BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Techtonic Academy, a division of Boulder-based Techtonic Group, has been registered by the United States Department of Labor as part of the national apprenticeship system, becoming the first government-recognized technology apprenticeship program in Colorado.
Techtonic Academy provides underprivileged youth, minorities and veterans both technical training and mentorship to become entry-level software engineers and pursue a robust career in the technology field. Techtonic Group builds custom software ranging from mobile applications and content-managed websites to new software, and all Techtonic Academy apprentices work side-by-side with Techtonic Group senior developers to gain coding experience on real client projects under careful guidance and supervision while earning a livable salary.
“We developed Tectonic Academy to develop a unique approach to address the shortage of entry-level software developers facing many businesses while providing a path to a technology career for many underserved populations. The continuing positive response we have is overwhelming,” said Heather Terenzio, co-founder, CEO and president of Techtonic Academy. “This is an incredible honor and confirms our mission and apprenticeship model are viable.”
The Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, known as ApprenticeshipUSA, offers employers across all industries the tools to develop a highly skilled workforce for their business. Currently, ApprenticeshipUSA has a network of over 150,000 employers in more than 1,000 occupations nationwide. Techtonic Academy becomes the first Colorado technology company to join the ranks.
“Colorado has emerged as one of the most innovative business communities in the U.S., and this designation from the Department of Labor — the first in Colorado — is yet another example of the leadership of Colorado entrepreneurs,” said Sumana (Suma) Nallapati, Colorado’s Secretary of Technology and State CIO. “I could not be more proud of Heather and Techtonic Academy.”
"Heather's determination to develop junior programmers sets the bar, modeling the magical impact business experiential learning can have on talent development," said Wendy Nkomo, COO and Interim CEO, Colorado Technology Association. "I believe more Colorado companies will mirror Techtonic Academy, roll up their sleeves and enjoy the results of leading tech apprenticeship programs within their businesses."
The Governor launched the Business Experiential Learning (BEL) Commission last fall to dramatically increase the number of business-led experiential learning opportunities to better develop our local talent pipeline.
About Techtonic Academy
Techtonic Academy is a division of Techtonic Group, which was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The company provides custom, web-based software and mobile application development to a diverse customer base — from healthcare to financial services and from Fortune 1000 to startup organizations. The company's Techtonic Academy is a unique training program that equips underprivileged youth and military veterans with software development skills and new career paths through training, mentoring and hands-on project work. For more, please visit http://www.techtonicgroup.com.