Per Scholas Awards Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin for Championing Diversity
Change Maker Honored with Diverse by Design North Star Award For His Contributions to DEIB

New York, N.Y. (September 19, 2022) – Today, Per Scholas, a national nonprofit committed to advancing economic mobility and increasing access to tech careers, awards Mike Tomlin, the head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL), its Diverse by Design North Star Award. This award celebrates change makers who are leading the charge when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

The Diverse by Design North Star Award honors leaders who are transforming diversity in the technology sector and beyond. As one of five minority head coaches for the NFL, Coach Tomlin is a passionate advocate for DEIB. Through his role at the NFL, he actively promotes racial equity and intentional progress around challenges attached to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. This year, Per Scholas and Diverse by Design award Coach Tomlin in acknowledgment for all of his work to advance DEIB.

“It is my distinct honor to award this year’s Diverse by Design North Star Award to Coach Mike Tomlin,” said Damien Howard, Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer at Per Scholas and co-founder of Diverse by Design. “We’re working to transform the diversity landscape within tech and are inspired by leaders like Coach Mike – who is literally changing the playing field and driving transformation in major league sports. He embodies all that Diverse by Design and Per Scholas stand for.”

This year alone, Per Scholas will enroll more than 4,000 learners across 19 cities and partner with over 650 companies where Per Scholas graduates launch their tech careers. Powered by Per Scholas and ITSMF, Diverse by Design helps companies establish a pipeline of diverse entry, mid and executive-level candidates with skills tailored to their business needs.

“I am both honored and humbled to receive this award. I am a big believer in results – not just talk – especially when it comes to diversity in hiring,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “It is amazing that Per Scholas has been helping skill diverse professionals and launch careers in technology for more than 25 years. Their results in tech are a model for what’s possible across other industries – and gives me hope for bringing more equity in hiring to the NFL.”

“I am thrilled that Mike is being recognized with the Diverse by Design North Star Award,” said Shaun Alexander, NFL Legend, Community Influencer, and Per Scholas ambassador. “Beyond his team’s winning record, Mike is a powerful diversity champion at the NFL. He is not only vocal about where gaps exist, but also very purposeful and proactive in putting processes in place to give diverse applicants a fair chance in the NFL.”

2022 marks the second annual Diverse by Design North Star Award and Coach Tomlin joins fellow 2022 honorees Michael Buckham-White, Global Managing Director, Deloitte Technology; Stephen DeStefani, SVP, Technology Diverse Segments, Representation & Inclusion, Wells Fargo; and Janet Pope, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Capgemini Global Consulting Group. Inaugural recipients include Jay Alvather, President of TEKsystems; Maurice Jones, CEO of OneTen; and Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation.

To learn more about Per Scholas and its mission to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled talent to leading businesses, visit: https://perscholas.org/. To learn more about Diverse by Design please visit www.diversebydesign.org.

Per Scholas hosted our inaugural Alumni Day of Giving fundraising event to celebrate our alumni’s successes. Throughout the day, we shared stories of our graduates on our social media platforms to recognize the incredible accomplishments of our 17,000+ alumni who have embarked on tech careers across the United States. In addition to the all-day fundraising celebration, our Alumni Services hosted a networking event for our graduates.

Following the day of fundraising, our alumni gathered for a virtual alumni celebration and networking event! It was a fantastic opportunity for our graduates to connect with fellow Per Scholas Alumni from all across the country and business leaders as well. Graduates learned more about the resources available within our Per Scholas Alumni Network. They hosted Breakout Sessions, including an Alumni Information Session, Peer Networking, a Professional Development discussion hosted by YuPro, and a Job Opportunities session hosted by Stellarworx. There were more than 350 individuals in attendance for the event. 

Per Scholas is proud to support our alumni for up to two years post-graduation, where our Alumni Services team provides guidance and the opportunity to participate in upskilling courses. Through the generous donations from this campaign, all supplies, textbooks, and laptops will be provided to two full cohorts.  We are grateful to Per Scholas Board member J.C. Lapierre who matched all donations up to $20,000.

We are proud to announce that our Alumni Day of Giving campaign raised more than $40,000, including J.C. Lapierre’s match, to support future cohorts for tuition-free tech training that will prepare learners to launch exciting careers in tech. 

National nonprofit Per Scholas has announced that Damien Howard is being promoted to Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer. An experienced, visionary leader with a passion for organizational growth and commitment to advancing economic equity, Damien joined Per Scholas in 2001 and has held various roles since, most recently as Executive Vice President of Social Ventures. As Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Damien will drive revenue across multiple verticals by aligning and optimizing the national nonprofit’s employer engagement business strategy. In this role, Damien will provide powerful, unified leadership for the Sales & Account Management, National Business Solutions, and Corporate Engagement Teams. 

