Press Releases

i.c.stars, a locally based organization providing opportunities for inner-city young adults to harness the strength of technology for social and economic leadership, has welcomed a very speci

Risetime, a leading Chicago IT services and solutions provider, is proud to announce our sponsorship of i.c.stars.

Sponsorship Includes Support for i.c.stars Annual Events and Participating on i.c.stars Committees

May 1, 2010 - Geneva Technical Services, LLC (“GTS”), a leading provider of IT staffing services and solutions in the Chicago area, today announced their corporate sponsorship of i.c.stars. For over 10 years, i.c.stars has been developing future IT and community leaders through their innovative and intensive project-based training programs designed to develop the business and technical skills of program participants.

“Few organizations in the Chicago area are dedicated to the development of future IT talent and community leaders. i.c.stars is unique in this regard and it’s an honor for GTS and our staff to be associated with such an organization. We look forward to contributing to the growth of i.c.stars and assisting with the delivery of their mission to talented IT professionals,” commented Rich Linden, Owner and CEO of GTS.

“We are grateful for GTS’ financial commitment and the time and energy their staff will contribute to planning the future of our organization. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with GTS,” said Sandee Kastrul, i.c.stars President and co-founder.

About Geneva Technical Services:
Founded in 1999 as a Chicago-based IT staffing services and solutions company, Geneva Technical Services (“GTS”) is a leading provider of IT talent to Fortune 1000 companies on a contract, contract-to-hire and permanent basis. GTS’ client-focused approach to forming long-term relationships with customers is the foundation of the company’s success and a high-quality talent recruiting process ensures customers are presented with the best IT talent available in the market. For more information, visit GTS at < a href=”http://www.genevatechnicalservices.com/” target=”_blank”>www.genevatechnicalservices.com, or call 1-773-867-8645.

About i.c.stars:
i.c.stars is a Chicago-based non-profit organization formed in 1999 to develop 1,000 Community Leaders by 2020. Adults with a high school diploma or GED participate in an intensive four-month program using project-based learning and full immersion teaching to develop change-driven, future leaders skilled in business and technology. Learn more by visiting the i.c.stars web site: www.icstars.org.

Consejo, Inc. Cultivates Another Project with i.c.stars Graduates for Ball Horticultural Company

With the support of Ball Horticultural Company, Consejo, Inc., a technology consulting firm with offices in Chicago, IL and Hollywood, FL launched another client project with i.c.stars, a non-profit, technology training program for young adults to build a key software application for the horticultural leader.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 30, 2010 — Consejo’s consulting team selected two graduates to participate in the project for Ball Horticultural Company. Adonis Latham, an i.c.stars alum and now full-time consultant for Consejo, Inc., will provide overall technical management.

Director of Information Technology at Ball Horticultural Company, Mark Morris, finds great value in working with Consejo and i.c.stars. The program provides his department the chance to stay in touch with new, fresh ideas in the IT arena, while creating professional opportunities for young, hard-working individuals looking to get their foot in the IT door. “I’m extremely pleased to have an opportunity to be working jointly with both Consejo and i.c.stars, which enables me to take advantage of Consejo’s expertise, while providing i.c.stars interns with real work experience,” expressed Mr. Morris.

This engagement also allows i.c.stars the opportunity to grow and enrich “Bridges”, their social enterprise program to another level. Eric J. Lannert, i.c.stars vice president said, “The partnership is one long chain of people and organizations working together to pay-it-forward. In 2008, Consejo brought to i.c.stars an idea to collaboratively build ASP.NET and SharePoint client solutions leveraging their strong methodology. The approach uses a mix of graduates from i.c.stars in a paid apprenticeship model supervised by senior developers at Consejo. The model has worked extraordinarily well and we are excited to be extending the Bridges program into this part of the market.”

The Ball Horticultural Company project is the second client engagement with i.c.stars and Consejo. In 2009, Steppenwolf Theatre Company called on the Consejo group to create an intranet-solution using Microsoft SharePoint. Two i.c.stars interns were immediately put to task under the wings of a Consejo consulting team. Subsequently, both interns received job offers and are now working full-time in the IT industry.

