Contribute suggestions for luncheon topics, site visits, workshops, events for
Sept 2016-June 2017
Enter ideas in our ultra-short form
Be an active member or reader! What programming, topics, or site visits would you like to participate in 9/2016 - 6/2017?
Suggest topics for events and luncheons, or better yet, join the events and programming committee! What Tech topics are on your mind? What makes a techie's heart skip a beat? Is there an organization, program, team, or business location that you'd like to hear from or visit?
(Note: We are a not-for profit, so we look for speakers from the Valley without travel or other expenses)
To know what topics we covered in the past, take a look:
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The Hub receives Virginia Main Street Merit Award
The
Hub Co-working receives award for Outstanding Business in downtown revitalization
On July 13th, The Hub, a co-working space in Harrisonburg, was presented with a Virginia Main Street Merit Award for Outstanding Business at the Virginia Main Street Downtown
intersections workshop in Staunton, Virginia.
This award recognizes an outstanding new or existing downtown business who has had a significant impact on downtown by strengthening the business mix in the district, displaying an authentic and attractive storefront, or demonstrating exceptional downtown civic and promotional participation.
Owned by Kirsten and Chris Moore, The Hub not only offers a productive and modern downtown workspace for small businesses and remote workers in the area, but also the benefit of having coworkers: people to chat with over a cup of coffee, bounce an idea off, or troubleshoot a problem that people working in isolated settings often miss.
"We hope The Hub not only serves the existing workforce but also serves as a shiny magnet for people who want to make Harrisonburg their home while working for companies across the county or start up new, exciting businesses," says Kirsten Moore.
"The Hub provides a physical space for our online company where we can come together as a team to collaborate on new projects while meeting other local professionals who are growing their businesses as well," says Scott Rogers, of TakeThemAMeal.com.
The co-working space offers small businesses and entrepreneurs a place to work unlike any other workspace in the city. It is located in an old manufacturing and warehouse building in downtown. The space has been turned into a post-industrial workspace with clean lines and inviting workspaces.
"The Hub is a community of people working together and helping each other," says Andrea Dono, executive director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance. "This spirit of collaboration is the essence of what Downtown Harrisonburg is all about."
Since its launch, The Hub has attracted an impressive list of members that are helping to strengthen the overall business mix in downtown Harrisonburg. Everyone from graphic designers and developers to writers, private chefs, jewelry designers and nonprofit organizations have worked in the space.
"Our Virginia Main Street communities are revitalizing these beautiful downtown districts," said Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Director Bill Shelton. "In the last five years, designated Main Street communities have sparked more than $161 million in private investment in their districts, and as a result, last year, there was a net collective gain of 2,637 jobs across our Main Street downtown districts."
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance has helped create an environment that has encouraged more than $66 million in private investment in Harrisonburg.
The Virginia Main Street program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), provides assistance and training to help communities increase the economic vitality of their downtown commercial districts. Virginia Main Street uses the National Main Street model to help communities revitalize their downtowns by focusing on their unique heritage and attributes. The program helps communities implement a comprehensive revitalization strategy that creates economic growth and pride in downtowns.
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 COVITS 2016 | Governor's Technology Awards: Call for Entries
submission deadline: July 22, 2016
Nomination season is open for the 2016 Governor's Technology Awards, hosted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS). This awards program recognizes outstanding public sector technology projects, and nominations are due on July 22
nd. The awards ceremony, scheduled for the afternoon of September 7
th in Richmond, provides great visibility for award winners and nominees, and typically attracts 200+ state, local, and private sector technology leaders.
Nominations for the nine different award categories will be evaluated by IT leaders from state agencies, localities, the legislature, courts and education. Awards will be presented to honorees on behalf of the Governor at a special ceremony during the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS).
Organizations can submit nominations in multiple categories, but only one submission per category.
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The SVTC's FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Team Sponsorship application has been posted
SVTC will cover HALF the start-up cost for a NEW SHEN. VALLEY TEAM!
