TECH FUNDAMENTALS
FALL 2020
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. b
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. Gail Fierstein | Secretary Head of People CaaStle Vittorio Cretella | Treasurer Chief Information Officer Proctor & Gamble 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
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
Edward Fandrey Vice President of Financial Services, US Microsoft Michael Fey Co-Founder & CEO Zero Abstraction Debra King Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer Corteva Agriscience Jenifer Kleinert Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Infrastructure Operations & Technology Citi Thomas Knowlton CEO CSR Talent Group
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
Dan Petrozzo Partner Oak HC/FT
Sangy Vatsa Executive Vice President & Chief Technology and Digital Officer FIS Global
Larry Quinlan Global CIO Deloitte
Bertina Ceccarelli Chief Executive Officer NPower
Diane Schwarz VP, Chief Information Officer Johnson Controls
REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Sylvie Veilleux | Chair Chief Information Officer Dropbox Stephen Franchetti CIO Samsara
Alicia Johnson Principal, Technology Transformation Ernst & Young
Gwatoh Kroma Human Resource Business Partner Accenture
Sean Miner Head of User Experience (Global) QuinStreet
Troy Johnson Managing Director, Western Regional Technology Deloitte
Corey Marshall Chief Strategy Officer Brighthive
Jim Wong Chairman of the Board National Veterans Transition Services
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
CALIFORNIA
3
NPOWER CALIFORNIA
TECH FUNDAMENTALS FALL 2020 STATISTICS The curriculum for this program includes a NetAcad learning module courtesy of the Cisco Networking Academy.
82% GRADUATION RATE
97.5%
COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ CERTIFICATION
36.59% WOMEN
4
87.8%
BLACK / HISPANIC / ASIAN
AYOMIDE AGBOOLA SU LEI AYE 22 18
OAKLAND, CA
EL CAJON, CA
UNION CITY, CA
To be given the opportunity to be an NPower trainee is one of my best experiences. Prior to NPower, I was not working and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I was born in Africa. As an immigrant from the Horn of Africa starting life from scratch, figuring out which path to take was difficult. I am confident in my decision to join NPower and jump start my journey in tech. I’m so happy about the certifications the program offers and very excited about pursuing a career in IT.
I have always had a passion for IT, and the fire never died. I believe IT has the capability to solve world problems, directly or indirectly. I got into IT immediately after high school as an assistant project manager and grew into the role of IT project manager before the end of college. I recently moved to the U.S., which means a new environment, new culture, and cutting-edge technology. NPower was a great opportunity to refine my skill set as an IT expert with the great in-depth training and certifications. NPower has also helped me navigate my career path thanks to the professional development classes. I also met industry leaders and built friendships with them; they provide words of wisdom to help me make decisions. I am ready to make an impact in the world.
Becoming an IT professional has been one of my goals since I fell in love with computers. NPower taught me not only the hard skills of computer systems, but also the soft skills of communicating with people professionally. I was a freshman in college when I found out about NPower. I decided to join the program even though I was still enrolled in school. I can definitely say that it was one of the best decisions I ever made. NPower introduced me to amazing people and helped me open up. I learned valuable skills at NPower that college couldn’t teach me. TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
LIYA ABERA 25
5
DESTINY BLUEFORD KURTIS BLUEFORD 22 25
6
KEVIN BRISENO 25
FAIRFIELD, CA
FAIRFIELD, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in American studies, I needed to take further steps to have a successful career, but I was unsure of what to do to achieve this goal. This is when I found out about NPower and how they prepare their students for great futures in technology. I recently passed the CompTIA ITF+ exam. By the end of the program, I will be certified in both Comp TIA ITF+ and CompTIA A+. I would like to get certified in Security+ as well as learn more about coding. Overall, I am thrilled that I found NPower because it has set me up for success!
