(Miami, FL.) –  CBT Technology Institute, the Miami Dade County technical and vocational school, is celebrating 31 years since its founding in 1988, when the Llerena family created the Business & Technology Institute. Fernando and Gladys Llerena, who migrated from Arequipa, Peru in 1980, founded this Institute on the basic principle of learning by doing and providing progressive education to the community in Miami, FL.

Mr. Llerena, fascinated by technology, initially focused the College more toward Business and Information Technology programs. However today, CBT Technology Institute has expanded its offerings to include a larger variety of trade programs with an added emphasis on technology careers. These programs are aimed to help the community keep current in today’s hypercompetitive career environment, providing them with the key skills needed to succeed in it.

The College’s “Where There’s a Skill, There’s a Way” campaign, which launched in the spirit of Anniversary Month, supports the Founders’ vision that Ms. Llerena articulated: to ensure that any community member who has a goal can achieve it with the training and skills gained at CBT Technology Institute, which will open the doors toward professional development for years to come.

“You never stop learning” is a phrase that Mr. Llerena was often heard saying at graduation ceremonies and the college’s hallways. Luis Llerena, son of the Founders and Army veteran, leads the Business Development department in expanding the CBT Technology Institute community toward High School students in partnership with many local organizations, such as SoleMia. It was the dream of Mr. Fernando Llerena to support the youth in their aspirations for the future, and he would be very happy to know that his dreams have come true in just 31 years.

“The American Dream is still achievable today for anyone who is willing to put in the strong will and work,” said Monica Llerena, President/CEO of CBT Technology Institute and youngest daughter of the Llerena family.  “We have students who are fluent in English and some who are not, and the only difference I have seen in individual student success is the level of grit, not language,” she said.

Community service has also been a strong core value for CBT Technology Institute throughout its 31 years. Working alongside organizations that serve the community’s underserved populations, such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)  and Kids and the Power of Work (KAPOW), CBT Technology Institute has focused on being a key partner for the community’s development, making this college more than just a business, it is also a community partner.

This past October CBT Technology Institute also hosted its Annual Picnic, where over 250 community members attended with their families to enjoy some paella in the park.  Another celebratory event was Anniversary Week, where dozens of students in the College’s three campuses took part in skills competitions around pipe bending, electrical mock ups, and critical thinking competitions, among various others. The victors, on top of bragging rights, received gift cards for their feat. In this vein, Anniversary Month is always a special time of year for the College as it is a moment to appreciate the roots of its principles and the Founders’ legacy through various timeline videos and other celebrations.

About CBT Technology Institute:

CBT Technology Institute provides career training through a hands-on learning approach within the construction, technology, and allied health fields at its three locations across Miami-Dade County (Cutler Bay, Flagler, and Hialeah.) Over the past 31 years, the organization has graduated thousands of students into the Miami-Dade county workforce throughout more than 70 graduation ceremonies. The College’s involvement with employers, local organizations, and strategic business initiatives has opened up plenty of opportunities for our current students and graduates.

CBT Technology Institute is also listed as a Military-friendly school and participates in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. It is also approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to participate in the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll International F-1 Visa students. The college is nationally accredited by ACICS, licensed by the Commission of Independent Education (CIE), and certified by the U.S. Department of Education to receive Title IV funding.