SAN CLEMENTE, CALIF. (PRWEB) March 10, 2020

In conjunction with Orange County United Way, Pacific Life is one of the earliest supporters and sponsors of CyberForward.

CISOSHARE is proud to recognize Pacific Life as an early engagement and hiring partner in CISOSHARE’s CyberForward professional development program.

The early participation and partnership of both Orange County United Way to identify participants in the program, and Pacific Life in providing real-world opportunities to graduated participants is a testament to the power of nonprofit and business partnerships in improving the local community.

This multi-phase program, which began in June 2019 in partnership with Orange County United Way’s UpSkill OC program, is designed to bridge the skills gap by providing job training to underemployed individuals and placing them in one of the estimated 3.5 million unfilled cyber security positions by 2021 according to Cybersecurity Ventures. In doing so, the employer benefits from a trained, qualified candidate and the employee receives a livable wage to be on the path to financial stability.

Orange County United Way has been key to this program’s success in many ways. This includes identifying talent through their agency network, program funding, providing facilities and supplies during training, as well as overarching support as participants work through personal and professional roadblocks while developing their new careers.

“We’re happy to continue our partnership with CISOSHARE’s cyber security training program throughout the year,” says Susan B. Parks, President and CEO of Orange County United Way. “The success of the training program will continue to be a valuable asset to UpSkill OC in providing more job opportunities to both individuals and businesses in Orange County.”

Pacific Life has been crucial as the first engagement and hiring partner in the program by providing relevant cyber opportunities to these individuals, as well as additional insight, mentoring, and support that further accelerates their knowledge and ability to succeed. Most importantly, Pacific Life provides an opportunity for program participants to get real-world work experience with security projects.

“The resources that have come from CISOSHARE’s training program have been a great asset, not only as resources on the production floor, but as members of our team,” says Scott Hellman, Director of Cyber Security GRC at Pacific Life. “Working with members of the program and watching the human element shine through in everything they do is inspiring and energizing. We’re excited to watch the program continue to grow and to provide additional support and opportunities with future participants.”

“Real-world work experience in combination with coordinated, job-specific training and support is the key. These two things make up the lifeblood that transforms people from just getting by, to active and flourishing participants in our digital economy and the communities we all live in,” says Mike Gentile, Founder, President, and CEO of CISOSHARE. He continues: “We will be forever grateful to Orange County United Way and Pacific Life for believing in our team since the inception of the program and in helping us enable this new cyber development pathway."

CyberForward has provided a no-cost opportunity to more than 81 individuals since its beginning in June 2019, with the goal of greatly expanding to hundreds more in 2020. Learn more about the program, and how you can participate in providing program participants or as a hiring organization.

About CISOSHARE 

CISOSHARE is socially conscious enabler of cyber security progress and a proud Inc. 500 company. Based in Southern California and serving organizations everywhere, CISOSHARE is the leading provider of security program development, professional, and managed services for leading organizations around the world. Learning and teaching lies at the core of CISOSHARE's culture, focusing on educating employees and clients about information security through our services. We have served hundreds of organizations from, supplying dedicated security leaders to developing world-class security programs from the ground up. Find out more at https://cisoshare.com 

About CyberForward

CyberForward is a multi-phase professional development programs that first identifies individuals with aptitudes to be successful in cyber security, develops their skills with focused role-based training and a comprehensive support system, and then gets them into working jobs on the path to a livable wage. The program enables success by working with participants to remove common roadblocks such as housing, access to transportation, technology, or other financial limitations so they can focus on their skill development and a successful career in cyber security. Once participants finish the foundational cyber security training and interning phases, the program then places them directly into real work engagements through hiring organizations on 3 to 6-month engagements.

About Pacific Life

For more than 150 years, Pacific Life has helped millions of individuals and families with their financial needs through a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Whether your goal is to protect loved ones or grow your assets for retirement, Pacific Life offers innovative products and services that provide value and financial security for current and future generations. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients and has been named one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com.

Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2019 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2019 FORTUNE 500® list.

About Orange County United Way

Today’s Orange County United Way is doing more for the Education, Health, Housing and Financial Stability of every person in Orange County. More than a fundraiser, we’re hands-on, delivering more than 50 Community Impact programs countywide. We focus on long-term solutions to the most critical interconnected challenges facing local children and families. United Way is doing more to make long-term measurable difference in the lives of children and families right here in Orange County.

Media Contact:

March 10, 2020
Celyn Matienzo
celyn.matienzo@cisoshare.com