Trident One Stop Career System & Palmetto Youth Connections Customer receives WIA Award

April 5, 2009 - PRLog -- Rosa Siler, Trident One Stop Career System and Palmetto Youth Connections customer, was honored with the 2008 WIA Youth Achievement Award by the South Carolina Department of Commerce at their annual State Workforce Development Partnership Symposium awards luncheon held on January 27, 2009.

“I was interested in obtaining occupational training skills and sought the help of Palmetto Youth Connections,” said Siler. After completing Palmetto Youth Connections’ (PYC) Career Smart training program, which covers employability and work maturity skills, and a PYC customer service training course that increased her marketable skills, Rosa began training to become a pharmacy technician.

Rosa was hired at a Rite-Aid pharmacy and, with the help of the pharmacist, passed the national certification exam and became a certified pharmacy technician.  “I am now working full-time at Rite-Aid as a pharmacy technician and plan to enlist in the military and further pursue my medical training,” said Siler.

"Rosa has demonstrated that she has the determination and responsibility to take control of her life even in the face of adversity.  We are very proud of her and wish her continued success as she pursues her career," said Kal Kunkle, Regional Manager, Palmetto Youth Connections.

The 2009 State Workforce Development Partnership Symposium, held in Charleston, SC, provided training and staff development to individuals involved in South Carolina’s Workforce Investment System. Attendees are comprised of policy makers (State Workforce Investment Board, Local Workforce Investment Board members, and local elected officials), local and state level Workforce Investment Act (WIA) professional staff, as well as staff from agencies and institutions that serve WIA clients.

Palmetto Youth Connections is a WIA funded program geared to serve young adults ages 17 – 21 who are out of school and have barriers to employment because they lack work experience, need training for a specific trade or job, lack a high school diploma or GED, are pregnant, or a parenting teen.  To be eligible for the HS diploma program, an applicant must have at least 20 credits. Enrollees receive 20 hours of pre-employment training and can apply for occupational skills training; on-the-job training; customized work experience training; basic skills training; Community Healthcare Training Program; Manufacturing Certification Training Program; computer skills training; National Retail Federation Customer Service certification.

The mission of the Trident Workforce Investment Board (TWIB) is to develop the region’s workforce by providing high quality workforce development programs and services to its customers. To accomplish this mission it created a market driven and user friendly workforce system investing workforce funding to recruit, prepare, and train workers with the skills needed to support existing industry and attract new industry to the tri-county region.

The TWIB provides funding for the Trident One Stop Career System.  The Trident One Stop Career System is a nationally recognized workforce development system staffed by some of the best trained workforce professionals in the nation.   The Trident One Stop Career Center is located at 1930 Hanahan Road in North Charleston.  Satellite Centers are located in Moncks Corner, Summerville and Charleston.  For more information on available services and programs or to find the center nearest to you, call 843-574-1800 or TTY 711.  An Equal Opportunity Employer Program. Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities.