After several years of shift changes and second jobs to make ends meet, Anthony Kitta knew it was time to make an adjustment. He is now in a job he enjoys thanks to Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions.
“I was working seven days a week,” Kitta says, adding that he had a part-time job while employed as a custodian for the Frederick County School Board. “I needed to find a job somewhere that would allow me to continue my certifications.”
Kitta went straight into the workforce after graduating from Page County High School in 2002, taking a job at James Madison University that eventually included duties in grounds and housekeeping and in the moving and transportation departments.
“I worked there for about 17 years,” Kitta says. “After I met my wife, Jennifer, I moved to find a better paying job and other opportunities for education.”
He decided to pursue an education and career in IT.
“The IT field is always evolving,” says Kitta. “Having an IT background provides me with job security.”
In the spring of 2022, he registered in Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions’ CompTIA programs, which qualify for FastForward funding. Since then, he has completed CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2, TestOut PC Pro, CompTIA Network +, and TestOut Network Pro certifications and has plans for more.
“I had 8-hour classes on Saturdays for a month,” Kitta says, “I had to take my exam the following month. Comp IT Fundamentals was the first certification I had to get in order to take the other CompTIA certifications. I continue to take classes to keep up with the technology that is becoming integral to all aspects of business and society.”
While Kitta says he initially chose Laurel Ridge’s Middletown Campus because it was close to home, he speaks highly of the college and its faculty. Of his IT Fundamentals instructor, Raphael Caballero, he says, “He helped tutor me, working with me so that I understood the material and could pass my exam.”
Kitta completed his A+ certification with Marc Anderson.
“Marc was great,” says Kitta. “He really helped me out. That one lasted a month and a half with 4-hour classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. That really helped with my work schedule.”
In the summer of 2023, Kitta began putting those certifications to use, taking an IT support job with Syntelligent Analytic Solutions, LLC.
“The training these past few weeks has been going great,” Kitta says. “It is a lot to take in, how their system works.”
Speaking of his role, he adds, “I answer phone calls, emails, and respond to live chats, assisting with customers’ accounts like resetting passwords. The job I have now gives me the satisfaction of knowing how the system works and solving technical problems with my clients.”
His duties also include providing technical support for the hardware systems, sub-systems or other applications, troubleshooting network connectivity issues, and working with remote employees on a corporate network.
For Kitta, continuing his education at Laurel Ridge has been life changing.
This profile was written by Mandy Davis, a 2023 liberal arts graduate of Laurel Ridge.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.