40 Things We Love about Vernier Software & Technology
One of our longest partners is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year! We just couldn’t let this milestone pass without taking time to reflect on what Vernier Software and Technology has, and continues, to mean to In4All.
More than two decades of connection between us has included everything from board membership and executive leadership mentoring, to program support, facility usage, hosting In4All interns, and kit building. Vernier Software & Technology, we celebrate your 40th year through this compilation of “40 things In4All loves about Vernier Software & Technology!”.
1. David Vernier’s joke as he uses the hand vac to clean up the training room as he would help our executive director prepare the room for an In4All board meeting, “I always knew I would clean up in the technology business”
2. Christine Vernier’s support and suggestions during our re-org
3. The Caliper!!
4. The slide
5. The topo table with the weather system (what is that called, really?)
6. The museum on the top floor
7. Dave makes his own wine
8. Nus’s fun science t-shirts
9. Creates a great work culture - Vernier closes early on Fridays in the summer
10. Wide reaching community support throughout Portland
11. How Nus volunteers at every single possible STEM-based youth activity throughout the Metro Area
12. The support Vernier gives their employees for volunteering in the community
13. Vernier employees are generous with their time, talents, and giving!
14. Their teacher-centered practices
15. Vernier’s pH sensor makes our 5th grade activity ultra-cool
16. That Nus rides an e-bike to work
17. Tom Smith and his willingness to coordinate the Vernier volunteer effort at Vose Elementary School
18. Vernier has hosted In4All interns in the past, helping to create the next generation of STEM professionals
19. One of In4All’s interns created the “bird catcher 5000” during their internship with Dave Vernier as their mentor. The goal was to catch and release birds that found their way into their offices.
20. Vernier is community focused, supporting students, teachers, and beyond
21. One of our interns was invited to participate in a company-wide challenge to make the best wind turbine. She competed against engineers, HR folk, supply chain and marketing employees alike - and her design WON! So awesome for them to invite her to participate in the challenge!
22. The Vernier’s are big believers, supporters, advocates, and sponsors of K-20 education
23. Dave always wants to give a tour of the facility to every group that comes through Vernier
24. The soda fountain
25. The Vernier building is a LEED gold certified building
26. John Wheeler, their CEO, was one of the first engineers they hired
27. The Vernier’s aren’t just about education and technology - they were very early supporters of the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts that will open in spring of 2022
28. Kathy, who greets folk and makes them feel welcome at the front desk, has a personal connection to In4All. Her son Tony was an intern in our program years ago!
29. They support our classrooms at Vose AND they help build STEM kits for all of our students
30. The giant fish tank as you enter the building
31. The logo-shaped bike rack out front that lets us know we’ve arrived at Vernier
32. Every employee we meet eventually gets around to telling us how much they love working there
33. In4All interns doubled as marketing talent for two consecutive years and appeared in their product catalog
34. Every product they offer has been developed in direct response to a need or a usage suggested by a teacher!
35. Dave Vernier’s tie that he made for wearing to a PCC gala that was STEAM Punk themed (the gears WORKED!) - his inventor spirit knows no bounds
36. Many of their employees are former classroom teachers
37. Barack Obama visited Vernier when he was a presidential candidate in 2008 (how cool is that??)
38. David Lim helped support In4All with learning Airtable when we first adopted the software
39. Nus made all of our instructional STEM Connect videos for our community site
40. The periodic table of elements wall!
We look forward to your next 40 years and partnering with you to center the teacher in an effort to increase impact on students!
With shared love for community and STEAM,
In4All