Here’s who we met at NET/WORK Baltimore 2018

In talking to attendees of NET/WORK Baltimore 2018, building local communities was a common theme.
More than 100 people came out to Baltimore Studios on Thursday, March 15, to talk to Baltimore tech companies, grab some fresh headshots and advice on resumes, and the job search generally.
For many, it was a chance to learn about Baltimore’s tech community as well as look for a job.
 
“I literally had no idea that there were so many startups in the Baltimore area,” said Aman Kataria, a first-year global MBA candidate at Johns Hopkins. With a background in computer science, he said he was looking to learn about the companies “and how I can contribute.”
Wil Coleman moved to Baltimore from Oakland, Calif. He came to the event seeking connections to folks working on hardware design and prototyping.
“I know there’s a lot of intersection between what I’m trying to do and what’s going on in this room,” he said.

Stop by our table at NET/WORK Baltimore and talk to Tony, James or Kara! Oh, and get some cool swag to take home with you, too! @TechnicallyBMR #networkbmr18 pic.twitter.com/axSrGG0aJX

— Alderson Loop (@Alderson_Loop) March 15, 2018

During happy hour, Emily Chambers, who recently graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a degree in materials engineering, told us that the local focus of the event and focus on tech  was a draw. “I like the community-focused atmosphere here,” she said.
She was chatting with Arpita Sricar, a business analyst who appreciated the career advice and tips on Linkedin offered. The event also presented a chance to meet representatives from companies face-to-face. “It’s wonderful to get all of them in one platform,” she said.
As Chris Preisinger talked to representatives from companies who were hiring, he was asking questions and looking to hear about their passion. “Hearing about how they talked about their work environment, their day…you can tell a lot by that,” he said.
It was a chance for those who were looking to hire to get linked with the community, as well. Dennis O’Neil is the founder of O’Neil Interactive, a Hunt Valley–based company that creates websites for home builders. It’s grown to 15 people, and he and Megan English were looking to hire in marketing and UX design.
The company is always looking to meet Python developers, “so it was nice to talk to a few people that as soon as we talk about Python and Django to have their ears open up,” O’Neil said.