Suncoast Developers Guild Academy

I first learned about SDG from my brother, who had graduated from the Iron Yard a couple of years ago. I knew very little about coding coming into Cohort X and I can say that I truly learned a whole lot. The overall experience was good but it's also a very fast paced program and at times I felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Mark Dewey was our main instructor and he was just awesome from day 1. Over the course of the 12 weeks I know I asked a lot of dumb questions along the way and Mark patiently answered all of them in a professional manner. I can’t express how grateful I am in having Mark teach us React.

Jason Perry was my instructor for Ruby on Rails. Jason is such an experienced coder that I don’t think once I asked him a question in which he didn’t know the answer for.

On Friday we have career support with Toni and Katherine. They are both excellent in helping out setting up LinkedIn account, resumes and cover letters.  In addition, they are also involved in the community and always hosting different Meetups.

Overall I would recommend anyone who’s interested in learning how to solve problems and code.  All the people involved at SDG are extremely helpful.

I'm a former firefighter turned small business owner that had zero tech experience before SDG. I first learned about SDG while searching for coding schools in Florida. They were offering a test drive class at the time so I decided that would be a good place to start and see if coding was for me. Well, that class left me wanting more and I fell in love with the staff so I knew I would be attending their academy. 
The academy is tough. I commuted to school every day which made the long hours even longer. But it was worth it. Mark was my instructor and he was amazing. He could take all the technical jargon and turn it into English and then break down all the steps and pieces for us. The projects start off easy and get harder the further along you get in the course. By the end of the course, you can deploy an app or website from scratch. The academic part of the academy really pushed me out of my comfort zone and I am so grateful. After my graduation the pandemic caused the world to go into shutdown but I was able to take on freelance projects successfully because of the skills I learned from SDG.
There is also a soft skills/career prep section in this academy. I came into this with a lot of soft skills so that information wasn't new to me but I could see how valuable it was to some of the younger dev students that haven't had as much work experience. 
The career prep is focused on this industry and for the Tampa area. That was so valuable to me. I haven't been in the area long so I didn't have a network for the job search. Well with SDG you get to use their network and they have made great connections all over The Greater Tampa Bay. This network was key in helping me find my job. 
 During the career prep, they help you with your resume, LinkedIn, interview prep both the conversational part and the technical interview. 
You get tons of help and support after graduation in finding a job. I was amazed at how SDG lived up to its promise to help you in this area. 
I'm now working for my dream company doing my dream job. I am still pinching myself how everything worked out. I'm not going to lie it is hard but it is worth it because it is life-changing. 

I moved to the St. Pete/Tampa area from Cleveland, Ohio with intentions to go to some sort of bootcamp and I am glad I decided on SDG. I came here knowing no one and no real career path, connections, or deep knowledge in web development. From the very first time meeting the staff here to any time after post graduation SDG staff is there to help, make you laugh, and continue to teach.

This place truly creates a family like bond in 12 weeks. The training i received completely changed my life. Ive met life long friends, entered the career field where i feel like no day is spent just working. Mark (Core Instructor )and Jason(CEO / senior developer) are remarkable people who are insanely knowledgable developers. These two can tech you things you never thought possible while explaining them in ways to help you understand being new to the industry.

Katherine the campus director is the sweetest person who will talk to you about anything while also being a strong developer. She is your go to person with any issue or concerns. Her caring personality shines when you finish the program you start your job search and Katherine is working just as hard as you to land you that first job. 

I cant recommend this school enough if you live near the area. It's truly life changing if you put in the time and effort.

I heard about Suncoast Developers Guild from a friend of mine who has been a developer in the area for years.  I was working a robot-zombie job and I desperately wanted out of it.  I started looking into their program, and their job placement percentage, and what I would need to do to be good as a developer.  I had taken one summer course in C++ when I was a teenager, and nothing since.  

Once I was accepted, I threw myself into the pre-work, because I wanted to be very good at this and I felt like I was starting out behind.  I can't express how much fun I had in this program.  I went from not being quite sure what html tags were to, 12 weeks later, demonstrating a full-stack app I made exactly to my specifications to local developers.  I learned HTML, CSS, Javascript, React, .Net, C#, SQL as well as how to work with Powershell and Github.  The head instructor, Mark, jokes that this program is "drinking from a fire hose" and he's not wrong.  It's a lot.

I had a great time working through this curriculum but what I loved was the people I got to work with.  My cohort was 11 people, which is about the average size.  I think we did a very good job of keeping each other on track, working together, and working through the curriculum  together.  The staff is, simply put, amazing.  The instructors are focused and brilliant, and ready to help even if your problem isn't in their wheelhouse.  Katherine is the Campus Director, and she is a unicorn.  She was a great resource, in addition to Katherine just being fantastic to talk with.  

I have happily recommended this program to everyone who has asked me about it since I started and I plan to keep recommending it.  

