History

The Northeast Wisconsin IT Alliance was created as a result of local industry leaders voicing concern about a widening gap in the supply of technology talent.

2015

As a result, the Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance (NEW ERA) conducted an economic study in June 2015 involving 40 employers and 93 school districts in the 18 county northeast Wisconsin region known as the NEW North. The study found:

  • Shortage of IT talent in 2016 of 1,300 professionals in Northeast WI
  • Gap expected to grow to 3,000 by 2021 (not including retirements)
  • Estimated lost wages to the region is $200,000,000 (does not factor income multiplier effect)
  • 86% of high school students surveyed are not interested in technology careers
  • Only 20% of IT graduates from local colleges are female

2016

Working together to solve the talent gap for the entire region, industry leaders pooled their resources to hire a director to drive initiatives that will increase the IT talent pipeline in the region.

2017

  • Built foundation for the NEW IT Alliance
  • Launched NEW Connect IT – first-ever IT-focused job and career event

2018

  • Piloted annual k12 Computer Science survey
  • Conducted the first annual Digital Learning Summit
  • Launched regional Computer Science Advisory Board
  • Published TechUpload monthly newsletter
  • Launched TachTalks at local colleges
  • Collaborated with Insight Publications to launch Insights on Technology Magazine

2019

  • Grown existing initiatives
  • Piloted Intern Collaborative EventĀ 

Today

Today, we have re-branded from the NEW IT Alliance to the NEW Digital Alliance. We are a non-profit who aims to connect companies, academic institutions, and other organizations dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to pursue IT and digital careers in northeast Wisconsin.

NEW Digital Alliance Logo