With the introduction of a new program called tccyber, 20Fathoms will provide resources, training and mentorship to Traverse City area residents interested in developing the skills necessary to tap into lucrative careers in cybersecurity.
tccyber is a learning community for local cybersecurity professionals at all levels. This includes those who are:
- brand new to the profession and exploring their options
- current tech professionals interested in expanding their skillset
- experienced in cybersecurity and looking to level up
There is no cost to participate. Hosted by 20Fathoms, tccyber will provide introductory workshops, advanced professional development training, career guidance and mentorship. The program is led by Keith E. Kelly, program manager at 20Fathoms, and Shaun Bertrand, senior VP of security programs at CBI.
“With tccyber, we’ll be leveraging the model that’s been so successful for tccodes, our learning community for software developers,” Keith says. “Participants can expect highly interactive, hands-on sessions led by experts in the field, as well as a strong community aspect and networking opportunities.”
The objective of tccyber is to help more Traverse City residents get into the cybersecurity profession and accelerate their career opportunities. Participants will learn about career opportunities and focus areas, as well as develop the skills to begin a career in cybersecurity, achieve certifications and position them for career growth.
Registration is open for the tccyber kick-off event, “Cybersecurity as a Career.” The virtual event will be held on Thursday, September 10 from 5:30–7 p.m., and will offer an introduction to careers in cybersecurity. The interactive panel discussion will include the following local cybersecurity professionals:
- Shaun Bertrand (moderator), VP of Security Programs at CBI
- Jacob Holcomb, CEO of HONEST Security
- Leah M. Olson, President of N Point Strategies
- Nate Drier, Technical Lead, Secureworks Adversary Group
- Scott Rokita, Cyber Security Consultant | Veteran
Future workshops will include hands-on experiences and cover topics like ethical hacking and secure code development.
Both tccyber and tccodes are supported by the MICA 2.0 grant from Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). “Information Technology continues to be one of our state’s fastest-growing employment sectors, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is proud to support the Traverse City tech community,” says Stephanie Beckhorn, LEO’s director of employment and training. “As more businesses use technology in their day-to-day activities, the need to protect and safeguard data has never been more important. The new tccyber program is designed to help address our state’s growing need for cybersecurity professionals.”
Cybersecurity is a red-hot career right now. Last year, Cybercrime Magazine reported that there is a zero percent unemployment rate for cybersecurity professionals and by 2021 there will be 3.5 million unfilled positions.
“You don’t need a background in coding or tech to get into cybersecurity,” Shaun says. “As long as you have a desire to learn and an ambition to achieve, we have a place for you. There’s a lot of great cybersecurity talent in northern Michigan and tccyber participants will have the opportunity to interact and learn from these rock stars which is a huge value.”