NPower New York Tech Fundamentals Spring 2021 by NPower

TECH FUNDAMENTALS

SPRING 2021

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 Tech Executive Matt Horner | Vice Chair Executive Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales World Wide Technology, Inc. Gail Fierstein | Secretary SVP, Global Head of People CaaStle Vittorio Cretella | Treasurer Chief Information Officer Proctor & Gamble Steven Ballantyne Chief Operating Officer ProfitSolv

Ami Desai Chief of Staff to Founder, Chairman & CEO Vista Equity Partners Guillermo Diaz, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Kloudspot Michael Fey Co-Founder & CEO Island

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

Diane Schwarz VP, Chief Information Officer Johnson Controls

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

Strategy & Standards, BISO IBM

Mark Patterson Kateau James SVP, Chief of Staff to Global Chief Operating Officer Chairman & CEO Deloitte Technology Cisco Systems Tony Kerrison Chief Technology Officer Bank of America

Craig Cuffie EVP, Chief Procurement Officer Debra King Senior Vice President, Salesforce Chief Information Officer Dean Del Vecchio Corteva Agriscience EVP, Chief of Operations Jennifer Kleinert and CIO The Guardian Life Insurance Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Infrastructure Company of America Operations & Technology Citi

Frank Pedersen Partner Apply Digital

Dwight D. Shepherd

REAR ADMIRAL (RETIRED)

Anupam Singhal Senior Vice President and Business Head Tata Consultancy Services Josh Sutton Chief Executive Officer Agorai Peter Trizzino President Dell Technologies Select

Christopher J. Perry Sangy Vatsa President Broadridge Financial Solutions EVP, Chief Technology and Digital Officer FIS Global Dan Petrozzo

Partner Oak HC/FT

Bertina Ceccarelli Chief Executive Officer NPower

NATIONAL

ADVISORY COUNCIL Balaji Ganapathy | Co-Chair Global Head, Corporate Social Responsibility Tata Consultancy Services Anne Gilroy | Co-Chair Senior Vice President Bank of America Steve Mase | Co-Chair Director Global Quality Assurance Operations Citi Racheal Ankrah-Fosu Former VP, Strategy & Business Development Broadridge

Michael Barsella Senior Account Executive Cisco David Boyle Principal Ernst & Young, LLP Einat Burshtine Head of Data, Reporting & Analytics for Infrastructure Credit Suisse Nic Caputo Global Account Manager SHI International Joe Carlin Director of Technology Service Delivery Mars

Guy Fruda Managing Director East Region, Information Technology Services Deloitte Amy Gnagy Managing Director Accenture

Jason Hess Vice President, Global Technology JP Morgan Chase & Co. Daniel Johnson Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & Head of Innovation Guardian Life

Sajawal Haider Chief Information Security Officer Oak Hill Advisors

Jeffrey M. Kaufman Managing Director Morgan Stanley

Peter Hancock Senior Vice President, Client Solutions Optiv Inc.

John O'Brien Senior Director, Security Presales Broadcom Kim Shostak Global Account Manager Hewlett Packard Enterprises

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

Luke Chilone | Co-Chair Consultant

NPOWER NEW YORK

TECH FUNDAMENTALS SPRING 2021 STATISTICS The curriculum for this program includes a NetAcad learning module courtesy of the Cisco Networking Academy.

90% GRADUATION RATE

100% 100% INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT RATE

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

CERTIFICATION RATE

JOSHUA ALBERT 24

SYED ALI 25

JOY ANGBO 25

BRONX, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

After studying economics, I was unable to find employment in the field. Following a conversation with a family friend who had taken part in the Tech Fundamentals program, I decided to turn my focus to IT. Being part of NPower helped me gain a clear understanding of technology. I learned skills that will help me in a variety of IT positions, as well as knowledge that will enhance my personal life. NPower made me more conscious of the opportunities afforded to me and others and taught me tangible ways to achieve success. I plan to continue to build upon my foundational knowledge, pursue more certifications, and secure full-time employment.

Before NPower, I was unemployed, directionless, and lost. I couldn’t find a way forward. Then my friend told me about NPower, and it felt like a dream come true. I immediately applied for Tech Fundamentals, convinced that my commitment of time and energy would lead to new skills and greater professional opportunities. Before I knew it, I was learning all sorts of things—from what makes a computer tick to what makes a resume stand out. Thanks to the NPower team, I feel prepared to take the next step of leveraging my internship with Citi into a fulltime position.

Before NPower, I was working as a home-health aide, but deep in my heart something was missing. I stumbled upon NPower through a job posting on Indeed. After some research, I decided to take a chance and apply for the Tech Fundamentals program. The rest is history! NPower has a great support system. Our Social Support Manager did monthly check-ins to see our progress. I have enjoyed the industry coaching sessions and feedback on how to write an effective resume. My dream is to work for a tech-forward nonprofit organization. Simply put, I recommend learning with NPower.

PRANITA APPADU 23

MARIAH ARZU 22

BROOKLYN, NY

QUEENS, NY

BRONX, NY

Prior to NPower, I worked in a gym as a maintenance associate. While looking for new opportunities to earn a better income, an alumnus recommended NPower. I joined without knowing much about IT. My experience with NPower was nothing short of great! The staff are an amazing group of diverse, motivating, and genuine people. NPower has provided a solid foundation by teaching and helping me prepare for the ITF+ test, and when I needed extra help, the staff were able to accommodate me. As for next steps, I hope to complete my internship with Kingsborough Community College and become a full-time employee there.

