Stephen Ragan Named Chief External Relations Officer for Detroit-based NPower

Stephen Ragan is joining the Detroit-based nonprofit organization NPower as its chief external relations officer (CERO).

As CERO, Ragan will lead the organization’s fundraising and donor engagement, as well as NPower’s partnerships with various local, state, and federal government agencies. He will report to the CEO and work with the organization’s leadership team, and the board of directors.

Ragan was previously senior vice president for external relations at College Possible – a nonprofit dedicated to improving college access for underrepresented first-generation and low-income students. He led fundraising, marketing/communications, and their advocacy programs while there.

Before that, he was with Lawrence Technological University in Southfield where he launched its first comprehensive capital fundraising campaign that raised $100 million. He’s also led fundraising campaigns for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Make It Right Foundation where he helped raise more than $100 million following Hurricane Katrina.

NPower’s goal is to provide training that helps close the tech industry’s national talent gap. It provides employers with diverse talent equipped with the competencies of an information technology (IT) professional with one to two years of experience.

The group’s free flagship program, NPower Tech Fundamentals, teaches students the basics of IT, assists with job placements and offers opportunities to earn industry-recognized certifications. The free training program addresses barriers that exist among young adults, military-connected individuals, and women of color eager to enter the field of technology.

“I’m thrilled to be joining an incredibly talented team that is focused on creating career opportunities for young adults and military-connected individuals while addressing critical skill needs of industry,” says Ragan. “NPower has an impressive network of funders and employers that have helped it become the leader in rapid education and training for high-demand technology careers. As a Detroiter, I’m especially excited about NPower’s substantial commitment to Michigan.”

Ragan continues to serve and lead several boards, including Advantage Health (vice chairperson), All Saints Literacy Center (chairperson), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (past president). He was the recipient of the John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Professional in 2021. Crain’s Detroit Business named him a “Notable Leader in Philanthropy.”