Chili-Cook Off Booth!

On July 12th, Sarah and I went to Big Bear's annual Chili Cook Off to spread the word about the Career Center and our upcoming programs! We have been volunteering a lot with the Old Miners' Association, who runs the Chili Cook-Off in every year, offered us a space to set up a booth at their event. 

We brought a tent, tables, chairs, and plenty of flyers filled with information on Saturday morning, ready to go! With the help of our Career Mentor and one of the Center's students, we had it set up pretty quick. The crowds started to come for the Chili Cook-Off around ten, and with their chili samples in tow, they would look at our booth and ask us what the Career Center was. We were happy to tell them, and walk around the Cook-Off passing out flyers in turns. 

We didn't get a lot of sign-ups for our program that day, but we got plenty of people interested and were able to get the word out at a huge Big Bearian social gathering! Definitely a way to advertise the Center and what we can do for Big Bear! Hope we can do it again!

-Dezi Guillen and Sarah Avignone

Personal Care Aide Course In Big Bear!

At the Career Center of Big Bear, we are starting a Personal Care Aide course August 18th! If you want to jumpstart your career into the medical field, this is a great way to do so! We are all very excited for this class to begin. The Career Center will be hosting this course, where a teacher will come up to Big Bear three days a week for four weeks to train our students in this profession. 

Once I found out that the course was coming up to our mountain town, I worked with my Career Mentors and an online editing program called LucidPress, to make an official Career Center of Big Bear PCA Flyer. This said flyer has been passed out digitally and on paper-and we are getting amazing results! It looks like this course will be filled to the brim with students who are passionate about this course and are eager to learn. I am so glad that we are able to bring this opportunity to the community of Big Bear! 

-Sarah Avignone

Mae Gaoa, newest member of CI Barstow

Every family expands with new members, just like our Career Institute family here in Barstow.

We would like to shine a spotlight on our newest Career Mentor, Ms. Mae Gaoa.

Mae is running our Barstow office while Melissa is out of the office on maternity leave. Mae has strong ties with Barstow Community College as she was a student there, completing her Associates Degree in Social Science.

Everyone can read more about Mae on our website (www.cinow.org) and clicking on our Barstow location. Since that is public knowledge, we asked Mae to give us some fun facts about herself.

* Mae's real name is also Melissa.

* Mae is the mother of 5, 4 boys and 1 girl.

* Mae and her children play hide and seek often with the rest of the neighborhood kids.

* Mae writes spoken word poetry in her free time.

* Mae LOVES the beach. Her family and her try to go as often as they can, she thinks they may be half fish.

Mae has fit right in with our Career Institute family, stop by the office and say hi, we're open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

- Tim T.

Ryan Schwantner Success Story

When Ryan first started at the Career Center of Big Bear in 2012, he had a lot on his plate. His girlfriend was four months pregnant and because of this new development; many problems arose at home, he didn’t have a stable job and needed to move on towards the next chapter in his life. 

Ryan fought through the hard times and completed Customer Service, Computer Skills and Financial Freedom, along with many Life Skill projects which helped him in his future jobs and personal financial issues. He maintained great attendance and gave everything his all. He has and continues to go above and beyond  to provide a great example of himself for his child to look up to. Ryan is bettering his life, and in turn, bettering his family’s life.

Mr. Schwantner is now working four stable jobs. He works at the Bowling Barn and The Fun Plex as a Game  and Computer Mechanic, employed at Far Sight Studios as a game tester, and is also working at West Coast Amusement as a Contract and Vending Tech.  Fueled by his passion of graphic design, he is able to work in an environment he loves. His dream jobs enable him to be able to provide for his growing family, which is now a family of four. He has two sons, four stable jobs, a home to call his own, and a broadening career path. This is Ryan’s version of success.

-Dezi Guillen

This Girl is on Fire

Meet Penelope Priester, who is majoring in Communications at Cal-State San Bernardino. She started the program in December of 2013 when she completed the customer service program. 

