After nearly three decades in coaching, Jeremy Wise was looking for a career change. While navigating unemployment, he was searching for a fresh start and a path back to work.
That search led Jeremy to the Goodwill Opportunity Center in Corbin, where in 2025 he first inquired about the steps needed to transition into a new industry. Through that initial connection, he learned about both the Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE) and a new turf management training opportunity that would open the door to a new path.
Administered by EKCEP, SITE helps individuals in recovery overcome barriers to employment through hands-on training, work experience, and supportive services. In Jeremy’s case, that support began with a referral from Goodwill and continued through a network of regional partners working together to connect him with the kind of local opportunity he had been hoping to find.
“I was looking to do a career change and I was looking for some opportunities that were in the area,” Wise said.
Jeremy enrolled in SITE and began working with Rusty Siler, a SITE support specialist at KCEOC Community Action. Through that partnership, he received the support he needed to begin transitioning into a field that was completely new to him, including covering the cost of his training and assistance with the gear required for outdoor work.
Jeremy signed up for the turf management cohort developed by Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in partnership with EKCEP. His hands-on training took place at Indian Springs Golf Course in Knox County, where he began learning the day-to-day work of course maintenance and management.
“We went out and learned how to mow, how to do tee boxes, how to cut, how to trim, how to bush hog,” Wise recalled. “We eliminated some trees, just did some course management out there. It was whatever was kind of needed that week.”
In addition to the practical training, the program also introduced Jeremy to more specialized opportunities within the field. He began the process of working toward a sprayer certification, which could help prepare him for more advanced golf course maintenance work in the future.
Jeremy’s initiative, combined with the support and training he received, soon led to full-time employment. Today, he works at The Oaks of London Golf & Country Club in Laurel County, where he assists with daily operations and works in the pro shop.
Reflecting on the move to a new line of work, Wise credits the support he received through the SITE partnership for helping make the transition possible.
“They were very helpful as far as showing you what you need to do, starting out slow and then letting you get hands-on,” he said. “It made the transition very smooth.”
For Wise, the experience was about more than finding a job. It was about being supported by a network of partners working together to help him make a successful transition into new employment.
“I really appreciate the partnership with EKCEP and the partners that work together to get people out on the course, get them doing something,” Wise said. “They did good with Southeast Community College, putting together a program to make sure that people come out there and learn and at least had some goals throughout the program that would help them out.”
Since 2019, EKCEP’s Recovery & Reentry services have helped hundreds of Kentuckians take meaningful steps toward employment, stability, and a new beginning. If you or someone you know is in recovery and could benefit from these services, contact a support specialist to get started. Learn more at ekcep.org/recovery.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network. Learn more at ekcep.org.
The Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE) is funded in part by the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort (KORE) through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Kentucky Office for Drug Control Policy.