Arizona is home to a booming technology industry with over 34,000 STEM job postings and a cybersecurity industry with over 13,000 job postings. To ensure the Greater Phoenix region acquires and develops the talent needed to fill job openings in these competitive industries, the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s IT and Cybersecurity Workforce Collaboratives continue to connect Arizonans to training and networking opportunities that support the industries’ professional pipelines.
“Continuing to expand the Cyber/IT ecosystem in Arizona is a major objective for Governor Ducey in having Arizona viewed as the most cyber-resilient state in the nation, the Chamber’s leadership is once again evidenced in moving us closer to this goal through the Externship Program…” – Frank J. Grimmelmann, President & CEO, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA), Co-Chair Governor Ducey’s Arizona Cybersecurity Team
The Foundation is excited to host its second round of Virtual Technology and Cybersecurity Externships in March. The externships are separate programs, containing a cohort of participants from across Arizona. Externs attend 1 – 1.5-hour learning sessions hosted by employers from various industries to learn about technology and cybersecurity-related topics and current events, career pathways, and required skills. For two weeks, externs receive mentorship and hone their professional skills through a team research project that they later present to employers. Additionally, externs attend job preparation and professional development sessions that cover topics such as financial literacy, career pathways, networking, and more.
“…Because of this program, I’m trying to find my way back to Arizona so I can network and build relationships with the other externs and employers…” – Codie Mitchell, Summer 2021 Extern
The Foundation launched its pilot externship programs in the summer of 2021. They included participants from across the state, including individuals with high school, community college, university, military, and non-traditional educational and workforce backgrounds such as career changers, reentering mothers, and veterans.
“…This externship has opened a lot of doors and connections. For the past two weeks, I found a family from people I can actually work with one day in the future. And I want to be active with the Greater Phoenix Chamber and the externship rotation in any shape or form.” – Juricelle Omega, Summer 2021 Extern
During the first round, externs were able to maximize their relationships with employers and receive mentorship. Employers were able to connect with emerging talent and teach them the skills needed, and career pathways to pursue to land a job at their companies.
“After years of talent acquisition involvement, this program stands out as the most unique! So fun and engaging, I learned so much from the externs and Phoenix Chamber leadership. I am excited to see what is next for programs like this.” – Victoria Thomas Senior Software Engineer, Pet Resource & Recovery at Nationwide Mutual Insurance, Summer 2021 Employer
Those interested in participating in the Foundation’s next round of Technology and Cybersecurity Externship programs can learn more by clicking on the links below.
Employers interested in becoming employer partners can learn more by emailing Ngan Pham at [email protected].
Thank You, Sponsors!
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation and its Technology and Cybersecurity Workforce Collaboratives can offer these externship programs to our community through the generous support of our sponsors.
Technology Gold Sponsor
Cybersecurity Gold Sponsors
Cybersecurity Silver Sponsor
About the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s IT and Cybersecurity Workforce Collaboratives
In October of 2020, the Foundation launched the IT Workforce Collaborative, which aims to strengthen the tech talent pipeline to ensure Arizona will meet the fast-growing demand for IT-related occupations. The Collaborative includes a diverse group of employers, industry professionals, educators, and training partners with the shared mission to sustain the growth of the IT industry across the state.
The Foundation’s Cybersecurity Workforce Collaborative recruits and prepares local talent to protect Arizona’s digital future. The collaborative includes a wide variety of companies that have cybersecurity as a component of their business, but not as their core business function. The group consists of industry professionals, educators, and training partners working to address talent shortages for security analysts at the junior, mid and senior levels.
See the results for yourself, view our Foundation 2021 Annual Report!
Help us secure Arizona’s technology and cybersecurity talent pipeline. Support the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation this Giving Tuesday. Making a difference in our community is easy.
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