Montana Code School expanding to Bozeman
MISSOULA CURRENT
With the Montana Code School at the University of Montana set to expand services to the Bozeman area later this month, the program has announced the hiring of Nicholas Marucci as its new lead instructor.
“I speak on behalf of the entire Montana Code School team that we are extremely fortunate and thrilled to have Nick – who comes with a wealth of knowledge and life experience – join our team,” said Kelly Nash, executive director of Montana Code School. “We know he will play an instrumental role in not only instructing, but helping move Montana Code School forward with new and innovative ideas.”
Montana Code School, a 12-week, intensive computer programming boot camp that got its start in Missoula in 2015 and will begin its inaugural class in Bozeman on Monday, May 23, creates a pipeline of talent for the technology community. The code school’s mission is to address the acute and immediate need for computer programmers to serve Montana’s booming tech sector by training the next generation of talent.
Marucci is no stranger to the intensive boot camp method of learning, having attended DevMountain in Provo, Utah. Proficient in web development, he also has extensive experience in computer languages such as CSS, HTML and JavaScript.
“I am excited to join the team,” Marucci says. “I am excited to start my career in Bozeman as the lead instructor. It looks like I will have a substantial influence on the future and growth of Montana Code School.”
Marucci started his career with the U.S. Marine Corps, so he is well-versed in intensive learning atmospheres. He ended his career with the Marines in 2009 and enrolled in college, graduating in 2012 from the University of Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
He interned with General Motors Components Holding LLC, then worked with Parker Hannifin Corp.’s Parflex Division, from June 2012 to November 2015. He then enrolled at DevMountain.
“After being involved for many years in the manufacturing industry, I found it to be very conservative and old-fashioned,” Marucci said. “I had always been good with computers, and I wanted to find myself in a more forward-thinking and experimental environment. So, while working as a new product development engineer, I took on an online HTML and CSS class. During this class, I became super excited about what it did and what else I could do. It was really inspiring because I love creating interesting, beautiful things – whether that be a home project, a painting of mine or a digitally rendered webpage.
“I love the experience of teaching people new things,” Marucci said. “Early on in my career, I was actually considering being a math teacher. Getting into web development, I find that I can combine my logical engineering mind with my creative, experimental spirit. And seeing the face of a student, when I help them over a hurdle, is priceless. I am inspired and it is so fulfilling when a student realizes that, while coding is hard, they have the ability and are fully capable of being a great web developer.”