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Issue 38 - December 10th, 2021 |
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Wow! Isn’t it amazing what can happen when we invest together in change!
The last week has been an incredible reminder of collective impact in action. Together, we are truly changing the region!
Exhibit #1: During Computer Science Week, we have much to celebrate including Hour of Tech where organizations in our region contributed well over the 10,000 hour goal of tech activities and mentorship in schools across southeast Wisconsin. In addition, progress has been made in influencing state wide education initiatives.
Exhibit #2: During National Apprenticeship Week, we can celebrate the expansion of employer sponsors for Software Development, and the expansion of new program opportunities including a new opportunity for IT Service Desk Technician Registered Apprenticeship.
Exhibit #3: Inno on Fire Awards. The MKE Tech Hub Coalition is truly honored to be recognized as a non-profit organization having an impact on our ecosystem. Looking at the other organizations and individuals, we can be proud of the collective work underway.
Exhibit #4: Choosemketech.org launched as a tech talent attraction site for the region. Why did we develop this site? Research has showed us that tech talent WANTS to come to Milwaukee for quality of life. However, they are concerned about their career. Therefore, our goal is to show the breadth/depth of opportunity in Milwaukee including the opportunity to help solve “problems that matter”, utilizing leading edge technologies in companies that invest in diverse tech talent and the community. We encourage you to check it out and help us continue to improve it.
This is only the beginning of the impact we can collectively make when we work together!
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Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition continues to grow with new and recently upgraded members! Welcome to Skygen as a new Bronze member. A special thank you to Brookesource who increased their commitment to the region by upgrading to a Bronze membership.
Finally, welcome to our newest Community Members: AeroX, Healthtech MKE and BioForward. Come join us in making a collective impact in the region!
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Bold Vision
Showcasing Milwaukee as a Tech Hub
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MKE Tech Hub Coalition named as a Wisconsin Inno's 2021 Fire Awards Non-profit Finalist (See all finalists here)
We’re honored to be nominated as a finalist for Wisconsin Inno Fire Awards along with an impressive group of area non-profit organizations working towards advancing the state’s technology ecosystem: Bridge to Cures, Code the Way, Greater Green Bay Chamber and The Water Council's BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator. We are also impressed by the full list of Inno on Fire award winners who are growing the #mketech ecosystem including members: Northwestern Mutual, Mars Solution Group, NVNG, and Talimer. Congratulations to all!
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Technical.ly focuses on Milwaukee’s tech scene in new Milwaukee Rising newsletter series (Read more here)
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MKE Tech Hub Coalition to present at HR Transform, March 14-16, 2022 in Las Vegas
We are excited to be an official partner for HR Transform, where the focus is on thought leadership, knowledge exchange, and community connections. With the speed of transformation accelerating like never before, we need to tap into our collective power as HR leaders and changemakers. There is special pricing available for all in the #mketech ecosystem. Learn more here
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K-20
Developing and Retaining the Next Generation of Tech Talent
To stay up to date on K-20 subcommittee priorities and progress, please check out our web page.
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The Hour of Tech Challenge is underway throughout southeastern Wisconsin. It has been exciting to see how companies and educators have approached the week in so many different ways (i.e. Hour of Code, AI + Girls Program, Educator Inservice, etc.) but all with a shared goal – to increase student awareness of the power and impact of technology on the world around them. We have already exceeded our regional goal of 10,000 hours of tech mentoring/activities across the M7 region. This does not include those that registered an Hour of Code activity on the national site. If you participated in an event/activity and would like to be part of the final totals for the M7 region, please take a moment to log your hours HERE. For a list of participating organizations/schools, check out the Hour of Tech site.
State Superintendent Underly announced the launch of a new state Computer Science Education plan at the SLATE Conference this week. The plan as well as additional resources will go live on the DPI website the week of 12/13. This will provide a framework for regional support and district/school implementation plans. DPI will also be funding the expansion of the CSforALL SCRIPT process through regional CESAs which provides a strategic planning framework for district teams.
Marquette University has conducted a landscape analysis of the ‘State of Computer Science in WI’ to provide useful data for decision makers at all levels -- from school building administrators to state policy makers -- and to serve as a baseline for measuring progress in future years towards our shared goals of increasing access to CS for all of our school children. Please contact Dennis.Brylow@marquette.edu for information.
