HFC’s Donovan Shaffer is the first person to earn Apple certification through NC3
HFC computer technician Donovan Shaffer is the first person to have earned his Apple Certified Support Professional Certification through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).
“This is the first NC3 Apple certification class ever offered, and I’m the first person to obtain certification,” said Shaffer. “I was really amazed to learn this.”
NC3 Senior Program Manager, App Development with SWIFT Michelle Thorne was impressed by Shaffer’s accomplishment.
“Donovan has been incredibly dedicated throughout his Apple Certified Support Professional training with NC3. His master instructor, Dr. Ed Salcedo of Miami Dade College, and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” she said. “His background with Apple devices through his work at HFC has made him an invaluable asset to our entire training cohort. He consistently contributes insights that benefit all participants. What truly sets Donovan apart is his positive attitude and calm, methodical approach to troubleshooting. We are proud to celebrate his certification achievement as the first instructor to receive this through NC3, and we look forward to continued collaboration as he applies these skills in his professional journey!”
Reasons for the Shaffer family to celebrate
A Detroit native, Shaffer is the eldest of three. He currently lives in Southfield with his wife, Deanna. They met in high school and have been together for 17 years. The couple has four children, ages 14, 12, 8, and 6.
“Achieving this certification is not the only milestone I’ve been celebrating recently,” said Shaffer. “Just a few days ago, my oldest finished 8th grade and is going to high school in the fall. Also, my youngest just finished kindergarten. Then, my wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. There have been plenty of celebrations in the Shaffer household these last few weeks!”
Shaffer is an alumnus of Oak Park High School and Eastern Michigan University. At EMU, he earned his bachelor's degree in economics. He also has another certification for App Development with SWIFT, which pertains to the coding side of Apple using SWIFT programming language.
Managing HFC’s Apple tech
Shaffer has worked at HFC since 2016, reporting to HFC Director, Network and IT Infrastructure, Data and Voice Communications Joe Zitnik. He has managed hundreds of Apple devices at the College since 2020.
“That includes our labs, as well as the devices that HFC students use for certain academic programs. It just keeps growing!” said Shaffer.
He pointed out that Apple equipment at the IT level has its share of challenges.
“From an IT perspective, support for Apple-based computers is not as strong as support for Windows-based machines,” explained Shaffer. “I have found that most enterprise environments have Windows-based technology infrastructure – from the computers in the offices to the programs used on those machines. Many end-users and IT techs are accustomed to Windows-based systems. This results in a gap in the use support of Apple-based computers.”
In late 2023, HFC began preparations to offer the Apple Foundation program. This program is free and is offered throughout the year. It is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of app development and prototypes on macOS and iOS devices. Shaffer took on the role of managing the devices and hardware for the program.
Certification validates role at HFC
Besides managing the devices, Shaffer is also one of the instructors, officially known as mentors, for the program. This is his first experience teaching at the College.
“The program was introduced to me a couple of years ago. I’ll never forget the goosebumps after being asked, ‘Have you ever thought about teaching the class?’” he recalled. “It was a surreal experience, because I had never taught a class before. But the feedback was very inspirational. I can’t thank my HFC peers and students enough for making this possible!”
“The Apple Foundation partnership has exceeded our expectations and planned outcomes. In the original contract, our goal was 5-6 sections training 120-180 students. Not including this summer, we have run 24 sections and enrolled 213 students. Donovan, along with five other faculty members, supports these students and partnership with Apple,” said Dr. Patricia Chatman, Dean of the HFC School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development (BEPD).
Having this certification legitimizes Shaffer’s role at HFC.
“It gives me further validation for what I’ve been doing here for years,” said Shaffer. “I have the pleasure of both teaching and supporting Apple at the College. I have fun doing it. I really get to shine in this area!”