When Travis McNair started planning a career change away from retail, he initially wanted to study medicine. But everything shifted after a series of life-changing events, including his father becoming seriously ill and passing away, and him and his fiancée welcoming their new son. Afterward, Travis needed a path that offered stability, flexibility, and a future he could build for his family.

He discovered Salesforce while exploring new career options and began teaching himself through Trailhead, the Salesforce free learning platform. However, self-paced learning proved tough to sustain — especially as someone with Attention Deficit Disorder, balancing work, caregiving, and parenting.

One day, a LinkedIn post caught his eye: a scholarship for the Get Force Certified Salesforce Administrator Academy, founded by former Salesforce Solution Engineer Dave Massey. The post mentioned mentorship, structure, and community — exactly what Travis had been missing. He applied, was accepted, and within months, his career and confidence were transformed.

Travis is part of a growing movement shaped by Workforce Navigators — an initiative that helps professionals with disabilities gain in-demand Salesforce skills — and by Get Force Certified, a program designed to meet neurodivergent learners where they are and prepare them for meaningful careers in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Workforce Navigators offers mentorships, accommodations, and scholarships that create pathways for disabled and neurodivergent professionals to build confidence and find meaningful employment in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Get Force Certified is a program founded by Salesforce Solution Engineer turned entrepreneur, Dave Massey, after experiencing his own transformation — moving from the tourism industry to a Salesforce career — and realizing how much structured support and community could help others make the same leap. It offers a 10-week, guided training experience that blends Salesforce technical learning with soft skills, mentorship, and career readiness. 

Through the scholarship, learners like Travis receive full tuition coverage for the 10-week program, along with exam vouchers, personalized mentorship from Salesforce employees, and ongoing career coaching. Together, Salesforce and Get Force Certified are opening doors for individuals who might otherwise have been left out of traditional tech training pathways.

Get Force Certified stands out because it makes space for neurodivergence, recognizing the unique and varied ways that people think, process information, and engage with learning. The program offers multiple content formats (video, audio, written), clear structure, and small, collaborative cohorts that provide accountability and connection.

“It’s not about your degree or background,” Dave explains. “It’s about grit, communication, and the willingness to learn. Salesforce is logical and accessible — what people need is confidence and strategy.”

Salesforce mentors provide one-on-one support beyond certification, helping graduates apply new skills and navigate job searches. The scholarship doesn’t just fund a course, it builds a community that sustains learners long after graduation.

After beginning the Get Force Certified program, everything accelerated for Travis. The 10-week program combined technical lessons with personal development workshops, mock interviews, and community check-ins. “It wasn’t just about learning Salesforce — it was about learning how to thrive in a career,” Travis explains. “We practiced communication skills, built LinkedIn profiles, and learned how to network.”

Just 24 hours after completing the program, Travis passed his Salesforce Administrator exam. Within six weeks, he landed a full-time role as a Salesforce Admin and Trainer at a company that provides hybrid work, better pay, and flexibility to support his young family.

“I’ve doubled my income,” he says. “I can be there for my son. I went from feeling stuck to feeling unstoppable.”

For Jeanette Pavkov, the Workforce Navigators scholarship offered a chance to grow within her existing Salesforce role. Jeanette works as an administrator for a John Deere dealership and joined the March 2025 Get Force Certified cohort.

“I already worked in Salesforce, but I wanted to truly understand it,” she explains. “This program gave me confidence and ownership over my role.” Jeanette passed her certification just a few weeks after her program ended and quickly applied what she learned to streamline sales processes and improve reporting.

Beyond the skills, Jeanette says the program’s community made a lasting impact. “We were doing life together. Studying together. Celebrating every win. Even now, we still check in and help each other.” She continues to work with her Salesforce mentor, exploring how to grow her expertise in AI and Agentforce.

For participants, the program isn’t just about passing an exam — it’s about transformation. Many learners come in doubting whether they belong in tech. They leave with certifications, job offers, and a sense of community.

“When you empower someone to believe in themselves, that changes everything — for them, their families, and their communities,” Dave says. “We’re not focused on numbers or quotas. This is about people.”

The ripple effect is already visible. Graduates like Travis and Jeanette are now mentoring others, advocating for accessibility in their workplaces, and inspiring more learners to take their first step into the Salesforce ecosystem.

The success of the scholarship is only the beginning for Get Force Certified. Dave is developing a Wayfinder Program, a 12-month experience that guides participants from certification through advanced skills and job search strategy, supporting them all the way to sustained career success.

Meanwhile, Salesforce continues to expand its inclusion efforts through Workforce Navigators, connecting more learners with training, mentorship, and accessibility support around the world.

For Travis, the impact is already clear. “This program gave me the tools to build a life I didn’t think was possible,” he says. “I’m part of a community now — and I want to help others find the same opportunity.”

