Conference represents major opportunity for IT industry

Charlottetown is site of Northeast PHP 2017, Aug. 9-11

Lincoln Maskey believes hosting information technology (IT) professionals from across North America this month is a great opportunity to grow Prince Edward Island’s own industry.

Charlottetown will be the site of Northeast PHP 2017, Aug. 9-11, the second-consecutive year this major IT conference has happened in P.E.I.

“Northeast PHP 2017 gives increased profile to the industry here, and that may attract new start-ups or business expansions to our province,” said Maskey, a senior software engineer with Island company iWave Information Systems.

“But beyond that, this is a tremendous learning and networking opportunity for industry professionals on the Island and one that will pay dividends for the IT sector.”

IT is a strong and growing community on Prince Edward Island, providing over $200 million annually to the province’s economy and employing more than 1,800 people in the sector.

Northeast PHP will bring together dozens of IT experts and web developers from across North America to discuss advancements in the industry and best practices and to network and collaborate with fellow industry professionals.

“We had an amazing response from the many presenters and delegates who came to Charlottetown last year for the 2016 edition of the conference,” conference organizer Peter MacIntyre said. “This year we are trying to build on that success.”

The provincial government is supporting the conference with an $8,000 grant.

For more information on Northeast PHP 2017, visit http://2017. northeastphp.org.

46#.*55&% 1)050 Northeast PHP 2017 conference chairman Peter MacIntyre, left, and conference participant Lincoln Maskey discuss plans for this year’s event, which will see dozens of IT experts from across North American meet Aug. 9-11 at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel.