Growing Resources for IT
Quarterly Newsletter, September 2014
We Are Still Growing!
The Growing Resources for Information Technology (GRIT) program has impacted many lives in the past two years; and we are not done yet. GRIT participants attend training in an instructor-led classroom environment. Participants have the opportunity to receive several industry recognized certifications, some examples are A+, Network+, and Security+.
The GRIT team has seen some staff changes over the past few months and we are all excited to get new ideas flowing on ways to better serve our participants. We are currently working on scheduling classes for 2015, along with coordinating with employers to work with us on potential OJT placements.
We would love the opportunity to meet with your team and discuss how our participants can be a great addition to your company. If you know anyone that could benefit from this scholarship, please direct them to www.workITcolumbia.com.
Healthcare IT Network Support Specialist, Graduation, 12 August 2014
Congratulations to (left to right) Monique Richardson, Barbara Johnson, Kelly Galloway, Kristie Cooper, Christopher Stoddard, and Michelle James.
Spotlight Student
Dwight Patterson is a current participant in the Heatlhcare IT Network Support Track. He has received his A+ and Network+ Certification. Dwight is very charismatic and has a true passion for IT. He has many years of experience in the IT field working in state government.
Dwight will be completing his training at the end of September and is hoping to get back into the workforce as soon as possible.
US Department of Labor Conference
In addition to many informative workshops, the GRIT staff was able to network with other grant recipients from all over the United States and discuss successful common practices.
Getting to know Verizon Wireless
Representatives from Verizon Wireless spoke to GRIT Networking Support Specialist participants on August 7. Charles Kearse and his HR team presented information on Verizon Wireless open positions, culture, and hiring practices. They also conducted an “Interview Do’s and Don’ts” session that was very beneficial for program participants. In late September, Verizon plans to present their new hiring initiative for technical apprentices to additional participants. Thank you Verizon, for being such a great contributor to the GRIT program!
If your company would like to speak to a future class please contact Pelham Spong: 234-5761 or pelham.spong@it-ology.org.
Resume Reviews with SCANA
Felita Davis, Darla Skipper, Nicole Talton, Ajay Verma and Kim Nelson from SCANA’s IT and HR departments conducted a resume review session with GRIT program participants September 19. In addition to the one-on-one resume review with Felita Davis, GRIT participants tested SCANA’s careers portal to identify bugs in the current system. Participants were asked to submit applications using SCANA’s portal to assist in identifying problems that were not being replicated internally. We would like to thank SCANA for providing valuable feedback to GRIT participants and for allowing them the opportunity to participate in this exercise.
If your company would like to speak to a future class please contact Pelham Spong: 234-5761 or pelham.spong@it-ology.org.
GRIT Advisory Board Meeting
We would like to welcome our new Advisory Board Members: Charles Kearse, Talent Connector at Verizon Wireless and John Davis, Director of IT Operations at AgFirst Farm Credit Bank.
The next Advisory Board meeting will be in late November. We hope to see you there!
Calling All Employers
Are you looking for quality certified employees?
As part of the GRIT program, participants who complete their training are recommended to local IT employers for On-the-Job-Training. In addition to soft skills training, GRIT participants work with a Job Readiness Coach to prepare for interviews and their re-entry into the local workforce.
Qualified employers that employ GRIT participants in full-time, permanent positions in a technical field, are eligible for a reimbursement of 50% to 90% (depending on the size of the employer) of the GRIT participant’s salary during the first 8-weeks of employment. This often helps in offsetting the costs of on-boarding and training new staff.
About GRIT
Growing Resources for Information Technology (GRIT) is a grant funded program from the U.S. Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration in support of two high-growth occupations in our region, application development and systems support. Unemployed veterans, women, and other minorities with college level information technology coursework or training or previous IT work experience are eligible to apply. The application process is competitive and those selected will receive full scholarships.
Email: grit@midlandstech.edu
Website: www.workITcolumbia.com
Location: 151 Powell Rd, Columbia, SC, United States
Phone: 803-691-3963