As you probably know, we care about STEM activities and projects that lead to STEM-field careers -- and for that reason we will again support three new Shen. Valley FIRST
Lego League (FLL) teams with a sponsorship that reimburses approx. half of their start-up cost. Last year, one of them fared so well at the regional, and then the state competition, that they went on to compete at the world festival in St. Louis in April. We are very proud of these guys and their coaches and mentors.
WHAT SHEN. VALLEY TEAM WILL BE NEXT????
WHAT is FLL?
FIRST Lego League (FLL) was created through a partnership between
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO company, and inspires future scientists and engineers.
FLL
Introduces younger students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams, guided by their imaginations and adult coaches, discover exciting career possibilities and, through the process, learn to make positive contributions to society.
Elementary and middle-school students get to:
- Design, build, test and program robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology
- Apply real-world math and science concepts
- Research challenges facing today's scientists
- Learn critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills
- Participate in tournaments and celebrations
Considering starting a team?
Technical or technology experience or background
NOT REQUIRED! (And team members can come from any setting, not just school-based.)
Learn More:
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Governor McAuliffe Launches Workforce Innovation Datathon Challenge
Released on July 18,2016
~ Teams from across Virginia invited to use open jobs data and cutting-edge technology
to create innovative workforce applications ~
RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe today launched the 2016 Workforce Innovation Datathon Challenge, a competition inviting citizens, students, and government teams from across the Commonwealth to come together to create innovative workforce solutions.
"We must embrace innovation and leverage data in order to advance our workforce efforts for a new Virginia economy," said Governor McAuliffe. "Jobs today require adaptive technical skills, as cyber and communication innovations are developing at an ever-increasing rate. We must cultivate a deeper understanding of current and future job opportunities to strengthen the connection between the skillsets we are imparting on our workforce and the needs employers have to grow successful businesses in the 21
st century."
"We look forward to seeing who registers to participate," added Virginia Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson. "This challenge is an open invitation for Virginians to have direct input on how their government uses data and technology to improve how the Commonwealth serves employers and employees. Technology and apps developed by civic coders can contribute greatly to our workforce efforts".
"Workforce development is a top priority of this administration. I am thrilled that the Governor's annual Datathon will be focused on helping jobseekers and education and workforce professionals learn more about current job requirements and availability," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. "I look forward to seeing the new apps and visualizations for labor market data that will be produced as a result of this competition. "
"The Workforce Innovation Datathon Challenge will provide participating high school and college students with a fantastic opportunity to solve real-world problems and gain skills through hands-on learning, essential to laying a firm foundation for the 21st century economy," Secretary of Education Anne Holton said. "I commend the Library of Virginia for hosting this important event, and I thank them for their continued partnership and commitment to providing the Commonwealth's young people with innovative opportunities to learn and grow."
This year's two-day challenge is scheduled for
August 25-26 at the Library of Virginia. For registration, additional information, and Datathon rules, please visit the event website:
http://data.virginia.gov/datathon-2016.
Top teams will be invited to participate in final judging at the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) on September 7th, 2016.
This is the Commonwealth's third Datathon sponsored by Governor McAuliffe. To join and follow the Virginia data conversation on Twitter, use @DataVirginia and #dataVA.
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Valley Business Keynote 
July 26, 3pm-7pm; JMU's Forbes Center
Valley Business Keynote is proud to bring one of the hottest speakers in America, Dan Pallotta, to th
e Shenand
oah Valley!
The Message: Quality of Life and a Healthy Economy
Savvy leaders recognize the direct relationship between improvements to quality of life and econom
ic growth. How a community invests in itself affects rec
ruitment of new business, expansion of current businesses, and sustaining of a strong workforce. Join us this year for VBK 2016 to identify new ways to be more strategic in our community. Such
investments can improve further our healthy and vibrant economy.
About The Speakers
In 2013, Dan Pallotta gave his first TED Talk on rethinking charity, which has received nearly 4 million views to date and he just recently he gave his second. He will share this acumen with local leaders. For more information on Mr. Pallotta, see his bio.
The Valley's own Raymond Brown is a dynamic speaker whose passion is helping others fulfill their potential. Brown provides the opening presentation.
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Annual Valley Business Summit 2016
August 17,2016 at Blue Ridge Community College
Join us as challenges and opportunities facing businesses in our community and around the state are addressed. A feedback forum with state legislators, a business panel discussion and business resource fair are a few of the highlights of the Valley Business Summit 2016.
Key note speaker announced:
Elizabeth Milito, Esq. |
Senior Executive Counsel | National Federation of Independent Business:
Who Cares What Happens in Washington? You Should.
>>
How the Current Political, Legal, Regulatory Landscape Impacts Small Business in Virginia. <<
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VIRTUES: VIrginia RoboTIcs & Unmanned systems
Education Summit
UAV Symposium on August 17-18, 2016 at Lakeview Hall, JMU
You're invited to apply to participate in VIRTUES - Unmanned Systems working group come share your thoughts and be heard!
With an estimated economic impact of $82 billion (AUVSI Report, 2013), growth in the UAS industry continues to spark interest and competition - particularly in states with significant aerospace and transportation research facilities as well as those transitioning military industries. According to the report, Virginia ranks 8
th
in terms of potential economic impact despite having significant research capacity and a high concentration of related military industries.
Governor McAuliffe and Senator Warner have identified unmanned systems as top priorities for the new Virginia economy. In an effort to maintain our edge and improve our economic impact opportunities, we're would like to bring the community together and start a working-group level conversation.
We will be meeting for August 17
th
and 18
th
at our new Lakeview Hall facility located at 298 Port Republic Road. The event will start with a reception on Wednesday evening at 6 pm. Secretary Jackson has been invited and is planning to attend and address the group. We've invited representatives from DARPA and the FAA to participate in the group sessions and guided small group discussions for Thursday.
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MACH37
Cyber Accelerator Accepting Applications for Fall 2016 Session
Fall '16 Corhort to Begin on Sept.6
The MACH37 Cyber Accelerator has officially announced it will begin accepting applications from information security product startups and security entrepreneurs for its Fall 2016 (F16) Cohort that begins on September 6th.
The MACH37 program consists of an intense 90-day program in which the selected startups are coached in all aspects of creating a sustainable and successful business.
MACH37 is looking for candidates who:
- Are building a disruptive information security technology product
- Are delivering foundational security capabilities that enable entirely new products & markets
- Have the will and endurance to turn their labor into commercial success
- Have ideally built a team of 2-4 co-founders
- Need help with startup capital, introductions, and navigating pitfalls
- Are seeking rapid growth through venture capital
- Are willing to be in Virginia for the entire 90 day program and commit to the venture full-time
To apply, visit
www.mach37.com/apply and fill-out the online application. MACH37 will be accepting rolling submissions but participants are highly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
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SVTC's Highlighting Renewing Level III Member:
ComSonics
ComSonics is an electronic telecommunications firm headquartered locally in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Incorporated in 1972, the company is 100% owned by its 200+ employees through a national multiple award winning Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). ComSonics operates four distinct business units - Equipment Repair Services, Product Development and Sales, Electronic Manufacturing Services and Custom Cable Assembly. As a leader in providing high quality Cable Telecommunications repair services, ComSonics markets nationwide coverage from three strategically located facilities in Harrisonburg, VA, Indianapolis, IN, and Sacramento, CA, each using a mobile fleet to pickup for repair from customer locations, line-distribution, headend, test, power supply and fiber optic CATV equipment. The company also offers a related Mobile Calibration business that positions on-site mobile calibration labs at customer locations for validating performance of all test instrument types. ComSonics began manufacturing Cable Telecommunications Test & Measurement instruments in 1975. The first major product, the Sniffer® cable signal leakage instrument, has since been followed by a full line of RF leakage detection devices that continue to maintain ComSonics as the technology leader for detecting undesirable escaped cable telecommunications signals. In order to support state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities for ComSonics developed products as well as those for outside contracted customers, a wholly owned subsidiary of ComSonics exists as CMS - (ComSonics Manufacturing Services) located in a Weyers Cave, Virginia. In 2015, ComSonics purchased Atlanta, Georgia based Cable Connections, diversifying ComSonics' core businesses by providing high quality custom wire and cable assemblies consistent with ComSonics' standard business practices to original equipment manufacturers (OEM).
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SVTC's Highlighting Renewing Level II Member:
JMU College of Integrated Science & Engineering
The College of Integrated Science and Engineering provides students the opportunity to apply science, math, technology and engineering concepts, along with a consideration of socio-technical issues, to solve challenging human problems. Our Computer Science, Engineering, and Integrated Science and Technology departments bring faculty with a wide-range of background and experience (incl. business and industrial experience) together to teach and to research cutting-edge applications. While the College was formed in 2012, our departments have decades of experience in interacting with partners in the Valley and beyond.
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SVTC's Highlighting Renewing Level I Member:
LightCastle Technical Consulting
LightCastle Technical Consulting offers custom software development and Linux system administration with a focus on applications built using Ruby, JavaScript, and Python. We've also spent time with XSLT, real time chat, server automation, matchmaking, API middleware, and continuous integration. We monitor our clients servers, network devices, and other critical elements using Zabbix and Nagios for availability and performance monitoring, and OSSEC for Host Intrusion Detection.
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SVTC's Highlighting Renewing Level I Member:
Cottonwood Commercial Realty
Cottonwood | Commercial stands alone as western Virginia's largest and most comprehensive commercial real estate resource. We have grown to be the market leader, because we have remained exclusively focused on client-centered commercial and investment real estate services. Our client's success has always been our top priority, and we continue to build value for our customers by approaching our work at Cottonwood with integrity, knowledge and insight. Our areas of assistance include Brokerage Services, Property Leasing& Sales, Commercial Acquisition Analysis, Disposition Advice, Property Management, Site Locator Assistance, Landlord / Tenant Representation, Triple Net Leases, 1031 Exchange Investments, Multi-Family Brokering, Shopping Center Leasing, Farm Sales & Purchase, Convenience Store Sales & Purchase, Gas Station Sales & Purchase, Warehouse Leasing & Sales, Industrial Facility Leasing & Sales, Commercial Valuation Analysis and Development Feasibility Studies. We at Cottonwood Commercial Realty welcome your interest and inquiries as you consider buying, selling, or leasing commercial property in central Virginia or along Virginia's growing I-81 corridor.
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SVTC's Highlighting Renewing Level I Member:
Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center
The SV SBDC is where business comes to talk business in the Shenandoah Valley. We offer no-fee, confidential consultation and mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses. We can discuss your concerns about business planning, financing options, marketing strategies, financial analysis, strategic planning, operations, human resources, and more. We offer an active calendar of workshops and events for the business owner and manager, and we provide connections to the many local, state, and federal resources for small and medium-sized businesses. The SV SBDC is a grant-funded, not-for-profit agency hosted by James Madison University and serving the Cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Lexington, and Buena Vista, and the Counties of Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bath, and Highland. We are a Resource Partner to the U.S. Small Business Administration and a member of the Virginia SBDC Network and the National Association of SBDCs.
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SVTC's Highlighting Renewing Individual Members:
Larion Hostetler
Patrick Barker
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You're invited to a local Slack channel, Rocktown Tech
Please join in the tech talk!
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>> Ready to become a member, too? Membership
Benefits & Prices >> How have you benefited from participating in our activities and/ or from membership? Tell us! [email protected] |
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Contact Us
Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
800 S. Main Street MSC 4901
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
540-568-7882
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