FALL 2023
ORDER OF CEREMONY SAN ANTONIO
WELCOME REMARKS AND PROGRAM INTRODUCTION Mack Campbell
Managing Director of Development | Central United States
HOST SPEAKER Micaela Reznicek
Workforce and Community Engagement Texas Research & Technology Foundation
USAA PARTNER Danielle Lankford
ALUMNI SPEAKER John Yanez
Technology Training Apprentice, Accenture Tech Fundamental Spring 2023
STUDENT SPEAKER Alec Higgins
Tech Fundamentals Fall 23
CLASS HONORS PRESENTER Kira Braswell
Assistant Technical Instructor, NPower San Antonio
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Troy Mykkanen
NPower Academic Excellence Award
Geneva Knott
Lori Carlson
USAA Resilience Award
Vincent Porter
NPower Leadership Award
USAA Resilience Award
INTRODUCTION TO COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Samantha Coleman Site Director
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Dr. Chaunte Hall
Co-Founder, Centurion Military Alliance (CMA) Founder, Airman Heritage Group (AHG) Chief of Community Engagement Port San Antonio
PROGRAM COMPLETION CERTIFICATE CEREMONY Dan Wallace
NPower Recruitment and Admission Manager
CLOSING REMARKS Samantha Coleman Site Director
CAKE AND CLASS PHOTOS
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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.
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Matt Horner, CHAIR
Ami Desai
Diane Schwarz
Gail Fierstein, VICE CHAIR
Guillermo Diaz, Jr.
Dwight D. Shepherd
Steve Murphy, SECRETARY
Michael Fey
Executive Vice President World Wide Technology, Inc.
Director, Office of the CEO Vista Equity Partners
SVP, Global Head of People CaaStle
Founder and CEO Conectado, Inc.
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
Co-Founder & CEO Island
Keir D. Gumbs
General Counsel Edward Jones
Kateau James
Global Chief Operating Officer Deloitte Technology
U.S. ARMY, NPower TX Graduate VP, Production Management Citi
Tony Kerrison
Luisana Estevez, BOARD OBSERVER
Jennifer Kleinert
NPower NY Graduate | VP, Data Center Production Operations Engineer Meta
Gerald Charles Jr.
VP and Head of Product for Omni Customer Servicing Capital One
Dean Del Vecchio
EVP, Chief of Operations and CIO The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Chief Technology Officer Bank of America Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Infrastructure Operations & Technology Citi
Mark Patterson
VP, Chief Information Officer Johnson Controls Director, Federal Government Client Relations REAR ADMIRAL (RETIRED) IBM
Anupam Singhal
President, Manufacturing Tata Consultancy Services
Josh Sutton
Chief Executive Officer Agorai
Peter Trizzino
President, North America Sales Dell Technologies
Sangy Vatsa
Founder Digital Insights, LLC
Bertina Ceccarelli
Chief Executive Officer NPower
SVP, Chief of Staff to Chair & CEO Cisco Systems
Frank Pedersen
Digital Transformation Executive
David Reilly
Tech Executive
REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Doug Barnes
Jason Hess
Raymond Pitts
Vice President of Operations NETSCOUT
Executive Director JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Barbie Barta
Rashimi Jain
Senior Vice President - Data Ceter Migration Portfolio Manager Citigroup
Chief Exectuive Officer Business Centric Technology
CIO Careington International
Jacqueline Bragg
Christopher Karp
NPower Alumni Representative Information Security Analyst Citi
Director of Customer Service Chewy
Dana Branch
SVP Digital Automation & Infrastructure Citi
Senior Vice President, AI Bank of America
Blake Helm Cloud Infastructure Finance Oracle
Bobbie Long
Ashley Neumeier Account Executive Optomi
Kian Sanders VP Mr. Cooper
Drew Simmons Chief Information Security Officer Juniper Networks
Hermen Wegayehu, CHAIR SVP, Senior Information Security Officer Bank of America
Valencia Woodward AVP, Talent Managment Mr. Cooper
