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title: The Download – Iowa Tech News, Events & Insights
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May News: Casey’s AI Ordering, ISU Innovation at Work, Iowa Workforce News ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser Photo Credit: SoundHoundAI INNOVATION Casey's Expands AI Ordering Platform Partnership CS News: Casey's General Stores Inc. is renewing and expanding its partnership with SoundHound AI Inc., whose AI-powered ordering agents are designed to improve both customer service and operational efficiency.   The convenience store operator is deploying the technology across more than 2,600 locations, extending the companies' initial collaboration. To date, SoundHound's ordering agents have supported Casey's in handling more than 21 million guest interactions to answer incoming calls for pizza even during peak meal times. Learn more ➞ On the Move ↗️ Nathanael Bunge promoted to Infrastructure Engineer at Casey's   Joshua Higginbottom joined Vertex Software as Senior Software Engineer   Dr. Jerome Hilscher Named Chief Information Officer at Ankeny Community School District   Kris Kleiner joined RELEX Solutions as Service Delivery Manager   Dave Mendenhall started new role as Executive Advisor at Growth Intelligence Group LLC   Photo Credit: ISU INNOVATION Iowa State University’s Innovation at Work ISU: Iowa State University recently shared a by-the-numbers look at its impact on Iowa’s innovation economy in 2026:   🔬 ISU researchers attracted $329M in FY2025 to advance work that improves the lives of Iowans.   🤖 ISU's CIRAS helped more than 1,400 industry professionals explore how AI can solve problems, improve performance, and strengthen competitiveness through expert-led training sessions.   💡 Nearly 20 Iowa companies licensed Iowa State technologies in FY2025, generating $15.3M in revenue and business growth.   🚀 During the 2024–25 academic year, more than 20K students enrolled in entrepreneurship courses. The ISU Pappajohn Center also awarded $268K to help launch new startups.   📈 Iowa’s Small Business Development Center supported 5,467 businesses in 2025, reaching at least two unique clients in every Iowa county.   🌱 ISU Extension and Outreach generates $35M annually in financial value for farmers through in-person training programs. Over the past five years, the program has delivered more than $100M in value across the state. Learn more ➞ TAI Member Achievements  🏆 Kingland Powers Digital Core for RSM's Risk and Independence Program Lightedge Expands Kansas City Footprint with Acquisition of 3MW Tier III Data Center VGM Group, Inc. announced as Owlet's inaugural employee partner Share Your News ➞ LEADERSHIP Iowa Tech Leaders To Know ▸  FinTech Meet the Leaders ➞ Iowa Workforce News Iowa tech workforce forecast to grow at a ‘modest rate,’ new report says Google Data Center Community AI Fellowship - Fall 2026 Students in grades 10-12 can join the next Statewide Youth Broadband advisory Council (SYBAC) from the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) NewBoCo secures grants, donations to support Iowa tech and entrepreneurship John Deere invests $2.7M to help build tomorrow’s workforce Kirkwood to launch Business Analytics Technician program in fall 2026 Iowa Tech Jobs 💼 Analytics Engineer @ Casey’s📍Ankeny, Iowa IT Engineer – Supply Chain Merchandising @ Casey's📍Ankeny, Iowa Software Engineer III @ EMC Insurance Companies📍Des Moines, Iowa (Remote) Vice President, Cybersecurity @ Iowa Hospital Association📍Des Moines, Iowa Job Openings ➞ Connect With Us You are receiving this email because you opted in on our website or registered for a past TAI event.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get TAI and Iowa Tech News delivered to your inbox. Technology Association of Iowa, 500 E Court Ave., #140, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Manage preferences |
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