CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB
NEXT MEETING ____________________________________________
Monday, May 13 - 12:00 noon
Cellar Restaurant at Union Square
Topic: Starting and Maintaining a High Tech Business - Katie Vandergriff, MKT Technologies
Katie Vandergriff had worked as an engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Robotics Division when she took an "entrepreneurial leave of absence" about two year ago to help start an engineering consultant company, MK Technologies. The Knoxville-based firm serves as a one-stop shop to companies and government facilities needing specialized engineering and technological services. Her recent experience has provided her unique insights into what it takes to not only start a high tech business, but also, to make it successful. For those interested in starting a new venture or for those already involved, Katie will give us some tips on what to do and tell us about the resources that are available to help us do it. These include such organizations as the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, The Tennessee Technical Development Corporation and the Tennessee Technology Transfer and Economic Development Office of ORNL. Katie will also tell us about some of traps and bumps you can expect to find along the road to becoming a high tech entrepreneur.
Invocation: Jack Wagner
Fellowship: Ron Burton
Entrée du jour: Chopped sirloin w/ grilled Onions
OUR PREVIOUS MEETING - May 6
___________________________________
John Van Winkle, Senior Traffic Engineer,
discussed how Roundabouts and Traffic Circles and intersection redesign is used
as a tool to relieve congestion, and how intersections needing revision are
selected. He explained how the East Ridge Tunnel entry has been rearranged with
a roundabout to smooth traffic flow and reduce accidents. Similar improvements
are planned at several other sites in Hamilton County. Several examples of
traffic circles in other US cities and in Europe were also shown. It won't be
long before Chattanooga has the look of many European cities - at least when it
comes to traffic control.
FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS _____________________________________
May 20 Topic: Invasive Plants - A frightening look at some destructive invaders.
May 27 No meeting in observance of Memorial Day
June 3 Topic: Green Power - Gary Harris, TVA
June 17 Topic: Hamilton County Regional Bike Plan - Bill Allen
June 24Topic: Advanced Distribution Technology - Gilbert Davis
WHERE WE MEET _____________________________________
Our weekly
meetings are usually held at the Cellar Restaurant of the Tallan building, Union
Square, Downtown Chattanooga from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Our meeting room and
luncheon service are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is $10.00 per person. No
reservation is required. Free parking is available for these occasions at
the Days Inn Motel (on Carter St. and MLK Blvd.) courtesy of the Days Inn
management. When you park there, be sure to place a note on your dashboard
indicating you are attending the Engineers Club meeting.