Matt Monti

Cybersecurity is Music to this Grad's Ears

Matt Monti decided IT hit all the right notes

Matt Monti had the right pedigree when he enrolled in the Recording Arts and Technology (RAT) program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). He played piano. He wrote soundtracks. And not least of all, he is the grandson of Tommy LiPuma, namesake of the Gill and Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts.

But something that happened in 2006 would change his course. That was the year wikileaks.org was established, and the story surrounding it intrigued Monti. He decided his future did not lie in sound production. Data security was his calling.

The Westchester County, New York, native fell in love with Cleveland as a student in the RAT program. As he reoriented, Cleveland was on his short list of places to go. He wanted to be on his own, and the welcoming environment of Tri-C combined with the low cost of living in Northeast Ohio was an enticing combination.

"I missed it when I was away," he said.

He got an apartment at Reserve Square and took a job at Home Depot while exploring the College's IT workforce offerings. He quickly noticed there was a lot of support available. Over a recent 10-minute interview, he mentioned Hamid Abdollahian, executive director of Tri-C's Cisco program, several times.

"I cannot say enough about Hamid and the support I got," he said. That support sealed the deal.

He enrolled in the College's Cisco certification program, which he described as challenging and rewarding. Abdollahian and others in the program would send him job listings as his studies progressed.

"There are lots and lots of jobs and great earning potential," Monti said.

Program support. A challenging curriculum. A good future. These three pillars hold up Monti as he finishes his curriculum and certifications. A career in cybersecurity sounds like music to his ears.