#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

#inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

As SpongeBob SquarePants taught us, with imagination, we can do anything! That’s precisely the goal of the Technology Showcase, whose theme this year is “Imagine the Possibilities.”

Administrative Assistant for Pulaski County Government Cloyd Bumgardner is a key organizer for the Technology Showcase this Wednesday, October 25. Hosted in the Center for Rural Development, the event will be a regional showcase, meaning it has booths from all around Pulaski.

The theme “Imagine the Possibilities,” according to Bumgardner, was to “indicate a creative use of technologies in our region could lead to improved economics for our people.”

The showcase will feature, robots, drones, electric cars, skill trades like welding and plumbing, military and first responder hardware, and even virtual reality technology.

“The two big rooms in the Center will be completely full,” said Bumgardner, who has been working closely with not only local government but several government officials from neighboring counties around Lake Cumberland as well as schools, businesses, and community leaders to ensure the event has as much variety as possible.

It’s safe to say that the event is pretty important to Bumgardner.

“We want people there because we want people to see what is happening with business usage, governmental usage, and schools around the region, because in order for us to participate in a digital economy, we have to have our people ready,” he said.

Businesses featured will include banks, engineers, telecommunication companies, farmers, manufacturing, education (at all levels), and even some dirt-moving equipment.

This will be the second Technology Showcase. The first one had about 20 vendors set up in the center, but this year’s event will have more than 50. Ultimately, 300 people will be involved in bringing the event together with nine counties in total being represented.

Bumgardner seemed especially proud of the Artificial Intelligence 3D printer. The machine uses AI to detect inconsistencies and other quality issues.

Bumgardner himself is so committed to this event because he is a former middle school principal. He claimed that kids form an idea of what they want to do with their life around seventh grade.

“If the children don’t know technology careers are a possibility, then they won’t pursue that,” said Bumgardner. “We’re doing to this to get the technology in front of the school children as well as the community.”

The event will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday October 25 in the Center for Rural Development. It’s free and open to the public.

#inform-video-player-3 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }