Valley Women in Tech Lunch:
Navigating the Technology Job Market (2/17)
February 17 2020 | 11:45 am - 1:00 pm
Wood Grill Buffet, Harrisonburg
Equal pay for equal work, #metoo, gender equality, there's been a lot of media coverage for real workplace issues that continue to occur for women in the workplace. As we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of women's suffrage, so much has changed for how women's lives have changed for the better. With that said the global gender pay gap will take 257 years to close, according to the World Economic Forum report published in December 2019. That's even worse than the prior year, when the organization estimated it would take 202 years to close the gap.
But we don't have 200 plus years to wait for the world to get its act together and treat us fairly. So what can we do today to put our best foots forward to have a better outcome as we navigate the job market and ask the right questions when it comes to our prospective opportunities?
This session is meant to be an open dialogue of tips and tricks gleaned from over 25 years of experience in diversified industries, from the lens of someone who has been a technical professional, an HR professional, an executive who has a seat at the table.
About the Speaker: Heather Banks, Chief Human Resources Officer, Shentel
Ms. Banks has twenty-three years of progressive leadership experience and a strong background in leading and managing strategic HR initiatives, having served in a variety of senior human resources management roles with both publicly-traded and privately-held organizations across a range of industries. She has experience working closely with all levels of employees, from the front line to executive leadership, and with Boards of Directors.
Ms. Banks most recently served as the Chief Human Resources Officer of American Woodmark, headquartered in Winchester, Virginia. Prior to joining American Woodmark, she served as Vice President, Human Resources with Carlisle FoodService Products, a division of Carlisle Companies; and as Director of Human Resources with UTC Aerospace Systems and Goodrich Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven.
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A Look at the Staunton Creative Community Fund in 2020
The Staunton Creative Community Fund (SCCF) dedicates itself to helping small businesses. They serve as the local hub for entrepreneurial innovation and bring together the talent, creativity, information, funding, and resources that grow a vibrant local economy. We ask that you please take a moment to review some various ways you can share your talents, time, and resources with aspiring and expanding small business owners in your community.
Ways to Get Involved
Instructors
- SCCF is actively seeking instructors for their Tuesday Tips Workshops and Business Bootcamp classes. Example content areas include Business Partnerships, Social Media, Photoshop, Employment Law, Managing Seasonality, and E-mail Marketing. Please contact SCCF at (540) 213-0333 or via e-mail at
hello@stauntonfund.org
for more information.
Youth Entrepreneurship Mentors -
Do you want to help train up the next generation of local entrepreneurs? SCCF has partnered with several local school systems to bring the Startup Experience, a multi-day entrepreneurial workshop for local students. They need mentors to help guide students through the program during our week-long youth entrepreneurship camp in July
and
during the 2-day experience in Fall 2020. If you are a business owner, this is a fantastic and rewarding opportunity to share your knowledge with aspiring innovators! Please contact (540) 213-0333 or via e-mail at
hello@stauntonfund.org
for more information.
Share your Story
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Entrepreneurs Unite is a networking opportunity to learn, mingle, and brainstorm your business ideas with fellow entrepreneurs. SCCF looking for business owners who are willing to share the successes and struggles of their own "entrepreneurial journey." Starting and growing a business can feel like a lonely journey. But no one needs to go it alone! Learn more HERE
. (See poster linked above.)
Community Engagement Volunteer
- Do you absolutely love learning more about small businesses in your community? Do you have an eye for photography and the ability to tell a good story? SCCF is looking for a volunteer to help tell the stories of their clients! Responsibilities include reaching out to clients, conducting interviews, and taking compelling photos for use in SCCF's promotional materials. Contact Rachel at
Rachel@stauntonfund.org
for more information.
Attend Workshops! - Could you benefit from Business Bootcamp, Deep Dives into Marketing or Finance, or Tuesday Tips Workshops? Sign up! Calendar of Events given
HERE.
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Expanding Your Horizons
STEM Conference for Middle School Girls
(event date: 3/21; deadline for large groups - 2/7;
deadline for individuals/small groups - 2/22)
Event Date: March 21, 2020 | James Madison
University
Large Groups should submit application by 2/7at 5 pm
Individuals/Small Groups
should enter online lottery
between 2/14 - 2/22 (registration details below)
Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a one-day math and science conference for girls in grades 6-8. The participants engage in exciting, hands-on workshops organized by JMU faculty, attend science presentations and demonstrations, and interact with JMU students who are studying math and science. Parents and teachers are invited to attend EYH with their students. We plan to offer adult workshops again this year. Parents and teachers are also welcome to accompany their students to all of their activities.
All participants will receive breakfast and lunch.
There is no registration fee, but all students and accompanying adults and teachers must register in advance.