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr Chaunte’ Hall Dr Hall is no stranger to understanding military culture. Growing up as an Air Force dependent in a family steeped in military tradition, it is easy to understand her drive, determination, and unyielding passion for serving the military and the militaryaffiliated community. As a U.S. Air Force OIF/OEF Veteran, Chaunte’ has a deeply rich perspective regarding the trials and tribulations associated with multiple long-term deployments and can attest all too well to the sacrifices connected to steadfastly keeping such commitments. Having honorably served for ten years of Active Duty as well as Reserve capacity, Dr Hall brings a realistic perspective and understanding with respect to addressing the functional challenges related to successfully transitioning from the military to civilian life. Dr Hall believes that being self-aware and understanding one’s positionality in regard to three core pillars: Educational Attainment, Financial Literacy, and Vocational Proficiency will enable one to have holistic health, well-being, and resiliency. Dr Hall is currently the Chief of Community Engagement for Port San Antonio and a Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word. Since 2013, Dr Hall has served as Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Military Alliance (CMA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community-based transition assistance program designed to train, prepare, and educate our nation’s transitioning military, veterans, family members and caregivers. Dr Hall is also the Founder of the Airman Heritage Group, raising funds in support of Lackland Air Force Base, the Gateway to the Air Force, serves on the Board of the South Texas Career Champions (STACC), and serves as an advisor for the Dee Howard Foundation, San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT), and the Kelly Heritage Foundation. Dr Hall holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis in Applied Management as well as a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in Government & Policy degree from Grand Canyon University, and holds a Doctorate of Business Administration with Trident University International.
ALUMNI SPEAKER John Yanez
Technology Training Apprentice, Accenture Tech Fundamental Spring 2023
STUDENT SPEAKER Alec Higgins Before starting NPower and moving to San Antonio, the location my wife and I lived offered little to no opportunity for growth. After PCSing to Texas, I discovered NPower by chance at a Hiring Our Heroes event. I’ve always been interested in the cybersecurity space but didn’t have the availability or resources to break into the field. Since joining, I’ve received very beneficial training and opportunities that will lead me on the path to my cyber security career.
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KEY CLASS STATISTICS Tech Fundamentals Fall 2023
83%
COHORT RETENTION
65%
VETERAN CONNECTED
33%
WOMEN SERVED
100%
EARNED AT LEAST ONE CERTIFICATE
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GRADUATE BIOS
Aaron Johnson
Xavier Trevino
U.S. Army
U.S. Army
I joined the military at the late age of 27 because I
Before I joined NPower, I was struggling to find a career
thought bouncing around from meaningless 9 to 5 jobs
in tech as I went to a high school that offered information
would cut it. I did not go to college right after high school
technology, computer maintenance, and Cisco:
because I feared it due to my struggles academically in
telecommunications and networking. After graduating
high school. After my time in the military, finding a job
high school, I went on to college for six months then
was very hard, and I couldn’t find jobs that were related
dropped out as the school made me feel demotivated. I
to my job in the military but were too harsh on my body.
joined the U.S. Army served five years; 3 years active,
I came across NPower by a recommendation from the
two years reserves.
Texas Veteran Commission and that this was a free school/ training. I wanted to get back into IT as fast as I could, and NPower was a way to do so. Enrolling in NPower was one of the best situations I could have had for my career. My instructors have been phenomenal and actually care for you to succeed.
I chose NPower because its target audience is young adults and veterans. NPower, to me, means a family doing their best to help you get into the career you want, and they will go to any and all lengths to do so. My favorite moment during any experience of NPower is that we are very competitive when we use games for studying, such as “Kahoot”. I have benefited a lot from NPower as a student and as a person with no knowledge of Professional Development and what it means to dress the part. In a perfect world, my future looks bright in the IT field as I would continue forward as a Computer Repair Tech or IT Help Desk as I go back to NPower for Cyber Security and move into Ethical Hacking. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be, “You will make it in the IT field don’t worry too much about what you’re doing now. You made it.”
