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ECWDB Success Stories

Workforce Development is all about helping to create successful individuals and successful businesses.

Jerome Increased his Wages by 40% with the Help of NCWorks

Jerome : Carteret Success Story

Jerome came to the Carteret NCWorks Career Center in January of 2022 inquiring about the CDL training offered at Carteret Community College. Jerome was struggling to make ends meet and was very eager to improve the living situation for his family. Jerome is a single parent and was in a job earning below his potential. At the time, he was employed with a local construction company, receiving $14 an hour. He had previously gone to college, but only completed 3.5 years. Rather than finishing his degree, he seized an opportunity to play professional basketball internationally, first with the Chinese Basketball Association and then for the El Salvador League. Jerome played professionally until he received a call that his father had died back in North Carolina, and he returned home to help his grieving mother.

In February 2022, he enrolled in the WIOA program through Carteret Community College. The program paid for Jerome's CDL training and other required fees. After he completed his training and acquired his CDL, Jerome soon found a job with J & R Schugel Trucking Inc., a nationally known employee-owned trucking company, operating over 1,000 vehicles. Since starting with the company, Jerome has steadily earned raises in pay and now sees increases according to the weight and number of miles he drives. After five months, Jerome is making a family sustainable wage of over $45,000 per year. That is a 40% increase in his wages within 6 months of earning his COL! His company also provides medical, dental, and vision benefits, paid leave, and life insurance.

Once struggling to overcome low wages and family tragedy, Jerome now finds himself in a position where he is thriving in his work. Jerome is excited about his future and now measures success by his perseverance and ability to provide for his family.

Veteran Chuck Found a New Career at an NCWorks Job Fair

Chuck : Onslow Success Story

Veteran Chuck first came to NCWorks after his Family Medical Leave Allowance (FMLA) had run its course and was terminated from his previous employment as a cross country CDL truck driver. Chuck is a very easy going, likable guy, and his resume is extremely varied and while he can operate a computer, prefers to use them as little as possible. Chuck was looking for a more hands-on type of job, mainly doing repairs as he has experience in this area dating back to his Navy days. After working with Chuck to update his resume, NCWorks assisted him with applying to a few jobs virtually, without hearing much, if anything back from the employers. The Career Advisor had received information from the local veteran employment representative, Gerry Cruz, stating that J&J Handleheld Snacks was going to be having a hiring event at the Jacksonville Onslow NCWorks Career Center location, and one of the positions needed was for industrial mechanic. The Career Advisor passed this information to Chuck and proceeded to assist him with the online application as well as some interview preparation. At the Job Fair Chuck interviewed and was tentatively hired, pending the results of a health screening. The week following his health screening, Chuck stopped by the Jacksonville NCWorks Career Center and told me he has been officially hired and would begin orientation and training immediately.

NCWorks Helped Veteran Carlos Find a Job

Carlos : Onslow Success Story

Veteran Carlos came to the Onslow NCWorks Career Center on Monday 8/22/2022 and was assisted by DVOP Baker. Carlos had recently relocated to the area and shared that he would like to obtain employment aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River. Carlos has prior experience as a chef both during his time in the US Army and in his post US Army career. DVOP Baker provided Carlos with the Sodexo recruiter information and emailed the Sodexo recruiter informing him about Carlos. At this point, Carlos stated that he would call them and come back at 09:00 on August 23, 2022. As promised, he arrived promptly at 09:00, updated his NCWorks account and relayed that the Sodexo recruiter was going to call him back today for an initial interview. With this in mind, Carlos didn’t want to proceed with a more extensive job search, as being a chef aboard one of the military instillations was his primary job choice. Carlos shared that the Sodexo recruiter contacted him, asked him to apply online and upload his resume. NCWorks assisted Carlos with completing an updated resume and filling out the online application. Carlos was then contacted by Sodexo and told he was hired and to report to Marine Corps Base Stone Bay at 04:00 on 8/24/2022, the next day, to begin work.

Montreai Woodard

WIOA Helped Montreai Attain a CDL and a Job

Montreai Woodard : Youth Success Story

When 21-year-old Montreai Woodard of Walstonburg came to Lenoir Community College (LCC), he knew exactly what he wanted to do, he just needed financial help to do it. He was working at a local car dealership at the time. His goal was to enroll in Truck Driver Training and obtain his CDL. After talking with him and asking a few questions, I was able to determine that Montreai was eligible for assistance through LCC’s Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program. This program assists out of school youth ages 16-24 that qualify for assistance with schooling, training, and finding employment.

