Centriq Training is an Information Technology training provider in the Kansas City, Missouri area, United States. Centriq has been in operation since 1989 when it was founded as the Network Institute of America. It is the largest information technology (IT) training company in the area having trained upwards of 3,000 Information Technology professionals from more than 500 companies in 2010.
Centriq Training is a Microsoft Gold Learning Partner providing training to corporate clients and career changing individuals in Leawood, Kansas. Centriq has a staff of more than 20 instructors operating in 16 classrooms. Centriq Training courses cover all areas of technology including network administration and programming. Centriq offers training on Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe Systems, Citrix, VMware, Java, Security, ITIL, and Project Management.
History
Centriq was founded in 1989 as the Network Institute of America. Centriq has undergone various changes of ownership but has remained under the same management for 20 years.
1989-1992
As the Network Institute of America, the company became the first authorized training center in Kansas City and focused on corporate I.T. training for various companies in the area. Kevin Grawe joined the team in 1989 and is President and part owner of Centriq Training.
1992-1996
In 1992 the Network Institute of America became affiliated with US Connect, a national consortium of leading Microsoft partners, changing its name to US Connect Kansas City. Continuing as a corporate IT training company, US Connect Kansas City also trained office copier dealers in the transition from analog to digital technology. Its main client, the National Office Machine Dealers Association (NOMDA), was headquartered in Kansas City.
1996-2001
In 1996, the US Connect consortium was purchased by IKON Office Solutions. The Kansas City office was established as the district office for education services. This office led the initiative of establishing IKON Education as a national training company.
2001-present
The Kansas City office of IKON Education was re-acquired by the original company partners in 2001 and renamed Centriq. In 2005, Centriq acquired Foss Training, a training company focused primarily on the education of career changers for entry-level I.T. jobs. This acquisition created Centriq’s career I.T. training division (later re-branded as the TechSmart KC program in 2010).
Centriq is the longest-operating and largest IT training company in the Kansas City area.
Courses and subject matter offered
Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix, CompTIA, Crystal Reports, Java, Linux, Oracle, VMware, Security/Wireless, Adobe Systems & Business Skills (project management, business analysis and ITIL)
Authorizations and partnerships
Centriq is the only training company in the Kansas City area that has all of the following authorizations: Microsoft Gold Partner, Citrix Authorized Learning Center, Cisco Sponsored Learning Organization, EC-Council Partner, Prometric Authorized Testing Center, Pearson Vue and Kryterion.
Partnership with the University of Phoenix
Centriq courses on both the Corporate IT and TechSmart KC sides of the company can be applied towards a degree with the University of Phoenix. The largest private university in the United States, the University of Phoenix has 224,880 full-time students nationwide. This partnership between the University of Phoenix and Centriq Training was established in 2009 and serves to aid those who wish to continue their education an avenue to do so after the completion of their technical certifications with Centriq.
Company divisions
Corporate IT training
The Corporate I.T. training division of Centriq Training focuses on providing technical training services to corporate clients who wish to train their internal IT employees. With customers such as Cerner, Sprint Nextel and Hallmark Cards, Centriq serves more corporate clients than any other training company in the Kansas City area. Centriq Training offers 55+ in-classroom instructor-led training courses for corporate IT professionals that are not offered anywhere else in Kansas City. Corporate courses are typically taken on a weekly or daily schedule. Clients can choose to pursue certifications from vendors such as Microsoft, Citrix, Cisco, PMI and CompTIA following the completion of their coursework.
In 2010, Centriq introduced the Centriq Choice program to corporate clients. This program offers 3 training options to clients including Local Instructor-Led Training (Local-ILT), Remote-ILT and High Definition-ILT. Centriq Choice gives local companies a choice on how they receive training but also makes courses available to clients in any market worldwide.
Career IT training
Centriq provides IT training to individuals seeking to attain technology job skills and certifications to begin a career in the information technology field. This program, named TechSmart KC in 2010, serves career changing customers with a four-month training program in the areas of Application Development or Network Administration. Courses are available both during the day and in the evening. Centriq then aids graduates in their job search with the Centriq Connections program. In 2010, Centriq trained approximately 220 students through the TechSmart KC program.
Centriq Connections
Centriq Connections is a program that assists TechSmart KC graduates with the acquisition of a job following graduation. By providing resume and interview counseling as well as serving as a medium between students and partnered employers such as H&R Block, VinSolutions and Blue Valley School District. Since 2007 Centriq claims to have placed graduates at over 250 different Kansas City-area companies.
Teaching environment
Centriq has 16 classrooms and upwards of 21 instructors that teach their courses. The Centriq campus features five Level 6 Hardware-equipped classrooms.