Paula and Joel’s IT journey is as much a story about partnership as it is about professional growth. Now married for 18 years, the two first met at Starbucks, fresh out of college, and trying to find their footing.
“We met at Starbucks,” Joel said. “We were both just trying to pay the bills at the time.”
Joel had earned a computer science degree with a minor in chemistry, but like many early-career technologists, he ran into a roadblock familiar to many.
“It’s really hard to get hired because everybody wants experience,” Joel said. “And you can’t get experience unless you get hired.”
In search of that experience, Paula and Joel spent the first six years of their marriage moving across the country and in and out of various careers. In 2014, they moved back to Memphis.
After resettling in Memphis, Paula was hired as an administrative assistant at a managed service provider. One day, she was asked to help answer phones and assist with basic technical issues.
“They just needed help one day and said, ‘Hey, can you come back here and we’ll teach you how to do password resets?’” Paula recalled. “I was bored with what I was doing, so I said sure, and just kind of hung with it.”
That moment sparked a career. Seven years later, Paula now works as an IT Support Engineer at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
“I knew the name of the game with IT is certifications,” Paula said. “You have to have them for anyone to even look twice at your resume.”
When Paula began self-studying for her A+ certification, something clicked for Joel.
“We always joked about it,” Joel said. “I had a computer science degree, but she was the IT engineer. She started studying, and all of a sudden I was like, ‘This is really something I could do too.’”
After hearing about Tech901 from a coworker who had completed multiple certifications there, Paula encouraged Joel to sign up for IT Foundations.
“She basically kicked me in the tail and got me going in the right direction,” Joel laughed.
Joel enrolled in IT Foundations in fall 2024 and immediately felt at home.
“[Tech901 Instructor] Trey [McGinnis] hooked me,” Joel said. “He was able to break things down and simplify it for everyone, especially for people brand new to IT, which really impressed me.”
“He also looks almost identical to a really good friend of mine, which we found hilarious,” Joel continued. “Just being able to see Trey as just one of my fellow nerd buddies and geek out with him about 3D printing, which he’s really into. I had that instant connection with him.”
The course validated Joel’s instincts and recharged his passion for IT. Soon, he talked with Paula about joining him at Tech901 for future classes.
“I thought, ‘We should take Network+ and Security+ together,’ especially because of the affordability of the classes and [certification] exams,” Joel said. “And that’s what we did.”
Paula joined him for the IT Networking and IT Security courses, having already self-studied for the A+ exam. Sitting in the same virtual and physical classrooms, they were able to sharpen each other.
“Joel’s really good at networking,” Paula said. “That wasn’t really my strongest point. Security was what I was most engaged with. So, we were able to help each other out along the way.”
Their shared classroom experience extended beyond coursework. From active class chats to peer-shared job leads and recruiter connections, Tech901’s community became part of their support system, whether they were attending in person or remotely.
For Paula, specifically, Tech901 also provided something she hadn’t had while self-studying: certainty.
“With self-study, it was a lot of me going, ‘I hope this is what’s on the exam,’” she said. “But in class, you know for sure that what you’re taught is what you need to know.”
Today, Paula is continuing to grow within Methodist Le Bonheur, watching for opportunities on the cybersecurity team now that she has strengthened her credentials. Joel, now holding three certifications, is actively applying for roles that align with his passion for networking and physical infrastructure.
Together, they represent two paths into IT. One that began unexpectedly, and one that took time to come full circle. Now, they’ve become an IT power couple.
Since completing these courses, Joel and Paula have started sharing about Tech901 with those in their circles who’ve voiced frustrations about feeling stuck where they are.
“The cost-to-benefit ratio is crazy,” Paula said. “[Tech901] makes these daunting exams manageable. It can be scary, but they hold your hand through the process.”
“I always tell people that [Tech901] is investing in you because they want you to succeed,” Joel said. “They want Memphis to succeed and see [an IT workforce] as a real need.”
Paula and Joel’s story is proof that it’s never too late to pivot and chase the career you’ve been circling for years. Tech901 courses are affordable because everyone deserves the ability to take a chance on themselves.
If you’ve been wondering whether IT is for you, consider this your sign to explore Tech901’s upcoming courses.
“The worst thing that can happen is you try, and it isn’t for you,” Joel said. “And even then, you learn something about yourself and can continue growing.”