Spring is around the corner, and there’s a lot happening across Connecticut’s tech ecosystem. This month, we’re gearing up for our first-ever Tech Career Expo, an opportunity for high school students to learn about exciting career paths in tech and hear directly from industry professionals about the opportunities waiting for them. Connecticut’s tech sector is growing fast, and there are incredible opportunities ready to be seized—many of which students don’t even realize exist.
This month’s newsletter features key industry updates, upcoming events, and initiatives driving innovation across the state. Thank you for being part of this work—your involvement is helping shape the future of tech in the region.
Best,
Patricia Meyer Director
Good Jobs Challenge Grant
TECH CAREER EXPO: CONNECTING STUDENTS TO TECH OPPORTUNITIES
On Friday, March 28, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, the Tech Career Expo, hosted by Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub in partnership with The WorkPlace, will bring together industry professionals and students from high schools across Southwest Connecticut to explore career pathways in tech. This virtual event will highlight five promising tech careers, provide expert insights, and offer pathways to training and certifications. A live Q&A will give participants the chance to engage directly with professionals and get their questions answered.
As Connecticut’s tech community continues to grow, it’s essential that young people know about the incredible opportunities available to them. By connecting students with industry leaders and real-world career paths, this event reinforces our mission to strengthen the tech workforce and ensure the next generation is prepared to thrive. If you know of any high school students or educators who would benefit from attending, please spread the word. For questions, contact Patricia Meyer atpatricia@stamfordpartnership.org.
A heartfelt thank you to the incredible speakers who made our Workshop Series such a success! From September through March, we explored the impact of Artificial Intelligence across industries and the importance of Neurodiversity in the Workplace, thanks to our esteemed guests.
Dr. Wei Chen,Associate Professorat UConn, kicked off the series with insights into Generative AI & the Future of Business, helping attendees understand AI's real-time applications and challenges. He later led a hands-on GenAI Workshop for Knowledge Workers, providing strategies for integrating AI tools into daily workflows.
Anand Ranganathan, Chief AI Officer & Co-founder at OneByZero, explored the Emergence of Generative AI-Powered Agents, offering a glimpse into AI automation’s future and its impact on industries like finance and software development.
Danica Tarin, Founder of NeoLumin LLC, led two workshops: Roadmap for AI Strategy, helping businesses navigate their AI journeys, and ChatGPT and Data Analytics, equipping small business owners with AI-driven solutions.
Karen Bellnier, Director of the Hub for Digital Innovation and Educational Excellence at Mitchell College, led a discussion on Neurodiversity in the Workplace, focusing on inclusivity and advancing neuroequity initiatives.
We’re grateful to our speakers for sharing their expertise and look forward to more exciting workshops ahead—stay tuned!
In our latest Tech Hub Spotlight, Lyle Liberman, Chief Operating Officer at JANUS Associates, shares how CT Tech Hub has been an invaluable resource for connecting with diverse groups across tech, education, and workforce development. As one of the nation’s oldest cybersecurity firms, JANUS leverages these collaborations to strengthen its mission of safeguarding enterprise IT while contributing to Connecticut’s expanding tech ecosystem.
By fostering partnerships and knowledge-sharing opportunities, CT Tech Hub helps companies like JANUS stay at the forefront of cybersecurity while supporting a thriving, innovation-driven workforce. These connections play a crucial role in advancing both the security and sustainability of Connecticut’s tech industry.
We had the opportunity to join our peers, the Southwest Connecticut Manufacturing Partnership, at the Engage & Grow Expo at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. More than a career fair, this event brought together over 100 tech-enabled companies from across Greater Fairfield County and The Valley for a full afternoon of networking, demos, and business development.
Our partners at The WorkPlace were on hand to share information about Tech Ready Training and strategies to help employers strengthen their talent pipelines. One of our participating companies, NeoLumin, led a standout session on automating workflows through AI. Special thanks to the Bridgeport Regional Business Council for hosting and bringing together such a dynamic cross-section of the region’s business and innovation community.
HELPING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPLORE TECH CAREERS WITH #JUSTLIKEME
Our #JustLikeMe campaign is helping high school students discover exciting tech career opportunities they might not have known about. It provides them with the resources they need to explore their options and plan their next steps after graduation. In partnership with The WorkPlace, this initiative raises awareness of in-demand careers in software engineering, data analytics, networking and systems, and cybersecurity, making sure students know what’s possible—and how to get there.
A key resource for schools and educators is the Tech Careers Kit, which provides career exploration tools, insights into industry trends, and guidance on training programs and certifications. These materials help students understand what’s possible in tech and how to get started.
As part of this effort, we’re also hosting the Tech Career Expo on March 28, a virtual event where students will get a firsthand look at five in-demand tech careers and engage with industry professionals. If you're an educator looking to support students on their career journey or anyone interested in learning more, reach out to Patricia Meyer at patricia@stamfordpartnership.org.
Work-Based Learning for Emerging Technologies and Advanced Industries Published by Forbes Project-based capstones, micro-internships, co-op programs, and apprenticeships are key to preparing talent for the future. This article highlights how work-based learning opportunities—like those offered through Tech Ready and SW CT Tech Hub’s higher education partners—are shaping the next generation of tech professionals.
Investing in People: The Power of Human Capital in Banking’s AI Era Published by the World Economic Forum As AI reshapes the banking industry, companies are focusing on upskilling and investing in human capital to ensure employees can thrive alongside emerging technologies.
How to Deploy AI to Create New Value Published by the World Economic Forum Maximizing AI’s potential requires a workplace culture that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and innovation. Leaders play a critical role in modeling behaviors that help employees embrace AI’s benefits.
NO-COST TECH TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN CONNECTICUT
Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub, in partnership with The WorkPlace, offers no-cost Tech Ready training to equip individuals with essential skills for high-demand tech careers. Participants can earn certifications in areas such as CompTIA A+, AWS Cloud, and Generative AI, opening doors to opportunities with top regional employers.
We encourage you to share this initiative within your network to help us reach potential candidates. The next Tech Ready Career Training Info Session is scheduled for March 27, from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM. These brief virtual sessions are the perfect first step to explore the program, learn about certifications and job placement support, and determine if it’s the right fit for you or someone you know.
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Thank you to the following organizations for supporting the Southwest CT Tech Hub:
Advance CT · Airbornway Corporation · Analytic-Aware LLC · Bank of America · Benchmark IT · Blueprint Business Consulting · Business-Higher Education Forum · Charles IT · Charter Oak State College · City of Stamford · Deloitte · GE Appliances · George Comfort & Sons · Havyn Coworking · IBM · Indeed · Interactive Brokers · Janus Associates · KJM Textiles · McKinsey · Merrill · Neolumin · NBC Sports · Nuvance· Office of Workforce Strategy · PreRound · Priceline · Renquiry · Scala Computing · SDG Corp · Silicon Valley in Your Pocket · Social Venture Partners · Software Development Resources · Southern Connecticut State University · Sparks Policy Group · Stamford Health · Synchrony · The Workplace · Thorney Advisors · UCONN
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ED22HDQ3070186, awarded to the State of Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy by the U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration.
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