Mayor, Commissioners Join Chamber for TechFest 2012
Fort Wayne, Ind. - Northeast Indiana’s TechFest continues to grow and that’s an encouraging sign for businesses in the area. In only its second year, student participation is expected to grow to nearly 300 contestants at this year’s Techfest on Saturday March 10, 2012 at the Lantern Reception Hall, 4420 Ardmore Avenue.
“We need our talented young people to stay in the Fort Wayne area, and through the partnerships with businesses and universities this effort helps students realize that good paying, high tech jobs are available right here in Northeast Indiana,” said Mayor Tom Henry.
“Being only that this is the 2nd year that this event has taken place, I think it is great to see such an increase in awareness and participation! It illustrates just how important technology is to our youth and the opportunities available in the field,” said Allen County Commissioner, Therese Brown.
TechFest started last year as a collaboration between Mayor Tom Henry; the Allen County Commissioners; City/County technology partner - ATOS, and the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce’s Graduate Retention Program.
The event features video games, robotics, and problem-solving competitions, as well as opportunities to talk to business leaders and universities. TechFest showcases the talents of local high school students in the STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The fun-filled day allows students to win prizes and to network with businesses and universities to see how their passion for technology can lead to a rewarding career, locally.
High school students, grades 9 through 12 from throughout Northeast Indiana, are invited to participate. To register, students should see their school TechFest coach, or contact Jennifer Fisher, Chamber of Commerce, Graduate Retention Program Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Student teams must register no later than March 1, 2012 at 5p.m.
Because of the increased interest, more sponsors are needed. Any business interested in sponsorship should contact Jennifer Fisher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (260) 424-1435. Sponsorship is a great way for businesses to engage with the region’s future talent, connect with students interested in STEM careers, and take an active role in stopping the “brain drain” in Northeast Indiana.
“These students represent the next generation of our community’s economic growth. TechFest is about keeping these students and their tech talent in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. Area universities offer a variety of opportunities to pursue careers in technology: students do not have to leave the area,” Mayor Henry said.
This year’s TechFest sponsors include: Raytheon, Youth B.O.T., Atos, City of Fort Wayne, Allen County, MedPartners, Coca-Cola, Family Video, Indiana Tech, IPFW, University of Saint Francis, The Lantern Reception Hall and Walmart.
The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving its membership of 1,665 Northeast Indiana businesses. The Chamber serves as a catalyst for economic growth in Northeast Indiana by providing relevant business resources for our members and facilitating strategic connections across business, education, and government. As the recognized voice of commerce in our region, we leverage our influence to advocate a pro-business agenda at the local, state and federal levels while serving as a government watchdog to keep our members informed of policy changes that will impact their businesses. By working in partnership with regional stakeholders, we will align the development efforts of our community to drive progress and promote economic vitality for Northeast.
Atos is an international information technology services company with 78,500 employees in 42 countries. Serving a global client base, it delivers hi-tech transactional services, consulting, systems integration and managed services. Atos focuses on business technology that powers progress and helps organizations to create their firm of the future. It is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games.
In Fort Wayne, Atos is the information technology services provider for the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County.
For more information on participating, volunteering, or observing visit: www.neitechfest.com