Today, she is a student worker with Career Institute. She assists the career mentor in the Victorville office, where one of her main duties is assisting with the high school completion/GED program through Career Institute. 

She is also a front desk receptionist at Comfort Suites in Victorville. 

Congratulations!

Congratulations Iolani!

On July 25th Barstow Community College held it's annual Scholarship Award Ceremony. Barstow Community College awarded almost $46,300 in scholarships to one hundred students. One of those hundred, happened to be one of our Barstow WIA students, Iolani Elisara! Stay tuned to learn more about Iolani, She is going to be one of next months "Success Stories"!

(Elisara and her family after the award ceremony)

Open House Event.

Last Thursday night, July 24th, Rancho Cucamonga hosted our first annual Open House for our family and friends of our 15 new summer class students. This night we (The Career Institute) were able to have the opportunity to meet the family and friends of our new 15 students, and also give them more information, an inside scoop of our program and introduce the work we do for our students.
This Open House event was like no other Career Institute event. In most events we have wonderful speeches given by our CEO, mentors and students ambassador, but this event had a unique twist. For this event we had guest speaker Melissa Burckel (mother of student ambassador Georgia Burckel) speak alongside of our CEO, mentors, and student ambassador to give family and friends a parent perspective of our program. What a success! Ms. Burckel's speech touched many parents in the room knowing that our program not only affects our students lives, but the lives of their parents knowing their son or daughter will have a successful future. Another successful night for Rancho Cucamonga's Hospitality and Management program! 

-Georgia Burckel
gburckel@cinow.org

New Additions in Barstow

Barstow's Career Mentor, Melissa Matteson, has welcomed a new addition to her family.  The Matteson family welcomed their son on Thursday, July 10th a few minutes after 4 pm.

Melissa will spend the next 6 weeks on maternity leave, while a new Mentor (Mae Gaoa), will supervise the daily functions of the Barstow office.  Our Barstow office continues to be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Melissa will return to work on Tuesday, August 26th.

Until then, please contact Mae, our student worker (Stephanie), or either student ambassadors (Jesenia or myself) at our Barstow office located in the Career and Transfer Center at Barstow Community College. Our office number is 760.577.8269.

We are all very excited for the Matteson family, and wish them the best with their new addition.  

Please look for my next blog where I put Mae Gaoa in the limelight.

- Tim

Flyers Spreading in the High Desert

 

This morning I toured Victor Valley College's campus and posted flyers on their informative bulletin boards. Hopefully we reach out to more young adults and spread the word about Career Institute's valuable and rewarding programs!

 Career Institute is still recruiting for the Certified Nursing Assistant program. Trying to spread the word one flyer at a time!

 

Small town, big dreams, & success!

Success Story: Michelle Lopez

Michelle Lopez is a Barstow Native that has achieved great success. Lopez has been working at both Barstow Community College and Barstow High School for more than ten years. Lopez graduated from Barstow High School however she didn’t attend Barstow Community College until several years later after she met with a counselor from Barstow Community College. He encouraged her to get a degree from and transfer to Park University once she received her degree. Lopez then went off to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Psychology from Park University and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of La Verne. As soon as she obtained her Master’s she was hired by Barstow High School and then got hired by Barstow Community College when the started a summer outreach program for high school students. 

I then asked Lopez what her definition of success was and she replied, “Achieving the goals one sets for themselves and enjoying the end results. I enjoy what I do on a daily basis, which is helping students succeed and reach their goals!”

I honestly believe that Ms. Lopez’s story is a great one to share because, she pursued her dreams and was able to give back to the schools that helped her along the way. She is proof that just because you live in a small town doesn’t mean you can’t dream big and be successful.

Capturing the Sheraton Hotel.

