Hannah was referred to our program by one of her teachers. She had never worked before but was a good student and knew she would be an asset to an employer if given the opportunity. Her strengths and interests made her a good fit for the Enrichment department at Fairview Haven. The experience proved successful because she earned her high school diploma, and once she completed her allowed time on our program, Fairview Haven hired her on directly.

Brandon inquired about our services because he was looking for more opportunities. He had longevity with his employer and enjoyed working there but was interested in options to help him be promoted. He was currently earning a wage that was not self-sufficient for his family but if he obtained his Commercial Driver’s License he could see an increase in his wage. Although his training took a little longer than anticipated due to COVID shutdowns, he was able to complete the CDL program while working full time.  He was promoted and received the wage increase.

Kaitlyn wanted to travel. With the transportation industry booming following COVID, it was a great time to turn that hobby into a career. The Travel Specialist program at the International Air and Hospitality Academy was an opportunity for Kaitlyn to become trained in 5 short months. Her goal of achieving her certificate so that she could work for an airline and eventually be promoted to a travel agent worked as planned. She was hired by the Dallas Fort Worth Airport within weeks of finishing her program.

On May 12^th, 2022, Madison County Employment and Training (LWIA 22) and the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department (LWIA 24) combined to host a Regional Healthcare Roundtable event at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Illinois.

The event brought regional employers, educators, apprentices, and community-based organizations, together with the public to discuss building a talent pipeline that could support the healthcare sector. The event focused on using work-based learning strategies as a supplement to strategies already in place.  Current apprentices and employers using Registered Apprenticeships (RA’s) spoke about the value and return on investment that RA’s provide. 

The event drew over sixty participants and led to a healthy discussion on how the region can come together to recruit, train, and retain employees from diverse and underutilized talent pools.  LWIA’s 22 and 24 have hosted several other roundtable events this year including one for returning citizens (individuals with justice involvement) and one focused on supply chain and logistics. Additional sector-based roundtables are scheduled for 2022 in education, construction, manufacturing, and apprenticeships.

The roundtable events have proven to be a great way to bring partners together to discuss challenges, opportunities, and best practices.

On May 11^th and May 12^th, 2022 Rend Lake College, located in Ina, IL, and Kaskaskia College, located in Centralia, IL, partnered in hosting an In-Person Apprenticeship Open House for the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT) at their respective campuses. ICATT works in tandem with the Mount Vernon, IL Continental Tire Plant to provide Continental Tire with exceptional candidates for the apprenticeship program hosted through RLC and Kaskaskia. This relationship between ICATT, Continental Tire, and the area community colleges is mutually beneficial for all parties involved, and the event provided local residents the opportunity to learn more about the program, how it relates to the community college, and to even apply for jobs with Continental Tire on the spot.

The event featured guests from both ICATT and Continental Tire. The individual from ICATT informed attendees about the application process for both ICATT and Continental Tire while employees from Continental Tire were able to display one of their robots that is utilized on their production lines. This was an example of one of the types of machinery that students graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Industrial Electronics and Maintenance can expect to work on once they are in their field of work.

Continental Tire is a German based company who is not unfamiliar with the Apprenticeship Model. It is common practice in Germany for there to be an Apprenticeship Program built into their education system that combines hands-on training with the learning practices that come from traditional education. By embracing this model in the United States, Continental Tire and ICATT are giving individuals from our area a great employment opportunity while they continue their education. This opens the door to future opportunities that apprenticeship students will feel confident in pursuing.

After over 30 years in the beauty industry, my life came to a crossroads when I decided to change careers. Working in a salon for ten years encouraged me to get my teaching license in cosmetology. A fantastic opportunity to teach for Paul Mitchell Schools came along, and I found it rewarding. While working on my career path at Paul Mitchell, I achieved the role of Education Leader, which was a management position. But, when I lost my passion and love for the beauty industry, I was not sure what I wanted to do next. I needed to find a job, but I was lacking the college degree needed to apply for the jobs in which I was interested. After a year without any luck finding a job, I decided to go back to college and finish my education.

My journey or let’s just say second act was to go back to school at forty-nine years old. I was not sure how I going to afford college, but when I was doing research at the KCC website I came across the WIOA program. It was a scholarship program to help with the cost of your education for people who may have struggled financially, and an opportunity to get an education as well as job opportunities after graduation.

My experience with the WIOA program and KCC was amazing! I will definitely say going back to college late in life was not easy, but I learned a lot and found it rewarding. I do not have any regrets, just more knowledge and experience needed to find the right job fit for me.

I received two Associate degrees from KCC within 2½ years: Applied Science-Office Professional and Business. In addition, I received the Microsoft Office Certificate. I am currently working on my Microsoft Certification and will become a Microsoft expert within the next year.

After graduation, a recruiter for Kensing Solutions in Kankakee found me on LinkedIn, and it led to a job offer for the role of Administrative Logistic Specialist. I want to thank all the professors who taught me over the last two years as well as my family and friends who supported me in my new journey for my second half of my life. Sending out love and gratitude to everyone I crossed paths with.