Program Details

Michael Ratcliff entered the program in a tough spot; he was about to finish high school and wanted desperately to go to school to further his education but was struggling to find a way to afford the cost. He had a passion for electronics and knew he could make a career out of it, but he also realized he needed additional training to turn his passion into a future career. Michael moved to enroll at Ranken Technical College to study Electrical Control Systems, and bet on himself to find a way to pay for school. He even took up a part-time job working retail at Vapor Wise to try and help with the expenses of college, but even with working, the cost of school was still too great.

Michael heard about the WIOA program and reached out. You could tell he was passionate about his field of study but also stressed the financial burden that a college education can bring. With some of the stress and anxiety alleviated by the WIOA program, Michael excelled in his courses and even graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is also featured on their website for his exceptional work while attending. During his time at Ranken, Michael started an internship with EverGrain, now a subsidiary of Anheuser Busch-InBev. One of his supervisors said this about him, “Michael Ratcliff recently joined EverGrain Ingredients, a start-up food manufacturing facility, as a Technician. His ability to address a wide variety of challenges shows the breadth and depth of his education. Michael arrives daily with the belief that results from matter while displaying the courage to maintain a safe and inclusive work environment. The operations team chose Michael to conduct multiple trips to our manufacturing facilities in New Jersey. He contributes to their success while bringing back best practices to our St. Louis facility. He continues to develop his technical and manufacturing skills by training new employees and taking on new assignments in a dynamic business environment.”

Michael has continued to be a model customer by staying in touch during his follow-up services; during that time, his Career Planner has watched as his career has blossomed. The company has merged with Anheuser Busch-InBev to open even more opportunities for Michael. He is a hard worker who is an excellent example of what someone can achieve when they chase what they are passionate about.