Because of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this year's Summer Working Connections event will be delivered synchronously on-line. Attendees will not travel.

NOTE: For security, Zoom dial-in directions will not be posted here. Attendees and instructors will receive an email prior to the event.

Monday, July 12 - 12:15pm Central

“Birds of a Feather” breakout discussions
Attendees will select one of the topics below, then enter a Zoom breakout room to discuss specific questions. Results from each “Birds” session will be shared with all of the Working Connections attendees.

Engaging business and industry
Four-year university challenges
Student recruiting
Teaching cloud
Teaching cybersecurity

Tuesday, July 13 - 12:15pm Central
Carlos Contreras - Americas Region Senior Director of AI and Digital Readiness, Intel
Topic “Intel AI for Workforce Program”

Carlos Contreras is a Americas Region senior director of AI and Digital Readiness at Intel. Carlos is responsible for driving strategic programs and partnerships on emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence. This includes building trusted partnerships with key government organizations, academia and NGOs for driving scale, sustainability, policy, regulatory alignment and reputational gains.

Carlos is a fourth-generation engineer, Carlos has built a career focused on technology, creation, and community. Carlos has served on numerous boards including as founding member of the Maker Education Initiative. He worked directly with Sally Ride and Craig Barrett on President Obama’s STEM initiative - Change the Equation. He served as a STEM Education Industry Advisor for the National Governors Association (NGA), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), University of Michigan MCity Leadership Council, CompTIA policy executive board and White House Science Fair. He currently serves on the Board for the Arizona School for the Arts (ASA), the University of Arizona College of Engineering Industry Advisory Board and Phoenix Youth and Education Commission . He has often served as a resource to media on STEM initiatives and the importance of creating access to STEM opportunities for young people.

On a personal note in his spare time, Carlos enjoy woodworking, welding and stained glass making. He also has ‘66 Mustang that he enjoys working on.

Wednesday, July 14 - 12:15pm Central
Eric Fusilero - VP, Global Enablement and Education Ecosystem, Splunk
Chris Visaya - Senior Manager Education Delivery, Splunk
Topic: “The Data Age Is Here. Are You Ready?”

Eric Fusilero leads Splunk's global enablement and education team responsible for delivering timely and compelling learning opportunities and programs to Customers, Partners and Splunkers - existing, new and future. With industry recognized certifications and comprehensive, modern learning solutions and a partner ecosystem to exponentially scale our reach, Eric builds capabilities globally to ensure the world can bring data to every question, every decision and every action and thrive in the Data Age.

Chris Visaya is an accomplished technical training leader who manages a team of instructors at Splunk. He assembles and motivates effective teams who deliver world class training to global audiences live, online and on-demand and spread their passion for harnessing the value of data with professionals across the globe. On a personal note, he is currently on a quest to eat healthier and spend more time outdoors.

Thursday, July 15 - 12:15pm Central
Ann Beheler and Christina Titus - “IT Skill Standards 2020 and Beyond” project
Topic: “Strengthen Your Program by Implementing National Employer-Led IT Skill Standards”

Ann Beheler has been in the Information Technology industry for over 30 years, and she is now responsible for Emerging Technology grants at Collin College. In that capacity she leads the National Convergence Technology Center, a five-year $4 million National Science Foundation grant. The work of the National CTC builds on a previous four-year $4.4 million National Science Foundation grant. From 2011-2015, Ann also led the National Information, Security, and Geospatial Technologies Consortium, an almost $20 million Department of Labor TAACCCT grant.

Ann has corporate experience at Rockwell, Raytheon and Novell; and she has led her own consulting firm, created and taught in one of the first networking degree programs in Texas, and previously managed IT-related divisions and grants ranging $1-$20 million in community colleges in Texas and California. Prior to her current position, she was Vice President of Academic Affairs for Porterville College, responsible for all instruction at the college, and prior that she was a Dean at both Orange Coast College in California and at Collin College.

Among other things, Ann is known for effectively bringing together business and industry using a streamlined process to identify with them the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) they predict will be needed by “right-skilled” job candidates in the future. She then works with faculty to align curriculum such that those who complete certificates and degrees in IT have the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will make them readily employable in high-paying IT positions. Ann holds a PhD in Community College Leadership from Walden University, a MS in Computer Science from Florida Institute of Technology, and a BS in Math from Oklahoma State University.

Christina Titus came to Collin College in 2012 to work for the Networking, Information Security, Geospatial Technology Consortium (NISGTC), which was funded by a $20 million Department of Labor grant. She then was the Program Director for the Centers Collaborative for Technical Assistance (CCTA) NSF grant that ended in 2019. She is now the Program Director of the IT Skill Standards 2020 and Beyond NSF project. Her role is to ensure the success and quality of programs, while overseeing the day-to-day operations and timelines in collaboration with the Executive Director. Christina’s previous experience as Project Manager, an administrative assistant, a lab supervisor, and a payroll clerk, together gave her experience with managing projects and planning events. Christina holds a BBA in Marketing from Our Lady of the Lake University and an MBA in Management from Texas A&M Commerce.