If you or someone you know is based in the United States or Canada and looking to launch a Salesforce career with the right support, consider the Get Force Certified Academy and Scholarship. Scholarships are limited and awarded twice a year — opening doors to more inclusive and accessible tech careers.

When participants from VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired arrived at the Salesforce Tower in New York City in June 2025, the atmosphere buzzed with curiosity and connection. As attendees explored the space — guided by audio-enabled elevators and wide ADA-accessible doors — they discovered more than an office tour. They found a glimpse into a future where technology, accessibility, and opportunity intersect.

This all-day networking and learning event was hosted by Salesforce Workforce Navigators, a program that empowers professionals with disabilities through Salesforce skills training, assistive technology support, and job placement resources. 

VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people of all ages who are blind or have low vision live independent, active lives. Through rehabilitation training, employment development, and community education, VISIONS equips individuals with the tools and confidence to succeed at home, at work, and in the world.

VISIONS has been collaborating with Salesforce for several years through mentorship programs, certification training, and networking opportunities designed to help participants gain skills for today’s agent-powered workplace. Several VISIONS staff members have even become Salesforce certified administrators, helping guide job seekers through learning the platform and earning credentials that strengthen their résumés.

Abilityforce is the Salesforce Employee Resource Group for people with disabilities, their loved ones, and allies. Its mission is to create a culture of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued — regardless of ability. The group advocates for accessibility in both the physical and digital workplace, promotes education to reduce stigma, and extends its impact beyond Salesforce through partnerships that advance inclusion across industries.

For Abilityforce, partnerships like the one with VISIONS are part of a broader vision: to use Salesforce’s platform and community to expand access to technology and career pathways for people with disabilities around the world.

This year’s event marked the second time VISIONS participants visited Salesforce Tower. While the previous session focused on college students exploring internship opportunities, the most recent  gathering centered on adult job seekers actively preparing for employment or career transitions.

Attendees spent the day networking with Salesforce employees, exploring hands-on learning with Trailhead, and participating in presentations on AI, accessibility, and the evolving world of work. Volunteers from Abilityforce shared their own experiences navigating their careers at Salesforce and the accommodations and inclusive practices that make those journeys possible. 

The event also included baked goods from Invictus, a culinary organization that provides job opportunities for people with disabilities.

For many participants, the event expanded what they imagined was possible in tech careers.
“When people hear ‘Salesforce,’ they often think you need to be a programmer,” said Deanna Calamusa, Director of Career Services for VISIONS. “But this event helped people see how many different paths exist — from administration and customer success to project management and accessibility advocacy.”

Attendees also learned about Trailhead, the Salesforce free learning platform, which offers accessible, screen-reader-compatible modules that allow users to learn at their own pace. Several participants followed up afterward to begin Trailhead badges or apply for the Salesforce mentorship program — building momentum that continues long after the event.

Interest in AI was another key theme. Participants were eager to understand how artificial intelligence is shaping the workforce and how Salesforce technology can make AI tools more inclusive for people with disabilities.

These collaborations leave a lasting impact on both VISIONS participants and Salesforce employees.

“The energy in the room is always hopeful,” says Madison Rosen, an Executive Talent Manager at Salesforce. “You can see people realizing, ‘I didn’t know this was possible for me.’ That sense of possibility is what makes this work so meaningful.”

For Joelle Ramiandrisoa, Associate Technical Consultant at Salesforce, accessibility is central to innovation. “It reminds me that accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about making sure everyone can fully participate.”

VISIONS participants agree. “Hearing employees share their own stories about working at Salesforce — and the resources available — is incredibly powerful,” says Calamusa. “It shows our community that accessibility and opportunity truly go hand in hand.”

This collaboration has already produced measurable outcomes. Through Workforce Navigators mentorship cohorts, over a dozen VISIONS job seekers have gained professional guidance, earned Salesforce certifications, and secured meaningful employment.

For Salesforce, the partnership reinforces how accessibility and innovation fuel one another. “It’s a good reminder that accessibility needs to stay at the heart of how we build our products,” says Rosen. “It’s not just about technology — it’s about people.”

Both organizations are eager to continue growing their partnership, with Workforce Navigators playing a key role in maintaining and strengthening the connection. Looking ahead, the evolution includes  more hands-on demos of assistive technology, expanded mentorship opportunities, and sessions on topics like AI for inclusion and accessible product design.

“The goal,” Calamusa explained, “is to keep showing our job seekers that they have a place in the tech industry — and that companies like Salesforce are working to make sure accessibility is built in from the start.”

At its core, the Abilityforce and VISIONS partnership,with the support of Workforce Navigators, is about more than careers. It’s about connection: using technology and community to remove barriers and create opportunities.

As Rosen sums up, “Giving back and helping others get their foot in the door is one of my core values. Seeing people leave inspired and hopeful — that’s what inclusion in action looks like.”

Together, Salesforce and VISIONS are proving that when organizations unite around accessibility, they don’t just open doors — they build pathways to independence, opportunity, and belonging.