You could say the Hattan family is very “computer savvy.”
Dave, his daughter Jill and her son Tyler all graduated from Southeast
Community College’s Computer Information Technology program. When it was still
at the Milford Campus it was called Computer Programming. They all decided to
go into the program for two main reasons: the affordable tuition and the job
placement.
“I was drawn to SCC because of the Computer
Programming curriculum reputation, and you were quickly able to get a good-paying
job,” Jill said.
“The students coming out of CIT have extensive hands-on
practice and application of IT concepts,” Dave said. “Students who apply
themselves will have lots of Nebraska companies that are seeking their skills.”
“The CIT program provides many opportunities to find great jobs
locally and to meet people in the industry,” Tyler added.
Dave graduated in 1973, Jill in 2000 and Tyler finished in 2021.
Between the three of them they have around 70 years of IT experience with the
state of Nebraska. Quite a feat when they could have their pick of jobs in the
industry. Jill is an IT manager and Dave is an IT manager II. Tyler has since
gone on to work in the private sector, where he is a software developer. Dave
and Jill say it is very gratifying to work for the state.
“It
is very rewarding to know that we are helping and supporting citizens of
Nebraska,” Jill explained, “knowing that a lot of our systems are helping
citizens with their daily lives.”
In
addition to SCC, the Hattans have also furthered their education. Dave went on
to earn a degree from Peru State College, and he and Jill also took additional
CIT classes at SCC. Tyler actually started at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, earning a degree in Business Administration, and attended SCC
afterward.
“My goals
include learning as much as I can about software development and to become a
senior-level developer or manager,” Tyler said.
No matter what path you take, the trio all agreed that enrolling
in the program helped their careers. They encourage others to consider it as
well. In fact, it doesn’t end with Tyler. Many other members of the Hattan
family also are in the same field.
“We are an IT family,” Dave said. “I met my wife, who was a
co-worker the first year I worked for the state. We have two
daughters, both of them have degrees from CIT. Now our oldest grandson
completed his CIT degree this past spring. There is a lot of satisfaction
in looking at my families’ success in IT.”
“It is fun to have the whole family in IT,” Jill added. “We
are able to understand what each are working on at work. I find it very
interesting when one of them starts a new project with some new technology and we
are able to talk about the project and how it is going over dinner.”
Dave
gives back to SCC by actively hiring and mentoring SCC students. As he plans
for his own retirement in the next few years, he hopes to leave a legacy in his
career and to his alma mater.
“I
created an aggressive intern program that thus far has provided 77 internships
for mainly SCC students,” he said. “We have been able to hire about 80% of
those interns.”
Dave
also was the Outstanding Alumnus for the Milford Campus in 2013. For more on
the CIT program, click on this link: https://www.southeast.edu/computerinformation/.