Artificial Intelligence Education is advancing across the country. Two new whitepapers address public policy considerations at a national level as well as ‘State of AI Education in your State’ summary on how other states are collaborating to support districts as they supplement their existing computer science education plans to include artificial education recommendations. The MKE Tech Coalition’s involvement in these efforts has informed and influenced our summer programming focused on the ‘Ethics and Impact of Data and AI’. See HERE for a recent story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Re/Upskilling
Developing new sources of talent while demonstrating a value for diversity and upward mobility
To stay up to date on Re/Upskilling subcommittee priorities & progress, please check out our web page.
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The 2nd cohort of Software Analyst/Developer Tech Apprentices have been selected and started their related instruction on December 6th. They are an amazing group with a diverse set of experiences. For more information about this cohort, please see the related press release. The MKE Tech Coalition has funded four alternate positions in this cohort. Employers who are interested in sponsoring their apprenticeship should contact LauraS@mketech.org. Apprenticeship candidates who would like to be considered for the 3rd cohort in Q1, 2022 should register their interest and take their assessments now at www.apprenticareers.org.
TekSystems Approved by State of WI as Registered Tech Apprenticeship Program
Congratulations to Coalition member TekSystems for being approved by the WI Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship as a program sponsor for the IT Service Desk Technician Registered Apprenticeship program. Their national footprint allows them to act as a one stop shop to source, vet, train, place and mentor a diverse set of candidates for entry level positions in tech. This provides a starting point for many. Increasing the supply of entry level positions such as these allows companies to consider how they might upskill their current IT Service Desk Technicians into new tech roles to address talent shortages across the tech workforce.
Cybersecurity Training (Pre-Apprenticeship Certification Pending)
UW-Whitewater was the recipient of a $2 million DOL Apprenticeship: Closing the Skills Gap grant to develop and deploy a curriculum to train and credential cybersecurity apprentices over a four year period. This is a FREE program for WI residents 17 years and older includes 16 weeks of online educational classes with an opportunity for paid on-the-job training. Potential candidates can find more information HERE.
Applicants who would like to join a Latino cohort are asked to apply through the Hispanic Collaborative in partnership with the MMAC. Please contact Jenny Serrano at jserrano@mkehc.org or 414-810-2688 for additional support and guidance and click here for more details. Encourage those in your network to apply by March 4, 2022 for the spring session starting in April.
Employers who are interested in acting as a host/sponsor for the on the job training portion of the program are encouraged to contact the program director, Kevin Kaufman, kaufmank@uww.edu for information. Employers that can host Spanish-speaking apprentices are needed for summer 2022 placements.
AI Upskilling Opportunity (Registered State Apprenticeship Pending)
The MKE Tech Coalition has the opportunity to support member employers upskill their incumbent workforce on Artificial Intelligence competencies. All related instruction costs would be covered by a grant from the Department of Labor. Some background in Python is preferred or can be provided. If this is something you would like to explore, please contact Laura Schmidt, chief talent development officer, LauraS@mketech.org for information on what this partnership might entail. Related press can be found HERE.
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Startup
Leveraging cross-industry partnerships to accelerate start up growth and innovation
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Milwaukee’s VC is growing! Over $120 M closed in recent months
Congratulations to our growing venture capital community. In recent months, there have been several significant announcements:
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Interested in Solving Problems? Reverse Pitch Applications through Dec 31, 2021
Four organizations in SE Wisconsin (Froedtert, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell, and West Bend Mutual) have identified seven challenge statements where they need solutions from our entrepreneurial community. Do you like to solve problems or interested in developing a new business? This is your chance to accelerate product market fit based on a known market opportunity. Register to pitch back by 12/31/2021. Or are you a technologist that would be interested in partnering with a business leader on a solution? Reach out to jasmin.treske@mketech.org for an introduction.
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We’re excited to announce the launch of Choosemketech.org, a regional website focused on Milwaukee tech and will serve as a first stop resource for talent looking to make a move. This site will highlight local companies, open tech roles as well as local resources from continuing education, co-working locations and the many meetups around the area.
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Coalition Members in Action |
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FOR-M Alumni Talimer Taking Next Steps
Talimer was selected as finalist in the Milwaukee Business Journal Inno Fire Awards, Talent category. We’re proud of our team’s commitment to disrupt tech marketplaces by better supporting businesses and tech freelancers. To support the growth, Ray Abresch joins as Director of Sales. Ray, a staffing industry veteran who has scaled several ventures, joins sales team member Dan Cortez. Lauren Springer now leads our Talent Acquisition team. With tech recruiting leadership honed at Microsoft and Redfin, she’ll be driving process innovation as we expand our tech resource roster. Learn more.
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In this episode, commARCH has a dialogue with Jason Pelski of Johnson Controls, Robert Bray, of Autodesk, and Dan Isaacs, of the Digital Twin Consortium, to discuss the possibilities offered by new digital twin technologies to enhance the full pipeline of AEC projects. Areas covered include: the challenges - and solutions - in implementing digital twin frameworks; developing cohesive ecosystems of interlocking digital threads to drive data-driven decision-making; and operational considerations for adopting digital twin technologies across a wide range of use cases.
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Inception Health, the innovation arm of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, is an investor in Milwaukee's Character VC alongside founders and executives from YouTube, Google, Slack, Uber, Mozilla and Coinbase.
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Milwaukee Tool forges partnership with Milwaukee Academy of Science
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Resources & Opportunities |
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The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recently announced the new Anu and Satya Nadella Scholarships to increase diversity in tech education. Through the generosity of UWM computer science alumnus and Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella and Anu Nadella, we are able to offer 12-15 full-ride scholarships to Fall 2022 incoming freshmen who graduate from high schools in the city of Milwaukee. This is part of the Nadellas' $2 million gift, made earlier this year, to establish a fund for Diversity in Tech Education at UWM.
To be eligible for the new scholarships, students need to purse majors in computer science, computer engineering, data science or information technology and have demonstrated financial need and academic merit. The scholarships provide support for up to five years of undergraduate studies. You'll find all information here: https://uwm.edu/undergrad-admission/scholarships-aid/diversity-tech-education/
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Forrester Consulting conducted a thought leadership study commissioned by and developed in collaboration with Johnson Controls to evaluate the progress that sustainability-focused companies have made in pursuing their goals. This global study assessed how companies are pursuing their sustainability goals. The results were emphatic and illustrated that sustainability is now a top business priority for companies. In fact, our findings showed delivering growth and competitive advantage are now the main drivers for companies to commit to net zero. Download the study or read the key findings here.
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New Milwaukee Accelerator focuses on government funding
Did you know that every year the federal government and our military branches provide hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to small businesses? Your business doesn't need to manufacture aircraft or build satellites to compete for defense contracts. Chances are your technology or product has some military or federal use case. The Aero X accelerator program is an 8 week non-dilutive accelerator program that helps small businesses become defense contractors and compete for federal funds. The Aero X team of partners, alumni and facilitators share decades of federal contracting experiences and best particles so your business can bypass the agonizing, long trial and error period businesses face when navigating the often complex route to federal funds. Learn more and apply by January 28, 2022.
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There are many branches of engineering, including biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, and mechanical, software engineer, and hundreds of different subcategories of engineering under each branch. We encourage engineers from all disciplines to apply! Nominees must live within the Milwaukee 7 or regularly commutes to and works at a location within the Milwaukee 7 regions for at least five years. We have simplified the nomination form this year, so please click here and submit a nomination or a few nominations and send 1 to 3 letters of recommendation for each nominee by December 19, 2021.
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Concordia now offers three Master of Science in Computer Science concentrations. Our new Business Data Applications track equips you with in-demand data skills that can be applied in nearly any industry.
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MARS Returnship is seeking volunteers for women-in-tech Returnship Program for 2022
The MARS Returnship program is an on-ramp for women looking to restart their careers in technology following a gap in employment. We provide on-the-job training, mentorship, and a partnership approach to prepare our cohorts to successfully rejoin the workforce. We are seeking volunteers in three capacities: 1:1 mentoring (ongoing throughout the program), Friday Fireside Chat (guest speakers for a one-time, one-hour commitment), and professional development (host a one-hour professional development session). For more information, please reach out to Abby Pillsbury at abbyp@marssg.com.
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TEALS Application Window
The Microsoft TEALS Program school application for 2022-23 is now open! Do you know of a high school looking to offer their first computer science class? Or maybe a school looking to expand their computer science pathway? TEALS supports schools with industry volunteers, awesome curriculum options, and a Regional Manager to support you along the way. No experience needed! We’re looking for teachers eager to learn along with their students. Apply and learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gnSBBErH
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Join the fun and help a good cause by bringing a new unwrapped stem based toy for SocialX.
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IMPACT Speaker Series: Future of Customer Experience from Northwestern Mutual, Marquette University and UWM, Dec 14 from 12-1
Northwestern Mutual Lead Data Scientist Sonakshi Singh will discuss machine-learning-focused initiatives and how they are used to transform the CX digital experiences. Register.
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Resources and Opportunities |
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