Today, i was able to photograph students in action while they do their work experience at the Sheraton Hotel in Pomona. Although our students normally work Fridays, five of our students were asked to work extra hours to help in the preparation of an expo that took place this evening. I was also able to captured great images of the hotel and convention center that will be used in a slide show we will be presenting at our Open House this Thursday July 24th. These images will also be used for a separate slide show for marketing; letting the visual eye see what kind of work we do, where we do our work, and how we affect these students life's. From banners to slide shows; another project accomplish, and more to prepare for!

-Georgia Burckel
gburckel@cinow.org

Class is now in session!

Career Institute Lake Arrowhead Class of 2014-2016 is well on their way to success. They are in their third week of our Hospitality and Management class and it has been such a hit. Recently, all students interviewed at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa and were placed where they were best suitable.This was a huge professional development opportunity. Now it’s time for their Customer Service course that is being taught by Kathy Horton. These students are driven and excited to be a part of this eye opening experience. We cannot wait to see how much they can learn and achieve!

Victorville's Orientation Kick-off!

On July 8th, Career Institute hosted a Certified Nursing Assistant orientation at the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce. Twenty-one students were in attendance, including the 15 students that will start their training in August. I discovered that 40% of the future students found out about the CNA training through their high schools. I spoke to one of the students, Yesenia Valencia during break and she admitted that she was nervous but was excited to start the program. "I want to get started into the field, because I want to become a RN (Registered Nurse)." Yesenia found out about the program through her cousin, who already went through the program last year.

I joined Jennifer Martinez (Victorville's Career Mentor) for the orientation. Since I went through the same training last year I was able to offer my experiences to the group. I answered several questions that the students had concerning the CNA training and the Student Ambassador program. It was a fantastic start for their CNA training!

La Vita Dolce

Good Morning Everyone,
I have officially moved into my apartment in Florence,I am currently studying Traditional Italian food and the culture of Italy for the next four weeks.This city is beautiful as every corner has a piece of history to offer, and gives off a feeling of traveling back into time.Working in the hotel industry and the experience gained from the Career Institute's hospitality program has helped me tremendously in working in our university restaurant and properly serving our guest.Florence is filled with tourism as it has so much to offer from its rich culture of "Toscana" to its fresh eateries located around the city.I feel extremely humble of having the privilege of studying my passion of culinary in such a beautiful destination like Florence.

Class in Action!

Rancho Cucamonga 's Hospitality and Management class!

On Wednesday, 15 young adults started The Hospitality and Management class for the summer! Learning customer service, hospitality and locations (Lobby, Rooms, Restaurant, Restrooms, etc.) in the Sheraton Hotel. Today, these same 15 students start their paid work experience at the Sheraton Hotel in Pomona.  These students could be working anywhere from hostess at the McKinley Grille (located inside the hotel), at the front desk inside the lobby, or even maintenance working anywhere inside the hotel as needed. These 15 students started this week as average young adults living their everyday lives. With classes every Wednesday and work every Friday,  these students will graduate in 2 months being more then average; but successful,  educated, trained and certified to start their own paths to success.

-Georgia Burckel

gburckel@cinow.org

"Being a student ambassador for the Career Institute has been a life changing experience. Not only was I able build my customer service experience, be involved with the community, and inspire young adults; I was able to seek my own true passion and Career path for my own future. Being a student ambassador has been an extraordinary experience that has opened many doors for my own path of success."- Georgia Burckel


-Georgia Burckel
gburckel@cinow.org

Buongiorno Career Institute!

Ciao Career Institute Family! Hope everyone is doing well back home and enjoying their summer break.I just wanted to check-in and keep everyone updated. I arrived in Rome last week and I must say the whole city moves at incredibly fast pace.The monuments and landmarks throughout the city are definitely something one must stop and cherish the beauty of its history.Walking inside the colosseum was like going back to ancient Roman times as its structure is well preserved.Next, we headed to the Pantheon, which is one of Rome's oldest preserved building established in 126 A.D.The whole city is walking museum as every corner you come across carries a part of Rome's success.