Each year, the Tech at the Gap conference welcomes leading innovators to Western Maryland, stimulating the region’s growing tech landscape and adding to Allegany County’s notoriety as an evolving hub of industry expertise. Tech at the Gap 2024: Breaking Barriers will take this legacy further, exploring how advanced technology can revolutionize communities and fuel positive change. Hosted by the Western MD IT Center of Excellence at Allegany College of Maryland, this year’s conference takes place on October 16, 2024, at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland. 

“This year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barriers,’ was chosen to highlight how technology can empower communities to use tech to overcome challenges and foster a brighter future,” said Autumn Becker, Executive Director of the Western MD IT Center of Excellence at Allegany College of Maryland. “We hope the keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking experiences will inspire our attendees to think broadly about how innovation can address various challenges—from reducing socioeconomic disparities and promoting inclusivity in tech to solving business problems.”

Tech at the Gap 2024 brings together a diverse lineup of keynote speakers, each with firsthand experience in leveraging creative ideas and digital solutions as a powerful catalyst for breaking barriers and driving meaningful change.

Fredi Lajvardi, President, CEO, and Director of STEM Initiatives at the Si Se Puede Foundation, is an educator and STEM advocate who uses his real-life story to showcase the importance of diversity in building supportive, creative, and innovative teams. 

In 2008, Lajvardi coached a high school robotics club composed of disadvantaged Latino teenagers to an unexpected victory in a national, college-level underwater robotics competition—outperforming top universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The documentary “Underwater Dreams,” the IMAX film “Dream Big,” and the major motion picture “Spare Parts,” where George Lopez portrays Lajvardi, all portray this inspiring story.

Lajvardi uses this story and others from his thirty years of teaching to highlight the importance of diversity in building teams that motivate each other to approach problem-solving in creative ways. 

“Allegany County has a robust youth robotics program, funded and supported largely through the Robotics and Engineering in Allegany County - Together (REACT) organization,” shares Becker. “We’re thrilled to have Fredi [Lajvardi] join us and share his experience in robotics. We hope his insights will inspire others to explore this field and encourage students to see the exciting possibilities within STEM.”

Jasmine Crowe-Houston is an award-winning social entrepreneur, TED Talk speaker, and visionary leader. As the 35th Black woman to raise over $1 million in venture capital, she was recognized as one of the top 100 influential female founders by Entrepreneur Magazine and has been featured on CNBC, Oprah Magazine, NY Times, Forbes, and more. 

In 2017, Crowe-Houston founded Goodr Co., a non-profit sustainable waste management company using technology to reduce food waste and support people facing food insecurity in Atlanta, Georgia. Now serving as CEO, Crowe-Houston was inspired to create the company after years of feeding individuals experiencing homelessness from her kitchen.

“The Goodr Co. platform allows unused food sources—like big chains or other restaurants with surpluses of prepared foods that they cannot sell—to upload their surplus availability to the platform. Then, Goodr Co. employees drive the food to a shelter, school system, or wherever there are hungry folks in need,” shares Becker. 

Over its seven years in operation, Goodr Co. has provided over thirty million meals to those in need and redirected millions of pounds in food waste. Crowe-Houston will share how communities can address socioeconomic imbalances through technology and how companies can leverage these solutions to support their business. 

“Even though she has no tech background, Jasmine [Crowe-Houston] saw a real problem with hunger in her city and pulled together a team of developers and programmers to use technology for good,” impresses Becker. “Jasmine was able to not only be successful in her own neighborhood but is now scaling that to a national level. Her story is an inspiring one and we are excited for attendees to hear more.” 

Dr. Joseph T. Yun is the Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Architect at the University of Pittsburgh and CEO of bluefoxlabs.ai. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Yun explores cutting-edge technologies, like blockchain, to evolve the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI). Focusing on AI's impact on business and society, Dr. Yun helps small businesses implement tools to create more efficient processes that benefit their operations.

“Dr. Yun joined the Allegany College of Maryland back in the spring to lead an AI workshop, funded by TEDCO and the Mountain Maryland Tech Network, geared toward Western Maryland small business owners,” said Becker. “As an educator and business owner, Dr. Yun brings new ideas to light. We're excited for him to share his expertise on AI's business value and innovative solutions with a larger audience at Tech at the Gap.”

Funded by the state’s EARN Maryland Program and backed by other state and local partners, including the Maryland Department of Commerce as the premier sponsor, the conference will also cover key topics such as cybersecurity, the growing use of AI, and advancements in data computing.

Becker finishes, “2023 was the highest attendance since the pandemic and had the most sponsorship support we’ve received to date. We want to keep building momentum and interest to keep generating investment into Western Maryland and Allegany County’s technological revolution.” 

Visit the official conference website for more information on Tech at the Gap’s speaker lineup, schedule, and more.