Annual Report

Chief Elected Officials

Samuel Jones, Mayor, City of MobileConnie Hudson, Commissioner,

Mobile County

Board Officers

Chairman, Cheryl Williams; SpherionVice-Chairman, Richard Davis;

Mobile Airport AuthorityTreasurer, Rose Johnson,

Mobile County Dept. Of Human ResourcesSecretary, Pat Rabbeitt,

AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison,United Way of Southwest Alabama

Board Members

Carolyn Akers, Mobile Area Education Foundation

Tommie Anderson, Mobile Infirmary Health Center

Ralph Buffkin, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Stan Chavis, State Farm Insurance

Marti Cole, BAE Systems Reginald Crenshaw; Mobile County Board of

School Commissioners Wallace Davis, Volunteers of America Southeast

Virginia Guy, Drug Education CouncilCedric Hatcher, RBC Bank

Charlotte Kopf, Associated General Contractors-Mobile Section

James Lowe, Bishop State Community College LeBarron McClendon, Infirmary Health System

Wilbert Merriweather, Community VolunteerLee Metgzer, Providence Hospital

Rip Mallini, Alabama Career Center Ron Mitchell, Mitchell Container Service

John Moses, Bay Chevrolet Joseph Ng, ST Aerospace Engineering

Gabriel Peck, Allstate Insurance Company Steve Perry; Harris, Deville, and Associates Charles Pharr, Prichard Housing Authority

Lee Price, Austal USA Sydney Raine, Mobile Works, Inc.

Yolanda Richardson, Digidraft Jeff Robbins, State Farm Insurance

John Sipple, Southern Oil Exploration Inc. Charles Story, Community Volunteer

Loretta Thomas, Alabama Power Company Russell Wimberly, South Alabama Regional

Planning Commission

Happy New Year! 2012 is here and it’s a new year of possibilities. Even though 2011 is a distant memory, the problems of the previous year are still prevalent. We continue to deal with high unemployment and slow job growth and creation. However dismal the situation appears, there is always hope. Mobile Works is com-mitted to providing resources to help stimulate Mobile’s economy through the creation of training programs and partnerships with area businesses. Building relationships and partnerships are the operative words as Mobile Works move forward for 2012. In fact, efforts are in place to ramp up our On-the-Job Training Program (OJT). Mobile Works will invest thousands of dollars towards these efforts. Our goal is to inform and encourage the business community to consider using the program for their hiring needs. Areas of focus include high growth, high wage occupations for the unemployed and underemployed in aviation, maritime, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology and other areas. Likewise, we are committed to supporting small businesses who would like to build their workforce. We recognize that our success is not possible without the support of our business partners who added jobs to support Mobile’s economy. Furthermore, a special thank you to U.S. District Attorney Kenyen Brown for his relentless efforts to encourage the business community to hire ex-offenders. Brown stressed that job training resources and support from local employers will save tax payers mil-lions of dollars and cut the recidivism rate of ex-offenders. Mobile Works is proud to support Attorney Brown’s efforts and are proud of our OJT Business Partners who have hired ex-offenders through the OJT program. In closing, Mobile Works could not achieve these efforts without the support of our Workforce Investment Board who tire-lessly give of their time and resources to support our programs and services. Together we are committed to building relationships, team work and growing Mobile’s economy.

H

Mobile Works Board Chair, Cheryl Williams; Mobile Works Board Member Ralph Buffkin; Terri Lonowski, Federal Project Officer,Atlanta Regional Office-DOL; Sydney Raine, President of Mobile Works; Steve Walkley, Melody Koorangi and Tammy

Farmer, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) are all smiles after the Board Meeting.

Sydney G. Raine

Top: Sydney G. Raine, President, Mobile Works,Inc.; Center: Mobile Works Board Members Lee Metzger and Charlotte Kopf chat before the annual meeting; Bottom: Board President, Cheryl Williams greets U. S. District Attorney for the Southern District Kenyen Brown before the board meeting.

president’s Message

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The On-the-Job Training (OJT) program for the 2010-2011 program year was successful. Mobile Works paid at least 50% of the wages associated with training a new hire. This training lasted for a period of at least 11 weeks with 26 local businesses participating in the OJT program. The OJT program has proven to be a resource to help area businesses expand their workforce while providing opportunities for eligible dislocated workers and adults to move into the workforce. Participants gain new skills while earning income. OJT services were provided to 43 individuals via WIA and an addition-al 14 jobseekers via National Emergency Grant (NEG) funding.

