MKE TECH News
Issue 22 - August 14, 2020
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The MKE Tech Hub Coalition hasn’t taken the traditional summer vacation. Instead we continue our fast growth including executing on several commitments made in our June newsletter:
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Addition of a Board-Member-At-Large to increase our diversity of experience on the Board Level. I am very thrilled to announce that Jason Fields, Wisconsin State Legislator and Managing Director of Dark Knight Capital has agreed to serve on our Board. His experience in government, startup capital, and his work in the community will be a tremendous benefit to the Coalition.
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Addition of Sponsored non-profit members. The board agreed to criteria to sponsor memberships for non-profits who are directly contributing to our mission. We are proud to state that Beyond STEM, GearBox Labs, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), i.c.stars, NCWIT-WI, SHARP Literacy, STEM Forward and TEALS have been approved as sponsored memberships to the Coalition. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to us at contact@mketech.org.
In addition, we have two new members this month including Molson Coors and American Family Insurance who will be joining the Coalition. We’re thrilled to see this expansion as our collective action is what will enable us to grow the Tech ecosystem in SE Wisconsin!
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COALITION UPDATES
Progress and Calls to Action Aligned to Key Strategies
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Bold Vision Showcasing Milwaukee as a Tech Hub
Sharing Insights in the Community
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Scott Vifquain, Kohl’s Corporation
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James Hischke, Northwestern Mutual
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Murali Nataraja, West Bend Mutual
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Kathy Henrich, Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition
As a part of Close the Distance, a series of events for economic development
9/2 Summerfest Tech: Leveraging Non-Traditional Tech Talent Panel from 3:30-4 PM
To double tech talent in the region, employers need to be open to hiring from non-traditional sources in addition to traditional, four year degrees. The MKE Tech Hub Coalition will sponsoring a panel at Summerfest with the leadership from Northwestern Mutual, Mars Solutions Group, GalaxE.Solutions, and West Bend Mutual who will share how hiring and developing tech talent without a traditional four year degree can help increase the diversity and overall capabilities of their team. Register here.
NEW Social Media channels for MKE Tech Hub Coalition
Get social and join the conversation. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. As always, continue to use #mketech in your posts. Twitter posts with #mketech continue to flow to our website.
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K-20 Developing and retaining the next generation of tech talent
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Virtual Tech Internship Program
Quick reminders from prior newsletters:
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Re/Upskilling Developing new sources of talent that match our employers needs and demonstrate a value for diversity
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New Resource!
The Reskilling Subcommittee recently launched a Opportunities page to support individuals looking for ways to reskill into a tech career. We could use your help to identify any programs we may be missing. Reskilling providers that meet certain criteria are listed as Preferred Providers. The team is interested in talking with employers that are interested in helping us grow capacity for these programs in the MKE region.
Inaugural Dev10 Cohort Graduates!
It is with great excitement that we celebrate the graduation of the first Dev10 Cohort in Milwaukee! Fifteen individuals will embark upon new IT careers August 17th. The graduates come from a variety of backgrounds such as Biosystems Engineering, Economics, Psychology, and Data Science and have earned degrees from UW Madison, UW Milwaukee, Marquette, Northwestern, and Berkeley. Other exciting data include:
- 93% are from Wisconsin and Illinois.
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73% are new grads and the remaining are making the move to IT.
- And 33% are female!
Selections for the next cohort are happening soon with the next graduation November 20th. For more information, contact Jennifer Turnquist at jturnquist@dev-10.com.
Tech Hire Program Looking to Support More IT Students
Employ Milwaukee’s Tech Hire program is recruiting individuals who are unemployed or career changers to enroll in a one semester (four courses) IT Support Technician Certificate at WCTC (virtual/online). Ideal candidates will have a solid work history, high school diploma (preferably some college credits) and a strong interest and aptitude for information technology. Program starts August 17th and costs will be covered by a grant. Interested individuals and referrals should inquire here as soon as possible. If you are currently enrolled in an IT degree and will graduate by Dec. 2020, contact 414-270-1720 to learn about possible tuition assistance.
