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HireSmart Grant Funds Formal Luncheon at High School ‘Adulting Day’
From changing tires to proper table etiquette, Commerce High School seniors gained valuable life skills during the school's fourth annual "Adulting Day." The April 17 event, supported by a $1,800 grant from HireSmart Cares, offered students hands-on experience with essential tasks they'll face after graduation. "In the morning, they have rotations where they go around…
Teen’s Creativity Pays Off in HireSmart Cares Book Design Contest
Sophia Grier earned the $500 top prize for a recent book cover design contest at Madison County High School. The sophomore created a cover for "The Hustle Handbook: Lessons They Don't Teach You IN SCHOOL, but Life Will," by Mark Lackey, Co-founder of HireSmart Cares, a local nonprofit focused on workforce development. Lackey's autobiography details…
HireSmart Supports College and Career Fair
Students from Jackson County High School and East Jackson High Schools recently connected with representatives from 38 businesses, industries, and post-secondary institutions during a college and career fair hosted at Empower College and Career Center in Jefferson, Georgia. The April 1 event exposed 9th-12th grade students to various career and college opportunities. Students had the…
HireSmart Backs Jordan’s Mission to Build Skills That Matter
Ag mechanics instructor Cody Jordan doesn’t like sitting still. He’s happiest when he’s moving and creating value for himself and others with his hands. Now, he’s helping teens at the Empower College and Career Center in Jefferson find exactly that kind of life for themselves — a “get-out-and-build-value” mindset that comes with hands-on abilities. Jordan’s…
Grants Boost Construction and STEM Programs at Danielsville Elementary
At Danielsville Elementary School, learning isn't confined to textbooks and computer screens. And with support from HireSmart Cares, students are getting hands-on experience with construction and STEM skills that could lead to future careers. Construction and STEM teacher Christy Hanson recently received two grants from HireSmart Cares, a Madison County-based nonprofit, to ensure students…
HireSmart Founders Share Job-Seeking Tips with MCHS Construction Students
"How am I going to support myself as an adult?" This question looms large for high school students contemplating their futures. While many teens consider college as their best path, others are discovering rewarding careers in trades and agriculture — sectors experiencing significant workforce shortages. In Madison County, Georgia, HireSmart Cares founders Mark and Anne…
Welding a Bright Future: HireSmart Founders Offer Job Tips for Local Trade Students
When Mark and Anne Lackey, Co-founders of HireSmart Cares, recently visited the welding program at Foothills Regional High School in Barrow County, Georgia, they brought more than just business experience — they brought practical wisdom for students preparing to enter the workforce with their new welding certifications. Mark shared his personal journey of struggling in…