OIT Pittsburgh l Speaker Series - From Margins to Mainstream

Join Out In Tech Pittsburgh as we explore the power of diversity in driving tech innovation in our first speaker series, From Margins to Mainstream: How Underrepresented Communities Are Shaping Tech Innovation. Hosted in collaboration with getWITit Pittsburgh, COhatch, and Colaeb.

This event will bring together a panel of individuals from underrepresented communities to discuss their experiences and perspectives on shaping tech innovation. We'll explore:

• The challenges and opportunities faced by underrepresented communities in tech
• How their unique experiences contribute to new ideas and solutions
• Ways to foster a more inclusive and equitable tech landscape

Agenda

• 5:30 PM - Doors Open
• 6:00 PM - Panel Discussion followed by audience Q&A
• 7:00 PM - Networking Happy Hour

Featured Speakers

Our talented and passionate moderator is Meesha Gerhart, CEO and founder of RedTree Web Design, a women-led award-winning agency serving businesses nationwide. She hosts the W.E. Talk Podcast which features conversations with badass women entrepreneurs.

Nina Barbuto's passion for art, new media, and social learning led her to found Assemble, a community space for arts + technology, in 2011. On her own, Nina works in a variety of media including architecture, film, sound, and installation, often exploring the idea of recycling noise into a system or elevating the vernacular to the spectacular. Nina co-founded I Made It! Market in 2007. An idea based on urban acupuncture, this nomadic market partners with community, arts, and non-profit organizations to raise funds and awareness to assist in improving their communities while allowing local artists and crafters to sell their wares. Nina holds degrees in architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture and Carnegie Mellon University, where she is also adjunct faculty.

Jim Gibbs is the CEO and Co-Founder of Meter Feeder, a company on a mission to revolutionize the way fleets operate by facilitating seamless payment for parking, parking tickets, and tolls. Before founding Meter Feeder, Jim had already built a diverse portfolio of software projects, including medical and real estate software. Jim serves on the boards of Ascender, which helps entrepreneurs build their companies; Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting, a public media organization; and Eden's Farm, a non-profit focused on aiding survivors of human trafficking. Jim's accomplishments have earned him considerable recognition. He has been featured in Rebecca Fannin's book "Silicon Heartland," as well as in Forbes, Black Enterprise, and TechCrunch. He is an alum of YCombinator and a recipient of Google's Black Founders Fund, among other accolades. Jim Gibbs is more than just a CEO; he is a community leader, a tech visionary, and a family man, committed to making a meaningful impact in both his professional and personal communities.

Manny Larcher is a lifelong learner who enjoys digging deep into new technologies and nourishing ideas. He is a first-generation St. Lucian American born in Columbus, Ohio. He played a role in a venture-backed telehealth startup acquisition from 2015 through 2017. In 2017, he co-founded Stopwatch Creative, a marketing and tech agency assisting startups, artists, professional athletes, and brands all over the world with various marketing services. When the pandemic created unforeseen complications for entrepreneurs, Manny created Colaeb, a SaaS platform connecting others to experts, growth partners, and helping businesses reach their target audience, which has grown to hundreds of active customers all over the world. Manny joined JumpStart Ventures in 2022, where he connects early-stage technology companies with Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A funding, as well as nourishing relationships with entrepreneurial resources around Ohio.

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Out in Tech is the world’s largest non-profit community of LGBTQ+ tech leaders. We create opportunities for our 50,000 members to advance their careers, grow their networks, and leverage tech for social change. Connect with 20k LGBTQ+ tech professionals in our Slack channel.

Each local chapter (and many virtual ones) provide opportunities for folks to engage with us and each other. Our events educate and inspire with panels, career events, and more. If you have felt inspired and supported by these events, please consider supporting our work by making a donation to Out in Tech.

Note: Out in Tech's Code of Conduct applies to all our spaces, online and IRL. Photographs may be taken at this event. Please notify someone at check-in if you prefer not to be photographed.

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