When Brasen Whitaker was preparing for his senior year of high school in 2023, he wasn’t looking for just any summer job. He wanted to gain experience in a field that truly sparked his interest, and thanks to the services offered at his local Kentucky Career Center JobSight, he found himself not just earning a paycheck but getting a firsthand look at careers in the pharmacy field.

The Eastern Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (EKWIB) elected new leadership during its regular meeting on March 13 as Keith Gabbard was selected to chair Eastern Kentucky’s workforce board for a two-year term.

Scott Castle's journey from addiction to career is a testament to the power of second chances and the transformative impact of collaborative programs like SITE and drug court, and now he’s using that experience to provide support for others battling the same issues he faced just a few years ago.

At a point in Amber Steele’s professional life when she was immersed in the fast-food industry, she found that her interests were steering her toward a different career path.

Tony Hodgkins was at a crossroads in his professional life when he found himself unemployed and looking for his next job. He had tried his hand at auto sales, but when it didn’t work out, he decided to look into something that suited him better, namely a career in the transportation industry.  

With a focus on helping businesses meet staffing needs, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program’s (EKCEP) Business Services division was the perfect place for management at Colonial Claims to turn to help them recruit new work-from-home claims examiners.

Karl Creech was looking for a new job in 2023 when he contacted Harlan County Community Action Agency for assistance in his job search. As a partner in the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network, Harlan CAA provides services to job seekers to help them get to work, and it didn’t take long before he realized the staff there would be able to help him, too.

Just a few years ago, when he was 18 and a recent graduate from Buckhorn High School in Perry County, Dylon Baker hadn’t yet mapped out his career path. 

Embarking on a career change can be hard, but for individuals like Elon Corliss, the career services at Northeast Kentucky Career Center JobSight have been a lifeline to help him take the next step. His journey began with a connection from his former teacher at West Carter Middle School named Amy Greene who recognized his potential and encouraged him to explore what opportunities might be available.

Before he turned to the employment services available at his local Kentucky Career Center JobSight, Shawn Hanshaw was working as a custodian within the local school system. Despite his dedication to the job, it wasn’t the career that he wanted. He knew that looking for work elsewhere could not only fulfill his career aspirations but also improve his financial situation.  

Before Latasha Kidd landed a job as a certified nurse aide (CNA) at The Jordan Center in Louisa, Ky., she had spent three years working at the Elliott County Public Library. Little did she know, life had a different path for her that would lead her to rediscover her passion for healthcare. 

Like nearly every other medical facility throughout the nation, The Jordan Center in Louisa, Ky., wasn’t spared from staffing issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. But a pilot training program implemented at the nursing home in early 2023 that combines training and workforce support could help fill gaps in staffing while providing opportunities to an otherwise untapped workforce in the medical field—individuals in recovery.

Bradley Smith first came to the Kentucky Career Center JobSight in Clay County after he was laid off from a factory job. He was looking to take a turn in his career path and go into something in the medical field, and with assistance from JobSight it didn’t take long before his search helped him land the job he was looking for.

Kaitlynn Napier knew after graduating from high school that she wanted to go into healthcare. To her it was her only option, and she accomplished that goal quickly with assistance from the Kentucky Career Center JobSight in Clay County.

Working as an attorney can be a rewarding career. Just ask Bell County Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Ollis Burnett, who as a high school student working a summer job in 2015 saw first-hand how attorneys can have positive impacts on the lives of others. It was one of the reasons, he said, that he decided to pursue a career in the legal field. 

Jacob Barnard always had an interest in aviation, but he wasn’t sure it was the right career for him. That changed in the summer of 2022 when he entered a work experience program at a nearby airport.

Lindsey Spurlock had just completed school at Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC), where she earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education in winter 2021. She wasn’t having luck finding a job in her chosen field, so when she found out about the career services offered through the Northeast Kentucky Career Center JobSight in her native Carter County, it seemed like a good fit to provide an assist in her job search.

Larry Ramsey moved to Indiana right out of high school, but in just a year found himself back in the mountains to jumpstart his career with the help of the Daniel Boone Kentucky Career Center JobSight in his native Jackson County.

Elyjah Lay didn’t want to wait until he was done with school to get into the workforce and land his first job. He took care of that goal before his senior year of high school, thanks to assistance he received at the Kentucky Career Center JobSight in Knox County.