Christopher faced many barriers to employment and had been unable to secure a job since he worked constructed in 2008. He moved back to the Superior area from Florida to be near his child and met with a Northwest Wisconsin CEP Workforce System Specialist in June 2016. Christopher was anxious to move forward with his life and be a “productive member of society”. After many conversations and considering all of his options, he decided that truck driving was a career he would be able to do and would also enjoy. Christopher was enrolled in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA’s) Adult Program. The Workforce System Specialist guided him through the permit process, reciprocity, and the benefits of being a non-traditional student. Since the training was not located on the bus route and his vehicle was undependable, he was also connected with a fellow student for transportation assistance to and from class.
According to Lake Superior College’s website, the next available training was not until November 2016. Christopher’s Workforce System Specialist contacted the instructor and was able to secure him a spot in the August class. He successfully completed the truck driving training and passed of the driving tests at the end of September. In October, he started his career as a truck driver with a full time driving position with Jeff Foster Trucking. Christopher told his Workforce System Specialist he is very grateful for WIOA and CEP’s assistance and said, “We turned his life around!”
