One-Stop Career Centers add to local workforce

WIB recognizes 28 who completed training, work toward brighter future

EATONTOWN, NJ – Twenty-eight Monmouth County One-Stop Career Center alumni were recognized at a luncheon ceremony held at the Sheraton on Oct. 2.

Each alumnus achieved a training or educational goal that has led to his or her successful entry or re-entry into the workforce. Among the new career paths of the 2014 alumni are pharmacy technician, dental assistant, job placement assistant, medical assistant, property manager, administrative assistant, building maintenance technician, library assistant and truck driver.

“You should all be very proud of yourselves,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr., who addressed the honorees at the awards luncheon. “Each of you worked really hard to make changes in your lives and because of your determination, coupled with the support you found at the One Stop Career Center, we are now looking at 28 success stories.”

A number of students told their personal stories and expressed their gratitude for the assistance they received at a One-Stop Center. Several students highlighted the accomplishments and challenges of overcoming personal issues on the way to finding new careers.

The One-Stop system is a working partnership of every publicly funded state and local agency in Monmouth County that supports employment and training.

The graduates were congratulated by their friends and family as well as members of the Monmouth County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the County’s Division of Employment and Training staff and other community partners.

“The centerpieces of the system are the two comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers,” said John Gagliano, Chairman of the WIB. “The One-Stop centers help unemployed and underemployed individuals improve their marketability through employment counseling, skill and experience assessment and literacy and vocational training.”

The County’s One-Stop Career Centers are located in Eatontown at 145 Wyckoff Rd., Suite 201 and in Neptune at 60 Taylor Ave. The main telephone number for the County’s Division of Employment and Training is 732-683-8850.

Donations from County businesses and services help make the recognition event possible. Silver Sponsors were: Jersey Central Power & Light and New Jersey Natural Gas; Bronze Sponsors were AcuteCare Health System, BoothJL & Associates, LLC and McLoone’s Restaurants.

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*List of honorees attached.

2014 One Stop Alumni are:

Bernadette Bennett – Red Bank

Wade Cahoon – Howell

Chad Calleja – Morganville

Marcelo Davila – Middletown

Henrietta Dawson – Neptune

Jackie Dellisanti – Neptune

Denise Dudley – Asbury Park

Thomond Hammary – Asbury Park

Jeramie Harris – Asbury Park

Dane Hodge – Long Branch

Timothy Holman – Asbury Park

Darrin Islam – Asbury Park

Laura Kuras – Fair Haven

Tapestry Lattimer – Freehold

Erin Mattson – Howell

George McDonald – Red Bank

Elaine Melone – Oceanport

Daniel Melvin – Red Bank

Kristina Pascucci – Keansburg

Denise Presti – Shrewsbury

Maria Rodrigues – Howell

Charles Seward – Freehold

Alicia Stevenson – Freehold

Ashley Storm – Lakewood

Steven Valenti – Asbury Park

Jesse Wheeler – Long Branch

Robert Williams – Asbury Park

Terry Wilson – Asbury Park