FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Contact: Justin Fisette 248.254.6789
January 16, 2013
“IT in the D” Graduates Second Class
Students gain foundational training for careers in information technology
DETROIT, Mich., – With interest in joining Downtown Detroit’s growing IT workforce surging, 27 students will graduate from the second session of IT in the D tomorrow, January 17, at the Chase Tower, 611 Woodward Avenue, at 3 p.m. IT in the D offers hands-on training, guidance and instruction from volunteer IT professionals from the program’s founding partners, all located in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Founded in 2012, a total of 47 students have graduated from the program, learning the foundational and educational tools that can help jumpstart an IT career in the city.
IT in the D is attracting students with technical and non-technical backgrounds, including:
– Carl Banks, a former Distribution Operator at the United States Postal Service who is now focused on learning new skills and transforming his career with an IT influence
– Philemon Padolou arrived from Africa more than five years ago. Since then, he has taught himself English and become well-versed in coding. IT in the D has provided an opportunity for him to learn what employers are looking for and receive additional hands-on instruction
– Azzam Azziz moved with his family from Iraq to the United States 5 years ago. He is a full-time student at Washtenaw Community College studying Computer Programming. His enrollment in IT in the D has provided an outlet to apply his education and learn new skills employers seek
Joining the graduates will be leaders with founding partners Compuware Ventures, Quicken Loans, GalaxE.Solutions, Marketing Associates and Fathead. Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) joined the partnership in late 2012, also bringing experience in high-tech training and 501 c(3) status, allowing IT in the D to apply for government grants and other funding.
Out of the first session graduates, three have been hired at the program’s partners while another three are working at other Detroit-area companies. A third session of IT in the D will begin in May 2013.
About Quicken Loans Inc.
Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest online home lender and the country’s third largest retail home mortgage lender. The company closed a record $70 billion of volume across all 50 states in 2012. Quicken Loans generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all home mortgage lenders in the United States by J.D. Power and Associates in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Quicken Loans has ranked among the top-30 companies on FORTUNE Magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 10 consecutive years. It ranked in the top-15 of Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work In Technology” for eight years in a row, ranking in the top-5 in 2012. The company recently moved its headquarters and more than 7,000 of its 8,000-plus team members to downtown Detroit. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit quickenloans.com, on Twitter at @QLnews, and on Facebook at facebook.com/QuickenLoans.
About Compuware Corporation
Compuware Corporation, the technology performance company, provides software, experts and best practices to ensure technology works well and delivers value. Compuware solutions make the world’s most important technologies perform at their best for leading organizations worldwide, including 46 of the top 50 Fortune 500 companies and 12 of the top 20 most visited U.S. web sites. The Compuware logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5950, and questions should be directed to Kayla Siefker at 313-227-1402 or kayla.siefker@compuware.com. Learn more at: http://www.compuware.com.
About GalaxE.Solutions
The creator of Outsource to Detroit, GalaxE.Solutions, Inc., is a leading provider of software services and IT business support systems. With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare, retail, and financial industries, the company facilitates the secure sharing of critical information across internal networks and over the Internet to improve client competitiveness, efficiency, and business results. In addition to its corporate headquarters and primary delivery center in Somerset, New Jersey, GalaxE.Solutions has additional offices and delivery centers in Detroit, New York, NY, Toronto, Canada, United Kingdom and Bangalore and Hyderabad, India. For more information about GalaxE.Solutions and its portfolio of services, including its proprietary Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) process, visit www.galaxesolutions.com, or call +1-732-868-0400.
About Fathead LLC
Fathead® is the industry leader of officially licensed sports and entertainment graphics and more. Fathead gives fans the opportunity to feel passion For Real by bringing their favorite inspiration to life. Fathead wall graphics include REAL.BIG. – Life-size, high definition wall graphics of athletes along with stadiums, logos and fan favorite entertainment characters. Custom Fathead, available in vinyl or gallery wrapped canvas; put the customer in charge while the art and décor line features murals of classic & modern artists. Fathead’s product line also includes Big Heads, Street Grips, Fathead Juniors, Teammates and Tradeables. Fathead Business Solutions provides unique signage and décor alternatives for companies and universities Based in Detroit, Michigan, Fathead manufactures all products in the USA and Canada for purchase worldwide. Fathead carries thousands of images and maintains over 500 license agreements with leading consumer brands across many industries and professional sports leagues. For more information, visit www.Fathead.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Fathead. FOR REAL™
About Marketing Associates:
MA is a full-service, technology-enabled marketing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with an office in Wilmington, Delaware. MA was established in 1967 and for 44 years has produced high-quality integrated marketing solutions for Fortune 500 companies across different industries. MA is ISO 9001-2008 Certified with a commitment to continuous improvement and quality delivery. The company believes that the only marketing strategies and programs that drive real, measurable results are those that begin from a deep understanding of our customers’ business challenges and objectives.
Marketing Associates is flexible, responsive and proactive. We deliver world-class sales and marketing programs on time and on budget. Marketing Associates is a trusted partner to our clients with a SAS-70 compliant world class data center for hosting and maintaining client applications and data. For more information, please contact info@marketinassociates.com.
About Workforce Intelligence Network
The Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) is a Southeast Michigan collaborative effort between eight community colleges, seven workforce boards and economic development partners to create a comprehensive and cohesive workforce development system in Southeast Michigan that provides employers with the talent they need for success.
WIN’s goals are to (1) provide current and actionable labor market intelligence to allow for greater regional talent system effectiveness; (2) strengthen and sustain an employer-driven talent system that serves as a resource hub and connection point for regional businesses, industries, and other stakeholders. (3) Improve institutional, local, state, and federal talent development policy through research, thought leadership, and innovative practice. WIN covers a 9-county area in Southeast Michigan, including Genesee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties. WIN is funded through a grant from the New Economy Initiative.
