IT in the D revamps, rebrands as ExperienceIT

IT in the D —a nonprofit information technology training program founded in 2012 — is rebranding and re-shaping its program as Detroit’s tech industry continues to grow.

Now called ExperienceIT, the revamped eight-week program will begin June 23. A kick-off event will be held Wednesday at Grand Circus, a downtown IT training hub.

This year’s class includes 45 participants out of 200 applications. In two previous years of classes, IT in the D graduated about 70 students.

“After two years, we took a step back, reviewed lessons learned and then refocused our efforts on evolving our curriculum to provide even greater value to our students,” Linglong He, CIO of Quicken Loans and chair of ExperienceIT, said in a statement. “These individuals represent the future for our region and technological innovation in general. As we continue to build Detroit’s IT hub, we want these individuals to stay here for rewarding careers and lives.”

The nonprofit was founded two years ago by Quicken Loans Inc., GalaxE.Solutions, Title Source, Fathead, Marketing Associates and WIN (Workforce Intelligence Network). Now, the program has expanded to include sponsors like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, DTE, Grand Circus, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation and Tanner Friendman Strategic Communications.

Students will learn technologies including .Net, Java, SQL Server, MY SQL and PHP, according to a release. They will also learn communication and interview skills.

The classes will run eight hours a day, five days a week.

Employers have long complained about a lack of qualified IT workers. As a result, a number of companies have started their own training programs.

Detroit Labs, a downtown app-maker, will launch an apprentice program later this summer. GalaxE. Solutions, which moved to the city in 2010 to tap the local talent pool, is working at the college level to ensure courses are being taught to match its hiring needs.

Troy-based business association Automation Alley started a development program last year, and Grand Circus downtown also hosts a number of IT classes teaching everything from coding to app development.