In 2012 and 2013, Christopher Clarke attended the Computer Information Systems (CIS) program at Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. During his senior year, he had the opportunity to attend college classes weekly at Genesee Community College (GCC) since the CIS program was held there. 

He had always been interested in IT and believed that BOCES was a great starting point for his career. He discovered that attending both junior and senior years of the CIS program and taking advantage of the college offerings would provide him with the knowledge and skills needed for a career in IT.

Currently, Clarke is the IT Security Operations Manager for a large Managed Service Provider / Managed Security Service Provider (MSP/MSSP). He started his IT journey as an IT technician at Darien Lake Theme Park, where he gained basic computer repair, point of sale (POS), networking, and troubleshooting skills. 

Later, he worked for Sunlync and ACP Technologies, where he progressed through different roles and learned as much as possible. His experience and knowledge allowed him to work on challenging issues with Microsoft and become the Go-To person for any IT issue.

Clarke's current position is the IT Security Operations Manager at ACP Technologies, which was acquired by Atlantic Tomorrows Office. As part of the integrations team, he was selected as one of the key management staff to integrate all security systems between the two companies. He oversees the security operations center and makes critical decisions that affect the security of all their clients. 

Clarke loves his job because he works with people who are passionate about what they do and works on the latest technology available. He has a significant impact on his role and helps protect clients from cyber-criminals.

Clarke credits BOCES for allowing him to explore various areas of technology and confirm his career path. Programs such as FBLA and NTHS taught him how to write a good resume and cover letter, get references, and create a portfolio of his work, which helped him excel in his career. 

Clarke advises others to focus on their passion, learn from those around them, be humble, and strive to learn something new every day. He believes that respecting others, using connections and relationships to excel in one's career, and having a positive attitude are essential to success.

Clarke's favorite memories at BOCES were participating in FBLA and NTHS, where he competed in technology competitions and made connections with like-minded classmates. He still keeps in touch with those classmates today.