Hayneedle hosted their first ever Girls Who Code event on Friday, focused on encouraging young women within the local community to get involved with technology.
Over 60 girls from six Omaha-area high schools attended the event at Hayneedle’s corporate headquarters in West Omaha.
Tech jobs are among the fastest growing in the country, yet women only make up 24% of the technology workforce. Girls Who Code works to support and increase the number of women in computer science, close the gender gap in technology, and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does.
LaShonna Dorsey, AIM’s Vice President of Business Development and Tech Talent served as the event’s keynote speaker. Dorsey is also a founding member of Girls Who Code in Omaha, and founded Interface: The Web School.
“Failure and mistakes are inevitable, so take the lessons and leave the rest,” said Dorsey. “You are here for a reason, don’t let missteps define you or take you off your path.”
Dorsey said that at the beginning of her career, she was almost entirely surrounded by Caucasian men and saw little diversity. She wants to change the industry landscape for young women who are starting their careers.
“We found ways to collaborate […] but I didn’t have peers to talk to,” said Dorsey. “That’s why it’s really important to be supportive of each other.”
Dorsey said that providing a more diverse future for the field of technology matters not only in terms of empowerment for women, but also in terms of community and economic development.
“STEM careers are some of the highest paying jobs out there, particularly web development,” said Dorsey.
Dorsey told the group of young women that tech is hard and they may make mistakes and might even fail at times, but a mistake isn’t the end of the road. Tech is a field all about solving problems, so there’s always opportunities to learn and grow.
The Girls Who Code event also featured discussion panel led by Rachel Fox, the owner of Catapult Consulting Solutions and an instructor at Interface: The Web School, discussing the challenges and rewards women face in their tech careers. Panelists included:
Tara Nordquist – Director of Product & Customer Experience at Hayneedle, recognized by Walmart as a Leading Women in Technology
Eris Koleszar – Senior Developer at SkyVu Entertainment, previous instructor at Girls Who Code, current instructor for Mystery Code Society
Grace Erixon – High School Student at Omaha North, Intern at Gallup, winner of numerous IT awards
Left to right: Rachel Fox, Tara Nordquist, Eris Koleszar, Grace Erixon
When asked what women need to do to stand out in the tech world, Nordquist said that women shouldn’t be afraid to sell themselves and their skills.
“Go in and say, ‘This is what I can bring to the table’,” said Nordquist. “Have a portfolio of problems you’ve solved, apps you’ve developed, and output you’ve generated. […] Don’t be bashful. Be proud, be confident, be inquisitive.”
Koleszar said the best way for women to stand out in tech is the same for anyone, no matter their gender.
“Find opportunities to get plugged into something [whether that’s classes, internship or events],” said Koleszar. “Going in and showing initiative is one of the best ways to get noticed by a company. […] Companies want people who don’t need to be told what to do all the time.”
Koleszar added that women should be aware of the culture their entering into, and the initiatives the company is taking to make sure they have equal representation and diversity.
“I don’t want to sugar coat it. There’s still a lot of sexism and sexist ideas about what women can do in the tech field,” said Koleszar. “There are some really great companies that are doing [good things] out there and want you.”
Catch up on regional tech news with these recent top stories from Silicon Prairie News. Click the headlines to read more.
The American Express 2017 State of Women-Owned Businesses report states that there are an estimated 11.6 million women-owned businesses in the United States which employ almost 9 million people and generate more than $1.7 trillion in revenues.
Additionally, the U.S. economy nets 849 new women-owned businesses a day, with over 600 of those being minority-owned.
Those numbers sound impressive but for certain states, the data shows a lack of women-founded high-growth businesses in tech, IT and finance
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Lincoln Cybersecurity firm Infogressive announced the expansion of their team on Monday with ten new team members including Chris Currin as Vice President of Sales.
“After 11 years of success, it’s time to take Infogressive to the next level,” said founder Justin Kallhoff. “We’ve been around a long time, and we know there’s a huge demand globally for cybersecurity. Our platform is proven over and over; we just need more people out there to tell the story.”
Currin is a 17-year managed security industry veteran and previously served in a variety of leadership roles for Solutionary (NTTSecurity).
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Lincoln’s FUSE has come a long way in five years.
Initially conceived as a coworking space by Bob Hinrichs, Andy Beecham and Matt Westenburg, the space has evolved into a hub of corporate and startup innovation that is feeding one of the Silicon Prairie’s most vibrant ecosystems.
“Everything that makes up a quick-growing startup or entrepreneurial ecosystem is all right here,” said Rena Valentino, Executive Director of FUSE. “It’s exciting to be a resource and a space for that dense activity to be happening.”
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Ali Schwanke burst onto Lincoln’s startup scene by winning Startup Weekend in 2013 with Exercise My Schedule, a tool to manage group fitness schedules. Today she is in her third year as Founder, CEO and Marketing Strategist for Simple Strat, a Lincoln marketing strategy startup.
“I initially wanted to pour all my time into growing the Exercise My Schedule app, and did consulting to fund the work toward that,” Schwanke said. “I saw a lot more success on the consulting side, so I leaned into that instead.”
That success led Schwanke to consider expanding.
The Omaha metropolitan area is once again getting accolades for growing and nurturing business on the Silicon Prairie.
This time, the recognition comes from Site Selection magazine, which named Omaha-Council Bluffs the number one area among similarly-sized regions for new and expanded corporate facilities.
Site Selection is a national publication geared toward CEOs and other decision-makers evaluating geographical areas to expand or relocate.
Here is Site Selection’s top-ten list among areas with populations between 200,000 and 1 million:
1. Omaha-Council Bluffs
2. Greensboro-High Point, N.C.
3. Three-way tie: Toledo, Ohio; Charleston-N. Charleston, S.C.; and Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, S.C.
6. Baton Rouge, La.
7. Akron, Ohio
8. Dayton, Ohio
9. Lincoln
10. Des Moines-W. Des Moines
This is the third year in a row Omaha and Council Bluffs have gotten the recognition and the fourth time overall.
The magazine cited an already robust tech presence in Omaha-Council Bluffs, and listed several high-growth business and civic projects that show the area’s commitment to economic development:
Facebook – Construction of a new data center in Papillion
Costco – Construction of a new poultry processing facility in Fremont resulting in $550M capital investment and 800 new jobs
Veramaris – A joint venture between Evonik and DSM resulting in a $200 million capital investment and 12 new and 130 retained jobs in Blair
Evolva – Long-term collaboration agreement with Cargill estimated at $60 million for the production and commercialization of a new Stevia sweetener and other products at Blair’s biocampus
Big Ox Energy – A Wisconsin-based byproduct waste recycling provider planning to invest $60 million in a new 70,000-square-foot facility in Blair that is expected to create at least 45 jobs
West Broadway Redevelopment – West Broadway Reconstruction project aiming to improve the first impression for those crossing the Missouri River and entering Council Bluffs
River’s Edge – A Council Bluffs pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use design plan endeavoring to revitalize and invigorate the area by creating a newfound sense of place and community
“This victory belongs to everyone. We’re cheering thanks to the strength of our six-county Economic Development Partnership. It’s a powerful collaboration – one that compels us to achieve daily excellence in the way we know best: together,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO, the Greater Omaha Chamber, in a media release. “This type of intentional, inventive teamwork means we do more than support the region’s interests, we invent the most inclusive, innovative future we can envision. We’re grateful to be part of a community where great teams make incredible things happen.”
READ MORE: Site Selection magazine article
The Greater Omaha area is home to nearly one million people across more than 30 diverse communities. With 40 percent of the metro’s population under the age of 24, a low cost of living and steady economic growth that is almost twice the national average, Omaha is proving to be fertile ground for small and emerging businesses (SEBs).
REACH, the Midwest’s largest, multi-partner initiative designed to increase certified SEBs, announced on Friday more than $6.1M over the past 30 months in contracts that have increased both access to construction projects and inclusivity.
“Many institutions and businesses, both large and small, have been seeking a way to assist small businesses and give back,” said Winsley Durand, executive director, REACH. “The REACH program has provided a vehicle that provides a collaborative and organized way for these firms to participate in helping to effectively grow our small business ecosystem.”
A program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, in partnership with community strategists, experts and entities, REACH reported more than $1.9M in financing and greater than $2.8M in bonding firms since the program’s inception.
The organization has also grown Omaha’s certified SEBs by more than 100 firms, thanks to 6,400-plus hours of one-on-one consultation or group education sessions.
“Our partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber’s REACH program has provided new opportunities for small and emerging businesses to grow and compete,” said Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. “Workforce development is a priority for our administration. Our investment in REACH is an investment in these businesses and their employees. The return on our investment is their success.”
The Cloud Platform competency is designed for partners to capitalize on the growing demand for infrastructure and software as a service (SaaS) solutions built on Microsoft Azure.
To earn a Microsoft gold competency, partners must successfully complete exams (resulting in Microsoft Certified Professionals) to prove their level of technology expertise. Then, partners must designate those certified professionals uniquely to one Microsoft competency, ensuring a certain level of staffing capacity.
Customer references must also be submitted that demonstrate successful projects, meet a performance (revenue and/or consumption/usage) commitment (for most gold competencies), and pass technology and/or sales assessments.
“By achieving a gold competency, partners have demonstrated the highest, most consistent capability and commitment to the latest Microsoft technology,” said Gavriella Schuster, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “These partners have a deep expertise that puts them in the top of our partner ecosystem, and their proficiency will help customers drive innovative solutions.”
FNTS successfully demonstrated a “best-in-class” ability and commitment to meet Microsoft Corp. customers’ evolving needs in today’s mobile-first, cloud-first world and distinguishing itself within Microsoft’s partner ecosystem.
As technology rapidly changes, businesses seek out competitive advantages. One of those advantages comes from utilizing technology partners like FNTS to stay current on advances in cloud, software and data center offerings.
“Companies are becoming more reliant on cloud services, including Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Office 365 to differentiate their businesses and connect with new customers,” said FNTS President, Kim Whittaker. “This Microsoft gold competency showcases our expertise in and commitment to today’s technology market and demonstrates our deep knowledge of Microsoft’s products and services. We plan to accelerate our customers’ success by serving as technology advisors for their business demands.”
