Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-07-2016-13-6 - Information Item - Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board 2014-2015 Annual Report INFORMATION ITEM Regional Partnership ORKFORCE Development Board Annual Report WIOAV 2014— 2015 Serving Alamance, Montgomery, Moore, Orange and Randolph Counties in NC _IC 'Nothing Compares_= . „4.: a tT- ■-- 16%1 it 1 ,-. • ti -_ __;-iaLiii„,„- , te: . ,. .C.-- __,_. . . ‘.,, , L• 7"Vefiwke -'111' ,. ,.' . s - :'...•"-. . 4 NO*1N t .•ku:I s IpOIWUt MU A ► �. ._ y a� `• A '• Inside Front cover BLANK Regional Partnership / WORKFORCE Development Board Serving Alamance, Montgomery, Moore, Orange and Randolph Counties in NC Contents Message from the Board Chair, Ricardo Romero .4 Workforce Development Board Members 5 Youth Council Members 6 Annual Report . 7 Alamance County Career Center, Building Futures Center 8-9 Montgomery County Career Center, Building Futures Center 10-11 Moore County Career Center, Building Futures Center 12-13 Program Year 2014-2015 Budget 14-15 Orange County Career Center, Building Futures Center ....16-17 Randolph County Career Center, Building Futures Center 18-19 WIOA Customer Testimonials 20-21 WIOA Success Articles 22-26 Annual Report 2014-2015 3 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR The Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board is pleased to present the 2014-2015 Annual Report covering the timespan from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The report is intended to provide accurate information concerning activi- Vision ties and services delivered by our contractors that are awarded Workforce Innova- tion and Opportunity Act (WIOA) contracts. The Workforce Development Board provides oversight of WIOA funds and five NC Works Career Centers while helping To be make recommendations for effective service delivery. recognized as the The fiscal year resulted in numerous substantial changes to the federal and state catalyst workforce delivery system. The most important being the passage of the Workforce between Investment Act (WIA) to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This is the first major Workforce legislation since the 1998 Workforce Investment individuals' Act. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was created to provide education and state and local areas the flexibility to collaborate across systems in an effort to bet- training and ter address the employment and skills needs of current employees, jobseekers, employers' and employers. WIOA is vital to the modernization of the nation's workforce devel- needs through opment system. WIOA introduces a renewed system which will ensure access for the effective all individuals, of every skill level, the opportunity to pursue the skills, training, and education they need to obtain employment that will lead to financial stability and utilization economic security for themselves and their families. Employers will also have the of available assurance that trained and qualified workers will be available to fill their current and resources." future openings. Regional Partnership has embraced these changes, as we pre- pare our Career Center staff for the new system. The year in review presents many wonderful success stories that shine as a re- minder that the service we provide matters to the individuals we serve. I am very thankful and appreciative of our NC Works Career Centers staff, their commitment and affinity to fulfill the Regional Partnership Workforce mission is exemplary. In closing I leave you with a quote that resounds the service we provide. "Successful economic development strategy must focus on improving the skills of the area's workforce, reducing the cost of doing business and making available the resources business needs to compete and thrive in today's global economy."—Rod Blagojevich Thank you for your support, and I wish our region continued prosperity in the year to come. Sincerely, `j Ricardo Romero, Chair � • ' , r1-4 Regional Partnership W fi ORKFORCE Development Board 4 Annual Report 2014-2015 WORKFORCE BOARD MEMBERS Private Sector , Ricardo Romero, Chair Regional Partnership Montgomery County WORKFORCE Vickie Cox, Vice Chair Development Board Randolph County Cheryl Ray Alamance County Employment Post-Secondary Gail McDowell Service Education Randolph County Robert Ware Dr. Gene Couch Leane Langston Alamance County Alamance County Randolph County Anne Hockett Tammy Horne Labor Randolph County Randolph County Randy Fulk Randy Black Alamance County Public Montgomery County Education Kristin Richmond Economic Dr. Diane Frost Moore County Randolph County Development Public Sector Andrea Fleming Community Alamance County Rebecca Parks Based Alamance County Nina Walker Nancy Coston Moore County Orange County Annual Report 2014-2015 5 YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS L DI Youth Council's m Mission FuTuRe To recommend The tomorrow you've always imagined a set of services for eligible youth Education Community that will foster Organization the development Susie Horn, Chair of education, Alamance County Alice Denson, Vice Chair provide Orange County skill competencies Patricia Harris and Orange County Lucy Dorsey comprehensive Montgomery County career development Social Services that will lead Jody Terry to being Leanne McKoy Randolph County a productive, Moore County responsible Law Enforcement citizen. Youth Representative Granville Simmons Alamance County Rebecca Bullard Randolph County Workforce Development Board Housing Authority Ricardo Romero, (WDB- Allen Blue Chair) Alamance County Montgomery County Tammy Home Randolph County 6 Annual Report 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT Introduction The Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board serves the counties of Ala- mance, Montgomery, Moore, Orange and Randolph in North Carolina. Service is dedicat- ed to continuous excellence in our workforce system. The board membership consists of 51% of representatives from private sector businesses along with representatives from la- bor, community based organizations, youth, economic development, Division of Workforce Solutions and Vocational Rehabilitation. Through the Workforce Development Board a Youth Council additionally exists with the specific purpose of assuring further oversight of the services delivered to youth program participants. The overall responsibilities of the Workforce Board includes the oversight of what are cur- rently known as NCWorks