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Startup Leveraging cross-industry partnerships to accelerate local start up growth and drive innovation
FOR-M Incubator is accepting applications!!
FOR-M is a community-run tech startup incubator helping new founders get connected into Milwaukee’s tech ecosystem. Regardless of experience in this type of work, we’re seeking tech startup founders from all corners of Milwaukee - you bring your unique insights and deep passions and we’ll guide you through the rest. Over six virtual sessions on Monday evenings, you'll work through your concept and get feedback from local industry mentors. We’re doing weekly acceptances for the limited spots. Applications will close September 9th and the program begins September 14th. Learn more and apply at www.for-m.org or listen to a fun podcast about the program here.
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COALITION MEMBERS IN ACTION |
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Returning the Favor: hi, Tech Minicamp Participants Become Instructors One Year Later
As high schoolers without much real-world experience, Naisha Bepar and Hayley Jamiola were nervous about attending Northwestern Mutual’s 2019 hi, Tech Minicamp, a 4-week rigorous tech boot camp where students learn and apply technical and professional skills. But just one year later, they've transitioned from participant to instructor. Check out their perspectives on the journey and its value HERE.
Building a Sustainable and Resilient Industry
Over the past three months, manufacturing has been forced to change at an unprecedented rate, both to find ways to innovate given the scarcity of resources and to accelerate digital transformation. Rockwell Automation, a leader in public-private sector cooperation, believes digital transformation goes beyond productivity. Read more on how it can be leveraged to reshape industry toward a new normal that delivers economic and environmental resiliency.
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AI for Good
Concurrency recently created an AI for Good solution to improve work opportunities for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Earning the firm a 2020 Microsoft Global Partner of the Year Finalist award and Microsoft US Partner award, this ground-breaking solution leverages Microsoft AI cognitive services, including speech, facial recognition, and conversational AI to assist individuals in performing a job they might not otherwise be able to do. The AI for Good solution is available open source so every company can use it to create similar opportunities. Learn more here.
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Data Ethics webinar hosted by MARS Solutions Group
What does “data ethics” mean, why is it important, and whose job is it? Is it “just” a security thing? What about those misleading uses of data? Is the concept of privacy dead in today’s connected world? Gain some insight into answers to these questions and solid actions you can take to promote the ethical use of data in both your personal and professional life. Join MARS Solutions Group on Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. CST for a free discussion of data ethics in today’s increasingly connected world. Click here to register.
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Join others from across the country for two days of interactive experiences on Thu 8/20 (8am-10am) & Fri 8/21 (8am-10am) hearing from CTOs, CIOs & leaders from the public and private sectors in each of our major markets. The experience will be focused on the future of innovation and workforce. The Future of Workforce panel includes a leader from one of the Coalition’s member organizations, Amy Olson, System Vice President ERP and Corporate Applications, Advocate Aurora Health Care and Laura Schmidt, the Coalition’s Chief Talent Development Officer. Reimagine the Future with i.c.stars and Register Today!
NCWIT-WI Announces Aspirations in Computing Award Application Window
Do you know of an aspiring female technologist who could benefit from being part of a nation-wide community of other female technologists? Do you know of a K-12 educator that creates an inclusive environment that supports #girlsintech to become #womenintech? Please encourage them to apply to the NCWIT-WI Aspirations in Computing (AiC) program. Application window opens on 9/1/2020!
Call for Industry Volunteers to Support MPS Projects
Learn Deep is recruiting industry advisers for two projects with MPS Students aimed at building diverse tech talent while addressing real world issues. #1 Student-led technical support for distance learning. #2 Leveraging modeling tools and IoT sensors in an exploration of how to reduce the volume of waste going into storm sewers. Advisers will be asked to meet virtually with student teams periodically over the course of the projects to provide guidance and support. For more information: https://learndeep.org/industry-advisers/.
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MARS Returnship Helping Women Return to the Workforce
MARS Solutions Group is honored to be launching MARS Returnship – a program for women in technology who are returning to the workforce after a career hiatus. Returnship cohort members will benefit from paid on-the-job training, mentorship, and a partnership approach to prepare our cohorts to successfully rejoin the workforce as a mid-level IT professional. Employer partners will benefit by gaining access to a talent pool of accomplished, talented women, and by improving gender diversity. The first cohort begins Sept. 1. For more information and to apply, visit our website.
