KMS Technology co-founder and President Josh Lieberman joins PER SCHOLAS’ NATIONAL Board of Directors; named Atlanta Chairperson
ATLANTA — Per Scholas, a national nonprofit organization that offers free, high-quality technology education to un- or underemployed residents, has elected KMS Technology co-founder and president Josh Lieberman to the National Board of Directors and has named him Chair of Per Scholas Atlanta, Advisory Council. Lieberman has supported and volunteered with Per Scholas since 2011. He championed the Per Scholas Atlanta site, which opened a year ago, and has graduated more than 80 Atlanta residents.
“I was immediately drawn to Per Scholas because of its core mission, to provide free, life-changing training and resources to those who need it,” said Lieberman. “The organization is run like a business, very metrics and goal oriented, which appealed to me, too. I can do much more with my mind and my connections than I can do with my hands.”
“It’s a great privilege to welcome Josh to the Per Scholas board of directors,” said Jasmine Miller, Managing Director, Per Scholas. “It’s evident in his dedication to launching the Atlanta site that he brings strong leadership experience and a passion for expanding opportunity and access to individuals to build a better life for themselves and their families.”
The Atlanta office received national funding from the Kellogg Foundation and some of the Per Scholas founding members. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation supported the site on a local level. Lieberman worked with the Blank Foundation to situate the site within Westside Works, a long-term neighborhood program focused on creating employment opportunities and job training for residents of the Westside community, including Vine City, English Avenue, Castleberry Hill and other contiguous neighborhoods.
Per Scholas serves un- and underemployed individuals who make around $10,000 a year. It has graduated more than 6,000 people through its training program, now in six markets. Individuals are put through a rigorous vetting process to identify those who would be successful in the training. Selected students participate in an intensive 10-week training course. After graduating, Per Scholas leverages employer relationships to build on-ramps to successful careers for graduates in the technology community, where they make between $30,000-$35,000, more than a 300-percent increase in their annual income.
“It’s a transformative experience for the individual and the family,” added Lieberman.
Lieberman dedicates his personal and professional resources to support a variety of nonprofit organizations and events. For example, KMS Technology is a proud supporter of Pledge 1%, a corporate philanthropy movement dedicated to making the community a key stakeholder in every business. KMS Technology commits to philanthropic efforts through its business by pledging 1% of product, 1% of equity, and 1% of employee time to improve communities around the world. As part of the program, they are currently hosting a professional clothing collection to benefit the students and graduates of Per Scholas. Employees, colleagues and clients are encouraged to bring in gently worn and clean work attire now through April 6.
About Per Scholas
Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, Per Scholas prepares motivated and curious adults who are un- or underemployed for transformative careers in the tech sector, while creating on-ramps to businesses in need of their talents. Per Scholas provides its solution in six cities across the country: Atlanta, Ga.; Greater Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; the National Capital Region; and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained over 6,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing careers in technology.
