Alumni

Certain careers are natural fits for those who want to help others. Teachers, nurses and social workers are among them. Less obvious, but equally essential, are computer support technicians who keep businesses operating when technology fails.

Bugs, viruses and data recovery are the bane of business but represent job security for tech support employees.

Brett Pitts of Oklahoma City completed degrees in information technology and computer science, but he recognized gaps in his hands-on experience. That led him to enroll in the Computer Information Systems program at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

“I still felt like I didn’t know as much as I would like about computer hardware and software maintenance,” Pitts said. “I wanted to know more about networks. I had also been told by many friends in the industry that many companies use the A+ certification as a benchmark for basic understanding and that the Network+ was a good next step. Both were offered as the goals for studying at Canadian Valley.”

Pitts completed CV Tech’s program nearly two years ago and was immediately hired by Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., as a Tier 1 technology help desk technician.

“I have found a pleasant work environment, and the skills I learned at Canadian Valley provided a deeper understanding of what is going on when something breaks or installation of some device or application,” he said.

His typical day includes assisting Hobby Lobby and affiliated Mardel Christian and Education stores nationwide, guiding staff through equipment installations and troubleshooting technical issues.

Pitts said CV Tech provided the skills gaps he recognized in his education, and he envisions a long-term career at Hobby Lobby.

Levi Romo of Chickasha followed a similar path after completing the program last May. He was hired immediately as a general technician by Industry Systems, LLC. The Chickasha computer consulting firm develops computer network systems and maintains IT platforms.

Romo spends considerably more of his time repairing hardware, such as Chromebooks, laptops, personal computers and servers. Recently, he also began working on network switches. He learned that skill at CV Tech also.

“I truly enjoy the work I do,” Romo said. “The paycheck is definitely a plus, but enjoying the work itself is what matters most to me.

CV Tech’s curriculum prepares students for industry-recognized certifications, including CompTIA A+, Tech+, and Network+, as well as Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) credentials in networking and cybersecurity.

Median pay for computer support specialists is about $29 per hour, or roughly $61,500 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Earnings can exceed six figures with experience and advanced roles.

Romo said patience and professionalism are just as important as technical ability.

“It’s okay if you are not making the best money at first,” he said. “Don’t expect to walk in and immediately earn a huge paycheck. Keep pursuing growth in your field, because the more you learn, the more valuable you become. And just as importantly, be kind. A bad attitude can close doors and destroy opportunities.”

Kyle Clifton was fairly certain he would go to college. He was also fairly certain his pathway to college would begin at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

That’s not an uncommon track. Last year, 31 percent of students who completed programs at CV Tech enrolled in a college or university. The two education “arms” can certainly work “hand-in-hand.”

Clifton, 35, of Tulsa, enrolled in CV Tech’s Digital Media Technology program in 2011 and quickly discovered marketing was a strength. He completed the program in 2012 and then pursued a marketing degree at Oklahoma State University. Clifton is now Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Oklahoma-based Patrons Bank.

“I have always been a creative person who loves coming up with ideas, visuals and new ways to connect with people,” Clifton said. “Marketing felt like a natural fit because it combines creativity with strategy and allows you to bring ideas to life in real, tangible ways.

“It is fast paced, constantly changing and gets you out from behind a desk and into the community. I enjoy building things people can see, feel and experience, and I am genuinely passionate about the work I get to do every day.”

Marketing was not immediately on Clifton’s radar while he was working at the customer service desk during high school at a big-box electronics store in Oklahoma City. He said a customer who worked at the school suggested he consider CV Tech.

“I also had friends who had already enrolled there, so I started doing my own research,” Clifton said. “What really stood out to me was the hands-on training and the half-day schedule, which gave me real-world experience while still in high school. That combination made it an easy decision.”

Clifton said he noticed a skills deficiency among peers when he was attending OSU. Adobe Photoshop software was deeply embedded in Digital Media curriculum at CV Tech.

“I went into college and my career with a major advantage,” he said. “The fundamentals I learned in Adobe Creative Suite and Photoshop have followed me through every job I’ve had. That early, practical experience gave me confidence, helped me stand out, and continues to impact my work today.”

In his present roll, Clifton oversees all marketing initiatives, from branding and digital strategy to community engagement, events and storytelling. He said no two days look the same, which is most satisfying to him.

“My job is to help (Patrons Bank) stand out by showing who we truly are and why we matter to the people we serve,” he said. “I get to combine creativity with strategy, build meaningful connections in the communities we serve and help shape how people experience and connect with our brand.

“At the end of the day, it is about more than marketing. We are a partner to our customers, helping make their lives better no matter where they are in their journey. Being able to do creative work that has real impact is incredibly rewarding.”

Today, Clifton’s journey stands as a clear example of how career and technical education can serve as a powerful springboard to higher education and long-term success. By blending hands-on learning with academic ambition, his CV Tech experience provided him with the skills that carried seamlessly into college and beyond. For students weighing their next step, Clifton’s story reinforces a simple truth: the right start can shape an entire career.

In its infancy, the city of Elgin had a full-blown identity crisis.

In fact, the town had a post office but no name for months in 1902. One of its founders, C.G. Jones, boldly sought to have the southwest Oklahoma community name derive from the initials of his name.

The powerful U.S. Postal Service – created in 1775 – rejected the proposed town name of “Ceegee.” The alternative name, Elgin, was approved. The name pays homage to the title of a 16th Century Earl in the United Kingdom.

Eventually, the town of Jones was named for C.G. Jones, who would eventually become Oklahoma City’s first mayor and was a two-time territorial legislator.

