Philly New Tech Meetup has a New Year’s resolution

For Philly New Tech Meetup (one of Philly’s bigger and more stable Meetup groups) 2017 wrapped up with a major structure change: organizers Mike Krupit, Brad Denenberg and Eamon Gallagher will launch a nonprofit focused on boosting other meetup groups, and technologist Darla Wolfe was named PNTM executive director.

The news were formally announced last week, at a session featuring author and speaker Nir Eyal. Wolfe, a former tech exec at DuPont and SAP, said she was excited about 2018, a year in which the group seeks to blend “inclusion, innovation and inspiration.”

“We want our speakers, panelists and attendees to reflect the diversity that is Philadelphia,” Wolfe said. “Me being not your stereotypical tech person goes a long way. I’m very sensitive to being inclusive and have already started reaching out to organizations that are focused on gender issues and people of color, like the National Center for Women & Information Technology, BDPA and Hispanic organizations to do partner activities and make sure we’re a welcoming space.”

Wolfe, who said she’s been a longtime member of the group, said that no one has been excluded from the group, but that the environment has not been as welcoming as it can be.

“It’s about more than just inviting people to the events, it’s about the selection of panelists and topics,” Wolfe said.

Another goal for 2018: bringing in C-suite level executives from large organizations, starting off with a panel of CIOs in the works for next year.