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2021 Iowa Technology Summit returns next week

May 17, 2021

The Iowa Technology Summit will return next week on May 24 and May 25. During the two-day, online event attendees will hear from other Iowans on security, innovation and leadership in the tech industry.

This year’s summit will be divided into four separate tracks—cybersecurity, technology innovation, leadership and industry 4.0.

The event is free to attend. Here is the schedule and speaker lineup for the event:

Day 1

LIGHTEDGE LOUNGE – 8:45 A.M.

  • Michael Hannan (Chief Security Officer, LightEdge)
  • Sean Stenger (Vice President of Sales, LightEdge)

WELCOME – 9:00 A.M.

  • Paul Hlivko (CTO & CXO, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield)

CYBERSECURITY TRACK SESSION 1 – 9:15 A.M.

60 Minutes: Iowa Breach Interviews With ProCircular

  • Aaron Warner (CEO, ProCircular)

CYBERSECURITY TRACK SESSION 2 – 10:30 A.M.

Cybersecurity: The Challenges, The Strategy And The Win!

  • Annalea Ilg (CiSO, Involta)

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION TRACK SESSION 1 – 9:15 A.M.

Confessions Of An Innovation Addict: 3 Ways To Stay Ahead Of The Communication Curve

  • Beth Trejo (CEO & Founder, Chatterkick)

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION TRACK – SESSION 2 – 10:30 A.M.

Team Screams On Mute: Building Employee Engagement And Accountability In A Remote Workforce

  • Bridger Moreland (Chief Technology Officer, Manatt’s, Inc.)

CLOSING – 11:25 A.M.

  • Brian Waller (President, Technology Association of Iowa)

Day 2

LIGHTEDGE LOUNGE – 8:45 A.M.

  • Michael Hannan (Chief Security Officer, LightEdge)
  • Sean Stenger (Vice President of Sales, LightEdge)

WELCOME – 9:00 A.M.

  • Paul Hlivko (CTO & CXO, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield)

LEADERSHIP TRACK SESSION 1 – 9:15 A.M.

THE ALIGNED LEADER: CREATING CLARITY AND ALIGNMENT AT ALL LEVELS 

  • Adam Carroll (Co-Founder, Renzo Experience)

LEADERSHIP TRACK SESSION 2 – 10:30 A.M.

TAI Diversity & Inclusion Panel
A Walk In Our Shoes: Developing And Implementing DEI Strategies And Practices Organization-Wide

  • Jennifer Murphy [Moderator] (Director, Innovation Services, NewBoCo)
  • Kingsley Gobourne (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Senior Consultant, UnityPoint Health)
  • Delight Deloney (Field Services Director, SHRM)
  • Denise Earley (Executive Administrator & Executive Inclusion Council Member, Principal Financial Group)

INDUSTRY 4.0 TRACK SESSION 1 – 9:15 A.M.

THE DREAM TEAM: CLOUD & ANALYTICS 

  • Madison Lang (Director of ML & AI Services,
    Zirous)
  • Bruce Younts (VP of Infrastructure and Cloud Services, Zirous)

INDUSTRY 4.0 TRACK SESSION 2 – 10:30 A.M.

  • Mike O’Donnell [Moderator] (Associate Director, Ciras @ Iowa State University)
  • Emily Schmitt (Chief Administrative Officer, Sukup Manufacturing)
  • Debi Durham (Director, Iowa Economic Development Authority &
    Iowa Finance Authority)
  • Hank Norem (President, Ramco Innovations)

CLOSING – 11:25 A.M.

  • Brian Waller (President, Technology Association of Iowa)
2021 Iowa Technology Summit returns next week | Clay & Milk
A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.
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