In-Demand Jobs Week: TECH CORPS | WillowTree Partnership
As part of In-Demand Jobs Week, TECH CORPS will lead a roundtable discussion bringing together state government leaders, including Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Development Director Lydia Mihalik, alongside TECH CORPS alumni, students, and business partners on Wednesday, May 4 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at WillowTree (274 Marconi Blvd #300, Columbus, OH 43215). In-Demand Jobs Week will highlight Ohio’s top jobs that pay more than $50,000 per year and don’t require a degree or years of training – just a credential. The roundtable will focus on the challenges and solutions facing individuals who will fill those in-demand tech jobs.
This discussion is part of a special announcement between TECH CORPS, a national nonprofit ensuring K-12 students have equal access to high-quality computer science and information technology learning experiences and WillowTree, a full-service digital product consultancy. The two will officially announce a NEW partnership to invest in early exposure to computer science for Central Ohio students.
“There is a real issue in the technology skills gap where students in elementary and middle school — specifically girls and under-represented groups — are not getting the access to technology education experiences,” explained Vivi Nellen WillowTree Director of Administration, Events and Community Outreach. “As a full-service digital product consultancy, with a regional presence in Columbus, we have decided to focus on one local nonprofit partner in the hopes of exacting real change in the area.”
The TECH CORPS | WillowTree partnership is a grassroots effort that has the power to influence and change the trajectory of technology access and exposure for greater Columbus area students.
TECH CORPS National Executive Director Lisa M. Chambers said, “When I hear the folks at WillowTree talk about wanting to be involved in the community, wanting to give back and wanting to do so through the lens of technology, for me, I knew this was going to be a perfect partnership.”
One example of how the partnership will change technology education opportunities is through a current collaboration to develop a new curriculum for a data science program. WillowTree Software Engineer Zach Tumbleson is part of the development team. He explained, “I was very encouraged by the focus of volunteers’ ideas during the session. The TECH CORPS folks did not give us a skeleton idea to flesh out, but rather focused on collecting brand new ideas and exploring how these could be combined and transformed into new programs or activities.”
“At WillowTree, our team members who are building digital products for companies around the world are representative of those who are using the technology,” said Jamie Timm, WillowTree Chief Delivery Officer. “Through this partnership with TECH CORPS, we will be able to influence the access of historically marginalized groups and change the composition of those working in technology.”
More partnerships like the TECH CORPS | WillowTree partnership, can bring mentorship programs, financial support for technology education experiences and provide real-world experiences to students all over Ohio.
WillowTree will host a fund-raising event for TECH CORPS on Thursday, September 22 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Top Golf (2000 Ikea Wy, Columbus, OH 43240).
Round Table Participants Include:
- Governor John Husted
- Director Lydia Mihalik, Department of Development
- Lisa M. Chambers, National Executive Director, TECH CORPS
- Greg Tacchetti, TECH CORPS National Board Chairman
- Jermaine Henson, Nationwide and TECH CORPS National Board of Directors
- Doug McCollough, CEO Color Coded Labs and TECH CORPS National Board of Director
- Mayra Lopez, TECH CORPS Alum and IS Tech, OhioHealth
- Marjorie Mendez, TECH CORPS Alum and Apprentice, Nationwide
- Daylen Allen, current TECH CORPS student, 12th grade, Columbus Downtown High School, Computing to Career, TECH CORPS Hackathon, Computing Career Corps, Techie Camp participant
- Jacob Keffer, current TECH CORPS student, 12th grade, Tri-County Career Center, Southern Local, TECH CORPS Hackathon participant
- Tobias Dengel – CEO, WillowTree
- Jamie Timm – Chief Delivery Officer, WillowTree
About WillowTree
WillowTree helps the world’s most admired brands on their path to digital leadership—from product to process. Founded in 2008 as a pioneering mobile app development company, WillowTree has grown into a full-service digital product consultancy, helping our clients anywhere humans and technology intersect. Our teams provide end-to-end, full-stack development, strategy, design, and growth marketing services. Select clients include Domino’s, HBO, FOX, National Geographic, Synchrony Financial, PepsiCo and ABInBev. To learn more, visit www.willowtreeapps.com.
About TECH CORPS
For more than 25 years, TECH CORPS has worked to ensure K-12 students have equal access to Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology (IT) programs, skills and resources that enhance early learning and prepare them for college, credential or career. TECH CORPS develops CS and IT programs and deploys tech-savvy talent to assist K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations across the country. TECH CORPS is the longest operating education-technology nonprofit organization in the United States. Over the years, partners such as Nordson Corporation, JPMorgan Chase, Google, Battelle and AT&T have provided TECH CORPS with the fuel to deliver much-needed technology resources to K-12 students and teachers. Since 1995, more than 15,000 TECH CORPS volunteers have shared their time and talents assisting schools and nonprofit organizations in their communities. TECH CORPS was founded in 1995 by Gary Beach, Publisher Emeritus of CIO Magazine and author of The U.S. Technology Skills Gap. Learn more at www.techcorps.org or connect with TECH CORPS on social media @techcorpsUS.