NPower Michigan Tech Fundamentals Spring 2020

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TECH FUNDAMENTALS

SPRING 2020

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michigan

NPOWER MICHIGAN

A NOTE OF REFLECTION While this has been an unprecedented time with a health pandemic that has touched every one of our lives in some way and the heightened focus around racial injustice, our Spring 2020 Graduates have remained determined and focused to build valuable, indemand skills and obtain the certifications needed to excel in tech careers.

And while times are challenging at this moment, we at NPower, are hopeful for the road ahead! One of the important lessons we learned during this pandemic is how vital a role technology plays in keeping us connected—to learn, to work and to communicate.

Technology has enabled millions of people to work from home in a matter of weeks. And this proves how critical tech jobs are in every company and will be in the future. Another important fact about the Detroit community, we are known globally for our contributions in business innovation, from the birth of the assembly line to every facet of music and film—we are innately creative, resilient, tenacious—t’s in our DNA! We celebrate the achievements of our graduates transitioning to a virtual learning environment! Completing this challenging, life-changing program while remaining committed to supporting them as future tech professionals.

A special thank you to the partners who have hired our students and hosted virtual internships: Microsoft, Little Caesars, RT Software Systems, Accenture, TLabs, Shift Digital, Accenture and CoLabL.

I the midst of the hurricane, I saw a little sunshine through you, our inaugural Detroit class.

Thank you.

Congratulations!

With gratitude,

Camille Walker Banks Executive Director, NPower Michigan

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

To our Spring 2020 graduates, we know a bright future awaits you and you have made our entire community proud—Detroit Love

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OUR STORY NPower is a national nonprofit that offers an alternative fast-track to tech careers for military veterans, military spouses and young adults from underserved communities in New York, Texas, California, Maryland, New Jersey, Missouri, and Michigan. Our six-month program fuels a diverse pipeline of digital professionals hired into entry-level and mid-level jobs by Fortune 500 companies throughout the U.S. Our curriculum equips students to meet marketplace demand—engaging businesses, volunteers and nonprofits in their long-term success. We invest in the growth of our alumni with continued professional development and credentialing.

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NATIONAL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Reilly | Chair Chief Information Officer, Global Banking and Markets Bank of America Matt Horner | Vice Chair Senior Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales World Wide Technology, Inc.

Dean Del Vecchio EVP, Chief of Operations and CIO The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Viola Maxwell-Thompson President and CEO Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF)

Guillermo Diaz, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Kloudspot

Stephen M. Murphy Sr. Managing Director, Financial Services Technology Global Lead Accenture

Gail Fierstein | Secretary Head of People CaaStle

Michael Fey Co-Founder & CEO Zero Abstraction

Vittorio Cretella | Treasurer Chief Information Officer Proctor & Gamble

Debra King Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer Corteva Agriscience

Steven Ballantyne COO Watermark Insights Randy Barnhardt

US MARINE CORPS (RETIRED)

VP, Cloud & Innovative Solutions SHI International Corp.

Craig Cuffie SVP, Chief Procurement Officer Salesforce

Frank Pedersen Partner Apply Digital Christopher J. Perry President Broadridge Financial Solutions

Dwight D. Shepherd

REAR ADMIRAL (RETIRED)

President Dwight Shepherd Consulting Anupam Singhal Senior Vice President and Business Head Tata Consultancy Services Josh Sutton Chief Executive Officer Agorai Peter Trizzino Senior Vice President, Global Sales Dell Technologies

Jenifer Kleinert Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Infrastructure Operations & Technology Citi

Dan Petrozzo Partner Oak HC/FT

Sangy Vatsa Executive Vice President & Chief Technology and Digital Officer FIS Global

Thomas Knowlton CEO CSR Talent Group

Larry Quinlan Global CIO Deloitte

Bertina Ceccarelli Chief Executive Officer NPower

Diane Schwarz VP, Chief Information Officer Johnson Controls

MICHIGAN

Karl Bell Managing Director GAA Solutions Lisa Cawley Managing Director Accenture Adonis Cruz

NPOWER ALUM

IT Resident Google Angela Dean SVP, Client Executive Kapnick Insurance Group Warren Flood Community Engagement Manager Microsoft

Chanel Hampton Chief Executive Officer Strategic Community Partners

Marlo Rencher, PhD Director, Technology-Based Programs TechTown Detroit

Linda Schlesinger Wagner Chief Executive Officer Skinny Tees

Bryan Waldron Vanita Sanders Property Consultant Director, Director of Education Bedrock and Community Initiatives Tabice Ward United Way Spencer Lucker Chief Information Security Industry Engagement Manager David Turner Officer (IT Sector), Workforce Chief Executive Officer DTE Energy Development Group Motor City Casino Markeith Weldon Detroit Mayor's Office Angela Thompkins Chief Executive Officer Kendra Mitchell VP, Diversity & Inclusion WeldonIT Chief of Staff Consumers Energy Marlin Williams CISCO/DUO Security Chief Diversity Inclusion Officer StockX

Anita Klopfenstein Chief Information Officer Little Caesars

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

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NPOWER MICHIGAN

TECH FUNDAMENTALS SPRING 2020 STATISTICS The curriculum for this program includes a NetAcad learning module courtesy of the Cisco Networking Academy.

