If you're a techie and want to schmooze with some local information technology executives, mark your calendar for this Thursday.

The Colorado Software and Internet Association is sponsoring its inaugural "CSIA C-Level @ A MileHigh" confab from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Invesco Field.

Some 40 "C-Level" executives will be the featured guests.

Attendees will get a chance to mingle with the execs and place bids to get some one-on-one face time.

"Where else can a person buy a ticket and potentially meet 40 CIOs, and then bid on future time to play golf with area technology executives?" CSIA President Su Hawk wrote in an e-mail to the Rocky Mountain News.

She said in a separate news release the event aims to nurture executive connections for the IT industry.

Both the "celebrity" execs and attendees will be invited to sign up to speak to schools, participate in tech company tours with students, become more aware of the Denver School of Science and Technology, and link up with universities as speakers.

"We are making sure that all attendees will have a chance to learn more about all the options available to connect to students - something we know will help increase the awareness and opportunities for students across the region," Hawk said.

Among the execs scheduled to attend:

• Jim Bernsten, chief information officer at CoBank;

• Karin Catton, chief information officer at Johns Manville;

• Darren Crystal, chief technology officer at Photobucket;

• Kevin Hart, chief information officer at Level 3 Communications.

In addition to networking, attendees will get the chance to participate in a silent auction to bid on future time with the guest CIOs as well as vacation packages and other items. Proceeds will benefit CSIA.

Tickets are available by calling 303-592-4070 or by visiting the CSIA Web site at coloradosoftware.org.