawyer oversees SBA programs and services in the Hawaii Pacific territory including capital access, lending relations, and small business training and counseling assistance through SBA resource partners such as the Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s Business Centers, State Trade and Export Programs, and the E200 Leadership Initiative.  In addition, she works to ensure small businesses get their fair share of government procurements through the use of SBA’s contracting programs and certifications.

Sawyer joined SBA in 1993 as the Assistant District Director for Business Development to manage the delivery of programs providing training, counseling and technical assistance to nascent and existing small businesses.  During her tenure, the Hawaii District Office provided new opportunities for small business owners by expanding outreach and creating strategic alliances with business and economic development organizations.  She has been responsible for public communications, marketing and media relations as well as the successful annual SBA Small Business Awards program.

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TechConKona-Technology Is Changing Everything-Including YOUR Business

July 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Teaching business owners technology solutions to boost their triple bottom line is the goal of TechConKona, a unique four track business solutions conference being held on Thursday August 2, 2012 at the newly renovated Sheraton Keauhou Convention Center from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
TechConKona is this year’s “not to be missed” conference that addresses questions about emerging technology trends and how businesses can implement these solutions.The conference is headlined by two prominent keynote speakers, Paul Hawken, best selling author of “Natural Capitalism” and the founder of the first natural food store in the U.S. and Dustin Luther, Head of Social Media at Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corporation who will address the expected 400 attendees.   The speaker schedule includes over 10 expert panelists will lead discussions on computer technology, digital marketing, sustainability/renewable energy and innovation/startups on the Big Island.The conference will focus on the key elements of business success including how to raise funds, how to increase sales with online tools, mastering search, lowering energy costs and more.

“Businesses, non-profits, entrepreneurs and future business owners can’t afford to miss this event”, stated Guy Toyama, Executive Director of Friends of NELHA, a key organizer of the event. “At TechConKona, our presenters and expert panelists will show business owners and managers how to use technology to boost their triple bottom line using affordable, and often times free tools such as mobile apps, social media, email marketing and energy efficiency information. TechConKona is an exciting networking, educational and synergistic event which we are proud to sponsor.”

Tickets to the event are $100, but tables of 10 can be purchased for $600. Registered attendees receive full conference access, lunch, a post event networking reception and access to exhibitors. An open discussion forum to learn specific topics of interest from the speakers and other business professionals is a projected highlight. Tickets can be purchased at www.TechConKona.com

Exhibitors are currently being sought. For more information about exhibiting or purchasing full tables, call Julie Ziemelis, Ziemelis Communications at 808-854-6769 or email her at julie@ziemelis.com.

Friends of NELHA, Hawaii Community College, the County of Hawaii, the Small Business Development Center, West Hawaii Today, Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union, RevoluSun, Hafner Creative, and MacNut are presenting sponsors.

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Speaker Schedule for TechConKona

July 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
TechConKona is the first technology event of its kind in Kona. Just like innovators in startup mode, we are making some changes to the conference to reflect our current economy, business climate and educational needs of our business community.
Instead of holding the event in four different rooms with four different tracks, we are condensing the tracks into 90 minute sections  which will be presented to the overall audience in the Convention center ballroom.
In revising the program, attendees will benefit from the expertise of all the speakers who are traveling to the conference to share their ideas, solutions and resource materials with our audience. A side ballroom will be available for networking and skills training for attendees who wish to step out of a track.

