MKE TECH News
Issue 20 - 6/11, 2020     
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition stands committed to building diversity in our tech population. Please listen to my video message to hear our commitments and action plans to improve the diversity of our tech talent in the Milwaukee region and provide additional recommendations to us at contact@mketech.org.

I also want to welcome three new members to the Coalition: Baird Capital, GalaxE.Solutions and MARS Solutions Group. Based on these additions, we are in the process of soliciting Board nominations from the Bronze membership group with the election occurring in the second half of June.

Finally, I wanted to inform this team that the Board of Directors has made the decision to sponsor the membership fees for non-profits who are actively contributing to the goal of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition by helping build tech skills in the region. Qualifying non-profits will be committed to diversity, have at least 50 participants annually, offer programming at no cost to participants and be under $5 million in annual revenue. If you want to nominate a non-profit for sponsored membership to the Coalition, please send an email to contact@mketech.org with affirmation of meeting those four criteria.

As always, feel free to reach out with your questions, thoughts and ideas.
Kathy Henrich, CEO
COALITION UPDATES
Bold Vision Showcasing Milwaukee as a Tech Hub

A new About Us page recently went up on our website, which provides additional information on our mission, board, staff and focus areas. I'd like to thank Jodie Peters from Northwestern Mutual for volunteering her time to manage that project for us.  We will be continuing work to enhance the website through a member portal and additional information on our initiatives. Check out About Us here.
K-20 Developing and retaining the next generation of tech talent 
Th is new program has certainly struck a need! Over 700 college students from a variety of disciplines have applied. We were able to select just over 10% to participate based on available funding. 25 students with demonstrated skills in software development, cybersecurity, data science, engineering, etc. were selected as part of the advanced technical team. This 10-week program runs June 8-August 14. Please consider how you can help by submitting a challenge or serving as either a professional or technical mento r ( forms due by June 18). Follow our progress via LinkedIn.   Contact LauraS@mketech.org / Joe@thecommonswi.org with questions. 

Call for Partners in the Region to Support “K-12 Computing Alliance"
The Coalition has a defined goal to support K-12 schools/districts that want to promote technological literacy through computing related coursework, co-curriculars and experiential learning. We are interested in talking with community partners willing to join forces around this same goal as part of a new "K-12 Computing Alliance." If you are interested in more information, please contact LauraS@mketech.org .  
Re/Upskilling Developing new sources of talent that match our employers needs and demonstrate a value for diversity

Call for Input - Model Employer
We are seeking to engage with small, medium or large companies dependent on a strong technology workforce, source talent from both traditional and non-traditional means, provide an inclusive environment infused with purposeful support strategies and are willing to discuss opportunities to scale best practice across the region. Please contact LauraS@mketech.org .
Genesis 10 Dev10 - Application Window for MKE Cohort 2 Now Open!
Genesis10’s Dev10 program expands Milwaukee’s tech talent ecosystem by creating a new pool of software development talent. Standard curriculum focuses on full-stack Java with an ability to customize to client tech stacks. The first cohort is comprised of adult learners with a wide variety of majors from a wide variety of schools. They started paid training on June 1st. Here are a few fun facts: 67% are from WI; 33% are female; 27% ethnic diversity and 30% are career changers. Genesis10 is accepting applications through July 15 for the 2nd MKE cohort to start at the end of August. For more information, contact Jennifer Turnquist at jturnquist@genesis10.com .
IT Apprenticeships 
IT Apprenticeships provide adult learners a combination of related instruction with on-the-job training. This model supports Coalition objectives by upskilling existing workers or reskilling under/unemployed workers to take on in-demand tech roles. Existing programs include data analyst, IT service desk technician, software developer and cybersecurity. Thank you to those that reached out with questions and input about the potential of forming a #mketech IT Apprenticeship Employer Committee. We are taking your input forward to key stakeholders and will provide an update in the July newsletter with how you can get involved.  
i.c.stars Applicant and Volunteer Recruitment Underway!
i.c.stars is a non-profit offering adults an opportunity to learn business, leadership and technology skills that enable them to land a sustainable career in technology. No technology experience required. We are now hiring our 6th cycle, which will begin in July 2020! Please click HERE for application information . Individuals who would like to volunteer to support the program are welcome to attend the June 30 volunteer information session . We will share some background and statistics on program participants, along with the impact of volunteers on the i.c.stars program operations.

