ROC Tech Prep isn’t just another education initiative. Our community-powered model expands access to tuition-free, career-aligned tech education for students in Greater Rochester. By removing barriers tied to household income and zip code, we create clear, accessible pathways to higher education designed for high-demand careers in technology. Our accelerated computer science program equips students with the practical and industry-relevant skills and credentials needed to thrive in today’s modern workforce.

Our charter school partners are ready to implement our proven curriculum, built by experts with a successful track record of developing tech career pipelines across the country. Our mission is to cultivate local talent to meet the needs of our region’s emerging tech corridor.

Our team has helped thousands across the U.S. with no prior coding experience break into tech, launching successful careers in software development, cybersecurity, and AI. Now we’re bringing that impact home—educating and mentoring 100+ students annually, building a diverse local talent pipeline, and generating more than $500 million in long-term economic impact for Greater Rochester by 2035.

Jonathan Weinberger
Chief Product Officer

Jonathan Weinberger leads curriculum development and product strategy at ROC Tech Prep. With 20 years of experience as a software engineer and game developer, he builds technical training programs that take students from beginner to launching successful careers in IT. He has built applications for Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T and Coca-Cola and has delivered enterprise training to global giants including Apple and NBC Universal.

As Dean of Engineering at Tashkent Metropolitan University, Jonathan launched the American School of Engineering and designed scalable, hands-on learning systems aligned with industry needs.

Aaron Schwartz
Co-Founder & President

Aaron Schwartz has worked in cybersecurity and recruitment technology, helping organizations manage cyber risk and meet their hiring goals. He holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Business from the University of Texas at Austin and leads employer partnerships and strategic initiatives at ROC Tech Prep.

Aaron builds relationships with employers and community leaders to expand access to high-quality career pathways in technology. He works to help students of all backgrounds in Rochester access careers that offer growth and upward mobility.

Bryan Hickman
Board Member

Bryan Hickman brings over 30 years of leadership experience across business and education. A former executive and turnaround specialist, he is now the founder of EDceptional, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing charter school growth and driving education reform throughout Rochester.

Bryan holds a bachelor’s degree from Williams College and a master’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He has served on the boards of Genesee Hospital, Compeer, the Rochester Tooling and Machining Association, Rochester-Hamamatsu Sister Cities, and several private corporations.

Jason Dion
Board Member

Jason Dion is a cybersecurity and IT expert with over 30 years of experience across government and private industry. A former director for the U.S. Department of Defense and consultant to the National Security Agency, Jason has also served as chief information officer and workforce development leader.

He is a global leader in IT certification training, with over 2 million students worldwide. Jason holds a master’s degree in Information Technology and specializes in developing training programs aligned with employer needs.