“After working with Per Scholas for more than twenty years, I am eager to advance workforce equity and economic opportunity across the nation through my Enterprise Solutions role. Together with my team, we will connect Per Scholas’ business strategy with employer engagement and optimization to continue diversifying the tech landscape and advancing high-growth careers for our learners. I look forward to our team working across the organization to drive revenue growth,” said Damien Howard on his appointment. 

Damien is an innovative leader with broad-based expertise in sales, management, contract negotiations, operations, and business development. His proven ability to quickly analyze key business drivers and develop strategies to grow the business paired with high integrity and energetic thinking, makes Damien an essential part of Per Scholas’ National Leadership Team.

In 2016, Damien co-founded Diverse by Design with Per Scholas Executive Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture Ken Walker, to move DEI&B conversation into action in the industry Per Scholas knows best: technology.

Damien is a past recipient of the Bonnie Potter Workforce Staff Award, presented by the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC). He is a sought-after speaker and expert featured by Forbes, Grow with Google, JFF Horizons, TEKsystems’ Version Next, Now, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The World Economic Forum, and more.  Damien attended Baruch College and graduated from the Columbia Business School Institute for Nonprofit Management.

Damien will spearhead Per Scholas’ ambitious plan to drive revenue across multiple verticals by aligning and optimizing the national nonprofit’s employer engagement business strategy Technology continues to be one of America’s highest growth sectors and, aligned with Per Scholas’ commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, 85 percent of Per Scholas learners are people of color, and more than a third identify as women nationwide.  

“With the tech industry and business strategies constantly evolving, Per Scholas is growing to meet employers’ needs by training America’s future technologists in the skills necessary for high-growth careers. Through our Enterprise Solutions and with Damien at the head of our enterprise strategy, we will connect our partners with the talent they seek for their business needs. I’m thrilled about Damien’s appointment to serve as our Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer and know with his expertise, leadership, business relationships, and strategy, Per Scholas will expand our relationships with leading businesses to increase economic and workforce equity and advance opportunity nationwide,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas.

In recent months, Per Scholas has expanded to create our 18th and 19th campuses in St. Louis and Orlando, and on July 18th, these two newest campuses officially launched their inaugural cohorts! 

The initial Orlando cohort is an End User Desktop Support course designed in partnership with long-time Per Scholas partner, TEKsystems. This first cohort has 12 learners enrolled and will run for 12 weeks.

Per Scholas has partnered with TEKsystems since 2015 in our mission to provide opportunity and access to tech education in communities across the country that are typically underrepresented in the tech industry. Collaborative courses between our two organizations currently exist at a number of Per Scholas’ campuses, and we are excited to be adding Orlando to that list. “There are many motivated, talented individuals who want to pursue a career in technology but might not have a four-year degree or access to do so,” Faith Rottmann Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources at TEKsystems, said. “Our partnership with Per Scholas enables us to build pathways for these individuals.”

Orlando was named by Brookings Institute as a “rising star” for tech employment and job growth, and it has one of the fastest growing tech markets in the U.S. with a 3.5% annual labor force growth rate. 

“At Per Scholas, we believe a thriving workforce starts with equitable access to education, and we’re committed to increasing access and closing the opportunity gap,” said Damien Howard, chief enterprise solutions officer at Per Scholas. “Launching Per Scholas Orlando, together with our transformational partner TEKsystems, is really thrilling, and I’m looking forward to all the good we’ll achieve together in the Sunshine State.”

The inaugural St. Louis cohort is a Cybersecurity course, with 16 enrolled learners (ranging in age from 22 to 75 years old!), that will run for 15 weeks. Learners will receive training and the opportunity to earn their CompTIA CySA+ certifications at the completion of the course. Cortex Innovation Community worked with Per Scholas to enter the St. Louis market to accelerate inclusive economic growth in the region.

According to CompTIA’s April jobs report, St. Louis ranked seventh in the nation for the most new tech job postings, and after talking with local employers and partners, the need for cybersecurity skills is certainly at the forefront. Additionally, over 27,000 tech jobs have been posted by nearly 3,000 employers in the region this year. 

“I am honored to join Per Scholas and lead our transformational work here in St. Louis,” Per Scholas St. Louis Managing Director, Dr. Charlie Mackey, Jr., reflected. “I believe our training removes two of the largest barriers for members of our local community who aspire to work in technology: access and affordability. By removing these barriers, Per Scholas learners and our future St. Louis graduates can achieve social and economic mobility. Our partnership with Cortex – and being located in this incredible District – will propel our ability to interact with the local tech community and employers in need of tech talent.”

