Join the NTC as we hear from the UNL's School of Computing Senior Design Management team, as well as a member of the tech team at DMSi who also happens to be a program graduate. Senior Design is the UNL School of Computing's Capstone program, where students gain experience in multiple programming languages and development platforms through a variety of project types. Students work with industry and academic partners to create great software, hardware, and/or IoT applications.

Kara Kugler-Wright is the Capstone Development Manager for the UNL School of Computing’s capstone program, Senior Design. She supports the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED). It's her job to develop industry relationships, fill the project portfolio with sponsorships, and recruit volunteer coaches to work with the student teams.

Melanie Kugler-Wright has more than 30 years in the software development industry, acting as a Director, Manager, Program and Project Manager, as well as a Developer. Worked for Hewlett Packard for 20 years and other companies in the Silicon Valley, such as Apple Computer and Lawrence Livermore National Labs. Worked at UNL with Senior Design students for 5 years. Obtained a Masters of Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from San Jose State University.

Dr. Chris Bohn is the School of Computing's Assistant Director for Capstone at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1993 to 2017 and has been a member of the UNL faculty since then. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University, a master's degree in computer engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a doctoral degree in computer & information science from The Ohio State University. He is the author of the textbook "Programming at the Hardware/Software Interface" published by Great River Learning.

Bill Browning has spent 20+ years in IT as a developer, lead and project manager. The last 4 years of his career have been spent as a project manager with UNL's School of Computing Capstone program where he mentors and guides students through industry led projects.

Adam Schlitchtmann is a software engineer focusing primarily on the front end development of mobile applications, but with experience across the full stack. He is a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a degree in Software Engineering. Since graduation he has worked at a company out of Omaha NE called DMSi.

Angie Stenger is the Executive Director of Growing Together Northeast Nebraska – an Aksarban Workforce Initiative. Growing Together is a comprehensive plan outlining the proactive transformation of Northeast Nebraska’s regional economy and population growth. Prior to taking on this role, Angie was the general manager of the Flood Communications Norfolk division. Angie grew up in southeast Iowa where she learned early in life the value of community involvement from her parents who owned a real estate and auction company. While in high school, Angie attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering, she still uses this skill when called upon for community events and fundraisers. She also started in radio at the age of 15 and worked on-air and in the news department throughout her high school years.While attending Goshen College, Angie spent a semester abroad teaching English in the Sichuan Provence in China. A graduate of Goshen College in Indiana, Angie worked in radio in South Bend where she met Mike Flood, who convinced her Nebraska was paradise. In May of 2000 she moved to Norfolk to help launch the first station for Flood Communications.

Brandon Day is the CEO of Daycos, a Norfolk, Nebraska company who provides revenue and technology services for transportation companies. Daycos employs 65 people and exists to do good and be good by investing in our employees, community, and customers. Brandon began his career in the transportation industry at the age of 6 as one of the “Associates” in post-audit firm John Day & Associates (the other Associates being his mother and older sister). His duties included the all-important tasks of copying, collating, and stapling invoices. After taking a brief hiatus from working at the company to get an education and grow up, in 1994 he rejoined the family business, now known as Daycos. He oversaw the data storage and information technology divisions, before taking over as CEO in 2002. Brandon has also served in many leadership roles in his community, including serving as Chair of the Nebraska Community Foundation, Campaign Chair for the Norfolk Area United Way, and Chair of the Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund.Brandon has been involved in many industry organizations, including the Moving and Storage Council of the American Trucking Association (ATA); the International Association of Movers (IAM), where he served on the Executive Committee and chaired the Technology Committee; National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), where he currently serves on the Household Goods Subcommittee; and the Employee Relocation Council (ERC).He and his wife Tammy have two daughters, ages 22 and 20.

