On Wednesday April 21st, Kyle Rosner, Deputy Broadband Advisor in Office of Governor Ralph Northam, provided an overview of the multi-pronged effort to achieve universal broadband coverage, including what’s been done and what remains. Joining us where also four panelists from the Shenandoah Valley region who shared their views from provider, education, government, and user perspectives. Panelists included Tom Lundquist (K-12 education), James Funkhouser (telecommunications providers), Pam Carter (locality), and Josh Fitzpatrick (higher education). For those who were unable to attend the luncheon, a link to a recording of the event has been posted on our website: https://svtc-va.org/luncheon-presentations/.
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NOMINATION Season: Closing Soon |
8 categories | Nominate by May 3!
Share your area's (*) 'tech-involved' pivots, developments, and innovations since 3/2020. Leaders, do-ers, innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs nimbly started reacting. For their customers, themselves, and our Shenandoah Valley region. WHO ARE THEY?
Tech Nite is the Shenandoah Valley's largest technology celebration of the year! In early June 2021 (date TBA) we will again highlight the successes of technology firms, organizations, and programs in the region and the entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and educators behind those successes.
We're ready for YOUR nominations for the Shenandoah Valley's best and brightest, in the 8 categories below.
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The Community Impact Award is given to an individual, team, nonprofit/civic organization, or company in the Shenandoah Valley that aspires to use its capabilities to help solve a social or environmental issue in a local community while using technology to amplify the impact of a service, mission, or project.
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Innovation in Emerging Business Award
Awarded to a Shenandoah Valley start-up/emerging technology company or entrepreneur.
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Awarded to the educator or program in K-12 that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering or math.
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Award Sponsorship Available!
Interested in sponsoring the Higher Education Award?
Innovation in Higher Education Award
Awarded to the educator or program in higher education that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering or math.
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Innovation in Development Award
Awarded to a company or organization whose development of new technology applications and/or systems creates new processes, methodologies, and/or services for their own or others’ benefit.
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Innovation in Utilization Award
This award recognizes outstanding commercial growth and achievement by an established company that either produces or markets high tech products or services, or an established company or organization that produces/offers more traditional products and services (where technology itself is not the core business purpose).
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Recipient’s leadership has served as a catalyst for positive technology-related activity
in the Shenandoah Valley.
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People's Choice Award
Awarded to one nominee from the other categories. All nominees are candidates —
and the company, organization, or individual with the most votes through social media *before* and *during* the event will win.
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(A word about self-nominations: we like them a lot! Why? Simple, we don't share or publish who made a nomination; and these types of nominations usually are the most complete and accurate, esp. if they are not "marketing materials". We also greatly value close coordination between nominator and nominee.
Please don't surprise someone with a nomination.)
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Project THRIVE | Rebuilding, Relaunching, and Reviving Local Businesses
(business apps. due 5/15;
nonprofit apps. due 6/15)
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Project THRIVE is a six-week, virtual series that aims to help rebuild, relaunch, and revive local businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by the pandemic.
The Project THRIVE team is looking for a total of 8 to 10 businesses AND 8 to 10 nonprofit organizations to join their first two cohorts. Selected businesses will start their sessions on June 7, 20201 and end July 15, 2021. Selected nonprofits will start their sessions on July 19, 20201 and end August 26, 2021.
All organizations based in the Shenandoah Valley are welcome to apply.
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The Annual SVTC Board of Directors Election is Coming Up! Submit your Nominations by April 30. |
SVTC members vote once a year on who will join the Board of Directors for a 2-year term. On June 30, 2021 the term for our "class I" of directors expires. In order to prepare an election for a new cohort of directors whose term will start on July 1, 2021, SVTC members are asked to submit suggestions for who should be considered to serve and be nominated to the slate of candidates. The SVTC Organization and Governance committee will gather suggestions by April 30, 2021.
Please take a minute to suggest a candidate (yourself or someone else) for our class I of directors so the committee can evaluate. If you would like to nominate someone other than yourself, please COORDINATE first.
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Textile-Based Engineering Firm To Expand In Staunton, Adding 31 New Jobs |
Richmond (April 16, 2021) - Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Ryzing Technologies, LLC, a designer and manufacturer of textile-based engineering solutions, will invest $149,000 to expand capabilities at its facility in the City of Staunton. The company serves the U.S. military and allied forces, as well as industrial, commercial, and governmental clients, specializing in engineered textiles, rigid inflatable structures, and rapid prototyping. This expansion project will create 31 new jobs.
“Supporting the growth of Virginia’s small businesses is a top priority, and we are thrilled that the expansion of Ryzing Technologies will result in 31 new high-skilled positions,” said Governor Northam. “We commend the City of Staunton for fostering an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship where companies like Ryzing Technologies can develop pioneering solutions for a wide range of industries, including the military.”
