Tech Connect 2020

About the Conference

Tech Connect is a half-day fully interactive online event that delivers the awesome learning and networking opportunities from MnTech’s in-person events to your desktop. The conference includes innovative examples of Minnesota companies applying technology to power tech-enabled business models, 1-1 networking, small group discussions, and opportunities to connect with sponsors. The agenda is packed with content from more than 50 presenters.

Tech Connect is for business, technology and industry leaders; tech influencers and strategists; tech practitioners and engineers; and future tech leaders currently pursuing STEM careers. It’s free to employees of MnTech member companies and $50 for non-members.

Preview the Tech Connect experience by exploring the event site below.

Explore Tech Connect

Speakers

Fireside Chat

Beth Ford
CEO, Land O’Lakes

Discussion facilitated by Jeff Tollefson, President & CEO, Minnesota Technology Association

Closing Session: Not All Super Heroes Wear Capes

Large Venue Tech Leaders Discuss New “Game Day” Realities

Moderator

John Avenson
Vice President, Technology
Minnesota Twins Baseball Club

Panelist

Douglas Hegley
Chief Digital Officer
Minneapolis Institute of Art

Panelist

Jim Ibister
Vice President, Facility Administration
Minnesota Wild

Panelist

David Kingsbury
Director of IT
U.S. Bank Stadium

Panelist

Eduardo Valencia
CIO
Metropolitan Airports Commission

Educational Session presenters include:

Community Discussion Leaders include:

8:30	Conference begins
	Welcome and keynote
9:00	First Educational Session and Community Discussion Series
9:25	Break
9:30	Second Educational Session and Community Discussion Series, Sponsor Expo
10:00	Fireside Chat
10:25	Third Educational Session and Community Discussion Series
10:50	Break
10:55	Fourth Educational Session and Community Discussion Series, Sponsor Expo
11:25	Panel

Welcome	Welcome by Jeff Tollefson, President & CEO of the Minnesota Technology Association and Jade Denson, Director of Community Engagement
Keynote	Keynote by Marty Resnick, Sr. Director Analyst, Gartner: “5 Trends Drive the Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies 2020”
Educational Sessions	Hear from a variety of Minnesota companies using technology to solve problems for customers and grow their business.
	9 a.m.	Ecolab: Virtual Support: a Real Solution in a Locked-Down World Optum: The Cutting Edge of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Slack: Modern Secure Collaboration with Slack Target: Target Circle – Behind the scenes of one the nation’s largest loyalty programs and it’s positive impact on our local communities AT&T: 5G- An overview of the basic principles of deploying a 5G network. Basic use cases will also be discussed. SportsDigita: The NEW sales tech stack: Helping a remote workforce navigate with Digideck Entrust Datacard: Driving digital transformation: Subscription revenue model for a global portfolio
	9:30 a.m.	AerisWeather: How Weather Data Coupled with Machine Learning Optimizes Business Outcomes Self Esteem Brands: Mobilizing a product team into action in Covid times SportsEngine: From Background Screens to Safety Programs: How SportsEngine Defined Eligibility and Changed the Market Starkey Hearing Technologies: Disruptive Innovation and the Hearing Aid Industry Structural: Building a Future of Work that is Better than Ever Xcel Energy: Customer, data, technology: Nucleus of the future clean energy economy
	10:25 a.m.	CHS: Using “Lean” methodology to align to business needs Medtronic: Driving change in the healthcare lifecycle through technology solutions RSM: Covid as a Catalyst of Health Care Disruption SPS Commerce: Stories and strategies for building and adopting Kubernetes-based engineering platforms TCF: The intersection of Great Culture and Technological Innovation Thomson Reuters: Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on Legal Technology: The Next Frontier is Already Here Unisys: Modernizing Legacy Applications
	10:55 a.m.	Allianz Life: A journey to increasing business value with test automation C.H. Robinson: How C.H. Robinson and Microsoft are Partnering to Build the Supply Chain of the Future Fairview Health Services: Rising to the challenge of Covid-19 Jamf: Work, Learn, and Care from Anywhere: How Jamf is Driving Digital Transformation Livefront: Using performance design to make digital products appear faster than they actually are Microsoft: The Evolution and Realization of the Intelligent Edge Securian: Evolution of the technology innovation lab at Securian Financial
Community Discussions	Connect with your community during small group discussions on a variety of issues important to you. Interact with the conversation leader and one another via a built-in Zoom feature
	9 a.m.	Prime Digital Academy: How can non-traditional talent sources help diversify your tech team? MN-DOT and VSI Labs: Connected and Automated Vehicles: Heaven or Hell? 26 Letters: How Do We Center People When Building Technology? MentorMate: Why Design is a Strategic Advantage in Product Development
	9:30 a.m.	AI Practitioners in Manufacturing: Seagate, Boston Scientific, Entrust Datacard will share results of their benchmarking to date and ways to get involved Baker Tilly: What’s your data done for you lately? LucidLift: Has Agile failed?
	10:25 a.m.	Lab651: The Internet of Things: Should I Be Happy, Sad, or Scared? NCXT: Can Technology Save Dining? Optum & Target: What’s your role in fostering an effective and high-performance remote product engineering culture? Crossfuze: IT Support CX in the new normal
	10:55 a.m.	Lighthouse Software: Low Code vs. Pro Code: Which One is Best? AI AppStore: How will AI Change the Future of Tech and Tech Careers University of St. Thomas: Preparing Business Leaders for a Digital World
Sponsor Expos	Meet Tech Connect’s amazing sponsors, who helped make the conference possible, and enter a chance to win prizes
Fireside Chat	Join Jeff Tollefson for a conversation with Beth Ford, CEO of Land O’Lakes
Closing Panel	“Not All Super Heroes Wear Capes.” Hear from large venue tech leaders as they discuss new “Game Day” realities.

See Full Tech Connect Agenda

Tech Connect: What’s in it for you?

Hear from Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford, one of the most powerful women in business, as she talks agtech, diversity and the digital divide.
Choose from 30+ stories of Minnesota companies using technology to solve problems for customers and grow their business.
Participate in small group discussions on AI, staff development, innovation, connected vehicles and more.
Connect with your community in the fully interactive virtual networking space and sponsor gallery.
Create your agenda on an easy-to-use platform with nothing to download or install ahead of time other than Zoom.
Impress your boss and peers with new ideas, solutions and connections from the event.

Fees & Registration

Tech Connect Conference Fees

MnTech members: Free
Not sure if your company is a member? Check our member listing
Non-members: $50 per person

Conference registrants will receive access to the Tech Connect virtual conference website beginning Monday, September 14. You can build your personal agenda, connect with others, and explore conference features ahead of the Sept. 23 event. Recordings of most sessions will be available to conference participants post-event.

For questions on tickets, please contact patty@mntech.org

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