Information Technology Industry Facts for Successful Conventions and Meetings in Cleveland

• Information Technology Industry
• Overview
• Cleveland's IT Community
• Successful IT Industry Meetings in Cleveland
• Northeast Ohio Technology Associations

An economic powerhouse, Northeast Ohio is unparalleled in its industrial and commercial diversity and strength. The region features a balanced economy with broad and substantial representation in virtually all sectors, including manufacturing, distribution, health services, banking and insurance. Information Technology (IT) plays a pivotal role in developing and delivering the tools that improve productivity, reduce costs and expand markets in these and every other business sector.

Adding increased fuel to this economic engine and complementing the internal IT services in the region's larger companies, the 2,500+ IT companies in Greater Cleveland provide innovative and effective solutions to business problems for enterprises of all sizes. The very diversity of the products and services offered by the area's IT companies reflects the breadth of the general business market and illustrates the potential gains in competitive advantage for every industry sector.

The strength of Northeast Ohio's IT industry translates into local support for your meeting. Through the area's solid base of companies and organizations, your event can attract strong attendance and retain exhibitors.

Compromising nearly 5%[1] of the full-time workforce and almost 10% of the region's wages, Northeast Ohio's 74,000[2] IT professionals enjoy a range of employment options unmatched in other regions.

Recent years have witnessed the creation and expansion of numerous agile and progressive high-tech companies. They are setting a record pace for growth in Northeast Ohio--and capturing the attention of industry experts across the nation. The astonishing growth of the area's IT sector is connected to the technology requirements of the community's massive industrial and commercial base and to the simultaneous explosion of other high-tech industries, including biomedical, biotechnology and instruments and controls.

The vitality if the IT industry is firmly linked to the existing economic base and the future of the Northeast Ohio economy. In fact, researchers are quick to point out that this synergy is having the desired effect in that the homegrown talent of these companies is playing a critical role in fostering increased productivity, innovation and strong growth among the all area's industries.

For fast-tracking IT companies ready to expand their business and for high-performing individuals seeking to apply their skills in a dynamic high-tech environment, Northeast Ohio is a great place to visit and an even better place to in which to work and meet. For fast-tracking IT companies ready to expand their business and for high-performing individuals seeking to apply their skills in a dynamic high-tech environment, Northeast Ohio is a great place to visit and an even better place to in which to work and meet.

Led by the industry-driven Information Technology trade association, NEOSA (Northeast Ohio Software Association), numerous regional assets are propelling the growth and vitality of the IT community including:

• First-class research and teaching assets, such as Case Western Reserve, Cleveland State University, Kent State University and the University of Akron. The region's 24 public and private educational institutions provide an extensive network of training resources for both new and incumbent technology workers and entrepreneurs.
  
• World-renowned innovators in research and business solutions, such as NASA Glen Research Center which alone generates 12,000 tech-related jobs and $1 billion annually to the Northeast Ohio economy.
  
• Local investors and business incubators that support new and expanding technology business.
  
• Strong private and public sector commitments to technology transfer and commercialization of innovations.
  
• Business and civic leaders that continue a tradition of developing potent public-private partnerships and strategic alliances.

Combine these advantages with the business experience embedded in Greater Cleveland's industries and the size and power of the potential market here and the astounding development potential of the local IT industry becomes clear.

• American Foundry Society
  
• Anteon Corporation
  
• Community Technology Centers Network
  
• Digipalooza 2006
  
• High Technology Crime Investigation Association International
  
• New Media Consortium
  
• Wire Association International, Inc.

Northeast Ohio Technology Associations:

The Web Association
An exciting nonprofit professional organization built upon the Northeast Ohio Internet community, offering an open forum, education, mutual support and networking opportunities to stimulate growth.

Cleveland Engineering Society
A professional organization that sponsors programs, seminars and tours to stimulate professional development.Professionals from varied disciplines explore the technologies and business management strategies of many different industries.

Community of Minds
A bi-monthly networking event that provides attendees with the unique opportunity to discuss technology-related business issues with peers and potential partners in a relaxed, non-promotional atmosphere.

Greater Cleveland PC Users Group (GCPCUG)
Recognized as one of the top PC user groups in the country, GCPCUG acts an intermediary with local and national computer product vendors and experts in the computer industry.

NorTech
Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition (NorTech) is a group of technology and business leaders with a vision to enhance the prosperity of the region through science, technology and innovation. OhioTechNet is a program of NorTech's, serving as a web portal promoting technology transfer to Ohio's technology industry.

NEOSA
NEOSA (Northeast Ohio Software Association) is the technology network for COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises). NEOSA's nearly 700 members include custom development firms, web programmers, infrastructure companies and others. The association is also member of Ohio's IT Alliance, a statewide network that works together to improve Ohio's IT industry and to keep the state competitive in today's new economy.

NEOSA conducts regular monthly networking events as well as educational forums to support the region's tech community.Signature events include the CIO Symposium and the CIO of the Year Award.  Additional, NEOSA works closely with NorTech and regional universities to ensure skill sets required by its member companies are being addressed.

Ohio's IT Alliance
Ohio's IT Alliance is a statewide network of six regional organizations with the common goal of growing and improving the competitiveness of Ohio's information technology (IT) industry. Ohio's IT Alliance is an Edison Technology Center, supported and funded by the Ohio Department of Development's Thomas Edison Program and chartered by the Governor of Ohio.

OneCleveland
OneCleveland is a nonprofit provider of community-based ultra broadband networking services and applications that improve our community's quality of life and stimulates economic development.

Our community's widespread use of the OneCleveland network prompted Intel Corporation to name Cleveland-Northeast Ohio as a Worldwide Digital Community. And Cleveland was the only U.S. city selected as a Top 7 Intelligent Community of 2006 by the Intelligent Community Forum.

[1] http://www.neosa.org/educationandworkforce/reports/IT%20Exec%20Summary.pdf
[2] http://www.neosa.org/educationandworkforce/reports/IT%20Exec%20Summary.pdf

Not sure where to start?  Fill out an online RFP to receive meeting planning assistance or look at our variety of meeting rooms and unique venues.  Or review our meeting planner's checklist.  Already have a meeting planned?  Let our award-winning convention services department help you with the details.