Creating IT Futures Foundation Named Finalist for 15th Annual Tekne Awards

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) has named the Creating IT Futures Foundation as a finalist in the Workforce Development category for the 2014 Tekne Awards, which will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Thursday, Nov. 13. The Tekne Awards honor Minnesota companies and individuals who have shown superior technology innovation and leadership.

Since 2012 Creating IT Futures has operated the IT-Ready program in Minneapolis / St. Paul, preparing unemployed and under-employed adults for the information technology (IT) workforce.

"We're excited to see that our innovation in IT workforce development is getting noticed in Minnesota," said Charles Eaton, CEO of Creating IT Futures. "Right now the businesses of Minnesota's growing economy need outstanding workers, and the IT-Ready model helps to close the skills gap that makes it so difficult for companies to hire."

In cooperation with nonprofit partner Per Scholas, IT-Ready has grown nationally to include Cincinnati, Columbus, New York City, and Silver Spring, MD. IT-Ready will be offered regularly by Per Scholas in Dallas beginning later this year, and a pop-up IT-Ready program will enroll a single class of students in Omaha on October 27. Employers in those cities who want to take advantage of work-ready, CompTIA A+ certified workers should contact Creating IT Futures. Those interested in enrolling should visit ITReady.com.    

Presented by the MHTA, the Tekne Awards annually recognize Minnesota's best and brightest technology users and developers in innovation, development, education, commercialization and management. A full list of finalists is available online at http://www.tekneawards.org.

The Tekne Awards recognize those whose leadership and dedication to technological development helps demonstrate Minnesota as a global leader in technology. This year's finalists have shown important leadership in advancing the science and technology sector in Minnesota.

Recipients of the 2014 Tekne Awards will be announced at the award ceremony on November 13. The event will begin with a VIP reception at 4:30 p.m., followed by general registration and reception at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. The event will be emceed by Paul Douglas, author, entrepreneur and meteorologist.

To register for the 2014 Tekne Awards ceremony, visit http://www.mhta.org/event/tekne-awards// or contact Angela McLaughlin at [email protected]

About Creating IT Futures Foundation
Founded in 1998 as the philanthropic arm of CompTIA, the Creating IT Futures Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charity with the mission of helping populations that are under-represented in IT and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure, and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at www.creatingITfutures.org.

SOURCE Creating IT Futures Foundation