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Local programming instructor champions the life-changing power of coding
Vanessa Kasun is debugging some code, finalizing her presentation for the upcoming Heartland Developers Conference on Sept. 24. The topic? How to build a React app from the ground up. Kasun, an instructor at AIM Code School, will take HDC attendees from installation of the Node.js open-source cross-platform Javascript runtime environment to launching a simple…
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Bay Area AI engineer turned VC joins retired Nebraska STEM educator to strengthen local tech, startup ecosystems
Joshua Armah, president of Wiase Research Institute and managing partner of Wiase Capital, got hit in the head with a baseball bat when he was 14 years old. A former Boy Scout turned teenage runaway on the streets of Atlantic City, New Jersey, he was trying to save his friend from a beatdown. Stepping up…
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Do Space launches no-cost virtual job interview lab, helping Nebraskans return to work
For the approximately 19 million Americans without internet service, COVID-19 poses a stark roadblock to looking for work: the online job interview. As more companies switch to virtual interviews, jobseekers face a Catch-22. How can you get a job if you can’t do the interview online? How can you afford the internet if you don’t…
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Leading with Curiosity, Passion and Integrity: Valmont Industries President & CEO Stephen G. Kaniewski Weathers the Storm
Leadership is defined in times of crisis, and a leader earns their mark when they “gird and inspire people through difficult times,” historian Nancy Koehn wrote. Valmont Industries President and CEO Stephen G. Kaniewski learned this firsthand through trial-by-fire. The tireless researcher, people person and tech leader at the helm of the Nebraska-born irrigation-systems manufacturer…
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Volano Gives New Developers a Shot
Omaha-based Volano Software not only builds custom business software, they help build the IT workforce. “We’ve hired a number of folks that have not coded professionally before and helped them become technology professionals,” said Rod Smith, co-founder and partner of Volano, which specializes in developing customized workflow design software, databases, portals and more. Over the…
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HerHeadquarters enriches women-owned businesses through powerful brand partnerships
Carina Glover owned and operated a successful event planning business. She built her company from the ground up, working for free in the early stages of development, because she wanted to build a reputable name for her company. And she did. In her second year of business, she landed event planning contracts with the Grammy…
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From the Editors: UNO Scott Scholars Work with the AIM Institute to Design Cohesion, Tell the Story
UNO first-year Computer Science major Zander Gibney’s favorite local nonprofit is—and we cannot stress this enough—the AIM Institute. Zander plans to pursue a career in video game development and spends a lot of his time buckling down to study. In that respect, he’s not unusual. Many university students study hard too, especially in the 24-to-48…
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Infotec 2020 Moves to Kaneko
Early-bird registration for Infotec 2020 is now open! Powered by the AIM Institute, Infotec is the Silicon Prairie’s premier annual business tech community gathering. Infotec 2020 will take place November 13 at Kaneko—a public, nonprofit, interdisciplinary cultural organization founded with the mission of exploring creativity across the spectrum of human activity, including art, science, technology…
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Physicians Mutual and AIM Institute Provide Pathway for Call Center Employees to Become Data Scientists, Web Developers
Last year, Nathan Coberly found himself asking how to get more people into tech. The Physicians Mutual Vice President of Enterprise Architecture and Development was part of a subcommittee of the Nebraska Tech Collaborative trying to develop a strategy for career changers and veterans to pursue IT. Coberly himself had transitioned from the military into…
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Creating a culture of self-care and wealth equity in the software industry
Gv Freeman wanted to cultivate joy and reduce suffering in the software industry. Having grown up feeling out-of-the-loop in Central Nebraska, the St. Louis-based entrepreneur burned extra hours to find opportunities in the tech industry. Self-care wasn’t a priority. It wasn’t even on his radar. In true startup spirit, he singlemindedly drove himself to build…