I was born and raised in Venezuela I’ve been a part of the work force and landed in California in 2005. since I was 17. My family wasn’t When I first arrived, overcoming poor, but we definitely had to work hard for everything we had. I the language barrier through got into tech to secure a better life software helped spark my interest for myself and my family. I saw an in technology. This is why I started the path into tech. My opportunity to get a job in a field purpose is to increase my IT that sparks my interest knowledge and launch my career. and fuels my creative fire. I hope Working in parts of the tech to obtain a job which allows me industry has allowed me to see to continuously learn and be where I could apply my skills. challenged. I have received my I'm interested in data analysis. I CompTIA ITF+ certification, as believe once I have more well as prepared for the CompTIA certificates and gain more A+ exam. NPower provided me experience, more doors will open. with an amazing opportunity to learn and have access to a wealth Training with NPower has led me to the CompTIA ITF+ certification of resources and knowledge, and Cisco certificates. I look helping me through a very tough forward to completing the first time. During the program I’ve step into data analysis. With experienced deaths in my family, online learning, I am thankful that being between jobs, and stress the teachers and staff gave from the Covid-19 pandemic. great lessons and were always helpful in answering questions. They use various examples in real-world situations.
ANTHONY COTTON U.S. COAST GUARD
U.S. NAVY
MURRIETA, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA
VALLEJO, CA
U.S. NAVY
My experience in IT began at home Having friends in the IT field and seeing what technology can do at a young age and continued in the U.S. Navy, where I served as a for everyone, I became interested cryptologic technician. I specialized in a career in tech. Coming from a in network communications, radio military background and moving around from place to place, I was frequency communications, able to see first-hand the way that satellite communications technology can keep us all (SATCOM) and communications security (COMSEC) management. connected even when far apart. I see myself continuing my I specialized in establishing, education in cybersecurity as monitoring, collecting, and analyzing information over various there is a growing need to protect myself and others in a world of telecommunications channels technology that is constantly in support of mission objectives. changing and growing, seemingly This position gave me a great understanding of IT and invaluable without bounds. Through NPower Tech Fundamentals, I gained the hands-on experience. After knowledge and certifications to leaving the Navy, I worked as a compete in the tech field. The consultant for the Department of instructors as well as the rest of Defense and local government the NPower team are wonderful. I sectors while completing my undergraduate degree in business appreciate every single one! management. Though I enjoy consulting, my true interest is in IT, which led me to NPower. They have helped me obtain the certifications that were not required when I previously worked in the tech field. As I continue my studies to obtain further certifications, I am highly motivated to re-enter the workforce and contribute my valuable IT experience.
CAROLE CRUZ
I come from a first-generation immigrant family and grew up moving around the San Francisco Bay area due to my father being in the U.S. Navy. I am the first college graduate in my family. I followed in my father’s footsteps and joined the Navy, serving for seven years as a yeoman. When I left the Navy, I came back to spend time with my father before his passing. During this time, I wondered what I could do next to find a lucrative, stable job. I had been taking architecture classes while finishing my degree. Through the CAD software I used, I realized that IT knowledge is valuable in almost any industry today. It was through Veterans Affairs that I learned about NPower. I am forever grateful for going through Tech Fundamentals. It is wonderful to network with many veterans and instructors who share my experiences and transition successfully to a life outside the military.
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
ERIC CHAPPEL
7
RYAN DIX
BENJAMIN GALINDO BRITISH ARMY VETERAN AND MILITARY SPOUSE 20
8
RICARDO GUDIEL 22
SAN DIEGO, CA
SUNNYVALE, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
Shortly after immigrating to the U.S. from Great Britain, I was at a loss as to how to start my next career after serving in the British Army for seven years. I knew my focus would be tech due to my military experience in system administration and my passion for IT. I want to push myself to the forefront of cybersecurity, leading my own team and defending organizational data. NPower gave me the technical knowledge to jumpstart my career with their CompTIA ITF+ and A+ certifications. The training was of the utmost quality; instructors not only knew and understood the content, but also cared about the individual students and their learning capabilities. My next steps are to complete the CompTIA Security+ and Network+, as well as the CCNA and CISSP, certifications for a powerful combination in security training. NPower has given me the confidence to pursue my goal.
