A Partnership between the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Community College System is priming the tech workforce pipeline. 

15 Information Technology (IT) professionals are one big step closer to qualifying for a job with Department of Defense (DoD) contractors this week. This new educational opportunity is the result of a partnership intended to help boost the IT workforce pipeline in Montgomery where numerous DoD contractors provide highly technical services to Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base’s defense programs.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and local IT industry community began working together several months ago to seek out ways to provide opportunities for IT professionals to further develop their skills and qualifications in order to allow local contractors to source their talent locally. On April 3, the first classes for CompTIA Security+ began and were full to capacity, with names on a wait list.

“We answered the call from our community, bringing industry recognized certification courses to the Montgomery area to assist with unfilled IT positions”, said Barry May, Deputy Director Workforce and Economic Development, Alabama Community College System.

The first course will produce students prepared to receive their Security+ certification, one of the most frequently sought after certifications for IT professionals seeking employment supporting the local military organizations.  “The partnership with the Alabama Community College System will allow for a diverse course offering, flexible for students and working professionals, “said Charisse Stokes, one of the Chamber’s Chief Strategists for Tech Initiatives. Additional classes will be offered this summer at varying times and locations to best suit the diverse work and school schedules of our candidates.

“The Chamber is leading a comprehensive tech economic development strategy, fueled by the new MGMix Internet Exchange, the City and County, the State of Alabama, Air Force and DoD partners, the RSA Data Center, universities, and the local tech community,” said Stokes.

“Montgomery is one of the leading tech landscapes in the country in terms of talent, infrastructure and capacity. By connecting our tech talent to the certification and training opportunities they need to advance, we meet the needs of our local businesses, create jobs, and support the missions of our Air Force and DoD partners,” added Stokes.

For more information on TechMGM and the training now offered, visit www.techmgm.com.

For more information on the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce visit www.montgomerychamber.com or find us on FaceBook.