Career Centers, and Building Futures Centers, as well as the budgets associated with all Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding. The WIOA is federal funding that passes from the US Department of Labor into the NC Department of Commerce and then on to Workforce Boards through three primary sources known as Dislocated Worker, Adult, and Youth Programs. The purpose of WIOA funding is to help transition individuals to self sufficient employment. This process may require educational retraining or upgrading of skills to meet employer demands. Life altering scenarios such as job loss may result in significant financial hardship as the inability to pay bills becomes reality. Youth and adults sometimes make unfortunate deci- sions that may result in long term consequences for their choices. Through the WIOA ini- tiative, dislocated workers often discover that retooling or relearning is helping their transi- tion to earning long term self supportive employment. The Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board releases an Annual Report that details an overview of service delivery administered during each fiscal year. This report represents highlights from the July 1, 2014— June 30, 2015 year with samples of employ- ment success, a detailed budget, and an overall example of program operations. Each Annual Report provides readers with a greater understanding of the WIOA program and the resources available in helping turn opportunity into suc- cess. Questions or concerns regarding this report may be directed to staff Regional Partnership for the Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board at: WORKFORCE (336) 629-5141. Development Board Annual Report 2014-2015 7 ALAMANCE COUNTY NCWORKS CAREER CENTER Alamance County Career Center Partners With Local Employer •The Alamance County NCWorks Career Center is helping Cambro of Mebane connect talent to jobs and ,t eliminate much time and ex- ` " ' pense in the process. The ` i 1 t- center carries out human re- s x source functions such as ac- ` �° Wiz; +.".".::- cepting applications on com- 1/4 • pany's behalf, scheduling in- terviews upon their request, .. ." . v . . organizing job fairs, providing space to conduct interviews. In collaboration Alamance Community College (ACC) developed customized trainings known as the "Cambro Way" to be offered to the selected hires in order to assure they understood the specific manufacturing process, required goals, and overall company expectations. NCWorks staff utilized Workforce Innovation and Oppor- tunity Act (WIOA) funding to create On-the-Job Training (OJT) plans so Cambro could leverage resources that would help save the company additional training costs associated with the hiring and training of new employees. The Director of the Alamance Chamber and Economic Devel- opment continued to assure information and resources were delivered to the business as pro- posed. Cambro recognized these partners for helping make a difference in their location to the area. •On The Job Training (OJT)...Alamance County NC Works Career Center penned a total of 20 new OJT contracts for three local employers: Cambro- 13 On the Job Training Partici- pants (Average range of salary $14.50 per hour), ITG- Intl Textile Group-Burl Finishing- 6 On the Job Training Participants (Average pay $10.50 per hour), Summit Design-1 On the Job Training Participant (average pay 14.50 per hour). On the Job Training offers employers par- tial reimbursement for paid employees while they are engaged in productive work and that pro- vides the knowledge and skills essential to the full and adequate performance on the job. After the completion of the OJT, the em- Wo rks ployee continues as a full-time employee. career center 8 Annual Report 2014-2015 ALAMANCE COUNTY BUILDING FUTURES CENTER LD1 Highlights m�jk�' FuTu'ReS The tomorrow you've always imagined • Changing The Lives Of Our Youth... Justin Blanchard, 19, was enrolled into the youth program at the Alamance County Building Futures youth center in August of 2012. Justin was basic skills defi- cient in reading and had never had a job. Justin enrolled into the Computer Integrated Machining Program at Alamance Community College for fall 2012 semester. During his first year in college, Justin took a remedial English class, as well as worked individually on the Keytrain tutorials to help improve his reading skills. Justin was able to earn a Silver Career Readiness Certificate and earn a 12.4 on his TABE post test, overcoming his reading skills deficiency. With the help of WIAIWIOA services, Justin earned his CNC Machining certifi- cate in July 2014 from Alamance Community College. Justin and his case manager worked on interviewing skills and resume development to aid Justin in his job search. In the summer of 2015, Justin was hired by Honda in Burling- ton to work full-time as a CNC Machinist. •TRANSLATING INTO SUCCESS...Cesar Guevara Hernandez is a Youth Program par- ticipant through Alamance Building Futures and currently attends Alamance Community Col- lege towards his Associates Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology. The WIAIWIOA pro- gram helps provide assistance towards his educational retraining. Cesar has received various services including a Summer Work Experience at the Burlington Goodwill, in their Community Resource Center where he served as their receptionist, translator, and resource room assis- tant. While performing his duties at the center he helped visitors access resume assistance, applications, and other employment based needs. Cesar was able to provide purpose to the Hispanic population in particular, as he was able to understand culture, needs, and help overcome language barriers experienced by staff team members. Cesar completed his Summer Work Expe- rience with high evaluations and professional references he may use for future application. Cesar was the first Alamance Youth participant to receive a Gold Level Career Readiness Credential. He continues to challenge himself academically and professional- ly. Pictured are Glenda Morrow, Goodwill and Cesar Hernandez. -�1 Annual Report 2014-2015 9 MONTGOMERY COUNTY NCWORKS CAREER CENTER Highlights NC\IVorks • NC WORKS CERTIFIED...The Montgomery County NCWorks career center Career Center became NCWorks state certified on November 20, 2014. Certification requires a rigorous application process with great attention to detail regard- ing procedures and customer satisfaction. Customers visiting the center will experience a new