This Friday at 11:45 a.m., De Anza College is hosting the first Information Technology Innovation Summit inside Forum 1.

The summit aims to bring IT experts and education professionals together to “discuss innovation strategies, ways to improve operational effectiveness and how to overcome barriers to IT and education pathways to jobs,” according to their press release. The event is a partnership between De Anza College and WhyITNow.org – “a grassroots coalition of industry and education professionals.”

 Attendees can expect to learn about the many aspects of IT, including where IT jobs are located and the skills required for them. They will also learn why innovation projects fail, and how to improve operations and innovation opportunities.

 Registration includes lunch and free parking in either the Stelling parking structure or Parking lot C. Registration costs range from $10 for students and faculty, to $35 for IT professionals.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network and meet potential employers. People can register on the day of the event at the Campus Center Fireside Room from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. However, attendees can also register in advance at http://itinnovationsummit.org/register.

 Registrants will receive a raffle ticket at the beginning of the event for a chance to win an iPad, iPod, refurbished laptop, sweatshirt or other prizes. Organizers expect approximately 500 to 600 people to attend the event. They plan on closing online sign ups early this week.

 After registration a lunch mixer will be held in the Fireside Room. Following lunch, speeches and presentations will start at 1 p.m. The keynote speaker for the event is Judith Estrin, CEO of JLABS, LLC. 

Estrin has been named three times to Fortune Magazine’s list of the 50 most powerful women in American business. She sits on the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company and FedEx Corporation, as well as the privately held Packet Design, Inc. She also sits on the advisory councils of Stanford’s School of Engineering and Stanford’s Bio-X initiative, according to the press release.

Other panelists include Andy Vaughan, Director of Strategic Programs at Monster; Gary Page, California Education Department consultant; and Christian Hagen, Principal at A.T. Kearney Inc.

 In addition to the presentations, there will be multiple vendors will be at the event until 6 p.m. These vendors include book publishers McGraw-Hill and Pearson Publishing, and other organizations in the education field including Cengage Learning and the University of Phoenix.

 The recommended dress code for this event is business casual.

 For more information, visit the event website at http://www.itinnovationsummit.org, call 916-989-2933 or e-mail the dean of the Business and Computer Systems Division directly at [email protected].