NCET, turning 20 this year, has greatly evolved since its TechAlliance roots

By Abbi Whitaker | Special to the NNBV

Twenty years ago, the big story in technology in Reno was iGo Corp., a publicly held distributor of accessories for mobile devices.

A small group of business leaders — including iGo CEO Ken Hawk — thought iGo’s success hinted that Northern Nevada might have the potential to draw more technology companies. But they knew the region first needed to get its ducks in a row.

What a row of ducks!

Those informal early meetings began laying the groundwork for technology developments ranging from Tesla’s Gigafactory to the dozens of little tech companies that flourish in co-working spaces and coffee houses across the region.

And the structure created by those visionary leaders — today known as NCET — has grown into an organization 600 members strong that’s the largest educational and networking organization in Northern Nevada.

As NCET celebrates its anniversary this year, business leaders credit the organization with establishing the foundation for today’s burgeoning tech sector in northern Nevada.

The nonprofit originally known as TechAlliance — the name was changed to NCET in 2003 — was incubated within the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

Read the rest of the story at nnbusinessview.com.

Abbi Whitaker is co-founder and president of The Abbi Agency.