In partnership with New York City-based Japan Society, the Rural Futures Institute (RFI) at the University of Nebraska will host five Japanese entrepreneurs and community leaders for a panel discussion entitled, “A Thriving Rural Future in Japan and the United States.”
This free, public event is 3 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, 1505 S Street. A reception will follow from 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Rural communities in Japan and the United States face similar challenges such as recruitment and retention of young people, decline of primary and local industries, and sustainability of natural resources.
Entrepreneurial leaders in both countries are thinking and acting boldly to identify and build on resources to develop creative, strategic solutions.
Panelists and guests will explore alternative models, best practices and strategies for creating resilient and vibrant rural communities of the future. The panel will be moderated by Connie Reimers-Hild, Ph.D., RFI Associate Executive Director and Chief Futurist.
Overall, the project seeks to build leadership capacity and consolidate lessons and learning from efforts to revitalize small towns and rural areas in the U.S.-Japan context. Specific topical areas of exploration may include:
Economic revitalization and rural entrepreneurship, leadership opportunities for a younger generations and creating an ecosystem conducive to engaging new community members are other possible discussion topics.
On Oct. 28 RFI leadership will take the guests to Nebraska City, Neb., to tour the Kimmel Education & Research Center, Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard and BCom Solutions. They will also visit Auburn, Neb., to tour Nemaha County Hospital.
Visit the Rural Futures website for additional information and guest bios.
Karli Glodowski, an Applications Technical Recruiter at TEKSystems, has a solid idea of what Omaha’s tech talent ecosystem looks like.Glodowski specializes in IT staffing and says TEKSystems has over 120 clients in Omaha alone, including big-hitters like TD Ameritrade, Union Pacific and Werner Enterprises.
At TEKSystems, specialists complete extensive training before they begin recruiting. Glodowski says that there’s more that goes into matching employees with jobs than just aligning skills and getting someone to fill a position.
“Our biggest goal is build relationships with people because you want people to be happy.” said Glodowski. “It’s not just about filling a spot. Things more often than not, are about finding the right cultural fit.”
AIM Careerlink asked Karli to sit down for a Q&A to discuss the future of tech careers, coding as a career, and how to stand out in a job search.
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AIM: You said that there are 5 Java jobs for every 1 candidate. Why is there a shortage of Java candidates? Have you seen this gap widening over the years?
KG: 97% of the IT workforce is working. Companies try to remain competitive and retain their employees, so that limits the pool of candidates looking for new opportunities. Our statistics show that the average consultant changes positions every 18-24 months. The gap has been pretty steady from the last couple of years, Java is in high demand and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.
AIM: As a tech recruiter, what are some other general industry trends you’re seeing?
KG: Since we are nearing the end of the year, a lot of companies are looking to bring on additional consultants to help move their current projects along in order to make deadlines. There are still a few openings for Entry/Junior level developers around this time of year, but companies are really looking for pretty high Senior Level developers to come in and hit the ground running.
Many of these types of positions are contract positions with allocated funding as opposed to direct placement opportunities. The types of projects we’ve been seeing recently, is that a lot of companies are looking to transition from their older, Legacy systems, into newer technologies. Focus on user design and business interaction/communication skills is becoming increasingly important as well.
AIM: What short and long term impacts does it have on a company’s growth when they have Java openings that they can’t fill?
KG: Unfilled positions result in delayed project completion times, increased workload on current team members and can result in a very large financial burden for the company. In order to stay competitive, these companies are always trying to create new products and add functionality to their main products. This allows them to attract and retain customers to generate more revenue.
AIM: How can more people be encouraged to explore Java or tech/coding as a career path?
KG: IT is a booming industry, there will always be positions open and new avenues to explore. The way to be successful within this industry is to keep up with learning the newer technologies. If you can stay relevant and bring in fresh ideas to the projects you’re working on, you will remain a valuable asset to your company.
Find something that you are passionate about because it does take some time for you to build yourself up to be in high-demand. If you like traveling, you have the option of contracting so you can gain exposure to many different companies and learn new skills to build up your portfolio.
AIM: What are a few things about candidates that really stick out to you during the recruitment process that either help or hinder their prospects with your company?
KG: The biggest thing, outside of having the appropriate technical skills for the job, is finding a candidate that is a good cultural fit for the company. Take the time to speak with the hiring managers to get details on what the team environment is like, dress code, business challenge, what the impact is to the internal/external customer, etc. Not every job is going to be a perfect fit, so really asking those questions and meeting with people who currently work at the companies you’re interested in will help you determine if you even want to work there (I wouldn’t just trust Glassdoor reviews).
With that being said, candidates are expected to have opinions on technologies and be able to explain them. Know your strengths, acknowledge areas for improvement. Hiring Managers want to hire people who have passion and room for growth, very rarely does the person who “can do it all” gets selected.
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Are you interested in a career in coding? AIM Interface School is currently enrolling for their Introduction to Web Development course, and fall workshops in JavaScript closures and Java Reflection API. Click here for more information on upcoming courses.
LightEdge Solutions, an enterprise-grade cloud, colocation and managed services provider, recently announced its plans to buy Cabela’s state-of-the-art data center in Omaha.
“Cabela’s facility was a purpose-built data center that represented the same high standards in quality LightEdge values when bringing colocation to a local market,” said Jim Masterson, CEO of LightEdge Solutions. “LightEdge plans to immediately deploy our world-class enterprise cloud platform inside the new center, and fully integrate the facility via a private fiber backbone to existing carrier neutral colocation centers in Des Moines, Iowa and Kansas City, MO.”
The 16,925 square-foot data center was originally constructed in 2010. It will be retrofitted to support LightEdge cloud and colocation services. The retrofitting will complement LightEdge’s other data center facilities across the Midwest.
Cabela’s has signed a tenant lease with LightEdge and will continue to operate from the data center.
LightEdge believes that Omaha is an ideal location for the data center thanks to the proximity to its other facilities, as well as the Omaha airport, making transportation more convenient for business leaders to tour and move into the space.
“Our relationship with LightEdge began when we were looking for a partner to help us better manage our ever-growing data and technical needs,” said Ralph Castner, CFO of Cabela’s. “This arrangement allows us to entrust our data center solutions to respected industry experts.”
Other benefits of selecting Omaha include the available energy sources, minimal environmental and weather concerns, and tax benefits for tenants. The Omaha data center is scheduled to open in Q4 2017, and will be immediately available for tours.
Join us November 15th for the AIM Tech Celebration, an annual reception and award show to honor those making remarkable tech achievements in the community. Do you know a student, teacher, innovator, or business in the area who deserves to be recognized?
Over 800 software developers from across the region gathered last week for the 14th Annual Heartland Developers Conference. The event was held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista, Nebraska.
Considering whether to move into tech management or stay on a technical track? Our new AIM IT Emerging Leaders Program is an exclusive program designed to help you build skills and understand different opportunities and challenges.
Learn More
Are you ready to take your tech knowledge to the next level? We have a variety of class options to fit your busy schedule. You can register today for any of the classes below.
Whether you’re searching for your first job out of college, or you’re a current professional looking to make a change in your current career, the AIM Careerlink Job Seeker Kit will help prepare you for every step of your search.
AIM Interface School and 75 North have partnered to present AIM Interface School: Highlander, a free part-time, 10-week course starting on October 10, 2017.
The course will help young adults learn new skills that can transfer them into careers that utilize tech talent. Students will learn to build interactive websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and an introduction to WordPress platforms.
AIM Institute received funding through the U.S. Department of Education TRIO Upward Bound grant that will help high school students prepare for successful graduation from high school and successful enrollment in postsecondary education. This grant will serve high school students who are low-income, first-generation students attending Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The investment through the AIM TRIO Upward Bound Grant at Abraham Lincoln totals more than $1 million over the next five years. This grant is 100% fully funded by the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $257,500.00 per year for five years.
AIM, a nonprofit that supports the development of the tech workforce throughout communities in the Silicon Prairie with technology training, career development and education services, saw a special need at Abraham Lincoln High School, which has a student body that experiences poverty at rates significantly higher than the state and nation. The grant puts special emphasis on building proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, a critical requirement for students to graduate college-ready and aligned with current and future workforce demands.
Dr. Kandace Miller, President and CEO of AIM, said she’s looking forward to the impact the Upward Bound grant will make in the lives of eligible students, the majority of whom would be the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education.
“The activities laid out in this program will engage and inspire students to learn about technology and encourage them to pursue opportunities they might not have thought were possible before,” Dr. Miller said. “Seeing students develop the skills to be ready for college and supporting them along the way is not only a great process to be involved with, but a great asset for the communities in which these students reside.”
Activities implemented by the grant will include:
In addition, AIM has received a continuation of U.S. Department of Education TRIO funding for three other grants serving low-income/first generation students at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, as well as Omaha Bryan and Papillion-La Vista high schools.
