{"id":2531,"date":"2016-10-12T09:46:17","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T14:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=2531"},"modified":"2018-12-18T14:15:09","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T20:15:09","slug":"maryville-partnership-launchcode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/maryville-partnership-launchcode\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryville Partnership: It\u2019s Code for Career Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 3 minutes<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Michele Lain, \u201911, and her mother, Kathy Butler, \u201999, are a giant step closer to their dream of starting their own business after taking a coding class this summer. The course was made available through a Maryville partnership with LaunchCode.<\/p>\n

St. Louis-based <\/span>LaunchCode<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0a nonprofit organization that provides education and creates technology career advancement opportunities. The partnership included access to LaunchCode\u2019s apprenticeship program upon successful completion of the 16-week course.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Michele<\/a>
Michele Lain, ’11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis was just an amazing opportunity, and added a skill set to my list of assets and experience,\u201d Lain says. \u201cIt was a great opportunity for my mother and I to take together. We have been talking about starting a business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their business will involve retailing handmade children\u2019s clothing and accessories, Lain says. The mother-daughter team hopes to develop their own website, and also create a mobile app.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to keep the work in-house instead of having to pay a third party to do it for us,\u201d Lain says. \u201cWith us in total control of changes, updates and responding to customer needs, it will help us be the best company.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kathy<\/a>
Kathy Butler, 99<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along with developing a personal business, Butler, who works in an IT area focused on warehousing management, says she learned more about front-end coding to create advancement opportunity with her current employer. \u201cI wanted more up-to-date skills because my company is laying off in certain IT areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Wilder, \u201911, and Alex Lam, \u201911, also plan to establish their own company\u2014possibly as partners. \u201cWe have similar goals,\u201d says Lam. \u201cWe want to be our own bosses.<\/p>\n

\"Jason<\/a>
Jason Wilder, \u201911, and Alex Lam, \u201911<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We might do web development, or maybe develop back-end programs for businesses. We\u2019re working on a final project together and who knows? Maybe we\u2019ll be able to sell it. But right now we\u2019re focused on mastering new languages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tim Lueders, a graduate student in the cyber security program at Maryville, says the LaunchCode program was challenging, but as a finance executive, he sees a growing need for IT professionals in his industry.<\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>
Tim Lueders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was intense,\u201d Lueders says. \u201cIt ranged from learning about binary code and how computers interpret human language to developing a mock e-trade style\u00a0website.\u201d<\/p>\n

But LaunchCode students were given \u201ca wealth of resources,\u201d Lueders says, and independent study groups formed so students could help each other complete assignments successfully.<\/p>\n

Both partners anticipate the program will be offered again in Summer 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were impressed with the caliber of students that enrolled in LaunchCode’s class through our partnership with 91制片厂,\u201d says Mark Bauer, LaunchCode executive director. \u201cWe look forward to continuing to build on our partnership in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This story also featured\u00a0in the Fall\u00a02016 edition of<\/em> Maryville Magazine.<\/p>\n

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