Arizona’s booming tech sector is creating new opportunities — and Per Scholas Phoenix is helping local residents seize them. Featured by AZFamily, the nonprofit’s no-cost technology training programs are opening doors for learners like Marty Perkins, who turned to Per Scholas after facing homelessness and unemployment.

Through 16 weeks of hands-on instruction in high-demand fields like IT, cybersecurity, and data center operations, Per Scholas equips learners with industry-recognized certifications and the skills to launch sustainable tech careers. “We can be that bridge,” said Managing Director Sharise Erby. “Tech is underrepresented by women, people of color, and veterans, and we’re working to change that.”

Per Scholas Phoenix celebrated a recent class with a 100% graduation rate, each graduate earning an IT certification. For Perkins, the experience has been life-changing: “I’ve always wanted an opportunity like this my whole life… I’m proud to say I got the break I’ve been searching for.”

Learn more about volunteer opportunities, donations, and upcoming courses at PerScholas.org/Phoenix.

Per Scholas is proud to announce the appointment of Karla Benson Rutten as Regional Senior Vice President, Midwest, along with Laura Chavez as Managing Director of Per Scholas Detroit and Sharise Erby as Managing Director of Per Scholas Phoenix. These accomplished leaders bring decades of experience in nonprofit management, workforce development, and community engagement, advancing Per Scholas’s mission to expand access to no-cost tech training and career pathways.

Karla Benson Rutten – Regional Senior Vice President, Midwest
Karla Benson Rutten leads Per Scholas’ Midwest region, overseeing strategy and operations across seven campuses in Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and St. Louis. She guides cross-functional teams that deliver no-cost technology training, professional development, and job attainment support, connecting Per Scholas Technologists with high-growth tech careers.

Prior to joining Per Scholas, Karla held leadership roles across nonprofit organizations and higher education, including Executive Director of the Jeremiah Program in St. Paul, Vice President of Community Engagement at Girl Scouts River Valleys, and 15 years at Macalester College directing the Lealtad-Suzuki Center. She is the founder of Benson Rutten Innovations, a consulting firm focused on leadership development and DEI strategy. Karla holds a Master’s in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Iowa State University. Her work is driven by a passion for equity, personal growth, and helping individuals create lasting impact in their communities.

Laura Chavez (She/Her) – Managing Director, Detroit
Laura Chavez serves as the Managing Director of Per Scholas Detroit, where she oversees the strategic direction and daily operations of the campus. She leads local partnerships, program implementation, and learner support, ensuring access to tech career pathways across the region.

With more than ten years in nonprofit leadership, Laura has developed programs and partnerships that meet the needs of historically underrepresented communities. Raised in Southwest Detroit, she brings a deep understanding of her community and remains actively engaged in mentoring emerging leaders and advocating for equitable economic opportunities. Laura holds a degree in Public Policy, and her leadership reflects a commitment to dignity, inclusion, and meaningful impact.

Sharise Erby (She/Her) – Managing Director, Phoenix
Sharise Erby leads Per Scholas Phoenix, overseeing campus strategy, operations, and engagement with learners, staff, and community and employer partners. Her work focuses on closing the opportunity gap and creating pathways to high-growth tech careers.

Sharise brings over 30 years of experience spanning healthcare, workforce development, and nonprofit leadership. She spent two decades in healthcare operations serving underserved communities and has spent the last 15 years leading initiatives in economic empowerment, financial literacy, and small business growth. Sharise is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holds a Master’s in Health Administration. Recognized with awards such as the City of Phoenix MLK “Living the Dream” Award and the Titan 100 Top CEO distinction, she also serves as a Commissioner on the Phoenix Women’s Commission. A best-selling author and global speaker, Sharise inspires others to lead with purpose and embrace transformation as a tool for growth.

Looking Ahead
Karla, Laura, and Sharise join Per Scholas at an exciting time as we continue to expand our impact and create equitable pathways into the technology sector. Their leadership, expertise, and dedication will be invaluable as we help learners build the skills, confidence, and connections needed to thrive in tech careers. 

Phoenix, AZ (November 1, 2023): Per Scholas, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic mobility for underserved communities through IT training and job placement, welcomes you to an open house event at its new Phoenix campus on Friday, November 3. 

Community members in attendance will learn more about Per Scholas and their transformative work in providing training, certification, and job placement services for individuals looking to break into the technology industry. 

“We are excited to welcome the Phoenix community to our open house and showcase the incredible impact that Per Scholas has in empowering individuals with IT skills and career opportunities,” said Jaclyn Boyes, Regional Senior Vice President. “We are dedicated to providing a pathway to economic mobility for underrepresented communities, and this event is an excellent opportunity for the community to meet our team, understand our programs, and connect with our mission.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with the newest Per Scholas Phoenix team member, Managing Director Jerry J. McPherson, who joined in June 2023.

