What I’ve Been Up To

Time for an update on what I’ve been doing over the past year. Two projects were new adventures: some part-time teaching and a website focused on the U.S. rural broadband (a project I’ve put on hold). I also continued working with clients on a range of scientific and technical topics. Here are a few highlights: Ever since I encountered photonics some 25 years ago, I’ve welcomed any chance to...
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The ARRIS Story: Taking Flight

Back in the fall of 2019, a friend from the cable industry approached me with a very big writing project. The mission? Helping two executives tell the story of their company. The friend was Lela Corcoros; the two execs were Bob Stanzione and Dave Potts; and the company was ARRIS. Fast forward to today. Finally, the book is out. Across 18 chapters, we recount the fascinating history of ARRIS,...
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What Makes Craft Beer and Tech a Good Fit?

Craft beer is on the agenda at the Richmond Technology Council (aka RVATech). This year the regional business association began billing its “Tech on Tap” events as a part of a “brewery tour.” The third of four separate events was held June 19 (Juneteenth!) at Väsen Brewing Company. The sponsor: Dynatrace, a global company specializing in application performance monitoring and enterprise cloud...
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CenturyLink Hosts RVA Tech on Tap

“No drink, no ink” – that’s the classic line of an old-school journalist meeting a source at the local bar. So full disclosure up front: I did have a beer at the RVA Tech on Tap gathering on Aug 16, at the Three Notch’d Brewing Co and Collab House. But I paid $10 to attend. That makes my drink mostly a wash between me and the event’s sponsor, CenturyLink. CenturyLink is still interesting...
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Blog Series Wins PRSA Award of Merit

A series of blog articles that JT Consulting helped create won an Award of Merit in the 71st Annual Virginia Public Relations Awards competition. The Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) hosted the related ceremony. Held at the Jefferson Hotel on May 24, the evening was a sparkling mixture of drinks, dinner, conversation – and awards. Our award resulted from...
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Sales, San Diego and a Hat Tip to Zig Ziglar

Credentialed professionals tend to disdain those in sales. (Having grown up in an academic family, I’m somewhat familiar with this syndrome.) Salespersons often defend their role by talking about how everyone sells something. A lot rides on the terms. I like how one old sales pro defined them. “I have always said that everyone is in sales,” wrote motivational speaker and celebrated sales...
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