Glide Launches High-Tech Training Program in SF's Tenderloin:IT Certification Opens Pathways to Independence at GlideTech

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- May 10, 2000 Glide Foundation, one of San Francisco's largest and most comprehensive non-profit human service providers, today launched the third session of GlideTech, its innovative computer technician certification program.

GlideTech has been operating for less than a year (a pilot session, and a full session), but it has been very successful and has attracted the attention of a number of the Bay Area's largest technology corporations. Previous sessions have placed nearly 75% of GlideTech graduates directly into well-paying, professional work.

Cisco Systems, welcomes the use of A+ certification training as an optional entry-level preparatory course to the Cisco Networking Academy program. As of fall of 1999 the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum has been mapped to the CompTIA Network+ certification requirements. This provides Networking Academy graduates with the opportunity to take both the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and CompTIA Network+ certification exams. Network+ certification provides students with an industry-neutral certification of basic networking skills while students who qualify as CCNA's gain entry-level certification to the Cisco Career Certification program.

GlideTech's instructor, Lance Auman, is currently on contract with the San Francisco Unified School District and has worked at IBM, Lucasfilm, and Entex Computing. He holds an A+ Certification of his own, and is currently working towards becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Most importantly, Lance is a dedicated and sincere teacher. When asked what he enjoys most about teaching, Lance replies, "Everything." He understands the empowering nature of education, especially IT training. Lance loves giving people the training they need to not only get a job, but to have a choice of which job they will take. As Lance puts it, "I've got the best job in the world."

The Glide Foundation, one of the City's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit human service providers, offers innovative and nontraditional programs that address gender and culturally sensitive needs to a diverse population. Glide serves over one million free meals a year and provides programs that test people for AIDS, offers health care, women's programs, crisis intervention, basic services, literacy and computer training, jobs training and placement, and children, youth, and family educational programs. The Glide Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation operating under the auspices of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church.

The A+ Certification program certifies information technology and service professionals, and is designed by Comptia, a non-profit professional organization which works in the areas of public policy, workforce development and electronic commerce standards.

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