To learn more about our inaugural Orlando cohort, click here. 

To learn more about our inaugural St. Louis cohort, click here.

Per Scholas Pittsburgh is excited to announce our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania! The partnership will launch a program for individuals in the region to launch high-growth tech careers.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA), a provider of education, recreation, and healthy lifestyles programs for individuals ages 3-24, and Per Scholas announced this new collaboration to connect underrepresented individuals to information technology (IT) careers, eliminate barriers to employment in this growing field, and enable learners from diverse backgrounds to pursue living wage careers in the Pittsburgh region. This workforce development initiative is generously funded by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

“There is an incredible amount of opportunity in Pittsburgh right now for individuals aspiring to join the tech workforce,” said Todd Derby, Managing Director of Per Scholas Pittsburgh. “At Per Scholas, we provide the necessary training to ensure that diverse and resilient Pittsburgh area residents can get access to digital careers and take advantage of thriving wage opportunities.”

Read the full press release here!

Per Scholas Newark is the proud recipient of an enriching grant from Panasonic. In the grant, Per Scholas is one of seven organizations to receive funding to further provide individuals with educational equity.

This grant will help further Panasonic’s commitment to preparing young people for success in the global 21st century and support Per Scholas Newark in continuing to train our learners to advance their careers in the tech industry.

Click here to learn more about Per Scholas Newark’s training and courses available. 

Since the start of Per Scholas in 1995, we’ve grown to more than 300 employees, 19 locations across the country, and we’re not done yet! Due to our rapid growth and expansion, our organization has been seeking more hard-working and passionate people to join our team. This month, on June 16th, we held our first-ever Per Scholas Virtual Career Expo, showcasing our available positions; both remote and on-site. The Career Expo provided an opportunity for interested applicants to learn more about the Per Scholas mission, chat live with our recruitment team, and submit resumes on the spot.

The event was held in an incredible virtual space, designed in a collaboration by Per Scholas and virtual event platform vFairs. The space featured a lobby, expo hall, help desk, and lounge that applicants could move through as the event progressed.

 Those attending the event first entered the virtual lobby, where they were welcomed, via video, by Per Scholas Executive Vice President of People Montreece Smith. Attendees could also view a People of Per Scholas testimonial video, featuring some of our amazing employees.

 Next, attendees entered the Expo Hall, which contained multiple booths, each representing a currently-hiring department at Per Scholas. Applicants could browse job vacancies by department, chat live with our recruitment team, and submit applications on the spot for positions that interested them.

 In the Lounge area, attendees could view Per Scholas social media channels and video testimonials from Per Scholas employees. On the employment end, our recruiters were able to search submitted resumes and schedule private chats with selected candidates.

 More than 130 candidates attended the event, with over 80 applying for positions. The site will remain open for the next few weeks so that interested candidates can continue to view open positions and apply. We are excited for what is to come as our organization continues to grow and add new, wonderful people to our team!

Join Our Team!

Per Scholas is thrilled to announce that we are part of the inaugural cohort of organizations to receive a grant from the Clayton Dubilier & Rice Foundation! We have been identified as one of Clayton Dubilier & Rice‘s Talent Solution Partners (“TSP”), aligning with the Foundation’s goal of supporting “Equity through Opportunity” by offering traditionally underrepresented talent in CD&R’s local communities access to job training, high-quality jobs, and ongoing professional development opportunities throughout their career journey.

This grant is awarded specifically to strengthen the equity, growth, skills, and workforce development systems in New York City. “Over the past 44 years, CD&R has built a reputation for driving positive impact and innovation throughout our portfolio and in our local communities,” said Don Gogel, Chairman of both CD&R and the CD&R Foundation. “The CD&R Foundation meaningfully expands these efforts, and we look forward to working with our TSPs to move the needle on inclusive employment and advancement practices.”

Click here to learn more about this inaugural partnership!

Per Scholas was featured in an article with Boardroom media network about the NFL’s Inspire Change grant renewals for 2022. Caitlyn Brazill, Per Scholas’s Chief Development Officer, commented on the impact the grant has on our organization, sharing, “We don’t want to be a best-kept secret, and our partnership with the NFL really helps to elevate the message of the works that we do to both potential learners and employers who are seeking diverse tech talent and are looking for partners to help them with hiring needs that they are increasingly desperate for.”

Per Scholas is one of 21 recipients of the grant funding from the NFL’s Inspire Change social justice initiative. To read the full article from Boardroom, click here!