Coming from a background in graphic design, I was often able to work on the creative content for websites and digital advertising for clients in a very limited capacity. I always dreamed about crossing over into web development, but often found myself stuck in markerting and advertising roles, afraid to make the switch. 

When I finally came across Suncoast Developers Guild, I was ready, but apprehensive about making such a big career change. Looking back from the other side of this incredible journey, I can only try to relay the immense graditude, respect, and appreciation I feel for Jason, Mark, Katherine, Gavin, Toni, & Kento - The SDG Super Team! From coding basics, to tech theory, introduction to the latest and greatest technologies, and career developement to ease the transition...SDG completely covers the bases, making sure you have suppport throughout your entire journey. SDG really guides students through the gate to the world of tech, and reminds beginners not to be afraid to explore, play, and be engaged in a career of continuous learning.

I cannot thank the staff enough for providing me with a career path to something challenging, rewarding, and that has absolutely given me a renewed passion in my everyday life. SDG is an inspiration that has helped me navigate towards a company (right out of bootcamp) that I love and am excited to continue my growth with.

** If you are considering SDG to begin your coding career, you will not be dissapointed that you did.

Great experience with great results. However, it isn't easy. Far from it!. Study and do as much pre-work as possible before the course begins.  You'll be working nights and weekends in addition to the program if you want to be effective. You'll have to dedicate your life to this so be sure to be sure. Get ready to learn at a blinding pace and be challenged. If you follow the SDG team's instructions you will have a high probability of entering the world of development. This program is 100% recommended if you are 100% dedicated. 

From the first time I stepped into SDG for my interview with Jason and Toni, to the day I walked out as a graduate, SDG felt like home. Even now, two months later, I know that SDG is a friendly and welcoming place, whether I need help with a code problem, or just want to hang out.

The staff is incredible. I truly believe that the instructors are world-class developers, and I feel truly grateful to have had the experience to learn from them. They continue to be an extremely valuable resource. 

I found during the cohort that if I had a problem, I could bring it to the staff very comfortably, and it was addressed as soon as was possible. Their main interest is you. They want you to have a great experience, and they want you to learn all that you can.

If you're on the fence about SDG, I hope I've been able to make your decision easier!

I’ve been a Daycare administrator since I can remember. Always passionate about computers and looking for a career change, one of my best friends recommended me the Suncoast Developers Guild bootcamp to speed up the process of learning to code. I wasn’t even sure what that meant when I decided to start, lured by the lifestyle and promises a career in tech can offer. 

I had to commute from Sarasota every day and I wasn’t sure if I was going to last the entire 12/Week process. I even had to apply for a credit (process they made super simple) to get onboard. Once I started, I felt in love with it. I found the strength and desire to wake up early and put long hours to learn about my new career. It is so much more than I thought. I found myself coding everywhere, even on weekends. Even now, I don’t want to stop.

Life at the code school is amazing. The instructors, Mark, Jason, Gavin, Toni and Katherine are all super diligent and motivated, plus the best teachers you could hope for. The facilities are great, it felt like home away from home. Plus, the camaraderie among your peers made it so we all built lifelong relationships with fellow career changers. And then there is the community which welcomes you with open arms and is always there to lend a helping hand. I spent long hours engaged in so many activities, building relationships and learning from the best tech talent the Tampa Bay area can offer.

I came onboard without having coded a single line before. By the end of it, I had mastered HTML5, CSS3 and two different JavaScript libraries in React and Vue. Also .Net Core as a backend framework. Fluent in JavaScript and C# and with a lot of tech tools under my belt they got me up and running and ready to find a job in the tech industry. Worth mentioning they also gave me lots of Career Support hours, making sure every big and small detail was ready, guaranteeing in me a successful job search. 

I graduated almost two months ago, and I am happily working as a Software Developer for a company I could only dreamed of before. I did put a crazy amount of effort, but the guidande of the program itself made it happen, and fast. I am so grateful, all those days, all those promises...

Suncoast Developers Guild delivered!

From JavaScript to resume writing, the SDG does it all. During the 13-week course, I went from never having written a line of code to now being able to construct functional web applications. Every lecture is tailored to what the current class needs to focus on to become successful developers. 

My experience was different than most as I commuted from New Tampa to St. Petersburg daily. I will recommend living closer to ensure success but it is possible as long as you are a very dedicated and disciplined student. 

There are lectures every morning followed by several hours of lab time in the early afternoon. During the lab time, the instructors are available to answer questions. The instructors are always willing to point you in the right direction or give enough information for that 'AHA!' moment.

Not only are the fundamentals of web development taught at SDG but so are the soft skills. Every Friday is spent learning a new facet of marketing yourself as a developer, writing a resume, or taking a field trip to see a live development environment. Each student is given as much attention and assistance as they can handle. 

Overall, attending SDG was one of the best life-choices that I have made and I encourage anyone who loves a fulfilling challenge to reach out.

-Matt