Andrew Santos Throughout my life and before NPower, I have always had an interest in technology, especially computer games. As a kid, I remembered the first RTS games of the generation and enjoyed having LAN gaming parties with friends. This interest continued with me until I decided to pivot to a new career in technology and enrolled with NPower. NPower has meant a new beginning for me. Although I have always been interested in technology, I didn’t always feel I had the knowledge or skills to succeed in the tech world. After four months of hard work and intensive studying, and with the help of the NPower Instructors, I feel I have the tools needed to take the next step in my tech career. With more support and continued learning, I know I will reach my goal of working in the Cybersecurity industry in the future.
Calicia Chambers
Military Spouse: Air Force As a Product Consultant at B&LC Custom Print, I work with clients to design and deliver customized print solutions for various industries and purposes. I use my skills in office administration, data entry, and customer service to ensure high-quality and timely delivery of projects. I also support the sales and marketing team with data analysis and reporting, which ultimately led me to NPower. I wanted to be more tech-savvy; it is a must in today’s industry. I currently have certifications in Information Technology, Project Management, and Business Intelligence from NPower. These skills have made me even more marketable. I attended Grand Canyon University, where I gained knowledge in client-based services, finance, marketing, and management. I am passionate about using technology to create innovative and effective solutions that meet the needs and expectations of customers and stakeholders. I am a team player, a problem solver, and a lifelong learner. Thanks to the support of the NPower team, I am achieving more of my life-long goals.
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GRADUATE BIOS
David Blum U.S. Air Force
My journey into the IT realm began with my years of service as an Airborne Mission System Operator, where I developed a keen interest in technology and its transformative power. Seeking a transition into the cybersecurity domain, I discovered the NPower program through a Facebook Veteran group. This comprehensive program not only equipped me with in-depth technical knowledge but also instilled invaluable professional skills, including networking, resume building, and workplace etiquette. I am excited to combine my past work experience with my newly acquired IT knowledge to make a meaningful contribution to the cybersecurity field. I am grateful to NPower for providing the foundation for my IT career, and I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Flavio Esquivel, 19 I dreamt of being an Astronaut when I was younger. As I grew older, I considered becoming an Airline Pilot or joining the Air Force. I attended a STEM magnet school where I learned about Engineering and Tech. After I graduated, my mom told me about NPower, which she attended. She said it could help me now that I’ve finished school, so I gave it a try. NPower gives me the experience I need for a job while I figure out my life’s path. Among all the activities, I enjoyed the mock interviews the most, as they helped me practice job interview skills. NPower has equipped me for an IT job and other careers. In an ideal world, I hope to find an IT job that keeps me active and satisfied while I continue my search for the perfect fit or discover an IT job I love enough to stick with.
Geneva Knott
U.S. Marine Corps
Kaden Higgins
Military Spouse: Air Force
Before NPower, my childhood dreams were shaped by
Before starting NPower and moving to San Antonio, the
a desire for fairness and equal opportunities. Excelling
location my wife and I lived offered little to no opportunity
academically, I joined the Marine Corps to see the world
for growth. After PCSing to Texas, I discovered NPower
and fund my education. Despite an inherent interest in
by chance at a Hiring Our Heroes event. I’ve always
technology, I lacked guidance. The VETTECH and NPower
been interested in cyber security space but didn’t have
programs provided the turning point that introduced me
the availability or resources to break into the field.
to a tech career. Prior to NPower, I had a career in law
Since joining, I’ve received very beneficial training and
enforcement, but my passion for technology led me to
opportunities that will lead me on the path to my Cyber
transition into the digital cyber realm. NPower meant
Security career.
more than education; it symbolized hope, guidance, and empowerment. One memorable moment was having the knowledge and skills validated by earning certifications and gaining an internship with Accenture Federal Services. The program provided not only technical knowledge but also fostered vital mentorships and professional development. In the future, I aim to use my tech skills to bridge the digital divide, ensuring equal access to resources. I want to champion fairness and create positive change through technology. If granted a superpower, I’d choose the ability to connect people instantly with the knowledge and resources they need, furthering my mission.
