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Jasmine Tutson is a go getter. By the age of 24, Jasmin worked in a variety of roles including Certified Nursing Assistant, Electrocardiogram technician, and phlebotomist – just to name a few. Her thirst for life experience, growth, and knowledge…

Q: Why is important to celebrate and highlight the workforce development industry?  A. It’s important that we showcase the careers in our communities! Monthly and weekly celebrations like National Apprenticeship week, and especially Workforce Development Month which just occurred in…

Kym Simmons worked in the banking industry for most of her career, however her dreams and aspirations changed in March 2023. It was during this time that Kym decided to pursue a career outside of the corporate world, so she…

Angel Cintron is a 48-year-old Chicago native who has almost 20 years of experience in industrial design with specialized concentrations in consumer products and toy design. From generating 2D and 3D files for use across multiple departments to conducting color…

Outside of “will I get the job?” the most burning question jobseekers ask is “how much will it pay?” It’s an important question, too, because it’s crucial to know whether your career move or new job comes with a pay…

Daniel Adame is an ocean export and logistics specialist with more than 20 years of experience. He began his career at a company that valued his expertise so much he stayed on for 17 years! Being part of the company…

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted massive societal changes, from a volatile economy, to lower income inequality, to wider acceptance of hybrid work.   Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees split their work between the office and their homes. Common schedules might…

When Darren Stokes graduated from high school in Chicago, he immediately and eagerly joined the workforce. In almost every job he held, Darren’s motivation and ambition were easily recognized, and he quickly worked his way up to managerial roles. But…

When people hear the phrase “workforce development” they tend to have a vague understanding of what it means, and they have almost no impression of workforce development agencies. But organizations like National Able Network and other workforce agencies serve an…

When Benjamin Raya Rico was 15 years old, he and his family moved from Michoacán, Mexico to Chicago. Benjamin recalls being full of hope and determination and guided by the pursuit of a better life. The memory of this major…

Alfred Davis-Shih graduated college in 2010. He quickly pursued his passion at the time working on the production side of TV commercials, short-form documentaries, news stories, and more. However, in 2014, Alfred decided to pursue a different passion: data analytics….

In the first half of 2023, news headlines sounded like canaries in the economic coal mine: Key Indicator Puts the Chance of Recession at 100%, The US has a 100% chance of tipping into recession within 12 months, and so…