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Talking Technology By Steve Burns, Capital News contributor I really don't like goodbye's – they seem so final, so difficult to handle. While this isn't really a goodbye, I do feel a real sense of loss to the entire Okanagan community to have Margret Horvath, executive director of the Okanagan Science and Technology Council, leaving us. Margret is relocating to Nelson and will be sorely missed. Let me tell you why. My experience in working with Horvath came as the vice-president of the board of directors of what was then known as the Okanagan High Technology Council. She had been hired as the executive director of the Science and Technology Council of the Okanagan. Shortly thereafter the two organizations commenced merger discussions. Not long afterwards, the OHTC's executive director moved on and we had a crisis on our hands. We needed leadership and we needed it fast. In light of how well the merger discussions were going, we asked the STCO executive to consider the possibility of having Horvath lead both organizations. Both the STCO executive and Horvath willingly accepted this huge challenge. I had the privilege of working closely with her throughout this period and thereafter as a board member of the newly merged organization, OSTEC. I know that the merger was best for the science and technology community but it was a very trying time and tested Horvath's leadership to the fullest extent. Sometimes as board members we little appreciate how much we are asking of our leaders—Superwoman would likely be a suitable phrase. I can honestly say that not only did Horvath do an outstanding job but I also believe that there was no one else more dedicated to the science and technology community and the membership of OSTEC than her. She worked countless hours to see this industry sector grow. On behalf of the entire science and technology community and the members of OSTEC, I want to take this column to say a big thank you to Margret Horvath for: • Leading the charge on growing the membership from almost nothing to well over 250 members • Leapfrogging the organization forward towards self-sufficiency by growing both membership revenues as well as revenues from sustaining patrons and sponsors. As a result, last year OSTEC raised over $120,000 in membership, sponsorship and seminar fees • Ensuring geographical and industry representation on the OSTEC board of directors • Expanding all of the services of OSTEC in the business development, financing, human resources, promotions and research and development areas to meet the diverse needs of the growing membership by delivering value added programs and seminars • Launching the first ever Okanagan Angels Network, which matches companies to angel financiers • Launching the new high technology jobs Web site, which has resulted in many successful employment matches • Creating Team Silicon Vineyard to promote the region at cdXpo and Comdex Las Vegas and at the Wireless Broadband tradeshow in San Diego • Helping to grow the high technology CEO leadership capabilities in the region by partnering with the Academy of Technology CEO's to deliver the first ever programs for tech CEO's in the Okanagan • Expanding the reach of OSTEC by providing funding for the Central Okanagan Science Opportunities for Kids Society (SOKS), which is a school and community program for kids eight to 12-years-old • Supporting the Okanagan Partnership and their knowledge services cluster strategies. Even though the above accomplishments are impressive, there is one project that really puts the Margret Horvath stamp of leadership on the OSTEC organization. It is Horvath's creation of the Silicon Innovation Awards (www.ostec.ca/multidoc.php/svia), which was launched last year. This inaugural event was not only successful but really helped to position the Okanagan as the premier location in B.C. where innovative applications of science and technology prosper. The second annual event will be held on March 10, 2005, at the Coast Capri Hotel and will celebrate the accomplishments of our science and technology community. Horvath and her team worked really hard to pull this off and have set the bar very high. So much so that I would like to encourage the current OSTEC board to rename the outstanding contribution to the science and technology community award to the Margret Horvath Leadership Award. I think that it is only fitting that Horvath's leadership legacy be recognized in this way. Perhaps she could be the honourary chair for next year and present her award annually. While I could go on with Horvath's accomplishments, here is what I appreciated most about her—she was passionate about making a real difference to the Okanagan's science and technology industry and it showed in her leadership. You can't teach passion—you either have it or you don't. Horvath's passion to serve the science and technology community clearly came through in everything that she accomplished. Horvath leaves OSTEC at an interesting phase, as the Okanagan science and technology industry embraces the arrival of UBC and the benefits that this will bring to the Okanagan and seeks to implement the Okanagan Partnership's flagship projects. While I am confident her successor, Glenn Rousseau, is very capable and certainly is up to the challenge, he has some very big shoes to fill. So perhaps this isn't goodbye after all as I know Horvath will stay in touch as she moves onto to a different phase in her life. Margret, thank you for your leadership. Our community will really miss you. The Okanagan's loss is definitely Nelson's gain. Steve Burns is the president and CEO of Burns Innovation Group Inc. and Steve Burns Inc. chartered accountant,which provides consulting and accounting services to entrepreneurs. You can reach Steve at 763-4716. |
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