Smoothstack – Press Releases

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

SMOOTHSTACK, INC. MAKES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE GUARD AND RESERVE IN THEIR CAREERS DURING AND AFTER THEIR SERVICE

Fairfax, Virginia – During an official signing ceremony, Smoothstack, Inc., one of the nation’s leading IT apprenticeship and career generators, signed the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve‘s (ESGR) Statement of Support, a formal commitment to support the Guard and Reserve in their careers during and after their service. 

“At Smoothstack we believe in removing the hiring bias to level the playing field for everyone, including those that serve our country,” said John Akkara, CEO of Smoothstack, Inc. “It is our responsibility as employers to promote a culture that is inclusive for service members, and provides career stability for them and their families. We are incredibly proud to sign this Statement of Support to the ESGR.”

The ESGR is a Department of Defense (DoD) program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. Through the Statement of Support Program, ESGR aims to increase employer support by encouraging employers to act as advocates for employee participation in the military. Employers signing a statement of support pledge that:

  • We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
  • We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
  • We appreciate the values, leadership, and unique skills Service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans.
  • We will continually recognize and support our country’s Service members and their families, in peace, in crises, and in war.

“As a military spouse it is important to me to support other military families as they transition in and out of service,” said Martha Laughman, director of military and diversity programs at Smoothstack, Inc. “We have always recognized the value and dedication that service members bring to the workplace and with this Statement of Support, we are thrilled to further strengthen our commitment.”

Smoothstack has successfully hired, trained, and deployed 35 apprentices in software development; working on projects throughout Virginia supporting local and national companies. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software developers will grow 22% by 2029. Traditionally, employers have looked to four-year degree programs to fill this gap. However, employers cite a lack of real-world experience and skills in filling vacant positions, along with the additional burden of high turnover rates. Smoothstack’s Apprenticeship Program is disrupting the IT industry by providing an alternative pathway to IT careers. Unlike pay-for-training programs, Smoothstack employs participants from day one, paying them to both learn and work.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS PUTTING VIRGINIANS TO WORK WHILE FILLING THE NEED FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS

Fairfax, Virginia- Smoothstack has embarked on a journey with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry by registering as an apprenticeship program. 

Smoothstack has successfully hired, trained, and deployed 35 apprentices in software development; working on projects throughout Virginia supporting local and national companies. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software developers will grow 22% by 2029. Traditionally, employers have looked to four-year degree programs to fill this gap. However, employers cite a lack of real-world experience and skills in filling vacant positions, along with the additional burden of high turnover rates. Smoothstack’s Apprenticeship Program is disrupting the IT industry by providing an alternative pathway to IT careers. Unlike pay-for-training programs, Smoothstack employs participants from day one, paying them to both learn and work.

By focusing on employer partners’ needs, Smoothstack customizes the recruitment and training of diverse candidates. Apprenticeship training simulates the employer partners’ true technology environment, making for a seamless transition between classroom learning and work placement. By working with Smoothstack, employer partners develop a well-trained workforce, build their bench with specialists, benefit from increased employee retention and diversity, and overall improve their bottom line.

“We appreciate the support we are getting from the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry – Division of Registered Apprenticeship in making this program a success. In a short period of time, we have become the largest supplier of software development apprenticeship talent in the state. We are grateful for all of the local support and are looking forward to registering apprentices with our new cybersecurity apprenticeship.” – Martha Laughman, Director of Workforce Development.

“Director Morrison was thrilled to be able to develop this program as it substantiated the feasibility of using the RA (Registered Apprenticeship)  Model for Information Technology, Computer Science and Cybersecurity. The Northern Virginia area is rich with opportunities for any sized company in this sector”  – Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

February 18, 2021

IT REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM COMES TO CONNECTICUT ON THE HELM OF GOV LAMONT’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

HARTFORD, Conn. ­­— Smoothstack has embarked on a journey with the Connecticut Department of Labor by becoming a Registered Apprenticeship Program. 

Since beginning their work with the state of Connecticut, Smoothstack has successfully hired, trained and deployed seven .NET and MS Dynamics, programmers. This team is currently supporting the development of the state’s Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) by upgrading older in-house applications and standardizing documentation. Upgrading Connecticut’s systems to cutting-edge technology, the team itself is also cutting-edge: it is composed of apprentices.

Smoothstack is disrupting the traditional workforce model by creating an alternative pathway into IT, a field once reserved for candidates completing traditional four-year degrees. The Smoothstack approach starts with identifying employer partners’ needs. Smoothstack then designs front-loaded Related Technical Instruction customized to each partner, simulating the working environment. This prepares apprentices to begin work on day one with a skillset commensurate with more senior peers.

“Skills-based hiring has become a critical practice for businesses confronting the accelerating pace of technological change, where jobseeker skills and occupational competencies (validated through credentials/assessments) are emphasized over traditional degrees. Skills-based hiring strategies expand the talent pool while de-risking the hiring process and result in significant benefits for job seekers and employers, such as reductions in employee turnover and training time,” said Alex Johnson, President & CEO at Capital Workforce.

Through Smoothstack’s apprenticeship program, employer partners attract and retain top-notch talent from diverse populations. Successful companies recruit not just to fill today’s gaps, but also to build their future bench. Long-term success is dependent on having the right talent to grow an organization, and Smoothstack provides that talent. The result is employees who are skilled and engaged, contributing to the employer partners’ long-term success.

The launch of the Smoothstack IT Apprenticeship in Connecticut coincides with Governor Ned Lamont’s proposed legislation focused on creating an agile, equitable, and high-performing workforce in Connecticut as well as the announcement of a $10 million Workforce Development Initiative.

Regarding the team modernizing Connecticut’s systems, John Akkara, CEO of Smoothstack, said, “We are extremely proud to have seven highly effective apprentices supporting the State of Connecticut in the enterprise upgrade project for the Child Welfare Information System. Our work in Connecticut is just beginning. We are excited about our newly minted partnership with the state of Connecticut, specifically, with this administration’s emphasis on merit and skill-based hiring in the IT space.”

We are grateful for the support we are receiving from the Connecticut Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Training, in making this program a success.

“As skilled employees in many sectors are in high demand, Registered Apprenticeship Programs have grown outside of traditional industries to assist employers to recruit, train and retain new employees. Smoothstack focused on cultivating talent by enhancing the skills of employees new to the company utilizing Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce development tool. Smoothstack apprentices will receive a combination of paid on-the-job training and industry-specific classroom instruction for proficient employee career development in their organization,” said Todd G. Berch, State Apprenticeship Director, Office of Apprenticeship Training.

To learn more about how you can get involved, please join us for a special webinar, “Connecticut’s Future Workforce: IT Apprenticeships”

For more information, please contact Smoothstack at 

press@smoothstack.com