improved, integrated and seamless delivery of customer service. •Central Carolina Hosiery Comments on Hiring Success Priscilla Harris, CFO of Central Carolina Hosiery needed immediate assistance with a job fair in order to fill approximately 35 positions to meet factory demands for the remainder of the year. The jobs to be filled included both production and management level positions. Harris noted, "We had a good turnout at the job fair and have been hiring people ever since. I have just about filled all of my positions in addition to having a file of qualified applications that I may use for future openings". Harry Brower, Director of the Montgomery Career Center was contacted by Harris, and had a job fair set in just a couple of days. "He displayed genuine concern for our needs, as well as delight that we were putting more people to work," stated Harris. Central Car- olina Hosiery is located in Biscoe, NC and is a leader in full service manufacturing of private and brand label hosiery, producing millions of products for consumers each year. •JOB FAIRS...The Montgomery County NCWorks Career Cen- NCWorks Career Center ter targeted employers, for local recruitment and participation, Montgomery County through their successful job fair events. Through these combined Career Fair community efforts, several job fairs were made possible through- out the year. In one of the larger events, Montgomery County Economic Development and the Montgomery County NCWorks r _ �1 Career Center collaboratively organized a Job Fair for Carolina Dairy of Biscoe. The event was held at the James Garner Center , ;,, in Troy, gathered some 500 jobseekers. Attendees completed Thursday,April 16,2015 applications, and were provided with an onsite interview by corn- 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. pany representatives. The career fair was part of an initial hiring James H Gamer Contemner Center 110 Rumette St..Tem KC 17771 phase for Carolina Dairy, as they look to fill some 30 immediate vacancies, with long term employment projections of around 500 jobs to be created. In a separate event, the Montgomery County }'w NCWorks Career Center, held a Job Fair for Central Carolina Ho- siery at Montgomery Community College in September. Central Carolina Hosiery, located in Biscoe, planned to hire approximately 50 new employees. Mr. Harry Brower, Montgomery County NCWorks Career Center, Director, reviewed the appli- cations and Ms. Prissy Harris, Central Carolina Hosiery staff interviewed all applicants. Ms. Harris was very pleased with the turnout and the quality employee possibilities. Approximately 60 applicants were interviewed and the Job Fair was a success. 10 Annual Report 2014-2015 MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUILDING FUTURES s'- i Highlights m*-c\ •Building Futures One Youth At A Time... FuTV'ReS The tomorrow you've always imagined DaCorey Pemberton is enrolled in the Montgomery County Building Fu- tures Youth Program. He came into the program in need of assistance with increasing his math and reading levels during his senior year of high .. school. While in the program, DaCorey has participated in monthly lead- ership activities, he attended a Youth Conference at Haw River and he has received supportive services. He has a positive and eager personali- ty and is focused on what he needs to do to meet his future goals. While in High School he was actively involved in band, and the marching , band. He completed his Work Keys training and earned a bronze CRC certificate. In early May, he achieved his goal to graduate High school. I During the summer, he was placed in a Summer Work Experience at ' Council on Aging/ Start Kitchen. He helped prepare, package and deliver packaged food to the elderly in the community. This work experience was a good way to get him started to his educational/employment goals. j A His Case Manager worked diligently to enroll him in the fall semester at '1'' Sandhills Community College. He is now enrolled in the Culinary Pro- and is planning to graduate in May of next ear. gram p g g Y Y •Career Pathways Workshop...The Montgom- _ ery County NCWorks Career Center hosted a career ,. - • pathways workshop at East Montgomery High _ -Irv., School. This workshop was offered to showcase - services available at the career center and to expose • -:4.III students to training and career exploration. These '1 , ;" - _ _ '' '�►J g p t events have proven to be a successful way to invig- '4 ,- . orate local youth about their future career goals. T 7-' Students were assisted with basic resume prepara- 4 tion. They were further assisted with searching for -- - rill!: r employment. Students performed searches within Mai vo. . ,- ', NCWorks and various employee websites for suita- ble jobs. Students were guided on how to apply and place the most appropri- ate and beneficial data pertaining to the type of work applied for. Students ��e55 were notified of job openings and also given job references. SU Opportunity T Annual Report 2014-2015 11 MOORE COUNTY NCWORKS CAREER CENTER Highlights NCWorks •NCWORKS CERTIFIED...The Moore County Career Center career center became NCWorks state certified on November 20, 2014. Certifica- tion requires a rigorous application process with great attention to detail regarding procedures and customer satisfaction. Customers visiting the center will experience a new improved, inte- grated and seamless delivery of customer service. During the program year, the Career Center operated Wagner Peyser, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Former Offender Initiative, Disabled Veteran Outreach, and WIA/WIOA Adult, Dislocated, and Youth programs. Staff provided over 43,000 services to customers ranging from job referrals, resume preparation assistance, career assessment and training. Staff also provided over 3800 services to over 500 Moore County ar- ea employers including Job Fairs, Job Order Assistance, and Labor Market Information. •HIGHLIGHTING VETERAN SERVICES... The Moore County NCWorks Career Center appreciates the dedication - - - and sacrifices made by our selfless military population. In or- der to show our appreciation, our events primarily focused to- - • ward active and former military personnel living in the Moore J County area. On the 12th of November in 2014, the Career A' Center held its' 7th Annual Veteran Job Fair at the National - _ Guard Armory in Southern Pines, NC. With assistance from Amp, community partners including Sandhills Community College and Moore Alive, veterans