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Leadership, Technology & Policy Summit (Automation)

From left to right: Harold Ford, Jr., Rick Lazio, Kit Bond, Joe Crowley, Mike Johanns and Bob Riley

alliantgroup’s Leadership, Technology & Policy Summit took place on November 7th and 8th at our Houston headquarters. During the event, renowned experts from the fields of technology, manufacturing, cybersecurity and tax policy discussed important topics that directly apply to manufacturing businesses across the United States.

Real Cyber Risks

Threats to Innovation

One of the main topics of discussion focused on an emerging threat to small and mid-sized businesses across industries: cybersecurity. “Over 50% of the cyberattacks that occur in this country, are targeted toward small to mid-sized companies,” stated alliantgroup’s Senior Vice President of Information & Technology Rizwan Virani during the panel discussion regarding cybersecurity.

With the infusion of automation and digital processes into standard business practices, operators need to be aware of the potential areas of vulnerability. From networking machinery along with computers, using CAD/CAM data files, integrating machine-learning software, and the introduction of IoT devices, companies are increasingly warehousing data of interest to cybercriminals – and cyberattacks in the industry are on the rise.

Tax Changes You Need To Know

Incentives for Automating

Many business owners have shied away from investing in cybersecurity for their company because they lack capital available to do so. Fortunately for companies who utilize, implement or produce automation products and processes, there are powerful government incentives that can offset the cost of these investments.

During the event, alliantgroup Senior Vice President, former U.S. Congressman Rick Lazio discussed why these companies are uniquely positioned to maximize the benefits of available credits and incentives. “Our nation’s leaders recognize the need for our domestic industries to grow. So much so that business decisions like investing in improved infrastructure or automation for your business can generate highly valuable tax-savings.”

The Critical Need for Employee Engagement

Leadership and Management Trends

The event began with an interactive lecture from Thomas DeLong, a Senior Fellow, former Philip J. Stomberg Professor at the Harvard Business School and author of “Flying Without a Net”—a book recognized by the editors of Amazon publishing as one of the top ten books written on leadership this century.

According to DeLong, getting the company’s professionals to completely buy into the organization (to form what he referred to as a “covenantal relationship”) is the key to creating a high-performance culture and building a sustainable organization—and such a relationship can only be achieved when leadership invests in and builds those lasting interpersonal relationships with their developing professionals. Creating a culture of professional development often requires pushing people out of their comfort zones, but in DeLong’s eyes, allowing employees to stumble to learn new roles is a necessary step in ensuring organizational and professional growth.

To learn more about the event, or to see if your company can qualify for valuable tax credits and incentives – please complete the contact form below.