Tech Career Accelerator: Strategies for Students
STUDENT SESSION / ROOM 401 / APR. 9 AT 10:00 AM
Unlock Opportunities with Brett Taylor
Dive into the world of tech with a captivating presentation by Brett Taylor. Discover the vast job opportunities that await you in the technology field and learn how you can stand out in this dynamic industry.
Speaker
Brett Taylor
Chief Technology Officer
UnityPoint Health
Brett has served a number of roles in his 25+ years in information technology, most recently as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at UnityPoint Health. Brett is responsible for all aspects of technology infrastructure for the IT enterprise, including the areas of technical integration of new affiliates, financial sustainability for the technology departments, as well the technical roadmap and strategy.
Brett has been with UnityPoint Health for 19 years, serving many roles within the Information Technology department.
Brett hold several memberships such as College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), and Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS). As well, Brett serves on the Technology Association of Iowa Workforce & Education Committee.
Panel Discussion: From Internship to Employment
Engage with a diverse panel of technology leaders and young professionals as they share their personal journeys and insights on:
- Securing impactful internships: Learn what skills, background, and professionalism you need to land your dream internship.
- Navigating your internship experience: Get tips on how to make the most of your time as an intern and leave a lasting impression.
- Strategies for full-time employment: Uncover the secrets to transitioning from an intern to a valued full-time employee.
Panelists
Ryan Fye
Director of Data Strategy
Casey’s
Ryan Fye is the Director of Data Strategy at Casey’s, where he has held various data and analytics roles since 2016. In his current position, he is responsible for data and platform engineering, data architecture, and governance. Ryan also leads the internship program for Data & Technology, part of the overall Casey’s internship program that hosts 60 interns each summer.
Jessica McKee
Associate Insights Analyst
Casey’s
Jessica McKee is an Insights Analyst on the Data & Analytics team at Casey’s. She specializes in developing data models & reporting in Power BI and performing technical analysis using SQL. She’s currently part of a team that develops and deploys consumer behavior models. Jessica graduated from the University of Iowa in 2022 in Business Analytics and Economics.
Mady Schmidt
Supervisor, Talent Acquisition Programs
PSCU/Co-op Solutions
Mady Schmidt is the Supervisor, Talent Acquisition Programs at PSCU/Co-op Solutions. Since joining the company in 2019, Mady has helped to establish many new programs and initiatives focused on early career development and new employee onboarding. Notably, she created the company’s Internship Program from the ground up which has recently been recognized as a Top 100 Internship Program in 2022 and a Campus Forward Award Winner in 2024.
Stephanie Severa
Application Development Team Lead
UnityPoint Health
Stephanie Severa is the Application Development Team Lead on the IT Data Management team at UnityPoint Health. Stephanie’s role at UnityPoint Health began as an intern, and her path has included roles from Application Developer Associate through Application Architect before becoming the Team Lead in 2022. Prior to her career in IT, she had a background in healthcare as a histotechnologist.
Carter Winton
VP of Growth
Source Allies
Carter Winton is the VP of Growth at Source Allies. Carter joined the company in 2014 as the technical recruiter, and evolved his role into growing the team, growing and managing new accounts, and supporting the career paths of his teammates. You may see Carter at a career fair, user group, or conference, as he enjoys being present in the local tech community.
Networking: Connect with the Pros
After the session, seize the opportunity to mingle with tech professionals and leaders who are apart of TAI’s Workforce & Education Committee. This is your chance to build connections, gain mentorship, and learn from those who’ve paved their way in the tech world.
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