Upskilling with National Able Network Leads to Career Growth!

A true Chicagoan through and through, Thersa Price, began her career as a Customer Sales Support Representative at a technology and intelligent experience organization. Armed with her curiosity to understand, passion for process, and her Communications Degree from DePaul University – she quickly rose through the organization to become a Business Analyst and Business Service Manager. Her career continued to grow and flourish over the years! Theresa blossomed into a thriving Business Process Consultant. She found her niche within implementation services, where she helped clients address common pain points and organizational challenges to streamline solutions and write processes using client stories, scrum (a project management framework), and more. Although successful, circumstances changed, and Theresa was laid off. However, not one to be deterred by the unexpected, Theresa quickly opened her own agency focusing on communications and connected with National Able Network to continue on her career pathway.  

As Theresa became a National Able Network client, and worked with her career coach, Stephanie Levine, she was determined to add more tools to her toolkit through training and upskilling opportunities. Stephanie says, “Theresa received a voucher to attend Project Management Professional certification (PMP) training in order to build up her skill level and credentials.” Always passionate for organizational change management and process design, Theresa enrolled in courses allowing her to pursue the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, Information Technology Infrastructure Library certification (ITIL) V4, the Project Management Professional certification, and even Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint training – all providing value to Theresa’s already extensive resume and experience.  

Just as she began her courses, Theresa also found full-time employment! In this position, she would be able to work on both business processes and organizational change management.  However, with a fully packed schedule, Theresa faced a few challenges – especially as a self-proclaimed die-hard Chicago teams sports fan. But just like the teams she supports, she put in the time and the hard work to succeed! Theresa says, “You have to be dedicated to yourself. When you complete a course, and how accomplished you feel afterward – it makes the discipline and the challenge worth it.”  

Looking back on her experience as a National Able Network client, Theresa takes a moment to reflect on her personal growth journey from being laid off to getting right back in the game – with more tools, more experience, and more confidence. She says, “I’ve received a lot of support, especially just hearing how impressed people have been. It’s very boosting to one’s self-esteem, which is especially important in job search when you may be facing rejection after rejection – hearing “I’m impressed” or “I’m so proud of you” when just taking the training – it was very helpful and beneficial.”  

Congratulations, Theresa!