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GRADUATE BIOS
Kimchhuong Ung U.S. Marine Corps
While growing up, my family ran an internet cafe. I used to watch computers being diagnosed and fixed. I am always fascinated by what a computer can do, from calculating numbers to translating languages. When I heard about NPower, I thought this would be a great way to go into a tech career. NPower has helped me learn professional and technical skills like making a database, setting up an SOHO router, and Virtualized Computer. I hope to get into software development when I complete the NPower program. I would tell my younger self not to be afraid of the future.
Lauryn Brevelle, 24 Growing up, I wanted to be a personal chef. However, before NPower, my dreams and aspirations were to become a social media influencer and start my own marketing business. I wanted to better my future by gaining skills in a field that’s continuously growing, and that is why I chose tech as my field of choice. I heard about NPower through my husband who had been accepted, so we decided to both join so we could both get certificates. To me NPower was a way for me to get certified in the tech field. The standout project for me was reflecting on the professional/technical skills gained in the program. All of the hands-on projects. I gained skills relating to building a computer. I learned that it’s not about what you know. It’s about who you know. In a perfect world, my future would look like securing a high-paying job where I’m able to work from home and eventually start a family.
Lori Carlson
Millicent Ahin
U.S. Marine Corps
Military Spouse
When I was in high school, I knew the only path to a
I have been in the insurance path for some time now till
college education was through the military. Joining the
I decided to have a change in career path especially in
United States Marine Corps was the best thing I could
the tech field. I was thinking of going to school to start
have done for myself. While it wasn’t easy, it proved to me
this journey until I went to a military career fair in August
that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. Since
2023 and got introduced to NPower by Mr. Dan Wallace.
I have been out, I have worked administrative assistant positions in various educational settings, as well as being a stay-at-home mom to my two wonderful boys.
He was able to explain some details to me about NPower and I was motivated to take this path. When I first enrolled, I was very nervous because I didn’t have prior
I found NPower one night while I was watching the
knowledge in the tech world, but through the resources
evening news on KSAT. Up to that point, the idea of
and the tutors I had in the process, I was able to pull
going back to work had been a nebulous thought. After
through and learn a lot.
seeing what NPower offered, I was excited to start a new journey. Learning the ins and outs of computers has been challenging; however, I have had wonderful instructors and classmates. I believe that NPower has started me on the path to a new career. My instructors, Ryan and Kira, have given me the tools that I need to move forward in
I want to be able to find myself in a Cybersecurity role after this program in a great company where I can learn and put into practice the knowledge I acquired in this field. I’m excited about the future, and I see that the future is bright.
the IT field. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn more and see what opportunities are out there for me. This experience has taught me so much. I would tell my younger self not to listen to the naysayers and always to have faith that she has what it takes to make a great life for herself.
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GRADUATE BIOS
Nancy Kellam
Vincent Porter
Military Spouse: Air Force
U.S. Army Retired
I came to NPower as a Military Spouse and a Medical
Mr. Porter entered the ARMY in October of 1986. His first
Coder living overseas. I always had a deep-seated fear
duty station placed him at Ft Sam Houston, assigned to
of changing careers, particularly with the constant
the Institute of Surgical Research more commonly known
relocations. It felt overwhelming because I didn’t even
as the World-Famous Burn Unit. He was placed in the
know where to begin. That’s when I discovered NPower,
pathology department, where he became certified as a
and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. My spouse
Histology Technician.
had recently separated from the military, bringing us back to the United States, where I could fully concentrate on my educational journey.
