Featured Student: Mike Withers
Lifelong Tech Enthusiast with an Eye on the Future of AI
Mike Withers has been drawn to technology for as long as he can remember. Long before enrolling at Centriq, he was already building his own machines and troubleshooting networking, hardware, and software issues. That natural curiosity and hands-on mindset made the transition into formal IT training a clear next step.
Outside of tech, Mike has a wide range of interests that keep him balanced and creative. He plays guitar, enjoys watching TV shows and anime, loves movies, listens to music across many genres, and spends time gaming. That mix of creativity and problem-solving shows up clearly in how he approaches technology.
Mike first learned about Centriq through radio ads, which sparked his curiosity enough to dig deeper. After researching the program on Centriq’s website and reading alumni reviews, he felt confident this was the right place to take his skills to the next level.
“I already had some tech knowledge and was looking for a program that would only take six months or less to complete so I could jumpstart my journey into IT,” Mike shared. “Centriq felt like the perfect fit.”
Favorite Part of the Program
So far, Mike has especially enjoyed Microsoft Administration and Active Directory. Learning how to manage users and groups, organize them by department, and assign permissions using Active Directory and Group Policy has been a standout experience for him. Seeing how these tools are used in real-world business environments has reinforced his excitement about working in IT.
What's Next for Rob?
Mike plans to begin his career in a Help Desk role, where he can build a strong foundation and gain hands-on professional experience. From there, he’s interested in growing into roles such as Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, or Cybersecurity Analyst.
Looking even further ahead, Mike has ambitious long-term goals. He hopes to eventually work in AI, with aspirations of becoming a Staff Machine Learning Engineer or AI Architect. While he knows his career path may evolve once he’s in the field, he’s excited to continue learning and adapting as new opportunities arise.
We’re excited to watch Mike’s journey unfold and can’t wait to see where his passion for technology takes him next.
Congratulations Mike!
To read about our other Featured Students, click here.