User:Arolwes1/Centriq training

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Centriq Training
Company typePrivately Held
IndustryEducation and Information Technology
Founded1989
Headquarters8700 State Line Rd. Suite 200 Leawood, KS
Area served
Kansas City, MO
Key people
Kevin Grawe (President), Ted Parker (Vice President of Sales and Marketing), Steve Harmon (Partner), Dean Bezdek (Vice President of Operations), Jessica Oliver (Director of Operations), Justin Ruby (Sales Manager)[1]
ProductsCorporate I.T. Training, Career Track I.T. Training & Web 2.0 Productline
Number of employees
45 (2009)
WebsiteCentriq Training


Centriq Training is an Information Technology and Web 2.0 training provider in the Kansas City, MO area. Centriq has been in operation since 1989 when it was founded as the Network Institute of America. It is the largest I.T. training company in the area having trained upwards of 3,000 I.T. professionals from more than 400 companies in 2008 [2].

Centriq Training is a Microsoft Gold Partner [3] providing training to both corporate clients and career changing individuals at its two locations in Leawood, Kansas and Topeka, Kansas. Centriq has a staff of more than 20 instructors operating in 18 classrooms in the two locations. On the technical training side Centriq Training courses cover all areas of technology including network administration and programming. Centriq offers technical solutions on Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe Systems, Citrix, Novell, VMware, Java, Security, ITIL and Project Management[4].

In 2009, Centriq introduced a line of Web 2.0-based products focused on training individuals and companies on the utilization of social media in various facets of business. The first program to be introduced was a 2.0 for Sales training course. This course trains both individual sales people and corporate sales departments to utilize social media tools in their business. Other innovative products the Web 2.0 program offers include 2.0 for Marketing, 2.0 for the CEO, 2.0 for the Job Seeker and 2.0 for the CIO. Centriq’s Web 2.0 training covers various social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Jigsaw and more [5].


History[edit]

Centriq was founded in 1989 as the Network Institute of America and became the first Novell-authorized training center in Kansas City. Centriq has undergone various changes of ownership but has remained under the same management for 20 years.

1989-1992[edit]

As the Network Institute of America, the company focused on corporate I.T. training for various companies in the Kansas City area. Kevin Grawe joined the team in 1989 and is the current owner of Centriq Training.

1992-1996[edit]

The Network Institute of America became affiliated with US Connect in 1992, a national consortium of leading Microsoft partners, changing its name to US Connect Kansas City. Still acting as a corporate I.T. training company, US Connect Kansas City also trained office copier dealers in the transition from analog to digital technology. Their main client, the National Office Machine Dealers Association (NOMDA) was headquartered in Kansas City.

1996-2001[edit]

In 1996, US Connect was purchased by IKON Office Solutions. The Kansas City office was established as the district office for education services. This office led the initiative of establishing IKON Education as a national training company.

2001-present[edit]

The Kansas City office of IKON Education was re-acquired by the original company partners in 2001 and renamed Centriq. In 2005, Centriq acquired Foss Training[6], a training company focused primarily on the education of career changers for entry-level I.T. jobs. This acquisition created Centriq’s Career Track I.T. Training Division.

Centriq introduced a new division of the company in 2009. Centriq’s line of Web 2.0 products and services offer both personal consumers and corporate clients education and training on utilizing social media tools to further their business. Products featured are 2.0 for Sales, 2.0 for Marketing, 2.0 for the CIO, 2.0 for the CEO and 2.0 for the Job Seeker.

Centriq is presently the longest-operating and largest I.T. training company in the Kansas City area [7].


Courses and Subject Matters Offered[edit]

Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix, CompTIA, Crystal Reports, Java, Linux/Novell, Oracle, VMware, Security/Wireless, Adobe Systems, Business Skills (project management, business analysis and ITIL) & Web 2.0 [8]


Authorizations and Partnerships[edit]

Centriq is the only training company in the Kansas City area that has all of the following authorizations: Microsoft Gold Partner[9], Citrix Authorized Learning Center [10], Novell Authorized Education Center [11], Cisco Sponsored Learning Organization [12], EC-Council Partner, Prometric Authorized Testing Center [13], Pearson Vue [14] & Kryterion


Partnership with the University of Phoenix[edit]

Centriq courses on both the Corporate I.T. and Career Track sides of the I.T. Training division of the company can be applied to a degree with the University of Phoenix. The largest private university in the United States, the University of Phoenix has 224,880 full-time students nation-wide. This partnership between the University of Phoenix and Centriq Training was established in 2009 and serves to aid those who wish to continue their education an avenue to do so after the completion of their technical certifications with Centriq [15].


