The role technology has played during the pandemic gave the 2020 AIM Tech Awards special meaning at the AIM Institute’s signature annual event on Thursday, Dec. 3. In a virtual format, the AIM Institute, a nonprofit organization committed to changing lives through technology, celebrated the contributions and dedication of tech leaders, educators, students and businesses to the tech community through the presentation of six awards. Scholarships also were awarded to area college students.
AIM promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech sector by making outstanding educational opportunities and career training accessible to all, from elementary school through adulthood. Proceeds from the event support AIM’s mission to grow, connect, and inspire the tech community in Omaha. Presented by Cox Business, the AIM Tech Awards recognized the following individuals for their impact in the Silicon Prairie’s tech sector:
Tech Leader of the Year: Kim Whittaker, President FNTS
Whittaker is a passionate leader recognized for her continued focus on cloud technology, which is more important than ever as remote working and learning are a necessity due to changes brought on by COVID-19. She leads FNTS’ Women in Technology initiative and events, inspiring youth to consider future careers in technology. Under her leadership, FNTS launched a job shadow program to give students and career-focused professionals opportunities to learn various IT and tech-adjacent roles.
Tech Innovator of the Year: Mike Douglas, Director of Delivery Engineering, Lunavi
Douglas has more than 20 years of experience in leading delivery teams and providing mentorship for multiple client engagements. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in innovation trends and technologies to Lunavi, a provider of IT consulting, managed services and software development.
Tech Educator of the Year: Rios ‘Tony’ Gunter, Principal, Kennedy Elementary School
Gunter goes above and beyond to provide technology opportunities to his staff and students. He led the implementation of technology upgrades at Kennedy Elementary that included the integration of Promethean boards, iPads and robotics into the classroom.
Tech Student of the Year: David Salazar, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Salazar is completing a doctoral degree in the department of biomechanics at UNO, where he has developed 3D printed anatomical models for surgical planning. These anatomical models are exact replicas of organs or body segments created from CT scans and the latest in additive manufacturing.
Tech Startup of the Year: Retail Aware, accepted by Keith Fix, company founder and CEO
Fix and Retail Aware have combined hardware and software to bring data to the grocery shelf in a way that hasn’t been done before. Retail Aware provides real-time shelf analytics through micro sensors to track product engagement, audience and footfall, dwell time, temperature, motion and alerts for product needs.
Community Builder of the Year: Urban League of Nebraska
In 2019, Urban League of Nebraska began partnering with Heartland Workforce Solutions and the AIM Code School to host the Careers in Tech Bootcamp. Through this class, students gain the specific skills they need to become employable in tech careers. This collaboration is bringing low-income and underrepresented groups into the tech sector. In just under a year, this partnership has helped 11 students graduate with technology skills, and half are now employed in the tech sector.
AIM Institute/ Association of Information Technology Professionals Scholarship recipients:
Each year AIM and the Omaha chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals award scholarships to deserving students. The following recipients received their scholarships in fall 2020 and are excelling in their respective studies:
Kaeli Clark, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Nathan Perkins, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Pranav Rajan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Raikes School of Computer Science
Abdulnaser Sheikh, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Chad Nourse Memorial Scholarship recipients:
The Chad Nourse Memorial Scholarship was established to remember and honor a tech champion in the community. Chad Nourse, who worked for TEAM Software, was a dedicated tech professional with more than 20 years of experience in software development with a passion for developing and recruiting talent at TEAM Software. The 2020 Chad Nourse Memorial Scholarship recipients are:
Tessa Brazda, Doane University
Travis Munyer, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Sabaythip Phongsavath, Northeast Community College
“This year’s award winners and scholarship recipients have made a profound impact to strengthen our local tech community and make it more inclusive and accessible for everyone during a challenging year,” said Itzel Lopez, AIM’s Vice President of Advancement and Community Relations. ”AIM Institute is proud to honor and celebrate their achievements and excited to see how these individuals continue to innovate, shape and push the Silicon Prairie tech sector forward.”
For more information about the AIM Tech Awards or how you can support programs that impact thousands of students, job seekers, professionals and companies in the Omaha metro area, please visit https://aimsite1.wpenginepowered.com/.
