Former Restaurateur, Now Cybersecurity Pro, Joins Richmond/Innsbrook Campus Adjunct Faculty
When Andy Vetter was in high school, he was convinced that he would grow up to be a chef. In fact, he spent many years working in restaurants, starting off as a waiter and eventually working his way into management. Then, he became a husband. After that, a father. It was then that he realized such a profession – with its late hours, weekends, and holidays – was not ideal for a family man, at least not for him.
Andy had always enjoyed playing video games and was drawn to “anything tech,” as he puts it, which is why he decided to explore a career in computer science. That led to his enrollment in the Network Security (now called Cyber and Information Security Technology) program at ECPI University’s Richmond/Innsbrook campus, and he never looked back.
“The processes that we were taught, and the soft skills that were preached helped me network and present myself in a professional manner, so that I could stand out above the crowd. The real-world experiences that my instructors brought to the table were so relevant and I still find value in them every day as I apply them to my current role. ECPI really was the best decision I ever made for my career.”
– Andy Vetter – Richmond/Innsbrook Faculty Member and Graduate
“I really enjoyed the accelerated approach that ECPI brought to the table,” says Andy. “There was always something to work on and new material to cover, which kept me engaged and really made the five-week classes fly by.” Toward the end of his studies, he talked to a recruiter at one of the campus’ career fairs who scheduled him for an interview. “I found out thereafter that I was not just interviewing for an internship, but for an entry-level position as a Junior Implementation Engineer for Voice over IP (VOIP) systems,” says Andy. “This was my first job in the IT industry, and I was able to take on the new role while still completing my program!”
After earning his degree, Andy also earned his CompTIA Security+ professional certification, as well as some other vendor-specific certifications, and landed a position as a security analyst for a Richmond consulting firm. He says what he learned at ECPI University helped him to rapidly advance. “The processes that we were taught and the soft skills that were preached helped me network and present myself in a professional manner so that I could stand out above the crowd. The real-world experiences that my instructors brought to the table were so relevant, and I still find value in them every day as I apply them to my current role. ECPI really was the best decision I ever made for my career.”
That sense of gratitude is what motivated Andy to teach, so he returned to ECPI University to earn his Master’s degree. He is now an adjunct faculty member and teaches evening classes at the Richmond/Innsbrook campus. He enjoys sharing his own story with his students, as he is fond of saying, “I am walking proof that our programs can make all the difference.”
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