A decade ago, the Greater Nashville Technology Council (then still without the first word in its name) was marking its 10th birthday as the economy was working its way through a stinging downturn. In taking stock for the group’s next marketing plan, then-President Tod Fetherling’s SWOT analysis listed two items, awareness and industry representation, under both strengths and weaknesses. You could look at it as getting a “good but can do better” comment on your report card.

The group’s membership, Fetherling said, needed to better include small businesses and aspiring innovators — the Nashville Entrepreneur Center was still more than a year away from opening its doors at its first home at 105 Broadway — while also growing into emerging industry sectors such as programming and digital media. Community feedback, meanwhile, said the Tech Council team should focus on standing out from other industry associations by becoming the true voice for tech in Middle Tennessee and building out its lineup of conferences and other events.