The best way to foster and ensure equality in STEM and beyond is for those who have reached success in less-than-diverse industries to help guide others to follow in their inspiring footsteps. This is the concept behind an IT Pipeline. Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight, Belonging & Inclusion Project Director, chats with Craig Collins, Special Projects Strategy Director for TMH Solutions, a minority-owned and managed company committed to community service, which has partnered with leading IT companies for over 25 years to serve state and local government organizations, education and healthcare clients.
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
Welcome, Craig. You are a Special Projects Director for TMH Solutions. While TMH Solutions is not an education entity, it does work with a variety of entities, including K-12 education.
Craig Collins:
It is not, however we are actively engaged in the education sector, working on a partnership with one of the nation’s largest school districts, which is quite exciting as we make adjustments in our community.
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
I do know that you used to be in education. However, education was not your segue into the IT industry. What we want to focus on today is the IT Pipeline, and how you were helped by it and in turn now help others. You didn’t come into IT formally, what conversation or opportunity was it that landed you on this trajectory?
Craig Collins:
I started in IT when a small company owner interviewed me, hiring me not for my technical knowledge but for my personality. This allowed me to teach various older systems to bankers, including Excel and Lotus 1-2-3, and even develop databases using FoxPro. From there I moved into insurance, working as an administrative assistant to the Vice President. She was struggling sending letters out. She would type 100 letters and all she was really doing was changing the address on each. I just thought — how much time is wasted? In elementary school, I had a teacher who invested in me. It left me with a character inspired by teaching. I went to her and said, “There’s a better way to do that.” She was so busy, I changed my lunchtime to her lunchtime and taught her mail merge and all the technology she needed. That later landed me a promotion into the IT department with the company.
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
So the work you did with her as a favor to help build her skillset segued into a professional role within the IT industry. It took off from there, just because you asked. Sometimes you get the opportunity to show the skills that you have and those skills can be developed. Craig, being a black male, recognized his passion and desire, and his skill sets and ability to first learn and then teach IT. He took the time to just showcase it to other people. It seems like each step in your career involved teaching and enhancing systems. How has this shaped your approach in IT?
Craig Collins:
My journey in IT has always included an element of teaching. Whether building laptops for loan officers or explaining new applications, I’ve continually used my skills to educate others in technology, which is something I deeply enjoy. I self-taught myself how to maneuver through this technology, and it’s ever-changing. But one thing I love most is giving back. My career today with TMH is helping, wherever I am. We did an outing on Saturday at a food pantry, meeting people and helping. I just want to build that trust and be ready to find someone else to help. You never know, it’s like going to a yard sale. You never know what treasure you will find in all that junk.
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
To that point, you’re always thinking about talent. You never know who’s hidden under that onion when you start to peel, even someone who might have a past. It just takes that one person to be able to identify who you are, to see you and ask.
Craig Collins:
It changed my career. Taking the time to notice someone struggling, find a solution through technology and then share that with them to make what they are doing easier or better — and then it unexpectedly paid off professionally. I still have a letter the VP sent me when I got an award. So now I think, how do I show up? And then how do I engage? People are afraid to ask, but it’s okay if you don’t know the answers.
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
If you don’t ask, you can’t get help. Closed mouths don’t get fed. Just ask, build the relationships. You’ve mentioned the challenges of being a black male in IT. Can you expand on that?
Craig Collins:
In many roles, I was often the only African American in the department, whether it was in banking, annuities, or education. This required me to work twice as hard to gain recognition. It’s about paving the way for others. “I did it, not for me, but for those who are coming behind,” he reflect
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
That’s a powerful statement about persistence and resilience. As you’ve climbed the ranks, how have you used your position to influence and mentor others?
Craig Collins:
I’ve always tried to be a mentor and advocate for others in the industry, regardless of the department they are in. I always say, “A sponsor is someone who talks about you when you’re not in the room.” If someone expresses an interest in technology, I take the time to discuss and guide them, emphasizing the importance of sponsorship and mentoring in career advancement.
Dr. Rhonda Talford-Knight:
That’s the importance of the IT Pipeline. What advice would you give to someone starting in IT or seeking to advance their career?
Craig Collins:
Embrace every moment and don’t take opportunities for granted. Work hard, build relationships, and always be willing to learn and adapt. The tech industry offers vast opportunities. It’s crucial to seize them with enthusiasm and no regrets.
Read more about CoSN’s Belonging & Inclusion resources here.
Craig Collins, Special Projects Strategy Director – TMH Solutions (OH)
Craig Collins serves as the Special Projects Strategy Director at TMH SOLUTIONS LLC since May 2024. Prior to this role, Collins held various positions at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, including Deputy Director of Information Technology and Help Desk Supervisor, from July 2014 to April 2019 and April 2019 to May 2024, respectively. Collins began with the organization as a Telecommunications Analyst from December 2008 to July 2014. With a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati, Collins has extensive experience in technology management, telecommunication services, technical support, and staff supervision within governmental agencies.
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This interview has been made possible in part by a grant from Chan Zuckerberg initiative DAF, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
CoSN is vendor neutral and does not endorse products or services. Any mention of a specific solution is for contextual purposes.
