Thanks to interested Windsor Forest High School teacher Mr. Exley, a class of AP Computer Science students were treated to a nearly hour-long session with local IT business CEO Chuck Brown.

After attending a Chamber Power Hour luncheon that Brown presented on digital transformation, Exley asked if the CEO would be willing to address his students. Despite being a Jenkins alumnus, Brown agreed. Perhaps because his brother and Infinity, Inc. COO graduated from WFHS.

Brown engaged the students with questions, personal anecdotes, and an interactive presentation that allowed the students to vote and see real-time results on the screen. Discussion topics ranged from the variety of career options for Computer Science degrees to salary expectations, next steps to take, and what companies might look for in prospective employees.

“Read. Read all you can. Work hard in school. And develop your character. Be on time; be honest; be engaged. You can teach skills; you can’t teach character.”

Brown not only illustrated this advice using examples of his own experiences and company hiring anecdotes, but followed it up by presenting each student with the Arbinger Institute’s bestselling book, Leadership and Self-Deception, Getting Out of the Box.