30 Years of Impact Generational Change Support Inspiration
LUIS BARRERA
TTIP | Class of 2008
IT Operations Manager
King County
Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Finding Opportunity Through Technology
At TAF, Luis discovered more than technology. He found confidence, community, and opportunities that would shape the course of his career.
When Luis joined TAF's Technical Teens Internship Program in 8th grade, he was still finding his footing in a new country. Born in El Salvador, Luis immigrated to the United States at age 10, arriving with little English and facing the challenge of adapting to a new culture. Through perseverance, supportive educators, and a commitment to learning, he found his way—and TAF was an important part of that journey.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
You can’t learn [communication skills] from a book...you have to learn through repetition and remember all the training we got with our teachers. Those mock interviews really prepared us and gave me a leg up in the working world.
Luis spent his high school years attending TTIP after school, bussing to TAF's location in Judkins Park to learn how computers communicate, how networks are built, and how technology powers the world around us. He chose the computer networking learning pathway, gaining hands-on experience with computer systems, networking equipment, and IT fundamentals long before entering college. Thanks to Steve Andersen and Troy Hilton, Luis’ first tech instructors and mentors, he was introduced to a whole new world.
However, one of the most impactful parts of the program wasn't technical training; it was learning how to interview. As a quiet teenager, Luis found the interview process intimidating, yet the mock interviews, coaching, and preparation provided by TAF helped him develop skills that would prove valuable throughout his life.
With TAF’s training and preparation, Luis secured internships with startups and healthcare technology companies, gaining real-world experience in professional environments as a high school student. Those opportunities helped solidify his practical skills, gave access to mentors, and a level of workplace exposure that many students don't have access to until college.
Building a Career Through Relationships
TAF has had a huge impact on me and my family, and I am so grateful to continue to build these relationships after all this time.
After graduating from West Seattle High School, Luis pursued electrical engineering at Bellevue College, supporting his educational journey taking a job as a barista. During this period of life, he learned every experience teaches valuable skills, even when it doesn't appear connected to your larger goals. He credits that experience as a time he sharpened his customer service and collaboration skills, which are essential in his career today. After college, Luis returned to TAF to support educators and students at TAF Academy. As he mentored students, he continued to strengthen the relationships he had built through the organization. Through his relationships, Luis was presented with an opportunity to manage IT services, where he gained experience supporting organizations across different industries.
As his career expanded, the relationships he formed and developed through TAF continued to shape his path. Looking back, Luis sees the lasting community he built as one of the organization’s greatest gifts.
Those relationships have supported him at every stage of his career—from mentors who opened doors, colleagues who offered guidance, and community members who shared his belief in TAF’s mission. They were some of his biggest champions, inspiring him to pay it forward in his own way.
Today, Luis serves as an IT Operations Manager for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, leading technology operations and supporting critical public services. With extensive experience in the information technology and services industry, he brings strong consulting expertise in server administration and architecture, network administration, workstation support, and customer service.
Yet what he's most proud of is creating opportunities for others.
In 2022, Luis created an internship program within his office, helping students gain the same kind of hands-on experience that shaped his own journey through TTIP.
Generational Change in Action
If you have a goal, work towards it. Things can shift, but at least you're working toward something.
Luis's story reflects the power of opportunity, mentorship, and persistence. A shy, young immigrant struggling with English grew into a technology leader responsible for supporting critical public services.
Throughout his time with TAF and beyond, Luis was guided by a simple philosophy: have a goal and keep working toward it. TAF gave Luis the understanding that clarity and vision is what creates forward momentum. Over time, he discovered that success is built not only through technical expertise, but through relationships, community, and a willingness to help others succeed.
Today, he is carrying TAF's mission forward by mentoring young professionals and helping the next generation discover what is possible.
He does this by encouraging students to put themselves out into the world, build relationships, volunteer, and stay engaged with their communities, because that next life changing opportunity may be one connection away.