An economic activist, community leader, and dedicated change agent for unrepresented communities, McPherson brings a wealth of experience to his role, having previously served as the Director of Economic Empowerment at the Greater Phoenix Urban League, serving as a CPA in both public and private practice and is a proud veteran of the United States Military. 

“Throughout my career, my primary focus has been on creating economic opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for others,” shares McPherson. “The technology industry offers a unique platform for career growth and financial stability that many from underserved communities have not benefited from. At Per Scholas, we are unlocking potential and harnessing the power of the evolving tech sector to make transformational change. I am honored to lead this team dedicated to changing the face of tech right here in Arizona.”

McPherson is an accomplished leader with recognitions that include “40 Under 40” by both the Phoenix Business Journal and CPA Practice Advisor. 

Come meet the Per Scholas staff, alumni, and community partners and discover how you can be a part of Phoenix’s vibrant tech ecosystem.

When: Friday, November 3

Time: 1:30 p.m. — 5 p.m. 

Where: Per Scholas Phoenix, 3003 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 85012

The event will feature a networking mixer, door prizes, refreshments and appetizers, and campus tours. Individuals are encouraged to register their attendance. 

About Per Scholas:

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 22 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 20,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

Per Scholas Celebrates $20 Million Investment from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Transformational Investment Propels and Positions Tech Skills Nonprofit for National Future Impact

BRONX, New York (September 28, 2023) – Per Scholas, a national nonprofit committed to advancing economic mobility and unlocking potential through technology career training, today announced a $20 million investment from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Receiving this transformational investment from MacKenzie Scott, one of the most dynamic philanthropists in modern times, is a testament to Per Scholas' impact over our nearly 30 year history. As we've evolved from a computer recycler in the South Bronx to a technical skills trainer in 22 cities and counting across America, we are so grateful for this $20 million gift – the largest, unrestricted funding our organization has ever received. This investment will propel Per Scholas for even greater national impact well into the future, centered on growth and innovation and ensuring our alumni achieve a thriving wage through our Career Accelerator. — Plinio Ayala, President & CEO, Per Scholas

To date, Per Scholas has prepared more than 20,000 individuals across the U.S. for high-growth careers in technology by offering tuition-free, rigorous, 12- to 15-week training in the nation’s most in-demand tech skills. The evidence-based Per Scholas model has been proven in multiple gold-standard research studies, and on average, Per Scholas-trained technologists go on to earn three times their pre-training wage in their first job following graduation. All told, Per Scholas graduates have earned more than $2.4 billion in their post-Per Scholas careers, powering economic advancement in communities across the nation.

Per Scholas connects graduates to high growth careers through our network of 850+ employer partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, and supports alumni through the organization’s latest innovation, the Career Accelerator, which provides Per Scholas alumni short-term upskilling opportunities, in turn propelling careers. As a result, every dollar invested in Per Scholas results in at least $8 in net economic return.

I'd like to express my most heartfelt gratitude to Per Scholas staff, funders, employer partners, and supporters, who have believed in our mission to advance economic equity and increase opportunity through America's hottest sector - technology. While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life in ways previously unimagined, it presented the opportunity for Per Scholas to innovate a new delivery model, which proved so successful that we were able to scale our impact four-fold. I echo Plinio's gratitude to Ms. Scott - this $20 million investment will certainly position Per Scholas well into our next decade of unlocking potential. — Lewis Miller, Per Scholas Co-Founder and National Board Chair

Today, Per Scholas operates in 20+ U.S. markets including Atlanta, Baltimore, Greater Boston, Chicago, Greater Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. This investment will enable Per Scholas to continue to expand its training and talent solutions to additional communities across the United States, with the goal of training 10,000 learners per year by 2026.

About Per Scholas
For more than 25 years, Per Scholas has been advancing equity and increasing opportunity across America. Per Scholas unlocks potential for individuals, communities, and employers through rigorous training for careers in tech. Partnering with dynamic employer partners, from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, we are building sustainable and diverse talent pipelines, together changing the face of tech. With national remote training and campuses in 20+ cities and growing, Per Scholas offers tuition-free training in the most in-demand tech skills, including Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, Software Engineering, and more.

To date, more than 20,000 individuals have gained the skills to launch high-growth tech careers, earning three times their pre-training wage. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is in our DNA: 85 percent of Per Scholas learners are people of color, two in five are women, and more than half have a high school diploma as their highest education credential. Visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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Meet Esther, Per Scholas Dallas Graduate & Technologist 

Esther is just one of Per Scholas’ 20,000+ alumni. She’s a proud Per Scholas Dallas IT Support graduate and successful career switcher, living her dream of working in tech. Click below to hear her story and how she’s benefitting from the Career Accelerator – earning more stackable credentials to propel her tech career!