Before finding NPower, I was struggling to find an internship or job opportunity. I found NPower online and felt it was the perfect opportunity to begin my career. After being accepted into the Tech Fundamentals program, I was excited to start learning even more about the IT field. My experience has been positive and fulfilling. NPower has provided fundamental technical and professional skills, such as troubleshooting, time management, and networking. I feel that this will help me launch my IT career. I look forward to completing my A+ certification as well as securing employment.

Before NPower, I had completed my studies in management information systems and was preparing for the workforce. I joined NPower to refine my professional and technical skills. NPower gave me the opportunity to connect with people with similar interests and a shared passion for IT. Through the workshops, I improved my interviewing skills, and we joked about my daily usage of Microsoft Edge. I would like to fully utilize my education in management information systems, working as a network administrator supporting a driven team. TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

JALEECE ANTHONY 21

JESSICA BILLINGY 21

MALACHI BLANCHARD 21

JAHHID BOSTON 22

BROOKLYN, NY

MANHATTAN, NY

HARLEM, NY

Before enrolling in NPower, I had dropped out of college and was working part-time jobs. The field of IT always played a huge part in my life from a young age growing up in Saint Vincent. After seeing what NPower did for a family member, I decided to join the Tech Fundamentals program. NPower provided everything I needed, including networking and a handson internship experience. I look forward to taking my experience to the next level and obtaining more certifications. Thanks to NPower, I can now share my experience with friends, family, and others who cross my path, so that we can all become successful in our careers!

I have been interested in IT since middle school but didn’t realize that the studies and projects I completed were IT-related. My joy for technology started with tinkering with toys and helping my dad set up WiFi. Through the years, I have seen technology continue to grow; following emerging trends became a major hobby. Thanks to NPower, I not only had the opportunity to study new trends and hear from tech professionals in the field, I also learned the fundamentals and origins of the technology I use every day. I am grateful for this training and plan to apply my knowledge to my current experience with Citi.

Before I found NPower, I was working minimum-wage jobs to make ends meet. I was hopping from job to job until COVID hit, and I lost my job. These circumstances drove me to seek a career in IT. I started looking for entry-level IT jobs on job boards like Indeed and the NPower posting was the first thing I saw. It seemed like fate! To this day I don’t regret clicking on the posting. Our instructor was 100% interested in teaching the material and made sure that we understood everything. He was always there when we needed him. I plan to gain experience working in the IT field and obtain more certificates to take my career to the next level.

QUEENS, NY

From the moment I held a Game Boy, my eyes opened wide. I watched as the phone lost wires, the lights turned on by themselves, and this loud, dialed-up thing called the internet arrived. I began a quest to understand the evergrowing mystery called computers. That is why I applied to NPower; I finally had a resource to learn it all! Through Tech Fundamentals, I experienced a walkthrough of PC parts, tricks to memorize network ports, and more. The internship and job opportunities NPower provided were enriching. I am finally becoming an adult! I will have the qualifications to say, “I understand technology.” Thank you, NPower, for changing my life.

BROOKLYN, NY

ANDREW CHEUK 21 BROOKLYN, NY

Before NPower, I worked as Although I previously worked an office clerk and administrative as an electrician, I struggled to assistant for a company that find a career that aligned with my provided little to no growth. When passion for technology. I knew I COVID-19 struck, I found myself was not going to be happy if I out of work with little sense of continued to pursue the electrical direction. I was fortunate that a field. When the pandemic hit, family friend told me about NPower I decided to take the opportunity and its mission. I can honestly to pursue the IT field and that say it has changed my life for the was when a friend referred me to better. The Tech Fundamentals NPower. I didn’t know it at the program provided me with both time, but following up on that the technical and soft skills needed referral was one of the best choices to launch my IT career. NPower I’ve made! NPower helped set a has shown me opportunities that I foundation that was more than never knew existed. Next, I plan to enough, from theory to professional enroll in the CUNY SPS program growth. In the future, I plan to to earn my degree and strengthen work at a company in which the my foundation. technology-related work I’m doing actually makes a difference in people’s lives.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

MILES SHAWN BRITT LEO CHAVIS 23 23

DAVID CHO 23

JAKE COLLADO 25

DIOR CORTES 22

BROOKLYN, NY

QUEENS, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

Before discovering NPower, I was having a hard time finding entry-level jobs in the IT field. I joined NPower to solidify my professional foundation and get assistance on my soft skills and business acumen. Overall, my experience at NPower has been great. NPower helped me earn IT certifications and gave me the chance to gain experience by working in the IT field. The staff were kind and supportive; they really wanted me to succeed. I am extremely grateful for all they have done for me. As I continue to build on my professional experience, I plan to further my education by pursuing more IT certifications and exploring advanced paths within IT.

Before NPower Tech Fundamentals, I was looking to break into the IT industry. With the recommendation of my classmate, I decided to join NPower to expand my knowledge and work towards the CompTIA A+ certificate. My experience with NPower was a pleasure, from tech training to working with the placement team on professional skills. The knowledge I obtained will allow me to network with others employed at the companies I want to learn more about. By networking, I have also learned more about the skills that I should further enhance. I would like to find a job with learning opportunities and room for growth. Ultimately, I hope to gain a position in server administration at an international company.

