Tag: 3BL

Webster Bank, together with Associates for Human Services’ Taunton Area School to Career (TASC), program, recently celebrated the opening of the Webster Bank/TASC Finance Lab, a program created to provide local students the skills needed for financial empowerment and future financial well-being. The program, the first collaboration in Massachusetts, is funded by a $100,000 grant from Webster, a continuation of the $1.7 million the Bank has invested into Finance Labs throughout its footprint.

The Webster/TASC Finance Lab is part of a signature initiative designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment and improve financial literacy for youth. The grant funds for TASC will be used to promote financial literacy throughout all programming including internships, mentorship programs and programs for students with disabilities and special education services. AHS’s TASC is also hosting a day-long event on financial literacy and preparedness for up to 200 students scheduled for March 2025.

“We are proud to partner with Taunton Area School to Career to open our first Finance Lab in Massachusetts,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank. “Webster is committed to investing in programs that broaden financial empowerment opportunities, and supporting our commitment to creating economic vitality in the neighborhoods where we live and work.”

Earlier this year, Webster celebrated the opening of Finance Labs with partners in Hartford and Waterbury, Connecticut. The Bank recently announced three new partnerships with nonprofits in Providence, Rhode Island, Dorchester, Massachusetts and on Long Island, New York.

“TASC has worked to empower youth to succeed by building bridges to businesses and higher education opportunities. The program is dependent on state funding which is inconsistent year to year. This grant has enabled us to keep staff and focus on continuing to build these bridges and empower students from all walks of life and abilities to be the best they can be,” said Zulmira Allcock, President and CEO of Associates for Human Services.

Local and state dignitaries including Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and TASC participant Brianna Gomes joined Webster leaders to officially open the program. Program participants also will engage in hands-on learning opportunities including internships and financial literacy workshops with volunteers from Webster Bank.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Webster is a values-driven organization headquartered in Stamford, CT, with $77 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Contact Information

Media Contact:
Alice Ferreira
acferreira@websterbank.com
203-578-2610

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon
eharmon@websterbank.com
212-309-7646

View original content here.

Webster Bank, together with Associates for Human Services’ Taunton Area School to Career (TASC), program, recently celebrated the opening of the Webster Bank/TASC Finance Lab, a program created to provide local students the skills needed for financial empowerment and future financial well-being. The program, the first collaboration in Massachusetts, is funded by a $100,000 grant from Webster, a continuation of the $1.7 million the Bank has invested into Finance Labs throughout its footprint.

The Webster/TASC Finance Lab is part of a signature initiative designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment and improve financial literacy for youth. The grant funds for TASC will be used to promote financial literacy throughout all programming including internships, mentorship programs and programs for students with disabilities and special education services. AHS’s TASC is also hosting a day-long event on financial literacy and preparedness for up to 200 students scheduled for March 2025.

“We are proud to partner with Taunton Area School to Career to open our first Finance Lab in Massachusetts,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank. “Webster is committed to investing in programs that broaden financial empowerment opportunities, and supporting our commitment to creating economic vitality in the neighborhoods where we live and work.”

Earlier this year, Webster celebrated the opening of Finance Labs with partners in Hartford and Waterbury, Connecticut. The Bank recently announced three new partnerships with nonprofits in Providence, Rhode Island, Dorchester, Massachusetts and on Long Island, New York.

“TASC has worked to empower youth to succeed by building bridges to businesses and higher education opportunities. The program is dependent on state funding which is inconsistent year to year. This grant has enabled us to keep staff and focus on continuing to build these bridges and empower students from all walks of life and abilities to be the best they can be,” said Zulmira Allcock, President and CEO of Associates for Human Services.

Local and state dignitaries including Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and TASC participant Brianna Gomes joined Webster leaders to officially open the program. Program participants also will engage in hands-on learning opportunities including internships and financial literacy workshops with volunteers from Webster Bank.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Webster is a values-driven organization headquartered in Stamford, CT, with $77 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Contact Information

Media Contact:
Alice Ferreira
acferreira@websterbank.com
203-578-2610

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon
eharmon@websterbank.com
212-309-7646

View original content here.

2024 was a remarkable year for the growth of AI and its impact on everything from work to education and even our personal lives. In my role leading IBM’s social impact programs around the world, I have the opportunity to speak with education leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and policymakers. In these conversations, I continue to hear that AI is transforming industries across communities.

Most recently, I spoke with leaders across art, beauty, culture, fashion and media to learn how AI is already transforming their industries. My team at IBM has been very focused on how we use AI to support our communities effectively. At the same time, we are also committed to upskilling and reskilling learners, wherever they are on their AI journey. But how are professionals across other fields approaching this new technology? There’s an exciting groundswell of creators exploring how they can use AI, from testing new applications for their work to automating the administrative tasks that impede their creative process. I’ve included some of their insights for you to reflect upon. It’s clear that the human element remains core to their work. At the same time, their stories provide a glimpse into how AI is beginning to free up their time, helping them focus on what they do best.

This trend is common across industries. A new report from IBM reveals that 87% of executives expect jobs to be augmented rather than replaced by generative AI. As for the human element, the challenge today is that about half (47%) of executives say their people lack the knowledge and skills to effectively implement and scale AI across the enterprise. The answer is that we need to invest in education and upskilling to fully reap the benefits of AI. People are crucial to this effort.

With that in mind, here are IBM’s three predictions for education in 2025, and the skills we need to build now to prepare.

1. AI ethics skills will be key

In education, we expect the start of a shift from traditional AI tools to AI agents. At the same time, the mainstream use of AI technology with ChatGPT and OpenAI has increased the potential risk of shadow AI. These two phenomena highlight the importance of accountability, data and IT policies, along with the control of autonomous systems. This is particularly crucial for education providers, because we think there will be greater attention paid to the AI guardrails and processes. To be prepared, educators, students and decision makers at all levels need to be upskilled in AI, with a focus on AI ethics and data management.

During our recent conversation, Miles Hicks, Brand Marketing and Storytelling for the Brooklyn Museum said, “We want to find ways to apply AI with integrity, so we can feel good about the work that is being produced. Critical thinking is key. We live in a world with information overload and learning how to become discerning is one of the most important lessons as a professional.”

I totally agree, and IBM SkillsBuild offers a course at no cost to help you build these skills: help you build these skills:

(1 hour 45 minutes): In this course, you’ll explore the five pillars of AI ethics—fairness, robustness, explainability, transparency and privacy—through real-world examples, learning their importance in creating trustworthy AI systems.

2. Lifelong learning will be the new normal

This may not be a radical prediction, but I think it’s a crucial and often-overlooked component of how we must approach education and upskilling. The marketplace is going to change quickly over the coming years, and the demand for individuals prepared to take on future jobs will increase. Employees who have been trained as individual contributors may soon become managers of AI agents, which would require new AI skills. The growth of AI agents, the future use of quantum computing and the increase in cyberthreats will make this transformation pervasive. Upskilling won’t end with AI. The immediate need is for AI skills, but there will soon be a growing demand for quantum skills, alongside an enduring demand for cybersecurity skills. Lifelong learning is essential for people who want to remain competitive in the job market.

Katini Yamaoka, Founder and CEO of Katina Skin, highlighted the need for AI skills in her beauty company: “Once you start a business, you need to build your customer base and you really need to dive deep to figure out who they are, what are their concerns, and what are they looking for. AI has been incredible for uncovering that.”

No matter where you are in your career journey—whether you want to start a business or augment your work—you need AI today. I recently spoke with Jamauri Bynum-Bridgewater, a newly graduated student who credits his role at a Fortune 500 company to the AI digital credentials he earned through IBM SkillsBuild. Examples such as these are why IBM is committed to training 2 million learners in AI by 2026. A couple of our most popular courses are a great place to begin:

Introduction to artificial intelligence (1 hour 15 minutes): In under a century, AI has transformed data analysis and autonomous learning. This course covers its history and role in unlocking insights from unstructured data.

Mastering the art of prompt writing (1 hour): This hands-on course teaches how to write effective prompts for AI language models, such as creating prompts for travel itineraries and custom music playlists.

3. AI will be infused into education platforms

AI and automation are poised to become a competitive advantage for education platforms and systems. I think we’re going to start seeing an increased use of AI across learning platforms, offering simplified explanations of topics and personalized learning pathways. We’re already putting AI to work to enhance IBM SkillsBuild for our learners. For example, we’ve used AI to analyze feedback from more than 60,000 learners in 47 languages, which has helped us simplify processes such as online-learning registration. There are so many applications for AI in the education system, and we can really make a difference if we share our knowledge as we apply the technology to each new area.