In fact, for profit companies and non-profit agencies benefited from this program. Areas of training included professional, semi-profes-sional positions as well as trades and manufacturing jobs. Qualifying companies provided a worker’s compensation policy, a federal tax identification number, offered full time employment and paid at least $9 per hour.

on-the-job training is more than just a name

Mobile Works can provide solutions for your business. Let us pay you for the time

it takes to train a new employee.

2010-2011 ojt training business partnersAll Clean Filters

all clean filters Al Trans Services Alabama Insurance Agency Bay Area Food Bank Bobcat of Mobile. Brock Safety Group Cna Construction Commonwealth Bank

dupont Hiller company Horizon Shipbuilding Ideal Marine Services, Inc. Kimberly Clark Dr. Marcia Littles Mitsubishi Polysilicon Mobile Ship Chandlery

McGriff Treading, Inc. Ogletree Law Firm Serv Pro of South Mobile Co. Southern Truck and Equipment ST Aerospace Southern Style Paining Vision Partners

Walashek Industrial and Marine Wonderland Express

O J T

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The goal of Mobile Works training programs is to provide financial assistance for job seekers interested in learning a new skill that will allow them to better compete in the workforce. Mobile Works uses standardized guidelines for training programs to assure that needs for Mobile County are addressed. Current policy mandates that training be focused on areas of high demand and growth which are maritime, aviation, materials handling, transporta-tion, construction, manufacturing, healthcare and technology

Additionally, Mobile Works, (in partnership with the De-partment of Labor and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) was granted funding to coordinate regional workforce development activities focused on moving long term unemployed individuals (laid off more than twelve months prior) back into the workforce through On-the-Job Training.

This program resulted in 16 area job seekers being re-employed as a result of these resources.

Funding was also granted to underwrite in-depth strategic planning for Southwest Alabama. Mobile Works partnered with the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC) to coordinate this effort. SAWDC staff convened meetings across Baldwin, Clark, Choctaw, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties to identify partners and establish connections that will support more effective responses to dislocation events that threaten local industry and/or result in sudden unemployment. The following information reflects all available revenue, related expen-ditures and resulting fund balances for program activity during the period from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.

Type of Funds Total Available

as of 7/1/10

Expenditures as of 6/30/2011

obligations CURRENTBalance as of 6/30/11

ADULT $1,740,769 $603,700 783,264 353,805

DISLOCATED WORKER

$539,137 $308,754 162,778 $67,605

YOUTH $947,173 $885,756 - $61,417

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

$356,625 $187,983 - $168,642

STATE INCENTIVE $294,191 $208,175 - $86,016

ARRA-ADULT $241,111 $241,111 - -ARRA-DISLOCATED $115,611 $115,611 - -

ARRA-YOUTH $177,801 $177,801 - -

ARRA-ADMIN $19,673 $19,673 - -

TOTAL $4,432,091 $2,748,564 $946,042 $737,485

finance Workforce Investment Act

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ONE STOP ACTIVITY: Collaboration of services between Mobile Works, the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and Bishop State’s Adult Basic Education has proven to be an added benefit for job seekers and busi-ness owners. The Mobile office of the Alabama Career Center pro-vides:

• Customer access to intensive services required by WIA through One Stop Centers. WIA Intensive services includes:

-Full scale objective assessment -Developing an employment plan -Individualized counseling and career planning -Case management [for customers seeking training] -Short-term pre-vocational services including soft skills training

• Customer access to Wagner-Peyser services through the One Stop Centers, through interagency referrals.

The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) established procedures and methods to assure that quality intensive services and training services were put in place in order to meet the challenge of establishing and implementing a redesigned system of services for WIA eligible adults and dislocated workers. Services now in place include the following: -WIA defined training services includes: -Occupational Skills Training -On-the-Job Training -Incumbent Worker Training

Mobile Works and the local office of the Alabama Career Center have worked continually to establish themselves as the commu-nity’s focal point for workforce issues during the past 12 months. Mobile Works adapted its resources to address the economic slow-down and the resulting changes to the rising unemployment rate in Mobile County. Mobile Works has continued to facilitate improved communication among key stakeholders as regionalized efforts to mobilize the workforce have

been initiated. Business and community lead-ers have expressed very clearly, the need for more skilled workers and more efficient and effective training programs. Mo-bile Works continues to proactively address these issues through a variety of initiatives. •MARKETING: Strate-

gies have increased awareness of available programs and services of-fered through Mobile Works and the Alabama Career Center.

Mobile Works maintains local media relationships and participates in a variety of job fairs, community meetings, professional associations

and advisory councils. Further-more, businesses, job seekers and non-profits are advised of the latest developments in workforce devel-opment news and programs through

Mobile Works’ weekly e-News Bulletin and quarterly newsletter. These publications provide an ongoing way to raise awareness about WIA resources and helps educate the community about opportunities for worker training.

