Brian Peret, Academy Director at CodeBoxx, took center stage at the TedX event hosted at the St. Pete Palladium
Brian Peret, director of CodeBoxx Academy, believes more people in our communities deserve a real stake in the future being built through technology.
CodeBoxx is located in St. Petersburg’s Ark Innovation Center, a hub supporting entrepreneurship by connecting founders with resources, mentorship, and collaborative space within the city’s larger Innovation District.
While centered in a location devised to drive growth in technology and emerging industries, Peret believes that vision only works when access to emerging industries is not limited to a select few.
“The biggest thing we can do is show people in our community that the pathway exists right now,” Peret said. “There are companies actively asking for more developers, and I want those opportunities going to people who reflect the communities we live in.”
Peret views CodeBoxx as a response to the widening gap in who gets access to technology careers. His work centers on building a pipeline where more people from overlooked communities can step into meaningful careers and long-term stability.
“We make dreams happen by betting on you before you bet on you,” Peret said. “My favorite part of my job is creating momentum in people where it does not yet exist.”
CodeBoxx operates on a 640-hour program designed to prepare students for real workforce environments. Students who attend full-time can complete the program in about four months, while others move at a pace that reflects their real-life responsibilities.
In recent months, the program celebrated a major milestone, with seven graduates securing full-time AI developer roles starting at $60,000 a year with full benefits.
The curriculum focuses on technical training in AI and software development, while also introducing students to professional expectations such as collaboration, communication, and project workflows.
“Communication, business value, project management, version control,” Peret said. “Those are the skills people need when they step into real tech environments.”
Students spoke with pride about how much their skills have grown since entering the program. Many began with no coding experience and are now building projects, working with real tools, and gaining a clearer understanding of how technology functions in professional environments.
Describing the experience as challenging “in a productive way,” students talked about showing up consistently, staying committed, and recognizing progress in their work.
“Work pays off,” one student said. “The passion and dedication, even when you don’t know how to do something, it’s about finding the solution and never quitting.”
Peret said the foundation of the program is belief in effort, consistency, and potential.
“I have a fundamental assumption that if you show up and put your heart into it, you can succeed,” he said. “That allows us to see people based on potential instead of privilege.”
He also believes teams built with broader perspectives are stronger and better equipped to serve diverse clients and communities.
As technology continues to reshape every industry, Peret hopes more people who have historically been excluded from these spaces begin to see themselves as part of the future being built.
“I see the greatness in people,” he said. “And I’m going to do everything I can to help them get there.”
For information on Code Boxx Academy and Brian Peret’s mission to expand access to technology careers in St. Petersburg, visit their website at https://codeboxx.com.
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More Photos
Brian Peret, director of CodeBoxx Academy, focuses on expanding access to technology careers in St. Petersburg. Taken by Ashlyn Baker
Brian showed the “VU Studio” which is used as a space for high-tech, AI-focused training, including the CodeBoxx AI Literacy and Applications Bootcamp. Photos by Ashlyn Baker
Handwritten messages from current and former students line the entrance to CodeBoxx, offering a glimpse into the impact of the program and the community it has created. Photo by Ashlyn Baker.
Brian Peret with Codeboxx Coach Will McGall & Recent graduate of the academy Pablo Seoane
Brian Peret is passionate about opening doors to technology careers for more people from communities often left out of the field.Photo by Ashlyn Baker
