Per Scholas names Caitlyn Brazill as CEO and President, succeeding Plinio Ayala after his 28-year tenure. Oct 09, 2026, 08:50 ET NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Per Scholas, the national workforce accelerator advancing economic mobility through no-cost training for high-growth careers, today announced that Caitlyn Brazill, current President of Per Scholas, will become Chief Executive Officer and President effective January 1, 2027. She will succeed Plinio Ayala, who is stepping down after 28 years. "This succession reflects Per Scholas' strength, depth of leadership, and continued commitment to expanding economic opportunity," said Per Scholas Co-Founder and Board Chair Lewis E. Miller. "Under Plinio, Per Scholas grew from a local initiative in the Bronx into a national workforce development organization serving more than 25 communities across the country. His legacy includes not only the organization's growth but also a culture of empowerment, rigorous impact measurement, and market responsiveness. Caitlyn has led much of what Per Scholas has become in the last decade, and with her as CEO, we intend to reach 25,000 learners a year by 2030." Planned over several years in close partnership between Ayala, Brazill, and Per Scholas' Board of Directors, the transition positions Per Scholas to build on its national impact while continuing to provide rigorous, no-cost, AI-enabled training; new pathways into high-growth fields; and a training model that adapts as employer needs change. "Per Scholas has always been about recognizing talent and creating pathways to opportunity," said Ayala. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've built and, more than anything, of the people who helped build it... Caitlyn has been instrumental in shaping the organization we are today, and I have tremendous confidence in her leadership and vision." The transition has also drawn support from longtime funders and employer partners, who highlighted the strength of Per Scholas' model, the organization's ability to respond to a changing economy, and Brazill's role in advancing its growth. "For an organization to scale its impact over the long term, a strong model and a strong leadership culture have to go hand in hand. Plinio Ayala built both at Per Scholas," said Jim Shelton, CEO of Blue Meridian Partners. "Caitlyn has been part of that leadership for nearly a decade, helping translate the organization's mission into growth, innovation, and measurable results. That depth gives Per Scholas a strong foundation for its next chapter." "Per Scholas embodies an approach to economic mobility that we believe is essential: meeting people where they are, while continually responding to where the economy is going," said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. "We saw that potential firsthand through our Economic Opportunity Challenge, which recognized Per Scholas for its ambitious approach to expanding pathways to economic mobility. Caitlyn has been central to the organization's continued growth and evolution, and we look forward to seeing her lead Per Scholas as it helps even more people build thriving careers in a rapidly changing economy." "Per Scholas has proven that its model helps people move into good careers. Caitlyn has been instrumental to that success, and we're excited to see her lead the organization forward. Her commitment to results, learning, and continuous improvement will help Per Scholas continue expanding opportunity for more learners and communities," said Terri Ludwig, CEO, Ballmer Group. "Employers need workforce partners that can move at the pace of technology and understand where talent needs are headed, not where they've been," said Jay Alvather, CEO of Allegis Group. "We've seen Per Scholas do exactly that, from evolving its training for an AI-powered economy to opening new pathways into critical infrastructure. Caitlyn has been deeply involved in that evolution, and we're excited." "We are proud to have partnered with Per Scholas for many years, collaborating to dramatically expand their geographic reach and the number of learners, all while the training tracks have evolved to stay up to date on the rapidly evolving employment opportunities in the tech sector. Plinio has been the visionary and guide throughout this expanding impact, with Caitlyn as his key lieutenant, and with an expanding team, much has been accomplished. Under Plinio's leadership, many thousands of people are on a path to better lives. We celebrate and honor all he has accomplished. We know that Caitlyn will further expand this impact at scale, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her and her team