The Oklahoma City and Western Railroad completed a line linking Chickasha with Lawton in 1903. A stop was included in Elgin. Nevertheless, growth trickled.

The town’s population surpassed 1,000 residents by 1980. Growth was admittedly slow until the last several years, said Elgin Mayor J.J. Francais.

Francais (pronounced frawn-SAY), is a part-time politician and full-time city promoter.

He began serving as Elgin’s major in 2021 and uses much of spare time writing social media posts about good things going on in his adopted hometown. Local eateries, public school successes and city ordinances are among his favorite topics.

UP & COMING
The city has grown to 3,700 people, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. Francais further points to a nearly three-fold tax revenue increase since 2010 and population growth of nearly 5 percent in just the past four years.

“Outsiders wonder why our rival is now Midwest City in athletics,” Francais said of the school’s rising success when playing against larger-class schools.

“A lot of people are moving to Elgin, many from Lawton,” he said. “A lot of our growth is from soldiers stationed at Fort Sill. Much of this growth can be attributed to our outstanding school system.”

Retail follows rooftops. Francais said the city receives calls monthly from prospective business owners who are interested in northeast Comanche County. Additionally, Elgin has been declared the safest city in Oklahoma five years running. The accolade is courtesy of Safewise.com, which tracks and analyzes FBI crime data for communities statewide for its State of Safety survey.

DROPOUT RECOVERY
Francais grew up in Dibble, south of Norman. He dropped out of high school a week into his freshman year. A few years later as an adult, he enrolled at Canadian Valley Technology Center in nearby Chickasha.

He completed general education requirements and finished a business education program there. Francais said a former CV Tech counselor, Peggy Castleberry, had a “measurable” impact on him.

“She told me, ‘People will judge you based on going forward, not your past,’” he said.

A chance meeting with a University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma professor at a grocery store spurred Francais to continue his educational pursuit. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in History degree in 2010. Today, he serves as a USAO board regent.

Francais works for Hilliary Communications, which provides telephone, internet and television services to mostly rural customers. The company also owns a newspaper and several dozen radio stations.

POLITICS & PROMOTING
Francais’ political interest was fueled while he served as an intern in a neighboring county assessor’s office. He describes the office environment at that time as highly contentious. Nevertheless, he said he learned good conflict resolution skills, among other things.

As Elgin’s mayor, Francais spends considerable time promoting businesses on social media. He said his goal is advocating for rural Oklahomans.

“I want residents to know what’s going on so they can be involved in decisions that affect them,” he said.

He allots time, too, to assisting mayors of other small towns – those who do not serve on a full-time basis. Francais was unsuccessful in a bid last year for the vacated Senate District 32 seat.

GROWING PAINS
During the growing season Francais enjoys yard work – both his own and often for others.

“We don’t have enough hands to mow grass,” he said. “Before I was elected, we had bar ditches that had not been mowed in 40 years because it’s nobody’s job.”

A favored pastime of his is reading municipal code books, he said. But when he started educating Elgin residents about code enforcement, pushback ensued. He often spoke with people who told him they lacked the means to maintain high grass inside city limits.

“Many of them did not own a lawnmower,” he said.

So Francais bought a couple mowers with his own money and started a community tool shed.

“People don’t want to buy a chain saw just to cut four limbs,” he said.

Tool shed items are usually returned quickly. Shovels, he said, seem to be the one exception.

A grade-school fascination with model airplanes fueled a lifelong passion for Jason Timm.

He rescued a model plane from the garbage and soldered and spliced the craft back to flight-ready status. Turns out, he has made a career of keeping planes airworthy after completing the Aviation and Maintenance Technology (AMT) program at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Timm, 48, of Union City, now serves as a structural section chief at Tinker Air Force Base. He oversees technicians responsible for major structural repairs and modifications for airborne warning and control system aircraft (or AWACS). These planes feature a large, mounted round radar disc, which help identify and track enemy and friendly aircraft and naval vessels.

CV Tech’s AMT program is endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Students develop a broad knowledge of aircraft systems through advanced installation, overhauling and testing procedures in preparation to take the worldwide recognized Airframe and Powerplant (or A&P) licensure exam.

ALTERED FLIGHT PATH
Timm said several people were influential in molding his love of aircraft, including former CV Tech instructor Edsel Ford. Timm said he and Ford often flew model airplanes at lunchtime and after school.

Timm still uses the skills he acquired to repair non-military aircraft through a small company he founded in 2009 called ProAMMS.

“We perform annual inspections and general maintenance for small, single and twin, reciprocating-engine aircraft,” he said.

Timm no longer flies model aircraft. Now he flies for real.

“I attained my private pilot license about 1994,” he said. “It is strictly for pleasure.”

FINAL APPROACH
He hopes the future might include an opportunity for him to give back even more to the aviation industry, which is the second largest statewide (trailing only energy) with an estimated $44 billion annual economic impact, according to information provided by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics.

“I will consider teaching aviation maintenance,” he said. “My passion is really passing on what I’ve learned in aviation maintenance.”

Timm recently loaned his skills as a judge for the state Skills USA contest in Tulsa. He said Career Tech has branded him for life.

“Overall, the program taught me far more about myself and the things I could achieve than it did the indispensable aviation knowledge was intended to teach,” he said. “The experience and value of CV Tech goes far beyond the basic curriculum offered.”

Timm began his career as a structural mechanic at Wylie Post Airport in Bethany. He later worked as a post dock mechanic at Tinker on KC-135 aircraft before working at Mooney Service Center. Mooney is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Kerrville, Texas, which manufactures single-engine, piston-powered general aviation planes. He’s worked at Tinker for the past 15 years.