After several PCSs over the following years, in 2002, SSG Porter was assigned to the 115th Field Hospital located at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The following year, his
NPower not only provided me with a strong foundation
unit was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in Support of
in technology but also equipped me to attain industry
Operation Enduring / Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning
certifications, such as CompTIA ITF and A+. Along the
from deployment in 2004, he spent the next few years
way, I benefited from invaluable mentorships that not
realigning Field Hospitals into smaller CASHs until his
only improved my technical skills but also honed my
retirement.
interpersonal and networking abilities.
After his retirement, he went to work for the San Antonio
I’m profoundly grateful to NPower for believing in my
SPURS. He worked as a building Operations Manager until
potential. Today, I stand ready to kickstart my career in
recently, when he retired once again. He volunteers in the
the tech world with newfound confidence. My journey has
community as a member of the Stone Oak Rotary Club.
been a testament to resilience and determination, and I’m
He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, building
eager to continue refining my skills and making my mark
houses for deserving families, collecting fans for the
in the tech industry.
elderly during the summer, collecting stuffed animals for CASA to give to adopted children, and he also works with Soldiers Angels. He plans on using the IT certificates obtained from being a student and graduate of the NPower program to put himself back on the job market.
Bri Moore, 20
Joseph Pop
When I was younger, I wanted to be in the Air Force
As someone who has attended the working world at
as a Pilot. Over time, my aspirations shifted towards a
full force and gotten very far in my career there was
programming focus. In high school, I took a video game
something always lacking in my progression in the
design class, and I fell in love with it. I discovered NPower
company. Often, I was overlooked for not having any
through a suggestion to me as I was looking for ways
certifications or a college degree. It never really put me
to get my foot in the door in software related fields.
down, but thanks to veteran friends I have met over the
NPower, as a course, represents a stepping stone in my
years, I was recommended NPower. Thanks to them and
path toward my goals. I enjoyed many of the lessons as
how my schedule was set up I was beyond happy that I
the instructors made them engaging and helped me learn
was accepted into the program and managed to obtain
many topics that will make me a better fit for many career
certificates I never imagined possible.
options. In a perfect world, my future has me using the skills I gained to make my way into the game design field. A superpower I would have would be shape-shifting. The ability to change into whatever I wish is super enticing and interesting. I would tell my younger self to push forward and not give up because their future is looking bright.
Thanks to NPower I can look forward to staying competitive with my peers with the certifications under my belt and possibly look into greater fields of expertise. I see myself recommending this to other soldiers to take advantage of this opportunity, as I have come across this information kind of late in life. I want to change that for others.
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GRADUATE BIOS
Anna Larson
U.S. Marine Corps Before NPower, I found myself unhappy in my career. After leaving the military two years ago, I had yet to take any steps towards a career change, feeling completely directionless. It was at this point that my husband introduced me to an NPower pamphlet, and I was immediately intrigued. Deciding to take a leap of faith, I enrolled in the program, and I’m profoundly thankful I did. NPower opened doors to a world of opportunities I didn’t even know existed. As I move forward, my plan is to continue expanding my knowledge and expertise in the IT field, embracing the potential for a brighter and more fulfilling career.
Troy Mykkanen, 25 I was introduced to NPower through my mother’s connections at her workplace, and as one of the things the Professional Development team stresses is the importance of networking, this is already a key example of the benefits of such. During my time in this program, they have offered numerous opportunities to obtain more certificates and have assisted me when I went beyond the original scope of only CompTIA’s ITF+ and A+, along with miscellaneous Google certifications. Overall, NPower has made me a much more marketable hire for a potential future IT career.
