The Cumberland County Workforce Development Board presented awards to program participants and partners during its 5th annual Recognition Banquet Dec. 3 at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.
Workforce Development offers programs for youth, adults, dislocated workers and veterans at the Cumberland County NC Works Career Center with the goal of increasing employment and training opportunities for the County’s citizens as well as enhancing their productivity and competitiveness in the workplace.
Award categories and recipients are:
Outstanding Young Adults: Kajohni Marsan, Dempris Gasque, Morgan Tiernan, Ian McLaurin
Outstanding Adults: Briana Canopen, Monique Tunstall, Erika Trent, Patricia Mitchell, Tracey Ray
Outstanding Workforce Professionals: Gerald Peterson, Francesca Fuentes, April Steele
Outstanding Partnership: Cathy Johnson of Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation
Outstanding Employer: Landart Solutions
Outstanding Workforce Board Member: Charlene Cross
Outstanding Innovation Partnership: Francine Genz of Genz Consulting, Cape Fear Valley Health System CEO Mike Nagowski and Dr. Sammy Choi, Head of Research at Womack Army Medical Center
Kajohni Marsan graduated from Fayetteville State University with a degree in Healthcare Management with plans to attend graduate school and become a physical therapist. Marsan utilized tutoring services offered through the Career Center to help maintain his 3.5 GPA.
Dempris Gasque overcame past difficulties to earn a communications degree from Fayetteville State University and is now Marketing Director and Content Strategist with The Wrijen Company.
Morgan Tiernan completed a career exploration program at Cumberland County Headquarters Library from April to August of 2019. Tiernan overcame personal challenges and became an asset at the library during her time there.
Ian McLaurin started in the Young Adult Program at the Career Center while he was a senior in high school and has helped lead participants in multiple programs. McLaurin completed a Career Exploration with the Fayetteville Police Department through NCWorks. McLaurin participated in the Youth NC Summit and is currently a student at Fayetteville State University.
Briana Canopen is a veteran who utilized the Finish Line Grant at the Career Center to help her meet living expenses while completing her education at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Canopen earned an associate’s degree in science with a concentration in Emergency Management while working full- and part-time jobs and taking care of three young children.
Monique Tunstall was a single mother on public assistance when she approached the Career Center. Tunstall utilized the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to become a Certified Nursing Assistant through Fayetteville Technical Community College. She is now a CNA at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Erika Trent is a non-traditional Career Center client with a degree in Kinesiology. Unable to find a job in her field, Trent utilized the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to enroll in the Registered Nursing program at Central Carolina Community College. Trent is now a vascular technician at Vascular Wellness.
Patricia Mitchell pushed for more inclusive policy related to service funding through the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse. Mitchell was initially denied assistance through NCLEX-RN but appealed her denial. As a result, policy was changed, and she received funds to help her obtain her RN degree. She is now an RN at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.
Tracey Ray suffered significant damage to his home because of Hurricane Florence in 2018 and was forced to relocate his family while living on a fixed income. Ray utilized the Finish Line Grant through the Career Center and is a student at FTCC double majoring in Building Construction and General Maintenance. He will graduate this month.
Gerald Peterson began his career with the Career Center in 2009 as an office assistant. He was promoted to Human Resources Program Assistant and is now the Career Readiness Certificate Manager. Peterson is known for his positive attitude, patience and personal attention to clients in the CRC program. Peterson is also active in his church, has written plays and is a recording artist.
Francesca “Frankie” Fuentes has been with the Career Center since May. Hired as a temporary employee, she is now full-time Front Desk Supervisor. Fuentes was integral in taking charge and managing the VOS Greeter System in the Career Center. Cumberland County was the pilot for the VOS Greeter – a self-service customer check-in system.
April Steele has been a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist at the Career Center since December 2018 and has taken charge of the program’s Bi-Annual Veterans Stand Down. An Army veteran, Steele is an integral part of the staff in assisting veterans with significant barriers to employment issues.
Cathy Johnson is the Existing Industry Director at Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation. Johnson has supported businesses and partner organizations through her work in economic development in Cumberland County for over 27 years. A former Workforce Development Board member, Johnson assisted the Career Center with collaborative business relationships with Nitta Gelatin, Mann + Hummel Purolator, Walmart Distribution Center, MJ Soffe, Cintas, RLM Communications and more.
Landart Solutions, a certified woman-owned small landscaping business, has collaborated with the Career Center to provide hands-on engagement and job training to people who may have otherwise been overlooked due to lack of job experience.
Charlene Cross has been on the Workforce Development Board since 2012. As an Apprenticeship Consultant, Cross has been a part of many workforce and economic development initiatives that aim to identify and resolve the challenges businesses face in hiring and retaining skilled employees. Cross is chair of the Workforce Development Board’s Youth/Young Adult Committee.
Genz Consulting, Cape Fear Valley Health System and Womack Army Medical Center are responsible for spearheading the state’s first successful business engagement collaborative using the Next Generation Sector Partnership strategy. France Genz of Genz Consulting helped bring together Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski and Womack Army Medical Center Head of Research Dr. Sammy Choi for the partnership, which is made up of regional support partners from local government, K-12 postsecondary institutions, non-profits and vested community organizations. The goal of the NextGen Partnership is to determine healthcare sector priorities and work to reach those goals.
Commissioner Charles Evans, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and Fayetteville City Council Member Tisha Waddell were the guest speakers for the awards ceremony. Visit Cumberland County’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CumberlandNC to see more pictures from the awards.
The Cumberland County NC Works Career is located at 414 Ray Ave., Fayetteville. The career center assists veterans and job seekers with the resources they need to succeed. For more information about the career center, go to co.cumberland.nc.us/career-center. The Workforce Development Board is appointed and governed by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.