Per Scholas St. Louis Announces Inaugural Advisory Board, Expands Tech Training with Healthcare IT and Data Center Tracks

New Board Members to Guide Growth as Local Campus Responds to Urgent Workforce Needs

St. Louis, MO — September 4, 2025 – Per Scholas St. Louis is announcing the launch of its inaugural Advisory Board on September 24, 2025, comprised of leading business and community executives dedicated to advancing tech talent and economic mobility across the region. At the same time, the campus is introducing new training tracks in Healthcare IT and Data Center to meet rising employer demand and provide more pathways into high-growth technology careers.

Advisory Board members include:

• Matt Modica, Vice President & CISO, BJC HealthCare
• Ashley Pyle, Chief Experience Officer, GadellNet
• Marc Ashworth, CISO, First Bank
• Branyea Jones, Training & Development, DEI, Clayco Corp
• April Lopinot, Chief People Officer, Keeley Companies
• Kendall Norris, Chief Winning In Life Officer, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

“Per Scholas is honored to welcome such an accomplished group of leaders to our St. Louis Advisory Board,” said Kiesha Mabry Haymore, Managing Director of Per Scholas St. Louis. “Their expertise and commitment will ensure that our campus not only equips learners with the in-demand skills needed to succeed in tech, but also strengthens pathways for local residents to thrive in industries vital to the region’s future, from healthcare to data infrastructure.”

The announcement comes at a critical moment for the region’s workforce. With recent headlines highlighting the closure of the St. Louis Job Corps Center and the resulting disruption for students, Per Scholas St. Louis offers a no-cost, proven alternative for residents seeking tech career training.

“Our work goes beyond the classroom—it’s about connecting talent to opportunity. By launching this Advisory Board and linking learners with top employers, we’re building stronger bridges to economic mobility,” stated Steve Martak, Per Scholas St. Louis’ Director of Talent Solutions.

Since opening in 2022, Per Scholas St. Louis has enrolled 368 learners in IT Support, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering, preparing them for thriving careers with top regional employers. The new Healthcare IT and Data Center tracks will expand opportunities for learners while strengthening talent pipelines for local companies in critical industries.

About Per Scholas

As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward—aiming to train and upskill 25,000 technologists annually by 2030, expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $2 billion in increased personal earnings. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

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