Following a school requirement to secure an internship prior to graduation, I was having a hard time finding the right opportunity. Then I got an email from NPower stating that I would move on to the interview process. I had an interest in NPower because they provide free training, along with internship placement. At NPower, I learned tech fundamentals that I had not previously learned in school—understanding the troubleshooting process, data tables, and encryption. In addition, I went from knowing nothing about certifications to earning the ITF certification and pursuing the A+ certification. I would like to secure a full-time position from my Citi internship.

MELLISSA DIAZ 20

YURIY DOVHYY 23

BROOKLYN, NY

BRONX, NY

SUFFOLK, NY

I previously worked at Apple and always wanted to go more deeply into tech than working in sales. Inspired by my grandfather, for his appreciation of tech and the support it provides him, I wanted to carry on his legacy. With NPower, I enhanced my soft skills and developed hard skills in the immersive training program. The labs, practice exams, and professional-development workshops paved the way for my internship with Citi. This is a tearjerker for me because I tried so hard to get a career in the banking industry just two years before, to no avail—and here I am now! I am more confident than ever in my future and excited about the challenges that will come, all thanks to NPower’s inestimable efficiency, empathy, humility, and value. It truly was a blessing.

Before NPower, I was at a stage of uncertainty as I couldn’t afford college in the middle of the pandemic. I was confused about what opportunities were available. I then heard about NPower from my advisor and was astonished at how well it fit into my plans. I appreciate that NPower focuses on minorities and diversifying the workforce. As a Hispanic woman, it made me feel comfortable and welcomed. I am thankful to be a part of a program that offers such a lively and dynamic environment to learn and network. NPower helped me gain new and necessary skills. We were lucky to have exposure to Cisco, Coursera, and CompTIA, as well as employmentreadiness workshops. I hope to secure a full-time opportunity at my current internship site, Citi.

Before discovering NPower, I faced challenges securing an IT internship in the midst of the pandemic. After learning about NPower, it was obvious that this would be an immense catalyst to jumpstart my career in IT. What I enjoyed most about this journey was staying focused and accepting challenges that were thrown my way. I’m proud that I finished what I started! NPower provided me with the essential foundation to obtain my current certifications. I look forward to achieving more IT certifications and establishing myself in the world of technology. TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

TREON DAVIS 25

JEFFRY DURAN 25

STARLYN FABIAN 23

KEVIN GARVEY 25

BROOKLYN, NY

Before joining NPower, I was lost, passionless, and struggling to find what I wanted to do in life. I’ve always had an interest in technology but had no clue as to how to pursue a career in this field. It was not until I got a text from my sister about a computer program for young adults to jumpstart their careers in IT, that I decided to take a leap of faith and go for it. It was the best decision I made! Learning to develop and improve my professional self, meeting new people and learning alongside them, and watching all of us grow in different ways will stay with me for the rest of my life. NPower gave me the essential foundation, guiding me to earn my CompTIA ITF+ and A+ certification and become more aware of different career paths. While I am currently in an internship with ColabL, I look forward to what the future holds.

Before NPower I struggled with After previously studying computer my career. I realized that I did not programming and information want to become a police officer systems, I was unable to gain anymore and wanted a career that employment in my field. I looked provides safer work conditions online for entry-level IT jobs and with opportunities to grow. A friend found NPower on Indeed. I knew I told me about NPower and how had to take advantage of this much they help their trainees opportunity and was accepted start IT careers. I applied and was into the program! NPower taught accepted! I felt happy but was a me a lot professionally, technically, little nervous about not having and financially. I learned about any familiarity with information setting goals, making good career technology. Nevertheless, NPower connections, time management, taught me how to communicate self-motivation, and mental professionally, prioritize, and preparation for whatever situation apply job-hunting techniques to I face. Being part of the Tech my job search. Now that I finished Fundamentals program has given the Tech Fundamentals program, me a better understanding of I will go back to college and get my technology. I became more aware B.S. degree in computer science of the different career paths. and continue applying for jobs. My overall experience with NPower I definitely recommend NPower to has been wonderful. I am incredibly anyone interested in IT. The staff grateful. I hope to secure a fullat NPower make sure that their time opportunity at my current students fully succeed. internship with Citi.

DAVAN HARVEY 21

MAHIRA HASAN 23

BROOKLYN, NY

If someone told me five months ago that I would be interning at one of the largest financial institutions, while working from home in my first apartment, with two IT certificates for show… I probably would NOT have believed them. I would have been skeptical about how to get there from being a recent college graduate in a sketchy living situation surviving off unemployment. When I first interviewed for NPower, they offered an opportunity, a plan, and a support system to get my life in a better place. Admittedly, I had little faith in the outcome of a free IT course, but just days into the program I was able to experience real-life adaptations of hardware components, troubleshooting, and deciphering ports/protocols. Down the line, I am thinking BIG— a nonprofit information technology pipeline in neighboring countries, much like NPower. What can I say, I like full circles.

Before discovering NPower, I thought I would have to work in food service while studying software engineering. After learning about NPower through a coworker and seeing how it changed her life, I decided to try to change mine. I applied to NPower and through the Tech Fundamentals program found a new direction, and an opportunity to get my foot in the door in the industry I am truly passionate about. I have gained a strong foundation for my career. I look forward to learning Python and developing my skills in coding. In the long term, I would love to work for a company like Citigroup that prioritizes their employees’ growth, and allows for constant learning.