were able to meet with employers to find employment. Nearly two dozen local employers attend- ed the Job Fair including FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Pinehurst Resort, two of the counties' largest employers. Other well-known employers such as Belk and Lowes Home Improvement were in attendance as well. On June 24 of 2015, Moore County NCWorks Career Center held its's first annual Veteran Stand Down at the Moore County Agriculture Center in Carthage, NC. A stand down is an event that provides resources and services to unemployed, underemployed and homeless veterans. The com- munity offers a number of resources and an incredible network of support for its veterans and their families. The event was organized by the Moore County NCWorks Disabled Veter- an Outreach Specialist, Kenneth Kelley, with the assistance of Moore County Veteran organ- izations and partners. Twenty-eight service providers attended including the VA Mobile Unit, Moore Free Clinic, Vocational Rehabilitation, and VA Office of Rural Health. Veterans were able to take advantage of services ranging from free counseling, haircuts and dental supplies to free clothing and pet supplies. Veterans also enjoyed a free lunch donated by several Moore County businesses. 12 Annual Report 2014-2015 MOORE COUNTY BUILDING FUTURES CENTER LLD, Highlights FuTuReS The tomorrow you've always Imagined •Community Event-Youth Job Fair at Sandhills Communty College ...A job fair was held on the Sandhills Community College campus. This was an excellenti � , ' opportunity for youth to present themselves to em- rs and for the Building Futures Program to be em- ployers g 9 introduced to various eo le of the community.p p Y i --- � %- Wa Building Futures Staff was able to present the pro- . t' s gram to youth and adults and received a great deal • } ' of interest in the services provided. In this event, mom* - staff was able to discuss program requirements and Fi+Tupti eS { eligibility criteria. They several names and contact �r information for potential participants which will be very useful for enrollment. • Leadership Development - Financial Literacy Work- . shop/Tax Filing...Tax season is an excellent time for youth to learn the purpose of taxes and gain financial experience by filing - their own. Several youth participants received tax returns since be- ing employed through WIA work experience or other employment. Many of these youth were able to take advantage of free online filing while gaining self sufficiency by taking the initiative to learn for them- selves. Students were engaged in a short lecture given by Vicky Locklear on the purpose and importance of understanding the func- tioning of taxes. Students were able to ask questions pertaining to the economic support and societal benefits maintained through gain- ing employment and becoming a tax paying citizen. •Youth Job Search Assistance -Over the course of the year, s numerous students were assisted with searching for employment. Staff assisted students in performing job searches within NC Works and various employer web- sites for suitable jobs. Students were guided in the application process; how to create an accu- rate resume with the most appropriate and beneficial data pertaining to the type of work applied for. Students were notified of job openings and also given job references. Several participants gained employment (both full and part time). Annual Report 2014-2015 13 PROGRAM YEAR 2014-2015 BUDGET ALAMANCE COUNTY RANDOLPH COUNTY Regional Consolidated Services(Jul-Aug2014) Regional Consolidated Services(Jul-Aug2014) Richmond Community Support Center(RCSC) Richmond Community Support Center(RCSC) (RCS)Adult 7,978 (RCS)Adult 13,474 (RCS)Dislocated Worker 4,979 Regional Partnership (RCS)Dislocated Worker 9,389 WO R KFG RC(RCS)Youth 16,593 (RCS)Youth 17,489 (RCSC)Adult 283,081 (RCSC)Adult 226,002 (RCSC)Dislocated Worker 152,595 (RCSC)Dislocated Worker 170,140 40 (RCSC)Youth 286,050 (RCSC)Youth 220,388 Administration 21,874 Development Board Administration 22,003 ALAMANCE COUNTY TOTAL 773,150 RANDOLPH COUNTY TOTAL 678,885 Serving Alamance,Montgomery,Moore, Orange and Randolph Counties MONTGOMERY COUNTY WIOA PARTICIPANTS SERVED Regional Consolidated Services(Jul-Aug2014) Alamance County Richmond Community Support Center(RCSC) DW 23 MOORE COUNTY Adult 92 Richmond Community Support Center(RCSC) (RCS)Adult 10,196 TOTAL BUDGET: $3,522,933 Youth 49 (RCS)Dislocated Worker 2,419 Alamance Total 164 (RCSC)Adult 92,990 (RCSC)Adult 133,467 (RCSC)Dislocated Worker 98,672 Total WIAIVVIOA Participants Served: Montgomery County (RCSC)Dislocated Worker 139,758 (RCSC)Youth 91,519 DW 5 (RCSC)Youth 134,301 Administration 7,568 F Adult 21 Administration 10,909 MONTGOMERY COUNTY TOTAL 303,364 Youth ?6 MOORE COUNTY TOTAL 418,435 # _ Montgomery Total 52 I Moore County DW 34 ORANGE COUNTY nP \ Adult 31 Joint Orange Chatham Community Action(JOCCA) 28 LOCAL AREA Orange Department of Social Services(DSS) ' Moore Total 93 Incumbent Worker 10,576 Administration 8,589 Orange County Administration 348,297 Adult 170,028 DW 53 Adult 145,512 Dislocated Worker 138.334 .4 Adult 71 Dislocated Worker 143,784 (JOCCA)TOTAL 316,951 ___ ,t,, Youth 44 Youth 124,264 Orange Total 168 Administration 7,168 Randolph County Youth 252.547 (DSS)TOTAL 259,715 Adult 72 LOCAL AREA TOTAL 772,433 ORANGE COUNTY TOTAL 576,666 Youth 42 Randolph Total 187 *Regional Consolidated Services operated programs during transition to new contractor July-Aug.2014 14 Annual Report 2014-2015 Annual Report 2014-2015 15 ORANGE COUNTY NCWORKS CAREER CENTER 4 Wo rks - Highlights career center •NC WORKS CERTIFIED...The Orange County Career Center became NCWorks state certified on November 20, 2014. Certification requires a rigorous application process with great attention to detail regarding procedures and customer satisfaction. Customers visiting the cen- ter will experience a new improved, integrated and seamless delivery of customer service • Partner Collaboration: Orange County Department of Social Services; NCWorks Career Center and Durham Technical Community College. Through a collaborative effort Orange County Department of Social Services; Orange County NCWorks Career Center and Durham Tech conducted analysis of job openings with the highest turnover. It was determined that one of areas was in the office administrative field. Durham Tech staff designed a short-term Ad- ministrative Office Certificate program. The Department of Social Services and Orange County NCWorks Career Center staff identified 16 candidates to be enrolled in the program. The pro- gram was offered at the Orange County Campus in Hillsborough, NC. The program prepared individuals to perform a variety of clerical tasks within a professional office setting. While this accelerated 15 credit hour program can be completed in a single semester, its courses also count toward the two-year Office Administration Associate in Applied Science degree program. Fourteen of the sixteen students earned the Administrative Office Certificate and ob- tained employment. JO By ORANGE-COUNT Y i��RCE �o¢rrira¢oun.