Meet Duane Davis
As the Afghanistan War winds down, more than 300,000 veterans will leave the military each of the next four years.
With a history of building brighter futures through the power of technology in the New York City area Technology Service Corps (TSC) is now underway in launching TSC Dallas this spring. TSC Dallas will be NPower's first veteran's focused effort.
Meet Duane Davis, Program Manager of the TSC Dallas Veterans Program.
Can you describe some of the challenges that our veterans face?
Our nation's service men and women are facing huge challenges. About 205,000 of those who served in or during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are without work. They are returning back home to a tough economy and a very competitive job market. Our veteran population is highly trained with a diverse set of skills in areas such as mechanics, medical and engineering. But even with these skills, they still face unemployment.
What impact will the TSC program have on the Dallas veteran's community?
TSC Dallas is going to connect our veterans with the opportunity to develop a career path in one of the world's largest growing fields, technology.
Our veterans will receive access to IT certifications, job readiness skills and the opportunity to learn from senior IT industry executives. They will receive the training that will allow them to transfer these new skills into civilian roles.
What do you hope to achieve in this role?
As a veteran with over 25 years of service in the military and corporate sector I hope to provide every TSC Dallas veteran student with a fresh start, the opportunity to learn marketable skills and employment. This program is going to have a huge impact on our veterans, families and communities.
As a veteran what words of encouragement would you share with our military personnel returning home?
I would say to them "you are not forgotten" and that the Dallas nonprofit and corporate communities are committed to working together to help you move forward.
Need Technology Help? NPower TSC has the solution!<
Need Technology Help? NPower TSC has the solution!
Host a well-trained IT intern for an affordable cost.
Fall Internships start November 5th and end December 20th, 2012
(Monday through Thursday for up to 8 hours per day for a total of 32 hours per week for fulltime interns or at minimum 4 hours a day for a total of 16 hours per week for part-time interns)
Current Internship Hosts include: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Citi, Columbia University, Teachers College, Deloitte LLP, the New York Times, and UBS.
For more information visit our website www.npower.org, to discuss details email patrick.cohen@npower.org.
Intern Skills:
Install, configure, maintain and troubleshoot hardware, software, server applications, images and networks
Perform data administration, disaster recovery and equipment inventory tasks
Provide desktop support in local and remote locations for PC’s, handhelds, laptops and printers
Manage phone systems: set up mailboxes, create phone extensions, and user permissions
Provide web design maintenance and updating
For more information visit our website www.npower.org, to discuss details email patrick.cohen@npower.org.
TSC Celebrates Class 28
Technology Service Corps (TSC), celebrated a near-record graduation class in its ongoing effort to help young adults secure brighter futures through careers in IT.TSC's 28th class is the second largest in the program's history and includes 43 graduates, who successfully completed the rigorous 22-week training schedule. The free program involves extensive classroom instruction, internships, job placement services and professional and personal mentoring. Since its inception in 2002, the program has graduated more than 530 students. "This class represents a special achievement for TSC," said Patrick Cohen, TSC Director. "We've now helped more than 500 young adults to great careers and brighter futures. That's an amazing tribute to our sponsors, supporters and staff."
This week's ceremony was hosted by Citi, and included a keynote address from Stanley Young, Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg's Enterprise Products and Solutions (EPS). Other speakers included NPower Board Chair Christopher Wearing, Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase; LaMae Allen deJongh, Managing Director, Accenture and Randi Salko, Chief of Staff, Citigroup. TSC has had a profound impact on its more than 530 graduates (ages 18 to 25). The vast majority of these graduates-more than 85 percent-are either employed, continuing their education or doing both. Many alumni, in fact, are now working at leading organizations such as JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, TD Ameritrade, UBS and the Henry Street Settlement. The program's commitment to regional and national expansion also was underscored last year when TSC opened its first branch facility in Harlem, with an inaugural class of approximately 20 students that graduated in March, 2012.
TSC Receives Special Mention in InformationWeek!
The Technology Service Corps received a very special mention in editor Rob Preston's article, Skills Shortage? Quit Whining. Preston states that, "It's time that employers, especially the largest ones, IT and otherwise, stop whining about the talent shortage and start doing something about it." Preston recognizes TSC as one of a number of worthy programs where nonprofits and companies are working together to develop the necessary technical skills.
"In one relatively small but nonetheless powerful example, top IT executives from JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, UBS, and NBCUniversal sit on the board of a nonprofit called NPower, whose Technology Service Corps provides free IT instruction to disadvantaged young adults in the New York City area."
Our very own board member, Jonathan Beyman, Citigroup, discusses the TSC program and the character of the TSC student. He suggests that they have a hunger, "a young woman who started at Citi as an intern, took notes at every meeting, asked questions, sought challenges. 'This is the type of person I want to hire,' Beyman says." Beyman concludes, " 'I want someone who's smart--but more than smart. I'm looking for people who work hard and want to prove themselves.' " We are incredibly proud of this mention! With your engagement and support, and through the power of IT we can help even more nonprofits and schools, even more people and communities.TSC expects to hold two 22-week IT classes each year at the Harlem facility where underserved young adults 18-25 will receive detailed classroom instruction, professional mentoring, internships, job placement support,and the possibility to secure a Cisco certification.
TSC To Expand Into Harlem in October Accenture Supports New Classroom
The Technology Service Corps (TSC) is opening its first branch classroom next month in Harlem as part of an expansion program supported by a $100,000 grant from Accenture, a National Corporate Underwriter of NPower. The new Harlem classroom facility is scheduled to open on October 20th with an enrollment of up to 20 young adults.
TSC expects to hold two 22-week IT classes each year at the Harlem facility where underserved young adults 18-25 will receive detailed classroom instruction, professional mentoring, internships, job placement support, and the possibility to secure a Cisco certification.
The Harlem expansion is also supported by its association with STRIVE, a nonprofit based in East Harlem that works to transform lives through training and job placement across various sectors. STRIVE will help TSC recruit and place candidates in the Harlem program. TSC will also benefit by locating its new classroom at STRIVE’s East Harlem Employment Service facility.
“Our goal has always been to take the TSC model national and our Harlem classroom is the first step in that direction, thanks to Accenture,” said Program Director Patrick Cohen. “We will now begin actively recruiting students for our first class in Harlem through partners like STRIVE and other community-based organizations.”
For more information please contact the Technology Service Corps at 347-415-8830.
President Obama Cites NPower's Technology Service Corps and Praises Accenture and TSC Support of Veterans
August 8, 2011President Obama praised the combined efforts of NPower's TSC and Accenture to support IT job training and placement services for a range of individuals, including military veterans whose are disproportionally suffering high unemployment rates. The President's comments came as part of his recent announcement that launched a series of initiatives to reduce unemployment among veterans.
Several related private sector initiatives were cited including Accenture's Skills to Succeed program that is designed to equip 250,000 people, including veterans, with job skills by 2015. As part of this effort, the White House noted that Accenture is one of several companies working with TSC to develop a program to specifically support IT training and job placement services for veterans.
"It is an honor to have the President recognize our work," said TSC Director Patrick Cohen. "We're now working with Accenture to build a program that focuses on the specific IT training and professional development needs of our returning servicemen and women so that we can help them build productive and rewarding civilian careers." Read the official White House Fact Sheet
Technology Service Corps Celebrates 25th Graduation
June 29, 2011Technology Service Corp celebrated a milestone in its mission to impact young adults through IT training when it celebrated its 25th graduating class. With over 50 students from throughout the New York metropolitan area, this is TSC's largest class ever—underscoring the growing appeal and impact of a program that transforms the lives of young adults and the communities they live in.
Keynote Speaker, John B. Rhea, Chairman of the New York City Housing Authority
TSC's ability to maintain an 80% graduation rate is due to the support of our corporate partners: Accenture, Bank of America, Cisco, Cognizant, CSC, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Mircrosoft, UBS.
Left to Right - NPower Board Member Cathinka Wahlstrom, Accenture, Stephanie Cuskley, CEO of NPower, Christopher A. Wearing, Accenture, Chairman of NPower Board, LaMae Allen deJongh, Accenture