I had to overcome challenges of unemployment from Covid-19 in Silicon Valley. I got into tech when I was in high school because I took classes and got really into it. My career goal is to work in the tech field. I have received good training at NPower, and I got certified in CompTIA ITF+. I plan to get the A+ certificate soon. My experience with NPower has been great. The teachers helped me with various IT subjects; the teaching atmosphere was great!
I got into technology because I have always been fascinated with the way technology can improve our daily lives. I hope to make an impact and contribution in my community to provide useful technological advancements. I always want to learn more and earn more certifications that will help advance my career. Through NPower I received my CompTIA ITF+ certification, and hope to earn my CompTIA A+ certification as well. I also learned professional developmental skills. NPower truly values the importance of having their students learn and succeed in the IT world.
JOSHUA JACKSON
OAKLAND, CA
FRESNO, CA
SAN RAMON, CA
I joined NPower after recognizing a solid opportunity to pivot my career into technology. Prior to NPower, I had a strong interest in learning how computers work and what we can achieve with their help. Focusing on learning tech skills in addition to personal and career development ones has helped me envision a bright future as an IT professional. Earning my ITF+ certificate through NPower gave me the confidence to continue to learn and achieve higher-level certifications.
Ever since I was a child, I had an interest in technology and how things work. Prior to NPower, I learned valuable skills from 12 years in the Navy. Then I became a defense contractor working for the Navy. After that ended, I figured it was the right time to pursue my passion for tech. I found out about NPower from a VA newsletter, and I knew it was a perfect way to get me started in the tech field. My experience with NPower has been wonderful. I love the instructors and the ability to learn online. I value the connections I made in the tech industry and hope to continue my education with NPower to learn more about cybersecurity.
I was unemployed before I joined NPower. I had graduated six months before applying to the NPower program, which I found through a Google IT certification scholarship program. I hoped to gain the technical knowledge that I didn’t get while attending post-secondary education. I have received the ITF+ certification and am currently working on my CompTIA A+ certification. After completing the NPower Program, I hope to gain the experience to become a software engineer and IT support specialist.
U.S. ARMY
U.S. NAVY
SEKINAT KALEJAIYE 23
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
TONY HERNANDEZ
9
GEORGE KELLY
10
LEO LAI
YI-EN (EMILY) LAIH 21
U.S. MARINE CORPS
U.S. MARINE CORPS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
BREA, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
Before NPower, I had worked for 13 years in the translation field. My use of tools such as computeraided translation software made clear the importance of acquiring IT competence, and I was looking for training that would help me gain entry-level employment in the tech field. I learned about Tech Fundamentals through a VA newsletter, and it turned out that the training was exactly what I sought. Upon completing the NPower program, I hope to start working in tech support and build my IT career from there. I also want to gain as many skills and certifications as I can. NPower has prepared me to earn two widely recognized certifications and provided me with an accelerated path to training that would have been very costly elsewhere.
I was fortunate to start a career in software database development relating to the construction industry after I obtained my degree in mechanical engineering. I’ve always found software and technology interesting but always knew I lacked many of the foundational skills others possessed. After a decade in the industry I started to feel the challenge and fulfillment disappear. During the Covid-19 pandemic I was ultimately affected by the economic downturn. I seized the opportunity to renew my passion in technology and found NPower through a VA e-newsletter. I found a renewed passion and purpose shortly after joining Tech Fundamentals. I plan to pursue my Network+ and Security+ certifications to transition into cybersecurity. I feel more confident than ever before in my ability to add value to the tech industry because of the amazing foundational skills I acquired through NPower.
Before attending NPower, I was a junior majoring in computer science at San Jose State University. I have tried to explore different areas of computer science such as software and game development. I have a growing interest of IT, but I had not gotten a chance to really experience the field until I learned about the NPower Tech Fundamentals Program. I was fortunate to get into the program and have the opportunity to explore the IT field. NPower helped me receive my ITF+ certification. I plan to get Security+ and Network+ certifications to strengthen my skills. I also plan to continue my career in software development. While being a full-time student at SJSU and participating in NPower was a lot of work, I’m grateful that NPower has given me the opportunity and support to start my IT career.
RACHEL LO 25
TIM (YEN-JUNG) LU 19
VALLEJO, CA
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
CUPERTINO, CA
I emigrated from Guatemala in 1989. When I first arrived, I didn’t speak English. I attended high school in San Francisco and graduated in 1991. Due to the lack of opportunities and fatherhood, I joined the Marines. It was the best experience I have ever had. I then attended Golden Gate University and completed a bachelor’s in business management and a master’s in human resource management. Covid-19 can be seen as a difficult time. However, instead of concentrating on the difficulty, I decided to completely change the course of my professional future. I received the CompTIA ITF+ certification, and I am working on the CompTIA A+. My goal is to learn cybersecurity and become an analyst. I am extremely grateful to NPower. I believe that every person working here truly cares about helping people and opening doors towards a brighter future.
When I joined the NPower Tech I grew up in New York City, where Fundamental Program, I was I was exposed to diversity and learned a lot at a young age. Since a sophomore student at De Anza my parents were always working, I College majoring in computer engineering. I found out about took care of my younger NPower through the virtual brother. That gave me a sense of job fair that was held at my college. responsibility and ambition. I Before I joined, I wondered if burned CDs at a young age and computer engineering was the fixed old computers. Since technology is such a big part of our right major. While participating lives and is improving every single in the NPower program, I found my passion in IT and computer day, I thought it would be beneficial to learn more and in the engineering. I would like to pursue a position in this field. I near future create something have earned the CompTIA ITF+ completely brand new. My certificate, and I’d like to pursue career goal is to take my past the CompTIA A+ certificate. experiences, creative thoughts, Thanks to the NPower Tech and get a career in marketing, Fundamentals Program, I’ve or producing and editing. I have gained IT knowledge and skills gotten my CompTIA ITF+ certification, and I am now working to pursue a career in tech. on my A+ certification. I am beyond grateful that NPower gave me such a great opportunity. I now know how to build a computer from scratch, which I never thought in a million years I’d be able to do. NPower definitely opened the door to a new world!
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
BYRON LAM
U.S. MARINE CORPS
11
STEPHEN MENSAH 25
12
AILEEN MURAKAMI
KIMBERLEY NESS
U.S. NAVY
U.S. ARMY
DAVIS, CA
FAIRFIELD, CA
REDWOOD CITY, CA
I am originally from Ghana, West Africa. My family came to the U.S. primarily for education, in hopes of creating a better life. It’s undeniable that tech is the future. I want to be more involved in tech, to increase diversity, and represent my community. I want to get into cybersecurity long term, while serving in a legal profession. Ultimately, I want to connect tech and law. So far, I have completed the CompTIA ITF+ certification and am working on my CompTIA A+ one. After this program, I plan to earn certifications in CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+. My long-term goal is to be CISSPcertified. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this program. It was a lifechanging opportunity. NPower truly lives by its mission: transforming lives and launching tech careers.
I believe that there’s a reason for everything. One of my goals was to further my education. I am fortunate that this opportunity presented itself through a VA email. So last summer, I finally decided to further my education, skills, and knowledge. This program was challenging, but I am blessed and thankful to NPower staff for their support and efforts. This has been a great opportunity to advance in my career, continue to further my education, receive better pay, and have a better future.