Montreai was highly motivated and eager to complete the necessary steps for enrollment into WIOA Youth Program. Being a parenting youth, he said his goal was to provide for his family and give his son the best life he possible can. He enrolled in WIOA October 5, 2022. During enrollment we set two goals for him, to attain his CDL, and a Career Readiness Certification (CRC).

Montreai enrolled in a five-week CDL Training Class and while studying and attending that class, he also practiced at home on attaining his CRC. He completed CDL training and got his License on December 9, 2022. He took the CRC exam three days later and scored a Gold Certificate. In accordance with WIOA’s policy on Incentives he earned a $250 gift card from Wal-Mart for achieving these two goals.

Although the WIOA Youth program also aids in job search, paid work experiences, creating resumes and interviewing skills, Montreai did not need assistance with those program elements. On December 15, 2022, Montreai received his Wal-Mart gift card and reported to me that he had been hired at SouthCo Distributing Company in Goldsboro, NC as a driver.

I have worked with a lot of young people over the years helping them to reach their goals, but this young man reached his goals the fastest of anyone I have ever worked with. His determination coupled with his enthusiasm was refreshing. Montreai said “I am so grateful for the help I received through WIOA! I had no idea programs like this existed. I will definitely spread the word to family and friends about this awesome program.”

 

Submitted by: Tracey Price-LCC Youth Career Advisor

Penny Thorne

A Perfect Career Match

Penny Thorne : Job Position

Charliss Gwynn, Career Advisor in Duplin County, has helped people find their next job and quite often their “perfect career match” for the past 22 years. However, in 2021, she may have provided one of the best referrals to a local job opportunity that her teammates in the Duplin NCWorks Career Center could have ever asked for!

In early September 2021, Penny Thorne from Wallace called the NCWorks Career Center in Duplin County and spoke with Charliss Gwynn. During their conversation, Charliss asked pertinent questions to uncover not only Penny’s experience, but also what she was looking for in a rewarding position. Penny’s background as a middle school math teacher in Duplin and Clinton City Schools made her a “perfect match” to apply for several open positions in Duplin and surrounding counties. Charliss spoke with her about these positions and referred her to them in an email on September 8th that included the job descriptions and links to apply.

One of the positions Charliss referred Penny to was for a Workforce Career Coach with Eckerd Connects.

On November 29, 2021, Penny Thorne officially joined the NCWorks Career Center in Duplin as the Youth Career Counselor with Eckerd Connects. Penny is an integral part of Team Duplin! She brings a wealth of educational knowledge, passion and understanding for helping the youth of this community! Charliss, once again, has proven her skill and expertise when referring the right person to the right employment opportunity!

Team Duplin is proud to call Charliss and Penny their “teammates!”

Submitted by Lynne Moore, Duplin NCWorks

Beth Henry

Beth Found her Career through Craven NCWorks

Beth Henry : Adult Success Story

Beth Henry began working with a partner agency, Coastal Community Action, at the NCWorks Career Center in Craven County in August of 2020 as a CARES NC Case Manager. She was initially seeking an opportunity that would allow her to gain more experience and knowledge in Human Services. Beth worked full-time while also attending Lenoir Community College to earn her degree in Human Service Technology and a Certificate in Substance Abuse. She graduated with Honors and began to dive deeper into seeking other employment because her contract with them was soon coming to an end. She had tried for many years, since 2018, to get on with the Craven County Department of Social Services. She was getting discouraged because she was not having any success. She was not getting any interviews but continued to submit applications with the hope of securing employment. Her passion has always been to help families in the community and an advocate for the less fortunate. She has always believed that helping individuals in turn helps the communities.

She decided to get some help with her resume and application that she was preparing to submit. She had tried it her way and wasn’t successful and so she decided to reach out to Mr. Eric Cedars at NCWorks.  Although, she had referred many of her clients to NCWorks, she had not actively pursued the help she needed with her own resume and application with Craven County Department of Social Services. She decided to take her own advice and she brought a copy of it to Eric Cedars, a Career Advisor in Craven County. The worked on the resume together and Eric suggested some improvements.

Beth soon put in an application for DSS. This time, things were different. She got an interview. She knew that once she got the interview that she would be able to close the deal. After a second interview, she got the job that she so wanted. She is very thankful for the help that she received.

Her current job title is Transportation Coordinator, Processing Assistant IV. She believes that trusting a professional Career Advisor to critique her resume showed her a different prospective of what employers are looking for.

“The honest advice and recommendations of Mr. Cedars made all the difference. I highly recommend Craven County NCWorks to anyone seeking advice on resumes, applications, interviewing tips, etc. The NCWorks Career Center also hosts job fairs, facilitates workshops, and so much more. I wholeheartedly believe that I secured my current career because of the help of Craven NCWorks,” Beth told NCWorks.

Source: NCWorks Craven County

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