Prior to NPower, I struggled with finding a career to pursue. Then, I shifted my focus to the IT field. What I enjoyed most was finishing what I started and conquering any challenges that came my way. NPower gave me the support, confidence, and skills to keep going and launch my IT career. I cannot wait to continue my education and obtain further certifications and build my own foundation in tech.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

NNEKE HALEY 24

ALEX HUANG 23

MARYAM KABIR 22

FARHIN KAPADIA 25

MANHATTAN, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

QUEENS, NY

Before I joined NPower, the pandemic hit, and I was unable to find an entry-level position in computer science. I heard about NPower from a friend who had recently graduated. He described how NPower got him back on track by helping with his certifications and giving him work experience. I am very grateful to NPower for giving me the opportunity to further my career. My next step is to continue my current internship with Charter Technology Solutions and look for opportunities to help and exceed expectations. I also plan to spread NPower via my networks, thus helping other young adults launch their tech careers.

Before discovering NPower, I I was searching for a way to get my found myself studying in an area foot in the door in the technology that I did not want to be in, and industry and prepare for my had changed majors many times. career. That’s when I found NPower. I decided to turn to the IT field The team helped me expand my because of the wide variety of confidence, knowledge, and options available. NPower provided professional skills. They helped me with an essential foundation increase my exposure to the job by guiding me to earn my CompTIA market and create a plan for certifications and providing me future goals. I will continue to professional development. I learn from work experiences until learned skills such as networking I know which area is best suited and how to have successful for me. With NPower’s lessons, I am interviews—skills that I can use ready to take on future challenges. for a lifetime. As I continue to expand my professional experience with ASI, I look forward to earning more IT certifications and launching a full-time career.

JORDAN KPATCHAVI 21

JUSTEN LAM 22

BROOKLYN, NY

QUEENS, NY

I discovered NPower by searching on Google for programs that help young adults gain certifications and employment. With the challenges of finding employment, I knew NPower would provide the right launching pad to jumpstart my career. Being part of this program has given me a better understanding of technology and the importance of networking with others. My overall experience has been great! I hope to gain more experience in the field of cybersecurity and potentially land a role with the federal government.

Before NPower. I was simply taking classes at BMCC with no set goal or definite path to what I would do afterwards. I was drawn to IT since my father worked in the field when I was young, and introduced me to computers. This stuck with me throughout my formative years, becoming almost second nature. NPower taught me far more efficient networking skills and broadened my view of what companies I could provide IT support to, while gaining hands-on experience rather than simply aiming for the FAANG companies like many people my age do. My next goal is to secure a fulltime position at either Broadridge or Loews. Fintech has become a big interest lately, and I hope to explore this field further.

I have always been interested in biomedical science and its connection to technology. During my research for physical therapy programs, I became fascinated with rehabilitation technology research, more specifically, virtual reality environment devices. Knowing that I wanted to continue researching this technology, I knew I would not stop at just using the technology. I wanted to be part of the development behind these devices, informing the modifications and advancements by implementing neurological interfaces and using my biology background. NPower helped me expand my skills and provided a well-rounded introduction to technology. NPower has given me the resources, guidance, and motivation to achieve my goals. I connected with companies to learn about IT careers and how to work toward my dream.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

ASCANTI KINGSBERRY 23

KYLE LEDBETTER 21 BRONX, NY

CAROL LU 25 BROOKLYN, NY

Prior to joining NPower, I was Before NPower, I was exploring employed as a stock clerk at Old my options and struggling to gain Navy Stores, working overnight employment related to game shifts. My mother found an development. I’ve always been advertisement for NPower and interested in technology and shared the information with me. I knew NPower would be a good fit. knew this was the next step for The Tech Fundamentals program my career! My NPower experience not only introduced me to new has been amazing and eyeconcepts, but also brought me opening. I have learned technical clarity in terms of a career path. The skills like Linux applications, how NPower staff has been nothing computers work, and the ins and but supportive and dedicated to outs of programming. In addition to helping their students succeed. the training, my internship has For my next steps, I plan to explore allowed me to be hands-on with the IT field and support game computer installations and development companies with my preparations for use. I have learned technical skills. so much, grown as a young adult, and gained more responsibilities. After graduating and receiving my CompTIA certification, I see myself working in the IT field for the long haul.

FANG LU 24 BROOKLYN, NY

Before discovering NPower, I was looking for job opportunities and decided to give IT a chance. I joined NPower because I realized that my experience consisted solely of technical projects, not internships. NPower offered that on top of potential permanent positions. In addition to the essential technical skills that helped me acquire the CompTIA ITF and A+ certifications, they also focused on developing my professional skills. There were many workshops, from building resumes to interviewing. With everything I learned, I plan to excel in my current role as a software engineer and educate myself further.

JAIME MERCADO 26

MAHAD MIAN 19

MANHATTAN, NY

STATEN ISLAND, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

Prior to joining NPower, I was studying computer information systems while trying to get my foot in the door of IT work. I joined NPower to succeed. I wanted to obtain experience in the workplace while networking. Everyone at NPower was so clear about expectations and the standards of the workplace; our lessons ranged from professional attire to communication skills. In the future, I want a job I enjoy, where I can apply myself to achieving longterm goals. I have always had the dream of working in the field of cybersecurity. I am ready to take one step at a time and learn everything possible to make that happen!

Before NPower, I was a bit lost. I was working for AT&T as a sales representative, trying to achieve IT certifications on my own. However, being accepted by NPower helped me expand my IT knowledge and grow personally and professionally. NPower taught me financial responsibility, networking skills, resume-building techniques, and so much more. I am currently in a great internship with Morgan Stanley as a service technician. Eventually, I would like to secure a full-time position with Morgan Stanley. For my next steps, I plan to further my IT knowledge by receiving advanced certifications in both networking and cloud technologies.