Company Divisions[edit]

Corporate I.T. Training[edit]

The Corporate I.T. Training division of Centriq Training focuses on providing technical training services to corporate clients who wish to train their internal I.T. employees. With customers such as Cerner, Sprint Nextel and Hallmark Cards, Centriq serves more corporate clients than any other training company in the Kansas City area. Centriq Training offers 55+ instructor-lead training courses for corporate I.T. professionals that are not offered anywhere else in Kansas City [16]. Corporate courses are typically taken on a weekly or daily schedule. Clients can choose to pursue certifications from vendors such as Microsoft, Citrix, Cisco, PMI and CompTIA following the completion of their coursework.

Career Track I.T. Training[edit]

Centriq provides I.T. training to individuals seeking to attain job skills and certification to begin a career in the information technology field. These customers, often career-changers, attend a four-month program on their respective “career track”. Courses are available both during the day and in the evening. Centriq then aids graduates in their job search with the Centriq Connections program. In 2008, Centriq trained 255 students in their Career Track Program [17].

Centriq Connections[edit]

Centriq Connections is a program that assists Career Track graduates with the acquisition of a job following graduation. By providing resume and interview counseling as well as serving as a medium between students and partnered employers such as H&R Block, VinSolutions and Blue Valley School District [18].

Web 2.0 Training[edit]

The Web 2.0 training series has a curriculum centered on teaching students to utilize social media to further their business. 2.0 for Marketing, 2.0 for the CIO, 2.0 for the CEO, 2.0 for the Job Seeker and 2.0 for Sales are some of the courses offered through Centriq’s Web 2.0 program. 2.0 for Sales focuses on both individual consumers looking to advance their personal sales skills as well as corporations looking to train their sales employees in social media selling. 2.0 for Marketing is a service that can be outsourced to corporations in order to begin and or maintain their social media marketing program. The other Web 2.0 programs were still in the Beta stages as of October 2009 [19].


Teaching Environment[edit]

Centriq has two locations in Leawood and Topeka, Kansas. Total, Centriq has 18 classrooms and upwards of 21 instructors that teach their courses. The Leawood building is the main Centriq location and features four Level 6 Hardware-equipped classrooms (with 1 Level 6 classroom in Topeka). Centriq’s rooms meet or exceed these Microsoft specifications [20]:

  • 64-bit Intel Virtualization Technology or AMD Virtualization processor (2.8 GHz dual core or better recommended)
  • Dual 120 GB hard disks 7200 RPM SATA or better (striped)
  • 4 GB RAM expandable to 8 GB or higher
  • DVD (dual layer recommended)
  • Network adapter
  • Sound card
  • Video adapter aero-capable recommended
  • Super VGA monitor (17 inch/ 43 cm)


See Also[edit]

NewITCareer.com

2.0ForSales.com

  • A Centriq Training Student works with hardware.
    A Centriq Training Student works with hardware.
  • A Centriq Career Track graduate speaks with an employer at the Centriq Connections Career Fair.
    A Centriq Career Track graduate speaks with an employer at the Centriq Connections Career Fair.
  1. ^ Management Profiles
  2. ^ Centriq-Foss Training Profile. Kansas City Business Journal.
  3. ^ Microsoft Profile of Centriq Training
  4. ^ Partnerships
  5. ^ Centriq's 2.0 for Sales
  6. ^ Centriq, Foss Merger. Kansas City Business Journal. Monday, August 8, 2005.
  7. ^ Top Computer Training Centers of 2008 Kansas City Business Journal. 2008.
  8. ^ Centriq Course Schedule
  9. ^ Microsoft Gold Partnerships
  10. ^ Citrix Partnerships
  11. ^ Novell Education Centers
  12. ^ Cisco Sponsored Learning Organizations
  13. ^ Prometric Testing
  14. ^ Pearson Vue
  15. ^ University of Phoenix Corporate Articulation
  16. ^ About Centriq Training
  17. ^ Centriq Career I.T. Training
  18. ^ Employers of Centriq Graduates
  19. ^ Centriq's 2.0 for Sales
  20. ^ Microsoft Learning Virtualization Strategy
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