In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Shonna Dorsey of the Aksarben Foundation and the Nebraska Tech Collaborative sits down with Tori Young of CRi, Managing Director at Client Resources Inc., for a candid conversation about what’s really happening in the tech talent market.

With more than 25 years in business and deep roots in Omaha, CRi has navigated multiple market cycles. Tori shares how long-term relationships, culture fit, and human judgment are becoming more—not less—important in an era of AI, automated hiring tools, and record applicant volume.

The conversation covers:

• Why tenure and trust still matter in tech staffing

• How AI is changing hiring and where it falls short

• What students and early-career professionals should focus on right now

• Why employers are rethinking remote work and returning to in-person collaboration

• The growing disconnect between applicants and automated hiring systems

• Why community involvement strengthens both talent pipelines and businesses

This is a practical, real-world discussion for employers, students, and tech professionals who want clarity without the hype.

Victor D. Patterson Sr. joins the TEN Podcast to share his journey and the ideas behind the cybersecurity and governance frameworks he has created, including DeepSecure™, Cerberus Shield™, and Adversarial GRC™. His work focuses on helping organizations strengthen their defenses against synthetic threats, deepfakes, and adversarial artificial intelligence.

Victor’s story includes navigating significant challenges and continuing to move forward in his career through learning, experimentation, and problem solving. He has published through Taylor and Francis EDPACS (Electronic Data Processing Audit, Control, and Security). He is steadily building momentum as an emerging voice in artificial intelligence governance and security operations innovation.

Victor is also collaborating with Code Black Tech to expand education related to artificial intelligence governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) and to create cybersecurity learning opportunities for underserved communities.

This conversation explores resilience, technical creativity, and the growing importance of artificial intelligence centered cybersecurity in today’s world.

In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Shonna Dorsey sits down with Emily Allen, Executive Director of Tech Nebraska, for a dynamic conversation about the policy and advocacy work that is shaping the future of Nebraska’s tech ecosystem.

Emily brings a rare mix of experience to this role. She is a licensed attorney, a Nebraska native, and a global policy advocate who has spoken at the United Nations and the World Summit on the Information Society. Her background spans brand strategy, communications, partnership development, and leadership roles at Honor Technology where she expanded the brand into thirteen global markets. Now, as the leader of Tech Nebraska, she is focused on elevating the state’s policy presence, creating space for CIOs and CTOs to influence statewide conversations, and helping Nebraska position itself as a competitive and collaborative place for innovation.

Shonna and Emily reflect on the recent Tech Nebraska Summit, the growing demand for statewide advocacy, and the importance of alignment between Tech Nebraska, the Nebraska Tech Collaborative, AIM Institute, and partners across education, business, and government. They also explore how meaningful policy work, strong relationships, and a shared vision can accelerate innovation and opportunity for Nebraska tech.

This conversation is full of insight, energy, and clarity. Listen to hear where Nebraska tech is today and how policy and advocacy will influence the next chapter.

In this episode of Tech Entrepreneurs Nebraska, host Shonna Dorsey talks with Gabe Romero and Vince Vigneri from Cordova about their journey in entrepreneurship, lessons learned from years in the industry, and their shared commitment to community.

They discuss how relationships drive meaningful work, the evolving role of technology in career development, and why local collaboration remains key to Nebraska’s growing tech ecosystem.

Dr. Martha Garcia-Murillo, Dean of the College of Information Science & Technology at UNO, joins Shonna Dorsey to talk about the intersection of education, innovation, and impact.

In this conversation, Dr. Garcia-Murillo shares how her journey from political economist to tech-education leader fuels her mission to connect students, faculty, and employers across Nebraska’s growing tech ecosystem. She highlights groundbreaking initiatives like the Nebraska Cyber Matrix, AI Core, and adaptive nano-modules that bring real-world experience and AI-driven learning directly into the classroom.

From internships to industry partnerships, this episode dives into how UNO is shaping the future tech workforce and why every company benefits from investing in early talent.

In this episode of Tech Entrepreneurs Nebraska, host Shonna Dorsey talks with Keyosha Atwater, PhD Candidate, Founder of ReflectED, and Fellow with the Google Data Center Community AI Fellowship (Watson Institute).

Keyosha is redefining how literacy, learning, and workforce development intersect through the intentional use of AI. Through ReflectED’s initiatives (Roots & Reads, Mind Mirrors, and Prompt Engineering Labs), she helps learners build essential skills such as literacy, metacognitive awareness, and self-regulated learning. Her work bridges education, technology, and community empowerment to help learners adapt to and shape the future of work.

At the heart of her philosophy is a simple belief: when learners know how they think, they can change how they live, lead, and learn.

Keyosha also shares details about her upcoming AI and Community Base Camps, happening November 15 and 16 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at The Root Coworking Space in Omaha. These interactive sessions invite educators, students, and community partners to explore how AI can strengthen Nebraska’s future workforce.

Register here:

• November 15: https://luma.com/jjl2bhll

• November 16: https://luma.com/ict1kmr5

Listen now and discover how Keyosha is helping Nebraska rethink learning, reimagine opportunity, and build pathways for the next generation.

In this episode of TEN, host LaShonna Dorsey talks with Colleen Schinker and Sonja Figueroa from Women in Tech of the Heartland about leadership, community, and navigating change in today’s tech workforce.

Colleen, co-founder and president of Women in Tech of the Heartland, shares how the group has grown over the past decade hosting nearly 170 events that connect and empower women across Nebraska’s tech ecosystem. Sonja, the organization’s operations director, opens up about her own layoff experience and how it inspired their upcoming November event, The Human Side of Layoffs, which explores this topic from multiple perspectives: employees, managers, HR leaders, and families.

Together, they discuss how transparency and empathy can strengthen teams, reduce stigma, and help individuals rebuild confidence after major career transitions. They also share details about Women in Tech’s annual Jingle Mingle event, a December celebration that brings the tech community together for connection and giving back.

This episode is a thoughtful look at how Nebraska’s tech community continues to grow stronger through real conversations and shared experiences.

How do we build a more inclusive workforce? By investing in the next generation!

In this episode, Tiffany Gamble and Gael Beauboeuf from the Emerging Ladies Academy (ELA) detail their work empowering Black girls in STEM. ELA runs focused STEM programs in six schools across Omaha and Council Bluffs, training future engineers and innovators.

They share the reality: Black girls face a double barrier of sexism and racism in the tech industry. ELA is directly addressing this by providing a supportive environment, hands-on learning, and necessary mentorship.

Listen to hear about ELA's global reach (including a chapter in Ghana), Gael's unique journey from Haiti to Nebraska tech, and how you can help. ELA urgently seeks mentors—female professionals, especially those in male-dominated fields—and donations of laptops, tablets, or financial resources to support their classes in coding and cyber safety.