Before NPower, my life revolved around a minimum wage job and deciding whether or not to attend college due to the impending debt many young adults take on to further their educations. I joined NPower on the recommendation of a family member and got on board with the program after receiving a program overview. In my NPower experience, I felt like I was getting the best of both worlds, developing technically and professionally. I came out of the program with newly-acquired technical skills and stronger soft skills to use in the ever-growing IT industry. I’d like to focus on my internship with Citi and turn that into a full-time opportunity. I aspire to keep learning to the best of my ability and demonstrate my strong work ethic.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

KAYLAH MACK 23

ELINA MINAYA 24

JIMMY MORALES 25

NUSRAT NAWSHIN 24

NEW YORK, NY

HARLEM, NY

QUEENS, NY

I worked as a college counselor for the Department of Education before NPower. I have always wanted a career in IT but didn’t know where or how to start. Fortunately, I came across the Tech Fundamentals program and developed so many new skills. The NPower program helped me grow professionally and gave me technical skills. I now tell everyone interested in tech about how NPower supported me in every way possible while helping me achieve my goals. I will be joining the Pursuit Fellowship to become a full-stack developer.

Before Tech Fundamentals, I worked as a server at the Hard Rock Cafe. I have always wanted a career in IT but needed a platform. My friend from church told me about the opportunities at NPower. I applied and was accepted into the program. NPower has taught me so much professionally, technically, and even financially. I learned about setting goals, staying motivated, and tapping into my connections for support. With my new IT knowledge and skills, I plan to continue my education in IT by achieving more certifications and establishing myself in the tech world.

As a new immigrant to the U.S., I struggled to adjust to the environment of New York City. As someone interested in computer science, I had difficulty securing placement in this field. I have always wanted a career in IT, but needed a suitable platform. NPower has not only helped me obtain CompTIA ITF+ and Google IT certifications, but also taught me professionalism and stress management. With these new skills, I look forward to achieving more certifications and increasing my employability for IT careers. I now have a local network of professionals and peers that I met through NPower. I plan to continue to network in an effort to land a full-time opportunity in technology.

BRONX, NY

RAVEN PARKER 19 BROOKLYN, NY

Prior to NPower, I was always Before I found NPower, I was wondering about my future and if struggling to find a job and could I was spending my time wisely. I not afford to return to college. am proud to say that NPower has The Tech Fundamentals program taught me more than just technical seemed like a great opportunity skills. I learned professionalism, to continue learning and advance how to handle an interview, in the same direction as my peers negotiate salary, and put my best who attended college. Overall, foot forward. In terms of technical my experience with NPower was skills, I learned a great deal of wonderful. I am glad I was able to things, from mobile devices to be a part of the Spring 2021 cohort. cloud computing. The field of IT is The staff is extremely supportive, immense. I look forward to gaining understanding, and knowledgeable. more certifications throughout I especially admired their drive my career and becoming a skilled to help every individual succeed. professional. I would like to work I went from knowing the bare with a dream company on a minimum about technology, to passionate team. getting CompTIA’s A+ certification and landing a part-time job with Kingsborough Community College’s IT department. I hope to continue my learning and growth, specifically in coding and software development.

NASIBA AHMMED PAROMA 23 QUEENS, NY

Before NPower, I worked at a retail store as a customer-service associate. I always had an interest in the IT field and was on my way toward earning an associate’s degree in CIS. I decided to enroll in the Tech Fundamentals program with NPower because I wanted to take the first step in my dream career. NPower provided me with hands-on experience, along with training and certifications. Today, I am a long way ahead in my dream career—all because of the excellent support from the NPower team. I am extremely grateful to them for this! After completing my CoLabL experience, I plan to secure a job in IT and continue my education.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

MARCOS NUNEZ 20

ADRIAN PEREZ 25

MOHAMMED RAHMAN 23

ALAWI RASHED 25

BRONX, NY

QUEENS, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

Due to the pandemic, potential employment opportunities were taken away. When I saw the NPower program listed on Indeed, I realized it could be the beginning of a new chapter. Being part of NPower has given me much knowledge about technology. I gained a better understanding of how diverse the IT path is. My overall experience with NPower has been amazing. The NPower team is educated, caring, and devoted to helping the students prosper. I am extraordinarily appreciative! I hope to secure a full-time opportunity at my current internship site, Broadridge.

Before NPower, I was having a difficult time landing a job because of the pandemic. I joined NPower because I had a few friends who attended previous cohorts and had very positive things to say. I decided to enroll because I was not happy at my job and wanted to learn new skills. At NPower, I felt at ease and very supported when it came to the lessons inside the classroom and preparing for interviews outside. Not only did I acquire new technical skills and certifications, I also landed a full-time position in tech! I would love to advance my career by learning new skills and getting more competitive certifications.

Before NPower, I was an Uber driver and graduate of Year Up. I joined NPower because I didn’t have a strong background in the IT field and wanted to build a strong foundation. I was able to further my knowledge in IT and gain new soft skills. After studying with my peers and instructors, I earned both the CompTIA ITF+ and Google IT certifications. I did this in a short amount of time! My next step is to leverage my internship into a full-time opportunity. Along with my professional goals, I would like to go back to school and earn my B.S. degree. Once I have accomplished these things, I would love to work for a company like Amazon as a cloud engineer.