When the pandemic hit, I was a small business owner. By May I had lost it all. I am not sure how I heard about the NPower program but it was a lifeline with impeccable timing. I have always strived to integrate technology and its associated processes into my everyday life and to every job I have. Working smarter, not harder, is the driving force. Whether it is integrating calendars to websites, setting up home IoT devices and routers, or creating and tracking preventive maintenance schedules, it all makes my life or job more efficient, productive, and fun. Now with the amazing opportunity that NPower has gifted me, I have supercharged my “how” and gained more understanding behind the “why.” I am so excited to weave my past experiences into this next step as an IT professional!
JACQUES PIERRE
EDGAR PLAYDA
U.S. COAST GUARD
U.S. NAVY
SEATTLE, WA
RICHMOND, CA
DALY CITY, CA
Before participating in NPower, I felt stuck working various jobs in the service industry and was looking for a way out. After working my way up to the operations position at an airline, I developed an interest in the technical aspect of that position. Unfortunately, due to the COVID19 pandemic I was forced to leave that job and pursue something else. After finding NPower, I found a way to break out of the path I was on and pursue a career in a field that excites me. I am looking forward to exploring the various fields of technology as I continue to learn. I am also proud to say I was offered a six-month remote internship with Samba TV with the potential of full-time employment. I am thankful for NPower’s continuous support. I could not have done it without them!
I am a Haitian-American, born and raised in the suburban communities of Miami-Dade County Florida. After joining the Coast Guard, I was stationed in the San Francisco Bay area. Being close to Silicon Valley and seeing the innovations mixed with my military experience sparked my interest in technology. I was ready to transition into the tech industry. I aspire to be a great contributing agent in the cybersecurity field. Thanks to NPower, I was able to receive my first certification, CompTIA ITF+. This was the perfect foundation to help towards my career goals. I’m excited to soon be sitting for the CompTIA A+ exam. NPower has opened up my understanding of things I did not think I could understand about tech. I’ve experienced a tremendous amount of growth, and I am enthused to see where the journey takes me.
When the pandemic hit, I was looking around for something to do and happened to come across an NPower flyer from my Navy Reserve Center. Before I entered the military, I used to enjoy connecting cables into different electronics such as audio/video and computers. To get to train in IT and have job training opportunities after 16 weeks sounded like gold to me. I know NPower will help me develop my tech skills and get certified. I have already received my CompTIA ITF+ certification, and I’m in the process of receiving my CompTIA A+ one. My hope is to have a full-time career as a network engineer.
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
NIKKOLE OWEN 22
13
CLARISSA PONCE
VETERAN SPOUSE
14
VINCENT SALAMANCA 24
JOSE CARLO SARMIENTO 23
SACRAMENTO, CA
SANTA CLARA, CA
HAYWARD, CA
For the last decade I have been an entrepreneur concentrating in the restaurant industry. After refining my skills in management and learning how to leverage technology for business operations, I believe I have found a new passion. I have always been interested in technology, and this experience has fostered that interest. As a military spouse I am no stranger to challenges, but NPower has enabled me to test myself in new ways. I have gained a whole new career perspective and expanded my knowledge in ways I did not think possible. With my certification earned through NPower, I hope to integrate IT concepts into growing my business or leveraging my former skillset in to pursue a new career in IT. I see a new world full of possibilities and new doors opening for me.
I was born and raised in Scotland. Prior to NPower, I have worked in sales roles at a few companies but decided that I wanted to pursue a tech-related career. NPower has given me the technical knowledge to kickstart my career and helped me develop my professional skills. The endless opportunity to network with employees at major tech companies has been inspiring and has taught me so much. Coming into NPower, I didn’t know how to build a PC. Now I’m the go-to guy whenever there’s a computer issue, and I can say that it’s all thanks to NPower!
