|
|
|
|
|
|
Still Time to Register for Nov 12 Service Execs Meeting
There is still time to register to attend ALDA’s Annual Meeting for Service and Support Executives, set for November 12 in Cambridge (Boston), MA.
Leading off the program, The Alexander Group will present a follow-up to last year’s presentation on implementing “customer success.” Matt Greenstein and Jake Johnson will share practical advice on constructing the business case for “customer success,” and outline several actions and how they manifest into roles and proactive customer engagement. Matt and Jake also will share a “customer success” story.
The second and third presentations will address IoT and related technologies in service applications. Vele Galovski of the Technology Services Industry Association will examine how introducing new digital technologies like IoT transforms traditional business models, and can facilitate the creation of new service offerings based on the data collected.
In a complementary presentation, Michele Pelino, a Forrester Research analyst will present their latest insights on the keys to successfully implementing connected business operations through IoT and other emerging technologies.
Brianna Cassidy, CSO of CDX Analytics will discuss how the medical/recreational cannabis market is growing and evolving, with advice on how ALDA members can best support the service needs of client service customers in the cannabis space.
The meeting details are:
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Time: 9:00 to about 3:00 PM
(registration begins at 8:00 AM)
Location: The Charles Hotel, One
Bennett St., Cambridge, MA
Please look for more details on the meeting program and registration information in your email in-box or contact Carol Starke at CStarke@thealda.org.
|
|
Leon Panetta: Leadership and Willingness to Make Tough Decisions Needed
Leon Panetta, a former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense and White House Chief of Staff, participated in a “conversation” with ALDA Chair Brad Gray at ALDA’s recent Fall Conference. The following article is based on that conversation.
Today’s partisan gridlock in Washington cannot be fixed, the Secretary of Defense told attendees. Instead, what is needed is leadership and a willingness to make tough decisions and compromise with the support of party leadership who want to make it happen.
Panetta further said that it’s almost impossible for both sides to work together today. Panetta recalled that when he was elected to Congress in the late 1970s, there were political issues, but the political parties worked together on the big issues. During the Reagan Administration, for example, Congress passed Social Security, tax, and immigration reform, as well as budgets – all were done in a bipartisan manner.
In response to a question about Impeachment, Secretary Panetta said that our forefathers were concerned that someone might make a deal with a foreign leader to interfere in our democracy. Voicing great respect for intelligence officers, Panetta said that there needs to be an inquiry about the current allegations, but he is concerned that politics may intervene. The House of Representatives needs to take its time and carefully work to lay out what happened. If this can be done in an impartial way without focusing on the politics, it will be good for the country.
Asked about the most important geopolitical challenges facing us today, Secretary Panetta said that he has never seen so many flashpoints: ISIS, failed states in the Middle East, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iran, North Korea, Russia - Putin smells weakness and when he does, he acts, and China – militarizing islands in the South China Sea and cyber.
Panetta sees a lot of threats, but believes the worst is the lack of U.S. leadership in the world. Panetta cited today’s similarity with pre-World War I Europe – nationalism, terrorism, and a lack of leadership by leaders who did not know how to deal with a crisis.
In response to a question about Europe and Brexit, Secretary Panetta said the Europeans need to understand the value of working together. There are important economic ties. Again, it is a question of leadership and working through the challenges. Panetta also believes it is possible that the UK will have another election.
In response to a question about cyber attacks, Secretary Panetta said that the U.S. Department of Defense and CIA have good defenses, but it’s not the same at the domestic departments. He believes we need a cognitive approach between business and government, but that we do not take cyber attacks as serious as we should. As a result, we may be vulnerable to an attack.
Asked whether there is anything we haven’t discussed that we should be concerned about, Secretary Panetta, a former Chairman of the House Budget Committee and Director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that the US’ national debt will soon approach 100% of GDP. The political leadership does not want to deal with it, but if we don’t develop a plan to reduce the debt, we will hit a wall, and it will impact our economy. Entitlements are now two-thirds of the Federal budget.
|
|
Attend Our Boston Dinner on Dec 3
Ginkgo Bioworks’ Founder to Give Synthetic Biology Update
ALDA’s annual dinner for senior executives in the Boston area and New England will be held on Tuesday, December 3.
Barry Canton, one of five co-founders of Ginkgo Bioworks, the highly successful and leading synthetic biology company, will be our guest speaker.
Based in Boston, Ginkgo Bioworks employs approximately 200 people and is valued at more than $1 billion. Ginkgo was founded by four students, including Barry, pursuing graduate degrees at MIT, and a then-professor Tom Knight, who inspired them to research the idea of “programming” biology.
Using its platform to program the DNA of living cells allows the company to produce a range of products, including those in chemicals and agriculture. For example, Ginkgo is working to replace nitrogen-based fertilizers by engineering microbes for crops. In the chemical industry, the company can replace chemical synthesis with engineered cells that make the desired chemical through fermentation. Designing enzymes for food and beverage production is another growth area for the company.
Mr. Canton will present a general update on Ginkgo and the synthetic biology field more broadly, and touch on what products and technologies from our industry would allow Ginkgo to advance faster.
In addition to hearing an insightful speaker, the dinner offers an informal opportunity to stay in contact with the senior leaders of other ALDA members in the Boston area outside of our semi-annual meetings.
The details of the dinner are:
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Time: 6:00 PM to about 9:00 PM
Location: Mistral Restaurant, 223
Columbus Ave., Boston, MA
Contact Carol Starke at CStarke@thealda.org for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
