Hello Tech Community!

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s incredible to reflect on how far we’ve come as a tech community. At the start of the year, many of us were focused on what lay ahead for technology—emerging trends, evolving challenges, and the innovations poised to shape our future. AI, anyone? Now, as we prepare to enter 2025, we can look back on all that’s been accomplished.

Connecting

This year, we strengthened connections across our tech community in profound ways. With over 50 events—including the Ohio Information Security Conference, Taste of IT, and two Digital Mixers—we created countless opportunities for professionals, students, and organizations to come together, share insights, and advance ideas. At the heart of our community are peer group meetings, a core member benefit that fosters collaboration and ensures the continuous exchange of knowledge.

Beyond events, we facilitated one-on-one connections between members, helping businesses and individuals find the right partners, resources, and solutions to drive their goals forward. To make connecting even easier, we introduced a new mobile app, putting opportunities to engage, network, and collaborate right at your fingertips.

Strengthening

Throughout 2024, we’ve navigated critical topics like cybersecurity, sustainable technology, and of course AI, while continuing to champion leadership and workforce development. We tackled tough questions, such as “What should every tech leader stop doing now?” and provided strategies for protecting and growing tech investments.

We often said 2024 was our year of experimentation. So, we launched the Emerging Tech Leaders program, introduced Workshops, and hosted three conferences – challenging ourselves to push the boundaries while ensuring our programs were designed to equip participants with the skills and tools to lead and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. Our Women 4 Tech Conference became an annual tradition, celebrating and empowering women in technology leadership.

Championing

Investing in our community and the next generation of tech leaders remains at the heart of our mission. This year, we raised over $9,000 for the Technology First Scholarship Fund at the Scramble for Scholarships, awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to regional students, and inspired the youngest learners at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery through our interactive Tech First Brixilated Mural.

Through initiatives like the Cyber Challenge and STEM Career Fair with the Girl Scouts, we’re introducing future leaders to careers in technology, while our Digital Mixers provided students with opportunities to connect with local employers and kickstart their tech journeys. These efforts ensure a strong pipeline of talent to sustain and grow our region’s tech community for years to come.

A Shared Commitment

Through it all, your commitment to advancing technology in our region has been the constant driving force behind our progress. Our community remained resilient and future-ready by focusing on sustainable practices, workforce growth, and innovative solutions. Together, we haven’t just adapted to change—we’ve led the way, positioning the Dayton region as a hub for innovation and economic growth.

The highlight of every year, for me personally, is watching our members come together—answering a call for help, lending a hand, and encouraging career advancement. These moments exemplify the strength of our community and lay the foundation for everything we achieve together.

Looking Ahead

As we look forward to 2025, we’re excited to continue this journey with you. Next month, we’ll share what’s on the horizon for the new year, including opportunities to connect, learn, and lead in ways that will keep our community thriving. We invite you to kick off the year right at Dayton AI Day on January 15, where we’ll dive into the practical applications and future of artificial intelligence.

But for now, let’s take a moment to celebrate all we’ve accomplished in 2024.

#UniteDaytonTech 

Melissa