Community College Grad Becomes First Hire at Tech Startup

Chad Wilken walked into Southeast Community College in Nebraska thinking he'd study computer networking. One programming class changed everything.

"I took one class with Glenn (Ray), and I was like, 'Oh, this is awesome,'" Wilken said. "I'd never programmed before coming to SCC and I really didn't think I had the chops for it."

Despite his newfound passion, Wilken graduated in 2011 with a degree in computer support. But the technical foundation he built at SCC helped him ace an intimidating job interview with a tech company where the interviewer held a Ph.D. in computer science.

"They were asking me question after question about how the internet works and how data gets from one computer to the next," Wilken said. "I think I caught them off guard because I was able to answer all their questions because I learned it here."

That internship turned into a full-time position, which led to a software engineering role at Hudl. There, Wilken sharpened not just his coding skills but his networking abilities, which would prove just as valuable.

At a Startup Weekend event in Omaha, Wilken met Luke Hansen, an entrepreneur with an idea called CompanyCam. Hansen wanted to create a platform for contractors to document job sites, communicate with crews, and share progress with clients in real time.

Wilken became the company's first employee in 2015. The simple concept has grown into a thriving business serving contractors across the country.

The Ripple Effect

When Wilken recently toured SCC's new Sandhills Global Technology Center, he was amazed by how much the college had grown. The facility features exposed networks that let students see exactly how technology works in real-world environments.

"I drive past here quite a bit and I've seen the buildings but I didn't realize the extent of the growth," he said. "I would have loved this."

His story illustrates something larger than one person's success. Community colleges like SCC provide accessible pathways into tech careers for students who might never consider themselves programmers or engineers.

Wilken's journey proves that sometimes the right teacher and one great class can unlock potential you didn't know you had.