How CFCC Helped Nathan Divers Find His Way to Live Oak Bank

For 11 years, Nathan Divers worked as a chef in Wilmington. He enjoyed the work, but when the pandemic disrupted the restaurant industry, it gave him a chance to think about what he wanted to do next.

A New Direction

Technology had always interested him. When he was growing up, Divers was always tinkering with things. He liked modifying his Xbox, taking things apart to see how they worked and then figuring out how to put them back together.

That curiosity eventually led him to a new career path.

Divers had dropped out of high school, so his first step was earning his GED. From there, he enrolled directly into Cape Fear Community College’s Information Technology program in fall 2021.

Divers graduated in December 2023 with an Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology with a specialization in Cybersecurity and Networking. Some of the biggest lessons he took from CFCC had less to do with technology and more to do with pushing himself.

“There were plenty of classes I had registered for at Cape Fear where I was like, ‘I know this is something that would be good for my career, but I don’t think it’s something I’m necessarily going to do well in,'” he said. “But just embracing those things, trying my best, and being comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

One Conversation Opens a Door

One of the most important steps in his CFCC experience came from instructor Sohail Sukhera.

Sukhera encouraged his students to stay after class if they wanted help preparing their resumes for the college’s Business and IT Career Fair.

Divers was the only student who stayed that day.

At the career fair, Divers met representatives from Live Oak Bank. He connected with the team at the bank’s table and soon began an internship while he was still a CFCC student.

Building a Career at Live Oak Bank

Divers spent nearly two years as an intern before moving into an IT Support Administrator role. He is now a Senior Support Administrator at the bank.

But it’s not just the work that keeps him at Live Oak. Divers said the company’s culture is a big part of what makes the bank special.

One of the phrases employees hear is to “treat every customer like the only customer.” For Divers, it isn’t just something written on a wall or repeated in meetings.

“The people at Live Oak Bank put those values into practice every day. They create an environment where people genuinely care about the experience they provide. They want customers to feel valued and come back. What we have here is definitely special.”

Looking ahead, Divers hopes to continue moving toward cybersecurity, with an interest in information security, access, and identity management.

His advice to other students is to stay open to opportunities.

“Don’t be afraid to take something that’s not exactly aligned with your path,” he said. “Getting your foot in the door is probably the most important part.”

For Divers, that first step came at CFCC, and one conversation at a career fair helped open the door to Live Oak Bank.

For CFCC students looking to make their own career connections, the college’s next Business and IT Career Fair will be held Tuesday, October 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Campus McKeithan Center, BB&T Auditorium.