The AIM Institute is a not-for-profit membership organization that provides information technology leadership to Nebraska and the surrounding region. We help our business, educational, and community partners to focus and coordinate their IT resources. Working together, we help initiate the changes and improvements necessary to meet emerging information technology needs, build a strong workforce, and expand economic growth in our communities. Learn More...

The Nebraska WorkForce Index (WFI), which compares labor availability to job availability in Nebraska, improved to 1.64 in the fourth quarter of 2009, a shift less substantial than the previous quarter, but still in the right direction. The change from the prior quarter indicates that, while there are still more job seekers than available jobs, the gap continues to close. Unemployment fell from 4.9% to 4.7% in the fourth quarter, and the number of job postings declined 4.4%. AIM’s job trend data indicates that the number of job postings for the fourth quarter decreased across all but two sectors. The AIM Institute and Creighton University College of Business produce the Nebraska WorkForce Index (WFI) each quarter to reveal shifts in job availability versus labor availability. More

The Midwest’s premier business technology conference – Infotec – features four nationally-recognized keynote speakers and nearly 100 track presenters from across the country. This month we turn our attention to two more of the tracks and sessions designed to provide attendees with skills that can be implemented as a part of a comprehensive business technology strategy. Visit infotec.org for more information about all of this year’s offerings.

Entrepreneurship and Social Media

Stories of start-ups and maturing companies that focus on social media and IT comprise what should be a popular track, sponsored by Scott Technology Center and University of Nebraska Technology Park . A variety of engaging presenters have been secured, including:

Dustin Ruge, president, SEO Consultant Firm, New York City.  Ruge knows 73 percent of Americans now turn to the internet for their everyday needs, creating a fundamental change in how consumers buy products and services. Ruge will describe how companies can better utilize the web and turn their sites into profit centers through the use of advanced Search Engine Optimization techniques when he presents “Using SEO to Turn Websites Into Revenue Centers.” Dustin currently works with law firms in New York City as a client marketing consultant for FindLaw, a division of Thomson Reuters. In the past he's provided marketing and strategy consulting for such companies as Scotts Miracle-Gro, McKesson, ABI and Global Scheduling Solutions, Inc.

Also scheduled are start-up and social media presentations by 9 Clouds from Sioux Falls and other regional start-ups.

IT as a Service

Practical steps and cultural changes are necessary to implement IT as a Service in your organization. This track, sponsored by Jelecos , Data Media Solutions and Heimes Resources , will help you learn more about IT Service Management as well as other IT Infrastructure topics. The following sessions, and so many more, will be available:

“Can I Have Cheese With My Burger Please?” Robert Stroud, vice president and IT service management and IT governance evangelist, CA, understands best practices and mentors organizations on driving maximum business values from their ITIL initiatives. What’s this have to do with cheeseburgers? Register now to hear Stroud, an NYC resident who was recently elected International Vice President of ISACA (previously known as the Information Systems and Control Association), explain how.
    

“PMBOK and ITIL – Partners not Competitors.” IT Service Management practices are gaining industry and organizational acceptance and adoption. Presenter Julie A. Johnson, a program director at First Data Technologies who has over 15 years experience in financial, product development, insurance and information technology arenas, will explore the key linkages between PMBOK and ITIL processes and the bottom-line benefits.

The Compassion Institute of the Midlands is now accepting proposals for its 2010 capacity-building sub-awards. The deadline for submitting proposals is 5 p.m., March 15. The grants, totaling $200,000, are designed to help area faith-based and community nonprofit organizations achieve greater effectiveness and sustainability in their efforts to serve the community. Eligible nonprofit agencies within a five-county region (Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington in Nebraska; and Pottawattamie in Iowa) are invited to apply for sub-awards ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.

The AIM Institute’s mission to support community growth and empower organizations led it to create the Compassion Institute of the Midlands with its lead partner, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM). Funded by a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant, the Compassion Institute of the Midlands will also offer free capacity-building workshops through NAM to area nonprofits through the year. More

Members of this year's Youth Leadership Omaha class spent a recent Thursday at the AIM Institute for Education and Career Development Day. The class, comprised of 42 sophomores representing 21 metro-area high schools, participated in games and a panel discussion with area professionals. Panelists included Dusty Davidson, cofounder and owner of Bright Mix ; Kim Mickelsen, managing principle at Bozell ; Katie Rieff, assitant director of admissions at Creighton University ; and Andy Gustafson, associate professor of business ethics and society at Creighton. Coordinated by the AIM Institute and Creighton University's College of Business Administration, Youth Leadership Omaha is a leadership development program that offers students the opportunity to explore issues that shape our community.

Eighth-grade students attending Metro middle schools are encouraged to apply for a $4,000 AIM Achiever Scholarship. These scholarships are intended to provide motivation for academic achievement in high school and beyond. In addition, AIM Achievers are offered educational support services including academic and career counseling and ACT preparation. The AIM Achiever program has enjoyed unqualified success to date, with 100 percent of scholarship awardees graduating from high school and 88 percent going on to postsecondary institutions. Applications must be received by Feb. 19, 2010. More

SDN Communications offers phone systems, data and networking equipment, structural cabling and technology to connect multiple office locations. SDN's fiber-optic network touches seven states and has provided reliable, business-class internet and equipment for 20 years. More

Werner Enterprises was founded in 1956 and is a premier transportation and logistics company with coverage throughout North America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. Werner, one of the five largest U.S. truckload carriers, maintains its global headquarters in Omaha, and maintains offices throughout the globe. More

Check out AIM's new speakers bureau lineup. AIM staff offer a variety of presentations designed to help this region's businesses, nonprofits and citizens thrive in an information economy. Topics range from information technology trends and tools to entrepreneurship, workforce development and talent recruitment. Whether dealing with the impending workforce shortage, taking advantage of open source software, or using IT to motivate out-of-school youth, AIM staff can present the research, best practices and new ideas to help Nebraska and the surrounding region prosper. More...