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 empower 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.
ORDER OF CEREMONY
HOUSTON, TEXAS
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Diana Saenz
Site Director, NPower Houston, Texas
INTRO TO ALUMNI SPEAKER
Amina
ALUMNI SPEAKER
Maryan Mukhtar
INTRO TO CLASS SPEAKER
Anetia
CLASS SPEAKER
Chris Evans
INTRO TO THE TEAM AND INSTRUCTORS
Diana Saenz
INTRO SPEECH FROM INSTRUCTORS
PRESENTATION OF CLASS HONORS
Instructors
INTRO TO KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Adriana
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Hassan Mirza
PRESENTATION OF GRADUATION CERTIFICATES
Houston Team
CLOSING REMARKS
Diana Saenz
RECEPTION
SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Hassan Mirza
Hassan has over a decade of experience and partners with executives, growth managers, and innovation teams to solve growth challenges and accelerate energy transition initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Machine Design and Materials. He started his career in Upstream Oil and Gas as a Field Engineer and progressed on to technical engineering consulting for Upstream and Downstream OGP companies and in industrial manufacturing sectors.
He continued his education at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, attaining his MBA, Class 2019, and Executive Education from the University of Cambridge in Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies. He pivoted from engineering to business consulting, starting as a senior consultant with one of the leading consulting firms and moved to a boutique consulting firm. Currently, he is a partner experienced in full-stack business consulting: growth and expansion strategies, corporate venturing and innovation, organizational design, target operating model and operations implementation.
ALUMNI SPEAKER
Maryan Mukhtar
My dream is to merge my leadership abilities with technical skills. I faced rejection multiple times but persevered, leading me to join NPower, where I believe I can break into the tech world. I understand that challenging times are temporary. NPower holds great significance for me, offering new connections, knowledge, and wonderful peers. One standout project was the “Speeding Network” event, allowing me to apply my skills and connect with impressive individuals, including recruiters and guest speakers. The professional development sessions were valuable, enabling me to network with industry professionals through Zoom. Once I graduate from NPower, I plan to maintain connections with my NPower community and continue my journey towards finding my dream job, applying the skills I’ve gained from NPower.
Upon graduating from NPower in Fall ’23, Maryan landed a role at JP Morgan Chase and currently works as an Account Specialist.
CLASS SPEAKER
Chris Evans
Christopher Evans is from Rockford, IL, and he attended Northern Illinois University, where he graduated in December 2019. His hobbies are video editing, cars, and traveling the world. Now, a proud NPower graduate with 3 certifications, he found a path in Houston at 29 as a technology enthusiast. He never gave up, always chasing his dreams. Excited for what’s next!
GRADUATES
CONGRATULATIONS!
Spring 2024 Tech Fundamentals
Adetoye Ajomole
Erik Alanis
Jacques Arzu
Ell Ash
Angelina Bell
Alexus Bennett
Zavien Brown
Alexis Carrizales-Martinez
Lakeya Collins
Cherelle Curtis
Ridley Dautruche
Wintress Dennis
Bansuri Desai
Serena Enemodia
Ekemini Etefia
Christopher Evans
Oladapo Fagbamila
Shianne Fererro-Donahue
Rocky Fernandez
Vin Figueroa
Cindy Flores-Nunez
Emmaline Fofana
Stephanie Funderburk
Rigoberto Garcia
Stanley Garcia
Ruth Garner
Reginald Hemphill
Jesmin Hightower
Naylah Hill
Truong Ho
Kelly Jackson
Brittany Jackson
Mia Johnson
Jharrod Johnson
LaTonya Judon
Tejan Lewis
CraigLewis
Stephanie Macias
Roberto Martinez-Dunet
Xuan Nguyen
Christopher Nix
Taiwo Ojo
Ana Parker Yazmeane Pena
Israel Perez
Timothy Perry
Jonathan Ramsey
Clarisa Robinson
Ralph Saint-Joie
Noe Sanchez
Ella Sanchez
Mahdere Solomon
Aryeana Straughter
Alyssa Taylor
Agnes Tchumtchoua
Chioke Thomas
Yazmine Walton
Shaheen Waqibeen
Princess Warren
Rose Zuniga
KEY CLASS STATISTICS
THANK YOU to Our Employment Partners, Funders
EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS
Harris County
WWT
CG Infinity
Chase Bank
HR Houston
Accenture
Deloitte KPMG
Texas Veterans Commission
TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Doug Barnes
Vice President of Operations
NETSCOUT
Barbie Barta Chief Exectuive Officer
Business Centric Technology
Jacqueline Bragg
NPOWER ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE Information Security Analyst Citi
Dana Branch
Senior Vice President, AI Bank of America
Tresia Eaves Entrepeneur SDVOSB
Blake Helm
Cloud Infastructure Finance
Oracle
Jason Hess Executive Director JPMorgan Chase & Co.
and Volunteers
United Way
Goodwill
Workforce Solutions
HPE
OBTT (Off Base Transition Training)
VOLUNTEERS
JP Morgan Chase
Workforce Solutions
Marc Interial Process Technical Services
Timothy Jackson Diamond Offshore
Rashimi Jain CIO
Careington International
Christopher Karp Director of Customer Service Chewy
Bobbie Long CO-CHAIR
SVP Digital Automation & Infrastructure Citi
Ashley Neumeier Account Executive Optomi
Raymond Pitts
Senior Vice President - Data Ceter Migration Portfolio Manager Citigroup
CG Infinity
Harris County
HR Houston
Texas Veterans Commission
Goodwill
University of Houston
Downtown (UHD)
Emir Putra WWT
Kian Sanders VP Mr. Cooper
Drew Simmons Chief Information Security Officer Juniper Networks
Renee Stewart Yang Ming Corp
Hermen Wegayehu CHAIR
SVP, Senior Information Security Officer Bank of America
Charles Woodin Geekdom
Valencia Woodward AVP, Talent Managment Mr. Cooper