After graduating from college, I found myself having difficulties finding a job due to a lack of hard technical skills. That's when a friend referred me to NPower. Through NPower, I have gained a foundation of key IT hard skills as well as professional soft skills to prepare for the workforce. I have earned the CompTIA ITF+ certification and plan on earning the CompTIA A+ one. I want to continue learning about new technologies, gain more experience, and work towards earning more professional certifications. Down the road, I want to become a cybersecurity professional so that I may protect sensitive information and data from malicious attackers who wish to do harm. Thanks to NPower, I now have a foot in the door!
ACHALA SINGH
CASTRO VALLEY, CA
SACRAMENTO, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
Prior to NPower, I was in the military preparing to transition out and wanted to shift gears and pursue a career in IT. I have always had an interest in technology, especially growing up in the Bay Area where we are surrounded by it. One thing about technology is that it’s always evolving and will challenge you every day. I found out about NPower from a co-worker, and thought it sounded like a great opportunity to help get me started in this new career field. It has been challenging, but in a good way. I am looking forward to what lies ahead!
I am from India, recently arrived in the U.S. I’m a veteran spouse looking for opportunities. Before, I lectured in mechanical engineering to freshmen students and looked after my family business back in India. I am an engineer and MBA graduate who was looking for work but unable to find any. Fortunately, I found NPower and its mission to help young people, veterans, and their spouses focus on tech skills and provide career development. I had no experience in IT. NPower helped me understand IT concepts and feel confident. I look forward to learning cybersecurity through NPower. I would like to have a managerial position in an IT company where I can incorporate all my skills.
After graduating from high school in India, I moved to the U.S. to start a new life. Here, I was amazed to see the impact of technology on daily life. I quickly realized that the field of technology is interesting and broad. Within five years, I had a computer engineering degree under my belt. Immediately after graduating, I started my training with NPower and have learned a lot more about IT and professional development. NPower gave me a better understanding of the tech industry and its expectations. My goals are to keep working hard, gaining knowledge, and enhancing my skills until I land my dream job.
U.S. MARINE CORPS
VETERANS SPOUSE
CHARANVEER SINGH 23
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
MICHAEL SEVERIN
15
GNANATHA SIVASUNDARAM
U.S. ARMY
JULIO SUAZO
MIGUEL TOPETE
U.S. NAVY
U.S. MARINE CORPS
ORANGE COUNTY, CA
MANTECA, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
16
Joining NPower has been a great motivational experience. I served I have a bachelor’s degree in as a Navy shipboard electrician physics from Madras University and BSEE from Honolulu University and later as an aviation electronics technician until I retired from of Hawaii. I was fascinated over active duty. I was hired as an R&D capacitors when my professor laboratory supervisor for Astronics was explaining charges and how AeroSat, a commercial and the electrons move. That is how military aerospace manufacturer I ended up taking courses in VLSI and making electric circuits. It was in Manchester, NH. Seeking opportunities for growth and pretty cool; I would like to write increased responsibility, I arrived codes to test PCB Boards for in California after accepting a functionalities and test memory position as chief engineer for circuits. I have received my Manson Construction. I managed CompTIA ITF+ certification and a team of electricians responsible am working to receive my for the maintenance, repair, and CompTIA A+ certification. I would installation of electro-mechanical like to get certificates in Coding, and electronic equipment. I’m Linux, and Cloud. This is my currently pursuing a bachelor’s first online class; I enjoy it degree in technical management because it’s very interactive. All and preparing for the Professional my classmates are contributing Project Manager Certification during class, have different experiences and a lot of knowledge. exam, in addition to pursuing a certification in CompTIA ITF+. After Our teachers make learning fun! this program, I aim to join other IT professionals, and strengthen my skills. I am thankful for the opportunity NPower and its staff provided. The ability to learn with like-minded colleagues and the dedication of the instructors in ensuring we have a thorough and solid learning experience was excellent.
