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Alarm.com pioneers apprenticeship program; FCEDA chief hails it as a model for developing tech talent

Alarm.com, which is based in the Tysons area of Fairfax County and develops home and business security technology, launched an apprenticeship program that is the first of its kind in the state, a model that Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) President and CEO Victor Hoskins called a model that other Northern Virginia companies can emulate to develop a technology workforce.

The program is the first with support from a “GO Virginia” tech talent pipeline initiative. During the year-long program, Alarm.com apprentices receive 10 weeks of technical instruction at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and nine months of on-the-job training with the company. Apprentices are compensated during the entire program, including full benefits, and earn essential industry certifications at no cost to them.

The company introduced nine of 10 initial apprentices at a February 21 event. They come from a wide variety of technical and non-technical backgrounds. The event featured Megan Healy, Virginia’s chief workforce development advisor, Anne Kress, the president of NOVA, as well as Hoskins and Victoria Schillinger, vice president of human resources at Alarm.com.

In his comments, Hoskins noted that there are more than 100,000 job openings in Northern Virginia, and that half of the open positions are technology-focused jobs. “This is a tremendous vision to create a model that I know other companies will follow, and I thank Alarm.com for making it part of the company’s agenda.”

“The apprenticeship strategy embodies our core value of building for the future,” Schillinger said. “We’re cultivating sustainable talent that’s rich with intelligence, aptitude, grit and perseverance. Everyone at Alarm.com will be cheering on our apprentices during their journey and is excited to see the Apprenticeship program flourish.”

Hoskins noted that the FCEDA is collaborating with other economic development organizations in Northern Virginia, and area companies and institutions, on ways to retain, retrain, grow and attract talent.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

The FCEDA is a member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, which promotes and markets Northern Virginia outside the region. Other members of NOVA EDA are the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development.

February 22, 2020

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