35% 76%

GRADUATION RATE

96%

BLACK/LATINX ENROLLMENT

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

WOMEN ENROLLMENT

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CALEB BAKER 22

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JULIAN GANTT 19

SIDNEY HARRIS 22

WESTLAND, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL

FRASER, MI INTERNSHIP RT Software Systems COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

SOUTHFIELD, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL

After an amazing work-study experience in the IT department at my local community college, I was looking for a way to learn more about the IT industry outside of my college courses. I wanted to build connections and better understand where I wanted to go within the industry. The NPower 16-week course allowed me to explore the IT industry and pinpoint my own passion for networking. The work experience opportunity with ColabL allowed me to explore my interests in coding. I’m working to get ITF+ certified while applying to jobs with hands-on experience to help move my IT education forward.

After leaving college for personal Before NPower, I was working as a reasons, I’d been exploring career mover with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. I options that would allow me to felt that IT was a field that I could serve others within the medical dedicate myself to and have a field. I’d always had a passion sustainable long-term career. for development projects and My aunt encouraged my cousin wanted to better understand the and I to apply to the Tech opportunities in IT that would Fundamentals program to build allow me to directly contribute to marketable skills and explore IT the service of others. During the pathways. The 16-week course 16-week course I expanded my was a challenge, but I was able IT knowledge and learned about to learn many technical skills and opportunities in the health polish my soft skills during informatics field during our professional development. I’m professional development. I’m now ITF+ certified and loving my looking to return to school and Internship with RT Software solidify my career options by Systems, where I’m continuing my earning my bachelor’s degree. education through hands-on learning about server management.

After NPower I plan to gain my A+ certification and work my way into cybersecurity.

BAILEE INGRAM 19

DETROIT, MI

SOUTHFIELD, MI COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL

I heard about NPower through a family member while working as a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory. Ever since taking an IT class in high school, I’ve been curious about the opportunities IT holds, but I didn’t know how to tap into them. During Tech Fundamentals, I increased my technical skills and cultivated a community with other aspiring software developers. I’m CompTIA ITF+ certified and gearing up to take on the A+ exams. In the meantime, I’m seeking entry-level positions to start my IT career!

NPower was recommended to me by my long-term mentor at Black Families United Detroit. Tech Fundamentals was a professional and social challenge for me as a meticulous, only child. Through the program, I built technical skills and improved my speaking skills so I can present myself professionally as an entry-level IT specialist. I’m currently working toward earning my CompTIA TF+ certification and exploring educational pathways in networking.

I came to NPower through Job Corps Detroit, where I was working towards an electrician’s certificate and serving as the site’s audiovisual specialist. Through NPower I was able to better understand the overlap between IT and the audiovisual world and gain foundational knowledge about hardware and software that will allow me to build inroads into the audiovisual industry.

KEON JOHNSON 21

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

JACOB HOWARD 19

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CHRISTIAN KINSEY 20

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KAMERON MARTIN 20

KAYREESE MUCKLES 19

DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP RT Software Systems COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

FRASER, MI DIRECT PLACEMENT Little Caesars COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

I met some NPower Michigan staff at a community event and was immediately intrigued by the opportunity to learn about career pathways in IT. I’d attended a Math and Technology NAF school.

I run an informal iPhone and computer repair service for my family and friends, but I wasn’t sure about next steps to make my side hustle a viable career. Tech Fundamentals allowed me to form a group of peers interested in IT and develop skills that make me marketable in the IT job market. I’ve just completed an internship at RT Software Systems, and I’m excited about the career opportunities I’ll field in the near future!

After leaving college due to changing family circumstances, Before Tech Fundamentals, I was my mother suggested NPower working at a high-end retailer as a as a next step to develop a skill set store associate. I learned about that could lead to a life-long NPower through my grandmother. career. Tech Fundamentals I applied to the program so I could introduced me to a number of IT join the Air Force and work in an subfields, working IT professionals, IT-related job within the service. and tech jargon to help me build During the course, I was able to solid technical skills. As a result, I build my technical skills and get landed a full-time help desk CompTIA TF+ certified. I recently position locally with Little Ceasars. started a position as a test For me this is only the beginning; administrator at a testing facility I’m already excited about my while I work towards my CompTIA next step!

