A manufacturer, a technology training partnership and four individual North Carolinians have won the Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland announced today. The recipients received awards earlier this month during a ceremony held in Greensboro as part of the annual NCWorks Partnership Conference.
“As Governor Cooper has emphasized in his ‘NC Job Ready’ workforce initiative, our state needs leaders who collaborate to help workers and businesses succeed,” Secretary Copeland said. “I congratulate this year’s NCWorks award recipients, who represent the very best of our state's efforts, and I thank them for their dedication to training and connecting talent to the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
The Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction honor outstanding examples from the state’s workforce development system. The NCWorks Commission, appointed by the Governor and operating as the state’s official workforce development board, recognized these outstanding individuals and businesses at the 2018 NCWorks Partnership Conference. The annual conference, organized by the N.C. Department of Commerce, brought together more than 1,000 workforce development professionals from across the state.
NCWorks Awards were presented to the following recipients:
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Allen Shellenbarger of Charlotte: Outstanding Adult. Shellenbarger overcame physical disabilities resulting from a massive stroke to complete a degree in Exercise Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2017, with assistance from the N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services. VR staff helped Shellenbarger with specialized transportation, assistive technology and living supports. The staff also arranged an On-the-Job Training opportunity for him at the Keith Family YMCA as a personal trainer. Shellenbarger has persevered through numerous obstacles, earning several career-related certifications along with the respect of peers, professors, clients and coworkers.
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Lamonty Bullock of Fayetteville: Outstanding Young Adult. Bullock was 18 years old, had recently exited the foster care system and was homeless when he first visited the NCWorks Career Center in Cumberland County. He wanted help becoming a certified substance abuse counselor and particularly wanted to work with teens and young adults. With a positive attitude and determination, Bullock has completed the first part of his substance abuse counselor training at Fayetteville Technical Community College with support from the NCWorks NextGen program. Meanwhile, he has participated in an internship with Fayetteville Urban Ministry as an emergency assistance aide.
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Khamiah Alderman of Charlotte: Outstanding Teen. A student at Vance High School in Charlotte, Alderman has excelled in an internship opportunity with Carolinas Healthcare System through MeckEd’s Career Pathways program. Through this program, she has received invaluable knowledge and experience as she prepares for a future medical career. Teachers and fellow students alike are inspired by her grit, dedication to academic excellence, and involvement in her school and community.
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Patricia Chandler of Raleigh: Wayne Daves Award for Outstanding Achievement in Workforce Development. Chandler serves as a senior employment counselor for Wake County Human Services, where she helps participants in the Work First program enroll in the NCWorks system and obtain jobs. In collaboration with community partners, she has organized monthly hiring events to connect her clients to employers. At the first such hiring event, 25 participants obtained jobs. Chandler has been recognized for her dedication to customer service, continuous improvement and communication.
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BSH Home Appliances Corporation of New Bern: Outstanding Employer. BSH, which manufactures and distributes home and kitchen appliances, is active in a variety of efforts to build a strong talent pipeline in partnership with the community. The company has partnered with Craven County Schools on the county’s first advanced manufacturing/mechatronics program at the high school level, hosted teachers through externships and shadowing experiences, collaborated with Craven Community College on apprenticeships, worked with Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board on an Advanced Manufacturing Certified Career Pathway, and financially supported other local STEM education programs.
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IT-Ready Charlotte: Innovative Partnership. IT-Ready is a national not-for-profit program developed and administered by Creating IT Futures, a workforce charity founded by the trade association CompTIA. In partnership with Charlotte Works, IT-Ready is being offered in Charlotte with funding from TEKsystems, a tech staffing firm, and grant support from Google to Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. IT-Ready Charlotte offers short-term technology career training and certification testing to adults, completely free of charge. The program targets unemployed and under-employed workers, as well as veterans, ethnic minorities and women. All the graduates of the pilot class held in Charlotte received job offers from local businesses.