Career Coach Kathy Parker guided Chiquita Northern through her career changes when she came to Nashville Career Advancement Center (NCAC) as a frustrated woman who just wanted to go back to school to become a nurse.

A year earlier, her frustration developed when she started the LPN program under a Pell grant, but did not pass the course. The school encouraged her to enroll in its LPN prep course and re-enter the program the following year; which she did. However, she was no longer eligible for Pell due to the previous failure and did not have the money for school.

NCAC, funded by a federal grant, was Northern’s only opportunity for funding at that point. At an NCAC Workforce Campus, limited training dollars allow people to upgrade their skills to receive advanced certifications.

“I decided to take a chance on Chiquita because she successfully completed the prep course and I am happy to report that she did great,” said Parker.

Chiquita Northern recently completed her LPN at Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville, has passed her state board exam and secured a full time job making $18.25 an hour.
 

Technology Certifications Grow Careers

Matt Wunderlin is now a field technician with QualxServ, LLC after upgrading his skills with Nashville Career Advancement Center (NCAC). Headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts QualxServ specializes in providing technology deployment and field delivered support services for leading technology providers such as Dell, IBM and Sony.

Wunderlin lacked the certifications for this position. After working with NCAC’s Career Coach Clay Faircloth at Tennessee Career Center at Nashville South, he was able to receive enough training to get started in his career.

“My DCSE Certifications are quite numerous. I currently hold 20 DCSE Certifications and will be receiving more in the near future,” said Wunderlin. DCSE certificates are specific to Dell products and based on each system's requirements (i.e. each Dell computer model requires one certificate in order to repair while under warranty).

Wunderlin is currently working on his IBM and Sony certifications.

A note from Matt Wunderlin:
Clay, I must tell you that without the help I received from you and your agency, I do not know where I would be now. I owe you and your colleagues a BIG "Thank you!" for all your help and support.

Matt Wunderlin
Field Technician
QualxServ, LLC