The former Fort Pitt brewery is turning into a new AI and tech hub

Pittsburgh’s tech ecosystem stretches far beyond the city limits. 

From nearby Allegheny County townships to across Pennsylvania state lines, organizations in the area seek to expand into new opportunities for collaboration. That’s demonstrably clear in this month’s Power Moves. 

A new hub in Sharpsburg, partnerships in West Virginia and Ohio and a Southwestern Pennsylvania organization all made the cut for notable local transitions. 

Read on below the chart, featuring a monthly look at the top desired skills in the region and corresponding median salaries. 

Space collaborative expands PA, WV, Ohio partnerships

The Keystone Space Collaborative hired Monica Dumitriu as outreach coordinator to expand its presence in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. She’ll lead the organization’s efforts to connect space industry businesses, talent and other stakeholders. 

“By strengthening connections between the industry and the community, I know we can create new opportunities and drive meaningful growth within the region,” Dumitriu said. 

The collaborative aims to grow the region’s space efforts. It believes the industry will grow to $1 trillion by 2030. 

A new AI innovation hub comes to Sharpsburg

Geospatial transit tech firm Woolpert will transform the former Fort Pitt Brewery into an “AI and Technology Hub.” It signals the Ohio company’s effort to double down on its Pittsburgh presence after it promoted area native Neil Churman from chief development officer to CEO. 

In September, the company landed a $80 million contract with the Department of Defense to run its architecture and engineering efforts at primary and secondary schools. 

The new Sharpsburg hub will host Woolpert’s robot and machine learning efforts as it maps complex locations using LIDAR sensors. The tech uses lasers to measure distance from afar.

White House advisor, Pitt chancellor join Heinz Endowments 

Philanthropic organization the Heinz Endowments appointed two new members to its board. 

From the White House Economic Council, economic policy expert Sameera Fazili brings two decades of experience from organizations like  Zoon Ventures, which advises organizations on topics like energy, supply chain and economic development. 

The other appointee, Patrick Gallagher, former chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, still teaches physics and astronomy at the school. 

The endowments provide grants to organizations like the Ground Truth Project, which helps support Technical.ly, and the Action Center on Race and the Economy Institute that drive economic development in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

“It is hard to imagine southwestern Pennsylvania without thinking of the outsized role played by its foundation community, exemplified by The Heinz Endowments,” Gallagher said. 

More Power Moves:

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania hired Todd Cunningham as its a new chief information officer. Former CIO Bill Balint retired in August. 
• Point Park University officially inaugurated its 9th president, Chris W. Brussalis. He said the school will be a catalyst for projects aiming to revitalize downtown. 
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh appointed Chris Dinnin as its interim chief executive officer. Dinnin will aid the organization’s transition as current CEO Becky Flaherty heads out for a new opportunity. 
• Pitt’s Jamelle Price graduated from the economic development and leadership program at the Appalachian Leadership Institute. He’s the associate director of learning and development in Pitt’s Office of Engagement and Community Affairs.