He founded Rensel Consulting in Upper Allen Township in August 2023, and became a council member about two months later.
In December, he joined the board.
"Once I looked into it, the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania stood out as a dynamic platform where industry leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals come together to shape the future of technology," Rensel said. "Joining this network was a natural step in expanding my reach and learning from some of the brightest minds in the field."
Based in Harrisburg, the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania serves 22 counties in the Midstate from the New York to the Maryland lines.
The organization was founded in 1996 and functions as a membership based entity, much like a chamber of commerce.
President and CEO Alexis Gosik said the council includes about 150 members that represent more than 1,700 individuals, and focuses connecting on central Pennsylvania's tech community.
"Our goal is to identify local problems and solve them with local solutions so that people don't have to pick up the phone and call somebody in California or Texas or India to be able to get their needs met here for their local business," she said. "We have tremendous local talent and tremendous local resources to be able to meet those needs of our local businesses and provide some additional education and networking."
For example, instead of turning to dozens of Google results for a lawyer that can help with a cybersecurity breach, the council helps connect needs and services within same community.
EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Throughout the year, the council offers a series of virtual and in-person workshops and events that address aspects of technology.
Gosik said every other month brings a TechNet event that offers in-person networking opportunities in rotating locations through central Pennsylvania.
Rensel is a regular TechNet attendee.
"These periodic socials really help grow the cohesiveness of the central PA technology community and I've met so many wonderful people through that event," he said.
The council also coordinates virtual peer learning groups each quarter that address specific topics, from project management to veterans in tech to cybersecurity.
Several larger events also take place throughout the year. While these, too, rotate throughout the council's region, several have taken place in Cumberland County.
This year's Women in Technology Awards ceremony will be held at the West Shore Country Club in September. Other events include the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Tech Summit next month, Central PA Innovate in June and the PA TechCon in August.
MEMBERSHIP POOL
While the council is a membership-based organization, all events are open to nonmembers, Gosik said.
Though the term tech tends to conjure visions of software and IT, she believes there's not an industry left untouched by technology.
"Whether it's retail, agriculture, manufacturing, health care [or] mom and pop shops, they're all accepting credit cards, or they're all running payroll or there's some element of tech in every single business," Gosik said.
Members can join as corporations, as start-up businesses, as nonprofits, as individuals or a series of other tiered options.
TRENDS AND CHALLENGES
As Gosik points out, technologies have changed since the council's late '90s founding. It's the organization's goal to change with them.
"The Tech Council by supporting and promoting its members kind of naturally adapts and changes to those things that are changing because our members are coming and saying, 'We have these needs, this is now important to us, we need to focus on this,'" Gosik said. "And so they really are that important piece of the organization that keeps us current, that keeps us relevant."
She identified artificial intelligence and cybersecurity as two "hot topics" in technology today.
Both are addressed in the organization's peer learning groups, as well as other programming.
"We really try to keep our members up to date on latest trends and things that are breaking," Gosik said. "What's new, what's happening not only at a global level, but at a United States level, and then what's also happening here locally?"
After about three years as the council's president and CEO, some of the biggest challenges she hears from members relate to the workforce.
These include finding qualified employees to hire and a lack of new workers in the field.
"Pilfering employees from other companies is just creating a churn, right," Gosik said. "It's not actually filling any vacancies. It's filling a vacancy over here, but creating a vacancy over here."
With this in mind, the council's Education Committee is tasked with garnering interest in the tech field and sharing about the various career opportunities in it.
Rensel hopes to see programming that connects industry experts with young professionals to provide a mix of experience and fresh perspectives.
After more than two years of involvement, Rensel believes the council had a hand in the growth of his own business.
"The ability to engage with other business leaders and gain exposure to cutting-edge technology trends has been invaluable," he said. "I find our technology community to be very supportive of one another and I am confident it will help me expand my business in 2025."
©2025 The Sentinel, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
