Tech Council Q1 Meetup (For Individual Members)

Join individuals in Lafayette's tech community for an evening of networking & peer learning.

The Lafayette Regional Tech Council invites individual tech practitioners to our Q4 quarterly meetup - designed to connect Lafayette's tech professionals through genuine networking and knowledge sharing.

Who Should Attend: Those interested in becoming individual LRTC members (students & individuals working in technology roles across our region - from software engineers and data specialists to product managers, consultants, and tech pros. All experience levels are welcome.)

Q1 Meetup Topic: The Business-First Technologist: How to Bridge the Gap Between "Writing Code" and "Creating Value," presented by Chris Kimmel (CIO at UL Lafayette Informatics Research Institute (IRI))

Why do some tech professionals advance while equally talented peers stay stuck? In this session, Chris Kimmel will share what separates "ticket takers" from strategic contributors. Learn to translate technical work into business value, communicate in ways leadership understands, and apply frameworks and professional skills that accelerate your career trajectory. Walk away with actionable insights for immediate application.

This will be a collaborative discussion - Chris will share his experience & perspectives, but we want to hear from you too! Bring your questions, experiences, and insights on how you're seeing this play out in your own career.

Event Schedule:

• 5:30 - 5:45 PM: Networking
• 5:45 - 6:15 PM: Presentation & Collaborative Discussion
• 6:15 - 7:00 PM: Networking

This quarterly format is designed to create consistent opportunities for Lafayette's tech practitioners to learn from each other, expand your professional network, and be part of the collaborative tech community we're building in Acadiana.

Whether you're looking to solve a technical challenge, explore career paths, or just connect with others who get what you do - this meetup is for you.