On Wednesday, September 25 over 150 technology enthusiasts, practitioners, researchers, and business leaders from around the Shenandoah Valley came together for Valley TechCon.19 in Harrisonburg. The event featured five breakout sessions, an incredible lineup of speakers, and several opportunities for networking. For more information about Valley TechCon, please visit www.valleytechcon.com.
Looking for a grant to help start up your FLL team? Each year, the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council sponsors three new FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams from the Shenandoah Valley. Approximately half of the start-up cost of a new team is reimbursed, up to $350.
To be eligible, teams must be located in the footprint of the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council's area of operation. Applicants must also intend participate in the FLL competition within one year of receiving the grant. This grant can be used towards any equipment required for competition in FIRST LEGO League, including one or more LEGO robotics kits, a competition practice table, and an FLL field setup kit.
If you are interested in applying for the FLL Start-Up Grant, please complete the following form, and follow the steps as indicated on the form:FLL Reimbursement Grant Application (pdf)
About FLL FIRST LEGO League (FLL) was created through a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO company and inspires future scientists and engineers. it is an international competition that challenges young participants to think like scientists and engineers. Every year FLL introduces kids to a real-world scientific topic, and teams are challenged to find a solution. They also build a robot and compete in a friendly, FIRST-style robotics event specially designed for their age group.
Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund (CRCF) Briefing & Funding Information Sessions
Harrisonburg
(10/2)
October 2, 2019 | 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
JMU Ice House, Harrisonburg
Come join us as Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) presents information about funding available through three key programs administered by the Center for Innovative Technology in support of research and commercialization in Virginia:
FY20 CRCF Solicitation: CIT staff will introduce the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund (CRCF), a multi-million dollar technology commercialization grant program that accelerates innovation and drives economic growth in Virginia. The team will discuss the FY20 round, which includes programs available to higher ed, federal labs and other nonprofit research organizations, and the private sector. Topics will include eligibility criteria and the solicitation timeline, the Letter of Intent (LOI) with a revised approach this year, the application process, and tips for creating strong submissions.
SBIR/STTR Tips & Support for Virginia Applicants: The federal SBIR and STTR programs award over $3B annually to small tech firms in order to develop early stage, high risk, high payoff technology. 11 agencies participate, with awards ranging from $100K to $1.5M. SBIR proposal tips will be provided, as well as a preview of the Oct. 16-17 NIH/NSF SBIR & Commercialization Conference in Roanoke, VA.
CIT GAP Funds & Virginia Founders Fund (VFF): CIT GAP Funds provides equity investments to early stage, high growth potential companies. CIT GAP Funds invests up to $250K in seed stage tech, clean tech/energy, life science and techenabled services companies. A companion fund, VFF, focuses on investments in women-owned, veteran-owned or minority-owned start-ups, as well as start-ups located in traditionally underserved regions of Virginia.
Parking
Parking will be available outside of the JMU Ice House. Parking permits will be necessary to park for those who do not have a current JMU parking permit. Please pick up a free parking pass at the entrance of the building.
This 21st century house is called Sundial House because it is oriented exactly south allowing the occupants to tell time from shadows in the house. In addition to photovoltaic solar panels connected to the grid with net metering, the house features a passive system using glass walls and thermal mass to store winter heat. In summer the mass in the house allows the house to be cooled at night and carry the coolness over into the daytime.
What is a solar open house?
See solar panels up close, ask questions about how solar works, learn about why people in your community made the choice to go solar, and connect with other people in your community who support solar energy.
This event is free and open to the public - everyone is welcome to attend. Whether you are a solar owner, completely new to solar, or somewhere in between - this event is for you. Stop by for a few or stay for a while!
This presentation will focus on understanding the 3 different types of strategic disciplines. What are their differences and how businesses often gravitate to one not realizing the others are blind spots? How to build a strategy that leverages all 3 and how to do that to build a better organization. An ideal topic for business leaders looking to take their business to the next level or understand how to pivot from stagnate/declining revenue.
About the Speaker
David Deaton, founder of Deaton Group, LLC, has over two decades of experience transforming organizations through strategic planning, market research, and effective execution. David has partnered with organizations worldwide ranging from startups and nonprofits to global businesses to improve growth, manage change and transformation, and develop strong strategic foundations to build and sustain their success. As the former Director of Strategy and Market Research for the CFA Institute Asia Pacific region, David has extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative market analysis. He then went on to become Global Strategic Planning Director where he developed organizational strategy and departmental alignment, guided new teams and projects through effective launches, helped teams plan for implementation, and provided group facilitation for departmental strategic planning. We know that organizations can overcome their toughest obstacles and reach new levels of success through sound strategy. We're here to make that happen.
Rapidly changing ideological differences, technological innovations, and social norms are disrupting the nation, established institutions, businesses, and cultures around the globe. Our conference will focus on critical thinking, creative problem solving and leading in a disruptive environment. We will offer a balance of top-notch speakers on key areas of disruption (cultural, individual, technological, and business) with hands-on, active learning sessions.
