BENTONVILLE -- The NWA Tech Council discussed adding an educational event that would involve area schools to its lineup this year during a meeting Wednesday.
The council's steering committee met with several of its members at the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce to discuss its vision for the year. Michael Poore, Bentonville Public School superintendent, was one of about 22 people who attended.
At A Glance
NWA Tech Council
The NWA Tech Council formed last year. Its goal was to obtain 40 members its first year. It has about 120, according to Bill Akins, chairman.
Its mission is to “help individuals and area businesses gain a competitive edge both locally and globally through education, networking and community involvement,” according to its website.
The council meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.
Memberships cost $45 per person or $350 for a group of 10 annually. Council members also need to be members of the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Tammy Thurow at 479-273-2841 or tthurow@bbvchamber.….
Source: Staff Report
Bill Akins, council chairman, explained the thoughts behind hosting an education-based event this summer.
"We really want to see education and student involvement continue to be a big focus here over the next year," he said.
The event would give students and small businesses an opportunity to be immersed in technology topics.
Details are being discussed, but the event would be smaller than the NWA Tech Summit and be held at Bentonville High School, said Jon Cadieux, committee member.
Council members discussed including a competition similar to ABC's "Shark Tank" television show in the event.
"We're going to work with the chamber. We're going to work with the School District and come up with something that's unique and fun that's going to start bridging high school students and youth to the professional world," Cadieux said.
Poore and business leaders also discussed the challenge of developing technology talent among students in such a way that prepares them to enter the work force after graduation.
"One of the systemic problems that most growing areas have is talent development, attraction and retention," said Jeff Amerine, CEO of Startup Junkie. "It might be good to have some discussion on that so people can talk about strategies for what they're doing to find the best and brightest and to keep them here."
Tammy Thurow, chamber vice president of marketing and membership, announced the 2015 NWA Tech Summit will be held Nov. 10.
The goal this year is to expand the event that had more than 400 attendees last year, Akins said. There were representatives from the business, school and healthcare communities.
"I think the one area we're not touching here in Northwest Arkansas is the Wal-Mart vendor community," he said. "That was probably the smallest group represented at the Tech Summit."
Akins said he believed the vendor community has more of a sales focus, but technology plays a large role in their work.
The council also plans to continue its monthly speaker series that covers a variety of technology topics. The steering committee solicited ideas from other members that included cyber security, the Cloud and talent development in educational systems.
NW News on 01/15/2015
