Speakers: Greg Gardner, Lead Cyber Instructor
What does winning the CEI Circle of Excellence Award mean to you?
Greg Gardner: Hi. Winning the EC-Council CEI Circle of Excellence award this year, it's actually my 2nd time doing that, means that my students, when they are providing feedback about the courses back to EC Council, have really identified that I've been able to help them understand the material in such a way that they're able to pass their exams. And you know what, that's pretty important because that's why they're taking those classes anyway.
What's a key way that you feel your role supports students in their tech career journey and why is it unique?
Greg Gardner: You know, with over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, I bring a lot of experience to the table when it comes to answering student questions, how to apply different things and different situations that we've seen, and we can see that in the EC council classes, readily as those students come in and they've already have some experience in the field. And so it's almost more like a mentorship and a guiding role, and, that's been very, very enjoyable for me in teaching these classes.
Can you share a story of a moment when you felt most like your work is making a positive impact?
Greg Gardner: You know, one of the greatest experiences an instructor can have is to get an email from a student that says, Hey, I passed the certification exam, or, hey, I got that job that we were talking about. I wasn't sure I was gonna make it, but all of the things that we talked about, the interviewing process and the things to discuss. And hey, I got it. I'm on my journey. That's what really, really touches my heart when teaching these classes.
