NPower exists to solve one of the technology sector’s biggest challenges: connecting untapped talent with an industry that cannot grow fast enough to meet demand. Employers across Maryland and the United States continue searching for skilled professionals in cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and IT support. At the same time, many talented people remain excluded from those careers because of cost, circumstance, or limited access to training. By preparing veterans, military spouses, and young adults from low- to moderate-income communities for technology careers, NPower strengthens businesses while expanding access to opportunity.
“We’re building far more than training programs,” says Demetrius Goodwin, Executive Director, NPower Maryland. “We’re creating talent pipelines that reflect the communities we serve while helping employers find the skilled professionals they need to grow.”
Building Careers That Last
Founded around the turn of the century, NPower originally helped nonprofits use technology more effectively to support their missions. A landmark partnership with Microsoft expanded that work into multiple metropolitan areas while laying the foundation for a broader vision.
Launching workforce development programs in New York marked a turning point, establishing a model that continues guiding the organization’s work today. Success in one city led to another, steadily expanding into Maryland, Texas, California, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, and New Jersey. Today, more than 12,000 graduates have completed its programs, with ambitions to serve 15,000 participants annually by 2030.
Graduates leave equipped with technical expertise, professional skills, industry certifications, and employer connections that position them for lasting careers rather than simply helping them secure a first job.
“Our goal has never been to graduate students and hope they find opportunities,” he says. “Everything we do is designed around helping people launch sustainable careers while giving employers access to exceptional talent.”
Creating Opportunity Across Maryland
Opening its Baltimore operation in 2016, NPower Maryland welcomed an inaugural cohort of just 25 students into a training facility selected for its accessibility and proximity to employers.
Within that first class, three-quarters of graduates secured employment earning between $45,000 and $60,000. Those early outcomes established credibility across Maryland’s technology community, leading to stronger employer partnerships, the formation of a Regional Advisory Board, and recognition from organizations including Bank of America and the Greater Baltimore Committee.
Today, hundreds of graduates have entered Maryland’s technology workforce through the program. More than 80 percent earn industry-recognized IT certifications, while approximately 70 percent secure technology employment. Careers launched through the program continue reshaping financial futures, with participants reporting average income increases of more than 200 percent.
Behind those numbers are people discovering opportunities they had never imagined possible. Some are veterans transitioning into civilian careers. Others are military spouses rebuilding professional momentum after relocation or young adults becoming the first in their families to enter the technology industry. Every graduate represents another skilled professional helping strengthen Maryland’s workforce.
“Solving the equation of untapped talent is critical to a strong workforce development ecosystem.”
Innovation That Starts with People
People across the organization are encouraged to challenge assumptions, test new approaches, and contribute ideas regardless of role or title. That philosophy has created a culture where experimentation, continuous improvement, and thoughtful refinement become part of everyday work.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional classroom delivery, that culture of adaptability allowed programs to transition rapidly to hybrid and virtual learning. Students continued developing new skills without interruption while the organization expanded flexible delivery models that continue serving learners today.
“Innovation isn’t about chasing every new idea,” he says. “It’s about remaining open to change, measuring what works, and continually improving the way we create value for students, employers, and our partners.”
Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, robotics, and advanced manufacturing continue creating career opportunities that barely existed only a few years ago. Keeping pace means continually updating curriculum, expanding into emerging disciplines, and preparing graduates for careers that continue evolving alongside technology.
Strengthening Maryland’s Innovation Ecosystem
Growing companies need more than new technologies. They also need people with the skills to put those technologies to work. By expanding access to technology careers, the organization helps employers address persistent talent shortages while strengthening Maryland’s innovation economy.
New partnerships, responsive curricula, and expansion into additional industries will allow the organization to reach more learners while remaining focused on creating economic opportunity through technology.
“The future belongs to organizations that can build talent as quickly as technology evolves,” Demetrius says. “We’re committed to helping shape that future by ensuring innovation includes the people who will power it.”
Maryland’s next generation of innovation will depend as much on people as technology. By expanding access to careers that shape the digital economy, NPower continues helping ensure the state’s future workforce is broader, stronger, and ready for what comes next.
Demetrius Goodwin, Executive Director, NPower Maryland
