Baldwin-Wallace Competition Showcases Future Computer Programmers'Talent War' drives local tech company OEConnection to sponsor event
RICHFIELD, Ohio, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- OEConnection LLC, a technology leader in parts exchange and analysis solutions for the automotive original equipment (OE) replacement parts business, will serve as the major sponsor for a computer programming contest being held tomorrow on the campus of Baldwin-Wallace College. Teams of students from 14 area high schools will participate in the competition which requires them to write computer programs that solve a series of increasingly difficult problems. Baldwin-Wallace College is hosting this contest for a fifth consecutive year in an effort to encourage students to pursue computer science at the college level. "We have seen enrollment in math and computer science programs decline over the past several years and have only recently seen a slight increase," said Susan Penko, the Baldwin-Wallace professor who helps organize the annual competition. "This event helps recognize those high schools that offer high quality computer programming instruction and at the same time encourages others to begin offering similar programs. Over time, we hope to reverse this trend." Area companies like OEConnection depend on skilled software engineers and programmers to maintain and grow their business, and often find that they are in short supply. "We are in a war for talent that has to be won at the local level," said Charles Rotuno, OEConnection's President & CEO. "The development of technical skills among our young people is critical to the economic future of northeast Ohio. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Baldwin-Wallace College in this important endeavor." The contest will begin at 9:45 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. with an awards ceremony. About OEConnection LLC OEConnection provides Web-based technology for automakers, their affiliated dealers, and others in the automotive parts business. Serving over 15,000 dealership and collision repairer subscribers, OEConnection provides e-commerce parts exchange and analysis tools enabling users to better market, manage and move their original equipment parts inventories. Depended on for over 3.5 million parts decisions monthly, OEConnection's solutions facilitate an estimated $8 billion in annual parts trade. The company is headquartered in the greater Cleveland area, at 4205 Highlander Parkway, Richfield, OH, 44286. For more information, call 1-888-776-5792 or visit www.OEConnection.com.
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