Get Involved
We would like to encourage you to get involved with a small “slice” of your time to help move TAI and the Iowa technology industry forward. When you join as a member, please indicate from the many opportunities below how you would like to contribute – whether on a Committee or planning one of our Signature Events.
Thank you for the insight and experience you can provide! In collaboration, we will continue to be the statewide voice for Iowa technology
Signature Events
- Iowa Women of Innovation
Assist with planning our annual event recognizing and celebrating women in Iowa who are innovators, role models and leaders in technology, science and engineering. Designed to encourage young women to pursue technology-related careers. Involves engaging high school and college age women, as well as entrepreneurs and leaders in business and academia. Inaugural event was held in November, 2008.
- Celebrity CxOpen Sell-Out Event
Plan our annual golf fundraiser – involves meetings between March and September. A reception and awards presentation follows golf, as well as great networking opportunities for all participants. (Must love golf!)
- Prometheus Awards
Assist with TAI’s biggest annual fundraiser and the tech industry’s premier awards event. Make introductions to possible sponsors and help promote the event. Help build a pool of outstanding nominees from Iowa’s tech arena.
- Green IT Symposium and Expo
Assist in planning this premier Green IT conference for Iowa, a public/private collaboration between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), which will promote the awareness of and best practices in reducing overall energy consumption and carbon footprints in IT.This event will draw from neighboring Midwestern states and will bring together other parts of the country to share strategies and opportunities used to develop energy conservation plans, while enhancing Iowa’s reputation as a leader in energy independence. Inaugural event was held May 5, 2010.
TAI Committees
- HyperStream Ambassadors Launched in 2008 in 40 schools
TAI’s signature program partnering member companies with local area school districts. Participate as a Tech Ambassador to area students, helping increase the awareness of tech-related careers, and engage students and educators through public/private partnerships that may involve HyperStream clubs, job shadowing, presentations, internships, mentoring and more. The HyperStream Web sites and periodic e-newsletters keep Ambassadors up-to-date on news and best practices.
- Public Policy
Provide an important resource to evaluate and improve legislation impacting Iowa’s technology industry and policy for Iowa’s Governor and Legislators. Assist in establishing TAI’s legislative agenda, monitoring legislation, planning annual legislative reception in Des Moines and nurturing the industry.
- Workforce and Education
Implement and support activities that develop future technology workers, as well as enhance access to the current workforce, including a statewide scholarship fund, initiatives to increase the interest of women and minorities in tech-related careers, and HyperStream, partnering TAI member companies with area school districts. Involves meeting monthly.
- Workforce and Education – Eastern Iowa
Implement and support programs to enhance networking and professional development for member companies in Eastern Iowa, including the Eastern Iowa IT Leadership Forum, which will introduce topical speakers focused on technology leadership and provide a setting for networking and dialogue, and the Legal and Finance Clinic (two to four sessions of this popular Clinic will be held in Eastern Iowa each year). Involves bi-monthly sessions.
- Business Climate
Implement actions to ensure a favorable business climate that nurtures Iowa’s technology industry. Assist with planning industry breakfasts and ongoing public relations to create public perception of Iowa as a technically-advanced state where world-class companies thrive. Involves meeting monthly.
- Connectivity
Implement efforts to connect industry members to each other and to business, academic and government resources from across the state through our notable events and industry meetings, including Iowa Women of Innovation, Green IT Symposium, Prometheus Awards and TAI Celebrity Open. Assist with planning for TAI’s Peer to Peer Forums and Legal & Finance Clinic. Involves meeting monthly.