Breanna Young, Senior Product Designer at Hearst said, “It’s up to us to share knowledge with one another across our communities as we explore uses of AI.”

I agree that this is a vital edict, and I will continue to share my knowledge as we further integrate AI into the IBM SkillsBuild online platform. If you’d like to learn more about how AI can enhance education offerings, I’d recommend this course:

Artificial intelligence in practice (40 minutes): From communicating with chatbots to piloting self-driving cars and addressing complex global problems, AI is solving problems everywhere.

Start learning today

We need to invest in our own skills to make the most of what AI has to offer. As Katini noted in our conversation, “AI is here to enhance our lives, but we still have to do the groundwork and build the foundation.”

There’s no better time to start than now. Miles summed it up nicely: “Be a student. Be open to lifelong learning. We shouldn’t be too afraid or too prideful to take a one-hour course.”

With that in mind, the courses I’ve suggested are each two hours or less in duration and are designed for individuals at all experience levels. Explore these courses to help build the skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven world.

Explore IBM SkillsBuild to learn more about the additional AI courses we offer

2024 was a remarkable year for the growth of AI and its impact on everything from work to education and even our personal lives. In my role leading IBM’s social impact programs around the world, I have the opportunity to speak with education leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and policymakers. In these conversations, I continue to hear that AI is transforming industries across communities.

Most recently, I spoke with leaders across art, beauty, culture, fashion and media to learn how AI is already transforming their industries. My team at IBM has been very focused on how we use AI to support our communities effectively. At the same time, we are also committed to upskilling and reskilling learners, wherever they are on their AI journey. But how are professionals across other fields approaching this new technology? There’s an exciting groundswell of creators exploring how they can use AI, from testing new applications for their work to automating the administrative tasks that impede their creative process. I’ve included some of their insights for you to reflect upon. It’s clear that the human element remains core to their work. At the same time, their stories provide a glimpse into how AI is beginning to free up their time, helping them focus on what they do best.

This trend is common across industries. A new report from IBM reveals that 87% of executives expect jobs to be augmented rather than replaced by generative AI. As for the human element, the challenge today is that about half (47%) of executives say their people lack the knowledge and skills to effectively implement and scale AI across the enterprise. The answer is that we need to invest in education and upskilling to fully reap the benefits of AI. People are crucial to this effort.

With that in mind, here are IBM’s three predictions for education in 2025, and the skills we need to build now to prepare.

1. AI ethics skills will be key

In education, we expect the start of a shift from traditional AI tools to AI agents. At the same time, the mainstream use of AI technology with ChatGPT and OpenAI has increased the potential risk of shadow AI. These two phenomena highlight the importance of accountability, data and IT policies, along with the control of autonomous systems. This is particularly crucial for education providers, because we think there will be greater attention paid to the AI guardrails and processes. To be prepared, educators, students and decision makers at all levels need to be upskilled in AI, with a focus on AI ethics and data management.

During our recent conversation, Miles Hicks, Brand Marketing and Storytelling for the Brooklyn Museum said, “We want to find ways to apply AI with integrity, so we can feel good about the work that is being produced. Critical thinking is key. We live in a world with information overload and learning how to become discerning is one of the most important lessons as a professional.”

I totally agree, and IBM SkillsBuild offers a course at no cost to help you build these skills: help you build these skills:

(1 hour 45 minutes): In this course, you’ll explore the five pillars of AI ethics—fairness, robustness, explainability, transparency and privacy—through real-world examples, learning their importance in creating trustworthy AI systems.

2. Lifelong learning will be the new normal

This may not be a radical prediction, but I think it’s a crucial and often-overlooked component of how we must approach education and upskilling. The marketplace is going to change quickly over the coming years, and the demand for individuals prepared to take on future jobs will increase. Employees who have been trained as individual contributors may soon become managers of AI agents, which would require new AI skills. The growth of AI agents, the future use of quantum computing and the increase in cyberthreats will make this transformation pervasive. Upskilling won’t end with AI. The immediate need is for AI skills, but there will soon be a growing demand for quantum skills, alongside an enduring demand for cybersecurity skills. Lifelong learning is essential for people who want to remain competitive in the job market.

