CNSI Partners with the Virginia Ready Initiative to Help Virginians Get Back to Work

June 29, 2020

Categories: Press Releases

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CNSI unites with coalition to combat COVID-19 job loss across the Commonwealth

 

June 29, 2020 – Tysons Corner, VA – CNSI, a leading business solutions provider in developing and delivering innovative health information technology solutions, today announced it is a Business Partner of the Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready), a new initiative to help unemployed Virginians across the Commonwealth get back to work quickly. In response to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on unemployment, VA Ready, in partnership with businesses and Virginia’s community colleges, equips people who are out of work with the required skills for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors.

“We are proud to join forces with businesses across the Commonwealth to launch this outstanding initiative,” said Todd Stottlemyer, CEO, CNSI. “As an employer in Virginia, we know first-hand the importance of building the talent pipeline in the technology sector, and what better way to do it than by retraining recently unemployed workers to fill in-demand jobs.”

“As the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are seeing an urgent need to get Virginians back to work,” said Glenn A. Youngkin, co-founder and chairman of VA Ready. “Employer engagement is critical to retraining thousands of Virginians for in-demand jobs. I’m grateful to CNSI and the unique coalition that is partnering in this much-needed effort.”

More than 800,000 people in the Commonwealth have filed for unemployment since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Low-wage earners and minority communities have been hit the hardest. At the same time, demand is projected to grow for specialized jobs in the fields of technology, healthcare and manufacturing/skilled trades.

VA Ready, a newly formed public charity, rewards out-of-work Virginians who commit themselves to training for in-demand jobs. VA Ready Scholars earn a credential in one of many selected training programs through FastForward, a state-led short-term workforce credential program to train Virginians for top, in-demand jobs across the Commonwealth. FastForward is offered through the Virginia Community College System’s (VCCS) 23 community colleges. Upon achieving their credential, VA Ready Scholars receive a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award and are offered opportunities to interview with VA Ready’s business partners.

“The goal of VA Ready is not just to give our scholars a credential, but a clear path to a high-quality job at one of Virginia’s best companies,” said Caren Merrick, CEO of VA Ready. “Likewise, companies will have access to talent they know have been through a credential program that reflects their needs, which will enable them to grow their businesses, remain competitive and stimulate our state’s economy. It is a win-win for everyone.”

As a VA Ready Business Partner CNSI will be supporting the initiative in several ways, including:

  • Financial support for Credential Achievement Awards and awareness efforts;
  • Input on offerings and curricula to VA Ready’s Talent Task Force with VCCS to ensure training program success;
  • Participating in the VA Ready Job Exchange and providing job interview opportunities to VA Ready Scholars.

For more information on VA Ready, including how the recently unemployed can apply, or how a business can become an employer partner, visit www.vaready.org.

 

About CNSI
CNSI delivers a broad range of health information technology enterprise solutions and customizable products to a diverse base of state and federal agencies. We align, build, and manage innovative, high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help customers achieve their mission, enhance business performance, reduce costs, and improve the health for over 50 million Americans. With locations throughout the U.S. and in India, CNSI employs a world-class team of technologists, healthcare subject-matter experts and program managers, all of whom have experience with large scale mission-critical information technology implementations. CNSI’s website is: http://www.cns-inc.com.

About The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready)
VA Ready is uniting stakeholders, including the Commonwealth’s business community and the FastForward program of the Virginia Community College System to retrain out-of-work Virginians with high-demand skills and build career opportunities.

 

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kelly Schlageter
CNSI
703-214-3364
kelly.schlageter@cns-inc.com