Marcella Maurepas, Teacher
Leesburg High School
After
five years as a teacher, Marcella Maurepas’ temporary teacher
certificate expired. As a result she lost her full-time job
and was forced to work as a substitute, sometimes only four or five
days a month. Since she realized that her decisions determine
her destination, she forged onward searching for jobs, sharpening
her employability skills and plugging away at her
education.
During her employment dry spell, Marcella visited the
WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA (WCF) Resource Room almost daily to use
its no-cost computers for her job search and for assistance
revamping her resume. She also utilized WCF’s online job bank
to search through its thousands of job postings. According to
Marcella, the staff in the Resource Room was priceless when it came
to keeping up her morale.
The Resource Room “was so instrumental in my success, from the
revamping of my old resume to the ringing of the bell after
securing my job,” she said. “My success would have not have
happened if not for WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA’s collaborative
effort.”
After several months of searching and working on her skills,
Marcella was hired as a full-time teacher with Leesburg High
School. Now, she is an advocate for encouraging her students’
to learn employability skills and to take advantage of the no-cost
services that WCF offers. In fact, some of her students
participated in the Summer Job Connection, an internship program
for young adults to provide employability skills and work
experience.
New and Emerging Patient Simulator Training
“I am proud to announce that I am employed with Orlando
Medical Institute. I was hired August 5, 2010. Things are
going well and I enjoy going to work every day. Thank you so
much for putting this program together, it has helped my life soooo
much. I just can't believe that in less than a year I got my
GED then the MEST course and now I am working with a much higher
hourly wage than I ever had. My family is so proud of
me. Again thank you so much for putting this program together
and helping someone who was literally on the verge of being
homeless again.”
Rigoberto Mercado Jr., participant of New and
Emerging Patient Simulator Training in partnership with Orlando
Tech
Re-Employment Connection
"This may not be the best way to express my graduate and heart
filled thank you for all the hard work everyone puts into
the REC program. I have recently finished my 12 week
internship working at WORKFORCE CENTRAL
FLORIDA (Osceola), and I can not Thank you enough for giving
me that opportunity to be a part of such a great program.
The experience I had while working with the REC program
offered by EmployFlorida gave me back the skills I needed in
finding employment, gave me the confidence I needed to belive in
me. Taught me more about myself and my abilities then what I have
learned in the past.
I never knew there were so many resources out there for people.
Now I can tell everyone I know of needing the assistance the best
place to go. Help guide them if I can through the system.
After being unemployed, not knowing what I was going to do next
or how I was going to survive I came across the program on
the EmployFlorida website it was a blessing. Working with
everyone at the Osceola County Center was one of the best
experiences I have ever had in my adult life. Everyone was very
knowledgeable, caring, and understanding of the program helping me
to help others and watch them grow. I truly enjoyed the program
and would recommend it to any and everyone in the same
situation.
I felt like I was part of this wonderful family at the center
and it hurt me deeply leaving after the program ended for
me. I truly enjoyed working with each and every one of the
staff members. You have such a great staff at the Osceola
center. they are so willing to help you, and guide you into
the right direction. People like Ms. Trevieso, Miriam Mas, and Ada
Rodriguez they are such great roll models for todays workforce
and for giving me the so much inspiration.
Although I have not found full time employment I feel confident
that it will happen. I will continue using what I have learned
at WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA (Osceola) and hopefully land
that perfect job for me.
Thank you so much for all you do and giving people like me what
we need to succeed.
Kathy Jo Wilde, Re-Employment Connection Interns
Re-Employment Connection
"I wish to express my gratitude for your Re-employment
Connection program of which I am currently a participant. I
had been out of work for two and a half years because of the
economy. There were no employment opportunities available in
my field, but your program aided me in securing employment in a new
field—construction. My two children and I were a couple of
weeks away from being homeless when the current employment
opportunity presented itself through your program. I have
learned many new and useful skills at my new place of
employment.
My children and I are grateful for this opportunity. In
fact, they have the opportunity through your Summer Job Connection
program to possibly secure a summer job at a job fair next
month. They are excited about the possibility of entering the
workforce and gaining valuable experience, as well as contributing
to our household budget.
Berlise Batalla, my Career Specialist, has been awesome as she
has worked with me to make my employment a success. She has
been professional, knowledgeable and encouraging. Her
positive outlook and enthusiastic work ethic are infectious.
Berlise has been a pleasure to get to know on both a professional
and personal level."
