In 2021, after a successful 25-year career as a courier at FedEx, Tony Guillen had the opportunity to pursue something new and different. Tony says, “I wanted to go back to school. I just didn’t know what for yet.” Tony frequently recalled his high school days when computers and information systems sparked his curiosity. Although life had taken him down a different career path, his interest in tech never faltered – even all these years later. So, after some reflection, Tony knew this was his chance to revisit that high school dream. While exploring different job opportunities and training experiences, Tony attended Techapalooza (a tech-focused job and resource fair), where he met Elliott Esparza, Technical Education Manager at IT Career Lab and National Able Network…and the rest is history!
Tony says, “Elliott was encouraging, honest, and always positive. From there, I connected with other folks at National Able Network and IT Career Lab – like Tiffany, Greg, Sonia, and Brian* – and everyone was phenomenal.” While enrolling at IT Career Lab, Tony was determined to pursue the Network & System Infrastructure track. In this track, Tony would receive hands on training and education that would prepare him for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and IT Infrastructure Library Foundation (ITIL 4) certifications.
At IT Career Lab, Tony was dedicated to his studies, and he truly embraced the life-long learning journey that comes with becoming a professional in the IT industry. Upon completion of his coursework, Tony prepared to test for the CCNA and ITIL 4 certifications. Although he earned both certifications, he recalls the CCNA was particularly challenging. Tony says, “I failed it the first time…but I went back to the books, focused hard, and passed it on my second attempt!”
As Tony jumped into job search mode, he recalls it was a bit daunting with several months of sending application after application, however he stayed motivated. Tony says, “…I never gave up. I got interviews, job offers, and eventually the IBM opportunity. I was through the roof!” Currently, Tony works at IBM as a System Services Representative—a full-circle moment for someone who started this path seeking to achieve a high-school era dream. He says, “If it wasn’t for the CCNA, I don’t think hiring manager would’ve hired me…the interviewer brought it up three times so I know it was a factor that set me apart! Folks in the industry know how much dedication it takes to earn that certification, so I believe it really made a difference.”
In his current role, Tony provides field tech support for laptops, printers, and hardware infrastructure. He says, “IBM is so supportive. They bring in people at all levels and want to build you up. I feel lucky—but I also know I put in the work. IT Career Lab helped me build my toolkit, and now I’m using those tools every day.”
Tony’s journey has inspired those around him, too. “I tell everyone that it’s never too late. I’m 51 years old and I made it happen. The job market is tough, but if you stay grounded, keep learning, and trust the process, you can get where you want to go!”
Congratulations, Tony—you’re proof that reinvention has no age limit.
*Names and titles of team members were shortened for brevity. Please find full information below:
Tiffany Oliver, IT Career Lab Instructor
Greg Weaver, Senior Program Manager
Sonia Orozco, IT Career Lab Program Coach
