Get ready for an exciting Tech It Out event with inspiring speakers and networking opportunities. Don’t miss expert speakers on topics including technology awareness, understanding challenges, using technology tools, productivity and government updates.

When: Thursday, September 15

Time: 12:30pm – 4:30pm CDT

Where: In-person and live streaming options

Registration

St. Louis In-Person

Sioux Falls In-Person

Virtual

Keynote: Emily Hemingway

Emily Hemingway transforms communities through entrepreneurship and innovation. With over 15 years experience, she is committed to fostering equitable economic opportunity across America by empowering regions through data-driven strategic planning, public-private partnerships, and leading-edge community advancement practices.

Having worked her way from coast to coast, Emily is an economic development powerhouse, award-winning event producer, business accelerator director, public relations specialist, and nationally recognized thought leader in entrepreneurial ecosystem design. A 6x tech founder, Emily currently serves as the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL, the first Tech Council of Greater St Louis.

Cybersecurity with Dr. Brian Gant

Dr. Brian Gant is the leading Cybersecurity Assistant Professor at Maryville University where he began his educational studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from Maryville University, a Master’s in Management, from Fontbonne University, a Master’s in Human Services from Capella University, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership, from Maryville University. His dissertation focused on “Cyberbullying in eSports: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach to Examining Student-Athlete and Administrator Perceptions.”

Dr. Gant has accumulated over 15 years in law enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, addressing cyber, domestic terrorism, and public corruption. Dr. Gant also joined the ranks of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as a Special Agent working on domestic and international assignments, including the protection of Former President Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as well as critical systems protection, and electronic/cyber-crimes.

Dr. Gant accepted an appointment to become a full-time Assistant Professor in 2020 at the Simon School of Business, Maryville University where he currently serves as Program Director for the undergraduate program. He is the father to his son (Tyler) and daughter (Dawson) who resides in St. Louis, Missouri with him.

Government Updates with Lee Friedman

Lee Friedman has spent over two decades working at the intersection of legislative advocacy, public policy development, political campaign management and strategic communications.
As a Vice President and Deputy Chief of Government Relations at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, he has provided strategic advice on legislative tactics and messaging to Fortune 500 companies while helping them to accomplish their legislative goals.

In his 13 years at NCTA Lee has worked on policy issues as diverse as telecommunications, data security, privacy, tax, cybersecurity, education and financial regulatory reform, that impacted NCTA’s member companies at the federal, state and local level. As the lead Democrat lobbyist, he has a special focus on House Energy & Commerce and moderate members of the Caucus.

Lee has also managed relationships with key center-left third-party organizations and helped managed coalitions focused on tax and privacy issues.
Prior to his time at NCTA, Lee served as the National Political Director for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. During his six years with Leader Hoyer, Democrats grew their caucus by 51 seats and Hoyer rose from Whip to Leader. Prior to his time with Leader Hoyer, Lee managed political campaigns in Maryland. Lee is a graduate of Dickinson College. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife and three children.

Reimagining the Customer Journey with Jeannie Thurston

Jeannie Thurston is responsible for linking the company’s innovations, products and services to create brand awareness for Midco. She leads and guides teams executing integrated communications, marketing, digital and social impact strategies with a customer-centric approach to drive demand and loyalty for all business units and the company.

With almost 20 years of experience at Midco, Jeannie has worked in inbound sales, telecom support and creative services. She exemplifies Midco’s commitment to community having served as a volunteer coach for Embe’s Girls on the Run program and Big Sioux girls volleyball teams. Jeannie is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Sioux Falls and Women in Cable Telecommunications Rising Leader programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in business from South Dakota State University.

Charlotte Field

Charlotte leads six verticals and has responsibility for operations in the following areas: Service Delivery, Cloud Infrastructure and Operations, Operations Support Systems, Network Security, Operational Intelligence and APO Support and Implementation Centers across Charter.

Prior to her current position, Charlotte Field was the Senior Vice President – Infrastructure and Operations, National Engineering and Technical Operations at Comcast. Charlotte led a combined organization responsible for supporting the Comcast national infrastructure and operations for both the Enterprise and Customer Facing Networks/Products. Prior to the AT&T Broadband merger with Comcast, Charlotte was Senior Vice President for Technical and Network Operations Organization for AT&T Broadband. Charlotte previously held numerous technical and managerial assignments in AT&T Bell Laboratories, AT&T Long Lines and AT&T Communications. Her assignments included positions in engineering, operations, and systems development.

Charlotte graduated from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She received her Masters of Business Administration degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a focus in Finance. She is also a graduate of executive programs from INSEAD and Harvard Business School.

Charlotte is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and Delta Mu Delta honor societies. She is an active member of the Michigan Technological University Presidential Council of Alumnae and also participated previously on the Michigan Technological University Engineering Advisory Board and the University of Colorado Engineering Advisory Board and ATLAS Board.. She is a member of Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT) and the Society of Cable and Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). In 2004, she was recognized by the Rocky Mountain WICT as a Walk of Fame Inductee. In 2005, she received the Women in Technology National Award and she was named a Wonder Woman by Multi-Channel News in 2008. In 2008, Charlotte was also named to the SCTE Board of Directors for a two-year term. Charlotte has been honored as a top woman in Technology by CableFAX multiple times. In 2010, Charlotte was named to the FCC Technical Advisory Council representing Comcast and the industry. She was also a member of the FCC CSRIC VI and was Chair of CSRIC VII.