Jeff Slobotski works for Paul G. Smith & Associates, a development and investment firm, and oversees Business & Ecosystem Development. He is focused on connecting and raising awareness for the entrepreneurial and creative activities taking place within the Millwork Commons development. Previous to his current role, Jeff founded Silicon Prairie News (SPN), a digital media and events company dedicated to highlighting, connecting, engaging, and supporting entrepreneurs outside of the traditional startup hubs across the country. Among other events, SPN launched​ the annual Big Omaha conference (now MAHA) which brings together more than 750+​ founders, investors, and entrepreneurial leaders from across the nation. Outside of his day-to-day duties, Slobotski currently serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Omaha, along with RISE Nebraska, a prison reentry organization. He also serves on the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council and previously served on the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Slobotski has also been recognized as one of Omaha’s Ten Outstanding Young Omahans by the Omaha Jaycees.https://millworkcommons.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffslobotski/

Omaha native who has dedicated the last 10 years to growing companies in Omaha, NE. Owner, Hutch Contract Owner, Hutch Modern (Residential) Owner, HutchFest Owner, Made in Omaha LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickhuffoma/

Born in a small town in Poland, Monika Philp came to the U.S. through a diversity visa lottery program. She is a wife, mother, executive coach, and tech advocate. She is passionate about connecting communities, inspiring leaders, and helping people grow beyond their limiting beliefs. Mrs. Philp is currently the Director of Tech Talent Development at AIM, an innovative nonprofit whose mission is to grow a strong and diverse tech community through education, career development, and outreach. In her current position, she continues to connect, empower, educate, and give back to the community. She has been named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Omahans and has been honored with the Presidential Volunteer Award Gold Medal for her 2,000+ hours of community service. She is an active community builder, co-organizer of Women In Technology of the Heartland meetup and TedxOmaha. According to her kids, she’s a bad cook but luckily she’s married to a chef.

Tony Veland, the Director of Member Development for the AIM Institute, is an Omaha native who is known for his past accomplishments in the sports arena as a former Nebraska Cornhusker and Denver Bronco. As a two-time National Champion and a Superbowl Champion, he has experienced success at the highest levels, and he loves to use his platform to encourage the next generation to be successful in life beyond the areas of athletics. The AIM Institute helps to accomplish this as they provide exposure to a growing technology industry that abounds in opportunity. With the mission being to increase the tech talent pipeline, they have created platforms for individuals of all ages to take advantage. Tony speaks to the impact they are having in the community and the ways that an individual or business can get involved.

@monikaphilp

@aiminstituteomaha

https://aiminstitute.org/

Matt Payne stumbled upon computers the summer after seventh grade. He's spent time as a software engineer, manager, and instructor. He taught full-time at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Math & Computer Science department during the early and mid-1990s. During that time, he learned how gratifying it is to help people discover the fun of computer programming and especially how fun it is to help someone get a job.

These joys were one of the things that led to Matt being named AIM's Technology Guru of the year for 2001. Matt is active in the Omaha Technology community and blogs at MattPayne.org. Matt likes explaining (with examples and a graph) that one does not have to start young to have an incredible career in technology. Just remember Arthur Ashe's advice: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/MattPayneOrg/

MattPayne.org

Dusty Birge is the Founder and CEO of Fast Forward based out of Kearney, NE. Native of Nebraska, Dusty started his first business in grade school and has since continued to pursue starting ventures now attaining 2 exits. He has a passion for solving problems and has found how to leverage that interest and build teams.

Fast Forward is a software company optimizing the inspection and patrol of powerlines using vehicle mounted camera systems and computer vision software. Through this technology, utilities can patrol their entire system in less than a month, a giant increase from the multi-year approach commonly used. Such frequency has the direct effect of reducing power outages and wildfires.

Melinda is the Partnership Director for the Nebraska Tech Collaborative, growing partnerships toward a thriving tech ecosystem and leading the Pioneers, an annual cohort of innovators working to elevate the state’s tech sector. With roots in Omaha, her mission is to discover and connect dots between ideators and activators. Earning a psychology degree from UNO and an industrial organizational psychology masters degree from Bellevue University, Melinda has designed and executed partner outreach strategies across greater Omaha nonprofits and is an active volunteer and board member for youth, arts, and educational missions.

Check her out at https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-meyer-a86a84b0/