HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2013-04-25 BusyConf Sponsors HackTJ
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Leesburg‐Based BusyConf Co‐Sponsors “Hackathon” at
Thomas Jefferson High School
Leesburg, VA (April 25, 2013) – BusyConf,
a software start‐up located in the Leesburg
Mason Enterprise Center, is co‐sponsoring
“HackTJ,” a marathon coding contest at
Thomas Jefferson High School in
Alexandria this weekend.
During the “hackathon,” high school students will compete to create the coolest product – like
a mobile app, a website or a widget – in 24 hours. At the end of the hackathon, each student
team will have three minutes to present their product to the judges. Judging will be based on
innovation, technical difficulty and quality of the implementation.
“I am eager to encourage the next generation of passionate, tech‐savvy students,” explained
Ryan McGeary, founder of BusyConf. “The hackathon gives students a chance to work together
in a real‐life setting.” McGeary began computer programming when he was thirteen. In
addition to sponsoring HackTJ, McGeary is hoping to hire a high school student as a part‐time
intern.
“I am looking for someone who has already shown a talent for programming, but wants to learn
more,” McGeary said. “I am testing a new hypothesis. I believe that someone who starts with
a strong passion for programming at a young age and on their own initiative will be a better job
candidate in the long run than someone who chose a college major because there is a potential
job market for that skill.”
McGeary’s company, BusyConf, provides technology solutions for conference organizers,
including applications that manage calls for proposals, event planning, scheduling, registration,
and payment. BusyConf is McGeary’s seventh start‐up company. For more information, please
visit www.busyconf.com .
“The Mason Enterprise Center encourages our clients to get involved both in the community
and in their specific industries,” said Susan Henson, Regional Manager of the Mason Enterprise
(more)
TOL PR 2013‐04‐25 BusyConf sponsors HackTJ
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Center Leesburg/Loudoun County. “By sponsoring HackTJ, Ryan is making a commitment to the
future of not only his company, but the local software industry as well.”
The Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) is a university‐based economic development enterprise
that focuses the energy, skills and intellectual capital of George Mason University on enterprise
creation and expansion. The MEC provides business owners with access to faculty, students,
alumni, researchers, information sources, inventions, and other resources required to help
them expand their businesses, improve their organizations, and strengthen the regional
economy. The MEC Leesburg/Loudoun County is located at 202 Church Street SE in Leesburg’s
Historic District. For more information, please visit www.masonenterprisecenter.org.
Contact:
Marantha Edwards
Economic Development Director
medwards@leesburgva.gov
703‐737‐7019
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