We always find innovation of CBIC members, local entrepreneurs, businesses and teachers of interest, so when Nate Delesline III, Editor of the Charlottesville Business Journal, took notice of CBIC's award recipients -- and took pen to paper-- to feature all seven honorees in a special 7-part series, we were absolutely thrilled! 

Check out the stories in the series that have published as of Thursday, July 12. 

What better way to inspire kids to remain engaged in STEM learning (science, technology, engineering and math) then by showing them firsthand what they can do professionally with their knowledge. 

Thursday, October 18, 2012 marks the 10th annual Tech Tour, a local event to introduce approximately 400 area middle and high school students to the dynamic high technology world that exists in the Charlottesville/Albemarle County metro region.

Organized by CBIC, this day-long happening is aimed at exposing students to the challenging and diverse career possibilities offered by our regional technology community. It is designed to help them envision themselves as technology employees, professionals and entrepreneurs in the next wave of high tech advancements in our area.

Students representing regional schools will spend the day traveling to 50 selected companies for a hands-on visit to meet employees and experience the use of technology in unique and specialized operations. Students will travel with classmates in groups of 12-15, and be assigned to one of 20 unique and exciting tour schedules.

When: Thursday, October 18, 2012, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm 

Where: Piedmont Virginia Community College Dickinson Building and regional technology companies

Who: 7th through 12th grade students and hosting technology companies

How: Students should sign up through their school's Technology Specialist or Career Counselor

Opportunities to Participate in CBIC's Annual Tech Tour

Would you like CBIC to put your technology company on the Tech Tour map?

Showcase your company as a tour venue. Do you have a facility to showcase or hands-on technology to demonstrate at your site? Great! Why not add your company location as a Tech Tour venue?

As a Tech Tour venue, you would lead an interactive session (approximately 45 minutes to one hour) designed to engage the students and get them excited about a possible career in a technology-related field. Tour sessions typically include:

• A tour of your facility and a hands-on demonstration of your technology product or service
• An overview of the work skills and job profiles employed at your company
• A discussion of a particular challenge your company has faced and how technology may have helped to overcome it
• Tips and advice on career paths related to your company
• A review of job opportunities-internships, part-time positions, full-time positions-for which Tech Tour students can apply

Share your technology career as a presenter at a tour hub. Do you have a technology product or service to highlight, but lack space to accommodate a tour? You're not alone, and we're working to arrange central locations-tour hubs- where innovators like you can show your stuff. Do you have a technology career story to share with aspiring technology professionals? The students would love to hear it.

As a Tech Tour presenter, you would lead your interactive session at one of the tour hub presentation spaces. Similar to the Tech Tour venues, presenter sessions typically include:

• A presentation of your technology product or service
• An overview of the work skills and job profiles employed at your company
• A discussion of a particular challenge your company has faced and how technology may have helped to overcome it
• Tips and advice on career paths related to your company
• A review of job opportunities-internships, part-time positions, full-time positions-for which Tech Tour students can apply