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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO EDUCATION, NATIONAL, AND TECHNOLOGY EDITORS:
IT-Ready training program graduates class of 20 students
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., April 24, 2014
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IT-Ready, a nonprofit program of the
Creating IT Futures Foundation and Per Scholas Inc., recently
graduated 20 new information technology (IT) professionals in
Minneapolis / St. Paul.
Several graduates already have been placed into paid, six-month
apprenticeships with local corporations. All 20 graduates successfully
earned their CompTIA A+ certification, a credential recognized
throughout the IT industry as the leading certification for IT support
technicians.
IT-Ready is a free, eight-week, hands-on educational and training
program that prepares for the CompTIA A+ certification exams and
entry-level IT jobs at area companies.
Medica, Medtronic, HealthPartners and TEKsystems are just some of the
Twin Cities companies that hire IT-Ready graduates.
Graduates spanned the ages of 19 to 57 and even included a father-son
duo.
"I came to IT-Ready not knowing much of anything about computers, and
I left the program CompTIA A+ certified," said Isaac Fedick, 25, of
Coon Rapids, MN.
Scott Buffie, 57, of Minneapolis, struggled to pay his mortgage since
having to quit working in construction due to a spinal-fusion
operation three years ago. His job counselor at the Jewish Family and
Children's Service of Minneapolis recommended that he apply to
IT-Ready as a pathway to a sustainable career.
"Information technology is similar to construction, in that you need
to establish a good foundation," Buffie said. "Once you have a good
foundation in computers, you can build on that for a career."
Buffie's son, Josh Buffie, 27, of Burnsville, learned about the
program from his father and decided to leverage the program to move
away from sales. He thought a tech career might offer more upward
career mobility.
"Wherever I've worked, I've been the go-to technology guy, even when
there was an IT department," he said.
Both the Creating IT Futures Foundation and Per Scholas are national,
nonprofit organizations that provide free, high-quality education to
the unemployed, as well as populations of people under-represented
within the IT industry, such as women, ethnic minorities and veterans.
Together, the two organizations are collaborating to expand the
IT-Ready Program to more U.S. cities.
The IT-Ready Program teaches participants IT industry skills such as
building a computer from parts, installing software, troubleshooting
problems and setting up and managing networks. They also learn
"softer" professional skills such as communication and job
interviewing.
The IT-Ready Program in Minneapolis / St. Paul has operated since
2012. The next IT-Ready class convenes July 7. People interested in
applying or learning more about the program are encouraged to visit
www.ITReady.com.
The Creating IT Futures Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity with the
mission of helping individuals in need and populations
under-represented in the information-technology industry to prepare
for, secure, and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at
www.creatingITfutures.org.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75669
SOURCE Creating IT Futures Foundation
-0- 04/24/2014
/CONTACT: Eric Larson, Director of Marketing and Communications, 630.678.8511 (O), 828.777.8459 (C), elarson@comptia.org
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75669
/Web Site: http://www.creatingITfutures.org
CO: Creating IT Futures Foundation
ST: Minnesota
IN: ITE EDU HED
SU: NPT
PRN
-- DC11144 --
0000 04/24/2014 14:30:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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