Katini Yamaoka, Founder and CEO of Katina Skin, highlighted the need for AI skills in her beauty company: “Once you start a business, you need to build your customer base and you really need to dive deep to figure out who they are, what are their concerns, and what are they looking for. AI has been incredible for uncovering that.”

No matter where you are in your career journey—whether you want to start a business or augment your work—you need AI today. I recently spoke with Jamauri Bynum-Bridgewater, a newly graduated student who credits his role at a Fortune 500 company to the AI digital credentials he earned through IBM SkillsBuild. Examples such as these are why IBM is committed to training 2 million learners in AI by 2026. A couple of our most popular courses are a great place to begin:

Introduction to artificial intelligence (1 hour 15 minutes): In under a century, AI has transformed data analysis and autonomous learning. This course covers its history and role in unlocking insights from unstructured data.

Mastering the art of prompt writing (1 hour): This hands-on course teaches how to write effective prompts for AI language models, such as creating prompts for travel itineraries and custom music playlists.

3. AI will be infused into education platforms

AI and automation are poised to become a competitive advantage for education platforms and systems. I think we’re going to start seeing an increased use of AI across learning platforms, offering simplified explanations of topics and personalized learning pathways. We’re already putting AI to work to enhance IBM SkillsBuild for our learners. For example, we’ve used AI to analyze feedback from more than 60,000 learners in 47 languages, which has helped us simplify processes such as online-learning registration. There are so many applications for AI in the education system, and we can really make a difference if we share our knowledge as we apply the technology to each new area.

Breanna Young, Senior Product Designer at Hearst said, “It’s up to us to share knowledge with one another across our communities as we explore uses of AI.”

I agree that this is a vital edict, and I will continue to share my knowledge as we further integrate AI into the IBM SkillsBuild online platform. If you’d like to learn more about how AI can enhance education offerings, I’d recommend this course:

Artificial intelligence in practice (40 minutes): From communicating with chatbots to piloting self-driving cars and addressing complex global problems, AI is solving problems everywhere.

Start learning today

We need to invest in our own skills to make the most of what AI has to offer. As Katini noted in our conversation, “AI is here to enhance our lives, but we still have to do the groundwork and build the foundation.”

There’s no better time to start than now. Miles summed it up nicely: “Be a student. Be open to lifelong learning. We shouldn’t be too afraid or too prideful to take a one-hour course.”

With that in mind, the courses I’ve suggested are each two hours or less in duration and are designed for individuals at all experience levels. Explore these courses to help build the skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven world.

Explore IBM SkillsBuild to learn more about the additional AI courses we offer

Way Finders, Inc. of Springfield MA recently received a grant from KeyBank Foundation for $10,000 to implement its Ready to Work: My Story, My Goals program, which provides employment readiness resources to unemployed and underemployed residents in Hamden County.

KeyBank’s funding enables Way Finders to provide a six-week employment readiness course consisting of in-class instruction and one-to-one support for up to 15 low- to moderate-income residents with limited or no documented work experience.

“Taking the first step on the journey to employment can be intimidating, especially if you are missing important things like a valid ID, a resume, interview clothes, or the ability to access and use the internet,” says Bea Dewberry, Director of Community Building and Engagement at Way Finders. “This KeyBank funding allows us to work hand-in-hand with Holyoke and Springfield residents, helping them ready themselves for employment, and ultimately securing a more stable future for themselves and their families.” 

Participants reflect the diversity of Holyoke’s and Springfield’s underserved neighborhoods, where 35% to 80% of the residents identify as people of color and/or Latino/Latina. At the conclusion of the program, each participant will have a resume and cover letter, understand how to translate their life experiences into marketable skills, improve their digital literacy skills, conduct a job search and complete an application, and understand area resources and programs that can provide additional and/or ongoing employment support. 

Way Finders knows this approach works – as noted by a program participant who recently re-entered the workforce. “It’s OK to put your guard down. It’s OK to ask for help. At Way Finders, I feel like my voice was heard, and I’m really grateful.”

“KeyBank is proud to support Way Finder’s Ready to Work program, as it aligns with our commitment to helping individuals achieve financial stability and independence,” said Matthew Hummel, KeyBank Market President and Regional Commercial Banking Executive for Connecticut and Massachusetts. “By investing in workforce development, we aim to empower local residents with the skills and resources needed to sustain employment, obtain affordable housing, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.”