How to Register:
Large groups: Large group applications must be submitted using the online application form. The deadline for submission of applications for large groups is Friday, February 7, 2020 at 5:00 pm. Submitting an application through the large group application process does NOT guarantee an acceptance for your group in the conference. Groups that are accepted will have to complete additional steps to finish their conference registrations and secure their spots. Groups that are not accepted as large groups may enter their students in the online EYH lottery as individuals or multiple smaller groups of 2-6 students, if desired.
I
ndividuals/small groups: All individual students and small groups who want to attend EYH must enter an online lottery. The form to enter the lottery will be open from 9 am on Friday, February 14, 2020 until 9 pm on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Students can enter the lottery as either as an individual or within a group (2-6 students), but each student can only enter the lottery once. Entering the EYH lottery does NOT guarantee you a spot in the conference. All students who enter the lottery will either be accepted into the conference or placed on a waiting list. Students who are accepted must then complete additional steps to finish their conference registration and secure their spot.
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ICAP Lean Startup Introductory Course | Harrisonburg
(application due 2/17)
Based on the National Science Foundation's I-Corps™ program for Lean Startups, ICAP helps inventors and entrepreneurs take the right first steps in bringing new technologies and innovations to market.
ICAP includes FREE introductory training programs and counseling services offered through ICAP instructors and local SBDC counselors. ICAP helps startups identify potential customers and develop successful business models based on that knowledge. It is an ideal program for early-stage companies trying to prepare for eventual venture investment.
Important Dates
February 17, 2020 - Applications are due by midnight; see the link below.
February 19, 2020 - Acceptance notifications and communication with next steps and instructions, including how to prepare for the first session.
TBD - 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Introductory Conference Call
March 2, 2020 - 9:00am - 5:00pm - Initial Team Presentations
March 16, 2020 - Each team participates in a pre-scheduled telephone review of the team's Customer Discovery Progress over the first week
March 23, 2020 - 9:00am - 2:00pm - Final Team Presentations
During this introductory 2-week program, there is extensive work done outside the classroom. In addition to the class meetings and webinar, participants should expect to spend another 10-15 hours per week on customer discovery and course assignments. At the conclusion of the program, you will remain connected with your ICAP trainers and SBDC Business Advisors to continue your progress on the Five Steps to Startup Success over the following 12 months.
The introductory program is designed to generate a maximum impact over a relatively short duration and should be considered a required first step for anyone interested in commercializing a technology or product, whether through a startup or licensing arrangement. Some graduates of this cohort may be eligible to apply to NSF's full National Seven-week I-Corps Program, which includes non-dilutive grants for customer discovery and prototype development. Additionally, this program can help teams develop better submissions for SBIR and CRCF grants from Virginia's Center for Innovative Technologies.
Your ICAP Instructor
 Bob Smith is currently the Director of the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), a program funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia and administered by George Mason University and the
Virginia Small Business Development Center Network (VSBDC). Here he helps researchers, inventors, and technology startups develop their technology commercialization and technology business startup efforts. He's also an instructor with the
NSF's DC I-Corp Node.
Bob has 30+ years' experience in innovation and entrepreneurship. He is the Chairman of
CollegeFactual.com, a leading college rankings website. He's held senior management positions at Congressional Quarterly and America Online in sales, marketing, and new product development and was the founder and CEO of the first nation-wide online city guide, Digital City. As an executive, angel investor, and advisor he has helped companies in e-commerce, e-government, identity management, content publishing, geospatial analytics, data science, and local media go from launch through to favorable exits.
Bob received a BA from USC and his MBA from GWU. He is a veteran of the US Navy.
This cohort is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, Shenandoah Valley Technology Council, and the Center for Innovative Technology.
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Tech Bytes Tech Talks:
Infomatics (2/19)
February 19, 2020 | 6:00 pm
Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown
Lord Fairfax Community College is hosting monthly technology discussion with technology professionals from around that nation. The public is invited, but registration is required. Most talks will occur at the Middletown Campus, but they will be distancing the presentation to their Fauquier Campus also.
Future sessions:
- March 11, 2020, 1:00pm - Richard Danzig, Retired Secretary of the Navy
- April 8 2020, 6:00pm - Heather Wilson, Analytics, L Brands
Talks are scheduled for one hour and Q&A.
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Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals Seminar (2/28)
February 28, 2020 | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
James Madison University, E-Hall Montpelier Room
Join us on February 28 at James Madison University for a RF Fundamentals Seminar offered to southern and central Virginia and Shenandoah Valley area technology companies, education/research students, and faculty. Hosted by Rohde & Schwarz and James Madison University.
