Tech Yeah Conference Slated for May 22-23 in Morgantown, WV

Capacity attendance for inaugural event fuels momentum for the next Tech Yeah conference in Spring 2023.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia - November 14, 2022 - When the inaugural Tech Yeah conference held earlier this year was in the planning stages, those who were putting the event together had no idea it would draw a capacity crowd. Riding that wave of momentum and interest in the importance of cooperation and collaboration with West Virginia’s technology sector, the second Tech Yeah conference will be held May 22-23, 2023, in Morgantown.

Nearly 300 representatives from dozens of companies and organizations gathered in August at the first-ever Tech Yeah conference at the I-79 Technology Park in Fairmont, where the message was clear that the key to success for West Virginia’s tech industry was to connect with small, large, and startup companies and form alliances. With that kind of response to the conference, organizers have announced that the spring event will take place at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.

“Collaboration and cooperation have been at the core of the technology industry’s growth in West Virginia for more than three decades, and they will continue to be critical components for growth going forward,” said Brandon Downey, president and CEO of conference host Trilogy Innovations, Inc. “The capacity crowd we had for the first conference more than signaled to us that there is an appetite for companies of all kinds and sizes to partner with those in West Virginia’s technology sector. The goal here is simple: continue growth, promote partnerships, and invite new opportunities.”

The inaugural conference included speakers such as Brian Griffith, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) Division; Ken Rehm, Assistant Director, NASA IV&V (Independent Verification and Validation); Dr. Brian Anderson, Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) of the U.S. Department of Energy; and Frank Indiviglio, Chief Technology officer, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

Similarly, the May 23 conference will see a mixture of keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking, and interaction with exhibitors. A welcome reception will be held at the Morgantown Marriott from 5-9 p.m. on May 22, during which time attendees may pick up conference materials, network, and kick off the second annual event.

“We wanted to provide a platform where conference attendees could float ideas of partnerships,” said Trilogy vice president and COO Randy Cottle. “Federal anchors have relied on partnerships with large, small, and startup companies since they first located here, and the need for that kind of collaboration is stronger than ever.”

Cottle added, “There was a lot of positivity at this event and a lot of energy for partnering and collaboration. The technology industry in this state was built on the strength of those two things.”

Downey said West Virginia’s technology sector is fertile ground for a growing number of such partnerships. “You can’t underestimate the interest in West Virginia and its tech industry,” Downey said. “This conference has proven that.”

For media inquiries or interview requests, contact Patrick Gregg, Communications Manager at Trilogy Innovations, Inc., at patrick.gregg@trilogyit.com or 304-365-4470.