to support their efforts in every way we can," said Larry Gilson, Founder and Chairman of Focusing Philanthropy. Brazill has spent nearly a decade in senior leadership at Per Scholas, helping to develop the strategy, partnerships, and innovations that drive the organization's growth. She has co-led key initiatives, including AI-enabled instruction, expansion into critical infrastructure training (focusing on Semiconductor, Advanced Manufacturing, Critical Facilities, Data Center Technician, Building Automation Specialist, and Low Voltage career pathways), the Career Accelerator upskilling platform for Per Scholas alumni to continue advancing in their careers, and the Zero Percent Loan for learners who would otherwise be unable to participate in the program. "I am honored to lead Per Scholas into its next chapter," said Brazill. "Plinio built an extraordinary foundation and a leadership culture that gives people the confidence to see what's changing and move with it. Having helped guide Per Scholas through much of our recent growth and innovation - from becoming an AI-enabled organization to expanding into infrastructure careers and creating new ways for our learners and alumni to advance - I've seen firsthand what's possible. Our mission has not changed. The world around us has. What is evolving is how we deliver on that mission: We are continuing to adapt our training to the changing demands of work - particularly in an AI-powered economy - while increasing the velocity at which we bring those high-growth career pathways to more untapped talent and communities nationwide." Ayala will remain actively engaged as an advisor through June 2027, supporting continuity and the transfer of institutional knowledge. About Per Scholas Per Scholas is a proven talent accelerator that delivers AI-enabled workforce solutions with real results, transforming lives, strengthening businesses, and building opportunity nationwide. Since 1995, we've provided no-cost training to 35,000+ professionals in sought-after skills. Our responsive training closes hiring gaps in months, delivering day-one-ready talent. With 25+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers, from Fortune 500 companies to startups, to build talent pipelines in fields like Data Centers, AI, Advanced Manufacturing, Critical Facilities, Cybersecurity, and Cloud. Media Contact: Mackenzie Pedersen (480) 528-1536 [email protected] SOURCE Per Scholas

Chandler commits $35,000 to free IT training program for city residents seeking tech jobs. Chandler's council allocated $35,000 to Per Scholas, a nonprofit offering free 12- to 15-week IT training to help residents pivot to tech careers. Chandler set aside $35,000 for Per Scholas, a free IT training nonprofit helping city residents break into tech careers. Posted 3:26 AM, Oct 08, 2026 CHANDLER, AZ - Money in this year's budget was set aside specifically to help advance Chandler's workforce. Trent Siler was doing DoorDash and trying to climb out of a hard chapter. "I was initially doing DoorDash for a while; prior to that, I actually going through some anxiety and depression phases, and I have been trying to get out of that, and that's why I needed to push myself," Trent Siler said. Now he's about to graduate as his class valedictorian from a free IT training program called Per Scholas. Chandler's council recently put $35,000 toward the program to train residents like Siler for tech jobs right here. "Our goal is to work with the city of Chandler to help learners be able to live, train, and work in the community that they live in," said Dr. Sharise Erby, managing director of Per Scholas Phoenix. Per Scholas is a nonprofit. It offers no-cost tech training to people who are often starting over. "The majority of our learners they are pivoting from other careers, or, like I said, they have been unemployed or underemployed for the last year, the last two years; they are at a place of, like, what do I do next, where do I go," said Erby. The program runs 12 to 15 weeks with professional development and hands-on training. "They are building cables; they are working through the whole process so they have real hands-on instruction so they are ready day one when they step into the office place with their new employer," said Erby. Chandler's money, plus other donors, covers tuition and credentials for students. Demand is growing. Per Scholas is adding classroom space and looking at a satellite campus in Chandler. This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. We're all about Chandler - the schools, the neighborhoods, the businesses, the decisions being made at City Hall and in the community that affect your daily life.

