My name is Ashley Hafley and I am 22 years old. I heard of WIOA when the Career Coach, Mr. Velasquez, attended Valley College for Orientation. Not only did WIOA help me pay for my tuition at Valley College, but they also provided me with Supportive Services for transportation and to pay for my NHA Certification exams.

As part of my externship with Valley College, I worked for Dr. Agbayani. After I completed my externship, I was offered a part time position at Dr. Agbayani’s office, which I gladly accepted. I am currently working on my NHA Certifications hoping with those credentials I will be able to gain full time employment.

I would like to thank WIOA and the Berkeley County Adult Learning Center for showing me that there is genuine help out in the world and special thanks to Angel Velasquez for pushing me to be great and showing me that there is help out there.

Dylan Riggleman was working as a cashier at a local supermarket when he first came to the WIOA office in January 2016.  He had previously earned an associate of arts degree in general studies and a certificate in Allied Health and was interested in nursing as a career.  Although Dylan ultimately wanted to be a RN, he felt that the right initial step for him was a LPN program.  He was very eager to start his career path and was accepted into the program at James Rumsey Technical Institute. Dylan began his studies in July 2016 and graduated on June 23, 2017.  He passed his State boards the following month and immediately applied at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg.  After interim jobs at Valley Health Urgent Care and Clary Grove, Dylan was offered and accepted a job at his employer of choice, the VA Medical Center.

Jennifer Propst came to the WIOA office with a strong work history.  Her former jobs had been mostly clerical in nature and paid an average of $10.00 per hour and she typically had to drive a minimum of thirty miles one way.    As a single mother of two she struggled to make ends meet.  Jennifer knew that she needed a career to be able to adequately provide for her family.  She was accepted into the highly competitive LPN program at Randolph Technical Center in Elkins, WV, a distance of over 70 miles from her home but still the closest State-approved LPN training provider.  For the next twelve months, Jennifer attended training, often staying with a friend who lived closer to Elkins, while continuing to work part time.  Jennifer Propst graduated in February 2017, passed her State boards in March, and was hired as an LPN at the Kenneth “Honey” Rubenstein Juvenile Center in April where she is still employed.

My name is Korrina Moxley and I am 25 years old. In May 2017, I proudly graduated with an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Valley College. After graduation, my Career Adviser from Valley College, Mr. Peter Christensen, informed me of a career opportunity with a local family owned and operated business. He said it would be the perfect opportunity to utilize my degree and build a solid career for myself and my family. He assisted me in building my resume. Once my resume was revised and looked poised for success, I sent it off to Johnson & Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning. After a few weeks, I was contacted by the COO of Johnson & Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning and asked to come in for an interview. When I attended the interview, I spoke with the Owner and COO about the company and what they were looking for. I quickly realized I would be a perfect fit and this is where I needed to be. The atmosphere was incredible… I felt at home. After the interview, I was asked to contact the WIOA Career Coach, Mr. Angel Velasquez, and verify eligibility for the WIOA on the job training program. Mr. Velasquez explained to me how WIOA will be able to help my employer and how I would be able to benefit from it. After providing some documentation, I was effectively placed with Johnson and Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning.

On July 2017, I started my new career as the Office Manager at Johnson & Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning. Though, I have only been with Johnson & Johnson a few months, they have given me the opportunity to further my education. I am now certified as a Management Consultant. I am extremely grateful for the help from WIOA and Johnson and Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning, as they have provided me the tools to pursue a career I am passionate about. It feels great to be a part of such an amazing company. Talking to the customers daily and assisting them with their needs is a wonderful feeling. A feeling I was longing to have back. The staff is amazing to work with and they are very passionate about the company. I am excited to see where this company will take me and they opportunities that lie ahead!

Corey Gano, a twenty-six-year-old father of three, worked as a fork lift operator from the time he was eighteen until he was laid off in October 2015.  Unable to find work and with his UI benefits almost exhausted, he came to the WIOA offices for the first time in March 2016.  He felt that getting his Class A CDL license would increase his marketability as he sought full-time, permanent employment at a living wage for his family of five.  With three children under seven, his dream included finding a local job where he would be home every night.  On December 23, 2016, Corey Gano received his Class A CDL license.  One month later, on January 25, 2017, he was hired as a truck driver for Grant County Mulch, a local company, and is still employed there.

Originally from Maryland, Darlene Taylor worked as an office assistant and a housecleaner before relocating to West Virginia in 2008.  She was working part-time on an “as needed” basis as a Relief Postmaster when she was laid off in July 2015.  She spent the next year searching (fruitlessly) for employment, her situation complicated by the twin barriers of living in a very rural part of Hampshire County and being a mature job seeker.  By the summer of 2016, Darlene had exhausted UI benefits and was long term unemployed.  She had an interest in the medical field, specifically in working as a care giver, and felt that the Certified Nursing Assistant program at Eastern WV CTC would be a good fit.  Ms. Taylor started her training in October 2016 and completed six weeks later in November.  She was delayed in taking her certification exam until January 2017 due to personal issues, but she passed and accepted a job at E.A. Hawse Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in February.  Darlene worked there through June, but left to take a position with Home Instead, a company that specializes in in-home care to elderly and disabled individuals.  She remains employed by Home Instead and finds it very rewarding.