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Save the date for STEM Forward's sySTEMnow Virtual Conference, Oct. 29, 2020
sySTEM is an acronym for Strengthening our Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and is Metro Milwaukee’s premier STEM conference bringing together business leaders, community members, educators, and government officials to share best practices and lessons learned. This year’s theme is Equity in STEM and the keynote speaker is Dr. Calvin Mackie, an award-winning mentor, a critically acclaimed author, an internationally renowned motivational speaker, and a successful entrepreneur. Learn more at https://www.stemforward.org/systemnow-conference.
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News
Interested in starting a Girls who Code Club
Are you looking for more equitable SEL practices and free coding curriculum to bring to your school or library? Well, you're in luck! With the Girls Who Code Clubs program, you can inspire 3-5th and 6-12th graders to learn how to be brave and resilient as they use coding to make a positive impact on their community. When you start a Club:
- You can host a Club in-person or completely virtually at any time during the year -- even as early as this summer!
- Everything is 100% free including 120+ hours of customizable curriculum, easy-to-use meeting guides, spotlights on inspiring women, online training, and more.
- You don’t need coding experience to facilitate a Club.
Wisconsin Policy Forum – Last call for Nominations for Salute to Local Government
We want your help to recognize Wisconsin local governments and school districts and their employees that have done exceptional work. There are even two new categories that highlight the unprecedented pandemic-related challenges facing local governments and school districts across the state. Consider some of the more innovative public-private partnerships that have formed as a result and/or the way in which organizations have had to pivot to new digital business/learning models on very short timeframes. The deadline to submit nominations is August 31. For a full list of categories and a nomination form, please refer to: http://wispolicyforum.org/salute-nomination-form/.
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STUFF Designed, Made and Built in southeastern Wisconsin
This annual publication is focused on career opportunities in the manufacturing, building, technology and healthcare industries with companies in the region doing really cool things and the tech used to transform the industry. The 2020 guide features editorial content on products made in our state, interviews of people in these industries doing interesting things, and details on the career paths available within these companies. We’re re-imagining the workforce of tomorrow. Want to spotlight your company in the 2020 edition? Reserve your space today! View previous editions here. Space reservation deadline: September 23, 2020; Publication date: October 31, 2020; Contact Linda Crawford to learn more.
Foxconn launches Industry 4.0 learning platform through Industrial AI Institute in Wisconsin
Foxconn Technology Group launched the digital platform for its Industrial AI Institute on Friday, which will serve as a training, development and consulting division of Foxconn Industrial Internet. The institute will focus on education for industrial big data, include a library of datasets, and offer data challenges and competitions centered around solving industry problems. More here.
Water Council recently announced winners of its third-round Tech Challenge competition
The open innovation contest is designed to connect program sponsors to those with novel solutions for emerging freshwater technologies with a high potential for commercialization. The spring 2020 challenge sought water technology solutions for energy harvesting and leak detection with the winners being Pydro from Germany and SMART FLOW from Ireland. With three rounds now completed, over 42% of the applicants were previously unknown to the sponsors and 13 of the applicants continuing active discussions with the current sponsors.
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The Future of Work: What's Next?
Join the WTA on Thursday August 20th (in person and virtual) at 2:00pm for an interactive conversation around the “Future of Work”. Key themes include 1) The Evolving Corporate Ecosystem, 2) Personal Reinvention through Reskilling, 3) Human and Tech Interaction, and 4) Career Empowerment for What’s Next. Check out www.wtawi.org for more information and to register for this free event. The WTA and the Brookfield Conference Center is following all recommended CDC guidelines; consequently, seating is limited.
Weekly Conversations with “Tech-Perts”
Excel & Flourish and Tech Lab are teaming up to bring you weekly sessions on “Ask the Tech-Perts”! They’ll answer your questions on two tech topics at every session. Register for the August 20 event here.
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