Mainframe Talent Is Growing: Access It Next Month
Hopefully, you caught my 2024 Planet Mainframe piece on the growing mainframe curriculum at Northern Illinois University (NIU), Illinois State University (ISU), and Eastern Illinois University (EIU). Great news: it’s expanding.
As of Spring 2025, the University of Illinois–Springfield (UIS) returned to the education game with newly relaunched mainframe courses. This marks a big step forward, especially for Illinois employers like Levi, Ray & Shoup, Horace Mann, and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology – all of whom rely on IBM Z.
For those unfamiliar with the geography, Springfield sits at a crossroads: two hours from St. Louis, three from Chicago, and just an hour from the insurance company where I spent most of my career. In other words, UIS is perfectly placed.
“Where else can employers looking for mainframe skills get in front of mainframe students at four universities in four days?”
Calling All Employers: Meet Your Future Workforce
For the fourth year, TeamSWAMI is co-sponsoring the IBM Z Career Connection Tour. This is a week-long, four-campus roadshow that puts employers in direct contact with students who are already learning mainframe technology.
We’re talking hundreds of engaged students, some even studying Assembler, and all eager to learn about internships, apprenticeships, and job opportunities.
“We’re glad to welcome the IBM Fall University Tour back to UIS. This event gives our students a chance to engage directly with IBM professionals and zSystems users. It connects classroom learning to real industry opportunities – exactly the kind of education we value.”
—Travis Bland, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Health, Science, and Technology Administration
How Employers Can Join the Tour
We’ve made it easy—four schools, four cities, in just one week. Here’s the 2025 schedule:
| Date | University | City |
| Monday, 9/15 | Eastern Illinois University (EIU) | Charleston, IL |
| Tuesday, 9/16 | University of Illinois – Springfield (UIS) | Springfield, IL |
| Wednesday, 9/17 | Illinois State University (ISU) | Normal, IL |
| Thursday, 9/18 | Northern Illinois University (NIU) | DeKalb, IL |
Each event takes place in the early evening, avoiding class conflicts and allowing companies time to travel between campuses during the day.
Sample Agenda
- Kickoff keynote from a young mainframe pro, such as Lucas Sahn, to energize the room
- Employer introductions – brief, focused on skills needed and opportunities available
- “Speed Dating for ZSkills” – students rotate to meet companies, ask questions, and even share resumes
Join the Mainframe Talent Caravan
This is a rare chance to meet dozens of future-ready mainframe students, all in one week! Plus, you’re demonstrating career potential to a broader audience and helping build the next generation of tech professionals.
Interested in joining the tour? Email me at Greg@Team-swami.com.
Let’s connect talent to opportunity and show students that the mainframe future is worth investing in.
Greg DeBo is a Principal Consultant and IBM Gold Consultant at TeamSWAMI, having previously spent 34 years at a large insurance company focusing on mainframe data. TeamSWAMI helps small and midsize clients unlock the potential of modern mainframes and partners with universities to strengthen the mainframe talent pipeline.