� •Job & Resource Fairs Orange County Fall 2014 / FAIR Wednesday Soptn,nba.24.2Ui't Spring 2015...Over 100 employers for this community wide job iccezb20Hpm SpansureJ Hy: _ ,,. OrnnSe COUnly fair event. Social Services Employment Services Unit/Skills Devel- HilhFo.oyL,N?RTa opment/NC Career Center efforts, along with Carla Banks, Orange ^ H.,ndS'H.Yn-�91cI24s-vn County Public Relation Directory, resulted in over 500 unduplicat- ed job seekers in attendance. Her efforts, along with the agency team commitment, resulted in an outcome of over 125 job seekers obtaining employment _ pinvtiedt.a0°ran9 meets anenams me ion r,tr.so smeJmemrenapal _ s Hlll anJ Hlllsharau9h Arous. •Social Media, Networking, and Interviewing Class: Orange County NC Works Career Center was pleased to offer Social Media, Networking & In- terviewing Classes. These classes were designed to help job seekers make a positive first im- pression, improve online presence, guide their contacts, and be more confident when inter- viewing. The classes included: mock interviews, individual and group exercises, networking, and much more. The classes were designed for both the novice and the expert and they were open to the public. 16 Annual Report 2014-2015 ORANGE COUNTY BUILDING FUTURES CENTER Highlights Individual Success... m�1/4 •Aquasia Laws was working in retail when she determined her passion in life was to become a nurse. Aquasia had heard about the WIAIWIOA �U u eS Orange County Building Futures Youth Program through a friend who The tomorrow you've alwaysimaglned was already enrolled. She desperately wanted to create a better life }: -.t for herself and gain a greater sense of personal fulfillment in the workplace. With the assistance of the Building Futures Youth Pro- i_, - f gram, she enrolled into the Certified Nursing Assistant I course at Durham Technical Community College. She completed her curricu- lum with high grades and passed her state exams. She soon began -, --- �„- employment at Croasdaile Village Retirement Community working as a home nurse aide. In order to further enhance her nursing skills, She __- has made the decision to continue her education while working. She .. \ - ° __ will begin the Certified Nursing Assistant II program at Durham Tech- _ nical Community College in September. Aquasia is utilizing a Career \f' Pathways ladder to earn both immediate and long term employment goals. Orange Building Futures is proud to assist her in endeavors of continued success. • Brandon Edwards was enrolled in the WIA Program in 2013, shortly - - after he graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in 2012. Brandon enrolled into the Building Futures Program with a basic skills deficien- cy in reading. He worked diligently to increase his reading score level - from an 8.2 to a 10.2. Brandon enrolled in the Computer Information ' '- . Technology course at Alamance Community College in January 2013. Brandon worked diligently to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA. He gradu- _ 'y,. ated from ACC in July 2014 and was subsequently hired in the IT de- "::�' partment with UNC-Chapel Hill. Brandon has attended the majority of , a_ the monthly workshops and has also participated in community service 1 ,;,; _-• activities with the program. Brandon has proven his dedication and commitment to providing a better life for himself. _ ` ` • Devana Turner enrolled into the WIA Program in January 2012. At the time of enrollment, she had a basic skills deficiency in mathematics. She pro- i - gressed from an 8.6 to a 12.9 in her TABE assessment score. . Throughout the years of diligence and hard work, She has ex- . - - celled in her academics. She attended Cedar Ridge High f School and graduated in June 2014 with a 4.2 GPA. Devana J, r received numerous scholarships to assist her with her four year 1 degree which include a $10,000 scholarship from SECU and anI�,,�'if $800.00 scholarship from NC Extensions. She is attending A&T , I. / .i , j�;r r State University and plans to major in Biochemical Engineering. t==�� 1 Annual Report 2014-2015 17 RANDOLPH COUNTY NCWORKS CAREER CENTER NCWorks Highlights career center •One Stop—Job Start Event On August 5, 2014, Randolph Community College held a One Stop—Job Start Event where they offered several short-term training opportunities, --" some with free tuition for eligible students that began during the fall 2014 semester. During the One Stop— 1 Job Start event, attendees were provided information on training, grants and scholarships, and possible job opportunities. Attendees were able to learn about train- 41 ing in numerous career areas, several local companies a who are actively hiring were on hand to provide infor- mation and answer questions about potential careers and job openings their respective industries. The Ran- dolph County NCWorks Career Center staff was availa-cola. -ble to provide information to students about training and employment services that were available and accessi- ..4. I=. ble to them by visiting the Randolph County NCWorks 1 j Career Center. Staff also informed interested students about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program which could assist them with their employment and training needs. • Incumbent Worker Program The State of NC recently announced Incumbent Worker Training Grant (IWTG) awards with Carolina Bronze Sculpture of Randolph County receiving approval. The intention of the IWTG is to assist employers with training to help them become more competitive in their marketplace, while also serving in a proactive manner to assist busi- ness before possible layoffs occur, instead of after. Caro- �, lina Bronze Sculpture, said to be NC's only commercial fine art bronze casting foundry, recently completed their ; Incumbent Workforce Development Grant that provided 1.1111111111r14 -..y the company with three days of no bake sand mold train- ing. The American Foundry Society (AFS), trainer, came ' to the Seagrove facility and trained 9 staff members on a -...t,s, higher level and knowledge of sand molding and core , , making processes that are used in established foundries. - ` - r,}. \Vrker.