BROOKLYN, NY

NICHOLAS ROMERO 23 BROOKLYN, NY

Prior to my time with NPower, I was When I was unable to continue going on nearly five years working college, I gave up on a career in at GameStop, the majority of the tech. Joining NPower gave me the time as a supervisor. The NPower skills and opportunity to earn program caught my eye because I multiple IT certifications, but they was growing apathetic about the did not stop there. NPower retail world. To me it took the form dedicated their time to developing of a promise of a better future me as a person and ensuring I where I could exercise as well as not only had the technical skills to grow my expertise in the IT field, get hired, but the social skills which I´ve always been naturally and connections to network with inclined toward. My time with employers. This all landed me NPower has been fruitful to say the a role in IT with CUNY, putting me least. I fortified my skills in IT as in a position to finish college and well as my soft skills, which helped increase my knowledge in IT. to make me more of an asset in Thanks, NPower! the tech world. I now look forward to my time working with Bank of America in my trade-floor-support position. Perhaps I can work for a company like Sony or Nintendo since I love gaming.

MOHAMMED (MO) SARKER 25 BROOKLYN, NY

Before I discovered NPower, I was desperately trying to find my passion in life. I tried different things, such as programming, accounting, and even social work, but I still felt I needed something that resonated more. After taking a networking and ethical-hacking course, I became very interested in IT. NPower gave me the direction I was looking for and helped me gain both the hard and soft skills to be successful in a technical career. I was even able to get a internship opportunity at Citi, where I am working in production support with the goal of becoming a full-time employee. The NPower experience is invaluable to me! I will apply everything I learned to honor my promise of “paying it forward.”

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ 25

MATTHEW SILVA 22

SAYRA SOLIS 22

AAQIB TARIQ 23

QUEENS, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

I was working part-time as an IT intern for the DOE prior to joining NPower. While this was a great learning experience, I was in a role without much guidance and direction. I joined NPower to get the proper training and advice that I needed to grow as an IT professional. I can say with much confidence that I was able to achieve my goal through the Tech Fundamentals program. I was able to network with fellow IT professionals, pass entry-level IT certifications from CompTIA and Google, as well as develop my interviewing and test-taking skills. I look forward to taking the cloud computing program and becoming a cloud administrator.

Being in the middle of a pandemic with no financial security, I wanted to be as prepared as possible to get back on my feet. Although many of my post-graduation goals were crushed by COVID-19, I was able to find NPower and keep growing both academically and professionally. NPower gave me a reason to keep going. I learned how to advocate for myself, and more importantly, how to meet new people and build opportunities for myself. With my new skills, I plan to be the IT expert at my job, and the person my colleagues will trust with their tech needs, big or small.

Before the NPower program, I was unemployed. I have always wanted a career in IT but needed a platform. Upon joining Tech Fundamentals, I found amazing opportunities. It has been a pleasant experience throughout! NPower has taught me so much professionally, technically, and financially. I learned about committing to my goals and relying on my networks to excel or overcome any hurdles that arise. I also learned that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to. I got ITF+ certified and am working towards my A+ certification and other Google certifications. In the future, I plan to continue my education in cloud computing with NPower or do independent study.

VINCENT TRUONG 25

JASON VELOZ 23

BROOKLYN, NY

QUEENS, NY

BRONX, NY

Before NPower, I was going from job to job. NPower provided a place where I could learn, focus on specific topics, and earn IT certifications. I was always good at equipment management, tool use, and customer service. NPower showed me that I can transfer the skills I gained throughout my career to gain employment in the tech field. The journey has been fruitful; I owe it all to my friend’s recommendation. I took a leap of faith, got accepted, and now I cannot wait to see where I can go next! I hope to help small or growing businesses with hardware and infrastructure set-up and best practices.

Prior to Tech Fundamentals, I had been working in finance and accounting with no clear-cut objective of where I wanted to take my career. Then I discovered NPower, where I was introduced to an unbelievable opportunity to transition to the information technology and cloud computing space. They provided me with the tools and education I needed to embark on this new path, along with their extraordinarily supportive staff. As my skills and knowledge continued to grow, so did my ambitions. It’s truly hard to believe the number of opportunities that have opened up since joining this program! Thanks to NPower, I am genuinely excited for what the future may hold.

Although most of my educational background consists of computer science and programming, I was looking for a change of pace with something more practical and hands-on. IT felt like a good place to find that change. NPower not only gave me insight into what I can expect while working in IT, but also into things I can do to further myself as a professional outside of the workplace. My time with NPower gave me the opportunity to work alongside a smaller company in an IT capacity. When looking into future full-time roles, I now find myself hoping for a role within a small company, as I have always wanted to work someplace where I can have a close working relationship with my peers while having measurable impact. Overall, this has to be what I am most grateful to NPower for, as the space and resources they allotted me allowed me to chart my future and feel confident in doing so.

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

JONATHAN TROPNAS 25

JENNY ZHANG 21

KENNETH ZHEN 23

QUEENS, NY

BROOKLYN, NY

Before NPower, I was exposed to computer science and technology but was unsure about whether the path of a developer would be right for me. One thing was sure— I still wanted to stay in the tech field. That is when I heard about NPower through a colleague, who is an alumnus of the advanced cybersecurity course. He told me that NPower could give me the chance to explore different career opportunities in tech. NPower shaped me to be the confident woman I am today. I’m thankful for the knowledge I’ve picked up along the way, and I’m thankful for the people I’ve met. My next step is to achieve more certifications. I now know where to focus—cloud computing. I’m currently interning with Broadridge and will work towards securing a full-time opportunity there.

