From Classroom to Construction Crew: Sam’s Story

Written by Joy Galon

Samuel Cuzman's former high school construction teacher, Jake Slusher, describes him as "a quiet guy who just did his work — a teacher's dream." Now, Sam has turned that steady, no-nonsense approach into a career in heavy equipment operation with ER Snell Contractor, Inc.  The recent graduate of Empower College...

Collier Uesseler Proves Technology Careers Don’t Require College Debt

Written by Joy Galon

While many of his classmates are just starting their freshman year of college, Collier Uesseler is already climbing the corporate ladder at Toyota. He has no student loans, no lecture halls, and no uncertainty about whether his degree will actually land him a job.  The recent graduate of Empower College...

From Simulator to a Real Job: Cameron Cruse’s Journey from Classroom to Career

Written by Joy Galon

Cameron Cruse doesn't need to imagine what his future career looks like — he's already living it.  While many fellow high school seniors were filling out college applications and worrying about student loans, Cameron was learning to operate heavy machinery and earning a steady paycheck straight out of graduation.  The...

HireSmart Invests in Future Healthcare Workers at Jefferson High

Written by Joy Galon

Laura Wilburn brings real-world nursing experience to her healthcare science classroom at Jefferson High School, where she's teaching the next generation of medical professionals. Now, thanks to HireSmart Cares, her students will have new tools to prepare for healthcare careers.  A HireSmart $6,397 workforce development grant provides essential training equipment...

Putting Students First: HireSmart Cares Celebrates Career Success at North Georgia Signing Days

Written by Joy Galon

While most people think of signing days as celebrations for star athletes heading to college, HireSmart Cares celebrates different “announce-the-destination” moments — ones that often don’t make headlines, but are just as life-changing.  These moments took center stage recently as Mark and Anne Lackey, co-founders of HireSmart Cares, attended career...

Building the Future: HireSmart Cares Awards Grant for Student Drone and Robotics Projects

Written by Joy Galon

HireSmart Cares has awarded a $3,063 grant to the mechatronics program at Empower College and Career Center in Jackson County, funding a project that allows students to design, build, and program fully functional drones and robotic devices.  "Kids are super excited and interested when you throw out words like drones,"...