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Area high school and college students will learn about all things Wired Differently on Friday, October 23 during North Iowa Area Community College’s Wired Differently information technology day.

“The event will provide high school and college students with more knowledge about information technology and the possibilities that await them!  Plus, we’re inviting the public to join us for a session on interviewing and resumés which could provide a needed edge when searching for a job in our current economy,” Mary Mosiman, NIACC information technology program leader and instructor, said.

A session focusing on interviewing and resumés will take place in the North Iowa Community Auditorium from 1:25 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. that day and will be open to the public.

Eric J. Smith, vice president of management information services for Hy-Vee, Inc., will serve as keynote speaker for the Wired Differently event.  Smith, a 1995 Iowa State University graduate with a degree in mathematics and a minor in statistics, started his career as a full-time employee with Perishable Distributors of Iowa (PDI).  In his position at PDI, Smith was responsible for installing and training personnel on a new buying package that enabled PDI to order electronically.  In 1997, Smith moved to the Hy-Vee corporate office and headed up the development of the Computer Assisted Reordering System (CARS) which allowed stores to automatically reorder inventory.  Smith’s technological background helped implement many streamlined methods of forecasting and procuring product for the whole company.  Plus, he helped lead development of a flow-through receiving system at the distribution centers and increased the technological advantage to lower costs and provide a competitive advantage.  In 2004, Smith was named to head the management information services department. 

For high school student attendees, Wired Differently will feature hands-on activities after the keynote speaker.  Activities will include Digital Design Diva, a session on the technology behind the fashion design industry; It’s a LAN Party, a session on connecting computers to build a small Local Area Network; Cyber Wars, a session on network security; Digital Photography Petting Zoo, a session on digital photography; Ultimate Video Game Challenge, a session on video game programming; Attack of the Killer Movie Poster, a session on graphic design; and CD Golf, a session on digitally interactive games.

For college student attendees, following the keynote speaker the event will focus on employer roundtables where students will talk with area professionals about careers in the morning.  In the afternoon, college students will take part in a Speed Dating to Find Your Career activity where they will go to four 15-minute sessions to learn about all the ways different industries use technology.

Students will also learn about the latest careers in information technology and find out how computers are used in some of the strangest ways and the strangest places.  Plus, all attendees will receive a Wired Differently t-shirt and chances at other prizes.

For more information, contact Mosiman at 641-422-4149, toll-free at 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4149 or mosimmar@niacc.edu.

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