Articles

Learning and Earning: How HCC and Local Entrepreneurs are Building Houston’s Future Workforce

Jan 9, 2026

From left to right: Tanaz Choudhury, president, TanChes Global Management, Inc.; Tobi Djamasi, HCC alumnus and former TanChes apprentice and Ethan Phan, current HCC student/TanChes apprentice

At Houston City College (HCC), apprenticeships are more than work experience, they are career launchpads into high-demand careers. These programs connect classroom education with real-world application––helping students develop the skills, confidence and industry connections they need to succeed. For Houston employers, apprenticeships offer a pipeline of motivated, prepared talent ready to contribute on day one.

One of those partners is TanChes Global Management, Inc., a Houston-based IT solutions company. Last year, the owners, Tanaz and Chesley Choudhury, collaborated with HCC on a Cisco Services upgrade project. They used the HCC Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub to bring on two student apprentices to join the project.

One of them was Tobi Djamasi. He completed his apprenticeship in summer 2025 as he earned his Associate of Arts in Business Administration at HCC.

“My goal was always to do something business and IT-related,” Djamasi shared. “At TanChes, I learned both sides–– working with clients and understanding the technical skills I needed to find my path forward.”

Ethan Phan, a current TanChes apprentice, is helping the company, which was established in 1998, explore new frontiers in artificial intelligence.

“My hope is to grow the AI division into its own sector and bring in more HCC students as apprentices to eventually be developers with us,” said Phan who is pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Artificial Intelligence & Robotics at HCC.

He says the experience has given him a front-row seat to innovation.

“TanChes has the foundation of a 27-year-old company but the spirit of a start-up,” he explained. “We are working across so many industries, and It’s exciting to be part of something that’s evolving every day.”

A Proven Pathway to Success

For more than two decades, HCC has been a leader in work-based learning, helping students move seamlessly from classroom to career. Nearly 3,000 students are currently participating in HCC apprenticeship programs, and 85% stay with their employer immediately after completion.

“Our goal is to bring apprentices in-house. We run the program for a year, and for those who really shine and want to stay, we would love to hire them full-time,” Choudhury explained. “They are already working alongside us every day, and we see them as part of the team. They’re paid employes, so it just makes sense to keep them growing with us.”

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship recognized HCC as an Apprenticeship Ambassador, a national designation honoring institutions that promote and expand registered apprenticeship programs.

“We continue to grow our offerings beyond union positions that range from healthcare to IT to insurance,” said Christina Tobin, Ed.D., executive director of Work-Based Learning & Industry Partnerships. “Our students are gaining real-world experience working at companies such as Texas Mutual and TanChes while they complete their coursework, while employers gain motivated, well-prepared team members.”

HCC has also expanded opportunities for high school learners through pre-apprenticeships for high school students, as young as 16, offering early access to career readiness, technical training and interview skills.

“The transformation is incredible,” Tobin added. “By the time students complete their pre-apprenticeship and move into the apprenticeship program, their confidence is like night and day. When we send our students in for interviews, they are a level above because they have practiced in real world settings.”

Investing in People, Building Legacies

For Tanaz Choudhury, an alumna of the HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, supporting apprentices is both a business strategy and a way to give back.

“Somebody took a chance on us, and we're trying to pay it forward –– helping young professionals become independent, efficient and effective members of society,” she shared.  

Djamasi, now majoring in Management Information Systems at Texas A&M University Mays Business School, says his apprenticeship experience at TanChes shaped both his career aspirations and fueled his entrepreneurial mindset.

“Tanaz became a mentor to me,” he said. “I want to eventually own my own company the way she did. During my time at TanChes, she and her team showed me the ropes— giving me advice and guidance during the ups and downs. I really appreciate what they have done for me.”

When local entrepreneurs and HCC students come together, the benefits ripple across the region and everyone wins. Businesses grow, students succeed and the region’s economy thrives.

“Apprenticeships work because they are built on partnership,” said Tobin. “When employers invest in students early, and students apply what they learn in real-world environments, the entire region benefits. This is how we build talent, strengthen businesses, and grow Houston’s workforce for the future.”

To learn more about the apprenticeship programs at HCC, visit hccs.edu/apprenticeship.