Courtney Endress isn鈥檛 afraid of a challenge. After 18 years at 蘑菇视频 Allen providing continuity of operations and emergency management support for various federal departments and agencies, Courtney decided it was time for a change. She joined Cyber Core, part of the firm鈥檚 Tech Excellence Cyber Program. It provides participants with a solid foundation in systems networking and preparation to obtain the CompTIA Security+ (CE) certification.
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Ready for Rebranding
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When Courtney decided she was ready for a career change, she was drawn to because of the breadth of opportunities and challenges she鈥檇 be able to tackle. 鈥淐yber is a hot topic and the work is not going away,鈥� she says.
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But cyber was a new subject with a steep learning curve for Courtney. The Cyber Core Program was a good fit. It gave her time to focus without juggling client work on top of learning a new subject and studying for her certification test. She benefited from connecting with a mentor and learning from colleagues who were more experienced in the field. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e set up for success from Day One鈥攚ith senior leadership support, experienced mentors, online classes, self-paced sessions, and a cohort to help you through it all,鈥� says Courtney. 鈥淥nce you complete the course and finish your exam, there are resources available to help you find your next project鈥攐ne that's related to or requires your new certification.鈥�
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Less than a month after completing the program and earning her CE certification, Courtney found work on a new project as a training and compliance lead for the Cyber Workforce Development Branch of Defense Information Systems Agency Joint Service Provider鈥攁 role she wouldn't have gotten without a Security+ certification. She has enjoyed the work and says she has a better understanding of everything within the Risk Management Framework.
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Thanks to the Cyber Core Program and her networks, Courtney鈥檚 professional possibilities are endless. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear from this program that 蘑菇视频 Allen believes in and wholeheartedly supports its employees,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a technical person and had no cyber or technical IT experience before applying to the program. 蘑菇视频 Allen took the risk and invested in my future.鈥�
Advice for Candidates
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What advice does Courtney have for anyone considering joining 蘑菇视频 Allen and a Cyber Core cohort? 鈥淭ake a chance," she says. "蘑菇视频 Allen cares about its employees. They invested in me; let them invest in you, too.鈥�
