LANSING ? Jim Szymanski of ITS Communications wants Mid-Michigan to be known for more than General Motors, Michigan State University and the Michigan state government. He also wants it to be known as a high-tech center. Szymanski will try to accomplish his goal by leading the new GLIMA MidMichigan chapter, the eighth for the GLIMA Network.

?I went to MSU and Lansing is home,?? Szymanski said. ?I?ve worked three or four stints coming back to Lansing and there wasn?t any formal organization or group that brings people together on the technology front. We have a lot of companies involved CAD design, Virtual Reality and Internet communications.?

The GLIMA Mid-Michigan chapter will hold its first membership meeting from 7-8 p.m. April 21 in Room 148 of the Communication Arts and Sciences Building at Michigan State University. Membership isn?t required for attendance. At the session, Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers and Oakland County CIO Phil Bertolini will discuss the advantages of forming a Glima chapter.

Szymanski is chairman and president, vice chairman is Brian Kayser from Christman Company, Secretary is Brian Loomis from Microsoft and Treasurer is George Boersma from the State of Michigan?s Office of Technology Partnership. Long-time MSU Communications Professor Tom Muse is on the organizational committee.

Muse said MSU students involved in technology studies will be another target for GLIMAMidMich.

?We?re trying to get MSU students and as many universities as possible with a tech program or information system or telecom program,?? Muse said. ?Best thing that can happen is to get students together with people in the field professionally and all will learn from that.?

Muse hopes GLIMAMidMich will do more to organize the technology community in Mid Michigan than did the former Lansing Tech Connect ? a technology networking group created by the Lansing Regional Chamber.

?I see the state capital and Mid Michigan benefiting from having access to a statewide networking of technology professionals,?? Muse said. ?It?s particularly interesting for folks in the academic area to keep the technology graduates here because they?re a valuable asset. The best thing that can happen is we get students together with people in the field professionally and everyone will learn from that experience.?

For more information, click on GLIMAMidMich.Org