•SOCIAL MEDIA: Mobile Works has an established Facebook page. This page has allowed Mobile Works to share photos and up to the minute news on job fairs, Mobile Works publications and special pro-grams being held at the Alabama Career Center.

•JOB FAIRS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Mobile Works routinely participates in area job fairs to reach job seekers throughout our area. Community outreach, through presentations on services and resources, is also provided throughout the year at area high schools. college campuses, district meetings, regional expos and informational presentations to churches and community based organizations.

one stop Activity

Stay in the loopAre you interested in receiving weekly updates on job openings, career fairs and training opportunities? If so, subscribe to Mobile Works e-news

bulletin.Simply visit www.mobile-works.org..

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82,087 people received services at the Alabama Career Center-Mobile Office during

the 2010-2011 program year

Mobile Works part-nered with area

educational and vocational training institutions to provide skills training for eligible job seekers and dislocated workers through funds provided under the Workforce Investment Act(WIA). Eligible job seek-ers pursued skills train-ing in high wage/ high growth jobs in aviation, maritime,transportation, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, construc-tion and materials han-dling.

Applicants inter-ested in receiving a skills training scholarship must receive admission to pro-gram of preference, meet WIA eligibility require-ments, take the WorkKeys Assessment and complete their degree in 2 years or less. To learn more about these programs visit www.mobile-works.org.

training scholarships

Bishop State Community College: THANK YOU2010-2011 training providers

Alabama Aviation Center of Mobile bishop state community college Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound Coastal Operation Engineers Apprentice Program

Faulkner State Community College Fortis College Mobile Plumbing & Pipefitting Joint Apprentice Program Premier Driving Academy university of mobile

University of South Alabama Virginia College -Mobile.

A series of bad choices, tragic circumstances and persistence have brought her from a life deemed as meager and barely getting by to a life full of promise and hope. “I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be working as a nurse, states Zobeida Bacallas. “I grew up very poor in a small town in Mississippi and always knew that my options were limited.” She always thought that she would find a job and settle for the small town life style with little opportunity like her parents.

In fact, she was on track to do just that when she became pregnant at 15 years of age and dropped out of school. “I knew I was destined for a life of hard times with no education and decent job opportunities,” Bacallas said. Unfortunately, the child died shortly after birth and Bacallas vowed to do something different with her life. “I wanted to honor my child’s memory and be a bet-ter person. Fortunately for me, I went back to school. I went from being a C / D student to an A student. I made the honor roll and began to take accelerated classes,” explained Bacallas.

After high school, Bacallas enrolled at a local junior col-lege in Mississippi and eventually received an associate’s degree with honors. She decided to further her education after being accepted into the nursing program at the Univer-sity of South Alabama. Bacallas admitted that the nursing program was extremely difficult. She explained that the program was expensive and she needed to find work to help offset additional costs for her training and sup-port her family. Thanks to a referral from a friend, Bacallas inquired and was eventually accepted into Mobile Works’ WIA Training program. “This program was a God send,” states Bacallas.

“The program afforded me the opportunity to stay in nursing school. I didn’t have to worry about school expenses and providing for my family. Also, the staff was very friendly and supportive.” Bacallas is married with a son and excited about life. She works as a registered nurse at Mobile Infirmary Hospital. “I love my life, my job and excited about the future,” she said.

SuccessesTragedy and Triumph

Brenda Bright, Case manager Coordinator congratulates Zobeida Bacallas on her accomplishments.

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Andrea Nemesszeghy was a residential supervisor for a local boarding school until she was laid off. Nemesszeghy was looking for a job and learned about OJT. She went to the office and was impressed with the program and personnel. One day she received a call about an opportunity in the trucking business. “I looked into the job because it was through the OJT program, I knew I would only be referred to a reputable job,” Nemesszeghy said.

She was introduced to Barry Wyatt, owner of Wonderland Express.The OJT program connected a dislocated worker and business owner looking to grow his business.

It was a new beginning for both. Nemesszeghy was introduced to a different type of work and Wyatt employed a worker that didn’t have a background in the trucking industry. “Wonder-land Express typically recruits workers who have some experience in the trucking industry due to the complexity of the work,” said Wyatt. “How-ever, the OJT Program allowed me the flexibility to step out of my comfort zone and bring on someone who didn’t have the skills, but had a strong work ethic and a desire to succeed.”

