tech-jam-balconyFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Cathy Resmer, Associate Publisher, Seven Days, 864-5684, [email protected]
Jeff Couture, Executive Director, Vermont Technology Alliance, 802-735-0840 [email protected]

Find Jobs and Make Connections at the 9th Annual Vermont Tech Jam

September 30, 2015 – Burlington, Vt. – Vermont’s top tech firms will be hiring at the ninth annual Vermont Tech Jam, which takes place Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2015, at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center. The free tech career fair and expo connects dozens of the state’s fastest growing and most innovative companies with job seekers, students and tech enthusiasts. It’s organized by Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, and the Vermont Technology Alliance, the trade organization supporting Vermont’s tech business community.

Dealer.com and MyWebGrocer — two of the area’s largest tech employers — are underwriting the Jam and will both be looking for employees at the event. “It’s been a banner year for MyWebGrocer in staff growth,” said Heather Adams, VP of Human Resources at MWG. “We’ve already hired more than 80 people year-to-date and we expect to reach 100 new employees by the close of 2015. We have a wide range of opportunities available, from Mobile Software Engineers to Fall Internships, from Media Sales Executives to Data Operations Analysts.”

The Jam has become “a much-anticipated recruiting and networking event” for Dealer.com, said Joe Keith, Director of Tech Recruiting for Dealertrack and Dealer.com. “We believe in sourcing talent locally and investing in the development of tech skills within our own community. The Vermont Tech Jam is a great opportunity for local businesses and professionals to gather together in celebration of the expanding Vermont technology industry and the thriving Burlington tech community, and we are looking forward to participating in this year’s event.”

More than 60 companies and organizations are exhibiting at the Vermont Tech Jam. Partner sponsors this year include BioTek, Champlain College, Vermont Technology Alliance, Green Mountain Power, Logic Supply, the Vermont Technology Council and Novetta, a “big data” cyber-analytics company whose Boston-based division is seeking to establish a Burlington tech hub and hire more than 20 new employees here as a key part of its growth strategy.

The 9th Vermont Tech Jam offers:

A chance to meet dozens of recruiters from some of the state’s largest employers — as well as startups such as Pwnie Express and Greensea Systems.
An opportunity to talk with admissions staff from Champlain College, Vermont Technical College, the Community College of Vermont and Vermont Law School.
The “Tech Tank”: Attendees can dive into a series of 10-minute presentations — underwritten by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and Seven Days — highlighting some of the most exciting people, companies and ideas in Vermont’s tech ecosystem.
An introduction to stand-out K-12 STEM programs through the Vermont Agency of Education’s “STEM Showcase,” where K-12 students present their projects.
The announcement of the winners of the Tech Jam innovator and ambassador awards.

The Jam won’t be the only tech event taking place at the Sheraton. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is holding its “International Conference on the Edges of Innovation for Smarter Cities” there, too, from October 22 to 25. “IEEE creates an environment where we collaborate on world‐changing technologies — from computing and sustainable energy systems, to aerospace, communications, robotics, healthcare, and more” said conference chair Pascal Nsame. “For our first Burlington-area conference, we decided to partner with the Vermont Tech Jam. We’re excited to pair our technical expertise with their highly successful annual job fair and tech expo.”

The IEEE conference brings together industry leaders, engineering experts, scientists and collaborators to discuss recent advances in subject areas that transform cities into “smarter cities” that use digital technologies to improve services, residents’ access to information and quality of life. The program features sessions on energy generation and use, biotech, semiconductor technology, mobile computing and cloud analytics. It also includes the IEEE BTV Ignite App Challenge, in which teams will compete for the best solution addressing at least one of six national priority areas: Education and Workforce, Energy, Health, Public Safety, Transportation and Advanced Manufacturing. All keynotes and panels — including the IEEE BTV Ignite App Challenge — are free and open to the public, however space is limited. RSVP required while space is available. Find a schedule, and registration options, at sites.ieee.org/eisc.

The IEEE conference takes place upstairs at the Sheraton, and will attract participants from across the region. The Tech Jam is in the expo room downstairs, and will include tech demonstrations from some of IEEE’s partners.

The Vermont Tech Jam was started in 2008 by Seven Days, the Vermont Technology Alliance and a coalition of public and private sector partners who sought to increase the visibility of the state’s vibrant, and growing, technology sector. There were two Tech Jams that year — one in January, and one in October. The Tech Jam became an annual event in 2009.

Find an event schedule, a complete list of exhibitors and sponsors — and sign up for the weekly Tech Jam News email newsletter — at techjamvt.com.