Microsoft to demonstrate newest technology in Hamilton

Microsoft is paying Hamilton a visit.

The technology company will be demonstrating some of its newest products and latest technology Thursday at the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s Live, Work, Play Expo, including Columbus-based Bass International’s OneVuex Unified Systems.

That cloud-based platform allows clients to collaborate and run numerous applications “seamlessly together,” such as those found in Microsoft Office, via a single, secure interface, said Dan Bates, the chamber’s president and CEO.

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Hosting Microsoft for the event came from the chamber’s partnership with Bass International. The chamber will be moving to the OneVuex platform at the end of the month, Bates said.

“They are one of seven partners worldwide that Microsoft has decided to partner with … from a research and development perspective,” he said. “We’re excited because … you just don’t get Microsoft to come to your town. This is huge.”

Bates said he was an early adopter of the platform last year while he was president of the Sharonville Chamber of Commerce, taking a “leap of faith” and investing in it for that chamber after seeing it in action during an HCDC Incubator program.

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“It takes you from being a slave of technology having to adjust the way you operate to the technology, it does just the opposite,” he said. “The technology adjusts to you.”

The “whiz-bang” software also makes businesses GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliant, soon to be requirement for any company wanting to do business in the European Union to prove a system is “totally impenetrable,” Bates said.

The Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is embracing the platform “to really be the leader in this, not only for the chamber, but for the whole city, where we become a source of technological breakthroughs and introductions and really helping our members be cutting edge,” he said.

The expo also feature more than 60 businesses, about half of which will participate in a job fair held during the event in partnership with OhioMeansJobs-Butler County, said Laura Merrill, the chamber’s expo coordinator and membership sales associate.

The Live, Work, Play Expo also will feature two new areas, Ideas in Action and Skills in Action, where guests can learn and interact.

Previously held in June, the expo was moved to October, which helps the chamber better facilitate a student program that is a partnership with Junior Achievement.

“We’ll have about 120 Hamilton High (seniors) from the Career Tech Ed academy’s visiting businesses at the Expo,” Merrill said. “We have about 50 business mentor volunteers to guide the students through the expo.”

The student program will let the students network, learn about area businesses and execute the skills they have learned, she said.

Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to success in a global economy, according to Carol Lucio, district manager of Junior Achievement OKI Partners.

“Through the JA Career Success program, volunteers lead students through seven engaging lessons learning about the soft skills,” Lucio said. “This partnership with the Chamber allows those students to now put some of those skills into practice by learning how to network, shake hands, make eye contact, and engage in relevant dialogue with businesses and potential employers. It’s a win-win-win for everyone.”


IF YOU GO

WHAT: Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s Live, Work, Play Expo

WHEN: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Hamilton High School

DETAILS: Live, Work, Play Expo will feature free giveaways and free food tastings with a wide variety of exhibits that include area and regional businesses. Offers more than 80 door prizes valued at over $2,000.

ADMISSION: Free, as is parking. Butler County Regional Transit Authority will provide shuttle service during the event.

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