Through the OJT program ,business can receive wage assistance during the train-ing phase. Subsidy amounts are based upon the size of the business, period of unemployment of the trainee and availability of federal funds. Nemesszeghy admitted that on any given day she wouldn’t have considered working for a truck-ing company and Wyatt wouldn’t have consid-ered hiring someone with no experience. “I’ve learned so much about the trucking industry and I am glad I decided to try something new.

“As a business owner, I highly recom-mend this program to the business community. There is no way that I would have considered training people without this assistance and grow. There is minimal paperwork and the staff is very professional and personable,” said Wyatt.

Local employer speaks at Business Service Summit

Horizon Shipbuild-ing executive, Travis Short spoke with workforce professionals at the 2011 Atlanta Regional Business Summit. sponsored by the Employment and Training Administration’s Atlanta Regional Office, in collaboration with local and state workforce agencies. Short spoke with a crowd of nearly 300 workforce professionals on Horizon’s success in using the feder-ally funded On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program. As a result of partnering with Mobile Works, Short has hired 14 dislocated workers to date.

Andrea Nemesszeghy smiles for the camera amid a busy work day.

Successeso J t

new beginnings

From seafood processor to the apprentice

Hung Tran is a Vietnamese man from rural Southwest Alabama who worked alongside his family growing up in the seafood industry. After high school, he worked for 2 years in the auto body repair industry and then 7 years back in the seafood processing industry, where his pay was based on production and eye-hand coordination.

When he lost that job, he wanted to attempt other work or training to improve his long range opportunities. He applied and was accepted for training through the ST Aerospace program as an Interiors Apprentice. He successfully completed the OJT program funded through the American Recovery Act and continues to be employed by ST Aerospace in an occupation with good opportunities for advancement and additional training.

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youth

council

THANK YOU

2010-2011 youth training providers

Alabama Department of Rehabilitation ServicesDearborn YMCA

Dynamic Educational Systems Inc.Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast

Mobile County public School System

mobile works youth council

Wilbert Merriweather, chairmanmobile works youth council

Chandra Brown Executive Director, Lifeline

Remigia Coleman, Assistant DirectorDepartment of Human Resources

Richard Davis, ChairMobile Airport Authority

Patsy HerronUnited Way of Southwest Alabama

Barbara MannCommunity Volunteer

Pat Mitchellmobile county public schools

Charles Pharr, Executive DirectorPrichard Housing Authority

Frewin OsteenPrichard Housing Authority

John Sipple, OwnerSouthern Oil Exploration, inc.

Larry TravisJob Corps Placement Office

Felecia Allen, Director Mobile County Health Department

Mobile Works Youth Council is a key subcommittee of the Workforce Investment Board, Mobile Youth Council is charged with providing a comprehensive community-based system for Youth which encourages academic achievement, leadership and civic responsibil-ity. The Youth Council oversaw the delivery of existing programs to area youth with great success. Area providers offered a variety of training, job readiness and academic remedia-tion programs for the program year in an effort to better reach hard to serve youth. The Youth programs funded by Mobile Works offered the following services directly or via referral:

• intake and registration• objective assessment• service strategy development

(life/career plan)• case management and follow-up• training and instruction to enhance

secondary school completion• alternative secondary schooling

opportunities• summer employment opportunities• paid and unpaid work experiences• occupational skills training• leadership development• access to supportive services

During this program year, 202 area youth were enrolled in WIA formula fund programs. Eighty-three youth successfully achieved high school graduation or passed the GED and 24 with disabilities ranging from deafness to blindness participated in a summer jobs program.

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As a result of group and individualized instruction, Patra gained a wealth of knowledge that enabled her to obtain her G.E.D. within a few months. The vocational training she received enhanced her computer skills, taught her how to prepare a resume, introduced her to various career op-tions and equipped her with the skills she needs to become employed. She now realizes that she can be of great value to an employer. Patra attributes her success to fewer distractions in Pathway’s small classroom environment. She states that her self-confidence has increased because of the support from the program staff. She has begun to prepare for her future by registering for enrollment at Bishop State Community Col-lege and she plans to study nursing. Eventually, she would like to continue her studies at the University of South Ala-bama.

Patra took lemons and made lemonade. She did not allow her circumstances to hinder her education. She is now a step closer to becoming a self sustaining, contributing citizen of our community. Patra McMillian found a pro-gram that provided all her needs. She took advantage of the opportunities she was afforded and is now walking steadily on her “Pathway to Employment”.

White successfully earned his GED and plans to enroll at Bishop StateCommunity College and studyElectrical Technology.

White credits DESI’s program for helping him achieve his goals and with personal problems and barriers he’s had in life. “The staff is great and they really take time to help you. They are there for you when you need them, they push you and keep you focused,” White said.