You can watch a recording of the event on AIM’s YouTube channel.
More than 20 local and international tech professionals graduated from the AIM Institute’s fall Emerging Tech Leaders program on Thursday.
This was the second cohort held entirely virtually due to the global coronavirus pandemic. But the virtual nature meant the program’s footprint could reach overseas for the first time ever, with three participants from the U.K.
The five week program gives professionals an overview of best leadership practices tailored to the tech industry, with goals to nurture future talent and allow participants to discern if they want to pursue a leadership track in their career.
“Today’s tech professionals are dealing with many challenges. Effective management and leadership skills are needed now more than ever. I hope you take all you’ve learned and start implementing it in your workplace and your homes.” said Monika Philp, AIM’s director of tech leadership development, when she addressed the graduates.
During the graduation ceremony, participants shared what they were taking away from the course, everything from formalizing mentorship relationships to strengthening team communication.
Darvy Ceron Gomez, a solution consultant at Lunavi, said he learned many tactics that he will take into his burgeoning role as a company leader..
“I always thought leadership was like yoga, trying to develop my skills, find my weaknesses and improve those,” Ceron Gomez said at the graduation ceremony. “That’s a good thing to do, but I learned in the program that the best thing to do is use your strengths, and rely on those.”
Sarah Little, of TD Ameritrade, said she especially appreciated learning tools and strategies to handle difficult and delicate conversations.
“That will be very useful for me in the near and far future,” she said.
To learn more about AIM’s Tech Leadership programs, visit our website or contact Monika Philp.
Congratulations to the graduates!
Pam Anderson, Tenaska
Halvdan Barret, TD Ameritrade
Matthew Barry, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Sarah Berkebile, Bryan High School, Omaha Public Schools
Jason Borgmann, TD Ameritrade
Darvy Ceron Gomez, Lunavi
Dan Ebert, TEAM Software
Dennis Howe, Gavilon
Shane Limbach, Boys Town
Andrew Lisowyj, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Sarah Little, TD Ameritrade
Emily Matis, AIM Institute
Rucha Mayekar, Careerlink, LLC
Tony Mehner, Tigerpaw Software
Tony Newton, TEAM Software
Leonardo Rasile, TEAM Software
Indranil Saha, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Vidhya Sathyamurthy, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Peter Shipstone, TEAM Software
Allison Sillik, DoSpace
Sydney Urzendowski, Gavilon
Christoper Witt, TD Ameritrade
AIM Institute, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to changing lives through technology, received a $15,000 grant from the Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program. The funding helps the AIM Code School, which provides technology training for people of all skill levels and at all stages in their careers, with resources for career counseling and job training and placement.
The Community Ties Giving Program prioritizes funding for workforce development programs that seek to build foundational skills for youth, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); raise awareness, educate and prepare young adults for middle-skills jobs through career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives and programs that assist with job placement; and “up-skilling” the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career.
The funding provides resources for AIM to offer its students one-on-one career advising and counseling at the end of each course offering with Emily Matis, director of the AIM Code School. It also enhances the nonprofit’s ability to introduce its students to tech employers and gain valuable insights and exposure to the vast opportunities in the Silicon Prairie’s tech sector.
“AIM and Union Pacific are aligned in our goals to support career training, development and advancement opportunities for in-demand technology jobs in our communities,” Matis said. “Union Pacific’s support of our Code School gives our students a clearer picture of what is involved in the day-to-day workings of a tech career, and allows them to network with current tech professionals to learn how to present themselves as future tech professionals. It sets our students up for success in a way that wasn’t possible before.”
Matis said the funding provides more time to learn about resume-building, honing and understanding the skills they are gaining from coursework, how to search for jobs in technology, get connected with employers and practice for job interviews. In addition to the grant funding provided by the Community Ties Giving Program, Union Pacific has supported AIM’s mission by providing internship opportunities to high school graduates AIM supported through its Code School.
“This grant is just one of many examples of Union Pacific supporting our mission to grow and develop the tech talent pipeline in the Silicon Prairie, giving our students life-changing learning experiences, and invaluable experience in the field,” Matis said.
Learn more about the opportunities available at AIM Code School on our website.
As a graphic designer and project manager, Jessica Teaford knew a thing or two about creativity and problem solving.
