Our Partnership with Stark State College
A Vision to Create Opportunity
Dating back to the 1990s our founder, Mani Subramanian, had formed a vision that’s goal was to strengthen the American workforce through career opportunities in Information Technology Services (IT Services). Early on, Mani recognized that American jobs were being lost and replaced as globalization took effect. Globalization is inevitable from economic considerations, however, it will be so much fairer if the American workforce were to play both an active and guiding role in that process. This is more so because the market is the US and the American worker is expected to be more familiar with it.
Determined to help bring about this change in thinking, Mani focused on under represented regions of the United States where opportunity had faded with time. One of those regions was Akron/Canton, Ohio — a place with a proud industrial legacy but one that had seen significant economic change. Mani, inspired by both his vision and a close personal connection to the area, chose this community as the place to bring his mission to fruition. The location was ideal both from cost consideration and talent development.
Stark State College
In the early 2010s, Mani was introduced to Stark State College through a close associate who grew up in Canton, Ohio. Over time, a meaningful partnership was formed between Mani and the college — built on a shared belief in accessible, high-quality education and a mutual desire to support local talent.
That partnership led to the creation of the Fortisure Foundation Scholarship Endowment Fund in August 2012. The goal was clear: to provide educational and career opportunities in the IT Services sector for individuals in Northeast Ohio who might not otherwise have access to higher education to achieve their career aspirations.
Impact
Since its founding, the Fortisure Foundation has awarded over 100 scholarships to students at Stark State College pursuing degrees in information technology. These students are known as Fortisure Fellows—a title that represents not only scholarship recipients, but emerging leaders in their field.
The Foundation has opened doors for individuals who may never have considered a career in tech, allowing them to pursue their education without the financial burden that so often stands in the way.
And we’re just getting started.
Beginning in 2025, FortisureIT and Stark State will collaborate to create events and initiatives that build on the foundation’s mission—offering mentorship, career development, and deeper local impact for students and the community alike. It is our belief that this small beginning will have a monumental impact on our mission.
Fortisure Fellows at FortisureIT
Chris Miller
Client Solutions Developer
2019 Fortisure Fellow