TOLEDO, Ohio, July 8, 2021 – Bitwise Industries (www.bitwiseindustries.com) announces the strategic hire of Tammi Sherman as Bitwise’s Vice President Toledo. The hiring comes on the heels of Huntington National Bank’s investment in Bitwise Industries as Bitwise expands to Toledo, bringing tech workforce development to the region. Tammi will lead all local efforts to create an inclusive and skilled workforce that also uplifts the local economy in Downtown Toledo.

“Bitwise addresses removing the barriers to entry caused by poverty and bias by providing tech and people skills training and job creation,” said Sharon Speyer, regional president, Huntington National Bank. “This aligns with our recently announced $40 Billion Strategic Community Plan which provides lending and investing resources in this much needed space. Our investment in Bitwise aligns with our commitment to address social, racial and economic inequities in minority and under-represented communities.”

“I look forward to deepening Bitwise’s relationships with key community partners and leaders to build a network of local government, regional corporations, foundations and educational organizations that will ultimately transform the economy across the state,” Tammi Sherman, VP of Bitwise Industries Toledo. “Our unique apprenticeship model leverages public-private partnerships for the development of a diverse workforce via apprenticeships that let people ‘earn while they learn’ alongside seasoned tech professionals.”

“Tammi’s on the ground leadership and Huntington Bank’s investment are going to have a significant impact on the people in Toledo,” said Jake Soberal, CEO and co-founder, Bitwise Industries. “We are excited to serve the community and help drive a positive impact through inclusive technology skills training just like we have in other cities across the country.”

Bitwise Industries has trained more than 5,000 people, with 80-percent of those going on to technical employment after leaving the program. Before entering the program, most earned under $21K/year, and after gaining the skills offered through Bitwise Workforce Training, these same people earn over $60K/year on average. The tech workforce produced by Bitwise is 55-percent Latinx, and greater than 40-percent LGBTQ+.

About Bitwise Industries

Bitwise Industries creates a bridge between humans from marginalized communities and stories of systemic poverty to skills and resources necessary to access opportunities in the tech industry. By leveraging public-private partnerships, Bitwise provides paid apprenticeships to students to learn tech skills, connects them to meaningful tech opportunities, and builds vibrant buildings in underestimated cities to house their work. By upskilling disenfranchised humans, it empowers them to change their own lives — which ignites and transforms the regional economies of the cities in which Bitwise serves.

Bitwise has raised more than $100M in support of this important work; expanded its model to serve five cities (Fresno, Bakersfield, Merced, Oakland, and Toledo); and built a tech apprenticeship engine that will drive national jobs/economic recovery in 2021. To learn more about Bitwise Industries, check out www.bitwiseindustries.com.