Marcus Jackson is a Technology Services Manager at the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Here he tells a little bit about himself.
What is a typical day like for you?
My typical day consists of coming in at the crack of dawn, making sure that all our systems have been backed up, all our network monitoring tools are in the green, having meetings daily with staff in the morning to go over Basecamp tasks and crossing my fingers that nothing breaks in between.
If you had $30,000 to donate to a workforce development program, what would you want to be done with it?
I would actually spend the money in the community in the form of certificates for some of the people we assist. I think certificates for gas, food and daycare would actually go a long way for people trying to find employment or gain sustainability on their feet. It’s not just handing things to people; we actually have individuals who are striving to be somewhere or somebody. It shines a light on the participants we help but also helps us contribute to the community for participants in the various programs.
What professional moment or project are you most proud of?
I have a number, including earning my Ph.D. in IT Organizations. Another, which cracks me up—I worked for a U.S. President who always cracked jokes with me. We had a running joke about skinny jeans when we used to see each other. I have many accomplishments I’m proud of and hoping for more.
What do you like best about working in workforce development?
I like the general atmosphere. I really see the majority of individuals acting with urgency to help others. But most of all—the cake. We have a lot of snacks here. I’m going on a diet…
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
On the weekends I’m either shooting photos somewhere cool or at home on my couch watching something sci-fi. You can never have too much imagination or sleep. What I really love to do is travel to places like Jamaica, Brazil and London. I spent a lot of time with family and friends in the Dominican Republic and Canada recently.