GRWebDev Powered by LaFleur and Code for Good West Michigan present

Lead for Good: Building Better Solutions Through Diversity

Monday June 27, 2022 6pm - 8pm EST

The Event!

Diversity in the workplace is not about meeting quotas or creating attractive marketing. Building technological solutions - especially those used by the general public - requires a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Inevitably, products built by diverse teams are more robust, serve a wider audience, and have a better user experience than those created by a homogenized group. It’s just simply better business.

Please join us online or in person at Little Space Studio on Monday, June 27th for a panel discussion led by Kevin White of EKKO Studio as we explore this topic with Kiran Patel, Andrea Wallace, Geraldo Gonzalez, and Annie Kibler.

Schedule

• 6:00pm - 6:15pm … Doors open
• 6:15pm - 6:30pm ... Announcements & Introduction
• 6:30pm - 7:30pm ... Panel Discussion
• 7:30pm - 7:45pm ... Q&A
• 7:45pm - 8:00pm … Conclusion & networking

Questions for the Panel?

Diversity in the workplace can mean very different things. Is there a topic you’d like to see discussed? Let us know! Submit questions using the following form by June 12th; we’ll be sure to share these with Kevin (our moderator) prior to the event.

https://35b3pj4lvyp.typeform.com/to/efuCQspy

RSVP

This will be a hybrid event; join us in person or online via Zoom. RSVP on Meetup as a virtual attendee; in-person attendees must register on Eventbrite.

If you don't wish to attend in person, pleqase register via our Meetup event!

https://www.meetup.com/grwebdev/events/286094749/

Our Panel

Kiran Sood Patel is a content creator at OST with a strong background as a writer and communications professional. She previously served as managing editor of an online community journalism platform in Grand Rapids and brings years of additional newspaper reporting experience covering issues in education, business, technology, city government and more. She is passionate about diversity and appreciates sharing her background as an Indian American woman with others.

Music producer/DJ, entrepreneur and technologist, Andrea Wallace (best known as Dre) has a passion for the arts and empowering those who are part of the creative economy. With that strong passion for music and technology, Dre founded Fourtifeye, a music-tech startup focused on using data to drive more meaningful connections between musicians, fans and brands. In 2021, Fourtifeye was acquired by another music-tech company called Opnr and Dre was appointed the new CEO of Opnr.

Geraldo Gonzalez is the co-founder of Aztech LLC, a web solutions consultancy focused on digital services and business growth in minority communities. Geraldo is also an active board member and programming instructor for Code on Wheels, a non-profit organization that makes tech education accessible to underrepresented communities. Entering the field of software development immediately after high school, Geraldo has spent the last five years shaping his career around addressing the technological divide in West Michigan.

Annie Kibler is the owner of Oak Tree Operations, a team of professionals that work with small organizations and start-ups to support their missions with project management and administrative services. Annie has years of experience working with West Michigan based non-profits that seek to elevate the community by providing access to technology, education and learning opportunities.

Our Moderator

Over his 30-year career, Kevin White has been a forward-thinking expert in design focused on bridging the gaps between design, engineering, and business. Kevin has helped start-ups, non-profits, Fortune 100 companies, and the public sector use design for improving lives and growing business.

Sponsors

West Michigan Tech Talent connects local employers, educators, community organizations and workforce experts who are invested in creating a strong tech workforce. By sharing best practices, leveraging resources and collaborating on innovative solutions, WMTT is actively addressing the tech talent gap and makes upskilling affordable and accessible.

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, SlothWerks LLC specializes in custom web and mobile application development for startups, small businesses, and nonprofits. SlothWerks is also very active in the West Michigan creative space, supporting and collaborating with organizations such as the Grand Rapids Web Development Group, Code for Good West Michigan, Little Space Studio, Grand Circus, and many others.

observIQ builds next-generation observability solutions for ITOps and DevOps teams. Built by engineers for engineers, observIQ’s solutions accelerate, simplify, and enhance observability across today’s hybrid environments.

GRWebDev's title sponsor is LaFleur Marketing. LaFleur is your forward-thinking digital marketing partner, creating innovative, data-driven marketing strategies and assets for law firms, healthcare organizations, and growing businesses.