Jose Luis Andrade

The connections alumni make as students often lead to opportunities down the road. This was certainly the case for Jose Luis Andrade (Computer Science Technology, 2009) who forged a partnership with fellow grad Chris Mihalicz (2004) whom he met during a co-op placement with pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline. Still working on joint ventures as a software developer with Chris’ company ThreePointTurn Inc., Jose is also running his own firm, AlphaQuantum which he opened soon after graduation.

A full plate, to be sure, however, he is energized by the fast pace. “As technology is changing, so are the demands for companies to upgrade their systems. Needless to say this keeps me busy but I enjoy the challenges this presents.”

What gave Jose the confidence to branch out on his own right away? “Through the co-op program, I was able to network within various companies,” says Jose. “I was fortunate to have met people in the industry who shared their experiences and knowledge from both the technical and small business development aspects.”

Along the way, Jose learned the value of strong communications skills as well as tech-smarts. “Although is important to have the technical knowledge, it is equally as important to be able to interact with others when running your own company. Building relationships and networking has helped me advance my career just as much as my skillset as a software developer,” he says.

Jose’s IT education began in his native Ecuador where he finished his first year of computer engineering at university before moving to Canada in 2005 to study English and further his career. Faced with the need to improve his English, he enrolled in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program at Sheridan. “I saw great potential in the college and decided to pursue further studies there.”

A Programming Excellence Award winner in his graduating year, Jose regularly updates his skill set, something he advises new alumni to do. “Continue to upgrade your education so you’re current and marketable. It’s important to be able to adapt.”

Learn more about Sheridan's Computer Systems Technology - Software Development and Network Engineering Co-op program.