Midland College alum discovers IT nicheMay 13, 2019

“When I started taking Information Technology classes at Midland College (MC) in the fall of 2016, it was divine intervention,” said Britt Stone.  “In 2009, my family suffered a devastating tragedy, and the event caused me to quit my job and pretty much give up on life. I’m not sure exactly what made me decide to enroll at MC. I had always had a passion for computers since I was a child, but had never gotten any formal education. When I sat in my first class and met the MC Information Technology faculty, I knew that I had found my place in life!”

Stone grew up in Colorado Springs, CO and Odessa. After graduating from Odessa High School in 2005, Stone worked in the customer service business, first for Odessa Country Club and then served as the Lincoln concierge for Sewell Ford in Odessa. His strong background in customer service and his training in Information Technology from MC has led to his current position as a Level 2 Technician at West Texas IT Consulting in Midland.

“My job varies from day to day,” explained Stone. “I’ve been here for seven months—since September 2018—and no two days are the same. I handle everything from networking, server and email migrations and configuring firewalls to remote desktop support and fixing printers. Most of our clients are commercial businesses and nonprofit organizations; a few are individuals.”

West Texas IT Consulting (WTITC) was formed in 2010 by John Brenner to serve businesses and individuals in Midland, Odessa and the surrounding area. Word of mouth spread; the client list grew; and Brenner soon began building a team of professionals to help him meet the growing IT needs of companies, professional offices, nonprofit agencies and individuals. Brenner has hired several graduates of the MC Information Technology program.

“MC does a wonderful job preparing their students for the workforce, and the effort that the college faculty put into the Information Technology program and their students is apparent in everyone we have hired from MC,” said Brenner. “Britt is not an exception—he is EXCEPTIONAL—and we are all pleased to be working with him. He is a wizard with computers, but he also is a wizard with people. He is a problem solver with an uplifting attitude, and he is a positive force on our team.”

Stone started working for WTITC after he graduated from MC in May 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Network Administration. During his time at MC (2016-2018), Stone maintained a 3.92 cumulative GPA and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. At the end of his first semester, instructors in the Information Technology program took notice of his aptitude and friendliness, so they offered him a job working in the computer lab assisting other students. 

“Britt was a very capable and eager student,” said Joseph Bontke, MC Information Technology faculty member. “Britt not only was a student in the IT program, but he also was a lab assistant for over a year. He was always researching ‘fixes’ and solutions to problems for the IT lab and for students who came in for assistance. This is, no doubt, a very good trait that will serve him well throughout his IT career. Britt had the curiosity and desire to learn about how information technology makes the world a more connected place.”

Stone said that his next goal in life is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. He has already done some research into online programs and plans to begin taking classes soon through Western Governors University

In his spare time, Stone enjoys spending time with his family and friends and being outdoors with his dog, a Weimaraner named Seuss. 

“MC helped boost my confidence and brought me back to life,” said Stone. “I am so thankful for the opportunities that it has given me.”