Early bird tickets are now available for Infotec, coming to the Embassy Suites La Vista on April 1 and 2.
Infotec was started by the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) in 1973 as a hardware trade show for IT enthusiasts. In the eight years since it was acquired by Omaha-based AIM Institute, the annual event has grown into one of the Silicon Prairie’s premier annual business tech gathering.
This year’s Infotec will feature cutting-edge speakers, networking events and training workshops covering a wide range of topics such as security, tech leadership, big data, innovation and more.
Not just an event for big businesses and tech professionals, the event also targets startups. Last year’s Infotec featured workshops from Brian Ardinger on what enterprises can learn from startups, and a data science panel featuring Kelly Burdine, Data Analyst Lead at Hudl.
2019 speakers and session topics will be announced shortly. In the meantime, early bird tickets are available through February 22 on the Infotec website.
OMAHA – Twenty-one Interface Web School students, surrounded by family and friends and showered with praise from their instructors, were honored at a celebration Thursday night for completing their Fall 2018 coding classes.
The graduation took place at the AIM Exchange Building at 19th and Harney streets in downtown Omaha.
The students got certificates of completion for their work in Foundations of Web Development and COBOL programming courses. Three students who are nearing completion in their Microsoft .NET class were also recognized.
Kathryn Russell was one of six students in her Foundations of Web Development course. She had previously taken some self-taught online classes, but said there were advantages to the classroom setting Interface provided.
“It was nice to get some formal training through the class and realize, ‘oh that’s what they actually meant by doing that,’ where I was kind of doing a ‘broken’ method that still kind of worked, but was technically garbage,” she laughed.
(Interface graduate Kathryn Russell, her partner Blaine Red Ear Horse, and their 6-month old daughter, Zintkala Cik’ala (Little Bird).)
Before each student received his or her certificate, Interface instructors Kent Smotherman, Karen Denholm, Christian Burk and Joel Rainear-Wills spoke of their hard work and accomplishments.
“They are awesome students and I am grateful for them,” said Rainear-Wills, Interface’s .NET instructor.
The instructors praised the students for their perseverance, artistic ability, learning a “developer mindset” and “outstanding” work.
“It’s like going from crawling to running a 5K,” Burk said of the 10-week Foundations course.
Russell said the one-on-one attention she received from Burk made a big difference in her learning experience.
“He was really exciting and really engaging,” said Russell. “It was really nice to have him be passionate and curious, and I mean, he was a teacher, but at the same time he was a student for us too, so it was a really cool relationship. And that was beyond what I expected.”
(The graduation celebration took place on the historic Trading Floor of the AIM Exchange Building. Interface Director Ellen Myer addressed the graduates, and their friends and families.)
Pam Kryss, a software development manager and Scrum master at CSG International, said she came to the ceremony to support Interface’s mission of helping non-traditional students break into tech professions.
“Me personally, I don’t look as closely at the education portion of a resume as I will review what their experience has been and what their skills are, because a lot of people are self-taught, and some people can’t afford a four-year university either. So it’s great I was made aware of this untapped talent pool for CSG,” she said.
Kryss described how her organization had a developer leave last October, and said it took until this past May to replace that person.
“It is actually really difficult. It is incredibly difficult to get tech talent,” she said. “I plan on continuing to promote the AIM Interface School. I’ve been a huge proponent of it ever since I found out about it. I’ve reached out to our HR, our recruiter and my entire organization to make them aware of it.”
Russell, whose partner is Lakota, says she hopes to eventually help bring tech training opportunities to the Pine Ridge Reservation.
“The tech world needs us. They need women, they need people of color, they need diversity,” says Russell. “And I think having Interface be a part of that, connecting businesses with different types of people who aren’t your traditional four-year students — they’re missing out on a lot of tech talent.”
*****
For more information about Interface Web School, visit aiminterfaceschool.com
Students in the AIM TRIO Talent Search after school programs at Monroe Middle School started the planning and design of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
The ROV kits are comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts from SeaPerch, an innovative underwater robotics program. As the result of a vote to select the best design concept, students chose the Sea Ship model.
Sea Ship
With assistance from AIM Brain Exchange instructors and club teachers for Tech MashUP and Science Club, teams will build underwater robots that will compete in maneuverability and recovery missions.
This activity provides students the opportunity to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), while building knowledge in robotics, problem solving and teamwork.
Other concepts the students learn during the build include, electricity/circuits and switches, buoyancy/displacement, basic physics of motion, soldering/tool safety and usage, and career possibilities.
