Cape Cod Showcased as 'A Haven for Technology and Innovation'; The dot.commonwealth Coalition Embarks on Road Show to Promote Technology in Massachusetts

Business Wire, May 12, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

HYANNIS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2000

The dot.commonwealth Coalition today announced that Cape Cod is the first stop on a statewide technology tour entitled "Take Stock in Massachusetts." The stop on Cape Cod is to draw attention to the region's burgeoning software, telecommunications and Internet businesses and to further promote the Cape as a haven for technology and innovation.

A half-day series of events have been organized to showcase the explosive growth of high-tech companies in the region. The day's events began at a breakfast meeting where Michael Tzannes, CEO of Aware Inc., spoke about broadband communications and high-speed access to the Internet. The breakfast was co-hosted by the Cape Cod Technology Council (CCTC) and the dot.commonwealth Coalition.

Following the breakfast, a delegation of greater Boston technology leaders, executives and supporters met with the CEOs of two of the Cape's most prominent companies: Infinium Software and Taqua Systems in Hyannis. The concluding event was a roundtable luncheon and information exchange between members of the delegation and the CEOs of some of the hottest technology companies in the area. The group discussed the issues and opportunities of the region as well as elements needed for continued growth of their businesses. Congressman William Delahunt participated in the dialogue and formally addressed the group.

Historically, Cape Cod has been a popular vacation and recreation destination because of its stretches of sandy beaches and scenic bay vistas, but recently it has become a major technology growth area in the state. The explosion of high-tech business in the region has given the region a completely different economic landscape and has contributed to local business growth in its wake.

"We work where we live, not live where we work," said Bob Pemberton, CEO of Infinium. "Cape Cod is an emerging high-tech haven. We have a solid communications infrastructure, sound capital flow, and access to good people. With a little bit of Yankee ingenuity we're making it work. It used to be that you could only start a high-tech company in certain places, the Internet has changed that. Why not live and work where most can only vacation?"

The Cape has been hard at work building a technology infrastructure that will help solidify it as a destination for emerging technologies for the long term. "We are facing the challenges inherent in not being located near a big city by doing such things as working with government officials to improve high-speed DSL access and partnering with local school districts to develop internship programs that provide the training that is essential to the technology workplace of the future," said Matt Trask, president of Communica, an OEM systems software development firm located in Bourne and chairman of the Cape Cod Technology Council.

"The three things that you need to foster a successful high-tech economy are all here: highly skilled workers and training programs, investment capital and high-speed Internet access," said Spyro Mitrokostas, executive director, Cape Cod Technology Council. "The CCTC has taken the lead by providing access to programs through the Cape Institute of Technology, the Venture Catalyst Program and the Cape Cod Connect Project."

Cape Cod companies offer a quality of life that attracts people with families, but in addition to looking off Cape for its potential employees, many companies are "growing" their own resources through educational collaboratives, certifications, training and internship programs.

"We are re-doubling our efforts to create the highest possible standard of living for all of our residents year round," said Kathleen Shatzberg, president of Cape Cod Community College. "We are working harder than ever to show our commitment by assisting different companies and sectors to develop the resources that will be crucial in training the workforce of tomorrow." The College, in collaboration with other Cape organizations, is exploring the establishment of a call center that would not only meet the demand of a future technology workforce but also become a training ground for individuals who want to enter the high-tech field.

Cape Cod Community College has stepped up to the workforce challenge offering several initiatives and programs including a portable laptop laboratory, computers for senior citizens, an annual technology fair and university partnerships. They also offer six certificate programs in web design, networking, application specialist, database design, PC service technician and visual basic.

Regardless of whether a company is located on Cape Cod or Route 128, venture funding is readily available as long as there is a worthwhile idea for new business. "In the two years since its founding, Taqua Systems has flourished on Cape Cod. We've raised $83.2 million in funding from some of the industry's most prestigious venture capital firms, won numerous industry awards and are fast approaching the hiring of our 200th employee," said David Michaud, chairman and CEO of Taqua Systems, a Hyannis-based company that develops next-generation Class 5 switching platforms for telecommunications service providers.