ABOUT US
OUR STORY NPower is a national nonprofit that leverages an evidence-based model to foster economic empowerment through digital skill enhancement and industry-recognized credentials for military-connected individuals, young adults, and women from under-resourced communities. Our strength is seeing students of nontraditional backgrounds through pivotal life transitions. Our unique approach combines rigorous, free training and trauma-informed support services, career readiness skills, and job placement assistance. We have offered foundational and advanced career training opportunities to over 10,000 graduates, with the goal of scaling to serve 15,000 annually by 2030—all while maintaining strong placement outcomes. Led by a committed team, we seek to create a tech workforce that mirrors the world around us and empowers students to drive change in their own lives and communities. 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. NPower is a vital solution towards bridging the national talent gap that exists in the high-growth technology industry. To learn more about NPower, visit npower.org.
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ORDER OF CEREMONY BAY AREA / SACRAMENTO
WELCOME REMARKS Pedro Remotti Program Director, NPower California
ALUMNI SPEAKER Stephen Mensah NPower California, Fall 2020
CLASS SPEAKER Sean Jennings
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Chris Webber CCWP, SIA DE&I Influencer
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL AWARDS Pedro Remotti
PRESENTATION OF GRADUATION CERTIFICATES Corey Hashimoto Recruitment and Admissions Manager Bay Area, CA Brian Marigmen Recruitment and Admissions Manager Sacramento, CA
CLOSING REMARKS Pedro Remotti
RECEPTION
Thank you to our sponsors, the San Jose Sharks, NBA Foundation, Dell Foundation, and Kapor Center Foundation, for making this ceremony possible! 3
SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Chris Webber CCWP, SIA DE&I Influencer Chris is currently a Strategic Resourcing Leader at World Wide Technology (WWT) specializing in the contingent workforce. He is responsible for the Strategic Resourcing Western Region Division with clients such as LinkedIn, Salesforce, Meta, Cisco, Hewlett Packard, and Airbnb. Chris has over 20 years of experience in the information technology industry as a project, program, engineering, and engagement manager. In addition to his role at WWT, Chris has a passion for educating, equipping, and empowering others. Based on his firm foundation, he encourages others to discover who they were born to be so they can also impact and lead organizations with integrity.
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ALUMNI SPEAKER Stephen Mensah NPower California, Fall 2020 Dr. Mensah is no stranger to hard work, coming from humble beginnings. Dr. Mensah began his NPOWER Journey without a college degree. While enrolled in the Fall 2020 NPOWER Cohort, he managed to start a bachelor’s program online. He credits his spirituality and strong work ethic as factors in his current success. Having gained inductee status into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society with Liberty University, he wants to develop as an executive I.T. Manager in the future. A current member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (the Nation’s leading Honor Society for Collegiate professionals), Dr. Stephen continues to display numerous examples of resilience and credits this character trait to his continued growth.
CLASS SPEAKER Sean Jennings Before joining NPower, I worked in sales, searching for a more fulfilling career path. Eager to expand my knowledge in the IT world, I discovered NPower through my research of programs that could further my education and set me up for future success. My time at NPower gave me the essential skills, tools, and certifications needed to feel confident in my new technological journey. With NPower’s support, I achieved a significant milestone by securing an internship with an AI startup, a goal I had set even before applying to the program. As I approach graduation, I am excited to take my first steps on solid ground in my future technology career. Thanks to the comprehensive training and experience gained through NPower, I now have a wide range of options when applying for positions and feel confident in the interviewing process. NPower has truly transformed my career trajectory, equipping me with the knowledge and opportunities to thrive in the tech industry.
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GRADUATES
CONGRATULATIONS! Bay Area / Sacramento ITSS Fall 2024 Alaa Alghazali Alfredo Arredondo Alice Estrada Amad Alghazali Angelena Harris Ayuel Akuoch Chris Ropchan Evan Sanchez Haopeng Zhang Izzy Macon Jinai Franklin Jonathan Torres Julian Delfino Martin Sweetser Maryam Azizi Neelab Najeebullah Nicholas Jimenez Oliver Pelayo Peter Silveira Richard Pham Roman Chornokun Shayna Allie
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Steven Nguyen Tarance Smith Tyronne Atterberry Vitalii Konstantinov Ahmad Mukhtar Sharify Annabiel Saelee Brandon Morrison Buu Truong Francisco Cortes Gonzalez Gabriel Martinez Calvin Hoang James Ogochukwu Jeremy Bolds Mujeeburahman Azghary Nikea Goldson Patrick Gonzalez Princess Akunne Sean Gomez Thomas Mascotti-Axtell Wajahut Khuttuk Adeboye Adeyemi Abraham David Ungos
Alonda Grier Andrew Murillo Anwar McPhail Charles Baker III Craig Qualls DaQuan Lyles Elena Shilova Elizabeth Vargas Emmanuel Jimenez Ibrahim Qureshi Harrison Stamps Jairo Sanchez Jasmin Khamcha Josh Hayton Karl Lerum Khai Murphy Lek Indara Malia Lura Mohammed Helal Mohammed Alshugaa Damien (Nicholas) Valencia
Rahma Frikha Rayanne Tuason Richard Diaz Rudy Hernandez Russell Cohn Sammy Banapour Saye Thomas Sean Jennings Steven Thompson Taja Finley
KEY CLASS STATISTICS Bay Area
94%
69%
Graduation Rate
23%
ITF+ Pass Rate*
25%
Military Connected
Women
65%
Black, Indigenous & People of Color
*Testing in progress
Sacramento
80%
Graduation Rate
13%
83%
13% Women
ITF+ Pass Rate*
Military Connected
44%
Black, Indigenous & People of Color
*Testing in progress
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THANK YOU to our Employment and Community Partners, Sponsors, and Funders Allegis Global Solutions
Pacific Credit Union
Bank of America
Pure Storage
Citigroup Technology Inc.
Santa Clara County
Comcast
Sharks Foundation
Comerica
Slingshot Connections
Deloitte
Sobrato Philanthropies
Employment Development Department
Social Security Administration
EY
Union Bank and Trust Company
The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.
United States Department of Homeland Security
Kapor Center
US Bank
May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
Verizon
MetLife
WWT
National Basketball Association Northern California SIM
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Trinchero Family Estates
Workday Foundation
CALIFORNIA REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Eddie Borrero CISO Blue Shield of California Phil Dillard Founder Thruline Networks Troy Johnson Managing Director, Western Regional Technology Deloitte Ed Morales Chief Information Security Officer Royal Business Bank Thao Nguyen Senior Vice President & Group Manager Comerica Bank Jim Wong Chairman of the Board National Veterans Transition Services
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CHANGING THE FUTURE OF TECH TOGETHER
New York | New Jersey | Texas | California | Maryland | Missouri | Michigan | North Carolina | Ohio
npower.org/California