[1st-mile-nm] Local innovation — powered by tech

[Richard Lowenberg]

Local innovation — powered by tech

By Molly Timmins and Jennifer Nevarez Jun 2, 2018
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/local-innovation-powered-by-tech/article_00b0d8e3-c1e9-5b8d-8801-40af3571cb1d.html

Tech is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. In Santa 
Fe, 231 IT jobs are waiting to be filled, according to research by 
Burning Glass Technologies. Moreover, code.org reports the average 
salary for a computing occupation in New Mexico is $77,287 
(significantly higher than the average annual salary of $43,170).

To spread awareness of Santa Fe’s growing tech industry, TechHire Santa 
Fe, a collaborative working group supported by Opportunity Santa Fe and 
lead by New Mexico TechWorks, spearheaded the addition of a Tech 
Corridor to the recent 2018 Business Expo and Job Fair at the Santa Fe 
Community Convention Center hosted by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce 
on April 5.

The Tech Corridor gave our local tech companies and internationally 
acclaimed Santa Fe-based innovators, like Flow Science, Open Eye 
Scientific, Descartes Labs and Meow Wolf, an opportunity to connect with 
our community and educate the public while sharing information on 
products and services, as well as employment and internship 
possibilities. Stagecoach Foundation, the local nonprofit founded by 
George R.R. Martin to support tech and film education for area youth, 
offered free headshot photography for attendees eager for a 
professional, high-quality photo for their LinkedIn profile. Jennifer 
Nevarez, director of New Mexico TechWorks, facilitated two lively 
afternoon discussion panels with local professionals from both the tech 
and film industries.

Opportunity Santa Fe’s AmeriCorps VISTA Louise Majorey was inspired to 
have youth participate and worked with Nevarez and teachers at Capital 
and Santa Fe high schools to organize field trips to the Business Expo 
and Job Fair. Many students who attended were in computer science 
classes and interested in entering the tech industry. Students met local 
tech professionals and learned about local tech companies that they 
could work with someday.

Meanwhile at the Santa Fe Community Foundation table (an expo corporate 
sponsor), AmeriCorps VISTA leader Molly Timmins recruited graduating 
teens for an exciting summer opportunity to work with TechHire Santa Fe 
through partnership with Opportunity Santa Fe, hiring three AmeriCorps 
VISTA summer associates for 10 weeks this summer to assist with tech 
summer programs, workshops and other tech education initiatives. (For 
information on applying to these and other summer associate positions, 
visit opportunitysantafe.org/americorps-vista.)

TechHire Santa Fe and Opportunity Santa Fe are grateful for their 
partnership with the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce and for the 
opportunity to launch the Tech Corridor at the 2018 Business Expo and 
Job Fair.

Many local tech companies find they must recruit from outside Santa Fe 
to fill their advanced tech positions. Opportunity Santa Fe and TechHire 
Santa Fe are working to change that trend by supporting the growth of 
our innovation economy and working collectively to strengthen tech 
education in our community.

Since “computing is used all around us and in virtually every field” and 
with computing occupations noted as “the number one source of all new 
wages in the U.S.” by code.org, we encourage community members of all 
ages to get involved.

Enroll in a workshop or class, browse an online education platform, 
register your kids and grandkids for tech courses, camps and clubs, 
request computer science after-school programs, courses and electives 
for your children at school, and encourage legislators, civic leaders 
and employers to support tech education and workforce training. To learn 
more about our tech ecosystem, visit www.nmtechworks.com and sign up for 
the mailing list for updates on upcoming tech events, programs, 
highlights and opportunities.

Molly Timmins is the AmeriCorps VISTA leader with Opportunity Santa Fe, 
and Jennifer Nevarez is the director and lead educator at New Mexico 
TechWorks and leads the TechHire collaborative working group.



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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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