Bay Area Newsgroup Ranks internalDrive, Operator of iD Tech Camps, a Top Workplace for the Fourth Consecutive Year
The nation's leading summer tech camp provider for kids and teens upholds its reputation as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's best places to work.
CAMPBELL, Calif., June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth year in a row, internalDrive has been ranked a Top Workplace by the Bay Area Newsgroup (publisher of the San Jose Mercury News). The national leader in summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education for kids and teens has demonstrated that passion, energy, and dedication to tech education make for a satisfying work experience.
Programs offered by internalDrive include iD Tech Camps for ages 7-17, and intensive pre-college teen programs for ages 13-18, including iD Programming Academy, iD Gaming Academy, and iD Visual Arts Academy. Courses in app development, game design, web design, robotics, film, and photography are held at over 60 prestigious universities throughout the country. The company guarantees an 8:1 student to instructor ratio for personalized instruction.
"Every employee is passionate about making a difference in young people's lives and showing them how their interests can turn into lucrative STEM careers," explains Karen Thurm Safran, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. "This passion is the foundation of our vibrant iD culture—it's one main reason our employee retention is so high."
Around the office in Silicon Valley, employees are dressed casually in shorts, "iD Green" Converse All Stars, and t-shirts. Music is playing. Teams sit out in the open atmosphere, amidst brightly colored walls and quirky decor. The office is home to the "Harry Potter Room," "Shark Tank," and a customer service department with a full-blown zombie theme. The corporate staff enjoys generous benefits, as well as a variety of activities and outings throughout the year. Additionally, the company promotes good health through their wellness program, and provides memberships to a local gym.
As an equal opportunity employer, internalDrive boasts a diverse workforce. Many of the senior leadership positions are held by females—something unique in Silicon Valley. The presence of strong female leaders exemplifies one of the company's core social beliefs—STEM careers know no gender.
The company is also committed to serving students of varying socioeconomic backgrounds, and has partnered with several non-profits to empower underprivileged students to build vital 21st century STEM skills. Again this year, internalDrive has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships.
"We aim to bridge the digital divide and give deserving students a competitive edge, as well as the opportunity to develop their talents and passions," says Pete Ingram-Cauchi, internalDrive President and CEO. "We give back to the community because we care about people and the world around us."
In 2010, the company joined forces with the Arbor Day Foundation to launch a green summer camp movement titled "One Camper, One Tree." internalDrive has since sown the seeds for more than 45,000 trees, and expects to plant nearly 30,000 trees in 2014 alone—one for each student who enrolls. Recently, the company also developed their own carpool app to help parents cut back on gas consumption.
Job satisfaction at internalDrive is high due to the emphasis placed on the well-being of employees, students, the community, and the environment. As the demand for quality STEM education increases and the company expands, maintaining a workplace that fosters upbeat, healthy, and impassioned employees is a top priority. After all—a happy staff makes for happy campers.
ABOUT iD TECH CAMPS AND iD TEEN ACADEMIES
iD Tech Camps and iD Academies for Teens engage students ages 7-18 in STEM education with summer programs held at over 60 prestigious universities nationwide, including Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. Sessions are weeklong, day and overnight. Teens can build online portfolios and explore future career paths at iD Gaming Academy, iD Programming Academy, and iD Visual Arts Academy. Visit http://www.internalDrive.com or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324).
Contact:
Karen Thurm Safran
408-666-8353
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SOURCE internalDrive
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