Here is the new agenda for the event:  (subject to change)

8:00 am-Networking / Registration

8:30-9:00-Exhibitor booths open

9:00-Welcome and opening remarks by Mayor Billy Kenoi

Renewable Energy/Green Tech

9:15-10:00-Keynote: Paul Hawken, Author/Sustainability expert

10:05-10:35-Renewable Energy Resource Panel:

Caroline Carl-Hawaii Energy

Micheal Dodge-RevoluSun

Ramsay Taum- Blue Continent Holdings

Start-Up – Innovation

10:40-11:00-”Locavesting/Hawaii Community Exchange”-David Fisher,

11:05-11:30- “Investing in Hawaii-Utilizing Small Business Administration Loans”-Jane Sawyer, SBA Director

11:30-12:00-Panel Presentation-”How To Get Your Hawaii Businesses Funded”

Micheal Kramer-Sustainability Investor

12:00-12:30- Lunch

Digital Marketing

 12:30-1:00-”Social Media Optimization and How Social Is Gold For Your Business”-Dustin Luther, Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp

1:00-1:30- “Tools and Tips To Get Your Business Social”-Ryan Ozawa, Hawaii Information Systems, “Byte Marks Cafe” co-founder

1:40-2:00 “Social As Part of Your Marketing Mix In Kona” – Local Business Owner Panel-

Nancy Sweatt-Dolphin Journeys

Michelle Niccum-Kona Concierge

Julie Ziemelis-Ziemelis Communications

Computer Technology

2:05-2:30-”Taking Your Business Into the Cloud”-Dave Minkus, IT Director, North Hawaii Hospital

2:35-2:45 Top 10 Business Apps for Mobile”-Dustin Luther-Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp

2:50-3:20–Mobile Payments-Options and Costs-Michelle Niccum, Kona Concierge

3:25-3:45  VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)-Jeff Gray-ENTERPRISE Solutions

3:50-4:20- Tablet Technology and Apps-Jason Takaki, MacNet

4:30-Open Forum and Questions for the Speakers

4:00-5:00 – Pau Hana Reception sponsored by the Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa and Sapporo Beer

Meet the speakers, exhibitors and leaders in an open and fun environment.

There will be time before and after lunch to visit our exhibitors

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David Minkus-The Impact of Cloud Computing

June 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Dave Minkus is the power behind the tech as the IT Director for North Hawaii Community Hospital, but his roots are deep in Silicon Valley tech culture.

“I have been in this industry since I was twelve – grew up in the Silicon Valley.  Worked at startups like Symantec before they had 50 people.  3Com, America Online, NetScape.  I was there.  Now – I’m here.  Recently I deployed a virtualization solution at the North Hawaii Community Hospital where I work and now I want to share my experience about cloud computing”, Dave explained.

“America Online created a universe where people were able to use their computer to connect to a private cloud.  It was content created by AOL for the majority of America.  Over time as the internet grew – people used AOL to connect and bypass this special content so they could go out and explore the rest of  the world.   Today – people connect to the internet with computers in their homes over cable and dsl lines and T-1′s and DS3′s at work. We still buy fast computers for people who are doing local processing on their machines.  The connection to the internet is great to connecting with the sites we enjoy.  We love to shop and buy things.  But where are things headed?  Did the AOL paradigm of treating everyone in America like an infant when it came to computers do us all a favor?  I think maybe they did and I think we are about to see something like that phenomenon all over again.”

Here are some of the apps that Dave will share during his discussion:

Crash plan – unlimited online backup

Icloud – backup and share your photos

Backupplus – backup your data

Drop box

Evernote

Ndrive

Facebook

 

“I believe that people care about ease and about freedom. People want to be free to choose what device they want to use” Dave Minkus.

 

The speed that matters is the speed of the thing you are connected to inside the data center.  Your device speed should only be measured in how well it can do screen transfers and for that you need a good connection … thats all.

“Our days of worrying are over about what is in the cloud and what is not.  Our days of backing up our data to an external hard drive and putting it in the safe is no different that stuffing money in the mattress.  People have already begun to migrate their data and their computing power up and out of their homes.  The effects of this are staggering in terms of the impact.  The Personal computer market is changing before your very eyes and it is because of the cloud.”

However you spin it – one thing is clear – things are changing because of the cloud – they are upon us now and if you want to participate – you are one step closer to being one of the front runners in the next new new thing.

Dave is sharing his expertise in cloud computing with TechConKona attendees on Aug. 2nd. Buy your tickets now and be prepared to see where the future is headed.
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