�rai g 18 Annual Report 2014-2015 RANDOLPH COUNTY BUILDING FUTURES CENTER NI. D, Highlights m. *—0 • BUILDING FUTURES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE... Through the FuTu'ReS WIA/WIOA Building Futures Program, Tahi-Anna Mabry was provided a The tomorrow you've always Imagined work experience with Christian's United Outreach Cen- ter (CUOC) in Asheboro where she served as a Store . i,.7. Clerk. Tahi-Ana had never been employed before and 7.---or L-: IP- Ill was rightfully apprehensive towards the expectations IrZ i` associated with a supervisor and those of a customer. �_ F' While participating in the work experience she also at- _i I + :` tended classes towards earning her Associate Degree `' • in Computer Information Systems from Randolph Corn- �f r = :: E- munity College. Work Experience opportunities provide . ' the Youth Program participants with the ability to expe- = s.srt s rience employment, earn their own paycheck, gain _ '-"- T': vu■ S transferrable job skills, and a vision for the future. Tahi- Anna was noted as having a great work attitude, an always smiling face. She treated customers with respect, while working hard, and learning quickly. Tahi-Anna's personality is fit to deliver excellent customer service •SECRET INGREDIENTS TO SUCCESS... Jessica Stevens was enrolled into the Build- ing Futures Youth program in January 2011. A young mother with 2 small children, she faced several employment barriers. While working with staff at the center she displayed excellent work initiative. She enrolled in the Randolph Community College Business Administration pro- gram. Throughout her academic career, Jessica maintained phenomenal grades. Additionally she provided tutoring assistance to actively enrolled Building Futures participants, and partici- pated in nearly every workshop, event, or activity offered to her through the program. She was also able to utilize work experience opportunities made available. - Jessica was assigned a Work Experience with the Asheboro Good- f. „m(pc _ will Resource Center where she served as a Receptionist Assis- tant. There she acquired the majority of her customer service, corn- . 1 munication, and leadership skills. Jessica has now graduated with honors from Randolph Community College earning Associate De- grees in both Business Administration and Accounting. Soon after .. her graduation, Jessica found employment with Kentucky Fried `N Chicken. The position started out part-time but with her strong work ethic, willingness to learn new things, availability for work, and ex- cellent team member status, she advanced with the company. Jes- sica is now a Shift Supervisor with Kentucky Fried Chicken, work- 4 I( ing full time. With WIA/WIOA assistance she has worked hard and /tar gained excellent skills for the future. •t" Annual Report 2014-2015 19 WIA/WIOA CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS How the WIA/WIOA Training Program Enhanced My Skills & Made Me More Employable... Hi, my name is Tejus Maduskar, and I am a management consultant currently working in the healthcare industry (insurance and hospital focused). When I lost my previous job in 2014, I knew I would have to work hard to close any gaps in skills which my future employers ex- pected me to have. Though I had some exposure to analytic tools and methods, most pro- spective employers that I was interested in were looking for candidates with formal training and experience in popular analytic software applications such as SAS, SQL server, and Tab- leau. This is where the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program came in. I met with a case manager in the Orange County NCWorks Career Center, who explained to me what courses were available from a training perspective, and how to apply and when to ap- ply. With the help of my case manager, I was able to get a spot and funding for training courses in SAS Basic and SAS Advanced at the SAS Institute in Cary, NC. Before, during, and after the training my case manager helped my complete all the formalities, and provided exceptional customer service and support by answering all of my training questions (or put- ting me in touch with the right persons). The training helped strengthen my resume and skills, and r , eventually get hired by a healthcare data analytics and management consulting firm. ■ t I really enjoyed working with WIANVIOA staff, who made F I 11, my journey to finding employment that much better. Fortu- nately, there are funds available for people like me to get retrained and better prepared for the workforce than ever z °'- before. I highly encourage people who recently lost a job 1 = and/or are trying to reenter the workforce, to contact the NCWorks Career Center/WIOA Program Thank you, and good luck to you. Regards, Tejus Maduskar lib' Er;- Tejussm@hotmail.com #WIOA IN ACTION 20 Annual Report 2014-2015 WIA/WIOA CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS WIA/WIOA Program Determined as Difference Maker in Success My name is Nia Williams. I have been trying to become a nurse since I moved to North Carolina many years ago. I worked full time at UNC, serving as a nursing assistant while SURCAll Al t' - SIIIVIt IS working on my pre-requisites for the nursing program. Unfortu- nately I experienced transportation issues in route to comple- tion on a couple of occasions and had to withdraw from clas- ses. In example of my challenges, I remember I once having re- ceived an acceptance letter from Alamance Community Col- lege to the nursing program. I was extremely excited. However I had less than two months to find a job that could work with my newly acquired school schedule. I obtained suitable em- ployment two weeks before the starting of nursing school and actually began both nursing school, and a brand-new job on the exact same day. This was truly tough and too much. Four weeks into the nursing program I was already struggling and was forced back into withdrawal of classes due to car issues, and financial challenges that came after I started school. I was deeply saddened, and for the next two years I had to sit-out the application process, as I was unavailable to re-start the program again until mid-2012 due to my dropping classes. In 2012, I re-entered the nursing program at Alamance Community College for the second time. I