About TechHire Toledo
We are a team of organizations from the Toledo Region who has been invited to join the national TechHire network, a collection of communities which are helping people get accelerated information technology training and start IT-related careers.
Why TechHire? IT jobs in fields like cybersecurity, network administration, coding, project management, UI design and data analytics offer pathways to middle-class careers with average salaries more than one and a half times higher than the average private-sector American job.
By joining the national TechHire network, we get access to best practices and resources other TechHire communities have developed. For example, we will be able to develop software bootcamps more quickly with the help of the network. We will also get access to services from national TechHire partners like IBM, Cisco, and Codeacademy. For more information see techhire.org.
Our Commitment
Tech Toledo, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and OhioMeansJobs Lucas County are establishing an information technology workforce alliance to address short-term needs and develop longer-term programs for IT internships and apprenticeship programs.
Tech Toledo will work with the current set of committed employers, such as Meyer Hill Lynch, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, and The Andersons, Inc., to find and develop training to address their in-demand IT job needs. We will recruit additional employers to participate in our TechHire efforts. Join us as an employer by filling out the Employer Commitment Form.
Tech Toledo will place at least 100 workers into tech jobs by 2020.
Our first two TechHire pilots are: utilizing the existing IT Specialist certification program from Northwest State Community College (at Scott Park Campus in Toledo), and starting the “Healthcare IT” track of the Northwest Ohio Pathway to Healthcare Careers project, in partnership with the Zepf Center’s NetWORK Division. We aim to place 20 individuals in total as part of these pilots in the first year.
We will launch a marketing campaign to raise awareness of IT career opportunities and to generate interest in accelerated IT training.
Toledo TechHire Team
- Lead organizations work together to establish a workforce alliance.
- Employers provide a list of skills they are seeking look at TechHire graduates for internship or job opportunities.
- Training providers offer short-term nontraditional skills-focused training to match employer needs.
- Community organizations connect with students and provide support for the TechHire initiative.
The Toledo TechHire initiative is a fully volunteer, grassroots effort. Being part of the national initiative does not automatically include financial support.
Regional Information Technology Engagement (RITE) of Northeast Ohio is an award-winning IT workforce alliance that we will model in the Toledo region.
Our Pilot Programs
- IT Specialist Program. The IT Specialist certificate from Northwest State Community College (NSCC) is a 16-week program to help people get a start on a career helping companies use information technology to address business needs. The program consists of 8 classes where students will learn software programming, database creation/reporting, networking basics, and communication skills.
- Healthcare IT Careers Project. The Northwest Ohio Pathway to Healthcare Careers (NOPHC) program is focused on empowering low income individuals to obtain education and training needed for the healthcare field.
Ohio Means Jobs - More information for job seekers
Zepf Center - Learn about the program
Our Journey
- In July, 2016, we started the application process, submitted, and added to the team.
- In August, we continued to evolve based on community interest and feedback from the White House.
- In September, we secured employer commitments and elected official support. We updated our submission.
- Earlier in November, we engaged employers and kicked off the IT specialist pilot.
- December 1: Now that we have been invited to join the national TechHire initiative, we plan to start our second pilot (Healthcare IT), add more organizations to the team as word gets out, ramp up marketing to potential students, and start forming an IT workforce alliance.
Lead Organizations
These groups are working together to establish an information technology workforce alliance to further our TechHire Toledo efforts.
Tech Toledo
Tech Toledo is the Hub Operator for TechHire Toledo. Tech Toledo connects the IT, design and entrepreneur communities in the Toledo region by guiding grass root efforts, organizing events for networking and education, and providing strategic roadmaps for collaboration.
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Providing the connections, advocacy and leadership to foster economic growth and prosperity in the Toledo Region. The Chamber helps convene businesses for TechHire initiatives.
OhioMeansJobs Lucas County
The Lucas County One-Stop System will provide quality-driven workforce services that assist individuals in developing and enhancing a multitude of work skill sets to meet the current and future needs of local businesses while embracing local economic growth and individual prosperity. OMJ Lucas County connects TechHire with other workforce development organizations.
TechHire Toledo Core Team
The TechHire team started working together in the summer of 2016 to bring the national network benefits of TechHire to the Toledo Region.
Keith Instone
Co-Founder, Tech Toledo
Keith has a BA & MS in Computer Science from BGSU and has been working in IT & user experience for 20+ years. He co-founded TechToledo in 2011 to connect and improve the Design, Tech, and Entrepreneurial communities in the Toledo Region.
Stuart Bertsch
Co-Founder, Tech Toledo
Stuart has his BS and MS in Computer Science from BGSU and has been working with IT for 20+ years. He has business, marketing, and tech startup experience. He co-founded TechToledo in 2011 to connect and improve the Design, Tech, and Entrepreneurial communities in the Toledo Region.
Jeff Schaaf
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Jeff is the Talent Attraction Manager for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Veh
OhioMeansJobs, Lucas County
Mike is the Director of Business and Workforce Services at Lucas County Department of Planning and Development.
Employers
Employers share their IT skill needs and consider TechHire graduates for internships, apprenticeships, and employment.
ProMedica
ProMedica is your comprehensive Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan health care network of specialized hospitals, facilities, researchers, and doctors.
The Andersons, Inc.
The Andersons, Inc., a diversified agriculture company recruiting IT talent to contribute to serving our customers through intelligent application of technology.
Service Spring Corp
Service Spring Corp has been manufacturing springs and distributing garage door products to garage door dealers, distributors and manufacturers since 1962.
Meyer Hill Lynch
Meyer Hill Lynch provides full-service IT solutions to businesses.
LaScala IT
LaScala IT is a business technology solutions provider for all industries.
