As the tech industry continues to grow in Chatham-Kent, companies are searching for the latest talent.
WEtech Alliance and Chatham-Kent Economic Development Services hosted the first-ever TeCK Night Chatham-Kent on Tuesday at the Sons of Kent Brewing Co. in Chatham.
TeCK Night at Sons of Kent in Chatham. April 3, 2018. Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
WEtech Alliance President and CEO Yvonne Pilon says her company is a regional innovation centre that is home-based in Windsor and caters to the Chatham-Kent region.
Pilon says WEtech Alliance wants to get a better understanding of the tech industry in Chatham-Kent.
"If you were here tonight you'd see the buzz and there's a lot of amazing companies and entrepenual talent and tech talent here," says Pilon. "Our goal is just to better understand who is the tech talent and who are the tech companies and what are their challenges and their pain points so that we can then better support them with programming and services to both help them grow and create jobs in Chatham-Kent."
Chatham-Kent's Director of Economic Development Stuart McFadden says it is very important that the community supports this sector.
"Technology surrounds us -- everything we do in life," says McFadden. "Yvonne and her team at WEtech Alliance can provide that support for the businesses and people that have ideas and thoughts in Chatham-Kent. It's a great marriage and great opportunity."
McFadden points out that Chatham-Kent is known for manufacturing and agriculture, but both those industries rely on technology to advance. He says we need to take technology seriously and provide the support businesses and people need.
Pilon says most people think of tech as IT and software, but technology includes industries like advanced manufacturing and agritech that are in Chatham-Kent. She says we need to broaden the term of what technology is.
"We do have a thriving tech community and sometimes our biggest weakness is we're not telling our story," she explains. "This is kind of step one of telling that story and showcasing the companies that are here. [Also], there's jobs here. Everyone on our panel tonight in our pre-meeting said 'We have jobs and we need people.'"
Pilon adds that there is also a huge gap in Canada for tech jobs and women should step up to fill those positions. She says only 5% of tech companies in Canada are led by female CEOs.
McFadden says based on the crowd at Tuesday's event, he thinks there will likely be more to come.
"I think we recognize here just by this turnout that there is a need and there's an appetite for it. Yes, we're going to continue on," he says.