July Tech Talent Denver Meeting

Description

Join us for July's Tech Talent Denver meeting as we share updates on the resource hub and examine the state of hiring cybersecurity and aerospace talent in the state of Colorado.  

AGENDA 

9a: Registration 

9:20a: Opening Remarks 

9:45a: Resource Hub Updates 

9:50a: TECP Highlight 

10:10a: Hiring Cybersecurity/Aerospace Tech Talent Panel

10:55a Closing Remarks 

11:00a Meeting Concludes 

Denver Public Library: Central Library (10 W 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204)

Tech Talent Denver strives to create a space where industry leaders and community partners can come together to address and begin solving some of our tech industry’s most pressing challenges. With a focus on addressing talent needs in the Denver Metro Region, we will support a thriving information and technology industry by generating discussion and action amongst industry leaders. We will also collaborate with community and regional partners to support, educate, develop, and train a viable tech workforce. 

Tech Talent Denver is led by co-chairs Rolf Kramer, Senior Market Director of Colorado and Arizona at Akkodis, and Sarah Herzog, Senior Director of Strategy & Collaboration at Ardent Mills. Tech Talent Denver is co-convened with Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, and Arapahoe/Douglas Works!  Thank you to our sponsors, ActivateWork and Dice! 

TECP: Powering Colorado's Aerospace and Cybersecurity Workforce 

Ross Gothelf, Employer Service Liaison, TECP

Ross Gothelf is an Employer Services Liaison with Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, where he works to connect the tech industry to talent through the Technology Employment in Colorado Partnership (TECP). Prior to joining the City and County of Denver, Ross was an educator for ten years at schools in San Antonio, Madrid, and Denver. Originally from Baltimore, Ross holds a BA in Political Science and History from the University of Michigan and a MS in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

Dom Williams, Program Administrator, TECP

Dom Williams is the Program Administrator for the Technology Employment in Colorado Partnership (TECP), an initiative housed within Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO)/Denver Workforce Development (DWD). TECP focuses on building talent pipelines in high-demand fields like IT, cybersecurity, and aerospace. Dom has been with DEDO for over four years, beginning as a business development intern before transitioning into workforce development. He plays a key role in connecting training providers, employers, and jobseekers to strengthen Colorado’s tech workforce.

A Louisiana native, Dom holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from CU Boulder and a Bachelor’s in Business Management from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Outside of work, he enjoys discovering new restaurants or bars around Denver, getting outside for a hike or stroll, and hanging out with friends whenever he can.

Securing the Future: Talent and Hiring Trends in Colorado's Cybersecurity and Aerospace Sectors

Moderator:

Helen Young Hayes, Founder and CEO, ActivateWork 

Helen Young Hayes is the founder and CEO of ActivateWork. Through rigorous training, employment placement, and durable skills coaching, ActivateWork prepares individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in IT.

ActivateWork’s graduates experience a doubling in income after completing their free training and credentialing. 

Helen is a 20-year veteran of the financial industry.  She was Managing Director of Investments and Portfolio Manager of the flagship Janus Worldwide and Janus Overseas Funds at Janus Henderson Investors, an asset management company headquartered in Denver, Colorado.  

Helen is a member of the Colorado Forum, the International Women’s Forum, and the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership Network. She is an Advisor to Mile High Ministries and Master’s Apprentice. Helen is a graduate of Yale University. 

Helen’s awards include: 2018 DBJ’s Outstanding Women in Business, 2019 Girl Scouts of Colorado Woman of Distinction, 2020 CTA Talent Champion of the Year, 2020 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader, 2021 Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, 2022 DBJ DEI Leader, 2023 9 News Leader of the Year Finalist, 2023 Most Admired CEO.   

Panelists:

Chris Berthiaume, Project Manager, TECP

Chris Berthiaume is the Director for Denver Economic and Opportunity’s (DEDO) Technology Employment in Colorado Partnership (TECP), a statewide effort to enhance and expand Colorado’s tech talent pipeline in the Cybersecurity, Aerospace, and advanced manufacturing sectors. TECP has just kicked off their 10th year, having brought over $20M to Colorado’s public workforce system and invested in the training of nearly 2,000 Coloradans.

An experienced workforce development professional, Chris has spent the past 20 years building successful talent pipeline programs in Colorado and California that focus on increasing access to quality training and high-demand/high-wage jobs for all communities.

Rick Bohm, CISO, Point Solutions Group 

Rick brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success in the field of information security, which will be instrumental in driving growth and providing unparalleled value to Point Solutions Group’s clients and employees. 

With 30 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing and implementing robust security strategies and security programs that protect organizations against emerging threats. His leadership has been pivotal in fostering a culture of security resilience and driving exceptional results for clients. 

Merlin Namuth, CISO, City & County of Denver

Merlin Namuth is the Chief Information Security Officer at the City and County of Denver.  He has worked in cybersecurity for over 26 years. His comprehensive experience spanning several industries includes leading different security programs, creating strategy and building security programs from the ground up, advancing existing security programs, mergers and acquisitions, managing incident response teams, digital forensics, compliance, architecture, and engineering complex security solutions both on-prem and in the Cloud. 

Namuth has served as an advisor to security startup companies. He has presented at numerous conferences, including RSA Conference both domestically and internationally, been interviewed on renowned security podcasts, and frequently writes blogs and articles.  Outside of work Merlin enjoys traveling, hiking and volunteering with Team Rubicon.

Sarah Walter, VP of Engineering- York Space Systems 

Since joining York Space Systems in 2021, Sarah Walter has been instrumental in transforming the engineering organization into a production-focused, high-performance operation. Under her leadership, York has achieved remarkable milestones, including becoming the second largest provider in the world of satellites to the U.S. government by quantity. 

These achievements reflect Sarah’s ability to drive innovation, optimize production, and meet the complex demands of government and national security missions. By fostering a culture of technical excellence and accountability, Sarah has built a team capable of delivering on fast-turnaround, complex missions.

Debra Wilcox, Chair-Colorado Space & Business Roundtable 

Debra is the Co-Founder of The 3d Printing Store and currently promoting manufacturing through Creating Manufacturing. She is currently Chair of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable board.She’s a member of the Colorado Global MindED board, is active in

Colorado chapter of Women in Manufacturing, Women in 3D Printing, an industry advisor to MSU and Pikes Peak State College, and a member of Cherry Creek Innovation Center and EPIC campus industry advisory boards. She is a reviewer for the OEDIT Advanced Industries grant program. 

Ms. Wilcox holds a BA from the University of Northern Colorado, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver Strum College Of Law and a certificate in Leadership in Sustainability from the University of Denver. Her past activities include the Colorado State Aeronautical Board; NREL Energy ExecutiveLeadership Program 2009; the Advanced Transportation Technologies

for The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association Fellows Institute and the Citizens Advisory Committee for FasTracks.

Thank you to our sponsors, ActivateWork and Dice