KeyBank Foundation grants are part of a $40 billion commitment for lending and investments across Key’s national footprint established in 2017 and supporting affordable housing and community development projects, home, and small business lending in low- and-moderate income communities, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.Key.com/Foundation.

About Way Finders: 
Way Finders is a nonprofit community development corporation, headquartered in Springfield, MA, working to strengthen housing stability and economic mobility and build thriving neighborhoods throughout western Massachusetts. Way Finders is the largest nonprofit housing developer in the region and has created over 1200 units of affordable housing in Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Way Finders also offers first time homebuyer classes, resident leadership training, family homeless shelters, fair housing counseling, and much more. Visit www.wayfinders.org to learn more.

About KeyBank Foundation: 
KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.

Way Finders, Inc. of Springfield MA recently received a grant from KeyBank Foundation for $10,000 to implement its Ready to Work: My Story, My Goals program, which provides employment readiness resources to unemployed and underemployed residents in Hamden County.

KeyBank’s funding enables Way Finders to provide a six-week employment readiness course consisting of in-class instruction and one-to-one support for up to 15 low- to moderate-income residents with limited or no documented work experience.

“Taking the first step on the journey to employment can be intimidating, especially if you are missing important things like a valid ID, a resume, interview clothes, or the ability to access and use the internet,” says Bea Dewberry, Director of Community Building and Engagement at Way Finders. “This KeyBank funding allows us to work hand-in-hand with Holyoke and Springfield residents, helping them ready themselves for employment, and ultimately securing a more stable future for themselves and their families.” 

Participants reflect the diversity of Holyoke’s and Springfield’s underserved neighborhoods, where 35% to 80% of the residents identify as people of color and/or Latino/Latina. At the conclusion of the program, each participant will have a resume and cover letter, understand how to translate their life experiences into marketable skills, improve their digital literacy skills, conduct a job search and complete an application, and understand area resources and programs that can provide additional and/or ongoing employment support. 

Way Finders knows this approach works – as noted by a program participant who recently re-entered the workforce. “It’s OK to put your guard down. It’s OK to ask for help. At Way Finders, I feel like my voice was heard, and I’m really grateful.”

“KeyBank is proud to support Way Finder’s Ready to Work program, as it aligns with our commitment to helping individuals achieve financial stability and independence,” said Matthew Hummel, KeyBank Market President and Regional Commercial Banking Executive for Connecticut and Massachusetts. “By investing in workforce development, we aim to empower local residents with the skills and resources needed to sustain employment, obtain affordable housing, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.”

KeyBank Foundation grants are part of a $40 billion commitment for lending and investments across Key’s national footprint established in 2017 and supporting affordable housing and community development projects, home, and small business lending in low- and-moderate income communities, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.Key.com/Foundation.

About Way Finders: 
Way Finders is a nonprofit community development corporation, headquartered in Springfield, MA, working to strengthen housing stability and economic mobility and build thriving neighborhoods throughout western Massachusetts. Way Finders is the largest nonprofit housing developer in the region and has created over 1200 units of affordable housing in Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Way Finders also offers first time homebuyer classes, resident leadership training, family homeless shelters, fair housing counseling, and much more. Visit www.wayfinders.org to learn more.

About KeyBank Foundation: 
KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.

January 6, 2025 /3BL/ – As Winter Storm Blair moves into the U.S., T-Mobile is taking proactive measures to help ensure customers, communities and first responders stay connected through severe rain, snow, ice, thunderstorms and freezing temperatures expected from the plains to the East Coast.

With technical response plans tailored to winter storms, T-Mobile’s emergency teams are equipped to address challenges effectively. From technology readiness to team mobilization, we’re preparing to minimize disruptions and working to keep our network running strong.

Network Hardening & Readiness

We’ve fortified critical network equipment, including inspecting and fueling permanent and portable generators and reinforcing infrastructure like facilities and towers, ensuring backup systems are in place and operational. As the storm unfolds, T-Mobile’s network teams will actively monitor conditions and deploy resources to boost and restore connectivity where needed.

T-Mobile continues to invest in innovative technologies to enhance network resilience during extreme weather. Using AI-driven tools like the Cognitive Self-Organizing Network (SON), automated coverage optimization, and guided digital antenna tilting, we can adapt in real-time to keep customers connected. These advancements, combined with extensive network hardening efforts such as redundant backhaul routes and overlapping coverage, reduce interruptions and improve recovery times.

