CompTIA and TestOut join forces, accelerating the shared goal of empowering millions of students with technical training and digital literacy education
Former TestOut Owner/CEO, Noel Vallejo writes a letter to TestOut customers regarding the recent TestOut acquisition by CompTIA.
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On Monday, Jan. 9, I got together in Utah with the folks at CompTIA and sold TestOut to them. The meeting lasted only 30 minutes. Now that is going to sound quick — but the discussion on selling TestOut actually started in March 2022. That’s when I got an e-mail from Todd Thibodeaux, the CEO of CompTIA, asking whether I would be interested in selling TestOut. It took me two weeks to respond to his e-mail because I wasn't sure. That said, over the past 10 years, I have often thought that if I were going to sell TestOut, CompTIA would be at the top of my list of potential buyers. And it’s not a small list: Over those same 10 years I would receive a call at least once a month from a buyer (sometimes from multiple buyers) wanting to purchase TestOut.
What had we built at TestOut that was attractive to CompTIA and so many others? Here is my short list: 1) We have many schools buying from us. For the core CompTIA product line, I believe we own the market share. 2) We own the technology, LabSim, that we use to deliver our courses. 3) We have a remarkable team of people who develop our courses and simulations. 4) We have been in business 31 years and have a proven record. Yes, I am proud of what we have done. I started TestOut in my bedroom in November 1991 after getting laid off by Novell.
Today I am old and bald, but I was able to raise six children with my wife, Carrie, with what we built at TestOut. My greatest joy was working all these years with the amazing schools and educators who use TestOut products: You are the best of what this world is made of, working with our team at TestOut to give hope to your students.
I knew that CompTIA would be a good choice to carry on the legacy of TestOut because CompTIA’s mission and values are well aligned with TestOut's mission to make a difference in a person's life through education using breakthrough technology.
Thank you, CompTIA. And thanks to all of the amazing customers and friends who brought us to this point.
Sincerely,
Noel Vallejo
Founder of TestOut
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