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WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
We create an awareness by educating and empowering future cybersecurity professionals in diverse communities throughout the Americas.
Our Vision
Impacting generations through cybersecurity awareness by cultivating opportunities for young adults that support families, communities and nations.
OUR VALUES
Connectivity
We inspire to strengthen the bonds of communication, technology and trust.
Service
We commit to use our personal and professional talents in a mutually beneficial effort for the advancement of our partners.
Authenticity
We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of integrity and honesty.
Empowerment
We provide support through the sharing of information and responsibility to equip our partners with the confidence, ability and autonomy to achieve success.
Altruism
We affirm our dedication and cooperation by helping others through respect, graciousness and empathy.
OUR IMPACT
It started with
a passion, an idea, a chance encounter.
A PASSION
Louis Ward was at a crossroads in his life when he decided to go on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2012. Although initially planned as a brief respite and casual exploration of a new country, the experience became life altering for Louis. He was pained by the level of poverty, awed by the selflessness of the missionaries, and empowered by the spirit of the Dominicans. Subsequent mission trips over the next few years not only reinforced his love and motivation to help this population, but his compassion led to his deeper desire to make a generational change.
AN IDEA
In this day and age, the demand for cybersecurity is expanding, unyielding and uncompromising. As a Channel Business Manager for a large cybersecurity firm, Louis has dedicated over a decade working diligently in this challenging field. And one obstacle that cybersecurity continuously faces is a lack of cyber experts to keep up with the demand.
Louis began to formulate an idea to merge his two passions. The more he spoke to family, friends and coworkers about his idea, the more he recognized the potential these two passions had when unified. Cybersecurity education can provide opportunities to underprivileged youth as a means of breaking out of a poverty-stricken cycle, while also supplying the cybersecurity field with a much-needed population of recruits. By 2015, what Louis needed was a partnership school that would be willing to join his new mission.
AN IDEA
A CHANCE ENCOUNTER
On the plane ride home from his initial mission trip in 2012, a man named Jim Crockett asked Louis to switch seats so that Jim could sit next to his wife Joy. Jim and Joy had just finished a separate mission trip at a school in the DR. The three of them began a friendly conversation that lasted the duration of the plane trip and beyond. Louis did not know it at the time but sitting next to these two missionaries would be the catalyst for a 4generations partnership.
Four years later in 2016, Jim and Joy Crockett were driving through Louis’s hometown and called to invite Louis to lunch. While catching up over their meal, Louis described his 4generation vision to Jim and Joy. Louis also recounted the recent trips he had taken to the DR with his friend Aubrey Ward to secure a partnership school without any luck. The Crocketts reminded Louis of their 2012 mission trip to a school, the trip when they had met Louis on their flight home. The school was called Las Palmas Christian School and according to the Crocketts, a perfect fit. The connection was made.
A NEW FRONTIER
Today, the 4generations ACE program (Americas’ Cybersecurity Education) is a part of the daily curriculum at Las Palmas Christian School. Students in middle school through high school can become certified in five cybersecurity certifications: CompTIA A+, Security +, Cloud +, Network +, and Palo Alto Networks PCNSA. These classes are taught in English through by licensed teachers. It is 4generation’s ambition for every high school graduate to continue their education in cybersecurity and related technologies whether it be in the United States or in the Dominican Republic. Our goal is to provide graduates employment opportunities within their nation, as well as throughout the world. Although 4generations is currently available only in the DR at Las Palmas Christian School, our long range plan is to expand throughout the Americas.
A NEW FRONTIER
4generations
When we think of the term ‘generations’, our tendency is to reflect on the past. However, we want to impact the lives of the youth, knowing that if we succeed in changing the present, we will succeed in changing it ‘for generations’ to come. The generations are indeed limitless, but we utilize the number “4” as a symbol of vision well beyond the present.
OUR TEAM
Louis Ward
President | Chairman of the Board
Louis’ vision for 4generations began on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and with a desire to teach students a skill set to support themselves and their families. That vision was soon matched with the recognition that the cybersecurity industry lacks experts to keep up with constant demand. Louis now focuses on empowering students to expand their interests in technology, pursue an education and find their place in the cybersecurity world. Louis, an active Marine for six years, is currently a Channel Business Manager for Cortex at Palo Alto Networks.
