The Amtower B2G Market Report

The Amtower B2G Market Report
Volume 3, #31, August 19, 2004

(Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.FederalDirect.net and if you like this, please pass this along to your colleagues. To unsubscribe, email me at amtower@erols.com). Past issues available at http://www.federaldirect.net/newsletterarchives.html)

In this issue…
1) Amtower Off-Center Observations
2) Comments on the 2nd Anniverary
3) Events

AMTOWER OFF-CENTER OBSERVATIONS

This is another short issue, as I have just returned from vacation.

Item: The itsGov conference just announced Deidre Lee, Director of Procurement and Acquisition Policy, Department of Defense will keynote. For those of you who don’t know Ms Lee, she is A-OK in all categories: integrity, intelligence, and a truly nice person. See events, below.

Item: Several inquiries lately regarding end of FY spending, which seems to be flat for many companies. There are several companies reporting lower than expected growth, but mercifully, my clients are not among them. I love when that happens!

Item: There are several reporters I read on a regular basis. Among these are Michael Hardy and Chris Dorobek of Federal Computer Week, Joab Jackson of Government Computer News, Shannon Henry of the Washington Post, Mark Del Franco (Big D) of Catalog Age, Hershel Gordon Lewis who writes for Direct, Richard Levey and Ray Schultz of Direct, Mac Mcintosh who often writes for The Business to Business Marketer, and several others. Another Amtower favorite is returning. Patience Wait tried her hand at PR for a major integrator for a while, but is coming back. Patience was a “must read” when she was with Washington Technology. Her contact information is pwait@postnewsweektech.com and 202 772 2554.

Item: A DC area ad agency sent out their regular “eTips” newsletter with end-of-FY tips (sound familiar?). It included the following: “For quick transactions, accept the government I.M.P.A.C.T. Card and other government credit cards.” First, it was (note the tense) I.M.P.A.C., not IMPACT, card. Second, GSA ended the IMPAC contract over five years ago – it has been SmartPay since. It’s all in the details.

Item: A week or so back, a network company offered a free baseball cap to the first 150 people who downloaded their White Paper. Was the paper so bad they had to offer a bribe?

Not that I have an opinion.

COMMENTS ON THE 2nd ANNIVERSARY

I am not a reporter. I am an observer and commentator on the B2G market, where I also consult. The Amtower B2G Market Report is my vehicle for offering these observations to anyone who might wish to listen. Like me, it offers a no-frills, psycho-babble free, non-politically correct off-center view of our little universe. I like to think the Report is articulate, and I know it often articulates what many are thinking but few have the opportunity or venue to express. This does not make me prescient, but it often makes me a lightning rod.

I have long been known for my candor, even before starting Amtower & Company in 1985. There have been only a few instances in the last 20 years where I have held my tongue, and those that I recall, I regret.

Subterfuge and velvet gloves have their place, and it is not with me. Too often an act or event calls for clear commentary, an unequivocal statement, something which cannot be misconstrued. This is where I excel. I am rarely accused of being subtle or obtuse. My comments often irritate, but if you look hard and think a while, irritation leads to pearls. I do not try to be mean or petty, but when someone does something truly out of line, I am not averse to saying so.

For those who read this, thanks. For those who sends comments and suggestions, many thanks. To those who have yet to comment, let me know what you think occasionally.

As we wind down 2004, I will approach the 100th issue and enter my 21st year in business as Amtower & Company.

Do not count on me mellowing.

EVENTS

ITS GOV: Technology Buying at Year End, August 25, Ronald Reagan Building
www.itsgov.com

Third Annual B2G CATALOG SUMMIT, Doubletree O’Hare (Chicago), November 11, 2004

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As always, your comments, questions and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks
Mark Amtower


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