STC Alum Earns Technical Position At Zoho
Photo above: Computer Information Technology grad Marcos Ortiz talks about the journey that led him to work for ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation which operates the company’s enterprise IT applications including software, networking and server monitoring.
MCALLEN, TEXAS (JULY 6, 2022) – Former South Texas College student Marcos Ortiz credits a strong work ethic and his experience at the college for preparing him to work for some of the most prominent companies in the world – and he’s just getting started.
Born and raised in Donna, Ortiz said he always had a knack for technology. But growing up, in his words, “poor” meant always having to work harder than his classmates to succeed, he said.
“My dad came from Mexico, and our family wasn’t rich. I wouldn’t even say we were middle income. Actually we were pretty low income but I always had this habit of tearing stuff apart and fixing it back up – it was always a little hobby of mine,” Ortiz said. “I just wanted to learn more about the field, get more hands-on experience and just push myself to climb further.”
Ortiz got straight to work. Shortly after graduating from Donna High School in 2015, and then inquiring about opportunities in Information Technology (IT), he turned what would have been part-time work in fast food into a full-time job working for the IT company outsourced by all local Dairy Queen branches in the Valley.
That first step enabled him to begin doing IT consulting for companies across the region, he said.
“My boss interviewed me and gave me a full-time job. I remember being really surprised because I maybe had been in college for a month and didn’t have any real previous IT experience, but this was the start of my career in technology,” Ortiz said. “I started with other clients, including non-profits and smaller clients here and there just doing their IT while going to school part-time and working full-time. I did that until I got my associate degree.”
Ortiz said he completed STC’s associate program for Computer Support Specialists and following a semester break went for a bachelor’s in Computer Information Technology while working full-time. It was through his work in STC’s Computer Information Technology program that Ortiz said he landed a dream internship with Amazon working in one of the company’s data centers.
But after working for a summer with Amazon, Ortiz said he became tired of the constant travel, and decided on finding his career closer to home.
“There were a lot of jobs in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas or even further up north like Colorado, but they didn’t pan out for me, which I’m kind of thankful now because I found a technical consultant role with ManageEngine,” Ortiz said.
ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corporation which operates the company’s enterprise IT application including software, networking and server monitoring.
Zoho Corporation, a leading global technology company, recently opened a new office in McAllen, the company’s third in Texas and the first to be located in the Rio Grande Valley.
“I know it’s difficult for most students when they have to manage school, work and life. I’ve had that struggle as well. I worked full time right up until I graduated so I know how hard it is getting that experience while also getting that degree,” Ortiz said. “I was never a perfect 4.0 grade-point average student, but I’m proof that you don’t have to be perfect if you’re working and gaining experience because sometimes life experience makes up for it.”
Today, Zoho is one of STC’s hiring partners.
Recently, the company held a hiring fair at the Technology Campus and Ortiz was among the recruiters interviewing STC grads for careers in IT.
Ortiz is one of 10 STC graduates currently employed at the global IT company.
For more information on STC’s Information Technology program and bachelor degree in Computer Information Technology degree please visit bachelors.southtexascollege.edu/cit/.