Association of Information Technology Professionals

October 5, 2005

1.                   Started off with pizza and soda.

2.                   MIT is creating a $100 laptop for underprivileged kids in 3^rd world countries. It will have a hand crank, connect to a wireless network, and use flash memory.

3.                   Tuesday Oct. 18 there will be a panel discussion with Southwest Missouri Recruiters. Social hour will be from 5:30-6:30. The panel discussion topic is IT career opportunities in Springfield. It will be from 6:30-8. Volunteers will be needed in lot #20. We will have 3 shirts, 30 mins. each.

4.                   Webmaster position will be opening in December.

5.                   Wardriving event – we will use wi-fi computers and go around trying to find open wireless networks.  We will then map those locations with the open-access networks using GPS coordinates and Google maps.  Next Wednesday Oct. 12^th at 6PM we will meet in the Hammons Student Center parking lot to go do this.

6.                   Kevin Chaloupecky from Data-Tronics came to speak with us about his company, the rest of the minutes are from his presentation.

7.                   Data-Tronics is the IT company for its holding company Arkansas Best and sister company ABF Freight System.

8.                   ABF does less-than truckload shipping which is not enough to fill a truck, but too big for UPS.

9.                   Corporate Office is in Fort Smith, AR.

10.               Data-Tronics has 275 employees with 150 as Systems Analysts.

11.               The primary start off or entry-level position is the Systems analyst.

12.               Application Development

1. You get to know the business side of what you support.
2. Involved in the entire life cycle from planning to support.

13.              Languages

1. Use COBOL, VBScript, C++, HTML, VB.Net
2. If you know 2 or more, you can learn more.

14.               Training

a.       6 mo. Training process

b.      You will be assigned a dedicated trainer to help you get up to speed

c.       Training projects

d.      Computer-based training

e.       Plus there will be continuous training

15.               Laid back, but professional environment.

16.               There will be lots of interaction with users so communication skills are a must.

17.               You will be involved in both individual and group projects.

18.               Only work 40 hours a week and no more.

19.               Websites:

a.       www.abf.com

b.      www.arkbest.com

c.       www.upack.com

d.      www.data-tronics.com

20.               There will be jobs in the market for CIS majors.

21.               While programming is important, business and communication knowledge is important as well.

22.               Interview questions are open ended, but specific.  They will look at the various projects, classes, and experience for the individual.