Mark Cantu, 25
Samantha Leyva, 19
Growing up, I was never sure what I fully wanted to be as
Before NPower, I had some college credits in cybersecurity
nothing other than philosophy and the study of animals
courses since I was previously enrolled in a dual-credit
interested me, but there were not very many job positions
program in high school, which was very challenging
in those fields. I wasn’t too sure back then, but I think
due to the transition to virtual learning during the
winning the lottery and getting my own secluded land
pandemic. After I graduated, I was a little lost on what
with a personal animal rehabilitation facility would be an
exactly I wanted my future to look like. I have always
honest dream. I had a neighbor who works in the IT field
been interested in technology and was always the
recommend the program after we had a small talk at the
troubleshooter in my family. Whenever an old computer
mailbox. NPower offers the needed certificates at no
or game console started to mess up, I was the only one in
charge to help you jumpstart your tech career.
the household who could help.
To me NPower means giving people from different
My uncle was the one who heard about the NPower
backgrounds the opportunity to get the needed
program and encouraged me to apply. Since my
certificates to get their foot in the door of the IT world. A
acceptance and start at NPower, I have learned such a
standout project from this experience is when we learned
broad and wide spectrum of what technology is and how
how to build a custom PC. In a perfect world, my future
much impact the tech industry plays in the world around
after NPower would be securing a good-paying IT job 4-8
us, and how the people in tech are making a difference
months after the start of the program.
and creating an outstanding future with new ideas and advances. NPower has helped me learn so much in a field I’m passionate about. Without NPower, I would not have all the knowledge and opportunities of this program. NPower has allowed me to make a future that I’m proud of.
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GRADUATE BIOS
Estrella Davila, 22
Denise Carlson Navy
Growing up alongside the fastest evolution in technology, I fell in love with computer concepts. Once I graduated high school, I landed my first tech-related job at Microsoft. I started as a trainer of applications and was nominated to become an account manager for Modern Work. With my career accelerating at a rate I did not know was possible, I made the decision to focus on my career and did not balance out time to pursue a college education. I continued to obtain Microsoft-related certifications, but with the unpredictable times that we are in, I knew I needed to put priority on my overall technical education. A dear friend and mentor of mine introduced me to NPower and described what a life-changing opportunity this would be. This experience has exceeded my expectations and has already opened doors for apprenticeships and career growth. I was fortunate to learn from stellar instructors and contribute to a class of motivated peers. I am leaving this cohort with not only multiple certifications for IT support but also a plethora of resources, connections, and an SAP-paid apprenticeship from Accenture Federal Services. I look forward to putting my new learnings into practice and surprising myself with the new window of opportunities waiting to be discovered. This is not the end but the beginning of a new journey.
After I graduated from high school, I enrolled at Texas Tech University, but little did I know that my life would soon take an unexpected turn. The Gulf War broke out, and I found myself serving as a Hospital Corpsman Surgical Technician. The experience was life-changing, exposing me to the challenges and sacrifices of military service. After my return, a devastating diagnosis of severe hearing loss dashed my dreams of becoming a nurse. I was reassigned to a technical project team within the Navy. It was there that I discovered my passion for information technology. I decided to pursue a graduate degree in information systems management. I also enrolled in a VRRAP program, learning coding skills through the LEARN academy. Though the development job market was competitive, my determination remained unshaken. Further honing my skills, I joined Act Now, seeking additional expertise. This journey eventually led me to NPower, where I’m currently mastering the art of SAP development. I wouldn’t be here today without the unwavering support of my family, mentors, and those who believed in me throughout my journey. The future is wide open, and I embrace it with enthusiasm and gratitude. As I step into this new chapter, I carry with me the invaluable lessons of resilience and adaptability. Thank you, NPower, for being a part of my extraordinary journey.
Lucas Veras, 20
McArthur Wright Air Force
Before NPower, I felt lost, not knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I attended college and felt I wanted to take a different route. My father introduced me to NPower, and I took a chance. Not only am I grateful for the technical skills I have gained, but the professional skills as well. NPower not only has prepared me for the tech industry, but for the world ahead of me. I am very thankful for the entire experience. I will continue to build upon both aspects of my NPower training.
