Tech Together

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Alison Barman welcomes co-host Shannon Seaver alongside Jenna Zangs, the Chief Data and AI Officer at the University of St. Thomas. Jenna shares her unique journey into the AI field, emphasizing the importance of female representation in technology. The episode goes deep into the duo's recent success in the 'She Builds' 48-hour Build-On competiti...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman have in a lively conversation with Himanchu Laiker, a seasoned professional with a background spanning Medtronic and a plethora of mentoring roles. Himanchu shares his journey from India to the U.S., his transformative career at Medtronic, and his ventures in the startup ecosystem. He dives into the essence of the entreprene...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann welcome Dr. Stacy Stanley, superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools. Dr. Stanley shares her journey from an occupational therapist to a leading educational figure, reflecting on her commitment to career and technical education. She discusses innovative programs such as career pathways, online schools, and collaborations wi...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann have a dynamic conversation with Sara Paul, the superintendent of North Branch Area Public Schools. Sara shares her journey from teaching to district leadership, emphasizing her innovative approaches to education and technology. Topics include implementing a registered teacher apprenticeship program, the impact of strict st...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman discuss the transformative impact of technology on community and youth with leaders from the Youth Skills Training (YST) program at the Department of Labor and Industry. Guests Joanna Daggett, Nimo Samatar, and Faye Blough share insights into how YST initiatives are setting youth up for long-term success by exposing them to...

Shannon Seaver, flying solo today, welcomes Lori Ryan, diving deeply into Lori's diverse career from TV news to tech. They discuss the transformative power of AI, Lori's ventures in change management, AI-driven relocation services, and creating personalized education platforms. Lori shares her experiences with ChatGPT, and how AI has enhanced creativity and productivity in her life and work. They...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann sit down with Erica Hanna, founder of Puke Rainbow, to discuss her journey from television to creating her own company. Erica shares how working with Prince helped her overcome imposter syndrome and inspired her to start Puke Rainbow. The conversation also explores her experience with AI in video marketing, her passion for...

In this episode of Tech Together, host Shannon Seaver welcomes Allison Barman, Executive Director of Genesys Works Twin Cities, to discuss her journey from mechanical engineer to non-profit executive. Allison shares her experiences working at a tech startup, pursuing business school, and how her role at McKinsey & Company with the Itasca Project helped shape her career towards community and econom...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann talk with Alyssa Boswell, the CEO of Upper Story and a former educator turned toy inventor. Alyssa shares her journey from working in education and raising three boys to founding Upper Story and creating educational toys that make STEM learning fun. The conversation explores her challenges, successes, and the thought proces...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann are joined by Richard Walker, former board member of Genesys Works and CEO of York Solutions. Richard shares his journey from a small farming town in England to leading a major IT consulting firm. The discussion covers the importance of critical thinking, seizing opportunities, and the role of curiosity in personal growth....

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann sit down with Dean Andrew Alleyne of the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering. They discuss the importance of engaging young people in STEM fields to ensure future innovation and economic growth. Dean Alene shares his insights on overcoming barriers to STEM education, including making technology more...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barmann sit down with Tony Peleska, CIO at Kraus Anderson, and Dr. Manjeet Rege, Director for the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of St. Thomas. The conversation focuses on the integration of technology in the classroom and workforce, the importance of mentoring, the evolving roles of AI and data in pro...

In this episode of Tech Together, host Allison Barman interviews her co-host Shannon Seaver about her impactful work with Create Minneapolis and Full STEM. Shannon discusses the founding and mission of Create Minneapolis, highlighting its dedication to bringing STEM education to underrepresented urban communities. The conversation dives into the various innovative programs such as Lego robotics, d...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and guest host James Nagbe are joined by summer interns Alisa Ebrahim and Liban Shueb Abdi from Genesys Works. The conversation explores their experiences during the summer tech training program, where they learned valuable skills in Microsoft Office and AI integration. They discuss the recruitment process, the significance of their cohort gro...

In this episode of Tech Together, Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman delve into a rich conversation with Hillary Spreizer, President of the Latitude Group. Hillary shares her serendipitous journey into the tech industry, starting in IT recruiting during the 2007 recession and rising to leadership at the Latitude Group. She highlights the significant shifts in tech employment, noting the decreased a...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman interview Mike Jackson, founder and CEO of Black Tech Talent and Rocket Growth Academy. Mike shares his early passion for technology and entrepreneurship, detailing his journey from creating a nightlife-based tech startup to launching two impactful organizations aimed at enhancing diversity in the tech industry. He explains...

In this episode of Tech Together, Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman chat with Dave Swenson, VP of Technology Services at US Bank. Swenson shares his experiences and insights from over 30 years in the tech industry, focusing on talent development and community engagement. He discusses his career path, starting from a developer role to leading early career initiatives, from the importance of company...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman explore the intersection of technology and baseball with Shelly Andrew, Senior Manager of Business Systems, and John Evenson, Chief Technology Officer at the Minnesota Twins. In this show, we discuss how technology plays a critical role in the operations of the Twins, from business systems to baseball analytics. Shelly and J...

In this episode of Tech Together, Shannon & Allison chat with Juliet Fox, a seasoned recruiter in the tech space. Juliet shares her unique journey from a reluctant technologist to an executive recruiter at Avid Edge. The discussion goes deep into the changing dynamics of tech leadership, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and the evolving role of tech leaders in understanding business...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman are joined by Nola Slagter-Johnson, Eric Aamoth, and Sarah Loftis Garbus from Hennepin County to discuss their roles and initiatives in workforce and youth development. The conversation spans their career journeys, the importance of technology skills in a variety of fields, the evolving dynamics of workforce development, and...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman welcome Michelle Ament , co-president of the Human Intelligence Movement and Chief Academic Officer of Prosolve. Michelle shares her extensive background in education and discusses the Human Intelligence Movement's mission to ensure students develop the necessary human skills to thrive in an AI-driven world. She emphasiz...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman are joined by Cihan Behlivan, the Executive Director of Beta and a tech entrepreneur. Cihan shares his journey from an investment banker in Turkey to a tech entrepreneur in the United States, highlighting the importance of understanding client needs and picking the right investors. He discusses Beta’s role in fostering a com...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman welcome tech recruiter Dave Elliston to discuss his journey into the tech field and his approach to recruiting. Dave shares insights from nearly 20 years in tech recruiting, including the evolving technologies and methodologies he's witnessed. The conversation expands into the importance of networking, community building, an...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman welcome guests Jeff Tollefson and Joel Crandall. Jeff, former venture capital investor and founder of Genesis Works Twin Cities, and Joel, now president and CEO of the Minnesota Tech Association, discuss their journeys in the tech industry. They highlight the importance of cross-sector collaboration, the evolving needs of th...

In this episode of Tech Together, hosts Shannon Seaver and Allison Barman welcome Jen Rosato and Alexandra Holter to discuss the importance of integrating computer science education into the K-12 curriculum. The conversation goes into their journeys into the field, the challenges, and triumphs they have faced, and the crucial role of policy and collaboration in advancing computer science education...