Shelton State Community College and Westervelt Lumber partnered in May to provide free Alabama Career Essentials (ACE) training. As a result of ACE training, four Shelton State students were offered employment, marking a successful conclusion to the program’s first training session.
ACE is a FREE training course designed by the Alabama Community College System to provide Alabamians with relevant, cuttingedge, and industry-driven employability skill training to better prepare the Alabama workforce.
Upon completion of ACE training, participants received two short-term certifications (Alabama Certified Employee Certificate and National Career Readiness Certificate). Additionally, participants received one free class at Shelton State for up to four credit hours and participated in a job interview with Westervelt Lumber Company. Four trainees were offered jobs.
“Providing people in our community an opportunity to learn the workplace employability skills needed to be an effective employee is critical as we seek to recruit and retain a qualified and engaged workforce,” shared Alisa Robertson, Westervelt’s Vice President of Human Resources. “We were excited to offer jobs to several of the participants.”
The College’s Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, Jon Koh, was pleased to work with Westervelt on this project. “Together, we developed an approach that would generate interest, encourage participation, and provide a pathway for local community members to find employment at a prominent company,” stated Dr. Koh. “Westervelt’s commitment to improving the lives of their employees and surrounding communities combined with their facility in Moundville has created an atmosphere that welcomed potential employees. We are leveraging that success and will continue to build on this foundation.”
A second ACE training session will take place in September. Orientation will be held on Friday, September 8, from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., and classes will be held September 11 – 22 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Both the orientation session and the classes will be held at Westervelt Lumber at 2500 Gulf States Parkway in Moundville, Alabama.
Space is limited, and registration will occur on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about ACE training, contact Paul Sanders at psanders@sheltonstate.edu or 205.391.2497.
Visit sheltonstate.edu to learn more or apply.