Tina Mesibov, Re-Employment Connection
Intern
Re-Employment Connection
“Sally D'Autorio is part of the WCF Re-Employment Connection
and has been an intern at Intervention Services since August
16th. We are so pleased to have her as a member of our
“family.” Sally is a motivated self-starter who works
extremely well independently and as part of a team. She is
always willing to take on new challenges. Sally is a
fast-learner and as a result accomplishes all of her tasks in a
timely manner with little to no errors. Our staff is so
extremely satisfied with her work that we are doing whatever
possible to keep her as permanent staff. Unfortunately, due
to funding this might not be possible. But I wanted to share
her story because we think very highly of her and value her
contributions to our company. Mrs. D’Autorio has been my
right hand and I believe she would be an exemplary employee at any
institution.”
Jeannette German, Intervention Services,
Inc.
Re-Employment Connection
“I was a Workforce Re-Employment Connection participant this
past track. After being unemployed for 18 months, I really
appreciated being out in the workforce again. Everybody on
your staff was wonderful; caring and understanding and
helpful.
Berlise Batalla did an exceptional job, checking in on myself
and my associates and always offering advice and
support.
I am pleased to say that I just accepted a full-time position,
literally starting one week after my WCF track ended. The
timing was perfect! I would recommend this program to
anybody. Thanks to everybody for their
assistance!”
Michael Wolf, Re-Employment Connection
Intern
Re-Employment Connection
"What an amazing opportunity this has become. I have been
given the ability to apply SEO strategies in an E-commerce
environment and monitor the results in real time. From social
media to website optimization, I have been given the knowledge to
succeed in this dynamic new world.”
Joshua, Re-Employment Connection
Intern for ClickInks.com
Re-Employment Connection
“The job seeking process can be a shattering experience – you
start to question yourself. There have been so many
opportunities that I’ve applied for that I knew I was capable of
performing, yet I received no responses from employers. My
participation in the “Re-Employment” program, especially my
placement at Orlando Tech, has enabled me to have a renewed self
confidence knowing that I have the intelligence and skills to
perform on the job, and the capability to learn anything I put my
mind, time and energy to. I am absolutely positive that I
possess the qualities and skills to be a productive associate and
an asset to any organization. It’s not just a statement that
I’d put on my resume because I think it sounds good.
I don’t feel that I have learned a new job-seeking skill or
technique, but I feel re-energized and refocused, and optimistic
and confident that my unemployed status (which I find myself in now
and again) will not go on as long as it did before I joined the
program. The WORKFORCE staff has been encouraging and
supportive, and … my career specialist has been very
helpful. I will keep using the resources and programs
available to me at WCF as I continue to seek that illusive career
opportunity.
Being placed at Orlando Tech was an excellent experience for me. I
was able to work in an atmosphere that fostered continual learning
and growth. I gained knowledge and skills that I will apply in my
future career. I’ve been exposed to technologies and resources that
have helped me acquire marketable skills in this evolving job
market. For example – I am now a Certified Microsoft Office
Specialist in Word 2007.
I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to work within the
Digital Media Departments at Orlando Tech, and for being able to
participate in the WCF Re-Employment Connection. “
Oscar Valentin, Re-Employment Connection
Intern for Orlando Tech
Re-Employment Connection
“I couldn’t find a job for the longest time because I had no
job experience besides my job corps training. Then I entered the
intern program and now I have a job that I enjoy doing.”
Allene, Re-Employment Connection Intern for
Clickinks.com
Re-Employment Connection
“My name is April Henson and I really really enjoy the
experience and the knowledge that I have obtained from the
Re-Employment Connection program. When I first applied with the
program, I thought that I was not going to be able to finish,
because I had just had a son and when I went to orientation, my son
Anderson, was only three or four weeks of age. Needless to say, I
went through all the steps in order to complete the program. The
day came for the job fair and I was so nervous, but I was
determined because I had been unemployed for a year and I had
little success with applying to different places. I had my resume
handy and ready to get a job. I went to one table and it did not
work out but when I got to the next table, THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE
POSITION. The job was for clerical staff at Orlando Day Nursery. I
felt so comfortable with the organization. I started working and I
caught on very well. Three months had passed and I thought that I
was getting ready to be unemployed again, but THEY KEPT ME. I am
currently still at Orlando Day Nursery and loving every minute of
it. I am so thankful to the people at WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA,
because they worked with me and was patient with me and they are
the reason that I am still employed today. Thanks so much. This
program is a true blessing."
April Henson, Re-Employment Connection Intern
for Orlando Day Nursery
