Topic: Tech Wars – From Training to Talent Acquisition –
Date: Sep 12, 2014 Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
What does the smallest start up and a giant like Google have in common? The “War for Talent” and as it rages across all industries, it is particularly acute in what is commonly called the STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. As the pace of technological innovation accelerates at an ever increasing rate, companies both large and small need larger cadres of highly skilled workers for jobs that go begging for candidates. Simultaneously, unemployment/under employment stubbornly remains and talented graduates face daunting challenges in finding meaningful work.
While blessed with both the creativity of our national labs and a vibrant and innovative entrepreneurial community ranked 8th nationally, New Mexico faces its’ own unique challenges that mirror this national problem. Both seasoned professionals and newly minted STEM graduates are forced to leave the state in search of careers, a brain drain that both stymies economic growth and recovery for not only the tech sector but the state as a whole. “Tech Wars: From Training to Talent Acquisition” will address both the problems and solutions in real world terms with a panel of experts whose experience ranges from the entrepreneurial, recruitment, and educational fields. Some of the many topics to be covered will include best practices for successful recruitment, skillsets in demand, the importance of internships, startup hiring needs, training and educational options and programs from internships to on the job training.
Panelists: John Maynard, serial entrepreneur, Nick Truyol, owner Sabio Systems, John Mierzwa, Director, CNM STEMulus
Moderator: Kathryn Bellis, Special Projects Manager, Technology Ventures Corporation
John Maynard has more than 20 years of experience developing and commercializing noninvasive medical diagnostic devices based on visible, fluorescence, near infrared, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy. He has an active consulting practice in U.S. and international medical device and diagnostic development, clinical trials, regulatory affairs and quality management systems. As a co-founder and executive vice president of VeraLight, he raised $32.5 million in Series A, B, and C venture capital. VeraLight commercialized SCOUT DS, a noninvasive diabetes screening device based on skin fluorescence and multivariate spectroscopy. Prior to VeraLight, John was a co-founder of InLight Solutions. InLight had a 10-year, $60M strategic partnership with the LifeScan division of Johnson & Johnson to develop noninvasive a glucose measurement device for people with diabetes. John graduated from Stanford University in 1987 with a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He holds 18 U.S. patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed journal articles related to diabetes and its complications.
Nick Truyol is founder and CEO of Sabio Systems, LLC, an 8a and SBD certified executive recruitment firm with a specialty in high technology. Prior to founding Sabio Systems in 2006, Nick had a successful career in recruiting, sales and management and has over 17 years of experience in the staffing sector. Since founding Sabio Systems, Nick has maintained a hands-on approach to service delivery. He is accessible to both clients and employees, while guiding and directing Sabio’s recruiting and fulfillment function. As a born leader and entrepreneur, building Sabio Systems’ highly accomplished team has been one of Nick’s greatest rewards. His leadership has guided Sabio to its recognition of being ranked in the top 500 by Hispanic Business Inc. in 2013 and 2012.
John Mierzwa is the Director of STEMulus Initiatives at CNM and CEO & Founder of Deep Dive Coders, a web development and programming bootcamp in Albuquerque. John has been VP of Sales & Operations for a $218M company and founder of a successful language school. He is founding Co-Chair of Startup New Mexico. John is passionate about startups, business and education, and especially about the opportunities when they intersect.
Kathryn Bellis is a graduate of the prestigious Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC and has a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in International Relations. A former corporate executive, she designed and manufactured multi-million dollar consumer programs and promotions for such nationally recognized firms as Disney and Walmart. As an aspiring entrepreneur, she achieved profitability within her start up’s first year and developed her own product line of branded merchandise. Committed to both coaching and mentoring, Ms. Bellis founded two professional business associations, ran their talent outreach services and established herself as a talent expert. Building on this expertise, she successfully transitioned into executive recruiting, specializing in placing senior level executives in both the bio medical and high technology fields for her Fortune 100 clients. For the last two years she has successfully managed and developed a university internship program whose goal was to create employment opportunities in both science and technology in partnership with the New Mexico high-tech community and is currently a Special Projects Manager at Technology Ventures Corporation.
For complete list of events visit ABQTechFiesta @ http://www.techfiestaabq.com/