Before NPower, I started my own business. Being an entrepreneur has its rewards, but it is also very risky. Since COVID hit, it has slowly taken away my dream of working for myself. A good friend who is also a veteran informed me about NPower and how they have helped him pursue his IT dream. Deep down inside I know computers are the way to go, but I was always hesitant to pursue it. Thanks to NPower, I see a new path in IT. With my background in entrepreneurship and the experiences I have gained through NPower, I will start my own business in the near future.
BRANDON TRAN 25
JENNIFER WANG 25
SAN JOSE, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
Before finding NPower, I was determined to graduate from college with a computer science degree. I chose computer science because of my interest in technology through video games. Although programming is still fun, it wasn’t what I had in mind. That’s when my friend recommended NPower. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect at first, but once I got into my first class via Zoom, I was right at home. I felt welcomed, and I was learning about things that I genuinely wanted to learn. After I get my A+ certification, I either plan to take another class from NPower to extend my education or try to land a job. Either way, I know I won’t be disappointed!
Before learning about NPower, I was a student at San Jose State University majoring in business administration with a concentration in management information systems. After taking my first class in programming, I was curious about data and technology. That led me to expand my learning in IT and explore career opportunities in this field. With my certifications and training through NPower, I hope to apply my knowledge to all job positions I encounter. I want to explore and gain professional experience with a focus on healthcare. NPower has helped me increase my IT skills as well as provided tools to help me succeed professionally.
ROBERT WONG
U.S. NAVY AND CALIFORNIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Prior to joining NPower, I served six years in the Navy as a Chinese linguist stationed in Hawaii. I made a transition into the California Air National Guard, where I am currently working as a technician for communications and navigation avionics equipment on C-130 planes and HH-60 helicopters. With my previous technical and professional experience, I thought working in the tech industry would be a great fit. After moving to Silicon Valley, I finally felt this would be an achievable and worthwhile goal. When I found NPower, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get technical training, hands-on internship experience, and break into the field. The NPower team has really been amazing in smoothly transitioning to an online classroom environment during COVID. It gave me the training and confidence to pass the CompTIA ITF+ certification and continue studying for the CompTIA A+ exam. I plan to continue studying for the Network+ and Security+, and AWS solutions architect certifications after graduation. My goal is to work in Cloud network architecture.
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
SUNNYVALE, CA
17
VERA WONG 20
18
JOSE ZAMORA
U.S. MARINE CORPS
OAKLAND, CA
SAN JOSE, CA
I was raised in Oakland, CA in a low-income family. I’m a firstgeneration college student studying economics and data science at UC Berkeley. I am passionate about breaking into tech due to the constantly growing industry and abundance of opportunities for minority women like me. My career goals consist of exploring the field of project management and data analytics and my dream is to work at Google. The sense of community in education empowerment and professional development NPower provided me has been phenomenal. Everyone cares about your success and is always willing to lend a helping hand to propel your career in tech!
Before being accepted by NPower, I had been unemployed for a year. A fellow veteran at a VA class told me about NPower and explained all the great things the program offered. I have always been passionate about IT. I had acquired an IT certification back but was never able to land a job in the field. I see this as a great opportunity for me to get my foot in the door and finally land my dream job in IT. NPower has provided me outstanding technical and professional development to help me acquire the certifications in order for my dream to become a reality. I would like to thank everyone at NPower. I’m so grateful and thankful to the staff, instructors, and my classmates for such an unforgettable experience!
