TechNation Apprentice and New American, Vera Kulemina.
September 2, 2025
For Vera Kulemina, the rejections had become a demoralizing rhythm. After immigrating to the United States from Russia in 2016, she had navigated the complex asylum process and spent a year and a half just to get work permission. Armed with a newly completed software engineering boot camp certificate from 2022, she was ready to build her new life. But the doors to her chosen field remained firmly shut.
“I gave up on LinkedIn and other websites like Indeed,” Vera recalls. “There were too many applicants, and as soon as companies saw my visa status, the conversation would end.”
Despite her skills and determination, she found herself in a dead-end marketing internship for two years with no path for promotion. To make ends meet between the boot camp and her job search, she worked a grueling schedule at Starbucks, waking up at 3:30 a.m. for a 4:00 a.m. shift. The exhaustion was setting in, and the dream of a tech career felt more distant than ever.
One day, during a Google search for apprenticeships, she found a lifeline: TechNation.
“TechNation is focused on supporting refugees and immigrants in Colorado’s tech industry,” explains the organization’s Executive Director Steve Goslee. “Many employers don’t understand the work authorization process in Colorado. They see it as a complex process and assume it’s a barrier. We demystify that process, educating employers and showing them that these candidates are vetted, legal, and ready to work.”
For Vera, TechNation’s approach was a revelation. Instead of being filtered out by an algorithm, she was seen as a whole person. Steve and his team worked with her to refine her resume and sharpen her interview skills, but their support went far deeper. They became her advocates.
Steve identified a potential match at TouchSource, a digital signage company in Lafayette, CO. Even though there wasn't an open position at first, he saw the potential. For over a year, he championed Vera, building a connection with the company and making the case for her talent and drive.
“Vera is someone worth fighting for,” Steve says. “I knew she was going to take on the apprenticeship and excel. It’s all about finding advocates within companies who are willing to see the person, not just the paperwork.”
Finally, the call came. After multiple interviews, TouchSource created an IT apprenticeship role for her. Vera’s message to Steve was simple and triumphant: “We won!”
Today, Vera is thriving. Her "typical" day at TouchSource is a dynamic mix of remote and in-office work. She manages systems for major clients with hundreds of digital screens, pulls advertising analytics reports, and registers new computers within client systems. “Mondays are my favorite,” she says with a smile.
The workplace culture is a world away from her past experiences. The CEO, Ajay Kapoor, a first-generation immigrant himself, knows every employee by name. The team shares chocolate, enjoys a company-provided lunch once a month, and operates on a foundation of trust and respect.
“My boss is super loyal and chill. There’s no micromanagement,” Vera shares. “They even allow me to spend a few hours each week taking courses to learn new skills, like UX design. I have a problem, and I want to see it through. This helps me study and grow.”
This intrinsic motivation is the core of Vera’s character. When she first arrived in the U.S., she didn’t know English but taught herself. When she started her boot camp, she knew nothing about coding but dove in headfirst.
“I never doubted myself because I’m just going for it,” she explains. “What am I risking, failure? I will still fail if I do not try. I can study and learn things.”
Recently, she had a moment of quiet pride. “Last week, I finally stopped asking so many questions,” she says. “I realized I understood what needed to be done. I didn’t need as much information to do my job. It felt amazing.”
This vital work of connecting talented individuals with forward-thinking employers is made possible through strategic state-level investment. TechNation is a proud grantee of the Small Business Apprenticeship Support grant, which is powered by federal stimulus funds. These Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), originating from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), are stewarded by the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
The CWDC, a Governor-appointed, business-led council, has directed these funds to help Coloradans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic get back to work or advance their careers. The goal is to prepare the state’s workforce for well-paying, quality jobs, with a special emphasis on equity for underserved groups, including New Americans like Vera.
CWDC Stimulus Senior Consultant Bob Brasser sees this story as a model for success. “TechNation is a perfect example of a sponsor that helps connect talent with employer needs by helping and guiding the hiring organization past perceived challenges.” Bob says. “They help talented, motivated individuals like Vera get into positions where they can show the quality of their work."
Without TechNation, Vera admits her story might have been different. “Steve was my mentor. He kept me motivated,” she says. “Without him, I would not have gotten this job. I would have given up, because it took over two years. He was fighting for me the whole time.”
Looking ahead, Vera envisions a stable, full-time job and a Green Card, allowing her to build a new life for herself and her cat, Hulk, who has been her constant companion since she departed from Ukraine. But her biggest dream is to pay it forward.
“I want to help others like me,” she says. “I want to help employers know not to be afraid to hire immigrants. My advice is don’t give up, even if it takes a lot of time. Trust that organizations like TechNation will help you get through the hard moments and into your dream job.”