So after she was laid off from her job last fall, the Omaha native put those skills to the test and learned to code through AIM Code School.
“I really wanted to add value to my skill set,” said Teaford, 25, who has a degree in graphic design and advertising from University of Nebraska Omaha. “A lot of employers seek those web design skills out. It’s something everyone is looking for.
In October, Teaford began AIM Code School’s Foundations of Web Development course. The accredited class, which meets at night, focuses on the building blocks of websites: HTML, CSS and basic Javascript.
10 weeks later, when the course wrapped up, she was confident in her skills and eager to learn more.
Even better, Teaford found new employment at Clark Creative Group as a graphic and digital designer, who assists with website updates.
While it may seem like an intimidating field, it’s a great option for many, says Emily Matis, AIM Code School director.
“Anyone can do tech,” Matis said. “That’s a lesson our instructors tell our students all the time — You can do it, you are capable of doing it, and we’re giving you the tools to be able to succeed.”
Read more about Jessica’s experience with AIM Code School on WOWT.com.
The latest cohort of AIM Institute’s Advanced Tech Leaders course graduated from the leadership academy last Friday. Congratulations to the 28 graduates!
Advanced Tech Leaders is an annual management course for tech professionals, with the goal of enhancing leadership skills that are essential for current and upcoming managers in the tech industry.
Each session addresses common on-the-job issues faced by tech managers, including strategic planning, communication skills, innovation and empowerment.
The 2019-2020 cohort adapted quickly to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant the last few months of the program were fully remote and online.
“Getting to hear from – and get feedback from – top local executives was so valuable,” said academy participant Laurie Lee. “The skills I’ve learned in this training have and will continue to help me be a better leader for my staff and my company.”
The academy’s focus on skill development also left a lasting impression on the participants.
“I can leave more confident in my abilities as an IT professional,” said Megan Thiemann, reflecting on sessions about personal development and pitching projects to executives.
This was the 10th cohort of advanced technology professionals to graduate from AIM’s leadership academy.
A strong emphasis on networking was also appreciated by many of the participants, including Rajan Bhattarai.
“This is a very powerful tool we have in Omaha,” he said. “I’ve met so many great people, and a few people I will be friends with forever.”
During Friday’s virtual graduation ceremony, former participant and steering committee member Todd Campbell charged the group to step up in their organizations and in the community.
“More than ever, we need leaders,” said Campbell, who also taught one of the academy’s sessions. “You’re good leaders, and I know you care about the people you are about to lead and serve. I’m so proud of you.”
“This class of Advanced Tech Leaders showed personal growth and a commitment to their career development during the last nine months,” said Monika Philp, director of tech leadership development at AIM. “They have built a great personal network and I’m excited to see how their careers advance.”
Interested in participating? Find out more about AIM’s leadership academy for advanced and emerging IT leaders here.
Congratulations to this cohort’s graduates!
Robby Antonio, First National Technology Solutions
Ashwin Bhatnagar, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Rajan Bhattarai, Werner Enterprises
Ravinatha Buchupalli, Prokarma
Heath Christiansen, Nebraska Public Power District
Peter Gamboian, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Roger Garfoot, Omaha Public Power District
Cory Haglund, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Michelle Jenson, CSG International
Gaynor Kipp, Mutual of Omaha
Jonathon Klimek, Mutual of Omaha
Deepa Vasanth Kumar, National Indemnity Company
Laurie Lee, DTN
Collins Love, Omaha Public Power District
Katherine Palmer, Mutual of Omaha
Jayendra Pawar, Farm Credit Services of America
Jessica Porter, Omaha Public Power District
Travis Reineke, Omaha Public Power District
Sara Rivedal, Fiserv
Bidisha Roy, CSG International
Michael Sachar, Goodwill Omaha
Babu Shafi, Tenaska
Donald Shirley, Millard Public Schools
Divya Singh, National Indemnity Company
Jessica Steffen, Metropolitan Community College
Megan Thiemann, First National Technology Solutions
Shelly Welch, Farm Credit Services of America
Jeff Yost, Millard Public Schools
The AIM Institute is an innovative not-for-profit that grows, connects and inspires the tech talent community through career development and education.
