2024 Pittsburgh TechFest

Pittsburgh TechFest is an event where software development professionals from Southwestern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas will convene to explore and elevate through professional development. Topics will be inclusive of coding, tools, agile, and project management. All development disciplines (devs, testers, PMs, DBAs, BAs etc.) and all development stacks (Ruby, Java, .Net, JavaScript, Python, SQL Server, Oracle, etc.) are welcome!

When: Friday, September 27, 2024

Where: TECHWORKS at CCA | Commonwealth Charter Academy, 162 East Bridge Street Suite, 100 Homestead, PA 15120

Agenda: 8:30am-4:00pm. 

Keynote Speakers: 
Rachael Afolabi - Founder, Paradigm Global Innovations

Bio: Rachael Afolabi is a specialist in education technology, user experience, web applications, and immersive technologies. Her experiences have included positions as the lead instructional designer at Apple on the Vision Pro project, senior instructional designer and curriculum lead instructor in Cloud and Web technologies at Google and Google Fiber. She served as the Dean and Executive Director of Online and Digital Learning and Workforce Development, establishing an expansive approach to the university's digital learning landscape. Furthermore, she has worked with global firms, including Deloitte, Accenture, Motorola Solutions, Colgate-Palmolive, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), where she held roles as an instructional designer, lead training developer, virtual reality environments developer for manufacturing, and transportation projects.

She established Paradigm Global Innovations in 2018 as an opportunity to leverage innovation in a unique social enterprise landscape. Paradigm Global Innovations’ mission is to leverage technology and modern business practices to develop scalable, adaptable, sustainable products and services that promote positive social change.

John Krewson - Founder and CEO, Sketch Development Services

Bio:  John Krewson is the founder and CEO of Sketch Development Services, a St. Louis based consultancy that focuses on helping companies deliver value faster. Founded in 2015, Sketch is a two-time member of the Inc 5000. He has worked with dozens of companies from startups to the Fortune 50 to help them learn, adopt, and apply new ways of working to match an ever-changing work environment.

Prior to establishing Sketch, John's career path encompassed various roles, including software developer, project manager, technology leader, and agile consultant. In addition to his professional endeavors, John has a unique past in the entertainment industry. In 1997, he made a brief appearance on Saturday Night Live. Drawing parallels between knowledge workers and entertainers, John frequently incorporates his acting background into his presentations, offering unique insights and lessons that resonate with audiences.

Topics include:
Building Modern Backends
Your Relationship with the Frontend
Scaling Architect for Change
The Future of Tech
Optimizing Teams for Fast Flow
Practical Security 
The AI Evolution  

Schedule (Subject to change):

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Venue Sponsor:

Participating Sponsors:

Coffee & Break Sponsor:

Contact Information:
For registration, content or logistics questions: Megan Colf, Director, Event Management, mcolf@pghtech.org
For sponsorship questions: Ashley Steckel, Vice President of Business Development, asteckel@pghtech.org