The Underwater Robot War competitions will take place in early spring at Monroe Middle School.
AIM-TRiO Talent Search was honored to sponsor the Hour of Code event on December 3 at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. With the help of AIM, all science classes, totaling nearly 1,000 students, were able to celebrate the kick off to Computer Science week.
Hour of Code began as a one-hour coding challenge to give students a fun, first introduction to computer science and has become a global learning event, celebration, and awareness opportunity.
“It gives kids an experience to learn about computer skills, to learn about programming, coding,” said Zach Scherb, an 8th grade science teacher at Wilson Middle School. “Some might not have any experience at all, but we use this opportunity to just say, try it! And maybe it will spark something in them that reacts like, I love doing this.”
Teacher Zach Scherb helps a student.
Hour of Code has introduced tens of millions of students in over 180 countries to computer science, inspiring kids to learn more, breaking stereotypes, and leaving them feeling empowered.
AIM helped build on that historical number this year, and believes that every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science to help nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity.
“When it comes to computer skills, they can be applied in so many different ways,” said Scherb. “There’s a huge need.”
By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path.
“I tell them, in four years, you are going to be graduating, and the prospect of what you can do with these skills is unlimited,” said Scherb. “And it’s like, try it, explore and you might find something you love, and it might take you down a path you might never have gone down.”
Emcee Chris Kovi welcomes guests to the 2018 AIM Tech Celebration.
The uplifting evening was made possible by generous sponsorships and donations from the local community, and presenting sponsor Cox Business.
Comedian Chris Kovi emceed the evening, and Omaha Street Percussion made a surprise appearance to warm up the crowd. In total, nine awards were handed out to individuals and companies who have made outstanding achievements in tech over the last year.
Omaha Street Percussion performs at the 2018 AIM Tech Celebration.
The evening also acted as AIM’s fundraising gala to support their Brain Exchange program, which serves traditionally underrepresented youth in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) fields.
“Our community leaders have identified a shortage of more than 2,500 tech workers which, if not filled, will have an estimated negative economic impact of more than $102 million,” said Scott Rowe, Director of Digital Innovation at AIM. “Now, more than ever, AIM needs support to meet the needs of the community to provide the programming required to see Omaha become the thriving community that so many of us envision and can be seen on the horizon.”
The Brain Exchange helps fill that future need with its youth-focused programming.
“From robotics to programming to digital art, these programs cover all aspects of STEAM,” said Rowe. “Our free programs are designed to ignite a passion for tech and provide youth with future upward mobility, regardless of their economic background and current access to technology.”
Nancy Williams, AIM Board member and President at No More Empty Pots, recalled her time working at the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands and said AIM brought them the opportunity for kids to learn about and work with robotics.
“What AIM does really does work,” said Williams.
Award winners came to the stage one-by-one and thanked family and colleagues for supporting their journeys through the tech world.
Emily Kenney, recipient of the college tech student award, thanked her colleagues at Mutual of Omaha, where she interned and is now an applications developer.
“Very few things are done by one person, and this is no exception,” said Kenney. “Being recognized by AIM is a true honor.”
“I’d be lying if I said I do everything I do alone,” said Guillermo Rosas, College Tech Education winner, and instructor at Metropolitan Community College. “I’m fortunate to work with wonderful people who support me.”
Nichole Niebur, winner of the K-12 Tech Educator Award, talked about the importance of creating opportunities.
“I feel really passionate about tech education,” said Niebur. “I’ve worked hard to make sure Burke students have had those opportunities, and that those opportunities are open to students of diverse backgrounds.”
The Vanguard Award winner Jay Garren also talked about the importance of creating paths for the next generation of leaders.
“Find that person and help them out,” said Garren. “I [have been] a very big fan of AIM, for many years. The number of lives they’ve affected is ridiculously large. It’s why AIM is such an icon in Omaha.”
2018 Tech Celebration Winners
2018 Tech Celebration Winners (Mike Wolf not pictured)
The Vanguard – Raymond (Jay) Garren
High School Tech Student – Yash Fichadia
College Tech Student – Emily Kenney
High School Tech Educator – Nichole Niebur
College Tech Educator – Guillermo Rosas
Tech Innovator – Mike Wolf
Tech Leader – Gautham Pallapa
Exemplary High Growth Business – Buildertrend
Exemplary Enterprise Business – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
––
The 2018 AIM Tech Celebration was made possible by presenting sponsor Cox Business.
