Dr. Narsi L.S. Narasimhan, co-founder and CEO of Paalam, Inc., an Atlanta based global technology resources company, announced recently the successful completion of the first meeting of the CIO Roundtable Discussion Forum. The luncheon meeting was held last week at the Buckhead Club in the Atlanta Financial Center. Additional meetings in the series will be in the same format, i.e., two hour luncheon or breakfast sessions for invited IT executives to discuss technology issues that are affecting IT operations both now and in the future. 
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We believe that IT executives have few forums where they can meet in a small group environment with their peers,” said Dr. Narasimhan, a former Professor at Georgia Tech and an Atlanta entrepreneur of note who is known simply as ‘Narsi’ to his friends and associates. “We plan to invite 15 to 20 CIO level executives to these forums for both relaxed networking among their peers and open discussion of IT issues brought about by the fast paced change in the way we do business.”

Dr. Ratajczak, Regents Professor Emeritus of Economics at Georgia State, and former Director of the Economic Forecasting Center in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State, led the discussion on the changing interest rate environment and the developing slowdown in economic growth. “I encouraged CIO’s,” he said after the meeting, “to look past any slowing in revenue growth, to the value provided by a global approach to technology development. I believe the CIO’s enjoyed the opportunity to discuss technology applications in the rapidly changing, global economic environment.”

Glenn Martin, CTO, Intent MediaWorks also spoke to the group on the issues of peer-to-peer technology, digital rights management and issues surrounding community publishing, i.e., Wiki-like content. 
The attendees had ample time for networking before food was served, and the U shaped conference style seating led to a lively questioning of the speakers and discussion of a variety of issues.