TechHire Program 
The U.S. Department of Labor TechHire grant program is a multi-sector initiative to empower and train American workers (17-29 years of age) by providing Information Technology skills for well-paying middle-and high-skilled and high-growth jobs across a diversity of industries such as IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial services and broadband. Training, supportive services and internship or on-the-job training wages are covered by grant dollars to reduce barriers for employment. For more information, please refer to Employ Milwaukee Tech Hire , Forward Careers Tech Hire or UMOS Tech Hire (powered by Pluralsight ).
Startup Leveraging cross-industry partnerships to accelerate local start up growth and drive innovation

New Website for Startups
The WEDC recently launched a website to help the startup community better navigate resources available in the ecosystem. Check out the new website here. The FOR-M incubator program of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition is listed, along with many other great resources for funding, business support, talent sources and more.
COALITION MEMBER NEWS
NVISIA hosts a series of Elite Virtual Webinars on topics important to developing your tech team. Upcoming topics include Building a Vibrant Development Culture, Innovating Management and the Digitization Journey. Learn more at  https://www.nvisia.com/elite .
Join Us for 2020 Technology Trends Webinar
Do you know what the top technology trends are in 2020? As technology professionals, part of our job is to be aware of the latest technology and to help interpret what it means. With technology changing so rapidly, how can we keep up? It can be daunting to say the least! We will talk about the latest hot trends in technology and share tips and tricks to help you stay current in the most efficient manner! Register here for the July 1 webinar sponsored by MARS Solutions Group.
MARS Returnship Launches to Reengage Women in Tech  
MARS Solutions Group is proud to announce the launch of MARS Returnship – a program that aids 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 make high-caliber, female technical talent available to employers that value gender diversity and inclusion. Our exceptional graduates and partner companies enjoy a customized experience to meet the unique technical and interpersonal needs of all involved. The first cohort begins in September. For more information, visit our website.
hi, Tech Introduces Kids to What’s Possible
Check out this blog post to learn how local community partners of Northwestern Mutual’s  hi, Tech  program are serving students despite the pandemic. STEMconnector also recently featured the company’s  hi, Tech  Minicamp program in their What’s Working series, which highlights best practices in building a diverse and sustainable STEM Workforce. Download the booklet for more information. 
TECH ECOSYSTEM NEWS
Forward Careers - Recruiting for Summer TechHire Interns 
Forward Careers is currently accepting inquiries from talented college students interested in paid internship experiences earning up to $16 per hour. Deadline for inquiries is June 24. Submit your inquiry at Forward Careers TechHire .  Businesses with technology related internship opportunities may submit inquiries here.

Governor’s Business Plan Contest Winners
The Wisconsin Technology Council is excited to announce that Plumb Pharmaceuticals is the Grand Prize Winner of the  2020 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest, w hich culminated at the  Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference on June 4. The new “People’s Choice” award went to AGent+ Solutions while the “Bright New Idea” award went to eCourt Reporters. The 2020 Wisconsin YES! (Youth Entrepreneurs in Science) winner was Ayla Mollen of Lakeland Union High School for her business plan for “Seninaturals.”   Congrats to all!
Education

As the COVID-19 pandemic spurs Wisconsin schools to undertake an unprecedented exercise in virtual and distance learning, districts throughout the state are grappling with how to provide devices and internet access to students without them. Data show these children are in both cities and rural areas, and are disproportionately
low-income and students of color. Lack of access to technology as districts move to virtual learning is similar to restricting access for students to have a seat in the classroom. The reliance some districts have on state funding could exacerbate the issue as the state budget is adjusted to react to the COVID-19 crisis.

MPS Foundation Launches #ConnectMilwaukee Campaign to Support Virtual Learning
The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, Inc. has launched a $1 million #ConnectMilwaukee campaign to provide internet access for students and their families. As the district has shifted to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation said it has exacerbated the digital divide between those who have internet access at home and those who do not. Thank you to all of those within the #mketech ecosystem for past and future support of this important campaign. For more information on how to donate, please refer to the website .
Calling for Volunteers/Nominations for the Board of Directors for NCWIT-WI
As we wrap up what has proven to be a year of surprises, the Wisconsin Affiliate of the National Center for Women in IT (NCWIT-WI) Board of Directors would like to thank our sponsors, volunteers, teachers, counselors and parents for their support during
the 2019-20 school year. If you are passionate about wanting to provide an inclusive environment for aspiring female technologists in K-12 schools within the Milwaukee region and would like to help out as a volunteer or Board member, please contact NCWIT-WI Vice Chair, Cheryl Nowak at cnr3@msn.com for more information.

MATC Launches STEM Mobile Classroom
Milwaukee Area Technical College is launching a STEM mobile classroom to provide exploratory activities for students in grades 5-8. The learning opportunities are aligned with STEM careers in Advanced Manufacturing, Automation, Robotics and Mechatronics. The college is now working to adapt opportunities to the post-COVID-19 environment. To learn more, visit the mobile classroom.

