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South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2016

How the TECH MUSEUM CEO forges community bonds. TIM RITCHIE WHERE ELSE COULD KIDS in one room design and launch simple flying machines to see how far they can go, while teens in another build socially useful robots? Is there anywhere in or outside Detroit where you can design your own safety helmet and see how it stands up to impact from many different directions? ¶ If you’ve been there, you recognize this unique, hands-on venue as The Tech—San Jose’s Tech Museum of Innovation, now in its 18th year of operation. If you haven’t, Tim Ritchie extends an open invitation. ¶ Since Ritchie took over as president and CEO in the fall of 2011, he’s been on a crusade to broaden The Tech’s reach, he says, in order to inspire the innovator in everyone. He wants technology to be inclusive, truly democratic, not dependent on income level or social status. To that end, Ritchie and his staff have forged valuable new partnerships with businesses, investors, schools and other groups, turning The Tech into a true community resource. Ritchie has instituted new teacher training programs and significantly increased participation in the museum’s Tech Challenge student design program, especially among girls (now 50% of participants) and low-income families (40%). BY JULIE VALLONE PORTRAIT BY CHRIS S CHMAUCH 52 South Bay Accent


South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2016
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