Tech Nebraska is launching a new speaker series, “Tech Talks,” designed to provide direct access to prominent chief technology officers (CTOs) and chief information officers (CIOs) from Nebraska’s tech and startup ecosystem. The series aims to shed light on the trends shaping the future of the technology industry.
The first “Tech Talks” event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25th, and will feature Daragh Mahon, Executive Vice President and CIO of Werner. The event is free for Tech Nebraska members and $20 for non-members.
Laurel Oetken, Tech Nebraska’s Executive Director, explained that the series offers an opportunity for aspiring tech professionals to discover career pathways within the state. “I think there’s always a need for more transparency as a state of how we continue to elevate technology and innovation,” Oetken stated. Oetken highlighted the importance of accessibility, noting the aim is to make these leaders more accessible to the broader community. Students from two-year and four-year programs, as well as high school students, are welcome to attend free of charge.
Concurrently, Nebraska Startup Academy (NSA) will assume leadership of the “Scale Omaha” event series, transitioning it to a fireside chat format. The series will now be known as “Scale Omaha Powered by NSA.” This transition comes as the original co-founders, Jake Burklund and Craig Heron, shift their focus to their individual pursuits. The events will be held at The Ashton at Millwork Commons.
Heron shared that the original goal was to use storytelling to counter the narrative that entrepreneurs must leave Nebraska to achieve success. The Nebraska Startup Academy strives to lower the barriers to entry for entrepreneurs through events and specialized online curriculum. The next “Scale Omaha Powered by NSA” event is slated for Thursday, March 20th, and it will feature Mike Jung, managing partner at Grit Road Partners. It is free and open to the public.
Tech Nebraska is an organization focused on strengthening the state’s technology sector through networking, educational resources, and policy advocacy.