CONGRATULATIONS! TECH FUNDAMENTALS
LIYA ABERA
STEPHEN MENSAH
AYOMIDE AGBOOLA
AILEEN MURAKAMI
SU LEI AYE
KIMBERLEY NESS
KURTIS BLUEFORD
NIKKOLE OWEN
DESTINY BLUEFORD
JACQUES PIERRE
KEVIN BRICENO
EDGAR PLAYDA
ERIC CHAPPEL
CLARISSA PONCE
ANTHONY COTTON
VINCENT SALAMANCA
CAROLE CRUZ
JOSE CARLO SARMIENTO
RYAN DIX
MICHAEL SEVERIN
BENJAMIN GALINDO
CHARANVEER SINGH
RICARDO GUDIEL
ACHALA SINGH
TONY HERNANDEZ
GNANATHA SIVASUNDARAM
JOSHUA JACKSON
JULIO SUAZO
SEKINAT KALEJAIYE
MIGUEL TOPETE
GEORGE KELLY
BRANDON TRAN
LEO LAI
JENNIFER WANG
EMILY LAIH
VERA WONG
BYRON LAM
ROBERT WONG
RACHEL LO
JOSE ZAMORA
YEN-JUNG LU
WATCH THE RECORDING
npower.org/graduation/fall2020
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TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
FALL 2020
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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
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 number of technology-oriented jobs that will increase nearly five-fold by 2025, rising from 41 million in 2020 to 190 million in 2025. Our graduates of over 4,000 veterans and young adults are hired at over 2000 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 our ‘40 by 22’ initiative, which aims to advance more young women of color in tech careers. This initiative is supported by the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative.
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
*based on 2018–2019 national data
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THANK YOU... TO OUR EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS, SPONSORS & FUNDERS Accenture Aerotek Astreya Auris Health
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Kaiser Permanente Kirkland and Ellis LLP
AWS
Lam Research
Bank of America
Local SEO Guide
Bank of the West CA Bank of Commerce
May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
City of San Jose
MUFG Union Bank
The County of Santa Clara
NETSCOUT
Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Newmark Household
Crankstart Foundation
New Relic
The Cultural Leadership Fund Nidaan Systems Andreessen Horowitz Nutanix Dropbox Pacific Service Credit Union Google The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
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PayPal PDGC LLC
HSBC
PlayStation
John A. Kriewall and Elizabeth A. Haehl Family Foundation
Quinstreet Republican Women of San Francisco
Robert Half Technologies Ross Foundation The Saigh Foundation SambaTV San Jose Digital Inclusion Partnership Silicon Valley Community Foundation Slingshot Connection The Sobrato Family Foundation Soft Tech Swinerton Foundation THA Security TUV Rhineland Twilio United States Department of Agriculture Wells Fargo Workday Foundation
...AND TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
Argo.ai Gabe Flores Astreya Priyanka Yadvendu Chris Ziegler Autodesk Michael Dinh Boston Consulting Group Axel Adida Comcast Robert Garcia Craig Newmark Philanthropies Craig Newmark Cyber Crime Network Christine Chapeau Evolve Alex Resnick Google Donald Allen Indeed.com Jessie Gonzalez Kaiser Permanente Berta Berjarno
Lawrence Berkeley Labs Kelly Johnson
VSO Monterey County Jason Cameron
Local SEO Guide Tingbin Huang
Workday Rachel Bairley Nikki Egenolf Kimberley Kavanaugh
Primerica Brandon Sass Rimini Street Jerry Doherty Robert Half Technologies Mauricio Filho SambaTV Tim Hamner San Francisco Human Rights Commission Veronica Garcia Slingshot Connections Jennifer Perez Swords to Plowshares Teresa Livingston Pure Storage Nicole Johnson Verizon Venkatesh Konanur Irene Mak Ian Ramskov Daniel Setterby
MUFG Union Bank Ashley Abenoja-Bocek Aniruddha Banerjee Devon Bryan Ellen Friedman Anamika Jha Brian Khakheria Narayana Konakalla Adriana Morales Saroj Patnaik Jillian Weintraub Tata Consultancy Services Daniel Banihashemi Akhilesh Beri Prashant Desi Rakesh Devpura Amit Gupta Suman Injet Gowthaman Kethineedi Mihir Nath Santhosh Patel Rupesh Rahate Abigail Santner Anita Selvakurami Deepak Shukla Vinamra Shukla
TECH FUNDAMENTALS | FALL 2020
Amazon Web Services Kelli Osborne Sean Slevin
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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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