Brett Kumataka worked as a pastor for four years while pursuing his master’s degree in biblical studies. It appeared as if his career was set in the religious field, however various circumstances in his personal and professional life muddled together and Brett’s initial career plans were altered. Brett decided to make a drastic change and started to search for other career options.

“I really needed help with my resume in order to articulate my past experiences and enter a new field,” Brett said. “I also really needed help with narrowing down my options to what was realistic for me to pursue.”

Brett discovered National Able Network and enrolled in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). With help from his Career Coach, Rodney Hall and job search training through JUMPSTART, Brett quickly fine-tuned his resume and re-adjusted his job search to find a career path suitable to his skill set.

“When I talked to Rodney I knew I could do this, but I didn’t know how to go about it,” said Brett. “He was able to give me advice and steer me in the direction that I needed to go.”

While working with Rodney, Brett discovered National Able Network’s technology academy, IT Career Lab and decided to train for a career in the growing field of Information Technology! A few weeks after enrolling in IT Career Lab, Brett quickly completed the training and earned his Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) and Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certifications. He is currently in process of completing an additional certification: the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).

“The certifications will really help me prove to employers that I have the technical capacity to do the job. I have proof to show that I can,” said Brett.

When reflecting on how National Able Network has helped him professionally, Brett said, “It helped me have a sense of confidence in terms of my ability to work within the field. I find that I’m able to grasp the concepts very rapidly.”

If you or someone you know is interested in a career in technology, click here to register for an information session!