CompTIA Newsroom

Charles Eaton Named Executive VP, Social Innovation, CompTIA

Downers Grove, Ill. — To help more youth and adults pursue careers in information technology (IT) and to promote diversity in the IT workforce, CompTIA has diversified its philanthropic efforts and established CompTIA Giving.

“The IT industry needs more technology professionals — and more people need the types of career opportunities offered in tech. One way that CompTIA is tackling this workforce challenge is through social innovation and philanthropy,” said Todd Thibodeaux, CEO, CompTIA. “We’ve pledged more than $3 million in philanthropic dollars to support this work in 2017, which is 5 percent of our annual revenues.”

CompTIA has separated its philanthropic investments along three branches:

1. Creating IT Futures, CompTIA’s main IT charity, which researches and launches new workforce development and STEM programs;
2. NextUp, CompTIA’s newest initiative to introduce middle-schoolers to tech careers through mentors and partners; and
3. CompTIA Giving, which supports IT-related charities with financial and volunteer resources.

Charles Eaton was named executive vice president of social innovation at CompTIA, while he also will continue to be the CEO of Creating IT Futures. Eaton commented, “We’re looking forward to driving several new programs through all 3 philanthropic branches at CompTIA with the goal of shrinking the skills gap so that there are enough qualified IT workers to fill the jobs employers demand. Through CompTIA Giving, CompTIA will make most of its financial donations, while NextUp will focus on partnering and Creating IT Futures will build its own programs.”

Under CompTIA Giving, the Channel Chief Giving Circle works with industry leaders to identify worthwhile charities and make a $1,000 donation in those leaders’ names. The Circle aims to donate $200,000 annually amongst the charities, most of which are focused on getting young people on a pathway to a tech career.

CompTIA employees also spend hundreds of hours volunteering at a wide range of local and international charities. Staff get one paid day off to use each year to volunteer at a local charity and can participate in an aggressive charitable matching program in which CompTIA matches dollar-for-dollar to qualifying charities, up to $750 per employee per year.

In addition, CompTIA Giving selects other non-profits such as ChiTech, a tech high school in Chicago; Per Scholas, a tech workforce development nonprofit in several U.S. cities; and Women’s Audio Mission in San Francisco to support financially and with volunteerism. 

As another part of CompTIA Giving, CompTIA’s member communities and councils will continue to select technology-related charities to make annual donations of $10,000. Since 2013, these communities and councils have donated more than half a million dollars. Charities that would like to be considered for these annual gifts should contact Cathy Alper, director, member communities, CompTIA, at calper@comptia.org.

CompTIA: Building the Foundation for Technology's Future
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading technology association, with approximately 2,000 member companies, 3,000 academic and training partners, over 100,000 registered users and more than two million IT certifications issued.  CompTIA's unparalleled range of programs foster workforce skills development and generate critical knowledge and insight –  building the foundation for technology’s future.  Visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. 

Press Contact:
Lisa Fasold
Creating IT Futures & CompTIA Giving
630-678-8558
lfasold@comptia.org