I joined the Air Force after graduating high school. At 18, I wanted to earn my way into college instead of accumulating student loans or asking my parents to pay for it, so I decided to serve my country from 2012 until 2018 as a material manager. While in the military, I pursued my degree in Logistics but failed to complete it. After my time in the military ended, I was struggling to find a job that would pay an adequate amount to help me buy a home. I reached out to Veteran assistance programs, and I came across NPower. The program was ideal for my current situation because I had just ended a contract with a tech company, and I wanted to continue having a career in the tech field. NPower’s program was not easy for me to adjust to in the beginning, but the staff and my classmates made it very easy after a while. I am forever grateful for NPower and the work they are doing. I know if I stick with the program, then I will be successful in the IT world.
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GRADUATE BIOS
Rusty Lee Groat U.S. Army
1SG in the U.S. Army that took the first missile defense unit to deploy to Saudi Arabia. Built a wireless mesh network over the 2.4 GHz bandwidth as a redundancy for our Fiber network. As a soldier, I was blessed to have many experiences that are unique to and challenging. I was able to see and work with multiple areas across the globe. As I was transitioning from the Military, the one thing that came up when my peers transitioned out was the loss of being part of a team. I chose NPower because it was a small program but still gave you the options for being part of a team. I am so glad to have taken the step into the IT field and extremely grateful to have the NPower learning platform.
Samantha Ybarra Before I found NPower, I found myself working deadend jobs that left me feeling unhappy and frustrated. I started working with Project Quest, and they referred me to NPower so that I could get the training I needed to join the IT field. My favorite moment during my NPower experience was getting to meet all my classmates at our big Mock Interview event. I really enjoyed meeting people in person and starting to build deeper friendships with my classmates. This really helped me get more excited about my future in tech. In a perfect world, I will find an entry-level position that will help me get my foot in the door and help me gain more experience, and continue to grow in my field. I would tell my younger self to stand up and do the hard things, because she CAN do it, she CAN succeed.
Anthony Clark
Arsenio De Lara
Brian Chambers
Carlos Mariduena
23
GRADUATE BIOS
Charles Jones
Elliana Ortiz
Josef Lenzy
Timothy Allown
Monica Garza
Ray Escobar
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CONGRATULATIONS
FALL 2023 Tech Fundamentals Aaron Johnson
Abraham Nwamkpa
Allicyn Ziebol
Adrian Cleveland
Andrew Watson
Amanda Lugo
Anna Larson
Andrew Santos
Anthony Clark
Bradyn Marquez
Anthony Lawton
Charles Jones
Arsenio De Lara
Denise Carlson
Bobby Holman
Elliana Ortiz
Brian Chambers
Flavio Esquivel
Bryce Moore
Idris Alli
Calicia Maze
Josef Lenzy
Carlos Mariduena
Juan Escobar
David Blum
Kimchhuong Ung
David Nimrod
Marc Powell
Estrella Davila
McArthur Wright
Etiene Kain Ching Song
Millicent Ahin
Geneva Knott
Monera Euresti
Joel Silva Jr
Oluwatosin Adeola
Joseph Pop
Rene De La Cruz
Kaden “Alec” Higgins
Richard Cabrera
Lauryn Brevelle
Samantha Leyva
Lori Carlson
Saniya Brown
Lucas Veras
Tim Allown
Mark Cantu
Troy Mykkanen
Monica Garza
Xavier Trevino
Nancy Kellum Rusty Groat Samantha Ybarra Vincent Porter
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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.
