About Us

ABOUT US

Birth of the Encantado Foundation

The Encantado Foundation was formed by Encantado Technical Solutions, LLC. (ETS)Ā a Joint-Venture between Edgewater Federal and ECS FederalĀ upon award of theĀ Sandia National Laboratories Third-Party Telecommunications and Information Technology (TPTIT) Support Services contract to ETS by the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS), to provide comprehensive enterprise and mission-embedded IT support for Sandia National Laboratories personnel and the labā€™s infrastructure at multiple locations across the United States.

The Need We Address

New Mexico-based technology companies are not alone in the struggle to find employee candidates with the appropriate education, certifications, and hands-on experience to fill its thousands of available STEM-related positions each year. In fact, the thin digital workforce impacts technology employers of all sizes and ultimately, the stateā€™s economy as a whole. The five fastest-growing occupations for the greater Albuquerque area between 2015 and 2020 were all STEM related1. Yet, while the average salary for a computing occupation in New Mexico ($79,230) is nearly double the stateā€™s average salary ($44,160), there were a reported 2,406 unfilled computing jobs in New Mexico in 2017, representing a $171,511,936 opportunity in terms of annual salaries2.

The COVID-19 crisis has further impacted recruiting, hiring, and how we work. But in the aftermath of this crisis, history also tells us that workforce diversity and inclusion may be at a higher risk than usual due to companiesā€™ need to focus on their most pressing basic needsā€”such as urgent measures to adapt to new ways of working; consolidate workforce capacity; and maintain productivity, a sense of connection, and the physical and mental health of their employees ā€“ and away from efforts to create diversity and inclusion in their workforce. (Robert Booth, ā€œMinisters urged to raise pay for care home staff during COVID-19 crisis,ā€ Guardian, April 14, 2020, theguardian.com.)

How We Address the Need

The Encantado Foundation will create funding opportunities in the form of grants that will build the bridge for STEM-related careers by providing our areaā€™s digital workforce with prepared, trained, hire-ready job candidates for careers in cyber security, application development and management, and IT operations.Ā  Grant funding will be used to support initiatives which:

  • generate, support, and expand the areaā€™s digital workforce,
  • create opportunities for professional development and hands-on training through internships, mentorships, and apprenticeships in STEM fields, and
  • help new graduates, returning students and working learners develop skills, certifications, and licensures that can lead to greater opportunities for employment in technology careers.

CONTACT US

New Mexico

2321 Calle Colibri
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Primary Contact

info@theencantadofoundation.org
(505) 690-7576

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