Atlanta-based mTrain is more than another training
stop--it's a way for developers to get their hands dirty,
technologically speaking. Lead trainer Justin Smith chats about putting
training on track.
How did mTrain get started?
A couple of years ago we identified a need in the marketplace for
real-world training for experienced developers. "Intro to .NET" classes
seemed to be easy to find, but there was nothing of quality out there
for the developer with experience -- that person who wanted to take
their training to the next level, and be able to apply their knowledge
in real world settings.
What got you personally interested in doing this work?
As contractors working with .NET on projects, we were spending much of
our time answering application questions from other developers who had
already been to training classes!
It was evident that large amounts of info had been left off the syllabus
of their class, or that the material had not been presented in a way
that would encourage retention. Tremendous amounts of positive feedback
from our colleagues really got us excited about starting this new
adventure.
Why do you feel there's a need for what you provide?
The response to our classes has been overwhelming, as has the feedback
from our alumni. We are really just starting the widespread use of .NET.
Over the next several years more and more people will need to be working
with the framework on a very technical level, and we know our classes do
the best job at getting those people where they need to be.
With so many training options available, what makes you unique?
Our modern software development experience and approach in transferring
knowledge to our clients makes us unique. Our instructors are veteran
and active software developers. All have been using .NET commercially
since the beta release. We go to great lengths to infuse this wealth of
knowledge into our courses. Since we are developers, we know that
software developers learn best by doing. Our classes are very heavy on
labs and demonstrations and light on slide presentations.
Unfortunately most of our competitors are "jack of all trades and master
of none" type companies. They offer a wide range of courses, often
taught by the same people. Despite claims to the contrary, they are not
able to deliver best of breed classes in each discipline. We deliver
what others promise: real-world, hands-on, relevant and productive
developer training.
Do you find that with the tech economy coming back that more people
are interested in training now than they were in the past couple years?
Absolutely. In fact, the difference between the first half and second
half of 2004 was dramatic. Based on the inquiries we have received for
future classes, I think 2005 is going to be a busy year!
What kind of reaction do you get from students about your
materials?
Our alumni have given us great feedback about our customized materials
and the instructors who present it. We recognize that developers learn
and retain the most knowledge by actually doing, so we have tailored our
classes to be heavy on labs and demonstrations and light on slide
presentations. The instructors have such great breadth and depth of
knowledge that they can always help drill down in a particular area of
interest or difficulty.
What do you like best about what you do?
Its great to meet people from all over the world and hear about the
fascinating stuff they are working on. It's also really rewarding to see
how much more productive people can be once they have this knowledge.
do you know a local company we should cover? Let us know about it.
Send your local profile candidates to emillard@computeruser.com.