Public Safety and First Responders

T-Mobile is engaged with numerous federal, state and local officials and emergency management agencies in the states expected to be impacted. Agencies needing communications assistance can reach out to our 24-hour emergency hotline at 888-639-0020 or email at ERTRequests@T-Mobile.com.

First responders and emergency officials can sign up for Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to automatically get priority access and preemption for voice and priority access for data on T-Mobile’s network at no cost.

Community Support

Our teams are standing by and ready to support impacted communities with Wi-Fi, power, device charging, charging supplies and other services as they are identified and when safe to do so.

See our newsroom for more information on T-Mobile’s Emergency Response, and follow @TMobileNews on X to stay up to date with the latest company news.

Verizon

When Rifat Kabir Sharna moved from Bangladesh to Columbus, Ohio, in November 2023 with her husband, she had a goal: to make her mark in the tech industry. She had already worked in tech and media industries, and wanted to build new skills to position herself for success in the U.S.

But transitioning to a new country and seeking a new career path meant starting from scratch in many ways. Without a work visa and daunted by the high costs of education, Sharna sought out alternative ways to further her learning. After completing multiple unpaid internships with software and technology corporations, Sharna explored free online learning opportunities as a way to pursue her academic goals.

“My passion for continuous learning is driven by my curiosity and my desire to stay relevant in a constantly evolving field like tech,” Sharna explains.

This passion led her to the Verizon Skill Forward program, which, in partnership with edX, offers tuition-free online training to accelerate skill building for in-demand careers. In comparison to other programs she had explored, Sharna was drawn to the breadth and accessibility of the free courses offered through Verizon Skill Forward. “The program’s flexibility allows me to learn at my own pace and balance it with other commitments, which is a huge advantage,” she says. “There’s also a sense of accomplishment in completing all the modules of each course and receiving a professional certificate, recognizing my endeavor with learning.”

Sharna has been intentional about her educational journey since she’s been in the U.S., making sure every course she takes will put her one step closer to her goal of getting into grad school and eventually landing a role in tech once she is able to start working.

“I choose new skills based on emerging trends and areas that align with my career goals,” she says. “For instance, I’ve recently focused on project management and data analytics, as these skills are crucial for tech roles that combine strategy and technology.”

Through Verizon Skill Forward, Sharna has earned a certification in leadership and communication from Harvard University, a diversity certification from Rice University, as well as certification in Python programming.

“I envision myself in a role that combines strategic thinking with technology, such as an IT manager or business analyst,” she says. “I am particularly interested in positions where I can help guide product or process improvements that enhance user experiences and add business value.”

Currently, Sharna is pursuing an online bachelor’s degree — in parallel to her Skill Forward studies — in business administration, with a concentration in project management and information systems. Through Skill Forward, Sharna plans to finish a front-end developer certification and a professional supply chain certification, in addition to taking finance courses.

Through her efforts, Sharna says she has gained a renewed sense of confidence and purpose in pursuing her goals. The biggest change, she says, has been to her mindset. “Since earning these certifications, I have seen a boost in my confidence,” she says. “Completing these courses has reinforced my commitment to growth and adaptability. [It has made me realize] education has no boundaries.”

Our St. Maries, Idaho facility’s electrician apprenticeship program consists of a combination of online/classroom coursework and practical experience. Electrician apprentices must accrue 8,000 hours of on-the-job work experience and are required to be enrolled in an accredited electrician apprenticeship school for their classroom training. For our program, apprentices can partner with either North Idaho College or the College of Southern Idaho.

Candidates take an average of four years to complete the eight levels of the electrician apprenticeship. Each of those four years requires 144 hours of instruction, for a total of 576 hours. The schooling focuses on electrical codes, wiring, finish work, troubleshooting, motor installation and controls. Our apprentices also enroll in Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) classes.