Clinton Vandevander’s work history is nothing if not varied.  In the past twenty years he has worked as a laborer, accounting clerk, forklift operator, scale operator, process technician and even as a customer service rep at a local bank.  From October of 2014 until July 2017, Clinton worked for a manufacturer in Winchester, VA, traveling 120 miles each day to earn $16 an hour.  The lengthy commute took a toll and he resigned and took a job at Allegheny Dimensions to be closer to home albeit at a greatly reduced rate of pay.  Unfortunately, this job was not a good “fit” and after only two months he was laid off.  Clinton felt that getting his Class A CDL license would open opportunities for him.  At that time the closest training provider was Garrett College in Grantsville, MD.  Clinton traveled approximately 150 miles a day, four days a week, for seven and one-half weeks to access training.  On November 7, 2017 he received his Class A CDL license.  On December 18, 2017 Clinton Vandevander was hired as a truck driver at the Pilgrim’s Pride Hatchery in Moorefield, WV (less than fifteen minutes from his home!) and is still employed there.

My name is Lee Manning and I am 45 years old. I was referred to WIOA from Workforce WV. After learning how WIOA could help me, I immediately reached out to All-State Career Center for information about the classes.

“Thanks to WIOA and All-State, I was able to obtain my CDL Class “A” and gained employment with DOT Foods right after I completed my training. I have now driven over 50,000 miles (accident free) and with all this experience I would like to gain employment locally and spend some more time at home.”

Shawn Feaster came to the WIOA office within three months of his most recent layoff in January 2017.  At that time he had been working as a maintenance technician for a manufacturing plant.  Three years earlier he had been laid off from a similar position.  Before that, Shawn had a three-year stint with the local laborers’ union. All of these jobs paid from $17 to $19 an hour and Shawn was looking for secure work with similar earnings.  Truck driving was a field he felt would meet his income requirements and suit his personality as he enjoyed working alone and being outside.  He was open to the idea of being an over-the-road driver if need be, but hoped he could find work relatively close to his home in Keyser, WV. Shawn chose to attend Garrett College and got his Class A CDL license on June 13, 2017.  He was hired as a truck driver by Dot Foods in August 2017, driving a regional route, and is still employed by them.

No stranger to hard work, Tyler Riggleman was working before he graduated high school, first in the poultry industry and after that as a laborer on a local farm.  In May 2016 he took a better-paying job with Nelson Tree Service, Inc. and worked as a trimmer and equipment operator.  Unfortunately, he was laid off at the end of 2016. As a new father, Tyler very much wanted a permanent job with decent pay and benefits where he would be home every night.  He felt that he would be much more marketable with a Class A CDL license and sought our assistance with funding.  He started training at Eastern WV CTC in February 2017 and received his Class A CDL license on March 9, 2017.  Tyler Riggleman was hired as a Multi-Axle Dump Truck Driver by W-L Construction and Paving, Inc. with a start date of April 4, 2017 and continues to be employed by them.

Corey, a 17-year-old high school senior, was referred to the WIOA Youth Services program by Principal Strawderman of East Hardy High School in Baker, WV.

Enrolled into our program in January 2017, Corey earned his high school diploma in May of the same year. Through the program, Corey benefited from hands on work experience at the school as well as grade and attendance related incentives.

He has since enrolled in college where he is looking forward to a career in baseball. Corey is currently attending Ohio Valley University.

“My name is Corey Michael McDonald. I attended East Hardy High School from August 2014 to May 2017. During my senior year of high school I experienced a lot of family troubles where I moved in with my grandmother. I was informed about the Workforce West Virginia, Youth Services Program by my principal Mrs. Jennifer Strawderman. While being a part of this program I experienced many benefits. I was able to use the money for things, such as, paying for my ACT/SAT test, college applications, and the ability to have extra money that I am now using when I travel across the country playing baseball for Ohio Valley University. Without this program it would’ve made it extremely difficult for me to pay for the things I need to get to college, which makes me extremely grateful for the youth program.”

Benjamin was referred to WIOA Youth Services by Hampshire County Adult Education Instructor Sherri McCrory.

Ben was enrolled into our program on November 14, 2017 and earned his high school equivalency diploma on December 5, 2017. Ben was accepted into Potomac State College of West Virginia University on January 18, 2018.

“I have enjoyed working with Dreama Kelly through West Virginia Workforce program. Dreama’s support, guidance, and down to earth nature make her very easy to work with. The program’s incentives have been a great motivation for me. The funds I have received will greatly help with my upcoming college expenses and strive for a successful future.”

Megan, a 19-year-old high school dropout, was referred to WIOA Youth Services by Grant County Adult Education Program instructor Amanda Barger

Megan was enrolled in our program on September 16, 2015 and earned her high school equivalency diploma on October 25, 2017. Although Megan took the long way around, once she attained her HSE Diploma, she took charge of her future and decided to pursue a career in the healthcare field. She was employed by the Potomac Highlands Guild as a Direct Care Professional.

“The program has kept me motivated to be looking at my future and what I can and have become. Because of the program, I am now a Direct Care Professional and looking forward to try college in the near future.”