From left: Sierra Bonn, Luis Rodriguez, Mary Snapp, Ben Sebree, and Mike Zimarzla.

Last week, we hosted Microsoft Vice President Mary Snapp and Senator Jerry Moran’s State Deputy Director Mike Zimarzla in our event venue to announce Microsoft Philanthropy and FlagshipKansas.Tech’s UpSkill-A-Thon, an initiative to help the workforce become more prepared for in-demand roles in the digital economy.

The UpSkill-A-Thon is part of a program called Community Skills Initiative Kansas. CSI Kansas offers a suite of online training and resources to hundreds of free online training courses to boost digital skills.

Everyone who earns a certification of completion (for courses) or a Career Essentials Certificate (for entire learning pathways) could win a cash prize. Participants must have a LinkedIn account to earn a certificate.

Those interested in participating may do so until the close of the competition on November 16. Learn more here.

Snapp, who spoke at the event, is a native Kansan from Newton, and was hired at Mircosoft in 1988 as the company’s fourth attorney and first female attorney. She has held several roles with the multinational technology corporation, most recently as vice president of strategic initiatives. Before that, she was corporate vice president of Microsoft philanthropies and corporate vice president and deputy general counsel.