Keynote speaker Martinez-Fonts is the assistant secretary for the private sector office at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

By David Burge
El Paso Times

EL PASO — From robots to algae growing in the desert, the annual BizTech technology expo promises to be a day full of exhibits, classes, networking and fun, organizers say.

Organizers at the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Com merce say they've pulled out all the stops this year and have added extra events to celebrate BizTech's 10th year.

BizTech is open to the public and will be from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at the convention center Downtown.

The technology expo is a "perfect opportunity for El Pasoans to experience the latest trends in technology right here in El Paso," Hispanic Chamber Chief Executive Officer Cindy Ramos-Davidson said. "I think the key element is there's a lot of futuristic elements of technology that people will get to see at the show.

"It's an opportunity for El Pasoans to pick what interests them and interact with different people in the technology field. We've made it very user-friendly and hands-on, and we're trying to capture the best in technology, what's happening here, and what's going to happen in the future."

About 3,000 people are expected to attend this year's event and more than 70 exhibitors have already signed up, said Ana Gonzalez, marketing and communications specialist with the Hispanic Chamber.

All of BizTech's events are free to attend, except for the Executive Luncheon and a concurrent entrepreneurial conference co-sponsored by the University of Texas at El Paso.

Lunch will feature former El Pasoan Al Martinez-Fonts as the keynote speaker. Martinez-Fonts is the assistant secretary for the private sector office at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and he's the retired chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase Bank in El Paso.

Lunchtime festivities will also honor a new inductee to the BizTech Technology Hall of Fame and winners of the Best Little Website on the Border contest and the new Tech Rock Star Award for innovation.

Lunch costs $45 for Hispanic Chamber members and $65 for nonmembers. A table for 10 costs $500 for members and $700 for nonmembers.

Exhibit booths cost $500 for members and $550 for nonmembers.

Valcent, a Canadian company with its U.S. operations headquartered in far West El Paso, will be among the exhibitors. The company, which employs 30 people in El Paso, is a biotech firm that does agricultural research and development, said Chief Operations Officer Forrest Ely.

Its main El Paso project is growing algae in "bioreactors," a high-intensity algae-growing system, and the firm is working on researching and developing ways to turn its algae into biodiesel.

"We're trying to reduce our dependence on foreign oil with regional production of algae for use in biodiesel," Ely said.

Valcent will show off its algae and algae-growing system at BizTech.

"We want to represent El Paso and let people know there is a growing technology sector here," Ely said. "We want to promote it so it grows and stays here."

Beatriz Fernandez, co-owner of DataXport, an El Paso-based business process outsourcing and document management company, will have a booth at the event and will be a presenter at one of the free educational classes.

"No. 1, it's exposure for DataXport and all the businesses that participate," Fernandez said. "No. 2, it gives us the opportunity to get to know other businesses and buyers. It helps us build business relationships, and hopefully, it results in business opportunities."

BizTech helps to bring more attention to what's going on in the region with technology, Fernandez said.

"We used to be a manufacturer-based economy," she said. "We now want to show what the capabilities are in technology industries."

Other highlights include:
The Hispanic Chamber will kick off the event at 7:30 a.m. with its monthly Café Y Pan Dulce networking event.At 9 a.m., the technology fair will open with a ribbon-cutting. The fair will stay open until 5 p.m. and will showcase local and national technology firms and business organizations that will provide information on how to start or expand a company.

"We'll have robots from White Sands; we'll have algae growing in the desert," Gonzalez said. "We'll have everything related to technology."

The fair will also place an emphasis on emerging technology, organizers say.

"These are today's small businesses who are bound to be tomorrow's next big thing," Gonzalez said.

Free educational Boot Camp classes will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Topics include a panel discussion on the entrepreneurial experience; document storage; how to get your idea funded; how to market your business using technology; and security.The Hispanic Chamber will have its quarterly Business Xpress event from 3 to 5 p.m.

Business owners will have a chance to meet one-on-one with purchasing officials and buyers from Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, will be the guest speaker during this part of BizTech.

The UTEP Kauffman Campus Initiative and the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance are teaming up to put on El Paso's third Invention to Venture conference. This event, which is from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., is designed to teach college students and others how to start a technology business.

This event is open to anyone, but costs $10 for those affiliated with UTEP or El Paso Community College and $25 for all others. The fee includes admission to the BizTech Executive Luncheon.

Westsider Berty Corral, co-owner of Image Makers, said she plans to attend BizTech and learn as much as she can about technology. Past trips to the expo inspired her and her husband, Roberto, to purchase more equipment for their business and to place greater emphasis on technology.

"We're trying to stay up with the times, have the best ability to manage our business and serve our clients more efficiently," Berty Corral said.

Westsider Richard Ahumada, a financial adviser with New England Financial, also plans to attend.

"First of all, technology changes so fast," he said. "To be up to date with the latest programs, that's the reason I go. When you have a business and it's growing, you need to keep up with technology."

Ron Munden, a partner with El Paso software development company EPV Group and past president of the Software & Information Technology Organization, said BizTech has changed its focus in recent years to emphasize more of what's going on with local companies that are producing innovations.

"There's a lot going on here in El Paso with technology, research at UTEP and NMSU and spinoffs from Fort Bliss," Munden said. "There's a lot going on here that the community isn't aware of."

David Burge may be reached at dburge@elpasotimes.com; 546-6126.

Make plans
What: 10th annual BizTech technology expo.When, where: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at the convention center in Downtown.Cost: Most events are free, including attending the technology fair, classes and networking.Executive luncheon: Former El Pasoan Al Martinez-Fonts, assistant secretary for the public sector office for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be the keynote speaker. $45 for members and $65 for nonmembers. Table for 10 costs $500 for members and $700 for nonmembers.Exhibit space: The cost is $500 for chamber members and $550 for nonmembers.Invention to Venture conference: A separate conference in conjunction with BizTech will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the convention center. Cost: $10 for anyone affiliated with UTEP or EPCC; $25 for all others. Includes admission to the BizTech lunch. Visit www.invention2venture.org to register.Information, registration for lunch: 566-4066 or www.biztechep.com.

Copyright 2008 El Paso Times, a MediaNews Group Newspaper