LeapIT Candidate Spotlight
Chris Mason
Certified LeapIT Associate
“I always say, show me once, and I can handle it from there.”
Chris Mason learned to understand determination and hard work at an early age. His mother was an inspiration. As a single mom, she entered nursing school to push her career while raising her young son. Years later, Chris emulates his mother's hard work and tenacity.
Through passion and a willingness to take on new challenges, Chris completed the LeapIT program in order to bring his career to life more fully.
With the confidence to never give up and a work ethic hard-earned through his service in the Navy, Chris pursues his goals with diligence, helping his team accomplish more things, and build meaningful relationships in the process.
Chris at a Glance
Education & Certification:
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LeapIT Certified
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Cloud Quality Engineering Workforce Training Program
What's Chris learning now?
QA and Automation
Hobbies
Gym, guitar, games
IT Goal
I hope to become a software developer
A Knack with People
Chris Mason learned to understand determination and hard work at an early age. His mother was an inspiration. As a single mom, she entered nursing school to push her career while raising her young son. Years later, Chris emulates his mother's hard work and tenacity.
After serving five years in the Navy, Chris needed a job. He entered customer service mainly because he’s always been a people person. “People are just drawn to me, I don't know why, but I take it for what it is. I like building relationships with people,” Chris states plainly. For five years, Chris worked hard, applying himself to his job and building a reputation as a valuable team member. He spent another five years in leadership roles in customer service, expanding his knack for connecting with people. But customer service, while it came naturally, wasn’t his passion. "I felt like I had plateaued, I wanted something more, that made me have a deeper sense of purpose,” Chris says. The path towards that purpose started to become clearer with a job at the veterans-focused nonprofit, Tech for Troops.
Purpose Meets Opportunity
As Chris realized he reached a plateau, he called on the inspiration from his mother. She expanded her skillsets to move her career forward, why couldn’t he do the same? So Chris entered a trade school for IT skills and soon after landed a job with the veterans nonprofit that refurbished technology for veterans and other organizations. He loved it. Not only was it like being back on the aircraft carrier, cracking jokes and having a good time, but also the work had purpose. “I felt like I was doing something meaningful, and that felt really good,“ Chris recalls.
It was while Chris was working at Tech for Troops that he heard a presentation about LeapIT. It was another path to further his foundation in IT, and continue to move his career forward. He made the leap, and took on the LeapIT program while still caring hours it is full-time job.
The LeapIT Difference
Having completed the training program and being placed at a Fortune 500 insurance firm, Chris continues to show how his determination and hard work advance him towards his purpose. The door opened by the LeapIT program helped Chris identify the next step in his meaningful journey, “I want to keep building on my expertise, and create a foundation that really opens up opportunity.” The same can-do attitude Chris has carried with him through the military and his work beyond continues to inform his approach, “I always say, show me once and I can take it from there.“ It's an approach that continues to take Chris forward.