Before discovering NPower, I was struggling to find work in the biology field. A friend then recommended NPower, and after hearing about their great experience, I applied to pursue a new career. I have always had a passion for science and technology; to be able to witness how technology has advanced throughout the years is amazing! NPower gave me an essential foundation and guided me towards earning my CompTIA A+ certification and launching a successful IT career. I look forward to achieving more IT certifications and establishing myself in the world of technology. In the future, I hope to explore the field of fintech and support international banks with secure transactions.

PAUL ALLOW

PAVEL ANGON

DARWIN BAEZ

ARTURO CACERES

RIGOBERTO DELGADO-LUNA

NATHANIEL DOMBROWSKI

ELIECEL FERMIN

CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

EDWARD AJAO

SYED HUSSAIN

SALVADOR JARQUIN

SEBASTIAN PAULINO

JOSEPH PRINCE

SHARIB RIZVI

BARBARA ROMUALDO

DAMARIS RUIZ

ASHRAF SHEIKH

JAMES SHERIDAN

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

XAVIER SIU ERIC ZHAO

CONGRATULATIONS! TECH FUNDAMENTALS

SPRING 2021

EDWARD AJAO

JAKE COLLADO

JOSHUA ALBERT

DIOR CORTES

SYED ALI

TREON DAVIS

PAUL ALLOW

RIGOBERTO DELGADO-LUNA

JOY ANGBO

MELLISSA DIAZ

PAVEL ANGON

NATHANIEL DOMBROWSKI

JALEECE ANTHONY

YURIY DOVHYY

PRANITA APPADU

JEFFRY DURAN

MARIAH ARZU

STARLYN FABIAN

DARWIN BAEZ

ELIECEL FERMIN

JESSICA BILLINGY

KEVIN GARVEY

MALACHI BLANCHARD

NNEKE HALEY

JAHHID BOSTON

DAVAN HARVEY

MILES SHAWN BRITT

MAHIRA HASAN

ARTURO CACERES

CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ

LEO CHAVIS

ALEX HUANG

ANDREW CHEUK

SYED HUSSAIN

DAVID CHO

SALVADOR JARQUIN

MOHAMMED RAHMAN

FARHIN KAPADIA

ALAWI RASHED

ASCANTI KINGSBERRY

SHARIB RIZVI

JORDAN KPATCHAVI

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ

JUSTEN LAM

NICHOLAS ROMERO

KYLE LEDBETTER

BARBARA ROMUALDO

CAROL LU

DAMARIS RUIZ

FANG LU

MOHAMMED SARKER

KAYLAH MACK

ASHRAF SHEIKH

JAIME MERCADO

JAMES SHERIDAN

MAHAD MIAN

MATTHEW SILVA

ELINA MINAYA

XAVIER SIU

JIMMY MORALES

SAYRA SOLIS

NUSRAT NAWSHIN

AAQIB TARIQ

MARCOS NUNEZ

JONATHAN TROPNAS

RAVEN PARKER

VINCENT TRUONG

NASIBA PAROMA

JASON VELOZ

SEBASTIAN PAULINO

JENNY ZHANG

ADRIAN PEREZ

ERIC ZHAO

JOSEPH PRINCE

KENNETH ZHEN

WATCH THE RECORDING

npower.org/graduation/spring2021

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TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

MARYAM KABIR

NPower New York Staff

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 skill. 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 4,000 veterans and young adults are hired at over 2000 companies and nonprofits as interns and full-time employees.

81%

› ›

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

*based on 2018–2019 national data

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

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.

THANK YOU... TO OUR FUNDERS Bank of New York Mellon

Mulesoft

BlackRock Foundation

New York Community Trust

City National Bank of NYC

Robin Hood

Google

The Shippy Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

State Street Foundation, Inc.

Kirkland and Ellis LLP

Tiger Foundation

TO OUR EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS ASI

Loews Corporation

Bank of America

LVMH

BNY Mellon

MergeIT

Broadridge

Morgan Stanley

Charter Technology Solutions

NTT Data

Citi

NYC Department of Education

Colabl

NYC Office of Comptroller

Dutchie

PJT Partners

Digital Girl Inc

Robert Half Technology

GalaxE Solutions

Samba TV

Girls Inc

SMCP

Keno Kozie Associates

AND TO OUR VOLUNTEERS Amazon Web Services

Deloitte

SIM NY

Marcelo Ignacio

Abdool David-Raouf

Judy Arteche-Carr

Luis Nunez

Carlos Fernandez

Pilayne Franklin Molly Ornati Bloomberg Foundation

Cindy Finkelman Loews Corporation

Jason Fischer

Kamaria Antoine

Jason Hish

MTA Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Herb Hofmann

Marge Ginsburg

Tim Jackson

Joshua Gutierrez New York Hall of Science Citi

Samuel Litt

Kayla Ballentine Victor Ekweanya

NPower

Raveen Kanagaratnam

Erik Fu

Jevante Smith

Xavier Sanchez Arfa Tahir

CUNY School of Professional Studies Kimberley Aguirre Holli Broadfoot

PMINYC Frank Saladis

Michael Israel Jim Knight Sunil Notani Nora Osman Shar Rubio Shanth Subbiah Jeffrey Wu Sirius Group Beth Boucher TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

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.

