Atomic Data Receives Polaris Award from Creating IT Futures Foundation for Leadership in Building IT Careers

EDINA, Minn., Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Creating IT Futures Foundation awarded Atomic Data with the Polaris Award, recognizing the company's leadership in building information technology (IT) careers for those in need of career opportunities. Atomic Data became an employment partner with Creating IT Futures' IT-Ready career program in 2013 and has employed nine IT-Ready graduates. 

"Atomic Data really values our relationship with IT Ready. Many of the individuals we hire from the program have excelled here," said Jim Wolford, co-owner and CEO, Atomic Data. "The IT Ready program itself is a great, comprehensive introduction to the IT service industry. Continuing our partnership with IT Ready is important as our company grows."

The IT-Ready program provides eight weeks of full-time technical and soft-skills training at no cost to participants, who are unemployed or under-employed individuals. Graduates then sit for the vendor-neutral CompTIA A+ certification exam. Certified graduates are placed into on-the-job work experiences with local employers.

In the past five years, Creating IT Futures has trained nearly 300 out-of-work Minnesotans for upwardly mobile IT occupations. Seventy-three percent have passed the CompTIA A+ exam and 93 percent of the certified graduates have gotten full-time IT work. Plus, even one year after graduation, 90 percent of certified graduates are still employed in IT occupations, whereas typical workforce development programs average closer to 33 percent job retention after one year.

During an IT-Ready employer breakfast for more than 60 local businesses this morning, the Polaris Award was presented to Atomic Data and included a video presentation on Atomic Data's work with IT-Ready.

"Atomic Data has been a valued partner for our IT-Ready program in the Twin Cities – from meeting with students in preparing them for the workplace to hiring graduates to participating on our business advisory council," said Sue Wallace, executive director, Minnesota, Creating IT Futures Foundation. "We're thrilled to present our 2016 Polaris Award to Atomic Data."

To see what's required of IT-Ready participants and all that they receive, potential employers, students and community partners can learn more at www.ITReady.com.

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SOURCE Creating IT Futures Foundation