Where once the term “geek” was relegated to derogatory cafeteria lingo, in 2012, this word has been reclaimed. Instead of pocket protectors, we proudly sport smart phones and tablets. Instead of (or in addition to) arguing Star Wars versus Star Trek, we debate Apple versus Android. And instead of social exclusion, we look around to find that we’re all becoming geeks in one way or another.
Memphis Geek Week is all about recognizing the geeks around us and sharing our collective knowledge. Tech geeks, film geeks, web geeks – Memphis is full of experts and eager learners. By pooling our wealth of resources, we can promote awareness, adoption, and advancement of new technology to the betterment of our community.
We want to spark a conversation. How can we benefit the latest gadgets and networks? How can they aide our businesses and relationships? How can they help us make lasting, positive differences for our families and neighborhoods? And what is the impact of these technologies on our privacy and security? By answering these questions, Memphis can become a bigger push-pin in the technological map.
The week after Memphis Geek Week is, befittingly, Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov 12-18), which focuses on turning great ideas into great businesses. It dovetails perfectly onto the end of Geek Week, which we hope will spark the kind of creative ideas which are necessary to maintain the thriving startup scene in our community.
Most of all, we want to highlight the wealth of geekery right here in the Mid-South. And there’s so much of it, Memphis Geek Week doesn’t actually fit in a week! From November 1 through 10, we’re
encouraging businesses and organizations, no matter their focus, to celebrate all the geeks in their field. They’ll be joining these other events that are already sure to raise some noise about technological innovation in Memphis!
Friday, November 2
• Microsoft: Windows 8 on the Square & more
• 48 Hour Hack “Pitch” / HighTech Happy Hour
Saturday, November 3
• TechCamp Memphis & Tech Expo
Sunday, November 4
• 48 Hour Hack Presentation/Awards
Monday, November 5
• Memphis Python User Group Memphis GEEK week edition
• Memphis Gives Special Geek Week Edition
Tuesday, November 6
• Be a good GEEK and go vote 🙂
Wednesday, November 7
• Interactive Expedition Local SEO / GEEK Week!
• Staying Ahead of the Curve – Bartlett Chamber
• MemTech Lunch – Memphis GEEK Week Edition
Friday, November 9
• Media! Event (GEEKmemphis, SOE, LaunchMemphis)
• Power of Habit — In-Synk Book Review: GEEK week!
• MidSouth Makers GEEK week open house
Saturday, November 10
• Special GM & LM event
Be sure to visit Memphis Geek Week for the latest geeky updates. We hope you’ll add an event of your own to this line-up of great geeky events, and put the Geek Week badge up on your website!
Dave Barger is a University of Memphis graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, who spent time in the Navy and working for major corporations, Barger understands the operating nuances of Corporate America, as well as the impact of “the voice of the customer” coupled with contemporary technologies on any organization.
Now, he has become a recognized resource in Memphis in web strategy and tech community development. Deemed a “Digital guru” by The Commercial Appeal, he shares his vision of business in the world of Web 2.0 with entrepreneurs and established companies all over the Memphis area and beyond. Since 2007, he has shared that vision on social media and contemporary web topics with over thousands of professionals in 6 states in about 70 presentations.
