NEWS

Louisiana Tech, TechRouler seek to keep talent in north Louisiana

Nov 30, 2011 | Business, CENIT, Engineering and Science, Research and Development

Louisiana Tech University and TechRouler, a technology coalition of companies based in north Louisiana, will host an event on the Tech campus to share TechRouler’s mission and connect the coalition’s member organizations with Louisiana Tech students and faculty.
The event will take place December 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at University Hall on the Louisiana Tech campus.  It will be an opportunity for Louisiana Tech to showcase the university and its innovation and technology assets to the TechRouler partners and familiarize Louisiana Tech faculty, staff and students with TechRouler partner companies and the coalition’s strategies for branding north Louisiana as a region with a variety of attractive high-tech job growth opportunities.
“Louisiana Tech’s work with the TechRouler coalition impacts economic growth in the region by enriching and supporting connections between north Louisiana companies and Tech faculty and students,” said Debbie Inman, coordinator of entrepreneurial studies at Louisiana Tech.  “These connections will help faculty and industry collaborate, and students find good jobs within our region.”
TechRouler, officially launched in September, consists of companies that have a common need for technology-skilled talent in disciplines ranging from software to digital media to networks to biomedical engineering, and everything in between.
Inman says that industry will benefit from collaborating with Louisiana Tech faculty, who are developing cutting-edge technologies.  “The coalition is a strong advocate for the technology sector in the region and we must raise awareness of the opportunities available in north Louisiana for both tech skilled workers and employers.”
Members of TechRouler are not limited to tech-sector companies.  Any company with a need for tech-skilled workers is welcome to be a part of the coalition.  Activities are focused on marketing the need for technology talent in north Louisiana to job seekers within and outside the region.
Rob Gaudet, director of operations for Synapse Multimedia, says that as a TechRouler partner, his company is among an elite group of companies in north Louisiana, many of which have a nationwide reach.  “In addition to creating opportunities to recruit prospective employees, TechRouler events have provided excellent business to business opportunities for exposure to our products that we would have never considered pursuing.”
Much like Louisiana Tech, TechRouler is seeking to raise the profile of north Louisiana as a region with a strong knowledge-based economy and a progressive vision for the development of innovative private-public sector partnerships.  They see the recruitment and retention of high-tech talent as essential to fulfilling the region’s potential as a primary driving force in the state’s future economic growth.
“We know that it is essential that high-tech companies have access to talent, and Louisiana Tech is a known source for such talent,” said Dr. Les Guice, vice president of research and development at Louisiana Tech.  “TechRouler is creating opportunities for these companies to network with our students, faculty, and graduates.”
TechRouler expects to use the December 7 event to connect member companies with talent and resources available at Louisiana Tech in an attempt to keep the best and brightest associated with the university in north Louisiana.
For more information about the TechRouler event at Louisiana Tech, contact Debbie Inman at 318-257-3430 or debinman@latech.edu.