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 and community partners, sponsors, funders, volunteers EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS USAA CPS Energy Accenture Federal Services Accenture Commercial Services Bank of America PNC Bank Frost Bank Boeing GTS Workforce Solutions Alamo Ready to Work SA City of San Antonio YWCA Restore Education Project Quest Alamo Colleges Chrysalis Ministries Security Service Federal Credit Union UTSA Elevate Systems Cloudbees SAISD Starbucks VelocityTX McKenna Foundation Pixelreflex Media Project MEND San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hancock Whitney AFCEA AFCEA Education Foundation BreakPoint Labs
FUNDERS USAA NBA Foundation Texas Workforce Commission Northrop Grumman Corporation Texas Veterans Commission City of San Antonio - Ready to Work Texas Mutual Insurance Company VOLUNTEERS Family Service Center Alamo Area Council of Governments AVANCE Endeavors THRU Project Port of San Antonio University of Texas San Antonio TDJ Consulting Broadway Bank Beldon Roofing City Year Communities in Schools DOCUmation JPMorgan Chase
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+
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NATIONAL NPOWER SUPPORTERS Sponsors $250K-$749K
NATIONAL NPOWER SUPPORTERS Partners $100K-$249K The Abell Foundation
General Motors
Mass Mutual
SHI International Corp.
The Ainslie Foundation
Globant
Ascension
The Hearst Foundations
Missouri Department of Economic Development
Standard & Poor’s Corporation
Atlas Data Systems
Hewlett Packard Company
NetApp
State of Maryland
Bloomberg LLP
Hitachi
Boeing
Infinidat
New Jersey Department of Labor
St. Louis Regional Business Council
Capital One Financial Corp.
Ira W. De Camp Foundation
New York City
Tata Consultancy Services
The New York Community Trust
Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Oracle
Texas Workforce Commission
Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation Check Point Software Technologies, LTD The Beth & Ravenel Curry Foundation Ernst & Young Fiserv Inc. Fortinet, Inc.
John & Marcia Goldman Foundation Kaiser Permanente
Palo Alto Networks Patrick J McGovern Foundation
Twilio
L’Oreal Groupe
Rainwater Charitable Foundation
Wipro Technologies
Light a Single Candle Foundation
The San Jose Sharks Foundation
Kapor Center KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.
Verizon Foundation Workday Foundation Zendesk
Supporters $50K-$99K The Achelis & Bodman Foundation
Communities Foundation of Texas
Amazon
Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan
Andreessen Horowitz Cultural Leadership Fund
Consumers Energy
Koret Foundation
The Saigh Foundation
Maryland - AIF
S&P Global Inc.
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Salesforce.com Foundation
SS&C Technologies, Inc.
Society for Information Management
Arista Networks, Inc.
Corteva
Armis Inc.
Data Dynamics, Inc.
Maryland Department of Labor
Auth0 Inc.
Elasticsearch
Mastercard
BAE Systems
Emerson
Merck & Co., Inc
Texas Workforce Commission
Benevity Fund
OKTA, Inc.
Broadcom Inc.
Flextronics International USA, Inc.
United Way of Southeastern Michigan
The Centene Charitable Foundation
Henry & Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation
City of Dayton
IBM
Cohesity
ING Financial Markets LLC
The Rockefeller Foundation
Comerica
Intel Corporation
Rubrik
OneTen The William R. Orthwein, Jr. Foundation, Inc.
State of New Jersey - PACE
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
BravoTECH
Hudson’s Bay Company
Service Now
ADP Foundation Inc.
Bright Funds
Humble Bumble
State Street
Adobe Systems Inc
Clayco
JobsFirstNYC
Ally Financial
Con Edison
The Kimball Foundation
Super Micro Computer, Inc.
The Altum Fund
The Dauber Foundation
Mainline RTP
American Direct Marketing
Dugas Family Foundation Inc
Mercy Caritas
Appian Corporation
F5, Inc.
Appteon
FIS Global
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
GalaxE Solutions, Inc.
Nourishing – A Schnucks Foundation
Gateway to Innovation
Baltimore Nonprofit Relief Fund
NPower Canada
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Nutanix Inc
HCL Technologies
Own Company
The Graham and Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation
The Pott Foundation
Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle Beyond Identity
NetApp Inc. New York City Council
Royal Bank of Canada
UKG Inc. Under Armour
CHANGING THE FUTURE OF TECH TOGETHER New York | New Jersey | Texas | California | Maryland | Missouri | Michigan | North Carolina | Ohio
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