Interface College

Success Stories

Matther Ymer

Matt Ymer

My story started in April of 2001. At that time I had been employed for 26 years in the same position I had started. I started my employment when I was a junior in High School. I never went back to school after High School graduation, as the job I held taught me plenty everyday, and I worked in the Main Operating Room Department of a local hospital. I felt very secure in my employment as the healthcare industry

in Spokane was thriving. Then in April 2001 my world was turned upside down and inside out. I was informed that my job class was to be "phased out" within a few weeks. I felt I had been punched in the gut, and couldn't breathe. I had no education, and I only possessed the skills the hospital had given me. My marketability was poor, at best.

I knew in order to survive this change; I had to make a strategy. I had to improve many things about my situation; one of the main things I had to improve was my lack of education. Then September 11, 2001 happened. This event most certainly changed my priorities. One of the things that developed after that tragic day was the Department of Homeland Security. When the media was reporting that creating this department would involve combining 22 different agencies, bells and whistles went off in my head and that inner voice told me here is an opportunity.

As I researched how one could get employment in the IT field, and looking in to enrolling in school, I found a great place, Interface College! I met with Dave Wilson, for the first time in April 2002. I was scared of the thought of returning in to an education system I had been out of since 1976! Also I was feeling a little bit better that my job had moved back into the safety zone. Still I knew I had to improve my marketability, and stayed on course. With Dave's support and steady belief in me I finally sat down in my first class at ICS in September 2002.

I can never express my gratitude to ICS enough. They have given me true confidence in myself, and shoed me that re-entering the education system was not as scary as I thought it would be. I did my CORE and graduated with a 4.0 grade, and my CompTIA A+ certification! Then I re-enrolled into the NATS program, I graduated from that program with a 4.0 grade, I had earned my CompTIA Net+ certification, became a Microsoft Certified Professional and then I earned my Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator title! Recently I have worked towards my Associates Degree in Computer Systems Support.

Sadly my employment was subjected to an involuntary lay off in April 2005. I can truly say that ICS made the difference! The biggest help I had from ICS was the Career Training classes. It helped me through job interviews, something I had no need to do, since 1975! Then in October of 2005, I gained employment that utilizes my training that ICS provided and uses my previous employment skills! I now am a Customer Service Representative at Inland Medical and Rehab, http://www.imrehab.com/index.html and I am very excited for my future! My future. thanks ICS you made it possible!

Katie McCallum

Patrick Jones I came to Interface College with high hopes of changing my career direction into the Medical arena. I had just been laid off of my 4 th job of that year in the risky construction business and really wanted to find a job I could enjoy, excel and retire from possibly.

I had many years of accounting experience and everything kept pushing me towards the Medical Office. I had taken several medical office courses in previous years and just needed to really update, expand my knowledge and get certified, so I could get my foot in the door at possible employers. The MCRS Program enabled me to refresh and gain more skills twice a week at night and still be able to work during the day.

After starting the 1-year MCRS Program (Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist), I geared my job searches toward medical offices and contacted temporary agencies for placement to gain the work experience during my education. I started as receptionist/medical insurance verification in a small hospital, then a medical supply company. I was getting some of the worst jobs, but gained valuable experience during this time. My instructor kept reassuring me that the “Great Job” is just around the corner, so I continued my search and learned to be more confident and practiced what we learned about interviewing. I have to tell you that I doubted myself and the job market. I absorbed as much information as possible and wouldn’t you know it, I found that “Great Job” at Horizon Hospice as the Head Medical Billing and Accounting Manager, (3-months before graduating).

Interface College gave me the education, training and confidence to seek out what I was looking for in a career. Not just a job. I took a chance at age 46 and I have never been happier in my life. I was the oldest in my class, even older than the instructor – but I am proud to say that I learned from a great many wise people at Interface including the younger students, and highly recommend this school to anyone willing to work hard to achieve their goals. It’s never too late