About the Annual VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference
Begun in 2010, the VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference is a hallmark of the Center for Leadership and Ethic's programming. It is a top-tier conference that addresses a significant issue of ethical leadership development, including living an honorable lifestyle in contemporary America.
The conference is open to all interested adults and attracts the attention of faculty and students of a diverse array of military and civilian colleges, members of the public and private sectors, military leaders, and non-profit audiences. Through the participation of these attendees and our speakers, VMI leads national conversations on diverse themes of leadership and ethics in modern society.
Students and faculty of other colleges, the general public, VMI cadets, staff, faculty are encouraged to attend.
Of interest for tech community might be this speaker:
Dr. Crum is the Caroline Dawn Wortham '12 Leadership Speaker for this year's Leadership and Ethics Conference
Poppy Crum works to bridge the gap between technology and insightful, effective human interaction. As a multi-dimensional advocate of empathetic technology, she builds technologies that best leverage human physiology to enhance our experiences and how we interact with the world.
Poppy serves as the chief scientist at Dolby Laboratories and as an adjunct professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics and Program in Symbolic Systems.
Poppy is dedicated to the development of immersive technologies that leverage human physiology and perceptual realities to enhance our experiences and interactions in the world. She has advanced a mission to democratize the way people of all abilities benefit from sensory technologies - and how effectively technology communicates back to each of us. She believes the power of intelligent technologies is only realized with dynamic optimization and learning of as much of our personal and contextual data as possible.
At Dolby, Poppy directs the growth of internal science. She is responsible for integrating neuroscience and sensory data science into algorithm design, technological development, and technology strategy. At Stanford, her work focuses on the impact and feedback potential of new technologies including gaming and immersive environments such as augmented and virtual reality on neuroplasticity and learning.
Poppy is a U.S. representative and vice-chair to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and a member of the Stanford Research Institute Technical Council. Prior to joining Dolby Laboratories, Poppy was a research faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where her neurophysiological research focused on understanding the neural correlates of how we hear in a complex acoustic environment and the functional circuitry of the auditory cortex.
Poppy is a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society. She is a 2018 recipient of the Advanced Imaging Society's Distinguished Leadership Award, a 2017 recipient of the Consumer Technology Association's Technology and Standards Achievement Award for work towards the introduction of over-the-counter hearing-aid devices, and has been named to Billboard Magazine's 100 most influential female executives in the music industry. Prior to academic study as a neuroscientist and work in industry, Poppy was a performing violinist.
She is a frequent speaker on topics related to the intersection of human experience, artificial intelligence, sensory data-science, and immersive technologies
Gathering women "in tech" on October 29 for an informal gathering from around the Valley to connect, network, and share ideas. This is a first meeting to get acquainted - let's see what, if anything, we want to do. From students to professionals, we welcome all those who identify as women or girls interested in or associated with technology.
Take a look at an organization in Charlottesville, Charlottesville Women in Tech (
https://www.cvillewomen.tech/), we are keeping them in mind as we start a conversation among women who are in tech, in the Valley. As always, that's anywhere on the range from tech user to tech creator. Elaine Cheng, Chief Information Officer, Shentel and Nicky Swayne, CEO, Shen. Valley Technology Council will facilitate the meeting.
Please pre-register to attend so that we can bring pre-printed nametags for attendees.
Innovate | Shenandoah in an initiative sponsored by SCCF and the VA Department of Housing and Community Development. They are hosting a Strategic Doing Day. What is Strategic Doing? Strategic Doing is a framework developed by Purdue University that helps loosely connected groups, collaborate quickly and effectively. Communities within the Shenandoah Valley are invited to build teams that will work through the Strategic Doing Process to develop projects that highlight entrepreneurship and economic vibrancy in your community.
Want to be a part of a team from your area? Complete the form in the link below and you will get you connected to the appropriate organizer within your region. Please note, some teams may already be full.
Digital Government Institute is privileged to work with some of the best and brightest government leaders. We are especially excited about the upcoming 12th annual Cyber Security Conference - scheduled for November 14 - an event to highlight women in Cybersecurity. These Cyber Leaders will share their capabilities, experiences, lessons learned and accomplishments, to include how they are advancing both their agencys' missions and their own careers. DGI is finalizing the agenda and plans to have top-level cybersecurity leaders from organizations such as USPS, FBI, HHS, DHS, Montgomery County, WMATA and ZeroFox on the program.
The complete conference schedule will be announced soon.
Plan to attend and get inspired! Learn more
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering the economic competitiveness of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and the larger region. The Chamber collaborates with local governments and a number of other entities, such as the SVTC, in support of business growth and development. Frank has over 30 years experience in economic development and Chamber management in Florida, Tennessee and Virginia.
The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council does not endorse the companies, organizations, teams, or events mentioned, or take a stand on any of the articles or notices or events included.
