Today they have high tech computer jobs paying over $40,000 per year. They have stock options, flexible hours, company paid medical coverage and, best of all, they don’t have to commute across sound to get to work.

These new jobs have been created in Poulsbo by an innovative company called eAcceleration and the “Boot Camp” the employees volunteered to go though is the brain child of Clint Ballard, president of the company and ex-Silicon Valley entrepreneur. The boot camp program is designed to train people with no prior computer experience to be productive high tech employees.

“Boot camp was extremely challenging. And I had to push beyond the traditional learning environment. I started with minimal computer knowledge and after a lot of hard work, I can program anything I can dream up,” said former nanny Jennifer Engstrom.

Twelve new employees have graduated from eAcceleration’s boot camp and have joined the company, graduating one month earlier than planned. Ballard says a large number of people will soon complete his boot camp and will be offered jobs in operations, marketing, programming, testing, Web development and others.

The twelve new employees join the 40 people employed by eAcceleration who came to Kitsap County in 1996.

eAcceleration is a long standing system and software company. The company is famous for developing the SCSI Management System of NCR, holds nine patents, is a Top 100 Internet Company and is currently planning broad corporate expansion.

New employees are paid $8 to $12 per hour and receive 5,000 to 10,000 in company stock options over 10 years. Hard working employees willing to work some overtime are able to earn $40,000 to $50,000 per year.

Ballard does not charge for the boot camp and students work at their own pace. Most are from Kitsap County. Enrollment is open to anyone, including people who already have some computer training.

What’s the subject matter for boot camp? According to Ballard, people need to be self-motivated, dedicated and “trust in what I am saying and doing what I ask them to do.”

“I was working as a receiving clerk before boot camp. This has completely changed my life. I’ve developed a marketable job skill with a successful company and am now employed full time,” said Philip F. Anderson

Ballard’s curriculum is not a walk in the park. His course syllabus lists forty books, many on complex computer programming languages. A good understanding of math is required and, he says, he’s found most students need to improve their basic core skills in both the spoken and written word.

According to a new graduate and former customer service representative, “We were given goals to achieve and the equipment to accomplish our tasks without a great deal of structure. It forced us to work together as a team and share our skills. I think this is a great idea.”

“The main difference between the people who succeeded and those that did not was simply the amount of effort (they put in). People who worked hard made it and those who didn’t, did not. It is up to each person to decide if this is something they want to do,” Ballard said.

“Of paramount importance is an overwhelming determination to work in high technology, coupled with the desire to be a winner. This will probably be the most intensive and demanding three months of your life,” he asserts.

While there are a large number of people currently completing boot camp, Ballard says the program will be continued indefinitely. “We need good people and we want to hire them from Kitsap County,” he said.

A recent graduate of the program commented, “Boot camp was one of the most challenging experiences of my life. It’s not for the faint of heart. Everyone starts at the same place. Prior education, experience or development don’t count. What matters is your ability to adapt, your ability to grow.”

Those interested in the eAcceleration boot camp can contact the company at www.eAcceleration.com or the company will mail prospective students an information brochure.