About Us
ElyIT was founded to create a clearer pathway into the technology industry. Our courses combine real industry experience, structured live instruction, and mentorship to help students build the skills and certifications employers are looking for. We focus on practical learning, hands on labs, and career readiness so our students do more than study technology. They become the next generation of IT professionals.
Meet Our Founder
Nicholas Ely
Founder & CEO
Nicholas Ely founded ElyIT to solve a problem he experienced personally. Early in his career, he knew he wanted to work in technology but had little guidance on the many paths within the field. Without a mentor, he changed academic focus multiple times and spent his early years navigating entry level IT roles while searching for work that aligned with both his skills and his purpose.
He found that purpose in the public sector. Over more than 14 years in the industry, he has led multidisciplinary teams of software engineers, business systems analysts, data scientists, and support professionals building mission critical platforms, including enterprise systems serving 150,000 residents of Maricopa County. That work has earned eleven National Association of Counties Achievement Awards. Along the way, he completed a Master of Science in Information Security at Northern Arizona University with a 4.0 grade point average.
As Nicholas grew into leadership and began hiring technical professionals, he noticed a pattern: many talented people had taken the same uncertain path into the field, with no one to guide them. He began teaching IT security and networking, guiding adult learners to 45 industry certifications, including CompTIA A+, Security+, Linux+, and Cisco CCNA, with an 83% first attempt pass rate on the A+ exam. More than half of his students moved directly into IT roles. Counting the professionals he has mentored and hired throughout his career, the people he has guided have collectively earned more than 80 industry certifications.
ElyIT provides the guidance Nicholas wished he had. Every course combines live instruction, mentorship, and scenarios drawn from real enterprise operations, taught by a credentialed CTE instructor with IVP fingerprint clearance and mandatory reporter training.
The ElyIT Approach
We believe great careers are built through mentorship, discipline, and practical experience. At ElyIT, our mission is not simply to teach technology, but to guide students toward meaningful careers in the IT industry through real world experience, accountability, and professional development.
Mentorship
Guidance that accelerates careers.
Every student's journey into technology is different. We work closely with students to understand their strengths, interests, and goals, helping them identify pathways where they can succeed and grow into confident IT professionals.
Practical Learning
Skills that translate to real work.
Technology is best learned by doing. Our programs emphasize hands on labs, real world scenarios, and certification preparation so students build the technical competence employers expect from modern IT professionals.
Integrity
Honest guidance. Clear expectations.
We are transparent about the work required to succeed in the IT industry. Students receive honest feedback, clear direction, and structured support so they can develop both the discipline and technical skills needed to build lasting careers.
Continuous Growth
Technology never stops evolving.
The IT industry moves quickly, and successful professionals must continue learning throughout their careers. ElyIT encourages curiosity, professional development, and lifelong learning so our students remain adaptable and valuable in a rapidly changing industry.