CompTIA Blog

As Dwight Schrute would say, “Fact: the small and medium size business (SMB) sector is critically important to the US economy.” With the daily financial news dominated by movements in the Dow Jones Industrial Average or earnings reports from the big guys, it’s sometimes easy to forget the true significance of the SMB market. Consider for a moment: the 30 companies comprising the Dow, a proxy for “the market,” employ about 7 million workers. In contrast, the SMB market (<500 employees) employs ...

While the economy continues to improve, some workers are still struggling to put food on the table and take care of their families. Many are hard-working and dedicated individuals who have had to turn their professional lives upside down in this turbulent market.When the market gives us lemons, it’s time to make lemonade with a tried-and-true recipe. Education and certifications give professionals the boost they need to differentiate themselves and gain employment. At the CompTIA Educational Fou ...

I can’t remember the last time I asked a tech salesperson to recommend something.  Sure, I’ll ask if they have something in stock or what something costs, but nothing more.  And inevitably while I’m standing there, I’ll hear someone given the wrong specifications for a product or told that it is compatible with something it isn’t.Unfortunately, under-qualified salespeople are at work selling products and services from all levels of all industries.  The result too is universal – no one is happy.  ...

Looking back over the IT news from 2009, I’m struck by a handful of shifts and trends that will have a lasting impact on the IT industry. Here are my top five: The financial meltdown – what started as a panic at the end of 2008 ran well into 2009 with companies laying off staff and seeing some of their worst quarters in history during the first six months of the year. While the banking system has become more stable, credit is still at a trickle. Mergers to add services – Dell, HP, Xerox and othe ...

With the war still raging in Iraq and Afghanistan, we often focus on the vets who are just now transitioning from military service to private life. But IT skills can help vets of any age find new career opportunities. Take Gary William I. Anthony of San Antonio, Texas, a recent graduate of the CompTIA Educational Foundation’s Creating Futures training.Recently Gary accepted an initial IT job as a network tech to pull cable with a U.S. government subcontractor in Afghanistan, beginning in early n ...

In this edition, Mark A. Miller, President and CEO of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers describes his interest in CompTIA’s Getting America Back To Work program.  Download the MP3 file.[podcast]http://www.comptia.org/media/Mark_Miller_Getting_America_Back_to_Work_Dec_2010.mp3[/podcast]

Prognosticators come in many flavors. In my opinion, the ones who actually put real money at risk provide some of the most useful insights. I recently attended Potomac TechWire’s annual Venture Capital Outlook breakfast roundtable, held just outside of Washington, DC. With panelists from New Atlantic Ventures, Columbia Capital, Calvert Funds, Valhalla Partners and LaunchBox Digital, there was a wide range of expertise, investment styles and opinions.Even for those far removed from the VC world, ...

We’re ending the year right, ranking on several top lists of 2009. Channel Insider noted CompTIA’s success in its end-of-year Bull’s Eye Awards, bestowing upon us the “Challenger” designation for being a vibrant Channel Community and for CEO Todd being a top IT industry influencer.  The magazine praised Todd’s leadership in encouraging community and collaboration, noting, “Thibodeaux has infused a level of energy and activity in CompTIA not seen i ...

Todd was featured on WGN Midday News today giving some tips on how to keep your mobile devices and information safe while travelling this holiday season. The CompTIA President and CEO urged travelers to keep their devices password-protected and to use secure connections.But “the overwhelming biggest security risk is just people not paying attention,” Thibodeaux told anchor Steve Sanders. Even if it’s a hassle, your laptop should always be with you, Thibodeaux advised.Having trouble viewing this ...

I was recently on Capitol Hill talking with staffers on both sides of the aisle whose job it is to focus on legislation impacting small businesses. To their credit they are always open to the feedback and ideas of the small business community so we had many opportunities to tell the same disappointing story.As the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was being drafted and put into law our industry was supportive. It wasn’t a perfect bill by any stretch, but there were enough reasons to ...

We have been asked by the US Trade Representative to participate in an SMEs in Trade seminar to be kicked off by Ambassador Kirk on January 21st. As part of that event, we will be providing some VAR speakers and will conduct a survey of small IT companies who export. We will partner with the Coalition of Service Industries and the National Association of Manufacturers in this event. Visit www.comptia.org/publicpolicy or contact Robert Kramer for more information. ...

On Tuesday Dec. 15th CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux and a delegation of CompTIA and the Technology Leadership Political Action Committee (TLPAC) companies will attend five Congressional Committee meetings with key House and Senate committees and staff to pitch a number of proposals to help VARs weather the recession and create jobs. The mini-fly-in led by Todd and CompTIA Treasurer Oli Thordarson will include an explanation of the “Growth Tech Capital Initiative” designed to apply stimu ...

Want to give back while widening your brand with the newest bright stars in our industry?  Let us help!With the CompTIA Education Foundation, you can establish merit award scholarships in your name for students pursuing IT careers. When you endow the IT Merit Awards Scholarships, you can designate the scholarships to a preferred under-represented population or to a geographic location where you do business. You even can make the scholarship presentations, thereby creating a positive publicity op ...

At last week’s jobs summit the President heard from business, labor and academic leaders as they brainstormed about getting America back to work. Over the past decade, small businesses have created between 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs, as well as countless technological innovations.  Yet the major role small businesses play in our economy and job creation was seemingly downplayed at the summit.Next week in Washington, CompTIA’s Public Policy office will host several small, California tech co ...

We challenged our employees last summer to a staff fundraising contest for the CompTIA Educational Foundation, raising $50,000 to fund IT training and certification for people in need.  And we’re gearing up to hold a second contest in early 2010. From May through July last year, six teams composed of three to five employees each developed their own fundraising techniques in a heated competition to see which team could raise the most money for the Foundation’s Creating Futures ...