Electricians at St. Maries perform integral tasks in our wood products operations. Properly working electrical tools, wiring, fuses, receptacles, circuits, and motors, to list only a few items, are a vital part of a mill running efficiently. First and foremost, the electricians are responsible for complying with all Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) safety protocols and to work in accordance with the rules and regulations of the National Fire Protection Association and special local regulations. For example, lock out/tag out systems are a primary mill safety system that electricians must install, maintain, and repair and are critical for all workers at the mill. Everyday tasks can also include rough-in wiring for switches, receptacles, circuits, motors, and fuses; preparing sketches or following blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes; diagnosing, troubleshooting, and repairing all types of malfunctioning electrical systems; and providing input to management for capital planning on longevity of electrical systems.

We have nine electrician apprentices at various stages of training at our St. Maries, Idaho lumber and plywood facility. The program offers Team Members a way to acquire skills and certification in a trade that is in high demand in our industry today, and in turn provides our Company with a consistent source of skilled labor talent. Many of the Team Members who have participated in apprenticeships have now successfully completed the program and are currently working as fully qualified electricians at our facilities. Further, once an apprenticeship is completed the apprentice can take the journeyman state test to get their journeyman card. We have had eight apprentices move on to journeyman status after their program was completed over the last five years.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

What’s your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey, to date.

I initially started to work at a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) center as a contingent worker who provided policy and Workday related guidance via phone, live chat, and email. At that time, I did not plan to follow a career in the private sector, but it was a valuable experience, nonetheless. Direct contact with thousands of employees from around the world has shaped my work ethic to be focused on customer service. It also allowed me to respect stricter rules and procedures. The second job shifted the attention to a more technical Workday tier 1 and then tier 2 support where the Human Resources Business Partner (HRBPs) were the main customers. The contact with the Korean work culture in a company with 300,000 employees allowed me to better understand different mentalities and inspired me to come up with new ideas. Now, I am lucky enough to work for GoDaddy, where my growth is continuously encouraged and supported.

What’s the most challenging yet rewarding thing that you’ve worked on at GoDaddy?

There isn’t a particular case or project that was particularly challenging. Rather, I would say that the method of work and how you constantly approach a problem (regardless of what it is) has been the most challenging and rewarding for me. This required discovering innovative solutions through Workday Community, various other channels, colleague knowledge sharing, and extensive testing. The greatest challenge and reward lie in finding the optimal technical solution through relentless trial and error, persisting until every possible option has been explored.

What makes the GoDaddy Human Resources Information System (HRIS) Team unique from others that you’ve worked on?

First, it’s a multinational team that has never met in person and is working in opposite time zones. This does not stop us from completing all of our projects and cooperating as if we were right next to each other. This means elevating technology to help our productivity instead of becoming dependent on it and pushing the boundaries of working remotely. Second, the willingness to support each other and have the full encouragement of our manager to explore new paths of development represented was unprecedented for me. We have career path options, not just a singular job. Third, the work-life balance promoted within the company and the team increased our productivity while staying healthy. For example, physiotherapy eliminated my lower back pain which allowed me to better focus at work.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in HRIS analysis?

Do you enjoy playing with data and making correlations/causal links between different variables and seeing how they connect? Do you want the puzzles that you create to make a difference and matter in the real world instead of focusing strictly on abstract ideas? If the answer is yes to these questions, then my advice would be to never stop learning and growing in this direction. This kind of work allows you to connect both worlds by recreating complex HR processes, policies, and laws into a technical virtual system that works as an interactive database. Based on how you make the system work, you receive feedback from the company stakeholders but also from the employees. As technology evolves, there will always be opportunities to improve, even if the changes seem incremental. Over time, small changes transform into a technological revolution before you even realize that you are living in it.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

My passion is doing research and writing papers related to my PHD specialization in international relations -“Powers and Perceptions in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The main approach is to apply the realist constructivist theory (how power relations interact with social constructs) to foreign affairs analysis. I thoroughly enjoy studying history, continental philosophy, political science, political anthropology, macroeconomics, sociology, and literature. To unwind, I enjoy exploring urban areas on long walks with my wife. I capture photos, while we engage in meaningful conversations, and savor coffee and boba tea. Playing with my two Shiba Inus, a primitive breed that fascinates me, brings me immense joy. Additionally, I have smaller side hobbies such as playing video games (Total War Series, Europa Universalis, Witcher, and Cyberpunk 2077, being my all-time favorites). My musical interests are diverse, spanning from K-pop to progressive death metal, and I enjoy music theory, attending concerts, and practicing various sports whenever I get the chance, including tennis, football, handball, kendo, kenjutsu, HEMA, and calisthenics.

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