About TAG™

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Mission Statement
The Technology Advisors Group facilitates economic growth within Austin by providing a forum for the exchange of information and ideas between Austin’s business to business professionals and the high tech community.

Vision Statement
A network of service providers and business leaders  interested in growing our technology based economy and building stronger companies through personal  interaction, applying information, expertise and successful experience to problem solving.

The People to Meet
The TAG membership is broad based and includes a wide range of professionals from CEO's to research engineers involved in leading edge technology representing the technical and supporting service sectors. TAG's membership represents Austin's wide cross-section of technology companies from biomedical researchers to semiconductor manufacturers; every high technology industry is represented. Our membership include startups, established name brands, and venture capitalists. If you need to know the latest in technology, you need to know the members of TAG.

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Past Speakers!

The Speakers to Hear
The TAG speakers program is one of the finest in the country featuring current topics related to high technology industries. Each speaker brings a unique perspective to the program and each attendee has an opportunity to learn something new. Many emerging technologies are discussed publicly for the first time at TAG meetings. From AMD to IBM, TAG keeps the right speakers coming month in and month out. We don't limit ourselves just to CEO's and techno-wizards. Service providers that support the high technology community are also invited to present programs. This diverse speaker line up keeps our guests and members coming back. Every member has an opportunity to participate. We provide you with the forum you need to get your message out. Members are encouraged to share innovations and ideas in a friendly, relaxed, noncompetitive environment.

The Group to Join
TAG is Austin's oldest most prestigious Technology focused organization. No other venue exists with such a diverse membership. If you want to know where high technologies are going and hear it from the people that make it happen, you will want to be a TAG member! Technologies are changing at an alarming rate and we are all affected by these changes. If you want to keep up
with the movers and shakers in Austin's high technology community, come see what TAG has to offer. On the other hand, send in your application today and become a member of Austin's TAG team!

TAG: A Brief History
By Joe H. McCall

In 1984, ABB (Austin Before the Bust), two attorneys believed that somewhere within Austin's "Next Silicon Valley" hoopla there was a nugget of reality. Walter Bissex and Barry Meyers acted on this belief by calling together a group of attorneys and Big Eight accountants to meet as the Technology Advisors Group. They felt that such a group could share expertise and industry experience to their mutual benefit and the benefit of all of the technology business clients who would soon accrue to Austin's existing short list. After several meetings, the two realized that the members had shared about all they would or could share amongst themselves and that something more was needed.

In January, 1985, the wheels fell off of Austin's real estate boom which was preparing it to be the "Next Silicon Valley". Since everyone had to go back to their day jobs and deal with the fallout, TAG ceased to meet for a while. Along about 1987, Walter and Barry decided to relaunch the organization and called around to find out who of the original members was still here. They also invited a number of other interested parties who had expressed interest in TAG. The response was so enthusiastic that eight of us were at the first meeting.

We doggedly persisted in having a monthly meeting at which a speaker from the technology community would tell us what they really did, how their company got where it was, and what the industry looked like from where they stood. This proved popular as TAG members could actually learn how all kinds of "techie stuff" really worked. The organization grew by word of mouth, especially since nothing like TAG existed. Membership qualification was rigorous, "If you can find us, you can join." There was no cost to join, you simply paid for your breakfast. Since I was always calling Walter and Barry with ideas for speakers, and since  they had usually not gotten around to scheduling one for the next month, I became Program Chair. After several years of this, the two founders decided that the cost of mailings and no-shows for breakfast was too onerous, and TAG instituted its first membership fee of $10. All attendees without reservations will be subject to a surcharge of $5.00.

In the mid 90's, Norm Gelfand led the effort to professionalize TAG by coordinating a committee to draft a mission statement, draft by-laws, and drink beer. His leadership brought a lot of new participation in the operation of the group, and is responsible (with the assistance of many new and longtime members) for the organization you enjoy today. TAG has been and still is the place to be to learn how things work, where things are going, and to meet the people who will get you there.

 


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