In 2015, founders Ryan Gundling and Ryan Long participated in Staunton’s Bright Rewired Business Plan Competition, resulting in the establishment of Ryzing Technologies. In 2017, the company was awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center to continue the development of an adjustable, reusable platform for expeditionary military shelters. Ryzing Technologies’ platform system can be deployed by soldiers in hours and packaged to be redeployed with the basecamp multiple times. The company’s textile-based engineering solutions include inflatable structures, shelter systems, tensile membrane structures, protective barriers, environmental control systems, mechanical systems, filtration equipment, material handling, soft dynamic technologies, and other advanced textile and mechanical products. The company’s engineers and fabricators partner with government and private industry clients to engineer, fabricate, and test real-world solutions.
“Virginia companies continue to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, and we are proud that Ryzing Technologies will significantly expand its capabilities and its workforce in the City of Staunton,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “The region’s infrastructure and quality-of-life amenities are attracting jobs and investment by businesses that recognize the high quality talent pool and want to live and work in the Shenandoah Valley.”
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ICAP Introductory Course | Virtual Cohort
(app. deadline 4/25)
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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. Click Here to Apply.
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.
Preferred Sectors: the cohort will give preference to startups focused on cyber-related solutions, but all companies are encouraged to apply:
Software | Telecommunications | Information & Communication Technologies | E-Commerce | Networking & Equipment | Electronics/Instrumentation | Sensors | Materials | Drones | IoT
Important Dates
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April 25, 2021 – Applications are due by midnight (2 days before introductory call)
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April 27, 2021 – 6:00pm – 8:00pm – Introductory Webinar
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May 4, 2021 – Acceptance notifications and communication with next steps (7 days after Intro call)
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May 11, 2021 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – Customer Segments and Initial Team Presentations
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May 12, 2021 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – Value Proposition
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May 13, 2021 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – Customer Discovery
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May 20, 2021 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – Each team reviews their Customer Discovery Progress over the first week
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May 27, 2021 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – Final Team Presentations
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Looking for 2021 STEM and tech summer activities? Then look no further! We know that both parents and kids are ready for some summer fun after a long year of staying at home, so we’ve gathered a listing of local tech activities for kids for the summer of 2021! Ranging from workshops to camps, this summer is full of technology and STEM activities. Browse the links below and/or share the list with others! See details below.
Summer Camps by JMU Professional & Continuing Education | In-Person
James Madison University, Harrisonburg
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Robotics Camp | June 22 – 25 | Ages 9-12
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3D Printing Camp | June 29 – July 2 | Ages 9-12
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Summer Honors Institute | July 11 – 17 | Rising 11th & 12th grades
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Science Explorers Camp – Elementary | July 12 – 16 | Rising 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grades
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Science Explorers Camp – Middle School | July 26 – 30 | Rising 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th grades
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Science Explorers – High School | July 18 – 24 | Rising 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
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Renewable Energy Camp | August 2 – 6 | Rising 6th, 7th, & 8th grades
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Robotics Camp | August 10 – 13 | Ages 9-12
- View all youth programs
Summer Explorer Camps | In-Person
Explore More Discovery Museum, Harrisonburg
Learning Can Be Fun Program | Online
Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave
BRCC Intro to Advanced Manufacturing | (FREE)
Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave
Summer Camps by Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum | In-Person
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, Winchester
STEM Summer Camps by STEM Innovators | In-Person
Easely Created Studio, Winchester
Summer Spark ’21 by St. Anne’s Belfield School CS | In-Person or Online
St. Anne’s-Belfield School, Charlottesville
If there are additional youth 2021 STEM and tech summer activities that are not on this list, we’d be more than happy to publicize them in our newsletter as long as they are located within the Shenandoah Valley. Email your summer activity, camp, or workshop information to admin@svtc-va.org.
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Shenandoah Valley Open Tech Jobs |
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Internship: UX/UI Internship Opportunity, Jenzabar | Harrisonburg
- 4 Positions: Lead Drupal Developer, Web Programmer (Python/Django), UX Design Specialist, Data Visualization Developer | Urban Institute | Remote (or DC Area)
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Director of Information Technology, Healthy Community Health Centers | Harrisonburg
- Director of Information Technology, Tactical & Survival Specialties | Harrisonburg
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3 Positions: Full-Stack Software Engineer, Sales and Marketing Lead, Agile Project Manager | Sproutly | New Market
- Director of Biotechnology Program, James Madison University | Harrisonburg
- DevOps Engineer, Quantic School of Business and Technology | Remote
- Full-Stack Software Engineer, Quantic School of Business and Tech | Remote
- 3D Developer - AR Support, The Scylla Group | Winchester
- Front End Developer, The Scylla Group | Winchester
- Solder Technician, VIRTEX | Waynesboro
GOT ADDITIONAL TECH JOBS THAT SHOULD BE PUBLICIZED?
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Participate in the local tech conversation:
Rocktown Tech (Slack)
Currently there are 18 channels and over 450 members. Sign-up
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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: SVTC Membership Badge. Let us know when you incorporate this graphic and we'll mention your site in return!
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Examples:
membership badge on their website!
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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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>> Ready to become a member, too?
>> How have you benefited from participating in our activities and/ or from membership? Tell us!
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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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