2014 Graduates

Congratulations to all my program completers this year!

Josemon Avril at the graduation ceremony held May, 30 at Immokalee High School.

My First Byline!

The following was published in the May 18th edition of the Naples Daily News as part of their special pull-out section dedicated to STEM:

You know the guy, the IT guy.  His hair is unkempt, his shirt is dirty, and he smells faintly of desperation.  You may spot him as he rushes past you with a gallon thermos of coffee to his cave of an office, rudely mumbling about software updates if you dare speak to him.   In fact, you are pretty sure that he is just the 12-year old son of the lady in accounting.  You know the guy.

He doesn't exist.

Technology workers in the modern workplace are professionals.  They need to look and dress the part.  They need to follow the same rules of attendance and collegiality as their colleagues.  Communication skills and teamwork are two of the most important traits that they can have.  And they can be girls - pretty ones, too.

Immokalee Technical Center Instructor Amy McMullin prepares female and male students of all ages and races for careers in the rapidly evolving IT industry. 

McMullin, who teaches Computer Systems Technology and Applied Cybersecurity, says, “Aside from the academic knowledge needed to pass the industry certifications, students are encouraged to develop the “soft skills” needed to be successful in an IT career.  They must have strong interpersonal skills, and they need to develop sharp critical thinking skills, because they are training for jobs that do not even exist yet.”

iTECH students come into the programs with varying degrees of experience.   Jose Saucedo, who began the program as a relative novice, said, “It’s pretty fun for me; I haven’t used a computer since middle school.”

Alex Alcantar had a different experience.  “When I first enrolled into the Computer Systems Tech class at iTECH, I was already working on computers on my own.  The classes showed me how much of the basics I had missed out on when I was learning on my own. “ 

However, one thing is the same for all of them; the results they have achieved from the effort they put into the program.

“I have learned many new things from the software,” says Albert Mejia, “and also a lot from my teacher. Once I thought I knew almost everything about computer, but now I can see that I was wrong and that there is a lot more than meets the eye.  So far I have felt accomplished in the things I do in here, the certifications I have earned and how well I am being prepared for the real world of the IT industry.”

Geovanny Navarro attended iTECH a few years ago, and he returned to update his skills.  “Having the help of a very well prepared instructor makes it not only  easier but also more motivating for me to learn more—to perform like a professional technician following a set of troubleshooting steps and to be successful.  

“Learning about new or never- heard-of software tools, and learning how to use those tools is very exciting. I could actually compare it to a chess game where computer infection threats and malfunctioning hardware are competing against me and my software tools and my research.”

Navarro explained that, after he succeeds in defending a computer system against attack, he then documents each step in his process for future use.  Then he takes a moment to enjoy his achievement.

“At the end of the day,” said Navarro, “’cool, comfortable, helpful, instructional, well equipped, exciting and fun are the best words to describe the Computer Systems Technology/Applied Cyber Security classroom.”

Birdie Barragan is another student with high aspirations.  After graduation, she plans to enlist in the Navy as an Intelligence Technician/Specialist.

“Before I started this course,” said Barragan, “I knew nothing about the software or hardware of a computer.  Here in our class, my teacher taught us everything.  And I seriously have to thank her because even the smallest devices in a computer can end up being the most important feature. 

“So every day I learned something new: from what goes on the motherboard to how to set up a connection to the network.  If you put your mind to it and set yourself a future within this class you can conquer that. Not only can you make things more understandable, but you can also love it.”

“People have doubted me, judged me, and told me I wouldn’t be able to make it in this class.  In fact, I’m doing this for myself—not to not to show off—but because this is what I’m really interested in.” 

Birdie’s passion for IT and her hard work have paid off.  She is scheduled to graduate this spring with her Career Education Certificate and several Microsoft Certifications as well. 

Eva Gonzalez came to iTECH shortly after moving to the area from New York.  As an older student, she was apprehensive of about her job prospects.  She worried that employers would overlook her in favor of a younger candidate. 

McMullin assured her that this was not the case.  “While her previous experience was not directly in the IT industry, she has held many positions of leadership.” said McMullin. “Eva has a great work ethic and a commitment to learning.  I assured her that employers would appreciate the maturity and professionalism that she would bring into the workplace.  Anything else can be learned.”

With that encouragement, Eva completed the program with six industry certifications from CompTia and Microsoft. 

Eva’s story is reinforced by the program’s Advisory Committee.  McMullin regularly meets with representatives from area companies, to discuss the state of the local market and tailor the curriculum to fit the needs of local employers.  These meetings consistently come back with similar feedback:  There is a significant need for trained IT professionals.  However, the things employers look for when interviewing a potential candidate is personality fit, lifelong learning, customer service, problem solving and communication skills. 

This message was reinforced when iTech students attended TechMatch, an annual event hosted by the Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership.  TechMatch is designed to bring students and business leaders together to interact.  A panel of industry representatives discussed the qualities and skills that employers look for, and they offered suggestions for students seeking employment.

 In addition to the aforementioned customer service and communication skills, panel members said they look for people with a love and passion for the job – and the ability to work with a multi-generational workforce.  They also suggested that students engage in professional networking on social media sites like LinkedIn, and that they join organizations such as SWFRTP or Toastmasters.

More recently, McMullin’s students took a break from their classwork on cloud technologies and virtualization, and visited Hodges University for the Microsoft Azure Roadshow.   During the event, iTECH students were able to work closely with Microsoft MVP’s to learn about the Azure platform and how to leverage the technology for customers. 

Jacob Hilario, a Computer Systems student, said, “I was inspired by the trip to Hodges.  It was amazing to see the things that we are studying in class in action—and to meet people who actually work for Microsoft.”

Another field trip brought students to Moorings Park in Naples where they were able to tour their impressive data center and facilities.  Students also spoke with the generous staff who freely gave their time to demonstrate the technology and give the students an idea of what kind of jobs are available after program completion.

These experiences, both in and outside the classroom, help make iTECH students both well rounded and not your typical IT guy.  

As Birdie Barragan said, “To those who have doubted me—look at where I am now.  While you’re still figuring out what you want to do, I’m already half way to accomplishing my dreams.  Who would've known, coming back here to start all over again with a course I knew nothing about ended up changing my life.”

Immokalee Technical Center is a post-secondary vocational institution and part of Collier County Public Schools.  

To find out more about iTech and the programs available please visit iTech.edu.  If you are interested in learning more about this program or any of the students mentioned, please visit the instructor’s blog at http://itech-cst.blogspot.com.