Come work with us and change people’s lives.
— Bill Jackson, executive director of DPI
> Development
Introducing Suzanne Schoeneweiss, DPI’s New Director of Development
The 10 years I spent working with Kellogg donors in Silicon Valley showed me the power of a strong tech ecosystem. When I learned about the opportunity to join DPI, I thought it was just what Chicago needed: an ambitious plan that brings the community together to boost the tech workforce, especially among under-represented groups, while building tech companies from scientific research.
As a teenager in the ’80s, my Commodore 64 seemed revolutionary! I could actually write a paper and edit it as much as I wanted without having to type out every draft. My late-night studying was reduced quite a bit!
Q. What do you hope to achieve at DPI in 2022-23?
> Our Greatest Needs
Our goal is to annually launch more than 7,000 people — half of whom are women or people of color — into high-paying tech careers in Illinois.
To achieve that goal, we need two things.
We need more companies working with us to hire tech talent. Our homegrown talent is a better investment than hiring an expensive headhunter to poach coders from other states. Together, we can build a more equitable world.
We need you or your company to join the ranks of Don and Anne Edwards, the Pritzker Foundation, Apple, Google, and the Walder Foundation in providing transformative philanthropic gifts or grants.
This is the headline we are aiming for:
Chicago Becomes
a Dominant Tech Hub
Help us make that possible. Contact me at suzannes@uif.uillinois.edu or Executive Director Bill Jackson at billjack@uillinois.edu to begin the conversation.
Suzanne Schoeneweiss
Director of Development