Carrie Kershaw
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Technology has given Carrie a new perspective on the future: as part of 4generations, she sees its potential to bring people and ideas together in new and innovative ways. She is also proud to be part of an organization that roots its culture in kindness and humbled to work towards a greater good for those with less opportunity. Along with her full-time job as mother to four dynamic kids, Carrie finds time to serve as an active board member of her Home & School Association and founding member of her church’s Christian Education Committee. She earned an Associate of Art degree in Art Education from Burlington County College and later continued her studies at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and Rowan University, majoring in Graphic Design and Art History.
Aubrey Ward
Legal Counsel
For Aubrey, the mission of 4generations is part of his DNA. As an attorney and solo practitioner, he provides affordable legal assistance and services to largely ignored and marginalized low-income communities of New York City. His participation in 4generations provides him with the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ in a real, hands-on way. He believes strongly in 4generations’ mission achieved through technology, which is engrained in our daily lives, personally, as a community and as a world at large and will continue to be so. Aubrey is a graduate of Morehouse College (B.A. English) and Hofstra University School of Law (J.D.).
Carlos I. Cruz
Sr. Director of Operations
Carlos currently serves as the technology teacher and Director of Technology at Las Palmas Christian School. He has worked in the technological sector for over 20 years and has always been passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with future generations. Carlos’ own high school educational experience influenced his career choice of technology. Being part of the 4generations team has enabled him to similarly inspire high school students in advance technology courses to follow that field of study, especially in cybersecurity. Carlos has a degree in Computer Information Systems and is an ACSI Certified Teacher.
Roxi Barkley
Director of student wellness
As a math teacher at Douglassville High School, Roxi witnesses firsthand the power of technology-integrated education. She believes that exposing students to technology and teaching them to interact with it in productive ways can change lives. That passion for helping young scholars achieve their dreams led her to join 4gen. Roxi holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Valdosta State University and a Masters of Education in Secondary Math Education from Georgia State University.
Nicole Tolson
Director of project management
Nicole is and has been a contributor in the IT Industry both in a technical and project management capacity for more than 25 years. Her committed and faithfulness doesn’t end professionally for her. Firmly planted in the Philadelphia community, Nicole has worked relentlessly most of her life and since 2006 under New Frontier Youth Services to empower youths by developing programs for student athletes, young women and young adults working towards their entrepreneur goals. Nicole holds a degree in networking and certifications.
Jenni Stukkie
Director of Education
Jenni currently serves as the high school science and English teacher at Las Palmas Christian School in the Dominican Republic. Her experience teaching children from preschool up to high school has shown her that children are capable of so much more than we give them credit for. She believes that education must be authentic and relevant to students and that technology can be a remarkable tool to engage them. Jenni holds a BS in Education is from Arlington Baptist University and an MS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Dayton.
Tony Tanzy
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
Current 4generations Director of Technology Tony Tanzy has worked in the technological sector for over 20 years and is passionate about mentoring and helping others achieve their goals. Tony’s career trajectory has taken him from the computer science field to computer networking to cybersecurity. Being part of the 4generations team enables Tony to give back, to help others realize their full potential, and to inspire students to utilize and learn with technology along their educational paths. Tony holds a degree in computer science and numerous certifications from companies such as Cisco Systems, Extreme Networks, Riverbed, Palo Alto Networks and others.
Valerie Cruz
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR
Valerie is currently the Preschool Coordinator at Las Palmas Christian School in the Dominican Republic. She believes in the greater future of the students at Las Palmas and in the opportunity 4generations offers them to move past their own limitations. Valerie sees daily that utilizing technology in education allows students to go beyond the four walls of the school, challenging them to develop skills that last beyond graduation and into their professional careers.
FAQs
Most frequent questions and answers
We do not directly teach the students. The teachers at each Partnership School teach the presentation of the curriculum from the 4generations ACE Program.
We create technological, mathematical and problem solving skills focusing around technology in preparation for the acquisition of industry certifications as they progress.
Every student that attends a Partnership School has an opportunity to be a part of the 4generation’s ACE Program.
Donations will go towards electronics, monies to sit for the SAT and or ACT, student travel, gaining access to the ACES Program, monies to sit for cybersecurity certifications and admission applications to their college of choice.
Each student applies to college through the normal application process and matriculates based on their individual merit.
The students are taught all of the information necessary to successfully take and pass the test for industry certifications.