Success Corner – Acadiana Workforce Solutions

Cierra Matthews was a participant in Acadiana Workforce Solutions Summer Youth Academy as a Senior at New Iberia Senior Hiigh School in the summer of 2023. Cierra was in need of additional work experience skills and college prep assistance. She was able to gain the experience and knowledge she needed by participating in WIOA Work Experience (WEX) Program, which is a part of the Summer Youth Academy. She received leadership development skills, financial literacy skills, entrepreneurship exposure, basic skills remediation and post-secondary exploration.
Upon entering the WEX Program Cierra had been accepted to attend Grambling State University, the WEX program assisted Cierra with increasing her Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) scores to become Basic Skills Sufficient. She was also recently accepted into the Honors Program at Grambling State University and was selected to present at Grambling State University's Financial Literacy Summit. She is a double major in Psychology and Sociology. As a result of entrepreneurship exposure during the Summer Youth Academy, Cierra has decided to start her own small bakery service business called Ciess Cookies and Sweets, llc.
The support and guidance Cierra received from the Summer Youth Academy enabled her to achieve a high level of self-efficiency and advance not only academically, but also to become a small business owner.

Philemon Torres visited the St Mary- Morgan City American Job Center for assistance with how to obtain self-sufficient employment in a career pathway that fit his aptitudes. Philemon met with youth career coach, Andrea DeVore, in July of 2023. After his interview with his career coach he completed HiRE assessments that indicated the he would be a great fit for CNC Machinist Career. The youth career coach was able to assist him in participating in the H & B Grant that South Louisiana Community College- Morgan City had available to pay for the training. During the training, Philemon showed up to class at least an hour early every day. He utilized this time to study and practice his skills. As a result, Philemon was at the top of his class and even finished his projects early. He kept in contact every Monday with the Morgan City career coach and shared his experiences and projects from the previous week. Philemon even contacted APEX CNC and asked to job-shadow on his holiday break (just so he could see how the shop worked) for three days. With the help of the Business Services Representative Philemon was able to gain employment with APEX CNC, LLC by participating in the On-The -Job training program with WIOA. Philemon Started his OJT on 01/17/2024. His job with APEX CNC included hourly pay, health insurance and PTO to start with. Philemon is grateful for the on-the-job training and his first job. His goal now is to save up for a car and be able to rent his own apartment.

Gerard Lorden was an unemployed Veteran when he visited the Acadia Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions American Job Center in September of 2023. He was an unemployed Veteran and was seeking employment in a growing profession. He expressed interest in Non Destruction Testing (NDT) as a career. He received basic and individualized career services, LMI exploration, career guidance, occupational skills training, tuition assistance, resume assistance and interview preparation. He attended occupational skills training in order to obtain employment. He is now employed as an NDT Technician.

Seth Torkowski visited St. Martin Acadiana Workforce Solutions American Job Center in July of 2023. He was exploring a career in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). He received labor market information, career exploration and guidance, tuition assistance and job search assistance from staff. Mr. Torkowski was able to enroll in NDT training and was able to find employment at Bayou Testing as an assistant while in training. After completing his NDT training he was able to work 80 plus hours per week and earn $18/hour.

In June of 2023 Robert Davis visited the Acadia Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions, American Job Center. He was in need of assistance with obtaining self-sufficient employment in a career pathway that matched his aptitudes. Mr. Davis received Basic and Individualized Career Service, LMI Exploration, Occupational Training Tuition Assistance and Supportive Services. He was able to successfully complete Fiber Optic training at South Louisiana Community College which opened the door for him to enter into employment with Acadia Parish American Job Center.

John Kennedy walked into the St. Martin Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions, American Job Center in June of 2023 searching for a new career that would enable him to support his family. At the time he was a self-employed commercial fisherman whose income was affected by inflation. He completed the Machine Tool course at South Louisiana Community College. Shortly after graduating, he received employment with the first company he applied to, Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette, LLC, and currently he is still employed there and earning self-sufficient wages, allowing him to provide for himself and his family.

We would like to introduce you to Austin Theriot. Austin visited the St. Martin Parish, Acadiana Workforce Solutions, American Job Center in August of 2019 for assistance with paying for Aviation Technician Training. Austin received maximum allowable funding for a Tech grant but required further assistance. He received a career match, labor market information, tuition assistance and support from his career coach to obtain his certification and license to become an Aviation Mechanic.

Theriot started Aviation Training in the Fall of 2019. Although he was eligible as an Adult in the Spring of 2020, due to the Pandemic he had to adjust to virtual on-line classes for his second semester, and his six-semester training was extended to eight semesters due to the Pandemic and the lack of teaching staff. He completed his training in May 2022.

He then began the process of becoming certified through the US Department of Transportation. It consisted of four parts with the last segment location in Texas. This process took over a year to complete and Theriot was required to pass four certification tests to achieve his final certification. Theriot maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout the three years he was in school.

Theriot received his final certification for aviation maintenance technician, A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) license on September 18, 2023. At the age of 23 he will begin a new job at Arrow Aviation on Monday October 9^th. He feels that he was able to achieve one of his life goals with the assistance he received by visiting the St. Martin Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions Career Center.