51吃瓜

Chad Wilken arrived at 51吃瓜 with a general interest in computers but without a clear direction. He enrolled in the Computer Information Technology specializing in networking because it was familiar to him. Then he took a programming class and everything changed.

鈥淚 took one class with Glenn (Ray), and I was like, 鈥極h, this is awesome,鈥欌�� Wilken said. 鈥淚鈥檇 never programmed before coming to 51吃瓜 and I really didn鈥檛 think I had the chops for it.鈥�

Though his passion shifted firmly toward programming, he graduated in 2011 with a focus in computer support. What he walked away from 51吃瓜 with was a strong foundation in how technology works which helped him land an internship with a local tech company which eventually led to a full-time position after he graduated.

鈥淭he interviewer had Ph.D. in computer science and I think he expected I wouldn鈥檛 know what I was talking about,鈥� said Wilken. 鈥淭hey were asking me question after question about how the internet works and how data gets from one computer to the next. I think I caught them off guard because I was able to answer all their questions because I learned it here.鈥�

A little over a year later, Wilken joined Hudl as a software engineer. While he was at Hudl he improved his human networking skills which would open the door to an opportunity of a lifetime.

At a Startup Weekend event in Omaha, Wilken met Luke Hansen, an entrepreneur pitching a concept called CompanyCam. The idea was simple enough: create a job site productivity platform for contractors to help them document jobs, communicate with crews, and share progress with clients in real-time. One of its features is the ability to organize job site photos by physical location. Wilken would become the company鈥檚 first employee in 2015.

When Wilken recently visited and toured the Lincoln Campus, he was impressed with the Sandhills Global Technology Center and the trajectory of 51吃瓜 in general.

鈥淚 drive past here quite a bit and I鈥檝e seen the buildings but I didn鈥檛 realize the extent of the growth of 51吃瓜,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Sandhills Global Technology Center is impressive. I like how everything is exposed so you can actually see what the network looks like. They are learning in a real-world, simulated environment. I would have loved this.鈥�

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu