Ohio Fall 2023 Graduation Book

FALL 2023 ohio

ORDER OF CEREMONY

WELCOME

Jon Rike

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

Demarus Crawford-White

INTRODUCTION TO VETERAN SPEAKER

Allison Williams

VETERAN SPEAKER

Chris Kimble

INTRODUCTION TO STUDENT SPEAKER

Morgan Harnly

STUDENT SPEAKER

Anthony Holder

INTRODUCTION TO CLASS AWARDS

Julie Arias

PEER EXCELLENCE AWARD-CLASS AWARDED

Charles E. Brown

GRIT AWARD-STAFF AWARDED

Chris Kimble

INTRODUCTION TO COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Will Smith

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Darius Beckham

PROGRAM COMPLETION CERTIFICATE CEREMONY

CLOSING REMARKS

Demarus Crawford-White

RECEPTION

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OUR STORY

NPower is a nonprofit rooted in the community and committed to advancing race and gender equity in the tech industry through skills training, real-world experience, support, and mentorships. The organization has helped young adults from underserved communities and veterans move from poverty to the middle class by training them with a range of tech skills and placing them in quality jobs.

Students who enter our free training programs earn industry-recognized certifications and graduate with the competencies of an IT professional with one to two years of experience. NPower also places students in paid internships and apprenticeships with corporate and nonprofit organizations. Eighty percent of NPower graduates get a full-time job or continue their education. NPower is a vital solution towards bridging the national talent gap that exists in the high-growth technology industry.

Over the past decade, NPower has expanded its program reach and developed a robust network of Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized enterprises, government agencies, staffing firms, and a network of nonprofit partners that host its interns and hire its graduates full-time.

To learn more about NPower, visit npower.org.

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NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Matt Horner, CHAIR Executive Vice President World Wide Technology, Inc.

Gail Fierstein, VICE CHAIR SVP, Global Head of People CaaStle

Steve Murphy, SECRETARY Sr. Managing Director, Financial Services Industry Solutions Lead Accenture

Viola Maxwell-Thompson, TREASURER CEO Emeritus Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF)

Michael Fugett, BOARD OBSERVER U.S. ARMY, NPower TX Graduate VP, Production Management

Citi

Luisana Estevez, BOARD OBSERVER NPower NY Graduate | VP, Data Center Production Operations Engineer

REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Sean Lightfoot Realtor

Howard Hanna

Alicia Manning Senior Manager Windes Advisory Audit Tax

Jon Rike CIO City of Dayton

Kari Tucker

S&E Student Programs WPAFB/ Military Spouse

Kalunde Wambua Vice President CareSource

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COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Darius Beckham

Darius is a proud Dayton native and graduate of the University of Dayton, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science and Sociology. He began his public service career as an AmeriCorps member with the City of Dayton in the Community Engagement Division and quickly advanced to the position of Legislative Aide to former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.

In 2021, Darius joined former Congressman Tony Hall’s Hall Hunger Initiative as a Project Manager. There, he lobbied for a more equitable food system in the Dayton region and successfully managed the distribution of $100,000 in microgrants to local projects aimed at reducing food insecurity.

Since 2022, Darius has served as Senior Policy Aide to Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims and works tirelessly to plan and execute the Mayor’s key focus of retaining young talent and helping ensure all Daytonians have the ability and opportunity to thrive.

Darius is a 2020 fellow of the New Leaders Council of Southwest Ohio, alumni of LEAD Ohio’s Leadership Academy, and a graduate of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. He is currently earning his Master of Public Administration from the University of Dayton.

As a dedicated public servant and a strong believer in investing in people, he gladly serves on various boards, including the Omega Community Development Corporation, The Montgomery County Ohio College Promise Program, and the Hall Hunger Initiative.

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WELCOME SPEAKER

Jon Rike

Jon is a lifelong resident of Dayton and a graduate of Oakwood High School. He currently serves as the CIO for the City of Dayton and has held that position since 2020. As Chief Information Officer, Jon is responsible for leading the development of IT strategy and the tactical management of enterprise IT systems and solutions that support internal operations and customer services. These include cloud services, virtual/physical servers, enterprise data storage, data analytics, networking, cybersecurity, application management, desktop

programming, service desk, and document management. He provides organizational leadership to approximately 50 IT professionals across 17 City departments, including public safety, fire services, and the City-owned Dayton International Airport.

Jon began his City of Dayton service with 18 years of experience in IT management, including leadership positions with Montgomery County and the University of Dayton. He earned an MBA and a B.S. in Management Information Systems at the University of Dayton and has achieved certifications in both project management and IT service management.

Additionally, Jon currently serves on the Board of Directors for Technology First, the Regional Advisory Board for NPower, the Data Analytics Advisory Board for Sinclair Community College, and the MIS Advisory Board for the University of Dayton. When he’s not at work, Jon enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Jojo, and their three children: Zoey, Charlie, and Olivia.

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KEY CLASS STATISTICS

2023

Tech Fundamentals

Fall

100% OF GRADUATING COHORT EARNED AT LEAST 1 INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION

50% OF GRADUATES HAVE ALREADY SECURED A PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AFTER NPOWER

80% OF GRADUATES ARE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND WERE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED

PARTICIPATED IN 9 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING MOCK INTERVIEWS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND PROFESSIONAL SITE VISITS.

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My experience with NPower has been life-changing. I have met some of the most patient, helpful, and consistent people I have ever met. I entered the program right out of high school, not knowing what my next step would be.

Before NPower, I started working a full-time factory job right out of high school and, at the last minute, decided that I would go to college. However, in college, I found many requirements that made it impossible for me to focus on my education, and I finally just withdrew. This moment, however, ended up being a good thing. Soon after I withdrew, I heard about NPower.

NPower’s staff really goes the extra mile to help you mentally and emotionally, as well as providing a great tech education. The monthly check-ins for mental health were something I found extremely helpful. Professional development and mentorship have benefited my growth in so many ways. I came in not knowing much about tech, and now I look forward to starting a career in the Tech field. From learning how to work on computers to networking with people, I must say NPower has been lifechanging for me.

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Michael Blake Young Adult

Charles E. Brown III Veteran Spouse

My journey has been a mosaic of unexpected turns, from aspirations for a career in nursing to the highstakes world of commission-based sales. Each step is filled with its own set of challenges and triumphs and with invaluable lessons about life.

These lessons reshaped my aspirations, guiding me toward seeking stability and a sense of control over my destiny. It wasn’t long before I found myself drawn to the technology sector, attracted by its promise of meritocracy. My sanctuary came in the form of NPower, a place among peers and mentors who judged me not by where I came from but by my willingness to learn and grow.

NPower offered me a chance to not just witness but actively participate in the digital transformation shaping our world. It instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude and a burning desire to give back, to reach out to those still searching for their path, and to show them the possibilities that lie in technology. As I stand on the brink of what’s next, I carry with me the lessons of my past and the excitement for the future. My story may have begun with aspirations of healing, but it has blossomed into a commitment to empower, innovate, and inspire in the digital age.

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When I was growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut. By the time I was in 7th grade I had lost all aspirations to be an astronaut and instead decided I wanted to be a professional basketball player. However, by my sophomore year in college, I decided to stop playing basketball and focus on life outside of sports. I knew I wanted a career. I changed my major to Software Engineering. Then life happened, and I had to stop school.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in computers and everything connected to technology. From game systems to cell phones and computers, everything was fascinating. That strong interest made the transition to this program an easy decision for me.

When I first started the NPower program, I realized I didn’t know as much as I thought I did about IT. However, after establishing the fundamentals, I noticed that many things in IT stem from what you do and deal with on an everyday basis. I feel like I’ve learned more with NPower than I did when I was in college. I plan to use all the knowledge I’ve gained through NPower to finally get that career instead of just having a job.

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Jay Brown Young Adult

When I was younger, there was never any certain job or career I wanted for myself. I just knew I wanted to be rich enough to make a difference in my community. My aspirations were simply to be successful, and I would measure that in wealth and the ability to make change happen.

My entry into the tech field started with an MSN article I read that explained how many unskilled jobs would be disappearing. Jobs like the ones I had were being quickly replaced. That opened my eyes and made me think, “I really need to find some sort of skill to have in my back pocket.” That is when a family member connected me to NPower.

To me, NPower represents the future. Anybody with an eye toward the future should look into NPower. My best moments were every Thursday in our personal development class. I learned about myself and how to become a professional person. The camaraderie between trainees was special, we all learned to work together and encourage each other to keep going.

After NPower, I will continue to progress in my professional career using the skills I’ve gained. I still plan to become successful and give back to my community. I know I have a better chance of doing so. I also want to give back to my NPower alumni family.

If I could have any superpower, it would be super speed. If I could talk to my younger self, I would tell him to enjoy the fun times more but work even harder.

Zachary Crawford Young Adult

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Anthony Holder Young Adult

Before I got into this tech program, I aspired to be a sports journalist. I started a podcast focused on sports. While I was doing podcasts, I gained an interest in technology. I then made the choice to move forward with pursuing a career in IT. My experience with podcasts provided me with valuable skills that translate well into the tech world. Skills like communication, researching and analyzing information, and the capacity to engage with audiences are all highly relevant in IT roles.

I chose NPower because I saw it as an opportunity to better myself professionally, to get my foot in the tech field, and to make connections that can last a lifetime. This program and the people involved in it mean a lot to me, as they have helped in every aspect of my life. The emphasis the program puts on soft skills, business presentations, and effective communication is particularly noteworthy. In the tech industry, these skills are often just as important as technical prowess. Being able to effectively communicate ideas, collaborate with others, and present information in a compelling manner can set you apart and open numerous opportunities for career advancement. My favorite moments of the program were our in-person professional development days. I loved the transparent conversations we had, the dialogue my classmates and I shared, and all the laughs we had being around each other for 4 hours.

After I graduate from NPower, I plan to continue my education, attend a two-year college, and pursue a degree in Computer Science.

If I had one superpower, it would be the ability to fly. I wouldn’t need to worry about traffic jams, wouldn’t need to pay for gas, and I could do great sightseeing.

If I had to give my younger self advice, I would tell myself to be patient, stay the course, and fall in love with the process of success. Things take time, so stay consistent with your goals. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the glass is always half full and NEVER half empty.

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BIOS

Sir Anthony Keyton Young Adult

The opportunity to be a part of innovation led me down the path of tech. I see the impact of tech daily. I chose NPower because while I wanted to attend college to major in a tech-related major, I was very nervous about taking out loans to cover the cost. I was told about NPower from a friend who had just enrolled.

NPower means giving back and contributing to the community. My favorite times were going to different employer sites and learning how technology plays a part. Seeing what I was learning about being used in real life was encouraging.

After NPower, I will embark on and embrace my new tech career. If I had a superpower, it would be time travel so I could go back and cherish the moments in life that I miss. Honestly, I would not change any of the mistakes that I made because those same mistakes made me who I am.

One thing I would tell my younger self is to believe in yourself and chase those goals and dreams. I would also tell my younger self not to stop and that you are worth it and can do it.

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I began working for a paycheck at the age of fourteen as a school helper in the cafeteria and other cleaning duties. However, I have always desired to become a Firefighter. I saw them as brave, strong, kind, and always ready, willing, and able to help. I wanted to be that sort of person.

I entered the Navy at the age of 23 because, honestly, I procrastinated. I was unsure of what direction I was going toward. That younger me had no sense of urgency, and all I knew was what I could see around me. Local jobs at minimum wage and factory work seemed to be my only options. At the age of 20, things started to change, and the long-term began to matter to me. I knew drifting through life was not for me, and I knew that I needed more experience and better opportunities. The US Navy gave me that.

Being in the military was indeed a positive move for me in maturing spiritually, mentally, and socially. Although I did not capitalize as much as I could to grow educationally, I had jobs that paid well but were not satisfying career moves. I felt that I had settled.

NPower came along and fulfilled my desire and need for a challenge and change. It’s been a long time coming, but I know now that I’m headed into an employment path that will stretch me, grow me, and breathe new life into my world.

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Christopher Kimble Veteran

Growing up, I dreamt of building the future as a mechanical engineer. While college was on the map, a passion for technology sparked during my time in an engineering club. It was the community that pushed me to explore new possibilities, leading me to NPower.

NPower has been a turning point in my life. Here, I saw an exciting path to develop myself in a completely new direction. It is the opportunity I always wished I had. Thanks to the support of mentors and valuable professional development opportunities, I acquired the essential skills and self-assurance to pursue my ambitions. Appreciative of this platform, I am now focused on transitioning into UX design. My objective is to integrate my technical proficiency with a design-focused methodology to craft meaningful user experiences that resonate long after interaction.

Adrian Taylor Young Adult

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CONGRATULATIONS

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FALL 2023 Tech Fundamentals

Jay Brown

Sir Anthony Keyton

Anthony Holder

Adrian Taylor

Michael Blake III

Chris Kimble

Charles Brown III

Zachary Crawford

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80%

> Of students who enroll graduate

> Of alumni get jobs or continue their education

(Based on NPower’s national data)

LAUNCHING TECH CAREERS.

TRANSFORMING LIVES

NPower’s model is a solution to building a diverse tech pipeline. Our graduates launch tech jobs with an average starting salary of $41,000–$60,000 and are positioned to advance their career path, enabling them to earn more than their peers in lower-wage jobs. Higher earning potential is the key to breaking generational cycles of poverty, positioning our students and their families to achieve long-term economic success.

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We are the FUTURE OF WORK

Through partner and tech industry collaboration, our free training model is a workforce development solution for the future. In today’s economy, over 50% of all jobs require some degree of technology and digital skills. We prepare untapped, diverse talent to fill the number of technology-oriented jobs that will increase in the U.S. to 13 million by 2025, according to a recent Microsoft Data Science report that estimates that digital job capacity. Our graduates of over 8,000 veterans and young adults are hired at over 3,000 companies and nonprofits as interns and full-time employees. NPower is on a mission to create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for young adults and military veterans from underserved communities. Part of this goal is supported by our Command Shift Coalition, a national consortium of women and allies that advocate for strategies that invest in and inspire the advancement of young women of color in tech careers and aims to increase the representation of women of color in tech from 5% to 10% over the next 10 years. This coalition was sparked by ‘40 by 22’, a NPower initiative to help young women of color access the skills needed to launch careers in the tech industry in partnership with Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative.

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THANK YOU to our employment partners, funders and volunteers

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

City of Dayton

Jon Rike

Darius Beckham

Alpha Media

Michelle Merkle

Green Tree Group

Hailey Clark

Pamela Rigling

iHeartmedia

Dave Alexander

Philips Temple Church

Pastor James E. Washington

Sam’s Club

Marvalene Raglin

Springfield Think Tank

Marlo Fox

Jacquise Jackson

Ericka Harney

VOLUNTEERS

Altafiber

Dan Allen

Angie Erdy

Nadja Turek

Dan Mazza

CareSource

Lynette Adams

Jordan Albright

Arthur Miller

Devon Valencia

Michael White

CVS

Jerry Brown

Sinclair Community College

Tracey Brown

Dayton Public Schools

Bryon Ewing

Gary Armstrong

PARTNERS

Altafiber

Premier Health

CareSource

Clothes That Work

Community Health Centers of Dayton

DataYard

The Dayton Foundation

Digital Transformation Center

East End Community Center

Entrepreneur’s Center

Goodwill Easter Seals

Kroger

Ross Family Foundation

Technology First

NATIONAL PATHWAY BUILDERS

Pathway Builders are individual donors invested in the future of our country and changing lives for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities. To learn more about Pathway Builders or to join this group of changemakers, please visit npower.org/support or email hello@npower.org

AMBASSADOR

Ronald Gula

Thomas Kurian

Peter Trizzino

CHAMPION

Christiane Costello

Paul Daugherty

Dean Del Vecchio

Michael Doumani

Matt Horner

Jennifer Kleinert

Brian McCarthy

Steve Murphy

Mark Patterson

Chris Perry

David Reilly

Ron Robbins

PARTNER

Craig Cuffie

Guillermo Diaz Jr.

Gail Fierstein

Shane Fitzsimons

Tony Kerrison

Debra King

Rick Scurfield

Josh Sutton

Cliff Thomas

Sangy Vatsa

Perry Wright

Lori Zugelder

SUPPORTER

Katherine Avery

Nic & Sasha Barnes

Robert Benoit

Stefanie Boles

Marletta Boyd II

Marletta Boyd Sr.

David Boyle

Michael Bridges

Dale Brooks

Kristie Carney

Gerald Charles Jr.

Benjamin Cole

Hannah Craven

Richard Dames

Quincy Davis

Carl De Groote Groote

Richard DePalma

Mike Elmore

Amy Gnagy

Demetrius Goodwin

Michael Gregoire

Mark Heil

Rhonda Henley

Matt Holton

Cindy Hoots

Hubbard Family Charitable Foundation

Olivia Jackson

Brooke Jaffe

Timothy Lyons

George Maddaloni

Fernando Matzkin

Viola Maxwell-Thompson

Richard Mclaughlin

Peter McNamara

David Miller

Robert Millstone

Brian Mize

Kevin & Melissa Modica

Brian Mooney

Tristan Morel L’Horset

David Niles

Rodrick O’Connor

Jonathan Orr

Frank Pedersen

Shane Pfannes

Stephen Poeppe

Greg Raimann

Jose Reyes

John Rosato

Jessica Roy

Michael Rupinski

Diane Schwartz

William Shea

Dwight Shepherd

Randy Siedl

James Smith

David Sullivan

Nicole Tate

Coriel Taylor

Zachary Vendeiro

Harish Venkitaramanan

Scott Wilton

Judy Winter-Giella

FRIEND

Einat Burshtine

Damon Downing

Benjamin Hyman

Tanya Loh

Susanne Tedrick

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NATIONAL NPOWER SUPPORTERS Underwriters $750K+

Sponsors $250K-$749K NATIONAL

NPOWER SUPPORTERS

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NATIONAL NPOWER SUPPORTERS

Partners $100K-$249K

The Abell Foundation

The Ainslie Foundation

Ascension

Atlas Data Systems

Bloomberg LLP

Boeing

Capital One Financial Corp.

Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation

Check Point Software Technologies, LTD

The Beth & Ravenel Curry Foundation

Ernst & Young

Fiserv Inc.

Fortinet, Inc.

General Motors

Globant

The Hearst Foundations

Hewlett Packard Company

Hitachi

Infinidat

Ira W. De Camp Foundation

John & Marcia Goldman Foundation

Kaiser Permanente

Kapor Center

KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.

L’Oreal Groupe

Light a Single Candle Foundation

Supporters $50K-$99K

The Achelis & Bodman Foundation

Amazon

Andreessen Horowitz

Cultural Leadership Fund

Arista Networks, Inc.

Armis Inc.

Auth0 Inc.

BAE Systems

Benevity Fund

Broadcom Inc.

The Centene Charitable Foundation

City of Dayton

Cohesity Comerica

Communities Foundation of Texas

Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan

Consumers Energy

Corteva

Data Dynamics, Inc.

Elasticsearch

Emerson

Flextronics International USA, Inc.

Henry & Ruth Blaustein

Rosenberg Foundation

IBM

ING Financial Markets LLC

Intel Corporation

Mass Mutual

Missouri Department of Economic Development

NetApp

New Jersey Department of Labor

New York City

The New York Community Trust

Oracle

Palo Alto Networks

Patrick J McGovern Foundation

Rainwater Charitable Foundation

The San Jose Sharks Foundation

SHI International Corp.

Standard & Poor’s Corporation

State of Maryland

St. Louis Regional Business Council

Tata Consultancy Services

Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Texas Workforce Commission

Twilio

Verizon Foundation

Wipro Technologies

Workday Foundation

Zendesk

Koret Foundation

Maryland - AIF

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Maryland Department of Labor

Mastercard

Merck & Co., Inc

OKTA, Inc.

OneTen

The William R. Orthwein, Jr. Foundation, Inc.

The Rockefeller Foundation

Rubrik

The Saigh Foundation

S&P Global Inc.

Salesforce.com Foundation

Society for Information Management

SS&C Technologies, Inc.

State of New Jersey - PACE

Texas Workforce Commission

United Way of Southeastern Michigan

United Way of Tarrant County

VMware inc.

Wells Fargo Bank

Wilson Sheehan Foundation

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NATIONAL NPOWER SUPPORTERS

Friends $25K-$49K

The Addy Foundation

ADP Foundation Inc.

Adobe Systems Inc

Ally Financial

The Altum Fund

American Direct Marketing

Appian Corporation

Appteon

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

Baltimore Nonprofit Relief Fund

Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle

Beyond Identity

BravoTECH

Bright Funds

Clayco Con Edison

The Dauber Foundation

Dugas Family Foundation Inc

F5, Inc.

FIS Global

GalaxE Solutions, Inc.

Gateway to Innovation

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

HCL Technologies

The Graham and Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation

Hudson’s Bay Company

Humble Bumble

JobsFirstNYC

The Kimball Foundation

Mainline RTP

Mercy Caritas

NetApp Inc.

New York City Council

Nourishing – A Schnucks Foundation

NPower Canada

Nutanix Inc Own Company

The Pott Foundation

Royal Bank of Canada

Service Now State Street

Super Micro Computer, Inc.

UKG Inc.

Under Armour

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CHANGING THE FUTURE OF TECH TOGETHER

npower.org/Ohio

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