Our Successes

Career Specialist Jorrell Bonner reports on his customer, “David and his family recently moved from Canada to Ashley, Illinois, to run a farm. Since he was homeschooled in another country, his education was not recognized by the United States. David still needed a high school diploma, and was able to start and complete his GED online through Rend Lake College at no cost. He even received financial incentives from Man-Tra-Con every time he went to class or passed an exam,” Jorrell explains.

Career Specialist Jo Dene Kern reports on her customer. “Aubree came to Man-Tra-Con for assistance in August 2020. After dropping out of high school, she had been working full-time as a waitress for a pizza restaurant. She had also been working as a volunteer for the GED Literacy Program at JALC, tutoring students. Aubree was enrolled in the GED program at John A. Logan College (JALC), but needed assistance with reaching her dream career goal—employment in healthcare,” Jo Dene explains.

​Career Specialist Shaun Drue reports on her customer. “When I first met with Johnnie in January 2021, he had been “laid off” from M-Class Mining, LLC, for more than a year. Johnnie had been working on a plan to support himself and his daughter, but was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which slowed his progress. He came to Man-Tra-Con seeking truck driver training assistance, with a goal to eventually work for Coca Cola Bottling Company,” Shaun explains.

Career Specialist Amy Blocker reports on her customer. “In November 2018, Caroline came to us as a single mother of 2 children. She did not have the skills to obtain a self-sufficient job, she needed training to obtain full-time employment. Caroline was WIOA eligible for training assistance to attend the Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Certification Program at John A. Logan College (JALC). WIOA funds helped Caroline pay for tuition, books, supplies, child care costs, plus provided reimbursement for her mileage, traveling to and from classes,” Amy explains. 

Career Specialist Jo Dene Kern reports on her customer. “When I met Faith in September 2020, I learned that she had dropped out of high school during her sophomore year because of a learning disability. Faith had very little work experience. She had been employed for 10 hours per week at a dog breeding facility, working for less than minimum wage,” Jo Dene explains.

Career Specialist Michelle Sanchez reports on her customer. “When we met in February 2019, Joanna, a single parent of two children, had been unemployed for nearly three months and was receiving SNAP benefits from the Department of Human Services.

Career Specialist Michelle Sanchez reports on her customer. “When Lindsey and I met in August 2017, she was had been working for Marshall Browning Hospital as a Certified Nurse Assistant (C.N.A) for nearly a year. She loved her job and her employer, but was unable to support herself at her hourly wage.

Career Specialist Michelle Sanchez reports on her customer. “In August 2017, Makala was eligible for WIOA services as a low-income adult when she visited Man-Tra-Con for assistance. She had been working part-time as a Certified Nurse Assistant and was not earning enough to support herself,” Michelle explains.

​Michelle Sanchez reports on her customer. “In April 2018, Elizabeth came to Man-Tra-Con seeking training assistance. Working 30 hours per week and in school full-time, Elizabeth was unable to support herself with her current income,” Michelle reports.

Adult/Dislocated Worker Program Coordinator Leigh Caldwell-Dunning reports on her customer. “When I first met with William in February 2019, he had a 6-month gap in his work history, and had been fired from his first job. He was basic skills deficient and had a vision-related disability. In addition, William had little training and lacked the soft skills needed to succeed in a job,” Leigh explains.