A+ certification.

WESTLAND, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

OAK PARK, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL

Tech Fundamentals came to my attention when I was working as a bank teller and met one of the NPower team members. I had been looking for an opportunity that would allow me to start a career with the possibility of advancement so I could better provide for my son. During the 16-week Tech Fundamentals course, I was able to build foundational IT knowledge and understand the pathway forward for a career in software development.

ANTHONY RICHARD TYRONE SCOTT 21 25 DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP Microsoft COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

NEW HUDSON, MI DIRECT PLACEMENT Shift Digital COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

I am soft-spoken, and also technically-minded, and it has always been challenging to find my way forward in tech.

Being part of NPower gave me a supportive team, eager to encourage me and coach me through tough moments of self-doubt. Previously, I felt that college wasn’t for me. I found a home with my Tech Fundamentals cohort as we worked through the CompTIA A+ material and gained insight into packaging ourselves professionally. I was excited to work with Microsoft engineers as an intern and plan to return to college and earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

At the beginning of the NPower program, I was working as a trainer at Orange Theory Fitness while finishing my associate’s degree in computer science.

Though I had robust theoretical knowledge, I’d had no practical hands-on computer experience.

NPower provided the perfect opportunity to gain experience through the 16-week course.

The professional development gave me the chance to put a final polish on my resume and secure my current full-time position at Shift Digital.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

ASHA PATTON 25

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JAAMI'EL SMITH 20

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RA’SHAWN SMITH 20

DANIEL VALDEZ 23

DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP Microsoft COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP ColabL COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

Computer science is my passion.

Before NPower I struggled to find opportunities to train within the IT field. I learned about coding through a short series of workshops using raspberry pi; then NPower provided me with basic IT knowledge and skills to start off in the industry and be the smartest person in the room. It was a blast learning about the components of a computer, then getting a broken machine and figuring out how to fix it. I’m currently applying for apprentice opportunities with Google to continue learning and moving towards my goal of becoming a software engineer.

NPower came to me when I was looking for more ways to build my knowledge to become an electrical engineer. During the 16-week course I was able to learn about another side of electrical engineering and backend development with some of my peers. I’m currently working hard at an internship at Microsoft while making plans to return to school to complete my bachelor’s in engineering.

After earning my associate’s degree in information systems, I was looking for an opportunity to gain IT certification and hands-on experiences to make me more marketable. I’d always intuitively understood computers, and I did well in school, but developing a professional presence to back up my natural and learned technical skills was a must. During the 16-week course with NPower, I was able to earn my CompTIA TF+ certification and create a professional resume and learn the basics of networking. The ColabL work experience allowed me to experience a project-based work environment. I’m excited to build off of this experience in the near future with my first IT job.

CAMRON WILLIAMS 20

Before NPower I was looking for my next step. I tried college, but the cost was prohibitive; it came at the cost of my familial community in the months after the death of my mother. I wasn’t going to let these roadblocks hold me back from a career in IT where I could further my passion for robotics and AI technology.

During the 16-week course, I was able to build up my foundational IT knowledge and develop professionally. I was selected for an internship with Microsoft, and I’m loving every minute. Next I have my eyes on gaining my A+ certification and landing my first entry-level job.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

DETROIT, MI INTERNSHIP Microsoft in partnership with Grow Detroit’s Young Talent COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFIED

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JAYLIN ARMSTRONG JUSTIN BALDRIDGE

CEDRIC COLBERT

KENNEDY KEY

TREVON WELLS

DARIA POOLE

michigan

CONGRATULATIONS! TECH FUNDAMENTALS

SPRING 2020 JAYLIN ARMSTRONG CALEB BAKER JUSTIN BALDRIDGE CEDRIC COLBERT JULIAN GANTT SIDNEY HARRIS JACOB HOWARD BAILEE INGRAM KEON JOHNSON KENNEDY KEY CHRISTIAN KINSEY KAMERON MARTIN KAYREESE MUCKLES ASHA PATTON DARIA POOLE ANTHONY RICHARD JAAMI'EL SMITH RASHAWN SMITH DANIEL VALDEZ TREVON WELLS CAMRON WILLIAMS

WATCH THE RECORDING

npower.org/graduation/spring2020

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TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

TYRONE SCOTT

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LAUNCHING TECH CAREERS. TRANSFORMING LIVES.

