Spring Break
Cutting edge of technology
HIGH TECH After hours at OSU
Rebecca Johnson
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: News
Next came the Ignite Corvallis segment. This was a presentation where several local businesses had five minutes to tell the audience about what their business was recently engaged in.
Many of those who started a company in the area are spin-outs of Hewlett-Packard and OSU.
One of those was Larry Plotnick, who started up a business that is commercializing OSU technology locally. He is licensing a handheld meter that can read the health of a plant.
"I left HP and wanted to work with something aligned with my values," Plotnick said.
After the presentations, businesses set up booths for people to browse and learn more about what is going on in the world of technology in the Corvallis area. In total, 39 businesses had booths set up, with even more companies in attendance.
Also in attendance was Mayor of Corvallis Charlie Tomlinson, who was promoting a new website called "Business is Good Here."
"The point of the website is attracting and retaining entrepreneurial, creative business people," Tomlinson said. "(They are) the basis of the Corvallis economy."
Tomlinson is also a former member of the Business Enterprise Center, which was out in full force for the event. The BEC is a local organization that helps people start up businesses and is responsible for the start up of many companies presented at the expo.
They say they are interested in finding entrepreneurial people and helping them get their ideas off the ground.
That is why they attend the High Tech After Hours.
Brian Weldon, President of SAO, was happy with the event. He said he was especially impressed with the collaboration of OSU, SAO and the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition in putting on this event together.
His hopes for next year are to invite a nationally-recognized keynote speaker and to expand the Ignite Corvallis segment.
Rebecca Johnson, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Many of those who started a company in the area are spin-outs of Hewlett-Packard and OSU.
One of those was Larry Plotnick, who started up a business that is commercializing OSU technology locally. He is licensing a handheld meter that can read the health of a plant.
"I left HP and wanted to work with something aligned with my values," Plotnick said.
After the presentations, businesses set up booths for people to browse and learn more about what is going on in the world of technology in the Corvallis area. In total, 39 businesses had booths set up, with even more companies in attendance.
Also in attendance was Mayor of Corvallis Charlie Tomlinson, who was promoting a new website called "Business is Good Here."
"The point of the website is attracting and retaining entrepreneurial, creative business people," Tomlinson said. "(They are) the basis of the Corvallis economy."
Tomlinson is also a former member of the Business Enterprise Center, which was out in full force for the event. The BEC is a local organization that helps people start up businesses and is responsible for the start up of many companies presented at the expo.
They say they are interested in finding entrepreneurial people and helping them get their ideas off the ground.
That is why they attend the High Tech After Hours.
Brian Weldon, President of SAO, was happy with the event. He said he was especially impressed with the collaboration of OSU, SAO and the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition in putting on this event together.
His hopes for next year are to invite a nationally-recognized keynote speaker and to expand the Ignite Corvallis segment.
Rebecca Johnson, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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