didn't have any financial aid left to help pay for school or books. When I found this in- formation out it was only two months until school started and I didn't know what I was going to do? I was still working my same part time job and didn't have the money saved up for such short notice. I recalled hearing about the WIA program a couple of years prior, and decided to contact them. It was the WIA/WIOA program and staff which helped me get through the Asso- ciate Degree Nursing program. I am now a Registered Nurse and working in the Operating Room at UNC Healthcare. It took me 10 years to get through the required pre-requisites and the Nursing program. I have two children and their dad to help me, however the road was tough. I never gave up on my dreams. It doesn't matter how long it takes as long as you get there. I am a prime example of how beneficial the WIANVIOA program is, and I don't know what I would have done without them. Sincerely, Nia Williams #WIOA IN ACTION Annual Report 2014-2015 21 WIA/WIOA SUCCESS ARTICLES ALAMANCE COUNTY Program Assures Career Success #WIOA IN, ACTION Amber Agner is a 39 year old single mother. She was attend- ing Alamance Community College where she was working to- -. wards an Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting. She heard about the WIA/WIOA program through a classmate at school and came to the Alamance County NCWorks Career Center eager to learn more information about the program and to complete an application. Ms. Agner needed financial assis- . di:_� tance to complete her training as she was unemployed and was quickly going through her savings. She was enrolled into the WIA/WIOA program prior to the summer semester of 2014 with three semesters remaining before earning her degree. Since enrollment, she has exemplified everything that the pro- gram stands for. She was eager to establish a rapport with her Employment Specialist, recognizing the support offered and the impact that could have on her success. Every semester she received a 4.0 GPA. On May 15th 2015, Ms. Agner received her Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting from Alamance Community College. Amber was among the top three stu- dents in her graduating class. She secured unsubsidized employment just a few days after graduation at Kernodle Clinic in Alamance County. To date, she remains employed at Kernodle Clinic and is enjoying every aspect of her job. Integrating Machining Success Through WIA/WIOA John Drake visited the Alamance County NCWorks Career Center in Burlington where he was assisted by staff to explore Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act retraining services. John was enrolled in the dislocated worker program and received financial aid with his tuition, books, and supplies. After his second semester in the program he was hired by GKN of Mebane. John's growth with his training allowed him to obtain new employment with United Brass Works in Randleman, where he now works as a machine operator. In feedback he SIP has been informed that the big reason he has received job of- fers in the field is due to his related educational retraining. a�a� John completed his Associate Degree in Computer-Integrated 011,9 Machining (CNC) Technology from Alamance Community Col- Og `30 lege in the summer semester of 2014. He currently plans to • _-"� further his education in the CNC field at NC A&T State Univer- sity. 22 Annual Report 2014-2015 WIA/WIOA SUCCESS ARTICLES MONTGOMERY COUNTY Motivation for Academic Success Bonnie Mabry was dislocated as a drafter with a local construction company after many years of employment. As she considered her options, she found out about the Montgomery County NCWorks Career Center. After meeting with a WIANVIOA Case Manager, she decided the program presented a great opportunity for her to finish an Interior Design degree and procure employment in the field. Due to her Drafting education she already had several classes completed. She applied and was accepted into Randolph Community College Interior Design Program. a Part of the course study for Interior Design requires that students have an internship in an area of the Interior Design field that inter- ests them. This experience has proven to give invaluable hands- , on training. In January 2015, Bonnie was given an amazing oppor- tunity to work with a freelance showroom designer in the High Point; f area. Not only did she gain experience in the Showroom Design field, but also in photography and photo styling. This opportunity gave her experience and insight that she could have never gotten _ from being in a classroom alone. Bonnie has excelled in the class- room with a 4.0 GPA each semester and has been an ideal WIA/WIOA participant. She will graduate in May 2016 with her Assoc. Degree in Interior Design and hopes to find full time employment in the Showroom design soon after graduation. . Program Paves The Road To Success Carlos Davis came into the Montgomery County NCWorks Career Center, in April of 2015 and registered in NCWorks. He needed help with job searches and creating his resume. Carlos was struggling with procuring full time employment. He was interested in truck driving training, as several members of his family were truck drivers. After enrollment into the Adult Program, Carlos entered Fu- ture Truckers of America Truck Driver Training School in .;;; . <i Asheboro, NC. He earned a CDL and graduated in June of " -- '_, 2015. Carlos was hired as a Truck Driver with HT Hackney Company in Newton, North Carolina. Carlos is a great ex- I ample of how the WIA/WIOA program works, with students t i taking short term training which leads to full-time employ- Iri " - ment. He is very thankful for the program and all it has done a, _ _ to assist him in achieving his training and employment. Pi Goals. He encourages others to come to the Montgomery County NCWorks Career Center ; § to see all the employment and , ' `' T ®, IN, ACTION training services that are avails- �': ble. Annual Report 2014-2015 23 WIA/WIOA SUCCESS ARTICLES MOORE COUNTY Batteries to Behavioral Health Tamala Johnson decided educational retraining was her future path to success after losing her long-term ' employment with a battery manufacturer in Asheboro. _ She worked with the local WIA/WIOA program in the ; Moore County NCWorks Career Center and enrolled Of Al at Sandhills Community College towards an Associ- • .,1 ts t t ate Degree in Human Services. WIA/WIOA assisted with tuition, books, and supplies. During her training ;" - she