Seminar Agenda:
- The Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Basic units of measure
- Voltage/Current/Resistance, Power
- Sine Waves/Fourier Representation & Free Space Propagation
- RF Transmission Characteristics
- Transmission, Measurements & Components
- Signals & signal models
- Unintentional Modulation (Noise), Noise Figure, & Phase Noise
- Intentional Analog Modulation: AM/PM/FM
- Intentional Digital Modulation, I and Q representation
- Digital Modulation: Constellation Diagrams & other aspects
- Vector Signal Analysis
To Register:
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ProjectCSGirls Competition | For Middle School Girls
(registration deadline 3/1)
ProjectCSGirls is a competition designed to challenge middle school girls to actively use computer science and technology to develop a solution to an imminent social problem. Participants will need to register as either an individual or a team prior to the registration deadline (March 1, 2020). Participants will need to first identify a social problem that falls under one of the following four themes:
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Global Health (disease, hunger, poverty, etc)
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A Safer World (safety-related technologies, cybersecurity, defense, etc)
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Intelligent Technology (robotics, brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence applications, machine learning, etc)
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Bridging Inequalities (any inequalities, civic tech, tech-enabled advocacy, etc.)
Participants will then build any kind of technology to address their chosen social issue. Examples include a mobile app, robot, device, web app, website, analytics software, algorithm, virtual reality (VR) program - and anything else they can come up with!
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VACE Employer Connect Event
(4/23)
April 23, 2020 |
Hotel Madison, Harrisonburg
Employer Program: 3 - 4 pm
Happy Hour & Meet and Greet: 4 - 6 pm
How do you stay up to date on what state leaders are discussing in the areas of college recruitment, engaging young talent, and career development?
The Virginia Association of Colleges and Employers (VACE) invites you to be a guest and attend a portion of their 2020 annual conference.
There will be a panel with representatives from Workforce Development, Economic Development, and the GOVirginia Board to discuss current trends and challenges in creating a talent pipeline. After this program, connect with career center leaders and other colleagues from across the state during their happy hour.
Because the Employer Connect event will be tied to the VACE annual conference occurring at the Hotel Madison on April 22-24, VACE will be raffling TWO individual employer memberships for the 2020-21 year (one during the Employer Panel and one during the Happy Hour). If you have questions about the event or VACE, please reach out to askvace@gmail.com.
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Save the Date | TechNite20 | Tues. May 5, 2020
Awarding Innovative Valley Businesses, Educators, Leaders, and Entrepreneurs
Once a year, the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council highlights local tech innovation. We celebrate the successes of technology firms, organizations and programs in the region - and the entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and educators behind those successes. This is the council's biggest to-do of the year. At this premier dinner, the networking opportunities are unparalleled. Tech Nite is the largest annual technology event in the Valley.
Largest SVTC Event Of The Year: May 5, 2020
During Tech Nite, approx. 275 attendees honor and recognize the technology innovators of the area. This recognition helps organizations and individuals immensely - the winning organization is able to expand its network, attract employees, and obtain publicity inside and often outside of the local region. Tech Nite allows attendees to witness the successes and innovative progression of the Shenandoah Valley. We encourage everyone to attend, network with others, and celebrate the innovative companies, organizations, educators, and leaders in our area.
Recap of TechNite19:
In 2020:
- Nominations for the 8 award categories are accepted from Feb. 2020-March 2020 (a form will be active for online submission)
- Previous award sponsors have "first dibs" to get their previously-sponsored award categories if they communicate by early Jan. 2020. To join the waitlist for an award, drop Nicky a note (info@svtc-va.org)
- All sponsorship opportunities are listed here: Tech Nite 2020 sponsorship details. Get your organization positioned in front of the premier tech crowd of the year.
ALL AWARDS HAVE BEEN SPOKEN FOR. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN EQUAL LEVEL OF VISIBILITY, CONSIDER A NETWORKING RECEPTION SPONSORSHIP. SAME COST, AND ALL THE VISIBILITY AT THE BUSTLING RECEPTION. [ONLY 2 REMAIN]
Tech Nite 2020 sponsorship details (open the pdf on that page)
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Shenandoah Valley Open Tech Jobs
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Augusta County Service Authority, Verona (Systems Analyst/Developer)
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Sproutly, New Market (UX Designer)
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Vision Technology Group, Harrisonburg (Tier III Network Engineer)
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Budget Referee, Harrisonburg (Full Stack Developer with front end web development focus)
GOT ADDITIONAL JOBS THAT SHOULD BE PUBLICIZED
? SEND US A NOTE AND WE'LL PUBLICIZE THEM.
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Participate in the local tech conversation: Rocktown Tech (Slack)
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SVTC MEMBERS INVITATION: DISPLAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Membership Badge Available
Use our new graphic on your own website (and remember to link back to our website
www. svtc-va.org
!)
Choose the graphic file of your choice:
Let us know when you incorporate this graphic and we'll mention your site in return!
Examples:
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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.
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Silver Level Member
Level III Members
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>> Ready to become a member, too? Membership Benefits
& Prices >> How have you benefited from participating in our activities and/ or from membership? Tell us! Info@svtc-va.org |
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Contact Us
Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
800 S. Main Street MSC 3615
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
540-568-7882
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