The 8th Annual Vermont Tech Jam in Burlington drew a massive crowd.
Burlington, Vermont, may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of innovative “tech hub” cities but Champlain College’s gaming program is ranked among the top 10 in the country.
The city introduced their first gigabit network last year, strengthening its technology efforts to boast business growth and education. Burlington is not just a great place to live, raise a family, and get an education, but has become a hive for tech savvy entrepreneurs interested in growing their business.
Tech Jam, a free 2-day job fair and tech expo, showcased 60+ Vermont businesses, educational institutions, presentations, and workshops. Among those attending and plugging into the cool technologies were middle and high school students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs spanning from 10 years old to seniors.
Stepping into the tech tank/Expo, I felt the energy and enthusiasm. A few representatives from software companies stood out – their enthusiasm for their product and company was contagious.
For example, Open Tempo, a young company that develops healthcare scheduling and payroll management software, projects a 40% growth this year with seven mid-level job openings. One of their implementation specialists told me about their history, products and progressive company culture, which was music to my ears. They work hard and play hard. Like many startups, they put in long hours but encourage an active lifestyle. Regular group bike rides, BBQ’s, and surprise parties are part of the culture.
I was thrilled to attend such an exciting event. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for Burlington, its residents, and the companies represented at Tech Jam.
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Vantage Point is led by Jay Casavant, who founded the firm in 2007 after being in the high tech recruitment business for 22 years.