Southeast Missouri State University will welcome Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square Inc. on April 30. McKelvey will speak to students about potential employment opportunities available to them.

Square Inc., which McKelvey co-founded with Twitter's founder Jack Dorsey in 2009, is a mobile payment system which allows people to accept credit card payments on an iPhone.

While his work with Square is noted, McKelvey is visiting for one of the other organizations he founded, LaunchCode. It is a volunteer network that helps aspiring computer programmers connect with potential employers. This group was founded in St. Louis, but McKelvey wanted to speak outside of the area. He was recommended by the St. Louis Regional Chamber to go to Cape Girardeau. Based upon this, Gerald McDougall, dean of the Harrison College of Business at Southeast said the university Southeast invited McKelvey to speak to their students.

Southeast invited McKelvey to speak to their students.

"There are great opportunities for individuals who think they might want to begin a career as a programmer," Gerald McDougall, dean of the Harrison College of Business at Southeast, said. "Because of mobile devices, there are many opportunities for employment in that area."

Students who are interested in signing up with LaunchCode do not need to have a background in programming to get started. The network is currently looking for creative and analytical students more than those with programming experiences. As a result, the event is open to all students of all majors.

"McKelvey is interested in meeting with students from all majors," McDougall said. "He wants to meet bright, energetic people who can think creatively."

In addition to the employment opportunities, McKelvey will also talk about how innovation and entrepreneurship were essential to his success with Square. McDougall said that the technology that is driving the worldwide economy is a clear connection to innovation and entrepreneurial activity.

What McKelvey is offering students is not an internship or a job, but rather a paid apprenticeship. This means that students will receive training from the company that employs them instead of having the skills beforehand. It is also possible for the apprentices to become permanent employees once they are finished.

"There is a great need for bright, young people in St. Louis' technology sector. It is important that students become aware of the opportunities available to them regardless of their major," McDougall said.

The event will be at noon on Wednesday, April 30, in Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall. The event is free to all students and lunch will be provided.