displayed great dedication, making the Presi- I-- r.1 �1`'' r X*41 } - II dents list, and also receiving what is known as the *•> , r.4v4 . Tom Williams Award given to students in the top of V4:_ ,_o'- • '""'' their class that demonstrate dedication and commit- ' ^d a ;- ment to the profession, along with great academic achievements. Upon graduation Tamala received full X• time employment in May of 2015 with Crystal Lake ' `` •,t Treatment Center located in Vass where she serves - as a Behavior Health Technician. Training leads to new Career for Dislocated Worker... Bruce Stancil currently resides in Aberdeen, North Carolina. In July 2014, Bruce was laid off from his job of 14 years with a local company. Mr. Stancil was enrolled by the Moore Coun- ty NCWorks Career Center WIANVIOA training program as a Dislocated Worker. Through the partnership of WIA/WIOA and the Sandhills Community College Trades Program in Hoke County, Bruce was enrolled in the Certified Production Technician Program in October 2014. He maintained a 100% class attendance rate and passed all four Certification Assessment Exams � °511. _ with a 90% rating. He graduated in June 2015. _ •••••CC•; •:: I;;'.•: Based on Bruce's academic achievements and dedi- ;it a 64 - 4" Si i ii: 11:: :2■•■ 4 —cation to his studies and work ethics, he received a i • ■ ,, ft i recommendation from the instructor for a possible 1 -- — new hire line technician position available at the Uni- r v I �:2 oLdiLlever HPC in Raeford, North Carolina. Bruce is now operating machinery on the production line. He is al ii so assisting in repairing, making machinery adjust- ment, and properly starting and shutting down pro- duction line equipment operations. He is working in a I* team environment which allows him to assist other plant employees with machinery adjust- ment. 24 Annual Report 2014-2015 WIA/WIOA SUCCESS ARTICLES ORANGE County Educational Retraining Engineered Success... Paul Pacheco became a dislocated worker and found himself t in need of skills upgrading to obtain suitable employment. \ Paul visited the Orange County NC Works Career Center in the spring of 2013, and determined a training plan with Joint Orange County Community Action staff member, James ,, Bain. Paul was enrolled in the WIA Dislocated Worker pro- gram and encouraged to expand on his engineering experi- EMl ' / ence through Durham Technical Community College. He "�°°"gy""""p graduated in the summer of 2014 with an Associate Degree ..-, in Information Systems Security. Paul obtained employment . with EMC Corp of Research Triangle Park as a Technical Support Engineer. Starting wages received far exceeded - j' those from his previous employment. Educational retraining /t engineered his success. I.: !MI I< I Air #WIOA IN ACTION Finding His Road To Success Through WIOA Robert Strain, an older worker, visited the Orange County NC Works Career NC Center with the challenge of obtaining suitable employment. His current part time job was physically de- manding and did not provide a self-supportive wage. 05 Robert met with James Bain, JOCCA Case Manager who discussed a variety of training options with him that could result in meeting his employment goals. E Robert decided on NC-CDL truck driver training and was enrolled into the WIA Adult Program for training LL .:_ f,•:,dt,.at at Carolina Trucking Academy in Raleigh. He ex- our CCL 'S celled in his training and upon completion was hired to serve as an over-the-road driver with Cargo ° .6';} fix' i' Transporters. The short-term career pathways train- ;' i, ing strategy for Robert's employment, serves as a Ae0„rl sterling example of how NCWorks staff in Orange { irfn County and across the Regional Partnership WDB , Area are helping visitors find their road to success. - ;-.: - Robert is extremely pleased with his new career earnings and appreciates the WIA/WIOA program F -; ` :,7 : '' opportunities. ” Annual Report 2014-2015 25 WIA/WIOA SUCCESS ARTICLES RANDOLPH COUNTY Skills Upgrade Helps Land Instructor #WIOA IN ACTION Position With NC Community College Phyllis Folwell came to the Randolph County NCWorks Career Center seeking career assistance. After being employed for eight years as an Assistant Sales Manager in Customer Service, she was laid off in April 2010. Phyllis was married with one child liv- ing at home and unable to find suitable employment. After job seeking she decided to pursue educational retraining in the Busi- ness Administration curriculum at Randolph Community College , (RCC). The WIA program began assisting her in July 2012. Phyl- lis found the curriculum challenging yet she maintained academic merit by remaining on the Dean's list or the President's list each semester during enrollment. Phyllis graduated in May 2015 with her Associate Degree in Business Administration from RCC with a 4.0 GPA. Phyllis soon obtained employment with the Human Resources Development Department at Randolph Community j College and serves as a part time Adjunct Instructor working from the Randolph County Career Center. There she may be found helping other individuals with employment and training services. The NC Community Col- lege System is an integral partner of NCWorks. Pictured is RCC President Dr. Robert Shackle- ford and Phyllis Folwell during the graduation ceremony. Forging A New Career Through WIOA On-The-Job Training Carolina Bronze in Seagrove, North Carolina, was in need of a Foundry Mold Technician. After the company interviewed Kenneth they were interested in hiring him for the position even though he had been unemployed for over two years. Kenneth Delk, Sr. was referred to the Randolph County NCWorks Career Center by Carolina Bronze to apply for the Work- force Investment Act (WIA) program. Kenneth applied for the WIN WIOA program on September 3, 2014. During the enrollment pro- • cess, he completed all core services including the TABE Assess- ment. We also discussed what his job would be at Carolina Bronze. Kenneth was very excited but nervous about starting a new career . 1 that he did not know much about. For the past 2 years Kenneth had been working odd jobs to make ends meet. After the third month of - participating in the OJT program the company gave Kenneth a raise. Carolina Bronze also gave Kenneth another raise after he complet- ed the OJT program and began full-time employment.. Kenneth is k; still employed with Carolina Bronze and he is so happy that the corn- -- pany gave him the chance to prove that he wanted to learn a new career path. 26 Annual Report 2014-2015