LeewardBA Will Discuss IT Work Experience Program with Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch

Private Company Aims to Provide Training and IT Work Experienc

​RACINE, WI: Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch will be touring the George Bray Neighborhood YMCA with Leeward Business Advisors Friday, March 31st from 11-11:30am. Press is invited to participate in the tour and learn more about the space and proposed program.
 
When Michael Polzin of Leeward Business Advisors learned that grant funding was becoming available to help fund IT training programs for Southeastern Wisconsin community members, he saw a perfect opportunity to get LeewardBA involved to help implement a different approach.
 
This began LeewardBA’s relationship with the Racine Workforce Development Center and Higher Expectations, a Strive Together initiative. The idea is to create a technology service center to employ disadvantaged community members in entry-level customer service positions. The vision includes providing on the job training while paying the participants to work in the program. This is different from other programs which are more like technology boot camps which do not pay participants, but provide free education.
 
Higher Expectations and Leeward Business Advisors reached out to the Racine YMCA looking for help to make the space different. A classic case of right place, right time the three organizations were able to partner with the two founders to create a program at the George Bray Neighborhood YMCA.
 
This program will aim to employ disadvantaged community members, having them answer support calls and document service requests. Individuals will be able to learn about the problems they are helping to solve and learn about IT. This is different from other programs currently available which only provide training. This program seeks to pay individual participants, making the effort sustainable for years to come
 
About Leeward Business Advisors

Recent winners of the Fast Five 2016 Ovation awards, 2016 Lake County Community Impact Award, and KTEC 2016 Partner of the Year - Leeward Business Advisors is a Wisconsin based corporation that provides business strategy planning, business improvement implementation, and full IT operational support. They offer world class Cloud Computing services, Cloud brokerage, Managed IT services, and a full US based Support Service Desk (called Quick Answers). Michael Polzin, CEO has 20+ years of enterprise business and technology experience gained while working at Allstate Insurance and Microsoft Corporation. Jason Klein, CTO has 15+ years delivering effective and efficient technology to Midwest companies.

About Higher Expectations

Higher Expectations is a partnership of educational, private, public, non-profit and faith-based organizations committed to ensuring children in Racine County graduate prepared for training or college and success in their careers.

About the Racine YMCA

​At the Racine YMCA, children and teens learn values and positive behaviors, and can explore their unique talents and interests, helping them realize their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.