NPower Takes Part in White House Event to Mark the End of the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint

NPower Texas Executive Director, Jonathan Pride, joined Department of Labor Deputy Secretary, Julie Su, and other key senior White House and Agency officials to mark the end of the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint at the White House.

November 15, 2002 (Washington, D.C.):  NPower Texas Executive Director, Jonathan Pride, attended an event at the White House Tuesday to represent NPower in marking the end of the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint.  The event was part of National Apprenticeship Week and the celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act. There were remarks from senior White House and agency officials on the importance of Registered Apprenticeship in building a skilled and diverse cybersecurity workforce and the accomplishments of the Sprint. Jonathan participated in a moderated panel discussion highlighting the progress and advantages of building cybersecurity talent using Registered Apprenticeship programs.  The event concluded with a signing ceremony, all to demonstrate the overwhelming potential and success in promoting Registered Apprenticeships. 

As the demand for cybersecurity workers grows to meet the threats to our economy and infrastructure, the President of the United States is committed to seeing a more inclusive, robust, and skilled workforce to protect our personal and national interests. On July 19th at the National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit, the Administration gathered Cabinet Secretaries and major companies, including NPower, to discuss ways to improve pathways into this critical sector, and announced the start of its Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint. Tuesday marked the finish line of the Sprint, an initiative run by the U.S. Department of Labor in coordination with the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Defense, and other federal agencies.

According to CyberSeek.org, the cybersecurity market grew at 2.4 times the rates of the rest of the job market in the last year. This leaves nearly 770,000 open cybersecurity positions at all career levels. The nation’s economic and national security is dependent on solving this workforce challenge and employers are turning to Registered Apprenticeships to meet this critical workforce need.

NPower Chief Development Officer Talks About Diverse Tech Talent with Savoy Magazine

(Brooklyn, NY) August 1, 2022 – NPower was featured in Savoy Magazine’s 2022 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America, discussing the importance of hiring diverse candidates in tech jobs. The Summer 2022 issue also highlights a distinctive list of top national business executives who make a positive impact in corporate America and also demonstrate leadership and influence within their community.

“Now more than ever, it is very important for diverse executives to “lead by example.” Role modeling is one of the most effective tools for developing our future leaders and empowering them within Corporate America,” said Savoy’s CEO & Publisher L.P. Green, II. “The selection for this distinctive honor was very competitive but well deserving in this case.” 

Felecia Webb, Chief Development Officer, oversees NPower’s partnership development, government relations, and national and regional fundraising efforts including corporate partnerships, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals and families. Prior to joining NPower in 2019, Webb had a more than 20-year career in corporate social responsibility in the design industry, including working with Ralph Lauren Corporation.

Throughout her career, Webb has contributed her extensive leadership experience to several civic, community, and non-profit boards. At NPower, a national nonprofit that provides a pathway to thriving tech careers for those with non-traditional backgrounds; Webb is driven to connect to companies to a new pipeline of diverse and trained candidates ready to step into entry-level roles in tech.

“Some of the nation’s largest employers are looking to NPower to provide both qualified applicants, as well as diverse candidates with unique skills and experiences that previously would not have been considered,” said Felecia Webb, Chief Development Officer. “The qualities we see over and over in our candidates is an eagerness to learn, upskill, and adapt to new roles. We have a win-win model for the employer and employee.” 

NPower also places students in paid internships and apprenticeships with corporate partners, changing life trajectories for individuals from vulnerable communities, but they are also strengthening the overall competitiveness of U.S. businesses hamstrung by today’s limited pool of IT talent. To learn more about NPower, visit www.npower.org.

Special thanks to Savoy magazine a quarterly, national publication covering the power, substance, and style of African American lifestyle. From business to news, sports to entertainment, design to technology, Savoy is a cultural catalyst that highlights timely topics and drives positive dialogue on and about Black culture. Connect with Savoy: Twitter – www.twitter.com/savoynetwork, Facebook – www.facebook.com/savoymagazine, LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/company/savoy-magazine.