WICHITA, KS, Novacoast, Inc., a global cybersecurity services firm headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, today announces the sale of the The Apex Program to AccessCyber, LLC.
The nominal purchase price was deliberate. Novacoast made a conscious decision to transfer stewardship of Apex to an organization whose entire focus is growing it.
AccessCyber, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of EnterpriseKC (EKC), a Kansas -based business-led think and do tank focused on execution that designs and deploys systems to build high-value careers in high-demand industries. AccessCyber represents the national extension of this work within the cybersecurity sector.
A Sale with a Bigger Purpose
The relationship between Novacoast and EKC grew naturally from Novacoast’s relocation of its global headquarters to Wichita in 2022. As both organizations connected through the Kansas cybersecurity and workforce ecosystem, they discovered a shared commitment to developing the next generation of cyber talent from underserved communities.
The connection began with Dr. Chuck Gardner, Director of EKC’s Heartland Cyber Range, who has spent years running cybersecurity summer camps for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, programs that have expanded opportunity and built skills for more than 400 participants since 2016. When Gardner learned about the Apex Program, the alignment was immediate. Gardner told Novacoast CEO Paul Anderson that EKC had the infrastructure and the vision to take Apex further than a cybersecurity services firm could.
For Anderson, the decision was not difficult. Novacoast built Apex to change lives. As Apex grew, he realized that the program deserved a better home. When EKC appeared, he made sure cost was not an obstacle. The asking price was one dollar.
“The Apex Program was born out of a belief that people who are blind or visually impaired, and our veterans, are an untapped source of exceptional cybersecurity talent. We built something we’re proud of, but the honest truth is that growing a national workforce development program requires a different kind of organization than a cybersecurity services company. When we saw what EKC had built and what they envisioned for AccessCyber, we knew Apex had found its home. The $1.00 price was not a joke; it’s a symbol of our commitment to the program. We wanted any funds to be reinvested in the program, rather than deposited into Novacoast’s account.”
—Paul Anderson, Founder & CEO, Novacoast
About The Apex Program
Launched by Novacoast in January 2023, The Apex Program is a fully online, fully accessible 10-to-12-week training program that prepares individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or disabled — as well as military veterans — for entry-level cybersecurity careers. The curriculum is built for screen reader accessibility and leads students to CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications, followed by employment placement support.
The program was conceived by David Mayne and championed by Paul Anderson. Mayne is himself visually impaired and developed the Apex curriculum to support other visually impaired individuals. It is funded primarily through state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency partnerships, making it accessible to students with $0 out-of-pocket cost. Since launch, Apex has established vendor agreements with state VR agencies across more than 20 states, built a network of over 70 employer partners willing to hire graduates, and secured a CompTIA partnership for curriculum and certification.
Key Apex personnel, including David Mayne, will transition to AccessCyber as part of the transaction to ensure continuity for current students and partners.
AccessCyber: Built to Scale a National Workforce Solution
AccessCyber, LLC was established by EKC to operate and scale the Apex Program as part of a broader economic development strategy focused on building high-value career pathways and strengthening talent supply chains in high-demand industries. While EKC’s primary geographic focus remains Kansas and Western Missouri, AccessCyber enables this model to extend nationally, bringing a proven workforce solution to partners across all 50 states.
EKC is a Kansas-based nonprofit that identifies economic development challenges and designs and deploys systems that turn strategy into measurable results—enterprise growth, innovation, workforce readiness, high-value job creation, and regional prosperity. Through its economic development operating system, EKC aligns industry demand with talent development, education, and real-world training environments to create scalable, repeatable workforce solutions. Platforms like the Heartland Cyber Range provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences that prepare individuals for high-demand careers while validating real-world skills. AccessCyber represents the national extension of this model within the cybersecurity sector—expanding access to opportunity while delivering workforce-ready talent to an industry facing critical shortages.
EKC’s Director of the Heartland Cyber Range, Dr. Chuck Gardner, spearheaded the acquisition of Apex. Gardner and his team have been running BVI-focused cybersecurity programming since 2016, impacting more than 400 lives through summer camps and training initiatives in partnership with BVI agencies across multiple states.
“When we first saw what Novacoast had built with Apex, it was clear this wasn’t just a training program — it was a scalable solution to a much larger workforce challenge. AccessCyber was created to expand models like this nationally, connecting the blind and visually impaired community to high-demand cybersecurity careers through intentional design, not chance. This is what modern economic development looks like: building systems that align untapped talent with real industry need. Apex proves that when you remove barriers and design for inclusion, you don’t just create opportunity — you unlock a high-value workforce that strengthens the entire economy.”
—Dr. Chuck Gardner, Director, Heartland Cyber Range, EKC
Continuity and Growth for Students, Partners, and State Agencies
AccessCyber is committed to honoring every existing Apex student enrollment, state VR vendor agreement, and employer partnership without interruption. Apex brings to AccessCyber an established network of active agreements with Vocational Rehabilitation agencies in more than 20 states, a foundation that AccessCyber will build on to reach all 50 states. The program’s curriculum, CompTIA certification pathway, accessibility standards, and placement support model will remain intact.
Novacoast will remain a partner in the program’s mission, including as a destination employer for Apex graduates entering the cybersecurity workforce.
“From the beginning, Apex was built on the belief that people who are blind or visually impaired are not just capable of cybersecurity careers; they are exceptional at them. I’m proud of what we built at Novacoast, and I’m even more excited about what AccessCyber will be able to do with it. I’m excited to move to AccessCyber with Apex. The infrastructure is ready. The state relationships are in place. Now we scale.”
—David Mayne, Apex Program Director
About Novacoast
Novacoast is a global cybersecurity and identity services firm with nearly 30 years of experience protecting the world’s most complex organizations. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Novacoast operates Security Operations Centers across the United States and United Kingdom and serves government agencies, healthcare systems, financial institutions, and global enterprises. Learn more at novacoast.com.
About AccessCyber
AccessCyber, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of EKC, established to operate and scale the Apex Cybersecurity Program nationally. AccessCyber’s mission is to create career pathways in cybersecurity for blind, visually impaired, disabled, and military veteran communities across all 50 states through accessible training, industry certification, and employer placement. Learn more at access-cyber.com.
About Enterprise Kansas City
EKC is a Kansas-based nonprofit and business-led think and do tank focused on execution. EKC identifies economic development challenges and designs and deploys systems that turn strategy into measurable results—enterprise growth, innovation, workforce readiness, high-value job creation, and regional prosperity. EKC operates the Heartland Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art virtual training and simulation environment, and runs workforce development programs spanning K-12 education through career placement in partnership with state agencies, universities, and employers. Learn more at enterprise-kc.com.
About The Apex Program
The Apex Program is a fully online, screen reader-accessible cybersecurity training program preparing blind, visually impaired, disabled, and military veteran students for entry-level cybersecurity careers. The 10-to-12-week curriculum leads to CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications and is funded primarily through state Vocational Rehabilitation agency partnerships, removing financial barriers for eligible students. Apex currently holds active vendor agreements with vocational rehabilitation agencies in more than 20 states and maintains an employer partner network of 70+ organizations committed to hiring graduates. Learn more at theapexprogram.com.