White looks forward to bright future for him and his fam-ily. He thanks the DESI staff for giving him a fresh start.

DESI

DEARboRN

Marion White knew he needed to get his life together. He wanted to go to college and knew that he could not meet admission requirements without a GED. “ I stopped being lazy and called DESI,” White said. “If I was going to make it and be the man I wanted to be, I must change my life .” White dropped out of school in the 11th grade because of his attitude. “I really didn’t like school. I thought it was stupid and felt like I wasn’t learn-ing anything,” said White. Eventually he realized it wasn’t school, but his desire to hang out with teens that were not productive. In fact, staying in school was not his top priority.

"I stopped being lazy and called DESI."

Marion

I turned lemons into lemonade

Patra came to the Path-way to Employment Program at Dearborn YMCA as a 16 year old mother. She dropped out of high school at the start of her 10th grade year because she did not have dependable childcare. Patra was referred to Pathway by her Family Support Counselor. She was excited to join the Pathway to Employment GED program where she could continue her education and be provided with stable and dependable childcare for her son. She marveled at the fact that she could go to school and know that her child was receiving adequate supervision from a loving staff. When Patra began the program, she struggled with math.

mA Life Changing

Decison

patra

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s uccess

s tories

From GED to ACT Savannah Marschke was your typical high school teen full of life, promise, and opportunity. Although, a bright student, Savannah began to lose interest in her studies and eventually dropped out of school. Within years, Marschke became a young wife and mother. She had low self esteem, no education and no job opportunities.

Marschke states that she wanted to do something with her life and help her son. “My son motivated me,” Marschke said. “I wanted to make life better for him and I wanted to achieve something.” Thanks to encouragement from a friend, the young wife and mother decided to get her GED. Marschke enrolled in Goodwill Easter Seals’ Youth Excelling for Success Program funded by Mobile Works.

She acknowledged that she was afraid to enter the program for fear that she would struggle and not remember anything from her first two years of high school. “Because of the support from the teachers and the staff, I achieved my GED in record time. They also provided me with my childcare and assisted me in finding a job. I went from low self-esteem to high esteem.”

After receiving her GED, Savannah enlisted the ser-vices of Goodwill Easter Seals again. The staff helped her study for the ACT and now she is a student at the University of South Alabama majoring in nursing. “This program has changed my life and I am excited about the future,” states Marschke. “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”

youth

S

photo captions:Top left: Goodwill Easter Seals YES Program was recently featured on Speak Up hosted by FOX 10’s Eric Reynolds. From left to right: Eric Reynolds, host; Lori Crenshaw, YES Program Manager, Savannah Marschke, and Kristen Draper, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager for Goodwill Easter Seals.

Top right: Evening Educational Opportunity Program particpates in Vigor’s Career day.

Center:Dearborn YMCA Pathway to Employment stu-dents are all smiles after visiting Austal Shipbuilding. They learned what it takes to build a ship from beginning to end, who builds them, who supports the people that builds them, and what it takes to become part of the Austal family!

Bottom right: DESI Career Training students volunteer at South Alabama Workforce Development Council’s Worlds of Opportunity Career Fair.

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what we do best

Congrats to Marcus Thomas for completing his certificate in HVAC and Electrical

Technology at Bishop State.

Blake Johnson shares his success after receiving his associate’s degree in auto body and collision training at

Bishop State Community College. He is working at Palmer’s Toyota in their auto body shop.

Garrett Crabtree with Southern Truck and Equipment is all smiles after successfully

completing the OJT Program.

Theresa Kemp, Servpro co-owner double checks dimensions of a project with employee, Frederick

Devadason (OJT participant).

Medric Bullard checks the guage in the repair shop at Wonderland Trucking. He was hired through the OJT program and

states he’s learned so much about repairing trucks.

Pam Hensley (OJT Participant) goes over invoices with ServPro

co-owner Theresa Kemp.

Derek Pierce,Wonderland Express Operations Manager talks with OJT

participant, Mark Sharp during the work day.

Jonathan Mullenax with Bobcat of Mobile repairs a machine as the camera rolls

during his work day.

Clay Armstrong is all smiles after completing his degree in Air Conditioning/

Refrigeration Technology from Bishop State Community College.

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Mobile Works, Inc.P.O. Box 889

Mobile, AL 36601____________________

Mobile Works News is published periodically by Mobile Works, Inc. Comments should be

addressed to Pamela G. Ware,

Director of Marketing/Public Relationsc/o Alabama Career Center515 Springhill Plaza Court

Mobile , AL. 36608or via e-mail, pware@mobile-works.org