Dear TAGITM Members,

We’re coming in hot off after another record-breaking annual event, and what an event it was! A little birdie whispered we crossed the 1k attendee threshold, which is a new high-water mark for TAGITM. Having been a part of every annual event since 2017 this is nothing short of incredible. (Quick side note: hey Scott, did you know we broke a record?!)

All kidding aside, it was a phenomenal week. The vibe was outstanding, and the chatter online was touting TAGITM as the hottest ticket in town. How cool is that? It was a particularly special event for me, and words cannot describe what an honor it is to serve as president of this incredible organization. It is easily one of the highlights of my career, and I want to ensure I do right by the folks that entrusted me with this responsibility, in my own special countrified way of course!

There’s a wonderful team of people committed to making TAGITM the best it can possibly be behind the scenes. I cannot thank past presidents and my friends Chris Lee and Tony Gonzalez enough for their leadership over the years. Of course, my sincere thanks go to the entire board, committee chairs, volunteers, CMP, membership, and our many partners that have all worked together in building this very special organization. TAGITM has an energy unlike any other, and it’s because of all of you! We work hard and play hard, and many have taken notice. I say we capitalize on our incredible momentum and see where it goes!

When I was up on-stage at the conference, I was speaking from the heart when I mentioned it was Beth Ann that spent a few minutes with me explaining how the organization works, essentially establishing my TAGITM path early on. I would like to similarly be a positive influence for others who may want to get more involved with the inner workings of the organization. Anyone debating on volunteering, I encourage you to pursue it. Give me a call, shoot over an email, put up the bat signal, or simply volunteer through the TAGITM “Get Involved” page on the website. I’ve long thought it was a privilege to have a voice in driving the future of the organization, and for anyone else out there thinking the same I can confirm it’s totally worth it!

My goal over the next year is simple. I want to keep the positive momentum moving forward as we finish out our last year at La Cantera in 2025 and begin prep to move our merry band of IT outlaws to JW Marriot Hill Country in 2026. Build on what’s working for us and drop what’s not. Clearly TAGITM has an exceptionally bright future as we march towards a larger venue to host more opportunities, more growth, and at the end of the day more awesomeness. It’s exciting stuff to say the least. Thank you all for the support and the opportunity to lead this incredible organization. Now that we got the formalities out of the way, I say “let’s get it y’all!”

Shane McDaniel
TAGITM President

By Fay Young, PMP®, CGCIO™, Information Technology Director, City of Port Arthur

This year's TAGITM conference theme was "In it to Win IT."  I may be a biased judge, but TAGITM took home the gold this year.  The crowd, keynote speakers, sessions, team building, awards, and nighttime entertainment were all first-place winners.  The awarding of two Beth Ann Unger Women in I.T. Scholarships was the MVP.

      

TAGITM introduced the new Beth Ann Unger Women in Technology Scholarship during the Annual Conference. TAGITM is in the process of creating our 501c3 Education Foundation that will provide for the new Beth Ann Unger Women in Technology Scholarship Program. The TAGITM Board of Directors could not be more excited to honor Beth Ann and to help young people reach their goals in this way. In remembrance of Beth Ann, TAGITM awarded two recipients the Women in Technology Scholarship: Taylor Guffey and Kalla Lavender.

Taylor Guffey is a TAGITM Member currently working for Port Houston and is in pursuit of a master's degree. She demonstrates a commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge, making her an asset to the tech community. The scholarship funds will go toward the final two semesters of her Masters of Cybersecurity and purchasing CISSP and CEH tests.

Kalla Lavender is the daughter of current TAGITM Member Herman Lavender.  Kalla is in the process of transferring from a community college to a four-year University where she will attain her bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity. The scholarship will be used to pay for classes and her Security + certification. She has always looked up to her father, who is a Network Architect. She has worked hard to break into the Cybersecurity industry by starting early to hone her skills. She studied Linux and networking while majoring in Cybersecurity.

       

By Taylor Guffey, Information Security Engineer

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for being selected as a recipient of the 2024 TAGITM Beth Ann Unger Women in Technology Scholarship. This honor means more to me than words can convey, and I am so grateful for your generosity and support. Attending the conference was such an unforgettable and enjoyable experience. From the keynote speeches to the workshops and networking opportunities, every moment was filled with amazing opportunities for learning. The atmosphere and sense of community among attendees truly made it a fantastic event. I extend my sincerest thanks for your commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the field of technology. Your dedication to empowering women like me to pursue their passion for technology is truly inspiring. 

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