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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.

WE ARE THE FUTURE OF WORK

81%

› ›

Of students who enroll graduate Of alumni get jobs or continue their education

Through partner and tech industry collaboration, our free training model is a workforce development solution for the future. We prepare untapped, diverse talent to fill the nearly 6 million jobs expected to require tech skills by 2020. Our graduates of nearly 4,000 veterans and young adults are hired at over 200 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. Part of this goal is our ‘40 by 22’ initiative, which aims to advance more young women of color in tech careers. This initiative is supported by Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

(Based on NPower’s 2018–2019 national data)

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THANK YOU...

TO OUR EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS, SPONSORS & FUNDERS Accenture

Google

Bank of America

Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Bedrock

Kapnick Insurance Group

Challenge Detroit

Little Ceasars

Cisco / Duo Security

Microsoft

Consumers Energy

Rock Central

The Cultural Leadership Fund Andreessen Horowitz

RT Software Systems

Detroit Labs / Hacking with the Homies DTE Energy Foundation

Shift Digital Skinny Tees The Sound Vision

Electronic Brain Solutions

StockX

Epic Games Fifth Third Bank

United Way Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM)

Fund II Foundation

Walker-Miller Energy

GAA Solutions

Weldon Global IT Staffing

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO Lisa Cawley

Kendra Mitchell

CISCO / DUO SECURITY

Ed Boyd

Doug Pettigrew

ELECTRONIC BRAIN SOLUTIONS

Ben Ciaglo

Ray Moulden

STATE FARM INSURANCE

Linda Schlesinger-Wagner

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FRIENDS OF NPOWER

ACCENTURE

SKINNY TEES

Lisa Houze

...AND TO OUR VOLUNTEERS Accenture Lisa Cawley

The Fikany Group / Digital Lakes John Fikany

Shift Digital Heather Boyle

Bedrock Bryon Waldron

GAA Solutions Karl Bell

Skinny Tees Linda Schlesinger-Wagner

Cisco / Duo Security Frank Erve Kendra Mitchell

Google Adonis Cruz NPOWER ALUM

StockX Marlin Williams

Kapnick Insurance Group Angela Dean

Strategic Community Partners Channel Hampton

Class Act Detroit Rashaad Dobbins Consumers Energy Angela Thompkins Detroit Labs / Hacking with the Homies Nikki Evelyn DTE Energy Tabice Ward Electronic Brain Solutions Doug Pettigrew Epic Games Heiko Wenczal

Little Ceasars Alicia Alexander Anita Klopfstein Microsoft Warren Flood Mind Body Corporate Spa Loresa Roberton Ralph C. Wilson Foundation Susan Dundon Rock Central Alyssa Boucher Rachel Kaip RT Software Systems Ed Steele

TechTown / Launch Detroit Myka Burley Marlo Rencher PhD Walker-Miller Energy Malcom Miller Weldon Global IT Staffing Markeith Weldon Formerly at Wayne State University Daren Hardy NPower Alum Reinaldo Vaillant NPower Instructors Institute Robert Vaughn

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2020

City of Detroit, The Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development Spencer Lucker

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NPOWER SUPPORTERS UNDERWRITERS | $750K+

SPONSORS | $250K+ Accenture

PARTNERS | $100K+ Ainslie Foundation

Centene Charitable Foundation

The Hearst Foundation

Prudential

Andreessen Horowitz

Cognizant

Heckscher Foundation for Children

Publicis Sapient

Ascension Information Services

Craig Newmark Philanthropies

Ira W. DeCamp Foundation

Pure Storage

Atlas Data Systems

Dell

JobFirstNYC

Salesforce

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Emerson

Mastercard

Workday Foundation

Bob Woodruff Foundation

Fiserv

Microsoft

The California Wellness Foundation

Gula Fund

The New York Community Trust

The Achelis & Bodman Foundation

CompTIA

The Meadows Foundation

American Express

Corteva Agriscience

Motorola Solutions

St. Louis Regional Business Council

Capital One

Dupont

Netscout

Vodafone

Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation

France-Merrick Foundation

Shippy Foundation

Cisco Systems

HPE

Zoom

Deloitte

Tata Consultancy Services

SUPPORTERS | $50K+ State Street

TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS

FRIENDS Johnson Controls

Agorai

CSR Talent Group

Apply Digital

GoodScout

Kloudspot

CaaStle

ITSMF

Watermark Insights

TCC Group

Thanks to our government partners, the U.S. Department of Labor, Maryland and New Jersey Department of Labor.

New York | New Jersey | Texas | California | Maryland | Missouri | Michigan | Canada |

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