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The following customers have granted permission for their stories to
be shared on our website.
be shared on our website.
At seventeen years old, in September of 1959, Robert B.
Ellison, III joined the United States Navy and worked as an
aircraft engine mechanic at sea on a "Kiddie Cruise". Due to
the Cuban Crisis, his time in service was extended. Robert
transferred to the United States Naval Reserve on December
3, 1962 and served until September 1965 in Long Beach,
California.
Feeling very fortunate for his past employment opportunities,
Robert realized he needed further education to advance
himself. He attained his General Education Diploma (GED)
at 30 years of age. His success at all of his prior positions
was based solely upon his determination and on-the-job
training. He reached management level positions through his
self-motivation and strong work ethic. Robert started his own
construction company in Smyrna, Georgia in 1992. Due to
economic difficulties, Robert sold his home and moved from
the city to the mountains of Toccoa, Georgia.
Robert obtained employment at Coats America as a
carpenter. Being notified that the plant would be closing, he
applied for WIA assistance in August 2003 after learning
about the program through the Georgia Department of Labor
Career Center in Toccoa. Robert was interested in attending
North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville in the Air
Conditioning Technology Advanced diploma program. After
overcoming his anxiety about returning to school, Robert
began at North Georgia Technical College in October 2003.
He enjoyed his experience in the WIA program and
graduated on March 22, 2005 with a 3.0 grade point average.
Robert is currently pursuing employment with a major
company in the Georgia Mountains area and is excited about
his future.
Ellison, III joined the United States Navy and worked as an
aircraft engine mechanic at sea on a "Kiddie Cruise". Due to
the Cuban Crisis, his time in service was extended. Robert
transferred to the United States Naval Reserve on December
3, 1962 and served until September 1965 in Long Beach,
California.
Feeling very fortunate for his past employment opportunities,
Robert realized he needed further education to advance
himself. He attained his General Education Diploma (GED)
at 30 years of age. His success at all of his prior positions
was based solely upon his determination and on-the-job
training. He reached management level positions through his
self-motivation and strong work ethic. Robert started his own
construction company in Smyrna, Georgia in 1992. Due to
economic difficulties, Robert sold his home and moved from
the city to the mountains of Toccoa, Georgia.
Robert obtained employment at Coats America as a
carpenter. Being notified that the plant would be closing, he
applied for WIA assistance in August 2003 after learning
about the program through the Georgia Department of Labor
Career Center in Toccoa. Robert was interested in attending
North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville in the Air
Conditioning Technology Advanced diploma program. After
overcoming his anxiety about returning to school, Robert
began at North Georgia Technical College in October 2003.
He enjoyed his experience in the WIA program and
graduated on March 22, 2005 with a 3.0 grade point average.
Robert is currently pursuing employment with a major
company in the Georgia Mountains area and is excited about
his future.
I’ve been down a tough road but with the help of the
Department of Labor staff in the Georgia Mountains area, I
have been able to complete a degree in Business Office
Technology.
At the age of 49 with almost 18 years of service in a company
that I felt would be my place of retirement, I was hit hard by
the “closure” announcement. What was I going to do? I had
worked very hard to advance in positions at the company. I
had worked in manufacturing, inventory control, warehousing
and finally to the Quality Control office. Though I had worked
years in the office and did my job very well, I couldn’t
progress in pay because I did not possess the proper
training. I laughed at the thought of going back to school at
my age and thought I would have to start over on something
else.
One day, Irene Harrison from the Workforce Investment office
in Gainesville and Lee Stockton from the Toccoa Career
Center came to our company to inform the employees of the
services available through the Georgia Department of Labor.
It sounded great but I felt that the young kids in college would
laugh me out of school. I also felt as though I wouldn’t be
able to keep up with the work; I graduated in 1971. Oh well, I
thought, I’ll try but I probably won’t complete.
Well, I tried it and with the help of the Career Center staff and
the Workforce Investment Area staff, it was not as confusing
as I had anticipated. Any issue, question or concern that I
expressed, this group of individuals came up with an answer
and helped me make it work.
I was assigned an advisor at school and a case manager at
the Workforce Investment Area office. Ms. Diane Jackson
from the Workforce Investment office helped me a
tremendous amount. She answered my questions and kept
me informed on anything I needed to complete to continue my
benefits. I received my paperwork promptly and she would
contact me on a regular basis about any issues that I had
discussed.
Lee Stockton from the Toccoa Career Center also spent a lot
of her time helping me. She would explain anything I didn’t
understand and she kept me informed on everything I needed
to do, who I needed to contact and just any dumb question I
had. If Lee didn’t know the answer, you better believe that
she would get back to you with an answer. That’s customer
service!
Thanks to these people who gave the little push, said “you
can do it”, and took the time to make me feel comfortable with
this decision. It was hard and I did get discouraged at times,
but I hung in there and I DID IT! I even made the Honor
Society.
You have helped me get a job that I really enjoy. I am
working for a CPA in Clarkesville, Georgia. I love my job and
the people I work with are super.
At 50 years of age, I have completed my degree and best of
all, my grand-daughters got to watch their “Nanny” march
September 21, 2004.
Sincerely,
Diane Whitfield
Toccoa, Georgia
Department of Labor staff in the Georgia Mountains area, I
have been able to complete a degree in Business Office
Technology.
At the age of 49 with almost 18 years of service in a company
that I felt would be my place of retirement, I was hit hard by
the “closure” announcement. What was I going to do? I had
worked very hard to advance in positions at the company. I
had worked in manufacturing, inventory control, warehousing
and finally to the Quality Control office. Though I had worked
years in the office and did my job very well, I couldn’t
progress in pay because I did not possess the proper
training. I laughed at the thought of going back to school at
my age and thought I would have to start over on something
else.
One day, Irene Harrison from the Workforce Investment office
in Gainesville and Lee Stockton from the Toccoa Career
Center came to our company to inform the employees of the
services available through the Georgia Department of Labor.
It sounded great but I felt that the young kids in college would
laugh me out of school. I also felt as though I wouldn’t be
able to keep up with the work; I graduated in 1971. Oh well, I
thought, I’ll try but I probably won’t complete.
Well, I tried it and with the help of the Career Center staff and
the Workforce Investment Area staff, it was not as confusing
as I had anticipated. Any issue, question or concern that I
expressed, this group of individuals came up with an answer
and helped me make it work.
I was assigned an advisor at school and a case manager at
the Workforce Investment Area office. Ms. Diane Jackson
from the Workforce Investment office helped me a
tremendous amount. She answered my questions and kept
me informed on anything I needed to complete to continue my
benefits. I received my paperwork promptly and she would
contact me on a regular basis about any issues that I had
discussed.
Lee Stockton from the Toccoa Career Center also spent a lot
of her time helping me. She would explain anything I didn’t
understand and she kept me informed on everything I needed
to do, who I needed to contact and just any dumb question I
had. If Lee didn’t know the answer, you better believe that
she would get back to you with an answer. That’s customer
service!
Thanks to these people who gave the little push, said “you
can do it”, and took the time to make me feel comfortable with
this decision. It was hard and I did get discouraged at times,
but I hung in there and I DID IT! I even made the Honor
Society.
You have helped me get a job that I really enjoy. I am
working for a CPA in Clarkesville, Georgia. I love my job and
the people I work with are super.
At 50 years of age, I have completed my degree and best of
all, my grand-daughters got to watch their “Nanny” march
September 21, 2004.
Sincerely,
Diane Whitfield
Toccoa, Georgia
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