Inspiring Success Stories
Transforming Lives in Central Missouri
Lives are being changed every day through workforce development efforts. Here are their stories.
Our Success Stories
A Plant Closure Ended One Job for Keith Smith: A CDL Started Another
After Royal Canin’s Rolla plant closed and cost more than 100 jobs, Keith Smith turned to the WIOA Dislocated Worker program, earned his CDL, and launched a new career as a professional truck driver with TMC Transportation.
A Single Mom Bets on Herself and Builds a Healthcare Career (Stephanie’s Story)
ingle mom Stephanie Stapleton turned a low-wage gas station job into a healthcare career, earning her Medical Assistant certifications with WIOA Adult and Healthy Blue support.
How a Wonderland Camp Partnership Is Turning Internships Into Jobs
A day of service at Wonderland Camp highlighted a partnership that keeps growing stronger, with former summer interns now hired on as camp employees
From the Marine Corps to the ICU: DeAundre’s Story
After separating from the Marine Corps, DeAundre set his sights on nursing. With support from WIOA Dislocated Worker, EDA, and Healthy Blue, he’s now an RN in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at MU Healthcare.
From Two Part-Time Jobs to a Full-Time Nursing Career: Meghan’s Story
Meghan Zahnter was working two part-time jobs when she decided to pursue nursing. Two years later, with support from WIOA Adult, EDA, and Healthy Blue, she’s a full-time RN at Lake Regional Health Systems.
Built to Rebuild: How Veteran Donald Jones Welded His Past to a New Future
Justice involved and rebuilding his life at a veterans shelter, Donald Jones connected with the Columbia Job Center. With support from Ricardo Garay and the JVSG program, he’s now working at Kraft and building toward what’s next.
What We Offer
Job Seeker Services
Explore numerous opportunities with the Central Workforce Development Region! Our Job Centers offer free services to help you prepare for, find, and secure jobs that match your strengths and goals.
Employer Services
Available at NO cost to you, we offer a variety of employer services, including job matching, consulting, work opportunity tax credits, on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, transition assistance, and more. See full details below.
Tune into the podcast
The Workforce Link Podcast with Sundi Jo Graham
The Workforce Link Podcast offers forward thinking conversations for the workforce, linking employers and job seekers to a brighter tomorrow.
Hosted by Sundi Jo Graham from the Central Workforce Development Board, The Workforce Link covers job searching, resume and interview tips, leadership, personal development, and features interviews with industry leaders from the private and public sectors.
Episode 82: Why Job Descriptions Are Scaring Away Good Candidates
Is your job description driving away top talent? In Episode 82 of The Workforce Link Podcast, we break down why job descriptions are quietly scaring away good candidates and six practical things you can do right now to fix them.
Central Region News
A Move, a Job Search, and a New Chapter in Social Work for Antoinette Agosto
After a resume review at the Columbia Job Center, Antoinette Agosto used JVSG services to land a full-time social worker role with Good Shepherd Hospice in under a month.
A Janitorial Job Was All Jillian Knew. A Preschool Classroom Showed Her What She Wanted
high school senior with only janitorial work behind her, Jillian Boyles used the WIOA In-School Youth program to test a career in childcare, and turned a paid Work Experience at Tiger Tots into a real job.
A GED Wasn’t in Her Past. A Classroom Full of Kids Is Now Her Future. (Hannah’s Success Story)
Ashley built a career as a Certified Medical Assistant, then decided to go further. With support from WIOA Adult, EDA, and Healthy Blue, she earned her nursing degree and RN license, and now earns nearly $12 more per hour.