Strategy, Security, Solutions, Support, Sourcing.
Tech Experts
Tech Experts is southeast Michigan's leading small business computer support company.
CNWR
Founded in 2003, CNWR, Inc. is the premier IT consulting company serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. CNWR specializes in a wide range of services; from network integration to virtualization, we can tailor our IT services and solutions from small to medium sized businesses and to large enterprises.
Burns Consulting
Burns Consulting Associates, Inc. delivers top-level consulting and strategies from the best minds in the business.
Spoke
Brand strategy and development
Web design and development
SEO and SEM management
Startup nurturing & community cultivation
Tour de Force
Integrated CRM and Business Intelligence Software Solutions.
InfoStream Solutions
InfoStream Solutions brings leading-edge custom programming, creative website design and results-driven Internet Marketing services to make your business a success.
Toledo Lucas County Public Library
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library exists to engage all of our communities, inspire lifelong learning, and provide universal access to a broad range of information, ideas, and entertainment.
Toledo Lucas County Port Authority
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s business is transportation and development. That business is shaped by our mission to move people and cargo through the region while employing innovative programs to stimulate development in our region.
Nemsys
The Nemsys team provides small businesses with enterprise level information technology support and services at a price you can afford, with a personal touch you will not find elsewhere.
Dotnet technologies
Since 2010, dotnet technologies has been bridging the gap between technology and the success of the organizations we service. As Northwest Ohio’s Managed Service Provider, we have been proactively helping organizations stay focused on their goals and not on the day-to-day responsibility of managing their IT infrastructure. Our Managed IT and Cloud Solutions take the worry off of the customer, as we are constantly making sure that your information is available.
Telesystem
At Telesystem, we design unique solutions to address the business-specific needs of each customer. Delivering high-quality voice, video, data, and computing solutions across our highly advanced Five 9’s Ethernet core network, Telesystem is committed to providing customers solutions they can trust. This includes offerings such as Telesystem’s Hosted VoIP Phone System, SIP Trunks, Dedicated Internet Access, and Managed Computing Services such as Colocation and Disaster Recovery.
IDS Interactive Design Solutions
Armed with a highly creative team of designers, programmers, strategists, and visionaries, Interactive Design Solutions helps our clients build powerful websites with great online presence, design high-quality graphics that stand out, construct cutting-edge games, and build state-of-the-art mobile applications.
Training Providers
Trainers provide accelerated non-traditional education focused on employer needs.
Northwest State Community College
Learn More, Earn More through the unique training solutions offered through the Custom Training Solutions (CTS) division of Northwest State Community College. CTS offers the I.T. Specialist short term certificate program not only at the main campus, but also right here in Toledo at the Scott Park campus of the University of Toledo in the newly renovated Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.
Owens Community College
Owens is a community college that focuses on your success; in fact, it's our mission. We have resources to get you on the career path you've always wanted and provide you with convenient class times and caring faculty. We like to keep our classes small and our value big.
Girl Develop It - Toledo
Girl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and judgment-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. Through in-person classes and community support, Girl Develop It helps women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their everyday lives.
Herzing University
Earn your degree in some of Toledo's fastest-growing career fields including nursing, healthcare, business and technology - on-campus or online.
Brilliant Fantastic
We are passionate about learning and teaching. We are proud to announce that Brilliant Fantastic is now offering training in Ruby on Rails.
GroundSpeed
Learn how to develop iPhone applications through a carefully curated class that is consistently updated to the latest Xcode and iOS offerings from Apple.
Community Support
Local organizations to connect with students and provide support for the TechHire initiative.
NextTech Ohio
NextTech Ohio’s mission is to identify and assist entrepreneurs maneuver the paths to successful commercialization of their technologically-based concepts. NextTech is the regional provider of the Ohio Third Frontier’s Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) Program.
Zepf Center
The Zepf Center's mission is creating hope, wellness, recovery and career development through integrated services and community partnership
Regional Growth Partnership
The Regional Growth Partnership is a privately led organization committed to meeting the needs of businesses, site consultants and corporate real estate professionals in a confidential, innovative and time-sensitive manner.
EPIC Toledo
EPIC Toledo was created and designed by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2007. EPIC stands for "engaging people, inspiring change." EPIC Toledo works to attract and retain young professional talent to the Toledo Region and also seeks to develop future business and community leaders.
Toledo Lucas County Public Library
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library exists to engage all of our communities, inspire lifelong learning, and provide universal access to a broad range of information, ideas, and entertainment.
Toledo Museum of Art
Since our founding in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art has earned a global reputation for the quality of our collection, our innovative and extensive education programs, and our architecturally significant campus.
More than 30,000 works of art represent American and European painting, the history of art in glass, ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian works, Asian and African art, medieval art, sculpture, decorative arts, graphic arts, and modern and contemporary art.The Arts Commission
For more than 55 years, The Arts Commission has provided quality arts programming and services to those in the metropolitan Toledo area.
Seed Coworking
Toledo’s original cowork community containing some of the brightest innovators in the region.
Toledo Community Foundation
The Toledo Community Foundation, Inc. is a public, charitable foundation which helps donors achieve their goals and facilitates grant applications.
CoderDojo Toledo
We help kids and young adults foster a love for technology and programming.
Elected Officials
Support from our elected officials helped us qualify for the national initiative and will help us meet our commitments.
Contact Us
Are you:
An employer interested in considering TechHire graduates?
If you're ready to be a TechHire Toledo Employer, fill out the Employer Commitment Form.
A trainer interested in providing accelerated education?
A community organization interested in supporting our TechHire efforts?
A student interested in hearing about your options for starting an IT career?
Just interested in learning more about TechHire Toledo?
If so, please contact us below.
© 2017 Tech Toledo