Tech Tour

Students, teachers, local companies, and community members - they all came together on Tuesday, October 8th, for an amazing day of celebrating the wide variety of tech-y opportunities available in the Charlottesville, Virginia area.

WHAT is Tech Tour?

The CBIC Tech Tour is an annual local event to introduce area middle and high school students to the dynamic high technology world that exists in the Charlottesville/Albemarle County metro region.

Students representing more than 20 regional schools will spend the day traveling to over 50 selected companies

• for hands-on visits
• to meet employees
• and experience the use of technology in unique and specialized operations.

WHEN is Tech Tour?

Mark your calendars for early October 2020!

WHO is Tech Tour for?

Tech Tour is for...

• STUDENTS - explore how what you are learning in school connects to what is happening around you every day
• TEACHERS - give your students the real-world experiences that they long to see
• TOUR GUIDES - connect with your community and schools and be a positive role model
• BUSINESSES - share what you are doing at your company with the future leaders of our community

WHERE is Tech Tour?

The students begin at Piedmont Virginia Community College, where they are introduced to the many Tech opportunities that the Charlottesville region offers them.  Then, they board their buses and travel to the businesses, where they can see first-hand what is possible as they consider what career they want to pursue.

WHY is Tech Tour important?

This technology tour exposes students to the challenging and diverse career possibilities offered by our regional technology community. The tour is designed to help them envision themselves as technology employees, professionals and entrepreneurs in the next wave of tech advancements in our area.

"Participating in the CBIC Tech Tour has been one of the most eye-opening experiences I have had in high school. Charlottesville appears to be a small city, but it is full of businesses using and developing new forms of technology.

Taking part in the CBIC Tech Tour has given me the opportunity to witness the future of technology and business in my local community, a future that I will soon become a part of.” - Tech Tour student

We have an outstanding group of sponsors every year, representing organizations that understand the importance of STEM education to building the technology workforce.  A complete list of participating companies can be found on our interactive Tech Tour Map:

If you would like to get involved with the 2020 Tech Tour or need more information about this event, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• STEM

Every year, through the generosity of sponsors, CBIC awards two scholarships in the amount of $2500 each to students selected through the application process. Applications are open to junior and senior students that plan to pursue education beyond high school in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) and have attended at least one tech tour.

Applications are now open!

Submission Deadline is January 31, 2020.

• Join the Tech Tour Committee - get behind-the-scenes of the tech tour magic, make connections across the local tech scene and inspire the next generation in tech!
• Showcase your company as a Tour Venue - being a host involves providing a one-hour inspiring tour of your organization and explaining the role technology plays in your work to a group of 10-15 students.
• Be a Tour Guide - ride along with a student tour group and help them get the most out of their tech tour.
• Become a Tech Tour Sponsor - support this amazing day plus the opportunity for 2 participants to earn scholarships toward their future STEM education.
• Participate - The tour is open to 7th through 12th grade students. Students sign-up to attend through their school’s Technology Specialist or Career Counselor

CBIC's annual Tech Tour is all about igniting local students' interest in technology-related careers and showing the variety of opportunities available in our community to pursue their passions. Being a tour guide means getting a behind-the-scenes tour of 2 local tech companies or organizations along with 10-15 middle or high school students and their school chaperone.

Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to help keep the tours flowing smoothly - plus you may just get to hang out with the next Megan Smith or Bill Gates! Click below to send us your info:

CBIC Tech Tour is excited to offer the following underwriting opportunities to local companies who want to partner with us in providing this experience to local students. Companies that are not able to host or provide tours often help by sponsoring to ensure that the local community still has the chance to benefit from this innovative opportunity for our young entrepreneurs.

Read more ...

Here is your Tech Tour Committee. Let us know if you want to be a part of this amazing team!

Chairperson:  

• Lily Garcia Walton

Company Recruitment:

• Jerry Reynolds (Team Lead)

• Corey Collinson

• Chris Florez

• Abby Gillespie

• Johnny Martin

• Kim Wilken

Tour Guide Recruitment:

• Corey Collinson

Sponsor Liaison:

• Corey Collinson

School Liaison:

• Stephanie Passman - Albemarle County Schools (Team Lead)

• Anne Ernst and Christy Scott - CCS 

• Gwen Cassady - Surrounding counties and private schools

Opening Program at PVCC:

• Gigi Davis (Team Lead)

• Katie Thach

• Eric Bredder

Marketing and Communications (Marcom):

• Jon Moriarty (Co-Lead)

• Leslie Copley (Co-Lead)

• Jerry Reynolds - Website, Photo & Video

• Gwen Cassady - Day of event onsite media management