Founder's Note

 

Why create the Green Technology Alliance...  

 

Read Heath's founder's note...

 

We all have a choice.  A choice of whether to be part of the solution or part of the problem.  I think that three things keep most people from being part of the solution; 1)  lack of knowledge (incl. what needs to be done and how to do it), 2)  fear, 3) need for community.  The last one is the most important one... if you don't have community then awareness will often times only generate fear due to the overwhelming nature of the issues.  That awareness without a supportive infrastructure for change will invariably paralyze most people and organizations.  Even activist groups can become paralyzed because the group creates more awareness and of all the things that need to be done-- where do you start?

 

The solution is to build a community not a group.  A community that is aligned.  Or... in other words an alliance.  An alliance focused on accelerating adoption of green technologies that provide economic value.  This approach delivers awareness of the issues while demonstrating the impacts of even small changes.   When people engage for action that delivers results there is a natural alignment of values with decisions.  Through an alliance that showcases SOLUTIONS, educates on ACTION, and provides support for IMPLEMENTATION we can provide the steps and the knowledge of what needs to be done.  This is the kind of alliance the GTA is designed to be. An alliance that offers a solution and the community of support to help people avoid the paralyzed phase that dominates most change efforts.

 

With this approach we can drive real change.

 

We have the individuals, the corporations, the government and most importantly the community here.  Through technology it isn't just the resources we have here in Austin.  It is a global community, one that realizes more and more every day that we must change.   

I believe we can deliver on the promise of a healthier planet, as well as, build businesses that can sustain, grow, and expand the economy.  We can build a global alliance based on sustainable economies.  We can start now by building Austin's many green businesses and we can grow by commercializing new technologies.  We can expand by sharing those businesses and technologies with the world. 

 

Technologies that benefit the planet.

 

Why Heath and I Stepped Forward... 

 

I have worked for many years in the business development arena supporting small to medium size businesses grow and prosper in the services and IT areas for the last 15 years.  Most recently I worked with a small emerging technology firm in the desktop virtualization space, with a strong message relative to Green IT.  My family and my children have been passionate about greening our planet for many years.  In the past I have worked to develop programs for workforce education and training, small, women and minority owned businesses including government contracting.  I have many connections in the business world and a great network of business people passionate about Green IT.  Through many conversations and an EYE opening trip to Europe (who is light years ahead of the US in the Green space) we realized that we had a responsibility to use our connections, experience and knowledge to help Austin become a leader in the green space. 
  

My husband and I finally put together the seed for a program (summit in Green IT) and an alliance to build and maintain attention at a national scale because it must and that can help bring in some of the biggest names in the industry.   But together we can bring in more than just big names (although we will need lots of those) we can bring together the community that is Austin to support the development of our city as a Global Strategic Center of Innovation for the green technology sector.

That seed idea of a summit has already grown to support for the GTA with over 1000 people, 700 organizations and many more supporters that would like to grow and  participate in helping the GTA achieve its mission of accelerating the adoption of green technologies and establishing a better business model for economic development focused on sustainable economies.  We know it will grow to many more as people learn about the alliance, come to the site and learn about how critically important this is to our planet, our economy and our way of life.

 

Why Here In Austin...

 

We have to start somewhere and Austin is that somewhere for me.  It is my home and it is where I believe we can contribute to building a global alliance to grow sustainable economies based on green technologies (also known as clean technology). 

 

Why Now...

 

The time is now-- the challenges and threats that face our planet, our economy, and humanity itself are real.  More importantly though, our opportunities for success are just as real.  We are the world's leading economy and we have the resources, knowledge base and the ability to deliver the kinds of technologies that will grow, sustain and heal our planet.  It is our privilege and our responsibility. 

 

Why Us...

 

Here in Austin we are recognized as a preeminent technology center and a leader in green technology.  Austin has proven we can grow businesses with a social mindset and there is a unique pool of talent and resources here.  From the University to the Austin Technology Council to Bootstrappers everywhere to our venture firms that fund and support green technology to the many pioneering green businesses already helping to build a sustainable economy. 

 

The global green movement has many roots but here in Austin we have a unique opportunity to help lead the green movement.  That opportunity is our community.  There is a growing sense of a "new dawn" for Austin's technology community.  That "new dawn" will only be achieved if we bring our "village" to raise this "child."

 

Join the alliance and help the GTA grow the sustainable economies movement for us and our planet.

 

Much success,

Michelle C. Naquin