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MKE Tech News
A monthly skim of the latest #mketech news, events and resources
Issue 42 - May 13, 2022
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Remote work? Is it good for the region? It has been a constant question since the beginning of the pandemic.
The short answer from a new study published by TECNA is that it has been positive for WI and Milwaukee. While tech jobs in WI only increased .9%, the number of tech individuals increased 6.6%. In Milwaukee, that translates to over 2400 new individuals working in the region in areas such as software development, data, cloud, analytics, security, etc.
However, remote work also comes with risk as it means roles are completely portable. On one hand, it means that local companies are now competing nationally for Milwaukee-based talent. On the other hand, if talent is not found here, these roles could be lost to other states or countries.
This one of the topics that Tom Still and I discussed with our legislators when we met with them in DC this week as part of TECNA (Technology Councils of North America). With a 1.3% national unemployment rate in tech driven by increasing needs for tech talent in traditional industries, we spoke to lawmakers about the need to invest in developing more tech talent in the US and WI. With the Bipartisan Innovation Act being progressed through conference, we discussed the criticality of talent development to achieving the goals of the bill.
This challenge drives the MKE Tech Hub Coalition. We have the mission of inclusively doubling tech talent in the region to drive enduring economic prosperity and create life-changing opportunities for individuals. This newsletter is intended to capture the vital work of the Coalition, our members, and the community to achieve that goal. Read more below!
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We are excited to welcome Antonio Davis to the MKE Tech Hub Coalition as Manager of Content. Storytelling builds our momentum as a tech hub, and we look forward to leveraging his skills in content development and distribution to continue to accelerate our work.
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In other staff news, two of our interns are moving forward in their careers. We will miss them but are excited for what comes next. Ben has an internship this summer at Northwestern Mutual in Data Science and Analytics and will be pursuing his masters in AI at University of WI this fall. Gwen will be heading to London this summer for an internship. Thank you for your contributions to the mission of the Coalition! |
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Welcome to our newest Community members, CGI and SafeNet Consulting We look forward to collaborating with each of you!
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Attracting Businesses and Individuals |
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DICE Career Fair Wrap-up
Last month, we hosted a virtual career fair with DICE. Seven local employers met with over 145 tech candidates to showcase their open jobs. If you are interested in learning more about future opportunities, reach out to contact@mketech.org.
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A team of data scientists and technology enthusiasts from around Milwaukee used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the outcome of foreclosure policies and procedures in Milwaukee County, aiming to identify potential inequity, bias and racism. MKE Equity was supported by MKE Tech Hub Coalition. We’re excited to see the great work by Milwaukee County CIO Lynn Fyhrlund, SolasAI's CEO Nick Schmidt and team to leverage SAS expertise to uncover bias in our statutory code.
Hiring in 2022 is no easy task. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is at a record low of 2.8%. National tech unemployment sits at 1.3%.
Job seekers want opportunities to learn and apply emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
Need another reason beyond quality of life, cost of living and a vibrant tech environment to encourage friends and family to come back to the region, add climate have to the list! Read more.
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Building a Diverse Tech Talent Pipeline |
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Eight MKE Tech Coalition member organizations have already agreed to participate in the Artificial Intelligence Academy at NC State. They are in the process of identifying employees who would like to take advantage of the upskilling opportunity. 50 participants have already secured their spot in the July cohort. Contact: LauraS@mketech.org.
This year-long initiative kicked off with an initial private seminar for MATC, Gateway Technical College and WCTC on May 4th entitled ‘Gearing Up for Change’. The remaining seminars will be open to teams from any University/College in southeast Wisconsin beginning this summer. Participants are encouraged to become part of NCWIT Academic Alliance [free] for early access as well as additional supports/benefits. Contact: LauraS@mketech.org
Representatives from Northwestern Mutual, Associated Bank and West Bend Mutual talked to the SE WI Chapter of the Association for Talent Development about the why behind their work, best practices, and perceived barriers they had to overcome.
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Employ MKE Introduces Skillful Transitions: Funding for employers to cover employee training costs, paid work experiences. See related entry below.
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i.c.stars Capitalize on WI conference on 5/12 featured Cybersecurity trends and Cycle 9 intern project for MKE Tech Hub sponsored by Accenture. Great job i.c.stars team!
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Boost your future job prospects this summer by attending FUSE, a free, flexible program that teaches sought-after tech skills that apply to any job – whether you’re studying tech, marketing, healthcare, business (anything, really).
This summer program gives you an insider path that will propel your career forward:
- A recognized credential to put on your LinkedIn and resume
- Insider tips on how to build your professional brand
- Networking opportunities with industry leaders
- Coaching from experts and access to leading local employers
The focus in 2022 is on the Ethics and Impact of Data and AI.
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Scaling the Innovation Ecosystem |
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Come support the newest graduates of the FOR-M Incubator Program. The founder showcase for FOR-M will be May 23rd and Marquette’s 707 Hub. RSVP Here
Low Cost 401K Plans Available for Startups: The Coalition has recently partnered with the 401K Tech Collective to offer low cost, low effort 401K plans well designed for early stage companies looking to offer this employee benefit. Learn more here
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Get connected during Summerfest Tech: June 29-30
Have you signed up for Summerfest Tech yet? This FREE event features keynotes, panel discussions, breakout sessions & a pitch competition. Events will take place across the city and will be accessible virtually. The Coalition is sponsoring a community speaker blitz during lunch on the 29th. See all the info and register at http://Summerfest.com/tech
Announcing Tech Week 2022: October 3-7
MKE Tech Hub will again host Tech Week in 2022 and planning is in full swing. Last year, Tech Week had over 50 events with over 1800 people participating. Our goal is to continue to grow programming and attendance in 2022. If you are interested in providing content or sponsoring the week, fill out this form and we’ll get back to you by early June with details.
And don't forget to mark your calendars. There will be events every day and evening including the Three-Year Anniversary of the MKE Tech Hub Coalition on Monday night October 3.
The MKE A Mark campaign honors the visionaries and change-makers who are using their talents and voices to push the Milwaukee tech scene forward.
Plan Ahead: Lead The Movement Business Conference, August 25
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Coalition Members in Action |
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The new jobs will consist largely of engineering and technical roles for Milwaukee Tool’s advanced technology and manufacturing operations.
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SIM Wisconsin would like to congratulate the seven Kate Kaiser Scholarship. to promising students pursuing degrees in IT or other computer-related programs. Winners include Allison Balliet (UW Whitewater), Jackson Hemming (UW Platteville), Haley Jamiola (Marquette University), Shin-Tsz Lucy Kuo (UW Madison), Mariana Pena (UW Stout), Anila Rudi (UW Milwaukee), and AnnaLynn Seehafer (UW Platteville). Since 2013, SIM Wisconsin has provided financial support to future IT leaders through this scholarship program.
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UWM engineer envisions consumers with mild to moderate hearing loss being able to buy an assistive hearing device over the counter, the way you can buy reading glasses at the drugstore without a prescription.
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Northwestern Mutual announced the appointment of Jeff Sippel to executive vice president and chief information officer. In his role, Sippel will head the technology organization responsible for advancing the company's technology architecture, infrastructure and cloud services, reliability, service support, and information risk/cybersecurity. He also serves on the company's senior executive leadership team.
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Northwestern Mutual announced a $5 million investment in two Black-led, Milwaukee-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The company will partner with Legacy Redevelopment Corporation (LRC) and Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) to increase access to capital for Black and African American businesses, fueling small business growth and economic vitality in the Milwaukee community.
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Innovators from UW Milwaukee, Marquette, and Medical College of Wisconsin showcased solutions to medical, agricultural, and other challenges. Thanks to Wisconsin Tech Council for organizing the event.
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Welcome to John Knapp as the new Executive Director of Innovation Alley.
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The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has dedicated its Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center as the Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine in honor of the couple’s $10 million gift to support new research and for MCW faculty studying the potential the human genome has to treat a wide variety of diseases.
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Resources & Opportunities |
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Experis Opening new Video Games Testing Facility in Milwaukee: June 24, 2022
Experis has over 3,000 games and device testing professionals. We’ve tested over 300 games and found almost a MILLION bugs! We have the greenlight to hire our first group of testers starting June 20! Great opportunity to kick off a tech career doing something you love! Learn more by visiting the Milwaukee Experis Gaming Jobs Site!
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Recruit. Train. Retain.
Employ Milwaukee’s Skillful Transitions program can fund job training and offers opportunities for individuals for paid work experiences with local employers. Employ Milwaukee serves as the Employer of Record and takes care of payroll, taxes and/or skills training for high-demand jobs. It’s also intended to help businesses who lost a part of their workforce due to the pandemic and faced economic hardship, or those who are looking to grow their current workforce. Complete details about Employ Milwaukee’s Skillful Transitions program can be found at: www.employmilwaukee.org. Click on the “Programs and Services” tab, then “Skillful Transitions”.
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Join our live training session sponsored by Northwestern Mutual on May 17, 5:30-6:30 pm CDT, to learn how to leverage React Hooks to build responsive apps. Responsive web applications are more than just dynamic UI. By leveraging React custom hooks and lifecycle methods, we can create our own responsive utility that drives dynamic content and configuration in a component library.
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We are in a defining decade in the race to decarbonization and every bit of intelligence helps. Join this webinar to understand key tech trends, gain important insights and get vital recommendations to take the next step on your sustainability journey.
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Redevelopment of 107 acres of brownfield once home to a Chrysler Corp. assembly plant stands to help Kenosha, but what are possible benefits of the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood throughout southeast Wisconsin? Learn more at the Tech Council Innovation Network luncheon in Wauwatosa.
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ProdCon is right around the corner at the Brookfield Conference Center. Join nvisia for the day as they take a deep dive into the different stages of the full lifecycle of technology product development. Ticket sales will be closing soon.
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VC MKE is a new collective effort to connect venture capitalists (VCs) with Midwest founders of color. The inaugural event during Summerfest Tech will provide a chance for founders of color to meet one-on-one with investors, as well as connect and network with other founders. YES Gateway Capital, We Pivot, WEDC, and Tarik Moody are leading this effort .
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Thanks to our members including Molson Coors, Johnson Controls, American Family, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, Collabera, Concurrency, Expedient, MATC, NVNG, University of WI Milwaukee, Godfrey and Kahn, New Resources Consulting, nVisia, and Safenet for supporting Summefest Tech. We hope that all will come out to learn about Innovation in the region.
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Help STEM Forward raise money to provide scholarships for outstanding students from the greater Milwaukee area who are enrolled in STEM-related programs to add to Wisconsin’s talent pipeline. The event is at Morningstar Golfer's Club in Waukesha.
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Resources and Opportunities |
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