• SIM will waive your membership fee for the year following the year you enter into transition up until you are re-hired, at which time dues are prorated for the remainder of that year.
• SIM Memphis offers an exclusive program developed by Susan Caldwell and Jana Markowitz geared toward MITs as they search and prepare for new career opportunities.

Susan Caldwell (above left) has over thirty years experience in IT roles, with the last seven as an IT recruiter including executive recruiting.  Prior to recruiting, Susan's positions focused on IT delivery consulting as a Systems Engineer with Data General (now EMC) and as a Director for Oracle Consulting Services.  She has also spent time on the other side of the desk as an IT practitioner.  These varied roles give her a unique 360 degree view on the hiring and job sourcing process.  Jana Markowitz (above right) has many years of experience in technology (including 15 years at IBM in systems engineering), consulting, and management development, with a special focus on helping information technology organizations with staffing, training, professional development and relationship management issues.
 
The first session was held in late March and was hosted at Thomas and Betts, thanks to Sue Conklin, and another first session will be scheduled again soon.  Currently the program consists of six sessions which last approximately two hours each and include: 

• Marketing Yourself, Networking, and Hands-on Training on how to Leverage LinkedIn for Networking and Job Searches
• Resume Writing
• Posting Online - what, where, and if you should post online
• The Behavioral Interview
• So you want to be a Consultant - how to get started
• Soft Skills for Technical People

The sessions can be conducted as a group or one-on-one as appropriate to the content.  Susan and Jana are relying heavily on the input of the MIT participants and are crafting the  session content based on their feedback.  If Jana and Susan do not have the expertise to provide what you need, they will do their best to bring in someone who can.  Here 's what your fellow SIM members have to share about the first session...

"I just wanted to say "thanks" to Susan and Jana for putting together a great program for the SIM MIT's.  It took a lot of personal time and energy and I know all of us who were there appreciate that effort. 
 
A special thanks also to Sue Conklin, for so graciously providing a place for us to meet!
 
SIM is all about the network that connects us and what a great way this was to provide support to fellow SIM members.  This modern era has seen the death of loyalty to a company, and the need to always be ready to move on.  The hard reality of the job market these days is the average person will change jobs every 2-5 years.  I think the message and techniques that Susan and Jana communicated so well are fundamental to professional growth for IT managers.  It would probably be a good idea to have a periodic chapter meeting that focuses on this message, evolving tools and trends, and the key actions that every one of us needs to take every day.
 
Again, thanks Susan, Jana, and Sue!!"
  
John Oglesby
 
 
"I want to reiterate John's message and add that it takes a special kind of vision to recognize the need for this dialog. Great initiative and outstanding follow-through.
 
As Susan's emails used to remind us,
 
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!
- Margaret Meade
 
Thank you Jana, Sue, and Susan,"
 
Dick Vandenberg

  

How can you help support this year's Teen Tech Camp?  

• Sign-up to be a Bright Shiny Object (BSO) speaker which means giving 20 minute hands-on talk about a bright shiny object - something really "cool" that would make them want to pursue a technical degree/career.  Sessions begin at 9:00 Monday-Thursday of the camp, July 20th - July 23rd.  Or, consider volunteering someone in your company to be a BSO speaker!
• Be a guest speaker on Friday, July 24th to talk about working in IT and how you came to be an information technology worker! 
• Volunteer to be a judge on Friday, July 24th, when you'll review work produced by the students and see their excitement as they are presented with certificates.

Please contact Dennis Norton or Rick SanRoman to voluneer.

Computer Donations
 
Have any old computer equipment that is lying around or is not really being used much?  Chances are it can be put to good use for Teen Gaming and Tech events held a few afternoons a month at the Library.  (Laptops are preferred but all PCs/MACs are welcome -can be 4-5 years old). Please contact Curt Kitrell .

Can you find two hours in your work week to make a difference in the life of a Memphis City Schools student?

SIM Memphis is helping make it possible for Memphis students at the Stax Music Academy to be educated in the technology of making music by partially funding the renovation of the Stax Music Academy's Recording Studio and Control Room.  The Stax Music Academy is one of the major programs of the Soulsville Foundation, a non-profit organization, created to serve the South Memphis neighborhood of Soulsville, USA.   
 

The mission of the Soulsville Charter School is to produce students who will be able to read, communicate effectively and possess high-order thinking skills through the interconnectedness of academics and music.
 
What can you do to help with this mission?   Be a business luncheon speaker!

The Soulsville Charter School is asking business people to visit the school at lunchtime and talk about their job, the education needed for their profession, and what they like about their job.

There are four lunch sessions - one for each grade, six through nine.  You may speak to one, two, three, or all the grades.

The business luncheon exposes their students to various career opportunities that they might not have known about or considered for themselves.

Please contact Lamonn Daniels at (901) 946-2535 ext. 360, identify yourself as a SIM Member, and arrange a time to speak.
 

Please contact Sue Conklin with any questions.  Thanks and you will have a great time!