IT Works builds up tech workforce

After two years of misfortune that includes being medically discharged from the military following a car accident, receiving treatment for cancer and being chronically underemployed and unemployed, Brandon Vazquez just wants a chance to turn his life around.

In February, he will be given that chance as he starts the technology certificate program put on by IT Works.

"I just want a fresh start," he says.

The 16-week program is scheduled to launch in February and offers underemployed people ages 18 to 26 courses in technology.

The program is part of a larger organization called Tech Impact, which helps nonprofits with subjects from technology training to IT maintenance.

Patrick Callihan, the executive director of Tech Impact, says the organization noticed there weren't a lot of skilled workers to meet a rising demand for technology jobs. Additionally, there was a high population of underemployed youths.

For instance, according to Tech Impact, about 14.3 percent of youths were underemployed and unemployed in Philadelphia at the time the program started five years ago.

IT Works was created to help students gain the skills that would not only make them employable but also qualify for jobs that pay more.

Callihan notes the curriculum follows the Cisco certification, which is highly respected in the tech community.

"It's a recognizable certification in the industry," he adds.

Callihan says when the courses are complete, people will be qualified to apply for jobs such as help desk analysts or entry level IT jobs.

About the same time Callihan was looking to expand, Debbie Banko was looking to bring opportunity to youths in Las Vegas

Running her own IT consulting business, she has seen a need to have more locals with technology backgrounds; otherwise, a lot of work goes to those out of state.

Instead of outsourcing work, she says we should be looking at ways to pour resources into the community and help people prepare for the jobs that are here.

She heard about the IT Works program two years ago and has been working to bring it to the city.

Callihan says Las Vegas is the third city the program is launching in (after Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del.) because of the number of technology jobs that have been coming here. It also has one of the highest populations of underemployed youth.

Banko says this is just what the community needs.

"There are a lot of underprivileged and at-risk youth looking for a path forward," she says.

Banko adds this is a good chance for those who are employed and making minimum wage to pave the way to higher-paying jobs, too.

"(Minimum wage) is not sustainable," she says.

Along with classes, students will be given mentors to help them along their journey — Banko is still seeking mentors in the tech community.

Many of the companies and mentors invested in the Las Vegas program are open to offering internships so students also get firsthand experience in the field.

The program has received interest from students such as Vazquez.

After being medically discharged and unable to serve in the military, Vazquez worked a variety of service jobs. Employment became increasingly difficult as he when through chemotherapy to treat a tumor he had in his arm.

Yet, he persevered.

Seeing a boom in technology industries, he started looking at local programs to gain training and try to get ahead. But he has been unemployed since September and wouldn't be able to pay tuition.

"It's hard to land at a good job when you don't have a college degree or any other formal training," he says.

He heard about IT Works last year and interviewed for the program in November. He just found out he was accepted into the first class.

"I just want to be able to get a job and start a career," he says.

The courses go over subjects such as troubleshooting computers and fixing software.

In addition to the tech-based classes, volunteers will also help students with resume building and networking skills to make sure they succeed beyond what is learned in the classroom.

Banko says the program is free and will accept as many as 18 applicants for its February enrollment.

Callihan says they are working with nonprofits to spread the word about the opportunity in other cities and hopes to expand.

He foresees offering the program again in the fall and potentially increasing the number of applicants accepted.

"It depends on what the demand is for it," he says. "If we are getting more young people interested and they are getting good job opportunities (because of the certificate program) then we will scale the program."

Here in Las Vegas, Banko already envisions what IT Works could turn into.

"I foresee the program growing leaps and bounds," she says.

Beyond basic courses, she wouldn't mind seeing the program offer classes on Web development or cyber security.

Further information is available at techimpact.org/our-programs/itworks/apply-to-itworks/

Contact reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5201. Follow @mjlyle on Twitter.