About Consejo, Inc.
Consejo, Inc. is a technology consulting firm dedicated to making information technology work for their clients. They offer a full menu of services that enables their clients to achieve their business goals. As part of the company’s core mission, Consejo, Inc. recognizes the importance of giving back to the community by providing on-the-job opportunities for economically disadvantaged adults.
For more information about Consejo, Inc. visit Consejo’s web site

About i.c.stars
i.c.stars is a Chicago-based non-profit organization formed in 1999 to develop 1,000 Community Leaders by 2020. Adults with a high school diploma or GED participate in an intensive four-month program using project-based learning and full immersion teaching to develop change-driven, future leaders skilled in business and technology. Learn more by visiting i.c.stars’ web site

CHICAGO, IL (March 25, 2010) — i.c.stars, a Chicago-based, non-profit job training program for young adults, and Accenture

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (March 22, 2010) – With the donation of 24 laptops, CDW LLC, a leading provider of technology solutions to business, government and education, continues its commitment to i.c.stars, a non-profit organization that trains young adults in technology and cultivates community leaders.

i.c.stars interns are assigned a laptop when they enter the organization’s 16-week technology and leadership training program. Laptops are critical tools to give interns continuous access to their work, allowing them to work anywhere in the community as they lay the groundwork for future careers.

Since 2006, CDW, based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, has provided more than $60,000 in equipment to i.c.stars. CDW also participates directly in the mission of i.c.stars, donating the time and expertise of its employees and executive leadership.

More than 20 CDW employees have served as volunteers in the program, mentoring participants and teaching workshops, attending technology and leadership industry events, and supporting i.c.stars by providing the technology tools to impact communities.

CDW’s Senior Vice President and CIO, Jon Stevens, recently shared his knowledge and experience with i.c.stars interns during afternoon tea, a daily gathering during which i.c.stars interns have an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with inspiring business and community leaders.

David Tzau, CDW’s Manager – E-Commerce Site Strategy, and Allison Porterfield, CDW’s Application Development Manager, run a regular workshop showing interns how to present ideas using Excel and other tools to prepare for the business planning competition project, which is part of the i.c.stars curriculum.

“i.c.stars is developing future business leaders in business and technology. It just makes sense for a technology provider like CDW to support its mission,” said Sandy Pierantoni, Senior Program Manager – Community Relations, CDW.

“We are grateful for the partnership over the years and look forward to expanding our impact in the business and civic communities as a result of our relationship with CDW,” i.c.stars President and co-founder Sandee Kastrul said. “The laptop computers that we receive from CDW have a tremendous impact on our program and our students.”

About i.c.stars

i.c.stars is a Chicago-based non-profit organization formed in 1999 to develop 1,000 Community Leaders by 2020. Adults with a high school diploma or GED participate in an intensive four-month program using project-based learning and full immersion teaching to develop change-driven, future leaders skilled in business and technology.

i.c.stars assists graduates in finding career-focused employment at major corporations and non-profits, and graduates typically double their earning power after completing the program. Alums are also eligible for special admission and automatic acceptance into the DePaul University CTI or School for New Learning bachelors programs. Learn more at www.icstars.org.

About CDW

CDW is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government and education. Ranked No. 41 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies, CDW features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right technology products and services to meet their needs. The company’s technology specialists offer expertise in designing customized solutions, while its advanced technology engineers can assist customers with the implementation and long-term management of those solutions. Areas of focus include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software licensing and mobility solutions.

CDW was founded in 1984 and as of December 31, 2009 employed approximately 6,150 coworkers. In 2008, the company generated sales of $8.1 billion. For more information, visit www.cdw.com.

Chicago, IL (July 24, 2009) —Investment banking firm Houlihan Smith & Company, and i.c.stars, a Chicago-based not-for-profit devoted to helping inner-city adults with high school degrees obtain local technology jobs, are working together to continue internships that foster the advancement of the next generation of technology and business talent. Both organizations recognize the benefits of continuing investment in young talent especially in a down economy.

i.c.stars to Gather, Discuss ‘Culture of Innovation’ with Illinois CIO

PRESS RELEASE: Alumni Service Day

Submitted by Seth Harris on Wed, 2009-06-03 14:00.