NetApp honors the NFL with Customer Social Impact Award. 4 mins read New grant from NetApp to Per Scholas expands cybersecurity and AI career pathways to learners historically underrepresented in corporate America SAN JOSE, Calif.-BUSINESS WIRE- NetApp(R)(NASDAQ: NTAP), the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, today announced it will present the NFL with its Customer Social Impact Award at INSIGHT 2026, recognizing the NFL's sustained commitment to expanding access to high-growth careers through its Inspire Change initiative. Building on that impact, NetApp is launching a philanthropic partnership with Per Scholas, one of the NFL's Inspire Change grant partners, and providing a grant to support Per Scholas' Cybersecurity with AI Tools training program. The initiative will expand zero tuition training and career pathways for people from historically underrepresented communities, advancing NetApp's commitment to data and AI education and career access. Part of NetApp's Social Impact Awards program, the Data and AI Empowerment category honors customers and partners using technology to expand access to the data and AI education, skills, and opportunities needed to thrive in the age of intelligence. Cybersecurity is a crucial field with a growing need for individuals with highly specialized skills to address emerging threats. Since 2020, the NFL's Inspire Change initiative has supported Per Scholas in addressing that gap, helping thousands of learners gain in-demand skills, advance their careers and increase their economic mobility. "Through Inspire Change, the NFL is committed to using our platform to help remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities in communities across the country," said Anna Isaacson, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility at the NFL. "We're thrilled that a partner like NetApp can further expand that access for Per Scholas learners, especially for the in-demand skills that can open doors to long-term careers and economic advancement." The NetApp-Per Scholas partnership extends the current programs into cybersecurity and AI, combining Per Scholas' workforce-development expertise with NetApp's leadership. With new resources for training that pairs cybersecurity fundamentals with practical AI tools, more learners can develop skills aligned with evolving employer needs. "AI is changing work faster than traditional talent systems can adapt, making employer-aligned, hands-on training more important than ever," said Caitlyn Brazill, President of Per Scholas. "This partnership with NetApp will help more learners build the technical skills, professional judgment and confidence they need to launch careers in cybersecurity and AI - and create lasting economic mobility." "Creating opportunities for people to develop in-demand skills is essential to building stronger communities and a stronger workforce," said César Cernuda, President at NetApp. "As AI reshapes every industry, organizations need professionals who understand how to protect, secure, and unlock the value of data. By partnering with Per Scholas, we're helping create new pathways into careers that will strengthen the future workforce while advancing the cybersecurity and AI expertise organizations need to proactively detect threats, protect critical data, and recover with confidence." The NFL will be honored with the Customer Social Impact Award for Data and AI Empowerment at NetApp INSIGHT 2026, the company's flagship customer experience. The partnership is an example of how organizations can combine technology, education and cross-sector collaboration to create measurable social impact. Additional Resources About the NFL Inspire Change is a year-round initiative that highlights the impactful social justice work done by NFL players, clubs, the league office, and grant partners to break down barriers to opportunity and end systemic racism. Since 2017, the NFL Family has provided $300 million to more than 40 national grant partners and more than 600 grassroots organizations to advance social justice causes in the areas of education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform. To date, the NFL Foundation has provided more than 1,800 Inspire Change matching grants to current NFL players and Legends for nonprofits of their choice to help reduce barriers to opportunity. To learn more about the NFL's Inspire Change initiative and to view the 2023 Social Justice Impact Report, visit www.nfl.com/inspirechange. Follow @InspireChange on Twitter and Instagram. On Facebook, follow www.facebook.com/inspirechange. About Per Scholas Per Scholas is a proven talent accelerator that delivers AI-enabled workforce solutions with real results, transforming lives, strengthening businesses, and building opportunity nationwide. Since 1995, Medianet has provided no-cost training to 35,000+ professionals in sought-after skills. Its responsive training closes hiring gaps in months, delivering day-one-ready talent. With 25+ campuses and remote programs, Medianet partner with employers, from Fortune 500 companies to startups, to build talent pipelines in fields like Data Centers, AI, Advanced Manufacturing, Critical Facilities, Cybersecurity, and Cloud. About NetApp For more than three decades, NetApp has helped the world's leading organizations navigate change - from the rise of enterprise storage to the intelligent era defined by data and AI. Today, NetApp is the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, helping customers turn data into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and growth. At the heart of that infrastructure is the NetApp data platform - the unified, enterprise-grade, intelligent foundation that connects, protects, and activates data across every cloud, workload, and environment. Built on the proven power of NetApp ONTAP, its leading data management software and OS, and enhanced by automation through the AI Data Engine and AFX, it delivers observability, resilience, and intelligence at scale. Disaggregated by design, the NetApp data platform separates storage, services, and control so enterprises can modernize faster, scale efficiently, and innovate without lock-in. As the only enterprise storage platform natively embedded in the world's largest clouds, it gives organizations the freedom to run any workload anywhere with consistent performance, governance, and protection. With NetApp, data is always ready - ready to defend against threats, ready to power AI, and ready to drive the next breakthrough. 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