AMBASSADORS Dean Del Vecchio

Craig Newmark

Josh Sutton

Ronald & Cynthia Gula Charitable Fund

Christopher Perry

John Thompson

Matt Horner

Dan Petrozzo

Peter Trizzino

David Reilly

Paul Winston Blavin

Stephen Murphy

David Steward

CHAMPIONS Howard Boville

Richard Greenbaum

Peter Quirk

Guillermo Diaz, Jr.

Debra King

Diane Schwarz

Mike Elmore

Ernest Lefner

Julie Sweet

Michael Fey

Harry Moseley

Gail Fierstein

Larry Quinlan

PARTNERS Pete Agresta

Mark Heil

Persis Pavri

Oliver Cook

Matt Holton

Michael Rupinski

Vittorio Cretella

Jenifer Kleinert

Joseph Castro

Paul Daugherty

James Linnett

Ellyn Shook

John Fernandez

Tristan Morel L’Horset

Michael Tessler

Candace Givens

Hunter Muller

Cathinka Wahlstrom

Mahir AbdalRazzaaqEL

Michael Fugett

Meaghan Mullins

James Alcombright

NaNette Gaines

Joe Murphy

Zorina Alliata

Pedro Garcia Sanchez

Das & Nipa Nobel

Robert Anselmo

Greg Gaskin

Ryan Nolan

Linda Apsley

Betsy George

Christine Parsons

Jack Azagury

Clare Giffin-Pascoe

Frank Pedersen

Peter Benzie

Doug Greene

Joe Pinto

The Ramesh & Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation

Scott Harris

Greg Raimannn

Jason Heckler

Daniel Richards

Brian Heidtke

Michael Robinson

Stuart Henderson

Mark & Amanda Rushing

Sonja Hoel Perkins

Mary Pat Saddler

Tom Jackson

Craig Sanders

Florian Jaze

Diana Scott

Jon Joplin

Randy Seidl

Patricia Karzai

Dwight Shepherd

Gary Kayye

James Smith

Leif King

Joel Spieth

Michael Blumstein Brian Bohan Chad Bope David Boyle Dale Brooks James Carey Brian Carmody Steve Cass Gerald Charles Benjamin Ciaglo Brendan Coburn Kirsten Davies Robert DeCiutiis Kevin Delane Anthony DeLisio Richard DePalma Bruce Derr Anthony DiSanto Mark Dodds Darcy Down Noreen Fierro

Daniel Kraft

Harold & Diane Steuber

Aaron Lewis

Paul Sussex

Mark Macias

Nicole Tate

George Maddaloni

Rex Thexton

Dan Maslowski

Clifford Thomas

Viola Maxwell-Thompson

Rah Thomas

Catherine McDonald

Alphonse Valbrune

Matt McSweeney

Robert Vaughn

Robert Millstone

Jerry Walker

Paul Miranda

Chris Wegmann

Brian Mize

Casey Wells

Amy Heydman

Altaf Rupani

FRIENDS Allison Crady Richard Dames

Russ Medina

Ben Shrewsbury

Michael Diblasio

Valeria Pareja

Stephen Simons

TECH FUNDAMENTALS | SPRING 2021

SUPPORTERS

NPOWER SUPPORTERS UNDERWRITERS | $750K+

SPONSORS | $250K+ Accenture

Ainslie Foundation

PARTNERS | $100K+ Craig Newmark Philanthropies

AHEAD Andreessen Horowitz

Dennis M. Jones Family Foundation

Atlas Data Systems Beth & Ravenel Curry Foundation

Emerson Ernst & Young

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Fiserv

Centene Charitable Foundation

Global Leadership Forum Hewlett Packard Company

Check Point Software Technologies

Ira W. DeCamp Foundation

Corteva Agriscience

KPMG Llewellyn Family Foundation Maryland Apprenticeship Innovation Fund Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development MTX Group Inc

Texas Workforce Commission

The New York Community Trust

Twilio Inc

Palo Alto Networks

United Way of Greater St. Louis

Patrick J McGovern Foundation

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The Pinkerton Foundation

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program

Rocket Community Fund

NetApp

St. Louis Community Foundation

NETSCOUT

Tata Consultancy Services

Infinidat

Motorola Solutions

St. Louis Regional Business Council

JobFirstNYC

New York City Council

Tanium Inc.

Kaiser Permanente

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Kirkland & Ellis

OneTen

Vmware

Light a Single Candle Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation

Vodafone

LinkedIn Corporation

Royal Bank of Canada

The William R. Orthwein, Jr. Foundation, Inc.

West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation, Inc. Workday Foundation

SUPPORTERS | $50K+ Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan

The Achelis & Bodman Foundation ADP Foundation

Communities Foundation of Texas

Ascension Information Services

Consumers Energy

Auth0

Elasticsearch

Baltimore Nonprofit Relief Fund

Flextronics International USA, Inc.

Blue Data

Fortinet

Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation

France-Merrick Foundation Henry & Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation

Centene Corporation The Centene Charitable Foundation

IBM

Mainline Information Systems

SAP

Mass Mutual Insurance Company

The Saigh Foundation

Medidata Solutions

Shippy Foundation

Morgan Stanley

State Street Bank

Wilson Sheehan Foundation Veritas Zoom

TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS

FRIENDS

Cisco Systems

Apply Digital

GoodScout

CaaStle

ITSMF

ProfitSolv

CSR Talent Group

Johnson Controls

SIM Foundation

Deloitte

Tata Consultancy Services

Kloudspot

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

| npower.org