Success Stories
Many individuals that have worked with us in the youth opportunities programs and services at the Region 2 Workforce Investment Board have gone on to achieve great things in their personal and professional lives. Below you’ll find just a small sampling of some of those outstanding individuals.
Many training and education programs offered through the Region 2 Workforce system are quick and very specialized. You can train for a new career in as little as four to six weeks and be on your way to a new, lucrative career.
Meet Kayla, CMA – Kayla graduated from high school in Logan County and immediately went to work in the foodservice industry. She enjoyed her coworkers and customers but made the decision to pursue a career with a professional pathway. After working with the Region 2 Workforce Career Club system, she enrolled in the Medical Assisting program at Southern WV CTC.
Kayla was able to continue her work in the foodservice industry while she completed four semesters of training at Southern. She received an associate degree in Medical Assisting and was recruited by many health clinics, hospitals, and service providers before she even received her degree. Today, Kayla is working in a fast-paced and respected section of a hospital in the region. She doubled her income and is considering further training in the healthcare field.
Click here for CMA/LPN salary ranges in West Virginia
#CMA #LPN #Nursing #Healthcare #medical
Meet Jarrod – Tinkering on small engines, cars, and machinery was always a passion for Jarrod. He understands the connection between the many moving parts of a machine and is able to diagnose and repair them when they’re not working right. Jarrod knew that, someday, those skills would be the cornerstone of his professional life. The challenge was that he didn’t know how to get started.
After graduation from high school, Jarrod tried to get a job in the mechanical field at many larger operations throughout Cabell and Putnam counties. The jobs were very competitive and Jarrod was not able to get started in the field as quick as he wanted to.
Jarrod met with a youth career counselor at the Region 2 Workforce office and was introduced to the Electrician Apprenticeship program through IBEW Local 317 in Cabell County. Jarrod applied and was accepted into the program and even received transportation assistance through the WIOA program. Today, Jarrod is in training to become an electrician, is being paid while in the program and will be able to have a secure and lucrative career for as long as he wants.
Click here for electrician salary ranges in West Virginia
#electrician #industrial #career
Meet Brianna – When she was a little girl growing up in Teays Valley, Brianna spent hours on end with her dolls. She would dress them, fix their hair, do their makeup and have fun doing it. Brianna’s mother would joke with her that she was going to be better at hair and makeup by 13 than most professionals. Brianna never forgot that.
Brianna was focused and often helped friends before homecoming and prom dances with hair, makeup, accessories and more. She knew that her career after high school was going to be related.
And then life changed. During Brianna’s junior year, her mother and sister were involved in a car accident while traveling home from visiting family in Lexington, KY. While Brianna’s sister had only minor injuries, Brianna’s mother suffered a broken pelvis and internal injuries. She spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital before she was moved to a rehab facility. As a single parent, Brianna’s mother provided everything she could for her two girls. She was able to receive disability insurance and it did help. However, Brianna felt that she needed to directly care for her little sister and dropped out of school. While she was disappointed, she knew that this was what she needed to do.
Brianna’s mother ended up recovering from her injuries over the course of the next 18 months. She and her daughters grew even closer and supported each other in all that they did. She was able to return to work almost 2 years to the day of her accident. She took that opportunity to encourage her daughter Brianna to finish what she started.
Brianna met with career counselors at the Region 2 Workforce Putnam County One Stop. They immediately helped Brianna with the resources and connections that she needed to complete her studies and receive her GED. Past that, Brianna was awarded a WIOA contract to attend cosmetology school and train for her career. Today, Brianna continues her training and will embark on a lucrative career in the cosmetology field after she receives her certification.
Click here for cosmetology salary ranges in West Virginia
#cosmetology #aesthetician #makeup
Meet Mark – Mark was known throughout his group of family and friends as ‘the guy that could fix things.” When someone had a problem with their computer, their phone, their TV, Mark was the first person they called.
Mark’s family worked hard for everything they had and enjoyed time with each other. Mark had one sister, a bevy of aunts, uncles, and cousins and grandparents that wanted to see everyone do well personally and professionally. What they lacked in finances, they certainly made up for in effort and determination.
When it came time for Mark to graduate from high school and consider his next steps, he felt that higher education was out of the question – his family simply couldn’t afford it. So Mark made an effort to see what was available to him and went to the Region 2 Workforce office in Cabell County. That’s where he was matched with a career counselor and introduced to the West Virginia Invests program. This program is a state-supported program that provides the “last dollar in” for college tuition and costs.
Mark applied for the program, was awarded a federal grant and the rest of the costs were covered by the WV Invests program. He enrolled at Mountwest Community & Technical College and received his Associate degree in information technology. Today, he is studying at Marshall University where he is completing his Bachelors degree in Information Services and Technology. Upon graduation, he’ll have many lucrative job opportunities available to him.
Click here for IT Specialist salary ranges in West Virginia
#IT #networking #computers #web
Check out out in-demand jobs in West Virginia here: https://workforcewv.org/job-seekers/top-jobs
