Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Página 78

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Feature
in software, electronics, telecommunications and medical COLLABORATION IS KEY
technology operating in the area.
In addition to providing education, part of the academy’s
For brands that require employees to have technical mission is to create tech opportunities via collaboration
skills, the academy is a boon. With companies like High with other local programs. They partner with the Placer
Sierra Electronics, Clear Capital, Gyro-Stabilized Systems School for Adults, Nevada Union Adult School and Sierra
and Linear Technology — all technology companies based College to host specific classes, as well as receive funding
in Nevada County — job seekers have a robust market ready from organizations including NoRTEC, Connecting Point
to hire those with strong tech abilities.
and the Nevada County Information and General Services
Traitware is a cyber-security software company based Agency.
in Nevada City. CEO Bert Spencer sends employees to take
The academy benefits from subsidized rental space pro-
classes at the academy to improve their capabilities as soft- vided by the Green Screen Institute facility and the lab is
ware developers.
accessible to students and alumni like Moore, who want
The courses helped his employee Carson Hawley ad- to work on project development. The academy has also ex-
vance from a home-schooled high school graduate to a fully panded to offer on-site courses in the offices of employers
qualified Android developer.
across the county. Another partner, the Nevada County
“Attending classes at the academy gave me the strong, Tech Connection, is a new community initiative solely fo-
core knowledge I needed to pursue my goals,” says Haw- cused on raising awareness of all regional technology ini-
ley, now a junior software
tiatives. The efforts of the
developer. “I reference the
Tech Connection reflect
courses I took on cyber-se-
the big picture goals of the
curity and UX [user expe-
academy.
rience] design in my daily
One program offered
programming.”
through the Tech Connec-
Those learning basic
tion is a local directory of
digital skills for the first
tech businesses, freelance
time aren’t the only ones
talent and educational
that benefit from the acade-
training providers. They
my’s training programs. As
also aggregate tech events,
an engineer for more than
meetups, jobs and intern-
— Jonathan Palmer, chief technology officer, Autometrix
30 years, Alan Moore grew
ships and post them to the
up and worked in Silicon
Tech Connection website.
Valley for most of his life
The goal is to highlight
before relocating to Nevada City. A software developer, he’s these activities for potential employees or companies re-
since founded his own foundation, Co-op Source.
searching the region online.
Moore enrolled in the virtual reality game development
“We’re trying to boost the public perception of the area
class offered at the academy because he wanted more ex- so people are aware of the opportunity that already exists
perience working with a particular program called Unity, a here,” says Palmer, who in addition to employing a grad-
game development engine also used to build virtual or aug- uate of the academy at Autometrix is active with the Tech
mented reality applications.
Connection. “If people understand that there are a variety
“I’m convinced that virtual and augmented reality will of possible employment opportunities in the area, they may
change our relationship with computing, and getting in on be more willing to relocate here.” n
the ground floor with this somewhat new technology is very
exciting,” he says.
Trish Moratto is a communications consultant who specializ-
After the class, Moore started an augmented and virtu- es in public relations, social media strategy, copywriting and
al reality development meetup group. The academy allows journalism. She is based among the pine trees in Grass Valley.
the group to use its lab and equipment.
“We’re trying to boost the
public perception of the
area so people are aware
of the opportunity that
already exists here.”
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