SHARP Literacy - Virtual Urban Techies Summer Program
SHARP Literacy is proud to offer a virtual STEAM-based experiential curriculum this
summer called Urban Techies. Elementary students will explore the purpose and importance of urban agriculture and the fundamentals of coding. This hands-on exploratory experience will also allow students to create their mini-greenhouses and track the growing process/conditions. Through using Code.org, students will learn about algorithms, sequencing, and loops as it relates to farming and then digitally
design their own gardens. The program will provide students the opportunity to
see firsthand the benefits of urban agriculture. To learn more about SHARP, visit sharpliteracy.org or email Sara@sharpliteracy.org .
Contrapt At-Home Virtual STEM Competition is a Success!
Results are in for STEM Forward’s virtual Contrapt Wisconsin Competition. The goal was to build something that accomplishes a simple task in the most fun, uncomplicated way possible using supplies found at home. Forty-three household teams of 1 - 3 students in grades 4-8 entered to win with representation from ten schools. Households had to be located in southeastern Wisconsin or have students who attend a school that takes part in STEM Forward’s programming. The three teams earning the highest scores were awarded Amazon gift cards. Join us in congratulating the winners .
STEM Forward High School and College Scholarships
STEM Forward annually awards six $2,500 scholarships to outstanding students from the Milwaukee area enrolled in STEM-related programs. The scholarships are intended to encourage talented students to maintain high academic achievement and service. Learn about the 2020 winners and their plans for the future . Additionally, catch up with 2019 high school scholarship recipients to see “where are they now?” and about lessons learned after their first year in college. Amber and Malyun share how they became interested in pursuing a STEM career along with advice for high school students heading off to college.
Tech Hire’s First Call of Virtual Graduates 
I n March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, MATC and other local area colleges cancelled all in-person classes.  Employ Milwaukee’s Tech Hire program (job seekers receiving bootcamp IT Help Desk training offered by MATC at an offsite facility) quickly transitioned from in-person to virtual training using MATC’s Blackboard Collaborative platform. Additionally, Zoom was implemented to provide the professional development workshops (resume writing, interviewing, professionalism, etc.). Students stepped up to the challenge like true professionals and successfully adapted to the change. Graduation from the program has stayed on track and students took the initiative to form their own Zoom study groups.
Additional Ecosystem Events
Capitalize on Wisconsin Conference
Registration is now open for i.c.stars'  Capitalize on Wisconsin   Conference  on June 16. Join technology and business leaders for our first virtual conference offering exclusive networking opportunities through a panel discussion and facilitated breakout room conversations with CxOs – all to support i.c.stars innovative technology training program for underserved adults in Milwaukee. Learn more about Capitalize on Wisconsin and register  here .

Cellular Connectivity Options for IoT Solutions
Please join the Wisconsin IoT Council for our second virtual Meet-Up event with US Cellular's Director of Sales for Data and Software Solutions, Bill Borkowicz. Bill will walk us through various types of cellular connectivity available for IoT Solutions, the pros and cons of each and why one may be selected over another. He also will discuss network/SIM selection and some criteria to consider when making these decisions. Finally, he will cover some considerations for hardware, such as selecting an end device versus selecting a radio and designing your own device. Register here
B uild or Buy: What’s Your AppDev Story?
The WTA session on June 18 at 2:00 pm CST will be an informative discussion with industry experts who will look at the various aspects around custom application development versus buying “off the shelf” and integrating into an environment. Which direction you travel has many different effects on your business, such as Finance, Security, Legal and Infrastructure impact.
Moderator: Nathan Lasnoski, Concurrency CTO
Panelists: Chris Wysopal, Co-Founder/CTO Veracode; Chris Williams, Director of Compliance; Think Markets; Michael Kirsonov, Serial Entrepreneur, UWM Immersive Media Lab; Tom Boser, Software Engineer, Le Mans Tech. Please register at www.wtawi.org .

Headlines
Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, announced the acquisition of health technology startup healthIO, and the launch of Milliman healthIO, an innovative combination of Milliman's predictive health analytics and healthIO's preventive health technology. 

Wisconsin cities Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Appleton are rising among global startup ecosystems ranked for their ability to propel entrepreneurs, according to a new report.
There are still jobs to be had in the Milwaukee metro area and Wisconsin.



Manufacturing leaders expect some elements of the industry’s pandemic response, such as reduced business travel and more employees working from home, might be here to stay.

Two of Wisconsin's largest financial services companies are investing in a Cleveland startup that developed a tech platform where college students can refinance their loans.

The Sunbelt scores well, but the most surprising strength comes in the Midwest, which claims the nine top spots. St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis lead the rankings.

GET INVOLVED
T here are many ways to get involved in the #mketech movement: 
  • Stay informed through our newsletter and reach out to people to explore opportunities to collaborate.
  • Become a Coalition member and/or provide subject matter expertise to the Coalition.
  • Share the newsletter with others in your network. You also can submit content for a future newsletter by emailing contact@mketech.org. Please note, content is limited to 100 words and is always due by 8 am on the first Friday of each month.
  • Stay connected with the MKE tech community through MKEtech.org or #MKEtech.